☆ Event: Fright Night

[moustre]

Event Log: October, Fright Night

I. The Mist It starts in the middle of the night. As the bells chime for 3 am, a slow fog creeps across the city from all four cardinal directions, swirling low to the ground, shining purplish in the light of the twin moons. It goes without notice for a while, an oddity, easily brushed off as too much rain and the changing temperatures turning it to mist over the cobblestones. The first ones to get caught up in it are the night workers, the drunks leaving the bars, the sailors returning to their ships, anyone out on the streets when it begins. In most cases, the effects are not instantaneous - it takes a little time to sink in before… a. The Transformations Even if you don’t find yourself out on the streets in the middle of the night, the mist creeps its way into buildings through cracks and openings, until exposure is almost guaranteed for everyone in Aefenglom, and even some just outside the Bright Wall in the Outer City. Though a lucky few, Mirrorbound and citizens alike, will find themselves wholly unaffected by the substance and will retain their physical forms and their own right minds, many more find themselves bent to its whims, changing in ways that could never have been predicted. There is little rhyme or reason to what changes occur or how - some simply wake with new parts, uncomfortable, while others run from their homes, panicking as wings tear painfully out of their backs or claws burst forth from their hands. The mist does not discriminate. Humans and Witches find themselves gaining the parts of Monsters, or even creatures that live outside the Wall. Monsters gain parts that don’t match up to their species - Arachne with wings or gills, Turnskin with antlers and Merrow tails, Puca with the teeth and claws of predators or the horns of unicorns or the scales of lizards, such strange sights become more and more common as morning approaches slowly. Mirrorbound may find that they can even gain the features and mannerisms of creatures from their home worlds. It all seems to happen wholly at random. These parts may not even last; plenty of citizens lose their new additions after just hours, only to gain new ones in the meanwhile. In the dark, wee hours of the morning, the city erupts into chaos. b. Widespread Chaos There’s no chance of peace tonight. Some may be lucky enough to escape the mists or its effects somehow, but the vast majority of the city hasn’t -- and it’s telling, from the sounds of people in the streets, that no one’s particularly happy about the turn of events. Many are in pain, many are blind with panic and upset. How could this happen? What’s going on? Many of the shouts attribute blame to the Coven allowing the practice of at-times experimental magics, while others turn it into anti-Monster sentiment, claiming the Monster population wants them all to suffer the way they do. Other tinfoil-hat-ists spread their conspiracy theories loudly, laying the blame squarely on Dorchacht - retribution for the Monsters the Mirrorbound stole from their city. This is an attack, they shout! The actual truth remains to be seen, however. There are plenty who don’t care about the truth and pay little attention to the rumors. They’re opportunists at heart, and a city in chaos is good for lining pockets. Some less-affected and less-moral citizens take to the streets of the Shopping and Aristocratic districts, throwing rocks through windows, banging down doors, looting shops and the houses of the wealthy of whatever valuables they can carry with them. Even a gang of kids from one of the orphanages in the Harbor District, sporting their own mismatched new features, can be spotted roaming the city, looting stores and homes, stealing from people incapacitated in the streets. They can’t pass up an opportunity when they have so little to begin with. c. State of Emergency Parliament, in contact with the Coven, is quick to declare a state of emergency in Aefenglom. A magical announcement rings out all through the city, loud and impossible to miss. Those who can keep it together are called upon to help find some sort of order before things devolve too badly and more damage is done than can be fixed. People will get hurt if things continue like this, they could even be looking at casualties. Those who have learned healing magic are asked to report to makeshift first aid stations scattered around the city to help those dealing with more violent, bloody transformations. Anyone with prior law enforcement experience are tasked with helping contain and stop the looting and the muggings. More still are called to try and figure out some way to get rid of the mist, or reverse its effects. None of the assignments are mandatory, plenty are unable to assist as they deal with their own afflictions, but any help is greatly appreciated.

II. Damage Control The chaos of the first night dies down somewhat by noon the next day. The air of forgiveness and cleaning up for the new year that was present at the beginning of the month is gone as the violet mist still spreads, wreaking havoc with the citizens of Aefenglom. Human citizens take it worse than the Monster half of the city, but one of the side-effects hits the Monster community harder. It quickly becomes apparent that the effects of this never-before-seen magic are not only physical. Fights break out over anything from minor slights to things worth fighting about, blossoming from a few thrown punches to all-out brawls that spill into the streets. Anger and agitation increase in most affected citizens, and you can cut the tension in the air with a knife. Relief efforts have to be redirected. Some can keep it together just enough to go about their daily lives as best they can with their new ‘additions’, but others rapidly start to lose their minds in ferality, even those with strong Witch-Monster Bonds. Miss Nessie is quick to whip the Coven into action to help preserve the peace as much as possible. There isn’t enough room to contain so many feral citizens, but they try to make do. All available Mirrorbound, Witch and Monster, who are able and want to help contain the people of Aefenglom or each other are taught a simple knock-out spell, or given slips of paper enchanted with the same, to literally knock some sense into the ferals. It won’t hurt them in the long term, but it will give them a time-out and help pull their minds out of their pits of animal instinct. Plenty of citizens will be thankful for this. That doesn’t mean everyone is happy to see the Mirrorbound around town. They may notice that they get more scowls while they’re out and about, more whispers and dirty looks. They come from humans the most, but especially the wealthier people of the city, dealing with their own share of terrible transformations, who mutter under their breaths words like, “Knew they would bring trouble with them. Knew it right from the start.” Known Mirrorbound may find themselves being kicked out of higher class shops in the Shopping District, or even spit on in the streets. Poorer citizens, especially Monsters, see things differently, however: they’ve seen the refugees from Dorchacht, they know what was done for some of their kind. They’ll admit that the Mirrorbound have brought trouble with them, but a little trouble isn’t always a bad thing - sometimes you’ve got to shake things up and disturb the status quo. Though they’re dealing with bizarre changes and an increased risk of going feral, they have faith that the Mirrorbound will help solve this problem. Of course, this difference in opinion just means both sides argue louder and fight harder.

III. The Refugees For those who’d found themselves rehomed, mostly Monsters and what few Witches came with, this is not what they had expected from a “full moon”. They’d been warned that certain urges would be stronger, that magic could wax and wane like the moons themselves, but this? This rampant disorder, the odd turning present in so many citizens and Mirrorbound alike, the Coven and Parliament’s bid on attempting some sort of damage control--? Is this what they left Dorchacht for, from one far too controlling city to one that didn’t seem to have any control at all? They aren’t in chains, at least. They can choose their Bonds if they’d like one. But it’s put them on edge enough that some linger by the docks, both wanting to leave to someplace “safe” in their eyes and wishing to stay. The latter wins out in most cases, seeking to help the Mirrorbound as they were helped themselves, though they may be suffering from the mists themselves... oddly, they seem to be more aware of themselves in a way that the natives are not, likely learned behavior leftover from Dorchacht to keep themselves in check; the compulsion spell had only helped compulsion, after all, there’d been a genuine want to remain secure and safe in their minds even with the situation as it was. Unfortunately, there’s plenty of locals who see the refugees as part of the problem -- before the Mirrorbound, before Dorchacht, Aefenglom had been fine, and in continuing these thoughts, they’re not... the friendliest to outsiders. Some are more likely to retaliate violently with new-found additions to their physiology and skillset when the refugees attempt to help, with whispers, conspiracy theories, and nasty rumors all the while spreading at a rapid pace. As bad as Dorchacht had been, maybe they had a point about the strange, suggestive magic used across the city. Maybe it’s something Aefenglom should look into too, during the fuller moons, should this be the beginning of something worse as the new year rises at the end of the month. But hopefully -- and this is the hope of all -- it simply remains a one-off, freak happening at the end of the year, and they pray the new one fares better.

IV. The Aftermath Thanks to quite a bit of Mirrorbound assistance, the city is still largely in one piece by the end of the day after the full moons. The mist, an unstable alchemical compound, eventually breaks down into nothing after a day or so, and the effects all fade or reverse, leaving everyone in their normal bodies and feeling clear-headed as the moons start to wane again. There are issues of property damage, stolen goods, and political discord to deal with, but the hardest to handle is perhaps the guilt of those who went feral and attacked their friends and loved ones. Samuin preparations continue with an unusual gloom hung over the city as clean-up and reparations commence. While before, though, humans and Monsters could often be found on the bridge over the River Temese, making amends with one another, the activity almost entirely ceases, leaving the bridge empty most days from now until Samuin.

Welcome to October's event log! This event takes place ICly on the 12th, 13th, and 14th. The Questions thread can be found HERE! Please help us and other players out by putting the subject(s) of your questions in your header! Investigation briefs will be going out soon on the OOC Sign Ups thread to the teams who were chosen by RNG, so keep an eye out for that. And as always, while we do encourage you to use this log, you can feel free to thread things out on your own log or elsewhere.

Comments

[bloodypath]

A. [Donate blood to the vampire bar, they said. Do it live, and we'll pay you triple, they said. It sounded like an incredible way to get a base of money going, after arriving with next to nothing.]

[But as the fog, and the violence breaks out with the moons, Hubert finds himself utterly unprepared to fend off the Monster pursuing him through the Haven's streets—he's anemic from his "donation", and hasn't even had two weeks to hone his new magical abilities.]

[The Monster, either a too-fanged harpy gone half-leathery, or a full mooned vampire sprouting feathers, pursues him doggedly. It's all he can do to run breathlessly from structure to structure, blinding its sensitive nightvision with flashes of light when it corners him, just long enough to slip back away. But this pace wasn't sustainable—help?]

B. [The knock-out spell is simple, he thinks—or at least, the components are. Hubert traces the sigil over and over in his hidden alley, murmurs the words repeatedly, but that isn't the issue; Aefenglom's magic is still brand new to him, and powering the damn thing, manipulating the raw magic how he needs to, isn't going as well as he'd like. Normally, the mage performs well under pressure, but the stress of the situation and pushing himself far too hard too soon has given him a tremendous headache. That wasn't helping at all.]

This is more difficult than I anticipated, [He grumbles, glancing up.]

[Did you stumble into this alleyway seeking shelter from the chaos, or as something more feral-minded seeking prey? Regardless, Hubert warily grasps the odd, spiral-headed gold lance next to him.]

Wildcard

[Toss a prompt at me and I'll do my best!]

B.

[fordeath]

[ relative weakling that he is, amadeus would liked to have turned heel and sped on home, avoided the clutches of feral monster claws and the blunt end of a discontent looter's weapon. unfortunately, he is forever possessed with a night owl's (hah) fancies despite being a witch, making company with the sister moons and the special type of life that comes out only in the late hours.

at least ... he figured he was a witch, until the mist rolled in, granted him a pair of new wings, set of inhibitions to battle, and effectively ruined his night on the town.

after his talons come in, amadeus finds himself stumbling into an alleyway that's already occupied. he huffs. ] Ah-Ahah, I can't even writhe on the floor in peace, hm? [ whiner. but he certainly isn't feral, so he'd appreciate no weapons being drawn at this time!

he did hear the man say something before he decided to make his home on the ground against the wall, though... ] ... Ah, is that the knock-out spell?

[bloodypath]

[Ah. This one at least appeared to be aware of himself. The hostile tension leaves Hubert's shoulders, though his wary gaze doesn't leave the harpy (?) and the spear remains in his grasp.]

It is. [It's attempting to be. It's taking form better than it had been after Hubert first got it, which was something to be proud of, considering that he hadn't yet finished his introductory classes.]

Do you find yourself in need of it...?

A

[beautyisthebeast]

[Blinding the monster chasing him is a good call. It allows for the option of hiding. He's running through one particular alley when a pair of hands reaches out and yanks him through a doorway. Provided he doesn't resist too much, he'll find himself face to face with a pale and terrified Marianne who raises a trembling finger to her lips. If it didn't see where he went, maybe it will leave in search of other prey.

The shed they're in is full of sacks of oats and grain and the walls are lined with bits, bridles, and various tools. There is also the smell of horses lingering in the air.]

[bloodypath]

[Honestly, he wasn't in the condition to resist. Hubert staggers into Marianne, disoriented by the sudden moment, but as whirling as his thoughts were, the mage has presence of mind enough to recognize what she was doing.]

[He'd been running from this aerial Monster for a time already; he's pale (paler) and utterly breathless, heart pounding in his ears, and fighting a growing dizziness courtesy of his recent, sizable, blood donation.]

[But he tries his damnest to quiet his breatheless gasps, raising an arm and burying his mouth and nose in the crook of his elbow. He tries to hold his breath, as well, but that's not very successful, oxygen starved as Hubert is. The thick material of his coat does well to muffle his breathing, though.]

[Outside, the harpy-bat-thing screeches in fury, flapping and diving around the area where it last saw Hubert before it was blinded, stomping along awnings and even tearing the railing from someone's balcony.]

[beautyisthebeast]

[Marianne has her hands clasped in front of her, fervently praying to the Goddess. She flinches at each screech, every crash. The monster's rage at being denied its prey is taken out on everything on or in that alley. And it seems like ages before those sounds get quieter, farther away.

Even when they fall silent she keeps still for a few more minutes, just to be sure. She lets out a breath she didn't even know she was holding. Finally she risks whispering.]

Are you hurt?

[bloodypath]

[And the first thing he does once the Monster (?) seems to move on is take several deep breaths. It still sounds too loud in in his ears, after the tense quiet.]

No.

[Perhaps his pride, a little. He feels the loss of his usual magic keenly right now. Hubert still looks a little unsteady, but staying still instead of running for his life has helped considerably.]

It seems I'm in your debt.

[beautyisthebeast]

Are you sure? You don't look well...

[He looks even paler than usual. Even paler than she is, and unsteady besides. Marianne hasn't learned too much about the magic here yet, but the coven has taught her a few basics. She could certainly attempt a weak healing spell if she had to.

And she's not too concerned with debts or thanks or anything of the kind at the moment. The night is still young and they are definitely not out of danger.]

A

[unyieldingmarch]

[Help arrives with the tromp of boots and the crack of wood on bone. From out of an alley, Edelgard steps, swinging a heavy oaken staff at the base of the pursuing monster's spine. The feathered creature shrieks as it falls flat on it's face to the cobbles. Snarling, it begins to claw to it's feet, but a heavy boot slams down onto it's back.]

No more of that.

[It still struggles, trying to turn, but for the moment Edelgard's armored weight holds it. Her eyes widen slightly when she realizes it was Hubert that the creature was pursuing...]

Are there others on your trail, Hubert?

[Judging by the sounds of something scrabbling a few streets over, there's a strong possibility that something else has his scent.]

[bloodypath]

[That was a crack to make the battle-hardened wince. He leans against a post, his tired, anemic body urging him to slump with gravity. Instead, he fights the reflex, tilting his head back to further open the airway as he gasps for breath.]

Possibly. Hardly a... quiet Monster.

[There's commotion all over the city, and he didn't doubt with so many driven by animal instinct, predators and scavengers would quickly learn the noise meant prey.]

[He wanted to thank her, but that could wait. He'd be useless to Lady Edelgard if he couldn't catch his breath back, and that'd be the greater transgression in his mind. That vampire bar had certainly paid handsomely, but that was several days ago, when there had been no danger. Now... his lack of constitution was aggravating.]

[unyieldingmarch]

Then we make for our home.

[She drops a sharp kick into the head of the downed monster one more time, knocking it unconscious for the moment, and steps off.]

You are still drained.

[Best to say it, get it out there, clear the air.]

Allow me to take the rear guard should those creatures find their way to our street.

[bloodypath]

Very well.

[He hates how much it feels like being forced to retreat, but better that than cause more problems. Hubert straightens back up, heart still pounding harder than its accustomed to, but his voice is steadier at least.]

I'm relieved you seem unaffected, Your Majesty.

[unyieldingmarch]

And I am relieved you are, as well.

[She starts moving, staff at the ready.]

Though, I fear I'm not wholly unaffected. My...eye teeth...are bothering me.

[Her canines. Where she'll grow fangs.]

B

[battlebound]

[ Even back on Tierra, a few people might be wary at seeing a horned redhead in armour carrying two swords striding into the alleyway. He's spent all too long trying to manage the chaos and the evidence is palpable — tears to his clothing and dried blood across his abdomen, breath heavy and his hands continuing to linger by his blades as he makes his way through the alley.

He expects to find more people gone feral, but instead he finds...someone drawing? ]

What are you doing?

[ Squint. Actually... he's seen similar things back home, and around this city too. Still, the question has already left his mouth. ]

[bloodypath]

[Hubert's eyes don't leave the horned man, pointedly ignoring his practice sigils traced in the dirt. The horns didn't tell him much—some kind of faun, perhaps? The swords weren't necessarily more dangerous than the claws most Monsters used, but they did nothing to set the mage at ease.]

Looking into a solution. [He didn't sound feral, like most others... but Hubert didn't relax, regardless.] I could hardly practice in the open, can I?

[battlebound]

[ Well, given the chaos, Steak wouldn't leave his swords at home even if he wanted to. But a moment's breather isn't unwelcome at all. This is far, far different to fighting monsters or Fallen Angels, and he can't say he likes the difference at all. ]

Of course not! [ But a solution? He scoots closer, looking at the symbols with red eyes narrowed, more curious than aggressive, for once. ] How would these help?

[ That may sound a little more dismissive than intended, Steak too laden with scepticism to come off neutral as he speaks. ]

[bloodypath]

[He's welcome to the "not quite neutral" speech club. Hubert's own tone remains relatively cold.]

It renders the subject unconscious. Only for a brief moment, mind you, but it seems that is enough to "reset" the minds of those affected by the fog. Perhaps not for long, but long enough to deal with them more thoroughly. The Coven was in quite a rush to distribute instructions.

[His hand has also yet to leave his weapon.]

A

[thejoyrider]

[The commotion on the other side of the road grabs her attention immediately. Uh oh, someone was in trouble. Marie observes the situation from a safe distance. Obviously, the smartest thing to do would be to leave the fleeing man to fend the monster off on his own and leave this place as quickly a she can, befofe whatever was pursuing Hubert notices her as well. However, this is Marie we are talking about.

She quickly assesses her options. She was no longer a Servant and as for her Monster form, she barely acquired any Fae traits so far, no matter that even a fully grown Fae would have trouble taking on this opponent.

She thinks for just a few seconds and throws one of her earrings at the creature, hitting its back. Not enough to do any damage, but enough to get its attention.]

Run away, sir! Now!

[Even though Marie might soon require saving herself.]

[bloodypath]

[The harpy-vampire whirls about midair, and Hubert actually considers running. He didn't know this individual. He was in no position of power to bear responsibility. His own ability to fight had been greatly hindered by this world, and he was in poor condition. Appearances could be deceiving, and for all he knew, this young woman knew what she was doing. No one would hold him at fault for running.]

[Except that it didn't solve the core problem. This feral creature found him somehow, and for all Hubert knew, it could still follow him. It needed to be dealt with.]

[Without a word, Hubert kicks open the locked door behind him, ducking inside the darkened shop, and to all appearances, leaving Marie alone with the fog-feral Monster.]

[Said Monster touches down to the ground, carefully scooping the shiny earring into a taloned foot. Once that very important task was completed, it fanned its wings at Marie, screeching again.]

[thejoyrider]

[Marie spots Hubert entering the shop and breathes a sigh of relief. He was safe! She might have not known this man, it was the first time she met him, but she was still glad to see him escape the feral Monster. Worth losing the earing, even though she liked it.

Too bad that now that the harpy's target was gone from its field of view, it wastes no time finding another prey and who would be better for that than Marie, who is close by and has already revelaled her presence and location?

She looks around, scanning the surroundings for any way of escaping. She could run in the direction of the shop, but thet could reveal the man's location to the Monster again...

The harpy prepares to pounce and screeches]

[bloodypath]

[The fog-feral beats its wings twice, crouching down to leap—and its scream abruptly cuts off with a choke as a thick rope loops around its neck.]

[The ends are looped around Hubert's hands in an improvised garrote; the tall man digs his elbows into the creature's back and drops his weight as it starts to thrash. He struggles to keep his balance, but he's taller and heavier than the Monster, so he manages to keep relative control despite being buffeted by those huge wings.]

[That is, until the harpy-vampire desperately tries to take to the sky. Going airborne only proceeds to choke the Monster faster, but Hubert makes a quiet noise of alarm when his feet leaves the ground.]

A

[newtralize]

[Hubert is just in luck. Well, perhaps luck is a strong word to use.

He'll probably hear it first. The screeching or hissing of the Monster who had been pursuing him followed by a growl from someone else. The sound of a thud or crash and scrabbling following almost immediately after. Something had surely had figured that whoever was pursuing Hubert was prey.

And who could really blame when the Witch in question had been stuck with transformations resembling that of a large cat.

If Hubert were to sate his curiosity of what might have happened to his pursuer, he'll find the Monster scrabbling against the cobblestone with a man seated upon them. Grey clawlike hands and feet and a long ribbon-y tail that was disproportionate to the person in question. The feline he had taken after is a creature unique to his own world.]

He seems rather pleased with himself though, grooming himself slightly. Newt only stops though when he picks up on the other now. Perhaps he had caught sight of the other, but that's not entirely true either. He had smelled the man when he had picked up on the harpy. He lifts his head and turns his head towards the other.]

[bloodypath]

[He hates this night. It's been nothing but far too troublesome.]

[It's not curiosity so much that causes him to look back, but threat assessment. Anything that can handily dispose of his pursuer is worth caution.]

[That, and he's grateful for just a moment of stillness, to gasp for breath with anemic fatigue. He'll probably need it, if this... creature decided to pursue him, as well. Hubert meets the man-creature's gaze, drawn to his full height and shoulders squared, projecting with his posture that if he wanted to bother him, Hubert would not be an easy target.]

[The harpy-vampire wailed, lashing back at Newt awkwardly with one taloned hand. The other wing seemed broken from the fall.]

[newtralize]

[OOC: Sorry for such a late reply! I thought I'd have more time to get online, but been abroad the last four weeks for work. I understand how late this reply is, so I understand if you'd prefer to drop it!]

[Newt seemed unbothered by the Monster underneath him. He seems satisfied even. A cat merely playing with his prey before he gets off. Hopefully, the harpy-vampire will understand quickly to just leave quickly because it's likely Newt will continue to play with them like a cat playing with its food.

At least he would, but his attention is turned onto the other curiously. He had only vaguely been aware that the Monster he had pounced on was pursuing something (or someone) else and now he was focused on the other completely.

For a moment, Newt stays perfectly still. Slowly, he starts approaching the other on all fours.]

[bloodypath]

[Ah. Of course. Nothing was so simple tonight. Hubert's eyes narrow and his shoulders drawn tense, but he allows no other apprehension to show to a potential predator.]

[Getting away on foot was seeming less and less likely, not without crippling the... whatever this individual had turned into. Hubert turns up a palm, as if holding something invisible, and little droplets of acid start to dance in his grasp.]

[It's not much, but it's the best he could conjure at the moment between his fatigue and inexperience. All he had to do was throw it on the creature's face, if it charged him...]

[The harpy-pire wailed some more, trying to half-crawl, half-flop in the opposite direction, hindered greatly by its broken wing.]