☆ 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

scáthach / lancer / shadow / too many gottdang aliases | open

[scatmaam]

[ i-c - open ]

[ A winged wolf woman probably sounded like something a child would imagine as a fantasy character, but Lancer was very much the living, breathing image of it, blood red spear out and getting rough with some of the less scrupulous citizens. Ostensibly, she was there to help, to quell some of the disorder and help restore things to something a little more close to normal. But it was becoming more obvious, particularly to those that knew her, that Lancer was using well more force than was strictly necessary, the blunt end of her spear sending one looter flying away from his ill gotten goods, nearly clearing the whole street and rolling into a light post.

>Fàg An Bealach!!! A warrior's call, shouted clearly but with frustration and barely bidden rage clinging to every bit of it, twirling her spear and chasing down another group of now completely terrified rioters, very aptly calling her an "angel of death" as she barreled down on them.

Someone should... probably stop her. ]

[ ii - open ]

[ Unfortunately, that last night had only been the beginning. Each waking moment that passed for Scathach, she felt her anger continue to smolder inside of her, frustrations with her situation and the world around her all manifesting in explosive acts of rage, and often violence. She was tossing rude bar patrons through windows, shoving careless walkers out of the street with well more force than necessary, and even taking out her frustrations on local architecture, not even using her spear to leave great, ghastly looking claw marks on steel fences and posts.

When night fell again, it was at its worst, but the sedative whiskey Caster had given her was no longer working, not as it should. Bursting out in the dark from her room in Zelda's home, she'd taken to what her rage and her instincts were all telling her to do.

To hunt. And you, unfortunate you, happen to be whom she's stalking... ]

[ wildcard ]

[ pretty sparse prompts, i know, but if we talked about something not covered here or you just wanna throw me a wild bone, i am down for all of it! despite what it sounds like, scathach isn't going to be rage beasting the entire time, so if you want something less aggro, i'm up for it. contact me on discord or plurk if you need to hammer anything out! ]

i-c

[whydogs]

[She catches Lancer out of the corner of her eye, wondering what the ruckus was all about. Curiosity led her to approach and figure out what as going on and what she found was, well...

Jill had only known her recently, but she knew how strong Lancer seemed and this? This wasn't even a fight.]

Hey, come on, I think you've made your point.

[But her words fell on deaf ears.]

Lancer? Hey, anybody there?

[Still no response, and things are about to get even worse for the poor schmucks as Lancer's weapons remained turned on them.]

Woah, shit.

[No doubt they must've done something to piss her off, but they didn't deserve this.]

Stop!

[Jill ran up behind her. She knew there was no way in hell she'd be strong enough to restrain her. Instead, the bartender wrapped both arms around her friend's waist and pleaded some more.]

Please, just stop. That's enough...

[scatmaam]

Lancer hadn't even realized until Jill was clinging to her that she was even there, and the sudden closure of her personal space caused her hackles to raise, a snarl from her throat and raising a fist to strike at whoever it was trying to stop her...

... Only to felt seized by realization of what she'd been doing, frozen in that moment in time for what felt like an eternity before the fury started to seep its way out of her, chest heavy with breath, and knees buckling beneath her as her new wings folded in, covering them both.

This... seems a bit outside of a bartender's job description... [ Spoken softly, with a mirthless chuckle. ]

[whydogs]

You caught me in a good mood.

[One out-of-place joke deserved another.

She then made brief eye contact with the two victims, urging them to get the hell out of there before turning her attention back to Lancer.]

Honestly I'm glad this worked, I would've been out of ideas if it didn't.

[Nevermind that she still had her arms wrapped around her. It felt... nice.]

[scatmaam]

[ The rioters ran, tails literally between their legs, and while neither Lancer or Jill would know, they'd stay indoors the rest of the night. Sometimes scaring someone straight really did work. Well... mostly.

Lancer didn't miss that Jill was still clinging to her, though, and while it helped sooth the beast's heart within her... ]

It's alright, lass. You can let go now. I'll not be hurting anyone. [ For the moment, at least. ]

ii

[sageprincess]

[Given that it is her house, Scathach doesn't have to prowl for long before she finds Zelda. Despite the great golden wings sprouting from her back and the long, sharpened nails that have ruined her gloves, the princess has retained her right mind as much as anyone can do in this chaotic situation. For as much good it does her, she internally laments; with the twin moons full and bright overhead, there's only so much magical first aid and protection she can offer before the nature of such magics makes it risky to continue. It wouldn't be much help at all if she were to heal one mauled person, only to drain the one in the next bed over of their energy to fuel it.

So she's at home, theoretically resting and recovering her magic reserves but studying in actuality, pouring over a pile of tomes scattered across the dining room table in the vain hope of finding something, anything that might explain what's going on here. And then she hears a door slammed damn near off of its hinges.]

... Marie? Shadow? Is that you?

[It would be... very difficult for a looter or vandal to somehow get to where the noise had come from without her noticing beforehand, but with the way things are now, she's not counting anything out as impossible. Carefully, strange new feathers fluffed with trepidation, Zelda rises from her seat to investigate...]

[scatmaam]

[ The first 'prey' if the night...

She kept to the darkness, biding her time, until Zelda crept her way into the hallway outside of her study. Candlelight didn't cast much in terms of dispelling that darkness, but Zelda would see the flash of Shadow's eyeshine, the one warning she'd get of her presences before the now winged beast began to barrel down the hallway, aiming to tackle the princess to the ground below. ]

[sageprincess]

[There's a sound, a word, something sort and sharp, and if anyone within their right mind were around to hear it, they would be able to say they've had the unique experience of hearing the elegant Princess of Hyrule curse.

But her image is not something she's focusing on at the moment. No, what she's focusing on in the instant between seeing the red gleam of Shadow's eyes and the winged turnskin lunging at her is tossing up a magical shield between the two of them, crystalline blue and shimmering in the darkness. She's unable to make it large enough or strong enough in time to stop Shadow from reaching her completely, and she goes flying - farther than her weight would typically allow - pain blooming in her back as she hits the ground and her own wings in the process. But the barrier softens the impact somewhat, and protects her vitals from being reached by the feral woman now bearing down on top of her.

For now. It won't hold forever, and no one is more acutely aware of this than Zelda. She looks up at Shadow with wide, imploring eyes.]

What are you doing?! Shadow, it's me!

[scatmaam]

[ The barrier had stopped some of her momentum, but only so much that she didn't hit Zelda nearly as hard as she could have. Pinned to the floor like she was, Zelda would have had plenty of issue trying to get out from beneath the beast-woman above her, her own wings spread and arched over them, not unlike a hawk trying to surround its grounded prey... ]

Indeed it is... [ Shadow's voice was strained, dark, but still her own, her humanity not fighting her feral instincts so much as starting to... fuse with them... ]

I'm almost disappointed... I'd wanted a better hunt than this. But perhaps I'll enjoy this pretty prey of mine, regardless...

II

[enkidoh]

[Enkidu manages to stay out of trouble. At times they stop to touch the horns on their head and after that they try to will them away. But for once they are unable to change the shape of their body. There are other things as well. In the back of their head there's something that urges them to behave like the beast he once was. Only more...intense.

And they don't want that. They absolutely don't want any of that.

It is still dark outside and maybe a little bit more quiet than it was the night before but this city makes them restless. They long to be outside. Away from all of this. And while they are in thought they do not notice that they're being stalked. And when they notice it might just be a little too late...]

[scatmaam]

[ A streak of violent red, eyes in the darkness, was most of what Enkidu would spy before Scathach leapt from the shadows she'd been stalking from, wings spread behind her to let her soar even further, aiming to tackle Enkidu right to the pavement below. ]

[enkidoh]

[Normally they would've been able to see this coming from miles away. The earth beneath their feet would've told them. But they seem to have lost that connection.

When they notice they manage to jump backwards and almost automatically they kneel down to summon their chains from the ground. Yet nothing comes... So all there is left is raising their voice, hoping that their words will be enough.]

Leave me be!

[scatmaam]

[ Words... were definitely not enough. And with no other options to protect them, Enkidu would find Scathach' pounce hitting its mark, hands planted on their chest and pushing back. Despite that, Scathach made no effort to bite... which might have been because their mask was still in place and her hands were otherwise occupied. But it was not a mistake one expected Scathach to make, even as a wild beast... ]

ii

[futhark]

[ It's not Land of Shadows, and times of training are long gone. But it does bring back memories. Caster doesn't even wonder if he managed to sense her stalking, or had she simply made her presence known for a reason. With Scáthach, only a fool would assume the former.

Ah yes, Someone promised him ear boxing for keeping secrets back in Dorchacht. That could be fun? Or maybe something he'd rather not do right now? Hmm— a hard choice for a head experiencing the Full Moon's for the first (and most likely last) time.

He stays still for a moment, but the small movement of his new wings, shows he's not as relaxed as he can see. He pulls the fabric thrown across his shoulders, closer to his neck— to make the start of the flight easier. ]

Oh right. I haven't told you who that shared friend of ours is. You said that catching me is a poor challenge... or something along those lines.

[scatmaam]

Is that you offering to toss that friend before me in order to spare yourself?

[ Which was so deeply unlike him she figured it definitely wasn't the actual case, even if he was going to make it sound like it was. She could sniff mischief on him from where she was, still stalking within the shadows, only the glow of red eyes indicating her presence at all, in addition to the sound of her voice. ]

If catching you is a poor challenge, then make it more interesting for me.

[futhark]

[ Caster moves his head slightly, in the direction from where her voice is coming. It's dark, the red glow of eyes can be a reflection, can be a misdirection... So could be a voice, but sight is easier to fool ]

What? No, I will take their secret to the grave— unless they release me from it. [ His shoulders shake in a short laugh, mischief yes, that is a driving force tonight. Can't take anything too seriously— or takes things way too seriously, but only those that matter. ]

I am just curious— was that the reason you've been on my trail for a while now?

[scatmaam]

Don't flatter yourself... [ A low growl. ]

I intend to hunt any prey that will give me a good hunt... if you fail to impress, I'll simply toss you aside for lesser hunters.

ii

[thejoyrider]

[Marie might not have been living in this house for long but she managed to learn the daily habits of Zelda and Scathach. She knew that the Queen of Dun Scaith does sometimes leave the house late, but this time felt nothing like these instances. Something was wrong]

Lancer? [She called after the woman, but got no reply.] Are you okay?

[Still no answer, so Marie follows in the direction Scathach ran to.]

[scatmaam]

[ Within the darkness of the alleyways surrounding their home, Marie's reaction of following Scathach out would soon to prove a mistake... From those shadows, the natural friend of Scathach for so long, she sprang forth, her wings giving her even more of a boost to clear the space between them, aiming to bring Marie to the ground below in a single pounce. ]

[thejoyrider]

[It is too late and it is too dark and Marie is too new at this place. Marie walks, looking around not proving very helpful. She calls out to the woman a few more times. Still no reply.

Then she hears it - sudden movement from the direction of the bushes. But she heard it too late to even attempt avoiding the attack. Let's be honest, even in most normal situations Scathach could easily overpower Marie before the queen even noticed what was going on.]

Scathach?

[And then she screams.]

[scatmaam]

[ The trepidation and shock with which her name was uttered, the scream of terror that accompanied it, as if a shock to her system, interrupted her pounce, sending the lancer crashing not into Marie, but beside her, crumpling into a heap. Her consciousness peeled back, layer by layer, beast and person clashing in her heart. Marie... she'd nearly attacked Marie... ]

R-... run! Run away! [ She growled, clutching at her own head as her wings folded over herself. ]

I-C

[betweenduskanddawn]

[Scathach would have been between one swing of her weapon and the next when Corrin suddenly darted between her and several of the terrified looters, catching that vicious looking spear with her own sword and then shoving backwards, trying to push the woman back from her would-be victims.]

Hey!

[Corrin planted her bare feet firmly, bringing her not-as-magical-as-she-wished sword up to point at the wolf-woman...who was honestly terribly impressive now that she had a moment to look at her. What had she gotten herself into now.]

I think they've learned their lesson. Calm down.

[scatmaam]

[ The way Lancer stepped back suggested it was not Corrin's strength alone that pushed her back, and the firmness of her stance, as well as the arching of her wings over her shoulders, drove that possibility home. She didn't step back because she was pushed... it's because she wanted a better sight of this new possible opponent. ]

Are you taking their place, lass?

[betweenduskanddawn]

[Corrin had seen that kind of self-assured movement before in others, when Xander or Ryoma was taking the field of battle. The kind of moment where they never doubted they were going to win. She had always been jealous of that, and definitely didn't want to wind up facing someone with it.]

[But here she was, and it was too late to back down now.]

If I have to. [She managed to keep any quaking from her voice. She'd faced down stranger opponents than this woman, at least.]

[scatmaam]

Don't be ridiculous! [ Lancer barked. Literally. ]

Put down your weapon before I put it down for you. [ Lancer's aggression didn't cloud her intuition entirely, and she could tell this girl had the gumption of a warrior, and apparent courage, but she also couldn't help but think it was foolish her to attempt fighting Lancer, in the state both were in. ]