☆ 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

[cryptsleeper]

I know, Belmont. I know.

[It's terrifying. They both know it.]

And yes, most likely. Or they'd be smart, and use you as a Trojan horse for dealing with far worse things, and find ways to work with the complications the matter brings.

[He's trying to steer back towards calm. He doesn't like being this raw. Alucard had his moment of absolute rawness when Trevor and Sypha left. This feels too close to that.]

[quickwhip]

[ Softly, boots scuff against the flooring as he makes his way back over to the window. Rather than open it, he merely draws the curtains some and stares out the window. God, he still wants to jump out it and just run or something. ]

It's going to happen, isn't it?

[ A beat, fingers digging into his jaw. ]

I'm going to want blood. And I'll be the very thing I've hunted for the better part of my life.

[cryptsleeper]

Yes.

[There's no denying it.]

But in this situation, you're not alone. There are probably systems in place that allow for ethical consumption. Ways to keep yourself in check. This talk of bonds and the reliance upon the [UGH] monster-witch thing, there's no way it could work without there being infrastructure.

[He knows it isn't the point.]

I know that isn't the point. I know it's cold comfort. But...

[quickwhip]

And what if that's not good enough?

[ He turns to look to Alucard then, hand still covering his mouth. Clearly, he's ashamed of the fangs. ]

Do you see any vampires wanting ethical consumption back home? Vampires hunt, Alucard. I know you know that.

[cryptsleeper]

Of course we do.

[We. Still.]

And if that is the case, then we go down other paths. But first we see how it works here, if it is survivable to you.

[quickwhip]

[ Jesus Christ. This isn't how he wanted his night to go. Yet here they are. Talking about him drinking blood at some point and fuck if that doesn't gross him out. ]

Survivable.

[ In defeat, he sighs and pulls away from the window to go to his bed where he drops himself down and sits there, hunched over some, still softly chewing on the inside of his fingers. ]

Shouldn't you be fucking laughing at this?

[cryptsleeper]

[Alucard doesn't move to sit down. He's not welcome here, not really. He's forced his way in, dropped a bomb on Trevor, and...

...he wants to go home.]

Why would I be?

[quickwhip]

You know damn well why. A Belmont of all things a fucking vampire.

[ And he still can't believe this is actually happening to him. ]

[cryptsleeper]

There's nothing funny about that to me. It's only cruel.

[quickwhip]

[ Slowly, very slowly, he lets his hand slip away from his mouth and fall to his lap, staring to the floor in silence for a long moment. ]

I don't even know how this happened. It's not like I was bit or something.

[cryptsleeper]

Have you paid any attention to the basics of being here, Belmont? The discussion of witches, monsters, and familiars?

[quickwhip]

[ ... ]

No.

[cryptsleeper]

[Alucard groans softly.]

May I please sit in the general vicinity of your bed then? We'll be here a bit.

[quickwhip]

Knock yourself out.

[ But it's not like he shifts over or anything. There's plenty of bed for Alucard to claim. ]

[cryptsleeper]

[Alucard isn't so bold as to sit on the bed. He just sits at the side of it, his back pressed against the mattress, eyes focused on the door across from him.

Then he explains. Not just the basic information, the talk of mirrors and familiars, but the events of only a month ago, as Geralt relayed to Alucard earlier.

His voice tries to be calm throughout it all. But it fails. To say the word witch makes him want to vomit. When he explains the recent events, Alucard's voice can't decide if it wants to scream and cry in despair for fear of that having potentially been a version of reality he was exposed to (either as a human or as a dhampir) or be furious for the same reason.

By the end, Alucard's voice is hollow. He's spoken for far too long.]

And so that is where we find ourselves, Belmont.

[quickwhip]

[ Trevor can only find himself staring to the floor as Alucard speaks, as he explains. He had heard this and that concerning monsters and how it had turned some into whatever it was they were now becoming but... it's not like he thought it would happen to him. Far as he could tell, the transformations didn't stem from any sort of bite or illness.

So, once the blond is done, he just... sighs. ]

Guess we're both fucked.

[ A little crass, but it's not like he's wrong either. ]

[cryptsleeper]

Physically and emotionally, yes.

[Alucard tilts his head back and closes his eyes.]

As if we didn't have enough to deal with.

[quickwhip]

[ Yeah, considering what they both went through before coming here? This definitely wasn't needed for either of them. ]

Look... I know we're not exactly best friends or anything and you're a little shit a good chunk of the time. But...

[ He falls silent for a moment, resisting the urge to touch at his mouth. At those fangs. ]

...if I get out of control, I just ask that you stop me. If you're able to.

[cryptsleeper]

No, we're not. But I know what Sypha would want from both of us in this situation, and I will respect those wishes.

[Sypha is one thing that we can agree on.]

She'd look after you and find a way to keep this controlled before anything else happened. So I will do the same.

[quickwhip]

[ That's nice and all but... ]

And how do you plan to do that? Bring me things to suck dry?

[cryptsleeper]

I have to have a plan right now, seconds after we've discovered this?

[quickwhip]

Yes.

[ That... might be sarcastic but it's a little difficult to tell with how tired Trevor seems to be. Emotionally more than physically. ]

Alucard, can you...

[ But then he feels weird and he finds his fingers twisting in the bed sheets. ]

...nevermind. Just. I don't know. Figure something out I guess.

[cryptsleeper]

I'll start researching tomorrow. Give me a few days to come up with a concrete plan?

[Alucard knows he has so much work to do. He also knows the obvious solution, but he doesn't want to talk about that yet. He can barely think the word witch in relation to himself without feeling sick.]

[quickwhip]

[ He nods in regards to the blond's words, gaze lingering on the floor while fingers still remain twisted in the bed sheets. How does he... why is this so difficult to do? Probably because no one's ever given a shit about him and he's always had himself to look out for. But this is... a lot bigger than he can handle on his own, much as he hates to admit it. So, he has to try. ]

Can you... just... I don't know. Stay here. With me?

[ Ugh that sounds so stupid and he comes to cover his face with a hand. ]

I just... want to go if that makes any sense and if I do... I don't know what I'll do.

[cryptsleeper]

Yes.

[It's an easy request to fill. Alucard understands the overwhelming nature well, everything. He can't do much to help but be a sort of warm body to be near for the time being, and that feels like the bare minimum of what Sypha would do in this situation.

He misses her so much. She could navigate this much better.]

I'll keep you inside tonight. Promise.