☆ 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

[curruid_coinchenn]

[ Why be tactful when you can just tell the truth? ]

It is weird. Not for a snake, but for you.

[ And look, he's familiar with weird changes. Not that he's going to show the weirdest one off, but he knows. ]

[loadme]

[This was all pretty horrible, nobody was arguing that. But the fact that it was her tongue that had gotten an actual reaction out of someone like Berseker... It actually gets a bit of a chuckle out of her.

The moment is cut short, though, when the reminder of what she's become comes crashing back. Neither of them is particularly hard to miss, which makes it far too easy for the townsfolk to take notice and for some of them to voice their discontent.

Namecalling wouldn't typically have much of an effect on her, but she's feeling especially vulnerable today.

Vulnerable and angry.

Out of nowhere, she lets out a violent hiss at them. It's enough to send them running off, though it leaves Monika surprised with herself.

W-What did I just do...?

[curruid_coinchenn]

[ Berserker is quite used to being treated with fear and distrust, even before his monstrous transformation. It comes with the territory of being a night unstoppable chaotic force of destruction. He pays no mind to the insults, at least not until he sees Monika's reaction. Besides his physical changes, his feral thoughts are louder than ever. He's Bonded, this shouldn't be a problem, not this bad, anyway...But he doesn't think on it too hard. Instead, he gives into those thoughts and what he sees in Monika. ]

You stood up for yourself. They're afraid of you...And you gave them reason to fear you.

[loadme]

[Monika had been so afraid of herself that she didn't even stop to think about what it could've felt like from their end. As big as she was, anyone would have to think twice before messing with her. All she had to do was grab them with her tail and... well, not only was her tail long, but heavy, too.

It was a train of thought that began to lead down a slippery slope for her.]

Afraid of me?

[It didn't sound right, but there was a voice inside her head that was telling otherwise.

That she should be feared.

Monika found herself hissing and unfolding her fangs again. At who? Nobody in particular, she simply wanted to explore this side of herself.

And it felt good.]

[curruid_coinchenn]

[ Berserkers are a force of chaos in a Holy Grail War, so of course this one is going to encourage the most chaotic option. He has no moral compass and no desire to make someone choose what's best. ]

Do you want to see who else you can strike fear into? There are plenty more here who don't know they should fear monsters like us.

[loadme]

[Almost since she arrived, Monika had put an effort in wanting to be a better person. That was reason enough to have declined the "offer" coming from Berseker. Simply put, she simply wasn't in the right frame of mind even for that. One thought lead to another and she was now seriously considering it.

"What could it hurt?"

"I'll just do it once and stop."

But mostly, she just wanted the townsfolk to leave her alone.

None of this was her fault.]

... Yeah.

[The look on her face and in her eyes made it all too clear which side had won.]

I really want to show them what happens.

[curruid_coinchenn]

[ How easy it is to corrupt someone when they're at just the right point. A cruel, twisted smile comes to his face and he turns away. ]

Then let's go.[ He says as he's already walking. ] I see someone already...

[ A man screaming insults and obscenities at every visible monster that comes near him. While it's easy for Berserker to strike fear into someone, this is for Monika's benefit. He will simply be her guide and assist when necessary. No killing right now, though, not unless it's strictly necessary. ]

Go. Show him what fear is.

[ Of course, if she needs it, Berserker has a great trump card for causing fear and panic: his poison breath. ]

[loadme]

[The most frightening part of all this wasn't how she was so willing to indulge her urges, or how Berserker was leading her on what was essentially a hunt... It was how easy controlling her body had become once she stopped worrying. Monika's movements had become so much more natural now, one would've thought that she'd been this way for much longer.

Not only was she effortlessly slithering like a snake, but climbing like one, too. It was how she was able to sneak up behind her target.

She didn't realize it before, but she was keenly aware of how powerful her lower body really was, able to support her weight even as she raised herself to tower over the poor fool.

The distance between them had been shortened and what came next was only... natural. It began as a low hiss but quickly grew in intensity and her mouth hanged open while her fangs unfolded once more. But there was something else wasn't there?

Her tongue flicked against the air, the forked tips lightly brushing against the side of his face. She could smell him so easily from there.]

You want to see a monster?

I'll show you a monsssssster.

[curruid_coinchenn]

[ The man reacts with immediate terror, scrambling backwards and falling down in the process. He screams as he stumbles to his feet, wanting to get away from Monika. It's kind of pathetic how quickly he freaked out and didn't even have the courage to shout anything at her as her ran off.

Berserker just observes the scene with some measure of pride. She's a quick learner and he can appreciate that. ]

Good...You did so well. They crumble at the slightest pressure and you barely have to do anything.

[loadme]

[Let's see if he insults any monsters again after what he just went through.]

Right? I just had to look threatening enough and he wanted nothing to do with me. All talk, no bite!

[Meanwhile, Monika had enough bite for all of them.]

God, that felt... so good.

[One go and she was already addicted. She wasn't even hiding how she felt, now.]

Can we find someone else?

[It was a teacher and pupil combination that nobody ever wanted.]

[curruid_coinchenn]

[ Once he's in his right mind again, he wouldn't even feel the slightest bit of remorse for his actions. It's not like he's doing anything truly awful, just helping someone take advantage of their new found instincts. It fine.

But more she wants, then more she'll get. As they continue along the streets, there's a group of already frightened people on a stoop. Berserker puts up his hand to stop Monika. ]

Surprise them...Stay out of sight for a little while, find other ways to terrorize them

[loadme]

[Another way... It wasn't that she couldn't think of anything. More like she was having a hard time on settling on just one idea! Ah, but she finally did.]

Okay, watch this!

[And off she went, climbing just like before. Actually, she seemed to be having an even easier time of it, now. Her movements were more swift, and with less wasted motions. Monika eventually sat herself down, her tail hanging over the edge of the building.

She wondered, really. Just how powerful was her lower half?

Only one way to find out, as she swiftly reached out and wrapped her tail around one of them, quite literally picking them up by their waist and watching with delight as they squirmed and yelled.]

Oh wow! This is really easy!

I never knew I could be this strong.

I like it.

[curruid_coinchenn]

[ The rest of the group scatters, more interested in saving their own skins than helping their friend escape from the naga. Berserker, of course, finds this fascinating -- humans are so unpredictable sometimes. ]

How much more can they take? Find out...See how long they can handle the pressure.

[ Encouraging her is the best course of action. How far she will go is what he's most interested in finding out. ]

[loadme]

Yeah, good idea!

[She leaned in closer, arms resting across her "lap" as she began to tighten her grip on her "prey." The coils around them tightened more and more, and Monika was all the more more interesting in finding out how much more they could take.

Like a predator playing with their food.]

I really am too much for them, aren't I? I'm barely even trying, here!

[curruid_coinchenn]

[ The person is starting to get even more panicked and distressed, trying in earnest to get away...except for the fact they're being constricted to the point breathing is difficult. Their struggles lessen as their air supply is cut off and it's a few more moments until they go slack in Monika's grip, unconscious.

Berserker looks ... satisfied with this outcome. ]

You are. You're showing them what a monster truly is.

[loadme]

[The body goes limp and despite appearances, they're definitely still breathing.

Still Monika looks almost disappointed. She wanted to play with them more.]

And I was just getting started, too...

[She finally lets them go, making her way back ground level and slithering on back over to Berserker.]

We can let someone else pick up the trash.

[curruid_coinchenn]

[ He wondered how long this could go on for and how far she would go, so why stop now? The night is young and there are the unaffected citizens that have yet to be run off. There's are plenty more opportunities to for Monika to get in touch with her monstrous side. Berserker's more than happy to push her to find her limits, if there are any. ]