☆ 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

2B, we've talked and big maybe on the nsfw.

[fieryimpulse]

[Chandra's newfound horns and attitude are making her life a little more irritating than they perhaps need to. She hates them both, but some part of her is unable to resist the urge to turn her nose up at eyeblights, a term that just floated into her thoughts all on it's own. Her now elven ears perk up at the sound of music though, and she's drawn to it.

Drawn closer to water, drawn to the person she's seeing, Chandra moves dreamlike, with an impossible, inhuman grace. She's not wearing her armor today, instead favoring a simple green jerkin and trousers, loose and flowing, as they should be. It's simple aesthetics.

Alex's question snaps her out of the daze...confusion welling up in her eyes.]

Run? From you?

[No. No, she settles down next to Alex, looking over at her.]

Whyever would I?

[sing_for_me]

[ Seeing Chandra was like a breath of fresh air she didn't know she needed. As soon as she sat down, Alex leaned in closer, both of her hands taking one of Chandra's. ]

You won't be scared? Every..everyone else was..I don't want to scare you. And I won't hurt you..I wouldn't--

[ Now that she was so close, Alex could see how Chandra was affected as well. ]

You too..?

[fieryimpulse]

[Chandra's hand, now devoid of her usual gloves, closes around Alex's, her head canting curiously to one side.]

Why would you? That doesn't make sense. You're...Alex. I like you.

[Her other hand reaches up, brushing her pointed elven ears and the bone-white horns.]

...And yes, I am. I can still do magic, but I guess I'm some sort of elf now.

[sing_for_me]

[ There was no expression how hearing those words made her feel. It calmed her almost instantly. Alex loosens her grip, but doesn't let go just yet. ]

Do you think..we'll stay this way?

[ Her other hand moves to reach for Chandra's horn, touching it curiously. She's normally more respectful of boundaries, but that seems to go out the window during the full moon. ]

Did it..hurt?

[fieryimpulse]

I have no idea.

[She doesn't really seem bothered by the touch, or by her transformation. If anything, the gentle hand on the hardened bit of bone is soothing, and she leans into the touch just a bit so the softness of Alex's palm brushes against more of it.]

...It did at first. Like a headache. But I'm lucky enough to be more rational than most.

[She's not. She's just not aware of the depths of the change.]

Are the eyeblights bothering you? Is that why you're scared?

[sing_for_me]

Eye..blights..?

[ Alex's had pulls back, both of them consciously touching right by her eyes. ]

I-Is there something on me?!

[fieryimpulse]

...No.

[Chandra laughs softly, reaching her free hand up to touch Alex's shoulder.]

Eyeblights are...ugly people. Ugly creatures. Inside and out.

You're nothing of the sort.

[sing_for_me]

Oh.....Oh.

[ There's a sigh of relief at knowing it wasn't actual blight, but she unsure how she felt about the name itself. It did make sense though. ]

You don't think so? Lots of people seemed to be scared of me. It's...a lot more than my usual changes..

[fieryimpulse]

Why? I don't understand that. You're lovely, Alex.

[She'd say that on a good day, too. But there's more meaning in it now, as the pyromancer can barely draw her eyes off of her friend.]

Are you...are they hurting you? Do I need to deal with them?

[sing_for_me]

[ Her gaze lowers as she starts to feel more embarrassed at the compliment, her beginning to warm. She didn't think Chandra would like, but she could just be trying to make her feel better. And yet, she didn't really care. ]

Oh, no, no one hurt me. I think they'd be too scared to...They ran away as soon as they snapped out of it. I just wanted some company..

[fieryimpulse]

Hey...you've got it now. I'm not going anywhere.

[Chandra, tired, touch starved...and honestly just wanting to make Alex feel better, scootches closer. Enough to bump shoulders, even.]

Don't you worry. I'm not going away.

[sing_for_me]

[ Close as they were now, Alex leaned in to rest her head right in the crook of Chandra's neck, nuzzling against her slightly. She felt more comfortable now, safer even. ]

Do you promise?

[ Alex wasn't one to ask such things, but on this full moon there was so much she seemed to want. So much that she was more determined to have and claim. ]

[fieryimpulse]

[Chandra breathed in slowly, her entire body hitching slightly as Alex drew closer. She had been this close, physically, to precious few people not tied to her by blood. Holding Nissa as they'd worked their spell to defeat the Eldrazi Titans, being clutched to Gideon's chest as they'd crash-landed their airship into their enemy's stronghold, and again by Nissa as they'd spoken their feelings aloud for the first time while watching Gideon's pyre blaze.

This closeness had always before been accompanied by a sense of danger and of loss, tiny moments wrapped so deeply into her ties to the Gatewatch and with the two people she'd been able to open up to most. Being touched like this by someone outside of that small original group of Jace, Gideon, and Nissa felt strange, and came with a host of associations that were likely unhealthy. Among them was a feeling of safety, of belonging, and of real affection.

Saying any of that is beyond her, but she turns slightly, letting her head rest atop Alex's as they sit there.]

I promise.

dammit this is cute >:T

[sing_for_me]

[ Chandra's weight on her head gives a nice sense of security. Her body was warm, and fit so snuggly against her own . Alex wouldn't mind staying like this all night if she could. Her hand slides around Chandra's weight, gripping on to her clothes, as if still afraid she might leave. ]

Thank you..

Distressingly so. Probably safe to add a nsfw warning given the way it's going.

[fieryimpulse]

[Chandra leans into the touch a bit, her core body temperature rising even higher than normal as Alex seems to settle. Her cheeks, just beginning to become dotted scarlet, are a clear indication that she's happy with this arrangement, too.]

You'll be safe, with me.

[Turning slightly, she presses her lips against Alex's hair (or scalp if she's gone full fish.]

and never alone.

[sing_for_me]

[ The kiss on her hair has Alex shifting to look up at Chandra, not expecting such an affectionate gesture. She gazes up at her questioningly, but also warmly, their faces still close. Her words were sweet, as comforting as her touch was, and the selfish side of her that her merrow instincts brought out didn't want to let go.

She leans upwards, enough for her lips to press against Chandra's, her fins fanning out at the contact. ]

[fieryimpulse]

[Chandra was a tiny, tiny bit surprised by the touch, but she didn't pull back.

She relaxes ever so slightly, letting their lips brush, then press in for something a little deeper. Softly, she nuzzles her mouth to Alex's, returning the kiss, the warmth of her body seeming to concentrate almost entirely in her lips and cheeks. And she holds it for a long count before slowly drawing back.]

...Wow...

[sing_for_me]

[ Alex opens her eyes when Chandra pulls away, laughing lightly as she reaches up to brush a scaly thumb across Chandra's cheeks. It was quite endearing too see the color in them, what with how bold Chandra usually is. ]

Mm..

[ Her fingers brush down over the other's lips, eyeing them a moment before looking into Chandra's eyes. ]

Was that okay?

[fieryimpulse]

[Chandra is bold. She's destructive, and she's a total mess when it comes to life outside of a fight. She's never had lot of romantic success, and honestly doesn't know what to do with it when it hits her in the face like this.

She doesn't look away, though. She does...giggle...awkwardly, her voice a little high as she replies.]

More than! It was great.

[High and squeaky, but definitely not angry.]

Is it okay with you?

[she kissed you, idiot.]

[sing_for_me]

[A merrow was always happy when they made a catch. Although her intentions this time around certainly weren't to try and drown the woman. The moon just brought out these feelings in her she otherwise would never dare express. She wanted to enjoy people's company. She wanted to enjoy people. And if Chandra was happy and willing, was it so wrong for her to do just that?

Which is why she leans up to kiss her again, this time letting it linger. ]

[fieryimpulse]

[That would likely not go as expected...given Chandra's paranoid bag of tricks stuck to her waist. It's just...nice having this sort of closeness with someone, without all the worry and fear.

Alex's second, lingering kiss steals away Chandra's breath and she leans more into it. Returning the soft gesture with a deep, rumbling, happy laugh in the back of her throat. She presses forward, one hand reaching to cup Alex's cheek, fingers curling to draw her closer. Her tongue awkwardly sits there, thoughts torn between wanting more and being unsure of what to do to show that...so hopefully Alex can give her some direction.]

[sing_for_me]

[ The laugh makes Alex smile, a small laugh of her own as she's pulled closer by Chandra's coaxing. She pulls away to change the angle, pressing her lips against Chandra's again with a little more pressure, gently encouraging her to part her lips as well. ]

[fieryimpulse]

[Chandra does, a little more uncertainly. She's operating on instinct, but kissing isn't something she's done a ton of before. A few here and there, but...let's just say Alex is the one who'll need to guide her until she finds her footing...for a moment.]

[sing_for_me]

[ She does sense Chandra's uncertainty. It wasn't often that she got customers that were inexperienced, but she could move slower to accommodate. And Chandra wasn't just some john. Merrows weren't all that impatient either, taking their time to catch their prey. So she does pull back a little, giving her slow, soft kisses until she can feel Chandra relax more. Her thumb brushes against the side of the redhead's face soothingly. ]

[fieryimpulse]

[Relaxing doesn't come naturally to the highstrung pyromancer, but in Alex's grasp like this, she's like a kitten. Finding herself, she deepens the kisses slightly as they go on, moving her lips and mouth in time with the merrow's, her palm reaching to rest against the curve of Alex's neck, fingers curled to gently brush at her spine. Humming her approval, she inhales, the scent of water lilies flooding her senses from the nearby pool.]

This...is nice... [she murmurs between kisses, still a little uncertain of what Alex wants to come next. Her instincts have ideas, the blood rushing through her has ideas...but are those shared?

Her free hand comes to rest on Alex's hip, sliding down towards her bottom, testing to see if those ideas are just flights of fancy or something plausible.]