☆ 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

[darkcharge]

[ It's a good attempt. However Vanitas can talk and do what he wants to do at he same time. Would be easier with the Unversed, but he's already moving about the room, looking for anything else that could be of sentimental value to take and destroy. ]

It shouldn't be possible, should it? Even where I come from it isn't normal for someone to have their Darkness literally torn out of their heart and continue to survive.

[ Vanitas does see something that catches his eye and begins to move towards a desk. ]

I suppose it it wasn't for our dear "little brother" my other half wouldn't have persisted. He shared his heart and that was just enough for my Light to continue living.

[inlikethebrume]

Sharing a heart? How is that even possible? Wouldn't someone die with only half of one?

[Thinking in literal terms, not KH terms. What kind of nutty world is this kid from?]

Could a body even last so long with only half?

[darkcharge]

Not the organ. [ Seriously... At least Vanitas is quick enough to pick up on what she's getting at. ] Everything that makes you you. Your emotions. Memories. Goals and motivations.

[ The KH version of a soul, really. Though obviously that's not what they call it. ]

And honestly? No. People can't typically exist without it.

[inlikethebrume]

You speak of a soul then.

[Look, Eorzeans aren't really told that when it comes to hearts and souls. It's honestly a good thing he explained it because seriously, One Fear. But it makes a bit more sense now...so is he Fray or Alpha?]

But why would anyone try to take out part of a soul? What would be gained in such an endeavor?

[darkcharge]

[ Vanitas finds himself at a rocking char as he's moved about the room. His fingers dance across the wooden surface, as if inspecting it. ]

I suppose because we were on death's door. Our dear master thought that he could at least salvage something.

[inlikethebrume]

And so he decided to do what he thought was best.

[But that's not the end of the story is it? Does this feel too personal to go on?]

Yet you stand here as a person, someone with a soul. Darkness as it may be, you still possess one. Or heart on your star.

[darkcharge]

[ Ironically, Vanitas isn't to keep secrets. Let people guess his motives, sure. Keep his more unstable nature close o his tattered heart, yes. Secrets? Not so much. ]

A person with little more than half a heart or soul or whatever you want to call it. An incomplete existence.

[inlikethebrume]

[This makes Mira walk over to him slowly, keeping her eyes focused on where his face is until she is a few inches from him.

And then, her hand reaches out...and she flicks part of his hood where she can assume his head is.]

You're here aren't you? I wouldn't call that incomplete.

[darkcharge]

[ Well he's prepared to defend himself if he needs to. He doesn't really expect the woman to just flick anything. Vanitas takes a step back, rocking chair forgotten for the time being. ]

What? You think that just because I'm walking around and interacting makes me something more than I am? Please...

[ Existing like this isn't worth it. Not when every time he feels something it's painful. Not when he has to know that his other half is perfectly happy and content. Ventus hasn't had to go through half of what Vanitas has. ]

As if you'd know what it's like.

[inlikethebrume]

[Her expression goes from neutral to something much more darker, her lips curl into a small smirk as if he spoke some magical words that willed Mira to come clean about her own darkness.]

More than you know.

[Her tone is low when she speaks next.]

"Open your eyes...do you see?" Those were words spoken to me by another...another part of me. One whom I walk with willingly.

[darkcharge]

[ This sudden change in tone... Vanitas doesn't know what to make of it. Doesn't even know if he likes it. He frowns, probably the only thing that Mira can actually see of his facial features at the moment.

More than he knows? He could argue the poin, butt he doesn't. Not yet. ]

Go on.

[ At least this has Vanitas' interest. ]

[inlikethebrume]

[Oh, he's intrigued? Well, it's not like her to just let it dangle and unanswered.]

While it is true that everyone has darkness within them, I believe that it is not harmful, quite the opposite. As I said to you prior. But it was this other part of me who showed me the start of this path...you can say they are how I feel when I cannot express it outward...my true feelings. But to suppress it would always cause harm all around, to myself most of all. It is because of them that I understand the darkness within.

[But what she's taken most of all during this...is to love herself. To take care of her own well being. But like she'll say it right now.]

You can say I am a hero of another star...but even I have my limits of how much I can take before saying no. It took a battle with myself in the literal sense to see it.

[darkcharge]

[ Not a typical hero to admit that Darkness exist within - that it isn't harmful. Not innately, anyway. Failure to deal with it and acknowledge it has always caused the issues. Though embracing the Darkness also has its issues... If done incorrectly. That Riku brat seemed to manage to find a balance.

And Sora... Well Sora isn't really afraid of it either. Weird kid. ]

Not entirely the same, though I see your point.

[inlikethebrume]

[It's hitting a balance that is tough. Too much and the Abyss will consume you and too little means not enough. It's when that second one comes into play that it is the most dangerous.]

Too much of it can cause worry but finding a balance is not harmful. A lesson I had learned when I started out and began to truly notice.

[That first quest man...get the darkness orbs but couldn't go greedy unless you wanna die. Is she walking down memory lane now? Probably but at least the kid may get it.]

Hey, I never got your name. Doubt you wish to referred to as 'boy' when we see each other again.

[darkcharge]

The difference is that you can find balance. I don't even have that option.

[ Because he is incomplete. A heart that holds no Light. So Vanitas can't even attempt to find anything close to balance or the like. Not as long as his heart continues to be shattered and fragmented.

It's not what he wants, obviously. If he had the opportunity to become whole he'd take it. However Vanitas has just come to terms with never being complete. If he chooses not to pursue then he doesn't actually fail, right? ]

Next time when you're out to stop me, you mean.

[inlikethebrume]

That all depends on what is happening; it could be that or simply seeing each other on the road.

[The possibilities are endless.]

[darkcharge]

[ . . . Well then. ]

You know once you leave I am going right back to what I was doing.

[inlikethebrume]

And the chance that you may get caught as well.

[It would be hilarious to be honest. And she's keeping the burnt doll.]

[darkcharge]

If it's law enforcement, I think they have more important things than me not technically stealing anything at all.

[ He shrugs. The only ones that would likely pay any mind to him right now are people like this lady. Hero types. ]

But fine. My name is Vanitas.

[inlikethebrume]

[She shrugs because who even knows. Luck is a fickle thing.]

Vanitas then. I'm Mira.

[Technically yes to the hero but also not exactly a goody good in her mind? Like not a pure cinnamon roll at least.]

[darkcharge]

[ Wow a not-so-pure hero. Who would have thought. ]

Now who said I wanted your name? Maybe I would be fine with shouting "hey lady" down the streets.

[ Actually he doesn't mind. Now Vanitas is being a brat just for the sake of it. He's a little amused and perplexed by this sudden turn in tone. ]

[inlikethebrume]

Would you get my attention that way if there are many women on the street?

[It's kind of a common sense thing. That and not being rude since she got his name.]

[darkcharge]

[ He huffs. Yeah, it is a common sense thing. But hey he kind of appreciates a smart wit and tongue? ]

Pretty sure it would catch your attention if I threw something at you along with shouting.

[inlikethebrume]

Only if you can hit me.

[Try it, kid.]

[darkcharge]

Is that a challenge?

[ Because he could be up for that. A little game might certainly give him something to focus his stupid little mind on. ]