☆ 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]

[ Look, it's been a weird night and he's not doing well. Let him have this. ]

No, you're not. You're only smart enough to not lie about what an idiot you are.

[ He switches to petting the other ear now. This feels weird to be petting someone else like an animal, but if the shoe fits... ]

You really are acting like a dog, you know that?

[loudandproud]

( 'smart enough' might be the best thing he could ever aspire to, but that's a passing thought as the other ear gets touched. )

Is that a bad thing?

( honestly, he could be asking question toward either of those statements. )

But I gotta know, do you still feel like you want to... you know.

( kill a man? )

[curruid_coinchenn]

[ Okay, it's weird now, but he can't stop petting Caspar. It's not like he's complaining, so it's not a bad thing. It's fine. ]

Hunt someone? Yes, but...it's not as bad. [ He doesn't know why. Maybe it's the contact with another person and someone forcing him to keep his focus on anything but the feral instincts tearing at his mind. ] I can control myself.

[loudandproud]

( studies have shown that once you pet, you can't stop petting. they call it the pringles effect. )

Maybe I should follow you around and make sure you do. ( it's not like he has anywhere to go, and this place is certainly a good one to be in despite how ridiculous it might look. ) But I understand if you don't want the company.

[curruid_coinchenn]

[ Berserker stops his petting and lets his hand drop away. The mere suggestion of needing a minder annoys him beyond words. ]

That's not necessary. I'm not your responsibility and I can handle myself. [ He can't. Not right now. Not that he'll admit to it, of course. ] ...So leave me be. You've done your job, haven't you?

[loudandproud]

( he tilts his head, looking at berserker with wide and almost puppy-like eyes. )

It doesn't have to be necessary or a forced responsibility. I just like being with others. It helps keep me in check. So just think of it as... you making sure I don't do anything stupid.

( and his tail curls at the tip as it goes limp. )

[curruid_coinchenn]

You're going to come along with me whether or not I want you to, aren't you?

[ Berserker's been trying to set boundaries, but he falls back on bad habits. With how irritated he's been tonight, if he tries to enforce them, it may end in bloodshed. In the end, he settles for the easier path. ]

...You're not my responsibility, either.

[loudandproud]

Well... maybe.

( not that he'd be doing the stalking per se, but he did want to make sure berserker kept his cool. and maybe there's a little part of caspar drawn to those floppy ears, too. not necessarily the barest vestiges of pack mentality; rather, a weird kinship of dog-ness and blue hair. )

I don't want to be, so don't worry.

( maybe his does start to wag, if only a few twitches from side to side. )

[curruid_coinchenn]

You say "maybe" like your mind isn't already made up...

[ Berserker has just accepted Caspar's company now. And don't think he doesn't notice that tail wag, either. ]

And you seem to like the thought of it, judging by that tail of yours. [ A beat. ] I wonder what else would make your tail wag.

[ That ... was not supposed to sound like innuendo. Too late to take it back now. ]

[loudandproud]

( berserker should be thankful that such innuendos fly over his head, like a frisbee to an already distracted dog. but he does cant his head anyway, blinking a few times rapidly before letting out one thoughtful sigh. )

I don't think I can control my tail. It has a mind of its own.

( and then he snickers, ears flicking. )

Honestly? Meat. That reminds me, actually... you know any places that might serve some good food?

[curruid_coinchenn]

[ He is very grateful, really. That went better than expected and he can forget he ever said it. ]

... No, but there are restaurants nearby. [ Even if he has his doubts to them serving monsters with the situation the way it is right now. Berserker also still has trouble tending to basic mortal needs after an existence of not having such things. ] One of them's bound to serve meat.

[ Annoyance slowly comes back into his tone as he realizes he's likely going to get drug along on this outing. ]

...Are you including me in this venture?

[loudandproud]

( one day caspar will remember and it'll be a real learning moment for the both of them. probably. do either of them really learn??? )

It wouldn't hurt you to get something to eat, yeah? ( it's felt like ages since he's had a meal with other people. it didn't feel as right doing it with his troops, and given how everyone split apart after graduating from the officer's academy? this is the most unintended but most welcome thing to have happened to him thus far. )

You can't tell me you don't want to chow down on something tasty right now.

[curruid_coinchenn]

[ No, not really, if we're being honest. ]

If you insist. [ Berserker can't reject hospitality and the offer of a meal is just that. Geis are annoying. ] A meal and then you will leave me alone...

[loudandproud]

Yeah, of course! Definitely.

( as earnest as he may sound? he now knows to some degree that... well, berserker might be a little flexible when it comes to such requests. maybe he's not as grumpy as he seems? or, which is also okay with him, that he likes to eat. that's enough for him, too. )

[curruid_coinchenn]

Good...

[ If only it were either of those and not an inability to reject offers like that without causing a lot of trouble for himself.

It's fine. He'll share a meal with Caspar and be on his way again. There's worse ways and people to spend this insane night with. Maybe it'll settle his mind down some, maybe not, but it's a diversion he's fine with taking. ]