☆ 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

[futhark]

Caren... [ He starts almost carefully. Tasting the melody of her name all over again. City lights down below them, unknown stars and high above them. A damned isekai adventure no one asked for. ]

Is this a lack of purpose that bothers you, or is it the uncertainty? [ Trying to narrow it down, trying to lock on the true heart of the issue. Stumbling is fine, and hurting is only human— but genuinely losing faith in yourself, that could be crippling. She's stronger than that, he's sure of it, but there are times when one has to be reminded of their own strength— And also get hugs, so he tightens the embrace. ]

Cw: murder

[showsnopiety]

[He seems to love saying her name. Caren Caren Caren...ah, how lewd. But there's always a bit of lewd in some isekai adventures isn't there? Usually to the ladies with the t rather then the A but still.

She heavily doubts he wants to seduce her, like so many, many men at home did because of her beauty and not because of her mind.

Thankfully, she's considering more of the question then seduction because that could make things awkward very fast. Though it would be a good diversion if this became too much. Even if he was hugging her almost too tight.]

I...mmn. It's not-if it's uncertainty, it's not about this world. I...hm.

If I'm uncertain about anything, it's how long I can keep being...good.

...during the dream, with the other one...we had been collected by a noblewoman. It was all my plan to escape. And I knew she needed to be silenced or we would be ordered and I...

it was so easy. Her throat crumbled like paper. There was shock yes but...I wanted...all I wanted...I wanted to do it again.

[futhark]

[ Who knows, maybe Caren gets a harem ending in this isekai But joking aside, dead ancients tend to have different opinions on what is just and righteous. His moral compass additionally sent askew thanks to the Fae-brain. ]

She wanted to take ownership over your lives, she knew the risk and paid the price. [ Rules of the raid, you lay a claim of ownership, you battle for it— if you win, you take it all, if you lose, most likely you'll lose it all ] You exerted your right to protect yourself and those of your choosing. Nothing wrong with that.

[ So maybe it's not "good", but he doesn't see it as "evil" either. But then he always operated on a different axis, between order and chaos instead. He slides his hand down her hair and onto the wing, tracing it curiously ]

The blood frenzy— that is something working best when under control. [ But it has its uses, boy does it have its uses ]

[showsnopiety]

[How wonderful and terrible but yeah, maybe she shouldn't be asking him for his opinion on the matter when he's a used to Celt laws which are...not modern laws, and he's gone all fae.

Well, she's not clearly thinking of it. But she does feel better, knowing that he wasn't freaking out about her murdering someone. Technically, she only sent them into a coma but...still.

She shivered, and her wing moved, spreading under Cu's fingers, letting him feel over and under the feathers.

It did feel nice. She tended to get itchy.]

I'm not familiar with blood frenzies. Or...how to control them.

[futhark]

[ That's where he chuckles— ríastrad might be a thing of a past and a legend, but hey that is a reason he can be summoned as a Berserker in the first place ]

The stories say you need to be shown swaying, naked bosom — the more the better — and then dunked in the cold water. [ That's right, that's what some of the stories say. That sight of naked breasts was enough to embarrass him out of the warp spasm. ] From experience I can say that just the cold water can be enough.

[ "Can" is the keyword here. That's the bad thing about frenzies, they're not really that controllable ]

[showsnopiety]

Swaying...naked bosom.

[Right, that is how the story goes, isn't it? Cu got embarrassed by all the boobs, or embarrassed for the women exposed and got dumped in a barrel.]

...The water may work, but I don't know what would work with me and naked bosoms. Justine showed me that convorting with women is a pleasant experience but...I'm not sure I would be easily swayed...

[futhark]

It didn't work on me either, so I agree, stick to the cold water— [ Caren, Caren, don't believe the embarrassing things the legend says! It never worked. Or maybe it did when he was 10 years old, but not later— But as funny as this subject is, there is the underlying current, the real issue ]

You're not a bad person for protecting yourself or others.

[showsnopiety]

[No she's just wondering what would happen if she exposed herself to him right now. Sure, no blood frenzy, but it might be funny if he panicked!

She toyed with the button of her shirt. Hmmm.]

It's funny. I've been criticized, a bit. That I go out and protect others too much but not myself.

But you and I, we're a little alike in that, aren't we...?

[futhark]

[ That's literally the last thing he'd expect now, so yes, the reaction might be funny.

Realization of what they have in common stuns him for a second. ]

Shields— That means we're both shields. [ It's true, it kind of makes him a hypocrite, with how little self-preservation he got. But a broken shield can't protect. While courting death was nothing new to him, he never actively sought its embrace, for he enjoyed living the life to the fullest. ] Was that your main purpose before?

[showsnopiety]

[She offered him a crooked little smile, tilting her head as she looked up at him. At least he could defend himself, and vigorously- but due to her bloodlines, she mostly was broken, over and over again.]

To save humans.

Mostly from daemons, but there are other incidents that I have applied myself in. Such as the one that brought us together.

Though hopefully that's a once in a lifetime experience.

[futhark]

[ "Applied myself in" that's very strange and particular wording. It implies... being used as a tool in the far more literal sense than he was originally talking about. Like a healing procedure. Or like something far more sinister. ]

Are you talking about humanity as a whole? [ That's a lot of humans. Too many for one person to shoulder. ] The way you word makes you sound like some kind of messiah... or a sacrifice.

[ Ain't that one and the same? ]

[showsnopiety]

[She was a bit of a tool, in more ways then one. But well...well. Caren clicked her tongue.]

I can't help all of humanity. That's simply too many people.

And also-I'd be a terrible messiah. I do not believe messiahs are known for their sarcasm, but for their benevolence and grace.

[So she is a sacrifice...but only for the few she can reach.]

[futhark]

It's a terrible job, I feel like sarcasm should be allowed. [ Being a messiah, that is. Not putting the responsibility of all humanity, that's a good thing. ]

Saving humans though, that sounds like a purpose possible here. You've been helping Mirrorbounds. [ And if that's not enough in a grander scheme of things, maybe it can be just enough for a while longer. ]

[showsnopiety]

Sarcasm and sass when not on the occupation of leading the people is certainly allowed. After all, few people can be truly full of grace all the time.

[She knew. Oh, she knew. Though...having that pointed out had her huff quietly.]

Not especially. Or rather, not enough.

[futhark]

[ Caster clicks his tongue, and suddenly he catches Caren's ear, twisting it and pulling ]

You are selling yourself short, it's not allowed. [ Is it him or is it a faebrain? No one knows, but the latter will always be a good excuse ]

[showsnopiety]

[She yelps in surprise. Her tail shoots up, and her hand goes up to slap his off of her ear. She hits harder then she meant to but-she can't remember the last time someone did this to her ear.

About selling herself short. Of all things.]

But it's true!

[futhark]

[ One hand is slapped away, so the other sneak right on the other ear to repeat the offending action. ]

You're not a machine. Take some of that pressure off yourself. [ It's self-made and... ah, he might know a thing or two. Pull, pull, twist. ] "Not enough" my ass... If that's how you decide to see yourself, you could save the world and still feel useless.

[showsnopiety]

[Ow! It's more annoying then painful, but she makes a noise of protest, trying to slap the other hand. How dare! Okay this isn't fun...she clearly has to do this to someone sometime...him, most likely.]

Because I am useless. I know I am not a Servant, or a mage, or a witch...I'm just a monster woman who has no purpose.

And if you keep twisting my ear, I will bite you.

it's been so long but i still want to wrap it up properly

[futhark]

Promises, promises— [ This isn't a man that considers being bitten a threat... ]

But very well, keep saying that if that's what you wish. And I will keep challenging you on that. [ A balance. Or perhaps a tug-of-war ]

It is a night now, and that's where battles are put to rest. [ As it always was. He catches her into a warm hug again. ] Enjoy this moment of peace with me, they never last long.

Sounds good to me!

[showsnopiety]

[She bares her teeth. Biting gonna happen soon. Soon...oh wait hug, can't bite, startled. He loves his hugs doesn't he.]

...all right. I can do that without ruining this.

[This moment of peace, on the Bright wall. It's warm here in his arms.]