☆ 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

QUESTIONS

[moustre]

GENERAL

[moustre]

EVENT

[moustre]

Berserker (Cú Chulainn Alter) | OTA

[curruid_coinchenn]

[ Ib. Widespread Chaos ]

[ Berserker is one of the ones that finds himself changed further. Soft, dog-like ears replace his normal pointed ones, his scales are covered in a soft fur, and that coating extends to his wings and tail. It's not just the physical changes that bother him, of course -- the more animalistic instincts he tries so hard to keep control of scream louder than ever. If he stays in, he may become a danger to those he lives with, so it only makes sense he escapes to the streets.

While he's not interested in looting or anything, chaos is his natural element. It's only making things worse to be out here and he's not as bad off as he could be -- he still has the barest grasp on his mind.

Something has caught his attention and that's a person, unfortunately. Berserker seems to be stalking them like a predator, a frighteningly calm expression on his face. Anyone familiar with him will realize this is a dangerous situation. he draws closer to his potential victim, body language unchanged.

Do you dare distract him and risk becoming a target yourself? Hopefully, someone talking sense might draw him out of this state and stop him from becoming a larger danger. ]

[ II. Damage Control ]

[ Though the insanity of last night is behind him, Berserker is still irritable. Even familiar faces aren't exactly welcome to him right now. The feral thoughts pull at him, making him less fun than normal to deal with. Going about his daily business is an annoying chore now and it's made worse when someone bumps into him. This isn't a slight that would normally draw his attention, but with the state of mind he's in now, it's unforgivable.

He growls as he turns to the offending party. ]

Are you going to just keep walking like nothing happened?

[ It's likely he'll settle down if the other party is reasonable, however... ]

[ IV. Aftermath ]

[ After the less than pleasant past few days, Berserker finds himself on the docks near dusk. It's quieter than he's used to and that suits him just fine. The unwanted extra bits brought on by the mist have faded away, leaving the familiar dragon behind. He's taking time to fish, not quite finding enjoyment in it, but it's enough to soothe the annoyance of losing control over himself.

Until his quiet time is interrupted. Hearing someone approach he lifts his head. ]

What do you want? If it's an apology, find it from someone else.

[ Ah...Yes, he's in a great mood. ]

[ V. Wildcard ]

[ These prompts not doing it for you? Got an idea? Did we already plot something out? Drop me a starter or PM me here or on Discord (glitzkrieg#0673)! ]

[belligerentwarrior]

A. Peacekeeping [Fang's awake, when the fog's chaos first breaks; she always is when the full moons first show themselves. It's quickly apparent that something's wrong when people start screaming in a nearby bar—and when the moons sing in her head louder than usual.]

[She follows the scent of blood to that bar, as a man (partly still human, asymmetrically sporting the features of a rhinoceros) violently pitches another man (covered in his own blood, from the sudden growth of heavy reptilian scales and vicious teeth) into the street. The reptile-man is quick back to his feet, thrashing and shrieking, and it's seconds before the two clash again.]

[The jaguar turnskin lands between them, roughly knocking the rhino-man aside before he gores the reptile. This is escalating too quickly, too bloodily.]

Enough!

B. Ambush

[But Fang isn't wholly unaffected. The instincts and moons scream in her mind in a way they haven't since she'd bonded, coming and going like the tide.]

[While the feral urges encroach, anyone with primarily prey-like characteristics might suddenly hear a jaguar's roar from above, a dark feline with too-long limbs and small crystal-like growths pouncing upon them.]

[But when the influences recede, Fang prowls about with those enchanted papers, trying to ambush anyone acting feral (particularly violent individuals) from the shadows or from above.]

C. Respite

[By the 14th, Fang's worn to the bone. Between her own feral episodes and her attempts at keeping peace, she's been through too many fights. She isn't as durable here as she'd been in her world; the turnskin's covered in bruises and cuts, some stitched and some bandaged.]

[She can't heal, but considering how overwhelmed the Coven is, she can help tend to the less severe wounds. She can stitch, set bones, tend burns, check concussions—all vital skills to one born on the violent Gran Pulse.]

[Fang herself looks like she hasn't slept terribly much, either.] And what do you need?

Wildcard

[Hit me with something, and I'll roll with it! You can also PM if you want to work out something specific!]

ursula callistis | ota

[beariot]

[ i-a - locked to fang, possibly kaede, depends on who's in the apartment at the time ]

[ Most people who knew Chariot well enough would have pegged her for this even if she herself insisted she was more kin to bears and other such animals than anything feline, but the mist had her pegged for it regardless of any protests she might have had, if given the opportunity to voice them. Unfortunately, the transformation's initial take of her, leaving Chariot looking not unlike her bonded with pulled back ears and darting tail, and little of her human intellect forming at first, at least not as much as she'd liked.

Her immediate senses told her she was different and she was cold and that was very bad and her reaction to this was to... spring up in the middle of the night and begin darting about the house, letting out uncertain yowls and mewls with about the same level of anxious energy one expected from Chariot. She didn't know what she wanted, but she knew too much wasn't right for her to be calm, and the daggers of panic and impulse were too difficult to ignore.

Having a panic attack while being changed into a cat-person was probably not an ideal combination. ]

[ i-b - open ]

Stop it! You'll just give them an excuse to resent you!

[ The tension of her nerves had been calmed some, but the state of the city was keeping her on edge, regardless, though her new feline reflexes were helping her chase down a group of looting orphans. She didn't dare try to use her magic here, not knowing what state it could be in, but she could at least rely on what was still certain; her physical aptitude.

Anyone catching a glimpse of her as she pursued the gang would see her motions almost like a dancer, nimble and graceful in her movements despite the anxious energy surrounding her. When the kids tossed objects into her path, she dodged over them with a sort of adroitness that she'd never once openly displayed before...

But even she had her limits, in terms of energy. She calls to anyone nearby. ] Help me stop them before they get into any more trouble!

[ ii - open ]

[ Ursula was having a lot of trouble. And she knew others probably had it worse, but the feral instincts that had peeled away her intellect that first night never truly went away, and remained a drumming, pulsing presence in her mind. She was trying to just stick to doing her work in the classroom, but every now and again she'd catch herself grooming herself, becoming keenly interested in her own tail, or finding herself napping in particularly warm bits of sunlight.

Ursula had never really thought of herself as a cat-person before arriving in Aefenglom, but now it felt like the universe had set her up for a joke. But the biggest joke was those feral instincts grew their loudest when she was in the presence of others. Because no, she couldn't just have the instincts of a completely feral cat. That would have been too easy. No, instead she's more like...

A house cat.

And that included nuzzling into strangers, particularly when she needed something. She catches herself most of the time. ]

Oh. I am.... SO sorry, that was just... [ Her ears peel back and her tail switches, tugging at her hat to hide the embarrassment on her face. ] I'm just... trying to keep it under control.

[ iii - open ]

[ The refugees were getting the same treatment, if not worse, than her fellow mirrorbound were getting. And it was impossible to ignore the air of misery, apprehension, and fear among her students. They were supposed to be doing a lesson outside today, but the tension in the air made it impossible for the kids to focus, and several of them seemed to just... huddle around each other, and near Ursula, uncertain of what to do with themselves in this world that was so alien to them. It was impossible not to empathize, Ursula having felt that same trepidation the first time she'd looked up to the sky and not seen the Northern Chariot to greet her. ]

It's alright... None of you are to blame for this. Sometimes... sometimes things just happen this way. But not a one of you has any reason to feel like this is your fault, or that you're not safe. I'm here for you...

[ It was easy to give simple platitudes in moments like that, but Ursula's words had a deeper weight to them. She meant every word of them, and her knock out spells were prepared not to be used on any of these children... but on anyone that dared to hurt them. It was hard to say if this was the new cat!Ursula or it was just always part of her, but those who knew her well enough could tell how serious she was. ]

Sorry you have to see all of this. I promise classes aren't usually this... anxious. [ She turns her attention to another mirrorbound who'd come by, her face relaxing some as she gently pets the head of one of her students that was starting to fall asleep against her shoulder. ]

We were supposed to be learning the layout of the city today... I guess it will have to wait.

[ wildcard ]

[ if you've got something that isn't covered in these prompts, hit me up, as i am down to clown with anything. you can contact me on discord or plurk, too, if you want to plot something specific out! ]

[bloodypath]

A. [Donate blood to the vampire bar, they said. Do it live, and we'll pay you triple, they said. It sounded like an incredible way to get a base of money going, after arriving with next to nothing.]

[But as the fog, and the violence breaks out with the moons, Hubert finds himself utterly unprepared to fend off the Monster pursuing him through the Haven's streets—he's anemic from his "donation", and hasn't even had two weeks to hone his new magical abilities.]

[The Monster, either a too-fanged harpy gone half-leathery, or a full mooned vampire sprouting feathers, pursues him doggedly. It's all he can do to run breathlessly from structure to structure, blinding its sensitive nightvision with flashes of light when it corners him, just long enough to slip back away. But this pace wasn't sustainable—help?]

B. [The knock-out spell is simple, he thinks—or at least, the components are. Hubert traces the sigil over and over in his hidden alley, murmurs the words repeatedly, but that isn't the issue; Aefenglom's magic is still brand new to him, and powering the damn thing, manipulating the raw magic how he needs to, isn't going as well as he'd like. Normally, the mage performs well under pressure, but the stress of the situation and pushing himself far too hard too soon has given him a tremendous headache. That wasn't helping at all.]

This is more difficult than I anticipated, [He grumbles, glancing up.]

[Did you stumble into this alleyway seeking shelter from the chaos, or as something more feral-minded seeking prey? Regardless, Hubert warily grasps the odd, spiral-headed gold lance next to him.]

Wildcard

[Toss a prompt at me and I'll do my best!]

Osamu Dazai | OTA

[proficience]

I-b. Widespread Chaos

[Having had his shift at the bar interrupted by the sudden sprouting of large, majestic wings, Dazai leaves the building, said wings slamming into the door frame, with the ultimate goal in mind to head home.

He's hoping he'll run into one of his Bonded there not Chuuya, though, please, but instead, happens to catch quite a bit of chaos ensuing near several shops. Chaos that he really shouldn't get himself involved in, but his curiosity is piqued.

As well as his desire to loot merchandise and/or get into a fight. Why? He's not sure, but he'd guess that it has to do with the sudden change in his physical form.

Dazai may be seen flying on top of shops or instigating a fight with anyone. He won't be trying to break up a fight, though, since he has no motivation to at all.]

II - Damage Control - [CW: DEATH]

[It begins with a soft pang in his chest. A pang that would normally mean very little, if anything at all. But it grows quickly and with intensity, enough to where he has to sit down.

The wings, of course, make doing so difficult and awkward, and he'll shift around a few times on a bench before he's 'comfortable.' Though, in all honesty, he can't be completely comfortable, as the pang becomes worse. His arm tingles, too.

He'll stand up and rush over to the nearest individual, no care in his mind as to who it might be.]

Do you feel strange at all?

[He'd appear paler than normal, but he's a vampire. Pale is just how he looks now.

Whether the individual answers him or not, he'll soon clutch his chest with both hands and groan --

Then, he'll keel over.]

IV - Aftermath [CW: Mention of death]

[No matter where his body may lie, Dazai will awaken not too long after his death. Which, of course, still feels as if it were a dream.

Did he actually die?

He'll sit up and glance around, hand over his chest once again, as he takes a few deep breaths.]

A-ah ...

V. WILDCARD

[Anything goes! Celes#5178 or danger if you'd like to plot!]

v call of the wildcard fam

[ua_duibhne]

[The first thing Diarmuid does is seek out a familiar face but the complications that will come with that don't immediately strike him. All that he knows right now is that he's dealing with a pair of extremely twitchy deer ears and a tail that won't stop swishing with each step he takes and he needs someone to tell him he's not going crazy. So, out of the blue, Berserker will have received a particularly cryptic message asking him to meet him in one of the Coven's glasshouses.

Another poor decision, really. He's had to stop himself from nibbling on the sunflowers for the past half an hour. Regardless, it was the only place he could think to go that would guarantee he'd have a degree of privacy after the transformations, rather humiliatingly, had started in the library. His head's still pounding from the emergence of those horns and, though he's managed to wipe most of the blood away, he looks every bit as disheveled as he feels.

Footsteps.

Diarmuid almost falls off of the upturned plant pot he's been sitting on, those expressive new ears of his swiveling furiously to try and work out what- no, who is approaching where he doesn't have a similar degree of control of his other senses. Speaking of changes, he hasn't yet noticed that his hair's looking on the longer side too, tangling around his shoulders as he glances up. The pupils of his eyes dilate, black against the gold.]

Cú?

[If it's not him he really is going to bolt.]

ii

[mantiger]

-- Dazai-san?!

[ He was just about to tell him that no, he doesn't feel strange at all in spite of the fact that he's suddenly received cat ears, a tail and the tiger limbs he's managed to get, which means that his shirt sleeves are in tatters along with his pants and shoes.

Rest in pieces, Atsushi's clothes.

Nevertheless, he's going to keep close to him and shake him to see if he'll possibly wake up. And even check for a pulse, even if it's difficult to do so like this. And more than that... isn't Dazai a vampire? Would he even have a pulse? ]

flat escardos | fate/strange fake | ota

[escardos]

ib. widespread chaos

[ the way that chaos spreads across aefenglom is something that seems to be putting everyone on high alert. wherever flat looks, there's orders being shouted, witches and monsters despairing over the newest changes on their body as a result of this strange magic.

the mist is visible, and it's nothing like the one that he saw in snowfield--but flat's certain that it could become just as dangerous as that one. even if no one is falling into a coma, the chaos it's spreading is quite massive, isn't it? people might actually get hurt because of this.

and while he seems rather calm, perhaps it's...too calm, considering the situation. he smiles, looking to the distance. ]

Seems like things are getting really exciting, hm?

ii. damage control (cw: blood and chance of being injured)

[ truth be told, flat's descent into a feral state wasn't so much falling as it was slowly sauntering down into it. in fact, he barely notices himself that there's anything wrong with him, especially amidst all the destruction around the city.

even with a knife in his hands, that's already coated in blood, he doesn't believe that anything is particularly wrong with him. flat hides in an alleyway in one of the poorer districts, his face, body, and weapon hidden under a dark cloak. as he sets his sight on someone-- his next prey, flat decides that it's time to lure them in. ]

Hey! [ he sounds friendly, concerned, even ] Think you can help me out here?? Please?

iii. closed to tryhard (and later towards_okeanos)

Waver!

[ despite everything that's going on, despite himself, flat's concern is heavily focused on one person in specific: waver. so of course he's going to want to seek him out, his concern overriding any other impulses that he may have.

above all, he wants to make sure that waver is safe. he's his future professor, after all--the person that cared for him when no one else did.

so it's only obvious that, when he finds him, flat can't help but smile in relief as he runs over to him. ]

I'm so glad you're alright!

iv. aftermath

[ once it's all said and done, flat seems to act...like nothing happened. he paces around city in the evening, too restless to actually sleep or stay still in one place. you may find him in the haven, or perhaps in the docks, or somewhere in between.

he looks around, and laughs--it's forced. ]

Man, everyone's so gloomy after what happened. So much for those celebrations they were having, right?

( ooc: so flat will either try to point a knife at your character in the second prompt, or maybe even go as far as trying to attack them. however, he's not very strong at all, so the chances of a serious injury are very low.

if you'd like to plot something, hmu on discord @ tori#3410 or odasaku !! i'm totally open for new things! )

L Lawliet | OTA

[hearthebell]

I. B: Widespread Chaos

[L’s runes protect his household against physical threats that can perceive them. The air, or in this case mist that had seeped through the windows and under the doors, didn’t give a damn about any such spells. The sleepers had woken to the beginnings of absurd and frightening changes, and now? Well… the city is erupting, confusion reigns, and L should be in the apartment where no attackers can easily harm him.

...but he’s so hungry.

No one who has met L would think that anything was off at first glance. He’s still too thin and pale, still hollow-eyed, wan and drawn as he shuffles through frantic and chaotic crowds with a dreamlike, weaving countenance. If you get much closer, though, a sharp glint of fangs between his bloodless, parched-looking lips are a dead giveaway that he’s not one of the lucky few who escaped the mist’s effects.

Well. An undead giveaway, more like.

He’s freezing cold. You know this, because he’s attempting to move closer to your body, pressing against you, shivering through the cream-colored coat wrapped tightly around his extremely bony frame. If by some miracle of kindness or shock you allow him to get close, well… turning his head brings him irresistibly close to a pulse point.]

II. Damage Control

[It’s a bad time to be caught outside. Sheltered under an awning, L is doing his best to avoid the sun, having learned at dawn’s first light that it burns, now. Quite literally. His illusion and divination specialty aren’t much help at present, his Bond with another witch isn’t the stablest thing on the best of days, and so the result is simply sheltering in place until help comes along.

He pulls his watch from his pocket. He could requisition the help of someone he knows, but there’s no guarantee that they’re not tied up with something distressing, themselves. Instead, he catches your eye, or tries to, even if you seem a touch feral.

If you seem more than a touch feral, he’s backing up, slowly, until his shoulderblades are pressing into the brick of the store front. He’s not in the mood or the condition to fight right now, and even if he was, he’s clearly at a disadvantage.]

III. Wildcard

[Don’t see it? Want it? Hit me up on discord at ladylazarus#2235, or on plurk at Lexil, or PM this account! Also feel free to come up with your own prompt within reason, with the exception of anything occurring during the event’s Aftermath!]

Monika | OTA

[loadme]

[The (Naga) Transformation]

[Monika doesn't escape the effects of the mist, changing and altering her body. Scales, fangs, a forked tongue, slitted reptilian eyes, and finally: long, massive snake tail that both matches the green color of her eyes, and is frankly impossible to miss. The initial shock and surprise hit her hard, but she's past that point. Right now she's simply trying to move about and is having a rough time of it. Just leaving her apartment took far too long, the disconnect between her mind and altered body making it a challenge to even make it out the door. Still, she makes it through and puts forward her best attempt at... slithering.

Sometimes she finds a good rhythm.

Most of the times, she needs to find some kind of support to hold on to.

And other times she ends up losing her balance and falling flat on her face. She struggles to make herself upright again, asking the nearest person for help.]

Can you please help me up? I just... need help.

[Not every day that you unexpectedly lose both your legs.]


[Widespread Chaos]

[Monika tries her best to lend a helping hand, or least stay out of the way. Easier said than done when she still had to deal with a massive and cumbersome snake tail. Even so, she still looks for an opportunity to do... anything. Unfortunately, she keeps being distracted.

An unattended stall with the wares left out in the sun for too long.

Freshly baked pastries that have just now been taken out of the oven.

She finds herself fascinated with these warm items, to the point where she takes them without paying. It's not like there isn't enough looting and theft going on already, but contributing to the problem can't be good.

Especially if she gets caught.]

I... oh.

I'm so sorry. I don't...

I don't know what came over me!

[Maybe the owner of these products buys her apology, or maybe they're not hearing it and are straight up shouting and threatening her. Whatever happens, it's clear that she needs someone to either de-escalate or to just keep her from doing it again.]


[State of Emergency]

[Dropping temperatures and being cold-blooded makes for a dangerous combination, one that Monika is keenly aware of now. Tired, she's so tired. Her movements become even slower than before, and she struggles just to stay awake. She's not able fight it off for much longer. The best attempt is made to find an out-of-the-way spot where Monika can sleep.

Just for a little bit.

But when you're as big as her, finding an "out-of-the-way" spot is already a challenge, especially with all the chaos that is happening.

A chair, a bench, an alley, or even in the middle the street.

You could find Monika "napping" in any of these spots.

The announcement wakes her up momentarily, but it's all too easy for her to fall back asleep.

Not only is her size likely causing an obstruction, but all the anti-monster and anti-mirrorbound sentiment going around makes it even more dangerous for her as she's basically defenseless.]


[Closed prompt for Natsuru - nsfw]

[Normally, she would be wide awake by now. But it's the second morning and Monika is still is bed. Keeping her company today is her Roommate-turned-Bonded, Natsuru. The two had become far more affectionate and comfortable with one another ever since Bonding. Previous boundaries of personal space had become much more disregarded since then, to the point where they were willing to share the same bed with each other, even now as their bodies had become so... different.

She was beginning to stir, to finally wake up, but Monika still had a long ways to go.]

Mmmmph...

[Her arms and tail were both wrapped around Natsuru, practically (though gently) constricting her at this point with her snake tail directly below her Bonded's breasts, and the very tip squeezing right in between them.]

Just a little bit longer, please.

[She was so tired, and Natsuru was so warm.]


[Wildcard option available!]

iii.

[tryhard]

[ 'Alright' might be a stretch.

Flat finds Waver eventually in the shopping district, near the apothecary where he works. Perhaps he'd been trying to run there to find something that could help. It's difficult to tell now. He's crouched on the street with his back to one of the buildings, head down between his raised knees, clutching the sides of it in obvious pain.

The way his tail lashes behind him looks... wrong. Longer. Shiny-black like leather in the low light of the magitech lamp-posts illuminating the cobblestone street.

When Flat approaches, shouting his name, Waver lifts his head. In the night, his eyes shine an intense red, fangs flashing when he snarls, wordlessly. It might have been a warning. ]

Elliot Craig | Witch + Dragon Parts | mostly OTA

[fiddlestick]

I-a. Late Night Transformation (CW: Body Horror)
[Unfortunately for Elliot, he loved staying up late. It was his favorite time to compose, to work on music, and just enjoy the late night. As such, he'd been taking a late night walk when the fog rolled in. At first, other than the odd purple tint, Elliot didn't take much notice of it beyond noting the lessened visibility. It was probably a sign he should start in the direction of home.

But before he could reach home, the effects started kicking in. In the street, he doubled over in pain. So many parts of his body suddenly burned with pain as they start to change in ways they weren't supposed to, and much faster than monster changes usually happy for mirrorbound. Horns began growing out of his head, his shoulderblades bulged and twisted
before blue feathery wings sprouted from his back, scales and claws begin to form and so on. He manages to drag himself to a nearby alley where all he can do is curl up as the pain and changes continue. It should be easy enough to find him, as he keeps making pained noises as this goes on.]

I-b. Transformation, sans body horror!
[Either the pain finally subsided, or he passed out from the pain and woke up when it was finally finished. Whatever the case may be, slowly he becomes aware of what just happened. Horns, scales, claws, wings, a tail and other dragon features covered his body. His clothes were torn up from the sudden transformation, and he looked like he had a rough night altogether]

Aidios, how could this...?

[He was a witch wasn't he? Why did he have sudden dragon features? Slowly, he becomes aware of the rest of the chaos going on the street. He wasn't the only one who'd experience such rapid changes. Just what happened?

In a better state of mind, he'd probably stick around to try to help people. But he just turned into a dragon, so he's freaked out enough to let his anxiety win this one. He pulls himself up and starts trying to make his way back to his house. Maybe you see him trying to head there, stumbling to keep his balance on these new body parts.

For the people he lives with, he finally comes through the door sometime around dawn - hours after he usually comes home from late night ventures. ]

Anyone home?!

II-a. Feral Fun: Dragon Hoard the Musical
[For most of the first day, he sticks close to home as he gets used to these sudden changes. He feels more agitated than usual, but it's hard to tell if that's a sign of going feral or just because of the night he had. It's Elliot, so even him agitated is far from intimidating.

By the evening, however, the monster instincts become too hard to resist. He slips out of the house. There, you might find him among the junk piles locals had set out for Samhein, digging out any instruments (or anything that could be used for music really) to take for his own hoard. His eye for musical treasure soon stretches past the discarded junk pile. Left an instrument unattended? He's swiping it. Cellphones from your world? He's heard there's MP3 songs on those things, so he's grabbing those too? That random bucket you were using for cleaning? Well, those can be made into drums- so it's his.

Luckily if you catch him, it's easy enough to get back your stuff. He'll hiss and maybe swipe some claws at you, but he's still weak enough to be easily overpowered. Even his "dragon breath" is nothing more than a stream of bubbles. He's not even fast if he tries to run. So honestly, you have no one to blame but yourself if you fail to get back your stuff. ]

II-b. Feral Fun 2: 🌶 (established CR only please)
[Monster instincts or not, Elliot is not an aggressive person. He avoids fights and would probably lose any fights he got into. Being a dragon would not change this, and even his wild animal brain knows this.

However fighting things isn't the only things love to do. So if he happens upon any guys he finds attractive? He might feel more embolden to do something about it instead of being timid. So he'll move closer to them and attempt to get their attention by... flapping his wings, and bobbing his head. Maybe even hopping around if he feels strongly about it. Is there an explanation? No. It just felt like the thing to do.

Maybe it'd be better for everyone if you knocked him out. ]

III. Sanity Returns
[While the physical features seem to stick around the whole time, he finally manages to regain his head entirely by the third day. And so, he'll help out where he can. Healing, patrolling with his friends, trying to pretend the last two prompts didn't happen. If you want help from a healer or a friend, this is your time. ]

Wildcard
[Got another prompt for me? Hit me up either here or at neutronstar!]

[curruid_coinchenn]

[ This is all rather annoying, to say the least. Berserker assumed (wrongly, apparently) that he was done with his own transformations. The strange mist and now new fur coating on everything along with his strange new ears set him right. What's weird is that he wasn't the only one affected, though...so of course he hurries out to meet Diarmuid.

When he arrives at the glasshouse, he finds himself staring at his Bonded. the changes are a shock certainly, though he can't say they bother him, especially not the hair. ]

It's me...I'm not alone in the changes, I see.

[ Without thinking that maybe this form came with new instincts, Berserker approaches him without hesitation once the initial shock wears off, reaching for his hand. He's having to ignore the predatory instincts screaming at him loudly to hunt the handsome deer in front of him, assuming (again, wrongly) that it's only his problem and no one else is having to deal with it. ]

(Calamity) Jane Canary | Witch | ota

[befucked]

I.c. State of Emergency

[Jane is one of the lucky few who wakes without anything untoward sprouting out of her.

As far as healing magic--or any kind of magic--goes, she couldn't have less of a clue, but she is awake, visibly unaffected, and visibly Mirrorbound, when she staggers out into the street in the wee hours, fully-dressed. That is enough to prompt some unfortunate from the Coven to grab her and encourage her to come along to one of the stations they're setting up for tending to the afflicted.

So, those distressed or incapacitated by their changes might find themselves hoisted onto a cot with Jane leaning over them, trying to disguise fright and confusion behind a tensely-pressed frown.]

Right--y'just...fuckin' lie there, and don't worry about those bits, uh--poking the fuck out of ya, there. Doc says we'll get those taken care of, after the rest of you's been seen to--

[Someone has, at least, seen fit to show her one of the more basic healing spells that any Witch ought to know. So, Jane holds her breath and helps with tending to anyone not in critical condition--sometimes muttering and gesturing above them as she works a minor bit of magic herself, sometimes just holding them down as some more experienced Witch does the honors.]

Now, stop with the fuckin' squirming, or we'll hafta see if chopping those parts the fuck off helps any...!

[Is her very impatient diagnosis of anyone with obviously unfitting, Monstrous growths that might get in the way of her treatment!]

III. Refugees

[By the day after the first night, someone's mentioned the status of the Dorchacht refugees to Jane. And, while she doesn't truly understand the nature of the strife between Aefenglom and its darker, sister city, she thinks she gets the essential point: They're strangers here, from a place that's cruel and unjust as anywhere, being blamed for a plague that no one has a fucking rational explanation for.

Jane hasn't slept since the wee hours at that point, but she staggers from the Coven's set-up for first-aid and medical care to one of the corner rowhouses where the former Dorchacht residents have been settled. With her pistol bared prominently on her hip, she plants herself against the stoop one of the buildings, pressed tight against the wall, as if constantly expecting attack.]

Declare yourself, goddamn you!

[Is her reaction to anyone seeking to go past or inside who isn't clearly one of the residents of the block who's chosen to linger, rather than fleeing for the Harbor.]

Step forward and state your purpose, 'fore I pump you the fuck full of silver and...worse ammunition that's at my fuckin' disposal!

[She...just has normal bullets, if we're being honest. But they're bullets that will absolutely wing past the ear of anyone who decides to ignore that warning.]

IV. Aftermath

[When the chaos has ceased, Jane is close to three nights sleepless, slumped over a bar. The bandolier done up across her waist is empty by that point. The rest of her, after her first attempts at conjuring, feels exactly the same--a limp outline, only vaguely tracing what was supposed to fill it out, before now.]

Whiskey.

[She groans, and thrusts the small amount in wages she's collected for her assistance the past few nights across the bar, before her cheek hits the hardwood. She refuses to open her eyes until she hears the clink of glass close to her ear.]

Leave the bottle, and then do not attempt to rouse me for a goddamn week.

i-b!

[cryptsleeper]

[Alucard had woken with the sudden explosion of noise outside the apartment he and Trevor had gone with for the time being. Everything is still far too overwhelming, and Alucard's kept most of his focus on simply settling in, equipping them both with the bare necessities, and trying to observe Trevor so that they could figure out what kind of Monster nonsense would be visited upon them both. (The baggage of the two words was something Alucard still refused to engage with. There was just no time for it.)

He hadn't wanted to go outside and deal with the matter. It was too dark, and his stupidly human eyes were going to be of no help whatsoever. But then he had looked out the window and found that his usual eyesight was indeed back, and he muttered some gratitude.

Then something had smashed the window next to him and frankly, that was the last straw. If nothing else, he needed the damn thing paid for and repaired, and so he had marched downstairs and into the streets, only to meet the full of the chaos.

It wasn't worth getting involved in, not when he still barely understood the place. But then a familiar voice caught his (yet again normal but excellent) hearing. It was nothing at all to walk over (speed, actually, Ursula was further away than initially expected), Alucard's figure suddenly there when he hadn't been before.]

Which way are they heading then?

[ua_duibhne]

[Probably should have taken it more slowly. Diarmuid reels away, knocking the planter over completely in his haste to scramble to his feet. While the mist was kind enough not to force him to learn how to use a whole new set of faun-like limbs, it does mean that he's every bit as agile as his instincts need him to be- which is very. As far as that feral little voice- well, bark- in his head is concerned, he's facing down a very dangerous man, not his lover.

His eyes flicker up over Berserker, taking in his own changes with an indisguised mix of unease and curiosity. Fur...? Through the drumming of his heart, he still has the presence of mind to pick up on how strange that is. The monsters here, if nothing else, at least seem to have some consistency to their make-ups but...]

I don't understand. We've both been here long enough for this not to be an issue anymore.

[He shakes his head. What might have looked like dappled shadows where the moon shines through the glass and plants overhead is revealed to be an actual shift in skintone. Lacking in the appropriate coat, the characteristic spots of a fallow deer have, while faint, taken to his cheeks instead.

Even as they talk, he seems distracted. Hyperalert. Unfortunately, prone to flight.]

ii.

[fordeath]

[ honestly, this is loads more preferable than certain other aspects of feline instinct that tend to arise around feathered creatures. amadeus can only hope ursula isn't possessed with the sudden desire to chase him around or swat at him.

(that being said, he's all too used to ducking and dodging dangerous claws.)

the composer is now a harpy, and a bright and flashy one at that — body and large thin wings covered in a spectrum of diamond-patterned feathers, green, yellow, pink and blue. against his will, his wings shake once like scores in the wind as he briefly fights the urge to fly upward and away from the poor girl. ]

No need to apologize, my lady. [ his smile looks a little labored. ] I know just what you mean. As long as you don't try to pull my feathers out, it's all well in my book! [ he just loves to tempt fate doesn't he ]

wildcard

[loadme]

[Nobody would've faulted or blamed Monika if she decided not to show up to Ursula's classroom that day. Yet even now, she wanted to be there for one of her dearest friends, the same way that Ursula had supported her so many times already. By now, she had the whole "slithering" thing down pretty well, to the point where she only lost balance once in a while instead of all the time!

She was making her way through the halls of the building, carrying a small stack of books and papers.

And wouldn't you know it? It was that extra weight that caused Monika to fall and collapse over herself, the sound echoing throughout the halls as the books and everything else falled with her.

The bruising was only secondary to how mad she felt, enough that she ended up loudly hissing like the snake she'd physically become, her forked tongue flicking the air before Monika noticed and covered her mouth in surprise.]

[curruid_coinchenn]

[ Ah. Oops. He should have seen that reaction coming. Though Diarmuid's unease and flightiness should worry him, it's instead giving rise to some more unfortunate feelings. He wants to give chase, like a predator would. This is uncomfortably reminding him of the night they chose to bond, except far stranger.

Berserker remains undeterred and approaches him again with a bit more caution this time. His changes are intriguing and some other, baser desires rise in him. He has to ignore the whispers in his mind to hunt his prey...The dragon seems a little distracted as well. ]

That mist probably has something to do with it. [ Another step closer. ] Let me...let me take a closer look at you.

[ His reactions are telling and Berserker's familiar with them -- most people react to him with fear a treat him as dangerous, potentially a killer. ]

...Are you afraid of me?

[ It doesn't sound accusatory nor hurt, more curious. ]

[escardos]

Wa...ver...?

[ flat stops in his tracks when he sees waver’s reaction, his breath caught in his chest. part of him wants to turn the other way, but the rest of him can’t help but stay. he wants to stay. ]

Were you affected by this mist, too? I can help you, if you need it.

Towa Herschel | OTA

[overworker]

I. The Mist

a. Mornyan (Trails Household)

[Through the night, Towa slept surprisingly well. More than she normally would have. Unlike her, she sleeps through her body's natural alarm. The sun is rather bright when she does stir. There's a natural sense that something is off as she yawns awake, but nothing that stops her from going about her morning routine-- albeit with a bit more gusto as she jumps out of the bed, realizing she slept in an hour later than she intended to. But when she makes her way to the mirror; the reflection that greets her is both her own and yet not. Cat eyes stare back in shock, and ears twitch and fold back naturally as her expression shifts to horror. Her nails, normally cut short and neat have grown out to sharp, yet manageable lengths. And behind her, a tail swishes anxiously with it's hair on end.

All who share a residence with her may hear the cat-like screech as she recognizes that she is very much not still asleep.]

b. Afternyan (Out and About)

[Having had some time to come to terms with the changes, Towa is ever the type to press forward and not let things keep her down-- so she fully intends to do her best with this situation.

It takes some getting used to. Those with feathery or fishy changes may notice her eyes drawn to them in an almost predatory way. The eyes follow, in an almost trance-like state. She seems to be adjusting her stance; going low to the ground and--

Just one sudden move and they may find themselves being pounced upon, her small body doing the best it can to tackle them to the ground, pressed under her smaller predator body.

...at which point she seems to realize what she's done as it slowly sinks in, a flustered look on her face bringing with it an embarrassed apology.]

O-oh my gosh, I-I'm so so sorry!

c. Evenyan (Out and About)

[Towa normally keeps all kinds of hours with her various work. But keeping her usual schedule has been incredibly difficult for a change. Between instincts that want her to nap in the sun or chase some shiny thing or another, focus isn't her strong suit right now and it's several kinds of frustrating.]

...focus, Towa! Just need to get to the grocery store...

[Maybe she could use some help-- for better or for worse, either sticking to or breaking free from her scheduled lifestyle; whether you want to bring order or chaos to her life.]

Wildcard. Anything else not covered above can be worked out in here! Throw something at me, or plot something with me. I can do personalized starters too, for any plans!

[tryhard]

[ It's a bit difficult to see where he's crouched in the shadows, but the shape of him looks... wrong. Something moving behind him. When his hands fall, it's clear more of him has transformed similarly to his tail: horns curve up between his ears atop his head, small and wickedly sharp, shining a wet-looking black somehow darker than the shadows around him.

Yes. It's clear he was definitely affected-- and he's not taking it well. ]

No.

[ His voice sounds wrong too, more of a growl, low and rough and scraping. ]

Fuck off.