Intro Log: May

[moustre]

Intro Log: May, Game Start

I. ARRIVAL Out of nowhere, a glint of light catches your eye; your heart thunders in your ears as your body moves on its own, your mind consumed with inspecting the source. Your reflection stares back at you, just as curious from the surface - a mirror, a pool of water, your most trusted sword, something fleeting that your mind can barely remember - then ripples at your touch. A moment later, you feel a tug, and you find yourself stumbling into a dark, musty room. Behind you, a mirror stands ornately decorated with reminders of home wrought in brass and wood: the faces of people you know, and symbols important to you; all things that send a pang through your chest with the desire to return to them. Touching the mirror's surface does nothing but leave the stain of your fingerprints. When you turn turn to survey the room, you find there are hundreds of other mirrors. None of them are as decorated as yours - they're plain and dusty, speckled with age. Then you realize a second thing: You're not alone. Distantly, the ringing bell of a clocktower can be heard. But no matter its distance, the time is clear to make out: it chimes three times, stark, resonating like a pulse of something in this mirrored hall that you and many others have found yourselves in. For those familiar with magic, they might feel the power of the witching hour upon them, though it will feel different from what they're used to - in fact, everything does. Besides the new arrivals, however, there's one more person in the building, and only one. A young teen stands; previously bored and mulish, he's now owl-eyed and slackjawed as he takes in each arrival, either from the mirrors or coming from another floor as you try to get your bearings. In his hands he's clutching a broom like a security blanket, until - "M... Miss Nessie! Miss Nessie, something's happened!" he yells, as he drops the broom and turns tail out of the building. Leaving the Looking-Glass House makes it obvious that the clock striking three was for 3 AM - the night sky is clear, but the stars are dim in the face of two moons, regardless of their waning crescent phases. Follow, or explore the rest of the mirrored halls you've now found yourselves in? The Looking-Glass House is rather nondescript two-story cottage made of grey brick, sitting at the edge of The Coven's courtyard; stones which glow as you step on them mark the path to and from the two buildings. While fairly small and plain on the outside, the inside has been enchanted to be the size of a large library, with hundreds upon hundreds of mirrors hanging, standing, and resting inside its walls. Some are broken, some are cracked, and some seem completely uninjured - but all of them are just as plain as the cottage itself, showing age in the silver beneath their glass and in the greening of their metals... Well, all except a character's personal mirror; to characters, one mirror - the one they came through - will be decorated lavishly with metal-and-wood-wrought reminders of home, and the surface will be as clear as a brand-new mirror.

II. "MISS NESSIE" Whether you've decided to follow the hapless young man, or decided to explore the rest of the Looking-Glass House - and perhaps finding a few familiar faces among the crowd - you feel a pull towards the foyer of the first floor. It's like a firm suggestion, as if to take you by the hand and draw you to where it begins, and the source of it becomes quite apparent upon finding one's way to the front room: a tall, comfortably-dressed older woman and her even taller wolfish companion. The woman covers her mouth with a soft "Oh my!" as she surveys those who begin to crowd in, and she turns to the werewolf (?), lowering her hand once more. (The handful of others who'd come with her peer as best they can from a ways behind her with unconcealed curiosity, closer to the door out than not. The boy previously seen before he ran off can be spotted at the very back of the group.) "This is right unexpected, isn't it?" She not-quite whispers, delight and confusion in equal measure in her voice. Her companion makes a quiet noise in her throat, unscarred eye narrowed - it's hard to tell if that delight is one shared by both parties. "Well, they've always said the veil is thinner during Boaltinn... We'll have to talk to James and see if he was doing anything other than cleaning, we will, but for now, we've got a full house to attend to, don't we? Ah, if they're all Witches, that'll be something, it will!" Without wasting another beat - much to the fond irritation of her companion, certainly - the woman turns back to the newcomers of Aefenglom, clapping her hands together in glee. "Well then! I'm certain you all have many, many questions... As do we! First thing's first, though, first thing's first! I am Nerissa Bell, the Head Witch of the Coven - that's where this house is located right now, on Coven grounds - and this is my Bonded, Mhairi Ainsley. Don't worry, she's a right softie despite her looks! You can simply call me Miss Nessie - everyone does, short of those stuffy folks up in the Parliament, but, well, that's just how things are with them, I suppose." She pauses a beat, for breath, before continuing with a wave of her hand; dozens of chairs and stools, all surprisingly comfortable despite their wooden looks, are conjured in an instant, and Nessie smiles wide as she gives a small bow. "Take a seat, and let's get familiar with one another for a spell! The city'll celebrate without us one way or another, and we've already finished our business for tonight anyway. Isn't that right, Mhairi dear?" Despite the onslaught of information and excitement at three in the morning, Mhairi inclines her head slightly after a huge sigh; her voice is likely exactly as expected, low and akin to a growl. "Best to take advantage of the distraction. Let's begin, before I have to report this to Parliament." NOTE: If you wish to interact with Nessie and Mhairi, please comment here. You have the option of handwaving the IC interaction to OOCly ask what questions your character might have for them, for us to summarize an answer for, or you can request an IC thread. Simply specify in your comment's subject and we'll respond accordingly.

III. THE COVEN After an hour or two of general chaos, questions that the natives attempt to help with, and injuries tended to for those who arrive in poor condition, a solution is presented. Though they certainly can't answer every question, Nerissa and Mhairi promise to help find the answers, and open the doors of the Coven to all new arrivals in the Looking-Glass House. The walk from the quaint cottage to the imposing structure ahead is lit only by magic provided by Miss Nessie and the Witches accompanying her, as well as the path of stepping stones coming aglow with each step that's taken across them. Beyond the courtyard, with its high, opalescent walls, a city can be seen. There are torches accompanying the flickering light posts outside, and the sounds of life clear even this far from the heart of Aefenglom, something that sounds like... merriment? Festivities are in full swing, even this close to dawn. The rest of the world continues on, even though you've arrived, confused and perhaps missing a few aspects of your usual persons. But while they certainly weren't expecting to spend the festival like this, the Coven has worked as quickly as it can. Their doors, decorated in cowslip flowers, are wide open - welcoming to the public, and to new arrivals as well. The Coven's main building has a surprisingly large front room, compared to its outside; the ceiling stretches ever onward, with stairs of the solidly-flush-against-the-wall variety and floating-ethereally-in-the-middle-of-things variety both. Magic and mundane intermingle as if meant to, with brooms inscribed with runes to clean making quick work of dirt and dust, shadowy figures opening and closing doors as people enter and exit, plates of snacks drifting around as if carried by invisible servers. The brooms are especially attentive to the door as new arrivals step in - they don't apologize for knocking into anyone, and really, anyone particularly scruffy will get swept at until the brooms are satisfied. None of this seems to mind the Witches coming in, with small murmurs of gratitude given to the busybody brooms instead of reprimands. Doors lead this way and that, on higher floors and on the ground floor, but runes glow by their frames in indecipherable patterns. Peculiar-looking devices - watches, the native Witches explain, compliments of Parliament - are passed around to all the new arrivals; they're given a quick rundown on their functions and bid to test them out when they can, and Nessie waits for things to calm before she steps up the floating stairs and addresses the room. "We'll see to it you all have lodgings for a bit, we will, but for now, the festival's still going on - if you couldn't tell!" She laughs a little, hands on her hips. "There's nothing we can do about things right now, so you might as well enjoy yourselves, you might. If any of you want to stay in 'til morning though, well, we can provide - just mind your manners, magic's real particular about them. At least," she winks, head tilting with the motion, "that's how I teach all my classes, it is." Those deciding to stay will be lead to doors that seem to follow no real pattern by native Witches; the rule is "two to a bed," so get cozy with the person next to you. They're the ones you'll be sleeping with tonight. The beds aren't too small - enough to accommodate at least three humans - and they're fairly comfortable too, for their old-looking age.

IV. BOALTINN For those who journey out into the city, they'll be sent off with a word of warning to keep out of trouble from Mhairi, to find everything still quite lively - and still quite unaware of what's taken place. There's very little left to the shadows, with dim light filling in the gaps between the flickering streetlamps and the extra candles and such people have put up themselves. Curiously, small bonfires seem to follow a pattern, culminating into a wide plaza in the center of the Residential District where a larger, brighter one burns, with people dancing around it, their clothing jingling softly with little bells hanging from their hems. The same is mirrored on the direct other side of the city - the only difference is in who's dancing. The Eastern Bonfire has more visibly humanoid beings enjoying themselves, while the Western Bonfire has creatures more monstrous in looks. Regardless, they all seem to be happy- And the reason is this: Boaltinn, a festival lasting the next two dusks. The nights and early mornings are filled with flickering firelight, while the morning and daytime have all but the small fires leading the way to the giant bonfires extinguished; the bonfires, however, stay lit. - and in general, it seems the city is quite happy, quite cheerful, and quite close. a. The Bonfires The main attraction of Boaltinn, as they are with any fire festival, the bonfires on each side of the city are tended to by various Monsters every hour of the day. While much of the scenes are similar - there's plenty of food to be shared, with those partaking in it cowed into sitting with someone else regardless of how familiar they might be, and children of all kinds play together and invite those sitting or watching to come too, in all manner of games, such as jacks, hopscotch, and running ribbons around the tall poles at the bonfires. But there are marked differences, too. The Eastern Bonfire primarily has humans or those that can pass as humanoid in attendance, and they're much friendlier to those who look similar to them; to those that look a little more monster-like, though, their replies are far more curt and their shoulders colder. The area around the bonfire is also littered with trinkets and baubles, all shiny and new and utterly forgotten by their playmates; the ribbon poles are similarly new, made professionally as if by commission. Characters are invited to try and jump through the bonfire's flames to burn away any poor relationship experiences, be it romantic or platonic, past or present; to aid them in this, those at the Eastern Bonfire will give those participating rune-etched accessories to protect them from the fire. Meanwhile, the Western Bonfire has primarily those who are more monstrous in looks, and they're similarly friendlier to those who resemble them, with a similar brusque and cold manner to those who look more human. The area around the bonfire is carefully kept clean, however, and the ribbon poles look handcrafted from lumber and grass, with tightly-woven knots and clumsily-made paper decorations. Those attending here are also invited to jump through the flames, but no such protection is offered; it's simply assumed that, as a Monster, you're likely much better at handling a little fire. b. A Little Entertainment It isn't only the bonfire celebrations that one can participate in, however. All throughout both the East and West Residential Districts, as well as a portion of the Shopping and Entertainment Districts, there's a number of stalls, stands, and stores available for perusal. Take a gander at the rest of the city and find something to do. Of note: Divination readings are available in various stalls, set up by Coven-official Witches as well as homegrown ones, with tarot cards that vary from pristine art pieces that one would almost hesitate to touch to the personally drawn and cut. They offer free readings, enticing all who pass by to join them at their table. Good or bad, the cards seem to bring with them lessons and words of wisdom, interpreted expertly by those handling them... or as expertly as possible; some readings seem a little unsure and muddy. Regardless of belief, those who take part in these readings will suddenly find their day going either exceptionally well or incredibly poor, depending on the overall feel of their reading. Carts and booths are available for one to partake in more food, however there's a stipulation to taking anything from these vendors: one must share this food with others, either in pairs or a group. While relations between humans and beasts seem to be a little frosty, they can be seen intermingling a tad more freely when it comes to this portion of the celebrations, sharing the treats and small meals that are being offered to everyone. The food available all seem to be those easy to hold in hand, not unlike modern-day food trucks; of note, the thin pancake wraps seem to be the most popular, with a bubbly drink similar to a milkshake filled to the brim with drinking straws for best sharing experience coming in second. Flavors are plentiful and varied, though they err closer to the fruits, vegetables, and spices side of the spectrum. Finally, the more pleasure-based businesses offer the chance to relax one's weary feet and take a chance with a little aromatherapy with their rose baths. While traditionally this had its roots in imbuing the bather with good tidings and blessings for the upcoming seasons (or so they'll say when asked), nowadays, it's simply become a luxury treatment for those needing a little TLC. The waters here do have the added bonus of making those who share them friendlier and more talkative with their partner(s) - and yes, all baths are a shared experience. Rather than being split by sex, baths are split by monster and human; co-ed bathing exists for those who don't mind mingling with the opposite species, and if really pressed, they can offer separate baths for different sexes, but their focus seems elsewhere. c. Impulsive Compulsion Throughout the whole festival, new arrivals, particularly those with magic talent gifted to them by the world, will feel like they can do anything and will push themselves to the limit. While not inherently detrimental, those who feel it will become more reckless, their inhibitions lessened and impulses heightened; trying new things is easy as pie, with any thoughts of fear left far in the back of their minds. While magic is highly discouraged on festival days, given their rest day quality, those under the spell of Boaltinn's madness will feel the temptation to try some anyway, regardless of knowing the proper way of performing it - perhaps it's about time to try out what one discovered in that strange dream... Those found doing magic will get a firm scolding, but no actual punishment; it's only looked down on, and they'll be cautioned against using too much. If any property damage occurs due to reckless magic use, however, there are fines; those without any money to their name can be recruited to pay it off by working at the buildings and stalls they may have accidentally damaged, serving people, looks, or whatever else the business might offer.

Welcome to the intro log! While mingling on the log itself is highly encouraged, feel free to make your own logs; take the prompts offered and go wild, go crazy, go stupid, have fun. The network system is free to use once characters have their watches as well; information on that can be found at the bottom of the Setting page, while any extra questions about it can be found in the FAQ index. Quests can be picked up now as well! While technically most of them won't start until after festivities, you can go ahead and put your name on some by replying to the May Quest Pickup thread on the Quest Board. Finally, if your character is getting into any Shenanigans, let the mods know and if you have any questions about the log, ask them here!

Comments

[oceanschild]

[Why is this his life, why couldn't he say no to this... but it's too late now, so Paris just sighs and moves back to the stand, getting another thing of the pancakes. At least both of them are berries this time so hopefully he can have one...]

[subruo]

Oh?

[He can't quite fully hide the way he perks up at that sentence, eyes wide, like he's about to hear a good story - ah, he can't hope for an excuse such as "my world was getting destroyed", that's silly, he can't, but it might be, and that's enough to peak his interest.]

[He tilts his head, questioningly.]

What happened?

[littlemperor]

[tori's squeak is immediate at the justified offended koga, pressing more against the wall with his hands against his face, and he peeks through his fingers when there's nothing else to it on that end... he's safe... okay.]

I wanted to share my bed with him because Yuzuru doesn't let him sleep with me normally... [just a mumble. both because yuzuru would find it hard to wake tori up in the morning and also for health reasons, because too much dog fur in one place can damage one's lungs... or something like that....

he doesn't move for a moment, then flops closer to the edge of the bed to pet king.] My head on his belly? Are dogs really okay with that? You don't do that to yours, do you? I can imagine Akehoshi-senpai doing that, though...

[usurpers]

[ it’s so romantic a thought that eren can’t help but to look . . . mildly troubled at her? not because she was wrong, but because— it just didn’t work like that on a larger scale, hate was too rooted. his eyes glance between the girl and the napkins being offered, and after the attempt at wetting his lips clean (and failing), he takes them. ]

Eren. [ she’s too bubbly for this, and she’s . . . trying her best, which is what makes him feel poorly. he wants to go home. he needs to go home. and he can’t do it alone, neither could he rely on the people already from here to fight back the infection when they weren’t ready to unite. ] You sound like you come from a nice place.

[ with optimism like that, she either had to be or was just too sheltered for her own good. ]

[littlemperor]

we only use the highest quality of anything for king!!! he's treated exaaaactly like his name implies: like royalty!!

[JUST

SO HE IS AWARE.]

ugh.
i don't like how you're acting, but i do want to make sure king's okay after coming through that mirror.
we're near the humanish bonfire right now~

[littlemperor]

Shady people like you are always tricky... Anyway, how does this work?

[because he is honestly interested in this for all his words.]

[subruo]

[People being brought in to save what's left of a dying world? It makes him want to laugh. Ridiculous.]

I suppose...but even if it's sinking, maybe all these new people can do something about it! I mean, a little help to save the world can't hurt.

[His positivity is sweet, saccharine, probably too much for this kind of situation, but Vashti hardly cares what other people think.]

[haillenarte]

[francel does not stir — not when the lord commander’s hand rests upon his shoulder, and not when it leaves him. he does not make to dismiss aymeric from his space, either. he stays still and unflinching, like a blanket of undisturbed snow.

he does not want to hear this from aymeric, but he knew it was coming, one way or another. the lord commander might have come to pay respects at haurchefant’s monument; francel might have heard this in ishgard rather than this strange new world. but here he is, and here they are: francel must come to terms, at last, with the fact that haurchefant died for the sake of a noble warrior in pursuit of noble goals, orchestrated by the rhetoric of a pure idealist.

it was so much easier to hate them all, he thinks.

when he speaks, his voice is soft, and low, and languid.]

...You forged for Ishgard a beautiful future. The promise of peace. We tire of death and sacrifice; you would bring the people life and prosperity. And if you have done wrong, it was in the pursuit of justice. I know he would have died for no less.

[francel’s eyes seem like pieces of glass, gleaming too-bright in the low light.]

...It is no fault of yours that I have made too many mistakes to deserve peace.

[catasstrophy]

[Well, if you want to get technical, Konoe's world was getting slowly consumed by a phenomenon of negative existence, brought on by a buttmad, lovesick wizard who, for some reason, had Issues with Konoe in particular.

But that's if you're being technical. Konoe didn't mind that part of his world so much, even if he did want to claw up the wizard in question.]

It's... a long story.

[Demons were trying to eat him at the time.
... Okay, maybe not that long a story, after all.]

I'm not sure where I was, before I ended up here, but it wasn't in the normal world.

[reenforces]

[He nods. It's not the only reason but it's the biggest one.]

... Yes. It's not just that I'm visible, but I can't sense anything around me or use my magic. It's not... pleasant.

Did something like that happen to you too?

[rowdyraven]

[The dubious look remains on his face, touched - perhaps - with something like unease at the realisation that, whatever this 'spirit' might be, the man before him means to call it out. Remains, but then gives out onto visible relief when the strange creature comes waddling over-- it's odd, to say the least, but hardly something that instills fear.]

Oh! Well, look at that. A sea pancake with legs. Hah! That's um, that's not really what anyone would call a spirit, where I hail from.

[Not that he's ever seen a creature like this, where he's from.]

[rowdyraven]

[And Julian, as luck would have it, is anybody's friend when three sheets (and more, besides) to the wind. Casts only one more lingering glance over the broad line of his shoulder before he seems - for the moment, at least - to be appeased by the brightness of the other man's manufactured smile. Smiles back, sloppy, crooked from drink.]

Well um, if you think there are going to be other lively spots about...no harm in looking, eh?

[Which is when his new friend stops the stranger and enquires after the entertainment district, and the word entertainment certainly holds something of promise. He only speaks again once the stranger has moved away from them, still eyeing the two of them with something like surprise, even uncertainty.]

I wonder what passes for entertainment in a place like this...you know, besides the drinking. And the fire...

[The fire again, but--]

Let's ah, let's find out, shall we?

[Perhaps there'll be more rum.]

[horkbajir]

She casts a skeptical red eye at the celebrations. Eating from the decorative trees seems a lot more like a violation of protocol and expected norms than something important or with real consequences. Maybe it's some unspoken thing that makes so much sense to human that they don't bother explaining it.

"I eat tree bark, mostly. Many trees on Earth suffer if their bark is cut into too much, and can better survive losing the ends of branches." Something her people had had to learn the hard way as they adjusted to freedom. Being made to tend trees didn't mean they intuitively knew how alien versions worked.

[lonewanderer]

"I want you to know," Lex says, slowly - as if she's not quite sure she can believe what she's saying, or if she should be saying it, "that your home sounds super made-up. I believe you, just-" Pink lions brought back from the dead by tears from a gem. "-it's a lot to take in."

There's a little laugh, Lex completely realizing the hypocrisy in her words. So Steven comes from a place with gemstone people. So what? Her world is a wasteland and that's a lot to take in, too. They fell through mirrors and now they're in a place with a bunch of witches.

"All of this is a lot to take in. For everyone."

[rowdyraven]

[At the talk of runes Julian abruptly shakes his head, holds up both leather-clad hands in a gesture of overt refusal.]

Ah, no, no. Nothing like that. I don't need any of that...that magical malarkey. That's just what I've been saying, you see, to these people over here. I can manage it just fine on my own. More fun that way, eh? What's the point, if one takes away all the danger?

[That, and all the talk of runes and luck spells unsettles him.]

[subruo]

[(vashti voice) that sounds hot]

Okay. [Another world? Huh. He purses his lips, confused, trying to guess what it might be.] Like...what was it like? The afterlife, or something?

[rowdyraven]

Ah. Well. I'm sorry to hear it. That you had nowhere to stay, I mean. At least here it looks as though they're willing to put us up until we can sort this mess out, go home.

[He says it brightly enough, as though he suspects that come the morning all this strangeness will have resolved itself, and he'll be back at the palace in Vesuvia ready for his 2 o'clock appointment.]

But um, you're right. It is very generous, isn't it? This festival must be a big deal.

[lonewanderer]

How ancient?

[ Two hundred years from the Great War and everything was still destroyed. Was the war in Bakugo's world really so easily swept away?

More food, though. Lex finishes off her bread, content now that she knows she'll be getting more without too much of a hassle regarding someone to share it with. Just the hassle of who she's sharing it with. ]

So, Bakugo - these Quirks. Do just people have them, or do animals get them, too?

[futhark]

[ Caster tilts his head to a side, now intrigued. He doesn't disagree with the general idea. Hell, if he was summoned as a Lancer instead he would gleefully ignore his skills in magic for a good, old brawl (and stabbing) all the time. Good times. But as willing, as he is to renounce mages as tricksters in his top form--

as a Caster those tricks are kind of, a focus of what is allowed to him. Besides, magic can be useful in a pragmatic sense, not just trickery. That discomfort he sees on Julian's face- ]

What, scared of a tiny spell?

[ It calls to his trollish nature. He just- has to tease ]

[rowdyraven]

[He says the words, and Julian's face quite visibly brightens.]

Oh! If it's stories you like, I have them in droves. What sort would you most like to hear? And naturally, I won't say no to hearing a few takes in return.

[wylderrant]

Iramaat's grip is firm - a rather typical handshake, honestly, although she does make prolonged eye contact throughout. There's a glint in her eyes (but that's almost always true). She does keep her eyes on Nel, though.

"Famished," she replies with a laugh, "I feel like I could devour just about anything you put in front of me."

And so saying, she pops that tidbit into her mouth.

"Pleased to meet you; always love to see new faces. Although here almost everyone's new, but some are more pleasant than others, if you know what I mean."

[lonewanderer]

[ It is him! Wow! The tail wagging increases, Dogmeat panting happily. ]

I've got no idea where to start with magic, so- I guess starting with magic alarms and traps is a good enough place.

[ She shrugs, glancing back at the theater before looking back at him. ]

I'm Lex. Your new buddy there is Dogmeat.

[wylderrant]

Precisely! I'm so glad you understand.

[ She tips two of her fingers toward him in a little salute. She seems unruffled, prepared to take on whatever challenges present themselves. And while he's right that they've only overcome a window, she's sure that there will be much more for them to handle as time wears on. She glances up at the moons over head and then around the courtyard they've found themselves in. ]

Find a way out of here, I think. See what the lay of the land is like. Or... go back inside and see what else is in there!

[futhark]

[ You can just- take it off bruh. It's cloth.

Singularity tends to summon the Servants on their own, there are circumstances that make it happen. Are they in one right now? Hard to say. But being old and jaded and also experienced with "weird shit" brings some kind of perspective. ]

So what's your plan? [ Professional curiosity. Also, he wanted to be the first one to ask that question because- he has no answer for it. Perhaps Archer knows something he doesn't. Unlikely he's going to share it, but gotta try- ]

[catasstrophy]

[About as hot as that bonfire, yup.]

Not like that. [He doesn't think so, anyway. He's pretty sure he didn't die, even ignoring how he's still alive, now.] It was somewhere I'd been in dreams, before.

Not like normal dreams! It was real, but not like being awake. [Well, this is just getting increasingly unclear, the more he tries to explain it.] More like... away from my body... I guess.