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

[lovebiter]

[ Cain dragged the hand which had clawed at Julian down to the hem of his pants. Kept locked with Julian's eyes as he flicked open the button, began to press open the front flaps of cloth. An obvious reward for his obedience. ]

That's my beautiful pet. It's better when you don't fight it, isn't it? I fuckin' love it when you obey, when you make it just right. I remember how you felt under my hand earlier, couldn't fucking get it out of my head all damn night...

Come on, use those pretty hands to cup my face.

[clickclickbang]

Not regional, everyone on Eos calls them that. Pretty sure the only regional difference is what swear word you put in front of it.

best nickname

[lonewanderer]

[ Eyeroll. Her dog growls, low in his throat, but Lex snaps her fingers and he settles down to watch them instead. ]

Who's Rambo?

[clickclickbang]

[Okay but bird > boy nine times out of ten.

Prim looks at the hand and then looks away. No food, no interest. Prompto laughs.]

Little brat!

[nemuru]

[ Ritsu's asleep half the time he's awake - and this past week, in particular, has been tiring, with everything they have to do for Halloween - so it's not too different for him... He'll start off then, steps slow as he watches his reflection in the mirrors they pass. ]

Did you dream about it again, or was that the only time? 'cause... That was the only time for me, and I didn't really even remember that well 'til I got here. [ Ah, well, ] Mmm, 'til I saw you... Since I kinda remember you from it.

[ Even then, it's still a bit fuzzy. Trying to break through, but not quite there. ]

[clickclickbang]

[Eh, some people panic for hours and then go quiet, some people have one big panic and then are very chill. Prompto's not judging.]

Oh, uh, Prompto! Argentum.

[wylderrant]

[ Iramaat finally lets him go. No point in trying to hold onto him if he's going to be that insistent. She'll just latch on again later, when it's more convenient. She still walks alongside him though, listening to the irritation in his voice and the watching the way he reacts.

She also seems to ignore most of that information. ]

Well, my hands are off!

[ She raises them both, as if to demonstrate, waggling her fingers at him. ]

Now you answer those questions.

[nemuru]

[ he can have some pats, sure. ]

Anzu put me in it... Well, Ousama did, but it's Anzu's design, and it felt like a total waste not to wear it when she put so much effort into it... [ so, ] I guess it suits me though, even if it's kinda stuffy.

[rowdyraven]

[And the fact is that it does feel better when he caves to a command, feels good to obey. There's always been something to it, for him, the particular pressure of hard words on his heart, a reaction that echoes through his flesh, felt right down to the bones of himself. His eye goes heavy lidded, and slow as sin, he nods.

Cain's hand slides to the fastening of his pants, and thickly, Julian swallows.]

I always have looked my best at someone else's feet.

[His voice comes out hoarse and raw as both long hands lift from the bed, curl across the contours of the younger man's cheeks.]

[nemuru]

[ Wow, someone's got some Opinions. ]

aaaaaa that too i guess
but werewolves dont exist
or i guess they do here
but she doesnt like being called one going by that one chat she had with that glasses guy

[warfares]

hi, guys i have a few questions!

- would kylo ren's lightsaber still function?
- would he be able to access the force in any way or will that be nerfed or otherwise hampered? i'm assuming nerfing but i would like to know what the extent of that is specifically just for future reference.
- what is the standard currency of the city?
- could a witch (human) visit the western bonfire and if so what would the reception be? would the they be able to keep the fireproofing trinket after the festival or be expected to return it?
- how would one enroll at the college? would one need to join the coven first? would you need a sponsor, what is the exact deal there.

[lonewanderer]

Out of sorts works.

[ Lex just feels- weak. Sick, and she knows it's because she is, or is at least recovering from it. The body doesn't heal from radiation exposure of that magnitude overnight, and certainly not when the people healing her don't know what radiation is. ]

They don't have anything like this where I'm from, [ she admits, returning to changing. Her boots are pushed off and it's clear that, despite the thorough brushing from the brooms, they're old; dust and dirt seem to have made their homes in the cracks of the leather. ] Clean water's always been for drinking, not bathing.

[fortunyx]

You do!

[He smiles. Eyepatches are very respectable.

Ryoji listens carefully. No entering public baths with tattoos, huh. He wonders why that's the case. He's learning new things everyday!]

Nice to meet you, Majima-san. I'm Ryoji Mochizuki. You'll have to forgive my prying. My family is from overseas, you see. And I don't know much about Japanese customs.

[Best to go with that excuse instead of explaining the oddity that is his existence.]

Is the reason they don't let you in because of how large the tattoo is?

Handwave!

[hearthebell]

OOC handwaving is fine since I know this post is POPPING and you guys must be working really hard to keep up! But L would want to talk to Nessie after her cordial address, and it would essentially come down to:

1. "I've lost my uncle. Is there any way you could help me make contact with him? It's very important." (He kind of needs to rule out being able to link up with his handler or the police in his world.)

2. "What is the veil, and what is Boaltinn? Has nothing like this really happened before?"

3. "How could I personally make contact with parliament?"

Overall, L is polite, but there's maybe something a little rote and forced about it. He's impatient and frustrated and it shows through a bit. He's also drenched and sopping wet and shivering a bit, and if he's offered dry clothing (or a tip on where to get it) he'll hesitate but accept.

[holybeasts]

[Maria watches a moment but then ends up shrugging and reaching for the bun atop her head. It's undone and then she reaches for where her knee-length hair is gathered up at it's end by a ribbon. If she's having a bath, she's washing her hair at the very least.]

It sounds like you tend to converse water then? How do you usually wash?

[wylderrant]

"Well, good. I usually am. Always am, typically. So we'll handle that together, you and I. You just need... confidence. And maybe some instructions about actually standing up for yourself once in a while, hmm?"

She's either completely oblivious to the irony of that statement or she's very aware and rubbing salt into the wound.

[fortunyx]

Yes, Kyoto. It's a lovely place in Japan.

[As he looks over the one he is talking to, a familiar feeling of deja vu washes over him. He doesn't quite realize that he's staring down Paris like he is some kind of interesting science experiment. He snaps out of it after a while.]

Ah, sorry. I just feel as if...I met you before? It all feels like a fever dream, to be honest, but my mind is telling me that your face is familiar to me. Is that odd?

[fortunyx]

W-Why are you asking me?

[He's not going to sniff her. That would be a very odd thing to do!]

I'm sure you smell fine! But there's nothing wrong with taking a bath just for the sake of relaxation.

[wylderrant]

"Come now," Iramaat replies, eyes dancing in the firelight, "Humans need to eat and you're a human being, aren't you? Appetite or now, you'll have to at some point and I've been told I simply mustshare this with someone."

She pats the seat again, smile widening, "Consider it a favor. I'll owe you one."

She's going to be insistent. At least until Nel gets too difficult and this isn't fun any longer.

[shepherds_pie]

[Sorey feels like he's drowning in question marks. He can't help whining a little.]

I've read a LOT of books, Mikleo. You'll have to be more specific than that.

[The brunet can't help grinning. He's never said no to learning and exploring with the seraph before, and he's not starting now.]

Exploring with you would be great! And learning more about this place, too.

[Sorey nudges Mikleo back. He looks relieved and quietly happy.]

And maybe I'll read a book by you, too.

[justbeingknife]

[ Majima had reached one of the Flaming Lips, and manage to pluck it just as another bird came in to peck at him. It definitely wasn't normal for their mouths and eyes to be all weirdly white like that, was it?

WAS IT? ]

Now I can see why this dude didn't just pick these himself.

[ He lashed out with the knife, and the bird swerved away at the last minute, screeching in rage. ]

[veilfires]

Oh! [He laughs, not having meant to mislead, but now thinking of the libraries he has spent ages in. Libraries not stocked with books but with collected thoughts and memories. For simplicity's sake he decides against trying to explain that just now. Though even the simpler story requires a bit of exposition.]

Yes, there were. But I was a wanderer who avoided towns by necessity. Though I enjoyed that lifestyle, it did mean I often lacked opportunities to avail myself of books at all.

[He puts a deciding finger on Trevithick's Encyclopaedia of Divination - Vol IV: Predictive & Prophetic Dreaming and begins to take it out as he speaks.]

When I took up a position that carries with it the privilege of ordering my own books, I seized upon that with a hunger. Having books delivered to my desk to peruse at my leisure – that was a new and delightful novelty. [He smiles fondly in recollection of his extensive book lists and Josephine’s patient, professional courtesy in seeing those requests met.]

Still, it did not compare to this past week. Here there has been nothing but time, my questions about this place - and the answers, sitting in wait, scattered through these countless tomes.

TIMESKIP

[justbeingknife]

[ ooc: Quest description here.

"Now it's important that you stick together," said the Wilder, a man with a motherly personality. "Careful, the ground's not very stable around this area." ]

Uh, right. Buddy system, is it?

[ This was feeling perhaps a little more like a field trip than Majima had intended, but it was still a chance to get a taste of life beyond the walls, and that was what he was here for. ]

Are we talkin' landslides, earthquakes, or something else?

[lonewanderer]

The scientist, the doctor's daughter, in her can't help it. She forces herself to sit up a little bit more, to try and examine the gem and how it's- inserted? Growing? She can't tell.

"Can I ask what it gives you?"

Maybe there's a substitute.

[immortalrose]

[Sorry, sorry! At least Reim has all his fingers still. Those pearly white fangs are mighty sharp.]

Sharing? Oh. [He pauses for a moment before gulping the pastry down the next moment.] Right! We're supposed to be sharing...

[Augustine can't help but laugh a little. He doesn't mean come across as a selfish git but he's hungry as all hell and nothing is satisfying him.]

Would you like to take a sip first? [He offers despite eyeing the milkshake.] I mean, I'll just end up drinking it all anyway.

[Look at him! He's trying to share. Surely he deserves a gold star.]

Reim, hm? Odd name but fitting. I'm...Augustine.