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

[rescuro]

I // ARRIVAL.

[ he was ready for this. he had prepared himself for this moment as soon as the funhouse had become their prison. this was Gundam’s punishment for all of his sins, and there was no better an exit for such a cursed existence. briefly, slowly, his eyes opened, and he could see the sea beneath him, glittering against the setting sun - and with a resigned smile, he closed his eyes once more. now, it was time for him to finally return to darkness.

but first, there was light.

Gundam’s arms reach out instinctively to catch himself as he falls ( because suddenly, he is falling ), but instead of hitting the water that was below him, his palms strike undeniably solid stone. ]

W-What - what is- [ the exclamation leaves as a panicked whisper cut short by coughs. A swipe at his mouth leaves blood on his fingertips, which shows that he hadn’t just imagined his own execution, and he was in desperate need of medical attention. If only he knew where he was - ]

M-Monokuma! What is the meaning of this!? [ his voice comes a little stronger now, a little louder. expecting the laughter that has haunted he and his classmates for weeks now, he finally looks to his surroundings - and is almost shocked to silence when he sees others, so many others.

almost. ]

Am I not allowed rest even in death? Has Monokuma sent you to torture me once more!?

II // COVEN.

[ the chaos of the mass arrival has blown over, and the hours have found Gundam in much better condition. he has been treated, his questions answered, but there is more information and there’s more strange and fantastical sights than Gundam knows what to do with. he simply wishes to be alone, and for once he truly means it - he needs time to process.

and so, when someone else intrudes upon his space and the bed he has claimed, all talk of bed-sharing is conveniently forgotten as Gundam snaps at the intruder. ]

Who dares disturb the domain of Gundam Tanaka!? Leave at once, and I might show you mercy.

III // NETWORK.

[ he’d been told to explore, and so he had. he had no real interest in talking with others - not yet, anyway. there was little hope that his blog would be accessible here, but if he could find even some small way to check it… ]

it would seem even my blog is lost to me...

however, this only means that my powers are required now more than ever!

now, witness the grand revival of the “bubbly breeding blog”!

[ is he messaging this to anyone who will listen (or read)? he certainly is. ]

IV // FOOD.

[ it isn’t long that he’s wandering the streets before he realizes that no, he hasn’t eaten, and yes, it seems he would need to now. Gundam hadn’t worried much before, given the events before his arrival - but now even his stomach growled, something that he desperately sought to fix before anyone else heard.

but all of the stands say that to receive food, he must share it with another. him? share with anyone? he would rather starve before asking any stranger to share with him - and that was said with experience.

… so of course, he spends his time staring at the people walking by; no words, just staring at them rather intensely as they approach the one particular food stand that he has camped out beside. he’s glaring hard enough to bore holes into the unsuspecting person, and he waits for them to notice. ]

V // WILDCARD.

[ any ideas at all, feel free to throw something at me or hit me up at mehebiyume or noumenaughty ♕#3435 on Discord! ]

iii

[littlemperor]

what kind of name is that?!?!

[rescuro]

don't let this jovial name fool you, for something heinous lurks beneath it
only the worthy may see it for what it truly is
... but i suppose all you shall see are tips on caring for animals

[littlemperor]

[oh



okay, so, this guy is Weird, but if he likes animals he can't be that bad..?]

what kind of animals???
i have a dog.
yuzuru usually takes care of him, but since he's not here i have to take care of king by myself...
which isn't a problem or anything!!! i can totally do it!!! he's my dog, you know? what kind of pet owner would i be if i couldn't do that much?


but i guess i'd follow it just to see if you had any advice. you should feel totally honored.

II

[givemewings]

[A girl is staring at him. There’s a soft gasp, followed by the sound of her backing into the wall behind her. Of all the rooms...

Why is he here? Why does he...

She opens her mouth to say something, but nothing comes out. Mukuro just. Maintains eye contact. He looks...different, somehow. All of her instincts are screaming at her that something is terribly wrong.]

[rescuro]

[ he looks, actually looks at the intruder in the doorway, watches her back away and only stare. ( had his intimidation actually succeeded? how weird, how weird. ) she says nothing, she looks more than unsettled, but she also doesn’t leave despite Gundam’s wishes.

He picks himself off the bed - maybe his full height might bring the last bit of pressure he needs to make her leave - and returns her stare, not daring to break their eye contact as he speaks again. ]

Well? What are you still doing here?

[givemewings]

...You look familiar. [Is what she says to suss out exactly what’s happening here. He doesn’t recognize her? Or the fact that she’s wearing Junko Enoshima’s signature clothing? What happened to him? Why is he here?]

That’s all.

arrival

[fordola]

Depends. [ Fordola shrugs. She has never seen this person before in her life, but... ] You look a mess already - that's not good to get answers out of you.

[rescuro]

[ Gundam’s eyes narrow, focusing on her completely; another stranger, another enemy. another test. he forces out a laugh, all but ignoring the last half of her statement. ]

Even in this condition, you’ll find it difficult to best me. Your hubris will be your end as long as Gundam Tanaka walks this earth; letting me live was your last mistake!

[ this might be more impressive a speech, were his voice not showing clear signs of weakness as he fought to speak through more coughing. ]

[fordola]

[ She stepped towards him more. Her face terrifying - a soldier turned prisoner, of course Fordola knew how to play up the face of The Butcher. ]

...Really. One cut, and you'd fall. One punch, and you'd be down. And you think you can threaten me?

III

[soulbonder]

what is a blog and why are you reviving it for bubbly breeding ?

i apologize so much for him

[rescuro]

even the most simple of mortals know what a blog is!

though it may be just a farce, the knowledge contained within my former blog was vital to mortals around the world who sought help in appeasing the beasts who rule them…
to let that knowledge disappear simply because of the new circumstances we are under would be a waste, and would spell certain doom for many.

don't ever apologize

[soulbonder]

that is rather assumptive, is it not ? not to mention rude . i am far from simple

i still do not know what a blog other than it's apparently vital to mortals to appease beasts

however if that were true then i would surely have heard about it before now

ii CHUUNIBYOU GATHERING YES

[unlightmusic]

[As much as she loves festivals, Suzu is definitely tired out from everything that's happened today, especially when carrying her guitar through the whole thing, so she'd like some much-needed rest.

Except, there was a boy in that specific bed that one of the Witches told her to use. A boy!!!! One that she doesn't know!!! However, what gains more of her attention is his appearance and reaction...

Ah, this... She knows what this is. She can feel it, this aura... A kindred spirit, another who has embraced the Darkness....! With little hesitation, she poses dramatically by holding one hand over her eyepatch, and another outstretched towards her fellow brethren.]

Hoh...? If ya dare defy the will of the broken-winged "Lucifer", Clochette, you should at least know yer damn place. This domain is rightfully mine for the taking, and as one banished from the Heavens, I have no qualms of havin' it relinquished by force!

[Translation: I was assigned this space, so you probably made a mistake therefore gtfo punk.]

oh my GOD YES

[rescuro]

[ she speaks, and immediately his interest is piqued. any mortal could approach him and brandish their confidence like a flimsy sword ( as so many had ); any fool could attempt to assert their dominance over him and expect him to easily bend ( as so many did ).

but her? something about her was immediately different. familiar. ]

Kehehe… You are no mere mortal.

[ a smirk tugs on his lips, and he slowly rises to face his foe, for she is a foe, at least for this moment. oh, but he relishes the moment; it seems as though he has finally found someone truly worthy to face, someone who, like he, lives in the shadow between this world and the next - someone who understands this power, this burden.

in deference, he readies his own pose: two fingers extend from his right hand and swiftly cut across to aim to his left, while his left hand - his bandaged hand, his cursed hand - lifts above with palm raised skyward. to show even this much of his power so soon to a being who could appreciate it, who could readily strike him down with her own power - needless to say, he was excited. ]

Know that this is a battle you cannot win. This realm has already been claimed by none other than Gundam Tanaka, Ascendant Ruler of Ice, the very incarnation of evil itself! Even a reckless and powerful fallen angel cannot stand against me!

[ Translation: Absolutely not, fight me about it. ]

IV

[defendure]

[ GUNDAM...YOU'RE GENUINELY TERRIFYING, THANKS! Or at least Izuku spent all of his childhood being bullied relentlessly so he has a radar for someone glaring holes into him and he jumps a little, looking around and immediately getting flustered once he makes eye contact with Gundam.

What did he do??? He was just kind of approaching the food stand...

Desperate for the glaring to stop, Izuku fumbles: ]

D...did you want to, uh, share? [ He's not sure that's what's happening but it's a more hopeful read of the situation than "do you hate me for some reason when we haven't even actually spoken before". ]

[rescuro]

[ Gundam’s hard stare melts into a smug grin and closed eyes, and he chuckles when Izuku approaches. Perfect. Mortals were far too easy to manipulate. ]

You must be quite brave to approach me for help… or quite foolish.

[ Yes, clearly it was Izuku’s own choice to approach. There is a small pause before he continues; appropriate timing is everything ( and the last thing he needed was to seem desperate himself ). ]

Very well. Consider yourself lucky, for I am feeling merciful today. I’ll allow you to dine with me, but just this once.

[ If Izuku looks closely, he’ll see that Gundam’s intent stare has returned, but is instead fixed on the food stall beside them. It might be scaring the vendor. ]

iii!

[1019]

God, I don't know if that sounds hot or like some seriously weird shit.

[Oh, shut up.]

oh NO

[rescuro]

Say what you will. Not everyone can understand the true evil that lies in hiding.
Only those worthy will see this blog for what it truly is...

[ it's not hot. ]

iii;

[bloodyuseless]

your ppowers work with tihs thing??? thats amaazing!

[rescuro]

Of course they do! [ they don’t. ] No mortal device could ever inhibit my powers, no matter how these gods try to restrain me!

i

[comeasyouare]

[ Whatever Sonia was expecting to see once she got out of the simulation, this wasn't it. She didn't get the opportunity to see whether the others had some sort of similar experience as they were shutting down the simulation, but seeing as how there wasn't anyone she recognized immediately around. That sinking feeling that something was wrong was growing in the pit of her stomach.

Of course, her stomach started doing flips when she heard someone familiar. Sonia runs over as he hits the ground. ]

Gundam!

[ She kneels down next to him, eyes wide in surprise as she hurriedly looks him over. ]

A-are you all right? What are you doing here?

yeehaw

[rescuro]

[ Gundam’s eyes widen for an instant at her voice, as her image starts to fill his vision - and then, impossibly, he smiles. ]

I see… So this is to be my fate. Driven mad until this body is no more…

[ a strained chuckle falls from him. he lets his head drop and it almost lands against her arm - almost. right now he isn’t sure what to think. he isn’t certain that all of this isn’t just some hallucination played out before his final moments. ]

To be so openly distraught and emotional before others is rather unbefitting a noble. It will take more than this to break me. [ despite the fact it almost had, despite the fact it should have killed him, and may still be. another forced chuckle - to encourage her or himself, he isn't sure. ] It seems that Hell is not yet ready for my arrival- [ so there's no need to worry. he doesn't say that. he's not certain it's true yet. ] -so this world shall be cursed with my evil just a bit longer.

iii

[usurpers]

Why is it about breeding bubbles,/

[ never mind it took him a century to write that ]

[rescuro]

[ he’s speechless. there’s actually a sizeable pause before he replies. ]

If you will not take this seriously then I will take my leave.
I’ve no time for this foolery.