Intro Log: June

[moustre]

Intro Log: June

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. You're certainly not the only ones here, however. On the first floor, with the doors wide open behind them in the foyer, is a small group headed by two individuals. As people begin to arrive, to come from the highers floor, they're waiting - and they're waiting for you, and your questions. Explore the rest of the mirrored halls you've now found yourselves in, or proceed to the foyer? Leaving the Looking-Glass House makes it obvious that the clock striking three was for 3 AM - the night sky is faintly cloudy, but the stars are dim in the face of two moons, even so close to the new moon as it is. 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. THE WELCOME PARTY Whether you've decided to find a way out of the building you've arrived in, 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. "I suppose you were right again, love," the wolfish one says, voice a low rumble in the quiet night. The woman looks particularly pleased with herself, hands on her hips and elbow nudging at her companion, a quiet eh, eh under her breath. She goes ignored as the werewolf (?) lifts her head to assess the arrivals with her one eye. "Although the excuse of Boaltinn is absent, this time." "Just begs looking into then, doesn't it?" The woman gives her companion an even brighter smile, a little tighter around her eyes, then turns to those gathered in front of them. "Well then, no sense in keeping secrets! This here's Mhairi Ainsley, ambassador to the Parliament and my Bonded, and I'm Nerissa Bell, head Witch of the Coven - but you can just call me Miss Nessie, you can," she adds, winking. "The lot of you must be as tired and confused as the last batch - hullo to those who've joined us, too! - so just a moment, dearests, I'll set all you right up—" With nothing more than a wave of her hand, rows of seats are summoned; despite their wooden nature, they're all sturdy and comfortable, filling the foyer and spreading out a ways into the lawn behind them, making room for all of the new arrivals as well as the previous batch. After all, they'll find this just as interesting. The Witches and Monsters that accompanied Nessie and Mhairi move to make room, and some disperse into the building itself to see if there's anyone who needs tending to. Mhairi steps forward as the chairs materialize. "Please, those who are able, join us for a moment. There are many questions that I'm sure you have - we will do our utmost best to answer them, and you may take any that we can't as a promise to find some sort of solution or answer." 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 HAVEN 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, it's time to make a trek to where you'll be staying while Nessie and Mhairi continue to search for a solution to the situation. As you're leaving with a few Bonded for guides, 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. They can even do it as they make their way out of the Coven's courtyard and to the Haven. Formerly part of the Aristocratic District, The Haven is just as well-kept and brightly-lit as the district it hails from. The houses err on the tall and ornamental-side, large enough to fit several families (or, according to the upper class, their one family, several dozen servants, and guests), especially closest to the Aristocratic District. They become a little more modest and smaller as one gets away from the realm of high society and nearer to the Residential District proper. Newcomers are shuffled here and invited to find somewhere to live - the Coven is currently handling expenses for the houses themselves in an program implemented by the Parliament, though if your character wishes to have anything extra - like maids, chefs, and so on - they'll have to pay for them themselves with their own earned money. Much of the landscape and fixtures are the same as in the Aristocratic Districts, though it lacks formal emergency services due to its roots as part of a district that already did. Much of the housing already has furnishing due to the speed at which homeowners were relocated; they were given enough time to collect their valuables, but standard furniture such as kitchenware, couches, beds, etc. were left behind for those moving in. Other houses appear the same, but the dust on the floors suggest these houses were left before the new arrivals even showed up - a reminder that the Cwyld can strike just about anyone, regardless of standing. Another portion of this district has been opened up to the new arrivals: the barracks, the row of buildings pressed against the very edge of the Bright Wall. As the city's military force no longer has the same presence it previously did, the barracks have gone into disuse, and a cleanup effort has been in place since before the new arrivals came through the Looking-Glass House. For those who desire something a little less opulent, the barracks might just be the answer. The barracks can also be used for business, for a welcome center, a communal space, for anything that the residents of the Haven see fit to use it for - so long as the legality isn't questionable, on the surface. To help with filling up the larger houses - and even some of the smaller ones, and the shared rooms in the barracks - the Witches put together a little roommate finding service, on a smaller scale from the grand opening of the Haven. For those who aren't entirely sure who they want to shack up with, they have a small survey for them to fill out and post on the board they've magicked up in the center of The Haven. The board also very helpfully reads aloud each form for everyone to hear in a cheerful, monotone voice. It isn't able to be shut up, nor is it easy to ignore, being imbued with a kind of amplification magic. It seems like the prank previously attached to the spell has been fixed now, at least, so it doesn't read rude descriptions anymore - simply the information you've offered up yourself.

IV. CLASS ACTS Once is happenstance, and twice is coincidence - but Nessie won't take any lip about it, especially given some of those who arrived aren't turning out to be Witches, but the other half of the spectrum: Monsters. It's one thing to grow up knowing what you are and what you'll look like, and it's another entirely to be thrown into a world and have to deal with it without any idea of what to do. In the days following arrivals, Nessie gathers her best Witches and Monsters, and gives them a simple task: figure out who is what, and give them a little help. On a volunteer basis, of course; anyone who doesn't want to be tested for magical potential (or a lack-of it, signifying being a Monster) will not be forced to be, but they will be encouraged to check out the classes offered regardless. a. A LITTLE BIT OF HOCUS Those exhibiting magic potential - or who are interested in magic or Witches, regardless of if they were tested or not - are brought out to the Coven's courtyard. They're given a quick primer on magic, the different classes, and taught a few entry-level spells and concepts before they're set free to practice their new magic (with supervision, naturally). Try your hand at conjuring candy, evoking a little fire, teleporting a few feet, tossing a few enchantments on others or inanimate objects - get those flowers singing! But be careful: inexperience is a Witch's greatest enemy, and these spells might just end up going a little haywire. Your simple light spell might end up as bright as the sun, or maybe instead of a nice breeze you bring in a major windstorm - effects are either big or small, with nothing in-between. b. A TINY BIT OF POCUS Those exhibiting a lack-of magic potential - or those who are simply interested in Monsters and Bonds, regardless of if they were tested or not - are brought to the Coven's basement. Despite its below-ground existence, the area is well-lit and feels as open as the main room above. They're given a quick primer on Monsters and transformations, the full moons and their effects, and a key part in keeping them from going too wild: Bonds. Those attending are encouraged to form temporary bonds, which is done by the two characters simultaneously drinking a tasteless silver-colored liquid from the vial provided to them. This Bond will last up to a day and has the same effects as a real Bond, though lessened in strength and muted in feeling.

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 new characters will have to get settled in, you can go ahead and put your name on some by replying to the June 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

[timeriffs]

Whatever you say. I'd normally probably be all like: wow, so you have two names that don't even sound the same after I told you I didn't recognize the first one? Gee, sounds fishy, do you need me to wire you 10,000 bucks, too, but you pinky swear you'll pay me back?

[He adjusts his sitting position again, pulling knees up so he can lean forward on them, leaving his hands free for some casual gesturing as he talks.]

But since this is the second time in my goddamn life my world has been upended on some rando's whim I'm willing to give your balls a reprieve and not bust 'em and maybe believe you on this. [Beat.] But yeah I've heard of Ramses, I think there's a cartoon or something I saw once, so congrats on that.


((no worries hope things are better! Btw, since we're here, mind if I add you on plurk?))

[fulgency]

[Ozymandias is starting to get used to not understanding much of what he says, but for a moment, there doesn't even appear to be a gist to what he's saying for Ozymandias to identify. Then he says he might believe Ozymandias and while that's not exactly ideal, it's good enough for the moment that some of the growing tension in his shoulders he hadn't noticed starts to relax.]

Does everyone where you're from speak as strangely as you do?

((sure! go for it. c: i'm at rebreather))

[timeriffs]

Hate to admit it, but there's people that do talk weirder than me. Sometimes, they even talk *more* than I do, too.

[He answers, a bit smart assy. But, c'mon, he's used to being asked these things.]

[fulgency]

[Ozymandias lets out a small puff of laughter.]

That seems difficult to believe.

[Dave appears to have quite the mouth on him. Ozymandias believes it to be insolence that comes with youth and perhaps stress from the current circumstances. (In any case, he doesn't hold it against him.) That someone could speak more than he does at any given time and with even more confusing word choice truly seems impossible.]

[But perhaps that is the norm whenever he's from.]

What year is it where you're from? I was summoned to the year 2017 before I ended up here, but none of the humans spoke the way you do.

[timeriffs]

[It *is* a mixture of stress and irritation at being upended from his life that made him so sassy right off the bat, but as he keeps talking to Ozymandias he takes on a more casual tone. Dave is finding this guy relatively easy to talk to, even if Dave is layering it all behind wall after wall of bullshit. Rambling at someone who isn't reacting to it by just huffing away is helping to relieve some of that pent up anxiety.]

To be fair, most of them aren't human, so I don't know if that counts.

[He'll just drop that nugget of knowledge before continuing on to drop more. He doesn't miss that this guy said he was SUMMONED, but Dave is gonna file that delicious knowledge morsel in his cheek pouches for later.]

Well. That depends. The Earth I come from ended in 2009, sounds like your Earth lucked out and lasted longer, which brings up all sorts of paradoxical questions I'm not sure I even wanna tackle right now. But the Earth me 'n' my pals made it was 5021 years, 4 months and 5 days. [He even remembers the hour, minute, nanosecond, he was suddenly ganked, but that's just overkill to drop.]

[fulgency]

[Ozymandias doesn't bat an eye at the mention of non-humans. He also doesn't particularly bat an eye at the notion of the world ending. Really, it's the timing of it that's more perplexing.]

What brought the Earth to an end in 2009?

[Ozymandias would admit that he's not as well-versed on what moments in history best qualified as foundations of humanity for the Singularities to occur as others more involved with Chaldea than he has been, but he can't imagine 2009 was ever one of them. That had to have been a relatively unremarkable year.]

Was it the same thing that ended it in 5021?

[timeriffs]

[He takes in his non-response to the not-human thing, piquing his own curiosity just because he wonders if that means there were alien trolls or something on his end, too.

He makes an audible groan when asked what ended the world in 2009, grimacing.]

If you want a long, windy road of a story that will do nothing but anger you with how convoluted and nonsensical it is I can tell you, but maybe some other time. I'll find a lecture hall with a white board, put on a blazer with elbow patches, the whole 9 yards to make it the bullshit extracurricular college credit it is to dissect that corpse of a tale.

But as far as I know my current home is still trucking on. [He rubs at the back of his neck, glancing aside, a genuine moment of concern. He mutters:] At least, I hope so. [Louder:] Your world still kicking it?

[fulgency]

For now, [Ozymandias confirms with a nod.] If Chaldea doesn't succeed in its mission by the end of the year, that will change and humanity will be wiped out.

[He says this casually. So casually that it's likely he comes across as though it doesn't matter, but that's not exactly true. He simply knows the outcome will either be success and humanity is restored, or it will be failure and the world as it has been will be undone. He cannot predict which outcome it will be, but he knows them. There's no reason to be anxious. Besides...]

[He smiles with pride.]

In truth, I'm not sure that mage was really worthy of being my Master even if they were humanity's last, but I would have liked to see just how strong they've become at the end. Whatever the outcome, I'm sure they will fight with everything they have.

[timeriffs]

[Dave props an elbow on a knee and leans his cheek into his hand, catching all these words that he doesn't know along with words he *does* know but doesn't make sense in the way he's using them.]

Okay, cool, so you just said stuff I 100% don't understand. You say you're an Egyptian Pharoah but you were ""summoned"" into 2017 by a wizard and then whatever that "Cha-" name you said...

[See those trailing periods? That's Dave's invitation to explain.]

[fulgency]

[He says he doesn't understand, but Ozymandias thinks he's selling himself a little short. He's managed to collect the pieces. He hums thoughtfully, leaning back a little. He's unused to having to explain any of this to someone. If he manifests in any era, the persons involve know all they need to.]

[When he settles on how to best explain it, he sits back upright.]

I am the pharaoh known as Ramesses II, but because my name and deeds have lived on in humanity's consciousness well beyond my death, I am now what's known as a Servant. If a mage had the desire and the proper catalyst, they could summon me to their era. If we don't form a contract from that point, I would eventually fade away. But if we do, they become my Master and I would use their mana to maintain my foothold in their era and to use my abilities.

The circumstances in which Chaldea's Master summoned me were a bit different than usual, [he says this with a dismissive wave of his hand because details,] but the basics of our contract remain the same.

[timeriffs]

[Dave shifts slightly so his chin is now in his hand, and his fingers begin to drum on his lips as the explanation is delivered. There's a bit of silence, as if Dave is extrapolating a conclusion. Finally, he stops taking his fingers to point aty Ozymandis.]

So you're basically a Pokémon.

[fulgency]

[Ozymandias waits patiently as he thinks he sees some gears turning while he's mulling over the information he just gave him. And then...]

[...]

[Well, he says that.]

[???]

Poké... What?

[timeriffs]

Basically a fight slave you bring out when you want to strut your stuff and show you have the biggest dick in the room by making something else do the alley brawl for you.

[fulgency]

[A frown forms quickly as Dave elaborates.]

Perhaps a lesser, weaker Servant who is eager to serve could be called that. [He shakes his head. He still has his pride as Pharaoh.] But I would never accept a Master who couldn't understand that I will not fight for them and that any attempt to rob me of my free will would cost them their life. Only if our goals align and they understand this will I form a contract and fight alongside them.

[timeriffs]

[Huh, sounds like a serious matter for him.

Thus, gotta be wise alec about it.]

Are you kept inside a tiny ball, Ramses. It's okay, you can tell me, this is a safe space. There are no balls here to hurt you.

[fulgency]

[It's difficult to be too annoyed with Dave's smartassery right now when Ozymandias has no idea where balls and living inside them comes from.]

What are you talking about? What do balls have to do with anything?

[timeriffs]

[An honest to God little half-smirk grows on his lips.]

Okay, that's something else I'll have to explain later, too, but you won't regret waiting.

[That almost sounds ominous.

He reaches into his pocket and pulls out the watch device they were given, flipping it open with one hand.]

BTW, what's your username on this thing. I'm gonna need it.

[Ominouser and ominouser.]

[fulgency]

[Very ominous indeed.]

...Ozymandias. [He says this mildly confused as to why it would be anything other than his name???] Why do you need to know?

[timeriffs]

Lame.

[What a boring username. That's his judgement.]

So I can bother you later on, like us hip, modern dudes do. Send a text or a pic of a a dog turd we found in a funny shape, you know? Mine's turntechGodhead.

[fulgency]

[...turntech...]

[Ozymandias isn't going to remember that in any capacity. But that's probably not really an issue because the second he receives any kind of message, the sender will likely be identifiable near immediately.]

I'm assuming that's not actually your name.

[timeriffs]

[Has he really not told him his name? Oopsie. Oh well, time to roll with this.]

Really, with a name like Ramesses Ozymandias you're gonna judge my name? Not very woke of you, bro.

[fulgency]

My name isn't Ramesses Ozymandias...

[Ozymandias doesn't know what "woke" means, but he is exasperated at being called Ramesses Ozymandias??? How??]

[Still, he explains,]

Ozymandias is the better-known version of my regnal name. Ramesses is my birth name.

[timeriffs]

[Dave can't go 'round the block on this whole name thing again. He'll have to kill himself by shoving his empty cup down his throat first.]

And I'm Dave. [He holds out his fist, just to see if this dude knows how to fistbump. He's gonna guess not, but like fuck Dave is going to be the one to offer a handshake.]

[fulgency]

[Ozymandias clearly doesn't recognize the fistbump initiation here as he doesn't move beyond raising an eyebrow.]

Is that some form of greeting where you're from?

[timeriffs]

It's the ultimate form. C'mon, put up your fist. Let's do this.

[He wiggles his fist in the air.]