Event Log: January, Return to Dorchacht

[faileas]

Event Log: January, Return to Dorchacht

I. A Tarnished Reality The teleporter to Dorchacht becomes operational by the 4th and the ambassadors return to their city with the first open, ceremonial operation of the device - along with any Mirrorbound who wish to join them, and Theodore Rosethorne and Sowilo, who make the trip as representatives of the Coven to ensure that all is well. Those who missed the first teleportation, never fear! Now that both waypoints are functional, Mirrorbound and others may travel freely between Aefenglom and Dorchacht at any point they choose to. Notably absent from the group, though - most of the Dorchacht refugees originally smuggled into Aefenglom. Only three or four are going back with the ambassadors, and they're primarily Witches. The rest have chosen to stay. Upon return to Dorchacht, it's obvious that some major changes have been made with the new regime. The sky is overcast, but it's merely fault of the weather at this time of year - the oppressive fog that used to hang over the Black City is gone, along with its effects on the natural lunar cycle. The auction blocks, damaged in the fires of the event the locals now call "The Rising", have been fully torn down, not a trace of them left to sully the streets. Where the triple stars of the Resistance used to be worn in secret, a majority of citizens now bear them openly (and in many cases, proudly) on pins and on clothing. In fact, any Witches who do not display the triple stars on their person somewhere, are generally regarded with suspicion, disgust, or fear unless they're recognized as Mirrorbound Witches - careful not to be mistaken for a Drummond sympathizer. The Monster citizens won't be outwardly cruel to any Witches, but will be somewhat fearful, hurrying their children along or crossing the street to get away. Recognizable Mirrorbound, those who were there during The Rising and before, are treated a bit like celebrities on the streets, though any Mirrorbound are given a warm welcome, albeit a little less warm for Witches. Storytellers share tales of how diplomats treating one another, Witches and Monsters alike, as equals so publicly and openly within Dorchacht gave them hope that such a life is attainable, or how a band of Mirrorbound snuck into the city under the cover of darkness and helped give their Resistance a leg up in the good fight against Drummond's extremists. Others share stories of being rescued from burning buildings or cruel Witches during The Rising by brave heroes. Many of these tales are shared in the form of song, as homage to those Mirrorbound who brought hopeful music to Dorchacht through the radio, which is still operational and playing a selection of music with a little more variety. Still a bit soft, their speakers and songs are, but as time passes, they grow a little more experimental, branching out from the lullabies that used to be played. Overall, the Black City is much less black these days, a little greener and brighter from the plants left by Mirrorbound before. Where the old Dorchacht could take your breath away with its feeling of barred oppression, many of those barricaded windows have been opened, reinforcements on the doors broken down. Though things are never perfect after a revolution, and it's clear that the work continues. Armed Resistance guards patrol the streets in trios, normally two Monsters and a Witch, to keep the peace. Their first priority is the protection of Monsters, many of whom still seem anxious and scared as they go about their days - not of the guards themselves, who they often greet with smiles, but of the Witches and humans they pass on the streets. In some cases, keeping the peace means breaking up fights between their own and those humans and Witches who do not want to accept Monsters as their equals, and in some cases it means putting Drummond sympathizers in their places with intimidation and force. While they do their best to keep skirmishes out of Mirrorbound sight, it's clear that despite the improvements, Dorchacht is still no utopia, and the road to a true peace is fraught with speedbumps. As noted, characters are free to travel between Aefenglom and Dorchacht by teleporter as often as they'd like! The waypoints will remain open even after this month and travel will be unrestricted; we will note if this situation changes in the future. Dorchacht quests are also now available ICly!

II. A Few Alterations a. The Coven Major changes are still underway. One of the biggest that Mirrorbound will notice is that the new administration of Dorchacht have moved the Coven. The old building is in a state of disrepair right now, doors and windows wide open, the interior stripped of trappings. The library has shed its books to somewhere else. The basement where so many horrors took place is abandoned. Instead, a sign has been erected outside it, stating that this center of Drummond's operations will be turned into a museum to remember their unpleasant history, and to memorialize those who lost their lives fighting for freedom. It's still a work in progress, and not high on the priority list when survival and care of the citizens have to take precedence, but inside, characters may still find small shrines set up in various places to Resistance members who died there. Instead, Dorchacht's new Coven is currently based inside an old manor located just a handful of blocks from the town square, and it's a much more informal affair. Magic lessons have continued with Resistance Witches, though the subject matter has changed instead. They experiment with different types of magic based on their own interests, but many are studying plant magic, medicine, and defensive spells that can be used out in the Wilde. Anything that will prove to be practical going forward. Lessons are also open to Monsters now, so they can see what their magical brethren are learning (and know that the compulsion and control spells that Morgana loved so much are no longer being taught). With the Coven being moved, visitors from Aefenglom are offered places to stay either within the manor of the new Coven, or in various empty houses around the city. Stay as long as you'd like, they say, and apologize that the accommodations aren't nicer - reconstruction is still obviously ongoing all over the city, repairing damages from The Rising and the fighting that happened afterward. They don't really have anywhere as nice as the rooms their ambassadors were given in Aefenglom. b. The Walls One of the biggest on-going projects in Dorchacht right now is removing the Monster control spells from the set of enchantments on their city walls. High on the list of priorities is making sure that Monsters can feel safe again, secure in their own minds and bodies. As the spells are made visible, particular sets of runes have to be ground down and smoothed over. A spell is either cast or provided to soften the stone temporarily, and then it's basically going at it with magitech-powered sanders created by Hilda. The particular runes that need to be gotten rid of will be provided on reference sheets - please don't touch the others, they chide! Those are to protect from the Cwyld, and are still very important. While help is welcomed with open arms and enthusiasm at most sections of the walls, those guards posted at one particular small district, guarded with trios of Resistance members at each entrance and warded with alarm magic to warn of escape, turn Mirrorbound away; these runes are being altered, not removed, to help contain unruly Drummond loyalists, they say. The people who now live in that guarded district are all human, whether they're Witches or no, and all refuse to bear the triple stars. "Troublemakers," the guards will explain grimly. "We have to contain them for now. It isn't a perfect solution, but they've hurt people, or tried to hurt people, since Drummond was run out of town." c. Bond Lessons Bonding is a bit of a tricky subject in the new Dorchacht. Many Monsters are afraid of the idea, as it was once used as one of the collars around their necks, but the Circle of Three recognize it as an important way to wean citizens off the lullabies and calming draughts that prevent going feral during full moons. As part of encouraging others to form Bonds, partnerships at the very least the way most Resistance members describe theirs, there are demonstrations and public seminars that pop up around Dorchacht on the regular. They may be as informal as a circle in what's going to be a park or as official-seeming as a talk held inside a shop or lecture hall, but they have one thing in common. Many of the citizens are keen on getting Mirrorbound in on it -- mostly by dragging them in, asking if they have a Bonded, and if they do, they tell the Mirrorbound to talk about their Bonded. They're interested in the ups and downs (but mostly ups) of having one in order to show that if the Mirrorbound are into it, you should be too! They accept all stories but prefer the happy ones - the aim is to encourage their Monster citizens and help them be less afraid of taking that step with Witches. And for those who aren't in a Bond, or decline to talk -- well, they get what amounts to a "flour sack baby" in the form of a Dorchacht citizen of the opposite role of their own (a Monster would receive a human/Witch, a Witch would receive a Monster) that they must hang with for a day, ensuring no harm comes to them, bound by one of the temporary Bonding potions so popular in the Wilders' ranks. (As a note, for the second option, you have free reign of the NPC; do the personalities you find fun, be they cooperative or mischievous, shy or loud, abrasive to your character or someone they can genuinely get along with. They are all willing - no one is being forced into this. No Fae or Dragons allowed for Monster NPCs, unfortunately, as they are still very much not about.)

III. Ahoy Mateys! With Dorchacht opening up again after the last few months of closed off internal fighting, plenty of trading ships' Captains are ready and raring to go build business relations with the new regime and find a new market for some of their wares. There has been increased interest in finding a shorter route to Dorchacht by sea - the teleporter is useful for small groups of people, sure, but it can't handle much cargo. The only problem? Ships are being turned back, barely halfway there, with significant damage to their hulls. Brave individuals looking for a seafaring adventure are asked to come aboard and help the crew navigate tumultuous waters, hopefully figuring out along the way what's causing the damage to previous ships. It's a three day trip to Dorchacht if the waters are kind, and characters can simply teleport back home once there. On board the various ships brave enough to return to the sea, Mirrorbound find the problem halfway through the trip: a colossal squid that's made it home at this point, thrashing ships that come too close to its den. While uninfected, it does have injuries on its body, which may be the source of its lashing out. The ships are able to bring themselves close enough for longer ranged attacks, and the Harpy on board are careful not to be captured by the churning waves caused by the thrashing, but there's others who want to seek a less violent mean to end this surf and turf conflict. Killing, healing, subduing, or relocating it are all valid options, but getting in close to do any of those will be difficult, as it has a tendency to ink up the waters around it and reduce visibility to nothing. Be careful of any creatures swimming around that are interested in the weakened squid as well, such as various carnivorous fish, sea-plants, and things that appear alike to Merrow, but rely only on instinct. The Merrow cannot be spoken to, nor are they infected; the Captains of the ships will explain that they're "wild", and refer to them as distant cousins to the Merrow that sparsely populate Aefenglom itself.

IV. Back At Home Back in Aefenglom, the stir caused by the Circle of Three's arrival takes time to calm. It's the talk of the town for days - many seem happy about Morgana Drummond's apparent demise. "Good for them," is the general sentiment in the residential areas more populated by Monsters and the Harbor District. They're glad to know that things are on the way up there. Others think this is a boon; should anything happen, now Aefenglom has an ally city to stand with them, one in their debt. Others still don't really care either way, and go about their lives as if nothing's happened. The refugees, in their neighborhoods on the far reaches of the Haven, seem happy to hear news from home and find The Dragon/Starlight/Fafnir freed, and while a few of them choose to return to Dorchacht, having never put down roots in Aefenglom, more still don't wish to leave the homes and families they've formed here, or the Mirrorbound who have helped them so much over the months. Some even doubt that things are as good as they say, and choose to remain for that reason - slavery and ill treatment from the upper class in Aefenglom instilled in them a sense of (well-earned) paranoia regarding the intentions of Witches, especially those back home. They hear that things have changed, but don't necessarily want to find out for themselves. Even still, the mood is upbeat, with a general consensus that if Morgana is really gone, that's at least a solid step in the right direction. In the Aristocratic District, though, the atmosphere is sour. The general sentiment is that they wish the refugees would have left with those ambassadors. The kinder ones think Aefenglom should focus on its own citizens - the people from the Outer City brought in to weather the blizzard have never left, after all, still living in the neighborhoods with the refugees. Those who are more vocally outspoken about the Mirrorbounds' presence in the city think they should have all left to Dorchacht. Let another city shoulder all the misfortune they bring with them! Many of the people grumbling about that are ones who were directly affected by the Mists back in October, either through temporary changes themselves or through being attacked by ferals. Some of the more hot-headed young people try to spread this message - through graffiti, on homes and businesses in the Haven and the refugees' district, though if caught, they're quick to run away and not willing to enter into a confrontation. The graffiti is wholly mundane and not particularly difficult to remove, just unpleasant, telling Mirrorbound and refugees alike to "go home" or "go back to Dorchacht", in so much colorful language. Seems there's still some work to do at home, as well.

Welcome to your establishing post for the current situation in Dorchacht! This log takes place through the entire month; characters can come and go as they please. As always, you can direct all your questions HERE. This month we're also putting up a City Tracker for PC actions, both in Aefenglom's plot later on and Dorchacht's log here. Let us know what your character is doing, good or bad! The cut-off for the tracker is February 3rd.

Comments

[thejoyrider]

[Troupe? Ah, it all makes sense now!]

I certainly am! I have been to all the performances since my arrival in Aefenglom... and I am Bonded to Amadeus and Salieri. My name is Marie, pleased to make your acquaintance! I certainly hope a day comes soon when the troupe can perform freely on a public stage.

[If not back home in Aefenglom... maybe in Dorchacht?]

[metalcrusher]

OH... OH! SO YOU ARE BONDED TO THEM, MARIE-DARLING! ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL!

[Mettaton clasps his hands together, that heart on his screen blinking with affection. No wonder he's seen her! And if she's introducing herself to him, well, that makes some sense. He frequently opts to perform in his EX body, given the humanoid appearances of his cohorts.

He has met... all of them. The robotic star taps himself.]

THEN YOU SURELY KNOW OF ME, AT LEAST. IT DOESN'T SHOCK ME THAT THE SPARK OF RECOGNITION DOES NOT ALIGHT IN YOUR EYES... YET. I'M METTATON! THIS IS SIMPLY ANOTHER ADORABLE FORM OF MINE. I'M PLEASED TO MEET YOU, MARIE.

[While the two chatter away, a disturbance approaches not even a block down. Monsters talk among each other with more urgency, and if either paid attention, they might hear it: "Witches... They don't wear the stars."]

[thejoyrider]

[Ah, Mettaton! That was indeed a name Marie was familiar with. While she did not recognize him in the form he was currently in, she has seen enough performances of the troupe to know he was a talented actor and performer. Amadeus and Salieri would sometimes mention his name as well.]

My pleasure to meet you once again, Mettaton! I am sure you are every bit as gifted in this form as you are in the one I have seen on stage...

[She pauses for a bit, trying to focus on the voices]

Have you heard that - just now?

[metalcrusher]

HEARD SOMETHING? BEYOND YOUR FLATTERY? HM?

[Ah, he'd love to talk more about himself, but he takes her concern seriously and silences. Unlike Marie, he's missed the opportunity to hear what concerns her so.]

I'M AFRAID I'VE MISSED IT. CARE TO SHARE...

[Before he can complete his thought, Mettaton's screen goes pale yellow when he notices the way some of Dorchacht's Monsters slink closer to the building walls. Behind Marie, a trio of humans stalk the streets, a cold, haughty air about them that suggests they feel they're above those who line the streets. Mettaton faces Marie, clasping her hands in his on reflex.]

AH. IF THE BODY LANGUAGE OF ANY OF THESE MONSTERS IS ANY INDICATION... OUR RE-INTRODUCTION MIGHT HAVE TO BE PUT ON HOLD. DORCHACHT'S COME A LONG WAY... BUT IT SEEMS SOME OF THE WITCHES ARE DETERMINED TO BE RELICS OF OLD ATTITUDES. WATCH YOURSELF, BEAUTIFUL. IF IT COMES TO, I WILL PROTECT YOU FROM HARM. THIS BODY OF MINE ISN'T JUST ICONIC, BUT IMPERVIOUS TO DAMAGE.

[thejoyrider]

[Marie is smarter after the incident with feral vampire a while ago. As soon as she is made aware of the danger she and Mettaton found themselves in, she quickly hides behind the robotic body. If there would be fighting, she cannot exactly help, but she can try to not make it worse]

What do they want from us? Is this how it used to look like here, in Dorchacht?

[metalcrusher]

[He's not suited for battle anymore, by any stretch, but he's not bluffing when he says he's impervious to damage.

He half-turns toward her.]

THIS... BUT MOST EVERY WITCH EXUDED SUCH A CHILLY DEMEANOR. MONSTERS WERE, AFTER ALL, SUB-CITIZEN. AND THIS BAND SEEMS TO THINK THEY STILL ARE.

[Fortunate and unfortunate, the Drummond sympathizers appear to be ready to pick on Monsters that didn't look like metal boxes. All they do is give Mettaton a strange look, unable to place him as sentient, much less a Monster.

Instead, the band of Witches get right into the faces of a group of furrier Monsters — a Faun, Puca, and Turnskin stand their ground, challenging the Witches to betray the new social order. And they do: with a flick of their wrists, the Witches have all three Monsters bound in a tendril of constricting magic, rendering them useless. Monsters flanking the streets gasp and withdraw further, scared for their own fates.]

[thejoyrider]

Hey! Stop this in this instant! How can you treat someone else this way?

[Marie speaks up without thinking, because of curse she does. This might destroy the purpose of hiding behind Mettaton, but she doesn’t care. Something something about her being smarter after the vampire incident? Well, she cannot just ignore injustice like this happening in front of her!]

Release them! Who do you think you are? I do not care if that’s how things used to be here. This is a free city now!

[She steps a bit from behind Mettaton’s robot body, just like that. She is not armed. Not much thinking this through has been done here]

[metalcrusher]

[Smart or not, isn't the potency of her leaving protection to face them them truly a moment where she shines? There are no Fae such as herself standing on the street, and she commands not only the attention of the Drummond supporters, but of other Monsters.

Mettaton, too, is dazzled by her. Of course she would stand up and out like that... Though he keeps in mind her body, doing his best not to obscure her, he readies himself to keep her protected.

"You don't even belong here," one of the Witches spits, hardly looking at either Marie or Mettaton. They don't deserve to be looked upon, says his arrogant demeanor. "You've no idea how good things were, 'til you wretched Mirrorbound trampled all over our good rule...!"]

THE RULE OF AN TYRANT. WHO MADE ONLY THE LIVES OF WITCHES EASY. MONSTERS, MEANWHILE, WERE MADE SECOND-RATE, SUBDUED AND AS GOOD AS UNWANTED PROPERTY! FOR US TO COME ALONG AND SHINE THE SPOTLIGHT UPON YOUR TWISTED PRACTICES... WE'D TRAMPLE UPON IT AGAIN AND AGAIN!

[He gestures toward Marie with the hand closest to her.]

MARIE HERE IS RIGHT. TIMES ARE CHANGING, LOVELIES! AND IF YOU DON'T FREE THEM... I'LL BE FORCED TO STOP YOU, FOR MYSELF!

[His screen turns red. ... ... ha ha he doesn't actually know how he's going to stop them, whoops. He doesn't have any weaponry anymore, much less any magic or combat skills! But if he can bluff... Yes. He's going to bluff.]

[thejoyrider]

[It is a fact that getting everyone’s attention on her is what Marie is best suited for. Not battle, despite her being a Rider-class Servant. Not magic, despite Fae being quite attuned to it. What lets her shine is everyone’s attention focused on her.

Attention... Come to think of it, doesn’t she have something that could prove very useful at this moment? The small brooch Henry gave her around Modranicht. She wasn’t wearing it every day but she just happened to have it with her right now. The dragon scales on the trinket matched the shoes she picked for tonight.

Just as she was instructed, she wishes to activate the brooch’s magic and draw everyone’s attention to herself. She floats up a bit on her still undeveloped wings]

How can you say anything was good when only some people got to profit from this? As long as inequality like this persists, there will be no real happiness in a country! I would know - I have experienced it myself! Such actions are...

[She gently taps the enchanted part of the tattoo on her neck - Caster’s handiwork. A spell to temporarily strengthen her voice]

DESPICABLE!

[metalcrusher]

[Despite not having any eyes, even Mettaton's attention is summoned to her in a snap, turning his body to witness her radiance — though in his case, perhaps not because of the brooch. Nobody's eyes aren't on Marie, from the Drummond-loyalists to the citizens who shy away.

And her voice, commanding of everyone's attention, draws a fuss even from around the block. Commotion sounds; a small group of the Armed Resistance hurry into view at the shout.

Mettaton reaches for Marie to grab her small hands.]

BRILLIANT, DARLING! YOU'VE DONE IT!!

[But it all happens so fast. Her message irks them, and they're distracted enough from the group of Monsters they were hassling enough to take a few steps toward the metal Puca and the royal Fae, unfortunately, for if they can reach the two before the Resistance punishes them, they will. To condemn insolence, to prove a point.

Lightning crackles about the arm of the shortest of the Witches, while another quickly unsheathes an iron blade, readying it for Marie. Mettaton is hardly their focus in this moment, given the nature of her enchantment. Naturally, this is the part where Mettaton unhands her and puts himself between Marie and Drummond's supporters.]

OOH, SUCH VIOLENCE...! DISTURBED THAT SHE'S RIGHT, DARLINGS? YOU SHOULD BE. BUT! SHE HAS AUDIENCES MORE DESERVING THAN YOU YET, SO YOU WON'T BE TOUCHING HER ON MY—

[The Witch with lightning unleashes it upon Mettaton. ...Just as he said, it hardly seems to faze him, especially if Marie's standing behind him. His arms drop to his sides. ...The Witch does not like that Mettaton appears unfazed.]

...AHAHAHA. REALLY??? CAN'T BEAR TO SEE ME IN A STATE OF COHERENCY? HOW BRAZEN.

[The Drummond supporters' efforts may be wasted, for the Resistance is closing in fast.]