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

[long_live_the_queen]

M'fine.

[Kaede resisted the urge to rub her nose, to prove it, and of course it began to itch terribly. She cracked her eyes open a tad--and swiftly shut them again. Still too bright.]

Why are you sorry?

[The Chimera had made the mistake of pointing the camera at people this time, even if just for a split moment while she tried to turn the thing around to see what was wrong.

Also she bit Maria's girlfriend. That was Impolite.]

[sing_for_me]

I mean--I did just hit you...

[ She takes a step closer, hoping to at least block anyone who might run into the poor girl. ]

Are your eyes still hurting?

[ Maybe she should guide her somewhere to the side.. Placing a hand on her shoulder, she starts to move over so they aren't in the way. Her own eyes were still squinting a little, but she could still see a little better than a moment ago. ]

That camera sure is bright...Is it your first time using it?

[long_live_the_queen]

[The unexpected touch made Kaede jump, though it was at least in the direction Alex was leading.]

No. [As long as she kept them closed! Which...defeated the purpose of having eyes.] Can't really see yet.

[It was a quiet, reluctant admission of weakness. It made dodging people and apple carts and traffic difficult, if people didn't tend to swerve away from Chimeras anyway. And there wasn't an additional obstacle in the way.]

Yes. [Her hands curled around the camera a bit further.] It was a gift.

[sing_for_me]

That's a really nice present. Have you been able to take a lot of pictures already?

[ Maybe talking about her hobby might make take Kaede's attention away from the discomfort until she can see again. ]

It looks like it takes some getting used to.

[ It's a lot older from the cameras she's seen. ]

[long_live_the_queen]

[O-oh. Kaede's feathers fluffed a little--just a bit--at the first thing Alex said.

--uh. Right. Witnesses. Her ears flicked back into something of their usual posture, though her eyes were still shut and her feathers still raised.]

Sort of. Mostly pigeons.

[She grumbles a bit at that reminder. Stupid overly curious birds.]

I thought these sorts of things went in museums.

[It certainly didn't look like any point and shoot tourist camera she had ever seen.]

[sing_for_me]

I'd love to see them some time..if that's okay with you?

[ She'd always wondered what went on in the young woman's head. Maybe seeing through her lens might give Alex a glimpse of that. ]

Are you trying to take pictures of people now?

[long_live_the_queen]

[Despite herself, despite it still twinging her eyes when she opened them, Kaede's red eyes blinked up at Alex in slivers.]

If...if you want to.

[Error, expressing emotions like a person not found. Kaede has no idea how to react here.

There were plenty of rooms in the mansion she could convert to developing film, but. People?? Liking things she did??

Time to deflect! Slightly.]

...I'd like to, I guess. [Her voice quiets somewhat.] But it's still so bright.

[sing_for_me]

--Ah!

[ Alex gets an idea at that moment, shirking off the shawl from her arms and draping it carefully over Kaede's head. ]

There, does that help?

[long_live_the_queen]

[The Chimera could make out some fuzzy shapes, distinguish between light and dark. She felt something moving, heard the sound of fabric unfurling--and something light and warm settled on her head, snagging on a brow tine. It didn't feel very restricting, just a bit ticklish and unexpected.

Rather than jerking backwards like a headshy animal, Kaede...froze, like a hawk just hooded. She made a weird noise, something between an uncertain bird's chitter and something much larger's rumbling. She gripped the camera tightly, feathers on her tail half standing on end.]

What did--you do?

[It didn't hurt, and she wasn't dying. Those were the two things Kaede wanted to make sure of first. And she could still breathe, though her voice was a bit muffled by fabric.]

[sing_for_me]

It's just my shawl.

[ That sure was an odd sound just now. Alex tries to sound reassuring, holding on to Kaede's arms. ]

I figured it might help you readjust?

...Is..it? Helping?

[long_live_the_queen]

[The Chimera made another little chirrupy noise, but didn't wriggle or thrash around. She wasn't...exactly calm, but with the older woman's voice to focus on and the absence of half-seen flickery motions in her recovering peripheral vision she wasn't nearly as twitchy.]

I...think? Maybe?

[Kaede's tail was still all bristly, but wasn't lashing about. And, most notably, she wasn't freaking out at someone touching her.

Her head turned one way at the sound of a door creaking open, but returned to where she heard Alex's voice last.]

[sing_for_me]

[ She might have figured out the light problem, but the sounds seem to still be bothering Kaede. ]

I'll take us somewhere quieter, alright?

[ Carefully, Alex takes hold of Kaede's hand, and slowly she starts to walk towards somewhere more open and not as bustling with people. There's a bench not too far away, facing a small pond. ]

We're almost there.

[ She'll help guide Kaede to sit down once they make it to the bench. ]

How's that..?

[long_live_the_queen]

[The Chimera made another mumbling noise when Alex took her hand, but didn't stubbornly pull back. With the shawl blocking out the worst of the light's harshness, it was easier to keep her eyes open. Kaede could almost make out the weave on the fabric again.

She stumbled a few times, but Alex's grasp was gentle and soft, and didn't let her fall. Even when the other woman coaxed her to sit, it wasn't on a precarious perch. A bench? Whatever it was, while Kaede did thump down a bit harder than usual, she didn't tumble off the back.]

Better, I...think? Where are we?

[Her cowled head bobs a little, like a bird's.]

[sing_for_me]

Just by a pond. There aren't too many people. Take the shawl off whenever you feel ready.

[ People might be staring when they pass by, but Alex won't mention that part. ]</small. Maybe once you're seeing better, you could take pictures? It's quite a nice view.

scream I never hit enter

[long_live_the_queen]

[The Chimera's fidgets and wiggles stopped, and she dragged in a deep breath over her teeth. She felt around with a claw to find a solid surface to set the camera down on, and slowly raised her hands to start peeling the shawl back. Just a little at first—a peek, to let her eyes adjust to the light outside. She couldn't see much through that little window, just a patch of grass. But it didn't make her eyes water and sting like before.

Cautiously, she peeled back more and more until almost one half of her face was exposed. Kaede looked around first, to make sure of where she was--then she looked up at the other woman's face, a single red eye peeking out from the shawl.]

...it is pretty. [Kaede murmured, softly.]

[sing_for_me]

[ Alex bring a hand over her lips as she laughs softly. The way Kaede was peeking around like a kid not wanting to wake up just yet was adorable. ]

Have you ever had your picture taken, Kaede?

[long_live_the_queen]

[One of the Chimera's ears twitched; she heard that, and she mumbled. But she did have this big cloth blindfold on. She supposed she did look silly.]

Nothing nice. Mugshots, mostly. Or for ID pictures.

[Or when she was too sedated to give a shit that more bright lights were going off in her face.]

[sing_for_me]

[ That's not...the answer Alex was expecting. At least, not what she was hoping for. ]

...Would you like to have your picture taken? And I mean one for fun!

[long_live_the_queen]

[Quietly, the Chimera unwound more of the shawl from her head. She didn't look down at the camera, but she could feel one of its corners pressed against her leg.]

Can you make the flash stop? Or...not as bad, whichever.

[sing_for_me]

That..I'm not sure. I think with these ones, you need the flash to capture the picture.

[ Alex looks down at the camera in question, not familiar with using even more modern ones herself. ]

Ah! What if..you don't look directly at the camera? Maybe you could be looking out towards the water, or just..not directly towards the front?

[ So a more artistic pose of sorts. ]

[long_live_the_queen]

[Her eyes were adjusting more quickly this time, and Kaede finally finished pulling the shawl off of her head. Her hair and crest was a bit rumpled--she felt some of the feathers lying askew, and shook her head to try and make them lie flat again. It...half worked, sort of.]

That would work.

[Kaede has...history with artsy things. Good history! But also sad history.]

[sing_for_me]

Then..would you mind if I..?

[ She holds her hands out slightly, but doesn't try to take the camera from Kaede. ]

If you're alright with it.

[long_live_the_queen]

[Kaede paused, for half a breath. She picked up the camera that her Bonded had given her, looking at it a moment. Alex had been nothing but kind to her--but this was a lot of trust to put in someone. Before...all of this, before the mirrors, Kaede didn't think she could do it.

But that person wasn't here anymore, was she?

Quietly, she looked over at the Merrow, and passed the device over to her waiting hands.]

...go ahead.

[And she looked off at the pond instead of the camera, like Alex had asked.]

[sing_for_me]

[ Carefully, Alex takes the camera and turns it around to face it towards Kaede. It's heavier than Worrick's. How was she carrying this around? ]

Do I just press the button?

[ She wasn't about to break something that was clearly important to her. ]

[long_live_the_queen]

[Kaede started to turn, and stopped, and her ears flicked back in brief annoyance as she faced forward. Of course the instant she absolutely shouldn't move was when she felt like a dozen little motions were in order.]

Yeah. It's already set up from last time.