⇨ The Tourist Trap: WEEK 1

[ringleaders]

Who: Anyone, anywhere in Portland.
When: October 1st - 7th, 2017
Where: Portland area, in the new reality.
What: Memories begin returning to the displaced as the fall gets chillier. How the hell did we end up here, again? Also, apparently, the fair is in town.
Warnings: Individually marked!

PORTLAND BY NIGHT↴ Memory regains will come into effect at the beginning of October, to whatever degree you've decided upon, and may be regained at whatever pace you desire from then on. For those with their full carnival memories, it will be like waking up in the body of someone else - for those with half and half, it will be like rapidly recalling sets of memories from a totally different life. Those with full amnesia will simply feel as if this is how it's always been. Unfortunately for you, memories aren't the only thing you have to deal with. The supernatural community of Portland is bustling all of a sudden - could your presence and these events somehow be related? ► THE OUTER CIRCLE: As of the start of the month, the Portland Circle of Enlightenment will find itself starting to get swarmed with members from other chapters. Most notably, it would seem that a small cabal of top mages from the North American Enlightenment Council will be making their home in Portland's HQ. For anyone but the highest of ranks, the purpose behind their visit will be unclear, but it seems like something is definitely up on a metaphysical level. The Circle will be buzzing with rumours of unique planar activity and threatening omens. It seems that it all started with an unusual flare of activity in the planetary ley-lines, starting approximately a week ago. However, even if you would usually be the type to keep tabs on such things, you will find that you oddly have no memory of observing this phenomenon yourself. ► THE ANIMAL FAIR: Good news, the fair is in town! Or, at least, it would be good news... if this was a regular fair. Instead, what's being observed is a bunch of nearly identical flyers, spread all around Portland - each of which bears only the words "THE ANIMAL FAIR", a seemingly bloody paw-print of unknown origin, and the directions to a vague forested location outside of the city. It's dated for October 7th, and all instances of its posting having been discovered with a scattering of rose petals, crow feathers, and pre-burnt matches laying on the ground around them. Most are taking this to be some kind of bizarre viral marketing campaign, but others may know better. ► THE EARTH SPIRIT: If you have connections to The Pack or any of its many variations, you'll probably hear whispers of something very odd that occurred last week - according to the elders, it sounds as if the Earth Spirit, the magical and spiritual center of the planet, has suddenly taken a wound. It's not clear why or how, but there is a fair bit of concern among spiritual types, as it is werebeast belief and nebulous magical fact that the magical forces within the earth are the source of all magic here, as well as the source of life. While many werebeasts claim to have felt the Spirit succumb, you strangely have no memory of such an event occurring. Though things do feel strange, if you know how to tap into the Spirit yourself. ► THE WAR CRY: Though Anath's rain of terror across North America lasted for the first fifteen years or so of the Severing, most independent demons have had enough time to start taking the arch-demon's relative inactivity for granted. For that first while, the warrior queen had seemed determine to rebuild an army on earth by forcing her scattered brethren into service - only for her to gradually settle down in a fortress somewhere in Texas and dig in her heels. Of course, this was too good to last - it sounds as if she and her demonic legion have begun tearing their way up the west coast, their goals remaining a mystery. Their destination, however, is almost certainly Portland.

Comments

[kingsroads]

The thing about Strange is that he doesn't like most people. But Greg...well, that business with losing his kid a few years ago wasn't under the radar enough to escape gossip around the Circle. He can temper the level of disdain he gives most people slightly while talking with Greg. After all, he and Amanda had been trying for a child and might have had one, had the divorce not happened. Who knows, it could have been him in that situation.

He'll tolerate this annoying attempt at goodwill. At least, he'll tolerate it for a bit.

"I've got plenty of hobbies," Strange grumbles, with a little eye roll. "It's just that most of them have...fallen by the wayside recently. Anyway, I'm here for business, not pleasure," said with a little shrug.

[fragileandsoft]

"Who says you can't do both, huh?"

He grins a little, but there's a strain around the edge. Jabs aside, where there's Strange, there's almost always trouble to follow. With all else going on, it bodes ill.

"What's got your tail in a twist this time, huh?"

[kingsroads]

"I'm just checking up on one of my sources." Aka being a nosy shit and asking people about the Rose Queen. With a sigh, Strange crosses his arms over his chest, leaning back in the chair slightly.

"I haven't heard of anyone escaping from her realm for a while, but one of the changelings still has contact with someone in her thrall. I suppose that will have to be good enough." Strange sounds almost annoyed as he describes the reason he's here. Dammit, how is he supposed to find information on the Rose Queen if there's nobody to give him new information in the first place?!

[fragileandsoft]

Greg's brows go up a little. Strange may not have dropped a name, but that's more than enough to figure what exactly he's after.

"I dunno what you're hoping to get outta prying into that stuff." He shakes his head with a sigh. Whether it makes trouble for Strange or for Greg in the long run, he's not eager to see what could come of it. "Why'd there be anything to check up on?" Those folks rarely change, anyway. Annoying, but at least they're reliable like that."

[kingsroads]

"Rarely doesn't mean never. Besides, new people are taken into her court every day. Who knows, maybe someone'll find out something new or useful about her."

Strange isn't entirely sure why he wants to know so much about the Rose Queen, just that the desire's kept him going for the past...hell, for the past ten or so years, probably. He knows it's dangerous and he knows that Greg probably thinks he's an idiot for doing so, but honestly? Strange doesn't really care.