⇨ 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

[Wildcard]

[hippocarnival]

[By the time Yuya's getting near wherever the animal fair is, he's tense. The shadows haven't been anything more than small critters, but this constant, foreboding feeling just keeps getting worse.

Still, if he sees nothing, it must not be anything. It's probably just because he's out in the woods at night, and he never comes out here! That's it, that's definitely--

He catches sight of a large shadow not far in front of him and stops with a gasp.]

[betheman]

[....That's a tree. It's strange, but despite a sensation that something else is there, something more than just that feeling of foreboding, there is seemingly nothing but the woods. It becomes clear however, that the feeling is 'something else'. The sensation of some other presence comes far off to the side, moving away from the fear.

...Follow it..?]

[hippocarnival]

[This whole forest is making him skittish. He wasn't sure he could navigate it even with good directions.

But once assured the shadow is nothing, he presses on. Truthfully, he's not sure if the path he's taking is leading him to the place he wants or not, because that 'something else' is growing opposite to that foreboding.

... He's probably lost, but at least he still has signal. A large twig snaps under his foot as he veers closer to Gongenzaka, and he flinches at the sound of it.]

[otoko]

[The closer he gets, the farther from fear he becomes-until, while he may still somewhat feel it, it is so far to his back that it may not be an issue at all.

And then, of course, the twig snap happens, so that's probably No Help At All. But the twig is not the only thing. Suddenly, the magic drops-the sensation is gone, and something is moving up ahead, and-]

...Who's there?

[Somehow he couldn't help but ask that.]

[hippocarnival]

[Yuya freezes on the spot.] ... Me?

[Yeah, him. That's a great answer. He creeps around one of the trees, not quite making himself visible to Gon as he tries to scout him out. What usually lives in the forest, Fae?] Who are you?

[otoko]

[Gongenzaka has no reason to think of Fae-he's. Never actually heard of them after all. But he is a bit worried-his sunglasses are sitting on his jacket, a good two feet away, which means shiny red eyes, and-

He hurriedly turns away from the voice, coughing.] Just...someone taking a walk, [he lies, standing awkwardly in place. Hoooooo this is a mess...]

[hippocarnival]

[Huh, that's suddenly a lot less assurance in his tone. It encourages Yuya to get closer, shifting around the tree to look at Gon's back.]

Oh. You kind of scared me. [He laughs.] Why are you taking a walk at night?

[betheman]

[Because sun will turn him into dust-] It's...Nicer at night. Quiet, and peaceful...

...I work nights as well, [he finds himself admitting with a shrug.] ...So it's better for me than getting up in the day....

[hippocarnival]

Really? [He stuffs his hands in his pockets and strolls closer.] So you just sleep all day instead? What's your job?

[otoko]

Mnnhhh-ah, more or less- [Shiiit shit shoot if he could just find an excuse to move over and grab the shades-!!] ...

[Job. Ah.] ...I'm in waste disposal.

[Bam.]

[hippocarnival]

... So you're a garbage man? [That's anticlimactic. It's not what he's really curious about.] Were you responsible for all that energy just now?

[betheman]

Well, it's more vital than-

[OHHHHH AND FORGET THE SHADES HE TURNS ON IMPULSE-] Y-YOU FELT THAT?!

[HE DIDN'T REALIZE IT GOES BOTH WAYS!!!]

[hippocarnival]

[Yuya leans back, raising his brows as he states back at Gon.] Yeah? It was really hard to miss.

[He leans a little closer to look at Gon critically. You don't see many other people with red eyes, but also there's something really... cold about him.] What were you doing?

[otoko]

S...seriously..? [nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-

He sighs, rubbing his face-and abruptly realizing, well fuck, you can see his face, and-

...Well you haven't. Commented on it yet so maybe he's safe??? Yeah.
Nailed it.] ...I'm trying to practice 'magic', [he confesses, looking to the side as he mutters.] ....but...

...truthfully...I have no idea what that spell is doing other than 'focusing energies'... [Awkward.] ...It wasn't...hurting you, right?

[It would really suck if he's been ENERGYSTABBING people.]

[hippocarnival]

[Yuya shakes his head.] No, it just felt really strong so I came to check it out. [Like any person would do in a spooky forest.]

Are you a mage? Or trying to be one?

[otoko]

....Mage? [That probably gave him away. He frowns.] ...If there are others practicing magic, I've never met them...

[Hooo, this is awkward. Realistically he should be backing away from this entire conversation as fast as he can but...something about this guy. Approachable. FRIENDLY!

Hmm.] ...It's more...I wanted to be able to understand something I could do, if that makes sense. ...Before it caused any trouble for someone else.

[hippocarnival]

[That's surprising to hear. To what Yuya knew, almost every mage was part of a circle--and if they weren't, they at least heard of them.]

I dunno what it does, but it doesn't seem dangerous? Maybe it just attracts other people to where you are. [Like him.

He offers his hand. To shake.] I'm Yuya.

[betheman]

Mmmnn....doing that is probably not the greatest.... [Ah, wait-

Hand...erm. ...He hesitates, but offers it after a moment. Yes it feels like marble. Yes it's cold.

Please don't notice it's October clearly it's the weather-] ....Noboru. Noboru Gongenzaka, [he adds, giving a slight nod.]

[hippocarnival]

[Yuya jumps slightly at how cold Gon really is. It doesn't feel anything like the weather, how tough his skin is...

It's curios enough he misses his introduction at first, instead pulling Gon's hand closer to look at it.] Noboru, nice to meet you?

[Why does that sound familiar...] Hey, uh... is it rude to ask what you are?

[betheman]

Ahh-

[....Fudge.] It....it wouldn't be rude, exactly, but...

...I'm not sure you'll like the answer... [Actually, for some reason he has the suspicion that it's a guarantee you won't...]

[hippocarnival]

It's all right! I'm not a normal human, and you're not very scary.

[There's just something about this guy that Yuya finds trustworthy.]

[betheman]

MMNH- [He...isn't sure if he should feel insulted or not.

But regardless.] ....Vampire, [He mutters somewhat, looking to the side.

Yes, like in the books.]

[hippocarnival]

... Really? I've never met a vampire before!

[He should probably be scared, but surely if Gon were a dangerous vampire Yuya would be dead by now. This is probably fine.] Are the stories real? Can you not go out in the sun at all?

[otoko]

A-Aaah, th...that's not surprising... ...I haven't actually met another one either, [he coughs, looking to the side.] ...It's been a long time too, actually...

[He did not expect questions though what-

He nods.] R...Right. If I make contact, it starts to burn, so...

[hippocarnival]

... Wait, then how did you become a vampire? Didn't someone have to turn you?