⇨ The Tourist Trap: WEEK 3

[ringleaders]

Who: Anyone, anywhere in Portland.
When: October 15st - 22th, 2017
Where: Still in Portland
What: As all sides of the struggle gradually become informed, and the awareness of outsiders begins to spread, Portland faces a critical question - what should be done with them? And who gets to decide?
Warnings: Individually marked!

THE WOLVES AMONG US↴ ► WHEN SEPTEMBER ENDS: It's fairly common knowledge that October is a special month - Halloween has always been an excitable time in the supernatural community, because its during this month that the magical energies of Earth seem to disproportionately swell in power. This peeks on the 31st, and has every year for as long as anyone can remember. The holiday of Halloween is a byproduct of this, because the magical phenomenon has gone on for ages past. It's also a pretty common time for wizards to attempt bullshit shenanigans, and also when the Severing first came into effect. ► TOUCHED BY AN ANGEL: Towards the end of the week, Prudence Jaeger will be asking her angelic contacts for a pretty huge favour - she wants them to help her and some of her associates break into the Circle stronghold that the visiting Council members are staying at. It seems that they have some kind of macguffin item that will be needed to crack the barrier cutting off the Earth from the cosmos - and, to that end, allow the angels and mysterious outsiders to return to wherever they call home. ► THE PATH TO HELL: Perhaps unsurprisingly, Team Heaven isn't the only group to clue into the fact that the Circle has what they need. On the same night that the angels go in, so will Anath's army, as the arch demon finally arrives in the city just in time to join the party. Whether the angels and demons fight each other all the way or cooperate to achieve a mutual goal is up to them. ► WITH GOOD INTENTIONS: The Circle and Torchlight aren't all bad, okay? It's entirely possible that they are just acting in the best interest of humanity - unfortunately, that has resulted in them being pretty massive pricks recently, and now the payback for that is arriving on their doorstep. If you're a member of the Circle, you may or may not realize that anything is coming in time for you to prepare. (That will depend on your threads up to the end of the week.) However, once the fight starts, you'll be charge with defending the Councillors whether you like it or not, and Torchlight is getting pulled in as an unexpected ally to ensure their safety as well. Are you going to heed their call? Or is it time to split from the pack? ► BLOOD OF ICE AND FIRE: It's been made no secret that the Rose Queen isn't the only fae trying to pull back her lost changelings - now the Winter Court appears to be doing it, as well. More than a handful of changelings have gone missing over the last couple weeks, lost to both the thorns and agents of the Count. Whatever they're doing, it's also in competition with each other - Winter and Summer will be biting at each other's heels far more than normal, to the degree that it becomes clear they must have some competing objective in mind. Unfortunately for everyone else, that objective happens to conflict with the desires of just about everyone else. Fae are, by nature, opportunists. - ✪ - These are the major conflicts that will be coming to a head towards the end of Week 3. In the meantime, your actions will decide how certain elements are set up, and what the likelihood of success is for each group. Dice rolling handily won the opinion poll where we asked for the preferred method of conflict resolution, so that will be coming into effect a bit later on to determine who actually wins and loses, with advantages based on the choices made.

Comments

Yuya | OTA

[hippocarnival]

[Rescue A]

[With the city descending into slow chaos, Yuya feels like he should do something. They were able to secure the Sanctuary again, so he knows he's not helpless!

Changelings are so vulnerable now, so during the evenings Yuya's wandering the streets where the Courts are leaving their mark. When he finds changelings and other supernatural people caught in the chaos, he directs them to the Sanctuary. He leaves his number, writes directions, gets the names of those who went missing. He's not hard to spot running around so openly, helping friends.

In fact, whether he recognizes you or not, he may wave and try to flag you down for help.] Hey!

[B]

[There's an abandoned house down one of the northern streets that he's peering into, taken over with the Rose Queen's vines. He calls out to someone inside.]

Hey, are you all right? Are you stuck? [A pause.] Don't worry, I'll get you out.

[Closed to Strange]

[It's around the beginning of the week that Yuya gets the chance to dial Strange. He has a lot of serious topics to ask about.

But when Strange picks up he sounds elated.] Hi Mr. Strange, it's Yuya! You remember that spell I told you about? It worked! Multiple times, even!

[It's not the most pressing topic, but he did say he'd update Strange how it went.] And I have some things I want to ask you about.

[Wildcard]

[For all your alternate prompt needs.]

[kingsroads]

Yuya! Pleasure to hear from you! [ Strange, in contrast, sounds like he's had better days. He sounds a little bit woozy despite the fact that he's desperately trying to push past it and give off the impression that everything is PERFECTLY FINE, no need to worry about him in the slightest. ]

Glad to hear the spell worked. Though, what else do you want to talk about?

[hippocarnival]

[Huh, he sounds exhausted... if it wasn't kind of urgent, Yuya would leave it for later. But the memories have only gotten more intense and now they have someone in trouble.]

It's about my memories. You said it might mean I'm not really from here? I... think you're right.

And I have some questions about fairies. How much do you know about them?

[kingsroads]

[ There's a biiiiiit of a pause before Strange answers. ]

It'd be better if we had this conversation in person. It's easier to ward against eavesdropping spells that way.

[ he knows a fair amount about fairies. ]

[hippocarnival]

Yeah, sure. [That's fair, and they're both conversations Yuya doesn't want anyone eavesdropping on.] I'm free right now--where can I meet you?

[kingsroads]

I can take my lunch break now so I'm free as well. There's a small park downtown, near some of the government buildings--and before you ask, none of the roses are there. We'll meet there.

[ Public enough that it makes sense as a meeting spot, but private enough that Strange can toss up wards and things like that without having anybody trying to barge in on their conversation. ]

[hippocarnival]

I think I know which one it is. I'll be there soon. Bye! [And with that he hangs up.

He makes it to the park quickly, smiling and waving at Strange as he approaches.] Hi, Mr. Strange. I didn't ask, but how are you?

[kingsroads]

[ Strange looks as bad as he sounded on the phone. He's obviously functional enough to be walking around and complain about certain things but he's a slightly sickly shade of pale, the bags under his eyes have worsened, and his hair's a bit of a mess. ]

Could be better--I've come down with something. [ this is a lie. He's been starting to experiment with poisons and herbs in hopes of increasing his magic. Unfortunately, the most it's gotten him so far is sleepless nights and head pains. ] I don't think it's contagious though. Just viral. Still, I doubt you want to hear me go on and on about my state of health.

[ As he talks, Strange starts gesturing, casting cantrips and spells to prevent people from listening in via magic or otherwise. ]

Ask away.

[hippocarnival]

Should you even be at work right now...? [He looks a lot worse off than 'just coming down with something'.

Well, its not like Yuya can tell him what to do.] Okay. I'll start with the Fae.

[It's the most pressing, and his answers for the memories might be disappointingly vague anyway. But he should be subtle about it, because it's Rita and because it's dangerous. So he takes a moment to worry over his lip and decide how to phrase it.]

Uh. Let's say someone, hypothetically, wanted to get into the realm of a Fae. A really powerful Fae. Like the Rose Queen, and then get out. How would they do that?

[Nailed it.]

A

[bananaspeedrider]

[Against the bright sky, a giant "dragon" with crystals isn't overly inconspicuous even while listlessly slumped up high on a building. Not like he doesn't have the power interchangeably bend light and become invisible to those with an eye for the supernatural... whenever he notices. Perhaps it was the drawn out groan made by the angel that brought this attention to him, almost too dramatic but certainly sounding depressed.

It's not a matter of being injured or lacking energy for his current state then. Yugo peers down when he hears the familiar voice.]

Oh, hey yourself Yuya.

[Don't mind if the angel's mouth on his true form doesn't move while he speaks. Weird. Like most full-blood angels that don't assume a human form one could guess.]

.... You're not still mad at me are you?

[hippocarnival]

[Yuya slows to a stop, expression slipping. Oh, it's the angel. Really, that's the first thing he asks?]

I dunno. Did you apologize to Noboru?

[bananaspeedrider]

Oh uh...!

[That's obviously a no. Whoops.]

Well where would I find him then?

[Clearly this should be seen as a good sign. Despite that as far as Yuya's seeing, Yugo's just been sulking. But in his defense, he was totally doing productive things earlier like beating up demon goons.]

[hippocarnival]

At the Sanctuary... can you even get close to him without hurting him?

[Otherwise, maybe consider a letter.]

[bananaspeedrider]

[All things considered, this angel's particular aura and shine ebbs and flows depending on his emotions and degree of focus. What's normal for Yugo isn't guaranteed to be the norm. He ponders a moment and nods- oh wait Yuya's still all the way at the ground.]

... Yeah. I can.

[But first...]

I swear I'll get around to it soon, but can I ask you some things while you're here? Weird memory stuff.

[hippocarnival]

... Okay. [He supposes this isn't a weird memory thing he can really put off. He needs answers just as much.] What is it?

[bananaspeedrider]

[He bothers to hover back down closer the ground for better ease during the conversation.]

Well don't be afraid to ask me things to help compare, but what do you remember about yourself... or a fae carnival?

[Yugo being careful? Nah, who would really take the effort of listening in on them? The worst case scenario is demons maybe, but they've been no trouble for this angel to ward off so far.]

[hippocarnival]

Er--[Really, Yugo, you could just put your glamor back on. Yuya leans back as he peers up and up at him.]

I remember a carnival! [He just skips right over talking about himself and their shared face.] I remember being in it, but I don't remember why yet... I just know the fae there agreed to help me with something.

Rescue A

[flashover]

[Ugh. See, this is why he didn't want to leave the house! But he was also getting the worst cabin fever, going from home to school and back home again with no other activities was driving him a little batty. And on top of that, the bar where he worked had suddenly closed -- it seemed like Renzophan had just up and disappeared... Maybe Anath had something to do with it?

Either way, his status as a half-demon seemed like something important, and now, he'd been cornered by a group of wizards. They have him backed against a wall, and one of them is holding his tail, preventing his escape]

Look. I don't want any trouble. But if you guys don't let me go, I might have to make some.

[hippocarnival]

[Well that doesn't look like a peaceful chat. Yuya, being nosy, makes his way straight for the group--He's not sure if Rin is a changeling or not but really, it doesn't matter--he's cornered, and Gon's already given Yuya some sort of idea how brutal the wizard police are being.]

You shouldn't grab people like that. [He frowns.] What's going on?

[flashover]

[One of the wizard cops, the one holding onto Rin's tail, looks back at the interloper and gives the tail a yank. Rin cries out in pain]

It's none of your business, kid. This boy is a half-demon, and we're taking him back with us.

I didn't agree to any of this!!

[hippocarnival]

Hey--[Yuya moves to try and grab the wizard's wrist to make him stop.] You can't do that! That's kidnapping.

[Obviously.] You can't just do whatever you want because of what he is.

[flashover]

[The wizard pulls his hand away and forms a ball of energy in it. But that also means he's not holding Rin's tail anymore]

What did I just say about this being your business? Get LOST!

[Rin has had about enough of this, and without warning, he punches the nearest wizard in the face with a fist cloaked in blue flame]

You assholes asked for this!

[hippocarnival]

[It's a good thing Rin is ready to fight back because Yuta is not going to win against a gang of wizards. He didn't even have a weapon!

Better hope that punch is enough to scare them off, or Yuya's plan is to grab Rin and run.] You get lost! You don't have any reason to be bothering him.

[flashover]

[The wizard that was punched, now on the ground, holds his nose, now scorched and bleeding, and glares daggers at the demon kid and the intruder. Then, the whole group of them form energy balls of various elements and look about ready to spring.

But Rin isn't being restrained anymore.

He quickly drops his human disguise and grabs Yuya by the arm, taking off running and flapping his wings. He'll get airborne with them both in a moment -- he just needs momentum.]

We're leaving!!

[hippocarnival]

[Or Rin could get the plan to grab and run first. The wings surprise him, but he at least doesn't struggle in Rin's grip to prevent them from actually lifting off.] Good idea, let's go!

[It's only the second time he's had a flying supernatural being whisk him off to safety by the air.]