⇨ 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

[atouts]

A declaration of independence? From a changeling, that would be offensive, sure. He would understand that. From another faerie? Did the Courts just dislike free agents or...? But his chance to ask anything further is cut short by Lambert's return with Catastrophe. He pries his attention off the faerie, gaze darting to the cat as she saunters up to them like it's nothing in the world. He frowns at the cat, but what is he going to do? Warn an actual animal?

Nah, he's just going to drink his tea and eat his own biscotti, the one sadly lacking in any chocolate (because Lambert's being a jerk, just so everyone's clear on that).

[npcarnival]

The fae looks down at the cat, obviously pleased, allowing it to come over at its own pace. Carefully, they reach down to run their finger's along the cat's side - and Catastrophe apparently likes it, too. The fae makes a soft purring sound, and the cat will chirp in return. A few moments later, the cat will have gotten back up to their feet and hoped onto the fae's lap.

The fae just strokes the cat's head carefully, continuing to make weird purring sounds.

"Good, good," they say softly, and then will lean forward to finish off the paperwork once Lambert is done looking it over. In the places where they are meant to sign their name, they will carefully etch the words 'The Beast.'

[whattaprick]

There's a sense that he's done something like this before -- but of course he has, he signs contracts like this all the time, doesn't he? If only to himself, he'll frown. Now where did that word come from, he wonders? It's a distraction from thinking about whether the fae is actually communicating with the cat or not.

Yet with the papers back in hand, he'll sign them himself once The Beast has finished, his own signature including his name and initials. He'll take one copy of the adoption papers and hold it out to them.

"Your copy. We'll consider the adoption fee waived." You know, for not trashing the place.

[atouts]

It's tempting to go be nosy immediately as to what are on those papers, but he'll wait. Oh, how he'll wait. At least the cat seems fine with this? He supposes that's a plus, as utterly bizarre as this entire interaction is. The Count or the Rose Queen would have just wiped the entire cafe out if they'd been told 'no, just one poster' or 'no, you can't go back there'.

While he does keep his gaze aimed their way, the faerie and Lambert both, his frown deepens and his brow furrows in thought. As to what, he doesn't share. He just keeps on keeping out of this part of the exchange.

[npcarnival]

The fae takes the adoption form, which immediately disappears in a swirl of smoke. Now that everything is settled with the cat, they seem to have lost interest in the two mortals for the time being. They stand, the cat comfortably in their arms, licking the fae's chin affectionately.

"I will call you Goodberry," they say to the cat, and immediately starts to leave, though by which exit isn't immediately clear.

[whattaprick]

Don't let the door hit you on the way out or anything. Lambert is happy to be ignored, and he'll just stay where he is. The comment about the name doesn't appear to merit any sort of response, since it's obviously not directed at him.

Though he is the type to have the last word, so he will say, just as they exit the threshold--

"Good night."