⇨ 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]

He could very well be, knowing him. Childermass is a pretty shady fellow, though also not much of a killer, so who knows. He certainly won't encourage the idea, however, just canting his head and eyeing her with a beady crow eye. There's one caw and then he changes to his human form. There's no in-between shifting like the werecreatures have, just pure magic. One second he's a crow, the next he's a man leaning idly on his handlebars with an elbow.

"Hard to do otherwise when you're always riding around on this thing," he replies, shrugging as he does. That said, he'll lean up off of the handlebars and stand back, idly crossing his arms instead. "No posse tonight, Pearl?"

[myownpearl]

"Not always...you just have poor timing," Pearl retorts. She doesn't bat an eye at the shift -- she'd gotten used to such thins long ago. Weird was her world now, and there was no going back on that. True, there were probably still things out there she had yet to see or encounter, but she had seen enough that it made it difficult to catch her off guard. But, he was an old colleague, she knew him well...even if perhaps the word "friend" would be too strong.

Not sure how long this conversation is going to be, she gets off her bike, placing her helmet to rest on the bars. "They have business elsewhere," Pearl replies vaguely, as she brushes off her leather jacket, "Why? Do you need us for something?"

[atouts]

"Oh, not really," Childermass answers easily as if this was more of a social call than business. That's the farthest it can be from the truth, of course, but he's never disliked Pearl enough to be such a huge grouch towards her. At least, he thinks so? Hasn't he? A brief flicker of uncertainty crosses his face, then it's gone. He leans away from the bike and goes fishing for his pack of cigarettes instead as he continues.

"I was wondering if you've heard from the Rose Queen lately. Saw you driving by down here, thought I'd drop in."

It's not like the Queen listed who else she had on the job, trying to figure out whatever an Animal Fair is supposed to be.

[myownpearl]

Pearl knows better, but she also would like to pretend -- if even for a minute -- that things aren't about to go to hell. Call it a hunch, but ever since this morning's peculiar wake up call she had felt uneasy. She leans against her bike, waiting for Childermass to get to the point.

"Yes," she says after a moment, "As a matter of fact she sent one of her calling cards earlier." Calling "flower" would probably be more accurate, but Childermass no doubt knew what she meant. His question though...does that mean he's been pulled into this business as well. "Are you looking to exchange some information?"

[atouts]

"Something like that," he answers after taking the time to get a cigarette out, then his lighter. If Pearl isn't a fan of cigarette smoke, time to protest is running out. "My usual contacts don't have a clue, though some people on the streets have seen and heard something with horns picking fights in the night. No idea if it's related."

It could just be some werecreatures causing trouble, for all he knows.

"But you're close to her, aren't you? Any clue why she even cares about some ugly little flyers?"

[myownpearl]

She isn't, but she doesn't really feel like it's her place to say something. This isn't her house at least. She produces a piece of candy from her pocket instead, popping it into her mouth. It wasn't much, just a simple sucker, strawberry flavored.

"Hmm...that's not a lot to go on. But I don't have much either at this point. I have a few of my girls' keeping an eye out, but so far they haven't reported anything interesting.

That was the real question though, wasn't it? It couldn't be a mortal thing if she was interested, she wouldn't be interested in a regular human fair--would she? Pearl sighs, "I honestly don't know--presumably it would be something beyond a typical mortal fair. Their use of roses might also be significant..."

[atouts]

And just as Pearl doesn't say anything about the cigarette, Childermass will only raise an eyebrow at the sucker, but, likewise, say nothing. Definitely doesn't fit the tough biker chick image is what he would say, but only if he felt like being rude tonight. Thankfully, he doesn't, apart from the entire interrupting her ride part.

"Clearly not," he agrees. No way it'll be a mortal anything if the Queen is inquiring. "But it isn't only the roses. Burnt matches, crow feathers... With the roses, those are references to three of the most powerful faeries in Portland."

Including his own father, much to his well-hidden discomfort.

[myownpearl]

Well, she isn't about to smoke, but at least in terms of her "image" she could use her glamour to do a lot. She taps her arm, considering the possibilities. "But then why would she want us investigating it if she's involved in it..." She blinks as a thought occurs to her.

"Unless, perhaps, the items were not placed as a signature, but as a way to grab the attention of those fae...a way to address them without drawing too obvious an attention to it. Which means that she might not be the only one seeking out answers from the flyers. Maybe it's a new player...a power play perhaps."

[atouts]

"Something like that," Childermass says, shrugging and blowing smoke away, off to the side. "Which would explain the interest, I suppose. Someone calling her out, it'd only be natural to investigate. But who? I didn't think their kind were prone to travel all that often."

It's basically picking a spot to claim and defend it like a vicious dog if anything. How could there be a new one in town? Or is it something else entirely?

[myownpearl]

"It'd have to be someone major to challenge her...wouldn't it? Maybe someone who keeps themselves more hidden or is from far away," she muses. After all, there were always stories of older fae, more powerful fae, who rarely surfaced but if major things were happening could be known to appear. It was rare--something that only happened every century, if not more, and so wasn't talked about much. But, if it was someone like that, wouldn't the queen know? Unless it was someone even older--which would raise several concerns about their power and why they wanted to do with it. It didn't bode well if that WAS the case.

"I suppose that's why she has us looking into it then."