⇨ 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

[hippocarnival]

But weren't they there for longer? Did they just leave you? [Wow, that's terrible. This guy has been the only vampire he's known for 180 years. And he can't even make as many friends because he's allergic to the sun.]

You don't live in the forest, do you?

[otoko]

I don't know. After a while, I just learned how things worked and...caught a boat here.

[AND-he honestly sputters.] N-NO!!

I said I have a job, didn't I?!

I have an apartment!!

[hippocarnival]

I dunno, maybe you're a weird hermit garbage man! [He wrinkles his nose, but then he quickly laughs. It is ridiculous.]

I stay up late sometimes, so if you live in Portland I could come visit you.

[otoko]

D-DEFINITELY NOT..!!!

[EUUGGGGHHH...uh.] ...V...visit?

[is this friendship has he made A Friendship] ...You'd be able to do that?

[hippocarnival]

Yeah! And if it's the weekend I can stay up all night. [Can, or should...] We could hang out, if you want.

[otoko]

Ehh.... ....Shouldn't you have parents...?

[He's worried now...]

[hippocarnival]

Uh--well, I live with a relative of mine, but it's fine! I've never been hurt going out, I know how to take care of myself.

I mean, you're not going to drink my blood, right?

[otoko]

All night..?

[Erm. He immediately nods.] I've eaten-it's fine. I have an agreement with a friend... ...typically, I get by on near expired blood donations.

[hippocarnival]

Not every night anymore, but the weekend is fine.
[Then he can just sleep in.] And I believe you're not going to eat me.

[He bumps his fist against Gon's arm playfully.] You haven't had a lot of fun in a hundred years, have you?

[otoko]

Ahhh-! I-

I've had plenty of fun..!! ...I can have fun..!!

[That just sounds Sad, Gon.]

[hippocarnival]

Oh yeah? Tell me what you do for fun, then?

[otoko]

W-well, I...

[Books is not going to work here. He knows that from experience. But he manages to straighten himself out, and with relative confidence, say-] ....I play computer games.

...Online. ...With other people.

[N A I L E D IT]

[hippocarnival]

[Well, that soundss great and all. But--] What if instead of going to play games tonight, ypu check out the animal fair with me?

[Adventure!! Way more fun than sitting at a computer. He holds out the poster for emphasis.

It doesn't even start for two days, but that isn't stopping him.]

[otoko]

...Animal Fair?

[Cons to vampire lifestyle: flyers, what flyers??]

[hippocarnival]

[Yuya holds the flyer up to Gon's face. It's vague and very ominous.] This one! It's supposed to be happening in the forest. I don't think it's going to be a normal fair at all.

[otoko]

AUH-!

[UNSURE OF THESE BLOOD ORIGINS!!]

I-it certainly doesn't look like it would be...!

...is it really just in these woods..?

[hippocarnival]

That's what it says. It doesn't start for two days, but I was going to take a sneak peek. [He lowers the poster.] Wanna come?

[otoko]

[Gongenzaka wrinkles his nose, and mutters something about 'animal stink', but is soon pulled from his thoughts.] ...A peek at the fairgrounds..? [Well....]

...If they're hosting it in two days, there's probably something I guess... ...it seems a bit sketchy though... [.........You're a VAMPIRE, GON...]

[hippocarnival]

Which means it's probably full of all sorts of supernatural things! [Maybe fairies? Warlocks? Demons? The possibilities are endless.] I just want to know what kind before the air actually opens.

[otoko]

Mmnn.... [Well. He nods. A bit nervously.] ...Well, if anything, I should at least join you to the location... ...if it's dangerous, I'm pretty strong...

[hippocarnival]

All right! [Yuya looks down at his phone, turning around a couple times before he points in the opposite direction.] It's supposed to be that way! Gather your stuff, let's go.

[otoko]

Ahh, right..! [Jacket grabbed, shades... ...put in his pocket, he needs to keep his night vision to be safe at this point he's sure...

And away they go.] ...I suppose I'll be following you for now then...

[hippocarnival]

Unless the directions on the poster made any more sense to you. [His face twists wryly. Though besides his GPS, he does have that creepy feeling of being watched to follow. It's like marco polo guiding him in the right direction.]

[otoko]

[He shakes his head. He's starting to already feel a bit nervous as well... ...Not a good feeling when you're normally the top predator in the area.] Not really. ....though, it doesn't feel very welcoming here...

[hippocarnival]

Yeah, I noticed that too. [He shrugs.] It's probably just a spell to keep other people away! It went away when I got closer to you.

[Hasn't he dealt with this feeling not to long ago, actually...? He can't really remember.]