⇨ 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

[zebrarhyme_everytime]

"It isn't as if I'm a surgeon," Zecora said, turning from the poster with a wry smile, "but you don't go through medical school without handling a few cadavers, after all. Skeletons aren't very dangerous. But blood... that's always a thing to note, because it's a sign of life in one way or the other."

[whattaprick]

In one way or another, including losing it. The morbid thought made Lambert grimace slightly, though hopefully that could just be put down to the mention of cadavers, which are pretty grimace-worthy no matter what.

"Hopefully that's the only blood you see today." He honestly didn't really know much about Zecora's day to day activities, only that she was some kind of doctor. "Anyway, what can I get you?"

[zebrarhyme_everytime]

They lose all capacity to be grimace-worthy after enough exposure, honest.

Turning away from the board, Zecora came up to the counter, already reaching into her purse for her wallet. "Whichever roast of the day is the strongest. I could use a little fire in my veins."

[whattaprick]

"Rough week?" Lambert wasn't usually the sympathetic type, but god can he sympathie with that feeling right now. Since it was easy enough to pour her a cup of brewed coffee with nothing fancy added, he did so, sliding the mug and the saucer over for her to pick up before ringing up the bill.

Well, if unwinding was what Zecora came here for, that would just make her one of many who used interaction with the cats as a rough form of therapy...

[zebrarhyme_everytime]

Indeed, Zecora had already knelt down to greet one of the familiar faces here, offering the cat a fond scratching between its ears before she rose up to get her drink once more. The question brought a frown to her face, and she half-turned her gaze back to the poster once more.

"There is something in the air," she said, having never quite learned that she ought to dismiss polite questions with polite answers.

[whattaprick]

"What, like a low-pressure area?" Okay, maybe it's not his best joke, but he tried.

[zebrarhyme_everytime]

"Oh, maybe." She knew perfectly well that weather could have a powerful effect on physiology, even emotions, and yet. "But more than that. Perhaps it isn't scientific and modern to rely on instinct and gut feeling, but I believe in both."

[whattaprick]

Lambert was much inclined to agree, though his reasons for doing so were probably different from Zecora's. He frowned at her anyway, leaning against the counter. Could just be a coincidence, casual conversation, but nothing really feels like a coincidence these days...

"Yeah? So what're your gut instincts telling you?"

[zebrarhyme_everytime]

"Duck," she said, smiling even though she was only half-joking. "More seriously, to watch out. Instinct is very powerful and it exists for a reason, so..."

[whattaprick]

It was, Lambert thought, a little too late for that. Unfortunately.


"I'll try to keep that in mind." He gave her a wry smile. "Same goes for you, I guess?"

[zebrarhyme_everytime]

"If it's real, it will come to my door sooner or later," she said with a resigned shrug. That was what came of making a living trying to delay death. "I won't be sticking my head into the line of fire, I promise you."

[whattaprick]

"Smart move." That's going to get her a chuckle, and a shake of his head.

"If you're serious about that ... try to stay away from the Animal Fair."

[zebrarhyme_everytime]

"Not that I intended to go there... but is there something you know?" She looked at him sidelong, casually inquisitive.

[whattaprick]

"I just get a bad feeling about it, that's all." Lambert's not inclined to go into more detail than that, at least not here. He can't really explain the whole situation without sounding crazy ... and there is the minor issue of him technically being at work.

[zebrarhyme_everytime]

"Yes. In that we are in agreement." She cast a dark look back at the poster once more before she at least settled down to give it no further mind. At least... not for the moment. She hoped.