⇨ 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]

You couldn't? [Man, Gon's really bad at this vampire thing. Yuya can't blame him when his sire abandoned him, though.] Maybe you just need to concentrate harder on it! Just, uh, don't concentrate right now?

[Please don't drop him.]

[betheman]

...Right now, it's probably better if we just get far away from here.... [In other words, trust him, he's far from considering the turn into bat idea.]

[hippocarnival]

Were you scared? [He's teasing.

Yuya takes one last look down at the trees.] Do you know where the park is? You can drop me off there.

[betheman]

It felt as if I was being hunted. [...He's not joking back, apparently. From up above at least, he can see which direction he needs to go in for the park...so with a nod, he starts to try moving from their hover toward that area.] ...Mm, I can do that. But...

...Do you still plan on going to that fair, when the day comes?

[hippocarnival]

[Yuya looks up at Gon briefly at his stern tone. But he's easily and quickly distracted by their moving and turns his attention to watch the moving landscape below.] Yeah, probably. But I know not to take anything or make any weird deals! I just want to look.

[betheman]

It isn't about the deals..! [He insists quickly.] Something dangerous is in there..! ...More dangerous than I am...

[hippocarnival]

Are you dangerous? [Yuya gives him a critical look. Gon is probably dangerous in theory, but Yuya isn't being sold on it.] If you're that worried, you can go with me the next time too.

[betheman]

...Dangerous enough to lift a truck with one hand... [He grimaces-but they're landing now, and it gives him time enough to look over the wings after putting Yuuya down.] ...You're really planning on going, huh...

[hippocarnival]

[Yuya rocks back on his heels once he feels the ground again, and then quickly moves around Gon to indirect his wings as well.]

Yep! Hey, if you can fly we can make a quick getaway.

[otoko]

That is true... [He says it with about as much confidence as a mouse with waterwings says they can swim, however.] ...I'm not completely sure this is wise however-I didn't even know I could fly. I only thought about getting out of there.

[hippocarnival]

You don't have to come. [But Yuya's tone implies he still is. He stuffs his hands in his pockets and wanders back around.] You don't know much about being a vampire, do you?

[otoko]

[He grimaces, rubbing the back of his neck.] I...

...Truth be told, I haven't met another vampire here...or ever, [He adds, even as he wonders how true the words were.]

...What I know, I know from guesswork, and fiction. [And a Hunch.]

[hippocarnival]

That's a long time to have never met another vampire... don't vampires ever get together or form groups?

[It was so common for humans and other supernatural people. Maybe vampires were just weirdly isolationist.]

[betheman]

....Honestly, I'm not entirely sure I was expected to live this long in the first place, so...

...I wouldn't know.

[hippocarnival]

[Oh... well now he just feels bad.

He moves to pat Gon's arm. There there.] I'll see if I can find anything out for you! I visit the Sanctuary a lot after school, they probably have some real information on vampires.

[otoko]

Sanctuary? [He actually grimaces at the idea-and it's not much of a wonder why, on his part. He brought Sherlock there the other day, but...]

...

...if you're looking on your own, I suppose that would be fine, [he murmurs, glancing to the side. He rubs the back of his head, looking somewhat uncomfortable.] ...If any angels are around though, I can't go near...

[hippocarnival]

Yeah, I'll bring them to you! I can visit your apartment sometime next week--where do you live?

[He grabs his phone, quickly swiping off the lock and handing it to Gon.] You can put your address in here.

[otoko]

Ahhh... [Oh, phone-he'll fumble a bit with his fingers (HIS HANDS ARE NOT SMALL), but...]

...Here-this place.

[....That is Greg's building.]