⇨ 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

[kingsroads]

"Agreed," Strange responds, with a solemn nod, trying to push back the overwhelming feeling of dread that's creeping up in his throat. This whole situation feels familiar and worrying at the same time. Still, no turning back now, especially since he can feel the magical bonds of the contract as they slot into place.

"Now then. I need to know what the problem with my soul is in order to properly research it."

[npcarnival]

She considers that for a moment. How to explain?

"Fae, angels, demons... none of us were originally from this world, you know? We all came from somewhere else. And when the 'Severing' happened... it was made so that we could no longer return. And now, the same has happened to you."

She shrugs a shoulder.

"You're not from here, is what I'm saying. Your soul is etched with magic of another universe, even if you put on a show of being from this one."

[kingsroads]

It's odd. Part of Strange thinks that Nightshade's absolutely wrong. Ridiculous. How could he be from somewhere else when he remembers this world so perfectly well? He was born, grew up, married and divorced in this world, he wasn't putting on a show of being from here, he knew he was from here.

And yet, there has been so much odd nonsense happening in this past week that he can't reject that idea entirely. Things ranging from the odd etheric activity to the omens he couldn't make out to something as simple as Yuya being unable to remember the names of his parents. He doesn't believe Nightshade's theory but he can't discount it entirely.

"I suppose the first place to start is research into the Severing itself. If you say the spell's been put to work again, then I need to stop it. But in order to stop it, I need to find out just what precisely happened twenty-five years ago."

[npcarnival]

"The specifics of the spell's ritual is what we need most if we ever hope to break it," she says, being less overtly threatening now that they are on the same side, at least temporarily. "The lot of us just want to go home, you know? I don't think that's so much to ask. It's not fair that we're being kept here."

"Maybe you ought to go home, as well."

[kingsroads]

"It isn't too much to ask, not at all," Strange admits, with a shake of his head. And the more he thinks about it, the more Nightshade is right. Not about the part of him going home because he's already home thank you very much, but about reuniting the realms, letting those fae, angels, and demons return to their proper homes.

Besides, Strange idly thinks, if they reunite the realms then perhaps he could visit. The idea of seeing faerie, walking in that realm where no man has walked for years...it's intoxicating.

"I shall try my best to find the specifics. Once I manage to find something, I shall summon you again...that is, unless you have a more convenient way of communication." He's not optimistic about that, though. She's a tiny little purple faerie who has roofie berries, the likelihood that Nightshade actually uses email is slim to none.