⇨ 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]

Sorry Peridot, things like 'rationality' are getting discarded in favor of 'Strange's ego.' And honestly, being a terrible little ham endears Peridot so much more to Strange for he is also a blatant show-off who likes to look impressive. That extra effort and showing off has definitely been noted.

He's distracted by the dog again because that really is a cute dog, before turning back to Peridot, wide grin on his face. "What about conjuring of light? Or a spell to repair a broken object? Or if you have something in particular you want to show off, go ahead!"

[periphrasing]

Peridot beams wider. "Gladly! Allow me to give you the full demonstration."

And she does. Light, repair spells, a little bit of fire, some illusion magic here and there. Peridot spends a lot of her free time practicing this stuff, and she will hungrily try out new techniques pretty much every chance she can get, so there's a lot of basic (and a couple of rather advanced) spells in her personal book of tricks.

[kingsroads]

The more Peridot shows off and the more magic she casts, the more Strange's grin just grows. She's managed to learn all this without any formal training? No wonder the Circle wanted her for a candidate.

Ambition recognizes ambition and by the end, Strange isn't even bothering to hide any trace of neutrality in his expression or tone. There's nothing but admiration in his voice as he gives Peridot a nod.

"Well, you'll certainly get a glowing recommendation from me! That was very impressive, Miss Wolfe! The Circle would be foolish to turn you down--but if for some bizarre reason they do, you have my card. Call me up and I'll train you myself."

After all, the idea of two magicians working together just sounds right in his head. Jonathan Strange and Peridot Wolfe? It does have a nice ring to it.

[periphrasing]

She may not have any formal training, but she DOES have a lot of time on her hands, probably because she has no friends.

Peridot beams at Strange with great reverence, the sort that is exclusively reserved for people who stroke her ego so thoroughly. “What an incredibly generous offer! So how will I know the Circle’s answer? How long does it usually take them to make a decision?”

[kingsroads]

What a coincidence, Strange doesn't have friends either. He matches Peridot smile with one of his own, a smile reserved for people who actually respect him a little bit.

"Usually it takes them about two to three weeks. You'll be notified in person--there's secrecy contracts and all that nonsense that the Circle will want you to physically sign."

Or not because shit starts to spectacularly hit the fan and who knows what sort of garbage fire Portland will be come week three.

"Are there any times off the top of your head that you know you'll be busy or out of town?"

[periphrasing]

Peridot just chuckles. "Oh, no. Definitely not." Traveling requires money, and/or extended family worth visiting. Peridot has neither.

[kingsroads]

"Wonderful!" Strange remarks, with a grin. "The Circle always tries to contact people when they aren't busy but sometimes things happen."

There's a lot that can happen in the thirty minutes in between creepily scrying on someone and actually going to meet them.

"And, of course, you have my card. If you ever have a question about magic or the Circle itself sometime in between now and the deliberation, don't hesitate to call or email me." After all, it's not like Strange has a social life.