⇨ 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

[bananaspeedrider]

"Well...! We don't all look and act the same, you know!"

Ah there it is, a manner of speaking that doesn't sound as strange for the sort of voice it's coming from and the total opposite of serene. Which likely makes Hugo's natural voice all the more ill-fitting for what the angel says he is.

But now look at what you did Rita. Though the draconic being finally deflates from his stupidly cocky posturing upon those words, he shifts into a more defensive-looking stance.

"However I'm kinda su- er... positively certain...! That stuff like this is what I'm meant to be doing, no matter what people think of me!"

That was almost a nice speech. Good thing there's not much time to criticise it because soon the glass breaks and-

"Look out!"

Trust the dragon with high speed flight on this one during his second attempt to snatch up the changeling before the vines do.

[anti_nonsense]

His protest only gets a long, flat look from Rita... but it's cut short when she hears the glass break, whipping her head around to see. By the time he warns her, there's barely any time to react.

This time around, Rita manages to restrain her instinct to punch the guy grabbing her, and allows the rescue. Getting swept up like some kind of damsel in distress doesn't sit well with her, though... but no, more importantly...

"Wh... what the hell? It's like they're targeting me on purpose!" she blurts out in frustration, but suddenly stiffens, her eyes widening. "No... did I get her attention somehow?" Rita assumed the Rose Queen had no interest in her, as she was never in her direct service. Nothing happened during all the months she spent around Pearl, either... So why now? Did Ignatius ask her? Or is she just trying to claim any changeling she can get her hands on?

[bananaspeedrider]

Meanwhile Hugo takes to flying through a different hall to find a window to break through that isn't occupied by vines. A closed space like this isn't good for utilizing that high speed to the fullest, so the angel has to do more dodging than outpacing tendrils, which are thankfully only raking across his scales at worst. For now.

Is being so dragon-like in toughness a typical trait of 'guardian' angels? Who knows, perhaps. Their job assumably holds risks for sustaining a lot of punishment in the name of those they choose to protect.

"Her?" he manages to ask, since most of his focus in understandably elsewhere for both their sakes.

[anti_nonsense]

Rita grits her teeth, clearly not happy about being at the mercy of her savior. But as the vines threaten to impede their escape, she's spurred to action once again. Even if she doesn't have much room to move, she can still cast spells. Holding on to the angel with one hand, Rita points the palm of the other at the vines, firing off bursts of flames to stifle their movement.

His question earns him a flat look. Does he have to ask? "The only person who can do something like this. The Rose Queen." Turning her attention back to the vines, she gives a derisive snort. "Looks like she's mad that her servants keep running away from her."