⇨ The Tourist Trap: WEEK 2

[ringleaders]

Who: Anyone, anywhere in Portland.
When: October 7st - 14th, 2017
Where: Portland area, in the new reality.
What: The week begins as the time of the Animal Fair finally arrives! Meanwhile, the truth of this reality starts to be revealed, and forces both human and celestial alike attempt to take advantage of a rare opportunity.
Warnings: Individually marked!

BY ANY OTHER NAME↴ Tensions thicken as various supernaturally forces react to the events of the previous week. Something critical is afoot, and it's only a matter of time before things start coming to a head. It's time to find out more about what's happened to this world, and what will happen in its future. ► A NIGHT AT THE FAIR: From the night of the 7th to the morning of the 8th, the Animal Fair is officially in town. There is a top level down below with more information, though you can also RP content from this elsewhere if you wish. The host, who is very likely something called a Wyld Fae (if you discovered that ICly), will be present, but they will only be appearing to you of their own accord and attempting to track them down by force will be ineffective. Just kick back and relax! Fairs are supposed to be fun. ► THORNS IN YOUR SIDE: Culminating in a full fledged attack against the Sanctuary, it would seem that The Rose Queen is declaring war on the changeling population of Portland. Though the vicious attack of thorns against the safe house was eventually stopped, it wasn't without damage, and the black roses that caused it are still popping up around the city and threatening the places where homeless and lost changelings would be likely to congregate. It's obvious now that this is a serious threat - will it ever stop without an intervention? ► HELL ON EARTH: As Anath's march draws near, the first waves of her demons will be entering the city. Primarily acting as scouts and foot soldiers, these demons will be attempting to secure loyalty from the local demon populace, as well as taking out any angels they can manage to catch. It's a level of aggressiveness against heaven's forces that hasn't been seen for years, and it's a foreboding hint of things to come. These demons can be NPCed by anyone, and will mostly be thugs or manipulators who don't know much about Anath's plans but do know that you need to join their side. They are also rowdier than most of the demons in Portland, and are a threat to the innocent mortal populace as well, if they decide to try to get their kicks here. ► THE WIZARD POLICE: The Enlightenment Council seems to have demanded control of the local Circle chapter, and now backup has arrived. These mages are being sent out into the city as if they are a police force, and will be attempting to demand control of various common supernatural areas, as well as questioning community members that they run into. Whatever is going on, it seems to have resulted in the Council instituting what is essentially martial law... of course, not everyone sees any need to heed their demands. If you are a demon, warlock, or other rogue element, expect to be harassed or even attacked by them. These character can be NPCed, and if you need additional information you can ask the mods.

Comments

[pipers_son]

"Supposed ta be." Letting out a breath, he pushes himself away from the building, wings flapping to keep him airborne while the details of his usual human appearance come back into focus. It always seems to be easier for guardian angels, perhaps because of how directly their duties tend to be tied to humans. He sweeps back his air a bit once that's a thing, looking aggravated.

"It looks like every faintly put together group and their grandmother is convergin' on Portland, doesn't it?"

[espigeonage]

"I know." Iuliael watches with a bit of envy. It had been easy for him, too, once, even though seraphim in Heaven are usually more abstract. These days if he's honest bird shapes are easier than human ones. Part of that is just that human faces are wonderfully complex.

"Yes. They're very motivated... I fear this is a bad sign." He sighs. Iuliael is all too aware that he is just not capable. If there's a major demonic push, he couldn't help much. "Jaoel, are you all right? You look weary. Or... it was Joker, too. Wasn't it?" The more human names some angels take don't always stick well in his head. He often has to ask.

[pipers_son]

'A bad sign' is putting it lightly, Joker thinks, although he doesn't say it aloud. A high ranking demon on the move, magical nonsense happening, the attack on the Sanctuary, and a call to angels that will be happening soon...

He'd be losing feathers without the visions.

Speaking of- Grimacing, he presses one hand against his face. "Jaoel's fine," he says, although a part of him shudders as if that's a lie. Like it's something that doesn't fit quite right. "There's just- too much goin' on too quickly, after all these years of peace and quiet. I can only take care of so many demons on my own."

[espigeon]

More is happening than Iuliael can completely track, and unfortunately he's aware of this. "I can call you Joker! I don't mind. Helen likes being called Helen... I don't really get it, but I don't need to get it." He's very earnest. Iuliael has found a lot of beauty in this world, but not so much that he wants to make it harder on anyone.

"I wish I could help. Can I help? Without having to fight?"

[pipers_son]

That's the nice thing about Iuliael. Not the strongest or sometimes the brightest, but he cares, and just that is enough to make Joker smile slightly. It falters a little bit at the offer, because he's really not sure if someone like-

...Oh. Hm.

"It's a bit embarrassin' ta ask, since it's rather what I was made for," he starts off, slow, "but... I can't be everywhere at once, which is a problem when I have demons ta take care of and a charge ta watch. If ya wanted, could ya make sure he doesn't get inta too much trouble...? Just watch over him and such, with emphasis on 'watch'."

[espigeonage]

Iuliael literally glows brighter as Joker starts. A task? Could it be?

"Of course! As long as... I'm sorry, I forget. He's independent now, isn't he?" He's actually fairly good with children small or sweet enough to be taken in by singing. "I can follow but I can't see trouble coming like you could, so sort of it depends on what he'd be doing. I can't actually tell if something's poisonous."

The seraphim pauses. "I helped kill a footsoldier a while ago. A few days ago." He can't be more temporally specific than that. Keeping precise track of time is tough. "So, if it wasn't big trouble, maybe I could keep it from being too bad until you came."

[pipers_son]

"Oh, don't worry-" His hand flutters through the air for a second. "He's grown enough ta have some common sense in him. But if any of this fae nonsense get ta him, or any demons... Well, having someone as a second pair of eyes never hurts, does it?" He shakes his head a little.

"If it's anythin' too big or dangerous, just find me and I'll come racin' back."

[espigeon]

A couple more eyes appear and open, looking hopeful. Iuliael understands most sayings, it's just at the same time he finds them odd and tends to take them literally as well. "If he doesn't go looking for trouble, or not when I'm there, anyway, then I could help if he finds it accidentally. I can still send doves, if you leave me something so they can find you."

He means the messenger magic, like what took Prudence's letter to so many angels recently.

"I want to meet him first," Iuliael says firmly, and then immediately undermines that firmness. "I mean, it'd be good for him to know, and to know maybe if I'm there go and be careful."

[pipers_son]

"Easy enough, huh?" Usually his angel form tends to obscure whatever human clothing he's wearing- all that bright light, you know- but he reaches up to pop a button off of the jacket he's wearing and hands it over. Simply enough, not something he's liable to miss. "Here ya go."

And as for Sora- Joker cranes his neck to look around, reorienting himself in the city. "Last I checked, he was over that way- you'll probably find him lookin' for folks on the street. Messy brown hair, big blue eyes- you'll see him. Or, rather, he'll see you if nothin' else. Psychic and all."

[espigeon]

Iuliael takes the button and cups it like something precious, all aglow. To be of use! To be trusted with something! He'd hardly hoped anything like this would ever happen again. "Thank you."

"Yes. Yes, of course," he says, trying to listen with his whole body. It's important not to forget, and Iuliael forgets so easily. "What was his name again?"

[pipers_son]

Just... listen with your ears, Iuliael. The ears and the brain are enough. Still, it's a little endearing to see someone be all excited in this shitshow, enough that Joker smiles a bit.

"Sora. Like I said, psychic, so he'll be one of the few people who can see ya."

[espigeon]

"Who can see me... uh. Right. Yeah." Looks like someone's forgotten that angels can just make themselves unseen. Iuliael's grasp on angel glamour is shaky anyway, but as a seraph or partial seraph he has a fluid and mutable form, like flame. He basically folds himself into less unusual shapes and lets the magic work off of that, he doesn't have the skill to go around as an abstracted wings-and-eyes creature while appearing to be human.

"Does he have enemies? Anyone to watch out for?"

[pipers_son]

Oh, Iuliael. Joker is starting to get worried about you.... But it's too late now. "He shouldn't, but with the local fae actin' up, the mages doin' who knows what, and all these demons.... Who knows what might take an interest in him."

[espigeon]

"Yes. But I should also stay far enough that if there are demons that want me, they won't see him," he thinks out loud. "Because that would defeat the purpose. I swear to do everything I can, Joker."

[pipers_son]

"Yeah, don't worry about it." Taking a deep breath, he tries to straighten himslf out again and gives a grin. "Do what ya need ta so that yer safe, and in the meantime I'll be takin' care of as many of this lot as I can. S'what I'm meant for, innit?"

[espigeon]

Iuliael nods, very seriously, his eyes shining. "I'm so glad you're seeing this aspect of your purpose. We will strive together to spin the straw of these circumstances into a cloth of gold."

He quotes it like scripture but doesn't remember where that's actually from. That's Iuliael for you.

[pipers_son]

Well, whether he remembers or not, it doesn't really matter. It's a fine set of pretty words to help lighten up the mess this all has become, and it helps make him feel a lighter. Joker grins.

"Then we'd best get ta spinnin'. I'll see ya about, Iuliael. The wicked don't rest, so I can't either, eh?" With that, he takes off again. There's only so much he can do, but he hopes it's enough.