lostcarnival | ⇨ The Tourist Trap: WEEK 2

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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"Obviously I know something about what's going on," Strange lies, with a needlessly dramatic eyeroll. "Why else would I ask?"

He has a slight idea of what's going on but look, he's not telling Rin that. The kid barely knows anything to begin with, at least in Strange's mind, he's certain he can find a way to play this so that he gets exactly what he needs.

"Now answer my question."

Another incredulous look, and Rin takes a step toward the door.

"Even if I DID know something -- and I'm not saying I DO! -- I don't think I should tell you..." He adjusts his backpack. Rin is hoping he can play this and get some more information himself, but... he's not really clever enough for that. "You guys haven't given me any reason to trust you."

"We let you go after the interrogation, didn't we?" That's not a good reason to trust someone and Strange knows it. There's a pause, as he tries to mull more sound reasoning over.

"Besides, who else is going to solve this? The Circle's a widespread organization with plenty of resources and even more manpower. We're the best hope at figuring this out." The demons are moving in and the Rose Queen only cares about her own. Strange might not fully trust the Circle now, but he still realizes it's the best hope for actually piecing out what's going on. So, he continues to lie his ass off.

"And, like I said, we're already enough into the investigation that they've assigned someone to look into it. Do you really think anybody else cares enough to even do that much?"

Yeah, that's not gonna get you anywhere, Strange. Ah, yes, you respected his civil liberties. How generous of you.

He listens, still not quite sure he's buying any of what Strange is selling... but you know what? What harm could it do? His mom was a very powerful demoness, and his dad was a former priest with iron and salt and other monster killing weaponry out the wazoo. What did he have to fear?

Not stupid wizard cops.

"... Fine. But I'll only tell you about MY experiences. All I'll say for other people is that... well, I know some. And that's it!"

"I wouldn't ask you to rat on others to begin with," Strange explains, with a shrug. Well, that's a lie. Given the choice, he'd love just an in-depth list from Rin about who has odd memories, especially since he's finding absolutely nothing to give to Nightshade in the first place.

With a few quick gestures of his hands, Strange casts a few basic spells: a spell to muffle their voices from outside ears as well as a spell of concealment, so people passing by would only register them out of the corner of their eye.

"There. Now, to what extent have these oddities happen? Reports range from uncharacteristic intrusive thoughts to memories of a different life entirely."

Rin looks around as the guy casts the spells, sensing the magic permeate the air and then settle. Humans doing magic was so strange... Definitely like someone trying to speak a language they're only partially familiar with. But it would do.

"Hmm... How would I explain it...." the boy says thoughtfully, folding his arms and looking at his feet. "Mostly it's dreams, for me. Dreams that I'm me, but like... living a totally different life somewhere else. And sometimes I'll get weird deja vu when I see certain things -- like that Animal Fair thing. It made me think of a carnival for some reason, but like... really strongly. A thought, something just out of my reach."

He frowns deeply and looks up at Strange. "That probably doesn't make any sense at all."

Oddly enough, that just makes Strange look relieved. This child's dreams, Yuya's memories, his own confusing thoughts...once or twice might be a coincidence, but with three times? This only cements in Strange's mind that Nightshade was right.

"On the contrary, it does. I performed a ritual recently that showed to me some souls were marked with magic from another world. I couldn't find out who, or how they were marked specifically, just that they were. It's entirely possible that whatever magic marked your soul has given you these dreams as well."

It's equal parts bullshit and lying, Strange passing off the information he learned from Nightshade as something he's figured out himself--and seeming far too smug about it. "When did the dreams start?"

"Magic? From another world?" a pause, then Rin jumps a bit, eyes wide with surprise. "Like... like an alternate universe or something?!"

A pause as Rin takes a moment to reflect. "... Um, probably... around the first of the month?"

"I suppose so? I don't really do that sci-fi stuff." Alternate universe, different realm, another world, they're the same, right? Hell if Strange knows any distinctions.

Starting around the first of the month though...that lines up with everything else he's learned about this etheric weirdness.

"I don't know where the magic is from of who marked our souls in the first place, just that they've done so. Likewise, I don't know why they've specifically marked our souls and given us these memories and odd dreams." Strange just knows that it's happened, not the why or the how. Nightshade wasn't entirely specific on that part.

"Ha! I knew it! I knew it had to be something like that!" Rin says with a smile. It was pretty damn cool if you asked him. And you did ask, Strange. You asked. Remember that.

But then he folds his arms and thinks.

"Hmm... well, I can't really help you there. All I remember is like... going to a school to learn to do something... and then maybe a carnival?"

"A carnival?" Well that took Strange by surprise. He frowns, looking over at Rin. Because that...sounds oddly familiar. Familiar in a way that he can't place, that lingers at the back of his head like some of his other memories do.

Obviously that's what he's going to jump on first, not just because 'carnival' is a bit more descriptive than 'going to a school to learn to do something' (that's like every school, Rin, geez louise.)

"Do you remember anything else about the carnival?"

"Yeah! Not a normal carnival, though... It was.... I don't know..." He says helplessly, trying to grasp at the memories from his dreams. And just like dreams, the details slip from his mind.

"It wasn't a NORMAL carnival, that's for sure."

"I'll take your word on it," Strange explains, with a little frown. Even if he's not entirely sure that this carnival even existed...well, the fact that Rin believed it did and Strange felt a tiny little sense of deja vu certainly meant that he couldn't ignore it.

"I'll ask around and see if I can find more information on this carnival. After all, it does sound familiar."

⇨ The Tourist Trap: WEEK 2

soooo many terrible people

including you, strange

ain't even gonna fight that

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