⇨ 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

[fragileandsoft]

It's not as rare a sight as one might think; a late flock of birds migrating over the city, perhaps, and the noise of an excitable little dog who fancies itself a hunting breed as it looks up at them.

Not too terribly unusual to the common passerby, but instantly perking the attention of the dog's owner. It helps to have an early warning system, and before too many of the birds start landing Greg is making a hasty beeline to the nearest building. Anywhere away from open air, that's where he needs to be. He gives Lil an urgent little tug on the leash, but already the rustle of feathers are closing in.

[atouts]

The tug may as well be the trigger for the birds to take off from their various perches, the few who even managed to find one at all before Greg started for cover. Before he can get any closer to safety, he'll find a crow diving down at him, cutting him off by narrowly missing him and instead zipping by in front. This is followed by several more birds.

If he persists on trying to get away, they'll move up from simply trying to herd him back and begin outright taking dives at his head, shoulders, flapping wings in his face, all while the rest of the birds catch up.

The ones not going after Greg yet? They still land nearby and begin raising a racket of caws, croaks, and taunting bird calls.

[fragileandsoft]

This is going to hell fast. Greg ducks down amidst the chaos of feathers and wings, scooping up Lil in his arms and hugging the dog close to his chest. The schnauzer squirms in his grip, doing his level best to bark louder than the whole flock combined.

With a quick effort of will, Greg empowers the sigils sewn into the lining of his coat to pop a magical shield into place around him and his pet.

"All right, all right, I get it!" He yells over the cacophony.

[atouts]

The birds diving around Greg scatter as soon as the shield bursts into place around the two, not taking the chance of running into it. They'll join their brethren at all the various points where the flock has taken up perching instead, though it's still clear that they've spread out in more or less a circle around Greg.

The din they make tapers off and after a brief silence, the largest of the crows swoops down to land nearby. This one hadn't been attacking before, only watching. There's a flicker of shadows and of a spell being released, the crow going from bird to woman in the blink of an eye, exactly how Childermass himself does his own shape-shifting. It isn't just the similarity in spells that can be compared between the two, either, but appearance as well. Morgan is the tallest of the three sisters, nearly rivaling their brother, and is as pale and marked with black feathers as he is.

And unlike her sisters, she happens to be less inclined to outright attack, too, because her first action after changing is to give him a somewhat small but formal bow.

"Please excuse my entrance, warlock," she says by way of greeting, "But I must have words with you and I'd prefer that you didn't stray before we are done here."

[fragileandsoft]

Now out of the first wave of chaos, it's easy to figure out who this is and what she's doing here. Greg eyes the settled crows warily, and Lil continues to vibrate in his hands with a constant, low growl.

"Okay. I guess you did manage that." Greg clears his throat and tries to pull himself up to his full height, which is not terribly impressive, but with fae it's better not to cower. "I hope you can understand my previous reluctance to stick around, ma'am. You make a... a pretty impressive entrance." To be wholly fair it probably would have looked really cool if he hadn't been in the middle of it. "What, ah, what is it you wanted to say to me?"

[atouts]

"That I am looking for my little brother," she answers plainly enough. Lil and her growling are outright ignored, her gaze unwaveringly settled on Greg alone. "And I believe you might know where he is staying. I would like you to tell me."

[fragileandsoft]

"Oh." He can't really pretend to be surprised about that. Mostly, he looks irritated. "Sorry, I dunno. We're just work friends." And barely even that. "We don't really hang out much." He was given the job to protect Childermass, but honestly the best option felt like staying out of the guy's way. Or, maybe that was just Greg's excuse to keep a wide berth. Seemed to be working out so far, anyway.

[atouts]

"You have the same master, you must know something," she pushes the question regardless of Greg's answer. "If not where he lives, then which route he takes into her gardens or perhaps places he turns up more often than not. I assure you, it's of great importance that I speak with him."

Yeah, right. 'Speak' with him.

[fragileandsoft]

"We go where where our master tells us to. He's a busy guy, really married to the job, so I see him just about everywhere."

He's doing his best to keep the tone as light and casual as he possibly can, but he can feel cold sweat trickling down his back. "How about, I can tell him whatever you need next time I see him. I'm sure there's a lot you two need to catch up on."

[atouts]

Well, this isn't getting her anywhere. Morgan purses her lips, frowns, then slowly begins walking closer to Greg and his little dog, too.

"I'm afraid it's a family matter. You understand those, don't you? Hmm? Why, yes, I think you do. Wouldn't you have more to gain by being rid of him than you do by keeping him safe? The Rose Queen's villainous pet thief?"