lostcarnival | ⇨ The Tourist Trap: WEEK 2

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⇨ 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.

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Below are prompts with specific investigation-based hooks. The first ones are hooks designed for specific characters, who may reply as they see fit, but if you find something you'd like to investigate, please make a post here explaining what your character is doing to find out info. All investigation threads will be done in summary form as opposed to going tag by tag.

DON'T BE VAGUE. If you are having your character investigate something, you must explain what your character is specifically doing to find out information. Don't just say "I investigate the posters." You have to be more specific, by saying what your character is doing, such as "My character is going to ask around in X community where a poster was put up, trying to find out if anyone saw who did it." The more specific you are, the better info you will get in return.

You can also confront NPCs by this method, and you'll get summary posts in return explaining how the situation will unfold based on your actions. Investigation is important for this plot! Various boons and advantages will be given out for characters who make a difference.

EDIT FOR WEEK 2: Because I don't want to overwhelm myself again, I'm going to restrict all investigation actions to one or two actions at a time. Please don't give me a laundry list of the five different things your character is doing, because it makes everything too time consuming to get through. Stick to one main thing your character is looking into per tag.

On the night of the 7th's, after the sun has set, the foreboding feelings of being chased and hunted will finally vanish, and those entering the forest will be able to find the "festivities." That turns out to be a pocket of trees and clearings where the plantlife seems to have ballooned to incredible sizes, new forms of flowers and trees that you'll never have laid eyes on before springing into existence since the Animal Fair's arrival. Now that you're here, the party will continue until sunrise on the morning of the 8th.

You came on your own, but you will find it impossible to leave until then. Kick back and have some fun, you silly mortals!

► THE BIRDS AND THE BEASTS WERE THERE: Remember the menagerie animals, and all those pets that didn't seem to make it into your new Portland lives? Apparently, they are here, now - or at least some form of them is. Whether or not you ever remember them existing, urban fantasy versions of them wander the forest on the night of the 7th, spooking people and generally hanging out. None of them are viciously attacking, but they will defend themselves, and they will also bother you unapologetically.

You are encouraged to NPC these creatures for other players if you can - you can claim them as 3 pt NPCing bonuses on this month's AC. You can either use your character's missing pet, or one of the theoretical animals from the menagerie. Animals from the menagerie may or may not have memories of life before this place, just like their humanoid companions.

► FREE FOOD: There is catering, apparently, or whatever magical forest creatures consider the equivalent to it. Various trees have been grown into odd variations of buffet tables, and some fruits have been cut up and put on display as if arranged by someone who knows what a buffet is in theory, but has little practical experience. There is also some large manner of animal corpse cooking on on a spit over an impressive bonfire. It's not clear what animal the cut of meat is from, but you can totally eat it! If you're into that, anyway.

Beyond that, there are drinks being offered in the the form of large upright, glowing blossoms sprouting from some kind of completely foreign looking plant, each filled to the brim with some kind of delectable nectar. It both tastes and smells extremely good. You can snap the blossoms off and carry them around like cups, even.

Beneath each set up of food, there is a wooden sign with the word "FREE" etched onto it, with "(you can take)" written beneath it in scratchy handwriting. You'll notice its the same handwriting as the Animal Fair posters. If you know anything about faeries you may suspect that eating anything here is a terrible idea, regardless. Who knows, though.

► PARTY FAVOURS FROM THE HOST: Though you may or may not actually get the chance to run into your beloved host, you may run into their 'gifts' regardless. By gifts, we mean 'unsolicited enchantments.' These affects can take place more or less randomly, and can be triggered by just about anything, from touching that odd fire flower you saw, or by eating some of the food that's been left out for you. All of these effects will end by sunrise at the latest, though they can end before that as well. It's ultimately up to you what happens, but it will follow these themes:

You may regain some aspects of your carnival transformations, or a variation of them. This doesn't include powers, just physical affects.
Werebeasts may find themselves triggered, as if by their equivalent of the full moon. This will include the instinctive animal brain aspects, as well as having to take on at least half of their animal form.
People who aren't werebeasts may be transformed involuntarily into any kind of animal. Just because it's funny, apparently.
Visitors may find themselves overwhelmed with animalistic instincts of any variety, whether that to be hunt, eat, fight people, or mate. It's not impossible to fight, but it's the kind of loss of inhibition that's on par with being really drunk.

You can also combine more than one of these effects, or have your character switch between them. You can also have nothing happen at all besides them having a nice time. (Shut up, this is totally fun!)

Edited 2017-06-20 05:49 (UTC)

Popping up in areas close to the Sanctuary, homeless shelters, the YMCA, and other similar places, the black roses are still threatening the changelings of the city. They start growing innocuously, but if left long enough (or if samplings are brought inside of a building) they will start growing out of control. Note here if your character is doing anything to clear these aware or interact with them.

If you are a changeling who has interacted with the roses but isn't in any alliance with the Rose Queen, they will still be attracted to you and try to make a grab if they are given the opportunity. The soporific flowers are still in effect and are already responsible for the deaths of some birds and insects.

Prudence Jaeger will be calling an angel meeting for those that responded to her letter (and aren't Marmaroth, because what the hell was that?) about some of her findings, and regarding something that is apparently big news for heaven's forces left on earth. This meeting will take place in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, and will include NPC angels that aren't players, but you can just sort of ignore them.

A top level for this will go up a little bit later, but if your character is doing any snooping you can note it here.

Edited 2017-06-29 23:40 (UTC)

Reply here if you want to get interrogated by the footmen of the Council of Enlightment. Start off my telling me how much you character will share with them regarding strange events, recently, and if they will allow themselves to be bullied and/or brought in for questioning.

This is less Lambert specifically and more a question! Would the Cafe be indicated as a target for investigation/harassment, since it's owned by a witch who isn't affiliated with the Circle?

Oh, yeah, probably. They probably come in acting with the gravitas of a health inspector and try to give her a hard time. Especially because there's a huge Animal Fair poster up in there.

Also after the 5th sometime, it looks like Childermass is stuck doing chores for not one master, but two, as Strange has asked him to look into a warlock who's potentially coming to town.

He'll go back to his little network of supernatural contacts — specifically any warlocks that may be among them — and make a few inquiries about curious magic-users that might be coming to Portland.

Again, he doesn't plan on incurring debt for this, but he'll gladly mention that the person he's acting for has mentioned he's more than willing to pay well for useful information (it's just he doesn't know it yet, rip strange).

Another general question! Are Circle-aligned characters expected to join up with the wizard cops in questioning community members? Can they choose to join up with wizard cops if they want?

PSI ISN'T TELLING THEM SHIT. he does so not have time for this right now! he will try to abscond as is his way. if that doesn't work he will use his sex appeal. if that doesn't work then he guesses he will probably have to fight them but UGH JUST LET HIM RUN AWAY WHILE YOU HAVE AN AWKWARD BONER PLZ

They could help with it if they wanted, but they're not expected to. The details are involved with some information that is pretty hush hush at the moment, so the leaders of the interrogations are straight from the Council, but if Strange wanted to be a try hard and be really enthusiastic about dong the Council's bidding they would probably take him along.

If he gives them an awkward boner they will be SO MAD. Honestly the police are probably treating every demon they encounter as if they are one of Anath's forces, so if Psi runs he's going to get some spells shot at his ass.

Edited 2017-06-20 15:02 (UTC)

CUT EM UP.

Psi is actively seeking out the roses and destroying them. He is literally salting the earth wherever he sees them. He probably looks like a crazy person. He'll probably get hassled by the cops about it.

JUST LEAVE HIM ALONE DAMN IT! I'll let you determine if he could get away, but I'm assuming he can. I'm okay with him getting cursed or what have you and even being brought in, but he really is just going to aggressively flirt with them the entire time.

He can get away with a combination of mind tricks and running, BUT THEY'VE GOT THEIR EYE ON YOU, DEMON.

Edited 2017-06-20 15:05 (UTC)

whatever. he gave you awkward boners so clearly its a win for him

GOT IT. It feels super weird to do this for an ... NPC ... but putting this down here as a matter of record and also so if I know if the cafe is gonna get shut down this week lmao:

From Oct 8th onward, Magdalena, the witch running the cafe, will ask her employees to direct Circle mages that come in to her office. She isn't intimidated by these pesky mages, but she is nosy as hell, so she wants to figure out what's going on. She will try to negotiate a deal whereby the cafe can be left alone -- what exactly is the Council demanding? What are their conditions?

If they quiz her about the Animal Fair (since this is happening after the fair is already done?) she will state that she attended the Fair for fun and had a good time and that it definitely seemed to be the work of something supernatural from what she could tell -- no human magic of any kind involved in that! She doesn't know much else (how did that poster even get there, she must have been out of the cafe that day) but she is of course, happy to keep an ear out for any information that comes through...

She will also (politely!) request the mages not to harass customers and employees inside the cafe.

Edited (changing this up a bit, sorry) 2017-06-20 15:47 (UTC)

Oh, whoops, did Tanyuu just drop a whole bunch of plant poison all over those, how careless of her! She'll be clearing out any she comes across with trimmers, and using magic to unearth and burn them when it won't draw too much attention. She's paying special attention to around the Sanctuary because fuuuuuuuck you, Queen.

First her brother is Shrodinger's Kidnapped and now this, GREAT. Tanyuu will be interrogating the footmen just as much as they do her. I'm assuming she is aware of the demon incursion because Torchlight is probably having a FIELD DAY with that bullshit, and she'll point out that she and other members are hardly about to be helping any of Hell's forces.

That said, if she can weasel out any locations of specific activity or any known motive/targets for the army beyond 'fuck shit up because Demons^TM', she will be very happy. Tanyuu doesn't have too much information about activity other than what most low-ranking Torchlight would know, since she's snubbed by the higher ranks, but anything that would help with protecting the entire populace of the city she's willing to part with. (A.K.A. she's not about to rat out supernaturals that she knows aren't any threat.)

Yuya is going to start with looking through the Sanctuary's library for magic spells that can wilt or kill Fae plants. Preferably where they can't go back.

Wow, who are these nerds? No, seriously, Shima won't seem to have a freaking clue when they show up and introduce themselves.

Assuming that if they're harassing demons, that means they're probably stepping foot into Crossroads at some point. Wizard police, meet minor demon with minor warlock pals NPC bouncer crew. Shima has nothing to say to them (especially due to having his normal memories and not demon memories) and will have them thrown right back out if they get pushy.

Edited 2017-06-20 16:12 (UTC)

Axel will be cutting, burning, and poisoning as many of the roses as he can. He will also be helping to organize nightly check-ins to keep track of disappearances, through social media and conference calls most likely.

He has faith in his steel-reinforced house keeping the roses out. This faith may be misplaced.

So after bad decisions with regards to the fae, Strange is going to be turning his efforts to figuring out more information about anything regarding the Severing or the realms of faerie/hell/etc., which means more legwork. Most of his time will be spent searching through resources that the Circle has, focusing on things that were written around that twenty-five years ago mark.

He'll also straight up suck-up to Council members and be an obnoxious tryhard just so he can casually ask them about their opinions with regards to the Severing when they're out harassing warlocks or something like that. I imagine this will go poorly because Strange doesn't exactly like the Enlightenment Council (and isn't exactly good at things like 'subtlety') but he's at least gonna make an effort.

THIS IS A QUESTION THAT MIGHT? Lead to being dragged in idk but

What will the footmen do if they spy a wandering lone vampire?

[Yuya shows up the night of the 6th with a few books in hand. He's wide awake despite the hour. He did offer to visit and help Gon in return... but truthfully, he also hadn't been able to get rid of the nagging feeling since their encounter. Somehow he knows Gon's face, but when he tries to remember where, the image is... starkly different. Sometimes more human, sometimes... less.

He's not the only causing Yuya to second guess his memories, and it only makes him more determined to discover the truth.

He knocks on the door rapidly.]

Edited 2017-06-21 16:14 (UTC)

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⇨ The Tourist Trap: WEEK 2

⇨ INVESTIGATION THREADS

⇨ THE ANIMAL FAIR

► BLACK ROSES (OCTOBER 7TH ONWARD)

► ANGEL MEETING (OCTOBER 11TH)

► SASSING THE POLICE (OCTOBER 8TH ONWARD)

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investigating for strange, related to the mage circle stuff

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THAT SURE WAS THE WRONG COMMENT TO REPLY TO, WHOOPS

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investigating the severing

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Closed to Gongenzaka