⇨ The Tourist Trap: WEEK 3

[ringleaders]

Who: Anyone, anywhere in Portland.
When: October 15st - 22th, 2017
Where: Still in Portland
What: As all sides of the struggle gradually become informed, and the awareness of outsiders begins to spread, Portland faces a critical question - what should be done with them? And who gets to decide?
Warnings: Individually marked!

THE WOLVES AMONG US↴ ► WHEN SEPTEMBER ENDS: It's fairly common knowledge that October is a special month - Halloween has always been an excitable time in the supernatural community, because its during this month that the magical energies of Earth seem to disproportionately swell in power. This peeks on the 31st, and has every year for as long as anyone can remember. The holiday of Halloween is a byproduct of this, because the magical phenomenon has gone on for ages past. It's also a pretty common time for wizards to attempt bullshit shenanigans, and also when the Severing first came into effect. ► TOUCHED BY AN ANGEL: Towards the end of the week, Prudence Jaeger will be asking her angelic contacts for a pretty huge favour - she wants them to help her and some of her associates break into the Circle stronghold that the visiting Council members are staying at. It seems that they have some kind of macguffin item that will be needed to crack the barrier cutting off the Earth from the cosmos - and, to that end, allow the angels and mysterious outsiders to return to wherever they call home. ► THE PATH TO HELL: Perhaps unsurprisingly, Team Heaven isn't the only group to clue into the fact that the Circle has what they need. On the same night that the angels go in, so will Anath's army, as the arch demon finally arrives in the city just in time to join the party. Whether the angels and demons fight each other all the way or cooperate to achieve a mutual goal is up to them. ► WITH GOOD INTENTIONS: The Circle and Torchlight aren't all bad, okay? It's entirely possible that they are just acting in the best interest of humanity - unfortunately, that has resulted in them being pretty massive pricks recently, and now the payback for that is arriving on their doorstep. If you're a member of the Circle, you may or may not realize that anything is coming in time for you to prepare. (That will depend on your threads up to the end of the week.) However, once the fight starts, you'll be charge with defending the Councillors whether you like it or not, and Torchlight is getting pulled in as an unexpected ally to ensure their safety as well. Are you going to heed their call? Or is it time to split from the pack? ► BLOOD OF ICE AND FIRE: It's been made no secret that the Rose Queen isn't the only fae trying to pull back her lost changelings - now the Winter Court appears to be doing it, as well. More than a handful of changelings have gone missing over the last couple weeks, lost to both the thorns and agents of the Count. Whatever they're doing, it's also in competition with each other - Winter and Summer will be biting at each other's heels far more than normal, to the degree that it becomes clear they must have some competing objective in mind. Unfortunately for everyone else, that objective happens to conflict with the desires of just about everyone else. Fae are, by nature, opportunists. - ✪ - These are the major conflicts that will be coming to a head towards the end of Week 3. In the meantime, your actions will decide how certain elements are set up, and what the likelihood of success is for each group. Dice rolling handily won the opinion poll where we asked for the preferred method of conflict resolution, so that will be coming into effect a bit later on to determine who actually wins and loses, with advantages based on the choices made.

Comments

[destiny_key]

"Um, not really," Sora starts slowly, thinking. "I guess I feel sleepy for a second, but it's not really... enough time to do anything about it. It's pretty immediate."

A pause.

"I've felt sick more this month. And more tired. Like I'm always tired, but no matter how much I sleep it won't stop. What's the word... fatigued? Like that."

[zebrarhyme_everytime]

"That could be caused by any number of things... but it's good to know." Zecora set a plastic bag full of iron filings on the counter, then a double-bag full of different shavings. "I'd emphasize first of all to eat and sleep regularly, make sure your body gets what it needs as best you can. Even if that isn't the direct cause, it will keep things from getting any worse. Now then... We have a few options that may help damp down your sensitivity. Have you ever had any discomfort or pain from close contact with iron or lead?"

[pipers_son]

"He's not a changelin'," Joker promises, unable to keep quiet for much longer like the fussy parent guardian angel he is. "At least, not directly so, as far as I know." But after enough generations, who knows what's in a bloodline. Still, it's never been enough that Joker's found any problems.

[destiny_key]

"Yeah, I've never had any problems with that stuff," Sora agrees, eyeing the bags of metal warily. Just what was Zecora planning to use those for, anyway?

"And, what d'you mean, damp down my sensitivity? What're you gonna do?"

He's starting to get nervous again, now.

[zebrarhyme_everytime]

"Iron affects more than just changelings and fae. It is a symbol of order, solidity, and unyielding control. Many supernatural effects are bothered by it. So, my first recommendation is simply that you wear this iron, in its bag, around your neck. That may help lower the frequency and potency of your visions.

"If that doesn't work," she continued, lifting the second bag, "then we will try the same thing, but with lead, which often interferes with the transmission of supernatural power of all sorts."

[pipers_son]

Well, she's not wrong there... Joker rubs his chin. It sounds not too bad on the safety measure, either, and wouldn't hurt Sora.... probably. Still, in the end, this isn't a choice he can make, even with his position being what it is. Instead, he looks down to Sora.

"What do you think?"

[destiny_key]

Sora hesitates before answering. On the one hand, it doesn't sound dangerous or anything. It might actually give him some relief for a while from the constant visions. But still...

"I... I dunno..." he starts, still nervous. "I mean... I guess if you think it's a good idea..."

Whether he's talking to Zecora or Joker here is a mystery, but he's not looking at either to confirm that.

[zebrarhyme_everytime]

Zecora nodded slightly, understanding perfectly well. "It is what I recommend to start. Certainly it is the simplest treatment and the most likely to be effective. But it's your choice."

[pipers_son]

"It's just somethin' ta hang around yer neck," Joker says softly, reassuring. Another hand pats Sora's shoulder. "We can always take it off if it doesn't work out, too."

[destiny_key]

Sora looks up, and then at both of them in turn. He's still nervous, still frightened, and at this point he's not even sure of what. But anything that's happening now has got to be better than what he's felt like the past two weeks.

"...Okay," Sora finally nods. "Let's try it."

[zebrarhyme_everytime]

"I would like you to wear this for twenty-four hours," Zecora said with a nod, stringing a long piece of thick twine though the punch holes above the zipper lock. "If you notice no improvement, switch to the lead one. If you start to feel worse in any way, then you should call me right away."

She offered up the bag to him, letting him take the step of donning it.

[pipers_son]

It seems all settled, then, and Joker relaxes a little bit. "Thanks for the help," he tells her, honestly. "We'll be sure ta let ya know if anythin' happens." And in the meantime, he'll just watch to make sure Sora is fine while putting on the necklace.

[destiny_key]

Tentatively, Sora takes the bag from Zecora and ties it around his neck. He feels... pretty much the same, really. But maybe they just need to wait and see.

"Thank you," he echoes vaguely. Overall, not as bad a doctor's visit as he thought it might be, but he's still not exactly eager to return, either.

[zebrarhyme_everytime]

"If this doesn't help, there are others things we can try. The honest truth is, as I said -- it may not be better until all 'this'..." She twiddled her fingers over her shoulder to indicate the whole supernatural pressure that seemed to be dominating everything, "is gone. But I think trying to get you back to a normal, healthier life is worth the effort."

She stepped back, the better to let Sora stand, as she picked up her clipboard. A lot of documentation to do.

[pipers_son]

Better than nothing, right? At least it gives them something to do, instead of sitting around and losing their damn minds. So Joker pats Sora on the back, helping to escort him out.

"We'll get somethin' on the way back ta the dorms," he promises the boy before looking up to Zecora. "Anythin' else we need to take care of?"

[destiny_key]

Sora stands from the exam bench he'd been sitting on, rubbing at his eyes tiredly. He's not even that tired, but it's been a loooong day.

He doesn't say a word, just lets Joker escort him out.

[zebrarhyme_everytime]

"Not here and now. Just call me if nothing changes, or if anything gets worse. We will try something else."

She offered her best encouraging smile, though privately, she wondered how this would all play out. Sora's attitude was nothing to take personally... but she regretted not having a better and more immediate answer nonetheless.