⇨ The Tourist Trap: WEEK 4

[ringleaders]

Who: Anyone, anywhere in Portland.
When: October 22nd - 31st, 2017
Where: In Portland, for the last time.
What: The seasons change as the Winter Court seizes a surprise victory, claiming both the Tree of Life's pendant and the blood catalyst needed to take control of the Severing Ritual. Meanwhile, interdimensional problems are about to get more weird. Check out the conflict results for the attack on the Circle as well as the Beast's attack on the Summer Court here.
Warnings: Individually marked!

DAYS OF WINTER↴ As the end of October nears, so does the grasp of winter. On the night of the 22nd, it will freeze overnight, and the temperature will drop for the following days. As the night grow long, world-wide magic slowly reaches it apex, set to reach it on the night of Halloween. With so many factors at play, knowing what to do with that moment of power may be a challenge. ► FULL CIRCLE: The Angels succeed in their planned attack on the Circle, managing to get to the living quarters of the Council members with the help of Ashleigh Mischief. The plan goes without much resistance from the mages or from the demons attempting to claim the ritual object for their own. Of course, when the fae make a surprise attack on the Angels after they flee the scene, it has the surprise result of the Winter Court ended up with the pendant in their talons. Threads for this attack can be done in this log. If you need mod direction at all, let us know, but otherwise feel free to NPC demons, angels, or random Circle members as you require. ► THE QUEEN'S GARDEN: Realizing that the Rose Queen is distracted with attempting to claim the pendant, the Beast will summon her co-conspirators to raid the Queen's gardens. The ultimate plan seems to be to get the Beast far enough into the gardens to kill the Queen, while also rescuing as many changelings as possible along the way. As it turns out, this doesn't go well. While they do manage to penetrate the gardens with Childermass's help, the Rose Queen, Ignatius, and Nightshade happen to all be there. Seriously outnumbered, even by the Beast's terms, it will take everything the group has to just make it out alive, sustaining heavy injuries as they go. In the end they will manage to rescue Greg universe and four additional changelings that were imprisoned there, but any damage done to the Summer Court itself will be negligible. Threads for this can also be played out here! ► REFLECTIONS: As the ritual draws closer, the line between this reality and the one you came from will also be becoming less clear. Regaining memories is not required, but it will naturally become easier to occur, especially if you're already started receiving them. It's a good time to start making connections, while you still have the chance. ► THE SEVERING: One way or another, the Severing is going to make an impact on both this world and the lives of those trapped inside of it. The Angels are going to be making an attempt to interrupt the Winter Court's ritual, as will the Summer Court and Anath's forces. Whoever comes up on top will be the ones to decide what to be done with it. Yet, with news that the Severing continuing could cause irreversible damage to the planet's spirit, it could feel like there are no perfect options. There will be an event header put up for this by the mods closer to the end of July. (NOTE: canon powers will returning while the ritual is in progress, so keep that in mind for planning - both sets of powers will be active.)

Comments

[anti_nonsense]

Lambert's shout seems to answer any questions Rita had about the amount of control he's got over the situation. Rita stands for a moment, staring down the open maw of the bizarre creature, but as it lunges at her, her instincts kick in and she dives and rolls out of the way.

She seems to have a number of vague memories of fighting, both people and beasts, some as large as this one. They aren't clear enough to bring any specific details to mind, but trusting in those memories seems to be a good way to stay alive.

Once she's back on her feet, Rita holds out her arms, gathering flames in each hand. She then releases them, sending the pair of fireballs spiralling towards the vinebeast and bursting on impact. Her aim is low; she'll make some effort not to hit Lambert.

[whattaprick]

The effort is appreciated, but ultimately there's really only so much you can do to avoid hitting someone on the back of a monster you're lobbing fireballs at. Still, Rita's at least going to succeed in making the beast falter, stumbling heavily -- which unfortunately, means flinging Lambert off it and over its head, tearing the poker out of the thing's back as he goes.

Luckily, as he goes tumbling head over heels, that strange sensation of muscle memory kicks in again. He's not as strong as he should be (and he doesn't know why he knows that) but he manages to tuck himself into a ball and roll without loosing his grip on the iron. Eventually, he manages to land in a crouch beside her, and risks glancing over.

"Thanks." However, it doesn't address the fact that there's still a thing in front of them, now getting back to its feet properly, the vines around its mouth rippling as it roars its fury.

[anti_nonsense]

When Lambert comes tumbling toward her, Rita jerks away, instinctively repulsed by the iron poker coming way too fast in her direction. The alarm in her expression fades as soon as he stops moving, however.

All things considered, that was a damn good landing. "You sure you're new at this?" she asks, giving him a dubious look before returning her attention to the monster. Holding an arm out, she starts gathering fire over her open palm, preparing another spell. They don't have much time before it'll attack again.

[whattaprick]

"Memories," Lambert supplies, like that's any kind of explanation at all. While Rita powers up the spell, the beast is indeed starting to charge towards them, ground trembling underfoot as its bulk comes barrelling forward.

Together, they make an easy target; he understands that intuitively. If they split up, it'll have to divide its attention. So without bothering to signal Rita, Lambert breaks away, waving an arm to catch the beast's attention and buy her some more time to set the spell up.

"Hey, ugly! Over here!"

[anti_nonsense]

As vague and weird an answer as that is, Rita has some idea of what he means. So Lambert's... like her, in some weird way...? Her eyes widen and follow him for a second, but she soon snaps her attention back to the beast. No time for that now.

While Rita's the easier target, stationary as she casts, the creature's animalistic instincts make it drawn to Lambert's movements, and it turns its head to follow him, shifting itself into position to make another lunge.

But that bit of extra time Lambert buys is all Rita needs to finish preparing her spell. She unleashes the fire from her hand, which flies out in a spiraling motion towards the vinebeast, growing in size and gathering momentum as it rages and tears its way to its target.