⇨ 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

[atouts]

They really do, but yes, let's deal with the elemental, especially since it's taking up all of Childermass's concentration as he struggles to keep the creature still. It struggles, but can't move its legs, keeping it nicely in place for Yuuya to aim. Iron, though, is what makes it a quick end.

Just as the changeling had claimed before, it goes through the elemental's head like a hot knife through butter. A crowbar honestly shouldn't be able to go straight through rock like that, but it does, the iron passing through with little resistance and leaving a blackening hole where it went through, right through the head. It gives a pained jerk, entire body giving off one last, futile struggle, and then the fire powering it begins to die down. Its struggles grow weaker, weaker, though Childermass hangs on to the shadows trapping it in place, just in case.

[hippocarnival]

The crowbar tilts in the air before shooting back towards Yuya--piercing the elemental's chest as well for good measure. You can't be too careful, he supposes.

The crowbar nearly smacks into him too as it returns, and he flails to grab hold of it with his hands again. He stares at the elemental a moment more before turning back to Childermass once he's sure it's not going to move back up.

"That's really cool!" The... everything with the shadows. "What else can you do with them?"

[atouts]

It's only when the elemental begins to fall apart — piece by piece, the last of its fire going out — that Childermass drops the shadows and stumbles back a step. He steadies himself before he can fall himself, though, and gives his head a shake.

"What else...?" Oh. Of course, Yuya means the shadows. He wrinkles his nose at the question and can't help but pin the lad with a rather put-upon look. Of all the times to ask, now isn't a good one, and he's going to say as much. "I have a few tricks up my sleeve, but I'm not here to put on a show for you."

[hippocarnival]

Yuya waves his hand quickly as he slings the crowbar over his shoulder. How testy. "I was just asking!"

Actually, Childermass mentioned something earlier that gives Yuya the start of an idea. "You said you worked for the Rose Queen once, right? Do you know where she keeps the people she kidnaps?"

Strange did say 'find someone who knows the layout of the place', after all. And if said person also has sneaky shadow powers, they might have something here.

[atouts]

And he was just answering! Not nicely, but still.

"Hm? Yes, I did," Childermass answers, glad enough for the topic change. That has more promise of actually getting them moving again. "And yes, I do. I know the gardens well, so I can certainly lead you that way if you wish. Just be aware that we're like to find more resistance up that way."

More elementals, perhaps, or plant golems, giant killer flowers, and everything else to Rose Queen thought was cute to set up as defense.

[hippocarnival]

"That'd make sense, right?" Of course she'd put heavier guard around her prisoners. It doesn't look like it's deterring Yuya at all, however. "But we have to help them. She took so many people from their homes, it's..." The way Yuya's expression sinks to a glower, he doesn't think very much of the Rose Queen's behavior at all.

"Let's go now. They're probably waiting for someone to save them."