ǣfenglōm (main comm)

Does anyone have any holidays that they celebrate around this time of year back home? I feel that, after what we have experienced, spreading a bit of cheer might help take the edge off things. I would also like to know if there are any similarities between our worlds. Perhaps if we find a common correlation, we may be able to understand why we were brought here.

I can start us off. Where I am from, we celebrate the Harrowing. People from all over Valoran dress in costumes, to confuse the evil spirits that rise from the depths of the Shadow Isles. Most of it is superstition, but I have heard of cases where sailors who were lost at sea suddenly appear once more during this time.

Does anyone have a similar tradition where they're from? I would like to hear about it. Maybe we can take a few of these ideas and celebrate here. It might be good to have something for the people here to look forward to, rather than focusing on recent events.

- Lux

Name: Rich Goranski
Date: Backdated to Oct 14
Format: Video for initial post; various in comments

[Without so much as an introduction, a video plays. It's a little shaky with the recorder's nerves, and occasionally, a long talon partly covers the view of the scene, but it still shows what it needs to quite clearly.

Eventually, even with the struggle still continuing, the camera is turned away from the action, towards Rich. He has to hope what he just got will be enough to get the Coven to actually believe him this time, but right now, he doesn't have time to wait around. Direct action is needed, so he pings the friends he trusted: Michael Mell, Myr, and Niles. The message is still sent to everyone, however, so everyone can view the video and the panic in Rich's eyes when the camera is turned back to him.]

The SQUIP has lost it. It's going full villain again and I need back up. Meet me near the inn, I think it's trying to take Heere there.

[Without an explanation of what entails the SQUIP going full villain or who 'Heere' may be, he continues.]

Everyone else, please stay safe and-[He's cut off by something happening off screen, which makes him swear and stuff his watch into his pocket. There's about a minute more of muffled yelling and darkness before the recording eventually ends.]

~*~

[Hours later, there's another video tacked on to the earlier one, once the mist has finally started to fade away. Rich is back inside, his changes from before calming down enough that he isn't at risk of burning down Justine's whole cottage. He looks tired and worn, a few nasty scrapes on his face, but... there is a sort of relief in his expression, some sort of certainty that, no matter what happens next, he did what was right.]

Hey everyone. Sorry about that... I know I promised to be less of a downer the next time I posted on here, but... shit happens.

I'm just letting everyone know the SQUIP is knocked out. It had been using magic to charm and mind control several people, including someone I was bonded to, Justine, and a friend from home, Jeremy Heere.

Two of the people it was Bonded with, Linden Tailor and Connor, are also unconscious... guess some sort of trauma went through the connection when we stopped it. Since it was actively using mind control magic, I used Mountain Dew Red to deactivate... the part of it that was still a supercomputer, I guess. It should recover fine, and while it's passed out, I'm going to bring the recording to the Coven so they can see I wasn't lying when I told them what it did in my world.

If any of you were being controlled by it, let me know. It got to quite a few people when I saw it, but its powers should have worn off by now. It can be... a little traumatic, though, so my door's open if you wanna talk. Hopefully now that the SQUIP was... de-SQUIPped, somehow, this shouldn't happen again.

[With another tired wave, Rich signs off. He'd love to stay and chat but... he's pretty sure his roommates are still going to need a little more help in the fallout.]

((Everyone is free to respond! Rich will respond when he's done dealing with his roomies, who are likely either a) dealing with mind control withdrawal or b) having panic attacks over the SQUIP. Other players on Team Anti-Bastard Computer Man will also be responding a few hours after the events of the battle, providing information on what went down and vouching that yes, Shit Was Bad.))

Name: Lambert [ un: 'fuck this' ]
Date: Backdated to Octeuril 15th
Format: Text

just so you know, in case you haven't figured it out already: try not to sell parts of you without asking what it's going to be used for first

because sometimes those parts get used to brew up shitty mist that turns half the city feral or gives them new parts they don't need

the coven's got one of the bitches that started that mess now, but she wasn't working alone, so i sure fucking hope someone else found them

[ ooc: a very belated wrap-up of sorts for the mist investigation, at least on team lambert/nyskie/steak/rw's end! ]

Name: Percy de Rolo III
Date: Octeuril 21
Format: Video

[ The image that appears is a slightly harried looking Percy, smudges of soot on his face and a pair of work googles pushed to the top of his head, half hidden in his white hair. He gives the device a slightly distracted smile as he leans back. ]

Good evening. My name is Percival Fredrickstein von Musel Klossowski de Rolo III. Call me Percy. I have...well, I suppose it's half a question and half an offer, really.

I'm something of a tinkerer, you could say, and I'm wondering what sorts of things people might find helpful here. It's been made abundantly clear to me that I can't make assumptions based on what I'm used to back home, so. I open it to the world at large. I specialize somewhat in metalwork, so that's a start. I'm no swordsmith, but armor, arrows, [ there's the slightest pause before he makes himself continue ] guns, explosives. Anything with black powder. I've also a fair bit of experience with clockworks and other machinery, on the less dangerous end of things. Enchantments as well, though I'd hardly call myself an expert at it. Just enough to know what I'm doing.

The offer part is that if you do have a suggestion, I'm willing to have a go at it, free of charge. Even if it's something I've not heard of. I wouldn't mind stretching my skills a bit, to be honest.

[ The smile he's been wearing takes on a very slightly strained edge. Genuinely interested in trying new things? Yes. Attempting to keep himself too busy to think much about what happened over the full moon? Also yes. ]

So that's the sales pitch. Feel free to let me know if you have an idea or a request, I promise you that there's very little that can surprise me. Otherwise, thank you for your time.