ǣfenglōm (main comm)

Name: w. a. mozart
Date: backdated to mid-maiuril
Format: voice

[ for those who know him, this post by amadeus is lacking in its usual energy and jubilance, instead weighed down by measured thoughtfulness. it's also a long time coming: he has been mysteriously missing from the theater scene for some months now. ]

When the Teatro Regio Ducale in Milan was destroyed by fire, it was rebuilt the Teatro alla Scala in 1778 and gracefully inaugurated with an opera by none other than Antonio Salieri himself. —L'Europa riconosciuta, in case you wondered.

It feels wrong to celebrate the legalizing of theater without him here, when he was so integral to its passing. He was my partner in all things, including the year-long endeavor it took to get here.

... Still, we have the rest of the Council to thank, and all of you who lent a hand in the past. Thank you, truly. It meant a great deal to us old art fogies.

Name: Vanitas | un: voidgear
Date: 5/8
Format: Text


This is more aimed towards all those Monsters out there, but I have a question in regards to Bonds and magic. Or maybe questions would be more accurate.

What does it feel like when a Witch casts a spell? Can you feel it across your Bond or sense it at all? Is there some kind of pull or attraction there?

How strong can that become? Or maybe I should ask how sensitive can a Monster become to their Bonded Witch's magic...

Name: Fordola
Date: 1/5/2020
Format: voice;

[ Her voice was quiet. Before she gave a sigh, beginning to talk. ]

So, uh. Anybody else realise they forgot their nameday? It's been a bloody year since I got 'ere. I'm twenty now.

--not that I celebrated my nameday before. Just know it's a custom for a lot of people. And now I've said it, maybe it'd be nice t'hear how people did it 'round your home.

We can't forget our homes. Even as some of us have been 'ere for so long.

Hello and welcome to another episode of Undertaking with Undertown! As always, I am your host, Sokie Undertown, and today, we’re having a very special episode. Not just because of the topic, but because for the first time, we have guests on the show.

Guests, please introduce yourselves.

[ Dead air. On the tail end of a few uncomfortable seconds, a sharp inhale. ]

I’m shocked we’re your first! How, uhm, how is everyone? Feeling well?— I’m Paloma. Sokie was, is, my first Bonded. Here with us is...

[ Cue joins a lively male voice, a teasing lilt to his voice ]

Yo! Name's Cú, though I've been also going by Caster for a while. Sokie's been a dear friend of mine, ever since she broke into my house on her first day here. [ The tone suggests he’s surely? joking?? ] It’s truly an honor to be here today with this incredible company

[Thankfully Sokie laughs. Clearly it’s a joke! It...actually happened but...that’s a Story for later.]

As you can tell, I have very charming company, maybe too charming. But we’ll try not to get too distracted. Especially since we have a very important topic to cover today. And that topic is...bonds!

[ For once Cu’s voice become a little more serious — the light tone is still present somewhere, but subdued ]

Majority of us are unfamiliar with those kinds of...well, contracts. Add urgent necessity in forming them and you get an explosive mix. How people deal with it, changes from person to person— perhaps it's not being talked about enough.

[When Sokie speaks, her voice is calmer, more soothing. Like Cu, she’s taking this seriously.]

And we do need to talk about it. While there are ways to delay the effects, the fact is-we need each other to survive. Witches make too much magic to handle on our own. And monsters...the fact is you need magic to stay sane.

Exactly! [ Nerve to pipe up once more: mustered. ] And the emotional component is wonderful, sometimes, but we’re sharing our innermost selves, and that can be… frightening, even when you want to take that step. If you don’t feel ready to connect your soul to someone else’s, if it’s too much, too soon, you’re not alone in it. Please, ask what you need to ask. I can’t pretend to be as familiar with the technicalities as Cú and Sokie; I can only offer some perspective, or hope to.

And that’s where you, dear listeners come into the picture— er, radio [ Cú quickly corrects himself ] As you can hear, Paloma is ready to take all kind of questions from the audience.

Don’t! No, that’s a lie.


[ooc: Sokie is green, Cu is blue, and Paloma is purple! Any one or all three may answer questions. Since this is a live transmission, they'll only have voice, while the audience can text, video, or voice chat, as par usual.]

Good afternoon. To introduce myself, I'm Omi Fushimi. I arrived recently. I work here as a photographer.

I have some questions, though they're kind of specific to those who've become Turnskin and/or other Monsters here.

So, first of all, if you're a Turnskin, how severe were the effects on your second full moon? As you can guess, I've only just passed my first.

And second, for those who are Monsters in general, when did you decide on a Bond, or rather, how long were you here before you settled on something?

I realize these are personal. I think hearing about these might help put me at ease, so I'm grateful for even vague answers. I'm sorry to ask questions with little in return, but if anyone who responds is particularly fond of scones, I've just made a large batch.

Anyone on this thing know of an acceptable place to get a change of clothes? And before you offer up sub-par recommendations, I mean, quality clothes. Nothing off brand. And nothing that screams small town American Wal-Mart if you even understand what that means.

( Outlets... he won't be a chooser, as he is a beggar. And outlets at least have brands. Months after a line comes out. But, again. Beggars.

This place has the buildings going for it, why not actual style that matches. A nice suit. Silk shirt. Something? )

Extra points to anyone who can pronounce or spell any of these bargain basement Game of Thrones knockoff names. Aaeven-whatever.

Oh. And, witches. What do you like about being a witch? Any tips you want to give? Tips I should ignore. What's a do and what's a don't? How regulated are they?

Monsters. Let's talk bonds.

[That's a distinctive nasally tone coming in over the voice channel this fine morning.] Hi. Hey. It's Hiccup. I'm, uh- Hello to the newest arrivals. This is partly to uh- sometimes we don't always, show up with everything we'd like to have, so if you plan to go past the wall and don't have weapons or armor, I run the Forge just outside town with Percy. We're both smiths and we do commission work, so- you know. If you need anything. We also do enchantments! Mostly me.

But-! That's not, really what I'm here for today. [He has more important priorities right now than advertising the Forge.] I thought I'd try asking around, since- Well. I need to find a Bond, or potential Bond, for my friend. Preferably a Monster, but uh, at this point even a Witch would be better than nothing. My friend is- a little irritable sometimes, but he's a really good guy, and he's very talented and smart, and has some pretty neat hobbies. They should be patient and have a sense of humor, and be willing to keep him from working too hard once in a while. To- to be a friend.

So, um. Let me know, and I can set you up to see if things work out! [A pause.] This really is for a friend, by the way, not... not me. [Yeah that's convincing. He manages to tell the truth and still sound like he's being avoidant of the truth somehow.]

Name: Connor
Date: April 1st
Format: Video

Hello everyone. And welcome to the newcomers, too. I was looking for people to spar with, if anyone is interested? I'm quite capable in combat, but I feel like I need to practice more.

[Connor pauses, considering something. He taps his chin with a scaly finger, LED blinking, then continues.]

I'd also be willing to teach those who can't fight. If you'd like to learn to defend yourself a little better, feel free to contact me. This is all strictly without using magic, of course.

[Being a Merrow, he doesn't have much magic to call upon if he needs it unless he's near the water.]

Name: Marie Antoinette
Date: 3/5
Format: text with some pictures

[The post opens with a picture of Marie in a fluffy dress making a victory sign. She looks excited!]

Hello, fellow Mirrorbound! I have just found out that Dorchacht will be hosting a sports event soon! And what does that mean? Well, naturally it means that we will need to cheer on the participants!

I am looking for volunteers to join the cheerleading squad during the games. It does not matter if you are athletic or not really, Witch or not, smaller or bigger, there will always be a way to participate!

If you would rather not go out and cheer by yourself, I am also looking for choreographers, someone to come up with a few chants we can use and the crafty types to help out with making the costumes!

If you are interested, just let me know! This is going to be so fun! :D

[She already made some pom-poms, you know]

Name: un: PXW
Date: Feb 13
Format: Text

[Anyway.]

WANTED-- Lodging in a respectable rooming or boarding house, with a strong desire for the latter. The following accommodations must be met: No animals kept indoors; No children; No fellow tenants who might be susceptible to the vices of liquor, betting, or marriage. The room must be clean, quiet, private, and immediately available. A locking door is most preferable.

Prospective tenant is an educated man of science accustomed to long hours, with little taste for parlor games.

Make your reply here. References to be waived for the sake of expediency and convenience ONLY, and may be requested upon inspection of the premises.

Name: un: Taru
Date: Feb 13th
Format: Video

_{[When the feed connects there's nothing to be seen other than a standard sized, wooden chair in the middle of a meagerly furnished dorm room. Soon however a rather petite figure comes into view, one with a cute face and rather large, pointy ears. She can't be more than three feet tall by the looks of it and once she's clambered atop the chair she's left standing on it, only to thrust her arms dramatically in the air for a big wave, a high pitched voice following the action.]}

Hullo! I'm Tataru Taru but just Tataru will do. Twenty one summers old and at your service!

_{[That's right, she's just fun sized. Her arms drop to her sides as she continues.]}

Now I know I haven't been here for very long, but I realized rather quickly that not many here have heard of Lalafell. No I am not a Fae, nor am I anything but a fully grown lady - we Lalafell are simply a small, youthful race - and quite successful might I add, especially when it comes to trade and magic.

_{[She gestures to herself, pointing to her chest.]}

So, for those curious Monsters and Witches out there, not only am I a Lalafell lady but I'm almost a whole Yalm in height. Quite tall!

_{[And she's proud of it too. Now that that's out of the way...it's time for The Hustle.]}

Anyroad, since I've to make a home for myself here and have only found part time work...I wanted to offer my services! Surly tax season is creeping up on everyone, yes? Keeping track of finances and spending, either business or personal, is my specialty! I'm also a very skilled seamstress. If there's something you need made I can sew it! Cooking? Cleaning? Mining? Juggling? Entertainment in the form of song and dance? I can do it all!

If you've any questions don't be shy! Send me a message or come say hello when I'm working at Precogstitchin' or The Sly Seadog! Hope to hear from you all!

_{[With a smile and big wave she's hopping off the chair, only for the feed to cease a moment later.]}

Name: un: tacobell
Date: 13 Feb
Format: text

ayyyy so like
does this place have like
special germs or whatever ??
like
ok maybe that sounds dumb
but like HEAR ME OUT
in my world it was very possible to never be sick
so i never got sick
like EVER
but maybe that doesn't work here ???
got no experience with it tho
so has anyone else gotten here and got sick afterward ? (ง ื▿ ื)ว
before you ask......
i never left the city so it is not.. that thing
a l s o
is there uhhh you know
magic potions or whatever for this kinda thing ?
so thanks or whatever i'll reply after a nap i guess

Name: Brother Nier
Date: 2/3
Format: Text

[ he's a simple man with a very simple goal — fortunately, he's brazen enough to say it bluntly. ]

Hi :)
I hope I'm using this right

I got here recently
I take odd jobs
It doesn't matter how small, big or weird they are
If it's a job I'll do it
I can do housework, kill something or do anything else you're looking for
Payment is fine but I'm looking for blood more than I am coin
Thanks for reading :D

Name: Tony Stark
Date: Feb. 2
Format: Text

Do you ever feel like you haven't said enough? I mean, you do what you can and you're pretty sure people get it, but sometimes even when you think the other person is thinking the same thing you are, you never know. And then you'll never know if they knew.

Um, anyway, that's not what I wanted to say. Hi.

If you're just getting in, uh, welcome to the city. There's probably a lot you're getting used to and I just want to say it is totally as weird as it seems. But not as bad as it might seem, so there's that? Everyone is fine, you're fine, and if you are going through changes, we're all here to help. If you need someone to talk to or want to know where to find anything, don't be shy.

And to everyone else, I'm looking for scrap metal. And wire, but you know, I'll take what I can get.

Name: "anonymous" (Hiccup Haddock III)
Date: Feb. 2
Format: Text

some things recently came up and it has me thinking a lot. i'm not sure who else to ask this? the person i'd normally talk to is... part of it.

is it possible to have romantic feelings for more than one person at the same time? does that make you a bad person? i never had to consider it before because i thought everything would be simple, for me at least, but now it isn't so simple and i'm not

sure what to do

i don't want to hurt them

[ooc: Hiccup is posting anonymously but as this function isn't always reliable, let me know if you want him to anonfail! He's having some relationship troubles whoops.]

Name: gwenaëlle wynne-york
Date: 26th.
Format: text.

( afterwards—

she doesn't want to talk about what happened. she doesn't have to, it turns out, because when she's well enough to convince someone she's well enough to go home, there isn't anyone there except putin, distraught, and mercifully looking like someone has been feeding him. she knocks on a few doors to figure out which neighbour to thank and dispassionately catalogues in her mind how they all look at her (mirrorbound; traumatized) when they answer their doors in case some time it matters. )

I have some spare rooms in my house now for people who aren't weird about dogs since it's my house now.

( after the post has stood for a while, an addition is made: )

I'm also in need of someone to bond with or I'm going to end up less house-broken than Putinka. It's supposed to be witches and monsters, isn't it? I don't know anyone to bond with, so if there are witches who'd be interested in rolling the dice, let me know.

Name: Sheva Alomar
Date: backdated to 1/5
Format: text

Given everything going on, this might not be seem that important, but hear me out because I've been struggling with this myself for a while.

We need a 'dating' site/app for finding bonds. Either temporary or long term.

Any tech savvy person able to help with this?

Name: Cú Chulainn (Caster) and Waver Velvet
Date: 4th
Format: video

[ The video feed shows the interior of a place some people might already recognize: a tattoo parlor in the harbor district that has been going through renovation and refurbishing efforts with the assistance of various Mirrorbound. Those who helped out the previous month at various stages can see things brought in or helped to fix. The place looks much more put-together now, fully furnished, clean and organized.

Cu comes on screen with a wide grin. ]

Hey, Inkchanted team here! First, thank you to everyone who helped with making this— happen. And thanks to all who helped us restock. To those who don't know what it is about? We're gonna offer some enchanted tattoo services very soon. Kind of like these here.

[ He pulls down the long glove on his arm to uncover a complicated pattern made of Ogham-like runes. ]

They're spells that can be activated without chanting them out loud. You know, like how enchantment lessons teach you how to enchant objects? It's the same, only we enchant flesh. But there is one more interesting thing that we’ve got here— [He reaches out of the camera view. ] Waver, could you help and demonstrate?

[ The camera pans to the dog Turnskin, who waves a bit awkwardly, showing off a bracelet-like design of small, densely inked runes that spiral around his right wrist. ]

Hi... yes. [ Waver clears his throat, apparently a bit nervous about being on camera, but presses on. ] See, the tattoos work for nonhumans -- for Monsters, too.

[ Lifting his wrist, he shows off the runework. Then, he brings another item up to the camera with his opposite hand. It's a large shard of obsidian set in a metal backing, as if for a pendant. Waver's fingers tighten around it, and at the same time, he twists his tattooed wrist and turns his palm up.

A softly-glowing orb materializes in his hand. A light spell. ]

By combining the enchanted ink, spell tattoos, and a magically-infused source to pull from, you can use a number of spells. The source -- think of it as a battery, basically -- can be recharged.

[ Another small demonstration: the light disappears, and Waver makes another gesture, this time away from the camera. A soft breeze flutters Caster's clothes.

Caster's eyes light up with an excited flame (firewitches and their glowing eyes, eh?). This is it, a chance for Monsters to partake in magic Witches use every day. He gives Waver a friendly fistbump on his shoulder. Be proud! ]

The spell effect varies, and I'm still compiling the list of what's available, but I thought this could be a good chance to ask the Monster populace here—

What kind of spells would you be interested in? Can't guarantee everything will be possible, but we are going to look into the most sought-after options.

｢ ooc: both Waver and Cu are going to reply under the post, depending on the subject most likely. or preference if it's mentioned ｣

Name: Louis, Fie
Date: 1/2
Format: Video

[ The camera comes on and in it is Louis in front of Shinjiro's house. The front door is behind him in the frame. He has a hoodie that is definitely way too big for him, since he is swimming in it. It's not his. The hood is up and covering the top of his head and his ears. ]

So we've been keeping busy redecorating Shinjiro's house. Oh, he's not home right now, so I guess this is a surprise for him and his --

[ His attention shifts off screen for a moment. And he moves the camera towards who has stolen his attention.

Fie, who is dressed in a similarly oversized hoodie in red adds: ]

Well, it's your house too now.

[ He has a couple of notes: ]

Yeah, so it is, isn't it? As it is also my house, I'm going to replace some pieces of furniture that were a bit worn out.

[ A pause, then, he shifts, turning so his back is towards the road, where several pieces of furniture are: couch, end table, the dining table, a couple of mattresses. Immediately, they go up in flames. It looks to be a very controlled fire. Magic is great, isn't it? ]

It's probably better if we just burn everything. Start fresh. Is that a thing people do? I mean, it's too late anyway, but it's good to start. Don't worry - the fire is magic and will burn out when it's done it's job.

[ He moves, so he and Fie are both in frame. He tilts his head towards her. ]

Maybe we'll burn a little sage, too. I heard that it can help. What do you think, Koro?

[ Yes, he's asking the dog what he wants instead of asking Shinjiro. That's just how it goes. ]

But, on that note, I need to buy some replacement furniture as soon as possible - today, possibly. I've never had to replace it before and this was kind of impulsive. Yes, that means I'm looking for recommendations.

Oh - and if anyone wants to roast marshmallows before this fire is out --

[ Fie, notes: ] Bring your own.

[ And it cuts out. ]

Name: Elliot Craig
Date: 12/13
Format: Text (with an Audio recording)

Hello everyone!

As many people have noticed, there isn't anything in the way of rock music in this world. So my friend Crow and I have been working on synthesizing the sound of rock music instruments using audio illusions using classical instruments and memory. And I'm happy to say, I think we've pulled off!

So I'm here to present the first rock style song in Aefenglom: Unfathomed Force!

Unfortunately, the process of creating a new song with audio illusions takes a long time, not everyone can learn how to do it, and honestly the quality will never be as good as having it played from a real band.

So I was wondering if there was any people out there interested in reverse engineering instruments that make rock music sound. I can help with giving isolated instrument sounds and tell you everything I know about specs, but I'll admit I'm not exactly an instrument maker. So I can't say it'll be easy. But...seeing how many worlds rock music has reached, I think it'd be a really worthwhile project.

Thanks everyone!