expiationlogs | MINGLE LOG: OCTOBER

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MINGLE LOG: OCTOBER

TRICK OR TREAT

Aldrip locals are buzzing with excitement as the end of the month draws near. According to them, two beloved traditions are just around the corner: the gathering and the witch hunt!

Let's get started!

WE GATHER HERE

I. EVERYBODY MAKE A SCENE

Those who come from worlds with trick-or-treating will find that this sounds pretty familiar: dress in costume, get treats. Rather than going door-to-door, however, the locals have set up a whole line of booths in the bustling marketplace. Participating locations will have pumpkin-shaped lanterns over their stalls, and will hand out various items: candies are traditional, of course, but pastries, treats, and even savory foods may be available. Some booths may also offer drinks (alcoholic or not) or small trinkets like pins, stickers, or scarves.

What's the catch? You must be in costume, of course! Some Chosen may welcome this as a fun activity—costumes are available at Rin's Shop from now until the end of the month. A number of traditional costumes will be readily available, of course, but the Tresed locals who have taken over the shop also have some...let's call it "eclectic" original designs. They also take requests. And they seem even more excited than the Aldrip locals, if you can believe it. Some reluctant Chosen may find themselves bullied into participating, if they're not careful.

We leave these costumes entirely up to you: they could be generic costumes like "witch" or "ghost," or something from your character's world. The tailors currently operating Rin's shop are capable of making mostly anything.

At various points during the night, Chosen could discover that they've been either TRICKED or TREATED by participating in this tradition. Comment in the thread below if you'd like to participate, and we'll roll you a random effect.

A WITCH! A WITCH!

The Aldrip Witch Hunt is a symbolic tradition that, according to locals, goes back by countless generations. Local opinions seem to be mixed on whether there is a real witch to speak of: some claim that the Council has chosen someone to act as the witch every year since its inception. Others claim that it's all conceptual. Either way, with a small number of frightening fruits still on the loose, locals are willing to let the Chosen deal with any dangers.

Those intrepid Chosen who wish to seek out the witch are told to head into the forest, where small electric lanterns will show the way. These lanterns seem to be scattered across the forest, in some cases leading Chosen off course or off the beaten path. Some may end up lost in the woods. But some lanterns do seem to light the way to different locations. Visiting these locations may yield some…interesting results. If you’re interested in investigating these areas, leave a comment in the thread below to let us know which location(s) you visit, and we’ll roll something for you.

II. THE UNDERGROUND GROTTO

Following a stream in the woods eventually leads to a cave opening. The floor of the came is wet and a little slippery, so take care where you step. The cave is deep, and as explorers move through it, they're going at a gentle descent, the Chosen will uncover old cave paintings, faded and worn with age. Most of these are little more than marks upon the wall, but occasionally some may find images that look almost like worship, figures captivated by strange boxes, hands in the air as if in veneration.

Occasionally, items from other parts of Expiation can also be found. The odd tablet part, an old-looking shoe, a piece of rusted jewelry or a shell that looks like it belongs more on the beach…these don't seem like they should be here.

The Chosen who explore this cave ought to be wary of the time. As the tide comes in, water begins to slosh around their ankles, filling the bottom of the cave and rising quickly.

III. THE BUNKER

Those who took it upon themselves to investigate the strange chimera creatures from earlier in the month might have seen this weird little bunker before, but the turrets that seemed to protect it at the time are now powered down, allowing access inside.

That said, whomever was there seems to be long gone, leaving behind a flurry of documents, diagrams, and other miscellaneous work in their wake. The bunker has two levels, connected by stairs. The first level seems to house medical experiments, ranging from various herbal concoctions (if you get my drift) to precise surgical work. Things have been meticulously cleaned up on that front, so they won't be walking into a bloody mess. Everything has the faint smell of rubbing alcohol and bleach. Notes on this level are mostly medical in nature and quite rudimentary, some aspects bordering on pseudoscience or magic. Near the stairs, the Chosen will find cages, all empty. Strangely, even though the animals were only recently released, things are coated in a deep layer of dust, as if this place hasn't seen activity in a long, long time.

The second level seems to be comprised of mechanical experiments, builds, and engineering work. There's all sorts of different types of technology down here: some looks familiar, in a similar style to the tablets. Some is quite advanced, from the look of it…but it all seems to have been taken apart, cannibalized, and put back together in ways that make no sense. Glass screens drilled onto metal casings, keypads that don't seem to attach to anything, engines tied to attempted vehicles with rope. Most of these elements have been damaged beyond repair with hammers and staple guns.
Something interesting of note is that some areas within this bunker still seem to have power. Among them, a small block of video screens that seems to be used as surveillance. Most of these screens show areas just outside of the bunker or within the entry way. Other screens seem to flicker, occasionally showing static, but sometimes showing something that seems like faces within the static, figures moving in some way.

IV. THE HOUSE

This abandoned house sits derelict at the edge of town. Has it been there this whole time? It certainly doesn't look new…

A graveyard stands just beyond its gate, in front of the house, warning away trespassers. These graves don't look terribly worn with age, and have no years carved into them, but have names and some even list cause of death. "Threatened the wrong scoundrel," "may Those Who Were There have mercy upon their soul," or "charged with a crime they did not commit" are not uncommon claims. There are dozens of them, daring intrepid Chosen to pass them and enter the house.

Said house is old, creaky, and creepy. Inside, the already-spooky effects of the forest seem to be more pronounced: one may occasionally hear voices or see visions from the corner of their eye, only to look and find nothing there. Peculiar things seem to happen in this house, though. Mirrors still hang in some rooms, and while they often show a true reflection of those who look at them, they occasionally show others as well: shadowy figures, strange people the Chosen have never seen before, even some faces of Aldrip locals, distorted and sometimes missing parts. The shadows within the house seem to shift, as if they can't quite decide what they should be hiding. Portraits also hang in the hallways, faded and dusty. Mostly they show unrecognized people in old-fashioned clothes, but occasionally one might think they see their own face, or the face of someone they knew from home.

The attic is of particular interest, containing among its many cobwebs a single large chest in the middle of the room. Opening this chest reveals an item of great importance to the person who first touches it, something sentimental or meaningful to them. Upon touching this item, it seems to crumble away into nothing.

V. THE STONE CIRCLE

Some lanterns lead past the forest, out to the meadows and fields where most of the Aldrip locals plant their crops. On a hill beyond those fields stands a circle of ancient-looking stones, their edges dulled with age, covered in moss and lichen. This stone circle stands within a large earthen barrier, little more than a hill beneath the grass. Opening doors within this barrier reveals what looks like ancient offerings: broken pieces of earthenware, bits of metalwork or broken pieces of armor, even the occasional rusted, useless weapon.

The stones themselves encircle a paved circle with markings at regular points. It almost looks like a clock or a sundial. Standing within the paved circle, one may imagine that they hear voices of people they don't recognize, along with a faint ringing in their ears. Within this circle, the sun always seems to be directly overhead, during the day. At night, the stars twinkle, but seem to move in their nightly pattern much faster than they normally would.

WILDCARD

Go wild! If there's anything that you'd like to do in the Trick or Treating portion especially, go right on ahead! Other than that, anything else that you may think of may go!

A Note: The festival will be available every night, and the lanterns will be visible until the next State of the Game post.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[It was good knowing you, weird Japanese kid.

Scott's expression slowly shifts, with one eyebrow lifting above his shades, although he still looks just as unimpressed as before. A curse, huh?]

Dude, if you just want chocolate, just ask like a regular ass person. [Although... Scott glances at the half-eaten treat that's next to Yusuke, briefly wondering why he just doesn't eat that. Whatever, maybe he doesn't like the flavor and is being super dramatic about it?

Also, he's not giving Yusuke his chocolate!! Okay, maybe he'll pass off some candy he doesn't want, but in a sec.] You're worse than some 8-year-olds that I see.

[Okay, now he actually dies, from callousness-!! No, he's far too addled over his apparently cursed tastebuds to really register that Scott is lowkey giving him shit for his behavior, simply waving his hand vaguely in the air as he hangs his head again. Maybe it's all an act to go with the costume...

It's not; he's earnestly convinced he will never taste food again, not that he's explained this at all, but maybe he'll get there.]

You would mock me during my time of strife...? Fine—I shall endure your barbs, if it delivers me unto sustenance!

[That is to say: weh. He's still on the ground and everything.]

I beg of you, a single bite...!

Yeah.

[But despite his remark, Scott rolls his eyes before digging into his bag and pulling out a chocolate bar that has like. Coconut filling in it. Yeah, that will probably do. Beggars can't be choosers and all that, right?

With a small shrug, he holds out the candy to Yusuke.]

Here.

[!!! He owes Scott his life, despite the sass. Gratefully he accepts the chocolate, opening the wrapper and taking a bit with as much dignity as he can muster when he's already on the ground freaking out like this.

...

....

Well, it kind of tastes like soap, which is at least an improvement over ashes... He still looks pretty grim about it, though.

...And it's not going to stop him from taking another bite. He'll endure soap taste, he's hungry.]

Thank you, it's... passably edible... I'm afraid this treat still falls victim to my newfound curse, but I appreciate your generosity nonetheless. I owe you a debt.

[it's a chocolate bar yusuke]

[He doesn't look like he's really enjoying the chocolate, which granted, isn't Scott's favorite flavor either, but he's not liking it even a little. Huh, is all that crap about a curse actually true then? He wasn't just being dramatic?]

Look, it's fine man, you don't owe me anything.

[It's just chocolate, chocolate that Scott didn't even really want, so it's whatever man. He shifts slightly, some actual concern appearing in the mutant's face as he considers the other teen.]

Are you really unable to taste shit? Thought you were making that up.

[Yusuke shakes his head, continuing to glumly eat the world's soapiest chocolate. Sustenance is sustenance, in this case.]

Of course I owe you. This curse has been upon me since I arose and descended for breakfast this very morning... To my great shock and despair my breakfast, while ordinarily quite delicious, tasted most unpleasant. Beyond the flavor of merely spoiled food, it was instead the taste of ash-!

Such has been the case with everything I've eaten today.

[Woe is Yusuke, etc. He raises the remaining half of the chocolate bar.]

Your offering, for the record, tastes distinctly of soap. I am able to stomach it, but at severe cost to my psychological wellbeing...

[So... guess it's even worse than tasting nothing, everything actually tastes horrible. Damn, that actually sucks, assuming that he's not lying and shit. Scott's willing to give him the benefit of the doubt because all of this drama seems like a lot for just trying to snag free chocolate from people. Seems pretty dumb since the pastries and stuff are all free anyway.

He is still fucking dramatic though.

Scott considers everything Yusuke's told him so far, a small frowning tugging at the corner of his mouth. But really, he's taking this seriously now.]

So, if everything that is normally delicious tastes awful, maybe you should try eating something that you normally don't like?

[Unfortunately, the drama is not part of the tastebud curse, simply a part of Yusuke. He shakes his head, waving his free hand as if to ask for a minute, while he finishes off this awful soap bar.

He can still feel the texture of foods, so-]

—I have no great fondness for coconut. So you see, it has nothing to do with my own preferences. The only solution I can conjure is to eat the inedible, but my body will suffer all the worse for it in the end.

[Woe, again, hand pressed to his chest now for emphasis. He will probably die, etc.]

I fear my only choice is to track down the villain who has done this to me, and strike a bargain...

[Heh, so he doesn't like coconut either. He can respect that.]

Maybe you should eating bugs. [...Okay, Scott's really trying to take this seriously, but it keeps on breaking slightly with just how over the top Yusuke is. He gets it, not being able to enjoy treats and candy sucks, but man. He rolls his eyes behind his shades, and can't stop the slight deadpan tone from entering his voice.]

Yeah? And you know who cursed you and everything?

[Soap bar sufficiently eaten, Yusuke has it in him to frown now at the jabs. He doesn't say anything about it, merely giving Scott a brow-furrowed look of irritation; that's not helpful, why doesn't anyone take him seriously, etc. Whatever.]

I do not. I must retrace my steps from this morning, to seek out a clue.

[It won't come to anything, but he'll figure that out in due time.]

I would ask your assistance, but if you are more interested in mocking my plight, perhaps that would be a waste of my time.

[Scott feels slightly bad when Yusuke says that, because uggh he's fine being an asshole but not too much? He rubs the back of his head, and although he doesn't really apologize, he lets out a small sigh that's a little contrite.]

Hey man, I'll help out.

[...] And if we can't find anyone by retracing your steps, we can ask over the Charms or whatever to see if anyone else is affected by something weird.

[Hmm, #doubt... There are fewer than ten people alive who don't dismiss him by default, and even some of them make fun of him at the same time. This must be what's known as "social obligation" and "awkward guilt," he supposes, so—alright.]

The what?

[Don't get him wrong - he has a charm. But he also has a tablet, and he's a modern city boy, so the charm is a pretty necklace comparatively. Anyway-]

I am returning to the inn. Come.

You know, the devices and stuff. Advanced tech.

[It's pretty advanced to him at least! The tablets are also pretty neat and Scott often finds himself switching between the two, but he started with the charms, made his first ~~bitchy~~ announcement and whatever there.

Also, who let this guy be boss!! Scott almost huffs, but he starts following Yosuke anyway. Pick your battles etc.]

I'm Scott Summers, by the way.

Ah. The... [he sort of gestures around his neck, where the charm is not hanging, but he still calls it,] Pendant. I have not endeavored to learn its secrets.

[But he still talks like a guy who'd be into seemingly magic charms, go figure. It's off to the inn they go, so he can be weird in the hallways for twenty minutes.]

My name is Yusuke Kitagawa. Despite my circumstances, I am grateful for your company.

Yeah, that.

[Yusuke is leading new fashion trends by dangling it around his neck. Although, given the shape of it and everything, it doesn't really look odd. Good for him, be the trailblazer in this world.

Honestly, it's been a hot minute since he stepped into the inn, mostly because he has his own house for... bizarre reasons. Not that he's complaining, but even Scott knows that it's pretty weird to own a house and crap. He doesn't imagine the inn's changed too much though, although who knows with a lot of the locals disappearing.

Which is still kind of worrying, honestly.]

Cool, nice to meet you. [...] Are you new around here? I haven't seen you before, so it's pretty crap luck to be hit by a curse so soon and everything.

[He's trying to be sympathetic???]

I have been here a number of weeks, if that is what is considered "new," still.

[This as he heads for the stairs; it's time to march all the way up to his room, so he can Retrace His Steps. If there's someone who cursed him who's even findable, they're absolutely not still just sitting in the inn, buuuut... this is the plan.]

Is there supposed to be a grace period before one is cursed...?

Yeah, pretty new. I've been here for about...

[Scott trails off slightly, as of trying to remember how long he's been in this world. He was keeping better track of it earlier, but now it feels a little depressing to know how long he's been here? But also, he... he's no longer in a rush to go home anymore. He's made a lot of friends in this world, more than he ever did back home, but uh, totally not mentioning that.

He can't come off as a loser now, not even in front of this guy.]

Half a year? Maybe a little more than that? [He almost shrugs, but he follows Yusuke up the stairs and everything. He's not quite sure what to expect if anything, but it's a little fun playing detective. Hah, maybe he can shove it in Akechi's face later if something does seem to be up.]

And I guess not? But pretty rude to be slammed with a curse when you haven't had time to like settle in and everything, you know? I don't think I've been affected by anything.

[Knock on wood??]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

MINGLE LOG: OCTOBER

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