perhaps you have learned it without a book - MOONLIT RIVALS LOG 1

[libraryassistants]

Who: Readers and Actors galore!
What: The Story begins- and so do preparations for the Masquerade!
When: The three days prior to the Masquerade [ooc timeline: 1/23-2/5]
Where: The city of Montica
Content warnings: Please include any warnings in headers!

First Quarter Moon

Now that most of the Editors know what to expect, the draw into the Story is likely more obvious this time. There’s a subtle urge that encourages their feet to turn towards the Stacks; a slight shimmer in the air that thickens the closer they get to the book laying open on an innocuous library cart.

Those who resist the Story’s pull will be drawn in eventually. Whether the compulsion is successful, or whether the Librarian passes by to sweep them in - all Editors will enter, and all will experience the Story’s start together.

(Editors who have gained the skill Ex Media Res will be able to resist the Story’s pull and hang out in the Library. Drop us a note if they’re using this skill!)

Our Beginning

The Story begins as night makes its transition to morning. Montica is a city that never sleeps, and some Editors may find themselves taken aback at how the absence of sunlight has done nothing to deter the nightlife.

In particular, at the hour our Readers arrive, there is a clean-up going on at the centre of town. People are grumbling as they sweep debris from the streets, and those who are familiar with supernaturally-powered fights will recognise this scene for exactly what it is: the aftermath of some powerful entities having had at it. Hang around too long and you may find yourself with a broom or hammer thrust into your hands, the expectation that you’ll help having been made clear.

Those who leave the clean-up will find themselves welcome in the city’s inn, where visitors hover by the windows, chattering excitedly about the fight that had just broken up. Some people think they’re lucky to have seen it - others think they’ll be luckier if they go the next few days without seeing another one.

The inn is warm, full of gossip, and by some marvel still has private rooms available to rent. Readers will find themselves with enough coin in their pocket to afford quite a bit, this time around - but don’t go spending it all at once. Those who are astute will hear the talk of a masquerade going around, and if you want to attend, you’re going to have to dress appropriately.

Welcome to Montica

Montica itself is a city built from stone, with the buildings packed closely together along cobblestone streets. Flowering vines creep along trellises, their gentle fragrance perfuming the air. The sky is clear and smog-free, the water flows cleanly, and a sense of magic drifts comfortably in the breeze.

The city is almost evenly bisected by loyalties, a hard divide running clearly through the centre of the town. Only a small ring in the centre is considered to be neutral territory - though that’s becoming more and more disputed with each passing moon.

To the north, buildings seem to have a fondness for silver. It seems they’ll take any excuse to work the precious metal into everyday items, from cutlery to window fastenings; and some particularly zealous citizens proudly don silver jewellery and pins in their day-to-day wear. In this section of town you will find the dwellings of the old vampire clans, littered with antiquities and casual opulence.

To the south, the people are fond of spices. Garlic flowers pepper garden beds and the dried bulbs hang from doorframes, and there’s hardly a meal cooked without it. Some industrious workers are busy building small moats of flowing water through this half of the city – you’d better mind your step, lest you get in their way. Located amongst these homes are the dens of the werewolf packs, warmly furnished and brimming with life.

No matter where you are in town, whether you’re surrounded by silver or dodging moat diggers, whether it’s day or night or nebulous twilight, there’s one topic that’s on everyone’s lips: the Umbra Masquerade.

It’s a once in a human lifetime event, and the city is abuzz. Some of the elderly may have been once before, in their youth - but likely at an age where they were too young to remember. There are stories about these masquerades, of the favours that can be won and the deals that can be made. More than one wealthy family attributes their successes to parties of the past, and while the werewolves shouldn’t be there – who’s going to stop them?.

The Market

At the centre of the city are Montica’s most dreary buildings. Markets are held here during the day, bright banners and exuberant stallholders calling out their wares. People of all kinds shop here, and it’s the best place to find quality goods. Some patrons give each-other hearty side-eyes, some sneer and mutter insults under their breath - but by and large, this a neutral zone, and the regular citizens treat it as such.

Behind the fuss of the market, astute observers will note the broken and boarded-up windows hidden by the bold stalls. Some buildings are outright abandoned, damaged beyond repair. It becomes even more obvious as night falls and the number of stalls thins, the night vendors setting up with wary looks in their eyes.

Right now the market is bustling with vendors sending goods up to the Umbra Clan's mansion. There is a constant stream of traders passing back and forth, hurrying to get their contributions in place before the ball. Regular goods are still for sale, but the busiest stalls are those selling - of all things - masks with varying levels of decoration. They’ve cleverly set up outside of stores selling clothing; beautiful dresses and tailored suits visible through the cracked and dusty windows. Editors will find they have enough local currency to afford something modest. If their tastes skew toward the more extravagant then, well – they better get to work.

The Umbra Mansion

The sprawling building stands tall, overlooking the city of Montica. Vines budding with fragrant flowers grow up the sides of the building, curling around windowsills and balconies in a curated fashion. A large hedge maze sits at the rear of the mansion, behind the grand ballroom; and the gardeners are in top form today, brandishing tools at anyone who looks like they're about to enter it. It's one of many things being tidied up and decorated for the ball, so you'd better not get in their way.

The mansion's front doors open to a foyer that is connected to an upstairs level by two grand staircases. A gilded chandelier hangs down between them, casting rainbows across the wooden floors as the sunlight strikes its crystal ornaments.

Those wide, curved staircases lead to a mezzanine that overlooks the ballroom below. Doors to private rooms branch off from here; all of them locked.

During the daylight hours, the mansion sports large windows covered by thick curtains that are drawn firmly shut. Those who try to peer through them will find an additional layer of security in the form of tightly-fastened metal blinds that block any slivers of sunlight from eking through.

On all three days the mansion is crawling with people setting up for the masquerade. Over there, someone’s hanging strings of lights. Over here, a florist is carefully arranging flowers. The kitchen is busy, human cooks overseeing the production of hundreds of canapes – and on the third day, over in the ballroom, are a band of musicians getting prepared for the night.

Security is lax everywhere except the underground floors, where the clan sleeps. The doors that lead to the underground complex are barred from the inside, and human guards keep watch outside of them to redirect any wanderers.

[The info/plotting post can be found here!]

Comments

[ohaiyo_isekai]

We are in a city of Shakespeare's place and time that closely resembles the Verona of his Romeo and Juliet, complete with a pointless feud between two noble houses, Hikaru sends.

Also, I am very obviously a vampire.

...it's not Twilight or Shakespeare. It's both. And will bet my last coin and hit point that it's Romeo and Juliet specifically, with the Umbra vampire clan as one of the families.

[ugh_emotions]

...Yeah, I fucking hate it.

The only thing worse than a romance, was a romance where the characters also were killing each other for stupid reasons. Oh, and themselves.

Also what the hell. What do you mean, you're a vampire?

[ohaiyo_isekai]

I mean that my blood painfully effervesces under sunlight, I am an obligate hemovore with hollow fangs for sucking blood, my saliva - thankfully - is a topical analgesic, antibacterial, blood clotter and narcotic to humans so I can lick wounds closed, and I possess several parapsychic disciplines not part of my standard spell list.

I am also as tall as I was on Earth with well groomed facial hair.

Siobhan was made human to fit in, last Story. Does it surprise you that I would become a vampire to fit in here?

[ugh_emotions]

Yes. No Readers became aliens.

Only those who were made characters in the Story experienced that particular change. In that Story, the Readers who had been changed to fit the setting all became human. It wasn't unreasonable to assume something similar would happen here.

That assumption, however, appears to be false.

I do not want to hear anything about your eating habits, it says. Or any of your organic fluids. Ugh.

[ohaiyo_isekai]

I don't plan on dwelling on it either - wait, hang on -

There a gap.

Then he returns, distraught.

...I have located Siobhan Greenwood, he says, voice wavering.

[ugh_emotions]

Hikaru, status report, it says, anxiety ticking up as it wonders what the fuck has happened.

[ohaiyo_isekai]

Rather, I have located a Sigrid Guidulf, he says.

...unless I am badly misreading things, she's the fucking. Juliet. Of this unfolding tragedy.

There is a moment.

...unless we change the genre, he says, with something of the cadence of being through gritted fangs.

[ugh_emotions]

What, make it not a romance anymore?

...Actually, that sounded like a great idea. Best idea ever, in fact. If the Story wasn't a Romance, then there wouldn't be any fucking romance.

Okay, so we find Story Romeo. Get them out of the picture. Then no more stupid romance, so no stupid humans killing themselves for stupid romance reasons.

(Yeah, Romeo and Juliet hadn't been its favourite out of all of Shakespeare's plays.)

[ohaiyo_isekai]

That wouldn't work. If Romeo disappears, they'll blame our Capulets, and the city burns, Hikaru says. Much the same for Juliet. I don't think we need to prevent the romance; I don't think we can, frankly. And I say sorry.

He doesn't like Sigrid, specifically, engaged in a romance with someone who is Not Him and who he does not know from Adam. But he would rather a Romeo than a fucking Paris for her.

But we can prevent the tragedy. De-emphasize the romance, make this a story of the reconcilation of the houses.

[ugh_emotions]

Ugh. Fine. We won't get rid of the stupid love interest, it grumbles, forced to concede that Hikaru has a point.

Hikaru's actual plan, though, is...more challenging.

I can't...I'm not good at talking to humans, it says. It could barely hope to have a normal, ordinary conversation with them. Nevermind convincing them of anything, like to stop hating each other.

[ohaiyo_isekai]

You won’t need to - I am. All you need to do is what you’re skilled at: security. Making sure no idiots with silver threaten Sigrid, and none with torches, stakes and garlic threaten whoever our Romeo turns out to be.

He blinks - and laughs.

Looking for group, am a diplomancer doing social control strategies; need a tank to draw aggro and prevent our quest critical characters from mobs.

[ugh_emotions]

...Fine, it says. I'll send a drone to follow her. Where is she now?

Then there's a heavy pause in the feed. What the fuck was with the way Hikaru talked sometimes?!

The exact address is a Claire Is From Portland joke

[ohaiyo_isekai]

The Roseland Theatre, on Burnside between Quint and Hex Avenue.

If they put on a play I think you’d enjoy, I’ll watch it and you can send a drone to watch with me.

[ugh_emotions]

....What kind of plays do they have, it says, as one of the scout drones zooms off to that location.

[ohaiyo_isekai]

Shakespearian in style and quality, though not Shakespeare, he says. Alike In Dignity you would find distasteful - vampires in love, alas - but I think you’d like The Tragedy of Ierico, which is about a maker of clockwork men.

[ugh_emotions]

There's a slight pause, before it replies.

...I don't like media with constructs in it.

Hikaru might be able to guess why.

[ohaiyo_isekai]

Ah. That makes sense, he says.

And he moves on. No questions asked.

I will see what else they have upcoming. "Like Thee" may be interesting.

[ugh_emotions]

What's it about? it asks.

(Annoying, how it can’t just look that up itself in the feed. Ugh.)

[ohaiyo_isekai]

...you might think of it as a group of incognito soldiers, in disguise as a theatre troupe, doing security for their home against a threat most of the world isn't aware of. There's some romance - people do like to use it for subplots - but it's not the focus.

I also suspect it's pro-vampire and werewolf reconciliation propaganda, but I consider that a charm point.

[ugh_emotions]

They're probably really bad at Security, it says, although it doesn't sound like this is necessarily a reason not to watch it. Most media depict terrible Security.

When's the show?

[ohaiyo_isekai]

A week after the Masquerade.

There is a pause.

...I have found Laina, and soon after, our Romeo. Is it wrong to be relieved he's a decent man?

[ugh_emotions]

Ugh. That was ages away. But it sends Hikaru an affirmative ping; it will come see the show.

(That is, assuming the sendjewel gets pings. Siobhan receives them well enough, but then she's another bot.)

I don't know. Don't talk to me about romances.

[ohaiyo_isekai]

The minimum needed information for the mission, no gory detail, I promise.

Both are vampires of the house of Umbra.

Laina is playing a Fool, that is, a professional comedian named Armin who possesses an incredibly potent means of magically or parapsychically bolstering confidence and resolve.

Nero is a short - about 165 centimeters - white haired man in understated black jacket and trousers. If you know him he’s likely Nara’a without feline features.

Both desire peace with the werewolves but think the prospect of waging it will be an uphill battle.

They have both invited me to join the House of Umbra, Nero suggesting as a court wizard.

[ugh_emotions]

....Do you need Security.

The rest of it, SecUnit didn't really care that much about. This sort of human politics was the kind of thing it never paid much attention to, because it was boring. It only cared if it was relevant to its job.

Hikaru just up and deciding to join them, though...that could be risky.

[ohaiyo_isekai]

Nero and I might, yes. Just be careful. Vampires can possess very keen senses, werewolves even keener senses of smell.

Try to subdue if possible, but if our lives are on the line, Nero’s especially, don’t hesitate.