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Unfinished Library Mod & NPC Account ([personal profile] libraryassistants) wrote in [community profile] unfinishedlibrary2026-01-23 06:56 pm

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

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!]
bashasasdemon: (Kai [Talking])

Common Ground

[personal profile] bashasasdemon 2026-01-24 11:59 pm (UTC)(link)
Kai doesn't live at Common Ground- as he's the only one (so far) who would need a fully dark space during the day, he doesn't want to inflict that worry on them. But he's around a lot, and usually when he arrives he's bringing some sort of supplies with him. Vampires don't need to eat the same sort of food as everyone else, but that doesn't mean he's not bringing in groceries anyway. And possibly starting to cook something.

"Have you eaten?" he asks Kiran, as he proceeds to start the process to make sure the man does eat. He's pretty sure he knows the answer after all, and he's learned well that werewolf + teenage metabolism can mean the young man can down a lot of food.
hellandbackpack: (pic#18111221)

[personal profile] hellandbackpack 2026-01-25 06:02 am (UTC)(link)
Joke's on you Kai- Kiran is absolutely working on another room on the down-low, this one away from all the windows and light. The vampire doesn't have to stay here... but he'd rather it be because they chose to, not because there wasn't space for them.

"Who me?" He tilted his head, shrugging a shoulder. "Ate earlier. Could probably eat again!" As if he wasn't absolutely the ridiculous wolf making sure everyone else got their share before he took any. Assuming he actually remembered not to go running off on some errand or job or another before he got to that part of things. But it was fine. Forgetting a meal here and there didn't hurt him any. And it wasn't like Kai'd let him waste away!
bashasasdemon: (Kai [Talking])

[personal profile] bashasasdemon 2026-01-25 12:56 pm (UTC)(link)
Kai definitely won't have feelings about that. Touched feelings. It definitely won't make him feel a bit warm and fuzzy. Shut up.

He rolls his eyes, moving between prepping food and getting the rest in the icebox. Why does a vampire know how to cook, and decently well? Don't ask questions. "You can always eat," he says, but there's absolutely no bite to it, as the pan starts to heat from the fire- he keeps it lower than most, very careful with it, but he can handle it well enough.
hellandbackpack: (pic#18111399)

[personal profile] hellandbackpack 2026-01-26 07:16 am (UTC)(link)
Can't stop won't stop!

Was there a scuffed but serviceable table, with plenty of bench space for people to sit? Absolutely.

Was Kiran going to just park himself up on one of the counters instead like the feral little savage he was? Also absolutely. Just leaning back against his hands as he watched Kai doing his prepwork, with a grin. "I mean yeah. Part of bein' young yeah? Bottomless pit for food and all."
bashasasdemon: (Kai [Talking])

[personal profile] bashasasdemon 2026-01-27 01:41 pm (UTC)(link)
Kai rolls his eyes, and may nudge him out of the way if he needs the room, but otherwise lets him be. "Don't remember, honestly," he says, because it's been a while since he's been human, much less a young human, "But if you're any indication..."

There's lots of vegetables in whatever he's making. You need those, just because you're part wolf doesn't mean you don't. His eyes are focused on what's in front of him, but he's definitely not ignoring the young man. "What's been going on today? Everyone alright after the recent fight?" He can end said fights if he gets there, more often than not, but it's getting them not to start in the first place that's the goal...
hellandbackpack: (pic#18111223)

[personal profile] hellandbackpack 2026-01-28 07:06 am (UTC)(link)
It's never hard to get Kiran to move if he's in the way, but he's also gotten good at judging about how far away he needs to sit to give a person room to work. Even if sometimes he sits way too close just to make Kai huff at him. He might be responsible for this place, but he's still every inch a horrible little brother at heart.

"Luckily there weren't any bad injuries, just some scrapes and bruises," He let his head lean back, feet idly swinging as his mind skimmed over what had happened. "Folk are shaken, always are, but most of what needs fixing this time is just property. Already touched base with a couple of the masons and carpenters that don't think I'm a miscreant and got them in touch with the folk whose places got hit the hardest."

Which was lucky, to be sure. It didn't always go that way. Kiran would count his lucky stars that it had. Buildings could be fixed, but people? Not so much.
bashasasdemon: (Default)

[personal profile] bashasasdemon 2026-01-31 11:49 pm (UTC)(link)
Kai knows that Kiran does it for the reaction, and he'll give him it, playacting the role of older brother as well. Kiran will get shooed every now and then when he inches on encroaching space.

"That's good, at least." It's certainly been worse; sometimes the person(s) who are injured will get turned or something but that's not always the saving grace whoever's done it thinks it is. Better to have it never come to that. "I'll take a look when it gets a little darker, see if I can help any." He can't do any of the skilled labor, but he is at least strong.