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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!]
ohaiyo_isekai: (all his mustache cost was his soul)

[personal profile] ohaiyo_isekai 2026-01-25 04:16 am (UTC)(link)
He sighs, hands pushing up his glasses, the glare concealing the sadness in his eyes.

"Unless I am badly misreading the situation, and I might be," he is not, this is clinging to false hope and he knows it, "The woman I love is Acting as the Juliet. As a Sigrid Guidulf, scion of the city's most prominent werewolf pack."
icanhearscreams: (huh...)

[personal profile] icanhearscreams 2026-01-25 04:18 am (UTC)(link)
"... Ah." Would he feel weird if Machi were pretending - acting? - to be in love with someone else? He's not sure. He's still not totally sure about his feelings about Machi anyway. He pinches the bridge of his nose. "Okay. So who's the Romeo?"
ohaiyo_isekai: (:disgust)

[personal profile] ohaiyo_isekai 2026-01-25 04:42 am (UTC)(link)
"A vampire. And too soon for me to conclude which, since I very much doubt that the Fool Armin is she - jesters are on the lowest rung of the highest houses in this kind of society," he says. "I think I will need to go to the Masquerade to find out, though, since Clan Umbra are definitely our Montagues."

He looks at Jun, allowing himself to seem as exhausted as he feels.

"I am glad I ran into you. This place is dangerous. The Umbra Clan and the Guidulf pack breach the peace all the time, and vampires are obligated to drink human blood or perish," he says. "I am given to understand most here donate voluntarily in exchange for medical services, but laws against snatching up innocents implies the need for them. Do you understand?"
Edited 2026-01-25 04:45 (UTC)
icanhearscreams: (i... have to.)

[personal profile] icanhearscreams 2026-01-25 10:05 am (UTC)(link)
He understands that he's gotten himself into something frustratingly dangerous, yes. "... I'm not an idiot." He says it slowly, looking up at Hikaru. Lucas, whatever.

"As for the rest of it, that's... annoying. If I need to get some help, how do you suggest I do that?"
ohaiyo_isekai: (:sad)

[personal profile] ohaiyo_isekai 2026-01-25 05:07 pm (UTC)(link)
“I never thought you were,” he offers as apology in an upturned palm. “But I am glad it’s clear to you.”
icanhearscreams: (glancing up)

[personal profile] icanhearscreams 2026-01-25 05:10 pm (UTC)(link)
To be fair, he's just overall cranky about this situation. It's not Hikaru's fault. "No cell phones, no internet..." And he's pretty sure the journals aren't working, either. "I guess I'll just yell really loudly if something tries to hurt me."

He's not a fighter. Not that kind of fighter, at least.
ohaiyo_isekai: (:moonlit rivals)

[personal profile] ohaiyo_isekai 2026-01-25 05:12 pm (UTC)(link)
He taps that curious earring, with its dangling milk-white jewel on a gold chain.

“I should really learn how to make these,” he says in apparent answer to Jun’s statement.
icanhearscreams: (eugh...)

[personal profile] icanhearscreams 2026-01-25 05:55 pm (UTC)(link)
Magic. Bullshit. Magic bullshit stuff, probably.

"Some kind of communication device, I'm guessing?" He just sounds tired.
ohaiyo_isekai: (:investigating)

[personal profile] ohaiyo_isekai 2026-01-25 08:05 pm (UTC)(link)
“The digetic - that is, in universe - excuse for voicechat and messaging in The Wonders of Mundus,” he confirms. “We call them Sendjewels. Somehow they connect to Rin’s newsfeed network.”
icanhearscreams: (huh...)

[personal profile] icanhearscreams 2026-01-25 08:48 pm (UTC)(link)
"... I'm not familiar with 'Rin', but sure." Digetic, now that's a new word. He tucks that away for later. "Less conspicuous in a place like this than wandering around with a cell phone." Not that it would work without cell towers and everything, anyway.

Still. "How many of us do you think are..." He gestures to the two of them. Themselves, he means.
ohaiyo_isekai: (well I am a genius)

[personal profile] ohaiyo_isekai 2026-01-29 08:00 am (UTC)(link)
“Rin is a security consultant from an interstellar society. If you see a camera drone, it’s theirs. Checking up on your safety is just their way of being friendly.”

He waggles his hand. “A third to a little more than a half, I think. Maybe not dozens, but perhaps 20-25.”
Edited 2026-01-29 08:00 (UTC)
icanhearscreams: (eh?)

[personal profile] icanhearscreams 2026-01-30 01:15 am (UTC)(link)
"A security consultant?" Weird, but sure.

Hm... "Well, if we've got that many people who are able to help out, there's a lot of stuff we can do. Derail this whole thing if we have to."