libraryassistants: (Default)
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: (well I am a genius)

Re: II

[personal profile] ohaiyo_isekai 2026-01-29 08:13 am (UTC)(link)
Fortunately Hikaru does notice Rakia, and gestures for him to join him at the table.

“Bonjour mon ami!” he says in a cheerful, carefree manner completely unlike Hikaru’s serious demeanor. And that accent… “Is it true or did I dream it that we saw Titus Andronicus in the stacks of the great library?”

…but on the other hand, that seems a clear sign.
flantastic: (hat)

[personal profile] flantastic 2026-01-30 03:48 am (UTC)(link)
Rakia slides on into a seat at that table. "Oh, we saw it. If you'll recall, I said the story sucked." And in a quieter tone, he asks, "Do I even want to know what you're up to right now?" He's a bit mystified, but more amused than anything.
ohaiyo_isekai: (:disgust)

[personal profile] ohaiyo_isekai 2026-01-30 04:08 am (UTC)(link)
“My best at ethically sourcing dinner,” Hikaru sighs. “And if you promise not to ask how, I promise not to tell you.”

He hates this story so much and having special dietary needs is only the 5th reason why.

“If you hated Titus Andronicus, you’ll despise this - oh good, you’re already seated. How do you feel about histrionic teenage romance bullshit?”
flantastic: (hat)

[personal profile] flantastic 2026-01-30 11:46 pm (UTC)(link)
"...I don't think I want to know." He shakes his head. "When I went looking for lunch, I just said I was a traveling geologist." And yet...digging in the woods is always free.

Rakia's expression goes flat at the question. "For the record, I think histrionic teenage romance bullshit also sucks."
ohaiyo_isekai: (:investigating)

[personal profile] ohaiyo_isekai 2026-01-31 12:34 am (UTC)(link)
"Stone is less fraught to come by," he agrees.

"It may interest you to know that under the name of Lucas Azuresky Du'Tremere I am under consideration as the court mage of the vampiric House of Umbra, specifically as a tutor to the young lord Nero Umbra, who privately finds the feud with the werewolves pointless," he says, eyebrow raised. "Nara'a's finest role, to be clear."
flantastic: (hat)

[personal profile] flantastic 2026-01-31 03:58 am (UTC)(link)
"...way to get yourself into the middle of whatever's going on here." Rakia may actually sound impressed. "I don't suppose they need a court geologist." He shakes his head. "I've got to be careful around the werewolves; they can sniff me out as being something other than human, but not anything they're familiar with."
ohaiyo_isekai: (:investigating)

[personal profile] ohaiyo_isekai 2026-01-31 04:57 am (UTC)(link)
"Perhaps not a geologist, but if you have any talent with medicine and healing or know any non-Werewolf Readers who are healers, they may well find employment and protection."

He drinks a sip of his wine - and it is wine, fermented grape juice, not 'wine.'

"I'm given to understand that Lord Umbra - and Mutan's waxing tits, I am not sure you want to know who he is in the Stacks - is deeply committed to advancing the art of medicine, and offers long term, even hospice, care to anyone who tithes to his blood drives."
flantastic: (Default)

[personal profile] flantastic 2026-01-31 07:53 pm (UTC)(link)
"Medicine and healing is way outside my wheelhouse." Sure, he could get people to calm down, but that is not a service he's exactly willing to offer up without some discomfort. He takes a swig of his own beer. "Participating in a blood drive, even less. Wouldn't surprise me if my blood was toxic for anything anyone would want to use it for." He knows he's venomous, but hell, he might be poisonous in this instance too.