inthenightmods: (Default)
In the Night Moderators ([personal profile] inthenightmods) wrote in [community profile] logsinthenight2019-10-30 05:46 pm

EVENT LOG: LOSE YOUR SOUL


EVENT LOG:
LOSE YOUR SOUL


characters: everyone.
location: bonfire square, around town.
date/time: october 30-31.
content: the spirits stage a play! and then the thefts begin...
warnings: none. just mischief.


you're gonna lose your soul tonight, tonight

It's probably something you're used to by now: waking up to some new, strange thing suddenly appearing somewhere around town. This time it's a ramshackle stage sitting prominently in the center of the square. It's complete with benches and a haggard-looking red curtain, and it's clear by the amount of forest spirits milling and fussing around it that they're the ones responsible. For most of the day, the spirits seem concerned only with attracting as many people as possible, trying to herd them into the seats. But as the moon rises, the performance finally begins.

There's an awkward shuffling behind the curtain before it lifts, revealing a very crude set made of actual branches used as trees. Various pieces of junk have been shined up and stuck to the back wall to serve as the night sky. In the midst of it all stand several spirits holding very small torches taken from the Bonfire. Sticks, really, placed inside empty cans with holes punched in them and rusted wires for handles. These spirits wave their "lanterns" about for the benefit of the audience before miming the act of walking across the stage without actually going anywhere. From somewhere above them, a pair of long arms descends to shake the "trees" on either side; seems the Postmaster General wanted to lend their talents to the cause.

The protagonists of this pantomime talk amongst themselves, in the chirps, hoots, and whistles that make up their language. They motion to one another, pointing at things and conferring before finally nodding and, apparently, continuing on whatever "journey" they're supposed to be on. This goes on for a few minutes before another set of players enter the stage— or at least reveal themselves.

Perhaps a few eagle-eyed viewers have spotted them already, but the second group of spirits pops out of the set itself. One detaches itself from a "tree", one drops from the poorly-painted sky, and two more emerge from where they've been hiding behind the foliage. These spirits are holding prop lanterns, too, though theirs are shielded, giving off very little light. But their most notable feature is that they're wearing animal masks; a deer, a fox, a raccoon, and a rabbit for the tallest one. These aren't the masks that make up their faces, they're extras, seemingly tied on over their own.

As the second group jumps up, the first reacts with emphatic shock, and then a brief scuffle ensues. In the chaos, the animal-masked spirits make off with the others' lanterns, dashing away and off the stage. The original few begin to wail, to writhe, to clutch at their throats, and then, ultimately, to fall very over-dramatically to the floor. Other spirits sneak out to drag them out of view, but that isn't quite the end of the performance.

A spirit dressed in a cloak and garish feathers stomps onto the stage with a wooden beak affixed to its face. In one hand it holds a full-sized torch as it waves its fake wing-arms around and tries to squawk. Suddenly, the masked— double masked? spirits arrive again, grabbing the feathered creature, snatching the torch, and tossing the poor feathered spirit to the ground. Victorious, they hoot loudly, and then rush offstage once more. (Probably to return those torches before Rastus has a fit.)

Finally, the Postmaster General, done with their role as the entire set, unfurls a banner from the eaves. Clearly courtesy of the Librarian, it reads, in smeared black paint: BWAR FIRE SNACTHERS!!! with two X-ed out bonfires on either side.

And... that's it, apparently. The forest spirits all gather back on stage to bow before starting to dismantle the set. But their strange cautionary tale isn't over, oh no. It's time for a more personal demonstration. They've got to send home the message. Literally.

Throughout the night and the following day, things start to go missing. Perhaps even out of their owner's hands. Chase the spirits down for your stuff, hold someone else's things for ransom, or just break down and cry in your room because life is unfair— the choice is yours! Just let this be a reminder to heed what the spirits said: beware the Fire Snatchers.

Whatever those are.

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pure_havoc: (Default)

[personal profile] pure_havoc 2019-11-05 11:54 pm (UTC)(link)
It's the bread more than anything else that makes Cao Pi double-take. What the actual hell...?

"No, they don't seem upset," he muses. "It's as though they're having...fun." Oh boy if this is so-called fun at their expense, he's going to be mad, but a different kind of mad than thinking someone has stolen his sword and is attempting to sabotage their unity and security.
paletteswap: (I'll end you)

[personal profile] paletteswap 2019-11-07 04:06 am (UTC)(link)
"Maybe they're taking everything to some central location and we can recover our belongings." They do all seem to be heading into the forest anyway. This is starting to seem less like a plot to leave them without their tablets and unable to call for aid, and more like they're simply being annoying.

"It may be fun for them, but I doubt anyone else is enjoying it. Come, lets go see where they are going."
pure_havoc: (suspicious)

[personal profile] pure_havoc 2019-11-08 09:49 pm (UTC)(link)
"Which one?" Cao Pi remarks dryly, as two more pass and the lot of them scatter in every direction. There's only so deep they can see into the trees with their lanterns and bread-dude is already long gone into the darkness. Bastards.
paletteswap: (Judging)

[personal profile] paletteswap 2019-11-09 05:16 am (UTC)(link)
"Any of them will do, they're bringing these items somewhere." Even if Cao Pi doesn't follow, Kuai is going to start after one with some pilfered goods, only to be foiled when the spirit realizes the jig is up and abandons the precious can of corn it had in its hands to take off into the forest.

So much for that plan.
pure_havoc: (cool smile)

[personal profile] pure_havoc 2019-11-10 06:38 am (UTC)(link)
Okay but the way Kuai startles that one is actually kind of funny, Cao Pi chuckles softly. "A cunning plan," he teases. "Well, at least it looks like they aren't baiting us to follow them. Quite the opposite. I wonder, will it be that easy to follow?"
paletteswap: (I see)

[personal profile] paletteswap 2019-11-14 05:32 am (UTC)(link)
Well, he tried. "Then they're taking it back to their homes I suppose. They must live somewhere." A small village in the forest he guesses. They're not really animals, they probably don't live in trees and caves.

"If they don't want us to follow, why be so apparent in the theft? It's as if they want us to see them."
pure_havoc: (Default)

[personal profile] pure_havoc 2019-11-15 01:58 am (UTC)(link)
"A prank, maybe," Cao Pi says with a touch of annoyance. He doesn't have time for pranks goddammit. "Which doesn't return my sword to me...but I'm not inclined to play games."

He nods once to Kuai. "If you happen to see my blade, in the hands of any of these rascals, let me know. I value it more than anything."
paletteswap: (Make this right)

[personal profile] paletteswap 2019-11-15 06:13 am (UTC)(link)
"I shall contact you on the tablets neither of us have anymore." He doesn't immediately see any spirits running around with a sword, and considering the size of most of them that should have been immediately obvious.

"I will keep an eye out."
pure_havoc: (determined)

[personal profile] pure_havoc 2019-11-15 07:15 am (UTC)(link)
...okay fair. Cao Pi makes a face at that. "It can't be that hard to find me, even if I am still hunting," he complains. "At the Invincible, if nothing else. My room is there." That calls for a brief bob of his head, the closest to a bow he'll give anyone. "I would appreciate it."
paletteswap: (Determined)

[personal profile] paletteswap 2019-11-16 06:14 pm (UTC)(link)
"Of course."

Hey that's a high honor to Kuai. He'll take it. Time for him to go stalk around and chase some more spirits back into the forest while trying to figure out where they're going.