Bang Up To The Elephant

[polymods]

✖ VICTORIA'S SECRET

Ⅰ. ARRIVAL
You can read all about your character's arrival in the game lore.
The fog that has blanketed the city for a month finally lifts a little - there are days with actual sunshine now! Not many, and the sky is still frequently thick with smog, but every so often light pours through the holes in the clouds. The river that flows from the sea into the city still smells foul, but maybe you’re starting to get used to it.

Walk the cobbled streets and you will find that the city is crowded and filthy, but full of merchants, pubs, and theatres. Vast wealth and extreme poverty exist side by side.

In the center of the sprawling city is a temple with towering gothic spires and huge stained glass windows depicting all manner of beings that might be gods or angels or monsters. You could look for hours and still be finding new figures plucked straight from books of myth and religion. Inside, the main chamber has a grand vaulted ceiling, and dozens of pews line the aisle up to the altar, which is oddly anticlimactic compared to the lavish surroundings: just a plain stone table with a lit oil lamp in the centre. Two hallways branch off on either side of the room: one leads to private baths and a communal kitchen, the other to monastic style chambers with thin beds. Not the most comfortable place to stay, but it’ll do in a pinch!

The High Temple has also reappeared at the edge of the city, with its considerably more comfortable lodgings.

Alternatively you can venture into the city and find yourself some other lodging - every Traveler has been supplied with some pocket money. Just be careful that it isn’t stolen by some street urchin. Travelers can also find an era-appropriate outfit that will fit them perfectly laid in the first sleeping chamber they visit.

Notes:
1. The High Temple and anything you may have stored there is available to all characters this month.

2. Please remember to mark threads appropriately with Content Warnings when necessary.

3. The city greatly resembles Victorian London, and the technology and general way of life is all of that era. Feel free to explore the city! These prompts are a jumping off point - how they affect your character and their development is up to you.

4. Most food is safe to eat, and is consumable by non-human entities. Most. Some of it’s going to be pretty gross or cooked improperly, so be careful.

5. The people in the city are normal humans unless otherwise indicated. Killing them is possible and will affect the colour grading of your Scrywatch depending on the situation.

6. Have fun!

---

Ⅱ. COME UNDONE
CW: dead bodies, archeological graverobbing.
Somehow, some way, you find yourself with an invitation card:

Lord Trewlaney at Home: the Unwrapping of
THE JEWEL OF THE SEVEN STARS!
Half-past Eight
Unwrapping? How saucy! Or perhaps you have an inkling of exactly what that means.

The invitation gets you entry to a well kept home on the more well-to-do side of the city. There are plenty of servants circulating with food and drink of which you are welcome to partake. Society’s elite chatter and mingle all around you; maybe you fit in, and maybe you don’t.

Regardless, you don’t have to wait very long for the main event. The host of this little soiree - presumably Lord Trewlaney himself, a little man with a weak chin and an impressive mustache - stands at the front of the room and holds his hands aloft.

“Ladies and gentleman,” he says in a clear voice. “BEHOLD! We shall now commence with the unwrapping of this, a fine example of Egyptian mummification, who was once called the Jewel of the Seven Stars!”

A wheeled table is brought forward, covered in a purple velvet cloth. Dramatically, Lord Trewlaney flings it back to reveal a body wrapped in ancient linen bandages. The crowd sighs, and Trewlaney’s eyes scan the crowd.

“Ah, you there!” he cries, pointing at you. Or maybe the person beside you.

“You folk there! Here, come up, my friends! You may have the honour of being a part of history!”

The crowd pushes you and your companion forward with excited murmurs. Soon enough the two of you are beside the mummy, and Trewlaney is handing you a pair of scissors. Up close the body smells of cinnamon and something else, something familiar.

“Reveal its face!” he urges you. And so, you cut.

Much to your surprise what is revealed is not a desiccated corpse, but your own likeness. Before you have time to react the mummy sits up and turns to face the audience, who oohs and ahhs.

The mummy’s lips part and it speaks. What does it say? Something extremely revealing; in plain terms, the mummy reveals something an aspect of yourself that you would rather have kept hidden.

Oh dear! You can shut yourself up, of course, but before you do maybe you ought to consider that interfering with a mummy was considered a surefire way to fall under a curse…

Notes:
1. What is revealed can of course be of any degree of seriousness. Murder? Or do you just secretly enjoy RomComs?

2. Shut the mummy up before it has its say and you will suffer the Mummy’s Curse: bad luck that will plague you for the rest of the month!

---

Ⅲ. IMAGINARIUM
The sign above the door simply reads Cabinet of Curiosities. How intriguing! And at the very least you can get out of the chill.

Inside there are dozens of wooden cases with glass fronts, each filled with shelves of all manner of objects. Some look expensive and exotic, while others are almost painfully mundane. There are taxidermied animals, wet specimens, fossils, glass eyes, rocks and crystals, pottery, statuettes… There’s a little of everything.

As you peer amongst the stuffed ducks and fossilized plants, you’ll spot something familiar. It’s an object that you recognise as personally significant whether because it’s from your life back home, or because it’s symbolic. It represents a dream or a hope you have for the future.

If you take the object out of the cabinet for a closer look, you and whoever happens to be standing nearby will instantly be transported to a hazy vision of what that lovely dream is. It won’t last forever - indeed, maybe only a moment. Depending on what that hoped for future is, you might have some explaining to do.

Notes:
1. All futures are something hoped for. They may be completely unrealistic and bittersweet, but they are something wanted and not feared.

---

Ⅳ. GARDENS
CW: mind altering substances.
If there’s one spot within the city where you might be able to find some refuge from the dank scent of ocean rot and the sour smell of body odour, then it’s going to be the Gardens. A jewel toward the west side of the city, you will find a greenhouse containing all manner of tropical plants, and a rose garden with over a 100 different types available for you to enjoy.

But why stop there? There are also areas where you can stop and have tea with a friend. They even have those little sandwiches with the crust cut off! They have cucumber, egg, and cream cheese. Each of these has a different effect: cucumber sandwiches will provide a mild sense of euphoria, while the egg will give you a lot of energy (and maybe some gas). Cream cheese will make you very relaxed and prone to oversharing. There are also perfectly regular cakes and biscuits available, as well.

Maybe you’re feeling a bit more somber. In the northeast end of the park there is a secret pet cemetery with over 300 tiny tombstones paying tribute to the tragic losses of many much-loved pets. The area is disused, overgrown with ivy and ferns. Sitting there evokes a sense of peace.

Prefer to see some living wildlife? Fear not, the park seems to attract several different types of songbirds which makes it a hotspot for birdwatching. There are binoculars available to use for that purpose. Or you could use them to peer into the city’s seamy underbelly. Just don’t get isolated and weird about it.

Sometimes I can still hear his voice...

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Comments

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Where I've been hardly matters.

Look, as much as I'd love to sit down and debate sociology and the like...

...That's a lie. I wouldn't like that at all. Is there anything else you need from me? Or am I going to have to get used to the idea of you hanging around?

[patchricide]

[She huffs again. Hadn't he gotten them onto the subject in the first place? All she did was admit that she didn't know a local law.]

What about my offer, of working together to learn more about... well, about all of this? Have you properly considered it yet?

[You know, at this point, it would probably be far easier to go looking around for others. But it's the principle of the matter.]

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Look, I'm honored, Princess. [Somehow, that sounds very sarcastic.]

But I don't do well in a group setting.

[patchricide]

[No, really?]

So because you don't work well with others, you refuse to try to work well with others? That seems awfully self-fulfilling, doesn't it?

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Sure does. It's almost like I prefer to keep to myself.

Whoa, do you think...?

Wow, Princess! You've solved the mystery as to why I don't like being bothered!

Bang up job! Glad you were on the case!

[patchricide]

See, that? That's just proving me right!

Because my point is that — if you were to try getting along with others, you might find you actually enjoy their company! You can hardly blame others for the problems you make for yourself!

[forgeabettertomorrow]

I'm not! I'm literally telling you, to your face, that I want to be left alone! And yes! I act like this so people will leave me alone! You did it! Another brilliant deduction! I'm doing this on purpose!

[patchricide]

Fine. [For the briefest of moments, it seems like she's about to just leave it there, but...]

[She stops herself just as quickly, unwilling to concede the point.] You do know that you can keep to yourself without being so antagonistic? In fact, you might find it easier, since you draw more attention to yourself this way.

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Remember when I tried that and you followed me anyway?

[patchricide]

As I recall it, I was asking for your help, and you harshly turned me away! You had it in your mind that I was some sort of problem from the outset.

Is that really your idea of common courtesy?

[forgeabettertomorrow]

And look at that, I was right! I love it when that happens.

Look, Princess. I've got some harsh truths for you. Not everyone is nice.

[patchricide]

[Her expression and tone become a degree more stern as she points out...]

If you think I'm being a problem right now, then you should consider how easily I could call those officers back over here.

[Truthfully, she's still trying to reason with him, to get her point through that thick skull. But really? It just sounds like a threat.]

[forgeabettertomorrow]

You really don't want to do that.

Believe it or not, I've been 'nice.' If you're gonna pull that card, don't think I don't have trump cards of my own.

If you care one bit about the safety of others, you won't force me to do something I really don't want to do.

[patchricide]

Wh— I am not forcing you to endanger anyone! Are you quite serious, that you would start attacking the people here before you even consider being less hostile?

And if you're trying to convince me not to get the law involved again — threatening to commit crimes is a terrible place to start!

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Let me paint you a picture that maybe you wouldn't understand as a princess.

Those guys have already passed judgment on me. My only 'crime' has been that I just don't want to deal with you, but they don't know that. No, I'm suspicious just by virtue of the way I'm choosing to present myself.

Now, before you argue that this was my choice, let me remind you that you know nothing about me. And while I have no obligation to explain this to you, where I come from? Folks that look like me are not looked upon favorably.

Believe it or not, Princess, but I've been at a disadvantage throughout this entire exchange simply because I want to be left alone. I'm not threatening anyone, I'm countering your open threat to get the law involved. So when they show up and try and clap me in irons, I won't go quietly, as is my right.

I'm not threatening to commit crimes, your Highness. I'm warning you that I will fight for my freedom.

[There's a lot of venom dripping from his voice when he uses her title, but his voice is even and measured.]

Don't make me make that choice.

[patchricide]

[You know, under different circumstances, she would actually feel quite bad for this man. She's not keen to see anyone suffer under tyrannical law. But...]

I know nothing about you? I think I've learned quite a lot about you already.

Because you've been needlessly vicious with me for... let's see, what did I do, exactly? [She feigns surprise:] Oh, that's right! I spoke to you. Asked for help. Gave my name, and expected yours in return! I even intervened to keep those lawmen from harassing you.

And while I can't say I'm "looking upon you favorably" right now, you can rest assured it's based entirely on the way you act.

[forgeabettertomorrow]

That's the point, Princess. If you don't like it, then walk away. You'll be doing us both a favor.

[patchricide]

No, the point is that if you just want to be left alone, you should probably try a little harder not to make enemies.

Look, I don't expect you to trust me right off the bat, but... do you really think that I'm that much of a threat?

[forgeabettertomorrow]

[He drags a hand down his face.]

How are you not getting this? I don't think anything of you. You're noise. That's it. I just want to live in silence.

Do you get it now? Is that plain enough for you??

[patchricide]

Is it that difficult to hear my advice...?

[She's clenching her fist in aggravation.]

If you want to live in silence, then you should stop making noise, yourself!

[forgeabettertomorrow]

I didn't want your advice in the first place.

But if that's all it takes, then fine.

[He pulls his hood back up and heads down the alley, away from the the entrance where they had gathered. He hopes this will be enough to get it through her head.]

[There's no way she's stubborn and dumb enough to follow him now, right? He had to have succeeded in making her think he was too obnoxious to bother with.]

[patchricide]

[That's a frustrating response. He hasn't really acknowledged the point she's making, and is just storming off so he can get the last word.]

[And really, right now, she doesn't want to let him have that.]

You could just apologize, you know.

[forgeabettertomorrow]

So could you.

[Nope, still walking away.]

[patchricide]

If I did, would you give one in return? Or would it just be a repeat of the introductions, where you find an excuse to take off running?

[She does learn quickly.]

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Dammit, why does it matter?

[He whips around on her and storms back her way.]

Why can't you take a hint? Why are you so insistent on inserting yourself where no one wants you! I do not want to work with you. I don't want to be friends with you! I'm not even all that interested in figuring out why we're both here.

All I want? Is to be left alone. I have my reasons as to why that are none of your business. Okay? That's it. That should be the end of this conversation but you seem to keep missing the big problem here! If I ask you nicely will you leave? Is that what I have to do??