(october catch-all) IT'S TIME TO GET FUCKIN' DAMP

[vestigemods]

OCTOBER CATCH-ALL

► YOU CAN BE REGULAR DAMP

As Autumn sets in, the containment zone begins to settle into all of the trappings of autumn. Chilly weather, bundled clothing and hot drinks, the turning and falling of leaves... It really just goes to show that life goes on in a place like this just as it does anywhere else.

For those unfamiliar with the seasons on a cultural level, the newfound offerings that Foodland and the gas station have to offer might be a little surprising. After no seasonal trappings to accompany summer, we now see an abundance of plastic gourds and multi-colored corn, of browns and oranges and leaf-themed decor - and as the month goes on, an influx of spooky decor in blacks and purples and... still oranges, orange is pretty universal as far as fall is concerned. Many of the buildings around town also sport seasonal decor, subtle but present. A pumpkin here, a glittery sign with a fall-themed pun there.

The weather, depending on perspective, has taken quite a turn for either the better or the worse. All of the rain the skies withheld throughout the summer seem to be coming down all at once, sometimes a sprinkle and sometimes a downpour that soaks you to the bone if you dare venture out for groceries. But the rains are just short of lukewarm, not yet carrying any proper chill, and the lush greenery of the landscape seems to be thriving in it. Perhaps it isn't all bad after all?

► OR YOU CAN BE EXTRA SPICY BONUS DAMP

On the 18th of October, however, the weather starts to get a little bit... dodgy. Which is to say: You should probably be ready to dodge, as you find that the leaves blown about on the savage winds no longer just flop wetly against your clothes or your cheek. It will likely come as quite a surprise the first time one stings - you might even mistake it for an unusually frigid drop of water splattering across your skin, at least until your fingertips come away reddened just slightly with blood. But it's certainly not the end of the world, nowhere near as bad as rotting away or being haunted by some malevolent ghost. You can just bundle up! It's not as if they can slice through clothes.

But oh, it's not quite done just yet.

On the 24th, the cutting winds come to a head in a thunderstorm. Dark, ominous clouds greet you as you wake on this morning, perhaps even confusing your sense of time as a far dimmer light than expected shines in through your window. But the storm sets in like an oncoming wave, first hitting the town and then sweeping west. Those with an eastern view over the nearby trees will see it coming, a foreboding curtain of rain encroaching all to quickly. Then comes the thunder, rumbling far too close to feel entirely safe. Which is true. It isn't safe. Because after each clash of thunder comes the immediate flash of lightning... Lightning which skips right past high-reaching trees to seek out the nearest living being it can find. No - not any being. Just those who've been trapped here. Those whose suffering brings rest to the elder gods below.

Perhaps it's best to stay indoors.

► MOD NOTES

• This is the October Catch-All Log, for any action top-levels throughout the month which don't fit in a designated event log. Large gatherings (parties, meetings, etc) are still encouraged to post their own logs for organizational purposes!
  
• All top-levels for the Winds of Change mini-event also go here, since it won't be getting a log of its own.
  
• Refer to the bottom half of the October Bulletin for any October-specific info to potentially include in your prompts! The above blurb is honestly just mood-setting flavortext.
  
• Because this is a catch-all for everywhere + all month, try to remember to label your top-levels with identifying information like the IC date and location of each prompt (whether in the subject or in the prompt title within the comment). Also try to indicate any event prompts for the Winds of Change mini-event aside from just listing their dates, so they can be easy to spot!
  
• Any questions can be directed to this top-level or, for a quicker response, to Trace on discord/plurk.

Comments

[lethechained]

[ Naminé, for her part, has far less experience with being wounded than Geralt does. The wind was an unpleasant surprise, and the way she's curled up on the shore as far away from the leaves as she can get might suggest that. Her abrupt pause at the sound of his voice and the quick drop of her hand away from from her face, however, might suggest something else. Her eyes are subtly rounded (and not so subtly guilty) when she turns to peer over her shoulder at him. The thin cut along her cheek is deep enough for a little blood to have collected along it, marking it out obviously enough. ]

Yes...! [ she responds quickly, automatically. Then, with a smidgeon more thought, ] I'm all right, but...

[ Her face scrunches slightly as she eyes him with open concern. ]

It's dangerous over there...! [ Where he is, that is. Squinting at him, she naturally looks out for any cuts similar to her own. Surely he's realized already...? It doesn't immediately occur to her that he might just, you know, not care. ]

[coolmotivestillevil]

[ Dangerous? He raises an eyebrow slightly, and throws a quick look around. Yes, he's noticed, but is it more dangerous here than anywhere else? ]

I'm fine. What are you muttering about?

[lethechained]

[ Not that much more dangerous - it's only that he's closer to where the leaves are mainly collected than she is. She's picked a spot of shoreline far enough from the bulk of the trees to stay out of the way of as much debris as possible, but the farther one gets from the water the greater the risk - or so she's come to assume, since she's been pretty lucky where she is so far. (But he seems quite unperturbed by the issue, doesn't he? Perhaps he's simply made of tougher stuff.) In any case, she wilts slightly at his question. ]

... Oh. I...

[ There's a funny look on her face for a moment, as if her features are unsure whether to look embarrassed or cautious. Evidently settling on both, ]

I've been trying to stop the bleeding, but it's... not working very well.

[ Which doesn't explain the light when she conveniently leaves out the part about how she's trying to accomplish that. ]

[coolmotivestillevil]

[ Is that what the light was? ]

You're a sorceress?

[ He's not sure what else it could be aside from magic. Does make him wonder why she seems to want to hide it, though. ]

[lethechained]

[ The girl straightens noticeably; on someone else, it'd almost look like bristling. It lasts only briefly before she's bowing her head slightly again, looking abashed. Unsurprised but a trifle hesitant, ]

So you did see.

[ Her legs pull a little closer to her from their position tucked to the side in the side, and she looks rather uncomfortable about the matter, but presently she confesses, ]

That's-- not what people usually call me.

[ But she's not actually denying it, is she? ]

[coolmotivestillevil]

Do they call you something a bit more insulting?

[ She doesn't actually need to answer, though, and he shakes his head. ]

Maybe you should go inside.

[lethechained]

[ By the look on her face, she's struggling briefly with how to answer. The term that's always been used for her has long felt more like an ugly truth than an active insult, so she needs an extra second to parse the idea. Late enough that it comes after his suggestion, ]

... A witch. [ The answer is little hesitant; firmer is the clarification, once she's finally sold on the admission itself. ] They call me a witch.

[ Her mouth is downturned, although she gives a late nod of confirmation, since she agrees that he's probably told her correctly what she ought to do. ]

I've been waiting here for the wind to die down so that I can go back to my cabin safely, although it... doesn't seem like it will. Not any time soon, that is.

[ So that means that perhaps plan B is in order. Maybe if she runs...? ]

[coolmotivestillevil]

[ That's exactly the word he thought, and he makes a soft sound of recognition, but doesn't say anything about it. ]

I can try to protect you.

[ There isn't all that much he could do, but he could take some of the hits for her, at least. The cuts don't bother him one bit. ]

[lethechained]

[ It's comforting somehow that he doesn't have any more vocal a reaction to the term. There are a lot of questions she doesn't want to answer after all, and his not asking saves her the trouble - not to mention that it makes her feel a bit better about the risk that he might see her as a threat. Since it's his job to fight monsters-- well, it doesn't bear thinking about for now. ]

Protect me?

[ She's doing the math in her head as she gives him a brief once-over; what method does he have of doing so without putting himself in harm's way? There's no answer she can come up with that she likes, so the only natural course of action is to inquire, ]

How? Do you know magic...?

[coolmotivestillevil]

A little. Don't worry about me.

[ He doesn't even feel it, but if it will make her feel better about accepting his help, he supposes he can shield himself. ]

[lethechained]

[ Her brows lift at his response as she digests the information, but-- the rest of her face suggests that she is, in fact, worrying about him. There's no other reason for her hesitation, since this really is the best chance she's had so far to get back to the safety of her cabin. Soon enough, however, she concludes, ]

... Okay. I'll trust you.

[ With being responsible about protecting himself, that is. Standing, she takes only a moment to brush her clothes more properly into place before stepping - carefully - closer to where he's standing. ]

Thank you, Geralt.

[coolmotivestillevil]

You're welcome.

[ Just to set her at ease, he casts Quen on himself. For a brief moment, she will see gold shimmer across his body, and if she pays close attention, she could see it spark, barely visible, every time one of the leaves cut across him. ]

Where's your cabin?

[ He's pretty sure he knows where everyone stays, but it's best to ask anyway. ]

[lethechained]

[ The corners of her mouth pull up the slightest bit, although it fades as his casting draws her attention. With a tilted head and clearly piqued interest, she spends an extra few seconds examining him for any sign of that golden sheen reappearing, but presently supposes it's done its work. ]

There, [ she responds to his question, lifting one slim arm to point along the side of the lake, ] ... set back from the shore.

[ It's a decent walk, but not a terribly long one. Whether it was bad luck or good luck that she managed to get this distance from her cabin before running afoul of the wind is up for debate. Hands folding together again, she tucks her arms in close to her body; normally it'd just be in her naturally reserved demeanor to do so, but right now she's got good reason to keep her limbs close to her body. Apologetically, and with a tiny bow of her head, ]

I hope that isn't too far.

[ She didn't wake up today planning to be an inconvenience to anyone, of course. ]

[coolmotivestillevil]

No.

[ Definitely not.

As he starts walking, he carefully puts himself in the path of the wind. She'll have to forgive him for not being very talkative, but he's just ... not. ]

[lethechained]

[ His 'no' isn't very descriptive, but his meaning is clear enough when they start off. Since he's kindly elected to block the wind, Naminé keeps pace with the gap he creates the best she can so as to make his job easier, watching carefully for any sign that he's being harmed overmuch by the debris. Without seeing any immediately, she lapses into a silence of her own; reserved creature that she is, she's always found quiet more peaceful than unpleasant.

But the more time she has left to her own thoughts, the more she wonders about other things. Like-- ]

Have you been all right? [ Her voice is gentle, her concern polite but genuine. The words are abrupt, yet they're in keeping with her expression. ] It's been some time since we last spoke.

[ In another place maybe that would qualify as small talk, but around here - it's probably an all too valid question. ]

[coolmotivestillevil]

Fine.

[ He's just all alone here, now, which is ... fine. He doesn't mind being alone. Except he doesn't know where Jaskier is, if someone has taken him and where, and the uncertainty and worry is almost eating him up inside. If he knew what to do, it would be easier, but he has no idea. There doesn't seem to be anything they can do about their captors. ]

And you?

[lethechained]

[ Monosyllabic responses are quickly moving up in her mental list of his traits - which, truthfully, doesn't bother her in the slightest. Although she considers him an extra moment as if looking for any tells that might inform her of anything more beyond that 'fine,' presently she says, quite genuinely, ]

I'm glad. I was afraid you might have gotten hurt, considering... well, what you do.

[ Being a Witcher sounds like a dangerous job, based on what little she's heard. As for her own experiences, she mulls her recent memories over briefly before answering. ]

It's been... peaceful here for me, lately. More than I thought it could be - or at least, it has been since the ghosts and those monsters left. That feels like it was such a long time ago now that it-- almost makes me nervous.

[ Like all of the badness is getting saved up somehow, to be unleashed later. (In the form of aggressive leaves this time, apparently, but even though she's not properly equipped to deal with those, they definitely don't seem like the worst that could happen.) ]

[coolmotivestillevil]

[ He has gotten hurt, but not because of any monsters. There hasn't exactly been many of them around to potentially hurt him either.

The nervousness is justified, to him. The Technicians will undoubtedly throw something more at them sooner rather than later. ]

They won't leave us alone for long.

[ His shield runs out, but he doesn't bother renewing it. The leaves still don't hurt. ]

[lethechained]

[ Momentarily distracted by their shared pessimism, she gets a vague sense that something has changed but hardly pays it any mind at first. ]

You're probably right. So long as we're still here, it's only a matter of time.

[ Because why else would the Technicians keep them around? Unless they were to abandon the project all at once, that is, and she's seen no evidence of that being likely. Now that she's thought back to the incidents from the previous month, ]

By the way... did you see those things that were in the forest? Back when the ghosts started showing up, I mean.

[coolmotivestillevil]

I did. Dealt with a few of them.

[ Not because he really wanted to, but because it seemed easier and swifter. As far as he's concerned, letting a wraith or ghost or whatever you want to call it suffer for longer than necessary when you have the power to do something about it is simply cruel. ]

[lethechained]

So-- they were dangerous?

[ They'd certainly looked it, and yet... She curls a hand against her mouth, thoughtful. ]

The first time I saw one, I was all by myself. I thought it would attack me since it was a perfect opportunity, but it left me alone.

[ Which made her wonder whether they were really a threat at the time; it had seemed silly, considering they were in the Containment Zone. Aren't most of the things that appear here supposed to be present to harm everyone? Peering curiously up at Geralt, ]

Do you know what they were? I'd never seen anything like them before.

[coolmotivestillevil]

[ He tilts his head briefly to the side, which isn't meant to be a yes or a no. ]

They reminded me of a creature called leshen, but I would not call them that. They were too many and not territorial enough. I do not think their instinct was to fight.

[lethechained]

[ Her own head unconsciously tilts, mirroring his movement without really meaning to as she tries to make sense of his response. The brief flutter of her eyelids at the name coincides with her storing it away for later, despite the moniker not applying to the creatures she saw. It pays, after all, to remain informed. ]

But you did fight them?

[ That's what she'd assume 'dealt with' to mean in this context, although she second-guesses herself a beat later, lips pursing as she glances ahead of them again. ]

If that's really the case, and they weren't trying to hurt anyone, then did you find any evidence about why they were put here?

[ Kind of a shame that meaning people harm seems like the most reasonable justification for anything new that pops up in the Containment Zone. ]

[coolmotivestillevil]

[ Though she moves on from the question quickly, he manages to nod in response.

Hm. What word would she be familiar with for the wraiths that came along with the creatures? ]

They seemed to be connected to the ghosts that were walking around. But I don't know why any of them were here.

[lethechained]

[ It seems a shame to have to fight something that wasn't actively trying to cause harm - which might be the cause for the sad little purse of her mouth at his answer. But then again, even if the creatures in question weren't seeking people out at the time, the threat still existed. She's quiet for a beat, then-- ]

That does make sense. I'd never seen one of them before the spirits started appearing, and I haven't seen any since they left.

[ Not to mention she has her own private reasons for suspecting so. As for the matter of causes, she gives a contemplative little sigh. ]

I'm not sure even the ghosts knew why they were here. They... really seemed confused.