EVENT: Within The Shadows

[rekindlemyfire]

Who: Everyone
Where: All around Saeng Seong
When: The evenings of July 28th to July 30th
Summary: Despite the festivities, or perhaps because of them, a shadow is cast from the flickering lights of the annual summer festival.
Warnings: Foreboding...

As evening falls on the twenty-eighth, a feeling of unease besets the local residents of the sleepy city. For the first time in a year, businesses in the third and fourth districts seem to close early and streetlights flicker. Odd, for the middle of summer.

The reason for their distress soon becomes apparent, however, when the clock strikes eleven. Symbols not unlike what were carved into special stones within the "killer snow goons" begin to suddenly appear carved into wooden walls, spray-painted onto stone, along with threatening messages scrawled in no language known to the locals, but the guests' native tongues.

And yet for now, all is relatively quiet...

(ooc: This entry is for those who mingle outside after dark. Some will find messages, while others may find something more...

More prompts will be added as the days progress.)

Evening, July 28th
Day, July 29th
Evening, July 29th
July 30th - Coming soon...

Comments

[smallspot]

[Diarmuid usually isn't awake at this hour, and he's definitely not usually outside. However, for some reason Grey keeps whining and pawing at him trying to get the boy to get up and go outside. Finally, Diarmuid sits up and rubs at his eyes for a moment before murmuring sleepily at the dog.]

Okay, Grey, okay. Just give me a minute.

[He tumbles out of bed and grabs the dogs leash and his shoes, before heading outside in his dark green pajamas. Once they get outside, though, and the odd feeling hits Diarmuid, he hopes Grey won't take long to do whatever it is he wants to do.

Unfortunately, it seems like the puppy has other ideas and starts sniffing around, almost like he's trying to track something. Just what is he up to?]

[beforetights]

[It doesn't take long for Cu Chulainn to wake up as he hears the sound of the door closing. When he looks around, he realizes that his brother is gone. His first instinct is to run out of the door alone, trying to chase after his brother.]

Brother? Where are you?

[He rushes down the stairs, not even wearing his shoes, or his shirt (since his had taken it off to avoid the heat.]

[smallspot]

[Diarmuid jumps when he hears his brother because he is so focused trying to figure out what Grey is tracking that he doesn't immediately recognize the other boy's voice. That surprised feeling soon passes, though, and he turns to his brother, pulling back hard on Grey's leash to get the puppy to stop moving.]

Oh! We woke you up anyway. Sorry, brother! Grey...thinks something weird is going on. I do too! Things...don't feel right.

[And, right at that moment, the lights in the street flicker causing Diarmuid to let out a startled squeak.

Not right, indeed...]

[beforetights]

[Now that he's stopped worrying over where his brother has gone, he can feel a strange weight in the pit of his stomach.]

Well...then you shouldn't be outside! It could be dangerous!

[When the lights flicker, he's quick to place himself in front of his brother and Grey.]

I'll protect you, brother!

[smallspot]

I'll protect you too! We are brothers and knights. We keep each other safe!

[Diarmuid wraps his hands tighter around Grey's leash and tries to pull him back toward the door to the apartments.]

Brother, help me with Grey. He doesn't want to come back in. He wants to find whatever is doing this!

[beforetights]

[Cu Chulainn grabs Grey's leash to help pull, but finds that Grey is being unusually stubborn. He decides to let go of the leash and try to lift Grey up by his front paws.]

[smallspot]

[Much to Diarmuid's shock and surprise, Grey actually snaps at his brother's hands. Diarmuid is so shocked, in fact, that he actually drops the puppy's leash, and as soon as Grey realizes he's free, he jerks away from Cu Chulainn and runs off toward something along a nearby wall.]

Grey! Come back!

[Fortunately, Grey doesn't leave the wall. Instead, after sniffing at it, he starts scratching at it with his paw. Diarmuid looks to his brother and gives him a worried look.]

What do you think he found?

[beforetights]

[When Grey snaps at him, Cu Chulainn yelps and falls backwards in surprise. He doesn't get up until Grey is already at the wall.]

I don't know.

[He frowns.]

Maybe we should go over and see.

[smallspot]

[Diarmuid nods and takes his brother's hand, giving it a squeeze before he starts leading the way over toward where Grey is still digging at the wall. When he sees what has been carved into the wall, his eyes widen in shock.]

That wasn't there before! Where did it come from?

[beforetights]

I don't know!

[He tries to read the strange text painted on the wall.]

Return...liars and thieves...take back what's ours?

[He feels a shudder run down his spine.]

I don't know anyone who'd write stuff like this...

[smallspot]

Me either. And what is this?

[He points to the strange symbol above the words, while at the same time catching a hold of Grey's leash so the puppy doesn't run off on them again.]

It doesn't look like ogham...

[beforetights]

[He shakes his head.]

No, it doesn't. I don't know what it says.

[smallspot]

[Diarmuid stares at the writing for a while, unconsciously trying to pull Grey back away from it. Suddenly, an idea strikes him.]

We should go inside and get some paper to copy it down on. Even if we don't know it, maybe some adult will! We can ask the ones we know!

[beforetights]

[He nods.]

Okay. You go back inside with Grey. I'll stay here and stand guard.

[smallspot]

Are...you sure you will be okay by yourself?

[Diarmuid doesn't like the idea of leaving his brother all alone out here when strange things are going on. Yes, he knows his brother is brave and strong, but who knows what is causing these weird things?]

I don't want you to get hurt!

[beforetights]

[He gulps nervously.]

I wasn't afraid of Culann's hound, so I won't be scared of whatever's here. I'll be alright.

...Maybe you should bring me my sword. Then I'll have a weapon to fight with.

[smallspot]

[Diarmuid isn't that convinced, though he does start slowly pulling Grey toward the apartment building. Grey doesn't seem very happy about this, though, and pulls back. Finally, after a few moments of tugging, Diarmuid sighs.]

I think Grey wants to stay with you, brother! I will go get the paper and your sword and be right back.

[He holds the leash out to Cu Chulainn.]

Protect each other, okay?

[beforetights]

[He nods and reaches to grab Grey's leash.]

We will! Don't worry.

[smallspot]

[Diarmuid nods and turns to start running back into the building.]

Don't worry! I will hurry!

[True to his word, Diarmuid is back only minutes later with pencil, paper, one of his swords, and his brother's sword all in hand.]

I'm back! Did I miss anything?

[beforetights]

[Cu Chulainn is still pulling at Grey's leash. He almost jumps when he hears his brother's voice, but smiles in relief when he realizes it's just Diarmuid.]

No you didn't. Nothing bad came.

[He reaches for his sword.]

Do you think we scared off the bad guys?

[smallspot]

Maybe. If I was a bad guy, I wouldn't want people watching me do stuff!

[Diarmuid lets his brother have his sword and then looks toward where the symbol and message are.]

Do you want to write things down or stand guard with Grey while I do it?

[beforetights]

I'll stand guard. You can write because you do it better than me.

[He holds his sword out in front of himself. It's not exactly a balanced stance, but he hasn't had very many sword lessons lately.]

[smallspot]

[Diarmuid nods, but before he heads off to write things down, he pauses to correct his brother's stance slightly. Once that is done, he carries the paper off to where the message and symbol are and starts copying them down. Not that seeing them written in his own childish handwriting makes them any less creepy.]

Who do you think we should show them to?

[beforetights]

Um...how about the people who work at the welcome center? They're all really smart!

[smallspot]

You mean like Lady Irene? That is a good idea!

[Diarmuid starts copying the symbol now that he has the words written.]

Maybe we could ask the priestess lady too. Umm...do you remember her name?