EVENT & TDM 020

[sticksandbonesmods]

BITTER WINDS HOWLING

WAKES AND AWAKENINGS

Are you one to find yourself plagued with nightmares? Do you dream at all? Well, worry not, because tonight you find yourself in a somewhat alarming peace. You’re asleep. You’re aware of this. Yet, you feel incredibly lucid, all the same.

You hear the sound of water, like you’re under the ocean waves. You don’t see anything, but it’s almost as if you can feel others around you, despite not touching anything at all. They’re your… family? No. Friends? No. You don’t seem to be able to find a word to describe them. They’re important to you! …You think. Who are they, again?

You think they’re trying to speak to you, but all you can hear is the sound of gentle currents and air bubbles. Or maybe this is what they’re saying to you? You don’t know. Dreams are weird, aren’t they? But then they sing. It’s the prettiest sound you’ve heard. It’s the most haunting sound you’ve heard. It encourages you to move, at last. You didn’t realize you could. There’s a light that filters through the surface of the water…

…and you wake up. You feel strangely refreshed, like that’s the best sleep you’ve gotten in ages! You also feel… distantly sad, like you’ve just remembered something horrible that happened a long time ago.

It’s probably nothing.

For the rest of the month, you find sleep comes easy, and dreams are soothing. How uncharacteristically nice! Maybe don’t look a gift horse in the mouth.

A BITTER ARRIVAL

You wake up to bitter cold. It's dark, the winds howling and whipping through the air, snow battering anything not sturdy enough to stand tall against it... and even the trees seem like one more push could knock them over. This isn't a forest you know, yet it seems like home. If you're not prepared for the cold, the warm lights of a small town will guide you, call to you, and your heart yearns for warmth. As you stumble through the heavy snow and harsh winds, something heavy hangs from your neck and the winds begin to form words with your own voice- SACRIFICE... END THIS WINTER WITH SACRIFICE.

As more voices join the wretched wails, your eyes feel heavier. You're almost to the town, though. Is it one of the houses that you wind up knocking on? Or do you manage to get to the inn, big and tall and radiating more warmth than anything you've ever felt? Regardless, you are no longer alone, but the cold still aches and clings, and something with your voice still calls it's omens outside. Only when you melt the heavy snowflake-shaped amulet hanging around your neck in the fires does the cold abate and the foreign copy of your voice fall silent.

A COLD RECEPTION

In the forest of the lost, the worst winter you've ever seen has finally set in full. The lake and river are both frozen over completely, and even the most hardy of beasts have hidden away from the cruel blizzard. The sky is dark, the winds are sharp and the freezing temperatures permeate most buildings, creeping in like a thief ready to steal the breath from your lungs if you aren't careful. Even fires seem to bend to this cold, save for the ever-burning, ever-blinding light of the fireplace in the inn- though she's long since gone, it seems one woman's faith still protects those in the Grove. Shadows haunt the clearing and amongst the winds and even the deafest ears can hear the voices howling alongside the storm, always demanding the same thing: a sacrifice.

When shadows flicker across the window, that is when you know you aren't alone. Ghastly wraiths of frost and ragged sleet fly through the air, and it's hard to tell if they are commanding the winter winds or if they are working in tandem. Regardless, the cold seems to be enhanced by their presence and if they catch you alone outside, they curse you with a frost so deep it pierces the heart and spreads. To some, it may be familiar, like turning to ice from within. To others it may be entirely new. But it spreads slowly and with agony while the wraiths make their demand once more and then vanish. Thankfully, a bit of kindness can melt the ice, but the winter wraiths are always willing to inflict the curse again...

... But you are not powerless. So long as you don't go alone, so long as you have a weapon, you can fend these things off, for a time. But they will be back.

They must have their sacrifice, after all.

BEACONS

Not everyone can fight though. Not everyone should. The only peace that can be found is in the sleep that follows that odd dream... but eventually the large shadow woman known as the Trader, Ydalir, makes her way through the snow to find you. With a warm furry blanket and a cup of tea, she gives you a small kit.

"Build these lanterns and hang them in the window. Be a light in the dark, loves." Is what she says.

The lanterns consist of wood, paper and a little cup for a candle. They can be in any shape and color, and when you hang them in the window the candle sparks into light. As frost clings on the other side of the window and the snow shrouds the outside world and veils what lies beyond, you can see other lights. Other lanterns, shining brightly. It may not be much, but it is still a sign. A reminder. You are not alone in this blizzard.

Spark Notes

summary

wakes and awakenings will bring you into a strange dream of being with many being, important ones, and a haunting song. Despite the melancholy feeling, it also brings a month of restful sleep no matter what.

a bitter arrival is how our new arrivals find themselves: lost in the woods in the middle of a terrible blizzard with only the faint lights of the Grove to guide you to safety. While you wear the snowflake amulet, the winter wraiths can use a mimicry of your voice to make their demands and curse you with a lingering freeze- only melting the amulets in a fire will set you free and silence the copy of your voice in the cacophony.

a cold reception shows just how bad the winter's gotten, with impenetrable ice freezing both the lake and the river solid. the wraiths curse whoever they see with turning to ice from within, but a genuine act of kindness or love will save their victims. the wraiths can be fought, but only with a companion or two, and definitely not with your bare hands. ... they will return though, again and again.

beacons grants perhaps a bit of hope in this dark winter- ydalir brings people supplies as best she can since the cold doesn't affect her shadowy body and there is nothing for the wraith to freeze, and she also brings a gift- a lantern to craft and hang in the window to show the others in town that you're all still here, cutting through the darkness.

out of character

Welcome to the first TDM of 2025! Regular AC resumes this month and as you can see, we're changing things up a little. TDMers are welcome and encouraged to reach out on our plotting post linked below. We're so excited to start the new year with everyone, and may the horrors stay in writing... because they are resuming now.

updates

❖ AFFOGATO COOKIE has used a magical artifact as a sacrifice. This has resulted in the blizzard lessening but still being present and the wraiths being banished from the grove, but still haunting the forest. There are further effects but they will come in to play during a player plot. ... Get your sacrifices in still though.
❖ MAYOI'S prayer to Ourania the day of the fight with Suri invoked a blessing: an aurora shines through the sky, and anyone in it's lights will be gradually healed and soothed.

submissions

❖ Questions
❖ January Plotting (Open to TDMers)
❖ Sacrifices (Plot relevant, open to all)
❖ Past Life Plotting (Closed to Game Members)
❖ Investigations

code

Comments

[lupusxylem]

For those who got friends, anyway.

[Shut the FUCK UP you have SO many friends here don't even try to deny it.

Anyway, since they're inside Wolfwood can't legally smoke without someone trying to kill him over it, so he'll pull a sucker from his pocket to pop into his mouth to give his jaw something to work over while they talk.]

Anyway...s'prolly better to too say what isn't a problem, here. This Grove is a prison, and we're all trapped in it. You can't leave, and if you try you'll prolly die out there against the fog wall that keeps us here. There's a creature in the Forest that thrives on tormentin' us all, so...if you're here for any time at all, I hate to tell you that's what you got to look forward to.

[eschatons]

[Quirking a brow...]

You seem to know a lot about where people typically hang out, for someone who claims not to have friends.

[He flips his wrist, though, watching Wolfwood out of the corner of his eye.]

Right, evil megalomaniacs and pocket dimensions, essentially. Got it. I'll solve it by tomorrow morning. [Ciel.] I'm an assassin, after all.

[lupusxylem]

Uh huh, yeah. You and everyone else who shows up here says that. I'm an assassin too, and I've been stuck here for over a year, now.

[He shakes his head, the candy clicking audibly against his teeth.]

If you don't believe me, go talk to your friends. They'll say the same thing.

[eschatons]

Hah. Are you going to take me to them? I don't know where this bakery is, or who "the guys" are.

[lupusxylem]

I can. The "guys" are my boyfriends. This includes Ain.

[You know!! Just fucking dropping that as he rises to his feet.]

[journeytoyomi]

[no!!! that's not the kind of offerings they would get. exciting. amazing. they're watching every step enraptured, basically chinhandsing the entire time.]

You must be pretty strong then, to be walking around such dangerous creatures on the regular.

the way i thought i tagged this

[eschatons]

[...................]

Seriously? Are you being blackmailed into it? Blink twice if you need help!

[lupusxylem]

Haah? Whaddya mean, blackmailed?

[Wolfwood peers at Ciel with a quirked brow, his hackles raising a bit.]

We've been datin' for months. S'that weird?

[eidxiety]

I suppose that's fair. [:')] You look new, and yet you seem aware of how dying actually works here! Don't tell me you were here before?

[journeytoyomi]

Nothing like that. I just like talking to people! They're willing to tell you all sorts of things if you just ask.

[some more than others, of course]

Life and death has always kind of been an interest of mine, so I naturally wanted to know more when I learned people come simply just come back from it here. Perhaps you might have even more insight, if you've died twice.

Shadow Milk Cookie | Cookie Run: Kingdom | Returning player

[jesterlies]

[If you notice me trying to hammer out his voice no you don't. I'm nervous don't fucking look at me. BIG SPOILERS FOR BEAST-YEAST CHAPTER 7-8 ALSO. JIC.]

[Arrival: TMW you find a clown in the woods. Nightmare scenario.]

[Do you know what's wild? Stumbling across a fucking half-dead looking clown laying on the forest floor. He's singed, his clothing's a mess. His hair is ...uh. Writhing. Hair probably shouldn't do that. It also probably shouldn't have eyes. Eyes that suddenly snap open before you get too close.]

[Abruptly, the clown, too, snaps awake and suddenly pushes himself up from the ground.]

...What?

[He says to the ground with a wide, deeply bewildered expression. His hair continues to writhe. Then suddenly it goes rigid.]

Hahahaha ...WHAT!?


[Netbook post.]

[It's very possible you heard an incredibly loud screaming meltdown at some point in the woods. Don't worry about that. Shadow Milk is totally good and not at all a wreck and he is definitely not bitter and angry over what happened in his domain with Pure Vanilla Cookie. He's so fucking cool right now, he's totally still in control, even if the shitty god here cut his claws and took his fangs EVERYTHING IS UNDER CONTROL.]

[Time to make this everyone's problem now and be as insufferable as possible.]

[Opening the netbook on this day greets you with a burst of bright glitter and blue neon writing.]



What a QUAINT little place this is! As hilarious as it's been watching a bunch of fools get constantly trapped by that sentient taffy spreading all over the place, I'm starting to get

So what's the skinny here, folks? What's the HOT GOS? Who's making eyes at the milkman while the husband's away? Who's got their sticky hands in the charity jar? Give me aaaaall the scandal! It doesn't have to be true! In fact! Make it all up! Just make it INTERESTING. I'm really begging here, because if I don't get SOME kind of entertainment soon I'm gonna start making it myself.

Let me give you a little spoiler here, dear audience. YOU REALLY DON'T WANT THAT,


[Goofs and Gaffs.]

[You are out minding your own business when suddenly you come across a box. It's a nice looking box! Maybe a gift box! It's addressed to you! How peculiar! Of course the minute you open the box a shitty clown doll on a spring bursts out of the box with a whole pile of confetti.]

[This is accompanied by a roar of laughter from behind. Floating some distance away is the shitty jester that shares the dolls likeness.]

Ooooooh, you should have seen your FACE! Priiiiiiiiceless!

arrival

[purevanillacookie]

[ He knows what it is that calls him into the woods, though he tries to deny it. That feeling of... completeness. His other half. The thick river of deceit he had been seeping deep into before he was pulled here.

It's familiar and he hates it. Tells himself he's going in to kill it once and for all. Suffer it not to cause troubles here in the grove

Not even the loud what that echoes can stop him, as he steps into the clearing Shadow Milk has found himself in. But it's the sight of the Master of Deceit himself that finally makes him falter, and he stares.

Feels a familiar headache building. ]

You're here.

goofs and gaffs!!!

[beathollow]

( mafuyu...

is mildly surprised. like the world's tiniest `:0`. and then she just turns to look at him blankly. ... that sure is a blue clown.

she knows what she must do. )

...

[jesterlies]

[What a surprising state to find the Master of Deceit in! He's down right fucking bedraggled. But you know what? While he is having a meltdown over whatever might be going on with this crazy (witch? WITCH?) body he's suddenly found himself in, raking nails into his skin, he does finally pick up on the presence that's come to meet him (why didn't he know immediately? Why doesn't he know anything that's going on here? Where is it? Where's the kn-)]

-I'm here.

[And then he sees Truthless standing before him and his reaction is like someone jammed his hand into hot coals.]

YOU!

[jesterlies]

[Well, okay, so it wasn't MUCH of a reaction but it was still A reaction. He's really out here in the trenches lately.]

Woweeee it's a tough crowd out here! Nothing? Really?

[While still floating and he leans over to put his face in his hands and kick his feet up like a teen girl at a sleepover.]

You know, to help drive the point home, audience participation is paramount! C'mon, you can give me a gasp, can't you?

[purevanillacookie]

[ That is certainly not the reaction Truthless was expecting. The last they had seen each other, they had been on... not good terms, Truthless would never call it that, but Shadow Milk had been-

Not this. Not like Truthless had spat onto one of the more insidious rumors Shadow Milk has concocted. Or insulted his little hat or something.

So he blinks, confused, Shadow Milk getting some of the truest reactions out of him yet. As he always manages.

And the sass. ]

Yes, I see your eyes still work.

[beathollow]

It's not my fault if you didn't hear the first one under your own laughter.

( BLUNT AS A BAT, I SEE. she's just like this. she's not sorry. what she is is extremely quiet, barely above a monotone whisper. )

1/2

[jesterlies]

[And he would know, wouldn't he? If he can't glean anything from the world around him, he can see into Truthless no matter what, right? Because of who they were. It feels familiar and it feels inviting almost until the part of him that remembers what just happened burns him, and he suddenly riles back up again. The fury practically dripping off of him.]

And I'll pull yours out of your traitorous head!

[No silly quips, no sass, just pure anger. He sweeps his hand out to summon his staff, pulling it out of one of his little dark portals. He raises it above his head and for a moment everything grows dark, energy thrums around them-]

[jesterlies]

[And then it fizzles out with a little pppbbbt.]

...what.

[purevanillacookie]

[ That anger. It's not like Truthless hasn't seen it before. It's the anger from the tree, Shadow Milk plans foiled. Raw and blistering. But it's also different. There's something about it that sends ice down Truthless' spine. Because ever since becoming Truthless, Shadow Milk has never directed the anger at him.

What had he done?

He moves to defend himself, lifting his own staff in turn, though he knows against the anger of the Beast he's not yet his equal. But he can't crumble here, not yet, so he raises his own higher-

And pauses with it over his head as Shadow Milk magic simply ... fizzles out.

He blinks again.

Then brings his staff down with a resounding whack on Shadow Milks head, as if to knock sense into him. ]

I have never betrayed you, your claims of traitor are unfounded.

[jesterlies]

[He bursts into laughter, nice and obnoxious.]

Is that so? Then maaaaaaybe I ought to find out what can make you scream! Maybe something like this?

[He reaches up to grab a fist full of hair and ...pops his head off his shoulders!]

[jesterlies]

LIAR!

[He says, literally from the ground after getting clunked on the head by Truthless' stupid staff. This really is very pathetic. His head is spinning, he's so angry and upset he can taste it in the back of his throat. This body is disgusting and it's making it so hard for him to actually think straight which is something that should be fucking impossible by virtue of who he is.]

[Like a petulant child throwing a tantrum, he gets to his feet and full on bodily tackles Truthless to the ground. If he can't call on his magic he'll just do it the old fashion way.]

I don't care if the timelines have merged! I don't care if you're you or that wretched, bright eyesore! You tricked me! You tricked me! I'll destroy you and your soul jam right here!

[Boy, there sure is a strange shake to his voice.]

[purevanillacookie]

[ Isn't that what you wanted? He almost asks, but the sight of Shadow Milk so... turned around as he is mollifies him a little. It's pathetic. A cream cat thrown into the rain and now it- ]

A-ah?!

[ The sudden tackle shocks him as unexpected as it is, knocking him out of his thoughts as readily as it knocks him to the ground. His staff clatters away as he drops it upon landing. It knocks the air out of him which let's the Beast rail as he catches his breath.

He bristles and reaches up to push at the other physically, forgetting he can simply blast him back magically cause there's that oh so familiar Shadow Milk Migraine. ]

You have lost what little sense you had left! I don't know what you're talking about! But if I did, shouldn't you have PRIDE that I did so?! Sweet Little Vanilla, so soaked in deceit, that he is able to pull one over the very Master that taught him?!

[beathollow]

( mafuyu jumps a little, but. it has to be fake, or at least harmless, or why would he go that far just for a reaction?

there's a ghost of a frown and she... reaches up to pinch his cheek. )

I'm not here for your entertainment.

[jesterlies]

[Good, you'll want to hold him back, because his hands are reaching for your throat, Truthless. Luckily he's not all that physically strong like this, but he sure is trying regardless.]

PRIDE!? [He practically screams, voice cracking.] We belonged together, you said! Only you could understand me! YOU PROMISED ME ETERNITY AND BETRAYED ME!

[How dare he hold his hand out to him, look at him like that, and promise more. Rip his soul right from his chest and lay it bare. And now? AND NOW? Who is he even looking at now? He doesn't know! He doesn't know!]

[The noise that tears out of him is distraught and barely human. A scream of defiance and anguish.]