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

tingyun | honkai: star rail | old player, new character

[beckonsbliss]

i. to give a warm welcome

( tingyun has been in this strange town for a few days now, cold and bitter and furious behind that friendly smile- she's been robbed of herself over and over and over again and those wisps had the audacity to use her voice, but her fire feels so weak and she doesn't trust herself to know her limits like this.

so she waits, in the inn. there's no contact from the astral express or her fellow guest, no signs of madam yukong or anyone else. that's probably for the best, but she can't help but feel that something greater than herself has once again chosen to do her harm... so she must bide her time.

until then? the inn has no keeper. so she can be seen tending to the fire, preparing cups of tea and coffee and hot chocolate for the people gathering in the lobby for warmth, always with a warm smile. there's so much to do... )

From the looks of it, despite being a hub of the town, it's gone rather neglected... Perhaps some redecorating would be nice? Hm... Oh! Hello, there. May I offer a warm drink? Come, sit by the fire!

ii. lantern lights

( the shadow woman brings supplies, furs, and kits. something to do. something to beckon more people to safety. tingyun puts on slow-cooking stews, asks for clay pots and steamers, readies blankets and kettles by the fireplace- she's no matron of the inn, but at the same time someone has to be. and she sits curled up in her own tails, assembling a lantern. )

... I feel like a little girl again... but hopefully, it will do something...

iii. wildcard.

( i'll be honest folks i have skipped a bit because i am fixated on this woman so i do not know all of the game plot! haha... ha... be patient with me i'm sorry )

ii

[aneikonic]

If it guides at least one person to safety, it will have done enough.

[ Forgive the intrusion, Tingyun, Clive approaching quietly so as to hopefully not disturb her too much. He has a bowl of the stew she made, and he gives her a soft half smile as he settles down nearby to eat and watch. ]

Tingyun.

[ Sorry that's his way of greeting people. Just. Their name. And uh... sorry he butchers it, it's too foreign for his mouth. But he gives it the good ol' Eikon try. ]

Re: ii

[beckonsbliss]

Clive. Ah-

( she'll gently correct him, but it's not with any frustration. she's used to having to guide people into proper pronunciations. )

No offense taken, of course- I am from a different country, after all. But, yes... the Trader says that these lights should shine even brighter than the others, so I don't mind the endeavor. It's nice to have something to do, too.

[aneikonic]

[ And he'll repeat it back, slowly as he waits for the stew to cool, until it flows better and sounds more like how she says it. Then takes a bite of stew.

Oh. That's good. Give him a moment to clear his mouth. He'll have to get Joshua some. ]

I understand. It's hard to sit around and do nothing when there's so much you want to do.

[ Fight. Struggle against the night that demands and claws. ]

Would you like a hand?

[beckonsbliss]

By all means. The more lights, the better, I should think!

( there's plenty of supplies, at least. and company makes everything better. )

Oh, but please, finish eating!

[aneikonic]

[ It's a good thing she said that, because he was straight up about to put his bowl aside to move down beside her. He's halfway in the process before he stops.

Smiles sheepishly and settles back. ]

Did you make it? It's really good.

[beckonsbliss]

I did, yes. I thought having something constantly on the oven might help spread some of the heat further... while also enhancing the flavors over time.

( tingyun chuckles slightly, amused. clive has an almost childish earnestness to him, it feels like. )

I don't normally cook, but it's a nice recipe to keep in your pocket when the weather's poor.

[aneikonic]

It's a good idea, we need all the warmth we can get.

[ He'll take another couple of spoonfuls, nodding. ]

Stews are always a staple. My brother should like it as well.

[ ... He looks for carrots. ]

[beckonsbliss]

( oh, there's carrots. potatoes, beef and very thinly-sliced green onions, too. it's a very simple thing, but still delicious! she doesn't notice any discrepancy. )

--Your brother? ... I see...

[aneikonic]

[ He will have to pick the carrots out for Joshua before he gives him the bowl, pausing to her words. The way she says that... he tilts his head. ]

Is everything okay?

[beckonsbliss]

I've only just arrived, but the locals have been all too willing to share horror stories. So- I suppose I have mixed feelings about the idea of someone's family being here...

i

[healinghotpot]

[ The inn has been Jiaoqiu's home for... well, for a handful of months now. Ever since he arrived, it's been his base of operations, his room becoming somewhat of a storage space in addition to a place where he can sleep. This, he probably smells... quite a bit more like herbs than he normally would, but it's a small price to pay.

Hearing someone call out to him, he pauses, taking a step backwards to peer back through where he'd just passed, and his ears perk. That's... a Foxian woman. Not just a Foxian woman, but one that he recognizes. He doesn't personally know her, but after what happened on the Xianzhou Luofu, he's... heard things. ]

... ah, hello there. What a surprise to see you here. I wasn't aware we had other Foxian residents.

[beckonsbliss]

... Oh? Oh!

( well, this is a surprise! she almost isn't sure how she wants to react, or should react. but mostly? mostly there's just... relief. )

I'm simply a new arrival, but I've realized that the actual care of the inn has gone long neglected, and I simply couldn't let it lie. I didn't think I'd see another Foxian!

[healinghotpot]

[ Honestly, Jiaoqiu isn't sure how he wants to react, either. He's seen the things this place can do. But, on the other hand, familiarity is nice. He hasn't known anyone else that has known what a Foxian even is. ]

A new arrival. I see! Well, I'm sorry that you've arrived in such awful weather, but at least you're indoors, hm?

[ He's not sure if she knows who he is. Likely not, unless she's been on the Xianzhou Yaoqing a great deal. ]

My name is Jiaoqiu. It's a pleasure, Miss...?

[beckonsbliss]

( it's not a name she's entirely familiar with- maybe something she's heard in passing a few times, but foxians are long-lived and she was often busy with travels. ... had she known a foxian was here, she'd have stuck with the alias. shoot. she shouldn't have assumed...

... or was it just the desire to still be herself somewhere the lord ravager couldn't reach? she's not sure. )

... I am Tingyun.

[healinghotpot]

[ The young lady certainly seems to be caught in thought, even if just for a second. Jiaoqiu doesn't let it show on his face, though. He hadn't seen a flicker of recognition, so he will just proceed as if they don't know each other. Truth be told, he doesn't, really - he only knows of her, and of what happened on the Luofu. ]

A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Miss Tingyun.

[ He folds his hand over his abdomen, bowing just slightly at the hips. ]

I am the the Xianzhou Yaoqing's military healer. If you find you aren't feeling well, please do feel free to drop by. There are several here that heal, but I am the only one familiar with Foxian biology. For obvious reasons, I'm sure.

[beckonsbliss]

( she returns the bow, at least. but... it's hard not to beat herself up. she shouldn't have assumed, and even if there's no sign of recognition, there's no telling how much is his poker face or not. )

That's a relief- I'm sure they'd try, but I'm not sure I'm too fond of having to go through trial and error. Though, my medical history is a bit... complex.

Still, it's nice to see someone from home.

[healinghotpot]

Oh?

[ The way that she says it is interesting, and piques his curiosity. But he won't pry - not yet, at any rate. If she ever needs medical treatment, however, he will ask. It's important for one's doctor to know, after all. ]

Indeed! I've been here for a couple of months - I'd begun to get used to seeing a distinct lack of ears and fluffy tails. Throw in a starskiff or two in the sky, and it might start feeling just like home.

[ He laughs good-naturedly. He doesn't think this place has air travel. ]

Ah, but Miss Tingyun. I know that you have been taking care of the inn, but have you been taking care of yourself? How about we sit down to a nice meal?

[beckonsbliss]

Oh, if only. Maybe we'd get more answers about this world. ... And it'd just be nice. An empty sky is lovely, but if its for too long... it just feels strange.

( but maybe that's just her.

...

she doesn't want to think about that, actually. but she perks up- while tingyun tries to take care of herself, yes, things have been rough. it's hardly anyone's fault, and she doesn't know how to even begin putting her life back together in this place- the inn's been a good distraction.

... it just... sounds nice.

like coming home. )

I do my best, don't worry. ... But that sounds lovely.

i

[dysappear]

[Dys largely keeps to himself, stiff and warily watching all these strangers. He barely knows what to do with himself with so many new faces and it's deeply uncomfortable, but with this weather he's kinda stuck here. He quietly watches the girl bustling around like Auntie Seedent in the creche until the prospect of something warm to drink finally pushes him to speak up.]

Do you have blep tea?

[beckonsbliss]

( does she have what-

tingyun blinks, before tapping her finger to her chin in thought. )

I'm sorry, that isn't a blend I'm familiar with... we may be able to order some from the Trader, but until then, can you tell me what it's like? I can find something similar, I'm sure.

[dysappear]

[He's not terribly surprised by that. Dys shrugs.]

...Mildly hallucinogenic?

[Hm. Sounds worse when he says it out loud.]

[beckonsbliss]

... Hm. That may be harder to procure safely than I thought. ... Though, if I may... what would cause you to seek out something like that?

[dysappear]

[Another shrug.]

Habit? It's pretty normal where I come from. It only really messes with your head if you have too much, otherwise it's just good for staying awake and all that.

[beckonsbliss]

If you're looking to stay awake, I believe the 'breakfast tea' will help with that? Otherwise, I'm afraid nothing in the kitchen would provide the unique experience that your blep tea offers, I'm sorry.