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

[bajamutblast]

[Both men seem amused, and it does much to keep Dion's mood up. In time, his regrets will flood in. Some of it will even be caused by the presence of the two men. It isn't their fault directly, merely the silent and subtle reminders of the fights they've been through.

But it won't be this evening. Tonight, he joins in on the laughter, albeit soft and brief. Even when he stops, a smile remains on his lips. He wonders, dimly, what it might have been like had he more time at the Hideaway. Perhaps if the world hadn't fallen apart so soon, they might have had a few more nights like this.

But at least they have it now.]

Well, I do not know about eradicate. Perhaps a fair few for those bold enough to stomach them? The challenge of it will keep them strong, and perhaps intimidate their remaining number?

[kingincognito]

[ Just hearing Clive and Dion both laughing is all that Joshua needs to make this evening complete. It's such a good feeling, really. Founder, they never would have had this back at home. Perhaps their deaths truly were--

No. He won't think that way, not tonight. Not here. He is enjoying this, the company, the stolen happiness. Nothing can take that away from them right now. ]

If you'd like to plant a carrot garden come the thaw, you can just say so, you know.

[ He will have no part of it, aside from tending to it. So long as he doesn't have to eat the fruits of their labor, he doesn't mind. ]

By the Founder, that's one thing that I'm still struggling to accept. That the Blight does not mar these lands... Imagine the things that could be grown.

[aneikonic]

No worries, I shall eat those carrots for you, as I have ever done, and I am sure Dion now will join me in.

[ He sighs with a smile and shakes his head lightly, finally pushing himself to his feet. He claps his hand on Joshua's shoulder gently. ]

And will be grown. There's plenty of fruits and vegetables about, and with spring they should begin to bloom again.

[ He inclines his head to Dion, holding his hand out across the table for a grip. Less a handshake, more a solidarity thing. ]

I will leave you two to keep at it, if you desire, but I have things that need to be done. And time might be odd here, but it doesn't stop. [ Haha. Unless. ] It's been good seeing you again, Dion. I know I speak for Joshua as well when I say to call on us, if ever you need something.

[bajamutblast]

That I shall.

[He bows his head solemnly, while both arms cross over his chest. It's typically the salute of his dragoons, but with none of his forces here, who is going to scold him for bastardizing it a little?]

I shall look forward to seeing it. Long have I missed the farmland outside of Oriflamme.

[His brows do briefly draw together as Clive stands, though a quick glance outside puts his mind at ease. He hasn't exhausted Clive's company, it's just simply that late.]

I fear I will not be much longer myself. [He gives an apologetic nod to Joshua.] Nevertheless, I have appreciated the company of you both. It is... good to know I still have comrades.

[kingincognito]

[ Ah. Time indeed does not stop, and theirs here seems to be at an end. Joshua finds himself lamenting it, but... this won't be the end of it. Dion is here now, and it isn't as though this is a one-time event. They will speak again, spend time together again.

So, he stands as well, smiling and bowing his head. ]

So long as we draw breath, you will always have comrades. That I can promise you.

[ If not for the table separating all of them, he would draw Dion into a hug once more. But, he can't do so easily, and one hug is probably plenty for the evening anyway. ]

I'll be stopping by the clinic before I return to the inn. Take care, both of you.