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

B

[ezellotry]

...Oh.

[ Ezell is pretty much beelining for the door in some amount of layers, with a box in his hand that's letting out steam from the cracks in the side. ]

I was actually... coming over here. Since it's so cold, I've been making hot apple cobbler and cocoa or coffee for everyone to make sure they're staying warm. [ Ezell says with the howling winds and the thunderstorms and the scary wraiths and like genuinely how is this twink still standing- ] I have some for you and the others here, too. I thought I'd come over since you're so far from the bakery.

[lupusxylem]

[Wolfwood lifts his arm a little so Ezell can zoop under it, raising a brow before he pulls the door shut behind him. He was coming over...?]

Huh. Real nice of you, but prolly not a good idea comin' out this far with how bad shit is out there. Better stay here until the wind lets up a little either way.

[Angelina tippy-taps her way over to Ezell as Wolfwood talks, immediately trying to stick her nose on the box before Wolfwood shoos her away.]

Oi, get off. Here, we got a fireplace if nothin' else.

[ezellotry]

I suppose, but... getting used to weather like this is something I need to get used to anyway. Catastrophes back home are about four times worse than this - and those are just the lower scale ones.

I appreciate it, all the same. It won't hurt to stay here for a bit. [ He scoots over to the nearest table with a little smile to Angelina before he sets his box down and opens it. Steam practically erupts out of it, and the small little camping heater is the culprit. You know, to keep the foodstuffs warm. As he said, there's a few little bowls of apple cobbler, and a couple of cups of hot cocoa and coffee, since he isn't sure what the folk here like. ]

Here, you can bring these to your housemates, if you'd like. Whenever, I mean. I hope you all are doing well.

[lupusxylem]

Damn, you weren't kiddin'...you take food delivery seriously.

[Wolfwood is going to flop into a sit on the couch in front of the coffee table where the box ends up, resting his arms across his knees.]

Everyone here's a fiend for sweets, so those ain't gonna last long. 'Specially when you got Vash and Ain in the same room. That cobbler ain't gonna stand a chance.

[He will take one of the coffees for himself, though. Mmmm.]

[ezellotry]

Oh, I know about Ain. Sometimes I wonder if giving him a room at the bakery is gonna be good for his dental health.

[ He sighs a little, but shuffles closer to the fireplace for now, and with his hands free he'll reach down to pet the puppy. ]

I suppose I haven't really talked to you much, though? It feels a little weird sometimes, like I don't know how to approach you, about Ain. I should have asked when I made the bakery if it was okay to get him a room there. I apologize for not doing so.

[lupusxylem]

[Pets for Angelina :) She licks Ezell's hand. Wolfwood, meanwhile...he watches Ezell over the rim of his shades, flexing his hands between his knees.]

Nah, s'fine. I mean...you were there first technically, yeah? It only makes sense you'd offer it.

I didn't offer for him t'stay with us, and I think I upset him pretty badly. We've talked about it, so it's fine now, but...I get how that might make somebody feel. I'm glad you gave him a place to stay.

[ezellotry]

...Ah, I'm sorry. I didn't know... [ Shuffles awkwardly. ] It's, um... interesting, at least. Since Ain and Flamebringer don't really get along that well... but they're still amiable for my sake, I think.

If you ever wanted to stay over, though, I would be alright with that. Obviously, you'd have to check with Ain, since I imagine you'd be staying in his room, but... I can at least promise Flamebringer won't bother you too much.

[lupusxylem]

Tch, I don't think Flamebringer gets along with anybody. Like, no offense to you or nothin', but that's just how he is.

[Wolfwood YOU are also like this, shut up.]

...thanks. I do wanna come over more often. Stay over more often.

[He's got to show Ain that their relationship means more to him than just "I'm here because we're sleeping together", because it does. It's just a learning curve, as someone who is still figuring out what it means to love somebody that isn't just going to leave you, or die tomorrow (lol).]

And Flamebringer's fine. We butt heads but like...it ain't like I despise the guy or nothin'. [Wolfwood tilts his head a little, looking sidelong at Ezell now.] You're actually the one I don't know all that well, yet.

[ezellotry]

He's... he does. He's bristly and angry, but he's got a really big heart. I'm sure he cares about you, too, even if he wouldn't say it to your face.

[ Like, if Flamebringer didn't have a really big heart, he wouldn't be with Ezell. Because obviously he's just pitying the Ezell for panicking and kissing him like some stupid sap- ]

Mmh... I don't know if there's much more to say...? I mean, I've told you about my occupation and such... that's really all I've got going for me. Before showing up here, I'm living a pretty normal life. It's a bit off the rails right now because I'm helping a kid back home try to find her dad, but all that aside, after that's finished, I'm probably just going to end up working a 9 to 5, retiring at 120, and going from there.

I'm not really interesting.

[lupusxylem]

[If Flamebringer is anything like Wolfwood, he does. Hearts of gold under these cactuses, for sure.

Wolfwood does listen to Ezell as he explains his situation, for what it's worth. He sits back a little as he does, manspreading a bit because when is this man not spreading.]

I mean, I think most of us here would kill for a "normal" life. I don't think I'll ever "retire". Not until I'm dead anyway.

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

...hang on, did you say 120?

[ezellotry]

Maybe. It's not like I'm against that sort of life, and I know I'm lucky, but it just sucks to know there's not much I can do for the people who don't have it.

...

Uh? Yeah? Why? I know that's shorter than a lot of other species, but most Sankta are able to live pretty cozy at that time, even if they live to be like two or three hundred.

[lupusxylem]

[Two or three hundred...

Wolfwood presses a hand to his forehead.]

I don't really know anythin' much 'bout Sankta, but they're startin' to sound a lot like Plants.

[Plants, who are also angelic sort of beings who live to be impossibly old.]

Humans are lucky if they live to be 80 most of the time. And that sure as hell ain't true in my world anymore. Life expectancy is more like, 40-50 at best.

[ezellotry]

[ Plants? Like... the kind that grow in the greenhouse- ]

Oh, ah, sure. A lot of Terrans generally can live up to 100, though life expectancy is easily halved for those who have Oripathy...

Flamebringer knows more about Sankta than I do, actually. Our origins are generally hidden from us. But from what he's implied to me, we actually came from Sarkaz a very long time ago, and Sarkaz would have a longer life expectancy... if they weren't the most susceptible to Originium and their homeland constantly threatened with war. So I imagine we're similar in that regard...

...

But I'm still not certain about all that.

[lupusxylem]

[Will Wolfwood explain? Who knows...]

Sarkaz...are Sankta? Or I guess, descendants...? That's fuckin' wild.

[No offense but you guys do not look a thing like each other. But then again, what does Wolfwood know about genetics and shit.]

Your world has so many species its hard for me to keep track. We just got humans...and I guess also Plants, but they ain't from "our" world.

[ezellotry]

Mmh, no, you're thinking of our races. Species are different. We have the Ancients - like Gnosis, SilverAsh, Mizuki - and the... uh, natives. [ The Teekaz, but Ezell doesn't know the name. ] So... like Flamebringer and myself.

[lupusxylem]

...huh?

[Wolfwood sounds even more confused hold on-]

They're Ancient? Since when?

[...]

I mean, I guess Gnosis is an old man, but Mizuki and SilverAsh ain't.

[WHAT DO YOU MEAN SILVERASH-]

[ezellotry]

..."Ancients" is the name of the species. Not their age. That said... you know Gnosis and Silverash are roughly the same age, don't you?

[lupusxylem]

I guess...but Gnosis just feels older. Yaknow what I'm sayin'?

[He has the soul of an old man, Ezell.]

[ezellotry]

...Nnnnno...????

[lupusxylem]

No, I'm right. He'd got jaded old man energy, seriously.

[Wolfwood is like. Gesturing emphatically with his hands as he says this.

At least ya'll are getting along-]

[ezellotry]

[ Snrk- ]

I suppose so. I feel as though being sort of cold in general is just going to be how diplomats act in general. Though, I suppose Gnosis is not technically one... he is married to one. So...

[lupusxylem]

He might as well be. Married to one means you're like this in all their schemes and political crap, so.

[He crosses his fingers when he says "like this", by the way.]

Don't think I could do it, myself. S'why I'm with Ain, Vash, and Liv. None of 'em would make good politicians.