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

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...

[aneikonic]

[ He's silent for a moment, then shakes his head. ]

Perhaps, yet I find strength with my brother here. If something were to happen to him... yes, I would be [ destroyed inside once again, hellbent on revenge ] grief stricken, but even when physical distance separated us, we have always ever done things together. Having him here stops me from worrying about where he might be or doing.

[ Another mouthful of stew. ]

Plus I can make sure he takes his medicine.

[beckonsbliss]

You're very resilient, aren't you? ... I'm glad that you can see the bright side in it. I'm not sure what I would do if I found someone from home here. ... Bad enough that there's so many children.

( she snaps a piece of wood into place. the first lantern's frame is done. )

[aneikonic]

It comes with the experience.

[ He will almost wolf down the last of the stew as she finishes one lantern frame, setting the bowl aside to move himself down to the floor beside her. He has no idea how this works so he'll watch at first. ]

... Children.

[ Resilient, maybe, but able to get angry if the tone of his voice is any indication. Excuse the octave drop and mild growl to it. ]

Of course.

[beckonsbliss]

A few just on the precipices of adulthood, and younger yet. A sweet girl with pink hair, that girl with flowers in her hair... I saw a boy with blond hair, just... staring into the fire. I can't imagine what they've been through.

( there's a gentle sympathy in her own tone. the ebb and flow of justice is in both of them- stoking the fires of his anger while she fans the flames with careful words and a guiding hand to the vulnerable they're talking about. )

[aneikonic]

[ Of course. Because heavens help Gods not involve the most innocent of them all, the most vulnerable. His expression dips darkly into a frown, his brows v'ing.

And he's understandably not aware she's manipulating his anger.

Honestly, she doesn't even truly need to. ]

Just another reason the thing that pulled us here must be stopped. They don't deserve this. None of us do, but least of all those who cannot protect themselves.

[ He carefully picks up some of the lantern pieces to figure them out slowly. Trying to calm himself. ]

[beckonsbliss]

( good, the children have one more protector. maybe she should feel a little bad for it, but- he can defend himself plenty, and more yet.

and she does still mean every word of sympathy.

before she continues on, she'll quietly start to guide clive through the build. )

What have you heard so far about our captor?

[aneikonic]

Only what Joshua and I - ah, my brother - have learned through the journals and the information compiled here.

[ He frowns a little and carefully follows her instructions to begin to piece together the lantern. He's a quick learner, at any rate. ]

I noticed a lack of noted weaknesses or anchors.

[beckonsbliss]

It would make sense. Aeons can, from my understanding, only be killed by other Aeons... not that it stops us from trying regardless.

( what comes next is fixing the oil cup and wick, once she's sure he's got a good handle on his first attempt. )

[aneikonic]

[ He's silent for a moment, simply watching her fix the oil cup and wick to see how she does it, before attempting his own.

And when he speaks, his voice is soft. ]

Or Vessels thereof.

[beckonsbliss]

That must be something other worlds can do- Aeons are... concepts. Inhuman beyond all ken but still present and guiding. I think to be a follower is one thing, but to be a vessel would... destroy the person. They can bestow power, but... one wonders if they should.

[aneikonic]

[ Oh, it did. He's pretty sure of it, but he won't say that much.

He ponders her words as he carefully puts together the lantern. ]

Sounds like the Mothercrystals to me. But even they were- I could not say conscious but they were part of the God. It's.... [ HE SIGHS. ] Complicated.