EVENT 30

[sticksandbonesmods]

I CALL MYSELF A SHELL

A USED UP BULLET CASING

The air is cold, the sky dreary. Ever since your return to Aldric’s Grove, the chill in the air is as bitter and sharp as a knife. The scent of stew from the General Store’s windows is comforting, almost as much as the teas Ydalir is handing out if you pass by her tent. Nene puts baskets of her fresh produce on every doorstep or before the doors of people’s rooms in the inn, and Evan and Rillian join her sometimes, the two also handing out sweaters or cloaks. It’s not going to be as bad as last year, but a bitter winter is coming. It’s best to be prepared, isn’t it?

As the winter approaches, plantimals busy themselves to prepare as best they can, too. Pinecone squirrels harvest away nuts while one by one birds move as close to warmth as they can — and that may well just be Sehul and Aurora’s domains. The river water is clear as ever and even colder, with only the blessed trees and bushes still flowering and bearing fruit.

Yet nothing prepares anyone for the green mist, knee-high at the lowest, waist-high at the highest. It smells earthy and grassy, almost floral like a garden,and it pours out of the research hall.

There’s a chill in the air. Something… strange is happening, yet again.

THE AFTERMATH OF SOMETHING LETHAL

The mist is not the only thing that follows. In your homes, walking around the slowly rebuilding town, resting in the inn — all over, there are ghosts, and they all look painfully familiar. After all… it's not every day you get to see your face without a mirror.

Ghosts of the former residents of the Grove have followed where the mist flows, fragments of history that are part of you given form. Some look pristine, like they’d simply gotten up and got dressed like any normal day. Others look bloodied and wounded, clearly killed and still persisting. None seem bothered by their state — if anything, the lot are curious about the changes that have been made to the Grove, or about you.

Of course they know you. They know your pains, the life you’ve lived, they’re part of you after all… though some ghosts know the full extent better than others. You must have something you want to say, don’t you? Or… maybe you’re approached by the ghost of another soul, with something else in mind.

AN ECHO OF INFLICTED EVIL

cw: a brief instance of animal death

Within the heart of it all stands a woman almost eight feet tall, maybe more. There is an unearthly glow to her green eyes, and she wears a black gown that looks like it’s meant for a funeral and a garden party in the same day. Draped in her arm is a basket as she talks to various blooms, and occasionally she may… pluck at a passing by animal, placing a silvery light within the basket as the animal comes to a stop and finds its final rest.

She looks at each resident of the Grove as she walks, poking and pulling at things that cannot be seen — from the air, from the buildings, from you-

And then she keeps on walking, pausing only at the fog barrier.

“... What a troubling scene this sets. And the rot in the roots… beastly, isn’t it? What a shame that I cannot be here in full to set this straight.” She hums thoughtfully, before finally she stops and sits down.

“Come along now, then. I’m sure you all have questions.”

So, will you talk to Morrigan the Lady Death?

... SO COMES SNOW AFTER FIRE ...

With talking to Morrigan comes a task: close the door once more. Once this is done, the Grove settles again, a blanket of quiet settling over the little village finally. Time passes, and once the first snow starts to fall, Heimr calls everyone to the inn. White snowdrops are painted along the banisters, the door frames and windows, and warm spices and savory smells waft through the air.

Renard is dishing up different plates as you come in, and he smiles radiantly with a wave. Later on he might show off some of his creations, or hand you an instrument.

Music flows through the dining room as Ydalir feeds the fire, and some of Callisto’s meads and wines — flavored or simple honey — eventually turn up on the table. It’s nice not to be alone, right?

Unfortunately it might be ruined when Heimr sets out what looks to be a deck for UNO. And a stack of other board games. But UNO is the killer, here. UNO may just ruin your carefully-crafted friendships with everyone here. …please don’t let it do that. You’ve already been through so much together, and there’s so much more to come.

Spark Notes

summary

A USED UP BULLET CASING Fall is here and winter is fast approaching. The residents of the Grove are trying to help take care of player characters after the past two months of hardships... but one night, a green mist spills out of the Research Hall.
THE AFTERMATH OF SOMETHING LETHAL All throughout the Grove, the ghosts of your past lives linger waiting to speak to you- or to the ones you love. They know your life, though the intimate details may vary, and can be touched. And linger they will! They're very curious, you know.
THE ECHO OF INFLICTED EVIL Morrigan the Death wanders the town, poking and prodding at the magics in play. Whatever she's found, however, they have decided can wait. After all, you probably have questions, don't you?
... SO COMES SNOW AFTER FIRE ... After the Door to the Afterlife has been closed- presumably by you, someone's got to do it- and Morrigan has presumably also left, Heimr decides it's time for another community meal. And this time, he brought board games! Please do not kill each other over Monopoly.

out of character

Welcome to November! Thank you very much to Jami for allowing us to use their past life plotting and location for this event, and to Aspen for helping facilitate it ICly!. This has been a long time coming, and now you get to meet another force of nature: Death!

AC will be check-in for November and December before resuming regularly. September and October are the last TDM of the year, and we encourage you to reuse them as desired if current players wish to test new characters, or if new players want to break the ice! We check the TDMs regularly.

updates

Any potential updates, such as characters damaging something important or whatever else, will be put here.

submissions

❖ Questions
❖ November Plotting
❖ Past Life Plotting (Closed to Game Members)
❖ Investigations

code

Comments

[namuthing]

[Genya looks down at those hands, feeling his heart skip a beat. He doesn't know what exactly he's looking at, but he doesn't need to. Fighting demons for all the years he has, he's seen plenty of horrible things. Nevertheless, this might actually be up there.]

And you've figured out how to be gentle to yourself? [Considering the fact that Lily admitted to struggling with her own forgiveness, he has his doubts. He doesn't bring it up to call her out, though. If she's somehow figured it out despite that, he'd love to know it.]

Like I said, you don't know me. The things I've done, the things I have to do to survive... Ask anyone familiar with the corps, and they'd say I don't deserve it either.

[lilyberation]

I am trying, despite it all. I am letting myself be loved, and love in turn.

The difference between you and me is that I am required, by duty, to commit to immortality.

[namuthing]

[Genya finds himself glancing up. He wonders if she knows how opposite they stand to one another. She's committed to living forever, while he knows he's destined to die young. It leaves him unable to relate to her despair. What he wouldn't give to know he had a chance.]

Sounds like you'll at least have love with you, for all those long years. [He scratches at his cheek, reaching for something to lighten the mood.] You must be pretty old already, considering the hair.

[lilyberation]

...

( lily laughs. )

I've always had this color icing. ... But yes. I'm the youngest of my companions, but we are all centuries old. Pure Vanilla is older than me by circumstances, and Elder Faerie and Shadow Milk are both from the era when our creators watched over us.

[namuthing]

[The distraction was a success! Genya manages a half smile.]

I'm glad you have people to watch your back. Even if one of them is that Shadow Milk guy.

[He still doesn't trust SM, but he also sounds... significantly more deflated than he did last time they spoke. There's another layer of guilt to add to the pile.]

[lilyberation]

( ah, the other elephant in the room. )

...

He's trying his best. Just like we are. He has a lot to make up for. There are some things he's done that even I cannot forgive, and Elder Faerie Cookie has every reason not to as well... But when I was at my lowest, despite having every reason to hurt me more or mock me...

...

He tried to make me laugh again.

[namuthing]

You tryin' to say we have something in common?

[There is... a surprising lack of malice in those words.]

... I felt bad, you know. Almost calling him a murderer, I mean. [Not going to get into the why of that right now, thanks.] I really don't know him. Or anyone here. Only really got on with Elder Faerie as much as I did because he reminds me of my master.

A lot of people do, really.

[Or maybe he just misses the guy, and is desperate to apply aspects of the only positive role model he knew for years to anyone he comes across.]

People seem to trust you, though. And if you trust him... maybe I should too.

[lilyberation]

( lily smiles gently, and reaches out to fuss a bit before she catches sight of her marred hand and draws it back again. )

I think... you should get to know him, and make your own judgement on his personality, but trust that he truly is doing his best to help in this world, too.

I'm glad that you get along with Elder Faerie, though! He's a very dear friend of mine. Pure Vanilla Cookie is also very kind, though he loves very warmly and quickly- he is gentle, but it might be overwhelming if you aren't used to a heart like the sun.

Oh, and Pavlova- he looks to be about your age. He's a sweet boy, even if hes more than willing to defend himself...

[namuthing]

He did seem pretty worried about making sure everyone in town knew what was going on.

[If he had actually been planning anything with the door, he would have kept what happened a closely guarded secret, right?]

Pure Vanilla Cookie... kinda sounds like a guy I know. [A guy Lily knows, too, for that matter.] Maybe I oughta give him some space for now.

[Genya knows how he is. He'd be a little worried about dimming that light.]

Pavlova's the uh, pink one, right? Think I've seen him around. Seems nice enough.

[From a distance, Pavlova had given him Tanjiro vibes. Which is probably why he'd stayed far away.]

[lilyberation]

Yes. He was... aware of what happened with my incident, and was afraid that it would repeat itself. It was one of the reasons we agreed to keep it sealed.

( she hums thoughtfully. )

You'd be surprised. He is a healer in many ways- including that of the heart and mind. If he comes to you, let him...

And yes. Pavlova's a sweet boy, I love him dearly.

[namuthing]

Sounds like we got pretty lucky.

[He shudders to think of what could have happened to all of them. There are good people in this place. None of them would have deserved a fate like that.]

I... might try. With both of them. I'm not so good with people. You probably picked up on that.