singillatim | seven devils all around you, seven devils in your house

seven devils all around you, seven devils in your house

JUNE 2024 EVENT

PART ONE — A SIGN OF THINGS TO COME: The Darkwalker claims another victim, and that is only the beginning of troubles for the Interlopers as they face a month of endless night and green gloom.

PART TWO — POLAR SUN: As June continues, Interlopers are faced with food insecurity as wildlife flees; tensions grow as they face hunger and the Darkwalker's continued influence. On the day of the Summer Solstice, the tension finally breaks and violent chaos descends upon Interlopers.

PART THREE — REPRIEVE: The end is in sight, and an ally comes to the Interloper’s aid.

A SIGN OF THINGS TO COME

WHEN: June 1st, then onwards.
WHERE: Milton area; Lakeside area (Carter Hydrodam).
CONTENT WARNINGS: death of playable character; supernatural death; mention of dead body; themes of death; supernatural beings; themes of terror; themes of peril.

The evening is quiet and still. May draws to a close and while the sun does not completely set, it dips low enough for the sky to grow a little darkdim with twilight. The midnight sun is almost upon the Northern Territories, the air is warmer than it has ever felt — even if it remains chilly. If this is summer, it is but a gentle brush of reprieve against the unyielding winter. The Interlopers wind down for the night, many turn to their beds to sleep, others sit awake and ponder their existence in this world. They think of home, of loved ones, of their predicament here in this place. The Forest Talkers, the strange beasts and monsters they’ve encountered.

The moon wanes in the skies, nestled amongst the stars. For those still awake to notice, they can see it: slowly, one by one, the stars begin to go out. Then the moon's light is swallowed whole, and a blanket of green gloom descends upon the Northern Territories.

The sky is dark and green and terrible. Many of those will recognise it, what this means and what will come. Others will not understand it, not know what it is that awaits them all.

They will soon find out: the Darkwalker comes.

Under a green sky, a cold fear washes over you — squeezing the breath from your lungs. Interlopers will find themselves overcome with that fear, and everything in their bodies and minds tells them to run. To flee. And so you run, heading for cover. Curtains will be drawn, some may hide under beds, within closets or wardrobes. Some desperately attempt to conceal themselves, make themselves small, unseen. Some Interlopers, in that fear, may rush to friends or loved ones to hide with them, others may simply cower alone — crawling and whimpering away from the night. The fear is irrational, unable to be overcome — even by the bravest or most stoic of Interlopers.

For those within Milton, it is further away but is by no means less potent: Interlopers will find themselves frozen with the constant loom of the Darkwalker’s arrival — even if it does not come to Milton. Those within Lakeside, however, will feel the true force of this presence: more like a knife edge — painfully gripping your heart as it draws close.

The Darkwalker howls: indescribable, unnatural, demonic. Low moans and groans. It comes from the east, the faint booms of footsteps in the distance growing ever nearer. It is coming, once more. It's coming for one of you. And still, you are powerless, unable to do anything. And it is an agony, awaiting its arrival. You cry, you whimper, you cower. Curling up for some shred of comfort, and finding none.

For those in Lakeside, through the fear, they may be able to note the path: a straight line from the east towards Carter Hydrodam. It seems to go on forever, building into a crescendo. Your heart beats so hard you fear it may burst from your chest, as if you might die of fright.

There is an almighty sound; the Darkwalker devours and even with the distance you can hear it. The sound of gnashing teeth, and… laughter. There is no scream, no bright light in the sky — Enola is silent this time. There is only that laughter, echoing off into the night.

The skies do not return to normal. The green gloom hangs in the air. It is done, but it is not yet over. While the overwhelming fear dissolves away, but a kind of… dread remains on the air — almost palpable.

The Darkwalker has devoured another. Braver souls who go out to investigate into Lakeside will find just who has been devoured once they reach the Hydrodam — although it may be a day or two before they will find the body in the medical bay.

At least it is cold enough that the rot does not fully set in — but death will certainly be here.

And this is but the beginning of the Interloper’s troubles.

POLAR SUN

WHEN: The month of June, up to Midsummer’s Eve + Summer Solstice.
WHERE: Milton area; Lakeside area.
CONTENT WARNINGS: themes of survival; food scarcity/food insecurity; supernatural weather; altered mental states; mental manipulation; themes of violence; potential character injury; potential character death; potential NPC death.

In the coming weeks and days, and weeks, the green gloom lingers. From the Darkwalker’s attack, there is no sun. No day, no night. No stars or moon or sun. No Auroras. Just the gloom and biting cold. Life becomes increasingly hard on Interlopers: higher expenditure on fuel — fires and lanterns are imperative to keep the darkness and the cold at bay.

With the green gloom in the air, the wildlife becomes more scarce — as if it has been frightened away into the deeper parts of the wilds. It will be harder to bring in fresh meat in both Milton and Lakeside, and Interlopers will find that they will have to rely on whatever stores they have — and perhaps even rationing for a while.

And it’s not the only thing frightened. Even with the debilitating fear that comes with the Darkwalker’s attack gone, there is still a kind of fear that lingers on the air that slowly eats away at the Interloper’s resolve over time.

Interlopers will find themselves anxious, on edge. Some will be prone to anger in their fear, others prone to fits of melancholy: tearfulness and sorrow. Between the cold, the lack of fresh game and the fear on the air — it’s no wonder spirits are low. Bickering and minor upsets between Interlopers are likely.

They call it the midnight sun, the polar day. It's opposite is the polar night. This is neither and both. On the day of midsummer's eve, that fear on the air is even more palpable. The air feels a little stifling at times, as if the pressure is all off — often quite oppressive, a strange kind of tension. There is something brewing, a low burning thing that begins from the moment Interlopers wake — heavy and sharp in their chest.

’So, Interloper. What will you do now?’ A voice sneers in your ear. The very same voice that has haunted Interlopers since the very beginning. The Darkwalker finally speaks after all these weeks of gloom since its most recent attack. ’When all is gone, when even the sun does not rise? What will you do then?’

A nervousness sits within you as you remember the Darkwalker’s words. What will you do if the sun does not rise? If the darkness is all that is left? If the food runs out? Your wonderings will continue to gnaw away within you. The darkness is hollowing.

’Will you lean on others, like you have always tried to do?’ the voice continues. ’What bonds you hold with them, the ones with those around you. But how strong are they, truly? Can you trust them? Will it matter when your belly is empty and your heart is low? Perhaps it is time to see.

’Never forget, Interloper. I am the Rot. And I will rot within you.’

As the day progresses into the Solstice, that tension lingers in the air, and the wonderings within you continue to wear at you. You find yourself becoming more and more agitated as time goes on. Those feelings that have been brewing for some time now have started to grow close to boiling. You may snap at others, grow restless, become enraged at the tiniest of things — the upsets wildly out of proportion for the smallest slights or issues.

You find your thoughts wandering, too. Perhaps it is to someone you know in this place, or perhaps it is to someone previously unknown to you. Maybe you have an issue with this person, or perhaps the voice’s influence extends further — not only adding to your agitations but creating them, too. A slight, a grudge, a bias.

You feel a bitter gnawing within you. The nightmarish green gloom above you persists and everything bubbles up from within. From the dark, the anger within you become too much. The tension finally snaps.

For some, it might come out as a vicious argument where you air your grievances, or finally let slip the things you’ve been holding close to your chest. A verbal beat down, incredibly hurtful in nature. For others, things may be drawn to getting physical. A literal beat down where your fists grow bruised and bloody, or perhaps even worse. Whatever it is, you want to do damage to someone else — there is darkness here, and so many things come out in the dark, don’t they?

Like a ripple, all around you: all hell breaks loose. Chaos erupts, and the air is filled with violence.

Let’s hope you might stop, or someone else stops you, before someone gets killed.

REPRIEVE

WHEN: Circa three days after the Summer Solstice.
WHERE: Milton.
CONTENT WARNINGS: blood.

All things must come to an end, even the most violent of deadly storms. In the midst of the seemingly endless violence of the night, you find yourself outside. Maybe you're fleeing from another Interloper, maybe you're desperately trying to reach someone you care for, maybe you're simply trying to find somewhere new to hide. Interlopers are hunting one another, blood lies on the snow, bodies too — some breathing, some not.

Perhaps it is a trick of the light. Perhaps it's the Darkwalker’s influence still warping your already frayed mind. Or it's the blood in your eyes, your battered and bruised body struggling to get through it all.

In the gloom, you see it. See her.

A woman, dressed in furs, stones and shells glimmering on her chest like armour, stands in the snow before you. Thin and pale, eyes sunken. Her chest heaves with each breath as she looks around with wide eyes. Her hands are bare and bloody. It drips slowly from her fingers. Is it her blood? Or someone else's? You cannot tell, but you cannot mistake how thick it coats her skin.

Her head turns to look at you. You are stunned, but not frightened. Even through the gloom, after a moment or two, her eyes widen in recognition: she knows you.

Slowly and silent, other than her noisy breathing, she draws close to you. Maybe in turn you draw close to her, closing the distance between you. Up close, her eyes are blue, and sad. You cannot mistake the sorrow in them. She is tired, weary. Her hair is dark, worn loose and long. For some, you feel as if you've seen her before, but you can't quite place her face.

Softly, she says your name.

For some, there may be no recognition. This woman is a stranger, who knows your name somehow. She has been silent the past couple of months, after all.

For others, hearing her speak brings a sudden, jarring realisation: this is Enola.

She’s here. Enola. All this time, she’s whispered to you in dreams, in static, in the very air itself.

She raises one hand, dark and dripping in the green light. Lightly, her fingers brush against your chest. You don’t feel the pressure of them, don’t feel the odd heat of blood — only the weight of her stare as she holds your gaze. It’s a long moment of peace in amongst the chaos.

You feel her exhaustion, a tiredness that sinks into your very bones. Apologies, too. You have never known anything like it. But there’s something else too, something that takes a moment or two to put your finger on. Defiance. A renewal. Something shifts in the air, a growing tension, different from the kind that’s been held on the air throughout the month. It’s the coming of a storm, the rolling clouds, the growing rumble of thunder before the first lightning strike.

Enola nods, her expression grave. She pulls away and turns from you — her head lifting towards the skies as she walks. Her arms raise, bloodied hands twisting and tensing before her. They curl, almost into fists, and she makes a gesture: the slow tearing of something huge and invisible before her — a shriek spilling from her lips. A battle-cry, a last stand, a wail of agony. It echoes.

The sky cracks and splits open before you, dazzling light and colours blinding your vision into pure white. The world tilts too hard below your feet, and you don’t remember passing out.

When you awaken, Enola is gone. The skies are clear and blue, the sun is high in the sky. As you pick yourself up from the snow, in the harsh light of the polar day, blood has never looked so red. The horrors of the night laid bare. Interlopers are dead, but the Darkwalker’s influence is gone. For now.

In the wake of Midsummer, all Interlopers can do is try reconcile. Bury the dead, rebuild, lick wounds. But that feeling in the air still remains — that different, new kind of tension that has come with Enola’s appearance. The first of the lightning bolts has struck, but more are coming.

FAQs

A SIGN OF THINGS TO COME

1. Alexander Hilbert has been devoured by the Darkwalker. His remains can be found in the Hydrodam. The following note has been left by Kates concerning his death: ‘Sveta gets possession of his research notes + blood samples + creepy lab journal because it's all in Russian, lmao.’

2. Information on the Darkwalker’s attack can be found here.

3. Usually, after the Darkwalker attacks, the sky would return to normal. This won’t happen. Instead, the usual atmospheric changes that occur during Darkwalker attacks will remain in place as June continues..

POLAR SUN

1. For an idea how the setting appears for June, it's like what you see in the game during the Escape The Darkwalker Challenge. Inside, there'll be a degree of green shades to rooms etc via what comes through windows but with it being lit up via fires and light sources, the gloom will be chased back.

2. Characters are free to use this event to kill NPC Interlopers. Methuselah and Young Bill are off the table, as are two marked NPC Interlopers. Please let Mods know if you intend on doing this for record keeping!

3. These acts of violence can be physical or verbal altercations, players are encouraged to work with the prompt however they'd like! However, anything potentially world-altering (ie. building destruction) must be first discussed with mods.

4. Interlopers under the Darkwalker's influence can be stopped in a number of ways. Showing genuine care and compassion in the face of violence is one way. Knocking an Interloper out is another way. Sometimes killing an Interloper may be needed, or simply restraining them and keeping them locked up somewhere so they can't hurt anyone else until the night is over would also work.

5. Talismans made by Heartman back in March with a Ward Sigil against the Darkwalker will come into effect during this prompt. It's been an ongoing process, with new Interlopers being offered them from their arrival. Players are free to choose what kind of talisman they received, or if they chose to get one at all. Their effectiveness is dependent on the type of blood used on the talisman.

— Animal Blood: Interlopers carrying talismans using blood from animals found in the world, such as deer, rabbits or wolves will find themselves more susceptible to the Darkwalker’s influence and disposition towards violence. They will be much harder to break out of the hold over them, and become almost frenzied state.
— Monster Blood: Interlopers carrying talismans using blood from any creatures or monsters that Interlopers have encountered in their time in the Northern Territories, such as the Serpent from December’s TDM will find there are no negative nor positive effects. The talisman is essentially useless. and Interlopers will fall under the Darkwalker's influence.
— Interloper Blood: Interlopers carrying talismans using blood for Interlopers will be offered protection/resistance from the Darkwalker’s influence and disposition towards violence. They may be slightly affected but will have their wits about them more compared to others. If the blood came from an Interloper with an Aurora Feat — this protection/resistance will be largely increased, an the Interloper may even feel braver, less affected by the fear in the atmosphere.
— No Talisman: Similar to the Monster Blood Talisman, Interlopers will be affected typically by the Darkwalker's influence in due course.

There are no additional affects with an Interloper using their own blood, just if they have an Aurora Feat or not.

6. Animals owned by Interlopers will be more frightened and will want to hide away in the build up — they will be disturbed by the world. Mostly lying down and whining/restlessness. They may display some signs of aggression on occasion, but not to the same degree of humans.

7. Forest Talkers are hidden away and will not be able to be reached during the Solstice.

REPRIEVE

1. Enola can only be met alone, but she will appear to all Interlopers in Milton.

2. Enola will be nowhere to be found afterwards, there are no tracks to be followed. She has simply vanished.

PLOTTING POST

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"Now I never said you'd be useless as a doctor," Hickey points out, with a little shrug. He is very quickly realizing he might have stepped in it and is backtracking just a little bit.

"Besides, this is simply a philosophical conversation. I know I can separate what-ifs and hypotheticals from what actually could happen."

"You too?" Hickey says, without even thinking. He's very curious as he asks, blatantly nosy,

"What were you going to be executed for?"

"Don't get defensive," she tells him gently. "You - were the one who went for insults first."

“Later, then.” It wasn’t his intent to watch the reaction to his cheek closely, but he spots the stunned look on his face and decides he’ll have to file that away for later pondering.

It’s probably better to finish dressing in front of the fire, so Crozier starts in the direction of the adjoining room. He lets himself continue to be guided, of course, that reassuring hand on his back grounding his movements and reminding him not to go too fast.

The room with the fire is so much cozier than the lavatory. He lets out the quietest of sighs as he finds his way to a chair.

The sigh makes Raju smile. His face is still hot but the feeling is fading, and he’s trying not to think about it. It might have been easier to react naturally if he hadn’t just spent so much time with his hands on Francis’ naked skin, looking at him, so there’s no reason to worry about it until next time Francis needs him to do the same thing. There are more immediate things to focus on, anyway.

Francis is going to be putting that sweater on soon, though. Raju moves toward the pile of blankets on the floor, looking back so his eyes can flicker over Francis. “Would you like your hair washed now?” he asks, once his eyes have discovered Francis’ face again. “Or do you need to rest?”

Melt snow into warm water to throw at a goddamned door? Who has the patience for that kind of idea!?

He grumbles slightly, turning back to the door and staring angrily at the door jamb, as though his visible vexation alone would melt the ice. Once upon a time it’d work, he’s sure of it. He’s just lost his edge. It’s probably the beard.

“Fine,” he says, remembering what Randvi had told him about Lalo’s ability. “Otherwise I’ve hauled all this for no reason.”

Eccentric, that seems to be an apt description of Randvi’s friend. He’s known plenty of eccentrics in his day - polar exploration seems to attract the kinds of people who keep cheetahs as pets or dress up for pantomimes on a whim.

“That’s not something you would do? Tame a bear cub to keep in your cabin?”

[ Apart from just being trapped here, the Doctor has never before experienced to such an extent the kind of gnawing hunger and inescapable emotions that come with fear and desperation as he has in recent days. He's been not himself, not tethered to his mind rationally.

But then, that woman comes and he only wants to help her, yet she disappears far too quickly. How does she know him? Why does it feel like — questions upon questions. So many, and no answers. He's turning everything over in his mind while trying to keep busy, though the full horror of what's descended on them in recent days comes to light. Literally. The sun shines and the reality of all that's happened settles like a heavy weight in his chest.

He sees someone familiar as he wanders through Milton, and the Doctor gently speaks — ]

Were you injured?

He was really looking forward to having his hair scrubbed and trimmed. As tired as he is, as sore as his body is starting to feel, it’d be worth it to power through.

“I’d still like to have my hair washed, if you don’t mind,” he says, almost demurely. Unheard of for a man like himself; a captain would always order, never ask. “Do you want me on the floor?”

[ They're... good points, actually. And Kate's still for a moment, head dipping as she considers them. Lieutenant Little does so much for everyone, always patrolling, always making sure everyone's okay. The doctors helps out everyone, and the talismans are there for everyone.

But... there's always a 'but'. Maybe Mikel had a point, too. ]

... Everyone's always looking out for me. [ Her lips are a thin line, brow furrowing in her fretfulness. ] Like, I'm not... ungrateful, everyone's been so kind but—

[ Looks up, emphasising with her eyes. ]

Maybe he... did have a point.

“Of course,” Chloe says like it's not a big deal at all. “We had a deal, right?”

And even without that, he's her friend.

“Let's get out of here before he wakes up.”

Chloe shrugs one shoulder, nonchalant. “Tried a double cross and it didn't work.” She grimaces. “Feelings got involved. It was pretty messy.”

“Pushing yourself when you're unwell can lead to these situations,” Randvi says as gently as it is possible to say that sort of thing. “If you do not choose to rest, your body will force you to do so.”

That gets raised eyebrows and an intake of breath, as if some part of Raju is ready with an answer that doesn’t come out, but the surprise that wants to settle over him again passes in an instant. He does, he wants that very much, but even if that was what Francis asked his ribs couldn’t stand up to it anyway.

That applies to the version of the question Francis actually did ask, too: “I would,” he says, easily because he is not thinking about it, “but I think those ribs of yours would like that chair a little better.”

He walks closer, spreading the towel over the back of the chair and setting a gentle hand behind Francis’ head to tuck the bottom of the towel behind his neck. But his hand is so close then, and his fingers and palm skate down the side of Francis’ neck, feeling it, enjoying the clean smell of him.

“You should really get that sweater on,” he says, hand settled over Francis’ scars and his collarbone. “It won’t get wet. I’ll put a blanket over you before I start.”

Randvi goes to sit next to him. “Not tree leaves! Leaves, as from a book. They have woodcut printed designs. They do look somewhat like these, but larger and less… solid.”

“Oh yes, good idea. Perhaps we can prepare a large pot for the others as well.” It's likely they're not going to be the only ones with an insomnia problem.

Randvi makes a sound that isn't quite a laugh, somewhere between a snort and a sigh. “Gods. I did not even want to take in this wolf! Eivor made an underhanded play and let the village children name it before she told me about it.”

Randvi tilts her head to lean against her friend. If she can offer some comfort in these terrible times, maybe that can be enough.

"That sounds good. We can't be the only ones feeling like this."

The innuendo wholly unintentional this time, and Crozier merely smiles and raises his hand to graze the tips of his fingers along Raju’s knuckles. He’s absently decided to match Raju’s energy, which apparently means lots of idle touching and caressing.

“Put the sweater on me then,” he says dryly, sliding his touch down to grasp and toy absently with Raju’s fingers. He sinks back against the chair, but will sit up upon request.

"I'm not defensive," he points out, defensively.

"Isn't it always messy when feelings are involved?" sighs the man who's living in the same house as his husband. "Nice, yeah. But messy."

|| ”Polar Sun” - Closed to Wynonna || -- cw: mention of dying, injury description

[She’s gone and there’s nothing left of her save the knife wound in his side and the way his arm still dangles a bit uselessly at his shoulder. He manages to drag his way back home, to the best home he’s ever seen, trailing blood along the way.

There’s a half formed plan in his mind. He is going to go inside, get a bandage, patch himself back together again. He’s going to lie in front of the fire and he’s going to stare up at the ceiling.

He doesn’t make it to the fireplace; he doesn’t make it to the door. The world starts to tilt around him and he stumbles on the steps to the Jackrabbit, falling to his knees on the porch. There’s no grand table this time. There’s Crozier in front of him, whole and healthy and authoritative. Standing stern, his eyes sweeping past Jopson to unseen depths beyond. Jopson falls to his knees, silently begging, but there’s no answer. Nor is there answer from Little, who calls out to someone else in the darkness and follows them off. Jopson curls up slightly in the cold, Goodsir’s hand reaching for him without seeing or feeling and then it’s gone. The Doctor, all laughter and goodwill, walks along, leading away Rorschach and his damnable mask and Jopson is there, alone, shivering in the cold.

Death has come for him again, giving him the spectral figures of all he cares for and who live their own lives. He agonizes over the loss, feeling it deep in his chest, feeling it more acutely than the wound bleeding onto the wooden steps.

He wishes them well.]

|| ”Reprieve” ||

[He isn’t very good at healing. In fact, he’s pretty impatient about it, but there’s so much that he wants to do. He wants to get up and go out. He wants to enjoy the sunshine, chilly as it might be. He wants to be out and about and help, though he’s wary of Wynonna and her watchful gaze.

But a man can sneak out to sit on the porch and enjoy the break every now and again.]

“I don't know if I'd say nice,” from the woman who skipped town because a guy taking down the wanted poster he made of her indicated too many feelings, “but yeah. They say you're supposed to keep your personal and professional life separate but I've never been good at it.”

She holds up her hands. "I'm sorry, Mr. Hickey. I didn't mean to imply."

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seven devils all around you, seven devils in your house

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03

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Thomas Jopson | The Terror

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