seven devils all around you, seven devils in your house

[singmod]

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

Comments

[notarat]

This feels stupid. Very stupid. Even if Lalo's body language is speaking complete confidence the way Billy himself never could, he can't help but wonder if this is false confidence. After all, Billy has also realised the man is far too angry to calm down with words at this point. Lalo will likely only rile him up further. Maybe he'll try to even hurt Lalo, especially with that still-raised fist.

Billy nervously stares between Lalo and the stranger, unsure if he should speak up or intervene. He doubts he could say anything that would actually help, but Lalo is stepping in for his sake. Billy cares just enough to feel a little awkward about just standing there and watching this potentially go bad.

Which it seems to. The man suddenly pulls his fist back, right around the time Lalo arrives at the word stupid, like the man is taking it as a personal insult. Billy is shocked by it, too surprised to be able to move, but he does try to call out when the fist is flying straight at Lalo's face: "Mr. Eduardo--!"

[salamanca]

Lalo's confidence, as it turns out, is rarely misplaced, and it isn't this time. Billy might not be accustomed this kind of physical violence, but Lalo is.

It happens so fast that it's almost a blur. Lalo ducking, moving out of the way of the man's fist. A scuffle, a soft 'ugh!' as the man is brought to the ground with Lalo going down with him. The man on his stomach, squirming, Lalo holding the other man's dominant hand behind his back forcefully while the other man is on the ground.

"Like I said," Lalo repeats more forcefully. "You don't wanna do anything stupid." The guy isn't seriously hurt, but the wind is knocked out of him. Hopefully that will be enough that the stranger's pride and whatever is influencing everyone to act insane won't make him do something even dumber.

[notarat]

...

Well, that was unexpected.

Billy doesn't even realise that his jaw has dropped at the display until he's already been watching the man squirm underneath Lalo for a few moments. He's definitely putting 'don't find yourself on the wrong side of this man' into his mental little notebook, thanks. There's no way Billy is winning a fight from anyone, let alone a guy like Lalo.

"I.." He even sounds surprised. Not quite as surprised as he looked a moment ago with his jaw hanging down and all, especially since it sounds like Billy is trying to recover some sense of politeness and formality as he speaks, but there's still some clear surprise in his tone all the same. "I was not aware you could do this."

What the hell, Lalo. Are you some sort of professional fighter? A Marine? What even?

[salamanca]

"Hey, what can I say? I'm full of surprises! Now tear off a strip of your shirt and hand it to me, eh? This guy won't stop kicking!"

Lalo is jovial, seemingly at ease and unflappable despite nearly getting a tooth knocked out. But right now, he's in his element. Lalo prefers to shoot people instead of confront them physically, but if he has to -- sure, he can take somebody out in a fight! You never know when you need to hold your own in his line of work, after all.

"Hurry up!" He stretches an arm, open palm out to Billy. The man below him does manage to kick him in the shin, but aside from a brief wince, Lalo barely reacts.

[notarat]

A strip of his shirt?

Between how Victorian Billy is and how much of a neat freak he is, Lalo may as well have asked him to tear out his heart and give it to him on the spot, truly. There's absolutely no way he's willing to rip his shirt, not even when the stakes are relatively high.

.. not that it means he will just stand by. Like he just realized - Lalo does not seem like a great man to have working against you. So Billy finds the middle of the road solution here. Not moving to tear his own shirt, but instead kneeling down to tear a strip off the very bottom of the struggling man's pants, near his kicking feet. Billy mostly manages to dodge the kicks by having really skinny arms. It makes him surprisingly hard to hit!

And-- look, if this random person from town didn't want his clothes torn, maybe he shouldn't be an idiot who attacks people in the middle of the street, okay! Maybe that's why Billy doesn't even bat an eye at tearing the man's clothes.

He hands the scrap of fabric to Lalo, putting it in the man's open palm.

"Here."

[salamanca]

Lalo takes the strip and yanks the kicking man's hands behind his back, using it to tie him firmly. He'll probably be able to wriggle out of it eventually, but why would Lalo give a shit? He and Billy will be long gone by then. Lalo would normally be inclined to just beat the shit out of the man, or kill him, but that's not gonna help his image, now is it?

Lalo stands up, dusting himself off, before he turns to Billy with a grin. "Come on. Let's get outta here."

[notarat]

Billy definitely does not have to be told that twice. He absolutely does not want to stay near this man, especially since he's struggling so angrily against his bonds. There's no telling what sort of fury and violence that will translate to the moment he frees himself.

So he gives Lalo a quick little nod before he starts walking. If he was making better decisions, he'd probably head in some other direction, a little unsure about leading Lalo back towards his home once more - but Billy is so rattled by the entire matter that his feet instinctively carry him in the direction of his and Hickey's house, the only place that feels safe right now.

"I--" He starts, sucking in a breath. Trying to calm himself down, if not just so his hands will start to feel less warm. Right now it feels like they could shoot fire at any moment. "I was not aware you could do all that."

Yes, sure, Lalo is a pretty big guy compared to Billy. But being big doesn't mean you're automatically good at subduing people or fighting. Billy knows plenty of big people back on the expedition who are also huge losers.

Lalo clearly isn't.

[salamanca]

Lalo isn't nearly as shaken as Billy. In fact, he's downright chill. He can tell Billy is nervous, though. He claps Billy gently on the shoulder as they go into Billy's home. "Relax!" he says. He's grinning. Body language loose and relaxed.

"Well, what can I say? I'm full of surprises!"

[notarat]

It's one thing to keep a cool head in a situation like this, but Lalo is entirely too chill. Yeah, sure, he subdued that guy before something worse could happen, but Billy has definitely seen one of his friends eating someone out in the streets. It's a wild situation, Lalo!

It makes the contrast with the previous time he saw the man even more strange. Is this truly the same man who was so nervously telling him about the things going on between him and Chloe? But lethal danger is no trouble?

He lets out a breath, and he does try to relax a little. He's definitely not getting all the way there yet, but it doesn't feel great to be that nervous while home alone with someone he doesn't know well, so he's making an attempt. In fact, Billy moves towards the kitchen, grabbing the kettle so he can make himself some tea. Maybe that will help.

"Is this sort of thing common where you come from?"

Why else would Lalo be this chill, honestly.

[salamanca]

Duh, Billy. Talking about his feelings is terrifying. Some guy trying to punch his lights out is terrifying! How is that weird? Lalo thinks it's normal!

"Sí. At least for me, it is. I really need to apologize that you had to see that — it's just how I was raised. It's all my uncle's influence. He wanted me to know how to fight, but he didn't teach me to be great with feelings." He laughs. "Old-school Mexican gangbanger. You know? Well. I guess you don't." Has Billy even heard of Mexico? Lalo realizes he has no idea what most Victorians know or don't know. "He's not sentimental and mushy like me." All in all, Lalo gives the impression of someone aware that someone might find his chillness off-putting, but seems straight-up unable to muster the appropriate emotional gravitas somebody less accustomed to violence might expect.

He does give Billy the courtesy of backing up, giving him space to make tea and calm his nerves. He looks at the table they'd sat down at when they were discussing his Chloe problem. "May I sit?"

[notarat]

There's a slight nod on Billy's part, followed by a faint affirmative hum to indicate that it is indeed alright with him. Not like he's going to chase Lalo out of his home when the other did technically just save him, even if Billy is still a touch overwhelmed. Both by what happened, and by all the sudden information Lalo is throwing his way.

Still, he has an excuse to step away and make the tea for a moment, which gives him a moment to think about it all. And to breathe-- to calm down. Not just for his own sake, but for Lalo's and the house as well, considering Billy freaking out always comes with the not-so-fun risk on the side of him burning something down by accident.

By the time he returns to the table though with tea, he does look a touch calmer. At least not fully skittish anymore.

"It sounds like you come from a tough place, Mr. Eduardo."

Look, if it means that Billy doesn't have to think about what just happened and can get a little bit more information out of Lalo, then he's fine with turning the attention towards the other for now. The other's words about what his uncle taught him seem to imply this much, anyway.