singillatim | extinction is the rule

extinction is the rule

SEPTEMBER 2023 EVENT

PROMPT ONE — THE AURORA: AFTERSHOCKS: The Aurora comes, bringing chaos to the town of Milton. Electronics go haywire, and the Interlopers learn of the original citizens of Milton.

PROMPT TWO — THE HOUR OF THE WOLF: Tainted by the Aurora and attracted to the noise of people inhabiting the town, several packs of wolves descend upon Milton.

PROMPT THREE — IT SPEAKS: A voice comes to the Interlopers, one that knows them and their darkest fears and deepest insecurities, persuading them to fade into the Long Dark by any means necessary.

THE AURORA: AFTERSHOCKS

WHEN: Sporadic nights over the next month.
WHERE: Milton area.
CONTENT WARNINGS: supernatural horror; ‘ghost’ horror; hauntings; death of npcs in various ways including suicide, murder or exposure to elements.

After the feast, and making sure the newcomers to Milton are seen to, Methuselah packs up. He will explain to others that while he will return to check in, he is no resident of Milton and will not stay. He is a nomad, something he has been all his life. He lives in nature. That is where he belongs. But he does assure that people are welcome to remain sheltered in the Hall if they wish to. And sure enough, the old man leaves, wishing the newcomers well. He can still be found out in the wilderness, and will shelter and feed those out exploring should they come across him.

And so the days and nights of this world roll on. The initial time of those who have come to be stranded in this world is unsettled. The weather is always changing, even if it remains bitterly cold. On some nights throughout the next month, however, the snow clouds clear and Interlopers are given a rare, clear night. At first, it’s beautiful: without the light pollution, all the stars can be seen, the moon casts an eerie glow upon the snow in the dead silence of the night. One might even say there is a kind of peace that comes with it all. And for some of these evenings, they pass by: uneventful and silent — the long darkness of an endless winter’s night.

But on others, it isn’t so uneventful. The noise starts: faint at first, but then growing louder. Something in the heavens above. An ethereal, high-pitched chorus of sounds difficult to place. There’s a kind of electrical buzzing with it all, a low, endless hum punctuated with cracks and pops that echo. The sky is alive with sound, louder than anyone could ever expect it to. With it comes the swirling streaking of colour against the inky black of night, growing brighter and brighter as the night goes on: The Aurora has come.

And it isn’t the sky that comes to life too: the whole town does too. Streetlights, illuminating the town’s roads; lights in stores and homes will come alive, buzzing and flickering often. Previously abandoned cars will turn on, their headlights blaring but faltering. Electronics that had previously seemed broken flick on — and whilst there are no broadcasts available on televisions, and the radio waves only drone on in static, both only occasionally blaring standard emergency broadcasts. Any computers and phones will turn on, but will have no internet or reception. Instead, Interlopers may find texts and emails — many of them unsent. The everyday lives of their users stored within, now readable.

But there’s something else too. The Aurora doesn’t just awaken the electronics of the town. Dotted around, in the streets, in homes, in stores, the lights of the Aurora begin to take shape: spectral-like forms of people, their faces hard to make out, details difficult to define. They move in glitching patterns, they speak with voices distorted by static. Eagle-eyed Interlopers may recognise the forms of some, a body or an action:

These are the residents of Milton, in their last moments on this earth.

The forms act out short scenes on repeat: a desperate fight between two men over a vehicle, a murder in a store during a riot, a suicide alone in one of the many houses. An argument over the communication lines going down. A sobbing teen curled up on his bed. A child stares up at the skies, their hands over their ears, crying in fright. A woman begs for her father to leave his home and head to the coast with her, to try to make it to the mainland, but he refuses to leave. A man succumbs to the cold walking alone in the outskirts of town without proper clothing for the elements. Several of these ‘ghosts’ are people fleeing before they stop and simply gasp, staring off into the distance for a few seconds before they drop dead on the spot.

There is nothing that can be done to stop these endless loops. Nothing to help these poor souls. Each of these moments are captured by the Aurora: final, desperate and tragic moments in some unknown, chaotic time. Some of these ‘ghosts’ maybe stop after so many loops — flickering out into nothing, others will last all night. But all will be gone by the morning and the Aurora comes to an end. There are answers, and there are none.

THE HOUR OF THE WOLF

WHEN: Sporadic nights over the next month.
WHERE: Milton.
CONTENT WARNINGS: (wild) animal attacks, altered wildlife, possible character injury/death, possible (wild) animal injury/death.

The growing presence of people within the town of Milton has meant more light, more warmth, more noise. The Aurora has created great change, but people are not the only thing the ethereal lights in the sky has brought down upon this old mining town.

When the sun slips below the horizon, and the clear skies of burnt embers and inky blues alight with stars, they come.

A lone howl, long and haunting. It is the first signal, which carries on the air. You can’t seem to place from which direction it comes from, it feels like it encompasses you. Then another voice joins it, and another, and another. A chorus of them. As the sound echoes off, another fills its place: a strange feral chittering, snarling and snapping — the drumming of feet upon the snow, heading right for you.

Wolves.

Unnatural, glowing green eyes in the dark — tendrils of light seeping from them as they rush in and encircle those they come across outside. They come in packs of three or more, and they are clever. They’re quicker than any wolf you’ve ever known, bigger and hardier too. They will try to strike fast by zipping in when you’re distracted, snapping and nipping at legs or trying to take quick bites out of arms before drawing back. They work together to bring their prey down, a solid unit of noise and teeth. They will hunt down those who hide inside, try to claw their way inside of homes and buildings — dead set on finding you and tearing you apart. There is no hiding from them. They will find you.

But breaking the pack can send them back. If they’re broken, their morale is depleted. Fire is your biggest friend: torches, campfires and flames will keep them mostly at bay and only the bravest of these packs may attack. Striking them with flares or flames will actually send them into brief retreats. Bullets and arrows are effective with both noise and injuring the wolves, and although hitting one will be difficult due their speed, it’s possible. Killing one of these wolves will dissolve the pack’s morale entirely, and the rest will flee off into the night.

Until next time. Maybe it’s best you don’t stick around. They do hold a relentless determination.

IT SPEAKS

WHEN: Over the next month, possibly longer.
WHERE: Milton.
CONTENT WARNINGS: psychological horror; mental manipulation; themes of suicide; themes of depression; potential self-harm; potential feelings of isolation; potential attempted suicide.

There are whispers. Small, at first. Distracting. Perhaps it is only the wind you hear. Milton is so quiet, even with the new hustle and bustle of the new people to this place. Wood creaks and the trees rustle, there are plenty of sounds you could mistake it for.

‘Interloper.’ It is an old voice. Something deep and dark and ancient. Something impossible, older than the earth itself. It floats into your ears and nestles there, sending an ice-cold shiver down your spine. Even to the most stoic and unshakeable souls, it is a unnerving voice. It feels wrong. It feels like an ending. To hear the voice is deeply unsettling... and yet... you recognise it.

It comes to you, in the dead of night when sleep is far. In the long stretches of day as you go about your business, as you travel across the frigid landscape or gather firewood or try to pass the time within whatever home you’ve made for yourself. For some the voice will be clear as day, for others it may be some distant whisper — something gently murmuring in your ear. But the voice will be heard, no matter the person.

‘Interloper. Do you know what it means?’ It asks. ‘It means one that involves itself in a place it does not belong. You do not belong.’

That it isn’t the only thing it tells you. For everyone, it’s different. It knows you. It picks up on any weakness, any insecurity. It makes you feel small, insignificant. It tells you all the quiet, terrible things you hide down within yourself. For days, weeks, the voice is there. Speaking to you. It will wear you down, insist you are not wanted, that you do not belong here.

... And wouldn’t it be better if you weren’t here at all?

The voice seeks to break you. It will push you to your limit. Sleep will become hard to find, your spirits low and hollow. In time you might seem to believe it. Maybe it’s better if you weren’t here. You don’t belong in this place, why should you stay?

‘Disappear, Interloper. Go into the Long Dark.’

Perhaps you next find yourself atop the steep cliffs, looking down into the Milton Basin below. Perhaps you find yourself with a gun in your hand, or a rope. Perhaps you find your feet carrying you out into the snow. You’re going to disappear. You’re going to go into the Dark.

Or maybe the voice isn’t so loud. You can push it down, ignore it. Perhaps Faith is what keeps you steady, perhaps knowing who you are despite your faults stops the voice from taking over. Maybe you can help those who can’t block out the voice. Words of encouragement, affirmation, kindness, determination, even spite. The voice wants you dead, but you will not let it. You will not fall. You will not let anyone else fall, either.

FAQs

THE AURORA: AFTERSHOCKS

1. While examples are given, players are encouraged to come up with their own ghostly loops of similar loops. The key thing to remember is that the people of Milton have descended into public disorder. Fights, arguments and murders have occurred, as have suicides or other unexplained deaths. People are frightened. They want to leave the town.

2. Ghostly loops cannot be interacted with, only witnessed.

3. There is no way of putting these 'ghosts' to rest. These loops are more like residual memories, as if the energy of the townsfolk remained, and have been reconstructed by the Aurora.

4. The wolf attacks and Auroras occur on sporadic nights over the course of the next month, with the Aurora being the first thing, then the wolves. It's unlikely you'll get both on the same night. While the wolves are attracted to the Interlopers' activity, the Aurora's light and noise will keep them away from the town during Aurora Nights.

5. Sharp-eyed Interlopers may notice that the 'ghosts' of those who are staring off into the distance before gasping and dropping dead are looking skyward, towards the east.

THE HOUR OF THE WOLF

1. Due to the Aurora's influence, these wolves are harder, ~~better~~, faster, stronger, than typical wild wolves. They do not die as easily, and are much more difficult to wound and kill. But not impossible. Scaring the wolves will be far easier to accomplish.

2. Wolves will return, sometimes more than once on the same night, or on other nights during the month. The only sure-fire way to have them stop coming back is to kill the pack.

3. Wolf meat is technically edible. But not advised due to parasites. Characters are still welcome to harvest the wolves they kill, however. ~~Who would say no to a cool ass wolf cape.~~

4. The wolf attacks and Auroras occur on sporadic nights over the course of the next month, with the Aurora being the first thing, then the wolves. It's unlikely you'll get both on the same night. While the wolves are attracted to the Interlopers' activity, the Aurora's light and noise will keep them away from the town during Aurora Nights.

IT SPEAKS

1. Characters can be talked down and broken from the voice's influence by others. Genuine connection and empathy will work massively, but even encouragement and affirmations to keep surviving will be powerful enough to break the voice's hold.

2. Players are welcome to play with the length of time the voice can be heard with characters. Some may want to have it over a short space of time, others can have this progress over a longer time period.

3. The voice can come at any time over the next month.

PLOTTING POST

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

It's okay, I guess it's kind of spooky in here anyways.

[ Which... really doesn't help things. She probably should have found a lantern or something to bring along with her. She smiles a little at the question, before shaking her head. ]

Kind of, but they're different too. Some are have more specific purposes, but there's also differences in fluoride content. I know someone back home that'd... probably explain it better— [ Warren is really into his chemicals. ] but it's pretty important to look after your teeth. Probably... a lot more so with... well—

[ She looks around them. She doesn't really need to finish it, does she? ]

Um...

[He looks back at the boxes. When was the last time he even brushed his teeth? Before the train to Prehevil, maybe? Probably. Things had been crazy since then. It was calmer here but he wasn't really thinking about taking care of himself yet.
He picks up one with writing about how dentists recommended it. That had to be good, right? Nevermind half of them said that.]

...what about this one?

Hmm. Let me have a look. [ She takes it from him to examine it, turning it over to check the back. Dentists recommending it is absolutely a very good indicator of a decent toothpaste. They wouldn't lie about something like that, they're dentists after all. ]

This one's pretty good. [ She points to a number on the back, indicating the fluoride content with a small. ] See, the higher the number, the better the toothpaste.

[ Yeah, she'll take that one, gently putting it in her little basket. ]

I just need a few more things. Everyone kind of thinks about food but no one really thinks about the other ways you're supposed to look after yourself, so I guess I have a decent pick of things.

[Well if was good enough that worked for him; he grabs another box for himself.]

...oh, like soap and stuff? Most of the houses have that stuff.

[Was it any good? He had no idea. He's used to all his toiletries just supplied to him.]

I haven't though about looking in stores for...anything but food and ammo though.

[ There's a thin smile at that. ]

I figured. I... don't like the idea of taking from people's homes. [ It doesn't feel right, even if the original inhabitants are now gone. Stealing from the dead feels like a taboo that shouldn't ever be broken. ]

Well, I mean that's fair. Food and ammo make sense, people need to eat and to protect themselves. [ She's heard wolf cries, wherever this place is it's in the middle of some pretty heavy wolf territory. ] But people need other things too. Like brushing your teeth, washing your face, chapstick. Things like that make you feel a little more human in a place where you might feel like you're just an animal trying to survive. We're more than animals, you know?

Well, it's not like they'll be using them anymore.

[Though he'll avoid any already-used soap. And his attitude towards death and the dead was much different than most people's. He hopes.]

...I, I guess.

[Was he more than an animal, though? He's not really sure. He's not like the other people here, at least.]

I just...I haven't really though of it. I think its [easier on his mental health] more important to make sure things are safe.

I guess. [ She nods. ] It just... it doesn't feel right, you know? It still feels like stealing. Maybe... maybe it's just me.

[ There's something in it all that just feels wrong about taking things. Even if Methuselah told them it's okay, even if people aren't here any more. ]

Safety's important, yeah. But what comes after? Safety's a basic need, but we're more complex than that. We're created like that.

Yeah...I guess. But, um, maybe think of it this way? If you died and left something useful behind, would you want people to use it? I know I would.

[That's how he was taught to handle savaging from fallen comrades.
What comes after safety...that was usually something that was just decided for him. Did he need to worry about that now? Hygiene was obvious, but day-to-day functioning he's not as sure about. What if they're stuck here, how do they manage to keep surviving?]

I don't...that's usually someone else who figures that out. Not me.

... That's kind of a good way of looking at it.

[ She reluctantly agrees. Yes, it's a good point. But she certainly doesn't like the idea of it all that much. It still doesn't really... sit well with her? So she's... not really going to be jumping to doing just that. ]

It doesn't need to be. [ There's a kind smile at that. ] It's kind of the thing you take your own charge with. But... even when it's hard to, doing things like brushing your teeth or using some moisturiser or chapstick can make you feel a little better.

[ Speaking of, she's going to start moving towards moisturisers. ]

[He trails after her, though he's never used a moisturizer before. Maybe it was a girl thing. ~~Marina's hand had been so soft.~~]

...I guess I kind of have to now.

[ Absolutely not a girl thing. Everyone should moisturise, at the bare minimum. Everyone deserves nice, soft and healthy skin, especially when the weather looks like it's going be nothing but frigid and snowy. ]

It's not a bad thing. [ She tells him with a small smile. ] Granted we're stuck in this place, it's kind of nice to have some degree over control over something.

Luckily for us, they already have some pretty hardcore moisturisers. Skin gets super dry in the cold weather, if it cracks, it gets sore and it might even get infected.

Its kind of an overwhelming thing.

[He's not used to having control over his life. The last real decision he made on his own he's still not sure about.]

...it does?

[Here was a lot colder than anywhere he'd ever been, so he can easily believe that's just true here. The moisturizers were also quite overwhelming, though.]

So, um, what sort should I look for?

Maybe it's something you'll get used to with time. The more you do something, the less scary it seems, right?

[ Isn't that usually how it works? ]

Well, we're mostly made out of water. Drying out isn't a... really good thing for us.

[ So yes. Cracking, sore skin will happen. Skin infections will likely follow. She looks at the moisturisers on the shelf for a long moment. ]

Deeply nourishing moisturisers that protect the skin barrier. Bear in mind there's moisturisers you can use all over, but some are specifically for the face. Fortuntately for us, this place already stocks some pretty good ones — so any of these'll do just great.

...yeah. People can get used to a lot of things. I guess I just...need to get used to it.

[It felt weird, needing to get used to a normal life. Especially here, which was in no way normal.]

Um...so...do you need to moisturize, ah, all over?

[Oh. Oh no, that might have sounded bad. Shit.]

I mean, do you just need to get like your face and hands?

[ There's a little nod at that. There's plenty for them all to get used to here, really. Hopefully, she thinks, not for too long. That they'll be able to get out of this town and get home.

... Oh. Um, yeah... just a little bit. Kate's lips purse for a brief moment and she... very politely tries to move past it. ]

So... hands and face need to be moisturised at a minimum. Feet too. ... And elbows and legs. They're probably the places where you're more likely to get dry skin.

[He is immensely relived that she decides to move past it. ~~He'll probably still angst about saying stupid things later though.~~]

Okay, that makes sense. Do you just use it when you feel dry?

[Does he feel dry? He thinks he feels normal. Maybe a little? He'll figure it out later.]

[ People say awkward stuff sometimes. She's... trying her best to be graceful about it. ]

Every day, actually. Twice a day is better. But you should be moisturising at least once a day.

It's better to be preventative than to try and fix things when they go wrong.

Okay. What kind should I look for?

[Should he be taking notes? Not that he had anything to write it, but he's not sure he'll remember all this later. As long as he remembers the basics it should be okay, right? Probably.]

[ She scans the shelf at the brands on offer. It's not much of a selection, admittedly. But most of these are pretty good for what the people who lived in this town. She picks one out for him and holds it out. ]

I think this one'll be good. Pretty nourishing, and it'll help with the cold drying out your skin.

[ She'll add a bottle to her basket before she glances down at the contents. ]

I think I got everything I need. At least this place is close by enough I can come back if I've forgotten anything.

[He takes it and turns it over in his hands. He doesn't expect to understand the stuff written on it, but at least he can remember the name and what it looks like. He sticks it, and the toothpaste, in his cartoon-penguin themed satchel.]

It seems like a pretty useful store. Some of the others might have things like this but I never looked.

You're probably right, to be honest. It's definitely worth checking them over again.

[ Better for the long-term, rather than just looking for short-term things.

It's perhaps out of habit that she walks to the check-out counter, pausing for a long moment before she realises that there's no one there. Whoever worked in this store is long gone, by now. She looks uncomfortable, she still doesn't like the idea of taking things. Even if no one's here anymore.

When she starts moving the items from the basket into her school satchel, she pulls out her purse. Taking out a twenty, she carefully puts it down on the counter. Besides from the toothpaste and moisturiser, she's got a few other pieces. This should be enough to cover it. ]

Maybe someone'll come back, eventually.

Thanks for the help.

[He almost says something about her attempt to pay but stops himself. He doesn't want to crush any hope, however misguided he thinks it is, she has after she's been so nice to him.]

...Maybe.

That's okay. [ There's a little nod and small smile at that. ] I hope you find using those things helps a little bit.

[ His skin and teeth will certainly thank him, though. And even as strange as these times are, she's sure things will be put right again soon enough. ]

I should head back— [ to the Community Hall. ] I'll maybe see you around?

Y-yeah, probably...Oh, um, I'm Levi. I-it was good to meet you.

I'm Kate. [ There's another little nod. ] It was nice to meet you, too.

[ She raises her hand in farewell before turning to leave and heading out of the store. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

extinction is the rule

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

want to wrap this one?

sounds good to me

no subject

no subject

wrap!