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

Levi grunts a bit when shoved but starts running. The nearest house, he could do that.

They got to the house just ahead of the wolves. Rorschach slammed it in their faces, pushing against the door and twisting the handle to keep it shut as it rattled under the force of the large furry bodies slamming against the wood.

"Find something to put against it!" He told Levi, busy as he was trying pushing back to keep them from knocking the damn thing right down.

There's a table not far from the door so Levi pushes that over. He's not sure if that'll be enough, though, so he goes for a bookshelf further back. Its heavier, so it'll take him more time to move. He does his best to do so quickly and without taking his attention off of the door.

When the table was brought over, Rorschach tilted it at an angle so the top of it was shoved under the door handle, preventing it from jostling loose. He still kept up the pressure on the door, the bodies still thumping away at it as the wolves tried to break in. He glanced and saw Levi bringing the table over, moving aside so that he could put it in the makeshift blockade.

He manages to push the bookcase over, without even knocking too much off its shelves, and pushes it onto the barricade.

"Do you think that's enough? They sound really angry."

He checked the strength of the barricade. It was holding steady, at least for the moment. But he was worried about the integrity of the door holding for the long-term. "Enough for now. Should have plan if they break in."

Already, he was striding through the house, looking for anything that could be used as a weapon. He found a fire poker that looked heavy enough to break a few skulls if the wolves broke in and then went into the kitchen to see if he could find anything in there.

There were the windows too, but he didn't plan to stay here long enough to need to go full on barricade for this place. They weren't smart enough to try the backdoor or anything like that...he hopes.

Levi pokes his head into the next room. "I have a knife, there are probably more in the kitchen. Maybe other weapons, some of these houses have them."

He also had the rocks in his satchel, but there weren't many of those left. Or his rifle...he'd really prefer not to use it, but now that he wasn't alone he'd be more likely to.

"They might give up," Rorschach said, though he wasn't all that optimistic. These animals were ferocious, and unlike human beings, it was hard to intimidate them. Although if anything had, it would have been skewering one of them with nothing but luck on his side the way he had a few minutes earlier.

In the meantime, Rorschach went to the kitchen. He selected the biggest knife from the knife block. He pulled off a glove and tested the edge of it. Yes, it was sharp enough and would do nicely if he had to stab anything in the near future.

"Mm." Levi doesn't expect them to give up. Something had driven these beasts to violence and it wasn't likely to give up soon. But there were also too many of these things for 'kill them all' to be a valid option.

"Kitchen knives are more useful than I thought," he muses as he watches Rorschach test his.

"Knives are always a good choice for weapons. Versatile uses." That was one of the longest and most put-together sentences Rorschach had said thus far, which said something about what sort of subjects it would take for him in order to actually talk at length with anyone.

He rummaged through the drawers and came up with a knife sharpener. He ran the one he'd selected through it a few times in a purposeful fashion in order to make sure the edge was as keen as possible. If it came down to stabbing a wolf, he didn't want the blade to get stuck only a few inches in because it couldn't get past the layers of fat and muscle under those hairy hides.

Levi watches the masked man sharpen the knife. He didn't know regular people kept things like that. Was it important for kitchen knives to be sharp? He guesses it'd make sense.

"I've uses combat knives, but only recently took them from kitchens." For combat, of course. "Can I use that when you're done?"

He pulls a dirty, and somewhat bloody, kitchen knife out of a separate pocket in his satchel. It wasn't nearly as sharp as he'd like it to be when fighting animals like this.

"Never kept them." Rorschach's feelings around using weapons was....complicated. But he was pragmatic and would use what was necessary to defend himself when the occasion called for it. Right now, he was willing to use whatever it took to drive these wolves off.

"Just use whatever is around." He took off his glove and tested the knife blade. He was satisfied with the sharpened edge. Then he pushed the knife sharpener towards Levi.

He takes the sharpener and mimics how Rorschach used it. Another thing he usually didn't need to worry about.

"I prefer guns...but that's not always an option."

"Never liked guns." Why? ~~Comic book logic.~~ It had always felt a bit too easy to Rorschach. Matters of life and death should have required more weight than simply pulling a trigger in his opinion. But that was just him. Guns were find for everyone else so long as he wasn't the one having to use them.

He turned to listen to see if the wolves were still pounding away at the door or if they'd given up.

"They're pretty much all I was trained with. You can't really get close if the enemy all has guns anyway." When your enemies were another army, at least.

He puts the sharpener back on the table and follows Rorschach into the other room. "Are they still there? Maybe there's another way we can get out."

Maybe the roof...if they were close enough to another house they may be able to travel that way.

"There's ways." He tended to beat people up with whatever happened to be closest at hand to use as a weapon, whether or not they had a gun was irrelevant. But then Rorschach was completely insane.

He approached the door on soft feet. He rattled the handle for a moment. That got the attention of the wolves and once again they began their assault on the cabin, growling and snarling all the while. He went back over to where Levi was. "Still there."

"I guess." In situations with less people or you could get the jump on them he guesses it probably is. But he's not dealt with much of that, and unless the wolves started shooting it didn't matter now.

He nods and sighs a bit as the wolves start making noise again. Damn things were too single minded. He's pretty sure that's not normal for animals, but neither was the glowing.

"Do you think we can get to the roof?" Or he guesses they could just stay here all night but he doesn't like doing that.

Rorschach considered the idea of getting to the roof carefully. "Depends on how well you can climb," he eventually responded with. It wasn't going to do any good if Levi climbed like a pig trying to get up a tree.

Already, he was looking around for routes that could lead them upwards to the roof, though he wouldn't leave the kid if he wasn't able to follow. His job was to protect people and he was going to do just that.

"Well enough, I guess." He didn't climb much but he did occasionally go up a tree for a better vantage point.

He starts looking around for something that could be attic access. It'd be safer to go through one than the window, but they might have to break open a hole.

Rorschach did likewise, his face turning upwards as he looked for a way to get the attic. He went room by room before heading upstairs. That was when he saw what he was looking for: a trapdoor in the ceiling.

"Up here," he told Levi.

He heads over to the room Rorschach's in and looks up at the trap door. "Good. That's better than a window or the back door. Can you open it?"

He's on the shorter side of average, but he can probably stretch if Rorschach can't. Maybe.

Rorschach judged the distance with his mind before he walked off, searching the rooms with a purposeful air. He was looking for a chair, and while he didn't find that, he found the next best thing. He hauled over a large chest, an old-fashioned thing that was solid as a rock. Standing on it, he was able to reach the trap door. He juggled it back and forth until he finally managed to yank it open, barely avoiding the shower of dust that came down with it.

Afterwards, he turned towards Levi. "Let's go."

He's not sure what to make of it when the other man just walks away so he follows. Oh, something to stand on. That makes sense. He helps shove the thing into position.

He watches the ladder drop down and nods, heading up into the attic. He's not been in many of these, but that hardly matters. All he needs is a vent or a window or an easier to break section of roof to get out, so he sets about looking for those.

Rorschach was glad for his face once they entered the attic. The two of them moving around started to stir up a cloud of dust something fierce and the fabric he was wearing helped to filter some of it out. He let Levi look while he did the same, though he wasn't finding anything suitable they could use to make their escape.

Levi covers his mouth and nose with his hand to keep out at least some of the dust. He squints at what lies in the darkness of the attic.

"We may need to just break a hole in the roof."

What did they need to do that? He supposes the butt of his rifle could help but he'd really rather find something else. Maybe there was an axe for firewood in the house somewhere.

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

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject