nature offers a violence

[singmod]

NOVEMBER 2023 EVENT

PROMPT ONE — WHITEOUT: Methuselah makes an unexpected early return to Milton to warn Interlopers of an impending monster storm, and boy does it surely come.

PROMPT TWO — A CHOICE: Following the storm, sightings of a mysterious stag prompts a hunt down in the Basin and out in the Outskirts.

PROMPT THREE — REST MY WEARY BONES: While the storm causes a great deal of mess, it also uncovers some far more pleasant surprises. Hot springs.

WHITEOUT

WHEN: Early to mid-month.
WHERE: Milton.
CONTENT WARNINGS: extreme weather; storms; blizzards; themes of survival; possible character cold-related injuries; possible themes of peril.


In the times that he is no longer occupying the Community Hall in the center of town to help tend to the newcomers, Methuselah is out in the wilds. Despite his growing age, he is a hardened survivor, and has been more than accustomed to life living as a nomad, out in the thickest, deepest parts of nature. Sometimes he can be encountered, sheltered in a cave or out in the woods, huddled by a warm campfire, or busying himself with his latest game catch. He seems to be always on the move, never staying for too long, and never coming into town — unless it’s to begin preparations for the latest batch of new arrivals.

To see him returning to Milton outside of these times is a curious sight, and the grim expression he carries is enough to make anyone wary. Even his voice is grave. The warmth and kindness usually found in his expression is gone, replaced with a deathly seriousness. He doesn’t speak in jest.

"I am long used to this world and its weather, even with the changing times to more bitter nights." he will say. "I have seen the years rise and fall, too many to count. Please, I beg that you hear me with this— a storm is coming. Greater than some of you may have ever known. It is in the air, and we must prepare to see it through. We do not have much time. Three days, perhaps. But no more."

He will tell anyone and everyone; encouraging the word to be spread around. He will instruct on what needs to be done, what needs to be gathered. The storm will be long and hard, and will last for some time. With that, Methuselah will begin to prepare the Community Hall as a place of refuge with a stock of food, fuel and water to get through the storm. Interlopers will be free to join Methuselah and bunker down together, or can choose to bunker down on their own in their own homes, or with others.

You have only three days.

And sure enough, the storm comes. Maybe you can notice the signs too: the sudden updraft, the slow gathering of clouds, the drop in temperature, the changes of pressure in the air.

Halfway through the third day, the storm rolls in: a ferocious snow-storm unlike anything you’ve seen before. Even with the fading amount of daylight as mid-winter approaches, the sky turns as dark as night as will stay like night for the duration. Strong howling winds batter the town, and even the sturdiest of buildings creak and groan under the weight. Trees will be felled, some buildings might not fare the storm.

Relentless snow that falls so hard it’s a complete whiteout, and will be impossible to navigate if one were to step outside. Even then, it isn’t advisable. The temperature is bitter, with a frigid windchill. Going out in this kind of storm would be a death sentence. Staying out in it for longer than a half-hour will certainly kill you.

It would be best to wait it out, to huddle around warm fires in the darkness. It may certainly be a test of patience, depending on your choice of place to stay. The storm will last a full week, a stark reminder of what you are, the words you have heard in your arrival: thrown to Mother Nature’s mercy, the Interloper in her design.

But will you persist?

A CHOICE

WHEN: Mid-month, onwards to end of month.
WHERE: Milton Basin, Milton Outskirts.
CONTENT WARNINGS: survival themes; themes of hunting; possible animal death.


After the storm passes, there’s a certain kind of hush that falls upon Milton and its surrounding areas as Interlopers are left to pick through the wake. While the temperature certainly doesn’t get that much warmer, there’s days and nights of clear, calm weather — short afternoons of weak sunshine and nights of chilly peace, the moon hung high in the starry skies. Winter is drawing ever-closer, but it’s still for a little while.

In the early evenings, before the sun sets, there’s strange sightings of a particular white stag that can be found roaming the area — particularly down in the Milton Basin. It seems quite elusive, but there’s plenty of Interlopers that have been able to capture a glimpse over the coming days. Even Methuselah himself has seen this beast before, remarking there has long been tall tales of a ghostly stag that roams the Northern Territories and is said to bring good fortune to those who manage to hunt it down.

Perhaps you’re a little low on luck. Perhaps you’re feeling lucky. You’re going to find that stag.

Hunting down the stag, however, will take a great deal of patience and time. You might find yourself waiting several hours to wait for it to appear. Building a snow shelter, or hunkering down in some old shack might be needed in order to keep warm. But if you’re patient enough, and able to withstand the cold for long enough — the beast will soon make an appearance.

In the dying light of the day, it is there. It’s unlike any deer you’ve seen before: tall and majestic, with thick, soft fur of brilliant white. It almost looks ghost-like in some angles, it’s an incredibly beautiful creature. But it seems to have also noticed you, just as you have noticed it. It doesn’t dart away, however. Instead it stands before you, waiting for you to act.

You have a choice: slay the creature, or let it go.

It will not move until you make your decision, holding your gaze until you raise your weapon or until you lower it and give up your hunt. But there is a consequence to either action: if you choose to kill the stag, you will be rewarded with a sizeable bounty of venison. Eating said meat will help you feel fuller for longer, and the meat will keep for far longer than any other deer slain.

However, if you choose to spare the stag, the creature will lower its head, as if bowing to you. Then, it will disappear with a swirling of powdered snow. When you return home for the evening and go to sleep, the next morning you will find a gift at the foot of your bed: a pair of deerskin boots, or a deerskin blanket. These boots are supple, tough and waterproof — allowing for a great balance of mobility and warmth. The blanket is incredibly toasty, and will provide a great deal of comfort in the long nights ahead.

REST MY WEARY BONES

WHEN: Mid-month, onwards indefinitely.
WHERE: Milton Outskirts.
CONTENT WARNINGS: n/a.



The storm has blown in plenty of snow to make traversing the area much more difficult, but there’s something else of note that comes with its passing. While the storm has brought much devastation, and some places have been buried in snow drifts, plenty of snow in areas has been blown away, uncovering otherwise lost secrets within Milton. Clouds of what looks like steam can be noted not too far from town, towards the mountains of the north.

If Interlopers head to explore the clouds, they will find old trails leading up towards the mountains. It isn’t a particularly difficult journey, for once, and they will soon discover that the storm has blown away the previously blocked access to a cave. It appears that this is the right place.

The air is warm here, pleasantly so. Warm enough that hats and mittens and coats seem a little unnecessary. One might wonder if someone lives within, and that a great fire is stoked to keep the place warm. But there’s no one in sight, no sounds of life: human, animal or otherwise. If they press on, they will discover that the cave floor is well worn with footfall: plenty of people have come here before, and the reason why is soon revealed.

The air grows even warmer, and more humid. The space opening to reveal small pools of slow-flowing water, warm water. The stone houses a natural hot spring, and following the cave out the other side will lead to another space in the rock open to the air, where there are even larger pools of warm water, perfectly sized and deep enough to bathe in. It seems that this place was frequently used by the people of Milton, where their life of hardship could be forgotten for an hour or two.

The water is pleasantly hot, and incredibly inviting. After so long in the freezing cold without modern appliances and utilities, a natural hot spring sounds like an absolute luxury.

FAQs

WHITEOUT

1. Characters are free to play around with this prompt how they want. Maybe they're dumb enough to go into the cold and get injured or sick. Maybe they're stuck in the Community Hall for the week. Fights might break out as tensions run high whilst everyone's stuck together, or maybe you're actually having a nice time.

2. For those stuck in the Community Hall: there are board games and old school textbooks stored in cupboards. There is also a piano.

3. A floorplan of the Community Hall can be found here.

A CHOICE

1. .... Yes, you can pet the ghost stag.

2. Characters will get one choice only with the ghost stag, meaning they can't keep going back to find it to get extra gifts.

3. If characters can't agree on a course of action, whoever acts first will get their gift. The second character will have a chance to try again another time.

4. If both characters agree on sparing the stag, but players want different gifts (ie. one player wants the boots and one wants the blanket), characters will get the gift the player wants their character to receive.

REST MY WEARY BONES

1. The hot springs will now be a permanent fixture in the Milton Area, enjoy!

PLOTTING POST

Comments

[aetherialshackles]

[While Erichthonios hardly has to worry about turning into his true self anytime soon, it's hard when you're not talented in magicks and you're in a world where even the smallest sliver of your powers are taken away, he can understand why someone would move away from the main group of people. He's used to the Pandaemonium, before the end of the world reached them he rarely spent time just doing nothing with his coworkers and despite loving the new board games he's still learning about and chatting about this and that- well, he needed a break.

With everyone still trying to fend off their worried and loneliness in the main halls of the building, Erichthonios moves to the colder and less populated rooms, hoping to have no more than a book for company for a while. He picked yet another guide to local fauna, even if the man has to admit he had seen little creatures beside corvids, wolves and a couple of rabbits. It's all so... alien for him, a man who spent his life between dangerous monsters.

Like another man, he picked a blanket and chose a certain tiny office to spend his time. What he expected was to be cold and enjoy some quiet, just to recover, but no... when he entered another person was already inside. Doing something with a rope and those weird metallic things that are often bolted to many walls. Okay... this is awkward.]

Seeking some peace, that's what I'm doing. And I could ask you the same question.

[Not to mention that- to be so defensive out of nowhere...]

Don't tell me you're up to no good... we shouldn't have people deal with even more problems at the moment.

[He's direct in this, sliding inside and closing the door behind himself. If there's any issue to be had, he'd rather not see anyone else get involved.]

[burying]

I'm not, I swear— [ This isn't what it looks like. ] I'm not here to cause trouble.

[ That is the very last thing he wants. The very reason he's in here is to avoid any sort of trouble. He really wants to not have that happen.

This is very awkward. Kieren's stood looking like a deer in the headlights, frozen on the spot and then suddenly sputtering and unsure what to say or even do with himself. And the other man's closing the door the door behind him and Kieren shakes his head. He's never looked so spooked in all his life. ]

Listen, I'm sorry. You can't be in here, not with me. I have to be in here.

[aetherialshackles]

Aren't you?

[He would be an hypocrite to call the other out for hiding instead of being in the main halls mingling with others, after all the Ancient was trying to do the same and find a little corner of peace after interacting with people for hours, but... he can tell there is something amiss. With the second sentence he does take a small step back. He heard that before, coming from more aetherically attuned people of his kin who knew were about to spawn monsters at their side when their magicks started to go haywire. The fear is there, the need to be alone for what may be a last moment is something he is also familiar with and like any other time... he is not leaving. He is far too familiar with the fear of hurting others.

There is a short moment of silence, hesitation, then he steps closer, trying to offer a smile. Both hands are raised ]

Whatever you think you can do to me, know I was raised between monsters and survived thhe end of my world, I will be fine.

[This is... more than he shared with others, truly, and also a lie by omission because he 'forgot' to mention he didn't survive because he had any magical skill or was stronger than his peer, quite the contrary, but... perhaps that can help reassuring the other. Who hopefully has not seen him failing around town the many times he attempted to do things and plan ahead.]

I am Erich. Do you want to talk about what's going on? I'm sure that whatever it is, we can find a solution.

[burying]

N-no, I swear, I promise I'm not. [ Trouble is the last thing Kieren wants. Being a problem is the last thing he wants to be even though he knows he's one awful, massive problem and there's nothing he can do about it. But the other does step back, relenting, until he steps closer again and Kieren's instinct have him drawing back again — cowed like some cornered wild animal.

He stares. I was raised between monsters and survived the end of my world. Kieren doesn't even know how to react to it, doesn't know what to say. He just stares, unsure whether to believe him. Of course he should. He's a monster himself. And they've been kidnapped and dumped in this place. ]

What kinds of monsters? [ It's quietly asked, before he can help himself. ]

Kieren. [ He remembers what Hickey told him. Although he's certainly doing a piss-poor job of not looking so scared about it all. But the thought of explaining isn't one he's comfortable with, and it shows. Kieren swallows thickly, anxiety prickling uncomfortably in his chest. ]

I have a medical condition. [ He explains carefully. ] This— doing this— keeping myself in here, it's part of how I'm dealing with it. I don't want to be a bother.

[aetherialshackles]

Then I see no problem here!

[He offers a big smile with those words, trying to be as reassuring as possible. Is he a bit frustrated because he hoped to find some free space and respite from the company of too many? Absolutely. Does he recognize that's another person in need and that in such a place it's important to offer support? Of course.

His items are placed down on the side, all beside the blanket, and he approaches with the intent of wrapping it around the other's shoulders for comfort. If he wants to stay there, it's okay, but there is no point in being uncomfortable like that, right?]

Oh, a bit of everything. A giant bird of fire able to warp reality around itself, a big two headed dog that had control over the water of our facility's sewers if left out its enclosement, a giant green creature that was one with poison and crystals... it's mprobably easier for me to list what I have not seen. [Concept about monsters were shared so often and the researcher had the duty of making sure they were treated well.] My mentor was really good at handling them, I will never forget his kindness toward all creatures.

[He nods then, sitting not far from kieren, whether he accepted the blanket or not.]

I see... self containment for what I assume is a very good reason. That's okay. You are okay. I promise I will not tell anyone but... do you want me to help? I could keep company. Or at least secure you in a more comfortable way, it was kind of one of my specialties back home. Just because someone has to be shackled, it doesn't mean it has to be unpleasant, right?