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

[amo]

(( ooc: works just fine! gonna run with this like they're interacting with one of the NPCs, but if there's someone you want to drag in here, lemme know. o/ ))

[ Before the hapless hunter can even form a response to suddenly being cheerily accosted, Vash receives some unexpected back-up. It's not the first time he's come across someone and been starkly reminded of a person from back home. The girl that chimes in with a fierce glare brings to mind another who'd once been the closest thing he would ever have to a little sister. Although physically not a spitting image to Lena in the slightest, her bold attitude certainly is.

Almost by force of habit, he immediately runs with it. ]

I'd listen to her if I were you.

[ It's a sincere sentiment rather than anything patronizing and it's apparent in the slightly lower pitching of his voice, making it seem like a serious threat. Although Vash's smile doesn't budge an inch, so it's hard to be entirely sure and it leaves their target all the more nonplussed.

She might not have an army or (seemingly) a weapon, but Vash has had enough experience to know that the wilful stubbornness of a young girl is a force to be reckoned with. ]

[madginger]

(( ooc: no one seems to want to jump in, but if you know of someone, same. ))

[ Max is a little surprised to have someone back her up so readily. It's nice, and accepted, but that smile gets a look from her. She peers at it, trying to discern the source, and why it unnerves her a bit. Sure, his words are clearly sincere, but that smile.... ]

[ She is a force to be reckoned with, though, Vash has that right. She crosses her arms from more than the cold. ]

So. Re-thinking that choice? [ Her attention is right back on the would-be-hunter as Max starts to takes a few steps in the direction of the stag, slowly, and carefully. ]

[amo]

[ He spares the girl a glance when he notices her staring from the corner of his eye, his unfaltering smile briefly redirected to her before his eyes go firmly back to the hunter who seems to be having something of a dilemma, especially with the appearance of the stag so near. When the girl turns towards it, Vash can see the grip on rifle being adjusted as though it might get raised, albeit hesitatingly so.

It takes only a few steps for Vash to plant himself between the hunter and his target, putting himself in the line of fire without hesitation. He makes a gentle shooing motion with his hand even as he surreptitiously shifts his stance, allowing a glimpse of the holster strapped to his thigh that's mostly hidden by his red pea coat. ]

Go on now, friend. There is better game to hunt elsewhere.

[ An arguable statement when the stag has to be the most magnificent animal Vash has seen here yet, but their point is made. At least the flash of his holster seems a little more convincing of a deterrent when he and the girl seem perfectly harmless otherwise.

Not that he'd use his gun in this situation. The hunter doesn't know that though. ]

[madginger]

[Where she's slow and careful about her movements, Vash is right there, quickly, now in front of the stag. She still moves, just now she's going to put herself between Vash and the hunter, nearly in the hunter's face.]

Or, you could pet it. [She's firm about the suggestion, though, voice hard, glare hard and she no longer spares Vash a gaze, not for this, or she would have caught the glint of that holster. She's already suspicious of Vash, either way.]

It's really friendly, and if you hurt it, you're just an asshole.

[amo]

[ The stag doesn't seem inclined to do much other than stand there and watch the scene unfold and so Vash hopes that Max might persuade it to run away before the hunter can make up his mind to its detriment. That's not what happens though. Instead the girl is suddenly there between him and the hunter, getting fearlessly up in the man's grill without hesitation. Vash is slightly alarmed at having her in danger's way, but reassured when the hunter is quick to pull his gun up, pointing it away from either of them.

At least the hunter looks taken aback, obviously frustrated but more at a loss than anything. ]

You're not just going to shoot it in front of us, are you?

[ Vash pipes up helpfully, pointedly glancing down at Max from where's he's standing behind her. The message there is clear: you wouldn't shoot it in front of a young girl, would you?

Between their onslaught, the hunter finally seems to relent with a put-upon sigh and a "geesh, alright already". There's maybe some unfriendly muttering about them starving that Vash pays no mind, cheerfully waving the hunter off as he turns around and stomps off. It's only after he's no longer in view that he tells the girl: ]

Great job!

[ He's also finally turning around to look at the magnificent stag proper, making a gentle shooing motion. ]

Now then, you should probably run along before more of them show up, my uh... tall furry friend.

[madginger]

[The stag still seems disinclined to run, but at least the hunter is gone.]

[Max breathes a sigh of relief and her shoulders seem to sag, some, as she puts down her arms. The hunter grumbles, but goes, then Max finally looks back to Vash.]

[He talks to the stag and Max laughs, not unkindly.]

Have you pet it yet?

[amo]

[ Seeing the stag not budging, Vash is left unsure what to do. It seems uncaring of the mortal peril it was just in and he highly doubts throwing his arms up and making noise will do anything to scare it off and get it to run. So he turns his attention to Max as she laughs at him and speaks up. ]

No, I haven't. This is my first time seeing it.

[ He'd surreptitiously been keeping an eye out for it (and any hunters) as he was out foraging and checking his brother's traps, but he hadn't expected to actually run into it. Now that he's faced with it, he's at a loss. ]

Um, is that okay? The others are always so skittish.

[ The way he's glancing between Max and the stag, it's almost as if he's asking the stag itself too. ]

[madginger]

I saw it before. I got to pet it. [Max shrugs. With her, she had put her hand out, and let the stag sort of decide and approach her.]

Pretty sure it's okay with some people. Maybe it'll be okay with you.

[And that intrigues her. If it is good with him, then maybe while this guy's smiles are fake, he might not be so bad, himself. She can't ignore the fact he was so ready to protect the stag, after all.]

[amo]

I see.

[ It makes sense. She's small and likely not perceived as a threat by the stag. He's not sure if that will be the case for him when he's so tall and lanky. Then again, the stag is obviously not like any normal deer. Maybe it's intelligent enough to know when someone means it harm and when it's safe. It could be the reason it stuck around, knowing there were people here to defend it. Still, Vash hesitates a tiny bit, uncertain of how to proceed. ]

I'm not sure how to go about this, but...

[ He'll just... treat it like a skittish Toma? It's the only frame of reference he has and so he slowly extends an arm out towards the stag, offering his hand, while he keeps his gaze averted. Not looking directly at it should make him less threatening, right? Instead he keeps his eyes on the girl, continuing to talk in a calm, quiet voice. ]

We didn't really have much in the way of animals where I'm from, you see. It was mostly bugs and the flightless birds people used for riding.

[madginger]

[ The stag seems good with Vash's offer and moves forward. ]

Just like that. See? I think it knows you're not a threat. Or...it's always that nice. Which would make it a bigger shame if anyone killed it.

[ Max frowns to hear about the where Vash is from. ] So, where are you from? We have a lot more animals than just bugs and flightless birds where I'm from. [ Assuming this abandoned town isn't in the same world she is from. ]

[amo]

[ Vash can hear the stag approach and see it move from his peripheral, resisting the urge to look over in the rush of excitement he feels. Instead he forces himself to remain patient and still, letting it cross the distance on its own terms. ]

Ah, yes. I sure hope it doesn't end up hurt or killed because it's so nice.

[ It would explain why it hadn't budged even with the hunter right there pointing a rifle at it. The thought fills him with worry. Given the rumors that have been spreading, people are bound to keep coming after it and they can't keep defending it indefinitely.

The question pulls him away from the thought and he offers his answer easily with a slightly wry smile. ]

I come from a desert planet called No Man's Land. Honestly, the name describes it pretty well.

[ In that it was never meant for any human life at all. ]

What about you?

[madginger]

[ Before, Max believed the stag would take care of itself. And who would want to hurt something so nice? She had, sure, when she thought it was just about food, and before she met it, before she pet it. Now, though, she can see the stag isn't very good at looking out for itself, and not everyone will stop themselves. ]

Yeah. We might have to just protect it.

[ Max's eyes narrow a little. No Man's Land? Really? Slowly and carefully, she responds. ] I'm from a planet called Earth. [ Yeah, that's all you're getting, Way Too Smiley Man. ]