oblivium: (Default)
nightfell mods ([personal profile] oblivium) wrote in [community profile] logs2022-10-06 01:15 pm

MOD EVENT #001

A CHAOTIC RESPITE


It isn't rare for the seasons in the Netherworld to be a little erratic, though many days have passed now without much of a hint of its typical mercuriality, a good and a bad omen all at once. This respite is commonly referred to as the proverbial "calm before the storm", but it also marks the beginning of merrier celebrations. The Moons above are gilded silver, the twilight sky edged with faint pink and orange -- a sunrise phantasm, spilling over the horizon. It's an infrequent spectacle, accompanied by a dulcet breeze and light drizzles that seem to encourage growth nearly everywhere. Unfortunately, under its influence, people seem a little on edge, quick to anger, but no matter; around Stygia, Restless have begun hanging decorations and ornaments on trees and windowsills, left to catch the moonlight and give off marigold and ginger glows, warmly lighting up the city. Rather than fish, the smell of freshly ground spices permeates the air in the Harbors, Mirth keeps its doors opened to all, but just before the festivities officially begin, a cacophony of chimes resounds all over, a transmission difficult to ignore.

On the screen of your cellphone, nothing; only a voice, ragged, out of breath...

“The woods... Oakwoods! They've come alive! O-One minute he was complaining about the water seeping into his boots, and the next he was... he was being yanked up into the trees! We didn’t see what happened to him, but we heard... the screams, ohh, the screams. Please! Come to Serene, I beg you. This is our safest sanctuary, and the lan... oh, no... wait, no, please... please... NOOO--”


...and the feed abruptly ends, a dull chirr of static. Will you ignore the stranger's call for help and feast, or venture into the woods?

► I. KNOCK ON WOOD (OH PUCK, HE'S HOT!)
When you cross the gates of Serene, an old woman welcomes you, palm flat against her chest and disquiet in her eyes. Myrtille, her name. Oakwoods loom dense and dark in the distance behind her, groaning low as leaves rustle without wind. The Mourning Lantern was stolen, and malevolence rose in turn, dooming them all.

“It was once kept here, a sacred Artifact crafted from the bones of Serene's first founder, who gave her heart’s blood willingly to the woods in an act of contrition. It's the absence of the lantern that is contributing to the wood’s unusually active malice, and if you lot cannot retrieve it, then we must sacrifice another. Go! Take these torches and go, before Oakwoods swallow us whole.”


So you've decided to be brave. Commendable, or foolish? The wood is dark and shrouded in mist, and the trees crowd around you, an absent wind somehow whispering foul nothings in your ear as dead leaves rustle around your feet. Your Shadow basks in the murmurs, sensing the malign presence in Oakwoods as a faint, garbled scream echoes in the distance. You wander deeper and the canopy thickens, thin streaks of moonlight peppering the woods in deep patches of darkness. Behind you, a creature you can't see hisses, and a fluttering of wings nearby alerts you to the arrival of snickering harpies lurking on branches. “Dead,” they croak, in a sing-song chorus. “Dead as daylight.” Oddly enough, they seem content to just watch and stalk you, perhaps expecting you to die quickly, an easy and effortless meal.

It's a frustrating errand if you've ever known one. You barely know what you're looking for, and your Shadow thrives in the dark, taunting, coaxing. You hear it then; a haunting melody, the silhouette of a boy on a fallen tree trunk, strumming. “Come,” he says, with a voice that shimmers like the sun on moving water. If you remember what that's like. “Rest a while. Forget your troubles.” For anyone familiar, you'll recognize him as a Puck, famous prankster, and from his hand dangles a lantern.

► If you attempt to take the lantern from him, he'll immediately drop it to the ground, causing it to break. You may choose to kill him and offer his blood to the woods, or let him go and bleed in his stead. Myrtille should be able to repair what's left of the lantern once the offering's been made.
► If you politely ask to return it, he promises that he will... if you indulge him for the night.

No matter what you choose, you will come across camps, either on your way in or on your way back: pitched tents, most moth-eaten, and some containing vestiges of prior expeditions such as putrid corpses or rotten food. You've been wandering for a while, and sleep sounds terribly inviting. Unfortunately, a wind finally picks up, and leaves begin to blow around you. A nick, then a cut, then a slash reveal the leaves to have razor sharp edges. Sleep well yet? If you've spared the Puck, he'll encourage you to sit with him around a campfire, where he'll sing and tell stories. Or are they. Perhaps you've heard of Bloody Mary before. Slenderman? The Devil that'll make you dance until you die? While the lantern remains in stranger hands, the thread between reality and fiction narrows; protagonists from the Puck's legends come to life, and the only way to rid of them is by quenching the flames of the fire.

Your journey unfortunately doesn't end there. The Puck has a riddle for you:
I am a word that is hardly there. Remove my start, and I'm an herbal flair. What am I?


If you fail to answer correctly, he'll vanish before you, and you can bid the lantern goodbye. You'll be forced to gather the bones from the corpses scattered across the woods, and feed it your blood -- or a friend's -- before you escape and return to the woman. The offering will leave you drained and exhausted, weak on your legs. If, on the other hand, you do answer correctly, the lantern is yours, and you'll be teleported out of the woods with a boon in your pocket: a piece of parchment invites you to visit your home in the Shadowlands. There, you'll find an object (or a pet) that belonged to you in your world.

the answer to the riddle is sparsely! it's up to you whether you'd like your character to fail.
legends told around the campfire can be any of the ones mentioned above or any other that might strike your fancy! go wild, have fun!
remember that if you pick an item from your character's world as their boon, it'll eventually disintegrate unless reforged with a soul.
.


► II. GO BIG OR GOURD HOME
Welcome to the Frightful Harvest, a festival that marks the beginning of the Respite, a temporary period of tranquility between seasons. It acknowledges the blessings offered and the role that both good and evil play in the Netherworld. It is a time to give thanks, but more importantly, it is a time of reflection and warding. Warding against not only the darkness of the next seasons to come, but of the nefarious creatures and struggles that will undoubtedly follow.

Carved pumpkins and straw bales are placed everywhere around the city, and streamers and banners are hung from every home and storefront. Decadent cakes, candies, and pastries are made in over-abundance in order to accommodate everyone, and from the lush gardens of Radiance, an elderly, dark-robed man addresses the Netherwork. You'll learn by eavesdropping on nearby Restless that his name is Doran, the oldest among you and loved by all. His smile stretches kind, and while not an official member of the Hierarchy, it's clear he has certain privileges -- well-deserved, or so you hear.

“Let us gather, feast, dance and celebrate. Let us hold our glasses high for those who heroically perished, for goodness, and for the Ascended. May their journey inspire us to change our lives and the lives of others, to resist evil, and to triumph. To you, dear friends!”


And without further ado, let the festivities begin!

► BARDIC BLITZ
The bardic blitz is a friendly competition that pits talented musicians against one another in an attempt to win over the affection of the crowd through festive melodies or personal compositions. Although it can be hosted just about anywhere, the bardic blitz is normally held in a large canvas tent directly in the heart of Mirth, though smaller crowds also gather in Serene and the Harbors around bonfires.

► FEAST
Although all cultures around Stygia bring their own tastes and specific flair to the celebrations, there are a few staple trade goods that you can find at nearly any celebration of the holiday throughout the city. Many producing the various cakes, beverages, and cookies also use the time to test and perfect their recipes, teaching others or using them as guinea pigs.
Firstdawn Tea: This revitalizing crimson tea soothes the mind and body and is brewed from the roots of the dawn flower, which only sprouts during the Respite.
Grablenuts: These fist-sized brown nuts have a hard, stippled outer shell and soft, delicious spicy centers. A single bite will slightly lower your inhibitions, and you may find yourself seeking proximity and warmth.
Elysium: A nonalcoholic beverage that smells and looks as bad as it tastes. Only those with the strongest will manage to gulp it down. Once drunk, the person experiences true bliss, which seems to last for hours; in reality, it's only a few minutes.
Will-o-the-Whiskey: Whisky with minor hallucinatory effects, visual and auditory.
Sundrop: A pound cake coated in a sugary lemon drizzle. No side-effects, just delicious!
Shadowfell Candy: Chewing on this candy will grant the character a deep and rejuvenating sleep, during which they will appear dead to anyone.
. ► HARVEST HUNT
The harvest hunt happens in a corn maze located in Mirth's amusement park, specifically created for the occasion. Because of the labyrinthian horrors dwelling in the Tempest, some find the terror-free replica a little inappropriate, yet participants still abound every time. A favorite seasonal game of the exuberant and athletic, characters take on the role of either hunter or prey, racing through the maze to either corner their quarry or escape the hands of their pursuer. As long as Shadows behave, it's a relatively safe activity. Friendly spars sometimes occur, picnics, and star-gazing.

► THE PARADE
The parade is the activity most looked forward to by younger Restless. Citizens clad in colorful costumes walk the streets to the rhythm of festive music, and according to tradition, it helps ward away any lingering evil that might try to hide in the community. For reasons unknown, incidents where Restless unwillingly swap bodies sometimes occur.

► III. WAYWARD SUN
The Warding Ritual is a private affair, a behind-the-scene execution on the last day of the festival as you dance and feast and frolic, blissfully unaware. Something goes awry. First, a shriek in the distance, and soon, birds flying away in apparent surprise as the landscape rustles with the sounds of creatures and Restless alike fleeing. A vague sense of dread knocks the air out of your lungs, an iron grip around your throat. And you see it then, a headless figure shrouded in a black veil of cloth, sword in one hand and a bright flaming pumpkin in the other. Its head. It thunders through the night on its skeletal horse, its blade flashing in the moonlight in search of prey. Heads fall. You might get injured during the chase -- collateral damage. 10 members of the Hierarchy won't ever rise again, and the rider eventually charges into the Tempest, leaving behind bloody puddles and a slather of confusion. If you opt to help clean up the mess, you might come across stained sheets of paper on the ground, a painting of a white scorpion in the middle. Otherwise, it's time for you to go home.


ooc note

► Welcome to Nightfell's first event! If you'd like additional, more casual prompts, the Notice Board is right here! New prompts will be added next month, if you've already had your fun with them!
You'll find some answered questions here, but if you'd like to ask something else, please comment below!
For a little spooky ambience in the woods.

terraria: art source: remnim@Twitter (● oiiii)

[personal profile] terraria 2022-10-30 05:14 am (UTC)(link)
Alright, but I'm not taking full credit. You enjoy that creepy landscape.

( as far as he's concerned, that boon can wait. he ain't going there when it could be a trap, not alone. sasuke is equipped for that. but as sasuke leaves, he hesitates before calling: )

Be careful!
terraria: art source: remnim@Twitter (● halfstep.)

[personal profile] terraria 2022-10-30 05:20 am (UTC)(link)
Benevolent?

... ( he has to think hard. ) I think the sun goddess was cruel and cold before she fell for the moon god? Other than that, I can't quite think of gods that are particularly violent.

Outside of tricks... ter...

( ...music? one wing flaps and readjusts itself. hearing things, is he? )

... trickster gods.
windsongs: (057)

that would be great, and no worries!

[personal profile] windsongs 2022-10-30 05:23 am (UTC)(link)
[ But is it really as good as any, Kainé? Only one direction is going to get them to where they have to go, not like Hibiki has any clue what she's even looking for.

Trudging behind her, the small blonde stays quiet for a moment, as her shadow stays suspiciously silent. Worried that she might trigger even more venom from the voice in her head, she finally decides to throw caution to the wind. ]


...So what made you decide to come out here on your own?

[ P̷r̵o̶b̸a̵b̸l̶y̸ ̵c̴a̴u̴s̴e̷ ̵o̴f̴ ̸a̵ ̷g̸i̵a̶n̴t̷ ̴h̶e̴r̴o̸ ̸c̴o̸m̴p̸l̵e̶x̸,̸ ̵l̵i̴k̴e̷ ̵y̴o̴u̴.̸

...Dammit, she was finally starting to get used to the silence. ]
terraria: art source: remnim@Twitter (● understanding.)

[personal profile] terraria 2022-10-30 05:29 am (UTC)(link)
( the demeanor of a well-connected court noble settles on aspen's shoulders as naturally as a comfy winter shawl. he curtsies politely when his offer is taken, and he waits patiently for a response.

though he doesn't look back at dimitri, the flap of his wing makes it clear that he at least heard him: a cat's ear turning towards those who call for it, even when the cat makes no movement to heed that call. )


Fair folk keep their word. I won't falter in keeping mine.

You do not have to be bound by this agreement. ( it's only then that he turns to look at dimitri, inclining his head. porcelain delicate as he is, he's headstrong. and maybe that's not a good thing. ) But I will go.
Edited 2022-10-30 05:30 (UTC)
windsongs: (044)

[personal profile] windsongs 2022-10-30 05:29 am (UTC)(link)
[ L̵i̶k̶e̴ ̷t̸h̴i̸s̴ ̴g̷u̵y̵ ̸h̵a̸s̵ ̸a̸n̶ ̴o̴u̸n̴c̴e̴ ̴o̴f̷ ̶m̷e̸r̵c̷y̷ ̶i̵n̵ ̴h̸i̸m̷,̴ ̸s̸a̴d̵i̶s̷t̵i̸c̵ ̵b̴a̶s̷t̵a̶r̷d̶.̷

Both standing in silence, Hibiki anticipates that she will need to break that, to tear into this stranger once again for being completely unable to treat this creature with civility. So color her surprised when he seems to honor her quest, storm-colored eyes snapping back to him.

Exhaling in relief, she turns her head to briefly look at the thrashing harpy from over her shoulder. Her gaze doesn't linger long, and as she locks on to Dimitri, she gives the other blond a curt nod. ]


...Thank you.

[ She begins to close the space between them, but not to strike at him, but to give him ample room to strike. Whether he decides to spear the creature or throw his weapon at it, Hibiki doesn't want to see. ]
nagano: (dynasties and dystopia)

[personal profile] nagano 2022-10-30 05:41 am (UTC)(link)
[ Kaito turns when she does. He caught a hint of the fey's aura just moments after talking about him. A flare of irritation to his side prompts one gloved hand to point. ]

Oh, look at that. He's been waiting real patient-like for us.

Fae love their games. If we want the lantern, we'll have to play along. Be prepared for a lot more annoying bullshit than the slime.

[ Nod, nod. With that, Kaito strolls off towards the campfire. Just another day in the office. ]
windsongs: (049)

[personal profile] windsongs 2022-10-30 06:09 am (UTC)(link)
I'm pretty sure no paranoia is considered a healthy dose...

[ Claude please...

At least the quick quip means that she is doing well enough given the circumstances. His question, however, is greeted with a bit of a sigh. ]


No, not yet. What about you?
windsongs: (Default)

[personal profile] windsongs 2022-10-30 06:27 am (UTC)(link)
[ Hibiki would have been surprised if he had managed to find a soulmate, let alone have any inclination toward looking. But as the question is turned back to her, Hibiki shakes her head simply. ]

No, I don't. I wouldn't say I'm interested, but I'll do it if I have to.
exilire: <user name="inkonic"> (pic#15883523)

[personal profile] exilire 2022-10-30 07:25 am (UTC)(link)
Because I know you, better than you think that I do.

[ her voice is soft, but assured in her conviction. ]

In that minute of your life that I've known you, I've figured out that you were the Devil in Roderick Burgess's basement for an entire century. How many other humans do you know who've deduced that?

[ ...if he's not going to sing her praises, she'll yodel them out herself. ]
nagano: (for in this river all is found)

[personal profile] nagano 2022-10-30 09:03 am (UTC)(link)
You didn't put any pressure on anyone.

[ There are thousands of Shrouds sitting in the Shadowlands, but Kaito makes sure to commit the path to hers to his memory. He might tell her some other time that his portal popped them out right in front of his home. ]

The glove fairy had better be ready to supply the highest-quality thin, breathable leather gloves. I will accept nothing less.

[ When they come to a stop, he places a hand on his hip. Looks around. Looks back at her. ]

Your door looks about five percent less grim and gloomy than the rest. [ They all look exactly the same. ]

Not to be pushy, but are you sure you don't want me to help you get settled? Make you a snack? I don't think either of us were wounded, but...

[ W̸o̸r̴r̴y̴w̷a̸r̶t̷.̷ ̶U̷g̶h̶.̵ ]
windsongs: (Default)

[personal profile] windsongs 2022-10-30 09:20 am (UTC)(link)
Actually, you might want to give the glove fairy a month or two to save up, just in case. And to find out if they have anything other than "take what you can get" leather where she lives.

[ Can't believe this man is about to bankrupt this poor fairy. Kaito must really, really hate fae.

As he looks over the space around them before beginning to fuss, Hibiki reaches out before gently placing a hand on his shoulder, putting on a somewhat tired smile. Even if she doesn't realize it, she's placed herself between him and her door. ]


I̷t̴'̶s̴ ̸f̴i̵n̴e̶,̸ ̶y̸o̷u̸ ̸w̶o̴r̴r̶y̵ ̷t̷o̶o̸ ̷m̶u̵c̴h̵.̸ ̸G̵o̸ ̶g̵e̶t̷ ̸s̵o̵m̷e̵ ̵r̵e̶s̵t̷.̷

[ Leave. ]
dodgeouttahell: (44)

[personal profile] dodgeouttahell 2022-10-30 11:45 am (UTC)(link)
[Zagreus does falter on his steps as well. He hears it, in the distance.]

You're hearing the same thing, I take it. [His first instinct is to dash towards it, regardless of the outcome. Song in inhospitable places meant good things. Though he's not alone, so he hesitates.] Should we go investigate?
Edited (html fail gosh...) 2022-10-30 11:46 (UTC)
dodgeouttahell: (46)

[personal profile] dodgeouttahell 2022-10-30 12:14 pm (UTC)(link)
That would be great, really. I've been fishing a lot lately. It's more fun than I thought. [The grablenuts are doing a good number on Zag. He's not the type of person to initiate this type of closeness, even with the closest of his friends, unless they've shown and expressed some desire for it. He prefers to respect people's distance, and he's used to those Chthonic entities preferring a wider berth. He's very good at fending off his own needs for it.

But for now, he feels cold, and it's hostile, considering he always feels like a human furnace, and Dimitri is warm beside him. The press of his arm against his shoulder is enough for him. He barely has a mind to ask for permission.

He grins instead.
] Is it that surprising? I suppose I don't really look the part.

[Not that he's tried, not really. Even in the rare function of the House, he'd be seen fussing with his himation and chiton, wishing for the whole thing to end. It was all so solemn, especially in comparison to the festivities happening then.

The ever-present smile to him morphs into something a little more curious.
] You seem to know what you're talking about.
boarwitness: (It only makes me want to die)

[personal profile] boarwitness 2022-10-30 12:35 pm (UTC)(link)
Mm. [done with his bits of grass, felix settles into watching sylvain watch other people. a small non-blissed thought sprouts in his mind: someone's got to.] Feels like we're tourists, rather than a part of it yet.

[would they feel like a part of it in the future? people had been here for years and years, apparently. would they age? decidedly more thoughts of a more rational mind were starting to tiptoe in, albeit still laced with a hazy bloom of happiness.

but if anything was going to sober him, it was what sylvain swapped the conversation over to. even with where he was mentally, the part of him free of the elysium's grip was already leaning forward, causing a minute furrow in his brow.]


Enbarr?

[so they'd made it that far. it was nothing short of a complete miracle. mentally, he sorts through the details of the gronder fight, balancing remaining troops, weighing them against the reserved might of adrestia. several questions arise in quick succession, but he bats all of them away for the moment. the drink still had enough of a hold to mellow his response.]

So that's why you didn't tell me.

[it's considerably quieter than he'd be sober. with the implication, of course, being]

We lost.
boarwitness: (Don't need no one else)

[personal profile] boarwitness 2022-10-30 01:31 pm (UTC)(link)
You're not the boar I know. [again, not unkindly. felix extends one hand and gives a little conciliatory half-shrug, as if to indicate this is not his fault, and not going to be an issue.] So I want to know where you differ.

I have some idea of things. [thanks to claude] But I still have questions. [because claude knows nothing actually]

How did a coup with your uncle even happen? For us, he was murdered after the war had already started, and according to unreliable information from Cornelia, it was by you.

[normally, he'd demand answers to several pointed questions in the most direct way possible, but with elysium still exerting a blissful stranglehold, things get a lot more relaxed. like a casual interview, instead of an enemy interrogation.]

And how did you convince me to become Duke? It seems impossible I'd accept.
Edited 2022-10-30 13:31 (UTC)
coherer: you think you know (pic#13731241)

[personal profile] coherer 2022-10-30 03:17 pm (UTC)(link)
...

(there's only one thing jonas has to say to that nuclear bomb being dropped mid-conversation:)

"Criminal syndicate." Is that some kind of joke?
nagano: all manga bases by <user name=dresspheres site=tumblr> (▶ riding on the wind)

[personal profile] nagano 2022-10-30 03:35 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Kaito cracks a smile at that. ]

I suppose I can allow the glove fairy that much leeway. This economy is pretty rough.

[ His smile slowly fades as he notes the subtle shift in positioning. The hand on his shoulder. The desire bleeding through her words.

He nods quietly, taking a step back and lifting one hand to wave. ]


Alright then. I'll see you later.

[ With that, he turns and takes off—or at least takes a few steps before pausing. A pivot brings him back to face her. Soft words carry across the distance. ]

I will see you later.

Please don't vanish on me.

[ One last smile, and then he takes off for real. ]
zangetsu: (pic#15926113)

[personal profile] zangetsu 2022-10-30 05:01 pm (UTC)(link)
It's fine.

yelling at him isn't something that has ever required apology in his mind, so his deflection is instant and automatic. he shakes his head, and keeps!! trying!! to bandage her arm!!

Look, the Shadows talk to everyone. It's not your fault. But are you sure we actually need to make a blood offering, or did your Shadow trick you?
zangetsu: (pic#15910601)

[personal profile] zangetsu 2022-10-30 05:04 pm (UTC)(link)
trash party ayyyy.

she grabs his sleeve and he sort of half-stumbles as she tugs him along. something's broken — not even remotely an unfamiliar sensation to him — so it's mostly ignored while he adopts a brisk limp after her.

the hooves clattering on the cobblestones mostly just make him let out an exasperated noise as he kicks an errant bucket out of his way (and promptly regrets it, injured ankle whomst?)


Then you should leave. I can hold him off no problem.

mostly no problem. some problem.

grimmjow's gonna kill him if he dies here, which is basically impetus enough.
zangetsu: (pic#15913341)

[personal profile] zangetsu 2022-10-30 05:14 pm (UTC)(link)
Festivals? Yeah.

he empties a bag of some sort of roasted nut in his mouth and crumples it up, stuffing the trash in his pocket rather than becoming a profligate litterer.

There's like a couple hundred thousand annually across Japan. This is pretty normal for me. Well.

he gestures in a sweeping arc with one hand.

'Normal'.
invinciblemikey: (3)

[personal profile] invinciblemikey 2022-10-30 05:20 pm (UTC)(link)
Finally you get it.

(there's an opening for her to stick her arm around his while his hands are stuck into his pockets, but he won't call attention to it whatever. there should be a public bath, something, once they reach the city.

and off they go.)
invinciblemikey: (Default)

[personal profile] invinciblemikey 2022-10-30 05:26 pm (UTC)(link)
These things don't exist where I'm from. I think. I haven't seen anything like that.

(takemichi aside, but that's not the same as flight.)

You're cool.
invinciblemikey: (25)

cannot believe we are going there cw drugs

[personal profile] invinciblemikey 2022-10-30 05:32 pm (UTC)(link)
There are several ways. Marijuana, for example, if you grow it indoors, you can control the light and conditions to trick the plant into thinking it's a season, but it ain't that season at all. It's not that hard to figure out-- I guess I can do that!

(instead of asking what mikey has done in his life to know this as such a fact, it's easier to ask what hasn't he done. look at him, all decided.)
invinciblemikey: (1)

[personal profile] invinciblemikey 2022-10-30 05:33 pm (UTC)(link)
You fucked up when you said you're a half-vampire, though. Everyone knows at least something.

(so, it's trial and error, at this point.)

Lame, dude.
invinciblemikey: (Default)

[personal profile] invinciblemikey 2022-10-30 05:35 pm (UTC)(link)
(there's a gentle smile on the corner of an overall emotionless expression as he drags the stick. there are always some as mikey, it seems, no matter the universe.

it's somewhat comforting.)


It's a concrete jungle of a place. Homogenous, full of culture, full of expectations. I guess it depends on what kind of person you are for me to tell you if it's heaven or hell.