MOD EVENT #001

[oblivium]

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.

Comments

[zauneyete]

Nope.

[ He said, the door opened under his efforts, and he suspected that would be the case. There didn't seem to be the signs of a family -- and given that they were in the realm of the dead... that would make sense. Most of them probably lived alone.

He stepped in, and looked around. It was neat, tidy, and there was a locked cabinet against one wall, and another lock on the desk. ]

But the cabinets are, predictably. At least he isn't an amateur.

[ He pulled his lockpicking devices from his pocket again, and headed for the desk first. ]

[fallingsand]

[ As for Bruno, he steps forward into the doorway of the office, but that's where he'll stay, lingering there uncertainly. He'll look around the place but that'll be it. ]

So you're looking for some kind of paperwork about the Hierarchy and... Do you really think they sell protection? Wouldn't it be more likely there are taxes or a shop permit this guy would need from them? Things like that?

[zauneyete]

[ Silco looked over his shoulder at him, with a sharp smile. ]

Now you're thinking like an organization in charge.

It might be even the same thing. That's what I'm here to find out.

[ He started rifling through the books, noting expenses, which was a good place to start, as he ran his finger down the line, eyes darting as he started to read. ]

[fallingsand]

I dunno, permission to sell hot beverages doesn't seem so...

Vague hand waggle in the air. ]

Potentially devious or underhanded. Some of the places in Mirth, on the other hand, eh, maybe?

[zauneyete]

Maybe.

[ He admitted, but even so... ]

Where I'm from, everyone pays protection, no matter what the business is. Keep the enforcers out of someone's business, keep the gangs out, and protect them from other... competitors.

[ Hell, that's what they'd always done in the lanes. It had never stopped, no matter who had been in charge. ]

I suppose other places could do it differently.

Hence starting with some place innocuous first, to see how deep the need goes. Besides, this guy isn't going to suspect anything.

[fallingsand]

Huh, where I'm from, everyone just... works... together?

[ Including in ostracizing him but that would be a whole different can of worms to dig into. No one had to pay for anything. There simply hadn't been currency apart from what had made it into the valley and that became more of a keepsake than anything else.

Cities must be very wild if they needed stuff like that... ]

Sooo, if you don't find what you're looking for here, you're just going to move on to something less innocuous?

[zauneyete]

[ Silco looked up, and squinted a single eye at Bruno, as if he was trying to figure out if he was making something up, or not. What the hell, dude? Who lived in a world like that? Even Piltover was cutthroat and the high-born would not hesitate to eat each other alive, if it meant there was an advantage in it.

Silco literally cannot comprehend of such a thing.

Then again, if Bruno tried to describe his village, he would have been stunned by the fact that there weren't that many people either. ]

Right, well, in most places, people generally don't help out of the... kindness of their hearts.

[ Said with a sarcastic lilt, before he turned to continue paging through the books. ]

But yes, if this yields nothing, I'll look at the next most likely location, to figure out how deep their operation goes.

[fallingsand]

Kind of a shame they don't...

[ Bruno's just a small-town boy living in a lonely world (also known as in a wall but yeah, that song sure doesn't go that way). Anyway, Bruno does eventually stop lingering in the doorway uncertainly as curiosity got the best of him. He stepped into the office and checked a few of the cabinets that had gone untried by Silco thus far.

One did happen to open, although this one, he found, was full of — and this did not surprise him in the least — tea. Stock that had yet to be put out, anyway, or perhaps a private stash for the owner himself. ]

Huh. [ Yes, he was going to pick up a bundle of dried leaves. ] I should have figured they'd dry that firstdawn stuff out to keep around longer.

[zauneyete]

[ Silco's eyes drifted to Bruno, to watch him pick up a bundle of the leaves.

Was he going to (gasp) take them? ]

Isn't that how tea works? I'm not a fan of the stuff, but...

[ But was there any other way to have tea? Silco flipped idly to the next page, his eyes flicked from Bruno, and back down to the paper, looking over the next line items. ]

[fallingsand]

[ Bruno gave his eyes a roll and shot a glance back towards Silco. ]

Well yeah, it is, but they've been using fresher bundles at the stall. I thought maybe it was too limited to dry for the long term or something.

[ But what would he know? His valley did coffee best, not tea. Now if this place could give him some firstdawn coffee beans instead... Ah, but he wouldn't take the bundle. It was tempting, very tempting, especially since he'd enjoyed the effects of it firsthand and still way, technically, and there was that ever-present voice in the back of his head muttering about why shouldn't he, why didn't he deserve something nice, it'd be easy... but no. He turned back to the drawer and moved to return it, though paused, squinting further down into the depths of it. ]

Vials? Why is he hiding vials under this stuff?

[zauneyete]

Hm?

[ Vials was interesting. Silco immediately perked up, and swung his head at Bruno, before he tucked a stray piece of paper into the sheets -- leave no trace and no folded pages -- before he moved close, to peer in -- one eye narrowed curiously, as he started to lean in, curious. ]

What kinds of vials? Pull one out.

[fallingsand]

[ One might think Silco suddenly being all up in their personal space to more or less look over their shoulder would be discomforting and, guess what, they'd be right! Bruno can't quite claim to be immune to that lingering sense of danger around the man and he leaned away, further over the drawer he had out to put even a half an inch more between them, but he wouldn't say anything.

As shifty as Silco looked and apparently was, considering what they were doing right now, he had yet to treat Bruno poorly. So. This was fine. This was fine. ]

There's a few different ones. This row is... uh... [ The first vial from a row that appeared to hold a yellow dust-like substance came out in his hand and he held it up for them both to see. ] The label says BMG pollen? What the heck is BMG?

[zauneyete]

BMG?

[ He repeated, barely conscious of the way Bruno backed off. He was, after all, an imposing presence, he knew it, and he was somewhat used to people moving out of his way when he decided to go places. That was just proper respect, right? ]

Big... something?

Could these be the ingredients to the drug?

[ He was really curious now, and he started to look through the vials, categorizing them.

Look, a drug lord really will just dig into look for drugs at the first opportunity, it cannot be helped. ]

[fallingsand]

[ Apart from the pollen, there were vials labelled "Hagweed" and "Cinderpetal" as well as some full of dried little berries called "Scaleberries". Bruno plucked them out of the drawer one by one for a better look, each tightly stoppered to keep the contents from spilling out. ]

They must be from local plants. I mean, tea is from a whole plant of its own, right? So I don't think these are used in that.

[zauneyete]

It's probably for the drugged part.

[ Silco said, idly, taking note of the ingredients as he went. He had a good memory for such things, and although he couldn't make concoctions himself... perhaps he could figure out who was developing these for the shopkeepers, and have them put something together for him.

Or, at least, he knew where they would originate, if that's what this was for, anyway. ]

The tea had after-effects, yes? He probably adds it to the leaves.

[fallingsand]

[ Well, that happened to be terribly alarming. Bruno jerked his head up to look at Silco. ]

I thought it was just. Just naturally calming? [ Oh no, oh no. Admittedly, the calmness from the tea still lingered on enough for him to not immediately panic or raise his voice in shock but, yes, he did seem surprised. ] What do you mean the drugged part?

[zauneyete]

Naturally calming?

[ He asked, one eye and one eyebrow drawn in, to look at the vials, and then to Bruno.

Was he being serious? ]

Have you ever had something that calming? It's obviously a downer.

[ Duh. ]

[fallingsand]

[ Alcohol would have been the closest, he figured, but that was just alcohol, not a... wait... ]

A what? [ Sadly, Bruno was being very serious. For all his future sight and small-town woe, he was still, inevitably, very sheltered. ] I don't know what that means?

[zauneyete]

[ Silco sighed, and pinched the bridge of his nose. ]

In drug terms, it's something that depresses you. Keeps you from... reacting quite so strongly? Something of a sedative effect? As opposed to uppers, which...

[ Shimmer, for example, was a hell of an upper. Silco didn't pick up the bottles, but instead, looked at what was in his hands, and then to Bruno, looking like his world had just been rocked.]

The tea was drugged.

[fallingsand]

[ That made sense, even if Bruno stared a tic or two longer before putting the latest vial in his hand back and reaching for the bundle of dried tea leaves again instead. He eyed it. ]

But what would you even put in this to do that? 'cause it's got to be pretty dang strong if it can keep me from freaking out most of the day.

[zauneyete]

Well, if I had to guess...

[ His eyes drifted to the vials in the drawer, and then to the one in his hand. ]

Probably a specific mix of most of those. I was never into cooking them specifically, so I couldn't even guess at the... specific makeup.

[ That was Singed's thing. ]

But, one just would make the mix -- I suspect it creates a power that's activated when brewed.

[fallingsand]

So it wouldn't even matter if I did take this... [ Meaning the bundle of tea, which he placed back into the drawer, exactly where it had been before. ] Oh well.

[ As if he'd even been contemplating theft at all. He hadn't been, not seriously, save for the mocking voice that lived in the back of his head now amongst all his own self-inflicted doubts. ]

[zauneyete]

Unless it's already loaded.

[ He said, and nodded to the vials. ]

If you sniff them, you can figure it out.

[ But he turned away, because while Silco was interested in the drugs, he wasn't interested in making a cheap knock off of someone else's. That would lead to a reputation, after all. ]

[fallingsand]

Uh, maybe but I'm not sure it's a good idea to sniff random powders in vials?

[ Bruno has some sense, Silco, c'mon. So, no, he was putting everything back and quietly sliding the drawer shut again. ]

With my luck, it'd be something that puts me on the floor, and then that's a whole new problem I don't want to deal with.

[zauneyete]

[ Man, where's your thirst for danger? ]

That's for the best, I wouldn't haul you out of here.

[ He said with a shrug. It wasn't all that important to him at the moment -- he wasn't going to be able to cook shimmer here, and didn't have a reason to pursue it, yet.

He turned back to the papers, and shuffled them one more time, looked through them, before he sighed, and rearranged the books as they were before, down to the slip of paper returned to where it'd rested. ]

Dead end. To be expected, but I'd rather exhaust the easy possibilities first.