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

[chokuto]

[His gaze follows Aspen ascent, not overtly surprised that those wings are capable of flight — they would be quite useless if not — but more acknowledging the deftness and skill demonstrated in the movement. Then his attention turns ahead; he focuses on their direction, keeping it in line with where they heard the noise.

It doesn't take long for the haunting melody of music to follow. Sasuke's pace eases with caution upon approach, trusting that Aspen will do the same. Ahead of them, seated on a fallen trunk, is Puck, although Sasuke has no recognition of him. "Rest a while. Forget your troubles. Haven't you come far enough? Both of you could use it."]

He has the lantern.

[Spoken to Aspen as he leaps down from the limb of a tree onto the grassy forest floor. He does not go any closer yet.]

[terraria]

( silently, he touches down near sasuke. while he stares at the being before them, he finds his brows furrowing. this feels wrong. he takes a quick glance around. why aren't there any others? he'd heard screams. he'd heard harpies proclaiming they're dead.

why are they the only ones here when they came in here later? that doesn't make any sense. his feathers spread and tense, as if able to sense the danger lurking before them. the figure may look innocent, but aspen can already tell that he is anything but. he sucks in a breath sharply as it suddenly occurs to him, as if finally seeing through a mirage. )

A fae - here? ( he instinctively moves closer to sasuke. ) If you have no experience with fae, I'll go ahead and try to bargain with him. I have spoken to them several times before...

( he's not going to relay the fact that you shouldn't be making deals with the fae, but sasuke doesn't need to know that if he doesn't already. )

[chokuto]

[He glances at Aspen with that movement, but then his eyes are fixed again on the figure ahead of them, sensitive to any threats.]

No, I haven't heard of the name 'fae' before. [Sasuke has little context for what it might mean, but given their surroundings and the situation — is it some sort of spirit? An equivalent of either yōsei or ikiryō, maybe.] But there are many creatures in this dimension I've never encountered. If you think you know how to handle it, I'll stay back for now.

[The words aren't necessary to share aloud, but he's not doing it for Aspen. It's against the own voice in his mind — a familiar darkness, louder in the shadowy canopy of the woods — telling him to 𝐠𝐨 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧, 𝐢𝐭'𝐬 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞, 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞'𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐢𝐦.

Sasuke takes a deliberate step backward, to put physical distance between him and the young man on the log.]

[terraria]

I do.

( aspen, ever the tactile person, reaches to squeeze sasuke's upper arm in what's supposed to be a comforting motion, before he steps forwards. he keeps his spine straight and his demeanor calm when he does, and bows his head politely before puck. )

Good evening. We are searching for the lantern in your possession. ( he reaches into his satchel, withdrawing a batch of herbs and flowers - thyme, foxglove, and honeysuckle. he knows fae folk appreciate flora, and especially beautiful, rustic plants like these. ) May we speak and come to an agreement, for you to return it? The city has need of that lantern. Perhaps we can give you something worthwhile?

( he holds his ground even as puck seems to consider, but seems ever-cautious, ready to bolt backward if he incurs the man's ire. thankfully, he doesn't - and the invitation to indulge him is not just for aspen, but for sasuke as well. aspen relaxes, and beckons to his companion. )

[chokuto]

[The touch earns a sharp look — he doesn't pull away from it, but physical contact is a narrow part of his vocabulary usually indicating violence. It's gone before he can fully process.

Watching in silence, Sasuke catches the floral scent of the bundled herbs as they're offered out to Puck, only a wrinkle on his brow to indicate any confusion at the gesture. It seems Aspen knows what he's doing; he won't interfere unless it's necessary. Or so he tells himself to quell the persistent itch in the back of his mind.]

How long are we supposed to do this?

[If they can't retrieve the lantern... He remembers the warning. "We must sacrifice another." Sasuke comes reluctantly forward, but still keeps distance between himself and Puck.] Indulging him isn't specific. It could take hours. The lantern needs to be retrieved as soon as possible. [Impatient!! Annoyed!!]

[terraria]

( if his annoyance effects him in any way, aspen doesn't let it show. he falls back to keep a distance from puck so he might speak to sasuke, looking at him with understanding but exasperation - )

I agree, but the lantern needs to be retrieved whole as well. Fae do not break their word once they have agreed. Doing so means the one who they have betrayed has power over them, and just as we mortals - we don't want strange creatures to have power over us, they don't wish for it either.

If we were to attack him, meanwhile, he would have due reason to retaliate. I'm not so worried about his ability to surpass your prowess, but... fae are petty. If he decides to shatter it because we have given offense...

[chokuto]

[Reasonable words, although he frowns at the implication that he might attack the 'fae' across from them — against the boiling thoughts in his mind that goad him to do it on principle. He knows he could take the lantern without it coming to violence, unless the fae retaliated.

Sasuke closes his mouth and remains resolutely silent as Puck settles back on the trunk of the tree and begins to... tell them a story.

A story about a young woman who, after becoming hopelessly lost in the woods, has a feeling that someone is following her. Sasuke is on-edge listening; he moves closer, but he doesn't take a seat near the fae. For days, the woman in the story goes on with that feeling of being stalked, Puck's lyrical storytelling enough to make the woods around them seem just as dark and threatening... Until one afternoon, she encounters it. A too tall, dark man with many snaking limbs and a blank white face.

Sasuke's senses sharpen. He whirls to the right, staring into the perimeter of darkness with glowing, mismatched eyes.] ... This is a trick, [murmured to Aspen under his breath.] There's someone else here.

[terraria]

( don't take it personally, sasuke. aspen's entire social circle is made up of warriors and one very traumatized and knife-wielding bird. he expects everyone to immediately attack the "problem".

his gaze drifts out of the corner of his eye to sasuke when he speaks, but he doesn't immediately act. he's diplomatic politeness as opposed to sasuke's understandable and blunt caution; he debates continuing to sit and letting sasuke take care of it.

he did admit to not being particularly combat-savvy. his best trait is to keep puck entertained by being a good audience. ... and yet... )

You're certain it's someone else entirely? Does it feel like an illusion or another one of us? ( his voice is soft, hushed, and he doesn't entirely look away from puck. he looks enraptured, from a normal bystander's view. very few would understand how rigid his spine is and the way his wings are spread to hide some of sasuke from view - as if protecting him in his own way. )

[chokuto]

If it was an illusion, my eyes would be able to tell. [Then again... the words are reluctant on his tongue, because already he's seen feats of this world outside the realm of his own familiarity, not imbued with chakra's life force but something else. And it puts them at a severe disadvantage. So he admits:] Or it is magic.

[Another one of us — a Restless should announce themselves, but this feels more sinister. Sasuke wishes he had a weapon on hand. He'll need one soon.

He looks back at Aspen, noticing the tensed posture, glad that he is keeping an eye on Puck.]

I'll investigate. Stay here. I'll hear you if you call me back.

[suspenseful music plays]

[terraria]

I don't think it's magic. I can't sense it, and I would be able to.

( where sasuke admits his disadvantage, aspen immediately covers that weak spot of his. so after a moment of consideration, he just nods. )

... alright. Be safe. ( aspen will stay here. and wait. ... he doesn't like that idea, but he's starting to get used to it, given it's the usual instructions he gets nowadays.

he keeps his full focus on puck. he's not like the fae he knows, not entirely - but there is still a startling likeness. the same rules, he thinks. but why are they indulging him? a creeping dread starts to overtake his stomach and he shudders a quiet breath.

fae like to play games.

he hopes puck isn't playing a game right now, and for just a second - a split second, he swears - he looks away from puck to where sasuke disappeared. )

[chokuto]

[In the moment Aspen looks away from Puck, he vanishes in a fit of laughter, and the forest becomes impossibly dark. Sasuke goes deep enough into the woods that the place begins to feel stranger and disorienting than before. He finds tents; rotting corpses of lost expeditions leftover around cold campfires. A wind blows, and he winces when a sharp leaf slices the skin of his cheek and leaves a bleeding trickle.

There is a sinister voice in the trees — the one materialized from Puck's storytelling, although Sasuke can't make out the words. Turning, he races back the way he came to find Aspen alone. The campfire continues to blaze, a blinding and solitary illumination in the dark.

Sasuke crosses the clearing and begins to kick dirt over the fire, putting it out, plunging them both into further blackness. He doesn't explain why, but he can feel it, the sense that something is wrong with the fire, that it plays tricks on their minds...

Once it's out, Puck reappears, giggling madly again. "I am a word that is hardly there. Remove my start, and I'm an herbal flair. What am I?"]

It's a riddle. Do you understand it?

[terraria]

( aspen tsks his tongue and immediately gets to his feet. )

So you are playing a game.

( he means to simply go towards where sasuke left, but the surge of fire makes him freeze. he's absolutely frozen in abject terror, unable to move, his throat clenched almost entirely shut. it's only when sasuke puts it out that he's able to break from his horror, letting out a choked noise that sounds suspiciously like a sob.

he hears puck before he sees him, and aspen whirls on him like he's about to lash out violently. only remembering he's not alone here stops him, and he simmers back down, staring at his feet. )

A word... hardly there...

( he shakes his head at first, thinking, speaking aloud between his brainstorming. )

Remove the start and I'm an herbal flair...

Herbal flair. Thyme? Rosemary? Cinnamon... basil... parsley...

( ...! )

Parsley? Sparsely! It's sparsely!

( as if on perfect cue, the lantern drops - aspen lunges forward to catch it, holding it close to his chest with a relieved, if shuddery, sigh. )

[chokuto]

[The noise draws Sasuke's eyes, studying Aspen, but he doesn't draw any further attention to it. This isn't something he would know the answer to — the only herbs that come to his own mind are of an origin not native to this place. Shiso, mitsuba, sansho pepper... Unsurprisingly, he doesn't recognize parsley. But the play on words makes sense with the fluency he's gained in the Netherworld tongue.

If Aspen hadn't been here, he couldn't have solved that riddle. Sasuke recognizes that with some frustration.]

So we have the lantern. Then we need to go back—

[His words stop there abruptly, as one moment they're standing together in the clearing next to the snuffed campfire, and the next they're on the outskirts of the forest where they started. Sasuke whips around, checking his surroundings.]

... We were teleported.

1/3

[terraria]

( for a few seconds, aspen just seems frozen in place once more.

it's only after that he collapses onto his knees, lantern still kept close to his chest. he looks it over and turns it over in his hands, thankful it's whole and unscathed.

and then: )

That fucking cunt of a fae! What in gods' name was with that?! A fucking riddle? I'll cut off his balls and shove them down --

2/3

[terraria]

( ah. he realizes sasuke's with him as he casts his gaze up. )

3/3

[terraria]

( his face grows icy cold before all the blood rushes to his face, coloring his fair skin a bright pink. right. he's not alone. he clears his throat after a moment, lifting his hand so sasuke can take their "prize". )

... uh... well. Here.

1/2

[chokuto]

[bro are you okay]

[chokuto]

[... Uh huh.

The outburst is startling, incongruent to the personality Aspen's presented so far, but they haven't spent that much time together. And hot-tempered people aren't unfamiliar to him. Immediately it calls to mind Karin's mercurial moods; but even she hadn't been quite so explicit with her language.

He eyes Aspen doubtfully.]

I thought you said you knew these creatures. [A little snappy. He's just like this.] It doesn't matter either way. We still succeeded in the mission.

[terraria]

I do know them.

( since sasuke won't take the lantern, he gingerly gets to his feet, still a little pink. )

They're insufferable to deal with. Of course I'm upset. ( he also leaves out 'and most don't like me'. looks like this one didn't mind. or at least, he hopes he didn't mind and that fire wasn't a targeted attack. he wipes his eyes just to make sure they're not watering. ) He still held to his word, at least.

What did you see? I heard you running.

[chokuto]

[I completely missed that, pretend Sasuke was too distracted by the outburst to take the lantern. Also he's rude. He doesn't even offer a hand to help Aspen to his feet.]

Nothing real. [Cagey.] Apparitions and shadows. The only light source was the campfire, and I knew it had some connection to what I was seeing. I won't tell you any more than that.

[Magic eyes will remain a mystery indefinitely. Feeling a tickle on his cheek, Sasuke lifts his hand to wipe blood from the scratch he's suffered; superficial enough not to worry about. Then he stops, frowning, and reaches the same hand in his pocket to produce a piece of paper. He has to shake it open one-handed to read the lettering.] ... [And, silent, he doesn't tell Aspen what it says.]

[terraria]

( aspen raises a brow. )

... why won't you tell me more? Was it that bad? ( he lifts a hand towards sasuke, glowing a faint gold. this time, sasuke's cut heals. aspen lets out a sigh of relief. more of a 50-50, then. )

Or if this is a 'you don't need to know' thing - fine. I suppose I don't.

[chokuto]

Because it isn't important. It wasn't anything real, just meant to scare us.

[He frowns, reaching to rub the back of his hand over his now smooth, unmarred cheek. It bothers him that it was done without permission, but then again, it's not something he should complain about. He'd asked Aspen to come along for that reason, even if the wound was fairly minor.]

Check your pocket. Do you have a paper telling you to go to the Shadowlands?

[terraria]

( he pauses, checking his pockets and satchel and starting when he does, indeed, feel a paper crinkle in his hand. he pulls it out, staring at the folded paper before he purses his lips. )

... yes.

( he has to really focus on the paper to read it, but - it's there. )

Oh, that's not ominous at all.

[chokuto]

[That's the confirmation he needed. With a look at the lantern, still in Aspen's hands, Sasuke turns away.]

I'm going. Can you take the Mourning Lantern back to the woman?

[The Shadowlands isn't a journey he's willing to make with someone else, given his door and what's behind it. Sorry, Aspen, time for him to ditch you. But thanks for all the help! Which he doesn't verbalize; acknowledgment comes only in a curt nod of his head.]

[terraria]

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!