reddosmod: (Default)
Deer Country Mod ([personal profile] reddosmod) wrote in [community profile] deercountry2021-12-08 02:19 am

I'd go back in time and change it, but I can't

DECEMBER 2021 EVENT
Hello! We are trying a new style of event this December with archival-like entries that characters can ICly find in the Archives. This should allow characters to be able to plan against certain events that occur in-game and do research ahead of time, during the event, or after the fact.

The idea is that these prompts will provide you with all the possibilities characters could theoretically face from the prompt. We hope this leaves more open-ended opportunities for people to engage with. Anything mentioned in the excerpts could be an experience characters encounter. You can always ask for clarification on any prompt on the plotting page.

This is a way to keep all event prompts relevant since new characters would be able to "read up" on these events/excerpts by visiting the Archives or other such resources for information about past events and what they can anticipate from the setting.

We hope this new style makes sense and is fun for players to work with! They will rely on players creating more of the atmosphere than the prompts, but we think that the prompts will provide the perfect guidance as to what the atmosphere should feel like. Enjoy!

IMAGE DESCRIPTORS IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE

Prompt One
[Image One: Holiday themed antler decoration.]
[Image Two: White stag with perfect, circular antlers with bits of ice attached.]

Prompt Two
[Image One: Sculpture of white rabbit with neck caught in a snare. Non-graphic.]
[Image Two: Person in red cloak and wolf mask turning around.]

Prompt Three
[Image One: Puppet making bloody snow angel in snow.]
[Image Two: Bloodied hands wrapped in bandages clenching.]

WINTER MOURNING
WHEN: Begins in December and can last until the end of Feb.
WHERE: Everywhere
CONTENT WARNINGS: Spoilers for various canons, survival situations, forced memory share


[A passage from Rituals of Trench: Remembering Our Pasts reads the following:]

"A long-standing tradition to celebrate Bone Season is for Deerians to collect antlers and bones salvaged from natural resources and create decorative home accents. These antler-bone decors are known formally as Winter Mournings and can be found in almost every residential home throughout Deer Country. Winter Mournings can be made to look like wreaths, candle holders, or simply an antler with a bow hung up on a wall.

Winter Mournings is seen as a way to honor one's past tribulations and how one has managed to survive and overcome hardships during their life. Winter Mournings serves as a testament to survival and a willingness to keep surviving even when things look bleak and dismal.

Creating Winter Mournings is considered a blessing to the Pthumerians Dorothea, Remina, and Argonaut. You will know if the blessing was accepted once your Winter Mourning begins to glow like the moon. Touch your Winter Mourning and you will be pulled back in time to a memory of a specific time when you or someone else had to survive something physically or mentally challenging. For some, it is merely a memory that cannot hurt, but for others, you may want to proceed with caution as it has been known to pull people physically back to times of war.

One cannot choose which memory they wind up in if it is their own, a friend's, or a complete stranger's. Winter Mournings was designed to create a sense of union and empathy among residents and is meant to open your mind and heart to those who have suffered around you. It is time you explore your past, or someone else's past, with an open mind and see how the other side has lived through hard times. These memories are known to be from adolescence, adulthood, or sometimes even futures that have not yet happened or timelines you have never known. After all, Remina sees all past and all history. That means they see all of your past and history too.

No memory lasts forever though. Once the memory has been concluded, you shall be brought back to the present by the Winter Mourning Stag: a great white beast with a circle of frozen antlers. It will come to you when the time is ready, and you will return to the present like waking from a dazzling dream.

Experiencing Winter Mournings can stabilize one's mood and provide restful sleep after, even if the memories may be difficult to swallow. It truly is a tribute to honor past horrors and traumas. Some memories are painful to remember, but forgetting them will never do anyone any good either. So hang your Winter Mournings and remember what matters.

Survive another day. You are worth it."

FAQ

1. Winter Mournings can produce new memories every time you touch them or the same memory.

2. Characters cannot choose what the memory is.

3. Characters can arrive in each other's memories regardless of if they already know each other. Multiple people can experience the same memory.

4. You can either experience the memory as a memory you can't touch or experience - or you can physically be in the memory and have to survive the situation as well. If you die in memory, your body will die wherever you had been touching the Winter Mourning.

5. Palebloods are capable of altering memories or how they or others experience memories.

6. Characters can be pulled into memories at random - as long as one of the characters in the memory share is touching a Winter Mourning at first.
RUN, RABBIT, RUN
WHEN: Month of December
WHERE: Everywhere/the woods
CONTENT WARNINGS: Themes of hunting, ghosts, curses, attempts at animal violence, hunting people based on blood types.


[An excerpt from Legends of Trench: Curses and Causations reads the following:]

"One of the most notorious legends of Trench is without a doubt the tale of The Huntress and the Hare. Most Trenchies have been told this tale since they were children, but for those unfamiliar, settle in.

This story begins with a mischievous god and an ambitious huntress. The Pthumerian Dorothea loved to play tricks on hunters trying to survive the Bone Season, setting animals free from traps and remaking the traps to catch the hunters instead. One day, a darkblood Huntress was fed up with Dorothea preventing her from catching food for her family and decided to settle the score. The Huntress began to hunt for Dorothea specifically, but it is no small feat hunting the god of trickery and survival.

The Huntress started to rely on her darkblood powers to alter reality to make the perfect traps. Innocuous trees turned into glue traps that anyone would stick to until they were freed by a darkblood or death took their pain from them. Walking through bushes would snag legs and necks, effectively trapping whatever creatures were unfortunate enough to wander for food. Magical snares and beartraps lock around victims with unrelenting force, leaving people and animals to try for help until they cry no more. While this took many innocent lives in the woods, animals, and people alike, it never seemed to work on Dorothea.

Dorothea continued to outwit the Huntress until she eventually drove the Huntress insane. The Huntress died without ever catching Dorothea, but they say her vengeful spirit awakens in winter and begins to set her traps yet again. The Huntress sends her traps and her dead animals after vilebloods and warmbloods to spite Dorothea and hope to maybe catch the god's attention. But Dorothea is no passive god. Dorothea spurs vilebloods and warmbloods to defend themselves against darkbloods and coldbloods.

Infamously, this has created enormous tension between the blood types during December some years, and it is said that the blood lust has caused the types to begin hunting one another regardless of old friendships and alliances. Beware the Huntress's curse. Some believe darkbloods and coldbloods can still hear her haunting commands and cries from the Trenchwood.

They say there is no ease for the tension between the bloodtypes until December has passed, but some believe palebloods may provide relief if they are willing."

FAQ

1. Characters will increasingly feel the urge to actively hunt one another using traps/etc.

2. The Huntress's curse includes undead animals/beasts chasing after warmbloods and vilebloods and magical traps. Players can invent unique traps for their characters.

3. There will be an innate urge to chase/hide from one another.

4. The curse can be broken by paleblood intervention, character death, or a gradual wearing off by the end of the month.
LOCKJOINT
WHEN: All of Bone Season
WHERE: On Sleeper bodies
CONTENT WARNINGS: Mild body horror, blood magic curses, physical curses, cures through blood ministration/blood letting, possible skin removal, injuries, possible death via starvation/exposure.


[An passage from The Sleeper Condition; Chapter 13: Bodily Aches and More. Found exclusively at the Lumenarium:]

"Generally speaking, Sleeper blood allows Sleepers to navigate this world without the fear of illness and disease. However, no organic body is perfect, and Sleeper blood has its own set of ailments to fret over. Blood Ministers have studied the phenomena of Lockjoint for years now and believe that it is linked to the crystalization found in Sleeper death, though the exact connection remains unknown.

Lockjoint tends to begin and last throughout Bone Season. Some Sleepers may never experience it, but for many, it becomes a reoccurring issue to dread each season. This condition forces blood magic to gather at the joints and effectively lock up. Sleepers find it difficult to move their bodies at the bends, fingers, knees, shoulders, etc without some form of discomfort. Minimal lockjoint can be painful and annoyance, but critical lockjoint can be fatal.

The most severe cases of lockjoint documented have shown Sleepers to have crystalization form over their joints, rendering parts of their bodies completely immobile. Some Sleepers have been found dead in this condition, all their joints crystallized, and it is believed most died from natural causes thereafter.

One can determine they are experiencing lockjoint when the coloration around the joints begins to darken in color, typically looking like a bruise. Calcification may occur rapidly the more magic a Sleeper uses or the more they expose themselves to outside elements. It is imperative that Sleepers remain properly clothed during Bone Season, even if they are coldbloods, and to invest in enchanted clothes that can lock in heat.

A known cure for lockjoint is the art of bloodletting. Puncturing the joints with small incisions seems to allow a release of the built-up magic and can provide immediate relief to the Sleeper. Catching lockjoint early is imperative. Alternative methods are soaking in hot springs and salted water.

Those who are in a more severe state will have to carefully have the crystals removed. This will likely remove the skin as well. Local anesthesia is highly recommended for the procedure. This process is known to leave scarring. The crystals can be saved and used as bloodstones from whoever they were harvested from. If you find a Sleeper dead from lockjoint, make sure to harvest the crystals as they are incredibly valuable.

This curse is believed to stem from Sleeper blood magic congealing within the body in contrast with the atmospheric magic of Bone Season. There is no known prevention for lockjoint. Lockjoint can impact all Sleepers regardless of bloodtype or the material their bodies are made from."

FAQ

1. This impacts characters regardless of blood type or their body - meaning it can impact characters with metal/plastic/plant/wood/etc bodies.

2. Players can choose how rapid or severe this gets and how quickly they can be healed.
CODING
imaglyphwitch: (my girl)

[personal profile] imaglyphwitch 2021-12-15 06:44 pm (UTC)(link)
Luz brightened at the compliment and gave Vira a smile.

"Thanks, I think I really needed to hear that. After a while, I accepted that I liked both guys and girls, but after this I just kept crushes to myself, and then it didn't matter that much because both boys and girl kind of avoided me. Deerington is, well, Deerington, so there really wasn't much happening there, and here is still just as crazy! I kinda envy anyone who can manage to find someone they like despite all the stuff that goes on."

She didn't mention the Boiling Isles though, because there was one particular person there that made a tap dance all over her heart the moment she started thinking about them.
onerthes: (02)

[personal profile] onerthes 2021-12-18 04:11 am (UTC)(link)
"Liking both is just as fine as liking only one," she agreed, grinning at her. "But I do know that people seem to put quite an emphasis on the whole thing in their worlds. So I'm glad you're more able to accept this in yourself. Hopefully you'll find that right someone soon."

She chuckled and shook her head. "It's... not easy. What with all the blood everywhere and the insanity. Definitely changes how you go out on dates, I will say." She mused as she said it, thinking about her own first date. "You know, if you do try it in this world? It just means that you'll have some very memorable ones."
imaglyphwitch: (grom best)

[personal profile] imaglyphwitch 2021-12-18 05:06 am (UTC)(link)
Luz nodded, then sighed. "You know, people seem to think that liking both means you're constantly on dates and everything, but I found the opposite is true. You can have crushes and stuff, but it takes longer to really find someone that you see eye to eye and really care about. But who knows? It might take longer or shorter than I might have thought."

She was beginning to see there were times she just NEEDED to stay at home.

"I never thought of that. Then again, I've never even been on a date! I have no idea how it'd go at all. Heck, I don't think I'd even know who to ask!"
onerthes: (Default)

[personal profile] onerthes 2021-12-19 02:41 am (UTC)(link)
"Pffft. That's silly. You're right. Liking both doesn't mean any of that. It just means you're able to see the beauty in that way regardless of gender. You 'can' like them that way. And that's fine. Preferences are fine." She sighted and just couldn't help a little laugh.

"You know. That's kind of perfect. Around here if you don't know what a date 'should' be, you can just find things that work if it's fun for both of you, right?"
imaglyphwitch: (Owl appreciation)

[personal profile] imaglyphwitch 2021-12-19 01:11 pm (UTC)(link)
Luz nodded, smiling. "You know, of all the things that were pretty horrible about Deerington, the fact that there were plenty of people all over the spectrum dating was pretty comforting. I already feel strange because I'm me and a witch, but that was at least something that didn't seem out of place."

Now that Luz thought about it, most of the people who were in relationships were queer in some respect. It had actually been the thing that allowed Luz to come to terms with the developing crush she had on Amity Blight.

"Now you're talking! Granted, I guess it might be some time before I ever get anything like that for myself! As my friend Kyle pointed out, I've somehow become the 'mom friend' in my group!"
onerthes: (09)

[personal profile] onerthes 2021-12-20 09:43 pm (UTC)(link)
"And Trench is even more free than Deerington was. I certainly don't think I've seen any of the locals have the issues they had in that town once in a while." She shook her head and then smiled. "You won't find any real judgment there."

She laughed softly and grinned at her. "Trust me. The mom friends can eventually find the right person. Your day will come."
imaglyphwitch: (is this real life)

[personal profile] imaglyphwitch 2021-12-21 02:18 am (UTC)(link)
"The townies do seem less 'townie' like and its more like an actual city," Luz noted. "There's at least a much better vibe of a place that's willing to accept how different everyone here is."

Deerington had been way more restrictive in that sense.

"Oh well sure, but imagine how long that's going to take! I might have to wait a whole new year!"
Edited 2021-12-21 02:19 (UTC)
onerthes: (02)

[personal profile] onerthes 2021-12-21 05:13 pm (UTC)(link)
"You can ask their names and get an answer. It's actually sort of unusual." In a good way. It was definitely in a good way as far as she was concerned. "And yes, they seem more accepting of differences, though some of them do seem much more dour than others."

"Hehe. Love is worth the wait, I assure you."
imaglyphwitch: (Otter in full!)

[personal profile] imaglyphwitch 2021-12-21 07:11 pm (UTC)(link)
"Boy. That is a really sad upgrade."

Really, the townies in Deerington were that elusive? No wonder none of the Sleepers liked engaging them in conversation.

"Oh, I'm guessing that has to do with their lifestyles I mean, people are like that on Earth too, especially the ones that are more religious than others. They have a whole way of living, and don't like to compromise it or they'll feel like they're letting bad behavior in their lives."

She nodded. "I'll bet! I mean, I care about all you guys so much, I imagine caring for a specific person is an evil more powerful emotion!"
onerthes: (09)

[personal profile] onerthes 2021-12-23 06:30 pm (UTC)(link)
Well... the townies in Deerington hadn't actually been people, just images of them. But, she wasn't wrong at all. "It's sad that knowing Frank down the road in the market square is such a big deal, but there it is." She laughed softly. "And I think you're right. Some are very dour, very dark, very sedate. The others are garrish, loud and vibrant. It might be how they cope with this world. Disappear in its shadows or live for today as tomorrow may not come."

"It's the kind of feeling that can overwhelm you without warning. When you realize you feel it, it's too late and you can't imagine being without it."
imaglyphwitch: (Fiendishly clever!)

[personal profile] imaglyphwitch 2021-12-23 07:02 pm (UTC)(link)
Schematics.

"I think with us Sleepers, we try to find a balance. After Deerington, we want the chance to have a little bit of peace and quiet, but we also come from worlds that just give us access to louder, wilder times if we want them, and sometimes it's great to have the choice to go that way."

Luz was definitely a girl who could sway either way depending on what it was.

"I'll take your word for it! Sounds like you and Minako are doing pretty good!"

onerthes: (03)

[personal profile] onerthes 2021-12-24 11:19 pm (UTC)(link)
"I find myself more in line with the garrish ones. I don't mind a dark aesthetic, but I like to live as I am. I don't like the world to dictate what I will do with my time." Sometimes that worked out great, but Luz probably knew plenty about the other times, given that she used to carry her head around for a while. "I suspect everyone is a bit to one side or another in their balance."

She chuckled softly, closing her eyes. "We've been fumbling our way in the dark gradually together. She's... very understanding, and I appreciate that about her. Girl's good at making me blush."
imaglyphwitch: (did everyone get a haircut)

[personal profile] imaglyphwitch 2021-12-25 01:58 am (UTC)(link)
"I think so too, and generally, I think I actually side with you on this argument. It might be fun to wear black and make sure I'm not all too exposed to blood corruption, but that doesn't mean I want to be draped head to toe in concealing stuff and give people with more fun ideas the stink eye. I'm all about expressing yourself through your clothes!"

It really wouldn't be Luz if she didn't.

"Minako? YOU, BLUSH? That's honestly something that shocks me a little bit! Now I know that this girl has to be someone special...wait, that's Usagi's friend, right?"

Was that another soldier?
onerthes: (05)

[personal profile] onerthes 2021-12-30 08:33 pm (UTC)(link)
"See, exactly. Black isn't right without a splash of color for it to give life to," she said. She wore some muted colors here, but there was always pretty vibrant reds and purples in the midst of the black, far more in line with one camp than the other.

"Mmmm, yes, they and Makoto are from the same world," she said, not quite touching on the whole Senshi thing. She didn't know who was read in or not, and so rarely spoke about it. "And she is quite special. A regular goddess of love." She giggled a little.

"She actually kind of is, at least to me."
imaglyphwitch: (He's got the hots!)

[personal profile] imaglyphwitch 2021-12-30 08:52 pm (UTC)(link)
"Exactly! Black can go from drab to super fabulous with the right accents, the right sort of combinations! I personally like to pair it with a red or white, but you could do it with a lot of other colors too!"

So they were from the same world, just as she thought! Granted, she could probably guess if they were soldiers, but she knew, in a way, she didn't want to. If that's what they were, that was their business. The only one who's identity Luz knew for sure was Usagi's, and she'd leave it at that.

"Heh, I've heard her say that once or twice! Not that I'd know what qualifies you to be one anyway. And I'm sure that she'd blush if she heard you say that about her!"
onerthes: (Default)

[personal profile] onerthes 2022-01-01 04:06 pm (UTC)(link)
"Reds and light purples are my favorites to pair it with. The right splash of color can make any sort of dark outfit pop quite nicely," she agreed, smiling in absolute agreement with her friend. It was something that she thought was a nice middle point between the two, even if she was decidedly on the colorful side of things.

"If I could manage to get her to blush with that kind of complement? I'd love it, honestly. Just knowing that she could hear it from someone else instead of saying it just herself. Confirmation is always nice."
Edited 2022-01-01 16:06 (UTC)
imaglyphwitch: (Soft on me Blight?)

[personal profile] imaglyphwitch 2022-01-01 07:20 pm (UTC)(link)
"See, you know just what you're talking about! Why do you have to spell this out to some people? Dark colors can look amazing in the right kind of pairing! And really, who doesn't like purple?"

Luz makes an exaggerated pose here, as it is pretty obvious, she's a fan of that color.

"I'm sure you'll be able to make her blush if she knows how you feel! It sounds like you guys have gotten off on the right foot already."
onerthes: (05)

[personal profile] onerthes 2022-01-03 06:10 am (UTC)(link)
"Absolutely. Purple is a wonderful thing. It brings the vibrancy out of so much, but I'm biased," said the woman fingering her purple hair as she said it, snickering some and winking back at her friend. They were both fans of it, clearly.

"Oh, I think I know a few ways. But the challenge makes each time worth it."
imaglyphwitch: (gleeheehee)

[personal profile] imaglyphwitch 2022-01-03 01:20 pm (UTC)(link)
"Oh no, I think so too! I mean..."

Luz gestured to her trademark cat hoodie. "That's pretty obvious, right?"

She nodded, reddening a little. "Oh, of course you do, you've lived pretty long! But I'm sure learning hers will make it all the more fun!"

Be careful how you phrase things, Luz.
onerthes: (03)

[personal profile] onerthes 2022-01-03 10:06 pm (UTC)(link)
"Love is a learning experience," she said reassuringly, opting for once not to be weird about it. She gave her a side hug and smirked down at her. "It's kind of a fun journey even if the missteps are awful. You're like an explorer in places neither of you know or understand."
imaglyphwitch: (Default)

[personal profile] imaglyphwitch 2022-01-04 01:54 am (UTC)(link)
Luz nodded, smiling at the hug. "I guess I'll just have to wait and see if that ever happens. For now, I'll have to be content with the adventures I'm neck deep into right now. I just hope your adventure is a good one."
onerthes: (Default)

[personal profile] onerthes 2022-01-04 10:11 pm (UTC)(link)
She grinned down at her. "Never hurts to find it when the time is right. Trust me, you'll get there soon enough, and you have plenty of adventures for the both of us," she said in a mild tone, turning her away from the memory and starting to walk down the hall.

"What do you say we get out of here... however we do that?"
imaglyphwitch: (Soft on me Blight?)

[personal profile] imaglyphwitch 2022-01-05 02:13 am (UTC)(link)
Luz nodded, patting her head down a little bit. "I'll take your word for it!"

And now she was nodding even more eagerly. "I think we can just walk off. This memory isn't a great one, but I have way worse ones now!"

That's not really something to brag about though.
onerthes: (Default)

[personal profile] onerthes 2022-01-07 08:52 pm (UTC)(link)
"I bet you that when we walk out of the school doors, the memory will end. that almost seems like the perfect way to end this, if it were one of those films humans watch," she said, shaking her head and laughing softly. "But let's avoid some of those worse ones, what do you say? Maybe make better memories in time."

Either way, she was all too happy to get out of this one to freedom and perhaps some more happiness soon.

(OOC: A wrap?)
imaglyphwitch: (soft smile)

Cue OMD's "Don't You Forget About Me" playing them off

[personal profile] imaglyphwitch 2022-01-08 12:57 am (UTC)(link)
Luz managed a weak smile, nodding with the sentiment.

"Oh trust me, you wouldn't believe how shmaltzy they could be. Though personally, if it had to end like that, I'd love one of those old eighties films which are definitely of their time but have at least one really good song in their soundtrack!"

And Luz just happens to hug Vira a little bit as they walk. It may have been a bad memory, but she didn't mind sharing it with someone she cared this much about.