undyingcourt | january tdm/event post

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january tdm/event post

JANUARY TDM - WINTER DREAMS

Welcome to the Undying Court's January Test Drive Meme! This post also functions as the January Event for existing characters, and continues the Winter Season, led by the Blue Court.

New characters may handwave or backdate the previous season's arrival prompt should they wish to, but you may otherwise assume they've been here the whole time! Additionally, all TDM threads can be taken as in-game canon if desired. And remember that apps open February 3-7, with invites opening on January 28, and reserves not long after!

Note that this post will contain: violence, enthrallment, torture, slavery, horror and potentially sexual content. Dreams come in many forms, after all.

This event also features another chance for characters to submit Regains, so make sure to submit after you've posted your top-level or reply to someone else's dream. For characters both new and old, feel free to brush up on the Premise, Vampire Powers, and head over to the FAQ/Game Info page if you have any questions!

Note that this event will be occurring throughout the month of January and into February, so characters are free to forward-date as desired!
For new characters please format your Top-level in this format: Character Name | Canon | Court | Youngblood/Novice | TDM
For existing characters please format your Top-level in this format: Character Name | Court | Youngblood/Novice
If you have any questions specific to the event, ask them in the Plotting Post Q&A section!

Top-Level Directory:

ONCE UPON A DREAM

A quiet falls over the Castle as a new day begins to break. As with every morning, this is a time when vampires must retreat to avoid the rays of the sun, pulling heavy curtains around their beds and windows to block out any light. However, this particular morning is abnormally quiet as the whole of the Castle seems to fall asleep all at once, and all together. After this enchanted sleep, and for the the next thirty days, the Castle's residents will start to experience strange phenomena within their dreams.

During this period, dreams become more vivid, so realistic it feels like the dreamer is awake. Dreamers can pass into each other's dreams without meaning to. Some of these dreams are in fact memories--either those from the lives the characters have lived in the Castle and the outlying lands, or the strange memories they've begun to gain back.

But be careful! For what starts as a regular memory might start to warp into something new. If you're lucky, it'll be something positive, like a dream of a home you've always wanted. But if you're unlucky, the memory might twist and turn into a nightmare, catching you in it and turning your worst fears against you.

Each nightfall, everyone will wake and return to normal. Or at least, most people will.

[Note: Any current characters who participate in the dream event by creating a top level or tagging someone else at least once in this prompt may be rewarded with a free impactful memory, which may be used in the dreamscape. Don't forget to submit for your Regains!]

A NIGHTMARISH CURSE

It turns out that not everyone wakes up. Those who stay in nightmares for too long may find themselves cursed, and unable to wake up. At first, the curse appears no different from regular sleep. But a few hours in the victim will start screaming uncontrollably. No touch will wake them, no amount of calling their name will break the spell. After too long, the victim will start to bleed, slowly at first, and then more and more as they remain afflicted. A victim left unattended will bleed out and die.

The Council works quickly to step in. Kashire (who is looking rather frayed this season) delivers the news that there's no need to panic, but everyone will need to do their part in locating and curing victims. In fact, the youngbloods seem to be taking this as the perfect opportunity for a teaching moment, and students are expected to try and find a cure with the skills that match their Court. Novices and youngbloods alike are encouraged to try and help lift the curse from anyone they can. (Get creative! Blood heals many wounds...) Any victims that have progressed too far will need to be seen to by Revar.

The nightmare curse, however, can spread quickly. Anyone who enters the nightmare of a victim will fall victim to the curse. Additionally, any attempt to reach out to the mind of a curse victim will also spread the curse. With the combined efforts of the students and teachers, the curse can be completely put out. But it will take time and care to ensure everyone is found in time, and cured safely.

ANYWAY, WINTER GAMES!

But a few curses aren't going to stop the Blue Court from making sure everyone has a good time. The days might be short, and weighed down by the threats of nightmares, but winter has hit Castle Courtsheart in full force, and the long nights and snow-covered grounds make for an excellent backdrop to the Inter-Court Winter Games!

There isn't really a reward for the winning house besides bragging rights and maybe a trophy that doubles as a chalice, but youngbloods and novices alike are invited to join in the festivities and compete against one another in the spirit of glory and the chance to lord over your Court's superiority. Even Council members and mature vampires of each court seem to enjoy cheering on their respective teams from the stands. Everything is fine! Forget your troubles and go play in the snow.

What kind of sports do vampires play? Feel free to get creative, but here are some examples:

Thrall-Curling: Since vampiric strength proves to be a little too much for this sport otherwise, teams of novices (or youngbloods) of the same Court can team up to gently compel their thralls to play the thrilling sport of curling. Coax that stone across the ice with care, and take out the opposing team! Or, well, the thralls will do that, assuming they're guided well. Try not to break them. (The thralls, that is.)

Figure skating: Practicing your pirouettes? For a vampire, a quadruple-axel is hardly worth breaking a sweat over. Favored for its beauty and almost seductive grace, the figure skating competition will be scored and judged by a multi-court panel. Participants might get extra points for incorporating bladework and masking into their sets, so these performances are sure to wow the judges.

Ice Hockey: Yes, the high-contact sport transcends time and space, but vampires don't need silly things like helmets or padded safety gear. Don your court's colors and hit the ice to toss the puck around and score as many points against the opposing team as you can before the time runs out. Violence is encouraged! Everyone likes to see a bit of blood on the ice this time of year. (Shadowstepping is considered cheating, but only if you get caught.)

And more! Snowball fighting may not be a sport, but there's no better time to enjoy the outdoors and stretch those growing fangs and muscles than the dead of winter. So whether you're cheering on your Court or watching from the sidelines, there's something here for everyone. Just because the castle is full of the the undead doesn't mean they can't have a little winter fun.

CLASS NOTES

Other notable happenings for the early winter season include:

Valentine's Day is just around the corner, and maybe it's time to find or make gifts for that special blood claim in your life. This season blood jewelry is the hot ticket item. These are pieces made from precious metal and glass, which hold the blood of a vampire in them. Carry a lover's blood to show how much you love them, or carry your own to force down the throat of your enemies so you can influence them.

Whispers around school start to say that Black Court lost a novice this month. Not murder this time! He simply unmade himself trying to mistwalk. Eh, these things happen.

As a result of a tie in last month's pumpkin carving contest, members of the Black and Red Courts will find small packages outside their doors. They are gifted silver letter openers, with the handle inlaid with pumpkins and leaves, and a note from Revar with a little drawing of a pumpkin and their signature. How nice!

Lady Whisperfangs is quiet for now, but her time is yet to come... This month's check-in will have a field to submit gossip about your characters! Vampires do so love their drama.

Once again, characters are free to talk to the NPCs as well: Revar & Kashire. For any questions regarding this month's prompts, please comment in the Plotting Post. For general game questions, please check the FAQ/Game Info. In the meantime, remember to submit your Regains for this month's free reward, and keep an eye out for our AC Check-in next week, starting on January 25-31.

The new year has brought us plenty of thirsty vampires, so we're glad you're here to share them with you!

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

[ She nods, not from listening, but actually having a pretty good idea of what was meant. After all, the thing that should be avoided most was triggering a feral attack for food, because sometimes when a creature is in that state, they can't tell when they're full. She's seen it in the forest before, on an obviously smaller scale. It's why Steinbach always has a thrall with a key that comes in on a regular schedule to force him to eat, as no one knew when he'd come out of that hyperfocus. ]

However, the longer they're in there, the higher the chances someone can end up in that nightmare, thus catching the curse. There isn't a way to quarantine minds without touching them...

[ Trying to figure this out, after all the novices were tasked to come up with a cure as well, was annoying because Eden was the type that wanted to understand and isolate everything. In the end, there were ways of isolating vocal chords so they couldn't be strained until the victim bled to death, but the psychoactive components disrupted the nightmare to wake them up earlier. That's where her own limitations were.

Luckily, that was a novice problem. Not something the infirmary needed, with so much already at hand and prepared (including the needed blood for the medicine.) ]

So, how would you like me to start helping?

[ It was hard to imagine that the time would lead into what the grade was, so much as the act of participating and understanding what was happening. Otherwise only one particular court would do well. Most likely it was simply a statistic, and it'll take more to establish a baseline.

Why saliva and blood were effective for healing, which was especially so for humans, was a curiosity indeed. Obviously they were going to figure that out today, but for an educated guess... It was the same reason why her scars healed further after each heavy feeding from Karma. Which would've been more exhausting for Karma if she didn't feed from Eden as well. ]

It works like this on human injuries because... There's a specific factor in vampire cells that activate when in contact with the bloodstream? It attaches and integrates with the system and speeds the recovery of everything. Saliva still has some of those cells, so while even less concentrated, it can have a similar effect from even a novice after a certain point.

[ And it would take a specific amount of blood from a fully fledged vampire for there to be enough to leave an impact, which also fades without regular recurrence- that part she knew very well. This 'loan' didn't last forever in the receiver, not for something like this. ]

[ Cal feels like an intruder, but at least it doesn't seem like he's here interrupting anything too personal, too private. The scene is peaceful and well - nice. There's been a distinct lack of nice when it comes to dreams. His own are usually memories, mixed in with whatever his mind can come up with to make them even worse. So he seats himself on a log and just watches. Not much else for him to do.

He cocks his head towards Phillip, the one not doing the dancing, the real thing that he hadn't noticed until now. But really, why would he be having someone else's dream without them present? ]

It is nice.

I'm guessing by that you mean more than just the dancing.

It could. [Norton removes a glove so he can feel the temperature of the novice's skin for himself. So far, seems... normal?] Humans get hit harder than any curse or illness.

[Anyway, the point he was trying to make is thus:] Always expect that the worst will happen, just so you won't be caught unawares. I won't keep you from hoping, but still don't bet on that hope.

[It's quite cynical, and Norton is well aware of that. He said it on purpose. Fear has always been an effective tactic, not just for hunting but also scaring the daylights out of the novices so they do something. So that they're alert.]

I've seen some serious cases already, some of them start bleeding. If this kid does, we'll have to start putting some blood in them, either by grabbing a thrall or finding the maker.

If something else happens, we may be able to do something. But for now, we have to make sure they don't hurt themself if the nightmare makes them act out.

[ Oh, it's good to see him work so hard. Norton has always been the more self-occupied type, but he does his job well...his earnestness is one of his charm points, in addition to his prickliness. Ah, they grow up so fast.

Their own court, indeed. ]

Those ones would never go through such trouble. A foundling is still human, after all- a curse is simply overkill when they need such little effort. A bit too savage for such delicate work.

[ Saying this as if killing off prospective novices is a regular Sunday activity, but you know, shit happens.

He merely hums in response to the last part, neither accepting or denying it. ]

You would be surprised at the hobbies some people have. [ A wave of the hand. ] But that is a good start, if anything. Since you're enjoying putting your mind to work, I'll be kind and give you a suggestion.

[ A gloved finger reaches out to give the younger man a quick poke to the forehead, eyes crinkling in an undecipherable type of smile. ]

Oftentimes, your best source of information will be...ah, let's say Patient Zero. Who first started this? [ There's a mirth in his voice that doesn't fit the situation. ] Which court? Which year? Novice? Youngblood? Prick and pull at their brain a little, peel back the layers, and maybe you'll find the source of our ills the slightest bit closer.

I don't know much about dyes or crafts, I'm afraid.
I do look forward to seeing the result if you don't mind sharing.

My moralising? Satoruuu, those were the very basic requirements to not get into trouble!

[said with a laugh, mostly because he can't for the unlife of him remember having morals, but. he must have had some at some point? he can't see himself following his maker to the depths of hell had he always been like this.]

When would have had the chance for that? You haven't given me the time of day in decades. Maybe I should befriend that you over there. He looks fun.

[There's no offense taken at all! Given that Elias had faced the daunting task of changing Courts just to get away from Xenk Yendar, he probably also agrees. Besides, he recently found out about Xenk's success rate. The statistics don't lie.]

He… doesn't seem to mind Yendar, somehow? [For the sake of Kirk’s privacy (if he still has that?) Elias decides to describe it more neutrally than what he'd heard.] So, I'm crossing my fingers. It would be nice if he makes it.

[At the mention of new equipment, Elias brightens up visibly- he's a simple man with simple wants. One has to find ways to stay silly despite it all.]

New tools sound great. The older vampires probably have coin lying around they can bet with… I don't know how we can turn a new youngblood’s favor into new equipment, but we can workshop it.

Suppose we could still have sex or bloodwine or a political favor if it doesn't work out. [Elias isn't very interested in the traditional barter currency here but ehhh they're alright. He guesses.]

[If Norton were to make a guess, he thinks this isn't the work of one, but multiple. The people behind a crime tend to leave behind traces when they're alone, and if they're in a group, their sloppiness can be covered up by the others.

Still, he can't act like that's the proper conclusion or else he might make a mistake.]

Digging up the first one to be affected is going to take some time-- that sort of thing needs you to work backwards. [And there are a number of people affected. If they could only speak... Well, they can't. Norton scratches the back of his head, making all the short hairs stand out.]

And even then, getting something out of the original patient is not going to be easy, chances are, you'll end up a patient yourself.

[ Lockwood winced at Bones' latter words. He recognized they came from a sincere place and were meant to be teasing, but they also cut close to reality. Lockwood had his enemies in Gold Court, and if they got their teeth into such things? Well, someone was going to end up dead.

But that was Lockwood's problem, not McCoy's and the old/young vampire would do his utmost to keep such circumstances from touching McCoy. For now, he joked it off. ]

Hush. I've trouble enough keeping Yendar on the safe side of any number of lines. If he starts thinking I have a soft streak, he'll walk all over me.

[ Lockwood's voice was a balance of joking, but also held a deeply buried thread of seriousness. The young/old youngblood's fondness for Yendar was fairly well known, but it was a never ending balancing act to show the appropriate amount of clinical ruthlessness in equal measure with genuine concern.

Bones might be prickly, perpetually grumpy and given to yelling at the least provocation, but Yendar was the one that kept Lockwood up during the daylight hours; and not in the fun way.

Speaking of things that kept him up during the daylight hours, Lockwood turned his wrist and consulted his watch. Much as he would like to stay outside and banter with McCoy, he had some additional elbow rubbing he needed to see to before he called it a night. ]

Right. That's me back to the grind. [ He said with a tone of genuine sorrow. He had enjoyed his time with McCoy and let it show in his softened expression as he stood up. Walking towards the doctor, Lockwood pressed his luck in the form of laying his hand gently on the other man's shoulder. ] You're probably safe to make a break for it, if you don't feel like going back into that crush.

.....

[Yuri doesn't particularly like the notion either. Passing something off as "magic" usually means someone is using the term as a black box to avoid an actual explanation of how something works.

At least he isn't getting that right now, making a mental note to see if he can look into how blood wine works exactly, or if it's some secret the Red Court keeps locked up.]

Who would have information on the history of blood wine?

[Something potentially for when things have calmed down. Right now he's giving a small nod as he listens.]

If willpower's that important, then how powerful are the Silver Court and Gold Court when they're working together? [Given Gold's specialty is control and all.]

Edited (Sooooorry for the late edit!) 2024-02-04 20:06 (UTC)

[ Bones shrugs, waving a hand dismissively. It's awkward enough as it is, sharing a part of himself that he keeps so hidden from others. ]

This is the last place I'd wanna be with anyone, at least you get it. Anyone else might've been... you know how it is. We're supposed to kill our old selves and all that.

[ Even saying it feels wrong, when all Bones' family has done is put cookies in the oven. He's definitely torturing himself, trying to keep this dream together, but he wants to cling to it as long as he can, intruder or no. ]

I guess I was never too good at killing.

[ It's simply his lot in life to find the strangest people in the strangest places. He tries valiantly to look for a solution here, but there doesn't seem to be much alternative, as she says... Wyll swallows, face still warm at the sight of her in this predicament. He has eyes, you know? ]

I could perhaps... cut you down?

[ No, she said she doesn't want them destroyed... Damn, OK, let it never be said that Wyll is one to back away from a challenge. ]

I'll grab a ladder! There must be one nearby, yes?

Indeed. Though I think we can rectify that!

[ Wyll smiles, holding his hand out to shake. This man seems kind enough, he sees no reason to doubt him! ]

Wyllyam Guardacuervo. You can call my Wyll for short. [ The question makes him chuckle. ] I'm from far across the sea, to the south, where we revere the Blade. They are my god, lest you wonder.

[ Wyll is special like that, he manages to bring smiles out of the grumpiest of grumps. You can't grumble your way out of this one, Yuri. Wyll knows you like jokes now! ]

Of course, so it is. I admit I tried to think of a suitable segue but failed. You have me bested.

[ See, he's going for a bit of praise to see if that helps. You gotta learn to play to your audience. ]

[ Josuke is surprisingly solid. Also, pleasantly alive. You know, for now. He's close enough that Reyson can feel him breathing. He feels kind of pathetic to find this so reassuring. ]

Like that, but moreso. Once I could ignore, but twice is concerning.

Yes, part of the snowball fight can be that you don't realize you're part of it...

[ Wyll laughs. It doesn't snow much where he's from, so he's got no clue about these tried and true methods. ]

So it seems. I truly had no idea your caretaker was sheltering you so gravely. Has your time at Courtsheart fared much better in comparison?

[ It seemed like it had, from the way she spoke about it, so maybe it's no surprise she likes it here... ]

[This is what happens when you're in a castle with almost entirely touch-starved people, Reyson. He still has a while before he becomes anything close to not alive, so he's totally fine being reassuring in any sort of way.

Though he does hum for a brief moment as he contemplates all of this. Is it just convenient timing or is this something that's tied to something bigger than them? It's not like he knows a lot about this season or the Council or anything of that nature, but it seems too convenient.]

Hopefully it's just... unfortunate timing. But the rational part of my brain is screaming that these are connected, whether intended or not. [He shouldn't be a downer about this, but he can't help a sigh.] Nor do I know what we could do about it.

[ Wyll smirks. ]

Well, I traveled here as part of a mission, to bring aid to those less fortunate. The Brothers of the Blade provide aid to many neighboring nations. If I went only to countries that were well-off, I'd hardly be doing my diligence, would I?

Point there, though not everyone likes to pick the harder road.

[He leans against a wall]

So what does the Blade do, beyond bidding its' adherents to tell other people about it?

[ He's not even going to be told about how sheltered- Her way of speech definitely causes troubles sometimes. Something that's not noticeable to someone visiting an apothecary and getting medicine, or a merchant talking to a supply dealer, but applying the same manner as a student to teachers... Big whoops sometimes. ]

I would've never thought I was until coming here, honestly. Who would've thought having such an open life in those woods would actually be such.

[ But there's a smile that comes on her face that's warm, and has only been seen here, with a light of excitement. ]

I've been able to try so many new things, and have a lot of different kinds of fun. Because they make you any kind of food you want, I've been able to try so may things. Oh! It turned out I picked up blades pretty quick in class, so I took a combat class this season. I've been using this practice set of swords that come in a single sheath.

[ She could keep going, but she thought that someone who follows 'The Blade' would get amusement in her learning blades. ]

[ Bones hates it too, to be fair. Having to factor in "sometimes blood does whatever it wants, like it's alive" is the absolute worst. He waves a hand, gesturing as he speaks and sets the chart down. ]

Red Court. Though they keep the recipe locked up from anyone who ain't Red, so no luck on figuring out how they do it. Which is pretty damn stupid. We should be workin' together, but then no one asks me.

[ He's young enough that he doesn't super like to play with court rivalries or that nonsense, though even if he was older he probably wouldn't. He just doesn't have time for drama. Still, Yuri's second question gets him to pause. ]

Now there's a question I don't get every day.

[ Bones sounds impressed though, like this is the right question to ask. He'd thought the same thing when he first found out about vampiric medicine. ]

Silver and Gold are the secret sauce that keep the castle running. Gold with the thralls, and us with healing and medicine. A good doctor has to be good at both. So to answer your question; strong enough to make Courtsheart habitable, long-term.

[ He pulls a tray out with several syringes, each with a slightly different mixture of silvery medicine. He clearly has no trouble working and talking, as he sets two fingers on the patient's neck, checking for a pulse. He's undead, so there's not much to speak of... ]

Gold might be chock full of of nuts, but when they show up, they show up. They'd probably say the same about us—a lot of Silvers like their research, not so much the application. Takes a bit of outliers on both to get shit done.

Edited (spacing (and no worries lol I edit so much)) 2024-02-04 23:42 (UTC)

[ The statistics don't lie, the man is a menace to society. He's weird. He may be my favorite disaster, but Bones just thinks the man needs to see a therapist to work out all that unresolved childhood trauma. ]

Boy's gotta have more patience than the Founders are dead if he manages to get that jerk to calm down. More power to 'im.

[ Is that what Jim likes? People who need fixing? This conversation is hitting all kinds of weird insecurities that Bones will not address and will not internalize, so he is happy to just keep busying himself and putting things away in the meantime. He'd much rather discuss gambling, that does seem more fun. ]

Well, you know. A favor for the right people can get you up as high as Revar. They probably won't mind sharin' some of the Council's wealth if we all banded together and showed up some teamwork or something...

[ This is complete spit-balling, as it assumes that 1: Revar manages the budget, and 2: Revar would have permission to reward people based on a bet. Which are both wild assumptions. But it does make Leonard huff to hear Elias suggest more "normal" payments. ]

Hard to up the ante on sex. Loser has to give everybody else blowjobs? Bet you someone would make a losin' bet on purpose.

[ He quirks an eyebrow, more suggesting this as a joke -- though there's a part of him that's serious too. Bones doesn't judge, he's just divorced and insecure. ]

Back then, Satoru was of the belief that getting into trouble was half -- no, probably most of the fun of being a novice. He'd gone into the school with a reputation that spoke for itself; novice of a Council Member, expected to do great things, blah blah blah. Doing stupid shit to ruin that reputation had been the highlight of his novice life.

"Because you've been gone for decades, idiot," he replies, but it comes out more fond than pointed. "And it took me way too long to realize that my maker always pulled me away the few times you were back."

Constantia was probably afraid of the chaos they could cause together. Or what they could achieve together, given time.

Hmm, a furrowed brow. He might actually have hit a small sore spot.

Interesting. Though kinda obvious; he's not going to congratulate himself for being a super keen detective anytime soon.

Xenk's answer makes him chuckle. "That's way too healthy for me," he says flippantly. "Maybe you should consider engaging in toxic maker behaviors for a few centuries, and never learn your lessons. At least you'd make interesting novices."

There's a reason that Satoru hasn't taken on any novices of his own. He, too, is worried that he'll be too much like Constantia was. He doesn't think he'd ever erase and replace all of their memories, but what if he thought those memories were causing harm? What if it genuinely seemed like the right thing to do? Would he, too, be infuriatingly vague and enigmatic? Distant at the wrong times, too close at the wrong times? Interfering long past when he was needed?

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january tdm/event post

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once upon a dream~

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