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!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Eden won't find much of anything aside from what she was told--they're literally screaming themselves to death, drawing up more blood with every scream. ]

Curses and magical ailments are not undheard of.

[ The drop the mixture they'd been working on into a little glass cup sitting over a small fire and then add a silver solution to it. ]

But I couldn't tell you how long it's been since we last had one here. At least 100 years.

[ Confirming that their best idea for buying time was to paralyze the vocal chords. Which, there's been plenty ways to accomplish and she's guessing that's what Revar is putting together (along with something to mend the bloody area,) but it doesn't stop the source. ]

There's a few of us wondering if this was all an aimed sabotage, given what happened at the bonfire to so many of us.

[ Not that any of them liked the implication of a group that could affect so many, despite how long they've been vampires. It was a thought left unspoken, but loud enough to be picked up, as Eden started looking through the supplies. May as well see if such a set of needles actually exist, or if she just made up something elaborate in her head. ]

Did the last time also spread like some infection?

[ Revar wonders who Eden means by "a few of us," but they don't bother asking. Either gossip will become inquiry or it will remain gossip. That is the way of the world, as ever. ]

It could be.

[ The liquid boils, bubbles rising and thick, vicious smoke coming with it. They pick up the glass bottle with their bare hand (it's fine, they're a vampire, after all), and carry it over towards the victim.

The smell from the rising smoke starts to calm the victim first, their screams slowly, even as blood continues to drip from their lips. ]

Yes, it spread in similar fashion. There may be records on it in the library.

[ Given that it's Gold Court vampires, they may be taking the information directly there. It would be hard for Eden to believe that Xenk didn't share every single anomaly with someone in the council. Satoru... She didn't know as well.

Which was probably why she was up here acting as an extra set of hands to treat the people collected so far. Even if some of what those extra hands did was clean up the blood. There was still a list of various herbs- some she wasn't sure actually existed- that she wanted to check against the current mixture being used to see if it could help. Henbane had potential, but it would depend on other things in it... ]

Sadly, the library is a bit... In shambles. A lot of people are going through everything trying to get any clues. Hopefully they share...

The novices must be eager to curry favor with their Court.

[ The novices were being encouraged to help cure the victims, after all. This may not have been the vampires' fault, but there was no reason they couldn't turn it into a lesson.

At least, until the victims became too far gone, like here. After the smoke dies down, Revar tips the bottle so the liquid falls into the victim's open mouth, and after the last drop is gone, the victim sits up suddenly, blinking and looking around at the room. ]

Welcome back.

It is also a bit of a scary thing, when we're not in control of finding ourselves in other people's dreams.

[ She knew that even the youngbloods were getting involved to solve this curse as well. Especially Xenk, who seemed to feel even more vulnerable, thanks to their court being more easily affected. Which, honestly, depended on them holding back on going into affected minds until they have their own solutions figured out.

But good, they're awake- Getting a hand against the victim's back to make sure they stay steady, Eden checks various things to confirm that it all seemed to be fixed. Her own healing skills were still very much in beginner stages, which is why Eden was focusing on this with herbs and other methods to minimize that requirement. Especially if a cure was supposed to be pulled off by anyone. For now, the focus will be on the woken up victim. ]

It's best to take it easy. A few steady breaths...

Oh, yes. [ They say it like they've just now remembered that fear is a thing, that the novices might have some cause to be scared. It's been some time since they've felt that particular emotion. ] I suppose it must. But do try not to become immobilized by it.

[ They watch Eden take care of the victim and nod. ]

I will entrust this one to you.

[ Even Eden could tell that it sounded like Revar forgot what fear was. Which seemed... Then again, after long enough, things that aren't practiced were only ever fated to fade away. But instead of saying the good parts of having some fear, she just nods while rubbing along the saved victim's back. ]

I can do that. Oh, can you look over my notebook? I've made a list of potential things to make a cure that even a novice could put together. It's either the tabbed page or the one after.

[ Of course not all of the herbs may exist, like the snow lotus, but there were plenty different others that could be used instead of relying on a fully turned Silver vampire. Along with notes on what would be removed from the mix to avoid poor interactions, or so effects aren't too imbalanced, and the types of measurements that would be used for a novice and another amount for someone fully undead.

That would be the page after the tabbed, as Eden was correct in remembering it was on a different page. The one tabbed is all the acupuncture stuff that's come to her head. A flow chart of energy, what spots would have certain effects, and the description of the needles- silver mostly, but some were gold plated. ]

If you wish.

[ Revar skips quickly to the page after the tabbed one, and then reads through Eden's notes. ]

Hm. This may work.

[ Their version used their blood which, of course, was rather special. ]

You think so?

[ Which was great, not only for validation purposes, but it meant that the knowledge that's showed up in her head wasn't actually nonsense being made up. ~~But validation from her Maker's Maker is also rather nice.~~ ]

I was thinking that if it needed a little extra something to kick it together, delivering it mouth to mouth could work for everyone's healing properties, but that's not the most pronounced quality for a first season novice.

[ But if it seemed like it could work as-is, then that made it easier for everyone. Everyone could get treated even faster. ]

A first season novice has little in the way of healing ability. Keep working at it, you may yet find a solution.

Well, that was only if it seemed to need an extra kick. You said it could work as written, right?

[ The delivery alternative was more something she'd been kicking around in her head, but if it seemed to work on paper as it was, then she could just start making test batches. Plus, even if it did, limiting it so only first seasons couldn't administer the cure wasn't the worst outcome. ]

I said it may work. You'll have to test it.

[ Is that a little unethical? Maybe from a human perspective. ]

I cannot hold your hand through this. The other council members and I will stabilize anyone before they become too far gone, but this curse is an opportunity for you to learn.

It's not exactly that I want my hand held...

[ Bringing over a bowl with a towel over the edge for the women up victim to clean themselves up, Eden went to gather the notebook back. ]

There's something inside my head that says it should work, but in honesty, some of these herbs I've never heard of before now. Just like this other page about needles in meridian points. I guess it's more that I was hoping for validation that my mind didn't just end up with a lot of nonsense in it. There's not exactly extra time to have someone comb through and separate what I've actually learned from this stuff.

[ There's definitely something about the way that Eden phrases it that gets Revar's attention, but as much as the memory stuff that's been going around is fascinating, they have a much bigger problem with the nightmare victims. ]

See what you can come up with. [ then, a little more gently: ] If you end up needing help, perhaps you should talk to Karma.

I suppose I should...

[ It still feels weird having a maker that was present, she could forget that it was such an option. It certainly sounded like she needed the reminder. The habit of a few months compared to the few short weeks. This seemed like a good moment, thinking her work could get checked, but Revar was like the grandmother that raised her; saying you had to go find out if it's right yourself. ]

First thing I should probably do is make sure these herbs actually are here in the castle and get to work on this. Anything you want help with first?

[ Another vampire might laugh at the thought of a novice trying to help someone as old as Revar, but Revar just smiles that amused smile of theirs for a moment and shakes their head. ]

That's quite alright. I won't keep you from your work.

[ Nothing wrong with offering extra hands for the menial stuff! In some ways, it's more proper to offer than to not. Only because now Eden felt like she was keeping Revar from their work (despite the current 'victim' being fine and taken care of, just waiting for the shock to wear off.) ]

I'll get to that, then-

[ She'll start heading out, pocketing the notebook. Though remembers, walking backwards on the exit. ]

Oh, do you think there'd be a problem if I requested some specific needles being made? There's something else I want to try and work with.

[ This is only one victim though and, like they'd said, their job was to stabilize anyone before it got too late. They'd be needed throughout the Castle for the foreseeable future. ]

No, I don't think that would be a problem. Any of the thralls should be able to help you with that.

Then I'll add that to things to try. Bye, Revar!

[ She doesn't know if there's supposed to be a special thing to call one's Maker's Maker, but this wasn't the time to have that kind of question. She'll probably ask it as a bit of levity when talking with Karma at another point. For now, there's silver and gold needles to have made and various tonics to put together and try. At least it's with sound enough logic, and not completely careless! ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

january tdm/event post

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