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

[For some reason, despite her not meaning to be condescending, it still ruffles his feathers somewhat. Luckily he's practiced enough to smooth them over without it being entirely noticed.]

Why can't they return to human society? If they aren't full vampires, then wouldn't allowing their blood to dilute allow them be human again given the changes are from ingesting vampire blood to begin with? [It's so strange to him, really. This isn't how vampire legends worked in his research but evidently that had been entirely and completely incorrect.]

Humans are creatures that are capable of sentient thought, however, unlike animals that are raised for food and services. That level of intelligence makes us different from them and thus not something that should be seen as a... commodity.

[Oh she asked the sin question.]

As for sin. The best way to describe it without going into a whole lesson would be such as this: an offense against reason, truth, and right conscience; it is failure in genuine love for God and neighbor caused by a perverse attachment to certain goods. If that makes sense.

It's not just about the blood in their system, though.

[ There's a lot more at stake, where novices can't really return. They already experienced, and learned too much, where returning was considered irresponsible. Which is why the talk of how this was all about indulging in sin didn't make sense for her.]

Vampires can only ingest and tolerate the blood of humans. Food provides nothing for them, not even flavor, and animal blood doesn't nourish them either. Humans are the sources of both their offspring and food. There's no alternatives on that. Without a system like this, you run the risk of vampires going feral from hunger, where they can't even feel when they've been satiated anymore, slaughtering entire villages where all they would've needed was a cup full of blood. That you can look up in the library, or wait until later in Xenk's Introduction class.

[He doesn't really understand why they can't just wipe their memory of the time and drop them back to where they came from if they can make them do what they want them to. But that might just be wishful thinking.

He bites his tongue immediately on the going hungry part, wanting to say that that's good then and they should be slaughtered for being the godless beasts that they clearly are. Then the humans would have their land, lives, and freedom back. He can't think like that and think it'll get him anywhere, after all, as much as he believes in such a thing.

Slowly he lets out a slow breath to calm what he'd wanted to say, right.]

I do wonder what their idea of a checks and balance system is in this case, given that you would have to be very careful about the ratio of vampire to human is, then. It's much like wolves and deer and once the wolves out number the deer... [He trails off, pretty sure that speaks volumes enough by itself.]

What is your name? It's been some time since I've actually had anyone engage me in discussion like this and I'm not opposed to it.

[ It's for the same reason you don't go off and release your goldfish into the wild! That has nothing to do with what's in the mind, and not just about the blood. ]

You'll find out different sides of it over time. There's governance, but also there's an internal system that takes care of vampires that are found to ignore the laws and practices set into place. It also seems that there's usually a low rate of success for novices graduating, only somewhat higher than those surviving.

[ Really, she's pretty sure he'll do just fine getting these discussions in Xenk's class... Until Xenk compelled him to keep his mouth shut. ]

... Eden Woods.

[Governance never really stops anything, in his experience, but he'll leave it be for now and mull over it later. Maybe find some books and take some notes in order to actually be a pest about it later. But, for now, he doesn't have enough information to continue arguing the point.]

I suppose I'll see in due time, then. Even if it still sounds all rather... flimsy to me at the moment.

[Eden, huh. Interesting name.]

A lovely name where I'm from, having a root in our history. Father, though I suppose that has little to do here anymore, Enrico Pucci. A pleasure.

You'll understand even more when you realize the purpose of the Black Court.

[ Well, their true purpose, aside from being very brooding. That's a side effect. She's also not sure if saying it was lovely and with a root in some history to find some kind of connection or what. Though she didn't realize there were other meanings for 'father.' So maybe it wasn't about parents when someone said they weren't her father when giving advice? ]

.... Is it? I admit, you're very confusing, so I can't tell if you mean that, or if it's sarcasm.

[ She's still learning, you see. ]

[He'll keep Black Court in mind, actually.

Though her words get a laugh out of him, at the very least.]

It's not sarcasm. Eden is the name that was used for what was essentially a paradise of a garden for all living beings on the planet before humanity messed it up and was outcast by God to roam the Earth as they do now. [Is that less confusing? Probably not. But explaining it should at least prove that it's not sarcasm? Probably? He hopes?]

I've been told that what I say about religion is a little odd to most of the people from the vampire territory here, so it's certainly not surprising that you'd say or think that.

[ Is he saying that because of her name, this whole thing has become a pleasure? Though now she's wondering about Grandma Maisy's past, if this was the kind of name she was given. Or maybe he thought she was asking if the 'lovely name' thing was sarcasm. Oh wait, that's probably it. ]

I was talking about you saying 'a pleasure' seeming like sarcasm. You seemed very upset just then.

[ At least for someone with little debate experience. ]

Actually, I'm from the lands south of here. Technically it's under Red Court's rule, but aside from the occasional Finding, they don't interfere or show up at all. Aside from the fact that they existed, I didn't know anything about vampires until the beginning of Autumn. I also couldn't say anything about religion for the area, because I'm from the middle of the woods. There's someone that worshiped the Blade that went through the lands though, stopping by for children's medicine. I guess that would be the only experience I've had.

[Ah. He did get that wrong, then. Well, then, that's at least good to know.]

Mm. For a brief moment I was. But when it comes to theology and philosophy, I always do welcome a good debate. Though it also wasn't sarcasm, it's been a while since I've had someone actually somewhat debating about all of this and I do quite enjoy it despite the fact it may ruffle my feathers from time to time. Different viewpoints makes life interesting, in my opinion.

[From the lands south of the castle? And those vampires rarely interact with them? That's interesting as he'd mostly dealt with the Gold territory from what he'd learned by this point. ... And from the middle of the woods. So she really doesn't know anything other than what's been said here which is even more interesting to him. A mind that's mostly not spoiled from vampire knowledge before this place, interesting.]

The Blade... [Wait a second.] You must mean Wyll, then. We aren't from the same religious group, but I am familiar with him and his former brothers. Quite interesting that they thought to grab two kinds of priests to bring to this place. [He shrugs slowly, not seemingly particularly fussed at the moment.] Unlike him I came to these lands by myself on assignment, which both helped and hindered me, if I'm honest.

.... I didn't know we were debating.

[ Look, she's been winging things and is only very specialized in her education. Fancy words also confused her as much as sarcasm does. One could say that Eden still held a very natural kind of purity in some ways. It's very honest. Which makes it easy to know when Eden's hiding or lying about things. ]

Oh, I'm not saying he's here. Just that I've met him before in the Crimson Forest. It was quite a while ago.

[ She doesn't know... Yet. ]

It doesn't have to be a formal thing to technically be one.

[He's starting to understand what she's about with the context of her being from the woods and not really having been around people. It's nice, in a way, to talk to someone that's muddled by all of the nonsense in society. But it also shows how naïve she really is.

Though her saying that last about Wyll causes him a moment of pause. Ah, she doesn't know then, does she? Fine, he'll let her figure it out on her own, then.]

Fair enough. I do hope he's doing well, I heard some rather awful things happened to his brothers not terribly long ago. Which is quite a pity, they truly were good men. [This is easier.]

I also didn't know that debates were also a formal thing.

[ She was told about there being a summer summit with there being debates, but... Well, it's not like she knew much about what made up debates to begin with.

But she clears her throat, not knowing much about the brothers or much else past what Wyll shared while waiting. The woman who raised her said not to get too too involved, which she had to toe the line with when she was within ear shot. It wasn't her place to ask about what happened to someone when they weren't here to answer for themselves. She couldn't say which happened first; the quest for medicine, or him losing these brothers. Eden doesn't do gossip. ]

I would also hope he's doing well enough, but that's what I usually hope for people.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

january tdm/event post

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