undyingcourt | january tdm/event post

Entry tags:

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

[ Xenk gives him a look, like he expected better from him. But did he? He crosses his arms. He'd expect this from a novice, but Edgin has been a vampire for a decade. ]

As are they, Edgin.

[ Xenk shares the same glance towards Edgin's family. ]

This will never be your life. Why do you torture yourself with dreams of impossibility?

Who says it's torture?

[ Of course Xenk doesn't understand why this is meaningful. Although, wait, for that matter: ]

It's not like I control my dreams. Again, if I did, I'd just make you leave.

You will wake in the morrow and these figments will be gone. To recall how they were only makes it more painful when the truth takes them from you.

[ Speaking from experience? Nah. No way. Xenk's voice is as impassive as always. ]

I am not here of my own volition, either. This must be some form of magic... it may be best that we wake, lest we become trapped in this dreamscape.

"Trapped"?

[ Wait. He's putting this together. Give him a second. ]

Wait, you're--you're actually Xenk. Not some creation of my dreams.

[ It's not a question. He has connected the dots. ]

Well that's new.

[ He connected the dots. He connected them. Xenk at least never doubted that this wasn't his dream -- after all, he'd never dream about Edgin's family, be they living or dead. ]

Correct.

[ At least that answers that. Maybe Xenk is just good at this because he's in Gold Court, or maybe he's just a bastard. ]

Unfortunately it seems your lucidity has placed us no closer to being freed from this dream. You need to awaken, Edgin. This is your dream, not mine.

Edited (icon) 2024-01-22 21:35 (UTC)

But...

[ He looks over his shoulder again, longing. He has no desire to be trapped here, let alone with Xenk breathing down his neck, but he also doesn't want to leave his family behind.

They're so beautiful, so happy.

softly: ]

I'm not ready.

[ If only Xenk held a shred of compassion for Edgin. It's hard, because some part of him remembers the beach, and remembers being so fond of him. But Xenk can find no reason for those feelings, and rather than accept them as his own, he'd rather fight them violently than ever admit they exist. ]

You will never be ready, if you remain in the past.

[ Xenk takes a step towards the house. This is. Bad. ]

[ That gets Edgin's attention. He clambers to his feet to run after him, but as he does, the scene starts to twist: day becomes night, and Kira's laughter fades away. ]

Stop. You have nothing to gain by going in there.

[ Xenk isn't even really -- well. This is just a dream. He has no idea if any of this is real, but it's fair to assume Edgin's wife and child are dead. (Actually if Xenk knew Edgin's daughter's name he'd probably recognize it, but that's neither here nor there.)

He steps closer. The night sky is a relief for a vampire like him, and he takes that as a good sign. ]

It has been ten years since you were turned, Edgin. There must surely be more to you than your past.

[ The scene changes the closer the way. They're no longer on a farm, but on a road, leading up to a small cottage. ]

It's just a dream. It's not even my choice--it's not like I talk about it around the Castle.

[ There's a pang to it, at how unfair it is that Xenk would take even this from him, when he doesn't even talk about it. When he keeps his human things to himself.

But as the scene solidifies around them, Edgin stops moving. His clothes have changed, and he looks younger--ten or so years younger, really. He looks down at his hands, turns them to look at what he's wearing. He's never seen this place before. But it feels right.

It feels like home. ]

Wait.

[ The change in scenery is far from what Xenk expected. It's not as though he would have killed the dream versions of Edgin's family. He thought to perhaps... you know, threaten them a bit.

But the change in Edgin's clothes and appearance draws Xenk's attention. They're unfamiliar by far, not the type that is worn in the Blue Lands, or that Xenk has ever seen before. More than that, Edgin's younger appearance is... frustrating. It surely must be, for Xenk could not possibly think that Edgin looks almost boyish with his hair like this. No -- he still looks about the age Xenk was when he was turned, possibly.

It doesn't matter. He isn't staring. Edgin is just a frustrating vampire with whom Xenk shared a past life with at some point. That frustration that blooms in his chest only spurs Xenk further into action. ]

What are you waiting for, Edgin?

[ He turns, looking to follow the road. ]

This isn't right.

[ Except it is right. It's more right than anything has ever felt.

At least for a moment.

And then the Red Wizard comes, running out of the house as Edgin finds himself compelled to run inside. Somehow, he already knows what he'll find. The memory plays out for Xenk to watch. Zia's dead body, and the uncurable wound. Pointing to the secret compartment in the tiles. Kira, a baby, losing her mother and being stuck with only her dad.

It plays exactly like it should, until the memory of it ends and he's left holding this tiny little baby struck with grief and a sense that he has no idea what he's supposed to do.

But he'd...he'd raised Kira with Zia. On the farm. Zia helped him the whole time. Everything was perfect, until it wasn't.

Everything was... ]

I don't...I don't understand.

[ Oh, this sucks for Xenk, actually. He didn't expect the change of scenery to find a way to call back to him -- the last thing he expected was a reminder of the horrible dream he'd had of a childhood that was somehow not his, but also his with certainty.

Xenk freezes at the sight of the Red Wizard, his feet suddenly weighed down to the dirt beneath him, limbs frozen in ice as his unbeating heart stills. He isn't a child, this isn't the same, but the memory of that terrible day is so fresh. He watches Edgin's tragedy unfold before him, and all he can think of is his own suffering. Xenk had been working so hard to ignore it, to simply try and forget and not deal with the immeasurable hurt he'd been suddenly saddled with, that seeing the man wearing Szass Tam's markings, his very colors...

None of it makes sense, but that changes nothing. Xenk is afraid, his voice small when he speaks. ]

This... this cannot be.

[ Edgin's never heard Xenk sound like that before. It's so surprising that it actually gets him to turn around, pulling away from Zia's body and instead looking at Xenk. ]

Something that happened here...came up in one of your memories, didn't it?

[ Xenk swallows, his mouth too dry, his limbs too heavy. He's a vampire, he's supposed to be stronger than this. Instead he feels small. Scared. He cannot escape the memory, the fear he'd felt as a boy burns deep in his chest. ]

The man who did this... was a red wizard. A follower of... [ Szass Tam? That couldn't be right. Szass Tam was his father. He was evil, but never like this, surely? Xenk's voice is already shaken, but recalling these details seems to almost physically pain him. ] ...a great and terrible necromancer. I recall his rise to power. I was there.

A red wizard.

[ He repeats it with a hatred in his voice that Xenk has never heard before, a desire for revenge burning under it. It's not a feeling Edgin would keep for long--but in these moments, after Zia's death, it's strong and present. ]

What do you mean, you were there?

[ Xenk steels himself, drawing upon decades of stoicism that has never felt forced until this moment. To hear Edgin's hatred sparks something in him, but he has no time to name it. He has more pressing matters at the moment. ]

I was a child when it occurred, but I recall it vividly now. He turned his people into mindless monsters. None were spared, and all bore the marks similar to the man we just saw.

[ A mark that, perhaps upon closer inspection, Xenk bears at his hairline, like recalling the memory recalled that very same mark. Not that he's realized it. ]

I believe the land he—we—hail from, is called Thay.

Thay.

[ As Edgin repeats it, he knows this fact to be true. Just like he knows Zia's wound won't heal. Just like he knows Kira is hidden in the spot behind the tile.

He walks over and picks her up, holding this little bundle and knowing that he'll have to raise her alone. A deep sadness seeps into his bones at that idea. Losing Zia and Kira had been devastating, but at least Kira had always known her mom in the version of events he was used to.

But bounces her in his arms, soothing her, as he thinks about what Xenk is telling him. And about the way Xenk is acting now. The gesture is so natural, as if he's done this at thousand times. ]

How did you get out?

[ Xenk nods, gaze distant despite his best efforts. Edgin is clearly going through his own thing here. His wife dead, his child saved -- this was not a memory from his current life, but the old one. If that truly was the case. Xenk cannot say.

But Thay feels important the way the Gold Court feels important. A part of him he could never remove, for all that the memory claws cruelly at his psyche with pain he had never experienced before. For all his toils in his life, the tests and the difficulty that came with growing up under Szass Tam—his father's tutelage, it had never felt like this.

It was different. No less horrifying, to an outsider, but to Xenk, this had been all he knew. But now... ]

I ran.

[ The words fall from his lips as though drawn from him with a scalpel, like he's pulling on an open wound that bleeds freely even with his extended life. The fear he felt, the desperation... it was unlike anything he'd ever felt. His forehead burns where the mark feels almost recent, but he simply grimaces and keeps going, believing it to be a simple headache. ]

I ran for my life, and watched countless others die around me. Eventually it seems, the monsters ceased chasing me... but the memory was unclear as to how I survived.

[ Edgin walks over, listening as Xenk goes on. Listening as he's scared. Kira is quiet in his arms, sleeping. Xenk's fear is so obvious. But he's already juggling one scared human.

Well, Xenk isn't a human, of course. But the point stands.

So, perhaps illogically, he holds out Kira. ]

Here, hold her.

[ It'll give Xenk something to worry about, other than his own memories. It'll make him focus. He doesn't like Xenk, but he's 100% sure he'd never drop a baby.

And, sure, maybe some of that certainty comes from that weird memory about the intellect devourers, but he feels it all the same. He's not going to question it now. ]

[ Xenk is fairly sure he has never held a baby in his life, but that fact alone is jarring enough to divert his attention to this moment, and this strange dream. He can't think of why Edgin's wife would have been killed by red wizards, or what this means for when they later met each other, or... any number of things.

Edgin did look younger here, but that's neither here nor there. Edgin has held out a child for Xenk to hold, and so Xenk holds her, careful to cradle her neck and clutch her in his arms where she will be safe.

Xenk is a lot of things, a lot of the time, but he would indeed not drop a baby. ]

She is yours, isn't she?

[ See! His faith was not misplaced! ]

She is. Her name is Kira.

[ he knows that's true here, too. ]

Kira.

[ Xenk repeats, like this is the only thing in the world that matters at the moment. This is a fair response when one is asked to hold a baby, and when one is not a completely heartless being, which Xenk isn't, despite his best attempts otherwise. ]

She is so small.

[ Xenk had not known Edgin's wife, nor could he claim to recognize anything of Edgin in this baby, but the fact is -- she's a very cute baby. And a very small baby. It's hard not to feel anything when holding a life so fragile. Xenk's entire focus is on this child. ]

How incredible, to know that we were once such fragile beings.

[ Oh.

There's a calm that sets in, (despite Zia's body on the floor, but to be fair to Edgin, he's been mourning her for 10 years and this is, ultimately, just a nightmare) hearing Xenk say her name. There's something good about it. Something he wouldn't have ever associated with the man.

But for the moment it makes him feel...

It makes him feel like his heart skips a beat. You can't hate a man who is treating your child so well. You simply can't. ]

She was....she was a good kid.

[ Xenk could hardly imagine he would ever meet Edgin's child. For all that he believes the man should move on and accept that his new life is all he has now, he is not one to punish a child for their parent's shortcomings. His own parents had remained with him... in the worst of ways. Was it kinder to lose a parent, than live besides them, yet be unable to feel their love or praise?

It hardly matters. This child, Kira Darvis, doesn't hold any answers. She is a pure life. As pure as one could ever be. Xenk cradles her with care, stroking a gentle hand through her hair.

And besides, this is a dream. Xenk is allowed to let himself feel... human, if only for a moment. Compassion blooms in his chest as he looks down at her, and hearing Edgin refer to her in the past tense...

Xenk feels empathy towards Edgin for perhaps the first time since he's known the man. It would hurt Xenk greatly, to see this life torn from his hands. He gets it, much as he may deny it upon further reflection. ]

I am sure she was.

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject