undyingcourt | 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

These surroundings are about as far as a person can get from the stone walls of the castle, so Yuri spends a moment or two confusedly looking around, trying to take anything in. He only pauses so his gaze can snap over to the source of the voice, leaning on his crutch a little.

Oh, huh. One of the teachers, right?

"I think that depends on where the fuck 'here' is," he replies, brows knitted together as he resumes surveying the unfamiliar environment. Everything's all shiny and white, and there aren't any windows, only signs pointing towards stairs (and escalators, not that he knows what those are) that lead upwards. "Are we underground?"

More important than that are two other things that have caught his attention. He's stepping closer to the edge of the station platform, jabbing a finger in the direction of those bizarre creatures. The inhuman ones giving off those blue flames, that look like could be malevolent demons or Night Terrors or something. "And what the fuck are those?"

"No idea," Satoru says breezily. "To either of those. Somehow my dreaming brain knows that this is called a railway station, but that's total gibberish to my logical brain. No idea what those are, though."

He points to the monsters -- because that's the only word he can come up with for them -- and as he does, a version of himself splits off, stalking toward the monsters. The dream version of himself starts fighting them, grabbing the volcano-headed one's arm with a grin that Satoru can only truly describe as deranged and ripping it right off, easily avoiding a kick from the plant-themed one.

Satoru glances at the novice, and smiles like the whole situation is just mildly amusing.

"Sorry for pulling you into a dream. I've never done that before-- maybe I'm getting old."

From the frown on Yuri's face, it's clear he has no clue what a railway station is, but since he doesn't have a good term for where they are he's just going to roll with it. After all, the location seems pretty minor compared to Horrific Monster #1 (volcano head) and Horrific Monster #2 (tree eyes).

And really, Horrific Monster #3 (white hair). He watches this other version of Gojo split off and proceed to rip off #1's arm like it's absolutely nothing, grinning all the while. Seriously. Is this normal vampire behaviour?

Since there doesn't seem to be any danger up on the platform (it honestly seems like he's being ignored by the other humans, which is fine by him), Yuri rests his left arm against the automatic barrier and decides to keep on watching. He isn't flinching at the violence of it all, though he stares down at the other Gojo's smile with a thoughtful expression.

"Can that even happen to a vampire? You get so fucking old your mind rots away like some senile old human's?" His tone is derisive, but it's a serious question. If that's the case, or if it's some unknown quantity, he'd really like to be prepared for some future experiment involving it.

The dream version of himself blocks a punch with the arm he just ripped off, and with a single kick, sends the plant monster flying right across the train station, and then proceeds to fling the volcano headed one in the same direction. Satoru is, reluctantly, impressed. He's strong, but nowhere close to being that strong.

Yuri's question makes him chuckle. "I haven't seen it very often, but sure. It makes sense, right? The human brain is only so big, there's only so many memories you can hold on to. You get old enough, you start forgetting shit. You buy into your own greatness so much you forget you have limitations."

He pauses thoughtfully.

"And then at some point, the crazy sets in," he concludes cheerfully. "I mean, what other explanation is there for this." Satoru gestures broadly at the scene. The humans, interestingly enough, don't seem to be reacting much to what's happening, too busy looking miserable at being packed in like sardines. "I'm dreaming about made-up places, made-up monsters, and pulling novices in to witness it all."

Holyyyy shit. He knew vampires were strong, but this seems like more than that? That plant monster looks like they're all muscle so they've got to weigh easily three hundred pounds, probably more. He doesn't know shit about fighting techniques but he does know physics, and even with the amount of leverage this weird Satoru has with that kick the amount of force needed to send the monster that far that fast would have to be absurd.

He might be doing the math in the back of his mind, because he's like that. The rest of his attention is on the fight and listening to what the actual Satoru has to say.

"Yeah...." he mumbles that quietly, furrowing his brow. "I know humans can hallucinate all kinds of shit when their brain gets damaged."

Oh boy, does he ever. But that's hallucinating, this is a dream. Right?

... He glances over at the real Satoru. "How real does this feel to you? Does your head hurt at all?"

january tdm/event post

Once Upon a Dream Part I, hope this is ok

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