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

[ Ravyn is a novice in the Gold Court, but he has been trying to help where he can. He couldn't stand just not doing anything, especially since he hasn't been particularly plagued by the nightmares himself (rather ironic all things considered but that's another story).

He already had wavering faith in a lot of what goes on here in the Castle, but sometimes the faculty really drives it home.

Which is why there is a tiny crack in his almost always stony facade as he raises an eyebrow at Norton while they're looking over the same victim. Did he forget or is he simply that careless? Ravyn can't decide yet, he's just a little incredulous. ]

This is a Novice. Rather fresh one, from what I understand.

Very young, then. [Better if the Maker who claimed this one were here, but sometimes there are some things you can't rely on because of time or availability. He tugs his glove off, and wraps fingers around the novice's wrist, feeling the pulse. He could simply listen to their heartbeat without the physical contact, but still.

Some people still need to be treated like humans, especially novices. Though he still means what he said by putting something in the mouth to keep fangs from tongue. Even a human's blunt teeth can cut it off with enough force.]

Many things we could do for vampires will not work on this one. We'll handle them like a human would.

How's your hearing?

[ He gives a nod, standing by to watch mostly. He knows basic wound care but isn't particularly interested or skilled in the healing arts. And clearly this Youngblood knows a lot more than he does for this situation.

He does at least look around them for something he can lodge into the patient's mouth. Fangs or no, he doesn't want to see anyone bite their tongue off either. ]

I'll find something.

[ As for his hearing, he shrugs as he searches the nearby table. ]

It's good.

Good. Keep an ear out for the heartbeat-- especially if it speeds up or slows down drastically from what it is right now. [Norton is confident in what he's saying, because he knows how humans's pulses sound at rest. This one is a bit higher, likely due to the cursed nightmare, but it's a decent enough baseline.

Then, to be helpful to the novice's quest, Norton wraps his hand around their patient's lower jaw and pries the mouth open, ready for that temporary bit.]

If they start seizing up, roll them to their side.

[ Ravyn nods, making note of this. He knows a little about what various pulses mean already, so this is good. Eventually he finds a bit of leather, like a case for some medical instrument, and leans over to place it gently into the patient's mouth. ]

This will have to do.

[ If the owner of said leather is upset, he'll offer to compensate. For now he's more concerned about the novice. ]

You don't think it will get that serious ... do you?

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.

[ Ravyn appreciates the cynical approach, honestly, being somewhat on the pessimistic side. It's served him well in life so far. ]

Understood.

[ In fact he almost feels a little silly for even questioning.

He looks between Norton and the novice they're tending to, nodding as he listens to the explanation and instructions. ]

... Should I look for them? The Maker. Or do you need me to remain?

Hmm... [Norton actually considers that suggestion, before he shakes his head.]

It'd be easier if you knew who it was, and where they were to fetch them immediately. If we need that maker, we'll send a thrall instead. In the meantime, we can figure what works and what doesn't.

[First off...]

You know what smelling salts are?

january tdm/event post

nightmarish curse

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject