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

[ Leadership? Always something they could use, especially as age and infighting seemed to keep knocking off their "elders" in that department.

Lockwood tilts his head to the side, then glances towards the doorway to confirm that no one seems poised to bother them. Then, slouching further into the awkward wooden chair in the sort of pretzel shape only the young can manage, he lifted his threaded fingers and made a 'come along then' gesture. ]

Tell me, more. I can see you've got a clever tail-on-a-weasel type idea bursting to be shared.

[ The words were a little overly dramatic, but that was Lockwood for you. The invitation was genuine and rooted merely in curiosity. Lockwood had his ambitions, but sniping novices out from under the noses of other young blood was not key among them. Here, he was just being nosy! ]

[ This is the good stuff, right!! Xenk for his part scoots a bit closer to the edge of his seat, charmed to have earned the interest of his senior. I mean, you know, Lockwood may look young, but Xenk has only ever thought of him as his senior. ~~His senpai.~~ ]

I have discussed the matter at length with the man, and I believe I may have secured his decision. Unfortunately, he is quite drawn to his current maker—who I spoke to before I began this endeavor in earnest.

[ Talk of Kirk's maker gets Xenk to bring a hand to his thigh, giving it light squeeze in something like frustration. He doesn't realize he's doing this, though. ]

His maker is the kind of man who believes in the value of sentiment. He is a poor showing of a vampire in nearly every sense of the word. [ Blunt as all hell, that's Xenk. He isn't trying to drag Edgin (ok, he is, a little,) but in his eyes these are just factual statements. ] As you may no doubt guess, he wants what is "best" for James, and has not forbidden him from making his own decision.

[ Rookie mistake! Especially knowing Kirk, who is more likely to do whatever you tell him not to. But they've reached the end of his explanation, and thus Xenk sits back—nearly slouching?? Wow. It's a close thing. ]

Thus I believe he will choose Gold before Spring.

[ It's always a balancing act with Xenk. Lockwood does like to provide a sounding board for the other young blood, but tries to be careful not to step to far into Xenk's machinations. The other Gold vampire might be younger, but he is incredibly clever and has the sort of ~~unfortunate~~ background that has honed book smarts with street smarts.

And Xenk definitely has a better read of the castle political environment. Lockwood already has some thoughts on how he would pursue a situation like this, but his routes might not suit Xenk and he hasn't been asked for input. Thus, he keeps his thoughts to himself.

Beyond making a note of the name James Kirk. ]

You're usually spot on with your read of court choices. [ He agrees with that latter sentiment, purposefully avoids asking the obvious 'who is this maker' question. ]

What do you think it is about Blue, specifically, that currently holds such fascination for the lad?

[ A question designed to encourage Xenk's thought processes. Know thy target, student mine. ]

[ It pays to have an ear to the ground... or to get your nose involved in other people's business, really. Xenk may act holier-than-thou around novices, but the youngbloods of the castle know he's just a little weird. Clever, smart, and very, very odd. Being raised by an evil vampire will do that to a man.

But it does bring with it a deep understanding of their rules and culture. And he knows in his heart he's right, so there's simply no dissuading him. ]

To be perfectly honest, [ and Xenk always is, ] he does not seem interested in the Blue Court. It is a poor fit for him. Revelry is but a persona for James; the carefree boy who sleeps through his classes is but a facade. I do not know if he has achieved mastery of his mask, but it would surprise me not if he were unskilled in this as well. He hides his true self behind charming wiles and superficial friendships, but the truth of him is deeper than this.

[ He's not gonna spill all of James' secrets (Xenk really barely knows any of them,) but he knows this much for sure. ]

It is truly only his maker that keeps him in the Blue Court. I fear the human desire to... maintain attachments is to his detriment. He will never reach his full potential in a court that rewards his false self.

[ If Lockwood decides he wants to ferret out more about Kirk's secrets, he'll do the legwork himself. A fact that someone who knows him as well as Xenk does will understand.

For the time being Lockwood is quiet and listens, speaking only after Xenk falls silent and the pregnant pause between them reaches full term. ]

Are you certain that the only thing holding him to Blue is his attachment to his maker? [ His tone is thoughtful. ] Your choice of words in this situation, it sounds as if your Kirk may also be attached to his own façade.

Regardless if he attains the ability to mask, as we know it; it sounds as if he's maintaining a very carefully crafted armor.

[ Indeed, Xenk would expect no less! It's why he's always honest -- people are free to do what they will with the knowledge he shares. He is never anything but perfectly objective (false.) ]

Yes, I believe this is so.

[ Which is to say, he doesn't know, but sometimes you just feel it in your bones, you know? Yeah. Don't ask him for specifics or he'll have to prove how little he actually knows about Kirk's life outside of his classes. But he speaks with passion about this -- if nothing else, Xenk may not admit to wanting Kirk to be "happy," but there is some part of him that is maybe thinking about his future. ]

While his façade is convincing to most, I do not believe he would reach fulfillment with so superficial a goal. He has the heart of a leader, and the ambition to match. To reduce him to a false persona would be a great tragedy.

[ Lockwood is quiet for a long beat, before he speaks again. ]

If you will forgive the observation. You seem powerfully invested in the idea that Kirk reach his full potential. We've had plenty of novices who have come through our doors with potential, and just as many of those have no ambition to pursue it.

Graham is a prime example. [ To be fair, it's probably best for everybody that Will Graham remain ambitionless.

Lockwood studied Xenk for another long moment, before asking. ]

Have you slept with him yet? Kirk, not Graham. [ Just to clarify. ]

[ Xenk always appreciates Lockwood's honest assessments. It's the benefit to having an older, more experienced youngblood among your cohort. Especially since his assessments have always been a great deal kinder than Xenk's own maker had been. But that's a minefield no one wants to enter!

Talk of Will does give him pause, considering. Xenk and Will share a quiet kind of understanding, what with the dead makers and the generally being in line with Courtsheart's rules. It's a well-known fact what happened to him, as well. ]

I understand your observations. It is not my intent to force the man's hand. What I see in him is what I believe he wants as well. We have discussed the matter somewhat... though he has, as of yet, kept his true intentions hidden from me.

[ And Xenk has shown the frankly incredible restraint of not prying into Kirk's brain for information. Wow. Even he knows that you don't make allies this way.

Speaking of restraint: ]

I have yet to, and have made it clear that I would not sleep with him as a novice, unless he was mine.

[ A blunt answer spoken with no preamble. The question is a reasonable one, and Xenk thinks his answer is reasonable too. It's not like Kirk hasn't tried to come onto him. It's been pretty mutual in that department, even if Kirk clearly just wants something dangerous from him. ]

While he is exceptional, [ which is to say, yes, Xenk wants to hit that, ] he is not without his vices. I must admit this is the one route through which he has allowed himself to be exploited.

[ Obviously not that hard, since he still hasn't made the switch!! ]

[ Lockwood won't say it aloud, but Xenk sounds more and more twitter pated on the subject of Kirk. To the point that the older vampire can't help wondering who, exactly, is playing whom in this dance. Particularly if Kirk is, as Xenk seems convinced, a natural for Gold Court.

Having the ability, naturally, to be able to manipulate people without compelling their minds was powerful, and though Xenk was incredibly clever the man did have some blind spots. Finding and meeting this Kirk had just shot to the top of Lockwood's to do list.

In the immediate, Lockwood knew better than to try to warn Xenk off. That would be akin to sticking a neon "DO THIS NOW" sign on the subject. Lockwood knows this because he'd react just the same way to being told not to do something. ]

Starting to sound like he's caught a bit of a break. Having your attention and not the eye of someone in say Red Court, who would further ... ah ... exploit such aspects.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

january tdm/event post

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