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

[ Uninvolved and quite unaware of the proximity of the increasing snowball fights, judging by the dancing. 'Dancing.' It was a rather particular style, if that's what it really was. (Don't ask her, she woke up with it and used the figure skaters to blame the 'inspiration' on.) It's during the slower points that she's making more outstretched movements that the snowball lands right at a shoulder, completely knocking her out of the mood.

Dropping the more elegant-like stance, Eden straightened out and went for the various parties. More particularly the one who probably threw the snow in the first place while pointedly brushing the remains of the ammo off. ]

What, was my dancing really that bad?

[ Cal had noticed Eden earlier, recognizing her as a silver court novice like himself who shared most classes together. She'd even helped him a few times after things in combat got a bit more heated than expected. He brushes his gloved hands over his sweater and gives her an apologetic wave. ]

Hi, sorry. Promise I wasn't gonna aim for you.

[ He shakes snow out of his hair - being a red head makes him an easy target, here. Hard to miss that he stands out (and literally half of his classmates have labelled him a weirdo but he's going to assume that it wasn't personal, here). ]

I was actually gonna tell you that you're pretty good.

[ She links the apology with the snow in his hair, attention momentarily going past him to the others that were acting very involved with throwing these snowballs at each other. Well, she can certainly believe that it wasn't on purpose now. They were in enough shared classes to know how weirdly mean mean and confusing some people were.

!! But there's a look of confused surprise, the silver and light blue-grey blending and looking like the eyes sparkled more for how they momentarily widened. ]

Wait, really? It actually looked good, and not weird or anything?

Weird? [ Cal frowns slightly, shrugs. Look he's not the most knowledgeable with dancing as evidenced by his disastrous attempt at it at the ball (Hans had been very gracious to not get mad, even when his foot had gotten trodden on). ]

No, it looked fine. Very... smooth and [ he pauses to think of a word: ] flowy? Do you typically dance with something in your hands when you do it?

[ To be fair, without any experience, Eden's brief attempt at the ball had also been a bit of a disaster. ]

Typically? Not really...

[ That's because there wasn't a typical. She'd only just started after it sort of appeared to be something to do around the time the figure dancing on the ice had started to happen. Though with Cal saying as such, Eden did think that her hands felt a bit light in a lot of it. ]

Did it look like I should be holding something? This has been my... Second time trying this?

[ Cal shrugs a single shoulder, the other hand going to his waist. ]

Kinda. I mean I'm not an expert, I'll tell you what I was told and that's that I'm a danger to everyone's feet around me. It just looks like it's kind of missing... something in your hands.

I'm not saying it looks bad, or anything!

[ Can he be anymore awkward? Probably not! ]

[ They probably weren't exactly wrong with the feet thing, if their Introductory combat class taught the novices anything about each other. It's why the difference between dancing and her usual movements also felt rather new to do. ]

Relax, I'm not thinking you're saying it looks bad.

[ Instead she's crossing her arms in thought. ]

Because I never really did this before, I just don't know what it could be that I should have. If you have anything on you, I could try and see if you're right. All I've got is a dagger on me, and I tied the scabbard in pretty well.

Oh, right. Sorry. [ Cal scratches the back of his neck; the downside of his complexion is how its obvious when his ears go red in embarrassment. Anyways. ]

I have a practice sword over with my things, would that work?

[ He'd planned to a bit of work on his form before the next session but had gotten distracted by the outdoor going ons. ]

[ She's half-amazed that saying to relax and that he was fine had gotten his ears to turn so red. ]

We could definitely try with it. I don't know if I've heard of- Well, there's a lot of things I haven't heard of before, actually, so saying I hadn't heard of dancing with swords is just one thing on a very long list.

[ It's meant to be a joke. A very sad joke, but a joke nonetheless. ]

Did you need help with something, or just keeping warmed up for Vader's temper?

It's all new to me, too.

[ Never underestimate how awkward Cal can be, people-ing is not a strong suit of his. He left his things behind, still in the place he'd been sitting and watching hockey so he hurried back quickly, bag in one hand and sword in the other. ]

Just trying to stay warmed up for him. Not that it ever helps.

I suppose there's a joke about immortality to all of that.

[ That they'd have an eternity to find out, as long as they lived long enough for it. As Cal went to get his things, Eden took her robe off to set to the side. It was helpful for most of the time, but dancing worked one's temperature up, and she'd also prefer to not get it cut up in the process. Besides, it was just chilly, not so much on freezing (that's a distorted interpretation due to really solid cold tolerance.) It'd be cold if she weren't wearing clothes suitable for the season. (Except no, it's actually just cold.) ]

He does seem to like going extra hard on us. You'd think he didn't like Silver Court or something. If you want help warming up after this, I can go get my stuff.

[ Except she's been getting the hang of using the twin swords she has, so it's a lot of fast work. ]

Mmm. Plenty of time to learn.

[ Which is absolutely something to think about, when its the middle of the night and he can't sleep - so that's basically every single night. Cal nods as Eden removes her outer layer robe, twirling the sword in one hand to the other. ]

It's honestly hard to tell with Vader, but it might be a bit more personal with us. Like he hates that we're all a bunch of smart asses.

[ He wrinkles his nose... yeah... honestly come to think of it he seems to have his favorites, and the ones that he tries to test constantly. Out of dislike, or something else? ]

Yeah, I'll be right here.

If he hated us, he could've easily failed or removed us, though. Same with the Autumn class.

[ Vader had said something about her reminding him of someone that was dead, and part of her wondered if that was the case with Cal, or most Silvers he knew. That, or perhaps the person was in Silver? It was a thought while accepting the sword with a nod of thanks. ]

I think you've been getting better though. Maybe because of the way he's been targeting and testing us? You can certainly endure more of it, compared to the beginning of the new year.

[ Sure, they've getting more blood over time, but enduring and pushing through the strength of the blows took more than just blood. Getting a good distance away, so that no snow would go flying into Cal's face, a similar routine to before was gone through, up until that handless cartwheel, where the sword had been on the ground, but was hit to go flying up and fluidly caught in her hand. Because at that point, Eden's too stunned to continue on, looking back to confirm what had just happened. ]

[ She's right, he could've kicked them or refused to teach them. Still there's something there right. It's not the strange feeling that Cal gets sometimes when he's in a class with the man, like he should be far, far away from him. Maybe it's just his imagination, or has to do with what happened at the ball... ]

Thanks. It's been helping to practice with other people, too. And you're definitely not so bad, yourself.

[ He remembers the dream again; the strange weapon he'd used and how deftly he'd wielded it. Cal steps back a bit out of the way (he's already been hit in the face with snow today, thank you very much) to give Eden room.

Casually observing, until... he blinks, brow furrowing. ]

Did you just -- ?

[ Oh, there was definitely something about the aura that Vader put out towards them. At least Eden knew that it was because she reminded him of someone who was dead, so maybe it was for similar reasons in Cal's case. The only reason it's not said is because that was speculation. Only the teacher could confirm such a thing.

That and she was a little stunned from the routine itself. On one hand, part of her felt like that was right and she should've continued. On the other, she just kicked up and caught a sword after some acrobatic move that she'd never done before today. She can go through tactical tumbles, and has in class, but nothing like this. ]

I didn't imagine that, then?

[ Which meant that there was a lot to think about. Walking back with a daze of confusion, Eden held the sword out to return to Cal. ]

With that, I think you might've been right about swords belonging to this.

[ It might be a mystery that never gets solved; that's fine. As long as he passes Vader's class. ]

Nope. [ Cal shakes his head, because he most certainly didn't imagine that either - it's the kind of thing that if he tried would probably mean a swat to the face so he's pretty impressed, really. He takes the sword back, flips it in the air and catches it by the hilt.

Yeah okay so he won't be kicking any swords into his hands.

A shrug followed by a grin. ]

I have been known to occasionally have a good idea or two.

[ See, flipping a sword in the air and catching it made a lot more sense than sending it up and flipping yourself. There was time to be potentially impressed later for Eden, as it's more confusing than anything, that just going with it with just feelings led to that. No one is expected to kick a sword up into the air and catch it. ]

What exactly made you think sword, instead of... I don't know, flowers, or ribbons, or something like that?

[ She never would've paired it with a weapon, so it spoke more about the unique way of thinking Cal had. Clearly it was smart, as he'd been right (guessing by the catch,) so now she was curious. After all, before now, they only had an idea of one another from their classes. ]

[ ... Cal frowns slightly, and shakes his head. Strange that he hadn't even given it a second thought, come to think of it. ]

Holding a sword is different than a ribbon or flower. I suppose it could've also been a staff or stick but if I'm honest? Beyond that, I'm not really sure.

[ He remembers seeing those figures in his dream, with their swords made of beams of light and the way they fought and moved. It had been different from what she was doing but it's hard to forget, and compare. He shrugs. ]

I've also never seen anyone dance with a ribbon, is that a thing?

Well, it was the right call regardless.

[ Ah, that's a question that gets a bit of a sheepish smile from Eden, as she shook her head. ]

No clue, honestly. I don't even know if people dance with flowers, so much as I was coming up with things that were considered pretty. The only dancing I've seen is what's happened here.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

january tdm/event post

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