Fourth TDM: Winter's breath

[upcyclingmod]

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As a quick note: This will be the last TDM and Application Round of the year! Have fun everyone!

Arrival


Not all characters (known as Wickie, singular or Wickies, plural) arrive at the same time, surprisingly enough! That’s life for you. Some Wickies find their way to the island at a pivotal (or very mundane) point in their life, or even after or during their death.

Wickies who were standing or walking often find themselves entering the town South Sister, located on Lighthouse Isle, through an open doorway. Those that were laying down, or sleeping, tend to be found lying prone in beds, bathtubs, showers, couches, and similar places within the cottages on Cottage Row. There’s no rhyme or reason to it all! To Wickies familiar with the era, they will realize that everything looks as if it’s come from the ‘90s.

The house which a Wickie finds themselves within could already be occupied. This includes walking into a fellow Wicke, waking up in the same location, or accidentally scaring a room full of people with their sudden appearance.

Oops.

Start of Winter

Thankfully things have more or less dried out, for the seasons are already changing. Or at least, the weather is, and with it...comes snow.

The grass on the island is covered, various trees lose the last of their leaves, the sand becomes crunchy, and even a portion of the ocean water becomes frozen solid. (Take THAT, water!). And with it, Wickies wake up at their feet (or suddenly in their hands if they don’t sleep) warm clothing and various ways to keep warm- or at least keep the cold from messing with their joints!

And with it, there are snow shovels and boots that are set out neatly by the door. It seems more snowk is expected, and foot protection is more important than ever. While it is possible for some (those who are not infected by the Silence at least) to use the teleporter to get from town to their homes, there are pathways that need to be cleared for everyone.

It might be a good time to offer a helping hand! Especially with some Wickies who are snowed into their homes.

Or it could be a good time to use the shovels to gather snow for snow ball fights, snow forts, and similar winter activities. The nice thing about the winter shovels is that they’ll have them for a few months.

Too bad the ground is nearly frozen solid, and these particular shovels are not good for digging into the ground.


Frosty Protections

While there may be the snow and the quiet that’s coming in, there are other things that are coming into the island too. There are tables that linger day or night, which have tangyuan. Some in the shape of various animals, and some of them that are simply balls of colored dough. They are edible, and thankfully they don’t have a negative consequence to eating them (unlike the mooncakes from before) but there are written instructions, which also proclaim outloud to a Wickie if they linger for awhile:

“For the use of protective talismans! Stick it on your chair, your door, your window!”

Interestingly enough, they do seem to work. Wickies who are Silence infected are repelled by them, feeling uneasy and nauseous around them and touching the tangyuan even with covered hands will cause a burning sensation.

Infected Wickies who eat the treats...they’re in for a rough time. Really rough.

There are also little tables with various drinks, some being fruit juice, sparkling fruit juice, champagne and of similar ilk- but not ever with water. That’s just bad luck after everything.

The inscription for this table, which is again read out loud, “Toast to others health”

Picking up the cups, they will be unable to drop it, and the fluid will refill in the Wickie’s cup until they find someone to toast to- whether it’s in humor or in earnestness.

For the next twelve hours after the toast is made, even if the drink is not drunk after, the Wickie toasted will find they will have better luck in that subject, whether it is in health, love, or friendship, or just in general.

The same applies if Wickies toast together to a group of people as well.


Of hooves and horns

The strangest thing of all isn't the sweet rice balls, nor is it the smell of evergreens heavy in the air. Instead, it's the masks set to everyone, and the ruckus music that thrums through the air, deep into the night.

The masks are of a haggard old woman, well worn and aged, and that of a man with horns and facial hair similar to a goat.

There are different effects when it comes to the masks, both happening at night with the music starts.

Wickies wearing the devilish mask find themselves wearing a ragged fur suit, prancing in the streets, ready to whip other Wickies whose behavior has been suspect or bad as of late. Finding the wicked and punishing them is an impulse, neigh impossible to ignore. And, too, there is a sense of wicked glee when they do punish someone with their reeds and whips. Krampus masked Wickies thankfully can be pacified with rum or brandy. They'll need the help of another to pull of the mask. But once it's off, the costume vanishes, and the chagrin of what happened ( or the satisfaction) follows.

Wickies wearing the woman’s mask will find that they’re not trying to scare people, but instead, they find themselves loping in and out of the crowds, searching, scanning, for certain people, all the while wearing ragged clothing, and often a scarf on their now ratty, graying hair.

It’s with a sickening horror that Wickies will realize there is something in the mask that is watching through the mask itself, and is nodding to itself far away and writing their names on a list.

And it’s not Santa Claus.

The Wickie’s wearing the old woman’s mask can be distracted by scattering seeds or threads in front of them- one inducing a true distraction to count and pick up the seeds, and a rage that comes over that of wasted thread.

Seeds make it easier to pull off the mask, and thankfully popcorn counts as a seed! But thread...well, it is a distraction too, but one that can lead to violent consequences. It might mean some rounds of bait and switching until the mask is taken off.

And that’s when the Wickie who had been wearing the mask realizing the list is of ‘bad’ Wickies, But…

how bad could they be?

Confession network

Yet again, the phone goes off. Doesn’t look like it’s anybody in town, but it’s that weird, cheesy app called The Heart Game. And it’s persistent, too: it doesn’t want to be ignored, making a series of beeps and chirps, much like a pet that wants attention.

The message that pops up is as follows:

We’re back! It’s the time for everyone's favorite game- Confession! So beloved users, our question is:

What do you love about winter? Is it the nip on your nose? The hot drinks? Playing in the snow? Tell us!

Comments

[nerine]

Stew doesn't sound too bad, but I feel like you can have that almost any time of the year.

I raise you hot chocolate and... Ah, eggnog! And the spiked stuff, none of this non-alcoholic business.

[bowfaire]

True, but stew wouldn't be my first choice in the summer, you know?

Hot chocolate is a good one. I would never turn down a good spirit or two, either. The more the merrier, after all.

[nerine]

In the upcoming Winter Wonderland we're probably going to be in, booze does nicely to warm one up.

It looks like we have a lot more people than usual if a question like this popped up on the network. Do you happen to be new?

[bowfaire]

I suppose it does...

Yes. I've only just arrived. Does this sort of thing happen often?

[nerine]

Apparently it is, what they say, "a thing."

I've only been here a few weeks so I'll give you a word of warning, in a neighborly fashion. If you're not careful, things will get dangerous.

Case in point, the whole island flooded a while ago and none of us were prepared for it.

[bowfaire]

(...

Interesting.)

I appreciate it, neighbor. Is this place prone to natural disasters? That doesn't bode well for the winter.

[nerine]

Someone else might be better at explaining it than me. I've only just learned that collectively, our wishes have power. And if you know anything about wishing, it's also a 'wishy-washy' thing if you're vague as opposed to specific.

And apparently, wishing to go home brought a flood or something to that effect.

[bowfaire]

(Well, doesn't that sound fantastic? Like something from a story.)

Of course. All desires have power.

(Wishes or dreams, if one has a desire, it can inspire them to do anything. He knows that rather intimately.)

But you know what they say: "Be careful what you wish for." I've read a few stories like that before. I wonder what a flood has to do with going home, though.

[nerine]

You know, probably something along the lines of traveling by water?

Except no one had a spare boat.

[bowfaire]

That seems like a stretch. Not everyone is from a home beyond the sea.

(He sure isn't?)

Any boats now?

[nerine]

It wasn't so long ago, so no. Although if going home by boat was an option, I'm sure someone would have tried it, but nothing is as easy as that.

[bowfaire]

Considering this place is on the sea, it might be wise to have a few for the future, though. Granted, winter is hardly the ideal time to be making any heavy preparations, especially with parts of the shore frozen right now.

(It's hard working in the cold. There are probably other priorities too. Winter is really its own set of challenges. And what about resources? Shipbuilders? This isn't something that can be done in a short time.)

How are things now? Have things mostly recovered?

[nerine]

You know, that might not be a bad thing to just have on hand. Not sure if we have any ship makers in our population though, but if anyone has magic...

[She'll probably ask around in other network posts about how far people have gotten ocean-wise whether it's by air or vessel.]

Yes, we're allright. [save for trauma, yeaaaaaaah!!]

Thankfully, whatever enchantment is keeping this place up made our houses and cottages instantly dry again.

[bowfaire]

It never hurts to be prepared.

It's strange that a place by the sea wouldn't have any ships or boats, though. There's even a lighthouse!

(Which implies there should be vessels out there.)

I'd wondered about that. I didn't notice any sort of flood damage while I was surveying. I never would have known there was any sort of disaster if you hadn't mentioned it.

[nerine]

Take it from me

It was very wet

[yes, a very astute description monts]

Well, it's winter now anyway and we all have warm clothes so that's a blessing. I'm not going to tempt any higher forces with optimistic outlooks though.

[bowfaire]

Noted.

(An apt description. Is he still RPing Dimitri? No. He gave up ages ago because its not like he's even here to call him out! No one is here to call him out.)

Even in difficult times, it's good to appreciate small blessings. I'm not sure what's going on here exactly but I have shelter for now and I'm not alone so that's a start.

[nerine]

You're definitely lucky! There are people who have been here longer than me, so I'd say keep an eye out for them on this network or if you meet them in person.

I tried my best, but it's cold and I don't want to be outside right now. Blankets and hot drinks it is!

[bowfaire]

You still have more time on me.

Any names in particular I should look out for?

(Information. It's what he's after.)

[nerine]

[And the information he will get. Good thing Monts was social enough the past few weeks.]

Natori is someone who's proactive when it comes to the supernatural side of the island. Friendly enough too. He's a good looking guy who wears glasses, I think you'll know when you see him.

Then there's the person who had the username, "xiao sanye." I've gotta take up the offer about prepping survival kits from them soon, but they seem to know what they're talking about as well.

[bowfaire]

Natori and Xiao Sanye.

(He'll have to write those down to remember later.)

Got it. I'll keep an eye out. Thank you.

(And while he's got such a friendly stranger on the other end? Especially one who seems to know enough people here--)

Have you met anyone here from a place called Fodlan by any chance?

[nerine]

Fodlan? Hm, nope, I haven't encountered anyone from a place with that name, not yet anyway.

Guess that means you're not from planet Earth then 🤔🤔🤔

Well, not unusual. I of all people should be used to that.

[bowfaire]

Perhaps it's for the better.

(Considering what he's heard about this place so far.)

I'm from an earth but if you mean a specific place called the Earth then you might be correct. We have a real collection of worlds here, don't we?

(It's fascinating, really.)

[nerine]

I believe we can certifiably be called a salad.

It's quite fun when you get used to the idea of it, I can promise you that. Just don't think too hard about it, and just relax.

[bowfaire]

Don't worry. I plan on making the most out of this situation.

(It's really not his style to sit around and despair. Here he is in an unfamiliar situation and he's going dive right into it like he usually does.)

Everyone I've met so far has been kind and some minor setbacks aside, things have gone well. I'll keep my guard up but it's probably best to enjoy the peace for now, right?

(YOU KNOW... cursed masks aside.)

[nerine]

That's a good attitude to have. I'm still learning bit by bit so I'm always on my toes.

I'm called Monts; you can find me at Conjuring Cottage if you want a chat or a favor.