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afternight2022-12-28 08:17 pm
oblivium) wrote in afternight2022-12-28 08:17 pm
JANUARY - EVENT
DANCE FIRST, THINK LATER
With the strange, florid illness affecting many and the Hierarchy's latest mishap, the people of Stygia are growing restless (!). Petty crime is on the rise, Doran's apologies a temporary balm for concerned souls. As a show of good will, you are all cordially invited to the Midwinter Banquet, all expanses covered, an event usually reserved for members of the Hierarchy as well as their close friends. Lucky you! And you won't even have to walk.
You feel the gentle bouncing of your horse-drawn stage-coach as it climbs the rolling hills just outside of Radiance. The lavish interior of the coach is covered in smooth purple silks that cradle you in comfort... or would, if the occasional moan didn't disturb the otherwise posh ambiance. The path up the hill to the gatehouse is lined with brown, withered leaves and a thin blanket of snow, which marks the clear end of the Respite. Guards await you across the long bridge, confiscating any weapon you might have and securing them in large chests; from the gatehouse, you finally enter the Courtyard, where the party is already in full swing.
Before you get any farther, Doran appears on a dais with a cup and a contrite smile:
► POINTS OF INTEREST
Alcohol flows, fireworks pop. Maybe you're even having a little fun... until you aren't. You might have caught dusky, gossamer tendrils in the periphery of your vision over the course of the banquet, evaporating the moment you looked. They didn't go anywhere. They coiled and gathered, unbeknownst to all, until the sky darkened and loomed and now crowds you, enveloped in a hazy cloud of shadows. A scream pierces the ambient air. Shwip, shwip. Murmurs rise, and you hear a loud thud as commanding voices order the crowd to disperse. As the cloud slowly dissolves, you see him, Doran, lying motionless on the balcony, twisted in impossible angles; his mouth is a gaping hole next to him, eyes wide where his head has rolled.
Next to him, Désirée screeches, a desperate cry as she sobs and screams and cups her own face in terror... and then in something that looks like anger. It happens then. The change, staccato and unnatural movements of her limbs, and her flesh slowly rips, literally torn apart as something else seemingly emerges in her stead: her Shadow has finally taken over, effectively turning her into a Spectre.
As guards flock to the horrifying scene, Désirée lurches forward in a fit of rage and begins to feast on the panicking guests. You might spot a strange figure beckoning you in the midst of the frenzied commotion, masked and cloaked. If you follow them, they'll silently lead you to the Inner Hall; a beautifully furnished foyer welcomes you, four stone pillars framing the open space. Paintings and illustrations adorn the walls: circles of cloaked people, seemingly praying; floating islands threatened by a giant sword coming down from above, splashes of red paint across the canvas; Ferrymen, heads bowed, chained and on their knees; Stygia engulfed in darkness... Do not loiter, you're promptly scolded, led to a second floor where you're unceremoniously pushed inside a spacious chamber. You've been deceived, they say, promptly locking you in without another word. What. There's a strange well in the middle of the room, your only means to escape; hold your breath and jump, there's nowhere else to go.
You'll land in a huge, dark cavern, knee-deep with water; something strange and massive faintly glows at its centre-- an egg? Two narrow tunnels lead out through caves into a swamp located in the Barrens, sealed by heavy doors that are barred from the inside. Unlock them and go! If you've removed your mask, Désirée will follow you, and you have no weapons. It's immune to magic, but weak against light.
Alternatively, if you decide to ignore the stranger, you'll have to leave through the gatehouse, where Désirée might linger and where guards look for anyone with a brand on their arm. Luckily, they're a bit distracted by the tumult of the evacuation, but if you wish to escape, you'll have to fight your way through the melee, weaponless, and will most likely shed more blood as guests flee. The chests containing your weapons are inaccessible -- at least for the time being.
A few days later, a cryptic message appears on the Netherwork, untraceable:
With the strange, florid illness affecting many and the Hierarchy's latest mishap, the people of Stygia are growing restless (!). Petty crime is on the rise, Doran's apologies a temporary balm for concerned souls. As a show of good will, you are all cordially invited to the Midwinter Banquet, all expanses covered, an event usually reserved for members of the Hierarchy as well as their close friends. Lucky you! And you won't even have to walk.
You feel the gentle bouncing of your horse-drawn stage-coach as it climbs the rolling hills just outside of Radiance. The lavish interior of the coach is covered in smooth purple silks that cradle you in comfort... or would, if the occasional moan didn't disturb the otherwise posh ambiance. The path up the hill to the gatehouse is lined with brown, withered leaves and a thin blanket of snow, which marks the clear end of the Respite. Guards await you across the long bridge, confiscating any weapon you might have and securing them in large chests; from the gatehouse, you finally enter the Courtyard, where the party is already in full swing.
Before you get any farther, Doran appears on a dais with a cup and a contrite smile:
“Esteemed guests... Thank you for being here. I am truly grateful to have each one of you here tonight, and though you may still resent us for the terrible mistakes we've made, please accept this invitation as a token of our desire to do better. I have come to the tough realization that my time may have come to an end, and though I shall continue to assist your heroic endeavors, it is with bittersweet reservation that I announce my political retirement. New heroes must arise to fill the void, and for that I look to you. Here's to you, dear friends, and may you find it in your heart to forgive us.”
► POINTS OF INTEREST
► COURTYARD
In the courtyard, guests talk and laugh amid candlelight and falling leaves. The music of a chamber ensemble drifts from the castle hall. You'll find:
A servant will offer you a mask; if you wear it, no one will be able to recognize you as long as it covers a portion of your face, from your physical features to your voice. Someone's watched too much Superman. Touch, on the other hand, might betray who you are. Here, you'll find:
A wide pool filled with crystalline water, known to temporarily silence Shadows. It also tends to collect one memory from anyone who's ever bathed in it, including you. If you're anywhere close to anyone whose body touched the water, you'll be able to see one of their memories as you would a grainy movie.
► INFORMATION
Observing or listening to guests might reveal the following:
In the courtyard, guests talk and laugh amid candlelight and falling leaves. The music of a chamber ensemble drifts from the castle hall. You'll find:
► Tables laden with wine and fruit► OUTER HALL
► Games of chance at a busy table
► Winding paths and trysts in the gardens
A servant will offer you a mask; if you wear it, no one will be able to recognize you as long as it covers a portion of your face, from your physical features to your voice. Someone's watched too much Superman. Touch, on the other hand, might betray who you are. Here, you'll find:
► A dancefloor filled with dancers► THE POOL OF SANCTIFICATION
► Chamber musicians at the west end
► Tables laden with food and drink to the east
► Past the tables, the door to the Inner Hall is guarded by a masked sentry who informs would-be intruders that the Inner Halls’ tables are restricted to the Hierarchy's closest friends due to lack of space
► Reputable artisans behind golden kiosks offer some of their products for free, from potions to trinkets.
A wide pool filled with crystalline water, known to temporarily silence Shadows. It also tends to collect one memory from anyone who's ever bathed in it, including you. If you're anywhere close to anyone whose body touched the water, you'll be able to see one of their memories as you would a grainy movie.
► INFORMATION
Observing or listening to guests might reveal the following:
► Some retainers wearing a strange broach, stinger-shaped
► Doran appearing exhausted, often retiring to his study
► Doran and Amun on the balcony, standing peculiarly close
► Désirée, particularly on edge
► Assana middling with guests, taking the time to greet as many people as possible
► A man allegedly coming from the Far Shores has been locked in the cistern undercroft
Alcohol flows, fireworks pop. Maybe you're even having a little fun... until you aren't. You might have caught dusky, gossamer tendrils in the periphery of your vision over the course of the banquet, evaporating the moment you looked. They didn't go anywhere. They coiled and gathered, unbeknownst to all, until the sky darkened and loomed and now crowds you, enveloped in a hazy cloud of shadows. A scream pierces the ambient air. Shwip, shwip. Murmurs rise, and you hear a loud thud as commanding voices order the crowd to disperse. As the cloud slowly dissolves, you see him, Doran, lying motionless on the balcony, twisted in impossible angles; his mouth is a gaping hole next to him, eyes wide where his head has rolled.
Next to him, Désirée screeches, a desperate cry as she sobs and screams and cups her own face in terror... and then in something that looks like anger. It happens then. The change, staccato and unnatural movements of her limbs, and her flesh slowly rips, literally torn apart as something else seemingly emerges in her stead: her Shadow has finally taken over, effectively turning her into a Spectre.
As guards flock to the horrifying scene, Désirée lurches forward in a fit of rage and begins to feast on the panicking guests. You might spot a strange figure beckoning you in the midst of the frenzied commotion, masked and cloaked. If you follow them, they'll silently lead you to the Inner Hall; a beautifully furnished foyer welcomes you, four stone pillars framing the open space. Paintings and illustrations adorn the walls: circles of cloaked people, seemingly praying; floating islands threatened by a giant sword coming down from above, splashes of red paint across the canvas; Ferrymen, heads bowed, chained and on their knees; Stygia engulfed in darkness... Do not loiter, you're promptly scolded, led to a second floor where you're unceremoniously pushed inside a spacious chamber. You've been deceived, they say, promptly locking you in without another word. What. There's a strange well in the middle of the room, your only means to escape; hold your breath and jump, there's nowhere else to go.
You'll land in a huge, dark cavern, knee-deep with water; something strange and massive faintly glows at its centre-- an egg? Two narrow tunnels lead out through caves into a swamp located in the Barrens, sealed by heavy doors that are barred from the inside. Unlock them and go! If you've removed your mask, Désirée will follow you, and you have no weapons. It's immune to magic, but weak against light.
Alternatively, if you decide to ignore the stranger, you'll have to leave through the gatehouse, where Désirée might linger and where guards look for anyone with a brand on their arm. Luckily, they're a bit distracted by the tumult of the evacuation, but if you wish to escape, you'll have to fight your way through the melee, weaponless, and will most likely shed more blood as guests flee. The chests containing your weapons are inaccessible -- at least for the time being.
A few days later, a cryptic message appears on the Netherwork, untraceable:
“An ill life, an ill end. When you stand in the middle of a blizzard, you must make a choice: pray to your Gods that it subsides, or find the wisdom to ascertain the reason why you remain snowed.
Justice starts with a sting.”
Justice starts with a sting.”