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ph_memes2024-01-10 06:19 pm
TDM #4 - Aurora Borealis Blitz [FIRST EDITION]
[Find our plain text version here!]
Pumpkin Hollow Gazette
1/10/24 | TDM #4 - AURORA BOREALIS BLITZ"
Content Warnings: "Further Details" section has independent CW labels.
Forecast: Heavy snow
BREAKING! REBUILDING HELP REQUESTED
By Cecil Gershwin Palmer
A photo taken of the damage.
ACROSS PUMPKIN HOLLOW - City government is requesting aid with repairs to public buildings and local fixtures after the recent earthquakes on Tuesday, January 8th. While there was minimal damage to Town Hall itself, several important buildings sustained damage, including the Magpie National Bank, the South Train Station and the Clock Tower, which is now stuck with hands at 8pm.
Regarding the cause of the earthquake, local biologist Dr. Elias Coldwood was heard to say “There's never been seismic activity here.” And he’s a scientist, so he would know! But clearly this is no longer the case. Perhaps Pumpkin Hollow has a mysterious tiny civilization underground worshiping a destroyer god, planning to attack through the bowling alley, the moment we create a bowling alley. Perhaps not. More on this story as it unfolds, faithful readers.
In the meantime, volunteers to help with the damage to city buildings are invited to meet with Mayor Hellen Poe for assignments.
ANNUAL AURORA IN NORTHERN SKY
By Yorick Aberdeen
An artist's rendition of last year's view.
ABOVE MARROW ISLE - Midwinter is upon us! That means it’s the time of year when our skies light up with the technicolor gleam of the arctic north! Those looking northward between the hours of 10pm and 2am should be able to see beautiful curtains of bright green, blue, purple, and pink lighting up the sky above the island. If you plan to go outside to view the lights rather than looking from your window, please make sure you travel in a group and carry a lantern. May it be ever lit!
HOROSCOPES
By Cecil Gershwin Palmer
What do the stars say about you today?
Capricorn: Do you feel as if you’ve lost something? If not, it’s wise to double-check. Perhaps it’s not something like a button or a key, but your sense of wonder or your self-confidence. Remember, things tend to be in the last place you look.
Aquarius: Something about the year ending made you feel lighter, like taking off a heavy wool coat. Ride this burst of energy as far as it will take you, because the shiny of a fresh beginning tends to wear off quickly.
Pisces: Don’t worry, I don’t believe what everyone says behind your back. You’re not too sensitive or too naive. They’re just jealous. Really, most of the time when they’re whispering, it’s not even about you.
Aries: You’re the sort of warm individual that babies and animals are drawn to. Unfortunately, this may include hungry wolves and swarms of insects. But don’t let that bring you down! We need that sort of personality around here.
Taurus: There’s nothing wrong with wanting to be the best, until you work to stop others from also being the best. That’s called cheating and may lead to you being disqualified from competitions. If you get caught, that is.
Gemini: You know those riddles about the two guards, one who always tells the truth and one who always lies? Well, everyone hates those riddles with a passion. You’ll see for yourself, soon.
Cancer: Wouldn’t you like to know?
Leo: Your incandescent personality often makes you the center of attention. However, that’s not the only thing about you that glows. Moths may flock to you in the dark this week, and so might children afraid to sleep with the lights out.
Virgo: Be careful with your words–they aren’t just the precursors to your deeds, but the manifestation of your will. This is not a week for idioms and metaphors, not for you. Even something like bemoaning a lack of spoons may make eating cereal harder.
Libra: You are, inevitably, the first one heard to say a situation isn’t fair. And it’s not, nor will it ever be. Instead of getting upset, have you ever considered getting revenge? That’s usually more satisfying in the long run.
Scorpio: Ugh, Scorpios. The position of Venus means your usually volatile emotions will be in the doldrums instead. Enjoy this while it lasts I guess. Who knows if you’ll ever experience such peace again, given, well. You’re kind of an emotional mess and no one likes you.
Sagittarius: There will never be another day like today. You must strive to make the day everything you want it to be. No mistakes, now! Consider your choices very carefully. Consider your choice to consider, very carefully.
SUNFIRE'S HEARTH
By Yorick Aberdeen
A photo of Mayor Poe's cats, Toffee and Butter, enjoying the view.
ASSORTED LOCATIONS - As the coldest part of the year settles over our fair isle, it is time for Sunfire’s Hearth--- an informal celebration of bonfires and hearth flames, for those unfamiliar! For the months of January and February, a raised platform for bonfires will be lit on weekends, and restaurants and taverns across town will keep their fireplaces lit. Unlike many of our other festivities, there is no structured celebration--- simply make some time during this time to bask in the warmth of a fire! You can even celebrate at home.
An additional benefit of this time of year is that Merrymeet is well on its way. So take this time and get snuggly in front of a fire with your special person to get in the mood for romance! (Or they could be platonic snuggles. Whatever suits you best.)
LOCAL ALCHEMIST REPORTS MISSING POTION
By Yorick Aberdeen
Some of Mx. Sallek's usual stock. Could stand to have better labels./p>
LOCATION UNCERTAIN - Early Monday morning, local alchemist Aeryn Sallek reported that a large container of magical potion has been swapped with another, and it would seem that the mistaken jug has been sent out for delivery. According to Mx. Sallek, they sent a number of jugs out for delivery in a case with our local delivery extraordinaire, Sam Porter Bridges. The jugs were meant to contain a harmless, potable freeze-resistance potion for our town’s various water sources, in the interest of keeping water reserves drinkable in sub-freezing winter weather. However, when they returned to the shop, one of these potions remained on their counter while a love potion they’d been working on went missing.
“‘Love potion’ is kind of a misnomer, honestly,” Mx. Sallek is quoted to have said on the matter. “But ‘emotional acuity’ potion doesn’t quite roll off the tongue. Basically what it actually does is enhance existing romantic desire and embolden the user to be emotionally open. But Yorick should already know all this, since he’s the one who ordered it.” [Editing note: don’t forget to cut the last part of that comment before publishing. Cecil, you don’t need to include personal statements directed at reporters from these interviews!]
It’s unclear which area of town this particular potion ended up being injected into the water source, but according to Mx. Sallek, the potion was not particularly intense to begin with. It should be significantly diluted as to be harmless. Still, if you notice any strange symptoms such as butterflies in your stomach, a desire to burst into song, or inexplicable yearning, please file a report with the Safety Board at your earliest convenience.
FOOD SHORTAGES PUT STRAIN ON ISLAND ECONOMY
By Yorick Aberdeen
MARKET DISTRICT - While there are many things to celebrate this time of year, Marrow Isle is not without its adversity. Over these past months, many new members of our community have arrived by ferry after our numbers remained small and stagnant for many years. And the presence of our newfound neighbors has been a boon to all of us. Many artisans have opened useful businesses, medical professionals have expanded our access to healthcare, and a new fishing vessel has taken to the seas. However, despite a few additions, our farming community remains quite modest and planting was not planned with such incredible new growth in mind.
The unfortunate result of this is that food reserves on the island this year are uncharacteristically low. As such, Town Council has made the difficult decision to allow for the temporary inflation of food prices and the rationing of food staples.
“We understand the hardship this will place on the residents of Pumpkin Hollow,” said Mayor Poe in a statement after this decision was made. “But please know that we are all in this together. We hope to be able to offer a better incentive package for those interested in farming in the coming springtime.”
Page 1
Aurora
The dead of winter sheds all colors of the trees and flowers across Marrow Isle, but tonight, there are no stark whites and grays and browns.
Tonight, in the sky sprawling with stars above the dreary town, there are lights.
Sprawling trails of violet and green twist and wave through the sky, brightening the earth below and the sea beyond Jack's Marina in magical colors. The return of the borealis is something many Pumpkin Hollowites look forward to, and their reactions are very clear: people scurry down to the shores to watch with wide eyes, many retrieve telescopes, and some even borrow the decks of ships, abandoned for the night at the docks, to watch the sights.
It doesn't take long for this to change, however; the sea nor land are safe from the curse, and it's made quickly apparent that the sky is no exception.
At first, the sight seems like none more than an illusion, perhaps someone blinking and missing a strange shift of the lights. A glimmering outline forms around a cluster of stars, only slightly harder than any of the lines that define the aurora's rays. Several of these shapes form, each array of stars different from the last, some larger, some smaller.
And then, the stars begin to fall.
Seeming to peel off the painted sky, the ebbing colors surrounding the starlight drop, crashing to the world below. Some fall to the streets and beaches, while others fall into the forest, leaving view, or drop into the sea, leaving splashes and waves in their wake that ensure any watching knows full and well that this is not a trick of the light. At first, these shapes are unmoving, glowing masses of aurora-light with stars shining brightly within them. Most townsfolk are uneasy, but this seems to pale in severity to the other disasters, even if they lack any idea of what it could mean for them.
That is, of course, until the masses begin to move.
Each one is as varied as the constellation it stole from the sky: stars form suggestions of skeletal structures, and their "flesh", only consisting of swimming lights and liquid sky that steals any lights around them. Two identical glowing shapes rise to a face finally taking form, and slowly, moving more like gel than animal as it rises to freshly-formed legs, it settles on the closest living thing it can find.
There is no calculation in it, nor what seems to be a glimmer of thought.
It simply lunges with intent to kill.
Cecil’s disconcerting horoscopes have the following effects for the next few days:
Horoscopes
[CW: Altered emotional states ]
(Don’t know your character’s sign? Feel free to just decide on one!)
Unbeknownst to the townsfolk, the “love” potion ended up in the water supply of the Oak & Iron. As promised by Aeryn, it is thoroughly diluted, as its recipients believed it to be a normal freeze-resistance potion to be mixed with their water. The effects are not particularly intense. However, anyone who drinks any of the tavern’s housemade ale or cider, drinks the coffee, or eats any food that might require water to cook will experience symptoms of “emotional acuity”. This involves feeling more emotionally open, more receptive to positive feelings about others, a strong desire for physical or verbal affection, and the intensification of romantic or sexual attraction that you might already be experiencing. It will last about half a day. Just in time to help potentially land you a date for Merrymeet, a flower and fertility festival in early spring!Love Potion
[CW: Altered Emotional States ]
Food rationing and inflation will have the following impact: Grocery budgets for apped-in characters will be reduced in their efficacy.
Basic groceries will be only the most minimal of staples. You will likely go hungry if you do not find a way to supplement this.
Bountiful groceries will be reduced to the amount of food normally contained in basic.
Lavish groceries will not be available at all.
Your grocery choices from Activity Check are not able to be modified for this month unless otherwise stated. Bonuses and Discounts associated with the Farmer and Fisherman jobs are also reduced.
Level 1 bonuses will be reduced to standard, which is to say how they would function for a non-Farmer/Fisherman character during a normal, pre-famine month. (ex. Whereas normally a Level 1 Farmer would get free Basic groceries, they will now have to pay the 50 Brass, but do not have the efficacy of Basic groceries reduced as described above.)
Level 2 bonuses will be reduced to that of a Level 1 Farmer/Fisherman. (ex. Whereas a Level 2 Fisherman would normally be able to have Bountiful groceries discounted to 50 Brass, they now must pay full price for Bountiful groceries. However, they can still get Basic groceries for free and don’t suffer from the famine induced efficacy reduction for either budget.) Oak & Iron Residents will only be able to receive bland, repetitive meals with their food vouchers consisting of simple broth, plain bread, bland potato dishes, and the like. It is enough to be fed and comfortable but it is incredibly unsatisfying. (This includes all new characters that are not apped-in.) Drinks, however, are still plentiful. Characters who do not eat will find that their respective sources of fuel will be reduced to just barely enough to keep them functional, provided that they ration carefully. (Ex. Transformers may want to be less active. Vampires will find that victims cannot handle excessive blood loss without fainting and generally prefer to stay home.) Characters who were present to fight the Mother Crab back in late summer and chose to can some of their crab can use it now! Hunting, foraging, and fishing can help reduce the impact of these reductions, and people can share their food. You can absolutely die of starvation. After Merrymeet in February, food will return to normal.Famine
[CW: Starvation and food scarcity ]
copia emeritus | ghost | prospective player
𝖕𝖔𝖘𝖙-𝖆𝖗𝖗𝖎𝖛𝖆𝖑 + 𝖟𝖔𝖉𝖎𝖆𝖈
Somewhere new out of his time (as he avoids contemplating permanent death where he previously called home, with flippant aversion); sounds great!, what an adventure - why not? Stranger things have happened. The only thing he is currently mourning is his magnificent wardrobe in exchange for peasant garb - though he wears it well and continues to insist on finding clever and resourceful ways to maintain the face-paint. If you catch him without it, it is NOT intentional.
Enjoying a simple breakfast at his offered lodging, Copia flips open the local newspaper and skips the parts about famines and fleshy constellations out to kill at first, focusing on his zodiac.
He touches a hand to his heart in display of flattered approval. Apparently he will be glowing and smothered in moths - cute little fellas - which to him sounds delightful. But onto more serious matters.
"Ah, famine, disaster, uncertainty. The usual suspects." He briefly folds the paper down and stares at absolutely nothing in particular. "Not so different from home then." Despite his moral inclination between chaotic neutral and chaotic evil by most people's standards, he sees himself differently, and lives in the nuance of the soul, and finds this upsetting. It does not take long for him to wish he could find a way to sponsor and head - at the very least - some sort of refuge, particularly one inclined towards keeping youth safe and housed.
His brow furrows as he - apparently - radiates an unusual glow a la the Leo horoscope. Biting into a scone, he continues contemplating to himself how he can be useful and help people here, first and foremost. Nothing else will ever matter more to him. Anywhere, ever. Besides, helping others allows him to put off contemplating his own problems, including how and why he is here and temporarily? deceased in the world he comes from.
𝖆𝖚𝖗𝖔𝖗𝖆 𝖘𝖍𝖊𝖓𝖆𝖓𝖎𝖌𝖆𝖑𝖎𝖘
Copia has seen the actual normal celestial wonder of the aurora borealis many times. This was. Not. Normal. Still beautiful, but when the stars seemed to fall to the ground, his brow-quirked, and he stood up, hastily grabbing binoculars to sate his curiosity and irrepressible bad Internal Feeling.
This was rewarded with the horrifying sight of seeing some of the constellations turn into fleshy mindless creatures that sauntered forwards in a way that left him glad he was observing from a distance, but also incredibly unnerved and concerned for others.
"What the fuck." Peeping through the binoculars, he repeats himself to possibly no one in particular, as he views from the balcony of where he finds his lodging. Still, he senses some other presence there and takes it for an audience - not that they can see what he sees.
"This is not what is supposed to happen on the aurora borealis. What the actual Eldritch fuck is this?" He is kind of impressed though, but he will keep that to himself, for now. He turns the viewers towards people nearby where the stars fell. "Should we...help them? This does not seem like it will end well."
How it would suck to be on this event's ground zero. How do you combat a constellation - and other questions he never thought he would sincerely contemplate.
𝖜𝖎𝖑𝖉𝖈𝖆𝖗𝖉
(OOC: this exists in case you want to come up with something entirely else and other to engage characters in. Copia is a Luciferian Pope with witch powers and necromancy and other dark and mysterious things, but he is also a sequins and sparkle obsessed very queer individual who's favorite part of his job is the rockstar element that comes with taking their gospels to the public and international scale. I am down for literally any idea you can fathom that fits the setting and might be intriguing and never want to limit anyone's imagination. So hit me with absolutely any and everything and feel free to DM me or message me on discord [@] copianoises or DM this account, or
Aurora Shenanigans
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He hesitates, rubbing the back of his neck. "How? I assume by your eagerness you must have ideas or at least very justified bravado."
Copia is good for cheeky humor and emotional support and resurrecting the dead and is not actually sure how he can be helpful in this case, but he is all ears.
And eyes and other things.no subject
He's comfortable being the distraction, if it ends up keeping others safe.
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Copia gathers himself and is legitimately unsure how to proceed.
"....Fine. Can you get me there quickly?" Not that he is keen on someone else flying him into danger without a clear way out, but, fine.
He is more than game, if it means being helpful.
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“Do what you can, I will cover you.”
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This is going to tax him immensely, but if he didn't try to help, then, well, what sort of leader was he? What was he supposed to do though, dance the beasts to death? Summon a bunch of dead animals from the forest to hurl themselves at it? This was not the way he was quick on his feet. "What am I supposed to do? Distract this thing with sex appeal? Write it a song?"
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“Make sure any people out in town stay away from the fight.”
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arrival
"Another newcomer? I'd say you came at a bad time, but I'm not sure there's a good time."
Her accent is British, high class, almost snobby.
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His own accent is a strangely American influenced blend of mixed European accents. Though he speaks Italian, German, and Swedish fluently, it does seem like an awkward mix of the three. "I never come at a good time. Only precisely when I mean to."
He will absolutely pretend he isn't nerdishly quoting Gandalf from Lord of the Rings, because his sentiment is entirely sincere.
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“Welcome, then, to the uncertain present of the island. I’m Annabel Lee Whitlock, seamstress and stitch bitch. If you need help updating your wardrobe, that’s what I’m here for.”
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His eyes practically glow at the mention of updating his wardrobe. Not that he can do much about it yet. He leans forward, grateful to have connected with such a useful acquaintance so quickly in his time on the ‘uncertain island’.
“I will do my best to make sure I stay on your good side, Ms. Whitlock. These cream and tan tones are not my color. Among…other objections.”
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Ah, it is good to be appreciated for her work.
"I'm known most for my embroidery work, but I've been taking lessons from the locals on garment construction. You'll allow me to dress you nicely, right?"
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“Allow it? I think you just became my favorite person here. Although… I don’t really have a way of paying anyone for anything yet.”
He had ideas, considering some of the shops he’d seen around and his very…particular services. One thing at a time, though.
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She claims the seat across from him, her smile coming easily, the very picture of a polished lady.
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Leo Problems
Of course, Angel's often accused of staring; he's not in the habit of blinking, or offering those tense thin-lipped smiles some people do to reassure those around that they mean no harm. It comes with the corpse thing.
indeed
He lowers his newspaper to assess the man across from him. A pale (very much dead) man staring and saying nothing. The only way Copia could make his reaction more pointed would be with reading glasses. He is silent for a few moments before gesturing at the chair across from him. "Please, sit. I can't have a handsome stranger standing there wordlessly."
He offers a reassuring smile for cushioning. Copia is happy to adjust and accommodate for a social guest. It almost seems as if he is unaware that this is not the world where his reputation and power means anything at all. He carries his title with him, regardless.
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He nibbles at that scone.
"So...do you have a name?"
A delicate sip of whatever he is drinking without looking away.
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The phrasing of the question brings a hint of a quirk to Angel’s lips. A ghost of a smile that doesn’t linger very long, as if his face takes a lot of effort to animate.
“And you? Were you named?”
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Was he? Named? Not really. “Copia.”
As he debates getting his name changed from “copy” for the eleventieth time. He still wasn’t sure why his parents refused to name any of them properly. At least the others were named in numerical order.
“Good to meet you, Angel. How long have you been…” A gesture around them at nothing in particular. “Here?”
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Oak & Iron (CW: non-graphic references to gore)
The quiet snort in a heavy bass comes from the table beside Copia--where a behemoth of a ginger is tearing into his latest meal (because this eating nonsense is, in fact, nonsense and he's getting real sick of not being able to get enough food in him) and trying to remember that his bad mood is due to the shortage. Not because everyone suddenly got way more annoying all of a sudden.
He's pissed 'cause he's hungry. It's just...god fucking damnit...part of life.
At least the newcomer is something interesting--and he really does sound like Rick when he hasn't had enough beer to curb the cravings for human flesh.
The Shade regards him with interest, letting curiosity curb his bad mood.
"You ain't from Hell, are you, son?"
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Also that he has to figure out how to make money as soon as possible. What is that about?
His ears perk and gaze drifts to the voice speaking to him. Hello, tall, dark, and handsome. He rests his head on a hand and contemplates the answer to the second part of what the stranger says. "Well. As a matter of fact, technically, yes. Considering we all had to die to get here."
He will be vague otherwise, for now. Sort of weird having someone not that much older than him, by appearance, refer to him as 'son', especially since he has been a priest for decades and got used to variations of 'father'. "Is that a problem?"
It is toned as, if anything, flippantly inquisitive, and not at all defensive.
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"Considering I done time in Hell myself, and my left hand man's a native? Nah." the Shade assures him with a small, lopsided smile. "And for the record, ain't everyone here had to die to get an invite. Word of advice, kid: there's an ocean between 'wicked' and 'evil.' Wicked's for the dark soul--there's light left in it for that sinful sparkle 'n shine of temptation. There's hope in wicked--evil's a void from whence there's no escape. Hell's built on evil, don't aspire to it."
The warning is delivered with the quiet gentleness of genuine concern, even as he shifts to lean over and offer the kid one big, long-fingered hand to shake.
"I go by the Shade to them that know of me, but folks 'round here just call me Joe."
You Are His Son | Wildcard
The goal there is simple: give the milita some wins, spare their lives and the suffering of dying, get them used to the idea that they can fight back. The people from the ferry can take the high-risk areas. That's their job.
Jean always takes the hits.
Later on Jean will be calling Ianto here to go over these plans, as some kind of wildcard on their own open perhaps, but right now they've spotted Copia and pegged him as a new arrival, not like that's hard given his fabulous face paint. So, Copia, my man, there's a five-foot-nothing person with rough-cut black hair and oddly triangular teeth at a table downstairs, dressed in an interesting suit and a blue scarf with a stylized wolf in white lines on it.
And they're waving you down. "Comrade! Comrade, a moment of your time!"
Oh and lest the author or anyone else forget, Jean still hasn't figured out that the coffee they're drinking is spiked with that love potion so they're really in their feelings right now.