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ph_memes2023-06-07 02:56 pm
TDM #1 - The Vengeful Forest
Pumpkin Hollow Gazette
6/7/23 | TDM #1: "The Vengeful Forest"
Content Warnings: body horror mentioned, article 2
A typical view from Jack's Marina
FIRST NEW ARRIVALS IN HALF-DECADE: MORE TO FOLLOW?
By Yorick Aberdeen
TAWNY BEACH - Big news at Jack’s Marina--- for the first time in roughly five years, the Marrow Isle Port Authority has reported a new arrival by ferry. And it’s not just one person.
Since the advent of the Barrier that has plagued our fair island for the past 5 years, no transport vessels have been logged for departure or arrival by the Port Authority. And for good reason! Any boat that attempted to make the journey beyond the blackened waters surrounding the island has met with a terrible fate ranging from property destruction to untimely demise. While said casualties don’t quite carry the sting they used to, the situation has obviously proven less than ideal for those looking to leave and ultimately halted the mass exodus from Pumpkin Hollow indefinitely.
Today, for the first time since the formation of the Barrier, we are seeing brand new faces arrive at the docks. All of them have been somewhat disoriented and some have claimed to be from locations that do not exist in our world. We approached one of these new arrivals, Milo Fields, for comment on his experience.
“A lady in an office told me I was dead and then I woke up on a boat,” Fields, 26, was quoted as stating on the matter. Succinct and fascinating, indeed! It would seem that for once, our island’s propensity for supernatural oddities has brought us something that we can be hopeful about. More on this as it develops.
‘CREEPY LITTLE TREES’ SEEN IN TOWN
By Yorick Aberdeen
Artist rendition of a "Brutok".
NORTHWEST HOLLOW (Prague Mills) - This morning Town Hall received a report from the road by the lumber mill, which leads out to Crane’s Ridge, that there have been more sightings of the “tiny tree people” that have been appearing around Lockwood Forest. Over the past few weeks there have been multiple sightings of short-statured creatures with gnarled limbs, bark complexions, and leaf-shaped masks moving about among the trees. There have also been several reports claiming that they have been in town. These reports are particularly prominent in areas toward the outskirts of the forest such as the aforementioned Prague Mills.
However, movement is not the only activity people claim to have seen. Many of these sightings detail more insidious behaviors such as mean-spirited practical jokes, theft, and attempted kidnapping.
The Pumpkin Hollow Gazette reached out to local historian and town council member Dahlia Leeds for any insight on these creatures from her research.
“These creatures appear to be Brutoks,” Leeds, 23, concluded in her interview with us on Tuesday evening. “They’re angry woodland spirits known to appear in cursed forests, much like our own.”
Ms. Leeds went on to issue a number of safety warnings for residents. According to her research, these Brutoks often move in groups and will lock on to woodland travelers who make eye contact with them. Their eyes are not visible so this can be done by accident quite easily if one spends too much time staring into trees. If Brutoks attach themselves to you, they will follow you home, proceeding to destroy your property, hide your personal items, attempt to cause you bodily harm, tear up your garden, and eventually spirit you away to the woods. Victims of these kidnappings will be “planted” in the woods by the Brutoks and spend the next several hours enduring the deeply unpleasant process of being turned into a tree, ultimately killing the individual. A gruesome affair.
There are several ways to dispel a Brutok invasion before it escalates to kidnapping. Ms. Leeds recommends observing their behavior for clues and keeping an eye out for puzzles set by the creatures while outside, though there may be other solutions. If you are unable to dispel them, it is possible to fight them off with brute force. Those walking in or near the woods are advised to keep their eyes on the trail but listen carefully for sounds of distress and be prepared to intervene. Should you encounter any trees that look like people, Ms. Leeds has also cited the unfortunate need to burn the unsettling foliage in order to release the spirit of the victim so that they can regenerate as usual.
As always, the sharing of information and community vigilance are imperative in warding off this new threat. Please share any information you have on the message boards at town hall or with your neighbors, and consider reaching out to Ms. Leeds or any other respected community figure if you find yourself in a bind. Keep your lanterns lit, Pumpkin Hollow. We’re in for quite the summer.
CUCUMBER FESTIVAL CANCELED DUE TO UNFORTUNATE TURNIP HEX; REPLACED WITH POTLUCK
By Yorick Aberdeen
They haunt my dinner plate and my dreams.
DOWNTOWN (Temple of Sacred Roots) - In lighter news, a solution has been found to the much-loathed Turnip Hex debacle.
As most residents of Pumpkin Hollow are aware, earlier in spring a crop hex was placed on the island by an unidentified witch that turned all ground crops sown at the time into turnips. While this is not as bad as it could be, it has resulted in mounds upon mounds of turnips and a complete lack of other crops until later harvests. The witch who cast this hex is still at large.
An unfortunate side effect of the hex has been that the beloved and highly anticipated Cucumber Festival, which normally takes place in early June, had to be canceled due to a lack of cucumbers. This has earned the ire of a great many residents who have cited the festival as “their last source of a modicum of joy on this goddess-forsaken island”, among other more colorful statements.
Reverend Degas Clayton of the Temple of Sacred Roots of our Four Earthly Mothers has proposed an alternative to the festival. While not nearly as exciting, Clayton, 57, believes that a turnip potluck is still a great community-building exercise and excuse for a social gathering. He encourages attendees to find the most inventive ways they can think of to cook up excess turnips and present their dishes on the temple lawn during the party. “The sooner we eat the blasted things, the sooner we’ll no longer have to look at them anymore,” said Mayor Poe in her endorsement of the event. It would appear she plans to be in attendance.
To participate, please bring an appropriate dish to the Temple of Sacred Roots on Friday at noon. The party will run until sundown and wine will be provided, which may improve the taste of the turnips. New residents are encouraged to attend even if they are not able to provide a dish so that they can meet their local community and learn more about the church.
Lord Erik Osborne | OC | OTA
Arrival - mostly flavor
That white haired woman was quite insistent that he take the hot chocolate and drink it. He did try to tell her it would be wasted on him, as he cannot taste it, but she didn't seem much interested in listening. By the time she explains he's dead, he can feel a derisive laugh rising up. Well, of course he is? He's a vampire. But, no, this seems more serious than that. Tempting as it is to tell her to go to hell and take her tasteless hot chocolate with her, he is intrigued. He grudgingly agrees to play her game for now.
He almost immediately regrets that when he blinks and finds himself on a ferry at sea, of all places. The significance of the fee paid is not lost on him. He's starting to worry that maybe this is more than just a game. The annoying chatter of this man that's been sent to meet him does nothing to improve the impression he's getting. What a relief that, at least, that the Mayor Poe is more willing to be reasonable about things. Or, so he thought until she mentions an outbreak of vampires. He decides, very pointedly, not to mention that he is one unless it becomes necessary.
By the time she releases him to Yorick's care once more, he's feeling an uneasiness he hasn't experienced in decades. He lets that man do most of the talking on their way to the tavern while he mulls this over. Once he's checked in at The Oak & Iron and as settled as it's possible to be, he's left to explore this new town for himself.
The first thing he needs to do is discover if there's a food source he can rely on. He feels horribly under dressed walking about the cobblestone in nothing but a linen shirt and trousers. It and the buildings remind him of a time long gone. It seems as if he's not only been thrown into another world but back in time. Ah, well, he's lived like this before. He supposes he can adjust.
When he spots someone walking up ahead wearing roughly the same kind of garment as him, he decides to take a chance and see if he isn't the only new and confused face in town. "Excuse me," he calls, speeding up to meet them. "Are you familiar with this area?"
Brutok
Without knowing if it is safe to prey on the people in town, Erik decides the smarter short-term solution to his specific dietary needs is to hunt in the woods. Yes, yes, he was warned that there are dangerous beasts out there. But he is also a dangerous beast and he has no fear of the dark.
Perhaps he should have cultivated some.
"What are these cursed creatures?" he hisses as a group of small twig-like beings start to swarm him. "Get away from me you little nuisances!" He kicks the nearest one and sends it spinning off into the underbrush, this seems to only enrage the rest who all lunge for him at once.
"Argh!"
Potluck
"How quaint..." he says with disdain as he traverses around the gathering turning his nose up at every dish he's presented with. He can actually recall the taste of a turnip in the vaguest of senses, but it wasn't his favorite when he was alive and the smell holds no nostalgia for him now, either.
"Is this all there is to do for fun around here?"
Wildcard
Message me if you want a custom scenario or just hit me with it! I can roll with whatever.
Oh hello there >:] it's forest time!
Just kidding, he totally goes into the forest by himself.
At first it almost reminds the Medium of home, not a far drive from his sleepy little town. The sun still pokes out behind leaves, the quiet sounds of birds and other small creatures can be heard as he cautiously makes his way forward. It's not long before these are placed by growing darkness and the sound of...screaming?
Charging forward with reckless abandon Lucas swings around a large tree to find a man covered head to toe in angry little leaf demons! He yells as he gets within arm's reach, starting to chuck the little guys off into the underbrush, "Hey! HEY! Get off of him you little leafy bastards!"
<3
"Not to be ungrateful," he says as he swats another of those creatures away so hard it flings off into the woods, but you might want to stand back. I can handle this."
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"Sure looked like they were swarming you--ow! Hey! You little bastards, get off!" He fails as a pair of the creatures climbs up his back, digging their nasty little claws into his shirt. "How about we take the L and get out of here!?"
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He is not keen to reveal himself to a human so early on here but, well, perhaps he can ingratiate himself and make life a little easier going forward. He can prove he's one of the peaceful kind. He won't be able to keep what he is a secret for very long in a place as small as this.
"Tsk, here..." He flashes forward in the blink of an eye and rips the two twig-like creatures off of Lucas's back, throwing them at a tree so hard they explode in a ball of splinters.
He still has a few clinging to him as well, but they won't last when he starts spinning like a tornado in place. The force hurls the rest of them off into the woods. If they do get up from that they should be so disoriented they'll have a tough time finding their way back for a while.
"You see?" he says, brushing himself off. "I can handle myself. I was only surprised."
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Unnatural speed and strength. If they were back home Lucas would have a guess or two about what this guy is, but here? Who knows.
"Did...you just Tasmanian Devil-style yeet those little buggers into the woods?" Later, Lucas will totally blame shock for such a ridiculous question, but for now it's all that comes to mind.
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He raises a thin brow at Lucas. "I suppose that is one way to describe it, yes. Not the way I would, of course."
He offers a cold hand out for Lucas to pull himself up. "Here. Let's get you back on your feet. There could be more of them."
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Is that a fang? Is this guy a vampire?? That would explain his superhuman speed and strength. Thankfully this isn't the Medium's first rodeo with someone of the undead fang club.
Turning about two shades of tomato, Lucas grumbles but takes the hand up and that confirms it for him. This guy is definitely a vampire. "Yeah, well...Eshe says I'm tasty so I've got that going for me."
He snorts, shaking his head as he lets go of Erik. "You're right, there probably are but that's kind of the point! If I could figure out where they're coming from maybe...maybe we could get rid of them. Or, like, call a truce somehow." Another sigh. It sure would be nice to have more experienced IOPSA officers here to consult, but he's it. For now. "I'd rather not get swamped again and owe you another favor so let's head for treeline?"
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When they realize they've been spotted, they raise a finger to their lips in a shushing motion.
When Erik blinks the tree branch is empty. They're gone.
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brutok
That's why she happens to be close by when someone starts get swarmed by the Brutok.
Blue fire races through the air and sends a few of them flying off the man, where they squeal and shriek and roll in the grass to try put the fire out -- and she supposes she'll give the little gremlins credit, because they're smart enough to look at the magic dancing at her fingertips and assume she'll just keep going. The rest of them run, though Ahri wouldn't be surprised if more were waiting in the trees.
Amusement glitters in golden eyes as she offers a (now fire-free) hand to the man to help him up, her tail swaying idly behind her. ]
Annoying, aren't they? They may be tiny, but they really prove the old adage of strength in numbers. Do not let your guard down just yet, though. Once they have set their sights on someone, they are relentless.
Re: brutok
He regards her and her offered hand with warry suspicion as he pulls himself up to his full height (just an inch under her) again, brushing down the front of his shirt to remove some of the charred splinters the brutoks have left behind.]
Thank you. Yes, they are rather like a thorn in one's side, aren't they? You seem to know their ways; do you know what they are called?
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She doesn't know what he's hunting for, or what he's hungry for, but she knows why he's in this forest. ]
They are called Brutok. And if you've caught their attention, I'm afraid you're in quite a bit of danger. I hear their victims are coming to quite the unpleasant end.
[ Ahri doesn't sound scared or nervous; rather, she mostly just sounds lightly amused. ]
And you, hunter? Have you been successful in catching your prey?
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[He's confident he could have handled this problem on his own, but the help was unexpectedly polite coming from a fellow night creature. What else could she be but that?]
Not yet, no. These are not familiar hunting grounds. I'm still getting my bearings. Those twigs won't do, unfortunately.
What about you? Miss...? [Here, he's prompting for a name.] What brings you out at this hour?
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[ She hesitates, but what she's about to say isn't a secret, really, it's just personal. Still, she's recently been forced to acknowledge that, sometimes, sharing personal things can be okay. It can even develop into things like having friends. How strange. ]
I was given a room at The Oak & Iron, but I couldn't sleep. Sleeping indoors is too unfamiliar to me. So I thought I might see if this forest suited me better. How lucky I am that I encountered a friendly face.
[ She realizes the Brutoks have stopped squealing -- the three that she hit are dead, now, laying limp and burned on the forest floor. Ahri crouches down to get a closer look, curious. ]
I assume these won't sate your appetite. I'm not sure they have much of anything to eat, unless what you're really craving is wood.
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[But he is very much accustomed to luxury so you won't catch him sleeping outdoors if he does choose to sleep.
He's not terribly interested in those creatures so he stays standing and watching while she prods at them.]
No. I, being a vampire, require blood. I am hoping to come upon a deer or some other big game--something I can take from without it being necessary to kill.
[He doesn't require a lot of blood at his age and he hesitates to kill aggressively in this forest lest he disrupt or potentially deplete the population of game.]
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Ahri tilts her head, curious. ]
You survive on animals? I was not aware that was possible for a vampire.
[ If she was able to do the same thing... Ahri ruthlessly swallows down the twinge of guilt and wistfulness that thought produces. She raises herself to stand again, vulpine ears swiveling to catch the noises of any animals nearby. She can hear tiny woodland critters, and the far off steps of bigger prey, likely a deer. ]
Well, I'm already here, and there's strength in numbers against the Brutok. [ Ahri smiles, sly. ] May I accompany you in your hunt? I promise I can be quiet, and what you find is all yours.
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[He does not, as a general rule, force his bite on others. Since the Accords between vampires and humans was signed, and agreement has existed that Humans are not to be hurt or killed.]
You can accompany me if it pleases you. But first, I have told you what I am but you have not revealed your nature to me.
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Brutoks
A long branch connects with the bodies of several Brutoks, sending a swath of them flying onto the dirt road. The wielder, a petite woman with a blonde bob, stands ready to take another swing. "Watch your head!"
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The last of the Brutoks tumbled to the ground, and Zelda raised her hands in front of her, casting forth a small burst of light that caused the little creatures to hiss and run off into the trees. Shaking out her hands as if they were hot, she turned back to the man. "That won't deter them for long. We shouldn't linger. Are you alright?"
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"I'm fine, thank you." If he had any scratches on him they aren't visible now. Fast healing is useful that way, although it's going to mean he needs to eat sooner than later.
"You can go back to the village if you like. I need to finish what I came out here to do."
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"I'm afraid I've got little choice but to hunt if I want to survive, so, wise or not, I'll have to linger a while longer."
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"If we are to become travel companions then I think I should, at the very least, know your name. I am Lord Erik Osborne." He walks briskly beside her, having no trouble keeping up.
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