TDM #9 - The Weather Outside is Frightful [FIRST REPRINT]

[pumpkinhollow]

Pumpkin Hollow Gazette: Winter Issue

We ask that all toplevels include the age of the character (or at least a rough estimate) for TDM posts, to ensure that players both old and new can quickly make informed decisions about how to interact with a given character. We also ask that if someone lists a prompt as having an age preference, that it be respected. This is specifically for TDMs unless otherwise stated. Thank you!

[Our Plain Text version is available here!]

Pumpkin Hollow Gazette

12/13/24 | TDM #9 - The Weather Outside is Frightful [First Reprint]

WELCOME TO PUMPKIN HOLLOW

By Yorick Aberdeen

The crop for which the town is named.

Hello and welcome, one and all! As time marches on and the ferry continues bringing newcomers to our fair land, we start our newest edition of the Pumpkin Hollow Gazette with a warm welcome to anyone who has just made landfall in our accursed but cozy little town. It’s winter, which can be a challenging time of year for a secluded place like Pumpkin Hollow, but you’ll also be able to join us for beloved traditions such as Merrymeet! Local experts have also reported to the Pumpkin Hollow Safety Board that we should be in for perfectly normal and utterly harmless auroras this winter, barring any complications. The night sky will most likely not try to kill you this year. What luck!

We invite you, as with all those who came before you, to enjoy your stay at the Oak & Iron tavern inn while you settle in. Please stop by Town Hall to discuss opportunities for work and more permanent housing! All newcomers get 100 Brass in their pocket upon arrival as well, so we encourage you to take advantage of this as well. Reach out to your neighbors for help if you need it, and don’t forget to pick up your copy of the Pumpkin Hollow Gazette whenever you need the local news!

WINTER WEATHER REPORT

By Phil Connors

The Paring River looks gorgeous this time of year.

Wrap up in those winter cloaks, plug those drafts, and stock up on the oil and wood. It's frost season, and it's only getting colder from here. These nights will be the longest nights. Keep your toes warm and your rooftops clean; when we get snow, we're getting inches of it. The end of the season will get a little warmer, but prone to temperature drops and refreezes, and the wind will still be just as chilly. There will be ice all season long, so be careful on the streets, because there won't be any wet floor signs to warn you. Because it's ice.

Snowfall means roads blocked, and roads blocked means roads need clearing! Town Hall is recruiting volunteers to help shovel the walkways in public spaces. Shovels not mandatory for those of you with powers that can clear snow, or perhaps a machine like a snowplow, or perhaps machine snowplow powers. (No heat-melting allowed; we're not making a skating rink here.) Inquire at Town Hall to sign up!

WINTER ACTIVITIES AROUND TOWN

By Timothy Stoker

Speaking of snow, it turns out shoveling and falling face-first into a mound of snow on your way to market aren’t the only things you can do with all this fluffy white stuff falling out of the sky! All throughout town, there’ll be opportunities to take advantage of this weather’s unique charms all winter long.

The Safety Board is happy to report that several of the lakes and ponds around town are now thick enough to ice skate on. Ice skate rentals will be available at the Oak & Iron for 5 Brass a day. You’ll find that the safe places to skate are marked with a notice from the Safety Board, so make sure you check, unless falling through the ice sounds like your idea of fun! One of the safe locations, to the shock of everyone involved, is Lake Sal-Co-Penn, so take this opportunity to enjoy its scenic location while it’s completely free of horrible visions of dead loved ones. Just don’t look too hard at what’s in the water under the ice.

Additionally, check out the Winter Market all season long on Main Street. It’s a great place to check out deals on artisanal crafts and will also feature baking, cooking, and crafting contests of various kinds every weekend from now till the end of February. Grab some hot cider or cocoa at the refreshment booth, and consider taking a friend or date on one of the horse drawn sleigh rides available.

And last but certainly not least, head on out to the farmlands in Northwest Hollow to take part in the Neighborhood Sanctioned Snowball War. No sense letting those big plots of land sit empty all season! If you enjoy frozen architecture, have applicable tactical experience, or just want to throw stuff at other people, the Snowball War is the place for you.

TOWNSFOLK BEWARE - SNOWSTORMS MAY HOLD SINISTER SECRETS

By Yorick Aberdeen

Friend or foe?

Stay alert during inclement weather, neighbors--- and not just because of the fall risk! Locals particularly around the Prague Mill and Bluffs area have been reporting that, during low-visibility snowstorms, insidious-looking figures have been appearing in the snow.

It’s unclear what exactly these mysterious figures might be, lurking in the roiling blizzards throughout town, but they’ve been known to vary in size and in shape. Tread with care when the weather begins to turn, and keep your lanterns lit!

CHOCOLATE CURSE DEEMED UNLAWFUL AND UNSAFE

By Cecil Gershwin Palmer

A most dastardly dessert, indeed.

Town Hall would like to remind all citizens and denizens of Marrow Island that chocolate is not on the list of approved construction materials for buildings zoned for residential, commercial or farming purposes. Whoever is turning local homes and other buildings into chocolate, complete with candy decorations, is asked to put it back, and not coaxingly, like when you try to get a cat to come down from the ceiling fan, but demandingly, like when you’re telling a dog to spit out the clearly-not-food item they have in their mouth. No, stop chewing. Do NOT swallow that! Come here, spit it out!

Local candymaker, Ambrose Macarius, had this to say on the matter: “I worry a bit, you know, that with the abundance of candy made available with this chocolate house hoo-hah, that no one’s going to come visit my shop for the stuff I make by hand. I don’t use magic in the candy, you know?” Meanwhile, local ice cream parlor Gourd En Glace is selling a chocolate-covered strawberry sundae to commemorate the occasion.

Citizens are advised to be particularly careful with heat in chocolate buildings for the time being, until this matter is resolved.

LOCALS ENJOY "TUNNEL OF LOVE" BOAT RIDES IN SPITE OF APPARENT SAFETY CONCERNS

By Timothy Stoker

An artist's rendition of the incredible view!

A mysterious tunnel underneath the bridge, which apparently does not continue to the other side by some magic or other, has appeared on the northmost part of the Paring River near Hatchet Lake. There are a number of small boats moored to trees near the aptly named Knotter's Rock that apparently appear on their own and signage stating their intended purpose--- which is to be rowed into the "Tunnel of Love".

Locals who have experimented with the tunnel (including this reporter and his beautiful wife Sasha) have reported that the tunnel itself seems safe, and is appropriate for both romantic and platonic quality time. Each visitor seems to get a personalized experience featuring beautiful icy views to start and leading into the perfect scenery and occasionally even a dock to stop at for the ideal outing. The main problem is that there is no way back the way you came. The tunnel inexplicably closes its entrance once you're past it. Thus, the only way out is forward. This wouldn't be a problem if the exit were not also weird magic-- because of course it is-- which causes innocent tunnel enjoyers such as myself to be spat out someplace ridiculous and inconvenient. Anyone looking to spend some time in the "Tunnel of Love" should do so with caution, and at their own risk!

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Further Details...

Winter Fun!

The bit about Lake Sal-Co-Penn is mostly a joke and it is genuinely safe to ice skate there. However, if you would like to do something spooky with it, feel free! It is functionally SCP-2316 but frozen. You can have a totally safe visit or a terrible one, your choice!

The costs of hot cocoa/cider and sleigh rides are negligible, don’t worry about taking them out of your Brass. Winter clothing sets cost between 100-300 Brass depending on its complexity, and pricing at the Winter Market will be comparable to the normal pricing we have on items. To avoid an absolute onslaught of price check questions, we’re more than happy to let you use your best judgement on pricing for Winter Market items based on previous pricing. Our Buyer’s Guide and this simplified Pricing Menu are great resources! Existing characters can modify their ledgers without mod approval, and new characters can wait until they app in to worry about it. Givingstide, our winter gift exchange holiday, takes place at the end of December, but the market will be open all through the Winter! There'll just be some adjustments to the vibe as the year progresses.

The Snowball War will be centralized around Cèsar Salazar’s farm, per the player’s request, but the whole farmland area of Northwest Hollow is free game. Have fun!

Shapes in the Snow

We give you the winter gift of creative liberty for this one! Rather than have a set creature or person lurking in the blizzard, you can have whatever you like! It can be an existing monster like the Tristitia, a Brutok, or the River Walker. It can be an eerie doppelganger of someone from your home world. It can be an opening for another player character or an Infernal Servant. It could even be a creature you make up! If you make an excellent monster, we’d love to incorporate it into the game’s canon! But whether you’re looking to have a run-in with the Pine Devil, you’ve devised a new menace to stalk our fair town, or you’re about to attack your neighbor who has innocently come to ask for a cup of sugar, remember that communication is key and feel free to get as weird with it as you like.

Gingerbread Chocolate Curse

The chocolate curse is pretty self-explanatory and is basically exactly what it seems. That one witch who turned all our crops into turnips that time probably did it. Chocolate buildings can appear fully formed or gradually transform over time, or just take up chunks of your home or workplace. They will eventually change back on their own (the timeframe in which this happens is up to you) but if the cookie gets softened by liquids or eaten, the architecture may come back looking a little funny. Good luck!

Tunnel of Love

The Tunnel of Love can be found under the northmost bridge along the Paring River on the side facing Hatchet Lake (see the map for a better idea), and is invisible from the other side of the bridge. It can be accessed using the little boats moored all over the lake, of which there are dozens of any imaginable size and style. Once inside, the entrance will close as promised! However, there will be gorgeous scenic icy views followed by a special cave that contains the magical means to have your perfect date! (Or platonic outing.) This includes setting-inappropriate activities with modern technology. It's magic, and it's self-contained, so have fun!

Nothing can be removed from the tunnel, as anything taken will simply vanish upon exiting, and your boat will be shunted into one of six random locations. Roll a D6 to test your luck, or simply pick your favorite! The options are as follows:
1. A random lake in Paradesium, the underground tropical jungle beneath Crane's Ridge
2. The middle of the godsforsaken ocean (still within the barrier)
3. Right above Ripjaw Falls
4. Skidding across a frozen Lake Sal-Co-Penn and being hurled into a snow bank
5. The hot springs on the Western side of the mountains
6. The fountain in the middle of town

Perfect for a date, a friend, a budding romance, taking the kids out for a day of fun, or some random stranger you just met. Embrace the chaos and have fun!

Comments

QUESTIONS/COMMENTS/CONCERNS

[pumpkinhollow]

Major Margaret Houlihan | MASH | 32ish, Existing Player New Character

[soldierslikeus]

The Finest Kind

Anyone popping in on Hawkeye's clinic during opening hours may be surprised to find a new face working there. A woman of average height with white-blonde hair, currently tied half-up, busying herself with various tasks and familiarising herself with Hawkeye's set-up here. Even in her basic arrival clothes she cuts the figure of someone who keeps herself very well put-together, shirt tucked and everything neat.

If she hears someone come in, she'll say: "If you're looking for Dr. Pierce, he's out at the moment," sometimes without looking up immediately. "I can take a message, or if you're here for medical reasons I may be able to help."

arrival / general

Margaret is only living in the O&I for a short time while she gets things in order, after which she moves out to a house downtown that's not too far from the clinic. Still, she swings by the pub itself regularly, especially in her first few days, to drink. She already misses the more familiar atmosphere of the officer's club, but a drink is a drink and God does she need a drink.

And so in the evenings there is often a new face at the bar, usually drinking brandy, whiskey or scotch as her poisons of choice.

She also spends a fair amount of time walking around town to get a sense of the place, bundled up in the coat she was given upon arrival. It's been a long time since she had to trudge through snow this thick, but she manages. So long as she's stationed in this town, she needs to know the ins and outs of it as well as she's come to know the 4077. People, places, expectations—it only makes sense.

Catch her walking through the streets, checking out the various businesses and occasionally asking for directions.

And then there's the market. She only has her initial sign-on stipend to her name right now but it's rather nice to be able to even window shop, so to speak, and get some seasonal food and drink that actually tastes good. (Going back to the 4077's mess after all this is going to be like the post-R&R shock on steroids...)

Tunnel of Love

Margaret is not out here with the intention of getting on the mysterious ride. Rather, she's confirming that the ridiculous sounding report is, like every other ridiculous thing in this town, actually the truth. It is, of course, or at least it is as far as she can see from the bank of the river. Confirming that the boat doesn't just come out the other side would mean going through, which, again, she has no actual intention of doing so.

But she is wandering along the bank, looking at the entrance and what-should-be the exit, looking dubious of the whole thing. Maybe you can join her for a chat and to watch someone else go through, or maybe you can convince her to get in.

Wildcard

Hit me, or bother me in the discord about anything specific you wanna run by me.

finest kind

[lovethyneighb_or]

Mulcahy doesn’t get out much these days. But he does live immediately next to Hawkeye and his clinic, is the house with the rose bush out front and the cause of all the little doves on his roof, and one day, he steps outside in his heavy black robes and pale, old complexion, and spots someone else who is not Hawkeye stepping out of Hawkeye’s who sends a stab of both relief and panic through his chest.

He freezes, staring agape.

“… Major?”

the finest kind

[incomingchoppers]

"Hey Hawk, I was over at Sally's and grabbed your ordAAAAAAH!!"

That's what Radar gets for bustling into the clinic without listening first. At least he doesn't drop Hawkeye's order when he jumps about a foot and scrambles backward against the door.

"Major Houlihan?!"

tunnel of love

[medekh]

Artemy is, admittedly, doing mostly the same thing as Margret herself is. Investigating. His role here in Pumpkin Hollow is primarily as a surgeon but as a video game protagonist he has to look over any weird occurrences.

Though he is more inclined to believe in the mystical and magical. Perhaps he should try it out? But going in as a single unit perhaps would not have the intended desire...

"Miss?" He calls out to her, "It seems to me as if you are looking at this contraption more than lining up to participate. Would I be understanding your intentions correctly?"

Tunnel of Love [Olivia, ~300]

[aphroditish]

"Still getting used to weird magic?"

The other woman loitering around the area, investigating the tunnel, is also apparently new. She has a strange coat made of soft leather with fur around the neck. It appears to be made of strips of leather rather than solid pieces, with the hem at the bottom left jagged and strange. Handmade, perhaps.

"It's pretty par for the course where I come from, but I know a lot of folks here have never seen this sort of thing before. Seems like a pocket dimension."

Arrival - Oak & Iron

[actuallyawolf]

Ylva is also often seen at the bar, especially on a day where she's come in to town to unload food and supplies, such as today. She's definitely earned a drink with the hauling she's done.

She squeezes up to the bar and orders a beer; she fumbles with her coins to pay for it in the way of a child, who isn't entirely sure they're going to use the right coins and is making extra sure. When she receives her drink, she takes a long swig, and then turns to Margaret beside her with a broad grin.

"You're new, aren't you?"

the market

[griefs]

As days pass since his arrival, James feels as if he's wasting time more than anything. That's why he's at the market -- wasting time. There's nothing that he wants or needs, so he's just here to walk circles as he mulls over how to expedite getting out of here and back where he's meant to be.

He's so lost in thought that he almost passes by Margaret without incident, but her blonde hair catches his eye and sends his heart leaping to his throat. He knows her.

"Hey! Wait!" he shouts, spinning around with one hand out as if to grab her. That's when he realizes -- apart from the blonde hair, everything else is wrong. She isn't who he thought she was, and it's so obvious now that he feels stupid.

His hand drops to his side and he averts his eyes, sheepish. "Sorry. I thought you someone else. I don't-- " He trails off with a slight shake of his head, as if to clear it. "I haven't seen you around before. Are you new?"

Tunnel of Love

[imjustaman]

Sephiroth is also trying to figure out how to confirm such weirdness without actually getting in the boat and is coming along the bank from the other side. "Hello," he greets. "Are you also wondering if the story in the paper is true?" He asks because she certainly looks like she's studying the place out, same as he is.

Vir | OC | 20s

[runfromlight]

Arrival

Vir's used to the cold. You'd think with how thin they are they would be shivering but they take to the freezing air with practice. They grew up in the north, everyday was like this growing up, and luckily death wasn't so unkind as to not drop them off from the ferry without a coat.

Their pale white skin practically matches the snow and if it wasn't for their habit of dressing in all black they might be impossible to see. They stand at a not so impressive 5'3 with their hair tied back in a tight braid walking towards wherever they're going with purpose.

But you'll find that, if you're watching long enough, or just minding your own business, they're walking around in circles for hours. Still with purpose, acting as if they're on their way to go somewhere, but seemingly all this time having accomplished absolutely nothing. They can be found virtually anywhere in town at this time.

One of Vir's many flaws? Ryoga Hibiki levels of getting lost.


Clothing Store

One of the finer things in life that Vir had gotten used to, and had taken with them upon running away, was all of their clothing. And they already missed it. They truly did.

So they really didn't mind living in the Oak & Iron if it meant being able to spend most of their stipend on clothing, building back up their wardrobe that was now lost to them upon their death. Most of the clothing was familiar enough from what they would find at home, they spent forever inside the store once they found it but left with very little. A pair of black gloves and a black winter scarf for winter is all they bought, in fact, embroidered with matching floral patterns. For Vir, it's always been the quality over the quantity, hopefully they'll be able to find employment here soon.


Winter Market

Vir manages to wander into the Winter Market, wearing new scarf and mittens both. While they're pretty much almost tapped out of money at this point they do at least take the time to look around at all the sights. Lots of random winter themed and assorted goods along with some new years day themed items are still on sale, which both amuse and interest Vir.

They've never quite seen a collection of useless knickknacks gathered in one place ever before and it's strange. Who knew death would be quite like this?

(hi its yarrow again, vir has some unsavory things in their backstory and is a changeling and i have an opt out over here for them!)

Clothing Store

[lightconductor]

The shirts he ordered are ready to be picked up. Watson steps into the shop, and goes to speak to the clerk, and as he waits for his purchase to be fetched, he looks around a little to see if there's perhaps some nice handkerchiefs or gloves. Does he need new gloves, or will his current ones suit? That sort of thing.

It really is true, however, that everyone in a small town knows each other, or at least a new face does stand out in a way it never would in London. And Watson is, by nature, something of a hopeless busybody (no matter how he might try to be otherwise).

So, package of shirts under his arm, he comes over to introduce himself.

"I beg your pardon. You've just arrived, haven't you?"

Arrival

[graveling]

Vir meanders into the temple in their lostness, and finds it mostly unoccupied. Completely unoccupied by anyone living, in fact, but the priest is here, leaving an offering on Mortanne's altar: a bracelet and ring woven of horsehair. The central sanctuary is lit by candles and lanterns tonight, instead of electrical lights, and from a distance it might be hard to tell the priest is a corpse.

Tom Howell | The Magnus Archives RPG OC | 28

[ohioisforweirdos]

it's cold out there

This is not the first time Tom has been to a different dimension, surprisingly, but if the last one had been metaphorically right next door, this is in another country entirely. And there's no crack in the world to go through to get back home, either. At least it seems fairly peaceful here-- downright cozy, even. His plan is to head to the library and see if he might find some work there.

All it took was passing by an elderly woman struggling to clear her front sidewalk, and there goes the rest of Tom's afternoon. He doesn't have any special snow-clearing powers, just an unrelenting drive to be helpful and a surprising amount of strength and stamina for his small form. Esther is all too quick to recruit him to shovel the walks of some of her friends as well, though she does at least ply him with plenty of hot chocolate. Apparently her old shed had been magically turned into chocolate and she "wanted the darn ugly thing gone anyway". In fact, once he'd finished shoveling nearly half the street by himself, she pressed what has to be at least five pounds worth of wooden board-shaped chocolate into his hands as a thank you.

Bewildered as to the new strange turn his life has taken in the past day, Tom carries his prize back to the Oak & Iron, idly wondering if there will be any ill effects from ingesting magically altered wood and nails. At least it tastes good.

Any odd looks for the armful of chocolate planks will be met with an awkward smile and an equally awkward-sounding, "Uh, do you want some?"

try to be brave

As far as Tom is aware, none of his partners are here-- which is good, of course, because that means they didn't die (again)! But it is getting close to Valentine's Day and the thought of not getting to be there for it with-- any of them is definitely a let-down, never mind that he doesn't even know when he'll get to see any of them, or any of his friends again.

So stumbling on the tunnel of love feels a little like the universe is kicking him while he's down.

Footsteps knock him out of his sulk, though, and he shifts to move out of the way of whoever's arriving, assuming it's a couple looking for a fun date. "Sorry, go on ahead."

i know i'm a wolf

A week in, and Tom can already feel that new kind of hunger creeping in-- he needs to hunt. And the local wildlife just isn't going to cut it. Luckily, a certain newspaper article gives him a good idea where to go looking. The next time a flurry comes through, he heads directly to the Bluffs.

He doesn't have his knife or baton here, but truthfully, he doesn't really need them for most things anymore-- the sharp teeth and claws don't normally show, but they're there when he needs them. He's learned his lesson, though-- he won't pull them out until he's certain he's gotten the right quarry.

Any monsters prowling out in the snow tonight might just find themselves the ones being hunted instead.

[ooc: tom is a tabletop rpg character under the magnus archives system, so he is familiar with much of the world of tma/tmp while not being strictly from it. for those in the know, he is a full-fledged Hunt avatar. the general vibe is "wolf in sheep's clothing". he's v friendly! but a guy's gotta eat somehow. the third prompt is tentatively open to some character on character violence due to misunderstanding but tom really is gunning for other monsters trying to hurt regular people here.]

Come and Get Your (Tunnel of) Love

[aphroditish]

Olivia's about to make some flirty, chiding remark in an attempt to get a potential victim or cute fling onto the boat with her when she realizes she recognizes the voice. She can't see his downturned face, but the voice, the hair, the Hunt energy, it all falls into place the moment he speaks.

"And go without you? I wouldn't dream of it." Okay, she still uses her line. But there's a different tone to it.

I Know I'm A Wolf

[apocryphalarchivist]

Had Jon not expected to be alone, he would have been fully aware that this... is not a good look.

Having stayed out too late lending a hand on the Mipha's Grace, the storm caught him just out of the edges of the town. The roads are practically buried halfway through Northwest Hollow, much less when he hits the Bluffs; at least he has the small benefits of supernatural advantage, an easy means to see his way home.

Unfortunately, with the green eyes and glow the additional eyes cast on the dense snowfall, he hasn't exactly left himself looking very human.

It doesn't take him long to feel the terror of pursuit crawling up his shoulders, and a single glance behind him reveals what surely must be the source. Yellow eyes cut just as brightly through the snow of his own. A Hunter, to be sure--- but that's not Daisy. He has no idea who this is.

He could stop, demand to know who this is, but what good would that do? He's so close to home, just a mere couple minutes away. A Hunter could break into his house, sure, and the thought is terrifying--- something whoever this person is is likely to be able to draw some satisfaction from--- but it's the best shot he's got. There's no way he could face a Hunter on his own, in weather like this.

Against all better judgement, he picks up his pace, ducks his head, and hurries along.

If you're a wolf, and I'm a wolf, then who's flying the plane?

[impostor_syndrome]

The Bluffs have remained sparsely populated even as the centre of town and the northwestern end of the island fill out with offworlders, and tonight snow blows thickly in the air and settles heavily on the ground. You could do almost anything out here tonight, confident that you wouldn't be witnessed.

A short distance off the road, moving shapes in the gloom and the crunch of footsteps on snow begin to register. As does the sensation of someone else's fear. Two someones. Both of them reek of Stranger. As Tom creeps closer and the dimly lit shapes resolve into two humanoid figures of similar height in environmental suits and workboots, it becomes apparent that while the only visible weapon on either of them is a shovel, the one carrying it has the wrong number of limbs. Two arms and two legs, certainly, but just as many writhing, spiky protrusions. The other has a pale face and a mouth fixed in a wide-open grin.

The smiling one rushes at the one with the tentacles, arms outstretched and grasping at neck height. Before they can close the distance one of those tentacles batters their arms away with enough force to knock them sideways and another shoots from the gaping maw in their opponent's midsection and pierces through their leg. Who's hunting who here?

Angel | OC | Existing Character | Age is a fuck due to being an animated corpse; adult

[graveling]

1. I like beer, and I like cheese [Oak and Iron]
Angel has received several jars of pickles--including pickled peppers--for Givingstide, and has decided to share the bounty rather than staying home and eating pickles out of the jar while sitting on the kitchen floor like a gremlin.

(Don't lie, you've done this at some point yourself, haven't you?)

Anyway, claiming a table early in the evening and buying accompaniment to make a nice spread--a rotisserie chicken, a loaf of hearty brown bread and some seedy berry jam, some sharp cheese...clearly it's too much for one person to eat alone. And how nice, the chair across from Angel is pushed out a little. Come grab a bite?


2. I like the smell of a westerly breeze [The Temple]
Between the major holidays of December and Merrymeet coming in the spring, Angel's taking some time to do a little inventory work, as well as tending to the interfaith shrines; leaving a little tea at Sheogorath's altar, making sure everything Mulcahy used for the Christmas masses is put away neatly. If you happen to meander into the temple, you'll find the priest there, wrapped in its brown robes and green stole, puttering away at all kinds of things.

Come ask about the goddesses, or ask it to officiate a wedding, or ask if there's some resources for your own religious needs. The priest doesn't bite.


3. But what I like more than all of these [The Snowdrift Problem]
Scccccccccrp. Sccccccccccrp.

It's four in the morning. Last night it was flurrying when you got to bed, but overnight, it became a true, deep snow, and outside your window, you hear the sound of someone who's gotten up early to shovel the walks in downtown Hollow. Angel's been out since about two. It doesn't need to worry about hypothermia or frostbite or anything, after all. The cold doesn't bother it, after all.

If you're thoughtful and kind, you can come join it; it knows where more shovels are stored. Or perhaps you want to check in on it, offer tea or cocoa or coffee. Or bitch it out for being out so early, when others are trying to sleep. Regardless, someone's got the snow off your front walk already.


4. Is to be on horseback [Wildcard]
[Don't ask, just throw. Hell, come meet Angel's horse, the famous monster hunter Arcadia.]

Oak and Iron

[medekh]

Artemy happened to be stopping by to accomplish some other errand.

He sees Angel there. Eating a variety of foodstuffs.

At first he simply is content to nod and walk past him. But then. Then-

"... Is that Jam?"

Said like a person who jam is a rare delectable for. Because it is. He can probably count the amount of times he's had Jam on one hand.

dinner.

[decrypter]

She's still at the Oak and Iron, though it's been a while. Moving out has to be a springtime thing, given the amount of work that it'll take to set up wherever she decides to settle, so it's better to pass the winter in a place that stays heated, where she doesn't have to worry about things failing on her or it getting cold enough to make her go to melancholy.

It's time to think about food, and passing by a table, the scent of their meal reaches her. Enticing enough to lead her to turn her head in that direction, deciding it doesn't hurt to ask:

"Is the chicken very good tonight?"

That'll decide it then and there, if it is.

snowdrifts

[griefs]

James isn't so much being thoughtful and kind as he is just battling insomnia and walking outside in the freezing cold in the wee hours of the morning, as one does. If anyone were to ask he wouldn't even be able to give a good answer as to why he's out here. It's just... well, he doesn't have anything better to do and needs to occupy his mind. A walk helps. Even in the cold, even in the snow.

It's the scraping of the shovel that gets his attention first, ringing out through the quiet snowfall. Don't go closer, he tells himself, even as he's already walking towards the source of the sound. He doesn't have a weapon. He's at a disadvantage due to the snow. If that pyramid thing had followed him here, somehow, he's dead.

As he grows closer to the sound, there's movement in the dark. Not the pyramid thing, but something else. One of the other monsters, maybe, or some creature native to this place. Maybe he can ambush it, maybe he can run, maybe he can — no. Wait.

It's just a guy. That's all.

James takes a deep breath to steady himself.

"Should you really be out here?"

Temple

[heatherbythesea]

"Hello?" Heather peeks into the temple cautiously, looking like at the first sign of trouble or unwelcome she's going to bolt. "I, uh, had a question."

Snowdrifts

[ourheartsarecompatible]

Simon doesn't truly sleep. He never has. It isn't in his programming. Going into stasis as a form of energy conservation, yes, but he's still aware of his surroundings. He can hear the early morning bustle of those insomniacs and shopkeepers preparing for the day ahead, and the scrape of a shovel against the pavement cutting through the pre-dawn silence.

He leaves his room in his plain winter clothes, boots to keep traction, and a pair of gloves to keep a grip. He approaches the one making all the noise, waiting for a break in the shoveling to raise a hand for attention.

"Good morning."

Drelasa Veloth | Morrowind OC | 270

[misbegottendreamer]

Winter Market

"Now boys, don't eat too quickly, you'll get upset stomachs. Voryn, dear, don't dry your eyes when your paws are covered in juice. Let me... here... there we go. I'll hold your apple for a moment, until you're done. Feel better? Good, now here you... Neht, did you char your apple? Sigh. So long as you'll still eat it."

The two small Pokémon are proving quite a handful at the winter market, but Drelasa isn't regretting for a moment that she treated the both of them to hot cinnamon apples. It's been tricky to work out outings that both the boys enjoy, after all. Voryn, the Cubone, is a bit distrustful of everything and everyone, and the Fuecoco, Neht, seems to be fond of getting into trouble. And when the wind whips up and they both get cold, they snuggle in the billowing folds of her skirt until the chill passes.


Closed to Cecil, Gerry, Max, César, John, and Jon

It's been a tricky adventure, figuring out how to substitute for the spices of her home, but after much trial and error, she's managed to make something close enough to her homeland's traditional spice cookies- using kitchen implements she forged herself, no less!

She uses the overabundance of sweets as an excuse to take a long walk around the island, stopping in to check on her many friends. She's set aside two bundles of cookies for Gerry. Gerry seems like the sort of person who could benefit from having twice as many cookies.


Closed to Siebren

Snow-dusted and clutching a basket loaded with fresh flapjacks and fruit compote, Drelasa doesn't waste a moment in launching into a joke as soon as Siebren opens the door. She's been workshopping this one for days.

"Kena, I heard that someone say they think they saw a photon in a field, and when that photon got excited, they waved. But they admit that might have just been a theory."


Closed to Anzu

"P-p-pardon me," stammers the woman through chattering teeth, as she shuts the door of the clinic behind her. "Doctor Watson said I ought speak with you while he is away on business. The name is Drelasa Veloth."


Wildcard

WHEW I finally had brain to get to this ahhhhhhhhhhh

[pineapplesalmon]

César is, not so surprisingly, at Magne's home. He's there often enough that he's alluded towards moving next door to her. But only when there's enough of the snow melting that it won't chance ruining things. While he doesn't mind the back and forth now, he wants to spend more and more time with her, and Rex deserves a more permanent sleeping arrangement.

He's said as much to Drelasa in passing, and he's inspecting his future house's fence as Drelasa comes into his view. "Drelasa! Hallo!"

Heather Harne (OC) 🌊 Age 27

[heatherbythesea]

(A) Winter Fun: Ice Skating
Find Heather out one day, skating on the ice that's frozen over Lake Sal-Co-Penn. She doesn't have much brass to her name, so it's a one-day treat for her to go out and get some exercise over the lake and admire the scenery. Perhaps you've come across her on this day?

(B) Let's Get Jacked [Heather's alcohol business]
Despite Heather's plans to make and sell alcohol to the residents of the island, there is no way to rush the acquisition of her stock. Fermentation times are what they are, after all. She's living in her little house by the trolley stop, but spends a lot of time doing odd jobs around town.

But the winter weather brings the possibility of jacking... putting the alcohol outside to freeze, and then removing the ice crystals that form. It reduces the water content and thus increases the percentage of alcohol by volume. She has applejack and perry to work on in this fashion.

[1] You may come across her hauling barrels around (easily, despite the fact that it's just her) between the outdoor places she's stashed them in, and the small wooden shack she raised to keep her scavenged supplies in.

[2] You may see her with opened barrels, fishing out ice with a set of long metal tongs.

[3] Or, you may be lucky enough to be approached by Heather holding a small bottle and offering a taste test.

(C) Shapes in the Snow: Smoke Wolves
[ OOC: Smoke wolves are a cryptid of Appalachia. ]

Wolves are large creatures, larger than some who only have experience with domesticated dogs might expect. The tracks that start appearing in the snow are even larger than that of a standard wolf... and unfortunately, these creatures are the sort that kill for fun.

Red eyes will be watching any hunters or unwary townsfolk who walk into the woods. The glow of those malevolent red eyes is the most noticable thing about them, and one of the few signs a person might get with enough warning to make it to safety.

Anyone who fights against these smoke wolves will soon find out why they have that name -- they can turn as insubstantial as smoke, in order to avoid a blow or slip free from a trap.

The first appearances of the smoke wolves were all in West Virginia, and Heather's Papaw Mike once did some work out there as a young man. Heather knows some of the tales told about them, and she'll share if the problem is brought to her attention.

Simon (PL600) | Detroit: Become Human | Adult (Existing player)

[ourheartsarecompatible]

Arrival
One moment, Simon is in stasis, badly damaged and waiting to be processed as evidence, trapped in mental limbo after his pump had been deactivated by the uncaring hand of the deviant hunter. The next, he's in a lovely, cozy sitting room, standing awkwardly and listening to a woman with white hair she doesn't remind him of Kathleen, no, he can't allow that explain that his presence in a village full of other people with a mind to help may be the only thing keeping their island from staying in its cycle of deathlessness.

So he does what he always does: he agrees. He helps. It's what he was designed to do, and what he still wants to do, in spite of everything.

He asks if there are others like him here, but she tells him that he's the only one of his kind, at least for now. He doesn't know if this is a comforting notion or not. He hast to believe that his people are in good hands with Markus. That his sacrifice for their cause wasn't in vain.

In his plain winter clothes that he hadn't had the heart to turn down when they were offered, Simon steps onto the frigid beach after a quiet ride with the local ferryman. He attempts to scan the area, and only comes up with the most basic information. Strange... The circular LED at his temple blinks yellow, then stays steady, glowing against his pale skin. He might as well start into town, looking a bit lost and sad, heading for the Inn that all new arrivals are directed toward.

Let It Snow, Let It Snow...
Simon has posted a bulletin up on the local board:

OFFERING ROOF/ROAD/WALKWAY CLEARING ASSISTANCE
Find Simon Reed at the Oak & Iron

He is, of course, going to be going along with the volunteers from the Town Hall, and will quietly wait for directions to the bulk of where everyone will be going. It is noteable, almost certainly, that his winter wear is still the most basic that can be offered, with the only exception being boots better suited for maintaining traction on slick patches of ground.

He nods to the person he's been paired with for going to clear one of the side roads. He still hasn't said much of anything in favor of simply listening and recording what he can of the pertinent information: names, locations, applicable advice. This should be easy enough. He's been through several Detroit winters by now. He's got this.

Wildcards
Perhaps he has just stopped you from eating something that's been transformed by the chocolate house curse. Perhaps you've just hit him with a snowball as he works on clearing a road near the farmlands. Perhaps your boat from the Tunnel of Love just skidded right by, or possibly right into him as he gets acquainted with the area. Whatever it may be, there is a sad-looking blond man looking decidedly ruffled, with a blinky yellow light attached to the side of his forehead, trying his best to gently check if you're okay and then warn you to watch where you're going, throwing, or eating.

Wildcard : Taste Test

[heatherbythesea]

"I wasn't going to chew it," Heather says coolly. She sticks out her tongue for a moment, and it was apparently illustrative, because she continues, "Archaeologists lick rocks to test if they're rocks or bone. A lick doesn't do that much harm."