Event: Anchored by a holy purpose

[morrowmods]

anchored by a holy purpose

piece of peace | devotion | a sanguine memory | ooc notes

a momentary abatement

Piece of Peace Thanks to the flame elementals, the previous several weeks have known respite from the bitter cold. The risk of frostbite still regularly falls and restores the blanket of white over the village, but it's more possible to find respite indoors. And as the wildness burns out of the flame creatures, they find themselves slowly returning to their original forms. When they've fully regained themselves, those who were afflicted will find a flame orb among their belongings. The palm-sized object is warm to the touch, and will remain so until the orb is purged of its magical discharge. Perhaps it will prove useful at a later time.

Managing the snowfall is keeping most of the townsfolk occupied. The horse-drawn plows require skilled laborers and animal handlers, and there is an overwhelming need for strong-armed folks to shovel walkways and make certain that pathways remain accessible. Even the more domestic folks are breathlessly laboring. The seamstresses seem busier than usual, and will ramble for hours about how "it's nearly time" for something upcoming that requires what looks like entire miles of fabric. But even that seems almost blissfully mundane in light of recent months. Praise be to the Old Ones for providing a peaceful respite.

rend for the old ones

Devotion CW: human sacrifice The church officials have been careful to make sure everyone knows and appreciates all that the Old Ones have done recently. They have proven so responsive lately. It is uncommon for so many prayers to be answered. Reverence is the theme of this banquet. The meats are succulent and rich, with some available for sampling while others are sacrificed fresh for the glory of their divine protectors. Those who consume the blessed and sacrosanct meats will find even their strongest skepticisms dissolving within the span of a few minutes. The will of the Gods suddenly feels absolute, their power undeniable. And the acts of sacrifice seem normal and natural. In this moment of absolute, unquestioning belief, some attendees might feel inspired to volunteer themselves for an impromptu Ascension, caring naught for the personal cost that's said to come alongside the trip to meet with the Old Ones. Others might find that their new acceptance leads them to reconsider their relationship with their more skeptical companions. With all the bloody altars on display tonight, it might be tempting to grab hold of a knife and contribute. Blood that runs in favor of the Old Ones is a blessing. Even screaming sounds like its own kind of prayer, tonight.

bloodletting cannot change one's spirit

A Sanguine Memory The period after a Devotion is normally a bit odd, and this one is no different. After the evening of excess and worship, some regular faces in town seem to have gone missing. Gone is the matron at the bakery who would always toss an extra roll in the parcel of anyone who told her how young she looked. The stocky pub regular with the missing eye hasn't come back to reclaim his favorite stool. One of the farmers' sons is gone, just a few weeks after braving the ice and cold to celebrate his coming of age. And while the travelers from other worlds seem to pop back up after a short time with more passion than ever, those who were born here aren't favored as highly by the Gods. But this too is normal, they'll say. One must always be prepared to be brought into the infinite darkness. It is the way of things. The Gods will provide, but they will also take. There's no sense weeping for what cannot be changed.

Those who succumbed to the sacrifices at the Devotion will begin returning to town within a few days' time, refreshed and rechristened by their sojourn to receive new life. But somehow, things are different than they usually are when someone's unfortunate demise is undone. Usually someone returning from death seems like themselves, if a little more powerful and a little lighter of memory. But these returnees departed the mortal plane as an offering, not as an accident. While their physical forms are entirely whole, they return without a shred of memory of their lives prior to the sacrifice. They'll recall the pain from the rituals, the feeling of dropping into the endless void... And then a sensation that defies language. It was safe. It was home. And it's gone now, replaced with the plane of mortality. Truly, they are the children of the Old Ones now. There's no reason to doubt what they've been told, surely, unless they're swayed by the unfamiliar faces patiently reminding them of whatever lives they had before. Some hidden things only cause pain upon their return. Perhaps it's best to wait a few weeks until the memories return on their own.

ooc notes

January! A few days off of February!! Time is wild and nonsensical.

A lot of people mentioned that they were still playing catchup and considering tagging toplevels from last month, so here's a peaceful little event to ease things along. With just a little bit of murder on the side, if you're into that sort of thing.

It's probably worth mentioning that deaths during this event do count, and ascensions made here will be permanent. The full memory loss is purely for the event, though, aside from whatever they'll lose during their respective rank changes. If you're taking the step into your character's next life, don't forget to stop by the death page to log it for our records.

Next up is TDM and app season again! With time being this imaginary, it'll be here tomorrow, probably.

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