Event: It Speaks of My Death, but I Am Unafraid

[morrowmods]

it speaks of my death,
but i am unafraid

autumn squashed | devotion | clairvoyance | ooc notes

all hallowed plays

Autumn Squashed As the brisk autumn air bites and the sun reigns for less and less time each day, the farmworkers happily begin to share the fruits of their efforts. The group of gourds is bountiful this season, praise be to the Old Ones, and the offerings from the local cooks has adjusted accordingly. Hearty bowls of squash soup abound, creamy and loaded with heavy calories to facilitate hard labor outdoors. All these strapping novitiate lads can surely set their minds to rest and help out more than they have been

The children of the village also appear to be enjoying the season, grabbing the leftover vegetable shells and carving creatures into their skins. The result of their creativity is that the town has started to glow at night, lit by the ethereal radiance of dozens of candles filtered by the grinning shapes just barely shading them. It all seems to normal, as long as you aren't outdoors too late.

Just past midnight, when the moon has reached its height, the carvings seem to find their own cravings. Something about the moonlight seems to resonate with that of the lanterns and prompts them to sprout from the ground on gangly, misshapen bodies of their own. From then until dawn, they wandeer the town like sentries, hissing warnings in the incomprehensible tongue of the Old Ones. They aren't harmful if left unprovoked, but will retaliate if they encounter violence from those prone to beast-slaying. It is advised to stay indoors to avoid becoming gored by a gourd.

if we die tomorrow

Devotion The day of Devotion sends a thrum of excitement around the town every time it happens. It is an honor to be allowed to show the Old Ones that the community accepts and cherishes the watchful eyes looking over them. It is a time to meet with their own wretchedness and come to terms with the insignificance of their lives. This month is intended to be a celebration of longevity and the centuries-long legacy both behind and ahead. Those who attend the Devotion receive an anonymizing mask to shield their identities from all but the eyes above. They are encouraged to ply themselves on food and drink before the start of the ritual itself.

The speeches are long and droning as ever, detailing the infinitesimal smallness of humanity and the thrumming wait for the end of all things. And once the elders begin to chant in more ancient words, the rhythm of the unpronounceable syllables feels safe somehow. There is protection in the ceremony, an assurance that these chosen few are the ones who will live to watch the end of everything else. Those who truly believe will see it in their minds' eye: a rain of fire consuming the home they remember best. Corpses left unburied while the survivors flee. A sky cracking open to reveal an indigo thunderstorm. Skeptics might only witness confusing flashes, but all will bear witness to some version of The End.

When the visions subside, the affected will feel an urge to behave as if the gathering is the last day of their lives. Throw caution to the wind. Live dangerously. Tell that special person they are loved. Carry out the vengeance that weighs on your spirit. It'll all be over soon. Make the evening count.

the future refused to change

Clairvoyance After the masque ends, participants are free to remove their veils and return to their everyday lives. It's something the townsfolk historically do with ease. They never seem to struggle when coming down from the emotional highs of the devotional acts. But the comedown is never quite as simple as they make it look.

Those who were present at Devotion will experience small aftershocks for days afterward. Without warning, they will see visions of doom about the people around them. It might be a simple precognition, like seeing someone fell into an open pit while there's still enough time to pull them out of harm's way. But other times, the visions are more graphic or disturbing, such as watching that same friend be mauled by a bear or stretched out on the rack until they are rent limb from limb. Each look into the future seems more grotesque and awful than the one before, but at least there's time to change things before the worst of it arrives. Surely there's time.

As they drop off clean laundry and fresh gossip, the washerwomen insist that these visions, varied and sometimes entirely untrue, are the latest gift from the Old ones. It is proof that the town remains blessed.

ooc notes

It's an event! Hopefully there's something to your liking.

Regarding the pumpkin monsters in particular, this seems like a group that likes to randomize battles. If you're in the mood to roll for initiative and see how things pan out, here are some stats for appropriate critters: Pumpkin King, Pumpkin Tendril, and some smaller chompy pumpkins.

With regard to the precognition side of things, there's a lot of room for visions. They can be "something that definitely will happen" regardless of what a character tries to change things, "something that could happen but is prevented by a quick-acting psychic," or "something that will never happen but sends a character into a panic anyway." People seeing a doomsday vision at Devotion are welcome to envision the worst possible bad ending their canon has to offer.

Have fun giving your characters a little spook during the appropriate season!

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Comments

[greatestcool]

Yeah, yeah! Like I said, way with words.

[He's grinning still, though, and that urge to go do something stupid is rising once again, though he's not entirely sure what he can do that won't cause problems...]

Did you step away from the others because you need a moment too?

[preybeforemeals]

I think so. I didn't want to be near the others while I was emotionally worked up... I was afraid I might say or do something that may offend someone, and I also didn't want to frighten those that don't believe as strongly.

[greatestcool]

Yeah, of course. There are more than a few who don't really seem like they're onboard with the Old Ones. Which is fair! I get it! But it's kind of hard to pretend like everything's fine after that.

[Which totally explains the mania, don't worry about it. At least he had the foresight to go outside and do this so he's not freaking out everyone around him...]

[preybeforemeals]

Is that how you would describe it? As though everything isn't fine?

[...You should probably get used to weird proving questions like this if you're going to hang out with him.]

[greatestcool]

[Thanks, Tsukiyama...]

Hmm. It's not like it's a bad kind of "not fine"? It's just... I mean.

[He gestures between the two of them.]

I'm manic as hell, you seem to be kinda manic, and I didn't see anyone else who was quite as worked up in there.

[Though admittedly, he didn't stay to look around for long, so it's entirely possible they aren't the only ones.]

[preybeforemeals]

Well, I suppose they'll have to become accustomed to our reaction to divine revelation eventually, but for now I think we can spare them, hm? To be honest, I'm not certain how one can receive the will of the gods in such a way and not come out of it a little, ah, "not fine."

[He seems a little amused at it, really, his tone breathless with a laugh; it's clear he's finding this whole situation just delightful, really.]

[greatestcool]

Right... After all of that, it'd be kinda weird to not be worked up in some way, I'd think. But then, I'm kinda weird in general, so I'm probably not the best judge of that.

[At least he acknowledges it??]

[preybeforemeals]

Do you think you're weird, Uryuu-san?

Because I find you quite charming, personally.

[greatestcool]

Oh, c'mon, you're gonna make me blush!

[Too late, he's already doing that.]

I'm glad, though! The last thing I wanna do is make you think I'm weird!

[...too weird, he's pretty sure Tsukiyama already knows he's Weird As Hell.]

[preybeforemeals]

Don't let my opinion stop you. I enjoy watching you be yourself at these things. Genuinely yourself, like earlier.

[He laughs a little, the sound dark and understated.]

It's a little unexpected, but it's exciting, n'est-ce pas? Seeing someone with their guard down, if only for a minute, and seeing what they show you in return.

[greatestcool]

[...]

Hah, yeah, I get that! People really can surprise you, can't they?

[Yeah, it's pretty funny. The people you expect to be one way often end up behaving in a completely different manner. He likes that about people. So why wouldn't Tsukiyama?]

[preybeforemeals]

They can. And I tend to like it when they do. It makes pursuing them much more interesting for me, among other things.

[He smiles a bit at that, letting his eyes close briefly.]

I'm a bit in love with everyone, in that way. Everyone has something that makes it worthwhile.

[greatestcool]

It's really charming, honestly. I haven't met anyone who's so fascinating. Most people are so focused on themselves, you know? It's not often people care that much about others.

[And yet here's Tsukiyama, being kind of in love with everyone, apparently. How cute... Ah, if only more people were like him instead of how dreadfully dull they usually are.]

[preybeforemeals]

[Oh, uh...]

Ah... Well, that certainly isn't something I hear often! But I'll take the compliment, for what it's worth.

[God knows he's usually called a multitude of other things.]

[greatestcool]

You're welcome, then!

[Ryuunosuke glances back toward where the others are presumably still gathered, then lifts his shoulders a bit in a shrug.]

I'm probably gonna stay out here a little while longer. What about you?

[preybeforemeals]

I'm not sure for the time being... Would you prefer that I go?

[He actually doesn't sound like he's trying to prompt an answer either way? It's just a question, really.]

[greatestcool]

[Ryuunosuke blinks at that, like he wasn't expecting the question.]

Oh, no, I don't mind at all!

[Mostly he was thinking of yelling again or maybe contemplating murder and either one of those feels weird with someone else around.]

You're good company, so it's not like I'm trying to get rid of you or anything!

[preybeforemeals]

Well, then - I suppose the next question is what we want to do with our time. Isn't that right?

[greatestcool]

Hmm, good question! You could flirt with me some more.

[Oh my god. But he laughs once that's out there, like it's a joke.]

Or maybe we could go exploring, see who else is around?

[preybeforemeals]

Are you asking me to go walking with you, Uryuu-san? How very romantic of you.

[It's likewise teasing; he seems amused.]

I'm entirely fine with that idea, though. If you would prefer that we be alone, there shouldn't be many left in the fields after something like that; perhaps a few of the more solitary ones have gone out there. You don't seem quite about to rejoin the group just yet.

[greatestcool]

[The first part gets a wink from him, but thankfully he'll let it go for now.]

Sounds good to me! And yeah, I just need a bit more time before I rejoin the others. But like I said, you're good company, so!

[He gestures, lead the way, Tsukiyama!]

[preybeforemeals]

[Come on, let's go.]

So tell me, what have you been doing to keep yourself occupied lately? This place certainly does like to keep itself busy.

[greatestcool]

[Off we go!]

Talking with people, mostly. And doing whatever odd work they need done around town. I'm not exactly the best with physical labor, but there's always plenty of work to be done to keep busy!

[He doesn't actually sound like he's bored by it, despite it being odd jobs and rather simple things. This isn't bad so far!]

[preybeforemeals]

I'm glad to hear it. I feel like the sooner the town gets to know us, the better it will be in the end.

[It's like he was saying to Kaori; he doesn't have to be last against the wall, he just doesn't want to be first.]

Have you tried praying to the Old Ones in those rooms, in the houses we're staying in? The ones where all the eyes are particularly concentrated.

[greatestcool]

Huh? No, I haven't... did something happened there when you tried it?