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

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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Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

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.]

[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!

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

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?

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.

[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!]

[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.

[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!]

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.

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

I've only tried once, in the middle of the night. And perhaps it might just be me [it's most definitely just him] but the connection to the Old Ones feels strong in there. I would suggest trying it if you're ever curious.

Oh, interesting! I'll definitely keep it in mind!

[In other words, he's definitely going to do it.]

I'm sure they would quite like to hear from you.

[Although with that said...hm.]

Perhaps tonight we can prepare something for them, in thanks for the vision they've given us.

Yeah? You've got something in mind?

[Sure, he's game to go along with it.]

That depends on how much we're willing to offer, doesn't it?

[They'd have to be careful to not get caught, of course, but...]

Mhmm, that makes sense.

[...He has to try very hard not to laugh at his first thought, but he's pretending to be at least kind of normal! Tsukiyama definitely knows something's up, but he doesn't need to know the extent of it!!]

Do you have any ideas?

I know how to get simple access to the livestock. I've been helping the farm boys since we got here.

[Of course, it goes without saying that this also gives him access to the farm boys.]

[That also gives access to the farm boys.

...But that's probably not what Tsukiyama meant. Right?]

All that physical labor seems way too tough for me... But lead the way! I'm looking forward to seeing what you have in mind!

[...It sure would help if he was better at pretending to be normal because he has no idea where Tsukiyama is going with this. Are we sacrificing one of the livestock?? No, normal people wouldn't think to suggest that, probably.]

Mhmm.

[Whether that's in response to leading the way or the physical labor being too hard is difficult to say, although... He's learned not to comment immediately on such things, but that was practically inviting it...]

You should work on that while you're here, you know. This seems like the sort of place that values hard work... Building up strength will surely be useful in the times to come, won't it?

[That was the gentlest way he could have put that.]

[listen...... he knows he's a useless noodle......]

Well... Yeah. I'm sure it will be. I don't really have an argument against it.

[He just Doesn't Wanna because it's going to be a lot of work to get his noodle arms into doing anything useful.]

I didn't think you would. I admit that part of this is me being selfish - I think you're very cute, but I like powerful men.

[...Is he really going to be swayed by that... No, of course not. But also: Tsukiyama's hot and Ryuunosuke refuses to stop flirting with him, so—]

Well, I guess it won't hurt to put a little more effort in. If you're really asking me to!

[Wink! He knows he's cute, but ty for the compliment! ☆]

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

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