singillppl | November 2023 Event Plotting

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event plotting

November 2023 Event Plotting

NOVEMBER 2023 EVENT

PROMPT ONE — WHITEOUT: Methuselah makes an unexpected early return to Milton to warn Interlopers of an impending monster storm, and boy does it surely come.
WHITEOUT — CONTENT WARNINGS: extreme weather; storms; blizzards; themes of survival; possible character cold-related injuries; possible themes of peril.

PROMPT TWO — A CHOICE: Following the storm, sightings of a mysterious stag prompts a hunt down in the Basin and out in the Outskirts.
A CHOICE — CONTENT WARNINGS: survival themes; themes of hunting; possible animal death.

PROMPT THREE — REST MY WEARY BONES: While the storm causes a great deal of mess, it also uncovers some far more pleasant surprises. Hot springs.
REST MY WEARY BONES — CONTENT WARNINGS: LITERALLY NOTHIN', Y'ALL

WHITEOUT

In the times that he is no longer occupying the Community Hall in the center of town to help tend to the newcomers, Methuselah is out in the wilds. Despite his growing age, he is a hardened survivor, and has been more than accustomed to life living as a nomad, out in the thickest, deepest parts of nature. Sometimes he can be encountered, sheltered in a cave or out in the woods, huddled by a warm campfire, or busying himself with his latest game catch. He seems to be always on the move, never staying for too long, and never coming into town — unless it’s to begin preparations for the latest batch of new arrivals.

To see him returning to Milton outside of these times is a curious sight, and the grim expression he carries is enough to make anyone wary. Even his voice is grave. The warmth and kindness usually found in his expression is gone, replaced with a deathly seriousness. He doesn’t speak in jest.

"I am long used to this world and its weather, even with the changing times to more bitter nights." he will say. "I have seen the years rise and fall, too many to count. Please, I beg that you hear me with this— a storm is coming. Greater than some of you may have ever known. It is in the air, and we must prepare to see it through. We do not have much time. Three days, perhaps. But no more."

He will tell anyone and everyone; encouraging the word to be spread around. He will instruct on what needs to be done, what needs to be gathered. The storm will be long and hard, and will last for some time. With that, Methuselah will begin to prepare the Community Hall as a place of refuge with a stock of food, fuel and water to get through the storm. Interlopers will be free to join Methuselah and bunker down together, or can choose to bunker down on their own in their own homes, or with others.

You have only three days.

And sure enough, the storm comes. Maybe you can notice the signs too: the sudden updraft, the slow gathering of clouds, the drop in temperature, the changes of pressure in the air.

Halfway through the third day, the storm rolls in: a ferocious snow-storm unlike anything you’ve seen before. Even with the fading amount of daylight as mid-winter approaches, the sky turns as dark as night as will stay like night for the duration. Strong howling winds batter the town, and even the sturdiest of buildings creak and groan under the weight. Trees will be felled, some buildings might not fare the storm.

Relentless snow that falls so hard it’s a complete whiteout, and will be impossible to navigate if one were to step outside. Even then, it isn’t advisable. The temperature is bitter, with a frigid windchill. Going out in this kind of storm would be a death sentence. Staying out in it for longer than a half-hour will certainly kill you.

It would be best to wait it out, to huddle around warm fires in the darkness. It may certainly be a test of patience, depending on your choice of place to stay. The storm will last a full week, a stark reminder of what you are, the words you have heard in your arrival: thrown to Mother Nature’s mercy, the Interloper in her design.

But will you persist?

A CHOICE

After the storm passes, there’s a certain kind of hush that falls upon Milton and its surrounding areas as Interlopers are left to pick through the wake. While the temperature certainly doesn’t get that much warmer, there’s days and nights of clear, calm weather — short afternoons of weak sunshine and nights of chilly peace, the moon hung high in the starry skies. Winter is drawing ever-closer, but it’s still for a little while.

In the early evenings, before the sun sets, there’s strange sightings of a particular white stag that can be found roaming the area — particularly down in the Milton Basin. It seems quite elusive, but there’s plenty of Interlopers that have been able to capture a glimpse over the coming days. Even Methuselah himself has seen this beast before, remarking there has long been tall tales of a ghostly stag that roams the Northern Territories and is said to bring good fortune to those who manage to hunt it down.

Perhaps you’re a little low on luck. Perhaps you’re feeling lucky. You’re going to find that stag.

Hunting down the stag, however, will take a great deal of patience and time. You might find yourself waiting several hours to wait for it to appear. Building a snow shelter, or hunkering down in some old shack might be needed in order to keep warm. But if you’re patient enough, and able to withstand the cold for long enough — the beast will soon make an appearance.

In the dying light of the day, it is there. It’s unlike any deer you’ve seen before: tall and majestic, with thick, soft fur of brilliant white. It almost looks ghost-like in some angles, it’s an incredibly beautiful creature. But it seems to have also noticed you, just as you have noticed it. It doesn’t dart away, however. Instead it stands before you, waiting for you to act.

You have a choice: slay the creature, or let it go.

It will not move until you make your decision, holding your gaze until you raise your weapon or until you lower it and give up your hunt. But there is a consequence to either action: if you choose to kill the stag, you will be rewarded with a sizeable bounty of venison. Eating said meat will help you feel fuller for longer, and the meat will keep for far longer than any other deer slain.

However, if you choose to spare the stag, the creature will lower its head, as if bowing to you. Then, it will disappear with a swirling of powdered snow. When you return home for the evening and go to sleep, the next morning you will find a gift at the foot of your bed: a pair of deerskin boots, or a deerskin blanket. These boots are supple, tough and waterproof — allowing for a great balance of mobility and warmth. The blanket is incredibly toasty, and will provide a great deal of comfort in the long nights ahead.

REST MY WEARY BONES

The storm has blown in plenty of snow to make traversing the area much more difficult, but there’s something else of note that comes with its passing. While the storm has brought much devastation, and some places have been buried in snow drifts, plenty of snow in areas has been blown away, uncovering otherwise lost secrets within Milton. Clouds of what looks like steam can be noted not too far from town, towards the mountains of the north.

If Interlopers head to explore the clouds, they will find old trails leading up towards the mountains. It isn’t a particularly difficult journey, for once, and they will soon discover that the storm has blown away the previously blocked access to a cave. It appears that this is the right place.

The air is warm here, pleasantly so. Warm enough that hats and mittens and coats seem a little unnecessary. One might wonder if someone lives within, and that a great fire is stoked to keep the place warm. But there’s no one in sight, no sounds of life: human, animal or otherwise. If they press on, they will discover that the cave floor is well worn with footfall: plenty of people have come here before, and the reason why is soon revealed.

The air grows even warmer, and more humid. The space opening to reveal small pools of slow-flowing water, warm water. The stone houses a natural hot spring, and following the cave out the other side will lead to another space in the rock open to the air, where there are even larger pools of warm water, perfectly sized and deep enough to bathe in. It seems that this place was frequently used by the people of Milton, where their life of hardship could be forgotten for an hour or two.

The water is pleasantly hot, and incredibly inviting. After so long in the freezing cold without modern appliances and utilities, a natural hot spring sounds like an absolute luxury.

FAQs

WHITEOUT

1. Characters are free to play around with this prompt how they want. Maybe they're dumb enough to go into the cold and get injured or sick. Maybe they're stuck in the Community Hall for the week. Fights might break out as tensions run high whilst everyone's stuck together, or maybe you're actually having a nice time.

2. For those stuck in the Community Hall: there are board games and old school textbooks stored in cupboards. There is also a piano.

A CHOICE

1. .... Yes, you can pet the ghost stag.

2. Characters will get one choice only with the ghost stag, meaning they can't keep going back to find it to get extra gifts.

3. If characters can't agree on a course of action, whoever acts first will get their gift. The second character will have a chance to try again another time.

4. If both characters agree on sparing the stag, but players want different gifts (ie. one player wants the boots and one wants the blanket), characters will get the gift the player wants their character to receive.

REST MY WEARY BONES

1. The hot springs will now be a permanent fixture in the Milton Area, enjoy!

PLOTTING FORM

EVENT POST

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Player Name: Cheryl
Player Contact:

heolstor or _heolstor @ disco
Pacing: I'm on Hiatus for NaNo this month, so I'm not looking to take on too much this month, and I'll likely be a little slow too! But I'm 100% here for back-tags/back-dating things to take us into the New Year!
OOC Limits: No character death and no maiming for Kieren, especially.

Kieren Walker

Character Name: Kieren Walker
Canon: In The Flesh

Wanted CR: Anything and everything. Friends would be great. Even if he's mostly a sad and incredibly anxious wreck, Kieren's a sarcastic little shit when he wants to be and is still just a teen, but also just having people to hang with. Anyone who's Not Quite Human would be dope. People to maybe teach him some survival skills? I'd love to build up some good CR with folks before it (inevitably) comes out that Kieren is in fact the undead. In that same breath, people who would actively freak out/be wary of Kieren when the truth comes out and building on that would be A++
Unwanted CR: I'm not actively looking for romance, just yet. Kieren's not really in the right head-space for it, considering he's not long after losing the love of his life.

Event Ideas:

— WHITEOUT Kieren would be incredibly content to weather out the storm on his own in his own cabin because the idea of being stuck in a building with other people for a week is utterly terrifying for him. THAT BEING SAID, he should absolutely be stuck in a building with other people tbh and maybe someone pressing him into staying with others when they realise he's planning on rocking out the storm alone. This will include, however, a very questionable request that Kieren is kept away from others at night, and will probably just.... tie one wrist to something so he can't move. He's horrified of potentially going rabid and just attacking people and wants to kept away from others, not that he'll want to explain that. So maybe people finding him tied up in the middle of the night? Night watch with him, maybe? IDK HIT ME.

— A CHOICE Kieren will likely want to spare the deer, considering he's not interested in killing an animal, or getting the meat option. I think I'll likely give him the deerskin blanket??? But like, yeah. Why d'ya wanna kill a nice spooky deer, guys. Leave it alone???

— REST MY WEARY BONES Kieren will not want to go anywhere near the hot springs. He has a really difficult relationship with his own body and won't want to get undressed in front of others, let alone bathe in a hot spring with them.

Kate Marsh

Character Name: Kate Marsh
Canon: Life Is Strange

Wanted CR: Pretty much everything! Friends!!! People around her own age to befriend!!! Mentors/people to help her with this absolute hell of a world with survival skills — she's not worldly at all. People to keep an eye on her/look out for her since she's literally just a teenager and is Really Not Coping. Fellow religious folks or folks who fell out of their faiths. Also some lady friends is something I'd like to get for her too tbh!!!
Unwanted CR: I prefer not to have negative CR for the sake of it. Again, not actively looking for romance and in truth it'd be a super slow burn thing for Kate due to her own values concerning romantic relationships.

Event Ideas:

— WHITEOUT Kate lives in the Community Hall so she'll still be here for the storm. She'll be getting right to it in helping plan/stock up things for the storm and helping Methuselah prepare tbh. As for the storm itself, Kate will be a lil scared of the weather tbh since Arcadia Bay barely gets snow at own, let alone a monster storm like this (lmao, the irony). But she'll likely be trying to stay preoccupied with bible study/prayer and playing her violin for morale and entertainment. She's also got a Walkman with some tapes for it, and she'll likely share a earbud so people can listen to music (which is probably just all 80's and 90's music tbh) She's also here to play some board games bc hell yeah.

— A CHOICE Kate will be wanting to spare the stag because she won't want an animal harmed and will likely think it might be something God-related/biblical flavoured of some sort. So yes, she's camping out to wait on the Stag appearing so she can just go all wide eyed and awestruck at it and will get a very nice blanket out of it. She will 100% Pet That Deer, too.

— REST MY WEARY BONES Kate really needs to go to the hot springs tbh, it'd do her some good. However, she'd be uncomfortable in asking most of her friendly CR in going considering she's mostly friendly with them Victorian dudes and she doesn't think it appropriate to ask any of them to take her. So she'd be looking for ladies to go with her in all honesty, and will likely put up a note in the Community Hall Message Board.

Maybe working on survival skills with Kieran and hot springs with Kate?

Kieren knows just about fuck all so HELL YEAH we could do a thing! Also Kate will be SO GRATEFUL to have a fellow girl to go to the Hot Springs with tbh. She hasn't had a hot bath/shower in MONTHS, it's going to be Emotional.

TIME TO CARRY AND LIFT SOME WOOD, BUDDY!

Oh gosh. Ruby was in the desert before she wound up here. She's just jumping from one extreme to the next. She is here for some cathartic finally feeling clean emotions.

HE'S BEEN TRYNA DO THAT AT THE VERY LEAST 😭😭😭😭

the crying that happens in the hot spring stays in the hot spring okay

It's just the steam- Totally just the steam melting snow on their faces.

That's 100% what it is okay, don't @ them.

Offering a totally out of place nerd here.

For Kieran: Erich is a master at restrains so he would absolutely be willing to assist with the entire 'keep me out of sight and make sure I don't hurt others' request. Cons of this: Erich would definitely try to check his strenght, should he go rabid. Like letting himself get bitten and such. The things a curious scholar wouldn't do for knowledge.

Otherwise he's a warden, he would absolutely sit there and read a book and keep watch til late and such.

Can't offer much on the deer side: Erich isn't going to want to kill it anyway so unless Kieran is in the mood of teaching him about deers... that's two people wanting to keep the animal safe.

Kate on the other hand... can only offer this dude to watch and study the deer. I think ERich would also be fascinated to listen to her beliefs and such (to give context, spoilers here, the gods of the XIV world have literally been created by Erich's people, they're constructs. And he will probably find it charming to see how people Believe?)

He's definitely moving around the community hall to prepare for the storm and help, too, so he could slide there with ease. Board games and music are probably both new things for him, too, in case.

Cannot definitely join her at the hot springs, because that only makes two prude people..

I will say that Kieren will not be wanting to share any details about being a Zombie other than admitting he has a condition that may make him erratic/aggressive. He's too scared to let people at large know what he is, since only three people do know what he is as of right now.

But Erich could come across Kieren trying to tie himself to a radiator or something in the Community Hall office/sit with him during the night. It would be almost hilariously awkward but yes.

Also Kate introducing Erich to music/board games honestly sounds absolutely adorable. Her trying to teach him how to play something. Maybe Connect 4 or something :') Or just showing him her Walkman.

That's absolutely valid of him. And by the gods, Erich walking on Kieren as he's trying to make sure he doesn't attack anyone would be awkward, definitely. Still, he would probably stop questioning things if the other doesn't seem interested in tallking and doesn't want to share, but would definitely try to keep him company and offerr reassurance.

Oh my gosh that's- he would be all "And you do that WITHOUT MAGICKS?" on the walkman. She would probably find him near a couple of boxed games just wondering what the heck they are.

He's Very Stressed, okay. He's kind of really....... conflicted on the whole thing. Hiding what he is feels like the right thing to do, and he's had canon experience of how it's better to hide what he is. But he's recently just gotten advice from Hickey to tell people about his deal. So he's in a weird place, right now. :')

MY GOOD SIR THEY DO EVERYTHING WITHOUT MAGICKS IN HER WORLD :'D

If I keep Levi at the hall he's definitely attending every performance she gives.

Could also use him seeing her with a Bible or doing study to bring up how different his worlds is that hers

lmao awww, she got a nice lil audience, y'all.

That could be good way for them to finally have a talk about religion tho, too!

I'm very much still here for the stuff we've had building for Kieren & Ned — Crozier and Jopson making an appearance here has definitely filled him with so many conflicted feelings and ramped up the guilt. He is going to keep on keeping busy (and weirdly the storm issue will give him something to Focus On for a little while) but yeah.... I can see it all building to push him into a pretty dark place. Plus the Voice is still there whisperin :') So maybe sometime later in the month or even in December, we could do that one thread we were talking about! Event-wise though, he'll definitely be Concerned for Kieren and we could handwave him helping him out however he can.... He'd probably try to convince him to come to the Community Center, but if he really refuses.... idk Ned could provide the rope for him or something to tie his wrist with fksjg

And for Kate, I'm pretty sure that Ned will be holding it out at the Community Center through the storm as well — apart from possibly a little bit where he goes out to try and retrieve his captain from an igloo — so he'll be there with her! If you don't want to take on too many threads, we could always handwave some cute stuff, playing some board games & violin times, things like that!

rubs hands together I am so down for this thread tho with Kieren and Ned 👀 all that delicious angst, and finally the pieces coming together for Ned about Kieren too when Kieren shows him the fact he's a dead man walking via suicide.

and he could maybe eventually be persuaded, probably if Ned could ensure he'd be a. kept away from the others, and b. he could be restrained and kept an eye on. Ideally, if Kieren could be locked up in the Community Hall's office maybe at night with him being tied up to a radiator or something. I'm plotting a thread where Erich could also keep a night watch on him so Ned could probably do a night watch too??

I know Ned is the one who frets, but Kate is 100% going to fret about him going out into the storm to try and get Crozier (and probably ask to go with him bc he should not be going out in the storm alone!!!). She'll probably fuss to when he comes back and very gently try to shove him in front of the fire to defrost him but aaa.... cute things too...........

YES, I cannot wait for the Kieren Reveal, it's going to be so delicious.... (in a non-cannibal way....)

Oh man he would totally do a night watch for him

It would make him soooo uncomfortable to keep poor Kieren locked in the office like that, but he would do it and watch over him....

omg Kate, he would take u but NOT THIS TIME, DUCKLING. That would be very sweet though, her just defrosting him when he comes back..... I don't know if Crozier mun has solidified that plan just yet, but if The Igloo happens then 10/10 Kate can defrost her nanny HAHA. (Alternatively, he's also going to be heading out into it a couple more times to help some other people so there's plenty of opportunity no matter what........)

DELICIOUS FOR THE SOUL (in a non-monster bear way)

And it's truly better for everyone that it happens!!! Kieren's gonna be the most uncomfortable about it all and loathing himself every single minute!! Not to mention terrified of his thin layer of mousse rubbing off in the night and making his face look all fucked up and blotchy (no it's not, it's just the lighting okay)

fdhjkgdkjfg Kate tryna go out with him every time he's going out bc she's worried about him heading out into the storm and he's having to tell the duckling to please stay in the nice warm hall where it is safe. But yeah she can defo defrost him on one of his other times of going out depending on plans instead! SHE'S GOING TO FUSS it would probably be an opportunity for her to maybe see to his hands??? Get some moisturiser on them before all the cold damage fucks the skin up

> zombie boy
Hello Fellow Kid 👀
Tim can be very clinical and pragmatic about curveballs thrown his way. If he needs someone to foolproof that containment and keep watch (and record) of spooky overnight happenings, I volunteer this nerd.

> angel girl
Somehow he will rope her into Playboy Bunnies plot, but also Tim is akshually an asshole atheist and I have a desperate need for him to slip and up and snark at her and then feel bad about it later (maybe)

Shove him in the Community Hall office and make sure he can't yank himself free from a radiator or something at night and he'll be golden. Kieren won't really explain why he needs these measures other than a 'medical condition' but time for night watch......... (it's going to be boring, nothin'll happen. sorry buddy.) And his face might look a tiny bit fucked up and blotchy when he wakes up in the morning and his cover-up mousse is smudged slightly off...... (no it doesn't, it's just the lighting)

At least she knows how to ACTUALLY look after rabbits as a pet bunny owner!!!! Although she's not going to be exactly thrilled about the idea of essentially breeding them for food (she cried at seeing butchered rabbits last month) also fdjghdfkjg omg please, she'll look like a kicked puppy SO MUCH he's going to hate himself for it.....

Aren't you supposed to be asleep damn

>Zombie Boi
Just 2 dudes secretly NEGOTIATING THEIR TERMS and then hiding away in a locked office over night. with heavy ropes on hand nbd nbd.

>Angel Gurl
FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH tim will be a total chicken about the... rabbit harvesting if it ever gets to that point, but he's here to Talk the Talk

gets her a lil bunny baby with a chihuahua collar to gift her as A Do Not Eat pet, but he's not going to say Sorry about bitching out religion.... what is it with you religious people here.... don't make him Investigate

don't @ me, i failed

YEAH THAT SEEMS PRETTY NORMAL TBH Kieren hates his entire liiiiiiiiiiiiife :')

And Kate can kind educate the best she can re: rabbit knowledge but lmao just a peace offering of a baby bun until someone's like "hey who let dinner escape?"

And IT'S FINE people at school are mean to her about her faith All The Time, it's fine she'll just go cry about it later........

Nobody get the teenagers all together in a single room, Milton can't take that magnitude of self hate

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

November 2023 Event Plotting

cheryl | zombie boy + angel girl

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