Herein lies the events for "The Winter That Never Was.."
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Built into the cliffs overlooking the Suvan Sea, Riverfall resides on the edge of grasslands of Cyphrus where the Bluevein River plunges off the plain and cascades down to the inland sea below. Home of the Akalak, Riverfall is a self-supporting city populated by devoted warriors. [Riverfall Codex]
✴ This Winter in Riverfall is unlike any that has happened since the Akalak have been keeping records of such things. That means, in 400 years, there's never been a lack of Winter. The temperatures in Riverfall are not going to drop. Instead, for a period of roughly 45 days they will remain Fall-like with a smooth swift transition to Spring-like conditions around the 45th of Winter. This means there will be warm sunny days but a crisp bite in the air in the evenings. There might be light frosts or icy rain showers, but there will be no true winter. From the 45th on out the days will start warming up and the sun will shine a bit brighter. Plants will grow like it is spring, and flowers will burst into being.
But that is not the only difference in Riverfall this season. The Great Bluevein River has dropped causing The Falls that give Riverfall its name to all but dry up by the end of the Season. A small flow will still be passing over the edge and dumping into the sea, but there will be no usual roar and the Falls won't freeze as usual. Because there is no actual freeze of the river, the Winter will not end in the epic breakup of the Bluevein and the subsequent dangers of enormous falling chunks of ice off the Falls near late Winter.
There is not going to be a drought because there are plenty of fall rainstorms still happening and again plenty of spring showers. However, people will have a right to worry about lack of snowpack and consequently the levels of the Suvan and all the rivers in Mizahar dropping or completely drying up by Summer.
This is just the climate. And its pretty clear, for even the dumbest of residents, that Morwen is missing. Konti Seers have confirmed the truth of it. She is not to be found even in Avanthal and indeed nowhere on Mizahar. There will not be a Vantha Hunt this season, mainly because the Akalak wiped the Vantha out in their area during the last hunt. And besides, the city of Riverfall has bigger problems.
The Night has become incredibly dangerous. At first it started as whispers and rumors... something was stalking the night. People spotted shadows moving that should have never been where they were. Then Akajia made an announcement. Walking to the middle of the City, flanked by her Priests and Priestesses, the Goddess of Night & Shadows makes an announcement.
Certain of her creatures, her shadows, have been somehow tainted and are out of control. They are incredibly dangerous, moving around in the darkness and only banished by the light. She orders the streets well lit at night, though that creates its own problems since bright light in the darkness can create even more shadows. The Kuvay'Nas are ordered to double their patrols and the entire guard is now recruiting. And finally, the entire city is asked to investigate the shadows and report any unusual activity for the whole of the city to figure out what is going on. The only clue people have is an ancient pre-Valterrian Akalak Nursery Rhyme...
“When Shadows Rise And Eat The Light Those Sentient Gnash Their Teeth And Flee The Night Ancient Wrongs Were Never Made Right Torments Awake And Itch For A Vicious Fight Take They Will Your Will And Your Beautiful Colorful Sight..”
The Goddess warns if these Shadows are tangled with they have the ability to steal the color out of your sight leaving you seeing only in black and white. The Shadows abilities seem to only work through touching your bare flesh. She also warns that some of the stronger ones have been known to take a living person and turn them into a Shadow. There is no known way to turn someone back. People can become what they are...
Akajia does say they can be fought. She says light is a powerful ally. She also urges people to investigate because these Shadows are dangerous and there is no defense against keeping them away unless it is lighting homes completely from every angle.
❖ Plot Points (No Pun Intended)
Keep a running tally of the plot points you hit. At the end of the season you will be able to choosing reward from a reward center that will be posted on this thread in the future.
✴ Write More Lines Of The Nursery Rhyme - 10 pts ✴ Use the Nursery Rhyme In A Thread - 10 pts ✴ Meet a Tainted Shadow Face To Face - 20 pts ✴ Research The Tainted Shadows In Some Fashion - 25 pts ✴ Have A Tainted Shadow Attack - 30 pts ✴ Observe A Tainted Shadow - 20 pts ✴ Loose Your Ability Too See Color Due To A Tainted Shadow - 50 pts ✴ Loose Your Will To A Tainted Shadow - 150 pts ✴ Discover The True Name Of The Tainted Shadows - 100 pts ✴ Discover The Origins Of The Tainted Shadows - 500 pts ✴ Discover Why The Tainted Shadows Are Stalking Riverfall - 250 pts ✴ Find A Way To Rid RF Of The Tainted Shadows - 500 pts ✴ Help The Tainted Shadows In Some Way - 120 pts ✴ Capture A Tainted Shadow - 80 pts ✴ Investigate A Reported Sighting Of A Tainted Shadow - 45 pts ✴ Interrogate/Question A Tainted Shadow - 30 pts
Feel free to suggest more plotpoints.
❖ How Do I Know....
When running threads on The Tainted Shadows plotline, feel free to PM me with any questions you might be asking, investigating, or any information you need as it comes up in thread. I will release the information to you as you do the thread work. If there is enough interest I will do moderated threads or hop into threads if the need arises. You, as a player, have a lot of freedom on this plot. But when it comes to certain things, run it by me...
Here's some examples.
"I want to capture a shadow by....." (Yes, I can tell you if it will work or not.) "I checked the _____ searching for clues.... did I find anything? " (I'll let you know if you did!) "I tried to destroy one by casting a fireball at it. Did that work? (I'll sure have an answer for you on that for sure.)
I answer my pms daily and won't hold up anyone's threads. Plus I'm almost always in the Discord chat so you can feel free to send me a pm on chat if you want instant answers.
Some of my answers will depend on random dice rolls in chat.
❖ What About An Actual Calendar With Complete Dates?
I'm glad you asked! We'll be making one up as we go and filling it out as PC's interact with the plotline and build a timeframe. How quickly or how slowly we finish this plotline depends on the PCs that are here and how much they participate.
I've taken the initiative to fill out a few storyseeds you guys can use, but feel free to use your own as well. We will add them to the Calendar!
✴ Please post in this thread if you have a noted Tainted Shadow event to add to the calendar. Please note if the thread is open, etc.
❖ Once Upon A Time On...
1st - Founding Day 5th - Akajia makes her big announcement about The Tainted Shadows 15th - The Festival of Hope 23rd - The Reported Missing Hit 18 32th - A Human Cult of Tainted Shadow Worshipers Seems To Spring Up 45th - The Festival Of Love 56th - The Reported Missing Hit 100 80th - The Ice Masquerade (Note this year the Vantha aren't welcome) 84th - The Reported Missing Hit 155 94th - Huge Battle At Akajia's Tower
Festivals Of Winter :
❖ Winter
Name: Founding Day Date: 1st of Winter Details: Details: While there is no agreement on the exact day when Riverfall was founded, tradition has pegged it on the very first day of Winter, as the last of the large outdoor celebrations before the cold season truly sets in. Most of the Akalak population belongs to the second and third generations since the founding, having heard the tale of the great march from their fathers and grandfathers. This festivity promotes remembrance of the city's common roots and is meant to remind the Akalak where they came from and what they accomplished.
Five days before the event, ten Akalak are selected to participate in the re-enactment of the great march from Valkalah. All interested Akalak volunteer by placing their names in a ballot, with the only requirement being that they must have completed their rite of passage and be considered adults. Oftentimes, those who volunteer have had their honor stained for some reason: participating in this event is an statement of their goodwill to clear their name. Lots are drawn and the names are announced. The chosen must depart on the fourth day before the celebration. They travel on horseback from dawn till dusk, going as far East as their mounts will take them in a day. Then, they dismount and make their return to the city on foot, carrying the city's banners and insignia with them. The celebration cannot begin until they have made it to the walls, so they would be greatly dishonored if they could not make it in time. There have been instances of the founding party being attacked on the Sea of Grass in the past. If a member falls during the march, it is considered a bad omen for the coming winter. On the contrary, if the party takes no casualties but returns with trophies from vanquished enemies, the coming year is said to be a fortunate one. In a single case, when the party failed to return altogether, Riverfall was ravaged by famine throughout the next year.
The townspeople stand on the walls and out of the gates, waiting for the founding party to arrive. As soon as they are sighted, cheers of joy welcome them into the city and all participants then gather into a procession to the Knirin gardens, where a number of heavy slabs of rock have been prepared. The Akalak spend a few bells erecting a makeshift structure out of those, symbolizing the construction of Riverfall at the hands of Cauldric Chivan and his men. Healers are always on hand as incidents are quite common, and the newly made building will be dismantled a few days later, only to be remade the next year. Once the construction is complete, and not a moment sooner, the revelries can finally begin. Dances, songs, wine and recitals continue late into the night. Credit: Leo Varniak
Name: The Festival of Love Date: 45th of Winter Details: When an Akalak falls in love, it is a moment of both beauty and tragedy. The prolonged lifespan of this race means they almost always outlive their lover, which makes for a painful existence. Some realize this and despair, swearing to never fall in love. Others, however, do their best to make the most of the short time they have through celebration and reverence. The Festival of Love is a manifestation of the latter.
On this day, the Akalak honor Cheva - Goddess of Love, Passion, Vows, and Marriage. Many betrothals are announced, and more marriages occur during this day than any other, as it is considered good luck to marry when worship for Cheva is at its peak. Gifts are also exchanged between lovers or potential lovers, and a number of establishments across Riverfall hold "couples nights" for those who would like to celebrate their love through food, drink, and merriment.
Vendors peddle a wide assortment of perfumes and aphrodisiacs (the pheromone-heavy perfumes from Ahnatep are especially sought-after), and some even claim to sell "love potions." Discovering whether a love potion truly works is often a harrowing process, however, and many report experiencing short-term side effects after drinking a peddler's dubious creation. Fortune tellers also frequent the city and, unsurprisingly, tend to offer couples nothing less than visions of a happy future.
A popular tradition among Akalak without a lover is to gift necklaces of colorful, beaded glass to the woman or women they most admire. The more necklaces a women receives, the more she is appreciated. In order to signify whether or not they are in a relationship, thus giving the Akalak a sign of availability, many women playfully choose to wear a braided ribbon around their wrist. If the ribbon is on the left wrist, they are available. If it is on their right wrist, they are not. Games of seduction also abound. These are particularly well-liked by both men and women who are uninterested in love, but who wish to find a companion to warm the cold winter's night. Credits: Naeya
Name: The Festival of Hope Date: 15th of Winter Details: In the face of winter, where so much dies, The Festival of Hope celebrates life. A few nights before, Priskil changed the watchtowers of the world to signify another season passing. Riverfall celebrates with Oriana that passing, another season that brought them new children and the continuing life of the children who were born before.
The Autumn has taken much of the greenery from Riverfall, and the children of the city take the day to make wreaths and laurels from the newly shed branches. Though all children are required to make one, and wear it for the day, excessive stripping of branches is frowned upon, and adults are always on hand to assist and supervise the process. Each child chooses one tree to take their branch from, and leaves a small lantern in its place, to be lit in the evening. Babies and children too young to wear scratchy branches may wear a ceremonial laurel of cloth, with the images of branches stitched onto the sides.
Throughout the day, a festival is held in the city, centered in the Zhongjie Warrens. Games and activities specifically geared to children are held, such as animal tricks, puppet shows, and face painting. There is a scavenger hunt held in the Warrens, with an intricately carved bear totem to the child who completes it first.
After dinner, the city gathers to the base of the Azurite Watchtower, Priskil’s bastion of sadness and hope for her lover. At the base, all the able children of the city join hands and form a massive ring. Outside the ring, mothers or fathers with children not yet able to walk also stand. In unison, the children run and skip in a circle around the base three times, with the crowd calling out the number of loops as they pass. After the third ring, the children are laughing and stumbling too much to continue, and the ring breaks apart. The ring is the informal end to the festivities, and the child of each family leads them to where he or she hung their wreath lantern. Before heading home, the family lights the lantern, to help future children find their way to Riverfall. Credit: Rosela
Name: The Ice Masquerade Date: 80th of Winter Details:This Holiday marks Riverfall's famous Masquerade Ball. Related to many gods, mainly Morwen and Rhaus, the winter masquerade represents the activity of life in the dead middle of winter. The festivities start at dusk, where everyone makes their way to the location of the Masquerade which is held at various locations depending on the year. Females generally wear white, representing the icy cold of winter, while the males generally wear black, representing the seeming always present darkness. All woman are free to dance with any man for the night, allowing for much more socializing and activity.
From time to time during the festivities, various activities for dances can happen, such dances with large groups, to random pairings for a song. But the main idea of the entire evening is for fun, socializing, and to exhibit life and activity together. The music can vary depending on the musicians, but songs of joy are the most common, as well as songs to spring, as the night designates the time that the beginning of spring is closer then the end of fall.
Any Vantha in the city are highly praised to demonstrate their ice carvings in the halls as decoration, and are highly paid for it by the city. Other decorations include white lights and shining crystals, with ceilings often covered with white veils. Credit: Dex
This season you will be earning plot points for participation. My ultimate goal is to get every player and every PC heavily invested in Riverfall and what goes on in this city. To this end, I've created the Riverfall Plot Points System and its subsequent Treasure Chest. The Treasure Chest is filled with gear, pets, magic items, unique items, god-blessed things, all sorts of weird and wonderful creations. All these Treasure Chest items cost points. The more points they cost, the more exotic and cool the item will be. Each item will have stats and any bonus' or magical properties clearly outlined before the item is purchased. You will have your SS thread noted where you got the item. See the list of points you can be awarded in the first post in this thread. That list might very well expand as time passes this season.
Plot Points can be saved and carried over to the next season.
❖ The Rewards
Grab Bag~ 20-50 Plot Points
Player receives a mystery prize that is the Storyteller's Choice. It will be designed for the character specifically. Player gets no say in the prize rewarded. Some prizes will be incredible (1 out of every 10) in this category others will be average (9 out of every 10), but all will be worth the points spent on them.
10 Plot Points
Eversharp Dagger - This plain looking dagger holds its edge from here to tomorrow, never dulling unless faced with a magic item more powerful than its slightly magecrafted edge.
Magical Tease - A page, rough with age. On the page written in common is the beginning of what looks like a journal entry. There is a paragraph speaking of the beginnings of (insert magic here). If the page is handled too much it might disintegrate. No one knows what happened to the rest of the journal. This page grants the PC a lore in knowing about the magic of their choice and a 5 points in it if it is a magic that does not require initiation.
Neverstain Silk - A bolt of silk that is equal to ten yards, dyed to the choice of the recipient. This silk never grows dirty. Perfect to take to your local tailor and have a lovely new dress ..or shirt made
20 Plot Points
Firestick - By tapping this stick and whispering the word 'fire' this long ordinary looking twig will burst into flame briefly like a match struck, able to light a fire even in the rain.
Soupstone - This stone, when slipped into a liquid, will heat the liquid to a boil in rapid order. And when removed, the liquid will cool as if taken off a burner or the fire in a normal fashion.
30 Plot Points
Howlwing - This lovely winged house cat comes in the color of your choice and decides to be your bestest pet friend for life.
Whip Of Obedience - A lovely riding whip, braided tip. The leather is of supple quality, a rich brown with designs of the houses of Kenash burned into the leather. The handle is sturdy for a non-slip grip. The whip grants the user control over one ridable wild animal of their choice for as long as they hold the whip. The animal will be tame enough to ride and obey all their commands. This item will not work on sentient creatures.(50 uses)
Ink-less Quill - A quill that comes in a variety of colors and patterns, it can write with no ink needed, never running out, and never blotching.
50 Plot Points
Snow Cloak - This white cloak seems to absorb the cold around itself leaving the wearer warmer than outside temperatures by an average of thirty degrees inside the cloak.
Laviku's Mask - This clear face mask, when worn beneath the waves, allows a wearer to see clearly beneath the waves and hold their breath for upwards of ten minutes at a time before needing another.
Ionu's Race Charm - This simple charm bracelet once triggered gives the wearer the appearance of being the opposite sex as they are for one hour. This works once per day.
Tracking Bracelets - These simple chain bracelets come in pairs, one gold, the other silver. Someone wearing the gold bracelet will be able to find the person wearing the silver one, no matter the location, and vice versa.
75 Plot Points
Bottomless Backpack - This item has enormous storage capacity. Well able to hold anything that can fit through its opening without being heavier than 15 lbs.
Glass Eyes - Made from a Glassbeak's claws, the clear eyeglasse-like visor allows the user to gaze at the surroundings and immediately detect any glassbeaks hiding within sight distance even if camouflaged in tall grass. These glasses reveal their heat signatures.
100 Plot Points
Amber Spider – This lovely amber pendant has a tiny spider trapped inside. The pendant grants immunity to ALL spider bites while worn and poisons made from spider parts.
The Recipe to False Ivak's Fire - This well coveted formula creates a man-made Ivak's Fire that will resemble the sticky burning substance that ignites when exposed to air.
Zani Collar - When placed on the neck of a feral animal the collar will adjust itself to fit said creatures neck and will cause the animal to act as tame as a well trained lap dog.
150 Plot Points
Divine Horseshoes - These horseshoes grants the horse that is wearing it the ability to run at twice its normal speed - regardless of breed - without tiring.
Treasure Finder - This small coin-like disk is simple in appearance, but an odd glyph on each side proves it to be more than a piece of currency. When activated by pressing both sides, it will hover low over the ground, searching the area systematically for something of value. It will light up a variety of colors depending on the item. Blue for gems, red for coins, and green for some kind of precious metal.
Cloak of Nondescription - This cloak renders the wearer nondescript. People that see the person wearing the cloak won't remember any details about the person or recognize they may or may not belong where they are.
200 Plot Points
Icebox - This box is the size of a large chest and keeps absolutely everything inside of it frozen.
Philter's Insight - This wand of glass will reveal, when plunged into a philter, the ingredients said philter is composed of to the person who holds the Philter's Insight in their hands.
500 Plot Points
Stone Horse - This artifact level item has the appearance of a stone life sized statue of a Nightwalker. It turns into a realistic semblence of a horse when triggered by its master and will act as a horse will though needing no rest or fodder. It will automatically turn back into a statue when the horses' master has dismounted or been unhorsed.
Complete Tavern - This elaborate tavern has a kitchen and six sleeping rooms.
The All Key - This small stone golem is a handy companion for any aspiring thief. It will follow basic orders from anyone, though, being only three inches in height, its skills are limited. However, it does posses the ability to undo any lock with a touch, meaning all doors are open to its user.
1000 Plot Points
Small Citadel - This elaborate small citadel will house 100 people comfortably and is equivalent to a Simple Keep.
Create Your Own Prize ~ Various Plot Points
Approach us with a proposition. Your Plot Points can be traded in for the 'widget' of your dreams. We'll entertain all ideas and assign a value to what you want. If you put in the effort, you'll earn the reward!
