♥ December (Ranir) Event Log

[hugtopiamods]

December (Ranir) Event Log

As another year winds to a close, the air grows sharp with a wintery chill; the perfect weather for curling up with someone under a cozy blanket with some warm hot cocoa. To contrast the cold weather comes a distinctly festive warmth to the city itself; it's some holiday season, even if the natives still can't quite grasp what. While recovery from the recent worm-based catastrophe is still an ongoing thing, the natives are going through with the festivities as they've learned to celebrate: Decorations strung about the city are a bit haphazard and in all manner of colors both holiday-themed and simply colorful in general, the spirit and enthusiasm are certainly there.

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❥ PROMPT I: See You Next Level

Residents who venture past the wall to the northwest of the arena to visit the fishing pond might find an unusual sight this month: it's frozen over. This is kind of a big deal, because the city hasn't had a substantial amount of open water in- well, no one quite knows how long! It seems to have totally frozen overnight, which is definitely unusual, but hardly the strangest thing to ever happen in Havenwell. Examining the ice will find it sturdy and solid, a good 6 inches thick at minimum. It is safe to walk on, and more importantly...

Excited for a new experience after all the glum and gloom, some local metalworkers are creating skate attachments that can be adjusted for size and connected to the shoes (or the feet, in the case of the local robotic population) of anyone who wants to give skating a try. Visitors to the area will find a booth set up, occasionally manned but mostly left as a trust exercise, with a collection of these devices that are free to use. Please take as many pairs as your party requires and skate to your heart's content! As a courtesy, borrowers are asked to return the skates once they're finished with them, but if you're really itching for a pair, the booth has the equivalent of a QR code you can scan with your communicator and commission a personalized pair.

It seems that part of the city is extra cold this season, because an influx of snow has practically drowned the arena, leaving a thick layer across the entirety and high piles along the sides. Locals have cleared the entrances and done their best to keep it functional, but those wishing to use the facility might find the ground far less sturdy than usual. You can use it as extra training, or maybe just give in to the urge and have fun with it instead. Go sledding, have a snowball fight!

❥ PROMPT II: Fresh or Frozen

Purveyors of the fishing part of the new rink might be unhappy to have lost their hobby, but hey, no one's stopping you from carving a hole in the ice and giving it a go regardless. There's bound to still be something down there, though perhaps not what you'd expect. While you're out at the lake with another person, if you should happen to look into the water through a hole or the ice itself, you might occasionally see a series of dancing lights flitting around beneath you, mysterious but innocuous. Sometimes they disappear if you stare at them too long. Sometimes they follow you. If curiosity gets the better of you, maybe you ought to try dropping a line - or a hand - in to see what it is. If you're feeling really brave and don't mind the cold, you could even take a dive in and see what's going on up close. (Funny: it's not nearly as cold as you'd expect it to be, considering the frigid circumstances.) And there's no reason to worry about the rink, either. Likely through whatever actually turned the pond to ice, any holes carved into the ice somehow manage to freeze again overnight, as though it was never broken in the first place.

Whatever method you choose, these dancing lights will swirl around hook or hands, pulsing gently, until that light bursts and manifests into something familiar. Something you've been wanting, perhaps, or something you once had and have missed dearly. Maybe something you hadn't thought about at all, but would bring you delight. You can pull it from the waters and find it intact and undamaged by the cold or the water, alive if it is a living creature, though it appears to be hibernating. Dry it off, take it home, and check on it in the morning; you will find your gift as whole and well as if you'd plucked it from wherever you'd find it back home. Do with it what you choose, it's yours now. For those who might have the clever idea to try fishing more than once, surprises may await in the form of...a waterlogged old shoe? An empty tin can? A broken fishing lure? The possibilities are as endless as the objects are useless.

For those who may not have any creature or object of note they need or want, it is also possible for fishing to produce a small crystal, faintly glowing with some form of magic. Leaving the crystal by one's bedside overnight will result in a peculiar but pleasant dream; fulfilling one's heartfelt desire. Whether it's wanting to see somewhere back on your homeworld, getting closure with someone not in Havenwell, or hang gliding off of Everest, you will be able to see your desire in a dream and awake comfortable and well-rested in bed the next day.

This is a regain event! One regain is allowed per character, and it can be anything (within reason) that would fit within the Item Regain: Medium (100 point) category on the Activity Rewards page. Like with AC Rewards, regains must be approved by mods prior to regaining them, so please use the form below and comment to the Regain Request thread.

Player:
Character:
Item requested:

<b>Player:</b> <b>Character:</b> <b>Item requested:</b>

❥ PROMPT III: Snow Problems

As the weather shifts to something seasonally chilly, on occasion some small patches of clouds can be seen in Havenwell--specifically, hovering over the heads of offworlders. These localized little clouds find people to stick to and follow them a couple of feet overhead to shower them with a gentle dusting of snow, so hopefully you have an umbrella handy. And while the snow can be just snow and nothing more, to others it might have one (or even several at once) effects to it.

Cheers To You: No matter how much one drinks or how they choose to mix their cocktails, they will find themselves completely impervious to the ill effects of alcohol. No hangover, but also no fun to earn it in the first place.

Hand it Over: Some with their own personal snow clouds may feel nothing odd except for a slight tingle in their dominant hand. Whether one stumbles upon the actual effect or not, it is a very simple change: the power of their unarmed punch becomes superpowered and several times stronger than normal.

Sticks and Stones: Still others may feel completely normal and go about their usual day's business with absolutely no awareness of any change but a persistent snowfall overhead. However, should they meet with anything that might ordinarily hurt, they will find that they have twenty-four hours of complete invulnerability starting from when their snow cloud latched on to them.

Time and Tribulation: Perhaps along with the slight chill comes a sudden awareness that one is a bit shorter than usual. Or taller? It would seem that yet another odd side effect of the little snow clouds is that one has aged an entire decade–in either direction, rendering them either younger or older. Luckily, the changes seem to stop at only physical…at least this time.

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This event will run from December 15-31. Click on each prompt's title to see the text. If you have any questions, feel free to direct them to the FAQ or to the Mod Question thread. You can also use the Havenwell Status page or the General Plotting Comment to give you other ideas for original prompts!

Comments

[vamptired]

[That's kind. He shifts his feet and weight, and then he's finally stable—as stable as he can be, anyway.

Did she manage to figure out the how on her own by watching, too? If so, that's impressive.]

How do you do it? As you probably saw, I'm still having difficulty maintaining myself.

[shroudedsecrets]

It also relate to your stance. It may feel unnatural at first, since you would want to work toward one that feels more comfortable, while your body registers that it will have to react differently on the ice where there is less available traction.

[ She smiles, with a half apologetic and half self-conscious ear flicker. It's not something she considers that impressive if one just hasn't had the time to practice. ]

For myself, I admit that it may come a little easier because I am accustomed to adjusting to differences in gravity. It is a different application, but... similar concept.

[vamptired]

[His eyes flit to her ears and then back to her face.]

In gravity? . . . Like space?

[And planets? He's guessing based on his own knowledge. For all he knows, she may be talking about something else entirely.]

[shroudedsecrets]

That is correct.

[ She doesn't usually bring it up, but she knows context can often matter. Especially after meeting so many people for whom space travel seems like an impossibility to. ]

Although, other adjustments can be made with the use of the right programs or clothing options as well, though it might take a little more time and training.

[vamptired]

[No pain, no gain, eh?]

I suppose everyone starts somewhere.

[Speaking of everyone, they're in the middle of a makeshift rink. He lifts his head in realization.]

I'm not keeping you, am I?

[shroudedsecrets]

Some people like to try their luck. But no, you are not keeping me.

[ It's not an open cafe day, and she's pretty much often told to "go socialize" so she can improve at it. ]

I imagine you might want to get your bearings more, after that fall.

[vamptired]

[She isn't wrong there.]

I do. It doesn't matter to me how many times I fall—but I do want to avoid hurting anyone in the process.

[The sooner he grasps his bearings, the better.]

[shroudedsecrets]

[ His phrasing does garner another flicker of her ears, lower; it sounds suspiciously like a lack of care toward one's well being or not seeing the necessity of it and that never sits well with her even when she knows the people who say it tend to have their reasoning.

She doesn't quite like to take on the tone of instructor, never wanting to sound like she's ordering others around because of her past mistakes, but... she can at least try for friendly advice if he has an interest. Though perhaps an introduction should come first, but that's not quite in mind yet. ]

Then perhaps you should take some time now to... invest in those endeavors. You seem to be standing fine now, but take care to be... mindful of your stance. Locate your center of gravity and... focus on that. Reflexes may be something else you wish to work on as well.

[vamptired]

[He's standing fine—for now. It helps when he's chatting with her and not overthinking his stance, as she put it. Moving, though, is far less intuitive.]

I appreciate your guidance. I'm not used to these movements . . . But that's probably true for most.

[Most people don't have blades for feet, after all.]

[shroudedsecrets]

Moving certainly has far more... precariousness to it. The blades do not provide much support or intuition on their own. It's enough simply to pick a direction and shift forward, but there are so many possibilities for collision.

[ Honestly, she's almost surprised the robots have even allowed this activity, with how much they worry about the otherworlders not harming themselves needlessly. ]

How honed are your reflexes on an ordinary surface?

[vamptired]

[Too many possibilities, he thinks. He can't imagine the damage he might've left if he actually caught someone on a blade (or two). He's still glad that Honvera is all right.]

Well enough. I used to engage in combat daily. I've fought on frozen ground before, too.

[Just not with skates on.]

[shroudedsecrets]

The measures you apply here would be different from what you would experience in combat of course, but those reflexes can yet serve as a guideline, depending on your instincts on dodging or other forms of movement.

[ Her intent isn't to sound too much like a tutorial, given how others had sometimes criticized her ways of speaking, but sometimes she just can't help it when it comes to more informative things. ]

[vamptired]

[Regardless of how others feel, Louis appreciates her advice, because she could have skated away the moment she got him up—and well before that, even.]

Evasive maneuvers are my specialty. Should I be light on my feet, then, or the opposite?

[shroudedsecrets]

[ She considers his question for a moment. ]

Perhaps that depends on what you wish to accomplish on the ice. Your usual preferences will determine your adaptability, but there's also being mindful of the possibility of other collisions. Being able to slow yourself down without completely going to the surface, for instance, might help if someone else is more panicked and can't maneuver themselves accordingly.

[vamptired]

[She's right. He's gotten lucky so far, encountering skaters with more experience than himself. If he keeps at it long enough, he's going to run into people who are as green on the ice as he is. Throwing himself out of the way is an option, but not a solution.

Louis looks down in thought.]

I'd like to work on my equilibrium first. Once I locate my center of gravity, I should be able to focus on avoiding collisions.

[He lifts his head.]

Thank you. I'll take what you've shared and give it a try.

[shroudedsecrets]

You're welcome. I hope that it serves you well.

[ A pause, and after a quick flicker of her ears she realizes she'd forgotten - ]

My apologies -- my name is Honerva. If you encounter such difficulties again... you are welcome to seek me out again if you wish.

[vamptired]

I appreciate your offer.

[Really, he does. He offers a hand.]

I'm Louis. If there's anything I can do in return, let me know. Nice to meet you.

[shroudedsecrets]

[ She'll reach for his offered hand - carefully, since they're still on ice. ]

That is a very kind offer. Usually I try not to ask for favors, though you are welcome to come by our café sometime instead, for our cats and... to assist our coffers.

[ It's a joke wrapped up in an advertisement. She tries. ]

[vamptired]

[She tries, just like he tries when he sticks a hand out despite his precarious stance on the ice. Her care there is appreciated, and the lower half of his body is certainly tense as he maintains himself. He gets the joke, and it does its job of amusing him as he lifts his head in recognition.]

I think I've heard of a place like that . . . Affurgato, right? Is it yours?

[shroudedsecrets]

Lup is the reason it came into being of course, but yes, that is the one.

[ She is always careful when it comes to naming ownership of the property, always citing Lup first, but she'd been there from the start as family, supporting and taking on more responsibility as she learned to personally develop with it. ]

[vamptired]

[He angles his head just a bit at the mention of Lup. Small city, small world.]

I wasn't expecting so many establishments managed by offworlders when I first got here. I'll have to check it out later.

[shroudedsecrets]

[ Her ears give a slight flicker when she notices his acknowledgement of Lup. Not so much a small world, with them. At least, Lup might be able to get away without ever mentioning Honerva, but the other way around, that mention would always find a way in there. ]

To be fair, some of us have been here for some time. Some might view it as a way to fill time when we are not occupied with other aspects.

[vamptired]

[That makes sense. There's a lot to do around the city, but there's also a great deal of time. What an odd feeling.]

Have you been here long?

[shroudedsecrets]

I suppose it depends on one's perception of "long". In the scheme of how long others have been brought to this world, we were drawn in among the first arrivals of otherworlders from over two years ago. Two years and... six months, I believe, or nearing that.

[vamptired]

That long?

[Yet so recently? Two and a half years are nothing to scoff at, but this project with offworlders is quite fresh. Louis doesn't appear too surprised, though.]

Then you've been able to witness every change that's happened since your arrival . . .