The Long Winter.

Player event line.

“The cold does not creep. The frost does not rest. Winter is not arriving. It is advancing.”

In recent days, the lands of Petra have suffered a sharp and unnatural drop in temperature, the cold arriving too swiftly and too deliberately to be chance alone. Alongside this change, disturbing sightings have been reported by travelers, guards, and towns folk alike.

Witnesses speak of figures moving through the frost. Pale shapes of white and cold blue, sometimes bearing a vaguely humanoid silhouette, other times warped and unfamiliar. Their forms appear unstable, as though struggling to hold a single shape for long. Wherever these beings pass, the land follows suit. Grass withers beneath ice, stone crusts over with rime, and the air itself grows sharp enough to sting the lungs.

The majority of these sightings originate from the Northern approaches beyond Idunia's borders. Reports suggest the figures do not merely wander. They linger. They observe. Some claim they move with purpose, returning to the same ridges and paths night after night, as though mapping the land or waiting for something unseen.

Those who have seen the frostbound figures agree on one thing. Whatever walks the wilds is not a trick of weather, nor a tale born of fear.

It is watching.

Concern has reached the ranks of the Petran levy. Several levymen have voiced the same grim conclusion: this is not random. 

“I have seen this pattern before.” Jarad said as he stood before Therin and warned. “It never ends well. If nothing else, we owe it to ourselves to know what walks our borders, and why.”

The long winter awaits, and it shall not wait long.

[!] The winds howl an elden tune. There is a wickedness flowing through the Northern winds, seeping [!]

from the wooded lands. . . 

Underneath the Crooked Moon

Stalks the King on cloven hoof

In pale decay and empty gloom

He comes for you

Canst thou not feel it? The trees thirst for blood. For each moment thou pause to gaze, thou feelest its eyes upon thee. With every step thou tak'st into the depths, the warmth of hearth and home vanish behind thee. Dost thou not sense the peril, the chance that thou may never return? The trees, they watch thee, drawing near with each passing moment. Their boughs stretch out to thee, yet they never quite grasp.

Thou feelest the need to tread with caution. There is a change in the forests... Their reach extendeth farther than thou dost recall.

OUT OF CHARACTER

[Please read below.]
 

  Do you like giving your characters traumatic experiences? Do you like cool tattoos? Do you like hunting down evil people? Do you think maybe you WANT your character to have wicked tattoos but they'd NEVER do such a thing on their own? Or maybe you just want cool tattoos. Either way if so, this post is for you!

Main Storyline

The Muse is a cruel cultist-type character. She has two focuses: blood, and art. The main sort of interaction most people are likely to get with her through the main storyline is kidnapped, and tattooed(scarification). The explicit reason won’t be stated here, but it is possible to find out or guess.

To be clear, the sort of 'tattoos' The Muse does are ‘scarrification tattoos'. Which is, effectively, the carving of skin to the dermis layer to cause permanent imprints[Not with ink]. Meaning the more you want skinned off the more harsh it's gonna be on your lad/lass. Because of that whole.. Bloodloss thing.

 

Second Storyline

This is ignoring mutilation entirely and solely the catching/hunting her part. It’s possible to search her area if you find it (I’ll hop online and tell you descriptions of the area if you decide to investigate it. I’m not ST, so I can’t invis. Which may make it a little wonky but not impossible). There are hints of ways to catch her there.

To answer some questions pre-emptively:

Can this be a random encounter?

The mutilation itself- no, I am only doing those situations set up OOC beforehand, due to how gruesome they can be in nature. Flaying people’s skin off is not the sort of interaction I would like to just drop on people, but interaction outside of pre-planned mutilation encounters is possible.

Do they have to be gorey?

Not at all! I am completely open to scene-skipping for comfort but they still obtain their cool lil’ mutilation tattoos.

Can I have more than one interaction?

Yes! But people who haven’t gotten any might be prioritized.

Who can interact with her?

Anyone except children. Understand however that if your character is a gigantic **** off orc, or some otherwise intimidating creature, there is a lot less of a chance you’ll be able to have any interaction with her main storyline- mainly because the Muse is not likely to go after something or someone that can easily kill or hurt her- she still has a fear factor.

Can I catch/kill her?

Hunting her is a very possible storyline to follow, yes. If someone kills her, no matter how early or late in the storyline, the character will be PKed.

Can I fix her?

Do you really want to? [Yes, this is possible. But it won't be easy.] 

Can I join her?

Yes! But it may be a bit of a pain in the ass to get her to trust you.

This character cannot be romanced. Please do not attempt to romantically interact with this character.

But that is about all. Leave a message below here with your discord and I'll shoot you a message from @heartesy if you're interested! [[Please note, there are a few things this antag needs to do to get the ball rolling, so you may be waiting a moment!]] I've never tried antagging this way before, hopefully its enjoyable, but suggestions/critique on the idea are welcome.

Songs of Bodbmakos

All stood silent upon the Monte de Owyn, the small shack adorned with bold letters, spelling out H E R O, laid abandoned. The familiar presence who watched over Du Loc’s fair walls was gone, the many treasures within absent. All that remained was a lengthy note upon the door.

A Hero’s treasure trove,
Grown fat with time,
Given by GOD above,
Hidden within Slaeme,

Greed the greatest sin of all,
Grips the heart of descendants,
Hear this late champion’s call,
Locate the Hero’s pendants,

To those heroes left behind,
Fear not the task ahead,
Steel your heart and mind,
For a grave path we tread.

OOC PREFACE:

#1 The Bronze Eagle - Found by RealSamler inside of the Sky Mountain nest!

#2 Hero's Fishing Rod - Found by gamerdude09 inside the mouth of a shark!

#3

#4 Lump of Bodbmakos' Brain - Found by x_amongus_x on Bodbmakos' Isle, Daeland!

#5 Hornless Minotaur Head - Found by gamerdude09 between the firelands and the tomblands, inside a lava pit.

#6 Blessed Spoked Wheeled Chariot - Found by MykeiBoy inside the colosseum within the ruins of San Luciano

#7

#8

#9

The first lights of day broke through the window reflecting onto the dark elven man’s face that rested onto his messy double bed.

The man groaned in displeasure as he felt the sun rays on his face, he turned around letting the light now light his back, showing his many ugly scars on his skin of soot in great detail.

He then patted the empty space on the other side of the bed, feeling the wool fabric under his palm, as he did that he slowly opened his eyes as he looked at the empty spot with a frown and blurry vision.

A groan left his mouth as he raised his back to now sit on the bed, he felt his head spinning as he did that.... right... the other day was very active one for him:

he attended his beloved son’s wedding and enjoyed a beautiful night with his fellow mali’kers and family, he organised an exciting fist scuff night too.

But after that he had a talk with his latest partner, he now was alone again and got rightfully called a “bastard” by that woman.

After that memory all he could remember was running to the tavern with his lads.

He now fully understood why he was sick, he surely chugged a whole stock of alcohol, he knew he was a shameful alcoholic and when he saw drinks and started sipping the first he would not stop until he was satisfied, of course he never was so he just ended up wobbling around the tavern while complaining of his crappy life choices and crying about irrelevant things like the drunk man he was.

He still now is wondering how his poor liver can still function with this quantity of toxic alcohol passing through it.

Other than the spiralling down situation of the other day he stood there with a stupid smile on his face, thinking about the marriage of his son and that sweet girl named Aver’wyn, as he did that he turned to the window and whistled.

From the open window a menacing crow with feathers of soot heavily landed on his right shoulder.

As it’s claws grabbed onto his skin the man did not flinch, instead he started to write on a piece of paper, he folded it once finished and attached it to the golden crow’s collar “go an’ do yer job, Schwarzer” he said softly as the crow soared out of the window with unnerving speed.

You may be wondering who might receive these letters... or what it may be written on them... these letters were merely dropped from the diligent Schwarzer somewhere in Stygian Hollow, lost to time until a lucky folk manages to get their eyes on the mysterious piece of paper.

Perhaps Zirath wanted to have some fun after the stressful life he led.

He patiently waited for a stranger to pick his letter up and send a bird back.... who knows... he may give a little prize.

[ooc: there will be a sign around stygian that needs to be found! it's a letter! good luck :) and when you find it send me a screenshot with you in it on discord! sorry if i made typos and sorry if the sketch is unfinished, bad quality and kinda sucks. i made a little story because i discovered i love writing these! so thought to integrate my creative writing with events on lotc more often, for some reason the post has gray ugly lines...]

"may the ones yond consum'd pow'r decayeth and roteth with these poisonous roots yond hath grown with those folk!"

???, ???pm EST, Stygian Hollow, Urguan LOTC event

note: the animation is not the best and the voices are even worse but i did my best :) enjoy

Hear ye, denizens of this Perceivable Realm! The Horned Ram of GOD comes to slay the wicked titans! Kings and Bishops, Rexes and Shamans, Magisters and Druids alike will cower in fear as their efforts to materialize the Word of GOD fall prey to Avarice!

Tell me, Children of Urguan! For how long have you coveted the minerals and gems of this Perceivable Realm’s depths? Their value is undisputed, but who MADE that value?! Verily, I say to you, Virtue holds more value than any topaz, diamond or corundum! Use your picks to carve an Ark that will shelter your kin from the coming Storm! Forsake your Avarice, and our Lord Father Above shall save you!

Signed,

A Concerned Citizen.

Hear ye, denizens of this Perceivable Realm! The Horned Ram of GOD comes to slay the wicked titans! Kings and Bishops, Rexes and Shamans, Magisters and Druids alike will cower in fear as their efforts to materialize the Word of GOD fall prey to Avarice!

Tell me, Children of Malin! You dutifully tend to the ground of this Perceivable Realm, and the loyal Aspects that embody that which Word alone cannot… Yet in all of your conquests as ever-living gardeners of this World, have you ever stopped and thought to look at the Sky?! Will your life not reach an end, in spite of its longitude? Verily, I say to you, that I’ve seen beyond the Veil-- and there are no sanctuaries for the Souls of gardeners, as your faith promises! It is merely a lie imposed unto you by your betters so that they may go on and indulge in depravity! Forsake your blind love for the Material Realm which GOD blessed you to wander most, and see it for what it is! Broken and spoiled! Encroached by the black, glazed tentacles of Entropy! Forsake it, and our Lord Father above shall save you!

Signed,

A Concerned Citizen.

Hear ye, denizens of this Perceivable Realm! The Horned Ram of GOD comes to slay the wicked titans! Kings and Bishops, Rexes and Shamans, Magisters and Druids alike will cower in fear as their efforts to materialize the Word of GOD fall prey to Avarice!

Children of Horen! Tell me, does their bureaucracy render grace unto our incorporeal Father? Do they procure their “taxes” for the sake of bettering the Realm?! Or do they shut themselves in their Ivory Towers, and use your hard-earned Minas to engorge upon countless wars, luxurious delicacies and wicked sins of the flesh? Verily, I say to you, repent from the wrath of the two-headed Eagle! Use your scythes and ploughs to feed your own, not the silken-clad idols claiming the Word of GOD itself! Forsake your blind servitude, and our Lord Father Above shall save you!

Signed,

A Concerned Citizen.

Hear ye, denizens of this Perceivable Realm! The Horned Ram of GOD comes to slay the wicked titans! Kings and Bishops, Rexes and Shamans, Magisters and Druids alike will cower in fear as their efforts to materialize the Word of GOD fall prey to Avarice!

Tell me, Children of Krug! How can the tusks of your Rexes still possibly grow?! When was the last time your leader’s hair bore the red hue of Glory? When was the last time they actively sought out a Warrior’s Death-- the privilege to raise your Souls to the Sky above and tell your Exalted Ancestors of how you accepted the harsh Chaos of this world for what it was-- and fought until the End despite it. Verily, I say to you, That your Kin grew too fond of life, and would rather render their Souls to be continuously befouled by Monks instead of pridefully leaving this plane towards the GrogHalls of your Ancestors once faced with better contenders. Forsake your fear of living life as Krug did. Face the forces of Iblees Entropy Flood Wheel Chaos Sata, BoM [!](This word has been crossed and replaced by many others, though they have been all scribbled over, making them impossible to read!) head-on until the End, and our Lord Father above shall save you!

Signed,

A Concerned Citizen.

OVERVIEW

A male Rimetroll. He is a little bit upset.

For generations, the Rimetrolls have lived peacefully in the mountains of the Rimeveld.

They are a unique breed of Trolls who long ago forsook violence, and instead lived as vegetarians in the frigid slopes of northern Almaris. All this was made possible thanks to an enchanted Totem Pole - a gift from early Almaris settlers - that allowed food to grow in a farm despite the Rimeveld's murderous cold. For centuries, they lived in the Rimeveld, forgotten by the rest of the world. They, in turn, became vegetarians, and forgot what it meant to fight, to kill, or to raid. They lived their days in blissful ignorance in the far north, rearing families and growing vegetables.

Alas, in the first event of this Eventline, the Rimetroll's Totem Pole was destroyed, and with it their food source.

Without a way to feed their families, Rimetrolls wandered into the nearby lands of Haense and Norland in search of food, and began reaping the human's farms, though they were too stupid to comprehend the damage they caused to the humans or why the humans opposed them with fire and steel. Now, as the Rimetrolls awake from their hibernation and grow desperate, they begin aggressive attacks on any and all farms on northern Almaris in a bid to feed their starving families. Though incredibly stupid and passive by nature, a few elder Trolls spur them on, knowing their race faces extinction if they do not act.

As the Rimetrolls compete against the human realms for food, the consequence of lost raids weigh heavily on Haense and Norland; for every Troll raid they fail to propel - for every harvest lost - their lands succumb deeper to famine. And so, as the Rimetrolls attack from without and famine begins to rot the nations from within, a harsh struggle looms.

How will the Eventline work generally?

From the weekend of March 13th-14th onwards, the Rimetrolls will resume their struggle to feed themselves after waking from their hibernation. Whereas before they stole from the farms of Karosgrad and Elysium - and had lengthy interactions, both violent and passive, with their respective peoples - these new raids will increase in both strength and frequency, and hungry Trolls will range far beyond Karosgrad and Elysium. No farm in the north will be safe. Every week of the eventline from this starting point, an Update Post will be made to include important information such as the Troll's current strength, the raids lost by each nation that week, etc. Critically, these posts will note how much food each territory has lost that week, which will effect have badly they suffer from Famine as the Trolls trigger massive food shortages. Famine will be reflected in roleplay through Famine Events.

What exactly are Rimetrolls?

The Rimetrolls are - obviously - Trolls, but there are some major differences between them and normal Trolls. Rimetrolls are, by nature, extremely passive and friendly. They're not inherently violent, but when push comes to shove, they'll definitely fight. They're also incredibly stupid, and, as result, easily manipulated. For example, a Knight was able to prevent a raid on Haense by convicing the Troll he was in the wrong place. The Rimetrolls do, however, have certain abilities that can turn a scuffle in their favour:

• Size & Strength: The Rimetrolls are, at minimum, eleven feet tall and as wide as a boulder. As a result, they are incredibly physically powerful;
• Frost Breath: Rimetrolls are able to suck in air and exhale a massive cloud of sub-zero cold that freezes anything in its path for up to ten feet. Its so cold that it can freeze a human solid, but they'll melt soon after (if they aren't squashed before that);
• Throwing: Rimetrolls have disproportionately long arms. Paired with their strength, their capable of throwing projectiles with devastating strength, like a mobile artillery unit;
• Troll Roll: If a Rimetroll gains speed, they can tuck their arms and legs together and roll at incredible speed like a deadly ball, and squash anything in their path;
• Mobility: Rimetrolls can use their long arms, strength, and Troll-Roll to move incredibly quickly in snowy and mountainous terrain. However, in any other terrain, they move relatively slowly. They can only charge for a short-distance, and their Troll-Roll is likewise limited in distance except when used down a slope.

What are Famine Events?

Based on how many successful raids the Troll's carry out on a nation's farms will reflect which state of famine they are in. Based on this state, the nation will experience various side-events to reflect that state of famine. Generally speaking, these include (and these are just examples):

• Mild Famine: In this stage, the Trolls have only managed to take a little bit of food from a nation, but it is enough to have a tangible effect on the populace. To reflect this in roleplay, that nation can find themselves subject to ambient events such as:

  • An influx of refugees and beggars;

  • A crime spike;

  • Infestations of rats and other rodents as they struggle to find waste to feed on;

  • Protests against the government for the food shortage;

• Middling Famine: In this stage, the Trolls have generally succeeded in around half their raids on a nations farm. Based on this state, the nation will experience various side-events to reflect that state of famine, which can include stuff like:

  • Riots over food and against governments for failing to repel the Troll threat;
  • Fights breaking out between civilian groups over food;
  • Wild, rabid animals dwelling the roads;

• Severe Famine: In this stage, the Trolls are succeeding in the majority of their raids on a nation's food supply, and this crisis will be reflected through significant roleplay events like:

  • Peasant uprisings;

  • Civilian attacks on the nation's farms and granaries;

  • Outbreak of disease and illness from malnutrition;

  • Groups of cannibals forming.

How long will the Eventline last?

This will be based entirely on the input of the nations involved. Generally speaking, it will probably last throughout March and April.

How can I get involved?

Currently, the nations involved are Haense and Norland, since they are the major northern territories. However, if you are a Lair or Settlement that operates out of the North Hub, you can send me a message on Discord to have your territory subjected to this eventline.

Who are the ET involved?

As of this post, we're putting together our Troll Team to run this eventline. You can contact any of these people about, who will be running these events over the next few weeks:

• me
• @JuliusAakerlund
• @Wizry
• @Burnsider
• @Limo_man
• @MonkeNotic

Is it just fighting and famine?

Nope. The Rimetrolls, as you'll see in the events, are not a bland race that exist purely to attack these nations. They are a fleshed out culture of monsters with their own customs, culture, and history, all of which can lead to a variety of non-combat events in this Eventline. For example, Elysium was able to convince some of these Trolls to protect the town in exchange for food rather than raid it, while Haeseni soldiers have visited the Troll stronghold in a bid to make peace and even made friends among them. So no, you can definitely expect a lot more other than just them coming to kill you.

How can the Eventline end?

As is normal for this kind of Eventline, there's a lot of ways it can conclude as the events happen and players interact with it. Generally speaking, there are two vague directions it can take:

• Troll Genocide: It's you or them. Wipe out the attacking Trolls in their entirely to prevent them from starving your nation to death.
• Restoration: Somehow, figure out how to rebuild the Troll's farm so that they no longer need to raid the human realms to survive. This involves lengthy non-violent interaction, and divulgences into Almaris' history as a whole.

Overview of Bounty batch:

[!] A note looms above the other bounties, indicating importance and more significance over the other bounties. These nailed down paper read:

    Dear adventurer, recently, there have been disturbances of all sorts down here within the sewers that have been becoming more evident and problematic for those who ally themselves to us. I’m afraid that before more pressing issues are tackled, we must band together in order to clear this dark and dangerous place. Different pathways lay blocked by webs, nests, outposts, etc. Without further ado, I present these bounties that the first meeting, with our two partnering companies, has decided on together. I ask that you take these on with great caution. It may not be too wise to roam alone down here, since you don’t know what you’ll encounter. Good luck 

• ~Retracted Name~  

:Bounty:

                 *completed*

There have been blockages and clogs on the east side of the sewer’s second level. It is requested by those who take this bounty, open the paths and tunnels of the eastern segment of the 2nd level of the sewers. In return, they will receive half of whatever gear is left behind by the monsters, as well as a certain amount of minas that will be determined upon completion of the task.  

It is said by the NSOH, that nests belonging to arachnids, of some sort, completely prevent their safe passage through the tunnel.  

(Likely will need to span for, at most, up to 3 events)

Reputation gain-

5-10 reputation (The Bounty Dealer)

3-8 reputation (NSOH)

                      :Bounty:

                                **COMPLETED**

The corpses of burnt men and women plague the far reaches of the sewer’s bottom level. But these are no run in the mill burns you see. They are ones caused by acid and bi-product of an unknown source. One of the Lions very went missing down there, in their own reckless attempt to clear out whatever laid within the treacherous depths of the sewers. I want you to find and kill whatever it may be that has many good people to be mysteriously killed. In return, I offer the rewards of whatever may be on the creature and a little bit of Ferrum depending on how the job goes.

(1 event)

Reputation gain-

1-5 reputation (The Bounty Dealer)

3-5 reputation (Lions Pack -hedge knights-)

                          :Bounty:
**Completed**

                                           (Unaffiliated Bounty)

It has been said that many men and women have gone missing near the docks of Haense. No one knows what it might be, but some reports say that those who near too close to the water’s edge are violently pulled beneath the icy grips of Haense’s ocean; never to be seen again. Whatever it is can’t be considered too great for the populace of Haense, or any who travel and roam throughout the area. I humbly ask that this problem be solved with utmost caution. Those who fair this bounty alone may end up meeting the same fate of many who have gotten too close to whatever lingers in the waters of Haense. Being dragged beneath the vast and frostbitten waters, never to be seen again by those the victim loved and cherished. In return for slaying whatever it is that sits down there, I offer in reward alcohol and minas which will be determined upon your return to me... good luck

(1 event)

Reputation gain- 

1-5 (The Bounty Dealer)

                            :Bounty:

A gang of bandits has been forming down here in the sewers, making this a nest of their own. Located in the western reaches of the sewer’s second floor, the bandits have harassed the NSOH’s travels across the sewers in their attempts of crossing them. Whoever is able to take down their outpost that lays within the sewers will be rewarded in minas and Ferrum, as well as bronze which will be determined upon the task’s completion.

(Will be at least 2-3 events)

Reputation gain-

5-10 reputation (The Bounty Dealer)

3-8  reputation (NSOH)

                        :Bounty:

                (Unaffiliated Bounty)

(Status taken)

It is entirely unknown what lies within the third level of the sewers.it is said that the heads of the elderly litter the grounds of a particular location somewhere in the sewers. Since I think anyone can agree that the killing of any form of people isn’t acceptable. I’d like for you to go down there, seek out the location of whoever, or whatever, has been committing the slaughter of the elderly. The reward is whatever loot that you can find.

(2 events)

Reputation gain-

5-10 (The Bounty Dealer)

OOC note: After these run out, there will be more. Remember that anyone can take these and if they are gone before you can get one don’t worry! I’m sure those who have taken up one of the bounties will gladly take you along with them. If not, then contact me privately (Ziggity#0979) and we’ll work something out for you to go out on a solo event. Also, remember that bounties will need to be scheduled privately with me in order to set up times that will work out for all parties involved.

As this is the start of the new season, I welcome any and all feedback from those who go on the events that I will be hosting. I hope this complete rehauling of the bounty dealer will work out for this bounty hunting group! Here’s to many bounties to come my friends! Without further ado, welcome to the Season of Rebirth!

-Zach/The Bounty Dealer

To fully understand this season’s mechanics and concept, go to the forum post linked here:  ^ - ^ (this is a link, the color changed for some reason)

To Join the discord where everything will be organized better, join here:  Discord here :p