Winter Event 2018/19

[shardofwinter]

» Premise «

There is a storm in the Nexus. At first it was light snowfall, but then it came down harder. The wind began to whistle and then howl. Snow turned to sharp sleet, and any leaves desperately clinging on after Autumn were ripped away as the trees threw their branches this way and that. Eventually the Nexus is transformed into an arctic snowscape. Even on days where the air is still, it's dark, and visibility is eternally low.

Perhaps people noticed the torches lined up throughout the Nexus. Perhaps they were disregarded entirely. And maybe, just maybe, someone noticed their glacial march towards the buzzing hubs of the multiversal meeting point. At some, indistinguishable point, they inch closer in unison. Those who try to observe this will only manage to see that they are in one place one moment, and closer the next. The ring tightens with each passing day, relinquishing its protection from the dangers outside. 

Some days the wind roars with a ferociousness matched only by the animal howling that accompanies it. Other days are still, thick with fog that shroud the Wilds and abandoned buildings. People talk about seeing shapes moving in the distance, hearing whispered words, or seeing glowing eyes: Perhaps they're survivors, or scavengers, something worse, or just hearsay.

The storm rages hardest outside the protection of these torches, and the figures that people warn each other of never pass the boundary. But that boundary is shrinking. This Winter, time is the ultimate enemy.

» OOC «

The first post will be after the New Year so we can all take our time enjoying Christmas and all the chaos that follows. All effects will end 20th March with the Spring Equinox. 

As with all events - This is an Opt In event. You do not have to participate if you don't want to.
To characters not participating in the event, everything can be perfectly normal as per the mun's preferences. This is one of the many joys of playing in a multiversal Nexus: Two universes can exist simultaneously. That being said, if you have chosen to stay out of the event please do not use a character unaffected by the event to interfere with the event. E.g. If character A is in the event and interacting with character B out of the event, please do not use the character B to solve character A's event related problems (e.g. By giving them food/blankets/etc). It ruins the fun and the point of the event. 

This is a character driven, endurance event.
It gives you the opportunity to play out what your characters would do in a dangerous Winter situation. Will they rail against the storm and try to find or fight the cause? Will they focus on protecting themselves, stealing from others for their own comfort and survival? Will they organise others? Will they participate in searches for food or survivors? Understandably I am not going to RP out all the Nexus NPCs, so you are all free to write NPCs acting appropriately. I know a lot of you folks have done it before, but if you need an NPC or few for anything and you're not sure how to, how they'd act, or you need someone to play them then just message me! We'll sort something out!

PINpoints and Portals
PINpoints and Portals are acting up this Winter. While some are working normally, others are unreliable. People using portals or PINpoints to supply the Nexus will soon find their method of transport on the fritz until it goes completely... or they cease supplying the Nexus.

Use this post to help plot and plan and let others know what your characters will be doing.
People will have to work in groups and fulfill certain roles which could make for some very interesting character interactions. Here are some suggested roles:
Maintaining the perimeter - it might sound boring, but someone's got to keep an eye out.
Helping refugees - They will need food, blankets, a dry place to stay, and basic necessities. That's a lot to cover for so many people.
Being the refugees - It's ok for characters to just focus on keeping themselves alive! Or for them to do something stupid and get into trouble.
Keeping the peace - Not everyone will get along. Cabin fever is bound to start up some disputes.
Scavengers - There could be some gems left behind in the dangerous, icy wastes. Is it worth risking it? And will your character share their spoils or keep them for themselves?
Thieves/Opportunists - Hey, not everyone is going to play by the rules, and hunger, fear and the cold will drive people to do crazy things. The weak, tired, freezing refugees are prime targets.
Expeditions - There won't be enough to go around forever. Hazel ensured that there were caches hidden about the Nexus, and there might be other sources of food or warmth. There might even be other survivors out there.
Each group will need to organise itself. Someone will need to be in charge to make the tough decisions, and someone will need to help keep everyone in the loop. If you need any ideas, message me and I'll see if I can help, or comment here and see if other players have a thought!

I am planning on making two posts:
1. The Start of the Storm - A post introducing the event, where people can react to the problems ahead and organise themselves.
2. Into the Darkness - A later post with activities for people both inside and venturing outside the perimeter.
Players are encouraged to make event related posts of your own with characters dealing with the storm. I'd advise you put a storm/event related title on it just to show folks it's event related and keep things easy to understand.E.g. The Winter Storm: Character searches for food; Character's Winter Storm Struggles.

If you have any questions at all, let me know! Ask myself or one of the mods! Whether you're not sure how to navigate a character interaction when only one is involved in the event, or you've got an idea you would like to discuss: Shoot me a comment, or a PM, or a Discord message if you're on there!

Comments

[sumarusfinest]

I've got a lot of characters so I'll start with kind of the big one for an event like this.

Katsuya will be turning the Crossroads Cafe into a safe house for people to warm up/eat/rest while on their ways. Joshua Washington will be working there with him to do expedition runs out into the storm as he has a lot of experience in snowy wilderness climes.

Steve and Natasha will be largely absent as I have been ramping them up for Infinity War canon drops but will likely be helping to rescue anyone who gets lost if need be. Peter Will be horribly out of his element and while he'll try to help is at great risk of getting stuck and needing rescue himself.

Jim Kirk is more of a plans and organizing kind of guy and will want to help get people working together. Hazel will be worrying over a few friends she has in the Nexus but keep in mind she has no powers now. Feel free to have your characters NOT know that though and bother her.

I have no set plans for any of my other many muses but they are available upon request.

[telarano]

Peter and Miles getting in trouble together yes/no? Poor dumb city boys!

[rumormonger_nya]

I forgot to mention this earlier but there's a certain someone who doesn't give a fuck about your struggles humans she will be eating any free food she comes across and liekly to laugh at anyone stuck.

[shardofwinter]

We've already discussed Katsuya's cafe, but it will definitely have its difficulties to go through.

Hazel just sits through all this with popcorn.

[outpostcook]

I'm bringing in Kinner and Palmer, due to the shared themes in their canons and because they seem the most appropriate muses for this particular situation.

Kinner is most likely to involve himself in expeditions and helping survivors through providing food and serving on rescue teams. He's not a leader, but he's happy to play a support role in the group he finds himself in and put his experiences from Antarctica to use.

Palmer is a scavenger, tagging along with any group which will have him and splitting his finds between his own use and sharing with the larger Nexus. He tries to balance between looking out for himself and looking out for others. He'll also participate in helping to fix things which need to be fixed, like PINpoints.

Blue and the Indoraptor are staying indoors, since they don't like the cold.

[alittlehinky]

I feel like as a character, Cricket is at his best when he's responding to his friends/acquaintances and their needs, so he is likely to get drawn into anything anyone close to him is determined to do. He is also likely to start asking questions early on, like 'what's up with them torches, anyway?' He may not be equipped to seek answers alone, though, and he's not going to be ideal for long-distance trekking. He might play a support role for Kinner's expeditions, like helping pack and maintain equipment? Especially if Prometheus is involved, too.

He would probably also be a good perimeter guard. He keeps an eye on Blackwater Station in canon, when he's there, sort of an extra set of eyes/ears for Forrest if Howard isn't around. I think he'd make a decent watchman.

I definitely think Furiosa and Palmer ought to scavenge together.

[shardofwinter]

Kinner and Palmer are perfect for this! Hopefully their past experiences will keep them out of trouble this time around. ;)

[eumenis]

Wasteland mode: Activated.

Furiosa will be trying to bring help from her world at first but as soon as that becomes impossible, I'm going to have her stuck in the Nexus and hella pissed about it because the cold is not her comfort zone and also she'll be freaked out worrying about the folks back home.

She is definitely going to adapt fast, though, and fall into a scavenger and/or supply runner role. She'll be looking to help other people survive--at least people she likes--but if there are thieves or opportunists that cross her or if she runs into conflict with someone she is capable of being absolutely ruthless. Don't hesitate to plot with me!

[brother_alone]

I feel like Furi and Josh will definitely meet up while on supply runs since that's going to be a lot of what he does during this.

:thinkface:

Could have some neato shenanigans. He knows his stuff about winter survival but she'd have all the battle knowhow.

[shardofwinter]

Poor Furiosa probably won't like Reynard as much as Hazel! But if she focuses on survival and ruthlessness, he might very well like her!

[sweetcandygirl]

I think getting these two warrior women together during the Winter Event would be great potential. Supply run partners <3

[shieldborne]

How convenient that Steve has been stockpiling nonperishable foods and medical supplies and bunks in his clubhouse for teen heroes! He'll definitely open it up to people that need help, and that might prove to be a nearly full-time job in itself. If not, I'm sure he'll be interested in guarding the perimeter, keeping the peace, or targeted search-and-rescue as needed.

[websnextdoor]

Peter's going to end up trapped in the Nexus fairly quickly during this, so he'll be at the base most of the time!

[liverfree]

Woohoo! Winter event!

Prometheus will help as many refugees as he can, including by turning his studio into a place where others can stay warm. But as supplies dwindle, he'll take part in expeditions. He'll lead one if he needs to, although he's best suited as an advisor, someone who can make recommendations and strategize. Either way, he wants to help. He didn't steal fire from the gods just to watch people freeze their asses off in the Nexus. :P

Because of some character development stuff I have planned for Adia and Caspar, they'll be sitting this one out. They might be around in the beginning, but early on their PINpoints will become too unreliable for them to risk visiting the Nexus.

[shardofwinter]

If the studio isn't in the heart of the Nexus, and ends up falling outside of the shrinking boundaries, Prometheus will have to take his guests and head to a safe haven eventually! If not, then he's going to be packed, especially if it's warm! ^^

[attackpatternbattista]

I think I'll tentatively throw Delia and Dia at this, Fortyskey may sit it out, I haven't entirely decided yet.

As it is, I'll see what I can do, I can't promise *speed*, but I do appreciate the fact that this is coming after the new year, when the dust from christmas madness settles.

[attackpatternbattista]

As to what they're doing: Delia's a former pirate who knows how to scavenge and survive in a variety of situations and environments. That said, she can also help with maintaining a perimeter, and assisting with hunting down food if necessary.

Not assigning Dia a role just yet either, given she lives outside the main nexus area in her ship, she may be unaware until it starts getting pretty Bad. Her ship can take some of the cold, but only for so long.

[westfallcorndog]

Harrow will definitely be involved. He'll probably split his time between maintaining a perimeter (because he does guard duty well!) and sneaking off to scavenge.

Harrow's family, the Weatherhills, will also be involved! I hope to get some Lawrence, Tamminy, and Anna screen time. As they have no magic, no fighting skills, and few belongings, they will definitely spend the event being refugees.. They'll be looking for protection, but will also be in a position to distrust fishy figures.

Zandros will be involved as well! I won't assign him to a role off the bat, but he will volunteer to help anyone who's out there Doing Good. He's a shield master and a healer, so he's in a good position to be a Helpful Gentleman.

[turningcolors]

I"m undecided if Hazel and Tina will be trapped in the Nexus for this event but at least in HAzel's case she will be acting the part of a refugee whenever she's in the Nexus. She's got no powers now though folks may not know it ;)

[thissideonly]

To preface, I'm not 100% sure if I'll properly participate.

That being said, this is what I'm thinking if I do. Like their older brother, the Tatsuyas will let anyone come over to their house between the Plaza and the Wilds, so anyone can stay warm during scavenging attempts in the Wilds. They have a spare room filled with beds in case people need to stay the night, as well. Guest!Tatsuya can also offer mechanical services should the need arise.

However, because Apollo canonically is weak to ice and guest!Tatsuya doesn't have any Personas resistant against ice, these two will not be able to go on expeditions or scavenge haunts and will need help getting supplies in their house.

The other muses will be unable to visit the Nexus during this event due to the blizzard blocking their way in.

[shardofwinter]

The Tatsuyas should be aware that they won't be able to stay in their house forever unless it's in the dead centre of the Nexus. The boundaries will be closing in, so eventually they'll have to make a break for the safe haven areas.

[sweetcandygirl]

I have two characters that would be interested in this event, and I am not certain about the rest of my must list.

Harley will be in the midst of the action, anyway she can get. Depending on her mood/day/hour -- she might be a scavenger/ a thief/ on an expedition. She is not one to sit back and just wait. So she will be where the action is.

Hermione will be helping the refuges. She has several survival skills, as a survivor of a war, one who has spent many months on the run, living in a forest. She has many spells that can be advantageous during a situation like this. And to this day stays prepared, with several items of use in her enchanted clutch. Please let me know if you need me to have Hermione more in the background, as she can be a bit OTP with her magical abilities.

[shardofwinter]

Would you be interested in having Hermoine's clutch/wand(s) stolen? It could be interesting to see how she'd cope without them, and have a potential 'find the stolen items' plot for Hermoine and/or other folks?

[lovesuwithknives]

Azwel will be about, though I'm not sure in what capacity yet. He could probably do just about anything, though he's just not the type to go stealing things. Too subtle. XD If you want a fighter on an expedition or someone to break up disputes or mad 1500s survival skillz, he's your guy.

Alex Mason will actually be locked out of the Nexus for this one.

[shardofwinter]

Interacting with people may be the best way to find out what role he prefers, though he can always help out in multiple capacities! You just let me know if you want him to get nudged in any particular direction!

[coldsong]

So. Loki.

I feel like literally any of these options is in his bag, even including pretending to be a refugee needing help, but what I would really like to see him do is to get interested in who these mysterious figures are (Frost Giants?? Something similar?) and what's going on, try to examine the torches and look for magical details that might be missed, and investigate in general.

At some point he will realize that his Jotun form is far more useful for all this and just take to it full-time, which is not quite his own personal hell but he won't love the experience.

He will be interested in caring for the people closest to him, whether they need physical protection or just firewood, so it's very possible to find him helping refugees, but he might also end up being that scary-ass red-eyed blue creature you see through the fog and avoid at all costs.

[turningcolors]

If he's looking into the torches and magic we should talk ;)

[contrivings]

I am thinking of only throwing Penelope into this event, because that'll be what I can manage. She's got a good head on her shoulders and Mad Weaving Skillz (TM), but I think she will probably be a refugee. I'd love to see her helping others, though.

[shardofwinter]

With skills like hers, she could probably repair a lot of clothes, too! I imagine many people will be tearing essential coats and trousers, whether they're struggling through crowds or fighting an opponent.

[he_put_the_devil_in_me]

I'm thinking the only character I'll be devoting to the event will be Matt, starting things off as Daredevil. He'll be looking to help people, so that will likely mean things like keeping the peace or maintaining the perimeter.

Anyone who's going to end up snowblind (Steve), hit me up. Matt can be the blind leading the blind. :D

[shieldborne]

Yes please. I need this CR.

[bitterguardian]

Sorry I'm late to post here! I think I may be leaving Forrest out of it just because that feels like too much too soon, and he'd freak the hell out being cut off from home.

Horvath, on the other hand, will fret about his cats but has plenty to offer here. He can probably help best by offering healing and other protection magic to those in need, and that's certainly a strong impulse for him. If there's stuff to fight, he's not real mobile but he's pretty skilled in battle anyway. Basically he will be providing aid however he can, to everyone he can.

[shieldborne]

If you want, Horvath can join Steve at the Clubhouse. We'd have to handwave or play out an IC meeting beforehand but it'd be a good base of operations and tbh Steve might need the help.

[walking_on_fire]

I have Natalie here (Pokemon trainer OC) here that will probably want to do something involving helping people (keeping the peace, helping refugees or patrolling). She does have Pokemon, but the catch is that the cold will wear them out faster and she'll have to be mindful that they need to eat as well like any other living being. She's also bad at being a leader and needs a lot of guidance as stuff gets worse.

So tldr: provider of some fire, but not all that smart / ready for this winter lockdown.

[prescription_grade]

Well, I couldn't stand it. This is Bridgie/WugglyUmp here with a little-used character of mine. Danny Gladstone is all of 15 years old (though he'll pretend he's 18+), and he's got magic but he's more or less useless for this kind of thing, so consider him a refugee.

He might be able to be talked into a little healing, particularly if Horvath drafts him, but we'll see how things go.

[slicksalesman]

I am thinking of having Mr. Slick participating with the event, and he will provide with blankets.

I just wanted to check if it's alright if he also provides with warm clothing too? (scarves, gloves, coats, boots). It won't be a lot, but it's a decent amount.