January Event: Setting Fire to the Sky

[lifeaftr_mods]

JANUARY EVENT: SETTING FIRE TO THE SKY

Who: Everyone!
What: The sun dies, and the creatures of the night emerge from the depths
When: January 21st - January 28th
Where: Everywhere! Ensō, Monsun, Chol, and the Islets
Warnings: Character death, possible body horror and violence. Please mark any additional warnings as needed!

So We Can Take the World Back From the Heart-Attacked

The night of the 21st, the sun begins to dim. It dips in the horizon, sinks to nestle itself in the center of Chol like a star falling in slow motion, where it begins to smolder quietly - massive, smoking, and hot, like a massive egg. The night grows colder, the sky reduced to an inky black. The surface of the surrounding water is still but for the occasional ripple, the odd, strangely subdued wave, with not even the hollow lights of distant stars to glint off its reflective waves.

The Jormun gather around the sunken, dying sun with their scaled hands on their weapons, their expressions grim. They fan out across the island of Chol with arms in hand. Their fortifications have settled around the island's center in a dense ball of bristling weapons. They have been preparing for this. They are ready to fight.

Are you? No island is safe. From the well-trodden mainland of Ensō and its islets to the stark dichotomy of Monsun to the craggy shores of Chol, all manner of strange things have begun to haul themselves, dripping, from the watery dark.

No more preparation. No more running.

From here on out, it is fight or die.

One Maniac At a Time, We Will Take It Back

As the Storyteller has promised, there is sanctuary in their temple on Ensō, which will keep out the worst of the creatures. It will not, however, protect characters from the cold and dark, and so they will have to keep themselves warm some other way.

The Jormun fight fiercely, but they do not fight alone. Aside from the help that the willing of your number have offered, you may glimpse the Storyteller battling alongside the rest in a flurry of strange, shifting animal shapes: a heavy-antlered reindeer, a shrieking owl with outstretched talons, a slavering grizzly bear with the Storyteller's signature tome strapped across a broad, furry back, to name but a few. Those creatures that the Storyteller defeats will burst into a flurry of paper and dark, spattering ink, rather than being felled in the conventional manner. How odd.

As this is an event with a high risk of death, the Storyteller will impose death penalties for one week only. However, deaths succumbed during the event will count towards the character's total.

Then I'll Raise You Like a Phoenix

Come the sunrise on the 28th, the sun will launch itself into the air with a victorious shriek, its wings trailing plumes of fire behind it. The phoenix takes flight, reborn from the ashes. The shores of Chol are littered with corpses, both shadowy and scaled, along with an even smattering of crumpled paper and splotched inkstains. Despite the triumph of the fight, it did not come without its costs. The Jormun gather their dead and prepare to mourn them quietly. Those who perished in the fight will not see the sunrise from this unique perspective, watching the murk of the night tint to soft, milky yellow and pink, and then to a glorious new day.

Munin will greet the survivors with a mixture of solemnity and relief, thanking them profusely for their help. There is not much more that her people can offer you, at this point - they must grieve their dead, and she must return to the sea to prove that she has cemented her worth as a leader in the eyes of the other Jormun - but that does not mean that your stories will part forever.

Event Timeline

[ ♆ ] January 20th: Monthly Storytelling occurs as usual
[ ♆ ] January 21st: The dark arrives, the temperature drops further, and the first hostile creatures begin their assault
[ ♆ ] January 28th: The dark ends and the sun rises
[ ♆ ] January 30th: Those who perished are revived, suffering from a reduced death penalty

Event Specifics

[ ♆ ] If you have any questions, feel free to look over our OOC Info Post.
[ ♆ ] Feel free to make your own logs if necessary!
[ ♆ ] If your character perishes in this event, please let us know!
[ ♆ ] Item trades with the Jormun can be found on the OOC plotting post here! Even if you were only recently accepted, you are free to participate!

LOGS ● OOC ● STORIES ● MAIN NAVIGATION

( CODED BY BOOTYCALL )

Comments

[souldeterminant]

[Frisk regards the denial with surprise at first, wondering if maybe they'd misread and the knight hadn't liked it after all. As they take it back, however, their eyes fall on the scrawl appearing in the dirt. Understanding ticks the corner of their mouth. They like keeping things even, huh? That's fair.]

[With a nod, Frisk pulls the wrapper off of their own candy and pops the sweet into their mouth, where it bulges slightly out of their cheek. They roll it between their teeth and suck on it slowly instead of crunching down on it right away, smoothing the wrinkles out of wrapper on the floor in front of them for no discernible reason. With their other hand, they draw out yet another candy and place it in front of the knight. They can't have many left now.]

[This time, instead of waiting, Frisk tries something different. They raise their hands and start signing.]

{Do you know this?}

[lightlessfuture]

[ They nod, pleased to see their scrawled message has gotten across. It is hard, to say everything they wanted to say in the only way they could.

That simple action of smoothing the wrapper catches their attention; they tilt their head, staring in fascination as wrinkles are made to vanish, or at least decrease.

Ah, more hand signals. They do their best to mimic what Frisk is saying, but sadly they understand none of it, though they do a pretty good job at copying the question.

More scratching.

not yet .

not taught . will learn . ]

[souldeterminant]

You can have them if you want.

[They're referring to the little wax squares, which they make clear by pointing to both wrappers. Why on earth does Frisk think anyone would want literal garbage? The world may never know.]

[That aside, they're a little disappointed to see that the knight doesn't know sign language after all, but they don't let it dishearten them. It's good to see that they want to learn. It would probably make things a lot easier for them. Frisk smiles again, and sign along with their next offer.]

Is anyone teaching you? I can help.

[lightlessfuture]

[ Garbage or not, the knight handles the wrappers like they're a treasure, neatly folding them and tucking them under their cloak.

Things that didn't serve a use were not usually kept; anything on their person served some purpose. It was to minimise the weight of travel. But here in this place, where they have a home to return to and make their own...perhaps now is the time for trinkets.

drifter wants to .

two teachers learn faster

They're willing to absorb new information, and they seem fascinated by the movements; they mimic Frisk's hand signs once again.

After a moment, something occurs to them. More scratching.
taught yourself ? or teacher ?

They had learned most things by experience - even writing, even reading. Learning to comprehend the most basic sounds until they became words. Was this, too, a language learned by experience? ]

[souldeterminant]

[It's not a sore or unhappy subject, not exactly, but the harmless question is a reminder to Frisk that there are some things they're supposed to be hiding even now. Some things further still that were supposed to be left in the past long before Kittu was even conceptualized. They shift their weight thoughtfully and glance away. It's not a big enough deal to lie about, so...]

[They may as well be truthful, if not vague.]

{Someone taught me when I was little. If I teach you, I can keep practicing, too. It's hard when most people don't know ASL.}

[Frisk is apparently much chattier when speaking in hands.]

[lightlessfuture]

[ They note the shift in body language. Perhaps the past is an awkward topic; they understand that much. They'll try not to mention it, in future.

As it is, they try to follow Frisk's gestures. They recognise a few gestures already, or can at least guess at their meanings - "I", "you", and so on. They're a fast learner, at the very least, but the meaning of the sentences is somewhat...lost...on them.

this language

symbols with hands ?

They're trying to understand it in the only way they know. Relating it to the language they know best of all, but something that nobody here would speak. ]

[souldeterminant]

[Symbols with hands... haha. No, that's something different. Wingdings. That, too, is a language Frisk has picked up -- but they've long given up their practice partner. Maybe they'll lose it, soon. That might be better for everyone.]

[But they don't let on the grim thought. Instead, Frisk smiles and speaks verbally.]

Sign language.

[And then they say it again, in the language itself.]

[lightlessfuture]

[ The little bug nods and imitates the signs, more slowly, stretching smaller fingers out to more clearly convey each gesture. If nothing else, they're a fast learner.

They drop their hands back in their lap. More writing.

talking without voice is strange

not used to it

They were the one who listened to people, not the other way around. In many ways, it's somewhat easier just to listen, never to participate. But the world is not like that, here.

no voice just listen to others

but here others want to listen to me

strange

but nice : ) ]

[souldeterminant]

[Oh... a smiley face. Cute.]

I like it. [Talking without a voice, they mean, and keep signing along with their words, speaking slowly so that they can emphasize every gesture. They've learned that the best way to pick up a language is exposure.]

And I like listening. If you've just listened your whole life, you must have learned a lot.

[lightlessfuture]

[ A nod. They have indeed learned much in their travels, though the depth of it is not something they feel necessary to express at this time; there's something to learn here, after all.

They sign back, slowly, with a nod; 'I like it'. This language is new and novel to them, and they're hungry for knowledge.

And then, tilting their head, meticulously performing each gesture to make sure the message gets across:

'I like you.' And they point at Frisk, an attempt to come across clearer.

They're mastering it quickly, it seems. Had they a conventional face, perhaps there would be a smile, a crinkling of the eyes. They tilt their head the other way instead, in lieu of that. ]

[souldeterminant]

[They smile, nodding encouragingly as their new little friend tries signing a full (if short) sentence. They're picking it much more quickly than Frisk had, even at the beginning. Their movements seem a bit halting, but that's more than understandable, and Frisk has little trouble picking the simple gestures up.]

[Then their eyebrows raise in mild surprise. At first they think it was a mistake, but then the little guy points at them, and it becomes clear that it was intentional. Slightly embarrassed, they huff out a breath of laughter and bring their fist to their mouth to hide a smile. They're really straightforward, aren't they? Do they have any idea how cute they are... ?]

[Not wanting to be patronizing, Frisk simply signs back 'I like you, too.']

[Then they switch gears.]

My name is K-I-T-T-U.

[The name is spelled out, both verbally and in sign language, before they say in full:]

Kittu.

[lightlessfuture]

[ Far from feeling offended at that hidden smile, the Knight seems as happy as they can express with their admittedly limited facial capability to have made Frisk laugh.

(It's not something they get to see often, so they treasure it. They've made people smile, coming here, and it makes them feel warm inside.)

They clap their hands in apparent delight at 'I like you too', and then lean forward to watch the new set of hand signs carefully.

'K-I-T-T-U. Kittu.' They sign it slow, to make sure they've got it right, and then sign it faster.

Then, they repeat some of Frisk's signs:

'My name is' - then, they shake their head, folding their hands in their lap. They repeat it for emphasis.

'My name is -' Nothing at all, it seems. ]

[souldeterminant]

[For the first several seconds, it doesn't register. They interpret the headshake to mean that their companion simply doesn't know the letters in ASL for their name, and they wait patiently for them to spell it out in the dirt in front of them.]

[Only after they repeat the phrase and then fall silent once more does it click.]

[Frisk's eyebrows raise near to their hairline.]

[They drop their own hands into their lap, head tilting in mild puzzlement. Then they're up again and signing along.]

You don't have a name?

[lightlessfuture]

[ They nod, signing "don't have name" to familiarize themselves with the way their hands should move to say it.

They scratch gently in the floor again.

made without

not named

anything is fine

It's an odd choice of words, to say 'made' - and isn't everyone born without a name? - but it is what it is. ]

[souldeterminant]

[Once again, Frisk's hands fall into their lap. Their face has shifted into a blank expression, studying their companion with a blank sort of intensity. Their eyes flicker down to the text only long enough to read it.]

Your name isn't something I should choose.

[It's even, more of a simple statement than anything. They pause for a beat before they pick up their hands and begin signing again.]

But I can help. What's something you like?

[lightlessfuture]

i like lots of things . is it enough to name myself after one ?

name is like mask . defines self .

[ What should their name be? They've never had one, but it can mean so many things. ]

defines purpose .

[ They look up at Frisk, questioningly almost. Though they've written several things about what they think a name is, they're looking for further input on the subject, it seems. ]

[souldeterminant]

[Frisk listens steadily. It occurs to them that for someone without a name, they seem to grasp the implications of having one perfectly well. As far as they're concerned, it makes Frisk all the less entitled to pick a name for them.]

[They nod.]

If it's enough for you, it's enough. If it isn't, then pick more than one. It's your name, so you should be in charge of it.

[lightlessfuture]

[ Scribble, scribble.

when others name me

it tells me what they see when they look at me .

i like that . it gives me many names .

is that not enough ?

They honestly don't know what they would name themselves. They've never really had a choice - or rather, the choice hasn't occurred to them. They are a wanderer, a warrior, a hunter, a ghost; things that describe a part of them.

did you choose your name ?

Another awkward question, perhaps. ]

[souldeterminant]

[It is. Frisk considers it for a moment -- and then elect to skirt around it.]

It's different for me.

[How, they don't seem intent on elaborating. Instead they shift gears. Or rather, languages. Frisk moves their hands to their head, resting their thumbs on their temples.]

'Deer'.

[Then they close their fingers together and curve them, forming a slight crescent shape with the entirety of their hands. They're attempting to emulate the long, slightly curved horns rising from the knight's own crown.]

This can be you. If you want.

[A name sign. Slightly inappropriate, for someone they've just met -- but these are special circumstances.]

[lightlessfuture]

[ The Knight mimics the hand sign. Does that mean they have two sets of horns now? It seems to tickle their fancy, in any case.

i like it . : )

what is a deer ? is it like an ox ?

HAS THE KNIGHT EVER SEEN A DEER IN THEIR ENTIRE LIFE ]

[souldeterminant]

[That, they were half expecting. Frisk smiles and lowers their hands, but not before they're sure to nod in approval of their new friend's attempt to make the sign. Deer. It's not a very good name; it's a bit awkward, and doesn't really sound like a name. But then, Frisk isn't very good at naming things. It's OK.]

[As long as Deer likes it.]

It's smaller than an ox. Thinner. And its horns are prettier.

You can ask the Storyteller to turn into one.