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westwhere2023-12-09 06:57 pm
groundrules) wrote in westwhere2023-12-09 06:57 pm
Entry tags:
- arcane: caitlyn,
- blade of the immortal: asano rin,
- dragon age: cole,
- harry potter: hermione granger,
- kingdom of the wicked: emilia,
- kingdom of the wicked: wrath,
- last case of benedict fox: benedict fox,
- mcu: america chavez,
- mcu: bucky barnes,
- mcu: kamala khan,
- mcu: natasha romanova,
- mcu: yelena,
- one piece: luffy,
- one piece: nami,
- original: red,
- penny dreadful: vanessa ives,
- star wars: merrin,
- umbrella academy: five,
- warcraft: wrathion,
- wheel of time: elayne trakand
the beauty, the beast, the burned
All but overnight, howling winter winds seal off main roads and curtail safe travel. The storms will recede within a month — and the Merchant negotiates for the party to bide that time at the sinister castle of the clan Netvor and its cursed heir.
ON THE ROAD
The party departs at night, in carriages led by obstinately silent coachmen, who urge discretion. Above all, they say, the woods must not know you head for the castle. Inside, you find dried fruit, candied meats, candle stubs and blankets. You are assigned your first ride, but may swap at resting points.
- ■ Crossing the misty, eerily quiet woods, your carriage is attacked by large, demonic wolve. Coachmen scream to run to the castle.
■ Evade the wolves in the woods, until you reach the strong, tall gates and fences that encircle the vast castle gardens. The gates bear skulls that carry daggers between their teeth. To let you in, they ask for shiny things, wine and secrets — but are also susceptible to charm.
■ If you arrive covered in blood, the gate skulls call you a ‘beauty’ and offer you a dagger that you may take or discard. If you arrive untarnished, they call you a ‘beast.’
Image source.
HOME, SWEET HOME
Tall, dark and looming, with narrow corridors and windows of stained glass — the castle of the noble Netvor clan is like a slow-beating, putrid heart that powers extensive gardens and forest lands.
The castle rests on thick mounds of snow, crossed by red rivulets that stain nearby ice sheets crimson — a reminder, your host Julien says, of a ‘Red Hunt’ that the Netvor clan carried out years prior, killing hundreds of animals until their blood mixed with dirt. In retaliation, a forest witch cursed the clan, transforming its heir into an unsightly beast and his servants into inanimate objects or fellow creatures.
You were largely given lodging at castle Netvor in exchange for entertaining Julien, the prince’s serene and startlingly handsome fiancé, who welcomes you with the main house rule: you must not see the prince.
BEHIND YOU
The castle covets you : doors and windows often thud shut to lock you inside quarters, candles light up or dim on whim, and you sometimes hear the echo of voices in the corridors carrying the secrets of other speakers, long after they’ve departed.
If you are a ‘beauty,’ statues slowly turn their heads or move when you look away, and you see shadows running through mirrors. If you are ‘beastly,’ you hear clawing at your windows and doors at night, only to find fading scratch marks in the morning.
Some servants have been cursed into inanimate objects, with others transformed into bird-like, monstrous but harmless creatures that stay largely hidden.
House rules: do not open doors or windows at night. Be kind to the servants.
THE SOUTHERN WING
Home to Julien and you, the southern wing is bright, airy, gilded and refreshed daily by sentient dusters and brooms.
■ Lavish sleeping quarters with en suite bathing quarters and generously supplied wardrobes. There are no furs or fur-lined clothes. Rule: do not enter Julien’s locked bedchamber. Julien himself heads to the northern wing each night.
■ Self-sustaining kitchens, where bowls, whisks and ladles perpetually prepare elaborate dishes and pastries. Visitors are often hijacked to test eccentric or boozy dishes.
■ A glistening ballroom with wall-length mirrors. Soft music erupts, compelling you to take a partner and dance feverishly to steps you somehow know or that a sentient cello can teach. Spinning by the mirrors, you see yourself reflected among faceless dancers whom you recognise from the portrait room. When you finish dancing, you spot ash footprints on the floor.
BEASTLY QUARTERS
The northern wing is dark, moulding, with torn wallpaper, broken furniture and soot strewn about — the signs of a failed arson attempt. The ravaged northern area leads to a tall tower that houses the prince’s chambers.
House rules: you cannot enter after sundown, and you must leave any room when you hear unknown footsteps behind you. Disobey, and you gradually lose consciousness as the footsteps come near you, and you hear only a rasped, bestial, Your blood need not spill here, before you wake with a booming migraine in the southern wing. Do this three times, and Julien insists you must leave the castle.
■ the portrait room: a gallery and library that displays brimming bookcases and the portraits of the family members of the Netvor clan. The faces have been removed: some by claws, canvas strips hanging. Some were burned off. In a handful of portraits, faces have simply disappeared through white erosion.
■ The prince’s sleeping quarters are in a locked tower chamber, preceded by a wide stairwell covered covered in thorny roses and hundreds of wilted petals. Slowly over the duration of your stay, you notice they wither and fade. Touch a rose and you hear hissing, as the flower briefly curls back into a blossom. Prick your fingers on a thorn, and briefly see names engraved the nearby brick wall. You recognise them from the room of portraits.
■ In a nest of rose vines, you find several notebooks — including one with the prince’s daily entries. On the day of your arrival, he scribbled, Can men learn compassion?
Tall, dark and looming, with narrow corridors and windows of stained glass — the castle of the noble Netvor clan is like a slow-beating, putrid heart that powers extensive gardens and forest lands.
The castle rests on thick mounds of snow, crossed by red rivulets that stain nearby ice sheets crimson — a reminder, your host Julien says, of a ‘Red Hunt’ that the Netvor clan carried out years prior, killing hundreds of animals until their blood mixed with dirt. In retaliation, a forest witch cursed the clan, transforming its heir into an unsightly beast and his servants into inanimate objects or fellow creatures.
 | ” Once upon a time, there was a man. And that man had kin. And that kin was cruel. But the forest chooses its time and its champions. The land rebelled against them. Their people turned away. And only the beasts they so cleverly despoiled would still have them. The prince was spared because a glimmer of kindness he showed a stranger, to make amends. But the prince was alone. ” |
You were largely given lodging at castle Netvor in exchange for entertaining Julien, the prince’s serene and startlingly handsome fiancé, who welcomes you with the main house rule: you must not see the prince.
BEHIND YOU
The castle covets you : doors and windows often thud shut to lock you inside quarters, candles light up or dim on whim, and you sometimes hear the echo of voices in the corridors carrying the secrets of other speakers, long after they’ve departed.
If you are a ‘beauty,’ statues slowly turn their heads or move when you look away, and you see shadows running through mirrors. If you are ‘beastly,’ you hear clawing at your windows and doors at night, only to find fading scratch marks in the morning.
Some servants have been cursed into inanimate objects, with others transformed into bird-like, monstrous but harmless creatures that stay largely hidden.
House rules: do not open doors or windows at night. Be kind to the servants.
THE SOUTHERN WING
Home to Julien and you, the southern wing is bright, airy, gilded and refreshed daily by sentient dusters and brooms.
■ Lavish sleeping quarters with en suite bathing quarters and generously supplied wardrobes. There are no furs or fur-lined clothes. Rule: do not enter Julien’s locked bedchamber. Julien himself heads to the northern wing each night.
■ Self-sustaining kitchens, where bowls, whisks and ladles perpetually prepare elaborate dishes and pastries. Visitors are often hijacked to test eccentric or boozy dishes.
■ A glistening ballroom with wall-length mirrors. Soft music erupts, compelling you to take a partner and dance feverishly to steps you somehow know or that a sentient cello can teach. Spinning by the mirrors, you see yourself reflected among faceless dancers whom you recognise from the portrait room. When you finish dancing, you spot ash footprints on the floor.
| ” The villagers don’t speak of what happened to the rest of clan Netvor. Handfuls of people. If they are among the cursed servants, they hide themselves. But I suspect they have long transcended to a different realm of possibilities. He does not speak of them to me. But he does not speak of any unkindness to me. He is… gentle, in his way. ” |
- ■ The reading room: a wide seating area with an enormous fireplace where the remains of prized hunting prey were traditionally set to burn. Strange bones and expensive clothing scraps linger amid wood kindling.
■ The object-servants (largely dusters and teacups) urge you to help decorate the southern wing with flowers, candles and baubles for new year festivities — only for you to discover burned clothes in the castle’s nooks and crannies. What remains of the materials is high-quality, ornate.
BEASTLY QUARTERS
The northern wing is dark, moulding, with torn wallpaper, broken furniture and soot strewn about — the signs of a failed arson attempt. The ravaged northern area leads to a tall tower that houses the prince’s chambers.
House rules: you cannot enter after sundown, and you must leave any room when you hear unknown footsteps behind you. Disobey, and you gradually lose consciousness as the footsteps come near you, and you hear only a rasped, bestial, Your blood need not spill here, before you wake with a booming migraine in the southern wing. Do this three times, and Julien insists you must leave the castle.
■ the portrait room: a gallery and library that displays brimming bookcases and the portraits of the family members of the Netvor clan. The faces have been removed: some by claws, canvas strips hanging. Some were burned off. In a handful of portraits, faces have simply disappeared through white erosion.
■ The prince’s sleeping quarters are in a locked tower chamber, preceded by a wide stairwell covered covered in thorny roses and hundreds of wilted petals. Slowly over the duration of your stay, you notice they wither and fade. Touch a rose and you hear hissing, as the flower briefly curls back into a blossom. Prick your fingers on a thorn, and briefly see names engraved the nearby brick wall. You recognise them from the room of portraits.
■ In a nest of rose vines, you find several notebooks — including one with the prince’s daily entries. On the day of your arrival, he scribbled, Can men learn compassion?
| ” You must have seen them, the roses. They are his burden. The root and timepiece of his curse. Until the last petal withers away, he must rebuild the forest and make amends for the carnage wrought by his family. If the curse believes… the balance has been met, he will be spared. If not… but we still have time. ” |
■ Each day at sunset, the stairwell roses bloom golden, as thousands of petals rain down. If you are touched, and you are in the presence of someone you dislike, you feel encouraged to apologise or make amends. In the company of someone you enjoy, you express gratitude, admiration or joy. Those who are already in love may find themselves (finally?) confessing. Optionally, some characters feel overwhelmed by sudden, bitter sadness, tears trailing down their cheeks — and a feeling of captivity, as footsteps draw near.
THE GARDENS
The snow-laden gardens spread wide and vast, containing archery and sword training grounds, a frosted fountain , a frozen lake for skating and several bridges for those who entertain snow fights.
- ■ If you are a ‘beauty,’ the blood-bound red dirt seems to stick to you as you pass by, staining you crimson. For ‘beasts,’ the dirt all but parts.
■ Each day, castle servants bring devote hours to plant trees in the forest, to cleanse river waters and seed flowers or plant trees.
| ” This was a hunting castle. It needn’t have been. The villages serve gladly. Panna is only the nearest one, but they have dozens at their bidding. But the Netvor loved their bloodshed well, and so… each season. Crushing, killing, decimating. Even taming, tainting the forest’s wolves to serve as their hounds. That’s why they come at our gates now. To beg scraps. Despicable. Forgive me. I have a soft heart and a weak stomach. For my sake, he no longer hunts in the wasteful way of his people. ” |
■ The familiar demonic wolves prowl at night, howling maddeningly and sometimes breaching into the gardens. They appear desperate to attack the castle.
■ Glancing at the castle from the gardens, you might see a dark, nebulous figure in the distance at a tower balcony that doesn’t correspond to any room you’ve had access to.
BE OUR GUEST
Each evening, you must dress in formalwear and dine in the great ballroom of the southern wing. The space is now poorly lit by candlelight, and you can barely glimpse your dining partners.
- ■ You are asked to never look behind you, even as you sometimes hear heavy steps and rattling nearby. Now and then, you think you can almost see a pair of golden eyes behind a dining companion.
■ The dishes and cutlery dance and perform throughout an elaborate, many-course service that all exclude venison. Diners feel compelled to trade anecdotes of their homelands and families. No one can leave for an hour.
■ At least once, you will receive a dish you associate with a close relation or family member.
■ Opt-in: Instead of dishes, you might (at most twice during your stay) receive an empty black plate. You must excuse yourself after dinner, lock yourself in your bedroom and keep vigil that night — careful not to let strangers in, no matter what they say or whose voice they imitate. If you open your door to strangers, a swathe of shadows overwhelms you with deep jealousy, loneliness or insecurity. Human company eases the feeling.
LITTLE TOWN
The gentle snow of the first few days worsens, until a great blizzard blockades you in the castle for five days ( OOCly around 17-22 December) — at the end of which, a bashful kitchen ladle and a friendly pot beg you to head into Panna village for supplies. A cart and a stubborn donkey accompany you for the 90-minute trek through the woods.
- ■ The forests are largely silent, seemingly peopled by animals of prey (rabbits, deer). At times, you find bare human footprints that seem to lead no where, some carrying the red dirt of castle Netvor.
■ Deep claw marks litter most trees in the woodlands close to castle Netvor. To your luck, the large wolves are entirely absent during the day.
■ A few small abandoned hunters’ cabins are still standing, seemingly repurposed as (empty) wolf dens. You find young village children are leaving cooked food and old shawls there. If they see you, children shoo you away.
■ The village is small, warm, chirpy and welcoming — until residents hear you come from Netvor castle. Then, they gossip and urge their children to keep away from your witch blood.
| ” You must think the people of Panna disloyal, pulling away at the first sign of hardship. But the Netvor were so cruel to animals while they yet learned to torture men. They loved their prince, once. One day, if the witch’s curse lifts, they might love him again. But no one can care for a beast, let alone associate with one pursued by a witch, they say. They are wrong. ” |
- ■ Villagers take you to a tavern to meet drunken hunter Viola, who may need a hand wrapping up a few brawls before taking you to bakers, brewers and lumberjacks. Sometimes, these sellers need your help to prepare the last of the supplies.
■ A nearby place of worship has left out incense for the dead, including incense for the wretched Netvor clan.
■ Viola insists you cannot stay past sunset and declines to accompany you back. Villagers say she was previously assisted the clan Netvor, but stopped after the Red Hunt.
NPC INBOX
no subject
He also holds his tongue to keep from asking if she remembered him enough to miss while she was gone. Even if she did, it was only a few days for her. On the other hand, his help is more valuable than most in this area and he should just accept that she has faith in him to figure something out. It should be him. For once. ]
Ah. [ He pats her back. It's still awkward. He should say he missed her too, except it was only three minutes and expressing these things seem impossible to him. She shouldn't be here, it's too dangerous, and thus he shouldn't want her to be. ]
It still sucks. [ Her word seems completely fair and accurate, and he can't seem to expand on that with the emotion stuck in his throat. ] It might take a while.
no subject
Don't sweat it. It took the Avengers five years to bring half the population back to life. The point is we bring Monica home. We'll figure out how to help her deal with whatever time she loses from there. It'll help to have her aunt and new teammate to soften the blow, right?
no subject
It could happen sooner, but he'd rather not lie to her if he can avoid that. He can offer to help without making a bunch of promises he can't keep. ]
In theory. [ He doesn't know Monica, or her relationship to Kamala, so she can't blame the next question that comes to mind. It might explain why she's so invested. ] You're her aunt?
no subject
[She claps her hands together.] Her aunt is Carol freaking Danvers! I think I forgot to mention I totally manifested being friends with her by the way. We're on a team together now. Monica is the smart one, Carol is the all-powerful one, and obviously, I'm the cute one.
no subject
Carol Danvers. [ He's sure he knows this, but Kamala tends to talk a mile a minute sometimes so he's still making a bit of leap when he asks. ] Captain Marvel?
no subject
[She trails off and winces.] That time. Carol might have accidentally sent me falling to my death a couple of times when we first started trading places. Monica tried to save me, but that didn't go well.
We need to workshop how to handle that by the way. Almost falling to your death comes up way more often than you think in a space battle.
no subject
He crosses his arms and makes an effort to take this one tiny revelation at a time. She’s entangled herself with two other people. What that means here is something they’ll have to address sooner than later. ]
Good call. [ That was much kinder than the sarcastic ’you think?’ she might have gotten if she were one of his siblings. Kamala gets special treatment. ] So if you use your powers, there’s a chance you’ll switch places? Or did you solve that before one of you skipped off into another universe.
no subject
[She taps said mysterious item with her newly painted nails. She is going to miss having that pop of style. :(] It's too bad. We got the hang of the whole switching places thing so it didn't even hurt us in fights anymore. If we were still entangled, we'd have a way to bring Monica here and know where she's been.
no subject
Or it would have brought with it a whole host of other issues. [ He could get into them, and he wants to, but this seems like a bad time to drill her for more information about something she seems to have only just discovered. Although on a whole... he is proud of her, for taking it upon herself to train her powers, and for what she did with them. It's a lot to deal with at any age.
Just proves you don't have to have grown up a child solider to be able to save the world. He studies her for a long moment, and with no small amount of restraint, he keeps the focus on her. He tried to help with her training, but even if she did remember it, he couldn't have prepared her for that. ]
Are you okay?
no subject
As okay as I can be. Monica is gone. I really don't want to be here. You know that. I'm not sorry I get to see you guys and remember even if I don't always like what I do. It's just hard.
no subject
Instead of bashing things, he runs a hand through his hair and remains the Calm Adult that she needs right now. Things didn't go as planned. They usually don't, but they'll just need to pivot. She's with them, which is as safe as she's going to be.
As long as he doesn't lose his mind before he solves it, they'll be fine. ]
Things got out of hand here the last time. [ Whatever she thought he was involved in, or how well he was handling it, it messes with his credibility if he doesn't seem in control. He puts effort into seeming that way now. ] That's not going to happen again. We won't get distracted.
I'll need you to work with me. If we can't rely on the beacons, we're going to have to come up with another plan.
no subject
Come on, Five. You know I'll work with you. We're still a team even if I forgot about you and made my own back home. You make a plan, I'll back you as long as it's not evil or something.
[She says like it's a ridiculous idea.]
no subject
What Kamala told him gives him some new ideas. Ones he can only hope to have time to work out before the next crisis hits.
Belatedly, something occurs to him: ]
What happened to the second bangle?
no subject
no subject
I suppose that's true for now. Unless we bridge the gap between universes. [ Which is what they’ve been doing with the beacons all along. With everything at their disposal, they should be able to… ] That doesn’t mean you haven’t tapped the potential one can do. It might be enough.
no subject
[She laughs it off dismissively. It's weird to think of herself as someone with real power even if that is objectively speaking the case.]
no subject
He should give her time and space (figuratively speaking) to deal with her grief and devastating news that she was ripped away from her family again, but he can’t help himself. This is something he needs to start on right away if he’s going to help get her back there. ]
When you went through the beacon, do you remember how it felt? Any similarities?
no subject
[She opens her eyes and sighs.] There's no explanation. It just is.
no subject
It might lead to nowhere. Most of his work over the last three years has, but when everything is at stake, it's too important to not get right. ]
There's always an explanation. [ She might be able to tell he's already going through theories and math that he'll be writing down as soon as he leaves her, but he manages to bring himself back to the present. Kamala doesn't need math thrown at her right now, she needs a break. She can take one while he works.
When he looks back at her, there's a rare glimpse of empathy in his eyes. Not many people can understand what that kind of power is like, but Five can. He's said as much before. Having the answers so close but so out of reach can drive someone insane.
She doesn't have to be like him. ]
You should stay with Allison. We'll be moving on soon.
no subject
She reaches out to touch his arm and smiles supportively.] Okay, but we should eat soon. I still believe in eating my feelings.
[She semi-jokes before pulling away to go. Monica isn't coming. It's torture to stay any longer.] See you soon, okay?
[She tosses a bit of light in front of her to make a platform and jet off to find Allison. She could use a good hug.]