TDM #4 - Aurora Borealis Bust? [REPRINT]

[pumpkinhollow]

Pumpkin Hollow Gazette February Issue

[Find our plain text version here!]

Pumpkin Hollow Gazette

2/8/24 | TDM #4 - AURORA BOREALIS BLITZ BUST? Content Warnings: "Further Details" section has independent CW labels.
Forecast: SEVERE BLIZZARD WARNING

REBUILDING HELP REQUESTED

By Cecil Gershwin Palmer

A photo taken of the damage.

ACROSS PUMPKIN HOLLOW - City government is requesting aid with repairs to public buildings and local fixtures after the recent earthquakes on Tuesday, January 8th. While there was minimal damage to Town Hall itself, several important buildings sustained damage, including the Magpie National Bank, the South Train Station and the Clock Tower, which is now stuck with hands at 8pm.

Regarding the cause of the earthquake, local biologist Dr. Elias Coldwood was heard to say “There's never been seismic activity here.” And he’s a scientist, so he would know! But clearly this is no longer the case. Perhaps Pumpkin Hollow has a mysterious tiny civilization underground worshiping a destroyer god, planning to attack through the bowling alley, the moment we create a bowling alley. Perhaps not. More on this story as it unfolds, faithful readers.

In the meantime, volunteers to help with the damage to city buildings are invited to meet with Mayor Hellen Poe for assignments.

AURORA TURNS VIOLENT - MYSTERIOUS BLIZZARD INTERRUPTS CHAOS

By Yorick Aberdeen

An artist's rendition of last year's view.

ABOVE MARROW ISLE - Despite our earlier report, it turns out that this year's annual aurora borealis season did not turn out to be a pleasant or romantic viewing experience. Instead, starry monsters based off of classic constellations have been attacking the town each time the aurora is in the sky! However, due to some extreme blizzards that have been occurring most nights each month since late January, the aurora has been interrupted more nights than not and the monsters intercepted. Still, the Pumpkin Hollow Safety Board would like to remind everyone to take appropriate precautions during inclement weather, and to tread carefully on clear nights as monsters may still be attacking until late February!

HOROSCOPES

By Cecil Gershwin Palmer

What do the stars say about you today?

Capricorn: Do you feel as if you’ve lost something? If not, it’s wise to double-check. Perhaps it’s not something like a button or a key, but your sense of wonder or your self-confidence. Remember, things tend to be in the last place you look.

Aquarius: Something about the year ending made you feel lighter, like taking off a heavy wool coat. Ride this burst of energy as far as it will take you, because the shiny of a fresh beginning tends to wear off quickly.

Pisces: Don’t worry, I don’t believe what everyone says behind your back. You’re not too sensitive or too naive. They’re just jealous. Really, most of the time when they’re whispering, it’s not even about you.

Aries: You’re the sort of warm individual that babies and animals are drawn to. Unfortunately, this may include hungry wolves and swarms of insects. But don’t let that bring you down! We need that sort of personality around here.

Taurus: There’s nothing wrong with wanting to be the best, until you work to stop others from also being the best. That’s called cheating and may lead to you being disqualified from competitions. If you get caught, that is.

Gemini: You know those riddles about the two guards, one who always tells the truth and one who always lies? Well, everyone hates those riddles with a passion. You’ll see for yourself, soon.

Cancer: Wouldn’t you like to know?

Leo: Your incandescent personality often makes you the center of attention. However, that’s not the only thing about you that glows. Moths may flock to you in the dark this week, and so might children afraid to sleep with the lights out.

Virgo: Be careful with your words–they aren’t just the precursors to your deeds, but the manifestation of your will. This is not a week for idioms and metaphors, not for you. Even something like bemoaning a lack of spoons may make eating cereal harder.

Libra: You are, inevitably, the first one heard to say a situation isn’t fair. And it’s not, nor will it ever be. Instead of getting upset, have you ever considered getting revenge? That’s usually more satisfying in the long run.

Scorpio: Ugh, Scorpios. The position of Venus means your usually volatile emotions will be in the doldrums instead. Enjoy this while it lasts I guess. Who knows if you’ll ever experience such peace again, given, well. You’re kind of an emotional mess and no one likes you.

Sagittarius: There will never be another day like today. You must strive to make the day everything you want it to be. No mistakes, now! Consider your choices very carefully. Consider your choice to consider, very carefully.

SUNFIRE'S HEARTH

By Yorick Aberdeen

A photo of Mayor Poe's cats, Toffee and Butter, enjoying the view.

ASSORTED LOCATIONS - As the coldest part of the year settles over our fair isle, it is time for Sunfire’s Hearth--- an informal celebration of bonfires and hearth flames, for those unfamiliar! For the months of January and February, a raised platform for bonfires will be lit on weekends, and restaurants and taverns across town will keep their fireplaces lit. Unlike many of our other festivities, there is no structured celebration--- simply make some time during this time to bask in the warmth of a fire! You can even celebrate at home.

An additional benefit of this time of year is that Merrymeet is well on its way. So take this time and get snuggly in front of a fire with your special person to get in the mood for romance! (Or they could be platonic snuggles. Whatever suits you best.)

LOCAL ALCHEMIST REPORTS MISSING POTION

By Yorick Aberdeen

Some of Mx. Sallek's usual stock. Could stand to have better labels./p>

LOCATION UNCERTAIN - Early Monday morning, local alchemist Aeryn Sallek reported that a large container of magical potion has been swapped with another, and it would seem that the mistaken jug has been sent out for delivery. According to Mx. Sallek, they sent a number of jugs out for delivery in a case with our local delivery extraordinaire, Sam Porter Bridges. The jugs were meant to contain a harmless, potable freeze-resistance potion for our town’s various water sources, in the interest of keeping water reserves drinkable in sub-freezing winter weather. However, when they returned to the shop, one of these potions remained on their counter while a love potion they’d been working on went missing.

“‘Love potion’ is kind of a misnomer, honestly,” Mx. Sallek is quoted to have said on the matter. “But ‘emotional acuity’ potion doesn’t quite roll off the tongue. Basically what it actually does is enhance existing romantic desire and embolden the user to be emotionally open. But Yorick should already know all this, since he’s the one who ordered it.” [Editing note: don’t forget to cut the last part of that comment before publishing. Cecil, you don’t need to include personal statements directed at reporters from these interviews!]

It’s unclear which area of town this particular potion ended up being injected into the water source, but according to Mx. Sallek, the potion was not particularly intense to begin with. It should be significantly diluted as to be harmless. Still, if you notice any strange symptoms such as butterflies in your stomach, a desire to burst into song, or inexplicable yearning, please file a report with the Safety Board at your earliest convenience.

FOOD SHORTAGES PUT STRAIN ON ISLAND ECONOMY

By Yorick Aberdeen

MARKET DISTRICT - While there are many things to celebrate this time of year, Marrow Isle is not without its adversity. Over these past months, many new members of our community have arrived by ferry after our numbers remained small and stagnant for many years. And the presence of our newfound neighbors has been a boon to all of us. Many artisans have opened useful businesses, medical professionals have expanded our access to healthcare, and a new fishing vessel has taken to the seas. However, despite a few additions, our farming community remains quite modest and planting was not planned with such incredible new growth in mind.

The unfortunate result of this is that food reserves on the island this year are uncharacteristically low. As such, Town Council has made the difficult decision to allow for the temporary inflation of food prices and the rationing of food staples.

“We understand the hardship this will place on the residents of Pumpkin Hollow,” said Mayor Poe in a statement after this decision was made. “But please know that we are all in this together. We hope to be able to offer a better incentive package for those interested in farming in the coming springtime.”

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Further Details...

Aurora

The dead of winter sheds all colors of the trees and flowers across Marrow Isle, but tonight, there are no stark whites and grays and browns.

Tonight, in the sky sprawling with stars above the dreary town, there are lights.

Sprawling trails of violet and green twist and wave through the sky, brightening the earth below and the sea beyond Jack's Marina in magical colors. The return of the borealis is something many Pumpkin Hollowites look forward to, and their reactions are very clear: people scurry down to the shores to watch with wide eyes, many retrieve telescopes, and some even borrow the decks of ships, abandoned for the night at the docks, to watch the sights.

It doesn't take long for this to change, however; the sea nor land are safe from the curse, and it's made quickly apparent that the sky is no exception.

At first, the sight seems like none more than an illusion, perhaps someone blinking and missing a strange shift of the lights. A glimmering outline forms around a cluster of stars, only slightly harder than any of the lines that define the aurora's rays. Several of these shapes form, each array of stars different from the last, some larger, some smaller.

And then, the stars begin to fall.

Seeming to peel off the painted sky, the ebbing colors surrounding the starlight drop, crashing to the world below. Some fall to the streets and beaches, while others fall into the forest, leaving view, or drop into the sea, leaving splashes and waves in their wake that ensure any watching knows full and well that this is not a trick of the light. At first, these shapes are unmoving, glowing masses of aurora-light with stars shining brightly within them. Most townsfolk are uneasy, but this seems to pale in severity to the other disasters, even if they lack any idea of what it could mean for them.

That is, of course, until the masses begin to move.

Each one is as varied as the constellation it stole from the sky: stars form suggestions of skeletal structures, and their "flesh", only consisting of swimming lights and liquid sky that steals any lights around them. Two identical glowing shapes rise to a face finally taking form, and slowly, moving more like gel than animal as it rises to freshly-formed legs, it settles on the closest living thing it can find.

There is no calculation in it, nor what seems to be a glimmer of thought.

It simply lunges with intent to kill.

Horoscopes
[CW: Altered emotional states ]

Cecil’s disconcerting horoscopes have the following effects for the next few days:

• Capricorn: misplaced things, particularly small objects



• Aquarius: zoomies!



• Pisces: intense paranoia



• Aries: Disney princess-like magnetism to local fauna



• Taurus: insatiable perfectionism



• Gemini: reversed truth values; lies come out honest, being honest sounds like a lie.



• Cancer: Pandora-esque curiosity, to the point of personal detriment



• Leo: radiant glow emanating from your person



• Virgo: figurative speech is manifested into the world with its literal meaning



• Libra: a particularly potent desire for revenge



• Scorpio: numbing of emotions (can be counteracted by love potion, partially)



• Sagittarius: incapacitating indecision

(Don’t know your character’s sign? Feel free to just decide on one!)

Love Potion
[CW: Altered Emotional States ]

Unbeknownst to the townsfolk, the “love” potion ended up in the water supply of the Oak & Iron. As promised by Aeryn, it is thoroughly diluted, as its recipients believed it to be a normal freeze-resistance potion to be mixed with their water.

The effects are not particularly intense. However, anyone who drinks any of the tavern’s housemade ale or cider, drinks the coffee, or eats any food that might require water to cook will experience symptoms of “emotional acuity”. This involves feeling more emotionally open, more receptive to positive feelings about others, a strong desire for physical or verbal affection, and the intensification of romantic or sexual attraction that you might already be experiencing. It will last about half a day. Just in time to help potentially land you a date for Merrymeet, a flower and fertility festival in early spring!

Famine
[CW: Starvation and food scarcity ]

Food rationing and inflation will have the following impact:

Grocery budgets for apped-in characters will be reduced in their efficacy.
Basic groceries will be only the most minimal of staples. You will likely go hungry if you do not find a way to supplement this.
Bountiful groceries will be reduced to the amount of food normally contained in basic.
Lavish groceries will not be available at all.
Your grocery choices from Activity Check are not able to be modified for this month unless otherwise stated.

Bonuses and Discounts associated with the Farmer and Fisherman jobs are also reduced.
Level 1 bonuses will be reduced to standard, which is to say how they would function for a non-Farmer/Fisherman character during a normal, pre-famine month. (ex. Whereas normally a Level 1 Farmer would get free Basic groceries, they will now have to pay the 50 Brass, but do not have the efficacy of Basic groceries reduced as described above.)
Level 2 bonuses will be reduced to that of a Level 1 Farmer/Fisherman. (ex. Whereas a Level 2 Fisherman would normally be able to have Bountiful groceries discounted to 50 Brass, they now must pay full price for Bountiful groceries. However, they can still get Basic groceries for free and don’t suffer from the famine induced efficacy reduction for either budget.)

Oak & Iron Residents will only be able to receive bland, repetitive meals with their food vouchers consisting of simple broth, plain bread, bland potato dishes, and the like. It is enough to be fed and comfortable but it is incredibly unsatisfying. (This includes all new characters that are not apped-in.) Drinks, however, are still plentiful.

Characters who do not eat will find that their respective sources of fuel will be reduced to just barely enough to keep them functional, provided that they ration carefully. (Ex. Transformers may want to be less active. Vampires will find that victims cannot handle excessive blood loss without fainting and generally prefer to stay home.)

Characters who were present to fight the Mother Crab back in late summer and chose to can some of their crab can use it now!

Hunting, foraging, and fishing can help reduce the impact of these reductions, and people can share their food. You can absolutely die of starvation. After Merrymeet in February, food will return to normal.

Comments

Valdis | OC | CRAU | Potential Player

[redlightgreenlight]

To See the Night Sky

The much missed novelty of a dynamic sky, one that shifts and changes as the night goes on, cannot be understated and she lays in the long grass of a field, watching the aurora dance amongst the stars. The low, out-of-place growl reaching her ears doesn't noticeably rouse her from the trance, but her attention shifts away from the sky and toward the right, where the sound of quiet paws depress the grass. No scent accompanies the creature, yet she's still not inclined to move until a threat fully reveals itself.

I Hold With Those Who Favor Fire

Bonfires dot the landscape and smoke rises from chimneys throughout town, some kind of celebration, though it seems more symbolic than an actual party. Valdis opens the door to one of the taverns, seeking to find some sort of company and a break from the chill. Luckily there are plenty of people around and the fire roars in the corner. Perhaps a drink and then a place to sit until it's time to return to safety before the night wears on too long.

Wildcard

Come at me with all the fun and funny things!

I Hold With Those Who Favor Fire

[somebodychildofanyone]

Someone's coming up to the inn. A distinct sensation of death precedes her, scored deep into the approaching soul; relatively fresh scars, but controlled, leaving careful wounds. The scents of forge-smoke, iron, fire, and tobacco are next, and then the elf herself rounds the corner. River hasn't dressed up, and her only concession to the cold is the deep green hooded cloak from which her ears poke out and deep red hair spills. Her bare arms have layers of overlapping, identical sigils scored into them, each glowing like coals in the deepening night. Snowflakes that touch her arms flash into steam instantly.

She's stressed, put through a tangled emotional wringer of love and worry and guilt and So Much Work To Do, and worse, something in there is amplifying her emotions so she can't even collapse about it and have a nice cathartic dissociation session. Instead she's here, mounting the steps up to the porch and finding a spot of wall to lean against far enough from Valdis to be polite. She immediately busies herself with packing a gorgeous, hand-carved wooden pipe with a distinct skull motif.

"...Busy in there?" She asks; her accent is lilting, almost musical. "I dunno if I can do a bunch of people tonight."

[redlightgreenlight]

The sensation of death, familiar in the sense it belongs to her in some way, floats ahead of the approaching woman. The aura feels as it did with Palamedes, not as if the woman is an embodiment herself. Though if she's honest with herself, Death has never been something she feared. As she draws closer the nature of her soul takes form. Not human. Not something she has encountered before, but from the ears and elegance she can guess elfish in nature at the very least.

Above all that, there is a deep sense of concern, stress and the desperate need to have a meltdown. Yet when she speaks it sounds calm, soothing almost.

"I have no idea, just got here myself."

She can sense the number of souls inside, it's not a small amount, but this woman has ties to death and it may be prudent to keep some things to herself for now.

"It sounds busy though."

[somebodychildofanyone]

"Damn. Maybe I'll drink out here and see who's awkward enough to trickle out. Unless you had the same idea?" The question is teasing, in a friendly way; she flashes a smile much shyer than her usual brand. "River la Croix. I run Infernal Arms and Armor, down the way, nice t'meet'cha."

[redlightgreenlight]

"I felt I might warm myself by the fire, it's a bit of a chilly night."

She wonders if like senses like, and that's why the woman has introduced herself. Or maybe she's just being friendly, Valdis tells herself she doesn't need to defend herself from imagined monsters anymore.

"Valdis." She doesn't add more than that. "You're a blacksmith then?"

The scent of smoke could have been related to the pipe, but it runs deeper into the aura than that.

[somebodychildofanyone]

"Blacksmith, necromancer, diabolist, swordswoman, and soon to be amateur gardener." Said without shame, though with a bit of reflexive nervousness; River is open about her profession here, but a lifetime of it being illegal at home isn't easily shaken. "Not associated with the local demons, I hasten to fuckin' add. I haven't tried summoning any from home in case they get stuck here, but -" she brightens up; Nest Fact Time! "Learned the smithing as part of that, actually! A diabolist who can't work a forge won't get answers when she calls."

[redlightgreenlight]

"That's a lot of professions for one person."

The information gets stored with everything else she's noticed and learned so far. This woman is nervous, but in an old kind of way. Like what she is today might have been frowned upon in another lifetime. Valdis knows very well how that feels.

"I can't say I'm a fan of demons or those who makes deals with them, local or not."

It's said without any trace of disdain, just as a fact.

"I admit they are not all the same, just plenty of former experiences tell me to be wary."

I Hold With Those Who Favor Fire

[pineapplesalmon]

César's a regular at the Oak & Iron. Not so much for the beer and food, but because he's sweet on one of the staff and because there's safety in numbers. It's nicer to not stick it out on a cold day by yourself.

... normally the player would not write such a thing as this with no action hooks, but César's hair is incredibly familiar, even from the back.

hahaha

[redlightgreenlight]

Valdis blinks when she scents the familiar scent of someone she knows. Or maybe it's someone she knew, as this place is far from any home she's known. The familiar hair gives it away. César.

She's not sure if this is her César though, he may not know her at all, but it's worth a try.

"Hey," she says, taking a seat next to him.

If he doesn't act like she's familiar, she will have her answer without making a fool of herself.

1/2

[pineapplesalmon]

César blinks and looks over at the woman who sat down next to him and then gives a bit of a panicked look to Magne while she's working on her shift. Is this woman going to hit on him right before Valentine's Day? When he's going to ask Magne to be his girlfriend proper?

There's a momentary oh god Magne might kill her or me look on his face.

2/2

[pineapplesalmon]

No, relax, this is something he can handle.

"Oh, hi?" César replies, then points at Magne with his pen. "I'm dating Magne. But if there's anything else I can help you with, let me know."

And he's missing his goatee.

Pfft

[redlightgreenlight]

Valdis arches a brow, then sighs and rolls her eyes. Not her friend, or at least not one who remembers her.

"Can't a woman say hello without a man assuming she's interested in him?"

He's never been her type and that's not going to change now.

[pineapplesalmon]

"... Oh." César's face goes red, and he looks like he might die of embarrassment. "... I just, ah. The last woman who sat next to me besides Magne was my mother. I am completely inexperienced with women? I'mSoSorry."

AWKWARD.

[redlightgreenlight]

"No offense, but I can tell."

The César she knew was always messing with some sort of tech, and probably wouldn't notice flirting if it introduced itself. But hey, she's happy this iteration has found someone he likes, she always felt he deserved happiness.

"Don't worry about it though. I'm new here and you just seemed...safe to sit with."

I hold with those who favor fire | hello :)

[actuallyawolf]

Is that Valdis?

There's some shock at seeing her boyfriend's girlfriend (does she know Ylva? Does she know the accursed boat?) but Ylva, who had been loitering around on the roofs in the shape of a crow, is so surprised that when the door of the tavern swings open, she swoops into the building, not transforming back into her default shape until she touches ground several metres into the building.

She approaches, eyes wide, hopeful. "Valdis?"

[redlightgreenlight]

The crow seems familiar, giving the aura of kindness, warmth and friendship. The soul and scent she instantly recognizes. Though she's not sure if this is her Ylva. The answer turns into a resounding 'yes' when the woman's eyes are filled with hope and Ylva says her name.

"Ylva."

Relief she's inexperienced with fills every ounce of her body. She's not entirely alone in a new place again. Valdis crossed the rest of the distance and hugs her friend, knowing life after the Eterna will be just fine.

[actuallyawolf]

Ylva hugs back, tightly. There's tears in her eyes.

"You know me I was so scared you wouldn't, did you know César's here but he doesn't know me at all. Do you know Erik's here?" There's a lot that she needs to say, but at the moment she just babbles, and hugs.

[redlightgreenlight]

"Yeah, I saw César, he didn't recognize me either, so I'm just pretending I haven't met another version of him."

Valdis holds Ylva tightly, not wanting to let go. The familiar scent and soul bring her more comfort than she ever realized she needed. She stiffens when Ylva mentions Erik.

"Is he from the Eterna?"

That could be problematic for them, especially if he's made friends and twisted the story around in his favor.

[actuallyawolf]

She nods, swiftly.

"Yeah. He... wants to play nice, at least." Ylva looks extremely doubtful about this. "But he's been here a while."

[redlightgreenlight]

Valdis pulls back, trying to stop the instinctive hackles from rising.

"I'll believe it when I see it."

She shakes her head. "But, how have you been? How is this place? I heard there are monsters."

To See the Night Sky

[magistrixcaligo]

There has been a different scent passing nearby; tobacco and coal, smoke, smog, and chemicals, as if a very small factory has a smoking problem. But as the creatures start falling from the sky, that passing presence doesn't just stop, it changes; there are sounds of breaking bone, shifting flesh, loud as gunshots against the night, and then the factory has expanded, in size, in output. Claws scrabble against the frozen ground, approaching rapidly, bringing with them billowing smog, ash, and filth.

Something not enough like a weasel, nearly the size of a horse, barrels ahead of the churning pollution, streaking straight at the star-creature. Its paws end in rusty iron claws; its wiry fur, copper-colored and already wet, is parted by crooked smokestacks that billow colored smog into the air. Its eyes, however, are oddly human, a cloudy blue color and full of fury.

It hits the star-elk that is advancing on Valdis full in the flank and opens a jaw full of hollow needles, crawling with mold and rust, which it uses to pierce the beast. Its gel-like flesh is rapidly sucked away from the bones of its constellation, and as it shrieks in agony, the smokestacks expel a night sky.

[redlightgreenlight]

The sounds should be terrifying, but still she waits to see what happens. Ylva had said there were monsters, but if she had to choose based on looks which one of the two was the evil one, she wouldn't have picked the Elk. The aura of the two couldn't be more different; the metal creature feels off, more demonic, but not dark in the way a monster would.

Valdis watches the elk die, nothing except pure curiosity in her eyes. Her past and present warring with each other regarding the rusted weasel-like machine. She watches it destroy the elk, unfazed or concerned by the strange carnage before her.

She doesn't have much time to spare as another of the star beasts touches the ground. The shift comes quickly and the Hellhound launches itself at the lion now standing in the grass. She's not sure if her teeth will damage it, but it's worth a try and she's certainly not about to be upstaged or rescued by someone else.

[magistrixcaligo]

Mauling the gel of the star-beasts certainly doesn't seem to be anything they like, but one must break their starry bones to kill them. The weasel-thing seems to know this already; when the flesh has been drained nearly to nothing, it clamps its teeth around the bones of the constellations and snaps them apart at the joints. All that's left behind is a thin smearing of stardust, glittering against the grass.

But more are coming, and more, and more...

Alarms sound from the town, where the local levy has been preparing its defense. The weasel's head snaps that direction, icy calculation radiating from it. It watches as Valdis tears apart the lion, snaps its gaze up at the sky. Decisions, decisions.

Decision made. It slinks closer, low to the ground, panting. It yips once to get Valdis's attention, then again, before turning its sinuous body towards the Marina.

A look back. A high yip. And then looking towards the Marina again.

[redlightgreenlight]

Bones break between her teeth and wounds caused by starry claws heal before the neck of the lion breaks under the force of her bite. It tries to keep coming, but she continues to tear it apart with relative ease. The fact that tearing this monster apart fills her with glee is pushed aside as it dies, and her head snaps up to seek her next victim. The alarms cause only an ear flick, but Valdis turns her head at the sound of the yip.

Her lip curls to show her teeth, but the weasel is an ally and knows what is going on. The desire for death lacks the strength necessary for her to turn away, so with a huff, she drops her head, padding toward the construct-looking creature with living eyes and a soul.

Very well, she says. Lead the way.

[magistrixcaligo]

There's a brief startling in the creature's emotions. This close, it's much more obviously a thing at least partly of flesh; there's skin beneath the fur, saliva dripping from its fangs, it breathes in - though not out. Those smokestacks do the exhaling.

It looks around again and notes, with satisfaction, that the local levy is doing an admirable job of luring the star-creatures into its defenses. Loud noises to draw them in, and then the barricades, bolt-throwers, and foreign heroes to fight them off. Good. It streaks in the direction of the Marina, trying its best to weave away from and around star-beasts, sticking to the deeper drifts of snow and, where possible, the treeline.