![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
pumpkinhollow) wrote2000-02-08 08:52 pm
TDM #4 - Aurora Borealis Bust? [REPRINT]
[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.”
Page 1
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.
Cecil’s disconcerting horoscopes have the following effects for the next few days:Horoscopes
[CW: Altered emotional states ]
(Don’t know your character’s sign? Feel free to just decide on one!)
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!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.
Food rationing and inflation will have the following impact: Grocery budgets for apped-in characters will be reduced in their efficacy. Bonuses and Discounts associated with the Farmer and Fisherman jobs are also reduced. 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.Famine
[CW: Starvation and food scarcity ]
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.
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.)
no subject
"Right," he says, nodding slowly as he puts the pieces together. "Someone else tried to explain something like this to me earlier? Being genderfluid, or at least not being one or the other all the time."
And he doesn't quite get it, not really, but Lev's explanation kind of makes sense? Just asking people to call him the same thing they'd call themselves, mostly. Although...
"And I mean, I'm, uh, heterosexual. But..." He takes a deep breath, and it's his turn to glance away, looking around the room to make sure no one's close or engaged enough to overhear. Mercifully everyone seems to be paying attention to their own business, so he'd better say it before he chickens out. "My family didn't... exactly expect me to grow up to be a man. But I am. So where does that leave you, when you're talking to me?"
(He is a little tripped up by the question of what other shapes would people be? But that's getting filed away as a question to ask later, once he's got the basics of how to refer to Lev out of the way.)
no subject
"Genderfluid is right, I suppose," Lev says, shrugging. "Or bigender. Not like, words I'd use myself but I've been described as such and I mind it not none." He looks back up, but not at Leon's face—rather at his right ear, so that if Leon's not concentrating super hard, he might not even notice that Lev's avoiding making eye-contact. Lev's posture, however, eases up; his shoulders untense, and he starts idly drumming on the table, his long nails ticking on the wood like a pocket-watch. By all accounts, it looks like he's getting more comfortable with the conversation.
He pays attention to what Leon's saying.
Heterosexual, huh. He thinks, but doesn't say, that it's a very specific way to describe oneself, a way that's specific but also avoids calling oneself straight or heter—
And then Leon says what he says, and Lev has to suppress a laugh, so he doesn't look like he's laughing at Leon.
"Nu, then thou ought to call me he, like mine husband does," he says, smiling. A few years ago, he'd asked Anzu about the whole stealth thing, and gotten a completely unexpected answer1, so he's not betraying anyone's trust here. "Though nu, like, rather obviously, he's not ... um, heterosexual. But he is like thee."
1 "Who's stealth, ketzelah? People have just stopped asking and started assuming."
no subject
"Right," he says, still looking a little confused but like he's trying his best to understand and closer to it than he was earlier. Though the look of puppylike bafflement comes back when Lev confirms that his husband is, assuming he's understanding right, also transgender. It's only by the grace of his already being on high alert for saying anything stupid that he catches himself before blurting out that he didn't think trans men could also be gay at the same time.
Like, of course they can? Why wouldn't they be able to do that? But the thought had simply never occurred to Leon before, and thinking about it now makes him feel something weird and undefinable in a way that makes him uneasy. Thankfully the barmaid saves him from having to respond quickly by coming back with their drinks, buying him some time to recover his composure.
"I'll be sure to remember that," he says, and then realizes that's maybe a strange thing to say about someone's pronouns. Too late now, though! "Uh, thanks for explaining. I'm... kind of new to all this. There being people who aren't just doing one or the other, when it comes to gender."
no subject
Lev recognises the confused puppy look for what it is, and even suspects he knows exactly which parts Leon's getting caught up on, but he takes no offense— either on his behalf or on Anzu's—and the arrival of the drinks leads the moment away, in any case. And certainly what Leon says next clarifies things—Lev decides he can safely attribute any awkward reaction to ignorance and sudden novelty.
He can't blame Leon for either of that. Not like he was especially sophisticated in these matters, when he had first discovered that his was not a unique blight visited on no other thinking creature.
And in any case, Leon's being considerate and rather sweet. It's charming.
Lev picks up the pint of shandy, but keeps his gaze directed more or less towards Leon.
"So it can be, nu?" he says, "the world is never short on new things, and barukh HaShem for that. But like ..." he grins, "nu, please don't like, take this the wrong way? But I? Hardly the strangest thing thou'lt see here. This place, nu. Like. It's ... oy, it's beautiful, and the people are nice, but—"
A sour note creeps into his voice.
"No matter what kind of place one's from, this place is strange," he finally says, a little cryptically. "For one thing—nu, it has entirely the wrong amount of. Um. Feh. Look, I have no idea what thou call'st such things, so I'll say spirits what don't seem to like people and thou can'st inform me if I speak gibberish, and thus can us two figure out how to communicate on this matter."
He fails at keeping his tone entirely breezy. He doesn't sound like he's proclaiming doom, but he does sound nervous.
By Lev, such subject matter is perfectly natural as a topic of quotidian conversation—his husband's a necromancer. Would the spouse of a forest ranger not talk of ticks and careless campers, in a place where there's more of both than they'd expected?
And it seems like a good idea to warn Leon about some of the non-Barrier reasons Marrow Isle's not a popular destination for holidaymakers.
But none of that means he's not uneasy about the things wrong on the isle, even if, unlike many of the newcomers, he doesn't find them unprecedented or wholly unnatural. It's just that as he gets used to his life in Pumpkin Hollow, the town's problems start bothering him personally rather than merely abstractly. Whatever's going on here is his business now, too. And he owes it to the town, to take such things seriously.
no subject
"Right. That guy who greeted me when I got off the ferry, and the mayor, too - they said something about demons?"
He shakes his head, setting his glass down again and tapping his fingers on the table.
"I don't think we have those, where I come from. Demons or spirits, whether they like people or not. I mean -" he huffs, frowning a little as he tries to work out how best to put it. "We've got stories about them, and a lot of people think they're true, but I've never seen proof."
Of course, he says that, and then remembers Krauser's comment about his essentially being a glorified bigfoot hunter, back before Operation Javier. Pausing, he sighs.
"But also the world's a lot weirder than I used to give it credit for, so maybe they're just out there on the fringes. Anyway. Point is I know the idea of like, ghosts, or demons, or other scary magic stuff that wants to hurt people, but I've never encountered anything like that."
Just zombies, and those are totally different.
no subject
"Nu, thou shalt see a lifetime's fill of such, here," Lev says, a little glumly. "And stories, feh. Stories ... I suppose not all worlds run on stories, as mine does, but ..." he shrugs, and drinks his shandy. He'd meant to trail off meaningfully, but a moment's thought leads him to conclude that Leon might not arrive at the conclusion he'd like him to arrive at — not because Leon's stupid (not at all, even if Leon's very much the Pasha type), but because Leon's innocent, radiating ingenue rose thorn to all and sundry like a beacon.
He probably, thinks Lev, subconsciously believes in chivalry.
Or maybe not so subconsciously. He did hold the door open for Lev.
With a sigh, Lev elaborates, "if there are stories, there's something going on. Now, like, feh, often enough, what's going on is tragic or sordid, but involves not no ghosts. But like ... I mean, surely thou hast seen something what defies a logical explanation, or at least a logical explanation within like, the bounds of living flesh and flowing blood?"