mezucore

Happy almost springtime!! Look who's early for once!

Before we jump in, I'd like to commend the community for a great transition into having an AC minimum. Over the past couple of days, Blue and I have been taking a look at some of the patterns we've noticed from now being just about two months in, and it looks like what we aimed for is being broadly accomplished! If y'all keep up the good work, you can likely expect me to occasionally waive the requirement as a treat <3 We're also definitely seeing a positive impact on the tag-out to toplevel disparity, so keep it up!

Don't forget that because the event for March will follow into April because it's a major plot drop, so there won't be an April plotting post. Now, without further ado, let's get ready to kill a demon!

Spring has very nearly sprung! The TDM is still in planning, but I have a few ideas for plant-based pandemonium for us to get into. I've had the Victorian flower language on the brain in a major way and I'd love to find a way to offer some fun treasures. I've also been pondering fossils, spring cleaning, and April Fool's Day. Don't forget that the Pokemon lineup will be changing with the season, and feel free to leave prompt suggestions. The TDM will most likely launch next weekend (March 7/8) so as to not overlap with the March event while still being up in time for the EMP. It's time for our next major plot development--- the fall of Eligos. Those of you who have been here for a while know that the death of Mendel had an unreasonably tight turnaround for how plot-involved it was, so since the last demon royal death, we've had such events run for two months instead of one, which works substantially better. This is a great time to organize more elaborate plans or get caught up on your backlog! This event is going to be pretty horror-forward due to its plot relevance, so please keep an eye out for content warnings and utilize the opt-out if this particular salad spinner isn't your vibe.

Using his powers to deceive the mind and transform the island, Eligos will be creating a false replica of the Regia Infernalis, leading characters to believe that PERMADEATH IS ON (it's not really) and will have several tricks up his sleeves. This event will feature several distinct areas--- the dungeon, the senate room, the catacombs, the ceremonial hall, and the waiting room.

The Dungeon is the main event. I talked about this in a thread in the Discord server for those who caught it, but the main gist is that characters will be placed in groups of usually (but not strictly) 2-3 and will be presented with situations where one or more person must die in order for the survivors to proceed. In these Saw-trap-esque predicaments, characters will be encouraged (or forced) to betray one another's trust--- again, with the false understanding that the victim will permanently die. Survivors will proceed into the halls of the dungeon to meet with other survivors and dodge guards, while victims will be placed in the catacombs to respawn, unbeknownst to the ones who just killed them. Groups and traps are up to the players, but hard choices and severe tests of trust are the goal, and you're encouraged to make the fate of the victim to make as graphic and horrifying as you're amenable to. Get nasty with it. You know you want to.

The Senate Room is an option for characters who aren't in a group or who are in Dahlia and CT's team of people trying to prevent Eligos from dying here. Players here will be entered into a mingle that features a game--- a combination of Heads-Up and Mafia. Seated around a meeting table, each unwitting player will be given an envelope with a message from Eligos that reads, "We are nothing but our nature. Open the envelope for the key, but should you do so without knowing your nature, you will die." Looking around, they'll see that everyone else has a (fairly unflattering) word floating over their head that they themselves cannot see, but everyone else can. The task is simple--- question those around you for hints (as they cannot tell you the answer) and either correctly guess your word before opening the envelope and proceed to the dungeon halls (and potentially to another trial?) or guess incorrectly before opening and end up in the catacombs with the other "dead". The answers will be chosen by me and concealed under drop-downs, and players can choose to not reveal their own characters' answers until they make their guess and try to get it right, or to opt out of the secret and OOCly know the answer even though their character does not. Additionally, I will choose several characters to receive a gift from Eligos---- a package with a knife and instructions that let them know they can kill someone else for their key and bypass the puzzle. Remember that OOC consent is a must, even if permadeath's not really on!

The Catacombs are, as previously mentioned, the place where characters who die end up. Below the rest of the castle, this maze-like hall of underground graves is full of whatever deterrents you want--- whether it's physical obstacles, monsters, puzzles, or whatever else. The objective here is to simply make it back to where the surviving characters are, but feel free to meet up with other victims!

The Ceremonial Hall is an opt-out/alternative location for those less interested in the horrors happening in the rest of Eligos' house of horrors. Featuring an ornate throne and seating for observing guests, this space is being prepared for the coronation of a new king, but certainly you don't expect the nobility to do it themselves, do you? Using his powers of hypnotic manipulation, Aster has claimed a handful of Pumpkin Hollow residents to act as the help. Play the role of a courtly servant--- gather secrets, swap gossip, complete Prince Aster's grueling task list, or find a way to slack off. Just don't get busted by Claunthe, Duchess of Debt, Our Unholy Lady of Legbreakers, lest you be saddled with a debt you aren't prepared to pay for your time theft.

And last but not least, the Waiting Room is for those awaiting a final audience with His Infernal Majesty, the King of Treason. At first housing just Francis Mulcahy and a phone, this place is accessible from the dungeon halls as well as the catacombs to anyone with the chops to make it that far. Contribute to Eligos' death or try to deter it if you like, though ultimately this will not be an event that you can change. Aster's seen to that by sending his latest Infernal Servant in to ensure results.

Once Eligos has fallen, this will be followed up by a miniature event-post toward the end of April for Aster's coronation. The Regnum Infernalis has a new king--- and he's got plans.

With Nyarlathotep's identitiy revealed and Aster crowned king, we're reaching the final stretch! Expect things to get crazy over the next couple of months as Aster exacts petty revenge on all his least favorite subjects and Dahlia begins making plans on how to oust him. And of course Nyarlathotep isn't going to just sit back and relax either.

Less meta-plot related, but it will also be time soon to start thinking about Harbor Day and CukeFest, plus the three year anniversary party! There's tons of exciting stuff on the way, so stay tuned!