Winter is upon us, and if it is as I fear, it shall not be kind. Forgive my absence, I am taken quite ill and there was far too much to do to speak too long.

For those that brought me what they could, I have preserved it and stored it. It is ready for you to collect when you are able.

For all else, since it seems I have been ordered to stay a-bed for the most part until my strength returns, perhaps someone might play a game with me? It is very simple, you must come with a rhyme to match mine, then we continue until one of us cannot think of a line, I shall begin:

There once was a lady with a basket of berries-

I would be much obliged as I am frightfully bored.

Yours in faith and in courage against the long dark,

Queen Gilia St. Loe, Daughter-Sea, She Who Sings the Ocean to Prosperity and the Endless Wail.

[ooc: real life ate me so damn hard, please just assume Gilia's be bed ridden and sick for the entire month and people could have checked up on her and told her to go back to sleep every time she protested being busy.]

⟪ an old man graces your sight with a kind smile, white-haired, white-bearded, and indigo-robed. behind him, multicolored garlands and wreaths deck the wall, and by his side stands a tall woman—some of you might recognize her as désirée. stoic and straight-backed, she casually observes their surroundings: glimpses of restless passing in front of the camera might indicate that they’re in a pub somewhere in mirth. with commoners.

doran seems entirely unbothered, content and at ease. when he speaks, his voice is clear and warm, matching the glint in his eyes. ⟫

My dear Restless… What dire times we all face, and what resilient people you are. I would not insult a brief reprieve with appeasement—your struggles and concerns are well-founded—and yet it is my hope that this announcement alleviates some of your torments.

⟪ slowly he brings his mug to his lips—it’s eggnog, because of course it is—taking his time to swallow and seemingly struggling not to cough. désirée's hand gently lands on his arm. ⟫

To those of you suffering from the curse, know that a cure is well on its way to be completed. I’ll personally ensure that there is enough to treat you all. Now… as difficult as it is, I fear I must still broach the subject… ⟪ he sighs, brows knit. ⟫ The people responsible for your unjust imprisonment were apprehended. They confessed, of their own volition, overwhelmed by Shadows they could no longer effectively control. Such a tragedy… Come what may, they were sentenced to dwell in the Hinterlands, and will not be welcomed back in Stygia.

As for your compensation, the sum of 400 coins will be sent directly to you, along with a piece of soulsteel. You will also be formally invited to a Masquerade hosted by the Hierarchy, in Radiance, as soon as the weather… unwinds, as it were. ⟪ ha! ha! ha! he laughs, briefly yet heartily, even though it’s not even a good pun. ⟫ Now, my dear Restless, rest easy and look out for each other. We are all we have. ⟪ head inclined in friendly salutations, the feed cuts. ⟫

What’s up with the soulmate thing? Like, it seems kind of creepy and invasive. Is it actually that helpful?? Why would you willingly tie yourself to someone else like that???? I don’t get it.

Stop posting anonymously.

If you have a question you want answered, own it.

[that's it

that's the post

wouldn't it be funny if all the replies were anonymous]

I have a question for the group. Has anyone tried to find family or friends they have lost over the years, or a trace that they might have passed through the Netherworld? Have you been successful?

If not, would you? What would you say to them if you managed to find them?

Has anyone ever lost one of their tethers?

Not find them broken or destroyed, just lose them.

The information on our devices says losing one would plunge me into a Harrowing, but that didn't happen. At least, not that I know of. But it's just gone. Completely gone.

How are you thinking of this place?

Do you think you're a prisoner of some sort of powerful magic or do you think you're dead? Or is it something else?

If it's death, were you close to dying when you then woke up here? Because I know I wasn't. I cannot die so if this is death, I have some questions.

( though marc spector is relatively newly arrived, it is not his first, nor his second, or even his third experience with something like this. he's dressed in his clothes — or vestments, as he likes to call them: an all-white three-piece suit decorated with small crescent moon details and a larger crescent moon embroidered on the forehead of the mask he's wearing.

when he speaks though, the voice is fairly ordinary — adult male, chicago-accented with hints of new york here and there. )

Good evening. Some of us have met, but for those of us who haven't, my name is Mr. Knight. ( is it? no, of course not, but it's the only name he's sought to provide anywhere. ) I'm the high priest of Khonshu — one of the gods of the moon. Formerly, I ran a mission out of Manhattan. ( beat. ) For the protection of those who travel at night. ( is he going to elaborate on what that means? no. not really. ) A status of being that includes all present here.

( punctuated by a breath of a pause and a slight, fleeting glance to one side. )

While I lack all the resources I had previously, a preist does not need much. If anyone finds themselves in need, from the mundane through to the weird — quests, protection, investigations—. ( marc unfurls a gloved hand and lifts a shoulder in a minute shrug. ) Please, don't hesitate to get in touch.

This isn't my first rodeo, as they say.

( ooc— marc will absolutely be looking at running a version of his midnight mission out of stygia. for the time being, he'll simply want to raise his profile a touch, make sure he's known. he operates predominately at night but keeps irregular sleeping patterns so can and will be contactable during the day. )

[ the video begins with a steady, clear shot of a man dressed in flowing white robes, buttoned up to his throat, half his hair done up in a high ponytail secured by a guan. he looks almost severe, and his tone when he starts talking is cool.

On his arm is a silver claw that laces up, and as the video continues, he clenches his fist and wriggles his fingers one by one. ]

This is an experimental piece of armor. It was originally designed to protect common people from demons. [ he glances down at the armor, a complicated look in his eyes for a split second before it disappears behind his usual cool neutrality. ] The demons here have proven deadly, and some people do not have spiritual powers that offer protection, so I have developed this.

[ perhaps one day, he can return to his original, grand idea of creating guardians for people, but it's impossible now, with the way items degrade. that's a future problem.

he finally looks back at the camera, still serious and reserved. ]

I am looking for individuals who are capable of fighting but do not possess spiritual power. It needs testing by someone else, and it is easy to find a demon or some beast in the Hinterlands. I'll be present for any fighting to observe the armor's behavior and provide assistance in any fight, should it be necessary. You will be compensated for your troubles.

[ he nods at the camera in dismissal and looks like he is going to turn it off before he recalls something and looks at the camera once again. ]

The armor is still experimental. While I have blueprints for an entire suit, I do not have the resources to create an entire suit of armor or more than a few of these. [ he holds his hand up, showing off the armor. ] Information would be appreciated on where to find more metal, leather, or scrap materials. And should anyone be interested in the armor after further testing, I will make note of it.

Good day.

[ with that, he turns off the camera, disappearing from view. ]

hey. what's your shadow like?

trust me i get why nobody wants to talk about this whole thing. neither do i. but it kinda seems like we ought to compare notes and we can do it anonymous. or you can just use this to vent about how your shadow's an asshole idc

mostly i just keep seeing people say stupid shit and claim it was their shadow and i can't tell if this is just a case of your_experiences_are_not_universal.jpeg (sorry. obviously i don't have the meme on me) or if i'm going crazy. bcuz mine is so quiet i can't even tell it's there usually. so what's the deal???

(before you say i must be a good person who doesn't have much of a dark side: lol. but i'm not some evil psychopath who already acts on their worst impulses either)

and has anyone had any luck getting theirs to fuck off?

how many of you have soulmates?

did it stop you from getting sick?

(he's fucking sick. the joys of loving and being loved in return, and also, merely thinking that he's not loved back. absolutely thrilling.

he hates this. big means that leaving his home is being very hard, and he's breaking out fevers, having difficulty breathing, and much worse than he has been in his life. that says something.)

looking for errand people. will pay accordingly.

p.s.: my little sister used to read stories about the whole coughing flowers situation. it's called hanahaki. something something, one-sided love, get that person to love you or die trying but literally? i don't remember much else. the younger japanese people might know better.

I'm looking to buy a sword. Nothing fancy, I'd just like for it to be durable.
The catch is... I don't own much coin at the moment.
I could give you most of what I have and do heavy work or manual labour in return for it.
I could even come with you on a quest, I'm skilled at fighting, even if the current cough that plagues me, as many others, could get in the way.
I can also offer to summon a barrier for you, if you need to protect something, but I admittedly do not know how long it would last in this place. I could renew it often.

Even a used sword would be handy, I should be able to find a way to fix its edge again.
Any information would be useful.
Thank you for giving me your time and be safe.

Heyya ghouls and gals

I have no idea what the fuck im doing haha - this is the place to connect to folks around here, right?

Names Kazutora Hanemiya! From Tokyo, circa 2006, if that means anything to anyone.

This place is lonely, so... can you guys say hi? Tell me about yourselves, and maybe a favorite hobby or memory from back home?

Also! Haha, I've done some really bad shit! But I wanna get better. I had a therapist, but now obviously I dont.

So if anyone here knows how to deal with an absolute trash fire (thats me yay), or if you guys know of a therapist, please lemme know and its an IOU from me ♥

Thank you!

I've had this awful cough since I came back from the Shadowlands. At first I thought it was just me, but now I'm beginning to think something might be going around.

Has anyone found a remedy that helps?

ik this is going to sound like an episode of 60 Minutes that never got aired, but I have smelled worryingly like blood for the past week or so.

Please pre-emptively cool it on the wild guesses, though. God forbid any of this winds up vaguely sexual like Keith's thing (F, buddy). No, I haven't even been injured lately. No, it's not my time of the month. No, I'm not actually a murderer. I woke up one day, sniffed foul air, and have been increasingly ill since.

Does anyone have any idea what I can even do about this? bc I feel like I've tried literally everything but bathing in bleach.

Oh, actually, for ppl who don't want to interact with my TMI, what are your favourite movies? I work at the theatre in Mirth now and I'll get a 2% raise if I bring in more traffic, so I kinda have a vested interest in knowing what kinds of things you'd wanna see screened. Set can't pay for everything yk lol.

Thanks.

⟪ on your screen, waves in the background, high and lapping at the seawall that surrounds most of stygia, threatening to spill over. it’s a relatively common sight when colder weather settles; what isn’t is the woman in the foreground, cheeks round and full as she slowly exhales an abundance of concerns she clearly struggles to voice. ⟫

I’m… so sorry. Where do I even begin… ⟪ she shakes her head, visibly contrite. when she raises her hand, as if to shush an invisible companion, the tempest behind her seemingly subsides. ⟫ There’s been a terrible mistake. Many... mistakes. Some of you have been inadvertently imprisoned, and I’ve reached out to Amun in the hopes of rectifying the situation as soon as possible. There will be compensation for those of you who were wrongly mistreated. ⟪ her eyes, red-rimmed, flash vehement for a fraction of a second. ⟫ Mark my words.

⟪ whether it’s a promise to you or a threat to the hierarchy remains to be seen, though the apologetic glint in her gaze seems genuine. briefly she bows her head, fingertips to her lips as she coughs and clears her throat, a pink petal flitting in the breeze. ⟫ In the meantime, please know that our Healers are actively working to find a cure to the Harvest’s Curse. It’s not much, but don’t despair just yet. If your symptoms worsen, seek Rosuv in Mirth, and tell him Assana’s sent you. ⟪ her mouth stretches, a forlorn smile. ⟫ Stay strong.

⟪ and the feed cuts. ⟫

⟪ OOC | assana is the npc with blueish hair that you might have run into before! i’ve decided to breathe some more life into her and chose daenerys as her pb. she’s available for semi-regular cr (slower, probably) even tho she’s still an npc, but cr =/= privileges. assana obviously has knowledge that PCs do not possess, but we'll always ensure that all characters have access to the same opportunities.

if you do seek rosuv, you'll find him in a nightclub in mirth; he's a bartender. he’ll give you a bottle of warm oil that you can apply to your throat and chest, for free! it’ll help you breathe easier for a few hours, and has similar effects to cannabis.

you can now reach amun the elusive asshole and ask him once question each! that's his deal for this month ⟫

[ It's the kind of network message that pops up in the quietest, darkest part of the night — when it's just a guy and his thoughts and anxieties in an all-too-silent house. He's surrounded by dumpster-quality furniture and a cat-emblemed pillow that veers on possessing suspicious origins, not that anyone can see any of his living quarters through text. ]

i don't want to panic anyone but it's pretty late and it's been a few days and i don't know, maybe i just need to calm down but

does anyone have an explanation for what happens when your soulmate kinda ... goes missing?

[ Steve really wishes there was a proper instructions manual or something. Not that he'd read through it because who has the time for that, but. It'd be something.

The line goes quiet for a moment, or maybe Steve's said what he's needed to say, before another message pops up from the same username. ]

Honestly, shit's going exactly the way I thought it would. Thought maybe Munson would stick around, thought maybe we were, you know, starting to become friends, and you'd think the soulbond thing would count for something but noooo, he just split. Found a way to get out of here, left his phone, went back to Hawkins and didn't have the decency to leave a goddamned note.

Even he couldn't stand the pathetic loser that Steve Harrington's become.

[ And just like that, the message is sent for all to see before the line really does cut off. Embarrassing. ]




[ ooc: in case it isn't clear, the last bit of text is courtesy of steve's very unpleasant shadow who has adopted an edgelord personality circa livejournal 2001. ]

I'm interested in traveling to the Hinterlands to investigate the fallen star and perhaps collect a shard or two. To that effect, I'm looking for one (1) partner to take along with me.

I would prefer that you're combat-capable in case something goes awry, but it is not a necessity. If you're good at sneaking around, that's even better.

Comment below and let's work something out. If you have already been to see the fallen star, I'd greatly appreciate your recollection of the events.

EDIT: I'm good now, thanks. Feel free to comment regardless if you'd like to share your experience with collecting the star shard.

(( ooc: for clarification, i'm happy to take multiple people on separate rounds of this notice board quest! this isn't to game the system and get mulitple rewards, i just want Interactions™ ))

(( ooc 2: i am a terrible planner. LMAO. in the interest of not drowning myself with multi-track questing, i'll be editing this post and cutting off participants. thank you for responding ;_; ))

HUMANS
TELL ME HOW YOU CHEER EACH OTHER UP WHEN YOU'RE BEING PATHETIC AND SAD
I HAVE TRIED TO FEED MINE FOOD AND OFFER TO FIGHT HIM MULTIPLE TIMES BUT NEITHER OF THESE TACTICS HAVE WORKED
HIS SAD FEELINGS ARE ANNOYING AND MUST BE PUT TO AN END HOW DO I MAKE THEM STOP?