024-027 » neither reward nor punishment

[villagemod]

WHO: Everyone.
WHERE: Eastern/Central/Western Mathias + ???
WHEN: Days 024-027
WHAT: The consequences of their actions.
WARNINGS: Will update as necessary. PM this account to have a warning added!
NOTES: Plotting post over here! The next log will be posted January 23rd.

RECOMMENDED ♫ Deadly Avenger "Onryo" 怨霊

DAYS 024-025
CONSEQUENCES
“There are in nature neither rewards nor punishments —
there are consequences.”
— Robert G. Ingersoll
When the unwilling residents of Mathias Township wake on the morning of the 24th day, they will find themselves in yet another set of frustratingly unnerving circumstances. None of them are where they last remember being, and some of them have strange marks on the palms of their left hands. It's all incredibly unsettling, but truthfully they should be used to it by now. No one will remember traveling to their new location.

Residents can wake up anywhere within their new location and in any position. Curled up in a bed, sprawled on a couch, huddled beneath a coffee table, propped against a wall... Wherever they are, they will themselves to be in quite an unusual state. While they are wearing whatever clothing items they went to sleep in, plus their shoes and a coat. The newest arrivals to Mathias Township will perhaps stand out for being slightly more appropriately dressed than their new neighbors. They are all a bit damp, physically worn out, and half-frozen from their apparent walk through a blizzard.

Each of the four locations is inescapable — residents are trapped, with exterior doors and windows being shut tight and a blizzard raging outside. The locations are stocked with fresh food and water and a large pile of firewood for the fireplaces in each building. The circumstances residents will face, however, may vary wildly between locations as the forces at work in Mathias respond to the recent actions of certain individuals.


BOARDING HOUSE | GREY GULL
NEW HOUSE | MYSTERY MANSION

These residents will wake with a mark on their left hand palms, a spiraling black symbol similar to those some may have seen around town. All marks are identical and cannot be removed, but will have seemingly vanished from their skin on the morning of the 26th day.

Castiel, Daisy Johnson, Dean Winchester
Elena Gilbert, Elijah Mikaelson, Helen Magnus
Phil Coulson, Quentin Coldwater, Sherlock Holmes

DAYS 026-027
IN THE AFTERMATH
After their ordeals of the past two days, the unfortunate residents of Mathias Township will be grateful to find that they were back where they are supposed to be, a chill still clinging to their clothes in whatever place they went to sleep the night of the 23rd day. New arrivals will wake in the living room of the boarding house. None of the residents will wake with anything in their possession from the locations in which they were previously trapped, including any notes or documentation they may have made during their time there.

---

CONDITIONS UPDATE

— SNOW continues to fall heavily on Days 024-025, resulting in white out conditions from the wind that blows in gusts of over 35 mph; the temperature also drops drastically, making conditions extremely dangerous for residents. The blizzard clears on Day 26 and residents are left with a cold, calm world covered in white.

— THE FOG remains blocking the paths in the forest, urging residents to stay huddled within the town proper, and it also now blocks the northern section of town, beginning just before where residents know the chasm in the earth to be. Venturing into the fog is... ill-advised.

— DISAPPEARANCES continue to plague the town. Kylo Ren and Thomas Richardson have vanished without a trace.

— NO NEW DEATHS have occurred in town, but there is a new "grave" in the small makeshift graveyard near the schoolhouse. Rey's corpse has been moved and covered with stones to wait for the ground to thaw enough for a proper burial.

— THE LANTERNS will be gone from the morning of Day 024. No trace of them remains.

---

OOC UPDATES

— A GIFT for everyone! As a thank you for being part of this spooky little game, every character in the game is being gifted 2 Activity Points. These may be banked over here — instead of linking to an AC post, you may put "New Year gift" in that field. Happy 2021, friends!

— NEW LAYOUTS have been installed for our communities! Huge thanks to our Eldritch Librarian Stars for putting in the time to get this place looking shiny. (You may have also noticed some new page layouts being installed — these are also our Librarian's handiwork!)

— DISCOVERIES have been collected and collated for your review. Please note that this is OOC information only, put together for the purpose of helping you as players see connections and possibilities for CR and your own character's potential avenues of exploration and investigation. (If we are missing something, please report it so we can add it to the list.)

— REMINDERS — Don't forget about the bulletin board. Please continue reporting your updates to locations, plots, and discoveries. The map of Mathias has been added to the locations page for ease of reference. Make sure your character's sanity level is kept updated. Prospective players are still joining the TDM, so it's recommended to track new top-levels so you don't miss them.

navigation | faq | setting | mod contact

Comments

🔥 john constantine | open to all | will match format

[hellblaze]

( ay, ay, ay. head on over to the PLOTTING COMMENT or hit me up on whisperstars)

➝ day 24

[hellblaze]

i. woke up a little off today, i can tell that something's wrong

[ It's the light that jars him awake. A brighter sense of light streaming in from windows that shouldn't be there. He opens his eyes, groaning at the sudden blast of light that hits him. A hand comes up to cover his face.

Then, it's the balance that's off.

And, suddenly, he's falling.

John finally opens his eyes to realize that he is indeed on the floor. His legs are still up on the couch--couch? He pushes himself to sit up, noting the shoes on his feet, briefs he went to bed in, and his typical trench coat. It's in a flash that he's standing up, spinning side to side and taking in the unfamiliar living room.

He flips his hands up, back of his hand pointed up at the ceiling with his first two fingers out like the 'V' shape. ]

Bloody fucking wanker! You could of at least brought my shirt with me!

[ A deep breath and he mutters a 'fuck me' under his breath and moving over the furniture. Either in the living room or moving to the doors and giving them a good push and thrust is where you might find one prissy Englishman this morning. ]

ii. see, i'm a little bit off today, i cannot put my finger on it.

[ Having found that he can't get out of the house? John has moved his way through the mansion to do a bit of investigating. Which generally means he is just half-assed looking around. Finding out Mathias's secrets doesn't matter too much to him at the moment. The last few days have been rough enough, and he's about had it with all the tricks this town has up her sleeves.

Yes, her. Mathias is a lovely lady but he misses London and hell, even the Mill House.

He notes the different colored doors before turning the corner of one of the entryways. Ah, the office. Study. Whatever. He takes a brief note a round before seeing a globe. He sneers slightly, moving to spin it. Then it doesn't spin.

His head tilts.

John gives it a good kick then finds a hinge. He flips it open and reveals a familiar sight. John's eyes widen as he pulls out a bottle of amber liquid he honestly had started to wonder if he'd ever see again. ]

Shit.

[ Might not really be whiskey. Could be poison.

He decides he doesn't much care at that moment.

John pops the bottle open and takes a drink of it--Oh my God. It really is whiskey. He gives a cough, realizing that he practically choked on the taste. He presses the sleeve of his trench coat to his mouth as he gives another cough, and properly looks around the room now. ]

ii

[revvedup]

[ it took max a matter of moments to realize she wasn't where she'd fallen asleep and that wherever she was now was somewhere in mathias that no one has seen yet - if she's even still in mathias and hasn't died somehow without realizing it. (honestly, she wouldn't put it past this place.) she's at least a little more dressed than john is, albeit in long sleeves and sweats with nothing on her feet.

since waking and subsequently discovering she can't leave, max has been trying to figure out what she can about where she's wound up. when she comes upon the - office? study? - she's not expecting to find anyone else inside, much less someone dressed mostly in a trench coat drinking whiskey straight from the bottle.

(she should have been able to hear him, she laments, but her abilities not being at their full capacity is kind of old news at this point.) ]

Shit - sorry, I didn't think anyone else was here. [ she remembers who he is, of course, and knew he'd been among those who revived after dying, but hasn't seen him since. ]

[hellblaze]

[ john turns to the voice. one that doesn't sound all too familiar, but he recognizes her face. they spoke...once? when he arrived? huh. ]

Don't worry about it, luv. [ honestly, he isn't bothered. maybe she'll recognize the voice? eh, probably not.

he leans against the chair besides the globe. oh, he really doesn't care how he looks. john constantine has no shame. though, he does give her a once over. ]

No coat?

[revvedup]

[ she does, actually, but her memory is engineered to be eidetic. given how much has happened in between arriving and this latest oddity, she won't hold it against him if he doesn't remember who she is. ]

Or shoes. [ she regards him with a raised eyebrow, considering what his wardrobe is missing, but as long as he's mostly decent she doesn't care if he doesn't. ] When'd you get here?

[hellblaze]

Woke up in the house not too long ago. Tried to get out at the windows and doors, but, not much luck. Not feeling like going twenty rounds with Mathias and my magic either.

[ he pauses. ] Haven't seen you since the start of all this... I was starting to wonder if you were dead. So, luv, where did you hole yourself up at?

OPTION C /excel saga joke here

[tinstar]

[Oh, the good globe whiskey. Raylan had found his own bottle in the kitchen to fuel his own explorations and it was pure chance that, a few hours later, he saw the tails of John's trench coat vanish into a bedroom with colorful curses that belonged to one specific Englishman. No, he could guess John's mood, waking up in such a place. Probably very similar to his own, but Raylan doubted John ever took anything well.

It felt like a safer bet to leave John alone for a few hours, let him get settled and buzzed, possibly relax a little - if that was even possible.

So Raylan came back to that same door several hours later and leaned on the door jam, knocking on the door face to 'Shave and a haircut'.]

You passed out drunk yet?

i c what you did there

[hellblaze]

[ If he was in a better mood? Raylan would find a pillow sailing at his face for that god damn tune. Despite the door being shut. Magic has a way of working--when he wasn't in the town they are in. ]

Would be if you hadn't knocked on the bloody door!

[ Hello, mate, good to see you. Shite weather we're having. All the damn snow, was probably the greeting buried in that statement. No one else in the town had the accent that Raylan did. Made it easy to tell when the good old Marshal was literally knocking at the door.

You would think his mood would improve when he found the good whiskey.

John sighed and rolled over, shoving his face in the pillow more. He figured there was no need to formally let the man in. Raylan would swan in if he wanted. ]

[tinstar]

[Raylan scoffed and opened the door, swanning in just as expected.]

If that were true, you wouldn'ta answered me, [he said, shutting the door behind him and walking over to sit up at the head of the bed, fully helping himself to one side.] This really where you're gonna hide? I'da thought you'd have been all over this shit like white on rice, [he continued, slightly drunk and conversationally as he uncorked his bottle and took a deep draft.] Leave me all on my lonesome to try and figure this place out.. You see the map room yet?

[ There was a sense that if John didn't answer, Raylan would just... keep talking.]

[hellblaze]

Yeah, yeah. Cheers.

[ His tone wasn't dismissive or angry in any regard. Tired, annoyed, and frustrated? Most certainly. It was effectively normal for him. He gave a loud sniff at the question, raising one hand to gesture to the bottle of whiskey on the table. ]

Not hiding, mate. Enjoying the small window of relief with an old friend.

[ John made a circle with his hand in the air at the question. ]

Seen it. Looked it over. Decided my love affair with whiskey was a bit more my scene right now.

ii

[fika]

[ the mansion is a sort of spark of familiarity that five doesn't really care for. his childhood home was bigger, and in different taste but there was one particular fact that remained the same with places like these: big houses meant big secrets, tucked away where no one will see.

its why five doesn't stand still when he rouses, and after checking on klaus, he finds himself unable to keep still, to keep from starting his search for answers before this place decides to through something else their way.

with the raging storm outside, it only meant more opportunity here - in this well stocked house with painkillers and knives and he grabs both without a second thought. much easier to keep walking when you have something to dull the ache of broken bone, even if its no-name brand ibuprofen.

its the cough that catches his attention, and he appears at the threshold in a pop of spacetime, hands in his pockets, looking about as thrilled as he really ever does. ] That your planned pastime for the rest of the day?

[hellblaze]

Well, if it's not the old man after my own bleeding heart. Found yourself here too?

[ there is a grin on his face at five, and not much care he's in a trenchcoat and his briefs. yeah, yeah. all can see how he dresses when he goes to bed. he's got no shame. though, if he loses the coat, people might have some questions about those tattoos he's got.

he leans against the desk then with an easy smile. oh, he's bloody happy. ]

It sounds like you've got something you want to do.

[fika]

Obviously. [ is the deadpan retort, though it lacks any real heat.

five ventures further into the room with a lazy sort stride, even as he peers around at the decor, the obvious frivolity that didn't quite live up to the grandeur the adoptive rich kid to a billionare asshole might expect. ] Yeah I do. Do you think we're here for a vacation?

[ even if you're looking like you're already partying, johnny-boy. ] Big houses mean big secrets, Constantine. I'm going to go find them. [ :) ]

[hellblaze]

[ john just grins more at the retort. oh, he does enjoy five's deadpan tone. bless the crotchety old heart he is. ]

Honestly, Five, [ the tone he has suddenly shifts. he's tired. he's worn down. he's frustrated. ] Right now? I don't much care.

[ defeated? no. a bit apathetic? he's getting there. one big party? well, the party is him and the whiskey and he'll go from there. possibly. ]

And what big secrets are you hoping to find, eh? Names? Maybe the hints of a dubious sort of people running the town?

24 ii

[waywardsister]

[ Ah - cussing with a british accent. Her favourite kind lately. Claire grimaces and follows the sound of rummaging until she finds John.

She's padding around the place barefoot right now, in pyjama pants and a tank top. Her hair is still sleep-mussed and she looks pissed off - but what is new about that look on Claire's face, to be honest? In her left, she's dragging a fire poker along. Her right arm is wrapped loosely around her middle, but it looks like there's scraps of white cloth wrapped around that hand, with red stains on them. ]

Sharing is caring, you know.

[hellblaze]

[ John turns at the familiar voice. His eyes are a bit wide, taking in her pajama bottoms and tank top. Better than he is, really. Standing there in his briefs with his trench coat, shoes, and bruised ribs on display for everyone to see. ]

Claire?

[waywardsister]

Last I checked.

[ The joke's a bit half hearted. Claire winces at the sight of him, good hand gesturing at his torso. ]

You look like shit.

[ There's nothing harsh in her words though, just a small, concerned frown on her face. ]

[hellblaze]

Got tossed by the shadowed wanker in town. What the bloody hell happened to your hand?

[ And just where have you been holed up? That's the unspoken question. ]

➝ day 25

[hellblaze]

i. i don't really wanna try today, i see nothing in my reflection.

[ The man who is usually pushing for answers and looking into the secrets of Mathias? Today, he could care less. Honestly, not a single care can be given. He's found himself one of those nice rooms with the fluffy beds and tossed himself on it. Shoes on the floor, trenchcoat on the bed, still in his boxers?

Yeah, he doesn't much care.

Nor does he really have any shame.

If someone really feel like bothering him to try and pull him out of his drinking and napping? Well, he might snip a bit. He could even be convinced to go looking around the house.

Just be sure to give him a reason, yeah?


Or maybe someone hears him slamming his foot on the floor of the room he's taken up. ]

Oi, stop that! No one gives a shit about your thumpin' and scratchin'. Piss off!

[this_ismydesign]

[ Most of the blood has been washed away, save for the angry looking scab just beneath his cheekbone. The bloodsoaked shirt has also been disposed and Will is bundled up in his wool overcoat, lapels flipped up and over in an attempt to keep his naked torso mostly covered.

His eyes are more aware today, though still filled with a resigned sense of exhaustion that might seem weird for someone only just arriving. He was in the doorway, watching John before glancing at the floor from which the rattle and thumps seem to have taken no notice of the telling off. ]

Had a similar disregard to my attempt at that. [ He remarked in soft, mild tones as his eyes came back to John's face. ] Feel any better for the try?

[hellblaze]

[ John raises his head at the unfamiliar voice. Huh, newbies. Seems like his theory of them filtering in every few days isn't too far from the mark. It isn't hard for him to figure out who is new in town and who isn't--he's met everyone in town. Better to know who is who and what they do.

Just in case he needs their skill sets.

He's not one to comment on the state of the man's dress. Especially given he's only in his briefs. ]

Ahh, if only, mate. Mathias and I aren't on the best of terms. She's not very forthcoming. Bloody town. [ He sits back on the bed, arms draped over his knees. ] When did you show up in town?

[this_ismydesign]

[ If Will was disconcerted about a man sitting around in his briefs it didn't show on his face. Truth was he really did not care, doing little more than commit John's face to memory and then look away.

He did not immediately answer John's question. Instead he choose to wander over towards a window, pulling back the curtain to peer outside. Yep still whiteout conditions. Will weighed a number of smart ass remarks to use as an answer to the other man but ultimately he decided it wasn't worth it.

Better to just ignore the question, rather than call John out on the banality of the question. ]

Mathias is a man's name. Does this town struggle with its identity, or are you one of those men who use feminine pronouns for every troubling aspect of their lives?

[bestfuneralever]

[Klaus has taken to a 'vacation state of mind', so-to-speak. Real liquor means it's easy to fall into the safe bubble of ignorance, and he's not one of the more hardcore answer-searching ones anyway. He's spent his days lazily wandering through the house, keeping an eye out for anything that his brother might want to arbitrarily make a note about, but otherwise just... floating. Hanging out with people whenever he comes across them. He's got a lifetime worth of experience as ignoring things unwanted. Sure, a lot of his ignoring meant he was blitzed out of his mind, but still. There's an art to not hearing the call of the dead, and the scratching and banging in this house? Well. He's blissfully ignoring it all, too. But that makes it particularly striking when he hears the specific sound of angry stamping on the floor from a room down the hall. Soon, it's followed by the very specific, very familiar accented tones of their resident information keeper. Klaus meanders his way down the hall and into the doorway of the bedroom, lazy smile resting on his lips, bottle in his hand tilted out almost in offering.] I find tequila helps me ignore it all quite well.

[hellblaze]

Always been a fan of whiskey and gin myself. When the bloody hell did you show up here?

[ Asks the man who has decided to drink the little adventure away.

Hello, Klaus. Good to see you mate. That's buried somewhere in his greeting. ]

Makes sense. Your brother is stormin' around the place all perked up.

[bestfuneralever]

Eugh. Gin. [His nose scrunches and he sticks his tongue out.] Same time as you, I guess. [He shrugs.

The lack of immediately kicking him out means Klaus pushes beyond the doorway further into the room. He practically glides across the room and drapes himself across a chair nearby.]

I think he found the good pain killers. And he's not sharing, which is rude. [Klaus hadn't popped pills in ages, but it's the principle of the thing, here.]