let it snow, let it snow

[paradisamods]

Who: All residents
What: The weather shifts, a stranger arrives, and escape to another castle is necessary
When: 22nd and 23rd
Where: The winter village

The change in the idyllic winter weather is small at first. A slight increase in the wind and the rustling of pine needles, followed by the tiniest flurries of snow. Looking to the south however, the building storm can be seen in distance, like a wall of low clouds moving slowly towards the tiny village.

It's not long afterward that the figure of a man appears on the north end of the woods. He barely makes a sound as he passes over the snow, and his form is covered in clothes of black, from his leather boots to the hooded cloak he wears draped around his spare frame. He has a sword on his his hip, but he doesn't appear to be here for a fight. Instead, he lowers his hood, to reveal the face of a young man with long black hair and an unsmiling face.

"You really are out here," he says, not bothering with anything so polite as an introduction or preamble, "Listen to me. The storm is coming. You all have to leave. I can lead you to shelter, but we don't have much time."

THE STRANGER | THE ESCAPE | THE CASTLE

Comments

THE STRANGER

[paradisamods]

The young man insists you have to leave, but it's up to you if you trust him. There's clearly something happening, and beneath the veneer of haughty arrogance is a glimmer of very real fear, mostly in the depth of his emerald green eyes.

[teenagebadboy]

[Aaron stands by with his arms crossed over his chest. The suspicion is clear in his eyes.]

Why should we trust you?

[wearsblack]

[The stubborn caution is understandable, but the young man seems to find it unimpressive, and he scoffs]

You don't have to trust me at all. If you're too bloody stupid to see what's about to hit you, then be my guest.

[teenagebadboy]

Who you calling stupid? [Aaron glares back at the mysterious man] I won't run from paranoia caused dangers.

[wearsblack]

Paranoia usually comes after something actually tries to get you. The walkers are real enough. And they will kill you if they get a chance.

[teenagebadboy]

Got any proof of these "walkers"?

[wearsblack]

This town? [He gestures towards it with a black-gloved hand]

People lived here once, but all fled to the castle when the came year after year. You don't think they picked up and left for no reason, do you?

[teenagebadboy]

[Aaron frowns slightly. There isn't much he can say to that.]

OK. Who are They?

[wearsblack]

The walkers? Creatures of frost and shadow. They kill people and turn them into walking corpses, stronger and more relentless than any man.

[teenagebadboy]

So zombies then. Alright. You'll take us to safety then? How can we be sure you won't fool us?

[wearsblack]

[He hasn't actually heard this word, but since it makes sense to Aaron, he'll mostly just shrug]

You probably can't, but if it eases your mind, you can walk behind me. That way I can't stab you in the back. [smirk]

[teenagebadboy]

Really reassuring. [Aaron rolls his eyes.] Fine let me just gather my stuff and then we can head off to whatever place is better than this.

[wearsblack]

[His diplomacy needs work]

Don't be too long.

[He'll stay where he is though, watching the southern horizon, as shifting shapes begin to slowly appear in the haze.]

[teenagebadboy]

[Aaron returns and notices the creatures. He nods in their direction.]

What's that?

[fearbringer]

[Pitch steps out of the shadows nearby, approaching the man.]

Are you with the woman who came here earlier, then?

[wearsblack]

[He raises his eyebrows, but doesn't seem at all startled by Pitch showing up out of nowhere.]

What woman?

[Which is probably a no]

[fearbringer]

She came from another Castle. Did you? Is that where you want to take us?

[wearsblack]

I don't know who you mean, but yes, there's a castle through the pass north of here.

[fearbringer]

Can you tell me why we should trust you? I don't see much danger here.

[wearsblack]

Yet. Turn your eyes south a bit longer and you'll know the truth.

THE ESCAPE

[paradisamods]

Before long the snowstorm is nipping at the heels of the village. If you didn't believe the man before now, you soon might when humanoid shapes begin to hobble up the hill through the shroud of falling snowing. It's hard to see at a distance, but they're all human, except for the blankness of their eyes. Perhaps it's better to say...they were human.

Try to fight or flee, but either way, the storm and the stranger push the residents northward through the trees

THE CASTLE

[paradisamods]

After edging through a narrow passage in the stones, the winds howling at your back, you come out in view of the tower grey-stoned walls of a castle. The man leads everyone to a secret door and slips inside, which leads to the interior. The castle itself resembles Paradisa, if it were coated in a fine layer of soot. There's a smaller section of city squashed inside the walls, all huddled together around narrow streets and alleys. And it's far too quiet. There is no bustle of life here. No smiling faces. No holiday decorations. Further towards the castle, people peek out at the residents from the safety of doors and the slats of their windows.

"Welcome to Cair Solemme," says the man in a flat tone over his shoulder as he heads towards the castle proper, "This way. It's best you don't linger too long. The people here don't trust easily. It's what this castle has done to them..."

The interior of the castle is similar to the old layout of Paradisa, though lacking in any kind of modern convenience. There are rooms here to rest the night and into tomorrow as the storm, at the creatures inside it, beat against the walls. But for everything else, the castle is at least safe. At least, from the outside.