#thcevent

[holyevents]

IN SANCTUS TERRA…

After a month of merriment and mourning, Cador’s soul finds eternal rest — the crescents rise and fall, and as the New Moon wanes, stealing lazily behind the hills, the Red Rain Moon ascends, hanging crimson in the sky. Yet the wheel still turns. Its orbit conceals violence under its tongue. The moon’s bloodied mantle seems particularly fitting this year, given the circumstances; a spell of unease trickles into the light, leaving an indelible stain. The people of the Holy Land might have looked to the new moon with great liberation and promise, yet the feeling of trepidation begins to sink in. The Red Rain Moon is a moon of dark red, and the violence of it does not escape the masses’ notice: within their city walks a reputed murderer; within their city stalks a beast, seeking to disempower the meticulously cultivated harmony that the Tridium — Sun, Moon and Stars all — have always strived to brace.

The citizens seem intent on demonstrating their discontent, on letting their grief be known - all the mourning and rituals in the world, it seems, pale in comparison to their determination to hold onto their restlessness. As the days drag on, their impatience grows. The mortals feel their voices quelled, feel their hands shackled - and so, they drink on, and fight on, and find satisfaction in the anger that makes their fists shake. The whispered words of the few who saw the body of Cador before he was laid to rest are murmured into one ear then the next. It seems it was not Fate who had called the great Star home, no, he was sent there with poison upon his lips and in his lungs.

The people of the Holy Land look towards the execution of the red-handed creature as eagerly as they look towards those who might serve as their beacon of light in the midst of the encroaching storm.

If God were alive, would He not find it odd that the creatures He created craved violence and peace in equal measure? 

The powers that lord over the precious kingdom of the Holy Land have already begun moving within the shadows to place all their pieces on the board, to see who might crown themself as the new Star. There are those who find favor with ARIANNE ALTIER, LUCA RICHE, JASPER RICHE, and EVANGELINE TRAME. Theirs are the first names upon the lips of the people - those who have curried the adoration and interest of the people with their fame and wealth. It is whispered that the MEMBERS of the ROUND TABLE are already intent on casting their lots and having the vacancy filled. In turn, many have turned to the High Priestess, ISOLDE WICKEN, in the hopes of knowing to whom the honor of being the Star of the Tridium will fall.

“After all,” the keepers of the Temple mumble to themselves, “What does it matter who wears the crown, so long as it is a mortal?” 

“Some mortals,” sighs a Second Eye, arms laden with offerings from the people, “are more deserving of our loyalties than others. Not all of us should be tainted with divinity.”

Little do the citizens of the Holy Land know that it is because of divine creatures that they will have their hunger for justice satiated.

The two remaining parts of the Tridium gather the Horsemen to their chamber, the demon, AZAZEL, and the angel, GABRIEL, crowned with the moon and the sun, respectively. The Horsemen stand before them, VIKTORIA’s gaze flickering between the two as she takes a seat at the table, DMITRI and RYUK following suit while NERISSA leans against a pillar, an intrigued smile already gracing their lips. There is no one else present; not a single other soul that can hear what conversation occurs between the two parties. For there are secrets that shall be passed from the Tridium and into the hands of the Horsemen that will sever the tenuous harmony of the Holy Land.

If one were silent enough, perhaps they would hear Fate’s shears cutting the cord in two. 

Only the shadows will hear of what is proposed by the Moon and the Sun to the four creatures of the apocalypse. Poisoned, infernal, senseless - the words are whispered within the privacy of the gilded walls of the room, leaving the cursed soul who struck down the great Star of the Tridium with no option other than to fear for their life - or forfeit it completely - for the Horsemen are now determined to have it. 

IN THE REALM OF INFERNUM…

From the moment they step foot into the beguilingly hellish land of Infernum, they know something is amiss. The air is tainted with unease; bitterness swiftly stirring in the wake of it - what was once the taste of contentment now a rancid, ruinous coating upon their tongues. Even the Daemonium seem ill at ease; their guttural howls no longer cries for revelry and satiation, but desperation given vicious voice.

And still the lingering shift continues to elude the returning party of demons.

Little do they know that their kingdom was violated - that their peace was desecrated. 

The doors of the Black Palace open, and instead of howled greetings and a cacophony of salutations, the travelers are greeted with the silence of the dead - six veiled corpses awaiting them. All eyes turn to JUDAS, who looks on in silence then lifts the veil of the body closest to him. The mass of marred flesh that is revealed comes as no surprise - how can he possibly entertain such a sentiment, when the perpetrators are escapees of none other than the Black Cells? His eyes turn to ABADDON, who has no answers to lay before his questing gaze.

Then AMON, a notorious member of the Conclave, breaks the stony silence that fell over the Vices and their king. “There were three members of the Black Cells that escaped, my lord,” they begin, eyes flickering between the unspoken king and queen of Hell. “Their guard, it seems, had forsaken his duties and left himself vulnerable to manipulation. It seemed as though they knew that you, Abaddon, and the Vices had left the kingdom…” AMON’s gaze settles on ABADDON, their lips twisting into a sneer as they walk between the corpses. “But that is not what concerns me.”

The Conclave member reaches down, their fingers bunching the fabric of the veil before lifting it. Beneath it lies an angel - bloodied and marred, their wings twisted beneath them. On their breast is a pin, to mark their authority as an ambassador from Caelum. The Seraphic creature was bludgeoned within the realm of Infernum, by an escapee of the Black Cells. DAMIEN WARD kneels beside the corpse, and gently shuts their eyes.

When he pulls away, his fingertips are stained with blood. AMON bows their head, awaiting the word of the demon they acknowledge as king. MAMMON, however, looks at DAMIEN.

No one gives voice to what they are all thinking - the blood is not only on ABADDON’s hands, but all of theirs.

And the angels will seek retribution. 

It is what the now-dead God had created them for, is it not? 

“Who broke out of the cells, Amon?” ABADDON asks, her voice striking through the silence, as sharp as the end of a whip. 

“There were three of them,” AMON recounts, “two were mortal and one of them was a gifted one. They stole the weapons from the vault and -” 

“Have you sent forces to capture them yet?”

“Yes, my lady, of course-”

“I don’t see their heads on a stick yet,” ASMODEUS interrupts, crossing his arms as AMON twists their hands anxiously. 

AMON stammers out, “Th-They evaded us, but I believe that they may still be within the Realm-”

JUDAS raises a finger, and a hush falls over them all. Three murderers, hateful of demons, are now waiting within the shadows of Infernum - armed with weapons that could fell any one of them. If they aren’t careful, the streets of the city will run black with the blood of those over whom he reigns. The whispers of dissent would multiply ten-fold. They would look to another to uphold his beloved crown.

DAMIEN WARD looks at him, while the members of the VICES glance between the two. The Anti-Christ’s gaze doesn’t waver from that of the Great Betrayer.

“Send word to Michael.” JUDAS says, eyes shifting from the angelic corpse. “Tell them one of their own has fallen.”

IN THE KINGDOM OF CAELUM…

The angels return to their sanctuary, having grown impatient with the absence of their king. It is said that the land is tied to him - when he leaves, it seems to pale; the birds losing the lilt in their son and the sun sinking from its perch atop the skies. Were that the truth, none of the citizens of Caelum would be surprised, for their hearts are tied to the kingdom’s land as well. After all, they fought for it, raging against God, of all creatures, for this piece of eden-like earth. The blood of their enemies had drenched the soil, but it was their blood that made it flourish - it was MICHAEL’s blood that ensured its acquisition. 

When MICHAEL steps into the kingdom, Caelum breathes anew; the VIRTUES filing after him only serving to stir the land into giddiness. No longer are they shackled by the etiquette of foreign courts - now they can indulge in the respite offered by their people and their kingdom. Is it not known, after all, that angels find comfort only within the warmth offered by other angels? For none can compare to their holiness. 

It is why they take the loss of their loved ones as harshly as they do. 

It is also why, when word reaches MICHAEL and the VIRTUES as they make their way  through the halls of Archangel’s Castle, they are greeted with nothing but wailing and grinding of teeth. The angelic ambassadors are considered particularly beloved - for they are entrusted with the will and whim of the king that fought for their freedom. Among them is the fallen BARACHIEL; one of the first to draw their blade in rebellion against God. The most beloved of them all. 

Beloved as they were, the grief they receive is quick to curdle into rage.

The tongues of the angelic creatures grow barbed as they look at their king. Though he isn’t to blame, there is no doubt that the fissures in his visage are beginning to show. Looking upon him, they can’t help but wonder about the efforts he claimed to have made to ensure the loyalty of his allies. While the Holy Land thrives despite its loss, it seems as though Caelum suffers still under this king’s hand. Why are they not thriving as they should be? Can it truly be wise to keep their hearts threaded with that of a king who found it so easy to abandon his kingdom and leave it so pliant and vulnerable?

The whispers follow the king of Caelum as he strides towards the War Room, the VIRTUES gathered and armed to the teeth, awaiting their orders while they bite down on the grief and anger that weighs upon them. 

Gathered within the War Room of the Castle, the VIRTUES lay their eyes upon MICHAEL as he looks between them.

“We ride for Infernum,” He declares. “and we will not leave until we have our retribution.” 

FINAL NOTES: And with that, our second event is now live! We want to thank our members for their patience and support during this period — we sincerely hope the wait was worth it! We cannot wait to see what you all come up with on the dash. For the sake of clarity, you will find notes below on what is occurring with each of the factions. Please keep in mind that you are not restricted to threading only within your faction. Involving your character in any of the events taking place is certainly possible — and encouraged! We are incredibly grateful to our members for being so supportive and cannot wait to see the threads and activity that will bloom on the dash. Below you will find notes on what is occurring with the different factions. 

MORTALS: The entrants and nominees seeking election as the Tridium’s next Star are ARIANNE ALTIER, EVANGELINE TRAME, JASPER RICHE, and LUCA RICHE. If they hope to be successful, they will need to campaign for the position. We invite them — and any of the other mortal characters who wish to participate or offer support — to hold their own events to “canvass” for the position. At a later date, we will be releasing a poll for our mortal-writers to vote for who they think should be the next star. The results will be released at the end of our second event. 

HORSEMEN: The Horsemen have been hired by the Tridium to find the perpetrator that murdered Cador. Though the masses have begun to suspect foul play, only the Horsemen and the Tridium members are aware of this. Azazel and Gabriel have yielded all their information to the Horsemen and have established with them a line of rapport.he Horsemen are free to collaborate with others should they choose to. We also highly encourage that other characters volunteer for the suspect line-up for fun interrogation threads! 

DEMONS/ANGELS: The demons are experiencing a loss of their own — the escape of prisoners from ABADDON’s Black Cells. As the Horsemen are already occupied with the Tridium’s plight, we encourage members of the Virtues and Vices come together to hunt down these escapees. To reiterate: there are three mortals within the realm of Infernum currently running amok and highly likely to kill angel and demon civilians. Their identities and history are known only by ABADDON, but we encourage our players to hunt for more information!

Additionally, please keep in mind that there are two events that occur during the month of the Red Rain Moon. Your character is free to attend any of these, and we highly encourage that you use them for your threads:

VISITATION: Throughout the Red Rain Moon, Mortals in particular pay visit to the graves of those they’ve lost — whether to the Blood Plague, mortality or war. Rather than Visitation being a macabre ordeal, however, it is a celebration. Denizens light candles for those who are absent and dance until the sun comes up, gorging themselves on cuts of meat and fruits.

THE RED FESTIVAL: On the final day of the Red Rain Moon, creatures of all kinds gather in the citadel of the Holy Land and celebrate the Red Festival, the purpose of which is to demonstrate gratitude for those who have survived — and continue to survive — the Blood Plague’s defacing effects. The aim of the festival is to paint the participants in red, mimicking the influence of the calamity, and there is only one rule: all participants must dress in white.

And finally, if you have any questions, please drop them in the Discord channel. You are free to thread out any of the events that have been outlined in the event or to have your characters go on their own adventures. Otherwise, we hope you all have fun and enjoy!

[holyevents]

One becomes easily accustomed to the sense of peace. It spills through one’s being, like a slow-acting poison - numbing its host to all else but its sweet lull. Eventually, one forgets to live without it, sinking into a state of content lethargy, gorging themself on the belief that such serenity might extend into the horizon of forever. That is, perhaps, an apt way to describe the state into which many of the subjects of the Holy Land had fallen, the thought of discord a far-off notion in the mind. Until shock held them by the throat, discord grinned its wicked smile from the shadows, and death stole away the one figure that kept the horrors of the world at bay. 

May the fallen Star, Cador (who had, in one life, been known as Abraham), find harmony in all that he encounters. 

The moon was near-rising, and still the final third of the Tridium had yet to make his appearance. They were meant to gather, to deliberate and commiserate in equal measure, to further plough the path of grandeur and success for the kingdom that they so loved, and the city that they held so dear. AZAZEL and GABRIEL, the Moon and the Sun respectively, sat at opposite ends of the table - making the absence of their Star all the more noticeable. It was the first time that they had entered the room without being greeted by the older man; the first time that they have found themselves waiting on him, and the first time that they have felt an unease settle so pervasively between them. Yet neither of them cared to acknowledge it, not quite yet. One messenger had already been sent to his quarters, then another - and both of them had returned with no Cador in sight, only eerily distinct expressions of anxiety and discomfort. 

GABRIEL was the first to break the silence that had fallen over the two divine beings. “Perhaps we should send another messenger.”

“Perhaps we should admit to ourselves the truth,” AZAZEL countered, eyes meeting his. 

The archangel arched his brow. “And perhaps we shouldn’t jump to conclusions.”

A third messenger was never sent, for the Sun and the Moon went forth themselves, seeking the missing piece that made them the formidable Tridium. The sun was nowhere to be found and the moon was slowly waking, stars bespeckling the sky as though they, too, were curious as to where Cador hid himself. He was one of them, was he not? How could he ever be led astray? There was none that could snuff out the light of a burning star; their existence only ceased by means of implosion, and Cador was never one that would dare relinquish any notion of greatness and glory by being his own undoing. A highly revered man, he was regarded as such by both the wealthy and the impoverished, widely-beloved by many of the mortals within the Holy Land. He had their hearts. Cador had suffered - for what is the loss of a son but the definition of it? Cador had risen to greatness: for is not greatness created in the ruthless elevation of oneself, rising from destitution and growingstrong for it? 

And, with such greatness and glory, the perception of one’s limits becomes rather skewed. If he was loathed, which he certainly was by those who privately preferred more Heretical ideals, then he was meant to rise above it. If he was loved, then he knew that he held the people’s faith. He was untouchable. Death is nothing more than a far-off, tangential notion that is not a consequence of existence, but rather, an anomaly - to celestials and infernals… and, in truth, to Cador. 

That is what AZAZEL and GABRIEL garnered from the rigid raise of his brows and his widened, glassy eyes, at least. They stood over his body, looking down at a corpse frozen in shock the splintered door crumbling behind them -as dead as the cadaver it had so diligently locked away. GABRIEL brushed the splinters from his sleeve as AZAZEL leaned closer, investigating the marks that hinted at Cador’s demise. Blotchy skin, red eyes. The remnants of foam around his mouth. His face had grown blue and, even now, as she pressed against the cold skin, she could feel the food that had lodged in his throat as he took his final mouthful:a fruit that his son had been known to favor. She wiped her fingers against Cador’s shirt before pulling away. The two divine beings looked at one another before AZAZEL shook her head. Stars did not die this way. They faded slowly, beautifully before implosion; they did not rot away. 

The stench of artificial rot was in the air. Cador’s body was bloated with it. The stain of murder bespeckled his skin, was strewn about the room, and it felt heavy. The Star of the Tridium had been murdered, just as they were sinking into the honeyed lull of harmony. Should word get out, there could be war. The mortal faction would want reparations, if they ever knew the truth. 

It was a good thing, then, that the Sun and the Moon knew how to keep their secrets. 

They wore veils as they walked among the streets of the Holy Land, as they went from village to village harkening the passing of the great Star, Cador. It had been known that he was growing older, that his health was not that of a young man’s any longer. Though it came as a shock, Death was Death, a natural occurrence in a mortal’s life. The town criers wiped their tears beneath their veils, watching as the grief swept through the people’s faces as they listened to the great life that Cador had led; the good that he had done for his people, and the dying wish that he had made. A young boy with dirt smeared across his face took a heaving breath, rubbing his nose with a tattered, torn sleeve. An aged seamstress clutched at her chest, shaking her head as she rocked back and forth upon her chair, Cador’s name a wail upon her lips. A squire, fresh-faced and wide-eyed, let their sword clatter to the ground as they fell to their knees. 

Our Star, they lamented, whether it be upon their lips or in their weeping hearts. Our hope, our leader, and our salvation.

It was as though a silence swept, not only over the people, but over the entirety of the Holy Land. It seemed as though the very earth itself shuddered in trepidation at the onslaught of blood it would have to drink…

It was as though peace had been a curse cast over them, causing them to cease all machinations and to content themselves with idleness and petty games. The great Star of the Tridium had been the sacrifice that was needed to lift the curse from their shoulders, and renew them once more.  The Kingdom of Caelum began preparations for their travels to the Holy Land, the prestigious and glorified of the kingdom readying themselves and their companions for the journey. In the revelry of the Infernal Realm there was pause as news of the fallen Star made its way across the land - the infamous and dastardly figures in the kingdom began to ready themselves for the journey that would undoubtedly follow. 

Though no one said it aloud, they all knew. Every creature knew what possibilities loomed over them; what the Hundred-Eyed God likely saw with their never-ending sight. Some fates, they knew, were going to be bloodier than others. The seat of the Star was ripe for the taking. The only question was - who would be the figure standing behind its throne? 

THE FIRST WEEK OF THE NEW MOON: The movements of the wealthy are not kept secret for long. It is well known that only those who sit comfortably upon a mound of money are the only ones that are able to traverse between the kingdoms, and are the only ones expected to participate within the funeral rituals of the great Star, Cador. Where the fat of the calf is, vultures follow, and are not robbers all too content with being compared to such predatory animals? The robbers know it is fair easier to strike angels and demons when their defenses are thinned, spread out like a caravan, making them ripe for the plucking. 

The Tridium knows of this, though, and is aware of the dangers of such travel. They are determined to extend the courtesy of safety and protection to those who seek to remember the life of Cador, and so they have requested that volunteers within the Holy Land take up arms to defend their visitors. Among those who have volunteered to do so are:

GROUP I:

LUCA RICHE

CAPHRIEL

ORIAS

GROUP II:

ROMILDA ALTIER

SAMAEL

DMITRI

GROUP III:

ARIANNE ALTIER

RAUM

ZADKIEL

THE SECOND WEEK OF THE NEW MOON:  The preparations for Cador’s funeral have finally come to an end, and the celebrations and rituals begin. The rites span over six days, each day with a specific means for paying Cador’s legacy homage. 

The first day is known as the MEMORIAM OF DAWN, in which the community gathers together to build a pyre for the departed, rising at dawn to collect the necessary instruments and resources - wood, flowers, oils, and the like. While they gather and prepare, they sing of the departed’s childhood, and if none can be recounted then they sing of the first time the departed smiled at them, their first laugh, and so on. The second day is known as the MEMORIAM OF THE FIRST TWILIGHT and it is upon this day that the treasures of the departed are gathered together so that they might be redistributed to their loved ones and the community, depending on the wishes of the dead. This typically takes place at the Temple of the Saints and is often accompanied by acts of charity, such as alms-giving and distribution of goods in the name of the departed. The third day is known as the MEMORIAM OF SUNRISE and it is on this day that there is quiet and respite to be taken by the loved ones of the departed. Traditionally, they sequester themselves and allow themselves time to bask in the life that they had shared with the dead - oftentimes gathering together if only to drink, eat, and exchange memories.

The fourth day is known as the MEMORIAM OF SUNSET, during which what can only be described as festivities take place - the last three days of funeral rituals meant to be a joyous celebration of the life that had been lived. A bonfire takes place and those who wish to render the memory of the departed upon their skin, either in letter or through symbols. Laughter, singing, dancing often marks this and typically bleeds into the next. The fifth day is known as the MEMORIAM OF THE LAST TWILIGHT and it is on this day that the last vestiges of the departed are burned. Treasures that no one wishes to keep for themselves, letters that they had written, renderings and sketches - all are burned upon the pyre, along with the body that remains. The lighting of the pyre is rather ceremonious, with a loved one removing the shroud as frankincense curls in the air, placing one final kiss upon the departed’s brow before extending the torch and setting the pyre aflame. Libations, song, and dancing ensue once more and consequently bleed into the sixth and final day, known as the MEMORIAM OF DUSK. When dusk settles on this final day, the ashes from the pyre are collected and are taken care of at the discretion of the departed’s loved ones. Candles are lit throughout the community - placed upon windowsills, balconies, fountains, the old haunts and known places of refuge for the dead. With this closing ceremony, it is recognized that, though the ache still lingers - and perhaps it always will - there is hope that such love will be renewed again

The people of the land - and the visitors from the neighboring kingdoms - gather together to remember the great life that Cador had. Minstrels ready their instruments, children and adults alike gather the wood for the bonfire, and so the celebrations begin and the libations are shared among all. In their drunkenness, there are some who can’t help but notice how odd Cador seems to look on the pyre - it is as though there is a glamour that is placed on his visage. The hues of his skin seem skewed. The way the light shines in his hair gleams rather oddly.

But no matter, no matter… leave the dead to their peace… 

THIRD WEEK OF THE NEW MOON: It seems that the entirety of the world has been renewed, that fresh vigor runs deep within the soil. For this reason, it is said that the Daemonium are becoming agitated - for the only renewal they know is that of their insatiable hunger. It is on the outskirts of Sanctus Terra that many hear of it. The Tridium is aware, but they make the decision to stay their hand - they feel themselves becoming overwhelmed while being spread so thin. Those of the Round Table need to reserve their forces and maintain their focus on electing a new Star to represent them and their interests. But there are the restless few who cannot help but take a quick trip to relieve their own hunger - their hunger for glory.

THE FOURTH WEEK OF THE NEW MOON:  Due to the unprecedented events that occurred at the beginning of the New Moon, the celebration known as The Coming of Spring was delayed, and many instead chose to celebrate it during the fourth week of the New Moon. The allocated sites have been announced and the people of the Holy Land are able to let the last vestiges of grief go as the renewal of the spirit takes place. Perhaps some will wish that the new Star be as righteous and glorious as the one that had passed. Perhaps those who hunger for it will get the schism that they want so dearly to occur between the factions. 

FINAL NOTES: And with that, we have released our first event! Not to get sappy, but you all have no idea how grateful we are to have your interest and excitement. This has been a long time coming and we absolutely cannot wait to see all the interactions that will take place! 

The OPEN POSITIONS will always be on a first-come, first-serve basis, so drop an ask to the MAIN to let us know if you want your character to participate in this. It is meant to be a joint collaboration between those within the Holy Land and the neighboring kingdoms, so angels, demons, and mortals alike are welcome to volunteer themselves! If there is no space available, we will let you know as soon as we can. 

If you have any questions, please drop them in the discord channel and if you find yourself coming up empty for plots, don’t hesitate to contact us. We absolutely love collaborating and helping our members. You are free to thread out any of the events that have been outlined in the event or to have your characters go on their own adventures. Otherwise, we hope you all have fun and enjoy!