Caelberk had been having a harsher than normal cold this season; windows iced over in moments when the sun would dip behind the horizon and everyone's personal heaters would kick into overdrive. No one wandered the streets after dark on those nights for fear of frostbite and the knowledge that their clothes may be advanced and capable of heating them but eventually the cold always wins.
The Mason had put in place a curfew to make sure that everyone stayed inside when things could get particularly frigid and he, himself, would stay within the Vestibule of Elements for the remainder of that time as well.
It's early in the month of Wintal that the temperature truly bottoms out; ice clings to every surface and those who dare to venture outside are met with eyelids that freeze shut and the panic that comes with it. It's no longer safe to go outside at all, and everyone is sequestered in their homes. They are not bored, for they have the tech-screens built into every home, regardless of where they are, and can call upon them for any form of entertainment they wish; they have food stockpiled always so that if something like this should happen they do not starve; water is in a magical basin and flowing freely from the pipes still, modified by the Mason's design to never freeze over. Outside of cabin fever, everyone truly has everything they need to be happy.
When dawn on the ninth day of the icing broke, sun shone through the clouds and heated the ice glazing all the windows and doors and the temperature rose just enough to allow people to leave their homes. They were never locked in, no, but merely asked to stay and most of them followed that note.
Into the streets spilled people shrouding their eyes from the peeking sunlight, stretching their legs, some even going so far as to set up their shops and open almost immediately for new trade deals, knowing full well that people would want something new after all of this.
What no one expected was that, in a random passing by the Vestibule of Elements, Isteri Odo would find the Mason murdered upon the steps leading up to the sanctuary and, in front of the entrance, a barrier had risen like a magical wall denying passage to ANYONE for the Vestibule.
Things are changing rapidly in Caelberk and as of right now... anyone could be a suspect.
Welcome to the Hollow RPs first plot drop!
This plot drop is to set the scene and pace of our world and the events of discovering and reacting to the Mason's death and the plotting that goes on around it. It's meant to encourage exploration of a world that your character's might be familiar with but is new to you, the player. The shake-up of this information will make everyone seem a suspect so being cautious in traveling and speaking to others might be completely normal in this and gives you a chance to flex your creative muscles.
The events take place in the month of Wintal, with the Frost lasting from the first of the month to the night of the eighth, and on Eutilsday Isteri finds the Mason's body in the early hours of the morning. (calendar here)
The goal of this plot drop is to have everyone within their factions get together and discuss what to do, to elect de-factor leaders of each faction by whatever means they want, and to find out who exactly killed The Mason*.
Here are the KNOWN facts of the moment and things your character could have easily heard within the realm.
cw: death, murder, depictions of how one was murdered.
There was a terrible freeze over (dubbed the Frost by the people) that lasted about a week and kept everyone inside of their homes, or was meant to anyway. Some brave souls might have ignored the guidelines and ventured out anyway, but at what cost?
Isteri Odo discovered the Mason's body in the early hours of morning after the Frostbreak. His death is called by several older Elementalists trained in medicine and it is found to be murder.
the Mason's body was with his neck broken and his eyes still open. A look of peace was on his face, or something akin to that, and it's strange for a victim of murder.
The entrance to the Vestibule of Elements is sealed over with powerful elemental magic; some elders have tried to break the seal but it won't budge and it's unclear who (or what) caused it to seal over. Regardless, entrance to the Vestibule is cut off.
Isteri Odo was questioned in regards to the death of the Mason and cleared, but it won't stop suspicion from arising among the people.
The snow and frost covered most of the ground and any clues as to how the perpetrator(s) had managed to both lure the Mason out and kill him without leaving any trace is the biggest mystery.
Here are some prompts to help you get threads going with your peers:
Who would want to kill the Mason? Do they believe it's someone within their faction? Another faction? Do they even care?
Why is the Vestibule of Elements blocked? Will they ever be able to get back inside? Did the Mason do that or was it the person who killed them? Is it possible the perpetrator is still inside?
What to do now that their adjudicator is dead and they're fending for themselves. Do they vie for power and try to take over? Do they want to help people and make sure everyone isn't panicking? Do they want to extend Caelberk's reach further out and explore other areas?
How does the Mason's death personally impact your character? Did they know him only in passing or had they known him a long time? Did they ever learn anything from him? What is it that he meant to them?
Self-paras are not required but are encouraged if you want to explore any of these topics for your character outside of threads in general. Mostly I want everyone to be able to start building their character in a world that they will also begin help building. If you any questions or comments, please let me know!
There will be an event posted next week involving the factions (which, ironically, includes the factionless) and I can't wait to see what everyone does with it!
Please like this post once you've read it!
*NOTE: they won't yet, but discussing theories is highly encouraged.
