NATURE’S WRATH

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Winter does not wane like usual.
Something is amiss and abnormal.
Nature is reacting.
Nature is bending.
Will you break?

Snow fell in giant pieces from above, raging down for weeks now relentlessly. The winds at Ilere’s Freeze were picking up today, frenzied and ready to make their way through anything and anyone in their path. The cold could seep through your bones, and even those most equipped with thick coats were susceptible to frostbite and even hypothermia. Wandering in the freezing winds and blinding snow for too long would mean certain death. Pick your shelter carefully, because the thick and heavy snow would sometimes fall, threatening to bury anyone who was less fortunate to move out of it’s path on time.

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INSTRUCTIONS

Trade Boosted: All clerics who post at least 3 times to this thread and exit before the end of the BWP will qualify for "+15 BWP exp". All other trades can still collect regular exp.
Minimum Participants Needed: 4
Maximum Participants Allowed: 11

This thread must be completed with exits by the end of the BWP to count for bonus trade experience. There is no posting order. The BWP account will not post again.

pixel credit to DiddyLyn

Блядь, comes his hiss — eloquent as always. it was an expected sentiment, though, given the current situation. the weather, already on the brink of terrible, had worsened rather quickly — and dramatically. ilere was a comfort to him but the whipping wind was not; it was a cruel thing, biting at his nose and eyes, leaving him squinting against the onslaught. the snow, too, fell in sheets — less of a dusting and more of a coating. it was steadily rising and even with his thick fur and extra toes, it was becoming a struggle.

it also meant that he was stuck.

moving further inland would be ideal, to put the worst of the storm behind him, but the weather made it unthinkable at the moment. so instead he does his best to make it to the opening of the closest cave. it was large — possibly connecting to another tunnel, though it was hard to tell from the poor visibility — and he lingers on the doorstep of it, just long enough to think. perhaps he was not the only one stupid enough to explore the freeze today?

иди сюда! there’s shelter if you need! he roars, as loud as he can — hoping his voice will carry, and not be lost to the blizzard. spirits, he prays quietly, make it so.

possible exp
+10 Cast a blessing on a character/group
+5 Save someone from danger
+5 Meditate or pray on your own or with someone else
+5 Preach your beliefs to someone
+15 BWP EXP

possible bwp tickets
+1 - Make a BWP-related post ( 1 )
+2 - Study one of the natural phenomena occurring ( 1 )
+2 - Teach someone something about unique weather
+2 - Pray to a god or deity for guidance ( 1 )
+2 - Train someone or give advice on how to survive a weather phenomena
+2 - Analyze the changes being made to the land ( 1 )
+5 - Complete a BWP-related thread (with 10+ posts) ( 1 )
+5 - Complete a thread with a character you've never threaded with

code; background; art;

Once again, Mordecai found himself in quite the unfortunate predicament. Why he'd strayed this far from home was beyond him, but something in his gut had compelled him to come here. To try and discover more. Now whipped up in a blizzard to the extent of which he'd never seen before, the Shepherd hunched his posture and kept trekking on, jaw tensed as he braced himself against the icy winds. Please, the man murmured wordlessly, please Maker, do not let me lose this battle. He could not afford to, not when he had so much work left to do. I am your most loyal and faithful soldier. So it is by some divine intervention, surely, that a voice would rise up from the storm and reach the Sovereign; an opportunity to find salvation amongst all this chaos. A beacon of hope. The grey-pelted brute would surge forward, sides heaving, until he found himself in the close proximity of @Kazimir and the shelter he'd found for himself. "Praise be to you, Brother," Mordecai rasped after a moment to compose himself, moving to lean against one of the rock walls with a shudder. Outside, visibility dropped considerably, and the Shepherd felt his stomach drop. All the poor souls outside, in need of saving.... He would find the strength to stand again, moving to stand close to the mouth of the den. "If you can hear us, come! We have shelter!" We can save you. TICKETS: +1 - Make a BWP-related post. +2 - Study one of the natural phenomena occurring. +2 - Analyse the changes being made to the land. +5 - Complete a BWP-related thread (with 10+ posts). +5 - Complete a thread with a character you've never threaded with. TRADE EXP: +15 - BWP-related exp. +5 - Meditate or pray on your own or with someone else.

code by irish

+1 - Make a BWP-related post
+2 - Study one of the natural phenomena occurring (1/2)
+2 - Analyze the changes being made to the land (1/2)
+5 - Complete a BWP-related thread (with 10+ posts)
+5 - Complete a thread with a character you've never threaded with before

It took him a bit too long to realize his mistake in coming here. His research was stronger than his instincts, and so Lothar had wandered to an unusual place that he would never set foot in.

If it wasn't for his research, of course.

Sometimes it felt as if the lykoi cleric would climb mountains if they promised a glimpse into the afterlife, if they were going to answer all the wandering questions in his head. Today was no different because when the winds picked up, sending snow to beat against his bald skin and sparse fur, he was completely unprepared.

There was no way he'd reach his final destination, and the cold was biting in his skin like a feral beast. After walking just for twenty minutes, he was certain he could no longer feel his toes.

Luckily, he'd found shelter on time.

As he was settling in, shivering from head to toe, he glanced outside at the impenetrable blizzard. The snow seemed to fall down faster & harder, promising to drown out everything in white. What was happening to this land? It's almost as if his arrival had sparked these disasters. Was Amaryllis truly morphing into something else? And will it kill them? Hopefully not, he had plenty more to learn about it and if worse came to worse... well, he'll get out of this place.

He curled up in the darkness of the cave's walls, trying desperately to heat his body up. And then @Kazimir marched in, seemingly not noticing the bald medic and yelling something in a foreign language.

Lothar watched the large bear-like man stand at the entrance and call for anyone else that there is a shelter there. Sighing, he mumbled through chattering teeth: "We got it, big boy," the small man tried to curl up more as if that was possible. And quickly, another came. @Mordecai. "Quit your yelling now." it's not like he wanted even more of the bufoons coming in here anyway.

CLERIC EXP
+15 - BWP-related exp.
+10 Cast a curse or blessing on a character/group
+5 Meditate or pray on your own or with someone else
+5 Learn about someone else’s beliefs

The lioness was out here for a reason, though she was beginning to have doubts as to what that reason was. There wasn't much to find out here, only deep carpets of freezing snow, the smell of plants that had decayed months ago. The traveler had gathered what little she could, adding it to her belongings. All she needed was carried in a unique animal hide, cured and shaped into a crude pack. Within, a small supply of food, a large rolled fur, and various herbs. It came only natural to bring it all with her everywhere she went, born to a family that peddled their healing talent to everyone in need of it. When you had no home, you learned how to carry home on your back.

Surrounded so completely by white, she was feeling uneasy as to her location, wondering if she was lost. She would silently pray to her totem spirit for guidance, asking for any sign to point her in the right direction. Eyes would befall a single hardy plant protruding up through the snow, a sign? She would take it as one, moving in the direction it had turned her in.

Eventually, she would find the cave, led there in part by the calls she had heard. "I think we will be alright now Shu." She spoke, seemingly to nobody. In truth, she was speaking to a small tawny dormouse wedged down into the pack, seeking warmth from the bitter cold.

Cautiously she would approach the strangers, legs stiff and body shivering slightly. There was only one face that was vaguely familiar, so she would move towards @Lothar, setting down her pack. Of everyone here, this male of thin fur was likely suffering the most from the cold, so she would opt to help him if he would allow. "Good day sir, a pleasure to see you again." She spoke quietly. Was it a pleasure? She would have said it was regardless of how their prior meeting had gone, it was just in her nature. "There is a warm fur blanket in my pack if you would wish to use it." She offered, his small size meaning it should be plenty big to the point he could wrap himself up like a burrito if he wanted to.

Attention would shift to @Kazimir and @Mordecai then, not wanting to be impolite. "I am called Cicada, I bring with me some dried meat and some medicinal herbs if anyone should have dire need of either." As she began digging through her pack, the small rodent would emerge, hurriedly climbing the lengths of fluffy mahogany fur to settle himself between Cicada's shoulder blades. He felt safe there, knowing Cicada would protect him as a mother bear would her cubs.

🎫 +2 - Study one of the natural phenomena occurring
🎫 +2 - Pray to a god or deity for guidance
🎫 +2 - Analyze the changes being made to the land

image by moogle/code by saph

the recent and unexplained changes in weather had ophelia plagued with worry. there was no explanation to such rapid changes in so many of amaryllis' biomes, and the thought that something had upset maua greatly troubled the valour's mind.

determined to get to the bottom of whatever... this was, ophelia left the safety of the brook and headed north, up to the farthest point and the coldest biome she could think of. whilst she was lithe, she had thicker fur than some of her siblings and thought she could manage with the bitter chill, even with summer on the way.

how wrong she was. as the ivory lioness pushed on further through ilere's freeze, the bitter chill and the thick blankets of snow that thrashed down around her caused her to slow quite a bit down. each step was painful, and her ears were sore from being pushed heavily against her crown. she released a sigh. maua - protect me now. protect me and deliver me from this chaos, she mumbles to herself, pausing in her tracks to look upward to the white sky. her eyes closed into slits as snow hounded her gentle features. shifting her attention away from the sky and back to the territory she found herself in, ophelia noticed how everything seemed to be coated in thick snow and oddly, there were no recent tracks. the weight of the snow must have covered them up almost as quick as they had been made.

pushing onward, ophelia could feel her internal beacon of hope fading. the cold was getting to her now and she could feel her body shivering as she tried to keep moving. was there any shelter out here? maua... guide me - show me the way, please... the ivory lioness pleads, pausing once more to listen for a response. but maua's voice is not what ophelia hears, but instead the voice of males shouting for anyone in need of shelter to join them. her body stiffens as she looks around frantically, sea-foam eyes desperately searching for the location, and then, in the distance, she just spots them. there is a warmth in her stomach that begins to blossom as she alters her direction slightly and makes her way to the cave.

as she enters, her eyes look to the lions that were too in there for the relief from the storm. she is quick to realize that he does not recognise any of them. eyes fall first on @Kazimir and then @Mordecai, then @Lothar, and finally @Cicada. she pauses and shakes the thick layer of snow that had formed away from her back, thick droplets of snow flying in all different directions. hi, she breathes eventually, her eyes not meeting one individual in particular. maua sends their blessings to you all, and guides you to this area of safety, she smiles, and then takes a seat as her muscles tense against the cold winds. i'm ophelia valour, it's nice to meet you all in such direful circumstances. how did you all get here? she enquires, curious.

potential exp:
+15 bwp exit (1/3)
+10 cast a curse or blessing on a character/group (1/2)
+5 preach your beliefs to someone
+5 meditate or pray on your own or with someone else (1/2)
+5 learn about someone else’s beliefs

potential tickets:
+1 - Make a BWP-related post (1)
+2 - Study one of the natural phenomena occurring (1)
+2 - Diffuse someone else's panic or worry
+2 - Pray to a god or deity for guidance (1)
+2 - Analyze the changes being made to the land (1)
+2 - Save someone from danger
+5 - Complete a BWP-related thread (with 10+ posts) (1)
+5 - Complete a thread with a character you've never threaded with before (3)
+10 - Complete a thread with a member you've never threaded with before (2: rabbit & moogle)

table by ferus, art by ale-tie

Vellen's wrath reached further than the sea and the shores of the island, working its way inland and affecting everything in its path. He had come to the Freeze to scout out the lands - they were ideal for the Sigrun and their thicker fur. He wondered if a family clan would be made one day, and would they choose to put it right there?

Though, as he pushed on, the snow and wind began to pick up and all but blind him as he made his way as quickly as he could through the Freeze. It would soon become clear that venturing out here today was a mistake. The snow was building quickly, and the cold, despite his thick fur, was seeping into his form.

He silently loathed praying to his god, feeling in his bones the wrathful being was the one that created this entire mess. "Vellen, leiðbeindu skrefum mínum og vísaðu mér leiðina. Leggðu ekki reiði þína á saklausa, ég bið þig..." he murmured, hoping that no innocents were caught in the storm unaware.

As he saw a dark shape in the distance by the mouth of a cave, he began shuddering involuntarily. The deep, thick accented voice of the other lion sounded familiar, and Reynir would only realize he recognized the lion from a previous encounter when he shuffled closer. A few other lions made it to the cave before he, but he paused to greet the Russian man before entering.

"Hello again, friend," he said to him, dipping his maw in greeting. There were various clumps of snow gathered on the edges of his thick fur now. "Vellen thanks you for your generosity." Though, in hindsight, Reynir wasn't so sure that the god did.

He wasted no time entering the cave, finding the others gathered there and hearing the offer of the small and uniquely-colored lioness. He shook out his fur by the entrance, leaving quite a pile of it, before venturing deeper into the cave. "Hello. I'm glad you all made it in here safely," he spoke, sweeping his green eyes passed each of them, meaning to address each of them. "Picked the wrong day to explore the Freeze," Reynir replied to @Ophelia, chuckling a bit. He could find humor in his mistake.

@Kazimir @Mordecai @Lothar @Cicada

BWP Tix
+1 Make a BWP-related post
+2 Study one of the natural phenomena occurring
+2 Pray to a god or deity for guidance
+2 Analyze the changes being made to the land

Potential XP
cleric
+15 BWP Cleric-Focused XP
+5 Preach your beliefs to someone
+5 Meditate or pray on your own or with someone else
+5 Listen to a living character's problem and try to help them
+5 Cleanse an area of bad omens

CODE | IMG | BG

another arrives — smelling of woods and fire, cloaked in a pelt even darker than his own. @Mordecai does not shine like a beacon but he appears from the blizzard regardless and curled ears twitch at the man’s call, echoing his own. two voices were better than one, weren’t they? an easy observation to make — regardless of @Lothar's grumbling. indeed, he had not noticed the smaller man’s presence in the cave he’d hauled into; he might be sheepish for that if not for the plummeting temperatures outside. despite everything he grins at the small male, turning his muzzle away from the storm: sorry, old man — you’ll get your peace back soon. he says, an apologetic keen in his voice that even his accent cannot quite diminish.

because his call, and mordecai’s, had worked.

others trickle in — a small waif of a girl, accompanied by a mouse of all things and supplies. she introduced herself as @Cicada, but his gaze lingers on her little companion. a friend? or a meal? fortunately for her ( and the little mouse ), another steals his attention as she too finds her way into the cave. @Ophelia shakes herself like a dog, emerging from a blanket of snow to reveal rose-kissed features and a curious speech. maua? he repeats, quiet and almost under his breath — curious, if nothing else. at first he thinks it might be her name until she continues, offering it instead.

your vellen could thank us with less snow, he says with a fair amount of grumbling, almost pleased to see the now-familiar features of @reynir. it seems that these were the only ones in the area and he feels comfortable enough stepping back from the entrance, not wanting to call anymore into lothar's den. at least it was roomy in here, enough space for them to wait out the worst of the storm. he hoped, at least.

ruby eyes are keen to linger on the mouth of the cave, mind racing; between this, and all the other strange things he'd seen as of late, it certainly seemed something was amiss with the land itself. i did not notice the storm until it was upon me, he says aloud with a frown, wondering. is this place always so secretive? or was this, too, a fluke?


possible exp
+10 Cast a blessing on a character/group
+5 Save someone from danger
+5 Meditate or pray on your own or with someone else
+5 Preach your beliefs to someone
+15 BWP EXP

possible bwp tickets
+1 - Make a BWP-related post ( 2 )
+2 - Study one of the natural phenomena occurring ( 1 )
+2 - Teach someone something about unique weather
+2 - Pray to a god or deity for guidance ( 1 )
+2 - Train someone or give advice on how to survive a weather phenomena
+2 - Analyze the changes being made to the land ( 1 )
+5 - Complete a BWP-related thread (with 10+ posts) ( 1 )
+5 - Complete a thread with a character you've never threaded with

code; background; art;

"I'm afraid snow is not really Vellen's area. He has a lot more to do with the sea," Reynir answered @Kazimir as he caught the man's comment, offering an easy grin to the other - despite his grumbling. Reynir's green eyes swept the rest of the cave, finding it a lot bigger than he originally thought, though the majority of them were in close quarters with one another.

"I am happy to share my warmth with anyone who requires it," Reynir announced to the others, noting the two much less fluffy females. His offer was open to the males, too, though. If they had all huddled together, they'd be much warmer here.

Reynir's ears perk for a second time at Kazimir's voice. His tone is deep and the foreign accent in his voice makes it seem gravelled, but despite that, Reynir finds comfort in it; if only it's because he had endured at least two other disasters with this man before, and each time he either had something pensive to offer or directly helped him and others out of harm's way. In Reynir's mind, this man was a kind soul.

"Up until recently, not really," Reynir observed. Before recently, there were adequate cues that let one know there was a storm coming - smells in the air, change in pressure, clouds on the horizon... but Reynir had been stuck in two snowstorms already that came on fast, allowing very little time to prepare for either of them.


@Mordecai @Lothar @Cicada @Ophelia

BWP Tix
+1 Make a BWP-related post
+2 Analyze the changes being made to the land

code | image

Cicada would observe the others for a time, having done her part to show hospitality she was content just to silently observe the goings on. She would be interested in their mention of Maua and Vellen, two names she was very much unfamiliar with, though it sounded like they were talking about some sort of deity. Perhaps Amaryllis worshipped one or the other.. most seemed more familiar with the latter though.

Where she came from, it was another that they looked to, but she did not wish to bore these devout lions with her own beliefs. Instead, she would just take this opportunity to rest, intending to brave the weather once again in the near future. There was no telling when it would let up completely, so even if it should slow, she would take that as an opportunity to leave. She did not wish to stay here overnight, the manner in which one of them had stared at Shu made her nervous for the little Dormouse.

image by moogle/code by saph