OPEN | this winter brings all the cold to the yard

[northcliffpass]

𝕒 𝕨𝕚𝕟𝕥𝕣𝕪 𝕒𝕣𝕣𝕚𝕧𝕒𝕝

surprise!

I. Snow!

A mere week after the grisly discovery in the Deep Forest and the subsequent dispersal of the eerie spectral visitors, all Northcliff Pass residents wake one exceptionally frigid morning to find themselves buried under several feet of snow. It is of the light and fluffy variety--at least for now--which provides no shortage of entertainment for the village children, and means one is less likely to throw one's back out while trying to shovel it clear of doorways and the streets.

That is your first order of business, as it happens: free yourselves from your wintry entrapment. Or don't, if you've got enough food and drink squirrelled away in your tiny peasant house that you don't need to venture out into the elements. The world is your cold, shitty, socially stratified oyster; ditch your responsibilities, sleep in.

II. Fete! at ye olde tavern

All Souls' Day came and went, and nobody can really be blamed for forgetting about it what with the ghosts and the gloomy business of seeing to the bodies. All that aside the Hammer and Spoke seems especially welcoming that first wintry night, once all the snow shovelling is finished and the streets are clear enough for foot traffic again; lit lanterns glow warmly outside the door, and from within come the sounds of joyful music. Fiddles, whistles, a drum, and plenty of laughter; it seems the snow has stranded a troupe of minstrels in the village, which means at least two or three nights of great fun for village residents.

In truth it will take more than a few nights of drunk mischief to lift the pall cast across the village after the previous month's discoveries, but maybe that's why so many people gravitate to the light and levity and warmth of a party. After such a close call with so much death, it's good to remind oneself that there's joy in the world, too.

III. Cramped Quarters

The nights might be filled with good company, food, and drink, but during the day the village has to contend with another frustration: the roads in and out of Northcliff Pass are closed until the snow melts.

This is a common experience--in late December, January, and February. Not so much in November, when farmers are preparing to take their surplus harvest and livestock down the mountain to Cliffside, or when caravans with schedules to keep to are preparing to head east towards Woodsedge. (The only road clear in that direction is guaranteed to take them past Turn--something no one wants to risk.) Even a few late-season pilgrims have found themselves stuck between Gods' Reach at the summit of the mountain, and the creature comforts of Cliffside below.

There's nothing to be done for it, of course, except to endure the unusually crowded streets, the lack of vacancies at the tavern, and the occasional herd of sheep or goats picketed in very odd places.

Comments

[infinitewatch]

Why not both!!

Lance nods, the former reason being common enough that it's not worth asking after. The latter, however, makes him a little nervous, if only because a part of him is worried this will herald a slew of newcomers all looking to get a piece of the mysteries. There's no way the town could support that.

"I see," he says quietly. "Is it... is that something you investigate normally?"

[shepherddain]

Dain blinks with some obvious confusion before he realises where the miscommunication is occurring. "Oh! I'm sorry, I didn't introduce myself. Johannes Dain. I'm a Shepherd with the church. I'll admit --" He laughs sheepishly. "-- I haven't investigated ghosts before, so it's not especially normal. Do you have any advice for me?"

[infinitewatch]

Lance almost misses the word, and it comes back to him a moment later, hitting him like an icy dagger in his stomach. A Shepherd?
"Sorry, did-- did you say a Shepherd," he stammers, feeling the fool for it, but it's hardly common for them to just appear of their own volition like this.

[shepherddain]

"Yes," he answers. "I did."

Dain pauses, long enough to allow for some processing of that. It's an unusual situation, all around. Then he smiles again, like the clarification never happened. "Do you have any advice? It's difficult to think of where to start, with ghosts, and you'll know much more about the area than I do."

[infinitewatch]

Does he have advice? Lance's gaze goes far away as he thinks about it.
"Well we," he murmurs after a moment, "we discovered-- what they were about, in the end." He nods to himself, and does not elaborate, because that would make this conversation too easy.

[shepherddain]

Much, much more about the area, it seems. Dain idly wonders if he's set some sort of precedent, finishing an investigation within two minutes of starting it. It's unlikely; some people are all too willing to give up their friends and neighbours the moment a Shepherd is involved.

He almost doesn't want to ask, but -- "What did you discover?"

[infinitewatch]

"A mass grave," Lance replies wearily, not bothering to sugarcoat. "Bodies of travelers. And." The part no one really wants to think about, despite it being justice served:

"...and the highwaymen who did it. Also dead."

[shepherddain]

That... brings up a great many questions, all vying to be the one asked first.

"Did their discovery put an end to the ghosts' appearance?" Dain asks. "Or are they still a danger?"

[infinitewatch]

Lance shakes his head. "The ghosts stood by the grave. I believe they wanted to be put to rest." It's insane.

"Father Normand remained behind and did so. We haven't seen any since."

[shepherddain]

Ah. Ghosts of the travelers, the victims; not the highwaymen. Insofar as the appearance of ghosts makes any sense whatsoever, at least it seems they're not truly a threat, and certainly not anymore.

Carefully, Dain asks: "What killed the highwaymen?"

[infinitewatch]

Lance is quiet for a long while, to the point where it almost seems he hasn't heard the question.

Then, he simply gives a little shake of his head. "I dare not speak of it."

[shepherddain]

Because it defies easy explanation, or to avoid further scrutiny from the church? Dain frowns, weighing between asking for more information and staying on the good side of the Captain of the Watch; but in the end, it's an easy choice to make.

"Thank you," Dain says. "That's already more information than I expected." He gestures at the tavern he'd been heading toward. "Can I bring you anything? A hot drink, or some food?"