March Forecast

[xiaoxiuya]

Good morning, everyone. I hope your February was relatively pleasant and uneventful!

The purpose of this post is to share information about the climate and odd events that happened last March, in order to help newcomers better prepare for the coming month. If you believe the information contained herein is inaccurate or incomplete in any way, please let us know in the comments below. Thank you!

March is the first month in the Season of Tears, or the Trenchian Spring. Because of this we can expect a sudden and calamitous thaw in the first week of the month, where all or nearly all of the snow will disappear and be replaced by explosive plant growth. I was unable to find any references to a flood in network posts published during this period last year, but it seems prudent to be on our guard nonetheless. Outreach still has a few sandbags left over from managing the snow, so if you are concerned with keeping your home or place of business safe please contact us! Additionally the Pthumerian called Moon Presence is known to be active during this month, and it may be possible to hear her weeping or singing over the sound of water. As she is not known to be hostile to Sleepers, it's probably safe to ignore her, so long as you do so respectfully.

The same unfortunately cannot be said of the Moss King! This Patron Pthumerian is associated with the month of March, and his portfolio includes unconquered nature, prophecy, precognition, and games of chance. Because of this the people local to Trench honor him by holding carnival games on the boardwalk during March, but with a sadistic twist: last year new Sleepers were required to play these games in order to obtain their welcoming bags and other objects from home. It's also mentioned in A Survivor's Guide to the Unknowns of Trench (multiple authors, can be checked out from the Archive for further perusal) that these games are haunted by a female-presenting Pthumerian, dubbed "the Lady of Luck" by the authors, who is able to pull Sleepers into more difficult and frequently bloody challenges through the issuance of tarot cards. These challenges vary from to year to year, but as the Lady is most frequently encountered on the board week it seems possible that she might be avoided by likewise refusing to take part in these games. If anyone has more information on this topic I once again entreat them to leave a comment below.

The Moss King himself also took part in the "fun" last year: it seems that he either built or obtained a "summer home," and took it upon himself to invite Sleepers to visit him therein. These invitations took the form of enchanted letter bombs with caused instantaneous and complete immolation upon opening; networks posts written at the time are clear that this process was very painful, although it did end in teleportation to the grounds of the house instead of death. Sleepers who braved the house were able to obtain powerful items from their homeworlds; I leave it up to the individual to determine whether this process was worth the pain involved or not.

Finally, a number of Sleepers have reported violent and disturbing encounters with a boardgame called Jumanji; this game possesses reality-warping powers, and pulled Sleepers into a sort of "pocket dimension" where they were forced to pass various challenges in order to escape. The game is clearly labeled as such, and I must suggest in the strongest possible terms that any Sleepers who encounter it both avoid it carefully and report its location to the network. To those who are familiar with the movies: I know it sounds fake, but just because it's a piece of fiction in other worlds doesn't mean it's not dangerous here. If you have trouble believing that, then I suggest you take it up with the Pthumerians, or possibly the Jedi and Sith. I'd be very interested to learn how that goes for you.

Comments

video; un: an.exorcist

[likethelight]

[ Oh! ]

This is really helpful. Thank you for sharing that with everyone.

There were catacombs as well that people could be trapped in by the Moss King. Deep beneath the city somewhere, that had traps and riddles and were easy to get lost in.

text post; un: peerless_hobo

[xiaoxiuya]

You're very welcome, and thank you in turn for the additional information. Do you happen to remember by what means people were sent into these catacombs, if there was any sort of sign or an instigating event?

I realise that it was some time ago and that you've no doubt had to deal with many other concerns since then, so please don't be too hard on yourself if you can't remember. There's always the chance that simply bringing it up will jog someone else's memory, and they'll speak up after seeing these comments.

text;

[likethelight]

[ What a nice person... ]

No it's okay, I remember. It's hard to forget.

It was like something grabbed me very suddenly from below. It went by too quickly to really understand, but it felt like being pulled deep beneath the earth. It was part of the Moss King's trials as well, since there were statues of him down there.

I don't remember there being anything that happened before that might have been a warning, I'm sorry... Everyone I ran into down there said similarly they had been walking one moment and then suddenly pulled under.

[xiaoxiuya]

[It would surprise and please Shen Yuan to know that Allen thinks so.]

I see. Actually I think another Sleeper also told me about those catacombs, but I misunderstood and thought they were describing another layer to the Jumanji board. Thank for you clarifying things.

It sounds like it was a terribly frightful experience. I'm sorry you and the others were forced to endure that. :(

[Video] un: 008

[hachitaro]

... Jumanji? You had goddamn Jumanji? Hell, I remember that movie.

And the remake which...

[He wiggles his hand in a 'so-so' gesture.]

Anyone who's familiar with it in fiction should know not to touch that. I know they sold board game versions of it but that still stunk to me.

text post; un: peerless_hobo

[xiaoxiuya]

Well, in truth the city had Jumanji; I wasn't here last March. But the posts I've seen about it seem credible enough. [If it's a hoax it's a pretty extensive one.]

Ugh, of course there was a shitty remake. And a shitty boardgame. Stupid American consumerism. [Says the man who maxed out his credit card getting a BOOTLEG Luo Binghe body pillow. Hypocrisy, thy name is Shen Yuan.]

My main concern is that, being already familiar with the fictional entity, someone will ignore the warnings and approach the board game if they encounter it here in Trench. I know that we can't stop people from choosing to be stupid, but I'd at least like to be able to say I tried.

[Text]

[hachitaro]

[Ah good texting, he can switch to that.]

That's fair. And I think the board game might have come first? I'm not sure, it definitely wasn't as popular before the movie at least. But yeah, consumerism. Can't live with it, can't live without it these days.

Ah, a responsible one. Or at least someone who likes saying 'I told you so'. Heh.

[xiaoxiuya]

[Some people in Shen Yuan's generation love their tiktoks. He is not one of them.]

Show me a person who doesn't get at least a little thrill out of saying 'I told you so,' and I'll show you a liar. XD But really though I'd prefer it if nobody got hurt at all, and if we can't have that then at least we can minimize the predictable injuries. At least in theory.

See, a simple board game about navigating a jungle full of hazards doesn't sound that bad. Like an analogue RPG. But then they make the movie and all of a sudden the game can suck you in and kill you?? Why would anyone want to be in the same room as it after that?? It's like people who screw around with ouija boards, even if you don't believe magic and spirits exist I don't understand why anyone would want to tempt fate like that.

Throw in the fact that we're living in a world where magic very much does exist and I find myself hoping one of the sturdier Coldbloods will run into the game so they can literally kill it with fire. I know that'd help me sleep more easily.

text; @skywalker

[facultative]

Why would you take it up with a Jedi or Sith?

[He doesn't know what Jumanji is???]

text post; un: peerless_hobo

[xiaoxiuya]

[WHEEZE OH GOD IT'S ANOTHER ONE!!!]

In many worlds, including my own, the Jedi and Sith -- and in particular, the Skywalker clan and their allies -- are the subjects of popular but fictional entertainment. Likewise the boardgame Jumanji is also a central figure in a fictional story; I was trying to make the point that just as some Sleepers exist only as fictional entities in some universes, so too might a fictional board game be very real, and very dangerous if encountered in this world.

I hope I haven't caused offense. I simply want people to take the potential danger seriously.

[facultative]

[This hits a little too close to his concept of personhood.]

I'm not entertainment! I'm a real person.

[xiaoxiuya]

No, of course you aren't just entertainment! Please excuse me, I chose my words poorly. I just meant that simply because a Sleeper or another entity is only known as a fictional character in some words, does not mean they're any less real in others. The multiverse is infinite, after all; there may be worlds in which I'm only a character in a book, but that doesn't mean that I'm not also really here, having this conversation with you.

I truly did not mean to offend you, Master Skywalker. Please accept my sincere apologies.

video / un: blackwater

[fugu]

[ He Xuan understands that he can speak to others and the network functions but he isn't great at it so he isn't looking at or engaging with the screen, just kind of dictating like he expects it to go to text. It doesn't. ]

Do you.... work here?

[ He has a naturally flat affect but the puzzlement is coming through loud and clear. ]

text post; un: peerless_hobo

[xiaoxiuya]

That depends on what you mean by 'here.' I do live and hold a full-time job here in Trench, but nobody paid me to write this post. It's a volunteer effort to help people stay safe.

...Well, safer.

Are you new in town? Do you need any assistance or information?

[fugu]

[ He still seems puzzled, but that last question gets an amused little huff. ]

I wish I had seen your previous attempt at this when I arrived a few weeks ago, but it took me some time to understand how communication arrays work here.

[ Case in point: This is still fuckin' video. ]

However I believe I have come to understand what I need to about this world.

[xiaoxiuya]

I'm sorry it didn't reach you in time to be useful. Since you're here now, I'd be happy to answer any questions you have, even if they seem redundant. Nothing wrong with external verification, right?

...On a related note, since you mentioned being used to communication arrays...are you perhaps unaware that you've been recording your face as well as your voice, when you make these messages?

video | un: dito

[syncopathic]

From my experience, it'll be too late if you happen to stumble upon the game. Once you investigate the weird drumming it'll already have you in its thrall. At that point it's just a matter of where you end up.

This place likes to play around with mind altering compulsions, it seems. It happened with the Chocolatier as well.

text post; un: peerless_hobo

[xiaoxiuya]

So it lures people in with the sound of drums? That's very useful information, thank you for sharing! Do you happen to know if anyone was able to choose not to investigate?

I'd noticed the frequency of mind-altering substances and compulsions when I was doing preliminary research for this project. It's a little surprising that nobody's yet come up with a way to resist the various effects, but perhaps that's down to a lack of coordination rather than ability. Or so I hope.

[syncopathic]

Do you really think I canvassed people after the fact? I was mostly focused on trying not to get my ass shot off by some trigger-happy douchebag with a big fuck-off blunderbuss.

Watch out for him, by the way. As far as I can tell he can't be killed, and his favorite game to hunt is apparently any poor sap who gets stuck in that stupid board game.

[xiaoxiuya]

Well, did you?

No, I'm kidding. Of course your first concern was survival. I'm just asking these things on the off-chance they might jog someone's memory! You never know might be useful in the future -- such as a descriptin of an immortal madman with an old-fashioned gun. I'll add that to the description of the game. Thank you for contributing!

video | un: wheninlanling

[poorlittlesange]

[he makes particular note of this survivor's guide and queries the copies currently available from the archive, quickly placing one on hold. one never knows when demand will outstrip supply in a crisis, and one must always be prepared.

those enchanted letter bombs in particular sound like a menace. surely there must be some means of inspecting the delivery of messages throughout the city to ensure such hazards can be thwarted? hmm hmm hmm. anyway, he's frowning when his message comes through, but clearly the ):< vibes here are directed at Trench and not his hard-working friend.]

Shen-di is as thorough and informative in his research as always. This one would be pleased to assist with your efforts to help safeguard vulnerable parts of the city.

text post; un: peerless_hobo

[xiaoxiuya]

Jin-ge is too kind. Should this one require assistance in these measures, shige will certainly be the first to know.

[Shen Yuan pauses for a moment, mid-type. Is this flirting? Is this how it works between two men? That's pretty inappropriate, if so!

So of course he switches the conversation to private and throws JGY a link to his conversation with the mysterious 'blackwater.']

Hey, have you met this guy yet? Think he's another cultivator??

text | un: wheninlanling (private ∞)

[poorlittlesange]

[this is absolutely flirting between two men when one of those two men is Jin Guangyao. but, to be fair, Jin Guangyao isn't intentionally flirting with Shen Yuan; he's a married man now, after all!

he checks the linked conversation and blanches, recalling with vivid clarity his encounter with He Xuan on the streets of Trench last month and what he had sensed through imparting the stranger some spiritual energy to stabilize his qi. uhhhh.]

Yes, I met He-xiansheng briefly.

[his next message takes some time to arrive.]

I am not sure. He was courteous and respectful when I provided him assistance, but we do not know anything about the nature of his capabilities. Please be cautious if you meet with him in person, Shen-di.

['the nature of his capabilities' like ok, Jin Guangyao, be vague about it then.]

text | un: cleansingsong

[baiyueguang]

Shen-gongzi is thorough as ever. This kind of capriciousness and love of bloodsport seems to align with what I've already read of the Moss King.

This one has some questions about this game, however. Jumanji, yes? I would keep an eye out for it, though I cannot say exactly what I'd be looking for. What are the signs it is nearby? Would one be able to sense the malevolence of its presence as with any cursed item? Are there any distinguishing features to its appearance?

text post; un: peerless_hobo

[xiaoxiuya]

Thanking Lan-gongzi for his kind words. I will share what I know, though it is unfortunately little. This one has been informed that the sound of drums presages the presence of the game, which also serve to lure in the curious and ignorant and compel them to face the game's challenges. It was not so in the version of the story of the game told in my world, but that was fiction. Clearly the forces that govern Trench prefer not to leave the choice of 'playing' the game in the hands of Sleepers.

The game itself is made from a board of brown-stained wood, carved with the likeness of a path tracing its way amongst figures of jungle creatures and foliage. In the story the point of the game was to move counters from one end of the board to another, with the number of spaces one's counter advanced determined by the roll of dice. Various spaces on the board were marked as unlucky and could delay the advancement of a player's counter; the curse of the board was such that the player would be afflicted with the challenge experienced by their counter. For instance a player whose counter landed on the spot marked by disease-carrying flies immediately succumbed to the disease, and was removed from play until one of their companions successfully completed the game. I can only imagine the version encountered here in Trench is even more dangerous and sadistic in nature.

I do not know whether the game possesses malevolent energy detectable by cultivator senses; the story originated amongst a foreign culture in a faraway land who practiced spiritual traditions of a very different nature, and I fear that by the time Lan-gongzi got close enough to tell, it would already be too late to resist the game's curse. Praying Lan-gongzi will be cautious in his movements about the city this month.