Snow Queen plot summary!

[dramatispersonae]

The true kickoff of Snow Queen and Gerda's month-long plot happened yesterday night, and we want to thank everyone who participated for making it great! If you couldn't make it, you can definitely handwave participating in either portion (though not both with the same character!) or just jump into one of the other events when you're ready - there'll be things related to this continuing all month, TBA!

In the meantime, a summary of events so far:

Previously, On Snow Queen Versus Aather
❄ Snow Queen reacted badly to the coming springtime, first with ominous stormclouds that blocked anyone from coming close to her mountains, next with sinking temperatures, and finally by revealing her hand with a game. A powerful storm swept in during the game, burying everyone's progress towards springtime and freezing the lake again, but the heroes' answers affected her in the form of a crack across her face.

❄ While the unlock after the game proved that Avalon, the heart of Camelot's power, was still strong enough to hold out against the winter, several days of [BLIZZARD INTENSIFIES] made it clear that this was deliberate, unwanted aggressive action on Snow Queen's part.

❄ With this in mind, Guinevere called Snow Queen out with Lancelot, with some discussion of her plans afterwards. She noted that she plans to consult with Gerda!

❄ Guinevere invited everyone to a meeting - and perhaps more. (ooc announcement)


That meeting took place last night! It took place in three parts, a short discussion of what to do followed by a simultaneous period of exploration and confronting the Snow Queen.

Points of Note:
❄ Guinevere and Gerda's initial speech let the heroes know what the problem was - Gerda is here because she and Snow Queen are from the same story and Gerda opposes her for the sake of someone who's missing! Her counsel is needed because the recent weather is a sign of Snow Queen's role in preserving stasis overcoming her such that she's inspired to continue "protecting" Camelot by freezing it again, and despite the mountains being impassable Gerda wants to get through her defenses while there's a weakness present.

❄ Upon much discussion of plans, Roxas mentions underground tunnels and Guinevere remembers a hidden escape route that may serve that purpose! It's decided that a group will go explore underground to try and see if the crack in Snow Queen's defenses has extended down that far while another group distracts her.

❄ Merlin gave the heroes an artifact that he seemed to think would be useful before the exploration group headed down into the tunnels.

This led to splitting of the exploration and confronting the Snow Queen teams! The exploration team explored a network of cavernous tunnels, found a bunch of strange intersections of Camelot and the Snow Queen's story, made a few frostbite-inducing bad decisions, and eventually reached the breach to see Gerda through while anchoring her to this realm with Merlin's rope. The group confronting the Snow Queen (assisted by Nimue and Lancelot) challenged her in many ways on many angles of the natures of change, warmth, and permanence. They succeeded in provoking an unusual reaction, one which also allowed Gerda through in the first place.

Further Items Of Note:
❄ Snow Queen is still attempting to dump as much snow as possible on Camelot daily, but the shrieking blizzard winds have broken and it's falling quietly.

❄ Morgan noticed that Merlin missed something and acerbically stepped in to help the heroes, so there's now a way to check up on how Gerda is doing in the Snow Queen's realm, using Morgan's charmed fire and Gerda's continuing connection to Kit through Merlin's lifeline! Right now you can't see much, but that could change in the future...

❄ All flavortext found in the explore is collected here. You can feel free to consult it if you want to figure out exactly what your character saw down there while handwaving exploration!

❄ Hearing what other people talked about when distracting the Snow Queen is similarly up to player discretion! If you choose to handwave that part and wish to engage with the other players' arguments in that way, please talk to them about it — otherwise you can assume your argument contributed to Snow Queen's cracking up. ♥

❄ Who got which items from the explore is here - if you choose to handwave being present, you may wish to chat with the person who found them about whether or not they saw your character or interacted with them there, especially in cases like Katou's finding a mirror shard with darkness in it. Anyone can have been present for Gerda talking about a friend of hers, though.

❄ If you've decided to handwave some aspect of plot and have a specific plan in mind for what would have happened, feel free to comment here and we'll work your contribution into any future things that draw on what happened in this event! ♥



I THINK THAT IS EVERYTHING. Thank you all again for being a terrific group to run for, and remember that our next installment of this plot is on Sunday, November 24!

Comments

❄ handwaving details ❄

[dramatispersonae]

❄ my character went exploring, and...

[dramatispersonae]

Re: ❄ my character went exploring, and...

[unionoftheheart]

Ven went exploring, stuck with Roxas, and didn't do much as always.

Re: ❄ my character went exploring, and...

[goneastray]

Toboe did lots of exploring!

Re: ❄ my character went exploring, and...

[pchaaair]

I had to duck out early, but Tavros spent his time with Katou doing all of the exploring! \o Katou said it was fine, so!!

Re: ❄ my character went exploring, and...

[virtuallyroyalty]

Kazuki went exploring!! and maybe got lost in the tunnels

Re: ❄ my character went exploring, and...

[idkmybffnirvash]

Eureka tagged along with Solstice, but was mostly ready to fight anything if need be. \('-'/) (Aiko, okay this or add anything . . . )

Re: ❄ my character went exploring, and...

[unguilded]

Dio went! I signed up for it initially, but then had plans that night so I felt bad I missed it! He's the type who ... pokes around a lot and I'll try to be on top of more things when they happen. 'w'!

Re: ❄ my character went exploring, and...

[maidmalapert]

Jill went exploring! She probably stuck with Eureka and Solstice.

Re: ❄ my character went exploring, and...

[detectivewonder]

Eclipse would have gone along with the exploring, taken copious notes, & probably investigated the 'crime scene' & paid close attention to whatever happened with that in the end. Did someone tell Guinivere about the apparent heist? If nobody else mentioned it, he would have.

Re: ❄ my character went exploring, and...

[badnewsboy]

stuck fairly close with tavros and took some wicked cool pix.

Re: ❄ my character went exploring, and...

[artificialcommand]

Haruki went exploring but did less exploring and more making sure Kazuki and teammates did not get frostbite. He was grumpy because of the cold but look he was there!1

Re: ❄ my character went exploring, and...

[justaking]

edmund went exploring and then did the stiff-upper-lip thing when gerda went off on her own because kids can totally do awesome things but BE CAREFUL 8(

Re: ❄ my character went exploring, and...

[trageteas]

Just got around to catching up on plot stuff now (whoops) but for the record: Cascade went exploring and attempted to make clever commentary and probably complained a lot about the cold.

❄ my character provided a distraction, and...

[dramatispersonae]

Re: ❄ my character provided a distraction, and...

[fallingfree]

Sinbad yelled at the Snow Queen in impassioned eloquent paragraphs about the true duties of a ruler and the nature of protection and the original agreement between her and Camelot, blah blah much king very tl:dr; but "a king's power to change the world" is one of his arc phrases okok. (His final Snow Queen game essay question is probably a good indicator of the style of it.)

Re: ❄ my character provided a distraction, and...

[sobstory]

Beauty was present, albeit mostly in the background. She aided in emanating warmth towards the Snow Queen (in addition to providing support to the heroes), and quietly talked about the nature and meaning of change. She spoke about it from a personal perspective, saying she understands and sympathizes with the Snow Queen's trepidations. However, she believes, change is at times necessary, and in that case it is disingenuous to fight against it if you should hold any good will towards yourself and the people around you. That it is difficult, and even terrifying, to see change occurring, but that even if one's instinct should be to fight it... you must, at some point, let go and let it happen. And though that may seem frightening, Beauty reminded the Snow Queen that she is not alone--it is not a terror she must face by herself.

and then she felt kind of flustered and retreated to the background '^'

Re: ❄ my character provided a distraction, and...

[chaoticrights]

Mirage was here but he didn't even do anything he just popcorn.gifed /so helpful, very good

Re: ❄ my character provided a distraction, and...

[idkmybffnirvash]

Serah was Beauty's cheerleader, added a few points where necessary, but mostly encouraged others to speak up. You can do it, guys! ♥ Also, fire to keep everyone warm, yes . . .

Re: ❄ my character provided a distraction, and...

[seasidelove]

I had to duck out early due to sleep, but—Nagisa would have kept going on about how the benefits of change are never lost, the only thing that ever appears is more benefits, etc.

Probably would've sung more jpop about change and the benefits, too, if she had a chance!! PLEASE REMEMBER MY SONGS SNOW QUEEN. ;;

If it helps, the songs that she was singing specifically are: Kaze wa Fuiteiru and Pioneer :|a

Re: ❄ my character provided a distraction, and...

[doesnothappen]

Mau probably talked a little about how stasis isn't the same as safety, unless you are alone as the only force in the world, and how the Snow Queen isn't alone -- she's part of things, and so change is inevitable and trying to remain unchanged in a changing world can only mean slow erosion and decay... and won't she stop resisting and be part of the change instead, so that she can be part of directing it and choosing what kind and helping the world become some place she and everyone can truly participate in?

OR SOMETHING.

Re: ❄ my character provided a distraction, and...

[theliesof]

Locke would have paid close attention to what sort of remarks seemed to get to the Snow Queen most & gotten in a few obnoxious barbs along those lines, but was probably largely superfluous.

Re: ❄ my character provided a distraction, and...

[in_loving_mri]

Styles tried to challenge the Snow Queen to a round of logic puzzles, having seen that she was willing to go for that in the Battleship game (and also wanting to make up for his loss there.) It's up to Snow Queen's player whether or not she actually responded in any way, shape, or form.