Advent of the Immortal Dead

(inspired by Jacob, such that as with the Burning Night and Joel, I award Jacob 150 xp per level to one of the characters he runs, his choice)

Last week (ending 3 April) in Cothon-Gadeed began the ethereal advent of the Immortal Dead, a ghostly host of strange insectile visions that pass through the city around this time every lunar year. Strange worm-like creatures accompanied by hosts of "marching" insectile things, sometimes clinging to the worms, sometimes moving on their own, all literally pass through the city, incorporeally slipping through walls of stone or Klackon concrete or steadfast wood (or flesh!) without any regard to the objects or creatures before them. And while the citizens are fully able to perceive the passings of these strange ghostly entities, the creatures meanwhile seem completely insensate to everything in the real world by or through which they pass ...

Several items are to be noted concerning this strange time:

1. It is generally accepted (by custom, though not necessarily by strict argument) that the ghostly entities are the haunting remnant of the Immortal Columns of Klackons defeated by the heroic Dalan II. in a former age; being "immortal", and yet dead, the spirits are said to have remained halfway between the realms of the living and the dead, strangely transformed from their former shapes as implacable Klackon warriors into their new bizarre insectile and larval forms ...
   
   
2. The appearance of ghostly creatures emanating out of one's wall, floor, or ceiling, at any time without warning, makes tasks requiring careful concentration somewhat difficult, and so the coming of the Immortal Dead is generally taken as a period of "holiday" when serious work is let off, and people take to carousing instead. The natural feedback loop of it being difficult to work, so people take holiday and carouse, the noise making it more difficult to work seriously, means that no downtime may be taken during the weeks of the Immortal Dead other than carousing or cultivating relationships or certain other social activities ...
   
   
3. The nature of carousing during these weeks, somewhat in line with the provenance of "ghosts" of the dead, often takes the form of masking up and pranking one's friends (or enemies, if one be bold enough). To this end there is a kind of "Halloween" quality to the weeks, and the city is decorated with strings of colored paper lanterns strung up between eaves, while vendors sell a wide variety of masks and costumes, both to pranksters and to those willing to be pranked. It is an accepted custom that generally those who intend to "prank" others would wear the masks like Klackon warriors, or some other insectile guise, while those willing to be pranked put on the helm or other guise of the ancient defenders of the city (though not all abide strictly to this "accepted assumption")

These look more "helmet" than I intended, but get across some of the idea of the masques

All of which is perhaps an overlong prelude to pointing out that there is a special way of carousing during the advent of the Immortal Dead: by masking up and pranking! (or setting oneself up to be pranked)

For this week (ending 4/10), as the "invasion" of strange ethereal insects ramps up to full swing and pranks are practiced throughout the streets of Cothon, characters may spend gold to outfit themselves appropriately, and thence embark on a prank. The prank must be described (however briefly) by picking out a target and explaining the nature of the prank; this will naturally also involve the purchased costume, which is not limited to, but can be selected from, the list below:

Gold Spent	Roll Bonus	Mask or Costume
25	--	painted wooden Klackon-mask with pine-sprig antennae
50	--	papier mache larval mask, maw, and pale-yellow cloak
75	+1	a skullcap and leathern Bulrathi war-mask with papier mache panoply
125	+2	copper Klackon-faced helm with colored-glass eyes and kheshchal plume-antennae
150	+2	a black "great helm" with a papier mache feshenga head rearing from the top, coupled with a black cloak, hems fringed with millipede-like "legs"
175	+3	enameled ceramic Klackon-mask with gem-eyes and dlakolel antennae
250	+3	silver-and-gilt panoply in the form of an Immortal Klackon warrior, or one of Dalan's phalangites

Having purchased a costume with which to partake in the festivities, a character might then mark out a specific target for their mischievous intent. Perhaps the costume is not directly involved in the prank, but the most inventive pranks involve a "marriage" of themes involving mask and mark. As stated, a character must describe whom they are targeting and how, and then roll on this subsequent table to see how their prank goes (including a bonus to the roll in accordance with costs on the former table, maximum bonus being +3):

This festival takes place over two weeks, and so is comprised of two parts. The first is a week of pranks, joining the ghost-creatures in thrills of surprise. Characters can participate in the pranks by first spending a minimum 25gp on a costume or props and selecting a target (or no target, if you wish to leave such up to fate/the referee). The character can then spend additional gold in increments of 50gp for cumulative +1 bonuses to their roll, maximum +3. Finally, roll on the Prank Results table to see what happened. If you get invited to carouse with someone your relationship with that person advances 1 step.

Prank Results Table:

2. Uno-reverso! Your attempt to prank your target was destroyed by another pranking you! Only, their prank wasn’t so benign. Now you’ve got to deal with an “accidental” stab wound. You start the next adventure at -1d4 health.

3. Bad timing. A good prank is all about timing. And your timing is horrible. You managed to startle your intended target just as they got a fresh plate of food, which promptly destroyed their quite expensive costume! Unless you compensate them for their costume (150gp) you go down 1 step in any relationship track with them.

4. Too obvious. Your target saw your prank coming from a mile away. They took the opportunity to turn the tables on you, and prank you instead. They invite you to carouse, but you are at a -3.

5. Missed it by this much. All your prep just wasn’t enough. At the last moment your target turned away, and your prank went unfulfilled.

6. Meh. Sometimes, even when your timing is just right, and you plan everything perfectly, your target has just been hit by too many pranks. You pull off your wonderful prank, but are only met with a strong ‘meh’ by your target. They aren’t upset, they get it pranks are fun, but they’ve just seen too many today.

7. Sure, why not. Your prank landed well enough. No one was amazed, but your target reasonably enjoyed it. They invite you to join them in carousing.

8. Crowd pleaser. Your prank was alright, though the target wasn’t especially enthused the crowd thought it was hilarious. You carouse on the without prankee table at plus 1.

9. Drinks are on me! It didn’t go exactly as planned, but everything turned out all right. Your target invites you to carouse, and offers to pay for the first round (no cost).

10. Boo! Your target well enjoyed your prank. They invite you to carouse with them, at a plus 1.

11. Good show! Your prank entertained not only your target, but the innocent bystanders as well. You’ve been invited to a large party, granting you a plus 3 but on the without prankee table.

12. The stars stilled (stars aligned, but for stars that move normally) for your prank! The preparation, timing, and execution were perfect. So perfect that your target invites you to roll on the carousing table, but because it is with a friend it is at plus 4.

Next week will begin the second phase, the actual Masquerade of the Immortal Dead, a festival of carousing involving the masques and costumes purchased during this first week of pranking, and culminating in a ritual dance and choral-festival commemorating the ancient victory against the Immortal Columns. This will involve the second part, wherein characters who partake carouse either alone or in company with their targeted "prankee".

That same week (ending 4/17) will also see a private masquerade held in the household of Mormaera Yrasi (as well as less-infamous masquerades at other noble houses)--now is the time to attempt to eke out an invitation to Yrasi's Masquerade, for those who are interested; she is said to be partial to especially ostentatious masques and costumes, or to interestingly thematic pranks.