[TCPDEX] TCP Research Initiative

[TCPDEX] TCP Research Initiative - Printable Version

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RE: [TCPDEX] TCP Research Initiative - skinstealer - 10-11-2019

@clockwork citrus
DN-1-4
+10 points for report submission!
+5 points for special event!

@chemtrails (cosmo)
DN-1-3
+10 points for report submission!
+5 points for special event!

RE: [TCPDEX] TCP Research Initiative - cosmo - 10-11-2019

DN-1-4 (COSMO/CLARICE)
The museum has closed and the children have gone home. While we clean up and prepare for tomorrow, the staff members have been telling scary stories. I will recount a summary of the one that appeal to me most. It goes similarly to this:

There is a small village deep in the swamps of Hoopla that experienced a haunting of will-o'-the wisps during this time of year. The lights danced at the edges of the village, luring passersby into the swamps where they would become lost and never be seen again. (Such apparitions can be attributed to swamp gas, but I suppose ghosts do make for a better story.) Eventually, the villagers grew so desperate that they hired a travelling sword to track the wisps back to their source. The adventurer journeyed deep into the swamp and after a time, the villagers believed that the swamp had claimed another victim and that they would never see the adventurer again. Only one of those assumptions were true.

A youth in the village claimed that they had spotted something vaguely person sized and shaped looming in the marsh, though it had vanished back into the mists before they could get a closer look. At first the villagers believed that the youth was making it up, but soon more and more sightings were reported. The villagers worked themselves into a frenzy, but before they could decide what to do, it appeared before them. It was the adventurer from before, but they were changed, horribly so. Vines snaked around their legs, twisting up their armor, down their arms, and around their sword. Their armor was weathered and rusted, as though they had been subject to the swamp's harshness for years and years instead of a few weeks. Worst of all, their head was gone. In it's place, there was a carved pumpkin, with malevolent eyes that glowed with an eerie light. Then it disappeared, seemingly for good, though the very sight of it had caused many of the townsfolk to fall ill with shock. Though some say that the undead sword still wanders the swamps of Hoopla to this day...

This tale is majorly unrealistic, of course. But I feel that perhaps it is against of the spirit of Darkest Night to ask that these tales adhere to realism. Regardless, it certainly captures the imagination. I have included a drawing I did of the Headless Swordsman. Usually I limit myself to sketching only for research purposes but I could not get the images the story conjured in my mind out of my head. Drawing it helped, so I thought I might as well include it.

RE: [TCPDEX] TCP Research Initiative - AceOfNothing - 10-11-2019

Spawn point #2

This letter is also full of sand, along with the added bonus of being slightly wet. Luckily the writing has stayed intact.

I have to admit, I find this topic rather odd. Maybe that's because I am already scrap sensitive, maybe not. However I will answer it, as my complex companion is particularly intent on giving their own input in this.

I had no use for tech, however you may have been informed that I did send a request for some not quite fit for my own proportions. I have gifted Kringle the scrap tech, and she is incredibly grateful. Her arms are short and stubby, and it's difficult to put anything on head glass... head shield thing, so it took me a bit of time to consider what would work. Theater binoculars work wonders really for anyone with a hard time reaching their head. She was somewhat embarrassed when scrap fell off her after receiving this, Lumikki has taken special care of that scrap. If this breaks any rules I didn’t notice, than do note I myself could still use these but I don’t need to.
Also: Snow scrap. Possibly effected by spending so much time with Lumi?

On the topic of tech, Lumi has their own that I think you may be interested in. They trap scrap within snow globe bows to use themselves, and deliver messages with scrap to wizards in their circle with snowglobes. Lumikki plays messenger, the snowglobes are an unassuming way of doing so. They have allowed me to send one of these snowglobes, which will hopefully be safe in its travels.

My first spawn point from my last update has since disappeared. I mentioned it dwindling, but it has entirely stopped at this point. Or I can’t find it. I was also unable to find any notable scrap in the area, so I don’t plan to focus on it.

The second spawn point was easier to find this time, I had the help of a local tcp couple who actually had a boat and knew how to get to the reef. Here I found, as mentioned last time, a wide variety of scrap. The dominant emotions I could find linked to this scrap is confusion, joy, and comfort, all linked to these cats welcoming each other and introducing them to the world. I must point out that while this area is scrap heavy, there is no real way for scrap to have initially caused this spawn point. Every cat I spoke to came after the spawn point was already settled. I do not believe scrap caused this spawn point, but I could see scrap keeping it flourishing.

We traveled while I was writing this letter, which is what took me so long. We went back to where Lumikki was initially gong to take us in Hearth, which I have found out to be their brothers house. He was still not present, but scrap was. A lot of scrap. Some of it was obviously scrap he had collected, rain scrap if you are curious, but some was just from him. From whatever happened. No tcp though. Lumikki didn’t stay long, we went back to the beach.

Lumikki thinks tcp spawn to fill a void. They do not believe scrap makes tcp spawn, but they think it can keep them spawning. They think environments need cats to fill... empty spaces, and that highly concentrated areas of scrap have a lot of empty space to fill. A balancing act of sorts. That’s why Lumikki’s brothers house could be scrap heavy and have no cats, the reef could be scrap heavy due to cats, and the sewer died off due to no scrap or cats really keeping it afloat.

I’m unsure if any of this will actually be helpful. Maybe a while from now I’ll have more experience and be able to accurately say whether this is actually important or not, but at this point it’s really all I know. Lumikki promises that I will grow and learn, but I feel almost like I should have this together already. Let’s move on from this already. I’ll try to respond sooner.

Trevor

Along with this note comes a package, a fragile warning printed several times on the box. Inside, very carefully wrapped, is a snow globe. The base has bows engraved into it, and when shaken and examined, a memory plays out of Kringle hugging Trevor, presumably thanking him. The memory fades when the snow stops swirling, but shakes it repeats the effect. To anyone not scrap sensitive, this is a boring snowglobe, only filled with a pinch of sparkles and a handful of snow.

RE: [TCPDEX] TCP Research Initiative - skinstealer - 10-12-2019

@chemtrails (cosmo)
DN-1-4
+10 points for report submission!
+5 points for special event!
+5 for visual evidence!

@AceOfNothing
SP-1-2
+10 points for report submission
+5 points for utilizing new tech!
+10 points for visual evidence!

RE: [TCPDEX] TCP Research Initiative - Pichi2214 - 10-12-2019

Another letter in similar condition as the first one arrives.

Hello Research Staff,
I write this letter after having safely arrived at my new home on Fallow’s Island. I… took a look at the scrap equipment you gave me and I must admit it scares me a bit that it can be fueled by my ability. After having stayed in my room for a few days and adjusting to live here I eventually… figured it’d be time to test the device, so I put on the goggles.

A few sketches are again attached with a paperclip, followed by a few more intended for later parts of the letter.
[Image: 630405921964556318_unknown.png]

The goggles have a dark glass that I assume to be infused with something that makes scraps visible and a small plant attached to them. When I put them on i was surprised at the high amount of scraps in our apartment, but I suppose that is natural when someone lived in one place for a long time. I wandered around a bit mesmerized by the scraps and many emotions in these rooms, until I ran into Patches (the OBJ I now live with). They were curious what those goggles where and as I told them about them it turns out that they are actually familiar with scraps! They find them fascinating and pointed me at a (according to them) new scrap that I could use to test my equipment on.
I first just held my paw against it, which caused me to feel the emotions attached to it, a bit of distress followed by excitement and happiness. Nothing more happened, so I tried to use my ability on the goggles, which allowed me then to also view the memories in the scrap (it was about the phone call from Floof to Patches in which they informed them that they found someone (me) to live with them). It was a bit… blurry, but regardless I managed to clearly understand the basics of the memory.

[Image: 632670852122673162_1_TCPdex_Research_Scrap_1.png]

[Image: 632670852122673162_1_TCPdex_Research_Scrap_1.png]

I stopped using my ability after having successfully viewed the memory and took the goggles off. At that point I noticed that the plant on them began to wither, most likely due to my ability… This really, really scared me at first, but by now I figured out that the plant kind of absorbs my ability when I fuel the goggles with it and will recover when I let it rest for a few days. Without using my ability I can view scraps and feel the emotions attached to it, when using my ability I can also see the memories. I… did not use much of my ability though, so I don’t know how much more I’d be capable off with the goggles.

[Image: 630406634732126268_unknown.png]

The tests with the goggles are all I have for now, I’m sorry, I did not get around to looking for spawnpoints here yet. However Patches told me since they know a thing or two about scraps, that from past experiences, it is highly likely that they increase TCP spawn rates.
- signed Markus

Behind all the important resarch sketches there is are a few scribbles with a fancy handwriting on them.
"I allowed myself to add some sketches of my new resident, he did not see that I put them in, but I hope his friends will enjoy being able to see his happy face (I also brought him to a friend of mine that patched up most of the giant cuts in him, hence the stitches on his face)."
[Image: 632672753471848479_unknown.png]

RE: [TCPDEX] TCP Research Initiative - skinstealer - 10-14-2019

@Pichi2214
SP-1-2
+10 points for report submission!
+25 points for visual evidence!
+5 points for utilizing new tech!

RE: [TCPDEX] TCP Research Initiative - allhallowed - 10-17-2019

DN-1-1 (EMBER/INDIE)

Entropy says we’re going to a Darkest Night party hosted by Tonic! I had kind of assumed we would be celebrating in the Hollow but I must say I am really excited to finally see the Medical District up close! Entropy seemed less excited. They said Tonic’s been hosting this party for years but this is their first time attending as well. It says its usual Darkest Night tradition is to head far out from the Hollow towards the hills to look down at all the lights. When I asked why it wouldn’t be doing that this year it sort of sighed and said that Tonic had personally invited them and something about how “turning down a personal request from a friend gives more social anxiety than going to a party.” I’m going to do my best to make sure we both have a good time though! ]>D

RE: [TCPDEX] TCP Research Initiative - allhallowed - 10-21-2019

DN-1-2 (EMBER/INDIE)

We're on our way to the Medical District now. Entropy and I are both wearing costumes. They are dressed as some sort of old-fashioned scarecrow, I think; it's a good look! I'm going as a stapler. Haha, um. Yeah. Here are pictures of us in our costumes!

[Image: 635650548342718465_indie_halloween_costume.png]

[Image: 635655791927623700_entropy2.png]

RE: [TCPDEX] TCP Research Initiative - skinstealer - 10-23-2019

@chemtrails (ember)
DN-1-1
+10 points for report submission!
+5 points for special event

DN-1-2
+10 points for report submission!
+5 points for costume use!
+10 points for visual evidence!
+5 points for special event

RE: [TCPDEX] TCP Research Initiative - allhallowed - 10-23-2019

DN-1-3

There were SO MANY different kinds of food at Tonic's place that honestly I found it a bit overwhelming. I know, me of all TCPs! But there were far more complexes than I was used to being around and even the most daring adventurer gets a bit daunted sometimes, right? Sometimes feeling you've bitten off more than you can chew is part of the adventure, and that's definitely how I felt at this party.

Since none of the food was something that I could eat, I decided my favorites by appearance instead. The caramel apples were very tasty looking though I'm sure the caramel would really hurt my jaw super bad if I tried to take a bite. The lights from the fancy chandeliers reflected in the caramel in a way that was very pleasant to look at. There were also little candycorns scattered on the table, more like decoration than food. Still nice! Here's a picture.

[Image: 636430601812967427_caramel_apple.png]

RE: [TCPDEX] TCP Research Initiative - seppawku - 10-24-2019

(A pile of disorganized printouts and photographs, held together by a star-shaped paperclip and written in varying colors and speeds - was this added to over time?)

DN 1-1:

Darkest Night is a favorite around here, with the city almost buzzing with activity and lights strung everywhere. Everyone gets so excited for the holiday, telling fantastical stories or partying on the night of, that I hear there's many, many more TCPs running around right after. It's a shame that so many TCPs disappear beforehand that it balances out.. I'd love to make some new friends. Enough people come to visit Merit that I assume Mercy’s cities celebrate much more!

[Image: IWLTdDaddRxE50zoF1axbpmUjoFPEVWzlpkgicIQ...XD92lLA6Z1]

[Image: IWLTdDaddRxE50zoF1axbpmUjoFPEVWzlpkgicIQ...XD92lLA6Z1]

We all helped with decorating beforehand, too! It was pretty tiring, but using my ability was a lot easier than getting new fabric to use..

DN 1-2:
Kids seemed to wear anything they could get their hands on, dressing up colorfully and for fun, but the trends in costumes were either dead things, monsters and creatures comfortable in the dark, OR costumes with a lot of lights! You either blend into the dark and hide, or make your own safety. I tried out a few costumes, starting with a blanket ghost! Some of the others dressed up too.

[Image: F66PNr7z_kWuUwVwrHNzhrG4gc6J2zImc0nw9jB9...yDNhfgn22t]

[Image: F66PNr7z_kWuUwVwrHNzhrG4gc6J2zImc0nw9jB9...yDNhfgn22t]

DN 1-3:

Quote: Special Potin
8 oz. food-type fluid
1 ½ cup carbonated water
¼ cup sugar
dry ice

comes out different every time! liquid TCPs highly recommended

Food types are in high demand - both TCPs giving part of themselves willingly to celebrate the holiday with others, and a rash of disappearances starting the week before.. the TCPs I talked with were tentatively excited for the holiday, but unless they feel really safe in their neighborhood, almost all of us celebrate only with other TCPS, just in case. Mercy extended an invitation to anyone who didn't feel safe being out in the city over the holiday, even if just for the night!

[Image: jBUzkLdIXvoQKVKIm6vhOcXoSyab46RTBLJGUCan..._Y-9m-HnXq]

[Image: jBUzkLdIXvoQKVKIm6vhOcXoSyab46RTBLJGUCan..._Y-9m-HnXq]

**Abstract (purple) types spawn most rarely and have a slight rise on the week of the holiday; form (blue), machine (gray), and nature (green) types second most and staying fairly stable, rising a bit during and falling a bit after. Body (brown) and creature (fuchsia) types spawn next most frequently, rising during the holiday but not losing many after, and food (red) types spike sharply beginning before the holiday, and dip to under or equal the original baseline.

DN 1-4:

The kids around here seem to be really brave! I found out about another 'test of courage' they take place in for the holiday: they'll hide out with as few lights as they can stand for the length of the night, trying to stay awake and not scared! I like this one a lot more than waiting around for TCPs..
There are some scary stories about disappearances into the dark, but I don’t think it counts as an urban legend if it really is true for the TCPs here? The other species are scared of it extending to them, but we’re not getting taken by the darkness, they’re grabbing new spawns..
Mercy was busy leading up to the holiday, but we all celebrated together with the TCPs who moved in temporarily! She wanted to do the test of courage, too, I didn't realise how young for a god she is.. an anxiety type who moved in a few weeks ago, Xanax, had some trouble with the low lighting though and I got pretty worried. I made the biggest blankets I could, and we all camped out in a blanket fort to keep out the night!

[Image: 8d2gUIqhe-_LQbxMMe3_MPYIYlnXlnEzQ3j5yVrX...BavbRfNz4X]

[Image: 8d2gUIqhe-_LQbxMMe3_MPYIYlnXlnEzQ3j5yVrX...BavbRfNz4X]

RE: [TCPDEX] TCP Research Initiative - RudeBuster - 10-24-2019

(There's been quite a delay between this letter and the last one. It's slightly thicker than the last one as well, perhaps to make up for the delay.)

Research Topic DN-1-1: What areas celebrate Darkest Night?

Michelle here. I'm sorry for the delay. Shortly after I sent my last letter, I went to go look for scraps once more, only to end up...overexerting myself.

Tremor was there to take care of me at least. He was really concerned and thought my research wasn't safe for me to continue, and it took me some time to convince him that it was my fault since I got careless, not yours. We just focused on my studies more, and before I knew it, it was the day of Darkest Night, and I hadn't started my research at all! But now, hopefully, I should be back on track.

Darkest Night is a mixed bag on Urovis. Some areas still celebrate it as normal, treating it as a triumph over a great evil, but one zone has banned it completely. I think it's called Dredge, but I don't know why its god banned the holiday in his area. Tremor just said it brought up bad memories, as a terrible incident happened close to that night hundreds of years ago. I decided not to ask him about that at least, I don't want to dig up any bad memories.

In Ichor, it's a bit different. Darkest Night is the time of the year where activity from the monsters reaches its peak. The inhabitants line the whole village with lanterns to keep the creatures at bay, and have a huge fire in the town square, where they distract themselves with food, songs, and scary stories.

Tremor told me we could go join them tonight if I wanted to, and I instantly said no. It was a bad idea. I've been into the hamlet before, and nearly had a panic attack, so I haven't gone back there since. All those big eyes staring down at me, cringing at my warped body, whispering to each other when they assumed I was out of earshot... They all assumed I was probably no better than the monsters, I wouldn't even be surprised if they thought I was a monster at first. I didn't want to ruin their special night, where they're supposed to be keeping things like me away...

But then Tremor had a solution.

Research Topic DN-1-2: What costumes appear during Darkest Night?

Tremor took me into the hamlet after a lot of coaxing, and hid me in his coat pocket so no one would stare at me. Along the way, he apologized for how his people acted and said I shouldn't be judged for how I look. After all, his domain means his body changes all the time, but they're not afraid of him.

Well, he's also their god, so they kind of have to respect him, but I could see where he was coming from and appreciated it. He didn't want me to have to hide myself from everyone, but he knew it'd be the only way to help me feel comfortable around everyone else. And he knew just the person to help.

Next thing I knew, I was taken out of Tremor's pocket and placed on a counter, where I came face to nose with...some kind of canid. A very shiny canid.

[Image: IMqXl1z.png]

Her name is Skippop, and according to Tremor she's a "Rainbark," a big, gaudy-looking wolf species that originates from the zone Frolic. She was so pretty, I figured she was going to hate me on sight, but instead of a squeal of disgust, I was greeted with a gleeful shriek of, "Oh my gawds! Trems, is this the little cutie you've been telling me about?!"

She...actually thought I was cute. She didn't sneer at me, or try to at least pretend to tolerate me being there. She was actually ecstatic to meet me! Finally, someone in this village actually accepted me!

We exchanged pleasantries, and Tremor explained why we were here. He wanted a costume for me, something that could help me feel more comfortable at the celebration tonight. And as it turns out, she already had plenty of TCP-sized costumes set aside.

Well, they weren't exactly costumes, mostly just fancy suits and dresses, with matching masks. There was a lot, so I let her pick one for me. I got to try it on after she made some adjustments, and...

[Image: GdU0BZM.png]

For the first time, I actually felt...pretty...

Research Topic DN-1-3: What food is common during Darkest Night?

I ended up spending the rest of the day with Skippop and Tremor, before the celebration. Skippop had a large game animal roasting over a fire in her home, and explained it to me when I asked. In Ichor, there isn't really a tradition they follow when it comes to food. They typically celebrate with a potluck, sharing what they can as each person brings their own dish to add to the feast. The only big tradition is the roast, which falls to one person each year to hunt and cook. I felt bad that I didn't have anything to give, but Tremor told me it's alright, it was his own fault for not telling me about the tradition sooner. He had some type of colorful, sticky rice balls he had prepared for the occasion, and said it could count for the both of us this year.

Research Topic DN-1-4: What are urban legends surrounding Darkest Night?

Once the sun went down, it was time for us to join everyone in the square. Lanterns were hung everywhere imaginable, a bonfire almost the size of Tremor roared in the square, and you could barely even hear the roars of monsters in the distance over the sounds of music and laughing. There were even a few TCPs there, and food made specifically for us to enjoy! A nice smoothie type even asked me to dance with it!

I spent most of the time with the TCPs, staying out of the complexes way so we didn't get stepped on, and I told them about my research. I told them I still had one question that needed to be answered, and a silk type in the group decided to tell me the legend surrounding Ichor's version of Darkest Night.

A long time ago, a very, very long time ago, Ichor was a lot bigger than it is now, and much less desolate. It was a bustling fishing and trading hub, actually befitting of its title as Epiphora's capital. Tremor would frequently come out of his lab to mingle with the locals, trades between other zones were frequent, and they even were even developing technology that would allow them to safely traverse Taverne's seas, allowing them to explore other continents!

But then, a few days before Darkest Night, something terrible happened. The horrible thing varies depending on who you ask. Some claim it was an experiment from Tremor gone wrong, others claim it was caused by an angel, others claim it was caused by the one of the other gods, and the most absurd claim of all is that it was a god using the power of an angel.

But the end result was always the same. The high gods vanished, something horrific happened to Tremor and caused him to go into hiding, abandoning his people. A great labyrinth opened up beneath the entirety of Epiphora, setting loose horrors of the likes the denizens of Ichor had never seen before. And a second species inhabiting Epiphora became the Missing, warped creatures that spread their corrupting influence to some and eviscerated others. The people of Ichor didn't know how to handle this threat, and without Tremor to protect them, the once-bustling city quickly crumbled.

The Dreadclaws, the reptilian, primary inhabitants of Epiphora, were quickly dwindling in numbers. They had to retreat further and further into Ichor's center, losing hope as the days leading up to Darkest Night dragged on. The creatures were always more active at night, when it was difficult for them to be seen, and the remaining Dreadclaws knew the once joyful holiday was going to be known in the future as the event of their extinction. They had no way to contact the other zones, much less the other towns in Epiphora, and they were just about to give up...

Except for one.

[Image: KZh5hZS.png]

The smoothie type did its best to draw him out with some marshmallow sauce on the table, as well as his name. It roughly translates to "Firecaller" in common, as his name has been forgotten by time. He carried a torch on him at all times, and used the light from the fire to keep the creatures at bay, as they hated the light, and hated being visible more than anything else.

So, on the day of Darkest Night, he began to put this knowledge to use. While the remaining Dreadclaws in the square waited for the end, he began to collect everything flammable he could find from the nearby buildings. Furniture, books, wooden implements, anything to help him put his idea into action. When he found a bunch of instruments, a few musically-inclined Dreadclaws begged him not to destroy them. Firecaller agreed, so long as they played when he lit the fire.

Soon, he had a grand pile in the center, and as soon as the shadows grew long he set it aflame, bathing the hopeless Dreadclaws in warmth. Faintly, they could hear the sounds of the Missing growling and and searching for prey in the distance, but they never drew close enough to be seen. The Dreadclaws started to see that Firecaller was on to something, and the musicians began to play in order to block out the sounds of the monsters. The Dreadclaws started to talk, to smile, to laugh, recounting the hardships they faced on the way to the center and how finally, for once, they actually felt safe.

And Firecaller's courage rubbed off on them. A group made makeshift torches and lanterns and began to traverse what remained of Ichor, finding survivors and taking them to the square, all while the light of the fires and the joy in their hearts practically made them untouchable to the Missing. In one night, they spread out so far that even Tremor could see the lights and hear the music, and that stirred him to finally leave his lab and return to his people, beginning the daunting task of shooing the Missing out of Ichor for good.

Most of the one proud city returned to nature, as its population was too small to keep up with most of it, and unfortunately its people still live in fear of the Missing, but Darkest Night is the one time of the year where they can actually feel safe in each others company, and some say they can still feel Firecaller watching over them from the bonfire, and the lanterns they use to keep the beasts at bay.

Or, as an author type in the group speculated afterwards, the whole legend is malarkey and Tremor had made it up himself in order to give the miserable complexes hope. I still think it's a nice story though, and I'm glad to know that Ichor isn't as gloomy as I thought it was.

A few more TCPs invited me to dance that night, and I forgot to ask if there were any more stories, but I did enjoy myself that night, and now I'm actually looking forward to learning more about the hamlet's history.

Expect more research from me soon, now that Tremor thinks it's safe for me to do so again. And Skippop asked for me to write that you should expect to hear from her soon, she's gotten very interested in the program now that she's heard about it.

RE: [TCPDEX] TCP Research Initiative - skinstealer - 10-25-2019

@seppawku

DN-1-1
+10 points for report submission!
+5 points for visual evidence!

DN-1-2
+10 points for report submission!
+5 points for visual evidence!

DN-1-3
+10 points for report submission!
+5 points for visual evidence!

DN-1-4
+10 points for report submission!
+5 points for visual evidence!

@RudeBuster

DN-1-1
+10 points for report submission!

DN-1-2
+10 points for report submission!
+10 points for visual evidence!

DN-1-3
+10 points for report submission!

DN-1-4
+10 points for report submission
+5 points for visual evidence!

RE: [TCPDEX] TCP Research Initiative - allhallowed - 10-25-2019

DN-1-4

RE: [TCPDEX] TCP Research Initiative - skinstealer - 10-26-2019

@allhallowed
DN-1-3
+10 points for report submission!
+5 points for visual evidence!
+5 points for special event!

DN-1-4
+10 points for report submission!
+5 points for special event!
+25 points for visual evidence!

RE: [TCPDEX] TCP Research Initiative - Pichi2214 - 10-27-2019

Part 1: What areas celebrate Darkest Night?

Hello Research Staff!
I report from Fallow’s Island that the people here indeed celebrate Darkest Night. As the name of the festival suggests it gets really dark here at this time of the year, so it is a tradition to gather in the streets and light them up with little lanterns (especially children tend to craft their own special lanterns, or at least decorate the existing ones with art) and candles all over the place (well, not all over the place, that would be a bit impractical).
Music is played, people are exchanging stories, dancing and they put on costumes (more on those in another letter)! Patches told me they’re usually not often socializing with others, but Darkest Night is one of the few days that draws them out of their home and to the people ...even if they still stand in some distance mostly. We will probably dress up for the event and join the others, I’m so excited! And a bit intimidated.
I will write a follow up letter soon
- signed Markus

Behind that first letter is another one, with a few images attached.
I’m writing right before going out to join the festivities! Patches and I built lanterns together that we will bring with us! (They helped me carve the apple!)
[Image: 637993364981022726_unknown.png]

RE: [TCPDEX] TCP Research Initiative - Pichi2214 - 10-29-2019

Part 2: What costumes appear during Darkest Night?
- fourth letter
Hello Research Staff,
I report from the streets of my new home (I’m writing this letter in the light of my lantern a bit away from the crowd). The festivities have been really fun so far! I’ve met a few other TCPs from around here that visited the party as a group, a bird, vampire and tear type all in fancy costumes (the bird was dressed as some kind of carnivorous plant, the vampire as a werewolf and the tear type as a fluffy cat)! We talked for a while and exchanged stories, I might tell theirs in another letter.
On the other morbitians I generally saw the theme of local creatures, as well as a fair amount of knights! Many people just threw together their own costumes though, based on mythical creatures or just generally anything that they could manage to make with what they had. Oh! And there where a few people with really cool and fancy self-made costumes that they completely designed themselves!

[images removed]

Patches went as a witch and I dressed up as their familiar of sorts! They got me a bat costumes and my lantern apple doubled as the head for it.

[Image: 638851533311705126_unknown.png]

- signed Markus

RE: [TCPDEX] TCP Research Initiative - AceOfNothing - 10-30-2019

Darkest Night 1-1

This letter is not wet, but is filled with a ridiculous amount of sand. There’s is a little mound of sand on either the desk or the floor, and a few pieces of broken shell inside the sand. It is quite obviously intentional at this point.

I had to trust the tcp I have come to meet to tell me about Darkest Night events around here, as Lumikki themself is not completely familiar. Allow me to ramble a bit about my new friends, as that will explain who they are.

William is an abyssal Anxiety type who makes jewelry with seaweed, and lives on the beach with an abyssal Kitsune, Mudskip (Skip for short). They’ve apparently been together for years, Skip is a swim teacher and William spends his days out on his boat. Skip is friendlier then William, but they only have two close friends, Dream and Clusterfuck (Cluster for short.) Dream is a snowman type with a sand modifier, and Cluster is a five type. A weird five type. I have no idea why someone would ever make a man/car/door/hook/hand hybrid, but Cluster is under a lot of stress and pain. But Dream helps her. They’re married and Skip says they’re “adorable”. I feel bad seeing Cluster sometimes, because when I first saw her with Kringle, we ran away screaming. That was the monster in the house. Apparently that happens a lot.

Dream has been here the longest and was thrilled to share with Kringle and me about darkest night in Hoopla, and had a seemingly endless supply of stories of the festivities over the years. The city can’t really shut down all the lights, it just doesn’t work that way, but the citizens do tend to keep the lights to a minimum in their own homes and apartments. What a lot of people in the city do is come down to the beach at night and mingle among campfires. People dance and play, run around and trade treats among groups. The only thing lighting the beach is fires and lanterns. The night ends with a large firework display, bright colors and brilliant displays. Sometimes they even use fancy fireworks in the displays that come out as pictures.

People have started coming out and setting up camps. I’ve got to talk to a lot of different cats, I’m somewhat overwhelmed. There’s been a lot of scrap on the beach, people are really excited. I met another scrap user! Boing! They’re a balloon animal and wool type. They’re, I guess, not really a scrap user, just scrap sensitive, and asked me a lot of questions about what I learned from Lumi. While my other friends are all beach creatures, Boing is also a traveler and has spent more time in the city. She showed me around the city, showing me how people decorate the streets and stores, and taught me about costumes. She’s a master at making costumes, but that’s for a different letter. They also showed me that the movies play reruns of the graphic TV shows of the area (not a fan of these) and old horror movies (I am a fan of these).

I’m really excited for the event honestly! I’ve never seen so many happy cats and people working together for something that… honestly seems pointless. It’s just… for fun. I really like something just for fun.

Thank you for letting me ramble about this, I’m thrilled to see this happening. I’ll get back to you quickly!
Trevor

RE: [TCPDEX] TCP Research Initiative - AceOfNothing - 10-31-2019

Darkest Night 1-2

This letter comes in a box, with a bottle, full of sand, with the letter rolled up inside it. It is tied shut by seaweed. At least there flair to this one.

Costumes are fun. Boing says they are at least, they wear costumes all the time. Boing is going as a sheep this year, so their costume only involves painting on a pink nose and wearing a bell collar. They helped me make my costume, I’m going as…. a mermaid! I have no idea what a mermaid is, but I think it’s a fish with hair. No one has exactly told me, I think they expect me to know, and I don’t want to ask and look stupid. I’ll figure it out eventually.

Kringle is limited with her costumes. Lumikki gets incredibly distressed when she makes jokes about cracking her head glass case, so that cuts out the horror ideas she has. She’s painting part of her glass red and using fruit stickers to act like a fruit bowl. Apparently last year she tried to be a scuba diver, but someone tried to take her head off and this is why she doesn’t like clothes much. Cluster can’t really wear costumes, but Dream is really into them. He’s using body paint to dress up as some cat named “Dropdead.” Lumikki won’t let us watch Gauntlet, they don’t like Hoopla shows much apparently. William And Skip are going as mummies, they called it a couples costume. William doesn’t want to wear a costume but Skip has been begging for weeks.

As far as the common costumes in the area go, there’s a lot I’ve seen. A lot of people are dressing up as Dropdead, which only makes me want to watch the show more. There’s also a lot of Gauntlet contestants, at least that’s what Boing claims they are. I’ve seen a costume for someone named “Cobalt” made from boxes painted blue, but for some reason the person tapped their arms to their sides. The was also this “Iris” costume with wings made from a blanket, and a “Rex” costume with balloons with faces painted on them. Gauntlet looks fun! I wonder what they’re doing on in, maybe it’s some art contest or something? Is contestant a type?

Besides that there’s also a lot for the God Wretch and the Demon Eastwood, with mostly friends going together. People also dress up as Wax and other gods I’ve never heard of, like Spit, who has a weird name. There’s other mermaids, and sailors, and people dressed up as various sea creatures. I’ve seen a lot of pirates this year, William says it’s an easy group costume. I also saw three cats running together as a giant dragon, they kept knocking into things, I’m sort of worried about them causing trouble.

Kringle got a bit freaked out when we saw a cat watching us with glowing eyes, hidden in a hood. They had a scythe, so Kringle thinks they were a reaper of some sort. They ran away when I tried to talk to them, Boing insists she didn’t see them. I’m not that worried about it.

I’m enjoying my costume, it’s fun to be something you’re not. I look forward to the rest of this holiday.
Trevor.

RE: [TCPDEX] TCP Research Initiative - AceOfNothing - 11-01-2019

Darkest Night 1-3

This letter does not come filled with sand, and seems completely normal. However, once it is open, confetti and sparkles shoots out to cover whoever is holding the letter. It sprinkles down to the ground, and is going to take weeks to get off the ground.

I hope you enjoyed that gag, Boing and Kringle are giggling about the idea as I write. Hopefully it has the desired effect.

The campfires are going on tonight, so I think this is a perfect time to talk about the food. The beach groups are all cooking over the fire, hot dogs and marshmallows being popular options. Have you ever had a s’more? Lumikki showed us how to make them, we’ve been giving those out as treats with chocolate used to draw faces on the top.

There’s also a lot of people fishing on the beach, and if a fish is caught we’re cooking those too. Some people have roasted vegetables and fruits, making these things called kabobs… kebabs? I’m not sure. Meat and vegetables, all cooked on a stick. It’s simple but delicious, I thank the food types around to help us have the same experience. While we were enjoying some punch and hot chocolate, I noticed holly berries in mine. I told Kringle this is not a funny joke, and could hurt someone, and they swear it wasn’t them. The berries aren't snowglobes, but I really don’t believe her.

This letter is fairly short, but I’d like to not be rude. I’m going to join the activities, it’s almost time for the fireworks. Then we’re telling ghost stories.
Trevor

This letter is signed by Trevor’s friends, with Kringle technically signing first,with the biggest letters. Cluster only signs with a splash of oil. Boing takes the time to add a smiling clown face next to hers.