📅 Wintermiss Countdown: Day 6 (December 18th)

 📅 Wintermiss Countdown: Day 6 (December 18th)

📝 Blog Post Draft: Day 6 – The Vigil of the Watch (Six Candles Lit)

🥣 Twelve Days of Wintermiss: Day 6 – The Vigil of the Watch

 

Six Flames Against the Void (December 18th in Cryselle)

We have reached the halfway mark, Tygerian monsters! Tonight, the sixth ceremonial Aetherial Diya is lit. The light from our homes is now strong enough to create a visible shimmer in the air—the Aetherial Corona—shielding us from the biting winds of the Shadowfrost Arch Demon.

---

 

Night 6 Ritual: The Watch of the Plumb

Tonight is known as The Watch. We celebrate the dedication of those who stand guard over our borders and our dreams. To honor the Royal Cartographer, households perform a "Spirit Survey." Using a ceremonial Plumb of Gravity’s Anchor, families check the spiritual "level" of their homes, ensuring that the influence of the Void hasn't caused their moral or mental foundation to tilt. It is a night of quiet reflection and steadying one’s soul.

 

---

 

The Shadow's Sixth Strike: The Bowl-Licker (Askasleikir)

 

As we focus on our internal balance, a more domestic threat emerges from the soot of the Yule Tide Family. The Bowl-Licker (another of the Winter Ghoulish Langley Ogre Lads) has arrived.

He is the sneakiest of his brothers. He doesn't smash or scratch; he hides under beds or in the rafters, waiting for the Tygerian monsters to finish their Family Bhoj. He specifically targets the Askur—the traditional lidded wooden bowls used for the holiday syrups and grains. He steals them away to lick them clean, but his saliva leaves behind a "Film of Forgetfulness." Those who eat from a bowl he has touched find their memories of the Wintermiss light fading, replaced by the cold apathy of the Shadowfrost.

 

---

Fylgja’s Choice

From the peaks of Ice Wyrm Mountain, the young dragon Fylgja watches the flickering lights of the "Spirit Survey." She sees the Tygerian monsters standing watch and feels a strange kinship. While her mother, Lorea, prepares for a territorial strike, Fylgja finds herself blowing small puffs of frost into the air, mimicking the shape of the Aetherial Corona. The "Wild Card" is beginning to choose her own path. 

 

---

The Shadow's Sixth Strike: The Bowl-Licker (Askasleikir)

Tonight, the kitchen becomes a battlefield of sticky traps! The Bowl-Licker is a master of stealth, creeping in after the Tygerian families have gone to bed. He seeks the Askur (wooden bowls), but the Tygerian monsters have wised up—they’ve coated the rims of the empty bowls with leftover syrup from National Syrup Day. If he gets stuck, he might just leave behind his stash!

Monster Stats (M!M! 2.7):

• CON: 15 | STR: 12 | DEX: 24 | INT: 14 | LK: 18 | CHR: 2

• Combat Adds: +22 (Mostly from his incredible speed and luck)

• Special: Film of Forgetfulness (If he licks a bowl, the next person to eat from it must make an INT save or lose 1 hour of memory).

If the syrup trap works and he flees, roll 1d6 to see what was left in the corner of the kitchen:

1d6 Roll	The Bowl-Licker's Leavings	Effect
1	A Slobbered Spoon	Slippery and gross; gives a -2 penalty to any Cooking rolls.
2	Tangle of Bed-Dust	Actually a rare "Dust Bunny" familiar if treated with aetherial light.
3	Polished Askur Lid	A bowl lid licked so clean it acts as a minor mirror of Truesight.
4	Half-Eaten Syrup Cake	Tainted with the Void; restores CON but causes bad dreams.
5	The Whistle of Silence	A small bone whistle that makes no sound, but alerts Ogre Lads.
6	Crystalized Drool Shard	Cold as ice; can be used as a 1D6 throwing weapon.

Keep your bowls covered and your hearts level, Tygerian monsters! The Watch is underway!

— The Hedge Wizard of the Shreveport Cabin

---

Product Identity & Legal

The following items are designated Product Identity of Arthur Earl C. Hedges Jr. / The Adventures of Captain Hedges: The world of Zimrala, The Tygerian Isles, The Ether Dragons and their portal mechanics, The Tiger Force Shadow Saga, The specific "Hedge Wizard of the Shreveport Cabin" persona, The "Royal Cartographer" archetype and the character "Emperor Rajah," Unique Items: The Ink of Anticipation, The Compass of Lost Things, Parchment of Echoes, The Scope of the True Meridian, The Rod of Infinite Spanning, the Five Golden Rings, and The Plumb of Gravity’s Anchor. The Tygerian Ice Queen Isdis, Cryselle Capital City, The Tygerian Monsters, The Ice Dragons (Lorea and Fylgja), Ice Wyrm Mountain, The Wild Card Faction, The Faction War, The Yule Tide Family (Grilla, Leppalúði, Jokelhime, and the Winter Ghoulish Langley Ogre Lads), and the concepts of the Aetherial Diya (Candle of Hope), The Tiger's Mark Rangoli, The Family Bhoj, The Pot-Scraper, The Bowl-Licker, The Compass Lights, and the Aetherial Corona are also designated Product Identity.

Monsters! Monsters! and Humans, Humans (1st Edition) are trademarks of Ken St. Andre and Troll Godfather Press and are used with permission. All dice for Monsters! Monsters! 2.7 are D6s. The statistics and game mechanics provided herein are designated as unofficial playtest material for the Tygerian Isles campaign setting. © 2025 Arthur Earl C. Hedges Jr. All rights reserved.

6 AM Good Morning Nocturnis December 18 2025

 [BREAKING NEWS BANNER: NASA TRACKING UNIDENTIFIED COSMIC OBJECT — TRAJECTORY: THE GULF]SPECIAL REPORT: 

The Return of the Seed

Thursday, December 18, 2025

By Alden Hedges Chief Historian, Nocturnis Historical Society Reporting for Channel 6 News

ALDEN HEDGES: Good morning, citizens of the Isles.

At 6:00 AM this morning, NASA released a statement that has half the world panicking and the other half looking at the sky. They are tracking a "biological cosmic anomaly"—a massive, seed-like object on a direct intercept course with the Gulf of Mexico. They say they’ve never seen anything like it.

But they’re wrong. We have seen it before.

While the rest of the city was waking up to the sirens, I was down in the archives, tearing through crates of mislabeled shipping manifests from the Old Spice Route. I was looking for a specific legend. And right before airtime... I found it.

I am holding a cartographic plate dated A.D. 1588. It proves that what is coming for us isn't an invasion. It's a sibling.

This map documents the first Seedfall—the cataclysm that created our world.

---

PART I: THE ANCIENT IMPACT — THE BLUEBONNET VOLCANOES

(Reference: The Central Impact Zone)

The map confirms that in the spring of 1588, a similar cosmic object struck the center of the Gulf. It wasn't a meteor. It was a Seed, likely dropped from the slipstream of a passing Ether Dragon migration.

The Eruption of Vitality When that ancient Seed struck the seabed, it didn't just explode; it took root. The impact force instantly buckled the crust, pushing up the central cone we now know as the Bluebonnet Volcano.

The flows running down the side of that mountain aren't magma. That is Solar Nectar. The 1588 survey shows that the "lava" is actually super-heated, bio-luminescent Vitality Syrup. The massive, petal-shaped islands surrounding the volcano weren't formed by time; they were grown in seconds by that magical radiation.

---

PART II: THE SOUTHWEST SHOCKWAVE — THE DROWNING OF NOCTURNIS

(Reference: The Hydrographic Shift of Nocturnis City Isle)

To the southwest, the shockwave of '88 hit our home. And this explains the dark geography of our city.

For centuries, we wondered why the Underalms—our deep, cavernous slum districts—existed. The map gives us the terrifying answer: Hydraulic Shock.

The Great Flood The impact shockwave shattered the natural dams holding back Crater Lake. Millions of gallons of freshwater surged over the banks, erasing the farmlands and blasting through the city's aqueducts. The pressure was so immense it carved out the subterranean fissures of the Underalms and blew out the "Sea Caves" at the base of the cliffs.

When you walk through the damp lower city today, you are walking through the scar tissue of that first impact.

---

PART III: THE NORTHEAST MIRACLE — THE HOLLOW GUARDIAN

(Reference: Tiger's Rest Isle)

But the most incredible revelation is to the northeast. We all know Tiger's Rest Isle, the massive stone tiger with Kings Port between its paws. We thought it was just a rock formation.

The 1588 Map proves it is hollow.

The Internal Treasury The shockwave raised a geode in the shape of a beast. Inside the stone shell of the Tiger is a massive underground lake treasury. The black stripes on the tiger’s back are actually sunlight vents, illuminating a hidden internal world of terrace farms and calm waters that has thrived in secret for 400 years.

---

CONCLUSION: HISTORY REPEATS

So, why does this matter right now?

Because NASA says the new object is hours away. In 1588, the Seedfall reshaped the ocean, drowned a city, and raised a stone god.

If the history books are right, we aren't just looking at an impact event. We are looking at a Genesis Event. The map is about to change again.

This is Alden Hedges, Channel 6 News. Keep your eyes on the sky.

---

Product Identity & Legal The following items are designated Product Identity of Arthur Earl C. Hedges Jr. / The Adventures of Captain Hedges: The world of Zimrala, the Tygerian Isles, the "Bluebonnet Volcanoes" (Solar Nectar concepts), "Tiger's Rest Isle" (Hollow Interior/Sunlit Vents/Lake Treasury concepts), the "Nocturnis City Underalms" (Flash Flood Origin), and the historical event known as "The Seedfall of 1588." Monsters! Monsters! is a trademark of Ken St. Andre and Troll Godfather Press and is used with permission. The lore provided herein is designated as unofficial playtest material for the Tygerian Isles campaign setting. © 2025 Arthur Earl C. Hedges Jr. All rights reserved.

Rise n' Shine Thursday: The Terror of the Twin Reflection & The Dwelves of the North

---

Rise n' Shine Thursday: The Terror of the Twin Reflection & The Dwelves of the North

Thursday, December 18, 2025

5 AM. The coffee is brewing, and the frost on the cabin windows is thick enough to see your own face in it.

That reflection is exactly what we are talking about today. Since today represents the "home stretch" of the week, and the real-world holiday is National Twin Day (and surprisingly, Answer the Phone Like Buddy the Elf Day), we are going to lean into the concept of "Reflections," "Duplication," and the frozen inhabitants of the North.

In the real world, today is National Twin Day. It’s a fun day for siblings. But in the frozen hellscape of Thrivaldi, twins aren't cute. They are a threat. However, before we get to the horror, let's look at the inhabitants of the North Pole that fit today's "Buddy the Elf" theme perfectly.

1. THE INHABITANTS: THE RIME-DWELVE

Dwelves are an off combination of Dwarves and Elves. Though they are short, they are stout, and intelligent. Their unique ancestry provides them with the best of two worlds as they kin to the skills and abilities of both Elves and Dwarves, as well as some unique developed traits like being immune to the cold.

Dwelves are hard to come by and the only known place of their inhabitance is at the North Pole in Santa's elusive village. These cunning creatures are typically good in nature, as well as caring and warm-hearted but will come together with other Dwelves to defend their integrity. At first glance these creatures appear to be Dwarves, Gnomes or Halflings but are truly different.

Kindred: Rime-Dwelve (Frost Dwarf-Elf)

The Rime-Dwelve is a creature of the deep ice, possessing the resilience of stone and the chilling grace of the winter fey.

Attribute Table

Kindred	Lvl	STR	CON	DEX	SPD	INT	WIZ	LK	CHR
Rime-Dwelve	2	24 (16x1.5)	21 (12x1.8)	17 (14x1.2)	10 (10x1.0)	26 (17x1.5)	20 (17x1.2)	10 (10x1.0)	24 (16x1.5)

Combat & Equipment Table

Combat Adds	Health (CON)	Armor Value	Winter Arsenal	Special Abilities & Talents
+17	21	8 (Reinforced Winter Furs & Frost-Steel Plates) (Warrior Bonus: 16 Hits)	Frost-Bitten Greataxe: 5d6 + 17 (+2 Spite Dmg on 6s) Heavy Snow-Crossbow: 4d6 + 17 (No blizzard penalty)	Glacial Resilience: Immune to cold. Winter Fey Ancestry: No sleep, Adv. vs Charm. Pack Tactics: +2d6 (not 1d6) in groups. Ice-Walk: No slip on ice. Whiteout Vision: +4 to Spot hidden foes.

---

2. THE MONSTER: THE MIRROR-ICE DOPPELGANGER

The Shadow in the Glare.

We’ve established that the ice in Thrivaldi is magical ("Frost-Glass" and "Iron-Ice"). So, what happens when you stare into that ice for too long? Sometimes, the reflection stares back. And sometimes, it climbs out.

This isn't a biological creature. It is an elemental construct of frozen light and jealousy. It waits in frozen lakes, glaciers, or polished shields.

• The Trigger: If a player spends a turn "Searching" or "Resting" near a reflective surface, the GM rolls a hidden d6. On a 1, the Doppelganger peels itself off the surface.

Monster Statistics Table

Role	MR	Attributes	Special Ability	Weakness
Assassin / Mimic	Copy	Exact Copy of Victim's STR, CON, DEX, and SPD at spawn time.	The Synchronized Strike: Always attacks the copied char. If Player rolls doubles, Monster counts as doubles (Crit damage back to player).	Shatter the Source: Smash the mirror/ice patch to deal instant Half Damage to the monster.

---

3. THE LOOT: THE TWIN-SOUL COOKIE

Since today is also National Bake Cookies Day, we need a consumable item. But this isn't just a snack; it's a tactical tool.

• Origin: Baked by the Hedge Wizards using the Vitality Gold Syrup we talked about yesterday.

• Effect: When you snap this cookie in half and share it with an ally:

  • The Bond: For 1 hour, the two players are "Twinned."

  • The Benefit: If one player is healed, the other player heals for half that amount for free.

  • The Cost: If one player takes damage, the other takes 1 point of Sympathetic Pain.

---

4. THE GM EVENT: "BUDDY'S GREETING"

Because it is also "Answer the Telephone Like Buddy the Elf Day", let's add a little levity to the grim dark.

• The Encounter: The players find a Speaking Stone buried in the snow.

• The Curse: Anyone who touches it is cursed with Uncontrollable Joy.

• Effect: The player cannot use Stealth. They must shout greetings to every monster they see ("SANTAS! I KNOW HIM!").

• Bonus: However, this confused shouting acts as a Confusion Spell (L2 SR) on enemies, who are baffled by the sudden cheerfulness in a war zone.

So, watch your reflection in the ice today. If it winks at you, smash the mirror.

Next Stop: The Friday Wrap-Up.

---

Product Identity & Legal The following items are designated Product Identity of Arthur Earl C. Hedges Jr. / The Adventures of Captain Hedges: The world of Zimrala and the continent of Thrivaldi, the specific "Hedge Wizard of the Shreveport Cabin" persona, the Rime-Dwelve, the Mirror-Ice Doppelganger, and the Twin-Soul Cookie. Monsters! Monsters! and Humans, Humans (1st Edition) are trademarks of Ken St. Andre and Troll Godfather Press and are used with permission. The statistics and game mechanics provided herein are designated as unofficial playtest material for the Tygerian Isles campaign setting. © 2025 Arthur Earl C. Hedges Jr. All rights reserved.

4 AM Jitters The Sight Unseen

 

4 AM Jitters: The Sight Unseen — The Ghost of the Fenwood

Thursday, December 18th, 2025 — 4:15 AM

The shadows outside the Shreveport Cabin just stopped being dark—they started being alive.

There is a presence here tonight that transcends the physical. We have officially moved beyond the material world and into the realm of the Tiger Rakshasa Paragon. This is the Sight Unseen Spirit, a master of martial combat and dark, intangible shadow magic who stalks the "thin places" between the Bayou and the Fenwood Forest.

I. The Were-Tiger Rakshasa Warrior-Wizard Paragon: Attributes

As a WERE-Tiger Rakshasa Warrior-Wizard (Paragon), this PM (Player Monster) uses specialized M!M 2.7 multipliers to reflect his supernatural feline grace and innate sorcery.

For the players and GMs following along, this is how we stack the bloodlines. We add the Tygerian and Rakshasa multipliers to create the Apex Paragon. We triggered the TARO (Triples Add & Roll Over) rule on the DEX roll (6-6-6), turning an 18 into a 28 base.

Build Component	STR	CON	DEX	SPD	INT	WIZ	CHR	LK
Base Monster Rolls	13	16	28 (TARO)	10	13	12	14	10
Tygerian Multiplier	x 5.0	x 6.0	x 1.0	x 1.0	x 1.0	x 0.5	x 2.0	x 0.75
Rakshasa Multiplier	x 1.5	x 1.5	x 1.2	x 1.0	x 1.0	x 1.5	x 1.0	x 1.0
APEX MULT (T+R)	x 6.5	x 7.5	x 2.2	x 2.0	x 2.0	x 2.0	x 3.0	x 1.75
FINAL TOTALS	85	120	62	20	26	24	42	18.0

II. Combat, Weapons & Armor Mastery Table

The Paragon uses his high DEX (61.6) to ensure his Great Scimitar finds its mark before the enemy can blink.

Equipment Type	Item Name	Stat / Value	Narrative / Game Effect
Primary Weapon	Great Scimitar	5D6 + 130	A heavy, curved blade that shears through physical and spiritual armor.
Legacy Weapon	Tiger Force Knife	2D6 + 130	Dad's Vietnam blade; acts as a focus for Shadow Magic.
Primary Armor	Heavy Leather	12 Hits	Paragon Bonus: Worn armor protection is doubled (6x2).
Natural Armor	Rakshasa Hide	2 Hits	Toughened fur and dense Tygerian bone.
TOTAL ARMOR	Combined	14 Hits	Total damage soaked per round before Health (CON) is touched.

III. Shadow Power & Ability Suite

Kuro-Khan utilizes his WIZ (24) to manipulate the battlefield, ensuring he remains "Sight Unseen."

Ability	Type	WIZ Cost	Effect
Shadow-Walk	Special	3	50ft teleport; denies target's DEX/Shield Adds for 1 round.
Vorpal Blade	Spell (L1)	5	Doubles Scimitar dice to 10D6 + 130 for one strike.
Darkness	Spell (L1)	1	Creates a cloud of total shadow to blind intruders.
Backward Hands	Passive	0	Causes uncanny horror; forces a L3SR Fear check on sight.

The Shadow-Stalker’s Spellbook

Using his WIZ (18), the Rakshasa manipulates the darkness to protect the cabin's perimeter while Bayou Earl stands his watch.

Spell Name	Level	Tactical Use
Hidey Hole	1	Total invisibility while stalking the wilderness.
Darkness	1	Impenetrable cloud of shadow to blind intruders.
Shadow Step	Warp	Teleporting between the Bayou and Fenwood.
Fear	2	A terrifying aura that breaks the will of poachers.

---

Product Identity & Legal

The following items are designated Product Identity of Arthur Earl C. Hedges Jr. / The Adventures of Captain Hedges: The world of Zimrala, the Tygerian Isles, the Fenwood Forest and its Hedge Portals, the Tiger Force Shadow Saga, the specific "Hedge Wizard of the Shreveport Cabin" persona, the Tiger Rakshasa Paragon, and the Sight Unseen Spirit. Unique Items: The Iron Steed (1969 Mustang Mach 1), The Vietnam-era Tiger Force Knife, and The Silver-Scale Purge. Monsters! Monsters! and Humans, Humans (1st Edition) are trademarks of Ken St. Andre and Troll Godfather Press and are used with permission. The statistics provided herein are designated as unofficial playtest material for the Tygerian Isles campaign setting. © 2025 Arthur Earl C. Hedges Jr. All rights reserved.

---

Captain, the tables are set. Should we name this specific Shadow Paragon "The Congo Ghost" to link back to your service history, or do you have another call-sign in mind?