EVENT & TDM 036

[sticksandbonesmods]

WAKE UP

Whatever you were doing, something doesn’t add up. For starters, you were most certainly not in this strange little village with a mishmash of cultures and strange animals everywhere. You might have been holding your weapon, yes, but maybe you weren’t- maybe you don’t even have one, and the heavy wooden beam or old pipe in your hands is foreign entirely. But as you stop to think, you also realize you were mid-swing, and someone stands before you; another fresh face being urged by whispers untraceable to fight? Or one of the villagers, alarmed and primed to defend themselves before your time seemed to stop and your mind awoke?

Even stranger, once you get that sorted out, is that the wildlife- all animals mixed with plants- are all nervous at best, actively frightened by something unseen at worst. Squirrels whose tails resemble hyacinths more than fluff and fur run through the trees chittering and shrieking, foxes and dogs with reeds and leaves and petals gently growing from their haunches bolt from place to place, alert and stanced for an attack before running off again. Getting too close to a warren may lead to something biting down on your feet.

Should you journey the distance to the beach- or use the Ark gate generously provided- even the Emerald Sea churns and roars violently, the cliffside whirlpool practically a hurricane beneath the sea. Something is amiss in Aldric’s Grove, and you are only the latest victims.

A LANTERN IN THE HANGING TREE

There’s something that wasn’t there before, one day. A dark, gnarled tree with a gaping hole in it- except the hole is pitch black, and a barrier stops you from entering despite the opening being large enough to walk into. Hanging from the almost-bare boughs are metal lanterns, all of them unable to be lit. As fog rolls in, so too does poor weather. It’s almost always raining, if not outright storming. Sometimes it lets up, but not for long.

The fog brings something else though. Golden lights wait in the fog, and approaching them sounds… incredible, actually? They do not move or give chase, but you may find them unavoidable regardless. Walking into the lights brings you to a memory, a scene from someone’s life… but not your own.

As it finishes, you might be where you’d just been standing, but there’s a slim chance you now stand before the owner of the memory; as if you’d walked there in a daze while lost in thoughts that aren’t your own.

With each light met by a villager, a lantern in the tree lights.

GUIDING BONDS IN THE DARK

It’s dark. It’s painfully dark even though your eyes are wide open. As you fumble around, hands outstretched for anything at all, your fingers catch on a metal curve. Instinctively, you slip it on your wrist- and as your sight returns, emotions that aren’t yours slip into your heart and mind. You aren’t alone, but maybe you will wish you were. A silver chain connects the bracelet on your wrist with your companion’s own before vanishing again, and if you try to put more than six feet of space between each other an invisible tug between you stops you. Removing the bracelet blinds you again, but if given the opportunity, wearing more than one overwhelms your mind to the point that you may as well be wearing none at all. Your powers are null, your weapons are not with you. The two of you are alone.

You find yourselves in a dark cavern of dirt and root. High above, a silvery blue light shines.You can hear rain hitting leaves and bark, water trickling down roots. Should you try to climb up, the roots shake you off themselves. Behind you is a solid wall. Ahead of you is a path to take, twisting and winding with ever shifting false routes and a chill in the air. There’s only one way forward.

As you traverse the labyrinth it will quickly become clear you aren’t alone. Something trudges through the caverns with heavy feet, stalking everyone within. Unlucky travelers will find themselves cornered by a minotaur looming over them, ready to fight and give chase- but it can be distracted by other travelers, or killed… temporarily, and it will come back with a vengeance.

Even outside of the minotaur there are other threats however. As you go from hall to room to hall, familiar scents and sounds creep in, all meant to invoke something you dread. Soon enough those scents and sounds will take shape, hunting you down just as fervently as the bull. Lingering in any space for too long also incites rising temperaments and lower inhibitions that you may struggle to shake off. Why would you? Smacking your partner for being a coward is so much more enticing. … Not just a smack. After all, about half-way through, when monsters born of your memories start to haunt the labyrinth too, you found your weapons, after all.

Your goal is to get to the center of the maze, while the maze wants to crush you with the minotaur, with memories of fear and regret, with its own rush of root and dirt while your emotions feed into each other, crashing against each other’s minds like ocean waves against a cliff. And should it succeed, should air leave your lungs one last time, you will not awaken in the Garden. This is a game, after all. No, as your companions filter into the center two by two, they will find you just barely breathing, strung up from the root, and the roots strung up in you. Plants grow from your flesh and blood, squeeze your lungs and heart. They may fade in a couple days, or you may well be corrupted by the Fallen Sun’s touch. You frame a single opening in the dreariness, but the sound of rain is louder than ever.

Little by little you make your way through, exiting from the gnarled tree strung in lanterns. The bracelets drop from your wrists and crumble to pieces. You’re free.

SOMBER RAINY MORNINGS

It’s been a trying month, and the rain does not stop. The lights do not dim, the lanterns in the tree do not flicker. All you can do is try to cope, in whatever way you can. And when something tugs at your mind again and the scent of dirt floods your nose, something roars in the distance.

The clouds in the sky are cut in half as a serpent made of the cosmos flies above, an iridescent rain falling from its body. Those corrupted in death will find themselves trying to avoid it, for its waters purify the rot in their bodies. Others may simply enjoy the warm beauty as the world seems to settle into a calm. The lantern tree seems to bloom and heal before vanishing into a flurry of petals, leaving only a few broken lanterns behind on the ground. Nene, the girl with flowers growing from her hair picks one up with a far-off gaze before returning to her cottage, leaving the rest behind.

Flowers begin to spring to life, embracing the warmer days of summer in the wake of spring, and gradually the wildlife begins to calm down.

For the first time in weeks, a sunny day awaits and the sky is stained with rainbows.

Spark Notes (Click to Expand)

summary

WAKE UP: New arrivals in Aldric's Grove arrive holding weapons, covered in blood, and most likely pointing them at someone. Surprise! On top of that, all the animals are on edge, and some might attack you if you agitate them or get too close.
A LANTERN IN THE HANGING TREE: A tree appears one day with hanging lanterns. Getting close to a golden light means that memories of others will enter your mind, and with each person who touches a light, a lantern on the tree lights.
GUIDING BONDS IN THE DARK: Within the labyrinth, everyone is connected by a bracelet and are therefore sharing emotions. Getting more than six feet apart will stop you from moving further forward, but without a bracelet, you'll be fully blinded in the maze. Your weapons and magical powers aren't with you, and threats loom around every corner.
SOMBER RAINY MORNINGS: To potentially cure the Corruption that some characters may have endured by dying in the labyrinth, the Cosmic Serpent rises from the sea to spew purifying rains across the Grove. Flowers bloom where the corrupted ground was healed, and you're given a break - for now.

out of character

Happy May! This is a reminder that TDMs are game canon. Current players in the game may redeem TDM AC this month (meaning: if you tag a new player/character and the thread reaches 5 comments from you, your AC is that entire thread for the month if you want). We'll find a better way to clarify this rule in the future and we're sorry for anyone it's confused in the past. Have fun with the event!

updates

Any potential updates, such as characters damaging something important or whatever else, will be put here.

submissions

❖ Questions
❖ May Plotting
❖ Past Life Plotting (Closed to Game Members)
❖ Investigations

code

Comments

[deathgripped]

[Given the tension and determination that had only just gripped her, the reminder is an important one. She tucks her head down, briefly feeling something close to shame for the abruptness of her declarations. It's a relief that, at the very least, Jiaoqiu doesn't seem keen to judge her outright.]

A meal... [At the mention of this, her stomach does indeed seem to rouse itself. How long had it been since she had eaten?] That would be most wonderful. I can assist you, should you require it.

[healinghotpot]

[ Ah, there it is. The determination can stay, but the urgency of it needed to go. Thankfully, the promise of a meal seems to have helped. And, it's a confirmation to Jiaoqiu that she's mortal enough. ]

If you like. It isn't really needed - my method of medicine is cooking, so I'm pretty experienced - but I'm not going to say no to a little help.

[deathgripped]

[While wouldn't call herself the best cook (not when Mydei was around) given her independence, she'd learned to be functional, at the very least. If nothing else, she could take orders and chop veggies.

Another nod is offered.]

Then by all means, lead the way.

[healinghotpot]

Of course. Follow me.

[ He will gladly lead the way to the Inn. It isn't far! ]

There isn't a broad selection of ingredients here, but you can always make something from practically nothing. That said, what sort of foods do you like, Miss Castorice?

[deathgripped]

I -

[Her brows furrow. She would take whatever she could get, or she would make it herself. She'd eaten a great deal of different fare over her many years. There were dishes from cities that had long since been destroyed, cuisine that she nor anyone else would ever remember.

Or... maybe they would now. It's hard to say, with Amphoreus currently stitching itself back together. Maybe she could hope.

She shakes her head to clear her thoughts.]

I enjoy sweet foods, but that would not suffice for a proper meal. Generally, I take lighter meals, multiple times per day. It is easier to keep my energy up that way.

[healinghotpot]

[ The hesitation is noted. What is the meaning behind it, he wonders? For a being such as Castorice, it could be anything. Not that he'll go as far as making assumptions, of course. It's best to find out directly. ]

A wise choice. Sweet is good in moderation, to harmonize the stomach. Maintaining a periodic light meal is good for digestion and avoids overloading the stomach with overly rich foods.

[ He hums as he walks, the tips of his ears very gently swaying with each step. ]

We'll do a soup, I think. Light, and easy to load with nutrients. How do you handle spice?

[deathgripped]

[Castorice nods along with his words. It sounds reasonable enough. Really, it had become a habit in her years of wandering — staying still for too long often felt like a risk. A smaller meal kept her energy up for long enough to keep moving, without making her feel ill from the continued effort.

As for the sweets...]

Yes I... certainly practiced moderation where I could.

[She did not. As a perpetual sad girl, she let herself indulge in sweets as much as she wanted, thank you. Hopefully he won't press, especially with the zeal in which she continues the conversation.]

Soup sounds lovely! Though... [A little more sheepish.] Perhaps not too heavy on the spice.

[healinghotpot]

[ He will not press, thankfully! There's a hint of suspicion there, based on how she answers, but he won't say anything about it. He'll simply make sure that her serving of soup is chock full of veggies. It won't hurt either way. ]

Alright. I'll keep the spice to a minimum then.

[ Ugh. Though, he doesn't let that alter his tone. He can always spice up his own bowl a bit, if he has some. He can make a soup flavorful without it, even if it isn't his preferred method.

Luckily, the Inn isn't far. He will even hold the door open for her, once they get there. ]

After you.

[deathgripped]

[The good news is that she won't protest. Even if there are certain veggies that fail to appeal to her, she is far too polite to turn them down. If anything, she can spoon out what she does not prefer!]

Thank you. I hope it does not put you out too much.

[She knows everyone has their preferences. Really, she shouldn't protest when Jiaoqiu was going out of his way to make her food. But he did ask, and she couldn't simply lie to him.

She slips inside with a grateful nod, then reaches to hold to door in turn as he slips inside.]

[healinghotpot]

Oh, not at all. I'd hardly be a healer worth my salt and pepper if cooking for someone else was a chore.

[ He passes through the door with a nod and a soft "thank you", then turns toward the kitchen, waiting until she's closed the door. ]

This is the Inn. You'll find accommodations here. They're private and fairly comfortable, in my opinion. And the kitchen is this way, if you're ever in the need.

[ And that's where they're going now! Off to the kitchens they go. ]

[deathgripped]

[Pausing briefly, Castorice stares down the hall toward the rooms. She isn't used to living in such close proximity to others, when she thinks about it. Does the idea excite her? Or fill her with nerves? Some part of her still isn't used to being close to others.

She swallows the thought down for now.]

It sounds wonderful.

[She finally trots after Jiaoqiu. Some part of her instinctively thinks to keep six feet back, before she remembers that it's no longer necessary. She speeds up just a little after that.]

Do you often cook for others then, Mr. Jiaoqiu? You make it sound... familiar.

[healinghotpot]

[ For a moment, Jiaoqiu slows his pace a little, noticing that her footsteps aren't as quick as his own, or as close behind. But once she trots forward to catch up, he matches her pace instead. ]

All the time. As a healer, I heal through cooking. Cooking is medicine, after all. You can remedy a lot of conditions by consuming the right things. Of course, I practice other medical arts, too, but medicinal cooking is my specialty.

[ He could go into the details, but he'll save that for if she expresses interest. While he knows it forward and backward, to a lot of people, it's like wading into the weeds. ]

I also cook for my colleagues on a daily basis. As General Feixiao's personal healer, it is my responsibility to make sure she gets the nutrition she needs. And to make sure she has something in her stomach to counter the alcohol she drinks.

[deathgripped]

[The surprise is evident on Castorice's face at first. Indeed, the logic makes sense when she considers it. Certain foods were rich in nutrients, and those nutrients could properly heal the body. It went double when adding medicinal herbs, she imagined.]

It must have been a difficult talent to learn. Balancing medicinal need with flavor. Unless, of course, that isn't a factor?

[I mean, medicine didn't always taste good.

But that thought trails off. Something in Jiaoqiu's words stands out to her as familiar. Her brows draw together.]

Mister Jiaoqiu... if you will permit a personal question. Where are you from, exactly?

[healinghotpot]

[ Jiaoqiu hums thoughtfully at that, as they finally arrive at the kitchen. It already smells like food - many use this place, so it stands to reason someone has probably cooked in here recently. In fact, there is already a pot on the fire, bubbling away. A good base for him to get started, providing it isn't a heavy broth. ]

Oh, it certainly took time. But no, medicines do not need to taste bad. In fact, the more palatable your treatment, the more likely you are to take it. Vegetables are good for the body in various ways, but if a child refuses to eat them, you can simply dice them into fine bits and hide them away in meatballs.

[ He's already moving around the kitchen, gathering supplies. But first, a glance at the pot. Yes, it seems to be a thinner broth. Chicken, perhaps, or some kind of fowl. It will do.

Castorice's question only makes him pause for a moment, turning to glance over his shoulder. His eyes are open this time. ]

The Xianzhou Alliance. More specifically, the Xianzhou Yaoqing. Why do you ask?

[deathgripped]

[The atmosphere of the kitchen alone — the scent of food wafting on the breeze, the warmth in the air — does wonders to set Castorice's nerves at ease. So, too, does the sound of Jiaoqiu's voice. He must be an excellent physician, to be able to calm someone so readily.

It brings a faint smile to her face, even as she reaches for some of what is pulled out. Noticeably, she avoids grabbing a collected carrot. Don't worry about it.

Of course - she very nearly drops the pilfered vegetable when she hears that name. Her head whips around, eyes briefly going wide. Even if she hadn't been the one to beg the Trailblazer and Dan Heng for stories, she had still heard the name float by. It was indeed why her suspicions had been raised.

An almost unprecedented wave of joy washes through her.]

Xianzhou - Are you familiar with the Trailblazer, then?

[healinghotpot]

[ There are many things being gathered. Sparse, in the grand scheme of things - this place doesn't have nearly the level of spices and herbs as his own kitchen back at home - but many simple things. Vegetables. Aromatics. Flavorings. Carrots, but also other root vegetables that can add starch. A bit of dried meat, which can be rehydrated easily in the soup.

He's in the process of spooning broth out of the pot when Castorice asks, and to his credit, he doesn't drop his ladle. ]

The Trailblazer, huh? So you're familiar, then.

[ They sure do get around, don't they? It must be nice, to have that much freedom. ]

Yes, I know them. We have spoken several times.

[deathgripped]

[Castorice's nod is an excited one. It isn't just that Jiaoqiu is familiar with the Trailblazer and their crew. This is someone from the world outside of her own — contained within her universe unlike the many others there, but still unfamiliar to her. A man like this was the sort of person that she and the other heirs once dared to dream of speaking to.

That dream had been delayed, given their circumstances. But now...]

It is an honor to meet you. The Trailblazer and Dan Heng told us many stories of their adventures. I never hoped to -

[She trails off, embarrassed, yes, but also unsure of how to explain her predicament.]

I am grateful, is all I mean to say.

[healinghotpot]

[ There's a lot loaded into those words. A lot of emotion, ones that Jiaoqiu can't read so much as surmise. "Us" is a curiosity in itself, and for a moment, he feels the urge to ask. But he will wait until she's done. He isn't rude.

Instead, as Castorice talks, he fills another, much smaller pot with broth from the bigger one, leaving the vegetables and meats there alone. He will replace the broth with some water once he's finished here. ]

Oh? I suppose I should ask which part you're grateful for, exactly.

[ It's good-natured and genuinely curious, as he turns to set the smaller pot on the stove. ]

It's no secret that the Trailblazer and their friends travel a great many places. Which one might you be from? I'd love to hear about your world, if you've already heard of mine.

[deathgripped]

[How does she explain this? Her hands fit together over her abdomen, fingers delicately picking at the fabric of her gloves as she mulls over the proper words. How far had the story spread these days? How much did anyone know?]

I suppose the best way to explain it is... the world that I am from is incredibly isolated. Until recently, the idea of meeting with anyone beyond the bounds of the sky was nothing but an impossible dream. It was the Trailblazer who showed us otherwise.

[Of course, the Trailblazer was also the one who would later prove that it still wasn't possible yet. But surely that was only a matter of time.]

My home is known as Amphoreus. I, specifically, call the city of Okhema my home.

[healinghotpot]

Ah. I see. That certainly sounds like them.

[ Blazing trails wherever they go is what they do best, after all. Opening up an isolated world fits right in that wheelhouse. Jiaoqiu keeps his back turned to her as he continues fiddling with lighting the fire and finding a spoon for measurements.

But his mind is running as he does. Amphoreus, Okhema... Neither of those ring a bell. His tail waves behind him thoughtfully. Not that he's heard of all of the Trailblazer's adventures, of course, but. ]

Those names don't sound familiar to me, I'm afraid. But perhaps it's simply a matter of temporal distortion? This place seems to work oddly with time, so it's possible that the Trailblazer hadn't met you yet when they were visiting the Xianzhou Luofu for the Luminary Wardance. But, that means you get to tell me about it instead.

[deathgripped]

[Though Castorice does not respond with words, the warm smile that traces across her face, though, is evidence enough that Jiaoqiu has her approval for even saying that much. There will always be a warm spot within her heart for the Trailblazer.

Unconsciously, she finds herself saying:]

They were the first to ever embrace me.

[And then she seems to promptly realize what she's done and stands ramrod straight. She's all too eager to barrel into the next half of the conversation, even if she doesn't fully understand it herself.]

Is that possible? I suppose that Oronyx has always had a strange way of doing things but -

[Just ignore how red her cheeks look.]

[healinghotpot]

[ The first to ever embrace her? Briefly, there's a curious look, but it doesn't last long at all before he's back to his task at hand. Does she mean it literally, he wonders, or figuratively? Not that it matters too much either way, outside of curiosity.

He does allow himself a chuckle, though, but it's not at her expense. Though, her response is a little funny. ]

Oronyx must be another one of those things unique to your world. But yes, it's very possible. Sometimes I find it hard to keep track of the date here.

[ Which is annoying. But he doesn't feel like he has to say it. ]

I wandered the forest for who knows how long. It only felt like a day, perhaps two, but it has definitely been longer, judging by the freshness of the ingredients left behind in my inn room. My colleague is still out there somewhere - we became separated along the way.

[deathgripped]

[She realizes that it's a strange thing to say at about the same time as Jiaoqiu points out the same about Oronyx. The flush on her cheeks only deepens, and she quickly shakes her head as if in apology.]

They are - were - the demigod of time where I am from. Through their influence, their chosen could manipulate time itself.

[His words, however, manage to cool whatever humiliation she felt with a sense of dread. The idea of being lost forever in a forest that had already felt so eerie to her was discomforting.

She lays a hand over her heart and bows her head.]

May your colleague be found swiftly. I... know how it feels to be separated from the ones you care for.

[healinghotpot]

[ She may think it strange, but it isn't so much. The idea is fairly well understood. The word "demigod" certainly helps his understanding. ]

Similar to an Aeon and THEIR Emanators, then. It's fascinating that something such as time can be manipulated like that.

[ He may not be one, but he's had experience with Emanators. Divine gifts are nothing odd.

Briefly, he touches the fan clipped to his belt. Ever since he came to before that tree, he's held it as a reminder. She will return one day, if her fan still exists. Not that the thought doesn't torment him - once again, he feels helpless. ]

I don't mean to sugarcoat the dangers of this place. As idyllic and peaceful as it may seem, dangers are lurking in every shadow. All I can do is wait for her to return. If I try to find her, I'll likely disappear from this place again.