sticksandbones | [CLOSED] YDALIRQUEST

Entry tags:

!quest

[CLOSED] YDALIRQUEST

Who: Zoey, Faust, Dipper, Lily, Mizuki, Lavi, Sanemi, Stardust, Ryan, Link, Min-Gi, Genya, Akaza, Mystery, and Ydalir and also your ✨beloved mod Wolfie✨
What: Ydalirquest
When: A point in time that does not interfere with the main event :3
Where: The Leylines themselves, baybee!
Warnings: will be placed in headers/I expect you all to behave regarding this

Alright crew here's how this is gonna work:
- Mod responses will come after every player has tagged in OR after 24 hours have passed. If you do not tag in those 24 hours you will be skipped over.
- OOC communication will be done through the Discord in a thread in RP-Talk-1. You don't have to unmute, but please have your pings on so that if I need to @ everyone, I can. For now we will clusterfuck everyone into one thread; if we need to split into 3 for the groupings we will, just lmk.
- I am going to give you an initial "go play" toplevel somewhere in this as a heads up (this is my contingency for "Wolfie is out/busy or players are out/busy and we still want to play"). I do not recommend hitting the bell on this one, but this is so that all fourteen of you can interact at once. I want you to fuck around and go play in this one. I promise you this one does not need to be mod-guided (but ask me questions if you need to). I sort of put a lot into this setting and I'd feel bad not letting you all do the thing oops.
- PLEASE GOD IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS @ ME IN THE DISCORD chat might move fast and I might not see it. PING ME. I'm begging. I'm on my knees. A ping for Wolfie, please.
- Please hit the bell on your group threads :) and try to maintain some semblance of a tag order. For the initial "all fourteen of you are together" I will not ask for you to maintain tag order and I'm sorry for anyone's inboxes. I will try to get through this in a manner that does not make you want to explode. I was woefully underprepared for 90% of the game to actually want to do this sorry-
- You will get rewards! for participating.
----> You can redeem participation in Ydalirquest for your entire month's AC if you want ~~I don't recommend this bc there are going to be subthreads and breakpoints and you could get like, 5 threads of BAC easily from this but you know it's there if you want~~
----> Participation in the quest as a whole can count for 2 threads of magic practice, and I'll let you use the threads for other BAC. But please when you do your next magic regain put "participated in ydalirquest" so that I remember. Please.
- ?? ??????? ??? ? ??? any other weird shit i'll put in toplevels or headers thank youuueueuuuuueueuuu for playing :)

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Any argument Genya might have offered to anyone shouting at him dies on Genya's lips the second he takes in the landscape. It reminds him of a woodblock painting, beautiful as it is unnerving. A shiver moves through him, and he finds himself instinctively edging toward the person nearest him.]

... Right.

[He steals a look around. Any more helpful trees? Or plants? Or anyone they can bother? Hell, aside from the deer,, does anything look alive out here?]

If no boats make it here in the meantime, bubbles're probably safest, yeah? [The way the color drips from them like ink doesn't slip past him, and he narrows his eye as he watches the colors fill out the nearby area.

He'll hold out a hand to Genya, should he need a lift, since it looks like they're exploring.]

Any chance that bird o'yours has a heading? [He's starting to get a feeling there's...a way to get some information. But he's also got an inkling (lol) that he's not gonna like this, either.]

[Haha, an inkling. You're funny—

That said, there are plenty of living things here to attempt to talk to. They may not look like it, but this is essentially a living drawing — someone's half-finished landscape, ideas moving in tandem with footsteps. Apparently the "pretty old lady" is out here, but so far, you don't see anyone besides yourselves, a deer, and normal island wildlife and plants.

And you definitely, definitely hear seagulls, if nothing else. They're circling above, but because they're so high up, they look like mere black "V's" drawn on a page, in the way a child ~~or perhaps a Wolfie~~ would draw distant birds.]

[Okay, well... while they're waiting for an answer for the bird, Genya's ambling over to a nearby shrub or some grass in this area or something.

Two questions: does the grass sound like this but also — ]

Hey, uh. Can you hear me? You seen any pretty old ladies around here?

[You know, with this being a living drawing, then it stands to reason someone "drew" it, so Dipper is going to look at see if there's any part of the scenery that sticks out as either more detailed or a focal point, which could lead to a trail or path?]

[This feels like a puzzle to him.]

[ Even if the bird did not follow them, he supposed he could just summon it again. He felt a little bad doing so but also. Ma'am they were not done looking they still have a woman to find. he would like his auntie and teacher back please. He lifts his hand again to see if the birdie either manifests again or shows up from wherever it had gone off to... but oh, the brunette he didn't catch the name of looked like he was trying to piece something together so he politely asks the bird not to fly off please. they are playing hot and cold now, he supposes. ]

[Yes the grass sounds exactly like that thank you. That is the voice with which it will answer.]

Pretty old ladies? No, we saw one pretty old lady though. [This is very helpful you see!] She was holding a spear and she went that way.

[You have... no clue what "that way" is because the sketched grass does not have hands.

Dipper looks to see if there's a trail or path, and while he doesn't quite see that specifically, he does see what looks like footprints cutting through the grass nearby. That's probably as close as he'll get, but hey, they're clearly not any of your group's footprints!

Faust's little bird does pop up again and sits on his finger, although it's clear that it wants to fly off somewhere. It sort of does little birdie tippy taps on his finger. Please... please father may we go this way. Look, it will hop on his finger and point its beak toward the footsteps and also the grass patch Genya is talking to. Please father. Please it wants to lead so bad please please ple]

[Genya... blinks at the grass. You know, he probably should have expected some confusion here. The good news is that he knows that Ydalir was here. Probably. Assuming they had the right person. There was also the chance that this was a wild goose chase.

He's gonna rock with it, though.]

The grass says someone like Ydalir came through here. Anybody else got anything?

My bird really wants to go this way.

[ Faust starts to gollow the way The bird is pointing, and where Dipper has found the footprints. He kinda. Looks to Dipper. Is he gonna let the bird lead or does he wanna do it? For now he gives it little scritchies to placate it. ]

Think the bird has a connection to other birds in this place? [Or it might just be the whole leyline thing, Lavi's not sure how much influence it could have.

But there's also the fact that this is reminding him of one of Tiedoll's drawings. The unfinished feeling. Like this place is meant to be influenced somehow. Or maybe it's currently being undone by something. Maybe the whole thing that threw the sky out of whack.

He's peering out into that direction Faust mentioned.]

I've got footprints! This is probably our best bet for now.

[And yeah, Dipper has no problem taking the lead, he only needs a quick glance to make sure no one's protesting before he shakes out his wings and starts heading in that direction. Let's see where we go!]

[Footprints, talking grass, a little bird who will Shriek and Stomp until the footprints are followed, and the idea that the bird knows other birds... these are what will lead you forward.

Thanks to the environment being largely two colours with the occasional splash of watercolour under your footsteps, it's easy to follow the footprints. They don't blend in very well with sketched grass, and especially not with the blank canvas of white sand. The path you've taken thus far has lit up like a Christmas tree behind all of you, the island forest and foliage taking on shades of browns and greens, and bright pinks and reds on the flowers. The sand becomes sand-coloured, no longer shadeless white but watercolour-speckled tans. A half-coloured-in seashell rests far up the banks, sketched teeth marks indicating that something must have brought it this far — perhaps a wild animal thought it was a toy or ate what was living in it? The watercolour fills in only where you touch and exude emotion so far, but it makes an easy trail back.

Eventually, after what feels like half an hour of following that trail, the combination of footprints/yapping plants/a screaming tiny bird will lead you to the aforementioned pretty old lady. She holds a spear in one hand and is, unlike a lot of the environment, completely coloured in much like you all. She dons armour, plain and tattered, and her hands white-knuckle that spear as if she's been fighting something off. When she speaks, her voice sounds exactly like Ydalir's does, but her personality seems just slightly off.]

Halt. You shouldn't be here. Go home.

Not without you.

[ just... a knee jerk response. They are absolutely not leaving her here.

He does at least expand on that after a moment to process. ]

We aren't really allowed to go home yet, either.

[Genya looks between woman and boy for a second, then back again. Sure, the voice sounds a little similar, but...

His attention shifts back to Faust.]

The hell are you talking about? [He looks at the woman, then back to Faust.] You don't think that's Ydalir, do you? Does she even look shadowy? Or goopy or even seem like a nice lady. [He jabs a thumb at the woman.] She obviously doesn't recognize it.

[And under his breath, he mutters:]

You're kidding me, right? Guy who got pissed off and shot my fake brother suddenly thinks he can trust someone because her voice is a little similar -

[He shakes his head, then turns his head to the woman. His voice rises again.]

This is obviously a trick. They're playing mind games with us here, right? This is probably part of it.

Edited 2026-05-16 03:44 (UTC)

[All the while Genya is ranting and raving, the area around them grows dimmer, somehow more desaturated. The scent of gunpowder and ash, faint on the wind, and with it distant sounds of swords clashing and men yelling; either in anger or in pain, but there.

Doooooooooon't mind Lavi here, Genya. Just. Gonna put his hand on top of your head. It doesn't quite say shush, but it might as well.]

Forgive us, we were told our friend was here and unfortunately we can't leave without her.

[Worse comes to worse...he can bubble her and take her with them?]

[Oh, Genya just goes off huh. He's starting to suspect there might be some beef here too, ah.]

[The lady who he definitely thinks could be some iteration of Y'Dalir looks less friendly than who we know, but being someone who has experienced peoples memories and dreams, that might just mean they're seeing some lessor known version of her. She was split into three, after all.]

[She's also holding a spear so like.]

[Lavi tries to settle Genya while Dipper steps forward with his hands up in a nonthreatening manner.]

We don't actually want any trouble, we were following some footsteps that might have been hers. We'll be happy to leave as soon as we find her.

[A pause.]

Why shouldn't we be here? Is there danger? Is something wrong?

[You don't quite get the sense one way or another that this is Ydalir yet; some things say she is, some say she isn't. What Ydalir do you know holds a spear? But on the other hand, what entity simply blurts out—]

Faust, I can't leave. Not yet.

[—surely you hadn't announced your names to anyone here? But maybe you have? Either way, she shakes her head. The colour bleeds away from her, too; for every minute she tries to remain, she blots out the watercolours in her own grief. Between her and Lavi, it won't be long until the entire watercolour path that you all made here disappears.]

I have too much to protect. Too many burdens to bear. I won't push them onto all of you anymore. [Her hands shake around the spear, and for what it's worth, she does look a bit guilty.] I've made mistakes, and I have to fix them, and I can't let any of you intervene.

[Genya scowls, if only because he's mildly bitter over Faust being right. Maybe his bird was onto something — it'd taken them where they needed to be twice now. Paired with the bubbles that the weird new guy was pulling out and Dipper's wings.

... Well. Whatever, more important things to think about.]

Nuh uh. We're not going anywhere without you. [Genya pauses for a moment, glancing at the three other denizens of the grove. He doesn't love airing out his dirty laundry, but... Well. If anything was going to get through to her.] My brother tried that shit with me. It didn't go well.

Besides, you've done... a lot to help us out. Ain't it time we returned the favor?

[No bubbles yet. Just a battlefield that seems like it's slowly fading; something keeps it lingering, though. Perhaps their current "confrontation" with Ydalir-who-says-they-aren't-Ydalir. But Lavi, at least, removes his hand from Genya's head.]

Besides, fixing this isn't just a one-person-job. Especially when the results will affect everyone in the Grove, not just us here.

You brought us here to help, yeah? So let us help.

Also I happen to know from experience that even if the mistake was yours, it's not always possible to fix it alone, and that's okay.

[He shakes his head.]

We're here to help, whatever burden you think you're giving us, we don't mind carrying it with you.

[Not for you, but with. because that's what friends and family do.]

[ Genya immediately goes into berating him despite him having thought they settled that issue already, and all it manages is getting a low growl out of Faust in place of whatever he had been meaning to say, likely an explanation or something to fix things. But was there a point if he was just going to keep throwing it around like that?

He lifts a branch-hand to his skull, but it doesn't offer any answers, which only frustrates him further. Why would her looks matter here? None of them look right. Why would he not trust his bird when it got them down here despite the erratic portals?

Genya to his view starts turning steadily more canine. He takes a good few steps away. ]

rrrrrr... burdens grrrrrr... easier shared. Not- grrrrrr... pushing if we ask.

[Her teeth grit and grind a little bit, but not audibly so, though it's obvious by the way her jaw clenches that she too is the least bit frustrated. Can't you all let her handle things in her own way? But she would be lying, too, if she said it didn't mean a lot to have people reach out regardless.]

Do you not all feel guilty for mistakes you've made in the past, and stop wanting to let others share your burden because of it?

[She looks between Genya and Faust and frowns a little. Boys... why fighting.]

[ Rather abruptly, a cheerful voice blasts into the heads of everyone within the group. Equally cheerful are the emotions that are brought with it! You're getting hit by the sunshine and happiness isekai truck without the benefits of getting further isekai'd, sorry. Everyone is hugging over here and you're just going to have to deal with that. ]

Yoo-hoooooo! Big summer blowout! Is anyone there? Hellooooooooo~?

[ She. She might not, uh. Have an indoor voice mentally. ]

[Lavi winces a little as the sunshine and rainbows burst into his brain. The battlefield that had started to swarm back with Faust's continued "grr" abruptly shoved out of existence.]

Anyone else hear that?

[Or know how to...respond???? If they did, anyway, otherwise Lavi's just got a new fun thing to figure out.]

Well, yeah, of course. That's human. But-

[And then he gets absolutely brainblasted by- what? Hello? Oh god, at least it wasn't Joshua this time asking about his car's extended warranty.]

Ow! Zoey??

[Telepathically this time, from the telepath. ZOEY??]

S-Sorry, I think someone just tried to make contact. Anyway, yeah, absolutely. I've made tons of mistakes, and a few that have ended in people getting really hurt, all because of my pride when I couldn't admit to needing help.

[The environment around them shifts a little, his gift from the leylines working to help him explain. What appears beside him is a smaller, younger version of him holding a book and looking like he hasn't slept in a month while he chants something out of it. Like watching a silent video, little Dipper activates some spell that causes him to go from determination to terror in seconds as a bright light evaporates the image entirely, it fizzling out.]

It's admirable to want to fix things on your own, but you'll just keep falling into the same trap over and over again if you do. Please, Y'dalir. Let us help.

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