EVENT & TDM 008

[sticksandbonesmods]

LET IT GO

WAKE UP

It’s strange, how as the dawn of a new day finally arrives, coinciding with the howling winds dying out, classic, adorable snowmen seem to have popped up all over the Grove overnight. The fog wall has yet to surround the barren remains of a town that once was, but it’s visible once more in the great distance.

Not that you can see it immediately. Something covers your eyes, and you can feel something heavy and frigid wrapped all around you. As you struggle more and more, the crunch of snow echoes through your ears as you step free- and when you turn back to examine their prison, you’ll realize one of the snowmen was you.

Meanwhile, old residents will get to deal with more and more people popping out of snowmen like daisies, and must remember that this is just their life now. It’s just another day in Aldric’s Grove.

Though, maybe you ought to help them before frostbite sets in.

MIRROR, MIRROR

The quiet couldn’t last forever. You should have known that something would happen, especially with the fog beginning to make itself known again. And this time, it’s something quiet. As you wake up one morning, there is a mirror on your nightstand — it’s silver and round, able to fit comfortably in your hand and wreathed in crystalline snowflakes.

And as you look into it, your reflection twists into something still undeniably you, but… have you a temper problem? Too many lies? A sadistic sense of humor? All of your worst traits are dragged out and reflected on the mirror, and no matter what, it keeps ending up wherever you are — and whoever else looks into the mirror will see this awful, terrible you, too. All of your worst characteristics, all the things you try to hide, unable to be hidden.

Maybe you keep trying to hide it. Maybe you let it stay wherever it keeps turning up, following you like a particularly terrible walking salesman, or maybe you break it. Regardless, nothing seems to happen… for now.

WITH SHARDS OF ICE

“For now”.

Late into the night, everyone wakes up to a sudden, terrible chill. When you open your eyes, you’ll find that you aren’t in your inn room or home, but instead within a giant castle made of ice. It must be a ballroom of some sort, a grand hall glittering in the moonlight — but looking out the window shows that the world beyond the castle is but a frozen wasteland of more blizzards and nothing else. Though you’ve been granted some of your gear — weapons and some supplies, and coats if you’re lucky — you’ll find that the temperature is dropping steadily, while something approaches…

Peek out the door to the main hall and you’ll see what’s coming so noisily. An army’s worth of hallowed ice knights with all sorts of weapons are marching to the door, intent on slaying the intruders. Should they get close, they’ll attack; should they land the killing blow, you’ll instantly freeze into a solid block and shatter.

And if you broke the mirror that haunted you? On top of all of this, you can feel yourself gradually growing colder, physically and emotionally, and your magic, if you have it, takes on an icy flair that you may find difficult to control. Maybe it's your feet that start to turn to ice first — maybe it's your fingertips. But as the night goes on, you’ll steadily freeze solid, and like any fairy tale, only an act of true love could possibly save you. Good luck figuring out what that actually means. True love’s kiss? A genuine compliment? A hug? What could possibly save you from your fate?

Those of you who survive until morning, who don’t become solid statues of ice or die within the castle’s walls, will be lucky enough to witness the sun coming up through narrow windows the size of your forearm. All around you, the castle starts to melt, dripping freezing water onto your head. For as much as you try to run before you, presumably, drown terribly…

…your eyes will close, and you’ll wake up in your bed, drenched.

FOOTPRINTS IN THE FRESH SNOW

The morning after that dreadful night, things… settle, again. Aldric’s Grove is quiet, and clear sunlight glistens across the snowy plaza and radiates off of frosted trees. Even now, the apple tree and blackberry bushes are unfazed by the cold, though the fruit may taste crisper and chillier than usual. Those that died within the castle return to life, feeling colder than normal for the rest of the day, but there seems to be no lasting damage. And, everyone who participated in the castle “game” receives a mysterious gift: A wooden coin with a sigil on it, resembling a clock with backwards hands behind a shield, attached to frosted pinecones, red berries and sprigs of mistletoe. It feels warm and protective.

You go outside. It’s been some time since anyone’s seen anything from the woods, let alone something that doesn’t want them dead — so imagine one’s surprise when a small family of deer can be seen walking amongst the trees. Birds alight to the branches on rare moments, and it’s surely a sign of something, that life has begun to return to the forest despite the deep snow and deeper chill.

Never mind that one of the deer has an extra set of antlers and another has three eyes. Never mind that the birds sound like people. Never mind that the rabbits have blood on their maws.

It’s just another day in Aldric’s Grove.

SPARK NOTES

CLICK TO EXPAND!

WAKE UP

Good day, new arrivals! You are now a snowman. Hopefully people who have been here a bit longer are willing to give you a blanket or ten.

MIRROR, MIRROR

A mirror appears and starts following you around, reflecting what you think are your worst traits or worst version of yourself is. Other people can look into it and see the awful you, too. You can break it and it'll leave you alone, or you can let it stalk you all month.

WITH SHARDS OF ICE

Welcome to the ice castle! It's cold, but you have your stuff with you, and it's not unlivable. Well, until the frozen army of knights starts marching in with the intent to kill everyone inside, anyway. One lethal hit from them will make you shatter into pieces. For those of you who broke your mirrors, you'll gradually grow colder both physically & emotionally, and eventually start to freeze solid. Don't worry, though, you can be saved through the power of love.

FOOTPRINTS IN THE FRESH SNOW

Dawn rises on the Grove and the dead come back to life. Everyone who participated in the castle game receives a magical charm, though they don't know what it does so far. Animals come back to the Grove as well! ...why do they look like that?

OOC

Happy January! TDMs are game canon as a reminder, and if you'd like to plot with people for this event, head over to OOC plotting. While it is not known to player characters at this time, the charms granted as a reward for the ice castle can undo one future negative effect (i.e. a major death). They are a one-time use item. As for how characters discover this information... idk, we'll see how y'all decide to utilize those. :)

UPDATES

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SUBMISSIONS

QUESTIONS
INVESTIGATIONS
PAST-LIFE PLOTTING
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(CODE)

Comments

[oleaeuropaea]

i. Something's Wicked This Way Comes — Around the Grove, OTA

[The moment those strange snowmen begin popping up, cute as they are, Vash feels that something has changed. The air feels different, still like the calm before the storm.

Vash finds himself outside more often than not. He watches the edge of the forest. He tries to stare deep into the fog. And when those efforts reveal nothing, he finds himself pacing back and forth. More often than not, that path takes him past the general store. Every time he sees the building, he seems to stop. He pulls his gun from his holster not to shoot, but to pop open the chamber.

Each time, he meticulously counts the bullets. The number is always the same. Three bullets left. One had been fired into a Rose Hound. One had been fired getting away from the Rose Hounds. Three had been used to fend off his brother.

It would be a good idea to restock. But something stops him. It's not like he relishes having a full chamber. He doesn't enjoy the violence it begets. But it's the only way he can protect what matters, right?

Every time, he's unsatisfied with the answers his mind provides. And so he begins the cycle again. Maybe you should check on him?]

ii. Mirror Mirror — Around the Grove, OTA

[Vash first finds the mirror at the Inn. He'd only popped into his old room to make sure nothing had been left behind, and to grab some extra sheets. When he opens one of the drawers just to be sure, he finds it — that strange simple little thing. He picks it up, because of course he does —

only to immediately drop it when he sees his reflection. It's him, there's no denying it — he can see it in the glasses, the jacket, and the hair. But it's clear that there's something wrong with it too, just as anyone would be able to see.

By some miracle, the mirror doesn't break. But it is left on the ground as he hurriedly grabs his blankets and rushes from the inn. If he leaves it behind, he won't have to think about it, right?

Until he's out at the River, later that day. His hands plunge down into ice water, only to wrap around something round and definitely not a shell. He pulls back, and even through the mud and debris, he can still see that eerie face in the glass.

The mirror is promptly tossed into the nearest snowbank, while Vash slides back and looks about wildly. He can feel his heart in his throat. A strange fear that he doesn't understand grips him. It isn't just the mirror following him, but what's inside it. He doesn't understand it, but he knows to be afraid.]

iii. With Shards of Ice — Ice Castle

[He knew something was wrong. He knew they were on the verge of something terrible happening. And yet nothing could have prepared him for this. Vash has never seen a castle, to be totally clear. He's seen a lot of bizarre architecture and cityscapes, but never a castle.

Part of him is amazed that something like this could be made. The rest of him is horrified.

He slinks about the castle at first, watching its occupants warily. He hides behind columns, around corners, anything to keep himself out of sight. His hand rests on his thigh, ready and waiting to fire. Thankfully, he'd been convinced to restock, but...

He can't tell what the knights are. Human? Living? He doesn't know. And until he does, he won't fire. Even once the cold finally gets to his senses and he sneezes the biggest damn dad sneeze he's ever managed. Even once a group of knights turns on him and starts to give chase.

Slipping, sliding, and skittering through the halls, Vash runs and runs. But he never once turns and fires.]

iv. Wildcard Anywhere and everywhere

[Hit me with something different, or hit me up to plot something out!]

I

[lupusxylem]

[Wolfwood had come by the shop for the usual. The "usual" at this point being his weekly repurchase of cigarettes and a disappointed look from Heimr (along with a new pair of sunglasses please god he's suffering), which he's been ignoring. Look, there are some vices he cannot afford to give up, and this is just going to have to be one of them. So here he stands just outside of the building, leaning up against one of the side walls in the shadow of the awning as he lights up a smoke. It was conveniently some time before Vash showed up, so he inevitably notices the sound of crunching snow beneath his boots as he paces obsessively in front of the place.

He doesn't say anything at first, watching for as long as he goes unnoticed to see just what Vash is doing, and eventually it becomes clear when he sees him continuously checking the chamber of his gun before he goes back to pacing again. He knows exactly why.

Wolfwood sighs, exhaling a chestful of smoke before he deigns to give away his presence, arms folded where he's leaned against the wall.]

You're gonna wear a trench in the snow at the rate you're goin', needle-noggin.

[oleaeuropaea]

[It really should say something about how distracted Vash is, that he doesn't notice Wolfwood of all people. Part of what allows the two of them to work together so well is just how in-tune with one another they tended to be. At times, they seemed to sense not only each other's presence, but their intentions as well.

But not now. It's only once he speaks that Vash seems to startle, his head swiveling around to meet Wolfwood's eyes. He glances from the man down to the gun in his hand, then back once more.

He tries to smile, but it fails.]

Sorry. Didn't realize you also had business to take care of out here.

[lupusxylem]

Nah. I already finished my business.

[He emphasizes that point by pulling a brand new carton of cigarettes from his inner pocket to show off before stowing them away again.]

But what are you doin' out here?

[oleaeuropaea]

[Vash snorts without humor. It makes his chest ache with the cold.]

I was just trying to put together a grocery list. You know how it is. [He offers a grin, the type he's so good at faking.] Extra sheets for our place. Maybe a bed for Angelina.

[lupusxylem]

[..........]

Right, sure. And I came out here to buy lottery tickets.

What, are you stressing over what color to pick? Whether she'd like polka-dots or plaid?

[oleaeuropaea]

[The sarcasm is ignored, thank you very much! He just keeps prattling on, like he actually thinks Wolfwood believes him.]

More like if she'd like all dark and dour colors like you, or red like me! I think she'd look cute in red myself, but...

ii

[simplicitas]

[The river, when it isn't frozen over, is Elsword's usual haunt. He's dressed for some winter fishing today, a rod slung over his shoulder and a stupid hat on underneath his halo. It's as Vash throws that mirror into a snowbank and seems to panic that he strays away from where he was originally going and walks further up the bank, not managing to look concerned even though he swears he is.]

Mr. Vash...?

[oleaeuropaea]

[Unnerved as Vash is, he doesn't even have the wherewithal to comment on the hat. Which is a blessing for all of us because Vash would probably want one as well. As it is, he just seems to startle at the presence of the young man.]

E-elsword? [A laugh bubbles out, off-kilter and nervous.] When did you get here, buddy? I thought it was just me roamin' around out here.

[simplicitas]

I'm usually here. [He's usually everywhere, actually.] I fish all the time, but the river was frozen until recently.

[His own mirror teleports nearby and plonks into the river. There's a muffled voice beneath the water... Elsword just sighs at it.]

That's what I came out to do today. ...you wanna join me? Take your mind off of stuff?

[oleaeuropaea]

[Usually everywhere is right. He's like a line-faced jumpscare waiting to happen. And Vash means that mostly affectionately.]

I... don't think I've ever seen the river not frozen, if I'm honest.

[The mirror is noticed — hard to miss for that matter. He squints down at the muffled, gurgling voice, and then back up. He won't say anything, if Elsword doesn't seem to want to talk about it.]

You know, I can pretty confidently say that I've never been fishing before in my life.

[simplicitas]

[Stupid mirror can't even teleport to the bank, get fucked idiot. (There's a very muffled, very underwater "I'M GREEDY AND HAVE CONTROL ISSUES!!!" from it. And then more imperceptible white noise.)

Elsword holds the rod out.]

Here. It's actually not that hard. We missed salmon migration season, unfortunately, but I think there should be plenty of catfish.

[And thus begins the process of explaining to Vash how to fish... Elsword barely remembers his own name some days but yet he knows when the salmon migrate to spawn, I guess.]

...and when you're trying to sink the line, you want to aim for the middle of the river where it's deepest. It's about five feet deep out there. And try not to snag yourself with it.

[oleaeuropaea]

Cat... fish? [Vash squints, very obviously thinking literally about this. He knows the image in his head is an unrealistic one (surely he would have seen the ears, at the very least), but that doesn't keep it from planting itself within his brain all the same.

The rod is accepted with a moment of thought, and the lessons are considered carefully. His hands are clumsy, but eventually he positions the tip of the rod over his shoulder and pitches it forward. Unfortunately, however, some idiot managed to not click the bail over, and so rather than the line sailing through the air, it whips down into the water with a thwarck.

The Wo(e)rm on the (string) hook proceeds to come loose, floating down the river with the current.]

Um... Was that supposed to happen?

iii hi im back

[succiduous]

[You ever just hear a sneeze so loud you wonder if that person has a world record for loudest sneeze?

Yeah.

Gnosis has been trying to stealth past the knights, too, and he supposes he can thank Vash later for sneezing so loud they don't notice him. But also: Hm that's a problem.

As it turns out, them not seeing Gnosis at all is a boon for both he and Vash, because it means that Gnosis can dispatch them with ranged ice Arts from behind. If he strikes them where the joints in the armour are, they fall apart pretty easily. After that... Gnosis just has to jog to catch up.

Hi Vash. What's up.]

[oleaeuropaea]

[With a vague expression of horror, Vash watches as the knights are pierced by the ice. He waits for blood to splatter across his face, to watch what could just as easily be a human core suffer and die in agony. Instead, the knights come apart, falling to pieces that immediately shatter into billions more upon the hardened ground beneath their feet.

It should be a relief, to see that there's nothing worth saving in there. It frees Vash from any obligation to take things easy. But instead he feels a swell of anger as Gnosis approaches. The only reason he doesn't immediately burst out in fury is simply because he doesn't want to attract further attention.]

What were you thinking?! There could have been - someone in there!

[Someone's never heard of saying thank you, apparently.]

[succiduous]

[Gnosis isn't bothered by it, clearly.]

There wasn't. Had you a chance to observe the way they move, you would have been able to see the gaps between the joints. Ordinarily, in a suit of armour like that, you'd clearly see a person in them.

[He pushes his glasses up on his nose.]

Regardless, I have no interest in going to the Garden today. You sneezing so loudly was the only reason I was able to dispatch them smoothly. My Arts are rather counter-intuitive to the environment.

[oleaeuropaea]

[Vash squints down at the armor, clearly still bewildered. People on No Man's Land wear some pretty weird things as far as Vash has seen, but no one walks around in medieval armor. Who would, when metal could be used for far more important things. Thus, the gaps and tells are unfamiliar.

He can breathe a little easier, at least, knowing that there aren't real bodies within. Well "breathe" easier — he's still sniffling a little.]

What, am I not allowed to sneeze? A guy can't help these kinds of things!

[succiduous]

I imagine you aren't used to the cold?

[You know, since he's sneezing and all.

Gnosis gives one last glance at their surroundings and, upon finding them sufficiently alone for now, nods toward the hallway they're headed down. They may as well keep going.]

Actually, I'm particularly glad we had those ice skating lessons for your sake. I half-expect you to slide across the floors otherwise. [ :) ]

[oleaeuropaea]

[Despite everything, Vash finds it in himself to laugh. It isn't much, just barely more than a quick snort and a brief exhale. It's more than could be expected, given the predicament that they're in.]

Guess I gotta be grateful for the small miracles, right.

[Mind now put at ease by Gnosis, Vash doesn't hesitate to move with his gun in hand. He has it trained on the end of the hallway, though his finger remains off the trigger. If he can avoid using it, it's still for the better. He only brought so many bullets, after all.]

You're pretty much in your element, aren't you?

ii

[polarvoid]

[When Vash hurls his mirror into the snow nearby, there's a soft yelp of surprise from just behind the dip in the snowbank. If Vash didn't know any better, he might have assumed the sound came from the mirror itself, crying out in pain because he threw it down.

Fortunately, that isn't the case. Instead, a head of blonde hair pops up from behind the ice, twin green eyes staring back at Vash from beyond it. Given the way his head is moving, it's obvious that he's shaking, though whether from cold or fear it's hard to say.

After a long, tentative moment, Basil lifts his head up a bit further. Was he hiding back there, when Vash just happened to come along?]

I-I'm sorry...!

[oleaeuropaea]

[As it turns out, Vash is just as startled by Basil's presence as the boy seems to be by him. A echoing yelp is offered up, the Plant himself backing up until his feet slip out from under him. He stares back at the boy with his ass firmly planted in the snow, before lifting a hand and pointing toward him.]

H-hey! Where'd you come from!

[He doesn't recognize this face. He's... relatively sure he knows just about everyone in the grove, and yet he doesn't recognize this boy. Leaning forward, he crawls along the snow for a few feet, then pushes himself up to his proper height.]

You look scared! Are you hiding from something? [Vash squints, then points at himself.] Or are you hiding from someone?

[polarvoid]

[As Vash stands, Basil...notably doesn't. He stays put right where he is, curled up with his arms wrapped around his knees.]

I-I...I don't know.

[And that, more than anything, is what scares Basil the most he thinks. That he doesn't know. What he's scared of, what he's hiding from...who he's hiding from.

Other than...everything.]

I...I woke up in the snow. I don't know where I am....or what's going on. I was in- in the park, and- [...] I fell into the water...I don't understand...

[oleaeuropaea]

Hey, hey... It's okay.

[Vash makes it to where the boy is sitting and lowers himself into the snow once more. The first thing he thinks to do is shake his jacket off, draping it over Basil's little shoulders. The temperatures might be better than they were, but they're still frigid.]

It's a little scary right now, I'm sure. But you're with good people. [Vash tries to offer his best, most reassuring smile.] Here, my house isn't too far from here. Can I take you inside? Just until you warm up and can get your bearings.

[polarvoid]

[Unsurprisingly, Vash's jacket completely swallows Basil up. In this case it's helpful though, since he doesn't seem to be dressed for the weather even remotely, not in the shorts and short sleeves he's got on. He's quick to pull the edges of the jacket around himself regardless, the high collar coming up almost around his whole head, much less just around his neck.

Basil looks unsure, still. Vash...at the very least seems really nice, and trustworthy. He's hesitant to just go with someone he's never met, especially into their house, but...what choice does he have, really? It's either go with him, or stay out in the snow and freeze, an option Basil likes far less.

Finally, after a long moment, he stiffly gets up to his feet.]

O...okay. I'll follow you.

[oleaeuropaea]

[Vash moves slowly, allowing for the smaller young man to keep up. Though the chill almost immediately creeps into his spine, he does his best to keep his posture light and unbothered. His hands fold behind his head, and he walks facing backward, grinning at his new little friend the entire time.]

So, can I ask where you came from? What's the weather like there? Did you say something about a park?

[Being that they're at the river, Vash can already see his house in the distance. And while part of him does want to rush, solely to be able to warm up, he keeps himself from doing so. The last thing he wants is to come off as too eager, or predatory to this kid.]