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sticksandbones2024-01-05 07:59 am
sticksandbonesmods) wrote in sticksandbones2024-01-05 07:59 am
Entry tags:
EVENT & TDM 008
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
❖ None yet!
ii
He feels a little bad, approaching her after everything that happened between them the last time. But at least he's a little less presumptive this go round. He does shift a little bit in front of her as he watches a nearby hallway, while his fingers come to rest against the holster of his gun.
He doesn't want to fire, but he will be ready should anything come for them.]
This has happened before, right? [He's heard people talking about a volcano, at least.] Any idea what we need to do to get out of here?
Re: ii
... The last time we were brought someplace, it was the center of an active volcano- we had to climb our way out of it as the lava rose, and there was a safezone that was the end of it. I'm not seeing any immediate threat yet, but I heard marching earlier when I was exploring.
... So. "Survive".
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They're knights. They look frozen over, but I can't tell if there's something human underneath. Either way, they didn't seem too friendly.
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It was adorable. I miss them.
( knights, though, huh? makes sense... idly, she raises a hand and twitches her fingers ever so slightly- a faintly pink fireball appears, hovering above her palm. )
Unfortunately for them, I am much less friendly than they are.
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Hey - hey hey hey, wait! You don't know what they are. They could be innocent people caught in those suits or - anything like that. You should wait before you start throwing stuff like that around!
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( ... she shouldn't talk about a friend so distantly (is add even a friend?) but her irritation immediately spiked. what does he know. who does he think he is. why should some stranger's safety matter more than theirs? he's going to get someone killed with that misplaced mercy. )
Besides. I've been controlled. I'll be doing them a favor.
no subject
But that doesn't mean he's about to promote throwing away his morals.]
Look, just stay behind me. I know how to fight without getting people killed. And I won't let anything happen to you while I'm at it.
[He has no way of knowing her thoughts, of course. It's better that he doesn't. It's an argument he's heard before, and he really doesn't have the space for it at the moment.]
no subject
( it comes out a furious, quiet hiss, and the flame in her hand only seems to burn brighter for a moment. )
They won't show you the same mercy. The Forest and it's games don't DO mercy. All you're doing is giving it more opportunity to come and stab you in the back, and it will laugh about it.
no subject
So to Fel, he just smiles. Not sarcastic, not cruel, just as genuine of a smile as he usually manages to those around him.]
It's not an insult to you. [He nods to the flame in her hand.] I'm sure you're plenty capable. But so am I. I've been through worse before.
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( it's not disdain that fuels the fire of her cold wrath- though she doesn't expect anyone to realize that, least of all this fucking idiot.
it's care.
despite everything, she can't stop it. she's just reserving the soft moments for fewer yet. but- )
Your insistence on showing mercy to something trying to hunt us for sport is going to get someone killed. Will it be worth it, then?
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[His voice softens just a little, a faint note of grief to the words. He presses his lips into a thin line as he bears the brunt of the rest of her words. This, too, is nothing he hasn't heard before. Not that it isn't a good argument. He might be reckless when it comes to his own life, but he doesn't like playing with others.]
All I'm asking is to be sure. To know that we're not harming other people. [He shakes his head.] You saw the snowmen back in town, right? Some of them had people in there.
How can we be sure this isn't another step in that magic. That it's not our friends coming our way.
1/2
she looks vash in the eye, and then away as she flicks the fireball towards the knight- )
2/2
Well, go check.
( ... because, perhaps tellingly, only the surface level of the armor has melted.
vash will find that beneath the armor layer is simply blocks of ice, however. no people. no friends. )
no subject
[Vash flings himself forward, despairing as he just barely misses the chance to take the brunt of the fireball himself. Instead, he finds himself shoving at her arm without any effect, helpless to watch as the fireball sails through the air and collides with the knight]
No, no no no.
[His feet are moving before he's finished speaking. He slips on the ice, landing hard on an elbow before rolling to push himself back up once more. He can see, even from here, that there's little left. It takes reaching the knight itself, however, to realize that there never was anything to begin with.
Nothing but ice. No core. No familiar face.
He should be relieved. Instead he feels anger. It's a rare emotion on Vash, but it's not entirely out of place. He turns to the girl, agony stretched wide over his face, and begins to shout. If he's aware of the danger, the noise that will attract the encroaching storm, he thinks nothing of it.
The corners of his eyes burn. His voice quivers with something more than fury — fear and sorrow linger deep there.]
What were you thinking?! You could have gotten someone killed!
no subject
maybe now he'll stop trying. won't that be nice? )
It was weak enough just to melt the face plate- nothing more. Which, you know, was deliberate. It would have startled someone if they were in there, sure, but it wouldn't have hurt them beyond a bit of heat exposure.
no subject
He stands up, albeit stiffly. There's a terseness in his voice as he turns his attention fully back to her, even though his throat bobs as he tries to swallow it down.]
Fine. You were right.
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( well. she will, because she doesn't understand. but she's used to having her flaws drawn out with blood and wrath, being taken to task for things that aren't even her fault. how novel, honestly, that he's uspet for something she actually did, even if she doesn't get it. )
no subject
[Somehow, that's what takes the lingering fight out of Vash. He lifts a hand, palming over his mouth for a second as he tries to hide the grief-stricken expression that stretches over his mouth. Getting angry at her, when she's obviously both young and scared, was hardly the way to go about anything.]
No, no... [He shakes his head and moves back toward her. He's still rattled. Maybe part of him is a bit frustrated. But ultimately...] You were trying to protect yourself. Protect the both of us. It's okay.
Shouldn't have put either of us in that position.
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( her age must show here, given the way that she frowns, looking around at the ground as if an answer will pop up somewhere. it doesn't. )
I don't get it.
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It's just the type of guy I am. Hanging onto grudges... isn't my thing. Was I upset? Maybe. But you were right in the end. And in any case... [He shrugs, while something of a rueful smile plays across his lips.]
I'm a bit stubborn, as some people will tell you.
cw abuse implications im so sorry
( despite the chill in her chest- which. weird.- for the first time she feels something other than anger and misery and she hates it. confusion is akin to helplessness on some level for her, and he confuses her so much. )
no subject
[He was really cold, but that's fine. Don't worry about it.]
I'm sure you've been through a lot. and I'm sure you had your reasons for doing it. But people have done a lot worse to me over the years, and I've never once thought ill of them. That won't start with you, Felicity.
[That smile broadens just a little. He holds out his hand to her.]
C'mon. Let's go find somewhere safe to lay low for awhile. We can talk more there, instead of out in the open.
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so many things are racing through her mind, it hurts. what does he want? what's the catch? there always is one. grandfather wanted her curses, her ruthlessness, her- ... the team wanted her skills and strategic mind. the people here...
don't want her at all.
he's lying. he's got to be. or he's going to be just like him and turn around the moment he finds someone easier.
she wants to run again. but there's nowhere to go. )
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Hard to say.
If she does stick around, though, he begins picking his way through the halls, trying to at least find a place of safe refuge.]
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several steps behind, wary like a frightened animal, she follows wordlessly. )
(no subject)