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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!
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[How could he forget? That one Vash was wearing when he came to apologize the second time, and it made him think he was fucking dead on the floor in the hallway. That surely won't come back to haunt him later haha-]
Ugh. Fine. Next time I'll be like "I'd like a distraction please, preferably inanimate."
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[Which reminds him. He tilts his head, definitely curious. His smile is somewhere between intrigued and outright impish.]
I forgot to ask earlier. If dour colors aren't your thing, then what do you like? Maybe I wanna know! Maybe I'll get us Matching Sweaters!
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[Vash, c'mon-
He looks down at the snow, making a show of thinking.]
I dunno. ...I guess my favorite color is blue, if I had to pick.
[Something something complimentary colors something something Vash's eyes something-]
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[If he has any sort of inkling as to why Wolfwood likes blue so much, he at least doesn't call poor Wolfwood on it. He can maintain some dignity.]
Anyway, I bet you'd wear it if I gave it to you. Because you're a big softie!
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Hah. Pretty sure that's just your opinion.
[He would wear it. And he would get mad if Vash tried to take it back.]
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[Vash is winking and everything. He knows he's got a long leash now, and he's gonna run with it.]
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Why's it gotta be silly. I don't trust your definition of silly.
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[This man looks like you just kicked his puppy, Wolfwood. What are you going to do.]
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Wolfwood slows in their walk for just a moment, reaching out with his free hand so he can poke the middle of Vash's chest.]
I trust you with plenty of things, but I don't trust you not to make me look dumb.
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You never look dumb, Nick! You're always ruggedly handsome. And cute when you take your glasses off and get all pouty.
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Dunno about cute, but you're right about most of that.
[He clicks his tongue against the roof of his mouth, tugging Vash along. They've almost made an entire circuit of the town by this point, Vash's own home looming in the distance beyond the river.]
Bet you weren't thinking all of that back home.
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You really think I wasn't thinking that? When you showed up grinning, or spinning your gun around on just two fingers? C'mon, Nick.
[Vash might have been a master at repression, but he still felt things. ANd good god, did he feel the attraction that day. Never mind every day after.]
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[Because yeah, Wolfwood sure thought Vash was hot literally on sight. He just couldn't express that because....his entire task was to escort him to certain death, more or less. Being pretty wasn't supposed to get in the way of that.]
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[Vash, the human lover. Vash, who would give anything just to make sure humanity lived on? How could he not be interested? The only truly odd thing was the fact that it took so long for it to happen. One would be forgiven for thinking he had fallen in love far sooner.]
The only reason I didn't fall head over heels for you immediately is because you were foaming at the mouth and dying.
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[DOES HE THOUGH...perhaps you just read him completely wrong on first meeting, Wolfwood. Then again, it's not like Wolfwood knew who/what Vash was exactly beyond whatever he was vaguely told when he entered into his contract with the Eye.
He huffs, scuffing at the snow with his boot.]
I wouldn't've been if Little Missy didn't hit me with her car.
[How you run over a person when you have an ENTIRE DESERT to drive in is beyond him.]
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[And of course, he keeps right on laughing. It's easy now that they're months out, and he knows that Wolfwood is okay. That there was never any danger of him dying to begin with.]
Is that my fault? There was a reason I wasn't driving. Then there wouldn't have been anything left of you!
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[Maybe one of these days he should teach him. Not that he has....a vehicle to teach him on, but hey.]
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[Cough cough cough.]
Do you know how hard it was to sleep after that? I was always afraid I'd wake up with my head on your shoulder. Or your lap.
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...tch. I...probably would've just...ignored you. It woulda been...fine.
[Maybe he would have panicked and flipped Vash out of his lap if his head ended up there, but if his head was on his shoulder? Yeah, no, that's fair game. Amazing Wolfwood didn't also end up doing the same thing himself, let's be real here.]
no subject
[Vash keeps laughing to himself as he practically skips across the stones in the river. He nearly stumbles on the last one, pinwheeling his arms before righting himself and turning back with a grin.]
Come on. Let's go home and get comfortable for a little while, yeah?
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He chuckles, adopting a slightly tighter grip on Vash's hand when he very nearly eats shit in the river.]
Yeah, gotta get you home before you bust your ass.
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As long as that hand is intertwined with his, there's no way he'll ever tumble over the edge.]
Who said anything about busting my ass! I'm perfectly - [His foot slips on the snow. He cuts off with a brief yelp before once again finding his footing.] - graceful!
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[Wolfwood can't help the laugh in his tone when he says that, because- yet again- he's gripping Vash's hand tighter to keep him from pulling them both down into the snow. Or, even worse, backwards into the river which is still full of icy cold water, even if it's not frozen over.]
Just know that if you do pull me over after saying that shit, I am legally allowed to kill you. No judge would prosecute me for it.
no subject
[Vash speaks it into the air between them, then blinks. Once. Twice. Three times. Then he shakes his head.]
Never mind! That's worse! That makes it worse! [A huff.] You're not allowed to kill me. At least two people might be upset by that!
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[Ain't no way. Even if they're relatively new here in the grand scheme of things, Wolfwood refuses to believe that Vash hasn't managed to become beloved in the eyes of at least half of the population of the Grove.]
Regardless. They'd probably get over it-
[He shrugs one shoulder.]
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