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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!
no subject
The moment he brings up his hands again, Sesa sort of shifts his weight in the snow, tightening his fists and bringing them close to his coat as if to try and hide them.]
I'm...fine. It's just a few scratches.
no subject
[Passenger spins on his heel toward the inn now, but he'll stop and look over his shoulder like ? if Sesa doesn't follow him. And if Sesa tries to go another direction...
Well. Hopefully he doesn't mind being followed if so.]
no subject
So, like it feels like he's doing basically All The Time, he follows after Passenger in his wake. Just in time, probably, to catch Passenger looking at him to make sure he's following.
It prompts Sesa to glance away quickly, the tips of his ears turning pink.]
I'm coming.
no subject
[There, likely, was no need. Even if Sesa is mad, even when Sesa gets downright furious with him, he's always at Passenger's heels. He listens, for all the good it does him. There was no chance that Sesa would turn tail.
For better or for worse, they both know that.
The inn, at least, offers welcome warmth. The inquisition fire burns bright, and Passenger gives it something of a curious stare before picking a direction and Going. The wounds need to be washed, and they can try to find bandages from there (they are in the wrong building for bandages). The kitchen is easily-discovered by him, though (he has no idea where he's going he just got lucky), so.]
How rudimentary. [Whose fucking kitchen is this.] Here — water is water, no matter from what it flows. [what the fuck are you saying]
no subject
Regardless, he follows. He follows until they make it into the Inn, the inquisition fire nowhere near as comforting as it could be considering what it now reminds Sesa of. Not just Irene's disappearance, but that disastrous meeting...he's kindof glad Passenger doesn't ask him about it, honestly.
Sesa knows better than to think he'll have what he needs for first aid here, but it's fine. He doesn't need to bandage his hands, just wash off the blood for the time being. He'll approach the sink to do just that, wincing the moment the water gets into the sensitive cuts.]
So it is true. You only just now arrived. You don't know anything about this place?
no subject
[He's looking at the Vouivre out of the corner of his eye, wings on his head shifting. He's not annoyed, per se — he knows he's capable of lying, and he knows he's not entirely been transparent with Sesa ever — but...
Well, Passenger supposes literally emerging out of a snowman is an unbelievable story to even the least skeptical people. He lets it slide.]
I know naught about this place, no. I would guess based on clime that we are somewhere within Kjerag...?
[lol]
no subject
Were that we were someplace even remotely familiar as Kjerag. [Which is saying a lot, since neither of them have been to Kjerag in their lives.] This is someplace else entirely. A whole different realm than Terra.
no subject
A different realm? [Squints down at the Sesa's hands, not because of the lingering cuts, but because he has no idea how he even got here.] You know this for certain, Sesa? I only saw you some time ago within Sargon — how would we have arrived here?
[Are these more of your... "video games"...]
no subject
I wish I had a proper explanation for that. But I can at least tell you what I know.
[He sighs, stepping away from the sink and looking towards the lobby, which is where he'll lead Passenger next. That's where the fireplace is, and he very much would like to get waerm now. He'll continue once he's had a seat, waiting for Passenger to join him.]
How we arrive here is more difficult to explain. The only constant that we have is that there is a mysterious entity within the forest capable of manipulating this Grove, which presumably includes bringing us here. As I understand it, and have been told...we once lived here before. All of us, in a past life.
no subject
"A past life", Sesa says, and that's what makes Passenger's eyebrows raise a fraction as he sits.]
I see. [Thinking.exe.] Do you remember our past lives together, Sesa?
[why the fuck did you say it like that]
no subject
If Sesa had feathers, they'd ruffle. Instead, he feels his scales...bristle? Tingle? If that's even a thing lizards can do, anyway-]
Not...as far as I'm currently aware. I've borne witness to the occasional blip of a memory, though...and it all seems far too convincing for me to believe it's fabricated.
no subject
Passenger listens, quietly, contemplating every word.]
You do not believe this to be the allure of unusual Arts, then. I trust your judgement on the matter. If you do gain additional insight... I would appreciate hearing it, be they flashes of memories or otherwise.
no subject
[Shifting in his seat.]
You should also know that our Arts functions in a considerably subdued state, here. Anyone who has any sort of ability like that has found a lot of their strengths to be dampened, here. Even my weapon seems only capable of being fired a few times before it needs to recharge for a considerable amount of time.
no subject
no subject
...this place, in the simplest terms, is unpredictable. It seems capable of performing acts that defy all logic. And this "entity" I speak of is not something we can even fight back against, as far as I've come to understand it.
You know of Gnosis Edelweiss, yes? You both work in the same area at Rhodes. I got much of my understanding from him, such as how- before I arrived- there was a time where every resident was transported to the center of a volcano and forced to climb their way out of it.
no subject
[Turns out this is still true and without Sesa (and now SilverAsh) Gnosis would be dead.]
...a volcano. The rate of survival in such an environment is low for even the most able-bodied and healthy among us. Even young Eyjafjalla would be hard-pressed...
[And her whole family are volcanologists.]
What you are saying, then, is that this place and the entity presiding over it exists solely to torment us. Have I put the pieces together in that regard?
no subject
[Sesa huffs, folding his arms across his chest with one boot tapping at the floor in time with the way the tip of his tail flicks around.]
So far, no one has given me an answer that isn't that. We don't know what its motives are, or what it wants. Just that it seems to delight in forcing us through it's little "games".