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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!
:)
It's hard to say when, or how, he and Nai decided to go their separate ways. It's likely after they finished mowing down every Knight in the general vicinity, because feelings aren't a thing either of them do well. Full offense, Nai, but you're not the twin Wolfwood wants to be with right now. It's unsurprising he would have split as soon as possible, despite Vash's desperate last words to him
Help Nai. Yeah, yeah. He hears you, needle-noggin. But right now, there's nothing Wolfwood can do for him, just like how there's nothing Nai can do for the Punisher. ...actually, the best thing he can do for him right now is to get lost, because seeing his twin reminds him too much of the gravity of what he's done.
The Punisher grinds audibly against the icy floor as he drags it in his wake, looking much like he'd been run over by a car in the time it took for him to get here. He doesn't even know where he is, other than somewhere else in this godforsaken maze of a castle. So when he happens to look up and make eye contact with Gnosis...well.
It's clear just with the look they share that Wolfwood isn't doing much better. And while normally he'd just move on, he hasn't forgotten Gnosis' unprecedented kindness towards him earlier, even if it proved to be all for naught.
...he drags himself over to the Liberi, stopping just in front of the door.]
...
[The room is safe, he presumes, though he can't imagine why Gnosis would be outside instead of in.]
no subject
He quickly returns to guarding the room after Wolfwood comes in, then thinks better of it and shuts the icy door with a gentle nudge of his foot. The knights, if they find them, will have to break down the fucking walls to get in here, which gives all of them time to load up their attacks.]
...you didn't freeze solid. [Gnosis observes, nodding toward Wolfwood's hands. Then, he nods toward Enciodes and carefully adds,] You weren't the only one slowly turning into a statue.
no subject
It's a handgun, one he didn't arrive with. It's a heavy thing, larger than a pistol but smaller than a rifle, and judging by the scorch marks along the tip, recently fired. Maybe he's hoping he could come here and mourn in silence, but that isn't the case. When Gnosis helpfully points out that he didn't freeze to death like he was supposed to, his eyes flicker up to look at him over the rim of his glasses, his expression grave.]
Yeah.
[Comes his answer, clipped and angry but not at Gnosis for once. His nose wrinkles and he has to look away, down at the gun he's brushing the edge of his thumb over, staring at his own reflection in the mottled metal.]
I'm here. I'm fucking here.
no subject
[Gnosis sits, too, in an icy chair opposite Wolfwood and next to Enciodes. He takes a breath and tries to think of a way to politely phrase this, but, uh...]
You have blood on you. Tell me the worst of it was merely an injury.
[Something in Wolfwood's eyes says it's not just an injury.]
no subject
In the end, he merely shakes his head slowly, bringing a hand up to press his fingers hard to his eyes behind his glasses.]
no subject
Gnosis closes his eyes, quiet, contemplative, and sympathetic. He's never been good with moments like these; he's more likely to fuck this up than to actually sound like a real human being. The Liberi's feathers ruffle, and suddenly he's looking down at his feet, at a loss for words.]
Well. Whoever it was... has a chance to come back to life. I don't know if you've been made aware of that yet. Nothing in this place is guaranteed, but there is that. Don't lose hope yet.
no subject
...what do you mean, a chance?
no subject
[He folds his arms over his chest, leans back in this awful simulacrum of a chair, and stares now at the ceiling, thoughtful.]
Nene is the only person who knows the paths to it. As far as I understand, she's its keeper, connected to it through some means I don't really know or understand. When people die, they go there, and normally, someone has to pull them out. ...I was the one Nene led into the Garden to get Felicity back. I didn't find anyone else close to me within it.
[He takes a breath.]
After leaving the Garden, the Forest "takes" something from you as its price for your life being granted to you again. That's how Add lost his eye, and Felicity lost her arm. I'm not saying people always wind up there — like I said, I couldn't find anyone else that went missing and never returned — but there's a chance. Nene will likely seek you out if this person is in the Garden at all.
no subject
How...the fuck is any of that fair? The Forest is the one killing people in the first place, it's not some benevolent act to bring somebody back after that!
no subject
[Gnosis isn't trying to lecture him. It might come across that way, but he's trying to make a point: "Fair" doesn't matter. Not in the worlds they came from, and not in a place like this.]
At any moment, any one of us could die, and we might not come back. And, if we're lucky enough to have the will to carry on, we'll be back, missing something that was once ours. ...I'm not saying this to patronize you. I'm merely putting into perspective what you already know: that nothing here is fair.
no subject
...
How long is it supposed to take.
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The timeline for resurrection doesn't seem to be consistent, by my measure. We only have a few cases to work with. [...] Sorry. I wish I could be more help.
no subject
It makes his stomach churn. It makes him want to scream. It makes him want to do something about it, but what can be done?
Nothing. There's absolutely nothing.]
...it's fine. You told me this much. S'better than nothing.