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sticks and bones. ([personal profile] sticksandbonesmods) wrote in [community profile] sticksandbones2024-07-05 09:23 am

EVENT & TDM 014

THE OCEAN IS ONLY SCARY IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT
WAKE UP
You open your eyes to a peaceful, beautiful forest. Whatever you were dreaming about — be it something happy, something sad, or something nightmarish — seems secondary to the bright wash of greenery and the comforting, cooling breeze that washes over you. It rustles the leaves of the canopy overhead, disturbing a small nest of two-headed birds who chirp as the sticks for their nests are blown away. A hop, hop, hop later, and they return to continue their building, unbothered by your gaze.

As you walk around, you will find that Aldric’s Grove feels… empty. You pop your head into the inn only to find a fine layer of dust on the furniture, and an ever-burning fireplace refusing to be put out. The General Store is unmanned, the door locked, and the lights inside completely out. The house to the south is abandoned, and a building labelled as a clinic sports no patients. The most life you’ll find lies in the church, where the pigeons see you and swarm at your feet, cooing and asking for breadcrumbs.

Flowers bloom, a deer with a halo of horns skips through the clearing, and a small lizard shaped like a leaf climbs the well. You spend several hours alone… and then from the woods to the east comes a giant capybara and a monstrous moose two stories tall. Upon each of them, they carry a hoard of people coming back from what is clearly a summer vacation, if the inner tubes, swimwear, and overwhelming stench of sunscreen are anything to go by.

Maybe the people dismounting the two animals will be nice enough to greet you and tour you around. It’s the least they can do, since you were excluded from the vacation activities.
NOT A MOMENT OF PEACE
It’s still early in the month when a cacophony occurs; an enormous crocodile with too many eyes, known simply as “The Behemoth” suddenly rushes out of the river in a panic as some kind of blue, veinlike latticework covers the surface of it, nearly trapping her within it. It spreads across the entire length of the river from east to west, creeping onto the shoreline up to the church and across the back of the home to the south. When touched, it stings bad enough to paralyse the nervous system, and after making contact for too long while you’re unable to move? Death is imminent, unless someone saves you.

The Behemoth certainly doesn’t try to, too occupied plonking around on land to look for something to do while she can’t go into the water. She won’t attack anyone, but she’s normally searching for a meal, if you don’t mind sharing a snack. As for the other supernatural creatures in the Grove…

Ever since that latticework covered the river, the moose monster — Moder — and the gargoyle that sits on the church’s roof — Zahliya — have only stared and scrutinized. One wrong move, one fight with another resident of the Grove, means either of them are getting up to deal with the problem. It seems that they’re waiting for someone here to show the wrong hand, suspicious of everyone — including those who have been here for over a year at this point. And the second one toe is out of line? Either of them are willing and ready to kill.

Though the suspicion of the Guardians doesn’t wear off and won’t any time soon, the blue gunk covering the river disappears at the end of the first week of July, and it’s anyone’s guess what’ll happen for the rest of the month.
UNDER THE SEA
cw: thalassophobia
What happens is pretty simple if you don’t think about it: Another week passes in peace, and then a disembodied voice somewhere in the woods says, “You guys still smell like seawater and sand, and it’s putting me off of my lunch,” and if you’re new and haven’t gone to the beach yet and have no idea what the voice is talking about… too bad, you’re being lumped in with the crowd. Being lumped in also includes, well… a burst of magic, the sound of fingers snapping, and a loud splash of water. When you next open your eyes…

You’re underwater in some kind of reinforced metal base, one thousand meters under the sea, and something is slamming against the outside of it in an attempt to get in and — presumably — eat you alive. If anyone finds the on-board torpedoes in the command room in time, you might be able to kill the creature before it breaks through the hull and kills everyone inside. And with that hopefully taken care of…

Welcome to your new home for the next two weeks. Your only objective is to survive. There are several rooms here dedicated to underwater research, a bedroom with enough uncomfortable single-person beds for everyone (sadly glued to the floor, too), and a “cafeteria” type room that you can eat in. While the seabase comes equipped with supplies — torpedoes, enough rations to last for everyone but not enough for big eaters to eat big, diving suits and oxygen tanks, and underwater planter boxes growing strange fruits — it may take some effort on your part to ensure that survival is guaranteed. After all, the hungry leviathans know exactly where you are, whether you go outside of the base or not. Water, of course, may pose an issue; there’s no way to filter the seawater here, so the bottled water you have is all you’ll get.

Should you venture out, make sure you’re equipped with the proper gear first. Those of you who cannot swim should probably stay indoors, as there are no fancy vehicles to take you anywhere. Those of you capable of going out may consider braving the danger in search of additional supplies… or perhaps you’re just curious about the ecosystem. You’ll be here for two weeks, after all, there must be something to do. Travel far enough from the base and you’ll find the skeletal remains of something far larger than the Grove itself… and if you’re not careful, a monstrous, snakelike thing who wants you for dinner.

Try not to lead it back to the base for the others to deal with. Who knows how kindly people will take to that?
AN OMINOUS RETURN
As always, when one of the Forest’s “games” ends and you’re returned to the surface when the magic wears off, there’s a reward waiting for you. This reward isn’t as obvious, however. The fog wall is, for the most part, rolled pretty far back. The folks that have been here before may expect to see it revealing more of the trees, or showing off some new area that hasn’t been accessible yet, but the Grove remains quiet upon return. The Guardians, too, have little to say. Normally, they’d be a little more overjoyed at your return… alas.

No, the “reward” for surviving — or blowing up the base immediately and dying, either way — is that the fog wall obscuring the lake ever so slowly rolls back. From within it, something jumps out, a dark black shape, and disappears into the forest.



Perhaps you’ll see whatever it is another time.
SPARK NOTES
CLICK TO EXPAND!
WAKE UP
Welcome to the empty Aldric's Grove! ...oh, here come the people, back from summer vacation! Hey hello.

NOT A MOMENT OF PEACE
The river and shoreline near it are messed up for a week. The Guardians are suspicious of everyone here. The Behemoth is taking big steppies around the Grove asking nicely for food. A week passes, and the Guardians are still suspicious of everyone. Yaaaay.

UNDER THE SEA
And then, everyone was trapped underwater in a seabase, made to survive the horrors of the open deep sea. Watch out for leviathans! And try not to eat and drink all of the rations immediately; that's all you'll get.

AN OMINOUS RETURN
Your reward for playing in yet another of the Forest's games is the fog wall over the lake rolling back. Of course, what jumped out of it and ran off into the woods could either be your greatest boon, or your biggest nuisance. It all depends on you.

OOC
Happy summer! This is a reminder that TDMs are considered game canon. For your threads, feel free to make up your own leviathans/weird fish/whatever you want for spice, or just steal from Subnautica, it's all good. OOC Plotting Lives Here if you'd like to plot anything out!

UPDATES
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ezellotry: (100)

[personal profile] ezellotry 2024-07-10 01:59 am (UTC)(link)
[ Well, we supposes he's the one at fault here for saying that he wanted Flamebringer to speak his mind. He doesn't think he's allowed to get mad, but... Good Lord, is that just daggers in his heart. He wants to yell at him on instinct. He wants to shake him and scream that he's doing his best. He's trying to do the right thing. He's trying to do the things that seemed like the correct path. He's trying to follow the way that both Andoain and Federico had paved for them because they had done so much for both him and Cecelia that he didn't want to let them down. Least of all did he want to let down Cecelia.

He clenches his fists around Flamebringer's collar for just a moment, then just turns his face so the bangs that cover his face is towards Flamebringer. So he doesn't have to see him, because right now... he can feel the sting of tears in his eyes. ]


I don't understand how you can hate your kind so much, when I've met some incredibly kind people from Kazdel. I know things are horrible there. I know it's going to be dangerous. I know I need a guide and I know things will be risky, but there were so many people willing to help us when they learned about Cecelia's plight.

I would do anything for that girl. I would make sure no one fucking touches her.

And... how... dare you call me the fucking idiot when you were the one who doesn't know how to talk to someone like they're a normal fucking person. I'm doing my best. I know it's not good, but I'm trying. I can't say the same for you.

[ And... Ezell will just get up and turn around. He's not saving your ass again if you try to dive into the brand this time. Mostly because the water in his eyes are blurring his vision and he kinda just wants to collapse on the ground somewhere. ]
thebladebringstheflame: (070)

[personal profile] thebladebringstheflame 2024-07-10 02:49 am (UTC)(link)
[...damn, okay.

Ugh, he should... chase after him or something. Say something nice. The thing is, he doesn't know how to be nice. He's never been nice, he's not that, (what would Lena tell him right now? go say sorry? do something??) he doesn't know how to be that. And as far as Flamebringer knows, he shouldn't care, so why does it matter if Ezell fucks off?

Why does he give a fuck?

There's not really time for self-reflection. Flamebringer is scrambling to his feet as Ezell storms away, chasing him before he can stop himself, trying to walk in front of him so that he stops.

Fuck, what was his name? His real name, not the stupid codename. Fuck, wasn't it like—]


Ezell, wait. Just— give me a fucking minute, would you? I don't... [Broad gesturing with his palm flat and just aiming at nothing in particular,] I don't know what you want me to say. You want me to be honest, but you're storming off when I am. You don't want me to be dishonest, so I'm trying not to be. I don't know a damn thing about how to talk to people, that's what happens when you grow up how I did. You don't talk on the battlefield, you let your blade do all of it.

What do you want from me? Do you want me to fuck off? Do you want me to be honest? Should I lie and tell you shit will be fine?
ezellotry: (132)

[personal profile] ezellotry 2024-07-10 03:05 am (UTC)(link)
[ Ezell does stop, but only because he still doesn't want Flamebringer to see his face. He lets him speak, but Ezell turns around for it, so Flamebringer is talking to his back. He'll have to deal with it, because if he tries to walk around, he'll keep turning away from him.

He almost wants to turn around when he hears his name. Almost. His voice warbles a bit as his shoulders shake. ]


I don't want you to try to appease me, but I am so sick of you hiding your goddamn intentions in stupid, shitty ways... I-

[ He wobbles and starts to walk away again. ]

You got beef with us, too, right? I'm just another shitty Sankta. I'm no different. Hell, I'm worse.
thebladebringstheflame: (030)

[personal profile] thebladebringstheflame 2024-07-10 03:16 am (UTC)(link)
[Just gonna... follow after Ezell, trying to keep pace with him. He's not sure what to expect. Yeah, the Sankta could pull his gun on him, but that doesn't seem like Ezell. Pistol whip him (or shotgun-whip, rather), maybe, but? Whatever, he could take it, he's going to keep up.]

I don't know how else to be, so maybe it's better if you are afraid of me. I'm on all your wanted posters — right?

[Not the point, though. Sometimes Flamebringer isn't sure why he bothers. If this were Rhodes, he would've just let Ezell go. Why, then, does he care? Is it the environment? Is it because he always cared a little bit?

Fuck, it's that, isn't it. That's why he didn't want Ezell to go in the first place.

He drags a hand back through his hair and takes a breath.]


Believe it or not, I don't have "beef" with anyone in particular. When I say shit sucks, it's not because I hate Kazdel or anyone in it. I just don't give two fucks about it, but I also know it's not a place you go into expecting to have a fun time. I'm here to live in the moment and die on the battlefield. That's all there is to it.

You're definitely different. You haven't pointed your gun at me and taken a shot yet. Executor would've blown my brains out by now.
ezellotry: (108)

[personal profile] ezellotry 2024-07-10 07:38 pm (UTC)(link)
Saint Federico is kind, you know. He would've heard you out. [ Don't be mean to his friend, he's the only reason Ezell isn't fired and exiled. ]

Right now, I don't think I'm afraid of you. I think I'm confused. I think I was confused, too, when you let me go. I still am. I don't... I don't know why you let me go? I don't know why you're trying to make a case to me now. I don't know why you care what I think, or why you're listening to me, or... I don't get you.

But I'm not like you. All I've known is Laterano up until recently. All I've known is the Law and all the things I've been taught there. So, yeah, I'm a bad caretaker. I know that. I know that I can't give Cecelia everything she needs to survive in the world. But that's why I'm trying so hard to get her to her dad, because she's special, and...

I'm doing my best.
thebladebringstheflame: (069)

[personal profile] thebladebringstheflame 2024-07-10 08:21 pm (UTC)(link)
[Ezell is the sort of person that's just sad all the time, huh...]

I told you. You don't water flowers with blood. ...and there wasn't any point in killing you. Not only because I'd get kicked out of Rhodes, [and he kind of needs that to, y'know, avoid all the stupid shit that comes with being a wanted war criminal,] but because I don't care to fight you. I don't randomly murder people. I'm a merc, yeah, but random murder isn't my thing. I don't care who you are.

Now, if you can put up a good fight? That's acceptable. [okay freak]

...you want me to be honest, so fine. I don't know what's going on with me either. Guess I give a shit, I dunno, I don't do that inwards-reflection shit. [No matter how much Rhodes' therapists want him to.] And, fuck, you're trying. I dropped a "fuck" in front of Popukar last week and guess what she repeated back to Orchid?

[The way she nearly killed him with a single look, man]
ezellotry: (54)

[personal profile] ezellotry 2024-07-11 05:19 am (UTC)(link)
[ Hey, he wasn't always sad! He used to be totally content being a cog in the machine. Then an old, hot priest and new daughter came into his life and made him realize the scope of the world beyond his home and he had a whole crisis about it. Now he has very deep seated depression! Yaaaaay!!!! ]

...You're still confusing, Operator Flamebringer. [ ... Small sniffle. ] I'm sorry. I just... this isn't easy. And I never expected it to be, but when I'm doing everything I can, it really hurts to hear someone tell me I'm not doing good enough.
Edited 2024-07-11 05:19 (UTC)
thebladebringstheflame: (026)

[personal profile] thebladebringstheflame 2024-07-11 05:34 am (UTC)(link)
[The statement still stands—

But okay, fine, he can see where he fucked this up. At least there's that much.]


Not what I meant. [But he gets it.] ...I'll... [fuck] take you to Kazdel, with Mudrock or whoever else, if you agree to make it into an extraction or a basic search. No kids. Kids stay home and do kid things. Lena'll probably take her.

[Lena is going to Smack you.]
ezellotry: (81)

[personal profile] ezellotry 2024-07-15 06:33 pm (UTC)(link)
...I'll have to talk with Cece when we get back. Making all these decisions for her without her present is exactly the sort of thing she doesn't like.

[ Like, yes, she's a kid, but she's also a kid who spurred on a revolution between the Lateran leaders and the Pathfinders, so??? Maybe??? Let's talk to her. She's very mature for her age. ]