sticksandbonesmods: (Default)
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
❖ None yet!

lilyberation: (079)

[personal profile] lilyberation 2024-07-11 11:05 pm (UTC)(link)
... To be fair, that is very interesting. The whole of them are so small!
purevanillacookie: (029)

[personal profile] purevanillacookie 2024-07-11 11:32 pm (UTC)(link)
They are! They are apparently a good source of food as well, according to the scan.

[ Which should help their supply immensely, even if Peepaw will not partake. ]

However, the one he was interested in... ah, did he manage to scan it...?

[ Have the Peeper Leviathan show up on screen, White Lily, look at that thing. ]
lilyberation: (005)

[personal profile] lilyberation 2024-07-11 11:36 pm (UTC)(link)
...

( oh. )

Oh my. Is it... hostile, like our other roommate?
purevanillacookie: (030)

[personal profile] purevanillacookie 2024-07-11 11:42 pm (UTC)(link)
No, I do not believe so! It seemed to be quite as inquisitive about Gnosis as Gnosis was about it! Yet I fear that only fueled the mans desire to be out and about.

[ And that's why Peepaw is very adamant Gnosis SLEEP. ]
lilyberation: (079)

[personal profile] lilyberation 2024-07-12 02:26 am (UTC)(link)
... I think I'd do the same, then.

( she's already hiding behind the datapad as she admits this. )
purevanillacookie: (119)

[personal profile] purevanillacookie 2024-07-12 02:32 am (UTC)(link)
[ That makes him snort a soft laugh, his tail wiggling gently, and he leans in against her as she hides. ]

And that does not surprise me in the least, my love.
lilyberation: (038)

[personal profile] lilyberation 2024-07-12 02:37 am (UTC)(link)
( oh good, he didn't catch on that she meant injuries and all. ... he's so cute though. )

... Your tail. Does touching it ever feel strange?
purevanillacookie: (048)

[personal profile] purevanillacookie 2024-07-12 02:41 am (UTC)(link)
[ He's too trusting. Clearly she'd never hurt herself. Ahaha. ]

Mm... a little, sometimes.

[ A lot. Grab it and watch him melt. Same with his horns. He'll never admit this. ]
lilyberation: (044)

[personal profile] lilyberation 2024-07-12 02:43 am (UTC)(link)
( ahahah HONEY YOU KNOW ABOUT HER HANDS- )

...

( she's going to pet it gently. )
purevanillacookie: (036)

[personal profile] purevanillacookie 2024-07-12 03:07 am (UTC)(link)
[ NO GOING TO PRETEND NOTHING IS WRONG.

The pet to his tail makes him- well it's not a grab so he doesn't melt but he does burst into surprise giggles, and his tail wiggles erratically like it's trying to avoid the pet.

But he's just sensitive and it feels nice so it's happy wiggles. ]
lilyberation: (087)

[personal profile] lilyberation 2024-07-12 03:09 am (UTC)(link)
( lily will continue to pet the tail.

and then yes, she does grab. it is soft and fluffy... and she thinks she knows where this is going to lead. )
purevanillacookie: (079)

[personal profile] purevanillacookie 2024-07-12 03:32 am (UTC)(link)
[ And he makes a noise that sounds like a bleat if it was shot in the alleyway. It's more a brap and he sags against her, turning red. ]

A-ah, h-hold on a minute...!
lilyberation: (014)

[personal profile] lilyberation 2024-07-12 03:37 am (UTC)(link)
Oh? Is something the matter, dear?

( the true face of evil. )
purevanillacookie: (gen15)

[personal profile] purevanillacookie 2024-07-12 04:07 am (UTC)(link)
[ Ah he understands now. Rebaking didn't make Dark Enchantress evil.

The evil was his wife the entire time.

He flusters and sputters and tries to form a coherent thought but the grip on his tail is just too much. Instead he covers his face and tries not to THINK BAD THOUGHTS WIFE PLEASE. ]
lilyberation: (046)

[personal profile] lilyberation 2024-07-12 04:11 am (UTC)(link)
... Hehe.

( she does let go, petting other parts of his wool instead before shifting up to give him a kiss. horrible of her, truly. )

Was it nice?
purevanillacookie: (077)

[personal profile] purevanillacookie 2024-07-12 04:20 am (UTC)(link)
[ Oh Witches thank you he can think again. He looks like he's been in the sun too long, even the inside of his ears are red. ]

My love... you are truly evil!

[ And he drops his voice shyly. ]

Yes...
lilyberation: (008)

[personal profile] lilyberation 2024-07-12 04:30 am (UTC)(link)
It's a shame we have no privacy in the base.

( would it be demeaning to give him ear scritchies... she wants to, they look so soft. and his horns are so lovely.


she's going for the ears, sorry love. she's gentle and equal parts experimenting and doting in her touch, though. )


You make it so easy, though.
purevanillacookie: (119)

[personal profile] purevanillacookie 2024-07-12 04:36 am (UTC)(link)
[ Oh my god White Lily you can't just say that.

The ears make him lean into her hand, his eyes scrunching a little in complete contentment. He attacks back by reaching up to touch her cheek and turn her towards him so he can give her a soft kiss on the lips. Gentle and sweet. ]


If you'd like, when we return home...
lilyberation: (079)

[personal profile] lilyberation 2024-07-12 04:43 am (UTC)(link)
( oh! oh? a kiss for lily! how nice. she returns it with a soft glee. )

... I would like to, yes. I've been experimenting a little, you know.
purevanillacookie: (007)

[personal profile] purevanillacookie 2024-07-12 04:49 am (UTC)(link)
[ Oh! He did offer so that's on him but her saying yes makes him fluster.

Even more so with the experimenting. ]


Ex-experimenting?

[ He knows that's right up her alley, but! ]
lilyberation: (008)

shes a BULLY

[personal profile] lilyberation 2024-07-12 04:19 pm (UTC)(link)
Well, I need to know how this body works...! I'd hate to be unprepared for something like this.

( ... how's the base of the horns feel? )
Edited 2024-07-12 16:19 (UTC)
purevanillacookie: (gen16)

he can't believe this

[personal profile] purevanillacookie 2024-07-13 12:23 am (UTC)(link)
[ Oh, Dear Witches, he's turning as red as an apple. He may have explored himself a LITTLE but hearing his WIFE say she's explored herself he just.

On top of the touch to the base of his horn.

He's so red he might explode. ]


M-maybe not here.....

[ DEAREST THAT IS TOO PLEASURABLE HELP. ]
lilyberation: (094)

Re: he can't believe this

[personal profile] lilyberation 2024-07-13 12:52 am (UTC)(link)
I'm sorry, love. You're just too cute.

( she'll draw her hands back and fold them in her lap politely. )
purevanillacookie: (gen15)

[personal profile] purevanillacookie 2024-07-13 12:57 am (UTC)(link)
[ The softest huff, and he raises his hands to his horns to cover them as if he fears she's going to grab them. But his tail wiggles anyways. ]

Oh, do not be sorry... I am not upset.

[ QUITE THE OPPOSITE, OBVIOUSLY. ]

I-I just... ah... the reaction is not polite for public.

[ Aka he cannot stand up right now, thank god for robes tho. ]
lilyberation: (079)

[personal profile] lilyberation 2024-07-13 01:05 am (UTC)(link)
( ah- maybe she went too far. and with how open everything is... oh, she's the worst, actually. )

I should have tried this back home rather than- here, with no doors...

(no subject)

[personal profile] purevanillacookie - 2024-07-13 01:07 (UTC) - Expand

nsfw text?

[personal profile] lilyberation - 2024-07-13 01:11 (UTC) - Expand

LILY

[personal profile] purevanillacookie - 2024-07-13 01:28 (UTC) - Expand

the WORST

[personal profile] purevanillacookie - 2024-07-13 01:43 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] lilyberation - 2024-07-13 01:49 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] purevanillacookie - 2024-07-13 01:59 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] lilyberation - 2024-07-13 02:01 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] purevanillacookie - 2024-07-13 02:04 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] lilyberation - 2024-07-13 02:06 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] purevanillacookie - 2024-07-13 02:10 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] lilyberation - 2024-07-13 02:14 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] purevanillacookie - 2024-07-13 02:45 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] lilyberation - 2024-07-24 03:26 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] purevanillacookie - 2024-07-24 03:55 (UTC) - Expand