sticks and bones. (
sticksandbonesmods) wrote in
sticksandbones2024-07-05 09:23 am
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Entry tags:
- !event,
- !tdm,
- arknights: flamebringer,
- arknights: gnosis,
- arknights: mizuki,
- arknights: passenger,
- arknights: sesa,
- cookie run: clotted cream cookie,
- cookie run: pure vanilla cookie,
- cookie run: sparkling cookie,
- cookie run: timekeeper cookie,
- cookie run: white lily cookie,
- elsword: ain,
- ensemble stars!!: mayoi ayase,
- gravity falls: dipper pines,
- in stars and time: loop,
- in stars and time: siffrin,
- isat: siffrin,
- original: felicity morais,
- original: kiera canorus,
- original: luca aurelius,
- project sekai: shizuku hinomori,
- the owl house: hunter,
- the world ends with you: beat,
- the world ends with you: joshua,
- trigun: vash,
- trigun: wolfwood,
- twisted wonderland: jade leech
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.
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.
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?
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.
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!
SUBMISSIONS
no subject
A spirit perhaps...? No... You are something much more...
no subject
Perhaps I am, perhaps I'm not. Welcome to the land of Beasts. Too bad you didn't come here earlier, you missed a great beach time. Now you're just stuck with the plants.
[ Sorry, new lady, Zazie had an absolutely shitty time on the beach and that means being a shit to newcomers. ]
no subject
The beach...? Again you act the fool, I was only just there...
[Still, the mental image of the ocean is enough to calm her nerves. ...A smidge. There's no hiding that she's still terrified, but her heart doesn't feel like it's going to burst out of her chest at any second now. No, instead it just aches.
Because...if the ocean is nearby, then...]
Tell me...how do I get to the beach...? How do I get back to my Paracelsus...?
[The plants can fuck off.]
no subject
[ Said in the tone of someone who finally Gets Why You're Acting That Way. They've seen sun victims, after all. They get it. They get weird.
They hmm to the question, then spin on a single foot to turn around. ]
If you were just there, then you should know how to get back. And I haven't heard of anyone named Paracelsus here.
no subject
Well, that's a new one. Sure, she's normally outside more often than not, but she doesn't see how that has anything to do with...anything.
But!! Not important!! Because it looks like they're turning around? Leaving, perhaps? G-Good! That's exactly what she wants, right? They can spin right out the door for all she cares.
But this is A.B.A., she needs to make sure they keep leaving.]
Of... Of course you haven't. As if my dear, sweet Paracelsus would ever give someone so insignificant the time of day!
[And the way she does that is to keep insulting people. It's....fine, this person seems mean. It's okay to be mean back. An eye for the sky, as they say. With another low growl, she begins to hug herself tightly, in hopes to give herself some form of comfort. Her gaze is directed towards the window, where all she sees are trees.
The ocean... The ocean is here somewhere...]
To think someone can be so cruel... Keeping a loving couple apart like that... I'll simply have to find someone more willing to help.
cw: illusionary body horror
Zazie stops and - the fun thing about illusionary bodies - tilts their head backwards. Backwards. Until it's resting upside down against their back. It legit looks like their neck just snapped, or has been snapped. Dangling there. ]
Calling us insignificant isn't very nice! We're a little reduced here, sure, but where are your manners humans are so happy to have? And you won't find anyone more willing than me to help! Our eyes are everywhere. Besides, it takes three days to get to the Beach, your Paracelsus will be long gone by the time you get there.
no subject
...she still doesn't like it, though.]
Do not be mistaken, I am a homunculus. My potential is far more immense than any human's. Even still, manners are only given to those who truly deserve them. You have done nothing but be an irritable thorn in the tide.
[More importantly, her eyes narrow at the implication that Paracelsus couldn't wait a mere three days for her.]
If your eyes are so vast, then you'd see our love can withstand far longer than that. My husband wouldn't dare move on without me.
[.....because he doesn't have legs.]
no subject
Thorn in the "side". What's your husband look like.
[ I will spare poor Merlot the description but safe to say Zazie reaches into mouth and when their hand comes back there is a long disgusting flying bug. How'd it get there.
Oh we know.
A mask flips into existence over there face as the bug takes off, and Zazie weaves a little cat's cradle game between their fingers, controlling and looking. ]
no subject
...but, she's glad they didn't question her homuncustatus. She could do without being corrected, though. Don't tell her what she already knows-]
...He looks like the key that will open the gates of my future.
[Very good, baby. Very helpful. You're doing great. A.B.A. doesn't even question the whole, um...bug thing. Just another reason to be disgusted by them, another thing to keep track of. She'll be sure to write this all down in her grudge journal later.]