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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
❖ None yet!

eidxiety: (c. 068)

[personal profile] eidxiety 2024-07-20 08:46 pm (UTC)(link)
[He notices it. He does not move, though, still sitting there with his chin propped up on his knees. Hm.]

Oh, is that it? Haha, why didn't you say so? [The thing about Ain is that he does not find literally anything scary because of how he lived, unless it's an endless void and he's alone (that's a little terrifying). He does not understand why one would fear the ocean. Just kill the scary things?] If that's what you're worried about, don't worry. Big fish are pretty easy to kill.
unheiring: (To Kill the Weeds)

[personal profile] unheiring 2024-07-21 05:27 pm (UTC)(link)
And you propose I venture out into the sea to do so? [The thought makes him laugh.] Much that I might enjoy it, I am far weak and far too opposite a creature of water. Any strength I have would easily be washed away

[Do you get it, Ain. Do you understand? He is judging you so hard right now if you don't.]
eidxiety: (bw. 018)

[personal profile] eidxiety 2024-07-25 09:26 pm (UTC)(link)
Huh? No, I meant I could do it! I've killed bigger things.

[Points at himself like? ?? Me? I kill?]
unheiring: (You Wanna Make)

[personal profile] unheiring 2024-07-25 09:33 pm (UTC)(link)
You?

[Luca gives him a once over. Then a twice over.

... Make it three times.]


Right...

[He shouldn't cast doubt, considering his own stature buuuuut...]
eidxiety: (bw. 002)

[personal profile] eidxiety 2024-07-25 09:36 pm (UTC)(link)
[Sits there with that :D look on his face

Holds his hand out

Summons a fucking sword out of nowhere. It's made of raw magic and looks a bit like glass, but it's also like, The Size Of Ain.]
unheiring: (Good Lord)

[personal profile] unheiring 2024-07-25 09:38 pm (UTC)(link)
[Looks at the sword...

Looks up at Ain...]


Well... Mine is still bigger.

[Ain is taller than you Luca, shut the fuck up.]
eidxiety: (c. 208)

[personal profile] eidxiety 2024-07-25 09:40 pm (UTC)(link)
Ohh... you have a big sword?

[




AIN, NO!!!!!!]
unheiring: (If the Planet was Burning)

[personal profile] unheiring 2024-07-25 09:42 pm (UTC)(link)
[Oh god, abort, abort. Luca dips his head, promptly hiding his face. At least he's even more distracted than before? Good job, Ain!]

Ah, well - in a manner of speaking.
eidxiety: (bw. 047)

[personal profile] eidxiety 2024-07-25 09:47 pm (UTC)(link)
[This giggle is the giggle of a man who knows he's a goblin and loves every second of being that. Anyway, he tosses his sword up and it dissipates in the air, and he's back to sitting there with his knees pulled up to his chest.]

Haha, I know I really don't look like it, but I can hold my own in battle, I promise. I'll save you from the big fishies~. You can just relax.

...

You and your big sword!
unheiring: (Your Hell a Reality?)

[personal profile] unheiring 2024-07-25 09:57 pm (UTC)(link)
[And just like that, Luca is back to huffing and puffing. He folds into himself, mirroring Ain's position in the process without so much as realizing it. The only difference is that Luca buries his face against his knees.]

You do not have to make it sound so juvenile.
eidxiety: (c. 045)

[personal profile] eidxiety 2024-07-25 10:01 pm (UTC)(link)
Mm, maybe... but things become less scary if you think about them in childish terms, don't they?

[Did you want unsolicited advice? Too bad—]

If they're "fishies", that's easier to deal with than saying they're "leviathans" or "monsters".
unheiring: (If We Don't Believe)

[personal profile] unheiring 2024-07-25 10:11 pm (UTC)(link)
Or, they sound so infantile that no one takes them seriously.

[He shakes his head, even though his face remains planted against his knees.]

Where I am from, there is only one Leviathan. A god. And the god I... believe in, fears it deeply.
eidxiety: (bw. 123 @gwari___)

[personal profile] eidxiety 2024-07-25 10:19 pm (UTC)(link)
Ooh... haha, God drama is always hard. [Like, not only is it a thing here, but it's a thing back home, too. Ain gets it. He lived it, in fact. He will not say this right now.] It's not easy to distance yourself from the things your God wants, is it? You're close to them, right?

[He's onto you.]
unheiring: (To Kill the Weeds)

[personal profile] unheiring 2024-07-26 04:40 am (UTC)(link)
[Wordplay or no, Luca balks visibly at Ain's words. His mouth twists into a disgusted scowl, and his feathers bristle not unlike a cat's agitated tail.]

Close is not the word I would use. [Nevertheless, he does deflate after just a short moment. Perhaps normally, he'd put up a fight. Now, though -] Even if it's not entirely incorrect. The Phoenix, my god, shares its -

[His words cut off abruptly. Luca puts a hand to his throat, wincing briefly. His mouth opens again, but nothing comes out.]
eidxiety: (bw. 040)

[personal profile] eidxiety 2024-07-26 04:08 pm (UTC)(link)
[Hm. Concerning!]

...it's okay, Mr. Bartender. I have an idea of what you mean. [He thinks, anyway. They must be "one" somehow, which would explain everything Ain senses from the man if so.] Mm, I'd appreciate it if it would let you talk to me, though.
unheiring: (Sure Sounds Like Heaven To Me)

[personal profile] unheiring 2024-07-28 04:20 pm (UTC)(link)
It... [A slow, deep breath. Just making sure he can actually speak.] Doesn't enjoy when I share its secrets. Even though we are worlds away from the things that would actually threaten it, its fears persist.

[He rubs at his neck a few times, skewing some of the feathers. Within his mind, he can hear the Beast scoffing at his explanation, at his willingness to be nearly so at ease.]