sticks and bones. (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
sticksandbonesmods) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
sticksandbones2024-07-05 09:23 am
sticksandbonesmods) wrote in sticksandbones2024-07-05 09:23 am
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
To not strike first before you are stricken... That is how a fool dies.
["I don't trust like that."
She tries so, so hard to sound authoritative, but her tone comes out...confused. Puzzled. As does the look in her eyes as she starts to chew on her finger. Shouldn't...shouldn't you kill a rampaging beast before it hurts someone...?]
no subject
Oh, I do not doubt those words to be true. But this creature has been living in our river for quite some time, and has not harmed us yet. Granted, she's never been stuck on the land before, but...she could have very easily come from the depths to do serious damage, had she desired it.
no subject
...But that would certainly explain why no one else is freaking out about all of this. They've grown accustomed to this animal. Still, if this creature's been living in the river its...her entire life, then she must have been surrounded by plenty of fish, an acceptable food source. Now all she's surrounded by is plenty of people... ]
...How do we ensure that her hunger won't overtake her?
no subject
Though...
[He looks at the quite honestly Massive crocodile with a slight, wry smile.]
Even outside of the water, something tells me she will find sustenance on her own just fine.
I assume you've only just arrived here.
no subject
Well, if it's THAT simple, then A.B.A. will have to save this Grove from its own ignorance and become.....sympathetic. Determined now, she looks back at the trash she was previously digging in, the very same trash she was hoping to find a snack in, only now it's become a search for some croc chow. The very first edible thing she finds is held up like it's fucking gold, only to be flung through the air and land as close to the Behemoth as she can get it.
Her arm is surprisingly good.
Her inability to keep herself from screaming is not. Gotta let the monster know she's getting food thrown at her, you know, in case she's missing that somehow.]
VILE BEAST OF THE RIVER!! RECEIVE YOUR SUSTENANCE AND BECOME PASSIFIED!!
[And as soon as she finishes shouting, she ducks, as if that will somehow keep the Behemoth from looking their way. It's a foolproof plan, A.B.A. isn't interested in constructive criticism. She IS interested to see if the massive crocodile goes for the yummy garbage, however. Peeking around from her hiding spot curiously, A.B.A. startles again when she realizes that the last question was about her.
For someone who was already hiding and trying to appear small, she somehow finds a way to appear even smaller.]
...Yes, your assumptions are correct.
no subject
While they observe from a distance, Sesa looks back to A.B.A., his tail swaying behind him.]
Then let me be the first to welcome you here! I know things must seem very alarming and overwhelming to you now, but we have a nice bunch of folks here. We look out for one another, which is sorely needed during these dark times.
I am the Great and Powerful Sesa, whose abilities are known the world over. Though, I would not be surprised if you haven't heard from me, if you hail from another world than Terra.
no subject
There's just one problem, Sesa continues to acknowledge her existence and it looks like she's forced to.....deal with it.
Everything about this man terrifies her. The way his tail moves is unnerving, his horns signal as a threat. "Strike first before you are stricken," that's what she said, wasn't it? ...But it's so hard to be brave and follow her own advice when Paracelsus isn't here to protect her. A.B.A. was pretty sure she could rip this man apart if he tried anything funny, but that was before she knew he was "great" and supposedly "powerful." Now she's not so sure, not without a weapon. Not without Paracelsus.
...He is offering her a surprising amount of kindness, though. As wary as she is, it's not something that goes ignored. Some of the things he says are kind of...weird...and...strange, but it's not like she has any room to talk. Kindness is universal, he can talk about all the Terras or whatever he wants, just so long as there's no malice in his voice.
Tentatively, she stands back up, biting her lip as she tries to figure out if she should try to chase him away or accept the help she desperately needs. He definitely looks powerful, so if this is some sort of ruse to get her guard down, he could easily....well, maybe not kill her, she's still pretty confident in her abilities....but definitely make her waste a lot of energy she can't afford to spare right now.
So she'll keep her distance, test the waters, but she won't lash out. Not at him, anyway.]
The outside world is often confusing and alarming, but it's also beautiful and worth its many hardships. This place, however...it's oppressive. Confining. You're the first person here to offer me any sort of kindness.
[Although that's probably because she's scampered off before anyone really could-]
The ghost that haunts the lodge was especially aggravating. ...And suffering from some sort of internal infestation.
[She means...she means Zazie, but like what the heck else could they even be???]
no subject
[Because most, dare he say almost all, here are kind to a fault. Even Wolfwood, who is grumpy to most everyone, has some kind of heart deep down. Even if Sesa doesn't have the patience to find it for himself. Instead, he'll continue to offer A.B.A an encouraging, albeit sympathetic smile. The poor thing...she seems like she's about to jump at her own shadow, here.]
I'm not sure of any ghost in the Inn, though we do have some specter's here who help run certain facilities. I'm not sure if I'd call them entirely real, though...
[He shakes his head. He's never been sure what to make of it, himself. They seem more like hard-light holograms than anything.]
Well, no matter! If you are new, then that means there is a lot still for you to learn about and see, and I imagine you must have a whole host of questions. I would be happy to try to answer them for you?
no subject
But that's neither here nor there. Sesa, the great and powerful and definitely not lying, is being merciful enough to answer any of her questions. Good. She can use his limitless power for her benefit.]
Tell me... Tell me how to get back to the ocean.
[She's a demanding little thing for someone about to jump at her own shadow.]
I want to return to my husband. He's...waiting for me there.
no subject
[Hm. He has a sneaking suspicion she doesn't mean the Grove's ocean. She must be talking about another world. Her own world.]
While there is an ocean that borders us, I'm afraid that traversing it to leave isn't entirely possible at the moment...can you tell me exactly where you hail from?
no subject
I don't want to leave, I want my husband!!
[Maybe it wasn't the ghost's fault they were so lousy at giving directions, maybe everyone here is just like this...]
Will you tell me where the ocean is, or will you continue with your insufferable riddles? ["Where are you from?" is not a riddle...] I've already wasted too much precious time, Paracelsus will begin to worry... I can't do that to him...to break his heart...
no subject
Sesa's expression softens, yet somehow manages to appear somber at the same time.]
That is what I am trying to tell you. It isn't a riddle. We cannot leave this place right now. There is an imposing, impassable fog wall that prevents us. To touch it would to leave yourself gravely injured.
no subject
Then I'll just become stronger and gravely injure it worse.
[Sometimes violence is the key.]
no subject
...I wish I could say I do not wish to discourage you, because I understand your frustration. I do. Many of us feel the same way. But it's...more difficult than that.
I'm sorry. This Creature holding us captive here has powers beyond all of our understanding. It is only because he has not yet become entirely bored of us that we are still alive.