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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!

aromance: (But I wonder what would happen)

[personal profile] aromance 2024-08-23 03:13 pm (UTC)(link)
... Please don't put words in my mouth. I... [ Well, she can't say she wouldn't say something she didn't believe, because isn't that how she's been since this whole mess started? She's never told anyone that the Change God had never actually chosen her. She's never been able to tell the truth, in that regard, and her gaze lowers a bit.

... But no, she'd been angry when Siffrin had assumed so much about her without letting her get a word in edge-wise, hadn't she? This prickles, similarly. So her fists clench. ]


M-my name is Mirabelle! And I would very much like to hang out with you!!
theuniverseleads: that you start to resent every second (011)

[personal profile] theuniverseleads 2024-08-24 01:55 am (UTC)(link)
[They stare at her. For a moment, they wonder if it went something like this the first time, back when they were just a traveller lending a hand. Did she ask them to come along that day? Did she make a face like this, nervous but resolute?

... they don't want to say yes, but saying no will make her sad. They go for a third option.]


Why?

I haven't been here very long, Housemaiden. If you're looking for information, you're better off talking to someone else. I could point you in the direction of the bar or cafe, if you want? Someone there can help you.
aromance: (You can turn a phrase)

[personal profile] aromance 2024-08-25 04:19 pm (UTC)(link)
Well, that's... not entirely it. I did ask for your input partly because I don't know anything about this place, but also because I was... [ nnnngh. Uuuuuugh. ]

L-looking for an excuse, to talk to you more. I'm sorry. [ She's not very good at being sly. Like, at all. ]

Since it seems like you know Siffrin very well, but... ah, that is, maybe you're not interested in talking with me, and if so, please feel free to say so, but I would like to get to know you better...

[ She is absolutely pretzeling her fingers. ]
theuniverseleads: and tell me you have not come far? (013)

[personal profile] theuniverseleads 2024-08-26 12:38 am (UTC)(link)
[They stare for a little too long, feeling more and more... resigned, more than anything. She wants to get to know them better, because they know Siffrin. Because they're a stranger. These are simple facts, things they should know already, but it still hurts to hear all their fears confirmed. She doesn't know them, she doesn't, she doesn't...

They know it's not her fault. She's not hurting them like this on purpose. She's just... being Mirabelle. Kind, gentle, courageous Mirabelle, who couldn't possibly know the person she's speaking to used to be her friend. And they're just Loop.

Maybe it'll be easier, once they've established themselves as a new character. She'll get to know Loop, and then she'll stop bothering them, because Loop isn't a very nice person to be around. They just have to grin and bear it, and this arc will be over soon enough.

They brighten up their darkened expression, eyes a little too sharp. Just play your role, Loop! Don't think so much, Loop! You were never very good at it, anyway!]


Sure, let's chat! What did you want to talk about? Ask away, little Housemaiden! [they're the same height...]
aromance: (Sometimes the darkness wins)

[personal profile] aromance 2024-08-28 03:57 am (UTC)(link)
You really can just call me Mirabelle... it might be confusing if any other Housemaiden were to show up. [ She's certainly not the only one! There was a full House of them and ideally they were all fine now, now that the King's been done in by his own Craft. Perhaps they too will end up wandering around here!

But a deep breath. Okay. She's done it. She is talking (mostly) steadily. ]


Um, well... do you like to read? Are you able to eat? If so, do you have a favorite food? Are there offensive subjects I should avoid mentioning?

[ Meeting Siffrin and Odile had taught her... there are many different cultures out there. It's best to learn to be respectful of all of them. ]
theuniverseleads: you seem so far away (004)

[personal profile] theuniverseleads 2024-08-30 03:50 am (UTC)(link)
[They can't help but cringe at the mere suggestion of calling her by name. Nope! Vetoed! They are not going to deal with those thoughts right now, next question please~]

Not really, no, irrelevant! Shouldn't you have started with that last one? What if I was illiterate and got really sad when you asked, you could've hurt my feelings!

My turn, my turn! Favourite shade? Favourite animal? Aaaaand... who's your type?
aromance: (And let the words fall out)

1/2

[personal profile] aromance 2024-09-04 02:28 am (UTC)(link)
Then I would have apologized profusely and found a way to make it up to you, hopefully...

[ But it's fine! She's not inwardly cringing at her own failures! Thank goodness that wasn't the case, but yikes! Valid point!! ]

But, um. I like... lighter shades of dark, almost bright but not quite! And I love dogs! And my--

[ ... ]
aromance: (Or you can start speaking up)

[personal profile] aromance 2024-09-04 02:30 am (UTC)(link)
T-t-type?!

[ Oh.

Well, she just went from 1 to Flustered and Distraught in 0.2 seconds. Amazing. Incredible. ]


I-I haven't--I'm not--I don't really... have... I mean, I should... give that more thought, but I--!

[ Oh, she doesn't like this topic. ]
theuniverseleads: fall in love with who you’ll one day be (023)

[personal profile] theuniverseleads 2024-09-04 04:42 am (UTC)(link)
Awww, so I don't have a chance~? That's too bad! You're so cute, Housemaiden~

Okay! Next question! [it's Mirabelle's turn—] What's your favourite colour? Look, there's so many here! Isn't that neat? So many fun new things to choose from!
aromance: (Nothing's gonna hurt you)

[personal profile] aromance 2024-09-07 03:31 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Was that flirting??

Was that flirting?! That can't be right?? She kind of feels more like she's being made fun of, but she still hardly knows this star, so how does she respond to... ugh. ]


Well, the difficult part is that I, er... don't know what any of these shades are called?

[ What does she call them!! Brighter than dark? Lightless but not quite?? ]
theuniverseleads: and when it’s hard, (019)

[personal profile] theuniverseleads 2024-09-07 09:11 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh, that's easy! There's green, gold, blue, purple, white, orange, pink, yellow, black, red... [they count on their fingers until they run out of fingers. pause for dramatic effect.] Oh my, that's a lot to remember, isn't it? You can just point at something if you want!

Did you know that plum is a colour?