EVENT 015

[sticksandbonesmods]

BUY MORE CRYSTALS

COME RAIN OR EVEN MORE RAIN

Today, progress has been made in the Grove. The sun shines brightly on the cleaned-up remains of what used to be the “Burned Town”, now lovingly just called “north” for lack of a better term. At night, a small handful of stars finally shine in skies that have been empty for millennia, and birds sing loudly throughout, overjoyed now that they’ve felt the stirring of the long-dead Sky Guardian. All is peaceful. All is right with the world.

…and then there’s the sound of familiar, watery laughter from the Lake Guardian himself, having returned to the Grove for whatever reason he could possibly have, standing by the well and performing a jaunty dance on his scrawny legs. He spins around the well once, twice… and then the skies darken and the clouds swell, and suddenly it’s raining buckets, soaking you and everyone else to the bone immediately.

“It’s a gift for freeing me!!” Callan shouts joyously, unaware of the fact that gifts are usually nice things and not biblical floods. “Enjoy it!!”

Well, it seems like this will be the rest of your month. The rains don’t abate at all, but they do come with one gift that actually seems worthwhile: Any plant that stays out in the rain for long enough will suddenly spring out of the earth at gargantuan size. Enjoy your giant crops — they’re still edible! — and your flowers the size of pillows, everyone.

FURNITURE STRIKES BACK

If staying out in the rain isn’t exactly your thing (who could blame you, really?), you might consider heading back inside and spending some nights in. It’s been a while since everyone had a break without being exposed to water for way too long, and what better way to spend a night than curled up in bed in a nest of blankets?

As you drift off to sleep to the serene sounds of the river flooding, there’s a sudden loud bang, like someone slammed a door. You open your eyes and don’t see a thing… so back to bed you go, only to hear it again. This time, as you lurch out of bed and desperately try to figure out who the hell is slamming doors this late, you’ll see your door opening and slamming itself. Opening again, and slamming. Soon after, the windows follow, and as you rub your eyes, your bed suddenly bucks and throws you to the floor.

Cool. Phenomenal. What just happened?

Perhaps you go to the inn couch to try sleeping there, but alas, the old couch has had enough of you and will summarily flip you back onto the floor, losing its cushions in the process. If you turn your anger toward the furniture, it will — strangely — attack you right back, chasing you down on bizarrely-animated legs that furniture simply should not have. The coffee table might bite, or the cabinets might start flinging cups at you.

If you are patient, however, and if you clean the furniture off — wash the pillows, scrub that mustard stain out of the cushions, sew up a hole your dog chewed into the mattress — it will stop throwing a tantrum. Finally, you can use furniture for its intended purpose.

GET (GEM)STONED

A bit of raw chaos in Aldric’s Grove is not uncommon; perhaps furniture unionizing and non-stop downpours are the least of your concerns in quite some time. After all, you’re not trapped anywhere. You aren’t underwater, you aren’t playing in some twisted life-or-death game, no one is making the passage of time here any worse than usual…

Of course, if chaos is preferable to true horror, you can always have more of it. On your bedside table or under your pillow, you’ll find a drawstring bag containing a small handful of polished gemstones. As you hold them in your palm or between your fingers and inspect them under the light, you’ll feel something within you stirring.

Perhaps you’re holding rose quartz, the gemstone that symbolizes unconditional love, and you suddenly feel empty and loveless. Perhaps it’s amethyst, the gemstone attributed to calm emotions, and yet you’re feeling the most anxious you’ve ever felt in your entire life. Whatever the gem may be, its meaning is now inverted, and you get to suffer the effects of it.

Luckily, this curse — a gift from, who else, the Fallen Sun — can be broken quite easily. Simply clutch the gemstone in your palm and perform an act that embodies its true meaning, and everything will be back to normal. You’ll be holding a mundane rock to do whatever you want with, including throw it into the forest in hopes that it hits the Fallen Sun in his big, stupid head.

I CAN SEE CLEARLY NOW

When the rains stop at the month’s end, the clear skies yet again show the stars, and it’s a beautiful sight to behold. It’s no galaxy, even with every light in the Grove off so you can see them all — but it’s special nonetheless, especially to those who have been here under an empty sky for so long. The moon itself feels like it casts joy down upon everyone, and a sense of overwhelming peace settles like a blanket over the entire settlement.

Should you visit Ydalir or Heimr at all, they will both encourage you to spend a night camping out, providing you blankets to lie out in the grass with. While it isn’t much, Ydalir has pulled an old telescope from her mirror for those of you who want to nerd out a bit. Snacks, tea, and hot chocolate will be provided to anyone staying out for the night, too. For better or for worse, you’re all here together, so why not bask in a moment of peace?

SPARK NOTES

CLICK TO EXPAND!

COME RAIN OR EVEN MORE RAIN

Callan is giving gifts as all Guardians do. His gift... is a whole tempest. Luckily, the plants will get massive from this. Enjoy your giant produce and flowers!

FURNITURE STRIKES BACK

What could go wrong if the furniture went on strike? Surely it won't toss you out of bed or buck you onto the floor or try to bite you. ...oh, well, if that's the case, you might want to give it some TLC so that it stops.

GET (GEM)STONED

The Fallen Sun's "gift" to the residents is a lovingly-customized bag of rocks. Each stone represents some kind of meaning, but that meaning will be inverted and make you feel the opposite effect from it. To break the curse, all you need to do is clutch the gemstone and perform an act that it originally embodies.

I CAN SEE CLEARLY NOW

Finally, the rains clear up, and Heimr and Ydalir are encouraging everyone to stare at the night sky. It's beautiful with those few stars in it, isn't it?

OOC

How is it already August?? We don't know either. OOC Plotting Lives Here if you'd like to plot anything out! If you need rocks randomly assigned to you for the gemstone portion, head there and drop us a comment, we will give you rocks.

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Comments

[theuniverseleads]

[A - home is where the hardwood is]

[They find the tree they like the most, eventually. It's not a Favor Tree—anything big enough to count would probably be deeper in the woods, not exactly the safest place to make your camp—but it's large, it has a nice sitting rock near the roots, and the branches hang low enough to form a cozy curtain of leaves. Far enough from the main settlement to feel some privacy, but not far enough to feel alone. A familiar breadth of distance.

Anyway, they live here now, so everyone can get used to the weird glowing light under that one tree by the river.

It turns out to be a good pick, once the rainstorm starts. It's still humid and damp, but at least their head is dry! Mostly! Sort of!

It's not unreasonable for someone to wander in, trying to get out of the rain, so they try not to be too bothered by it. Instead the star forces on a smile, putting aside their current distraction to greet their visitor.]

Hello hello! How can I help you on this wonderful new day? Directions? Advice? Fashion tips? [loop you don't even wear clothes—]

[B - depression rocks]
cw: potential for self harm or sudden violence, but just say they're looking at rocks if you want to avoid the possibility nbd.

[Staying outside in the rain is fine. It's new, right? They're used to this, right? But the longer the storm drags on, the soggier it starts to get. Even under cover... really, there's only so much you can do when the rain goes on for days, weeks.

They're being stubborn, they know. But it's hard. They still don't feel like they fit, even if they've gotten used to being seen. They don't feel like they should be welcomed. The feeling gets worse, even when things seem to be going better.

So... so it's easier, when it's somewhere that doesn't feel as lived in. Loop can be found lingering in the entrance of the school, the rec centre, the church—or anywhere that isn't the inn or a house, as long as the lights are out. They just want somewhere quiet and dry to sit for awhile, that's all.

Their body is caked in mud, staring blankly at nothing with their back to the wall, rubbing their thumb into one of the gemstones they've been gifted... or fiddling with the hunting knife they bought for themselves, running their fingers along the edge of the blade concerningly. There's a fifty-fifty chance they've passed out like this, but it doesn't take much to wake them. Approach?]

[C - Wildcard]

((sorry Loop continues to be antisocial lol i am doing my best....... but also, pls feel free to bug me if u have a different idea, am in discord/BlueFlewFedUQueen i am ALWAYS up for shenanigans, help me socialize them do it do it do it))

B) and i'll be back with a pigeon shortly

[succiduous]

[Oh boy. Knives in church. Probably not the first nor the last time this has happened here.

Gnosis is only about because he's too listless to hold still; somehow outside is better than being cooped up in the lab, though he's holding an umbrella made of solid ice and it's growing larger every second to an almost comical degree. At least he's? dry?? But he'll leave it outside and shatter it seconds before coming inside. Whether or not Loop catches this, Gnosis doesn't say anything about it. That's not the important part.]

Seeking shelter from the storm? Or did you find God all of a sudden?

[theuniverseleads]

[What is church for if not sinful thoughts????

It'd be hard to ignore the loud ice shattering going on outside, though. The noise makes Loop a little on edge when Gnosis steps in, but not enough to drag themselves back onto their feet. They stare from their spot on the floor with a vaguely-threatening anxiety, gripping the knife handle tight enough to creak.

...

ah. not a threat. relax, relax, relax]

Oh, is it raining? I hadn't noticed, teehee! [They cross their legs and balance the blade's tip against their finger. Is it creepy, how quickly they shift from looking cornered to that ditsy cheerful act? Extremely normal behaviour.] The door was open, so I felt like taking a peek! Is this a place of worship? Oh, don't mind me, go ahead and pray! I'm sure you must have lots to ask for!

[succiduous]

[Gnosis is so exhausted both physically and mentally that "creepy" doesn't register. Like yes, it is creepy, however Rhodes Island is also full of freaks so whatever.]

It's a place of worship, but not for me. It's a different religion entirely. [And he's pretty sure Wolfwood is one of like, three people who respect this place.] I'm only in here because I can't hold still right now. Being still is starting to make me unproductive, contrary to how it usually is.

[But Loop probably doesn't care about any of that. Gnosis finds he doesn't care about it, either, so that's great. Love this bad month where everything is wrong with him.]

[theuniverseleads]

Woooow, is that so? You just wanted to move around? That's soooo weird! [Imagine having the energy to do literally anything right now, can't be them. Opposite problems!

They start twirling their knife around, I've decided it has a little hole on the handle for hanging/tying it to things solely so Loop can act dangerously for no reason. Spinning that thing like a fidget toy. At some point it's going to go flying be ready for it, this is Chekov's knife.]

What do you worship, then? I hope they don't get jealous, seeing you in here!

[succiduous]

I'm not much of a man for religion, unfortunately. I'm somewhat a worshipper of Kjeragandr, but not overmuch. Feranmuts — "Gods" in your tongue — don't have much meaning to most Terrans, and Kjerag as a whole is considered rather old-timey with its religious worship tendencies and cloistered society.

[Gnosis is Watching that knife, worry not.]

I doubt She will get jealous either way.

[theuniverseleads]

Not the religious type, huh? Must be nice! Not having to worry! [Must be even nicer, knowing what to do. Remembering the rules, the practices, the core tenets and beliefs... to remember it all, and not even care! To not have to cling to every scrap like a shipwreck at sea!

they're gonna do some sick knife tricks while they have an internal anguish fwip fwip fwip...]

I think I'd like it if mine got jealous... it's nice to feel wanted.

a) ok done now thanks

[forwander]

[You know whose whole cafe is by the river, it's Passenger's. You know who is wondering why the fuck that one tree is glowing? It's Passenger. And if his furniture is going to act up (everything on his deck has vacated and run off and will probably rot out in the rain due to water damage, rip) he'll just go outside and investigate.

...]

Fashion advice, please.

[Said with an entertained half-smile even though he remembers Loop as "someone he was literal seconds from yanking by the collar and throwing outside at the meeting", oops.]

me getting a thread for every wolfie char like im at a grocery store sample booth

[theuniverseleads]

Fashion advice! Sure, let me think...

[They look him up and down a couple of times, thinking on this question very seriously... unfortunately, they really don't know shit about fashion. Even when they wore clothes they rarely put that much thought into it.

They did know someone else who knew a lot about fashion, though... hmm.

After a long and thoughtful pause, they clap their hands.]

You know, sometimes less is more! Isn't this a little overly formal for walking around outside in the rain? That cape is so long it's dragging in the mud! And those cute little chains and tassels, you're just begging to get caught on a branch! Did you get lost going to a party?

[forwander]

[Fair enough. Honestly, Passenger is sometimes dressed nice and sometimes dressed down in something simple, depends on how he wakes up in the morning and what he feels like doing. Today it's "dressing nice makes me feel less like a waterlogged slob" and tomorrow it'll be "fuck it: pyjamas".]

Certainly not. [Yet he explains absolutely none of this to Loop.] Though, there are times when I do prefer dressing nicely. Perhaps it doesn't appear so, but the fabric is moisture-wicking. I wore it often in Sargon, where the desert heat was liable to make one sweat to death if they weren't careful. Though, yes, the cape will not avoid damage this time.

[He also doesn't seem particularly bothered by this either.]

[theuniverseleads]

Ooh, how practical! Is it Crafted? [oh, right] Nevermind, you probably don't know what that is. But hey, that sounds pretty handy! Maybe not the best wear for a rainstorm, but you look like you might be a little less soggy than most! So it must be working!

I'll give it, oh... let's say a seven out of ten. That's a passing grade! Good job!

[forwander]

Out of curiosity, then: What would it take to get a full score? Where do your tastes lie?

[Should they have this conversation in the rain... probably not. Are they? Yeah. Yeah they are. Passenger doesn't care enough to move, and Loop is entertaining enough to talk to, therefore: O Stardude of the Woods, share with him your fashion proclivities.]

[theuniverseleads]

Hm? Oh, I don't really think about that stuff. I just wear whatever!

[Or nothing. Mostly nothing, since they arrived naked and had nothing to hide, and then just never attempted to solve that, so uhhhhh.

yeah, definitely not qualified to give fashion tips.]

Maybe something less... [They... gesture vaguely, at all of Passenger. They don't know the word they want. They think about it for a bit.] Color-y?

A

[quirkynote]

[The thing about really heavy rain is that it can get really disorienting really quickly. It only makes sense to scurry over to the nearest light source as quickly as possible...right?

That's A.B.A.'s idea as she stumbles in, anyway. Tripping over herself in a ball of bandages and confusion, only to immediately pick herself back up the moment someone addresses her. What do you MEAN occupied looking places are going to be occupied?! By people, even?! She stares at Loop like the wettest deer caught in star-powered headlights, frozen in place as she tries to figure out the best response. Her gut says to start shouting, but-]

You... I remember you...

[They were the one at the cafe, being weird and violent... Normally that wouldn't be a problem, A.B.A. would just be weird and violent back, but she still doesn't have a weapon. Picking a fight right now would be a horrible idea, nor can she pretend she's looking for fashion advise as she's already a lost cause... What does she do?!]

[theuniverseleads]

[They stare back, slightly confused... but, oh. They also remember this person, maybe? Didn't she start screaming she was going to kill everyone out of nowhere and then hide in a corner? What a weirdo.

She looks pretty nervous... they bask in the powerful feeling of being feared(?) for just a little while before speaking up again.]

Oh, don't mind me! I won't bite, I promise. Stardust is an exception, he likes it when I'm rough with him~

[he definitely does NOT but look it's fine siffrin isn't here to listen to this, they'll say whatever weird shit they want behind his back]

[quirkynote]

[The other person...liked it? A.B.A.'s fear is replaced by a look of blank confusion. They didn't...look like they liked it, but then again, Paracelsus often said he didn't like her affection, either... And she knows THAT can't be true...

Yes, it's all starting to make sense...]

Ah, I see. You were fighting like a bold married couple...

[Honey, no.]

So sweet... I'm very happy for the two of you.

[theuniverseleads]

Haha, gross! [but they're not denying it (because it's funny) so maybe... it's true??? (it's not)]

So, what brings you out here? It's not exactly what I'd call strolling weather. No coat, no umbrella, you're going to catch a cold if you walk around like that!

[quirkynote]

...Gross? No...it's beautiful...

[If A.B.A. isn't going to get any sort of denial, then she can only assume the worst. ...Or, well, the best, as far as she's concerned. Marriage is wonderful, and surely someone with enough love in their heart to get married isn't going to attack her while her back is turned.

Which it is, as she takes this chance to look back towards the rain.]

I'm far more resilient than a mere human, it will take much more than rain to stop me. [A pause.] ...I'm also not fond of being trapped indoors for too long. This storm...I'm not sure how long it will last...I wouldn't be able to stand it.

[Considering Loop's little setup here, a part of her wonders if the same is true for this stranger. It's...nice. A.B.A. can't help but run a hand through the curtain of leaves, almost wishing she had this idea before they did. What are the chances of finding a similar tree? They have to be pretty low, right? ...Oh well, you snooze, you lose.]

Do you not care for the settlement they've created?

[theuniverseleads]

[And they don't! So maybe... that proves she's right????? (no)

They watch her curiously, unmoving from their seat. Resiliency, feeling trapped indoors... they huff a small laugh, yeah, they can agree to all that.]

I'd prefer the sun, but rain isn't so bad. You don't get experiences like these cooped up indoors. [they spent enough lifetimes stuck indoors, thanks.] Besides, it's way too people-y in there! So noisy! I like it much better out here, just myself and the sounds of nature.

... Oh, and you! You're also here right now, teehee~

A

[ephemeralflow]

[That is a nice tree, and Timekeeper has indeed gotten stuck in the rain, what a coincidence! She totally didn't duck under here halfway because she saw Loop there, what are you talking about. At least this is before she's discovered the little bag of polished gemstones back at her inn room...]

Have you nothing to offer of use? My fashion is already impeccable, after all! Which is certainly more than I can say for you.

[theuniverseleads]

Oh, I'm just not sure where to start! All those clock hands and gears, isn't it a little too on the nose? Talk about heavy-handed.

[They cross their legs in their seat, watching Timekeeper cautiously. Of course, because she's so ✧ blinding ☆ special ✧ they let their mask slip, not really caring how their tone comes off. Behind the tree's curtain of leaves they can act however they want—why put on the mask for someone they don't care for? Why pretend to be anyone at all?

They keep their knife in hand, slowly running a finger along the edge as they stare, stare, stare]

If you're here to bother me, at least try to make it quick. I'm not interested in long conversations with lunatics.

[ephemeralflow]

But of course it is! You have seen plenty of time yourself - would you call it subtle, hmm?

[Timekeeper reaches a hand up and tilts her hat, letting some of the collected rainwater pour from the brim.]

But I see we can both agree that it is not best wasted. I did want to talk to you, as a matter of fact. Opinions aside, we are not that different, are we? You and Siffrin - you are the same.

[She speaks it as casual fact, as simply as one might discuss this awful downpour.]

waves hands consider the rest of this thread an ISAT spoilers warning i'm just gonna go for it

[theuniverseleads]

[Their hands stop. A wave sizzles down their skin at the suggestion, the light of their head flaring brighter for a second—but only just. For now, the anger boils beneath the lid.

... they still need a moment, to decide how to answer. There's no point in repeating their previous script. Scrap that one, try another...]

I didn't ask for this power. Neither of us did. We never went looking for a way to change the past, or undo our mistakes... it just happened to us. It wasn't a choice. Start again, and again, and again, no stopping, no brakes.

So no, I don't think we're the same. My only interest in Timecraft is putting an end to it.

[ephemeralflow]

Oho, that is why I said "opinions aside!" And your interest in not seeing time misused is not misplaced, it simply is not fun. There is also no fun in timelines getting destroyed for no reason other than someone not knowing what they are doing, after all!

[She laughs, a sound like sand in an hourglass, but there's little actual humor in it.]

Hmm. Still, although I sought power and you fell headlong into it, we both were far more normal once, and it seems... have both seen our younger selves break a cycle, beginning to exist on a path where they will not become us.

[It's a lonely existence. It leaves you with things you can never get back, no matter how much time you travel. It should never have happened twice. But Timekeeper leaves these things unspoken, for now.]

I cannot help but wonder if that holds significance, knowing our origins were here, in another life.

[theuniverseleads]

[They don't want to hear about destroyed timelines, or power, or what she thinks is fun. They're so ready to zone out through this whole conversation, dead-eyed staring into the middle distance until she gives up and goes away already...

But.

They catch it, a flicker of something flashing across their face. Surprise, understanding... revulsion, suspicion? This could so easily be a trick. They've seen such things play out before. We're alike, so trust me, how could I ever betray you? They can't be that stupid. It's probably not even true. Why would someone like her understand? Out of all the people it could be?

She can't understand, not even if it's true.

Loop scoffs, breaking eye contact to glare off to the side. The grip the knife's edge against their palm.]

Don't talk about me like you know me. You...

What do you want? Just get to the point! I don't care about your sad blinding backstory, you obviously want something out of this, so just tell me what it is and leave already!

Because I don't care! At all! About whatever you think we have in common!! [ignore how mad this is making them, thanks]