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)
sticksandbones2024-08-02 09:35 am
sticksandbonesmods) wrote in sticksandbones2024-08-02 09:35 am
EVENT 015
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.
…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.
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.
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?
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.
UPDATES
❖ None yet!
SUBMISSIONS
no subject
The little dragon does eventually stop and float through the air, nuzzling up against Mizuki's cheek next before backing away again.
Oh, right, um- Greetings, mortals! I am Luminota, the Great and Shining, Star of the Weeping Willow Shrine! I used to have a pond but it dried up. It's sooooo so so so good to see you! It's been forever since I got a visit!!
no subject
no subject
[And then he will sit up and try not to look like that just happened. Cough.]
U-Um. Greetings! Hahaha, its nice to meet you Luminota.
[...]
Yeah, what Mizuki said, it's pretty hard to get out here. Since we are here though ...is there anything we can do for you?
no subject
Luminota sinks a bit before perking right back up.
I don't think you can bring back my pond right now, but my tree is going strong and my light is spread! Maybe... Oh, I know. Take some of my light, and if you see any empty lanterns, light them! That's something you can do!!
no subject
« Lanterns? Do we need something special to light them with? »
no subject
[Dipper nods. That sounds fine to him! Being kind to these shrines is going to be the most likely way they learn things, and putting out good intent is how you get it back. That'll help the forest heal probably, right? Right.]
And does the light need to be carried in any kind of special way?
no subject
You might be able to make a big lantern with it, it won't go out. But Stars will be able to see it through the fog!
oh my god I'm so sorry I'm late to this, sobs-
holds u
Maybe it'll make it easier to get through the fog if more of these lanterns are lit up.
sticks you both in my pocket
Luminota flies closer to the little shrine in the tree, and seems to turn into a small light as she dives within. After a moment, she comes back out with a silver branch.
... I- um. Before I give this to you, is there anything else you want to ask? Or- or you could have some of my berries, they're really good!
no subject
« Have you been able to speak with the other stars about things while separated like this? Is there... a plan at all? With regards to all of this? »
no subject
One of the reasons I came out here was to try and learn some information about the language used on this decoder.
[Which he will produce for Luminota to see.]
It looks old so there's not a lot of info on it, but I notice its on a lot of the older temples. I was curious if you could tell me anything and if I can copy down any of it that might be on your shrine.
no subject
We used to be able to talk to each other across any distance, but... one of the bigger stars one day, he said he was cutting the connection before the dark sap spread. He never explained, just... cut us all off, and we can't reconnect... and it's dangerous to leave our shrines alone, so I haven't been able to see him. He sounded really scared back then. But he was a big lion, so I don't know why...
...
We came down from the sky to help humans in the lost woods. We provide guiding lights, safety and healing- and if we're strong enough, we can share our magic! Exciting, right?
As she floats through the air, she looks over to the decoder and then drapes like the noodle she is across Dipper's shoulders, gently tapping the device.
This is ooooold-old. Back during the first age of man. The inner outer circle is the original code, and the inner circle is the old alphabet. But you're in luck! It will translate to your home language pretty easily.
no subject
no subject
Oh wow, really? I had a feeling it was pretty old. That lines up with some theories I had, actually, but I wasn't sure which circle was what. That helps tremendously, thanks!
[But on the subject of the missing lion and his shrine, Dipper will helpfully pull out the map again in case Luminota wants them to mark it. while they had a planned route, Dipper isn't going to ignore a possible mystery when its placed in front of him like this.]
Maybe you can estimate with the map?
no subject
Luminota absolutely accepts the trail mix! ... But specifically only the nuts.
As for his shrine... it waaaas around. Here!
She taps somewhere akin to the south-west of the Grove, but it's not anywhere on their way to the Moon Church.
His name is Hoku, and despite being the biggest star and also a lion, he is very gentle and kind. He likes pink flowers so if you visit him, be sure to bring him some!
no subject
no subject
Got it. We'll make plans to look for him in the future.
[He pauses and looks over at Mizuki. Huh, he hadn't thought of that. He assumed not, but-]
i'm so sorry this got burried
I don't know. We are made of celestial magic as a whole, but that does include all forms of the sun, and the Corruption is from the Black Sun. Our mother's healing and her wife's burning purification help, but- we may not be as safe as all of us would like.
Luminota seems really uncomfortable with the idea.
And in His spite... there's no telling what he could make specifically to target us. He likes to personalize things, you know.
...
But thank you for that. And hey! You guys can totally visit, right? It's been really lonely!
no subject
Mizuki doesn't say anything else, mostly for Luminota's benefit, but he's just kind of looking Worriedly(tm) at Dipper. ]
no subject
We know the way now, so we totally can. We're actually going to hit up a few more shrines on the way to the Moon Church. We can say hi to some of your friends for you if you like.
[It isn't really assurance about the corruption but ...if Luminota is lonely maybe that will help cheer her up. In the meantime...]
Here, why don't you take this. [Dipper rifles around and pulls out his netbook journal.] This is connected to all of us at the Grove.
no subject
Woah! I'm gonna have to learn how to write. Don't worry about that, though. Thank you! Is there anything else you need before you go? I bet the others will be so happy to see you too, so I won't keep you for much longer!
no subject
no subject
[And he will take Mizuki's hand so can leave as soon as Lumi hands off the wand. This was actually a very productive visit!]
no subject
... And then she just. Chucks... the notebook into her little shrine. It seems to shrink to fit in as it flies.
More importantly, the wand. Luminota blows a soft pale-teal fire at the tip of the silver branch, and it glows warmly. She'll give it to whoever reaches for it.
Remember, it won't go out and you may be able to use it to make a lantern in your little town, too! Just be careful, kay? And be sure to come back some time!