Event & TDM 003

[sticksandbonesmods]

I AM THE WILD

WAKE UP

You open your eyes.

It feels like you’ve been here before, like you’re finally home. Today, the sun shines brightly, brilliantly, on the open forest clearing making up Aldric’s Grove. Vines wrap around old buildings, overgrowth covers ruins of what once were homes and shops, and weeds poke up through the cracks of foundations. Before you stands an inn, a well, and one hundred beautiful flowers peppered throughout the clearing. Be not fooled by their beauty, wanderer; should you stray too close, the flowers are happy to bite.

Fret not, however; should you seek escape from the carnivorous foliage, the inn is plenty safe from attacks. Perhaps you ought to get acquainted with others like you, lounging in the lobby with nowhere to go. Perhaps you should find yourself a room, a place to stay. After all, room and board is completely free of charge! Should you dig through the bedside table of your new room, you’ll find only one thing within: A Polaroid photograph of yourself from years ago. You were younger, then — or, if age doesn’t define you, you were different. Still, you remember posing for this photograph… don’t you?

If the photo is too much for you, a trip to the river might offer respite. The oppressive fog wrapping around the grove and obscuring much of the distant forest some miles out won’t let you wander too far. Luckily, there’s a stretch of river perfect for a round of fishing, playing in, or simply relaxing by. Mushrooms grow along the banks and on the trees, but remember to say “thank you” to the forest if you take them. You wouldn’t like the consequences otherwise.

HEY

cw: madness, hallucinations

You might have had luck avoiding the gnashing fangs of the flowers thus far, but they begin to get restless and aggressive the longer they go without feeding. They can’t quite uproot themselves and chase you down, but they will stretch their stalks as far as they can, unfurl their petals and try to wrap sharp leaves around your legs and anything else within reach. If you aren’t careful, their fangs will pierce your flesh, and they will drink from you until they drain you dry. Shout for help if they latch on. Surely someone will come to your aid.

…just try not to look at them much. The flowers take passive abilities of anyone they feed from, and that means they possess powers of their own. Stare for a moment too long, and you’ll begin to see your nightmares brought to life, feel a crawling down your back like one million insect feet, a grappling at your ankles as something tries to drag you under the metaphorical tides. Black tendrils sweep over your eyes, they grip the facades of buildings, they tear your friends to shreds and eat them whole. Focus. Focus on that voice telling you to snap out of it, on the people around you waving their hands in front of your eyes. It isn’t real. Blink, shake your head, and clear your thoughts.

Or don’t. “Give in,” a sultry voice murmurs, “Let me consume you.”

IT'S ALRIGHT

cw: auditory hallucinations, animal butchery

From the fenced-off, locked-up manor to the northwest of the Grove, a spill of magic begins to leak out from boarded-up windows. It’s gradual at first before it suddenly bursts, and that’s when everything starts to go haywire. The Manor’s heart aches, friend. Something in that house is oh-so-miserable with no way out… and it intends to make you feel its pain.

Every regret you’ve ever had — every word left unspoken, every lie you’ve told, everything you believe you’ve done wrong — those feelings are brought to the surface and magnified. No matter where you look, what you do, or how much you try to distract yourself, those emotions will always bubble to the surface.

You might think wandering into the forest will help you flee from yourself for a time, but as soon as you cross the threshold, the path back to the clearing closes behind you in a rustle of leaves. The only way out is forward, it seems, but the forest won’t play fair. The path will shift unexpectedly, blocking your route, forcing you to backtrack, but never quite allowing escape. All the while, voices fill your mind, chasing after you no matter where you go. They are the murmurs of those you have wronged, the murmurs of a conscience slighted.

Seeking out a companion in the labyrinth will quell them, for a time. Should your heart weigh too heavy, confessing to your labyrinth-partner what you’re grappling with will absolve you of your guilt and leave you feeling clear-headed enough to escape. At that point, the forest, too, seems content to let you solve the maze without interference.

Should you escape fairly, without harming the labyrinth, you’ll be rewarded: A freshly-hunted game animal from your homeland is dropped at your feet just as you step back into the clearing. Enjoy it, for you will not have the opportunity to get another. The forest only allows one round per person.

I'LL TAKE CARE OF YOU

The residents of Aldric’s Grove have had a rough time here, but not everything has to be bad. On the night of the new moon, the Shopkeeper leaves his store for the night, and alongside the Trader — who normally sits outside the inn by her stall and her giant turtle — he constructs a bonfire some distance from the carnivorous plants. Nearby to it are tables with a feast set upon them, free for everyone to enjoy. There’s music playing from… somewhere. Don’t think about it too hard. The wispy, sentient shadows that comprise the Shopkeeper and Trader are happy to dance with you, too, if you ask.

Enjoy your night, friends. You’ve made it to the end of the month, and you deserve a break.

SPARK NOTES

CLICK TO EXPAND!

WAKE UP

Welcome to Aldric's Grove! Watch out for the carnivorous flowers. There's a photograph of you in the inn, by the way. Don't worry about it.

HEY

The carnivorous flowers are now causing visual hallucinations and madness. Try not to look at them too long. Maybe buddy up for the time being, to make sure that the forest's whispering voice doesn't drag you too far down.

IT'S ALRIGHT

A flood of magic hits the Grove. Characters will be subject to reliving and re-experiencing all of their regrets, and should they wander into the forest to escape, they'll be made to play in the forest's maze game. The forest won't play fair, but seems to relent when you confess to a companion what's on your mind. And hey, that makes your heart weigh less heavy, too. At the end of the line, you'll get a reward of fresh meat as long as you didn't try to cheat!

I'LL TAKE CARE OF YOU

The Shopkeeper and Trader are throwing a lighthearted bonfire party. Dance the night away and eat your heart out!

OOC

Welcome to the third TDM & Event Log of Sticks and Bones! This log is game canon. The prompts are meant for all players, current and future, so have fun! Our applications operate on a rolling basis, so applications are open with no end date unless we suddenly cap players. If there are any questions, please direct them to the "questions" header below.

UPDATES

❖ For those who enter the inn in the morning, a breakfast spread of scrambled eggs, bacon, smoked fish, roasted tomatoes on the vine and assorted fruits wait for you.
❖ Several patches of the murderous flowers seem to have been electrocuted, lit on fire or cut.

TDM TOPLEVELS!

TDMS

❖ Shalem (Arknights)
❖ Toge Inumaki (Jujutsu Kaisen)
❖ Jade Leech (Twisted Wonderland)
❖ BB (Fate/ Grand Order
❖ Akki (Original)
❖ Nikaidou Eisuke (Tsurune)
❖ Arthur Pendragon (Saber) (Fate/ Grand Order)

(CODE)

Comments

IT'S ALRIGHT

[amhran]

[ How many times will Caoimhe find herself within this Labyrinth? This time she is here, because she was following the sounds of singing. Perhaps deep down she thought maybe she was finally going home, perhaps deep down really - she made sure that if someone was in danger. That she would gladly follow the pull if it mean't finding them, and helping them return home.

It must be the latter for her eyes fall upon a figure, and at first she all but hides behind the bushes. A soft gasp, but her capacity to stealthily hide herself makes her blend in so well. She watches him quietly, follows a few steps hiding beneath bushes and behind trees. Seeing him clutch at his arm, someone who she has never seen before -

Caoimhe needs to speak, she thinks a moment. Watching the figure continue his march onwards, before finally with a weak voice. Calls out to him - ]

H-Hello...?

[ The sword comes out, and she jumps hiding again behind the thick tree that she had began to peak out from. ]

P-Please don't hurt me! I.. I just want to help!?!

[whitherwander]

[Kazuha is not accustomed to being successfully snuck up on, and that has him even more rattled than he would otherwise be. How long has he been stuck in his own thoughts, to have simply not noticed her? He's reminded of the stories about shuumatsuban assassins. Could the Shogunate truly be going to such lengths, for--

Wait. No. This isn't Inazuma, this is that forest. The one he can't seem to get out of, no matter how far his legs carry him.

The paranoia remains, but the question in his mind shifts: is that a person hiding behind that tree, or some manner of creature? Its fear sounds real enough, but the forest is doing strange things to his mind. The wind is silent here; it carries no whispers that could tell him who or what is lurking beyond his sight, and that fact alone is enough to make him feel as vulnerable as a lone pine beneath a blanket of rumbling-dark thunderclouds.

It's a very old instinct that makes Kazuha focus inward, on his breath. He cannot ground himself in nature here, not when the land itself has turned against him. When he was a child, and often trapped indoors, his breath was his anchor. As long as he's still breathing, he can weather any storm.

Slowly, he lowers his blade. He does not, however, dismiss it.]

Show yourself. If you make no sudden movements, I will have no reason to harm you.

[amhran]

[ Caoimhe listens ardently, his voice is stern, and there is a clear sound of it holding the sort of tension she hates hearing when someone speaks to her. It makes her feels cared, so her nerves are slightly rattled and depending on how he responds. Caoimhe may or may not instinctively cast a charm spell without meaning to - per se. She hopes though, in showing she means no harm that he will calm himself. That the tone of his voice seemingly stern, will escape from him. She is after all, gullible and believes in the good of all things.

So out she comes, carefully, the bright colors of red on her hair much like the corals in the sea. Is what he will notice first, then after the peculiar colors of her eyes that don't seem odd from a distance. Yet were notable all the same. ]

I-I... Don't mean any harm.... A-Are you okay... Your arm... I can heal it.... Please... Don't hurt me...?

[whitherwander]

It doesn't need healing.

[The response is soft, immediate. It's true; the Shogun's lightning scorched him pretty badly at the time, but it's been healed over for months now. He just... keeps forgetting exactly where and when he is.

From the way she moves, he doesn't think she's a threat. And yet, the tension in his sword arm doesn't release, and his instincts swing wildly between extremes: he can't know who is and isn't a threat--but she doesn't seem--but he can't--

Kazuha takes a deep breath, in through his nose and out through his mouth. He closes his eyes and wills his sword to fade, which it does, dissolving into little spots of light before disappearing entirely. He can summon it again in an instant, if he needs to, and that soothes him. This forest may have the power to trick both his mind and his senses, but he will not allow it to turn him into someone he is not.

He opens his eyes, and offers her a small, strained smile.]

I don't want to hurt you. So please, don't be afraid.

[amhran]

Oh... [ The tension within his tone still remains, it is clear he is uncertain - that is fine. She understand the way this place works can unnerve even the most reserved of person. She is careful, attempting to step to with her sandals sliding against roots as she manages to come down from where she was hiding. Longer locks of red hair seem to pool around her shoulders, and there are times where she needs to move her fore arm above her head to keep those locks of hair from blocking where she walks. ] Alright...

[ Carefully she comes closer, swallowing hard before bringing herself to speak again, ] Um... Are you... New..? Have you just arrived..? I have not seen you, here before. [ But you do feel familiar, Caoimhe wants to say. Since that is how this place works - eerie familiarities that makes no sense. For she never met him before now, but there is still that strangeness regardless. ]

[whitherwander]

[Kazuha scans the tree line, just in case there are any more surprises lurking. It also allows him to avoid the shame he feels when he makes eye contact with her; it is plain she means him no harm, and yet he had gotten lost in his own paranoia and frightened her.]

Yes, I had only just arrived recently, though under what circumstances I cannot say. I awoke with no memory of how I might have entered this place, and I have been thus far unable to leave it, even before wandering into the forest.

[And why had he done that? He remembers the feeling of regret welling from deep within him, threatening to overwhelm him with its intensity. Like every feeling he had ever ignored or repressed had all surfaced at once, turning the placid surface of his mind into a roiling sea. He has always felt drawn to seek refuge in nature when distressed, and this time had been no different, though in retrospect he remembers the forest seeming to call to him with rather more agency than was usual.

He does feel calmer for having a companion, though. Less confused about where he is.]

[amhran]

Your story matches much of our own who have been here... You are not alone, so... It is okay... [ Caoimhe watches him gently, her hands folded now onto her lap as she stands there in idle thought. ] The forest called to you, yes? It was like this to me, and the others... I sometimes use spells to speak to the forest, let the trees tell me their pains - though they scream and cry so much... It is sad, but I heard a calling here... It must have been because of you.

[ The elven woman does not move, afraid to make him uneasy during a time when things would be so chaotic for his mind. Especially feeling a dryness in her throat, unable to find the right words to tell him what he must do now, in order to escape from this. It was what she had to do with another, and she grimaced at the thought of having to tell a stranger that they needed to lay their heart open. To someone they knew nothing about, to regain their freedom. A freedom much restrained at that - ]

Are you... Alright..?