![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sticksandbonesmods) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
sticksandbones2023-08-04 10:59 am
- !event,
- !tdm,
- arknights: gnosis,
- arknights: mizuki,
- arknights: shalem,
- baldur's gate iii: astarion ancunín,
- elsword: elsword,
- fate: bb,
- handead anthem: gara ukai,
- i'm the grim reaper: brook,
- jujutsu kaisen: toge inumaki,
- original: caoimhe ailbhe,
- original: felicity morais,
- original: rennuid tathviel
Event & TDM 003
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.
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.”
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.
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.
CLICK TO EXPAND!
❖ Several patches of the murderous flowers seem to have been electrocuted, lit on fire or cut.
INVESTIGATIONS
INVESTIGATIONS
Location: Somewhere in the Grove, talking to some flowers.
Action:
They want to understand the flowers! And maybe, just maybe... Treat them to some food.
Re: INVESTIGATIONS
Not great conversationalists, are they? But they'll happily take any offerings, and clamor for more. More. More. More.
no subject
[ Are there areas within the grove where the flowers grow most? Or seem to congregate more? ]
no subject
There are no flowers around or behind fence, keeping the manor safe.
no subject
[ BB wants to investigate why this is, she is looking for items she knows can usually repel plants at first:
1. Plant repellent the most obvious things, a chemical component that would push flowers away.
2. Magical Repellent, even in her world runes are often what are used to repel magic beings of sorts... She is looking to see if they are inscribed anywhere on the fences, the floor, or even the foundation of each building.
3. More Magical Repellent, she is looking beyond Rune work. Acknowledging that magic works different and has different family branches. BB would begin hypothesizing, if magic exists in plenty that means this area itself works in collaboration in some way - meaning magic would be used to repel things magical or non magical.
4. Items of interest, she knows - especially from her own realm that magecraft can be absolved in items that have a purpose. Are there items of interest that seem replicated or similar around the area. ( Mun knows shopkeeeper paints the inn doors but BB does not know this! Would she see this as well? ) ]
no subject
no subject
no subject
no subject
[ Her hand is gloved and she pokes one of the petals mindful as to not let the desperate vines grip her - she knows they are so hungry. ]
But if you keep your secrets, I'll never give you the thing you wish for.
[ She presumes the flowers can either understand her to some extent, or take her message to where it will be valued. ]
Ne, ne, if you understand BB then come talk to her when you are ready to make trades. After all, I am interested in a partnership. If you are anything like what I think you are. We both want the same thing.
[ A white lie, but the desire of wanting the same thing may seem be the accurate truth. ]
When you are ready, let me know~~♡!!
no subject
Is she looking at the flowers? If so, she'll perhaps begin to feel the effects a little more strongly.
no subject
That is to say the flowers, the forest, and the entirety of these circumstances have effected her differently then the others. In that synergy she has become more cynically aligned with them. Almost as if she is home, and they are home. And they should come together this troubles her, because she doesn't understand why, and if she cannot fathom the understanding. Then what is it? There is not fear - but if 1 plus 1 cant equal 2, what does it mean?
They say, two identical beats often cause discord. ]
Oh...?
[ The Grail, is in her hand. Having been pulled out of her chest by her own means, she almost just out right gave it to them!!! Maybe... Just maybe... For fun - a little leaf had touched it for a split second. ]
Nasty little Flower-chans are you? You almost made BB give this to you, for free~☆!
[ You know that Pokemon Move Pressure? Yeah that's exactly what she is administering right now around her out of sheer anger. She eats it, right in front of them - NOM! Then goes to walk away!! She is going to get lost in the forest, and cause chaos - have fun... Play games... Never leave ever again! This is home after all. ]
(no subject)
(no subject)
Re: INVESTIGATIONS
Location: The Lake
Action: He's looking at all the mushrooms! Specifically their qualities. Do they look like regular mushrooms one would run into in the woods? If so, what kinds and are they edible? Just a basic rundown because Jade is a nature nerd and would know all about them!
no subject
The mushrooms are a standard variety one would find growing in a forest — Chicken of the Woods, Fly Agaric, Oysters, & Black Trumpets are the most populous. If he looks closely, he might find a few Golden Chanterelles.
Of those, do not eat the fly agaric, please. All the others can be eaten. Be careful, as oysters don't last longer than a few days max!
no subject
no subject
Location: Luluhawa ~!
Action: BB has taken A PIECE OF Mizuki and then if possible taken some of the flowers(?) he keeps feeding !! And wants to do sciencey deductions of breaking it down in her pocket dimension to see ( WELL HER INTENTION ) is to see if Mizuki feeding the flowers is making them sick or interact differently.
IE. if Mizuki who comes from another world and is a whole other being, and their substance/material is different composition. If the flower eats it - and it too is made up of some other shit. what sort of relationship or effect is eating Mizuki's tentacles having on the flower?
Is it poisoning it etc?
no subject
Sure, she can do all of that. BB should be careful with the piece of Mizuki she took, though; staring at it too long can cause hallucinations, something that might be familiar to her if she's looked at the flowers for too long. She will be able to note a few things:
1) The flowers seem "calmer" when they have something to eat, so Mizuki feeding them counts for this. If she's outside of her pocket dimension, she'll be able to see that they calm after taking a bite out of others as well.
2) The flowers don't seem to be poisoned. Otherwise, she wasn't here early enough to deduce why both Mizuki's tentacles and the flowers both cause similar hallucinations.
If BB speaks to people who have been here longer than she has (Felicity, Elsword, Rennuid, 9S, etc etc I can't list the whole cast rn) she might be able to find out more about the flowers themselves. This can be handwaved since i know you know Sheep you've been here for the whole saga, otherwise she will just have to live with "Mizuki is good flower-food" and "I trip balls when I look at this".
no subject
[ Segway this will be added to the rp with Mizuki, so if mizuki asks BB a question?? and bb takes the time with her science facilities and vast library of data at her disposal within her pocket dimension... prolly will let rubie know they can ask here too! ]
When you say 'poisoned,' when something is poisoned: To initiate the poisoning, the organism is exposed to the toxic chemical. When a toxic level of the chemical is accumulated in the cells of the target tissue or organ, the resultant injury to the cells disrupts their normal structure or function.
Is mizuki's components as a being who over all SHOULD be poisonous, see : Cnidaria. Is Mizuki's potentially toxic body part altering the flower in any way once it is consumed? What BB should technically see is either Mizuki's body components breaking down the Flower or the flower breaking down Mizuki's components. Which would infer either, The flowers are MORE TOXIC then Mizuki or other fun things.
I've said it before I believe, but especially within her dimension BB is impervious to anything trying to effect her mental psyche. So looking at it wont do anything to her, if anything bc they are made of similar concepts in terms of 'cosmic horror meets cosmic horror.'
no subject
As far as BB can tell, and as far as I can explain because I did not go to school for plants, the actual toxins Mizuki has have no effect on the flowers. The flowers seem immune to it; on a cellular level the poisons are broken down and ?? discarded ??? dude I went to school for psychology I hope that makes sense. TL;DR Mizuki's toxins do nothing, plant strong.
Also thank you for clarification, it's 10:30pm and I am tired and cannot remember things rn—
Re: INVESTIGATIONS
Location: Near the inn
Action: Harvesting one of the carnivorous flowers and dissecting it to try and learn more about their physiology. Bonus focus: Finding out if the plant has any uses - poisons, medicinal effects, nutrition, etc.
no subject
no subject
no subject
Olivia will notice a few things upon observation: The first is that the plant appears to be a tropical variety (there are multiple tropical-looking plants among the pack, but she has specifically picked up something akin to Epiphyllum Argus), and the second is that, for some reason, the plants have teeth. If she were to cut open the center of the plant, she would see that it has pharyngeal teeth as well. This particular one is, of course, filled with a bit of tasty blood. Yum yum. :)
From there, what would be considered plant-esophagus travels down the stem and into a pool of... well, it's difficult to tell what that fluid is at the bottom of the stem where it was torn away, but Olivia might think it's a digestive fluid akin to what is in pitcher plants. There's something of a "pocket" at the thicker base of the stem that's leaking out the bottom at the breaking point. Otherwise, the plant's physiology appears normal — leaves are where they should be, the stalk is firm, the plant probably does photosynthesis but she'd need a microscope to confirm for sure.
Is there anything else she'd like to look into physiology-wise?
no subject
1. Poisonous? It's possible to tell to some extent without eating any by touching the flesh of the plant to your forearm, lips, or tongue to see if it causes irritation from that tiny amount of exposure.
2. If it doesn't seem poisonous, is it edible? That can be tested in the more obvious way.
3. Any indication of if the hallucination nightmare effect is related to the flower physiology? Like, maybe it emits psychedelic gas from somewhere.
no subject
2. You could indeed eat these plants! They taste a bit coppery, no matter where you take a bite out of. Eating the teeth provides a satisfying (?) crunch and texture.
3. Olivia looks and looks aaaand... she can't find any notable locations where gasses would be stored. There's a chance that the bulbous base of the stem where it was torn might be a good place for that. (I forgot this next part in the above reply to you, but—) If she were to cut into the plant a little further near that section in her search, something oozy, sticky, and black leaks out alongside the rest of the plant gunk, but there's very little of it. It's also very buried in the base of the stem as a whole, almost akin to what I would describe as "hidden capillaries" in a way.