sticksandbones | Event & TDM 003

Entry tags:

Event & TDM 003

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)

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

hey

( she should have known those flowers would get worse, with how adamantly rusty was digging them up up until he just... stopped, when grief claimed the poor dog. should have just rotted them all from the start, when the first leaf curled around her hand and drew blood.

now she can feel her own magic all around her, reflecting back like a floral carnival mirror, and she hates it. the flowers watch her. the roots and vines try and trip her, grab at her as she walks and tear at what they can with glee. but she manages. she always does.

you, however, may not be so lucky. as a pack seems to reach out and trip and grab, she snaps her fingers with a flourish and pink lightning seems to burst forth, singing the folliage and driving it away. ... for now. )

Hey, you good? It didn't get you, did it?

it's alright
potential content warnings include child abandonment, homelessness, child soldiers, abuse, torture, murder.

( for the life she's lived, felicity may come off as well-adjusted. she may come off as assured and comfortable and at peace. and for the most part, she is. but eighteen years are not enough to make up for it all when she's lived most of those years in suffering, and only two of them free. doubts linger, and regrets hold on like a vice grip no matter how much she says there's nothing she can do to change it all but move on and do better.

she hadn't meant to go into the forest. not after it fucking blinded her last time.

and now she's there, skulking soundlessly through the foliage, eyes sharp- you think she's hunted? no, never. she is the hunter. she always has been. running from her master has done nothing to dull her teeth yet. the question is, do you make the mistake of startling her? or do you at least announce your presence first? )

i'll take care of you

( felicity isn't the sort who parties, so to speak. she likes to sit down with a cozy drink and good food and simply watch the festivities- and this is no different, but the lingering weariness of the labyrinth doesn't hurt any, either. if she spots you looking uneasy, be it the recent happenings or the shadowy hosts, she speaks up softly: )

... The Shopkeeper and Trader do right by us. The food's good. It's gonna be alright.

wildcard

( none of these work? shoot your shot! available in pms or at amity_rose! )

[ Chooses violence - I mean. Caoimhe seems to stumble forward, and bump into the other. Completely caught unawares, and horrified at her lack of direction within this labyrinth of a forest. ]

I-I'm so sorry - -

[ She manages to blurt out. ]

( felicity almost pulls the knife she keeps hidden in her sleeve out, tense and eyes blank with the need to survive, but she sees red hair and fearful green eyes before she sees teeth and the aftervision of claws-

oh

its. caoimhe.

soft woman. gentle woman. bit of a crybaby, but felicity doesn't hate it. after a too-still moment, she shifts back to standing properly, any sign of the blade hidden in her sweater gone. )

You're okay. The forest is playing with us. ... But we'll do better together. Do you need a physical anchor?

... I do not mean to relay on you... If you could... [ Caoimhe's voice is hoarse, and rough. Damaged from the emptying of her stomach she had been doing before hand. ] Are you... Are you well yourself?

No. But we carry on.

( no time for fear, no time for regret. you hit the ground running, and when you fumble and fall, you stand right back up again. no rest for "the great miss y".

she's used to it at least. but felicity does pause long enough to consider the implications of what she said- )

I'll rest when we get out of here, promise. But there's no time.

[ That surprises her, when Fel states this. Her eyes lift to see the other, and she is reminded of when Cormac had said exactly this to her. ] A-Alright... Do you understand... What is going on here?

Mmm... the forest wants to play, I guess. Not a lot of people "played" last time, when it had the cards- and it was being fairly benign, so it must feel slighted. So... now we're lost in the woods.

[ Caoimhe looks queasy, her hand on her stomach. ]

Why... Does it want to play..? I suppose... It is fae like in nature, and the fae folk enjoy those things... But... If it is so lonely, I wish it would simply let us know in a kinder manner. [ Her voice gets quieter, finding herself tired from this whole ordeal. Attempts at rationalizing the realm around her. ] If it wishes for company, there is no harm in having it... But in this way... I-It... Much like a child seems to not... Realize... The harm..

... And if it's doing the harm on purpose?

( felicity's voice is level, steady- but somehow, it feels like there's an icy blade hidden in her words. not for caoimhe, but for the forest itself. )

[ On purpose, the only way to harm others is ever on purpose. Intention means everything, and the weight of such deliverance is sin in itself - in some ways. ]

We all have times in us, where we wish to harm another. It does not mean we act on it... The Forest needs to understand... What we all... Ultimately have to learn...

[ To be human? To not be selfish? Caoimhe is still tired even when she speaks, but she stops her movements. Looking at the forest around them. ]

What if it can't learn - [ She says out loud. ] Then we must teach it, as we must teach anyone who does not understand. [ Her hand grips tightly. ] And if it does not care...? Then... We must find a way to make it care...
[ It trembles. ] If in the end it does not matter...? [ Then, I don't want to be here anymore. Let the Forest take me. I must have done something, deserving of such ultimatum - of such inevitably equating to hell. ]

I am sorry... I did not mean to make such dark conversation.

It's good to have hope and faith in others. But when it comes to things like this forest? It has to earn that good will.

( twigs snap. something is coming, snarling breaths hanging heavy-

felicity grabs caoimhe and ducks for the underbrush, still and silent. did she even make a sound? )

...

[ Caoimhe takes the others words to heart, they are right - Good Will is earned, is it not? Before she could think to say anything, movements are made and she jostles suddenly along with Fel. There is a slight noise that escapes her mouth, due to pain - mainly because she still feels ill and her stomach churns from the mix of anxiety and fear burning within. Though when they both stop moving, she slows her breath, lowers it, and it is evident that Caoimhe knows methods in how to hide well. ]

...

[ She does not speak, but she waits. Looking... ]

( it... sounds like something trudges by? but keen eyes see nothing. less keen eyes also see nothing. they might as well just be looking at a scenic forest that happens to want them dead.

because they are.

felicity doesn't move from their hiding spot yet, and instead speaks softly- )

You're really pale. Can I try to heal you?

[ The sound of emptiness comes upon them... A part of her welcomes the silence of the forest. It was needed after hearing their whispers, and their gnawing on her conscious. Fel speaks to her gently, and Caoimhe turns her head. Offering her hand, speaking at her level. ]

You... You can heal as well? My... Healing can close wounds... I cannot... Fix ailments.. I... Emptied my stomach earlier... Many times over...

Mmhm. ... But, the method's embarrassing and I can't change it, so I'm sorry for what's required. I, uh. Kiss it better.

Literally.

[ Caoimhe's eyes widen at first, and then she cants her head thinking. ]

... Truly..? Are you certain you want to kiss me? I... [ Emptied her stomach. But she takes a moment with that realization and with her hands pressed against her body. A warm wind seems to envelop her, the scent of the ocean following suit. After a short moment, she is completely cleaned. ] I do not want to fight, I would hate to make you upset... I do not know how your magic works though... Where do you need to kiss?

Anywhere works. It's- it's just a little embarrassing. But its effective.

Alright...

[ Caoimhe tentatively offers her hand, Fel would notice the slow trembling. Not out of fear of her, but from the way she felt. ]

( felicity takes caoimhe's hand, squeezing it gently, before she hops to her tiptoes and presses a soft kiss to her forehead.

caoimhe will notice that as soft pink lights seem to twinkle into existance and then pop like bubbles, any physical pain she felt is gone, as is her nausea and any current emotional fatigue and turmoil.

neat! )

[ Caoimhe feels the tickling of her feelings bubble away, and she finds herself calmed after a short moment. She falls into her usual bouts of emotions, and gently squeezes the others hand back. ]

How wonderful! I even feel my mood has brighten if ever just a bit. Such beautiful magic, how are you able to relieve the stresses of others away like so? You are amazing Fel... I could not imagine. You have my thanks.

[ She just holds the others hand within her own. The oceans within her eyes swirling warmly while the stars gently glimmer and glow from its hues. ]

Mn... my dad developed it, for us. His kids. And I inherited it. It's no problem, I just... get a little embarrassed.

( ... ah, there's the drawback: in giving caoimhe her health and energy back, felicity drew from her own stock and now? now she is tired. but there's no time for rest. she looks up to the sky and listens. )

Think it's safe to try again? The maze, I mean.

I... Think so... [ Caoimhe appreciates the small bit of information shared with her. Cherishing its worth, but when her eyes note of the weariness found within their expression. She cannot help but worry. ] Here... Lets hold onto to each other..? That way we dont, get separated either.

Okay. ... Sorry, I get a little tired whenever I do that. I can still fight though.

Will you.. Get tired for too long? [ She hopes not. Caoimhe feels a little bad, but she genuinely feels glad that the other could relieve so much pain from her. ]

Just need a nap. But I was already gonna take a nap when we got out of this. S'fine.

( felicity crawls out of the ditch with ease, stretching her back as she does. )

C'mon.

Felicity Morais | Original | Oldbie

it's alright

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tw: emetophobia mention

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