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

[prozaic]

Magic everywhere, is it? [not that shalem does not believe her-- he has no reason disbelieve anyone when it comes to this place-- but because he's already thinking about this circumstance.

how can one harness such a thing? if the ambient magic (what a phrase! these worlds shalem's been to are so different from terra) here can do that, what else can this magic do?]

That's fascinating, really. The way magic works in this world... Ah, how I would like to learn more about it.

Have you managed to use it yourself?

[amethystic]

I don't generally need to tap into the ambient magic- I'm a wellspring myself- but I very well could if I wanted. That said, most of the time it makes for a good meditation partner. The, ah... regrets are new.

( she speaks as if the magic is something sentient, something sapient. something to greet like an old friend.

to her, it is.

felicity toys idly with a lock of hair as she watches the lights shine and reflect off of her mug of tea. )

If you want to harness it with a focus, I couldn't help, though. I've never used one.

[prozaic]

Regrets? [he tilts his head and his tail flicks, more like a curious puppy than a serpent.

then again, the word is entirely different from what he expected. in fact, it's like she delved into an entire different topic of conversation entirely.]

What would you have to regret about magic? Or is it something else?

[amethystic]

--You didn't notice?

( ... man, she's jealous. even she's been rattled by the manor and the labyrinth bringing up old things she thought she's buried, thoughts she can't shake off like she otherwise could. )

... Something else, we'll say.

[prozaic]

I'm afraid I haven't any talent for magic. [and he waves his hand at the sabre at his belt. a typical weapon for someone who doesn't use magic at all-- it's obvious what he's implying by all of this.

which is a damn lie and shalem knows... and is wholly shameless in making. but it's also half the truth, when he doesn't have talent in magic in that way. to him, it's simply an energy to be converted.]

So all I have are the words of others who are better than me.

[amethystic]

Mm. Since... I want to say earlier today, something just... burst, in the ambiant magic. A few people have been out of sorts- with the flowers making you hallucinate if you look at 'em and the magic in the air pulling regrets to the forefront of your mind and the forest making you hear things, it's not been easy for anyone.

( as she speaks, it feels like she lets the exhaustion of dealing with everything slip forward. )

Find yourself reminiscing, any? It probably wasn't your doing.

[prozaic]

Flowers, you say? [of course that is what he's concerned about, because he looks down at the jacket loose around his shoulders, at an inside pocket where his small bouquet of dried lavenders is tucked into. he's a bit concerned about them absorbing the ambient magic... but then again, they're dried. does magic in the air still affect things that are no longer living?

he takes his eyes away from them-- no, they're surely safe for him to carry around.]

Well, I suppose these one are safe. [he pats them.] I came to this world with them, surely magic can't affect something from another world like that...?

[amethystic]

Nah, those should be good. The ones outside all over the place are the real worry- guess they aren't approaching because of the fire.

( which. good. it's awful enough that the flowers are acting like some day of the dead nonsense. they're flowers. nevermind the stolen powers they use-

felicity huffs and shakes her head before sighing. )

... The lavender should be fine. ( you already said that. ) Anyway, I'm Felicity.

[prozaic]

I am Shalem. [he smiles as he pushes his lavenders further into his jacket, just so they're in no danger of falling out. of course, this would be easier if he wore it properly, but wearing it loosely like this is part of his fashion sense.]

It's a pleasure to meet you, even with circumstances being what they are.

[amethystic]

( as one goth gf to one goth bf, she gets it. )

Mm, I can't complain about good food and a bit of music, really. Better than nothing, yeah?

[prozaic]

[now that sentiment, he can agree on... even if he hasn't actually taken the food yet. no trust in that, not yet.]

Of course. Though, I suppose something like a tent would be nice if we're to be out here for a while.

[amethystic]

The inn is open and well-stocked. I moved out since Elsword- one of the other folks here- built a house and invited me and a few others to join him, but it was sturdy and I still borrow the kitchen occasionally. And since there's so few people, it's basically free.

( he could do like rennuid tried to do of course, and make himself a little outdoorsy spot, but. well.



demon flowers. )

[prozaic]

[well. yet another person pointing out this man with a house... who apparently allows people to live in it. while shalem is no stranger to communal living, he would rather have a space of his own rather than bum it off of someone.

not to mention, is it truly free? what's the catch?

no, he can't trust that. so shalem chases a different, but adjacent topic.]

Is it truly that easy to built a house here?

[amethystic]

I'm not sure what he did! Apparently he worked with the shopkeeper? I'm a little disappointed I didn't get to see.

( she's an architect and they left her out and she is heartbroken over it, truly (no).

but there's so few options here, honestly. she can't blame rennuid for declining the inn, nor elsword for wanting his own space. she can't say she wasn't thinking about it either, but then a nice, handsome boy her age offered a room at his place and like.


she wasn't going to say no. for nice handsome boy reasons but also that is her friend reasons. )

Honestly you'd have to ask either of them for details.

[prozaic]

Well... Speaking to the shopkeeper is enough of a starting point for me. [because then he wouldn't have to speak with this homeowner and have to come up with excuses as for why he would prefer having his own house instead of living with other people.]

More than enough, in fact, when he's the one seemingly building these things we need. That's already a lot of legwork bypassed on my part.

[amethystic]

Mm, I'm kinda curious as to how he did it, honestly- I'm something of an architect.

( yes she's eighteen, why do you ask? anyway. )

He's the big one in dark red- a little intimidating, but he and his sister have treated us well while we're here.

[prozaic]

I may have seen him around already. [though "seen" might not be the best word for it, in shalem's opinion. he nevr really saw any details on the man, and sometimes he's still not sure if he's looking at a mass of shadows or something else entirely.

the shopkeeper makes him wary. everyone here makes him wary.]

Exactly... how friendly is he, by the by?

[amethystic]

( she thinks for a moment, before looking back at the shadow man at the pyre. even bundled in those dark red and brown cloths, he looks cold. felicity returns her attention to shalem. )

He's like a sad dad.

[prozaic]

[shalem follows her line of sight, turning his head to look at the shopkeeper-- he knows the man, of course. he's already seen him. but still, it's good to always be sure.

because things can always change, whether they're seemingly a man with a shadowy body, or more solid like the girl he's speaking to.]

Ah, so he's not as imposing as he seems! [then he smilings, sighing softly. shalem hasn't watched him long enough to understand him, after all. it takes him a while to get the hang of anyone, and he hasn't been watching the shopkeeper for long.] Which is a relief... I think.

[amethystic]

Nah, just a weird old man who'd prefer we don't, like. Die. He's not so bad.

( though, she does glance at shalem curiously- )

You think?

[prozaic]

[shalem simply gives her a little shrug.]

I would prefer not to make assumptions or solidify an opinion on someone without even having met them properly. Perhaps I thought something of him just by looking at him...

[then he just shakes his head.] Of course, I was wrong, and thus I'm reminded that I should keep an open mind.