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

[amhran]

[ 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. ]

[amethystic]

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.

[amhran]

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.

[amethystic]

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

[amhran]

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. ]

[amethystic]

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.

[amhran]

I-Im coming..!

[ Caoimhe gets up and follows suit, her hands clung to her chest as if she is attempting to keep herself as little as possible. ]

Do you know... How we can escape here..?

[amethystic]

Mmmmm..... nope! We're just gonna have to find our way out. It's a labyrinth though, so there is a way. ... Probably.

[amhran]

They... Like to play games though... I don't know if they actually will let us go this time...

[amethystic]

Mm... I think it will. It doesn't do to break your toys too early, after all.

[amhran]

.... Thats how it views us?? Just as toys...? [ Caoimhe finds herself upset by that notion, ] Is it just... Lonely then?

[amethystic]

... Are you still trying to sympathize with it?

[amhran]

S-Sorry... [ She is reminded of her people saying the same things exactly to her, she flinches and gets quieter. Rather then talk further, Caoimhe will remain quiet for once and follow Fel. ]

[amethystic]

... Caoimhe, I saw it kill someone the first 'game'. It just... beat them to death.

Just... keep that in mind.

( and with that, they set off. )

[amhran]

[ WAIT. Not really wait but she stops there. Lingering. ]

... I... I have killed many people.

[ Silence. ]

[amethystic]

Did you do it for fun, though? Because they played a game in a way you didn't like?

[amhran]

What does it matter the reason...? [ Caoimhe says, feeling almost defeated. ] If when you kill a Monster, afraid that in the future it will turn and kill the innocent. Yet it yields unto you, and tells you it is afraid... Tells you, it wants freedom. Yet you still kill it anyway, because you deign the lives of people far greater then its own?

What difference in the light of that, does it make? When killing another, at the end of it all. Regardless of how, is often an inescapable sin?

[ She almost sounds mad - ashamed. Not at Fel no, not at all. At herself. At her fellow companions. At the world. ]

Who are we to judge the forests actions, when we haven't done any better then it?

[amethystic]

The difference is that you clearly want to atone, and the forest laughs when it tortures us for kicks.

( maybe it's presumptuous, but how else is she supposed to interpret caoimhe's body language and expressions? )

Intent matters just as much. Don't sell yourself short, Caoimhe.

[amhran]

[ 'Atone? Is that... Is that truly all it takes..?' The thought never occurred to her, to atone for ones past. ]

I never... [ To think it was so simple... Straightforward? The thoughts are still coursing within her mind, and she has much to think about. Uncertainties and clarities she wants to reach for. ] Im sorry... Thank you for.. Listening Fel.. For... Helping me... Everything..

[amethystic]

... Wait, seriously? Even I've thought of it. And I'm way more selfish than you are.

( ...


well she is.

but felicity looks over, curious for a moment, before shrugging it off. )

Any time.

[amhran]

[ Caoimhe will now follow quietly, she is still concerned for Fel so she attempts to stay close incase she notices Fel is not feeling well. ]

[amethystic]

( not unwell, just tired. which means that she's putting the rest of her focus into their surroundings, even with that niggling feeling of regret growing larger and larger by the minute- )

Hey. Did talking about that help at all?

[amhran]

[ She looks up, eyes catching the expression of the other. ]
... N-Now that you mention it... I do feel... Better..? Maybe its because... I finally told someone how I felt..?

[ Or maybe something else is at play here... ]

[amethystic]

That's good.

( given the unnatural regrets, though... )

It was probably this place that made you think of it. So, most likely.

( ...


felicity ignores her heavy heart. )

[amhran]

[ So then...? ]

Was that.. The purpose then - the point of this... Whole thing?

[ Caoimhe looks around hopeful, unbeknownst to her the weight of Fel's own heavy heart. ]