MINI EVENT: GARDEN OF EVIL

[sticksandbonesmods]

GARDENING

Content Warning: Carnivorous plants in a very unconventional way, horror hunger, attempted violence towards animals

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EVERY ROSE HAS ITS THORNS

You've done well to avoid the flowers, haven't you? Though some hapless victims here and there may have nearly fallen to it, but even they've been rescued and taken to safety. And the flowers can't approach the General Store, the Trader's stalls, the inn or the house Elsword has built- something prevents the forest from creeping into it ever so softly, so of course it's minions couldn't either. But they're so hungry.

Starvation tears at the flowers like claws, and what should help them- the water and sunshine- burns like ice. The only thing that satisfies is flesh and blood and bone and they're hungry. And they've had enough of being told no.

As everyone goes about their day, the flowers still. They do not reach for and try to grab anyone, and for a moment all seems well. Up until Rusty begins snarling in a way uncharacteristic of him, trying to tear the nearest one out of the earth with his teeth. He is immediately ensnared in vines and leaves, with the full intent of tearing the old dog apart. The flowers shake and there's an odd hum in the air before they all seem to turn, looking at the denizens of the nest as if they had eyes. You will not look away. You can't look away. They are everywhere. On the ground, crawling up the walls of the fence, growing larger to block off the routes to safety, and always shifting to be in your line of sight. Look at them. Look at them.

Look at them.

The madness won't creep in slowly- as they force themselves into your vision, already you can see vines creeping at the edge of your vision, tearing into flesh that isn't there. Ravenous maws biting into the people around you and not letting go. Blood and sap pouring out like ichor. Blink once, blink twice, and it shakes away to reveal the truth but if you aren't careful the visions set in again. Misfortune radiates off of the flowers in waves, tripping you up and interfering with your aim and casting. Get ready, because the flowers aren't going away without some blood.

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Comments

A

[succiduous]

[Yes, he is supposed to be dead, but better people have tried and failed to make that come true, thank you Fel—

Gnosis barely manages to dodge, an impressive feat from someone who can't do much more than stand still and cast Arts. Kjeragi instincts, he'd call them. The fireball whizzes past his head and hits a plant that had been behind him... so not a total waste.]

Remind me not to walk out in front of other Arts users, [he grumbles in the battle's lull. Then, louder:] Close your eyes and recover. I'll cover you until then.

will save: 2. rip.

[amethystic]

( lightning crackles around her hand with a ferocity that dies just as quickly as it sparked to life- her eyes are almost frenzied, but she frowns, glancing away for a moment before she resumes her wary (terrified) stare. )

What...

( except what gnosis is saying is overlaid with the cold disdain of grandfather, his dry admonishment: Honestly, Felicity, you should know better. We wouldn't want to risk an incident, would we? Come here. )

Stay away from me!

[succiduous]

[Gnosis is so tired. Why is he outside, he should've left you all to die while he continued to stare at his conspiracy board...]

Close your eyes and take a breather.

[It's not said nicely, or politely, more with a hint of irritation because the plants are closing in — and Gnosis truly, genuinely does not have time to fuck around here, so he simply sighs and raises his Arts unit skyward to blast anything that gets too close.

And yes, he purposely aims an icicle at Felicity hoping that she'll snap the hell out of it, sorry this is all he knows he is not gentle nor kindly.]

[amethystic]

( i cannot believe you would stick your psuedo-silverash in ice. heartless. terrible. 10/10 ic characterization. felicity shrieks at the cold, but- well. it definitely snaps her out of it, and gnosis may be relieved to see that her eyes are much clearer- even if she's looking a mix between horrified, confused, and downright contemptuous in the way a cat does when you have to unstick it's claw from the drapery because she can't fucking stand the cold. )

... Gnosis? But- no-

[succiduous]

[What do you MEAN he tried to stick the literal actual honest to god Enciodes Silverash HIMSELF in ice— (Gnosis needs to tell her that story some time.)

She can look at him like an angry cat as much as she'd like. Gnosis is not sorry, especially because it snapped her out of it.]

There you are. Welcome back to what I'm guessing is an equally-as-awful reality for you.

[amethystic]

--Wait, did- Did I attack you?

( no more contempt, just full on horror and guilt- )

I- I thought... that my old teacher was here...

[succiduous]

I managed to avoid it.

[Not a yes or no, but a "yeah I dodged", typical of someone who really just does not Care that she did at this point.]

Keep your eyes off of the plants if you can. That's how they're spreading these affects.

[amethystic]

... Oh damn, good for you then, I don't fuckin' miss.

( she is genuinely impressed! and. genuinely, horrifically remorseful. stupid. stupid, stupid- this is why that man got you in the first place- of course it wasn't him, you brought an axe down upon his head when you were thirteen-

felicity inhales, covering her eyes with her hands for a moment. her head hurts and her eyes sting. )

... If it was nighttime I could finish this properly...

[succiduous]

[Yeah, being a Rhodes Islander does that to you. Also being from Kjerag does that to you. He wouldn't say he's a front-liner, but he at least knows how to move out of the way of projectiles.]

The inn is completely safe. [He informs, and then uses the spear-tip of his Arts unit to pierce one of the plants before firing off an icy blast that sends it flying.] I recommend a tactical retreat until you can get your bearings again.

[amethystic]

I- right.

( she hates having to retreat. but she knows damn well there's value in it, especially if she's still getting auditory hallucinations- but before she runs off, she pauses. )

... I'm sorry. I know I was under the influence, but- still.