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

II.

[simplicitas]

[They should keep a scorecard of the times Elsword shows up to save Toge. Right now he's two for two, but that's not a bad thing; saving people is second nature to him, and it's something for him to focus on through all the hallucinations.

Toge collapses and spits blood, and as the flowers close in, a sword cleaves through the stems seconds before they can sink their teeth into him.]

We should retreat back to the inn.

[The plants can't get in there, and Elsword takes the blood leaking from Toge's mouth to mean he's injured, that he needs healing, not that he's overused his ability at all.

The knight offers out a hand.]

Come on.

[cursedwords]

[ Technique or not, he could still use healing but since he can't do that himself he's just going to have to live with it. Nothing like his vocal chords snapping to brighten his day.

It's pretty gross, admittedly, to watch. At least with Elsword there to watch his back, he might make it to the inn in time before he's overcome. There's nothing else he can do. His speech has backfired and injured him. It would take...a good amount of rest to make it possible to keep helping.

He's fine, he'd say he's fine even though he looks frightful and after helpfully wiping his hand on his own jacket, he'll reach out for Elsword. Excuse him a moment as he doesn't quite look up yet.

It's just some minor internal bleeding, nothing to be worried about. ]

[simplicitas]

[Ayo this seems like something to worry about.

There's no problem if Toge doesn't look up, because Elsword has the tendency to just pick people up without warning, especially if its to get out of a dangerous situation; it means in this case, Toge gets scooped just in time, sort of ragdolled under Elsword's arm unintentionally as the knight swings around to slice another approaching plant with his sword. Then, and only then, can they safely retreat back to the inn.

At that point, Elsword sets Toge on one of the armchairs in the lobby.]

Where are you injured?

[cursedwords]

[ The wheeze when he's picked up is the only protest that Elsword gets because Toge can't speak at the moment. He doesn't fidget though, he's feeling a little lightheaded and he's been carried around injured before. Wouldn't be the first time, won't be the last.

He's reckless.

Toge looks a bit breathless, just from the exertion of being moved, at least he's stopped coughing up blood. He waves his hand a little bit as though Elsword misunderstands, because well, he kind of does and he just touches his throat. He's okay though! Even if he's gone really pale. ]

[simplicitas]

[Elsword is also reckless, it's okay. They can be reckless together (they should not do this they will die).]

Something with your throat...? Oh— your magic.

[he hasn't forgotten how Toge sort of compelled him to help with the flowers the first time around, and he definitely saw Toge blowing things up out there. Overuse of abilities is not something Elsword knows how to deal with, but he hums and thinks and decides to try helping anyway. He waves a hand about to summon small, golden-glowing sigils to his fingers, and then leans forward to aim them precisely at Toge's neck. He's not touching him, so the sigils are simply flying off his fingertips and landing against Toge's skin instead of anywhere super precise in that area.]

Maybe this will help? It's a healing spell.

[cursedwords]

[ Fortunately it's a consequence of overuse that he causes injury to his throat, so a healing spell? Exactly what he needs to have the burn stop. Toge smiles and offers a thumbs up.

It doesn't mean he doesn't have to cough a few times and he tapped his chest a few times. ]

Mentaiko. [ He's okay, thank you! His voice might still be a bit hoarse, but it's back. ]

[simplicitas]

[Oh! Good!! He helped!!]

Your throat got pretty messed up, right? It sounds a lot better. Would water help it more?

[They can't just head back out there to continue fighting, after all. Elsword has to trust that the other fighters will be fine in their absence.]

[cursedwords]

[ Toge could, and would, run right back out there and go again. That healing spell was just like the reverse curse technique that he wished he knew how to use sometimes. He nodded, water would be good. ]

Salmon. [ At least it's not burning his throat to talk at this point. A small grace, thanks to Elsword's help. ]

[simplicitas]

Okay. Sit right there.

[It won't take Elsword very long to come back with water. It's a short run to the inn's kitchen, and then it's just a matter of getting a glass and filling it and realising that he's sort of covered in plant goo and should wash his hands...

Anyway, he returns after a couple minutes with a glass and hands it over.]

[cursedwords]

[ Toge accepts the water and uncovers his face so he can drink it. It also doesn't burn on the way down, that's a plus and he swallows it in big gulps.

Using his power exhausted his throat and made him thirsty. ]