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

[cursedwords]

[ It's difficult to know what he can do without seeing it in action. It's a hard concept to guess - and more than that, it's a difficult concept to even comprehend. Controlling things with his voice sounds broad, but people don't really think through the repercussions of that.

Toge responds with a smile. He's not going to turn down help. ]

Salmon. [ He's okay. His voice is a little hoarse, but he just needs to let Shalem at it for a moment or two. ]

[prozaic]

[shalem pauses, waiting to hear if there's more-- but really, he's also attempting to understand what the boy meant by that, or if there's something else that he might have missed. surely salmon is not the only thing he has to say...?

but he remembers that he can't get distracted, because the plants are here, the vines are already reaching for him, and he wrenches his gaze from the young man behind him to the plants.

oh, but it's so painful to look at them, like he's about to have a terrible migraine, and shalem blindly lashes out with his bare hand, forgetting for that moment that he has a sabre hanging from his belt. but is his hand truly bare when he has fire coming out of it, scorching the vines that come too close?

except there are a lot of plants already leaning in their direction, swarming in to replace the ones shalem incinerated.]

[cursedwords]

[ It does make his vision swim when he's looking at them. Like he's trying to be drawn in, but can't be if he resists enough. How long that's going to last though is another matter.

This looks dangerous, but when the fire appears, he lets out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. Toge is used to protecting people.

There's so many. It might be more strategic to retreat. That or he can go bigger. Or maybe if he makes them still it would be easier? Decisions decisions... ]

[prozaic]

Ah... [shalem sighs more than exhales when he notes the vines heading in his direction, though he doesn't know how many there are or how far they are, given how his eyes are watering and feeding into his migraine-- or would it be the other way around, his migraine feeding into his difficulties with sight.

terrible, terrible.]

I think... we should start thinking about leaving. [he punctuates that with a step back, though he knows the local flora won't give up without a fight-- that's why he abandons his fire in favour of his lightning, his more potent powers.

bolts of electricity, coloured a deep indigo and purple, crackle around his hands and make his hair frizz.]

Start running to the campfire the Shopkeeper set up, if it's still there, hm? I'll cover you.

[cursedwords]

[ Toge nods. He understands a strategic retreat just time and while Shalem says he'll cover Toge, that's such a role reversal he can't help but want to help. ]

Salmon. [ He says in agreement but before he turns to go, he's going to make it really easy for Shalem.

Toge takes a deep breath, and shouts so all of the plants writhing within earshot of his call- ]

DON'T MOVE.

[ Every one of those writhing vines will freeze in place. It will be like electrocuting fish in a barrel.

Then with a nod of acknowledgement and a little wave, he'll head in the direction Shalem suggested. They're just plants, he probably has a good one minute window to zap them to his his heart's content. ]

[prozaic]

[ah... well, he wasn't expecting the boy to help him while he's supposed to be watching their backs, but he appreciates the help anyway. when the enemy isn't moving, aiming is much, much easier.]

Thank you-- now keep going. You really don't want to get in the way of this. [the recoil in itself will be terrible. no need for collateral.

shalem unleashes as much of his power as he can, electricity running up and down his arms, blazing through the air, scorching the vines before him and releasing a stink that stings his nose, though he keeps his mouth firmly shut just so he won't taste it.

it's been a while since he's felt this pain. having his arts unit always helped mitigate symptoms... and without it, he's dealing with the full consequences of his actions. the pain, the headiness of releasing his powers after controlling himself for so long, and his body's lack of familiarity with this, because it really has been too long.

it really hurts, and when shalem finishes, he's just barely hanging onto consciousness, and staggers away from the site.]

[cursedwords]

[ Toge did leave as he seemed to, well clearing much of the distance so that Shalem could do it safely, but he didn't feel comfortable just leaving him behind. He was in relative safety.

Shalem walking across the the distance would catch his interest, especially if he looks unsteady.

He'd come back for him, swooping in with a solid arm to try and hold him up. Toge might be small, but he was pretty strong. It would probably be alright. ]

[prozaic]

[even as he's removed many of the plants attempting to eat him, there are still more, because of course. they're surrounded by forest, why would there not be even more around? the serpent fires off more of his magic to protect himself, even if his weakening state means that some things slip through the cracks, so to speak. plants scrape at his limbs and face, tug on his hair and tail, and his best method is to fight them off by burning them.

so shalem is quite glad for the help, embarrassed as he is. it's for that reason that shalem doesn't put all of his weight on the boy.]

Ah, thank you. But shameful, for you to help me like this when I came in to help you in the first place, but... Oh well.

[cursedwords]

Fish flakes. [ His tone is emphatic protest. What's important is everyone getting out alive. It shouldn't be shameful or embarrassing, not really.

Toge's grip with his arm is strong, he's got muscles even if he's quite small. He knows he looks pathetic, but he would say he isn't.

It's easy enough to navigate to safety based on Shalem's first instructions. ]

[prozaic]

[yet another fish-related comment-- shalem can't help but laugh, softly not because he worries about aggravating his injuries, but because that's the only sort of laugh he knows how to make without a terrible mental state.]

I think I'm coming to understand your quirks. [it may present some communication issues, but food-only speech is not one of the strangest quirks he's encountered over the years.] Even if I haven't managed to get a hang of the language barrier yet.

I'll be sure to pay you back someday.

[cursedwords]

[ It's alright if Shalem finds them amusing, Toge isn't offended. He smiles a little. ] Salmon.

[ It's good he's understanding them, or at least thinks he does. Toge's been giving people easy mode so far, because it's a learning curve. Perhaps they don't have to learn, but he appreciates it all the same. He needed some way to communicate and this is the best he has. ]

[prozaic]

Close enough. [shalem is being silly, now. loopy. tired from his exertion even if he was fighting for only a few minutes.]

My name is... Shalem.

[though he doesn't expect a proper answer out of the boy. he can just perhaps be "the fin boy".]

[cursedwords]

[ He shouldn't, but he's holding up Shalem so his hand isn't free and he can't pull out his phone. He speaks very softly, mostly because the one who would pay for it is himself. ]

Toge Inumaki [ Ah, he shivers a little bit, but that's good. He's strong enough to shake off a curse that small. It'd be pathetic if he wasn't. ]

[prozaic]

[shalem's brow wrinkles when he hears the boy's voice-- it sounds rough, and getting rougher, and shalem raises his hand to stymie more words. then he tries to get his weight on his feet again, to walk properly without needing assistance.

he feels guilty now.]

You needn't force your voice on account of me.

[cursedwords]

Fish flakes. [ Since he has his hand back he waves it back and forth. His voice is stronger when he speaks in his cipher, specifically because it's harmless words, for the most part. ]

Mentaiko. [ He's fine, he's fine. ]