EVENT 018

[sticksandbonesmods]

LIKE BRANCHES ON A TREE

A WINTER WONDERLAND

For a brief time, the world seems brighter; the sun pokes through the clouds more, and the gloomy atmosphere of the constant overcast days lessens ever so slightly. The sky seems bigger, brighter… but, it is the end of autumn as we know it and with the change of leaves comes bitter frost. The change is practically overnight — one morning grants pretty frosted windows and pleasantly crunchy leaves underfoot, and the next the world is being softly blanketed in snow.

Heimr stands at the window of the General Store, and every time he sees someone not dressed for the weather, he immediately calls them in. No one leaves without a proper pair of winter shoes and a coat, and the more you try to decline, the more he adds. Hats. Scarves. Gloves. Snow pants. Just make it easy on the both of you. Although, if you do feel you need that for the weather, he’ll oblige … And at least everything is nice to look at alongside being high quality.

Those with the bone ring may hear childish giggling as they leave, see the flick of a fox tail out of the corner of their eyes — but Plum is content to stay in the shadows still.

Winter frost and the falling snow seem to spread everywhere — Callan’s lake already has ice forming a thin shell on top while Terho’s cabin is blanketed in white. The river water is crisp and clear as ever, but the cold is bone deep and the Guardian tires from it already. Even the beach seems washed over with the cold.

Winter is here, and the cutting chill already tells you one thing: this won’t be an easy one.

WHISPERS IN THE WOODS

As the weather worsens, the forest and fog seem to open in sprawling paths. Some are inviting, a warm feeling in the air and even plant life poking through the snow still, an early spring! Some are alluring, wind beckoning and urging you forward. Come home, it says. Come home.

Even if you know it’s a bad idea, others might not — will you really let Mamika wander into the woods alone? Not that it’s truly her. The forest isn’t above tricks to get what it wants, and will lure you down these paths with illusions and mirages, the sounds of voices you know and love calling for you, for help, for anything and anyone — and maybe that is a trick, but can you really risk it?

Regardless, once you’re on the path, there’s no going back. It leads to a dead end and the fog closes around you. You’re trapped, alone in the woods, and all eyes are on you.

A DIFFERENT “ME”

… But only for a few hours. After that, you’re free to go, unharmed and unscathed. It’s just that… are you really you? Your clothes are different. Your memories too. Maybe now you remember making a different choice at a major crossroad. Maybe you didn’t save them. Maybe you did. Maybe everything went wildly wrong, and maybe it actually went right. But you’re different now, despite remembering your life in the abandoned Grove and all the people here clearly.

As you wander back off the path into town, you know this is right. You’ve been trapped here for however long with the people here, and maybe you no longer love them like this, but you know them, know yourself, and know what’s happened.

You’re just from a different walk of life, now.

SPARK NOTES

CLICK TO EXPAND!

A WINTER WONDERLAND

Winter has come, and during the light snowstorms, Heimr is lovingly forcing everyone into winter clothing. The more you say no, the more clothing you get. Be warm or else!

WHISPERS IN THE WOODS

Mysterious pathways open up in the woods. Should you go into them as they tempt you with murmurs and whispers, you'll be trapped for a few hours by a fog wall you can't pass through.

A DIFFERENT “ME”

But don't worry, you'll come out fine in the end - just with a few memories, or maybe even your physical body, changed entirely. Everyone will still recognize you as "you", and you'll still recognize the others... but maybe you know something has changed. Or maybe you don't.

OOC

Everyone thank Aspen for this month's player plot! Enjoy playing your AUs (or not) and get ready for winter. OOC Plotting Lives Here if you'd like to plot anything out!

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Comments

[poaceae]

[ He opens his mouth to answer, then stops. He has... never asked himself this question before. He pulls the hat off, revealing what would be long, gorgeous blonde hair, if it wasn't made of grass. It is full of flowers, though!

He stares at the hat in his hand. He is having maybe some kind of existential crisis here. ]

I... Maybe? Is part of me a hat?

[ How is a person supposed to feel about that? Some kind of way??? ]

[purevanillacookie]

[ Oh! He can take it off! So it is not attached? Oh look at his hair! Vanilla wants to fuss over it. It looks like it needs a gentle clipping or two. They could make it so much tidier.

Though he notices the crisis and tempers down his desire to fuss. ]

Forgive me, my friend, I do not mean to make you question yourself. You are merely who you are, you do not need to worry about such things! It matters not if it is a part of you! I was once a Cookie, and many parts of me that one would consider clothing would also a part of me! It is simply who you are, and you a perfect!

[poaceae]

[ It may or may not have been cut by hand at some point, very badly. It's hard to tell when it's all grass?

He frowns. It does matter, because it used to be obvious. Now it's just another reminder that he's not Finn.

Then he squints at PV. He looks pretty human, not like candy at all. ]

Why aren't you a cookie now?

[purevanillacookie]

[ The frown makes him instinctively reach out and gently set his hand on the others head, then ruffle the grass-hair. A soft, parental touch before he pulls his hand away. ]

Mm, I have been told I was brought to a world before this one, where my form was altered by a malevolent being to be used as a weapon against those she hated. Why I did not revert upon being brought here, I am unsure.

[poaceae]

[ He doesn't actually protest, but he does make a face and shove his hat back over his head as soon as PV pulls back. ]

Oh.

[ 'Altered by a malevolent being'. That's not too different from Fern, is it? Except he wasn't made to be a weapon. He was made because Grass Wizard "thought it would be cool". He wishes Jake hadn't stopped him from beating that guy to a pulp. He wishes he'd killed Finn when he had the chance. ]

I guess part of me is a hat now.

[purevanillacookie]

[ Cute. The very picture of a moody teenager. He's learning how to deal with them! A.B.A. and Fel were both greatly helpful. So far he's found food to be a wonderful motivator. ]

Indeed, it is, and that is perfectly all right. You are you, the whole of you, whether it is a hat made of grass or hair with flowers in it. And there is no reason to fret about it.

[ Peepaw smile activated. ]

If you do not care for articles of clothing, my friend, would you like some food?

[poaceae]

[ He makes an EVEN MORE disgruntled face. ]

I don't eat.

[ Please don't feed him candy, he already left one pile of slightly-mashed candies on the ground last month. ]

[purevanillacookie]

Hm, can't?

[ Like Loop or more a "I don't need to so why bother". In a truly classic moody teenager manner. ]

[poaceae]

It doesn't go anywhere.

[ He can like. Stick it in there? But he doesn't have a stomach. Or tastebuds, for that matter. ]

I use photosynthesis. "Light and water combine so I can make my own food."

[ He has definitely just memorized that line from a book so he doesn't look like an idiot when someone asks him about it. ]

[purevanillacookie]

[ HM! Maybe he can do something like with Loop... ]

Thank you for letting me know, and I do apologize for my prying. If you wish me to stop, please do say so! I do not wish to make you uncomfortable.

[ Maybe find a way to infuse water with something... ]

[poaceae]

Oh.

[ Right, that's a thing he can do. He forgot he has the option of just not having this conversation. ]

Yeah. Yeah, I was gonna go look for monsters.

[purevanillacookie]

[ Oh, sweetheart. His smile is soft and he nods, taking the change of subject. ]

A noble endeavor! I am aware of Monsters in the forest, but they are quite difficult to deal with as they tend to come back. And the forest itself is worrisome, as it is the domain of our captor, and thus under his control. You may get lost, or corrupted by his influence.

[poaceae]

Ah, I'm not worried.

[ His sword errupts from his hand with a schwing, then disappears again. ]

I get lost all the time, it's no big deal.

[purevanillacookie]

[ The sudden Sword and then Not Sword makes him bleat a little in surprise, a soft blah! noise. His ears perk forward in startlement. ]

Oh! A marvelous skill!

[ It makes him think of Cookie with the cake arm from Dark Enchantress' group. Fascinating! ]

Oh! I do not doubt your prowess, my friend! And indeed, I do not doubt you are well acquainted with adventure, yet if you would humor a worried old man? Time has a way of altering in there, where only hours may pass for you, months may go by here. If you would go with someone who has the enchantment of the Golden Glasses, and thus would keep you on paths that are safe?

[poaceae]

I know how to camp and stuff...

[ And he doesn't have to worry about food, so he can survive in the wild pretty indefinitely... He is not thinking about snow right now. ]

Magic glasses, huh? That could come in handy. Where do I get some?

[purevanillacookie]

[ He IS thinking about snow, because plants!! Get frost bite too!! He wants to shove mittens onto - ah he doesn't even know they're name!

He's a horrible Grove Grandpa. ]

Heimr will gladly give you a pair in exchange for some shells, though you may also request someone who has a pair to go with you! My Staff is enchanted with the magic, and I know a few others have pairs of their own! And it may be good to have someone with you who can care for any potential injuries you may obtain!

[ Fuss fuss fuss. ]

And if I may ask? What is your name?

[poaceae]

Shells... I can do shells!

[ This is starting to actually sound like a quest! Fun! Something to do besides be angry that he didn't get to kill Finn! ]

Oh, I'm Fern.

[purevanillacookie]

[ Hehe, excitement! So he likes Adventure. It sparks memories deep in Vanilla's heart. ]

You can find shells by digging in the river, as well as medallions. There are little black blobs called Seaborne there but they shouldn't hurt you. The shells and medallions will help you buy quite a many things, including a cloak that hides you during night and a lantern that never goes out. So I have heard.

[ If he wants adventure, Vanilla will frame it like adventure, then. And he puts his hand on his chest and bows gently. ]

It's a pleasure to meet you, Fern. I am Pure Vanilla Cookie- though I suppose I may drop the Cookie part, as I am thus no longer.

[poaceae]

[ Yep, you've unlocked it. His eyes are practically sparkling as he listens to talk about magic lanterns and invisibility cloaks. He makes a mental note about the Seaborne, but it probably won't do him any good. ]

Oh, yeah. [ He grimaces. ] I got some funny looks whenever I introduced myself as Fern the Human.

[ He IS human! Sort of! Past tense! But people thought he was just copying Finn. He hated it. ]

[purevanillacookie]

[ Well lucky for Fern, PV has no idea who Finn is! Instead the Staff blinks lightly to the thought of the boy getting funny looks. But if he is human? He may be human where he is. ]

Mm, I understand completely, my friend. I will address you however you wish me to address you! If you prefer Fern the Human, then that is how it is.

[ He can't judge. ]

[poaceae]

Just Fern is fine. Not like being human is special anymore anyway, if there's a whole island full of 'em. 'Finn the Human'. Who even cares?

[ Just ignore him, he's clearly just grumbling to himself. ]

[purevanillacookie]

[ Oh grumpy baby! Grumpy baby plant! Moody teenager! Vanilla wants to hug him. ]

Fern it is, then. If I may ask, Fern? May I give you a list of things to be on the lookout if you do insist on going into the forest, after getting your glasses.

[ He will cry if you go in before hand. ]

[poaceae]

Oh, yeah, sure man. I mean, I've been in there before, it's not that big a deal.

[purevanillacookie]

[ Beams! Yes, let him give you a few side quests. He begins patting himself down to find the hidden pockets to pull out a small nubby pencil and a pad of paper that has been so thoroughly adorned with a variety of stickers on the front. If Fern looks at them carefully, they each represent one of PV's children. ]

Excellent! There are plenty of mushrooms that grow that offer not only nutrition but a wealth of beneficial effects for the body. There are also quite a few bushes that should be shedding the last of their fruiting bodies and make excellent poultices-

[ Scribbling to draw and write a list and to show what ones to get. ]

[poaceae]

[ He waits, just a little impatiently, and looks idly around the room. Before PV finishes he feels something poke at his neck and pulls a flower out of his air, then drops it on the ground. Sometimes stuff grows on him, no big deal. ]

Do you need, like, a lot of this stuff? Maybe I should make a few trips.

[ It may be a boring mission but he takes it very seriously! Right now, at least. ]