sticksandbones | EVENT 021

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EVENT 021

Solitary Voyage

The first light of dawn does not come this morning. The moonlight outside continues to cast its muted glow over the Grove, still high in the sky. No matter how long you wait, no matter how many minutes or hours slip by, the darkness remains, and the silvery sentinel refuses to yield to the sun. It also appears bigger than usual, its surface etched with shadows that seem to pulse with a life of their own, and you swear there weren't this many stars peppering the night sky last night.

Despite the oppressive night that looms above, there’s an odd sense of calm. No werewolves prowl the streets, no ominous howls echo through the trees, or other dangers that usually seem to threaten the Grove. In fact, it's not making it more cold than usual, either. The ice on the river, once a solid barrier, begins to chip away, revealing glimmers of water beneath, giving new life to the creatures that call it home. A handful of the baby Seaborn even flop out of the water to explore the world, as if it's entirely new to them and hasn't only been a month since they've been unable to be on solid ground.

The only thing that the perpetual night seems to be affecting is the local wildlife. Disoriented and confused, they flit about in a daze, their natural rhythms thrown into chaos. The diurnal creatures now wander aimlessly with their instincts dulled. Someone should probably feed these poor critters before they forget how to forage for themselves.

The Grove also seems to be sans one sea jelly. Hope no one booked their therapy appointment this month.

The Reef is Immortal

It was the loud creaking that caught your attention first, a sound that reverberated through the ground like the groan of a ship caught in a storm. There's a... tree? Or, wait, no. That can't be right. It's colossal, easily taller than the supposed "limit" of the sky barrier, but it's also... blue? There's a smattering of bioluminescent patches that give a white glow, especially under the pale moonlight. The "branches" swayed unnaturally, each one moving independently, like a thousand skeletal fingers reaching for the heavens.

With the coming of this "tree" also comes something some of you may be familiar with - the Nethersea Brand. It's a blue, web-like membrane that more resembles flesh than what anyone would like to admit. Contact with the membrane is not recommended as it invokes a creeping dread that gnaws at the edges of your mind and locks your muscles and bones. It wears off... eventually, but if you don't get out of it in time it'll continue to chew at your nervous system.

It is not localized like it was last time, either. It spreads and expands to cover all of the Grove more and more with each moment, every hour swallowing more and more land, with just a few exceptions. One, the Inn's lobby, which is protected by the Inquistion's Fireplace inside. And two... surprisingly, the River and its banks, where the Guardians (and the Behemoth) seem to be taking solace from the threat.

The baby Seaborn are not aware of many things, but they are at least cognizant that some of you don't seem to do well in the Brand, with some control over what it covers. If you're by the river, they seem to be able to control the brand just enough to free you, chirping in an innocent manner. You do not know what they are saying, but you can imagine it's something along the lines of "Hi! What doing!" There's less of them in the river currently, but the few that are around are nesting on Moder or following Sinann around. They do not sense the distress. They are just babies.

The Mass of Sorrow

The sensation of being trapped in the web-like brand is suffocating, a foreign sensation of the boundaries that have been blurred between your identity and the collective consciousness of others. Each time you succumb to the nervous impairment, it feels like you’re slipping through a veil, where the lines between your thoughts and those of others dissolve into a swirling mass of emotions and memories.

You can’t shake the feeling of grief that lingers in your chest, a weight that seems to grow heavier with each passing moment. It’s as if you’re mourning something you can’t quite grasp—perhaps the remnants of your own past, or the fragments of lives that are not your own. When you finally come to again, rising up from the brand to attempt to move again, you'll notice you have tear stains against your face you don't remember crying.

It's not easy to escape the brand, either. Between the rough terrain flesh-y webs make and the way it slowly neutralizes your nerves, it's a wonder you can keep moving at all. But more than that, there's this... voice...

"Embrace... Our Warmth..."

In short moments of clarity, you remember... dreaming? Remembering? Commiserating...? Something. Whatever the case, you were in someone's mind. Maybe your own. Maybe someone else's. Maybe even something from the forest - the brand is taking all prisoner, after all.

Best hope We Many doesn't share anything you don't want anyone to see, because it doesn't seem like you get much of a choice.

Elegy of the Outliers

Those holed up inside are not entirely forgotten. While the warmth of the fireplace and the kin of the river may keep the brand at bay, the persistent weight of grief and sadness still reaches those within. It is the curse of an ancient being long gone, a sorrow that lingers like a scar. Yet, this sorrow can be softened by the company of those around you. Distractions, warmth, and togetherness serve as reminders that collaboration is, as always, the answer.

Gazing out at the brand, one will notice shadows moving along the fleshy web—shadows that seem hauntingly familiar. Loved ones move through the Grove as if it has come alive again, as if the threat of an obsessed, fallen deity has vanished, and things have reached some form of normalcy once again.

Upon closer inspection, the observant may discern that these are not true apparitions, but rather the brand's way of storing memories within We Many's consciousness. It is a surreal experience, reliving moments through the Seaborn that drift freely about. This phenomenon is both unsettling and captivating—perhaps it could even make for compelling television while you remain trapped inside. Yet, the sight of a loved one, even as a mere shadow, may also be overwhelming, pulling you away from your current sanctuary.

Be careful out there.

Spark Notes

summary

Solitary Voyage is this moon's journey. The expected dawn fails to arrive, leaving the Grove shrouded in an unusual, persistent moonlight. While the darkness disrupts the local wildlife, causing confusion and disorientation, it also brings life to the river as baby Seaborn venture out.

The Reef is Immortal, bringing forth a colossal, bioluminescent "tree" in the Grove, accompanied by the spreading menace of the Nethersea Brand, a blue, web-like membrane that induces paralysis upon contact. While the Brand expands across the land, the Inn's lobby remains safe, and the baby Seaborn near the river seem to possess a surprising ability to help free those ensnared by the Brand, blissfully unaware of the surrounding danger.

The Mass of Sorrow is the experience of being ensnared in the Nethersea Brand. Personal identity blurs with the collective consciousness, leading to overwhelming grief and confusion as emotions and memories intertwine.

Elegy of the Outliers, or those sheltered from the Nethersea Brand, still feel the Arbor's weight of grief and sadness, a lingering curse that can be eased by the warmth and companionship of others. As shadows resembling loved ones move through the brand, it becomes clear that these are not true apparitions but memories stored within We Many's consciousness.

out of character

This month's event has been written entirely by Rubie! Please be nice and say thank you Rubie! Enjoy your memory shares and your eldritch horrors, and remember that questions asked should be asked in public channels and not DMs if they're related to this month's event. Have fun!

updates

Any potential updates, such as characters damaging something important or whatever else, will be put here.

submissions

❖ Questions
❖ February Plotting
❖ Past Life Plotting (Closed to Game Members)
❖ Investigations

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Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Trigun Stampede, featuring guest star "Ainchase Ishmael from the critically irrelevant MMO Elsword", the crossover literally nobody wanted! The audience applauds and claps and stuff.

Ain did not want to be In A Worm ever in his life, but the boundary between reality and mind have blurred so bad that he's like "yeah I was definitely here for this". To that end, he's following Wolfwood around inside a worm's... stomach? Organs? Mouth? Something like that, he doesn't know, drawing his jacket tightly around himself and frowning.]

It's so wet...

[They should be rejoining the others soon, probably, hopefully.]

[Being swallowed by a Grand Worm is as gross and...surprisingly not as you would expect. Weirdly, it feels less like traversing it's innards and more like you're just in a big weird cave that's also wet. They're not being actively digested or anything, so that much they can count their blessings for...but that doesn't mean they want to stay here long. They got separated from Vash while hunting down Meryl and the orphan kid who inexplicably fucking ran off from them, but lol lmao nobody tell them that Wolfwood knows Exactly Who That Child Is-

But he isn't letting that slip as he gnaws on a cigarette with annoyance while they press forwards. Like, he knows they aren't in any danger because this is completely fucking staged, but does Zazie always have to be so dramatic...Christ.]

Stick close to me, unless you wanna become this thing's dinner. And keep your eyes peeled, those assholes coulda gone down any of these tunnels.

I really don't want to be eaten...

[Well Ain! You came in here with him! (You did not) You're going to have a lovely time in the worm guts now! Congratulations!

He sticks a little too close, honestly, clinging onto Wolfwood's blazer with a hand. Of all the uncomfortable shit he's done in his life...]

Why is it full of tunnels... [Ain has never seen an episode of Magic Schoolbus, clearly.] Don't tell me these lead to like, stomachs or something...

Worms this big take a long time to digest anything. They don't really get fresh meals like us that often, so if it just ate us right away, it'd be a waste.

[That's....not comforting at all.]

And anyway, if we were goin' anywhere near any kind of stomach, you'd know.

[Equally as concerning-

Maybe it says something that Wolfwood doesn't stop Ain from clinging as he continues forward, on a set path since he already knows where Zazie is going to find Vash and spring the trap.]

The problem is it's as big as a Sand Steamer. Bigger, even. It's like findin' a needle in a haystack, so why that kid took off like that I'll fuckin' never know...

[Gross gross gross—]

Yeah... uh. Right... [Aisha would lose her mind in here. Thank god Ain has more of a stomach for this stuff... although he's beginning to think he's losing it.] Kids are just... weird, I think? Haha...

[Eughghghggh.]

It's really hard to see in here...

Mmm...

[Well, speaking of things being hard to see...]

Can you light it up in here a little, maybe?

[Wolfwood you have a lighter-

(He doesn't want to waste his lighter fluid knowing this is a farce)]

Oh... yeah.

[He hates it. He lights it up with a glowing yellow Edel Eid, and it becomes immediately apparent how slick and moist and drippy this place is. Some of the slime drips down onto his shoulder and Ain feels his skin crawl.

Oh he does Not like being In a creature that could digest him. Nope nope nope.

Luckily there's a flickering shadow down one of the tunnels, and Ain frantically points at it and sends the light down that "hallway". Please get him out of here he's wet :( ]

[Don't worry, the facade was never meant to go on for very long for that exact reason. The light is helpful in guiding their way forward, and that shadow sure is convenient up ahead isn't it...?

Wolfwood and Ain rush forwards just in time to see Vash with the kid that ran off, his arms wrapped around his waist in that way a scared kid might do. It's all part of the plan, and the moment the kid- Zazie- sees Wolfwood appear with the group...

He hops away with the kind of acrobatic finesse of someone who is inhuman, and that comes out...pretty much immediately.

Sorry Ain. There's about to be........many more bugs, suddenly.]

[Ain does not like this he does not he does not— aaaaaaa— oh he's sorry Aisha he made fun of you like last year for being scared of bugs but suddenly when he's In One he's terrified. Girl you were right, bugs are bad!!!

Watching this child give up the farce makes Ain jump back several feet (hi Vash!!!) and watches from the Very Wet Shadows. What's that kid on about that they're all gonna die in here ew gross ugh gross—]

[It sure does seem like they're all about to die! Zazie is talking and exits the worm stage left, leaving them all abandoned inside of it with...really no plans as to how they were going to get back out? Not that they asked to be eaten by a giant worm, but when you live on No Man's Land these things tend to just happen unfortunately.

Just a few short paces behind where the others are clustered, with Vash, Meryl, and Ain together off to the side, Wolfwood suddenly drops his gun on its end and twists the skull-shaped insignia in the center.]

You're not gettin' away, worm.

[And then he swings it up onto his shoulders, holding it dead center at the worm's inner hide.]

I'm a tough nut to crack.

[YAAY I GET TO LINK THIS AGAIN]

[HhHHhHhh???

Ain should be focused on the fact that the worm was just cut in half. Or the fact that for a moment he looks at Meryl and thinks "her hat is cute I want it :)" or that Vash is here (!!!) or that Zazie is a weird little bug whose face grew a bug mask (???) but no. No no.

His eyes are glued to Wolfwood flipping that fucking cross gun around like it's a pencil between his fingers, light as a feather, smirking like a dumbass, and somehow avoiding to kill anyone inside when the worm goes down.

Hhhfhfhhhhhhhhhhhh ohh he's so lovestruck right now hiiii.

Of course, they're airborne when the worm goes down, jumping out of the sand as it is, and Ain's SECOND instinct other than objectifying a man is to grab these tangible memories of the others and scoop them like sacks of potatoes and float them all harmlessly to the ground. Wolfwood may have to hold onto Ain if he wants in, because the man is grabbing Vash, Meryl, and this old man??? who is this old man is this someone's dad?????? and he only has so much arm and back space.

At least the float to the ground is gentle.]

[Wolfwood, in this moment, has no idea what he's awakened in Ain. Nobody this day ever told him how cool and hot he was for lasering a worm, so how was he supposed to know? Like, yeah, he'd agree that it's cool and hot, but still. Praise was deserved and wholly ungiven, fucked up.

Anyway, he will be grabbing onto Ain as soon as he's able, sort of awkwardly holding onto his gun at the same time under one arm so it doesn't crash many feet to the sand below. He doubts it would break, but there's no point in taking a risk on that.

Anyway! They all touch down safely, all of them including the old man, and once they're on the ground Wolfwood will pull back and flash the whole group a toothy grin. In the distance, there are a cluster of hunters on a sand dune cheering, loudly.]

Problem solved. Now, who's ready for dinner?

[D

dinner... dinner? Din........................

Ain makes sure everyone has floated Safely back into the sand and stares at Wolfwood like he just grew two heads. The name Roberto flits into his brain, consequence of the memories being shared no doubt, as he turns and watches the old guy light up.

Do literally all of you smoke what's going on.

He steals Meryl's hat when she's not looking, puts it on, and teehees off to the back of the group as fast as he can. He Will get chased for this.]

Um. Dinner?

[Oh god

are we eating that]

[Meryl is absolutely going to chase him, that's her's get back here????

Wolfwood, meanwhile, looks surprised that Ain is even asking that as he approaches the side of the dead worm, planting his foot against it as he looks it over. Presumably scoping out the best place to start carving. They don't have any good tools for it, but fortunately those hunters are coming over and no doubt do. They won't need more than a little, so there's no issue with sharing.]

Yeah. You don't think we're gonna let all this meat go to waste, do you?

Um.

[Ain is standing there dumbfounded while memories of how worms taste enter his tastebuds without his permission, and he decides instantly that not even Ciel could make this palatable. Ough.]

...Yeah, I guess... haha.

[He's just gonna, y'know. Sit there and scrub the Worm Wet off himself and let Wolfwood handle the carving of that giant.]

[Sorry Ain, unfortunately fine dining this world ain't, and you really can't be picky here. It's clear judging by the looks on the others' faces that they aren't super thrilled by eating this thing either, but it's that or nothing at all.

Ain will at least get to sit in the sand and not have to deal with the worm itself as the hunters and Wolfwood do the heavy lifting, and soon enough they've got a bonfire going to keep them warm as night falls. Then they've got some meat roasting over the fire, and although it's not normal meat, it at least looks like normal...ish...enough. It doesn't look weird but that probably doesn't help if you know what it is.

Once that's finally going, Wolfwood will sink into a sit between Vash and Ain, and immediately declare:]

This is goin' on yall's tab, just FYI.

[Damn and here he was gonna take the opportunity to completely ignore everyone else and start rizzing up dream-Vash... oh well, he's content to swing into Wolfwood's lap until he says that.]

Huh... you're gonna charge us??

[What the fuck Wolfwood!!!]

Sure. I mean, somebody's gotta cover the tab.

[He reaches into his pocket and pulls out the rumpled check he handed Vash and Meryl earlier, holding it out for Ain to see. I don't want to load up Stamp just to check this number but I'm reasonably sure it was ludicrous for comedic effect, like 25k or someshit-]

[Stares at this...

He debates eating it. He really does. Like, paper isn't gonna taste as bad as worm meat will, right? The papercuts on his tongue will be worth it?

...

He hands it back to Wolfwood.]

Aww, it looks like I'm broke~. You're gonna have to let me pay in other ways~.

[....ainchase ishmael,]

[Ain if you'd done that, Meryl might have forgiven you for stealing her hat because she would have been laughing too hard.]

Why am I not surprised you're broke?

[NONE of you have money, god.

He'll take the slip back and shove it into his pocket (he does not expect anyone to actually pay him he's being a shit), then raises his brow as he sits forward and turns the meat on the skewer.]

Other ways?

[He's broke because he doesn't GO HERE—]

Yeah. There are lots of ways to pay someone for goods. [Ain reaches into Wolfwood's blazer and if he's not stopped, he's stealing one of the lollipops he knows the guy has in there.] I'm sure you wouldn't know, though, haha.

[ :) ]

[...squint. Squinting.

Meryl snorts behind her hand, then looks away when Wolfwood glances at her, giving Ain plenty of time to steal one of his lollipops.]

Oi. Watch it. That's gonna cost you extra.

[Lollipop goes into his mouth. Is he eating the worm? Nnnnooo he is not.]

How much extra?

[Thinking...thinking...]

Five-thousand double dollars.

[He's not going to know what that means. I still don't know what it means.]

Ooh~. I don't have that either. [Ain.] How abouuuuut I pay you later? You know, with that other thing that you couldn't begin to think about what it could possibly be?

cuts a woerm in half :)

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