EVENT 021

[sticksandbonesmods]

Feeding from the Ocean

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

code

Comments

[alphacraft]

[ As soon as she released the Craft she wondered why it would ever work, but work it did. She rushes forward to untie him as best she can while he's wiggling around so much. If she can affect this scene, she's definitely going to do something about this mess. ]

Stop that. Just stay still for a moment. You're safe now.

[ She doesn't know any Healing Craft, but he'll just have to manage for now. She spares a glance or two for the incredibly odd scenery, but it's not the time to ask for an explanation. ]

[charlastan]

[Until now it hadn't fully sunk in that another person was here with him. He finally hears her through his panic and freezes. Under her touch, he's still shaking.

He's safe? Someone else is saying he's safe? What the fuck?

She doesn't try to knock him out though. She doesn't come at him with a knife, or threaten to call the cops on him. She just...unties him.

As soon as he's free, he sits up and rubs at his eyes, and after he does the blue flicker in them is gone. He's kind of grimy and dirty even without his wounds, but he looks a little young to be in such a bad situation. He's stunned and wants to ask who she is, but...that's not what comes out.]

...Why'd you help me?

[alphacraft]

[ She stares at him for a moment. Does he not know her? That would make sense in this context. Or does he know her and simply not understand? Either way, it takes a second for her to formulate an answer that seems so obvious. ]

You needed it.

[charlastan]

[That answer...doesn't seem to make sense to him. He pouts a little, but glances down and away. Looking her in the eye when he admits this feels bad.]

That's never mattered before. No one ever helps.

[It's just a fact of his life at this point. He's on his own and no one would bother digging him out of holes he's gotten himself into. ...Except for this lady. Weird.

Now that he's finally breathing normally and his head isn't spinning quite as much, he pushes himself up to his feet and brushes himself off, even though it quite literally makes no difference with how tattered he is.]

Well, uh. ...Thanks?

[He still seems to be gauging her, like he doesn't know what to expect or what she expects from him. She seems nice enough, but there are at least a dozen different ways it could still be a trap, so he cuts right to the chase to eliminate one of them.]

...By the way, if you're hoping for a reward you're outta luck, Lady.

[alphacraft]

[ She frowns as she considers him. She can't say she thinks much of the people who have been around him all his life, if that's the case. But it's not as though there's anything she can do to change it now.

She's also not sure what to do now. Is the real Stanley aware of her? Is he asleep? Is this him, dreaming? It's a puzzle. ]

Hmm?

[ Her frown deepens at his last statement. ]

Don't be ridiculous. I found you tied up in a metal box. Only an idiot would think you were in a position to offer a reward.

[ She's actually a little bit offended. Just a little. ]

[charlastan]

[There isn't anyone to think much of - he's been alone for almost ten years at this point, wandering around trying to make a quick buck. But she takes offense and Stan puts his hands up to try and undo his words.]

Eesh, alright! And it wasn't a box, it was a car trunk. They...

[He trails off, looking a little unsettled. The flames climb higher around them, whipping closer to both of them. He reaches up and holds his temple, as if that will help him remember somehow.]

They were taking me...somewhere?

[Who are "they"? And why can't he remember what they were going to do to him? This just happened! He knows he didn't want it, that he was going to die wherever they were going, but...he can't remember. He can't even remember where they are now, or where they came from. Something about a desert feels familiar but it's not enough. He could be anywhere right now!

He looks at this weird lady who rescued him when she didn't have to (for some reason) and realizes something. For some reason, she seems more familiar than anything else around here. She's not being consumed in fire.]

Wait. ...Wait, do I know you? Do we know each other?

[alphacraft]

[ A 'car trunk'. Noted. Whatever that means. She raises an eyebrow as he visibly struggles to figure out what's going on, then cracks an actual, genuinely fond smile. ]

I should hope so. I doubt I've actually travelled through time.

[charlastan]

What?

[Stan squints at her, like he's really trying to see her for the first time. It's important that she's not on fire. It's important because if they know each other she's in his stupid head somewhere, even if he doesn't fully understand why that would be the case, or what the significance really is. It's just...how things are in here.]

...I know you. How do we know each other?

[Then a thought crosses his mind that makes his face flush with shame, since she's been so nice to him.]

Wait, I didn't rob you or anything, right?

[alphacraft]

Hah! You wouldn't dare. You know what I'm capable of.

[ She did just open up a car like a can of tuna. Not that she's familiar with either of those objects. ]

We've only spoken from time to time.

[charlastan]

[He snickers when she does.]

Hey, I'm just making sure! There's all sorts of other things it could've been.

[Now that the thought's had a minute to percolate though...maybe he does know what she's capable of. He looks back at the car and the damage she did to it and realizes that it actually doesn't surprise him.]

...Right. And you showed me...

[Magic, though she called it something more practical. Stan threw cans in the air for her to slice open. She-- no, someone that looked like her by design -- cracked his ribs with a giant invisible bolder.

It's all sliding into place, and Stan looks down at his hands. They should be a lot more wrinkled than they are. Then, he looks back to...]

...

...Odile?

[alphacraft]

I thought you might be in there somewhere.

[ She gives a satisfied nod. As interesting as it is to get a look at this other Stanley, she feels much more like she's talking to a real person when he remembers her. ]

I'm not sure what's happening, but I suspect it has something to do with that web-like substance that's been growing everywhere.

[charlastan]

[The realization didn't change him back to an old man, but the way he carries himself is a little different now that he's more lucid. Knowing the whole getting locked in a trunk thing was thirty years ago does a lot to calm his immediate nerves.]

Ugh, right. It's been growing everywhere! I must've stepped on it or something. I couldn't move and then everything went dark on me.

[He looks around at the scene around them though - the flames are still burning bright as ever, hiding any trace of a real location. Stan scoffs and rolls his eyes - but more importantly, doesn't seem all that surprised.]

Y'know, for something that wants to drag out my old memories so bad, you'd think it'd pick one that was less on fire.

[alphacraft]

[ The flames don't seem to have encroached on them at all, so Odile hasn't really seen fit to worry about them. After all, this is only a dream, or a memory. ]

Is the fire an original part of this memory? It does seem a bit out of place.

[ How accustomed has she gotten to the Grove that she's so blasé about this? You really never know where life will take you. ]

[charlastan]

Nah, it's uh. Brain damage?

[He winces and gauges her reaction a little bit before continuing. He's mostly come to terms with it, but it's always kind of rough for everyone around him.]

Look, it's a really long story, but basically I had my whole memory erased and everything that I couldn't get back looks kinda like this. Weird part is it was like this before the whole fire powers thing. I think it's why my fire's blue like that though?

[This isn't his first memory sharing nonsense, after all. They seem to be mandatory when you get dragged to another dimension.]

[alphacraft]

[ She raises a questioning eyebrow when he says 'brain damage', but otherwise doesn't have much reaction. She'd thought perhaps Siffrin had brain damage, what with their memory problems. She's not sure how she knows that's not the case...

Anyway, Stanley's brain damage doesn't seem to be a large issue, just an inconvenient one. ]

I see. Yes, the two are probably related. It's possible the web isn't discerning when it seeks out memories. It may not be a conscious intention.

[charlastan]

[Stan sighs, relieved. Thank Paul Bunyan they don't have to have a whole conversation about that where he has to comfort her about it. It gets old after a while!]

Yeah, guess not. It's not like I go outta my way to think about this whole mess either.

[The stupid memory is barely there, just a lot of uncomfortable terrified feelings, the tight dark space, and the reason he has dentures now.]

[alphacraft]

[ Honestly, she would be upset if someone tried to comfort her about their problems. She has more self-control than that! ]

I am curious, though, what exactly is happening here. Obviously I'm not really here, but are you? You'll have to let me know if you remember this later.

[charlastan]

[Stan wiggles his hand in a see-saw motion.]

Eh, mostly here, I think? Hang on--

[Stan holds his arms out, elbows bent, and tries to concentrate. He shuts his eyes and frowns, but nothing seems to be happening. He twitches a little, as if trying to pull himself free of something neither of them can see.]

--Yeah, I'm still stuck in the web. I can kinda feel it? Like you know how sometimes you're still dreaming but you realize all of a sudden that your foot's cold, or you've gotta piss or something? You can feel it, but you're not really awake.

[He makes a face and shakes out his arms as if that will make the brand let go, like he has a pins and needles feeling. It's deeper than that though, gnawing on his nerves and keeping him in place.]

[alphacraft]

[ She frowns. That's not great. In fact, it would have been far better if he wasn't real at all. ]

Do you remember where you were? I'll bring help.

[charlastan]

I was...um.

[Where was he? Didn't he just say it, or did he imagine that? Why is it so hard to hold onto now?]

...Firewood. I was getting firewood. So probably out near the house?

[Just for good measure, he tries pulling his arm again. No dice though.]

Obviously I can't stop you, but don't you dare get grabbed by this stupid thing trying to get me out of it, alright?

[It's not a no. She'd never take a no. But it is a "be careful."]

[alphacraft]

[ The frown turns into a grimace. The stuff has gotten that far already? Does no one have a solution to this mess? ]

Don't worry, I know my limits well.

[ Her Craft isn't the kind that can continuously cut at webbing to protect her, much less anyone else. ]

I'll see to it that nobody else is captured either. Just try to stay conscious until we get there.

[charlastan]

Yeah, yeah, I'll hang in there. It's not like I can do much else right now anyway.

[Or at least, he'll try. He's been pulled to other memories before, and can't be sure he won't get tugged under again before she gets there.]

[alphacraft]

[ She nods. ]

No time to waste. I'll be back.

[ She turns, fading from existence before her back is fully turned. ]

[charlastan]

[Stan nods too, and waves her off.

Once she turns and vanishes, the flames rise and grow, threatening to consume the entire moment with only a half-awake Stan to hold them back.]