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

[lupusxylem]

Memories, huh...

[Well that is Fucking Ominous, and Wolfwood doesn't know how he feels about it. How can a few memories completely rewrite your brain like that...?]

Right...yeah. And where are you gonna go?

[purevanillacookie]

Memories.

[ And he lost so much in those memories. Love. Light. The Truth. He's silent for a moment to the question. ]

The Inn. My room is there.

[ Oddly said, however, considering he's been wandering around outside, pulling people from the fleshy miasma like the more bizarre gardener. ]

[lupusxylem]

Your room. But you got a house.

[Like, he knows you're "different" now, but he HIGHLY doubts the other cookies would have kicked you out.]

You left?

[purevanillacookie]

... Yes. My presence was causing White Lily and Dark Cacao pain. I am not Pure Vanilla, and they cannot reconcile that I am not. Rather than force them to confront the shell of the man they love, I moved out to spare them that. As well as A.B.A..

[ He was living in the Clinic until it got Blewed Up, so now he's moved to the Inn. Which he glances to, then back to Wolfwood. ]

If you do not move to the Inn, stay by the River. It seems the Seaborne there are protecting it in some way.

[lupusxylem]

[TR's logic checks out, sad though it may be. And honestly, Wolfwood still isn't sure if he totally understands it...it's none of his business, certainly, but this can't be forever, right? He's just...he can't be like this from now on.

Right?

Instead of commenting on TR's advice, Wolfwood says:]

...yaknow, this happened to Vash. He got a buncha new memories, and he changed into a different person for a while. "Eriks". He didn't even remember my name. But he eventually did.

Feel like that's gonna happen with you, too.

[It...has to.]

[purevanillacookie]

[ Truthless is silent as he listens, his eyes on Wolfwood, though it's hard to tell what he thinks of this. Is it an attempt to soothe him? He doesn't need soothing. He knows who he is, has accepted it. Has walked on deceit and seen what the future holds. He has given in.

Given up. ]

I have no memory loss. I know who they are. I know who you are. What Pure Vanilla considered you. But I am not him.

[ But if he wasn't, would he really be out here, rescuing those Pure Vanilla loves? He wishes Dipper had stayed out of his head, things are confusing now. ]

Are you all right?

[lupusxylem]

Me? I'm fine.

[He points a finger in Truthless' direction.]

You might not "be" Pure Vanilla, but you still got your memories. Which should mean you know how he'd be feelin' about all of this right now.

Don't you?

[purevanillacookie]

I do.

[ And yet, his voice is as flat as it ever was. It's hard to tell if he cares or not. He offered Vash his hand, reached out in an attempt to close the distance.

And Vash had gotten up and walked away.

Truthless has no desire to try again, and actually? There does seem to be some irritation in his eyes now. ]

What do you want of me?

[lupusxylem]

[Yeah well, Vash and Wolfwood are fundamentally different, practically opposite people. Where Vash might run away, Wolfwood will bullheadedly stand his ground and face whatever it is head on. It's why he's still here now, watching Truthless with his gaze narrowed just as much.]

If you wanna accept who you are as you are now and just live as this new person, then fine, whatever. That's your prerogative. Otherwise, it ain't none'a my business.

But I still think you should consider what "Pure Vanilla" might'a wanted, too.

[purevanillacookie]

Why should I?

[ He tilts his head as if curious, but the irritation is still there in his eyes, so the movement comes off more dangerous. Makes the glowing white blues in his eyes sinister. ]

Did I not already consider what Pure Vanilla would have wanted? Offered Vash my hand, in an attempt to reconcile the differences? In an attempt to bridge the gap? I tried. He left. I have no desire to throw myself at his feet while he mourns a man gone.

[lupusxylem]

[Wolfwood grimaces, a frustrated sound rising in his throat. He gets it, trust him he does. He knows Vash better than most, or he likes to think he does...so that kind of reaction is just to be expected.]

I didn't say to do that. But just...

[He swallows, turning his head away just slightly even though his gaze never leaves Truthless.]

Give him some time. Don't write him off just cause he can't talk to you right now.

[purevanillacookie]

[ "I don't want to" rises to his lips but dies there. Frustration takes it's place in his throat instead. No one has any right to be making requests of him. A.B.A. yelling and screaming at him, making herself the victim because he can't be Pure Vanilla, won't let her belittle him.

Wolfwood telling him to give the man who walked away from him time, with no regards to how it made him feel.

Even when he's trying.

His grip tightens on his staff and the shadows under them both shift a little, eyes blinking open to stare at Wolfwood. Then he merely turns around and begins to walk away back towards the Inn. ]

[lupusxylem]

[The Wolfwood from the past, the one newly arrived to the Grove and distrusting of everyone, would have just let Truthless leave without another word. Maybe thrown some sort of angry comment in his wake. And maybe he should just let him go, since he's clearly just making it worse.

But that doesn't stop him from taking a step forward, even as Truthless leaves.]

Wait. Hang on a sec.

[And even if he doesn't wait, he'll keep talking-]

Look, I'm. Sorry. I know I ain't good at this shit. I get that. I still don't really get...any of this. Just...

[...]

Forget all that I said. You should focus on what you wanna do, right now. The rest of us will...

[Learn to live with it. Even if it means never seeing Pure Vanilla's smile again. As much as that hurts.]

We'll be alright. What you do for yourself is what matters more than anythin' else.

[purevanillacookie]

[ For his part, Truthless does stop to the cry of wait. He listens, and a whisper of a thought comes back to him.

And you... do you know what you desire?

What does he want to do? He wants to head back to the Inn and be left alone. What does he WANT? He wants to stop trying. He wants to give up. He wants the ache of Pure Vanilla out of him, so he can stop caring entirely.

He wants...

He tilts his head back and looks up towards the unnatural night, half expecting to see Shadow Milks eyes grinning back at him. ]

... Go to the Inn, Nicholas. Rest.

[lupusxylem]

[Wolfwood stands in Truthless' wake, his expression falling because he really doesn't know if he got through to him at all or not. If anything, it just sounds like he pissed him off more. Tracks...

He sighs and shakes his head, pushing his hands back into his pockets.]

Yeah. Take care.

[He'll leave the other to his own devices, then, hobbling off towards the Inn while picking his way around what visible bits of the Brand he can make out on the ground.]