sticksandbones | EVENT & TDM 022

EVENT & TDM 022

WAKE UP

Being out in the woods is, for some people, an ordinary day. You may or may not be one of those people — you almost certainly don’t remember going camping, do you? — and yet you emerge from a tent and think to yourself, hm, that’s quite odd! Where is the nearest civilization anyhow? If you’re brave enough, perhaps you set out to seek it, walking toward where you think you hear noise in the far distance. It sounds a bit like cheering. A party? A bonfire? You can’t be certain, not at first.

As you step onto the worn trail, something nearly clocks you right in the head. A nimble dodge to the left and a quick glance at the ground tells you that it’s some kind of tree branch made of… flesh? It’s certainly flesh-textured, though the colour is a deep blue that glows white. It seems to be rapidly rotting into the ground, and as you look up… a giant, several hundred foot tree of a similar eldritch makeup is falling apart before your eyes. Your walk back to civilization will be full of dodging probably-dead flesh tree bits.

Should you make it in one piece, the source of the noise becomes obvious: the people making up this small town are cheering and yelling about something else of eldritch makeup. It seems that some of the creatures who have lived in this civilization’s river for the last year, the Seaborn, have decided to evolve to be capable of flight. Some residents of this town seem extremely enthusiastic with this. Some are wary. Some simply don’t care.

You? Well, that’s for you to decide.

Welcome to the eldritch horror fae woods, dear friend. Enjoy your stay.

A SNAKE IN THE GRASS

While the black fog returns, some paths are left clear, or at least not as impacted as other areas of the woods. Mist fades in and out, and even if you aren’t one for nature, surely exploration can sing its siren song when the size of the town is too small and all the faces look the same. Paths line themselves with daffodils and chamomile flowers, with arctic poppies and clearings of wildflowers- foxglove and lavender especially prominent. They’re lovely, all of them, and bloom far more rapidly than anything else should be this early into spring, this late into winter, but they do.

But something creeps beneath the flowers, and something large digs through the earth, leaving upturned grooves in the dirt and grass, trails of flattened mud and roots with only bushes of camelia on the outskirts left behind. It’s quiet in the forest, not even birds singing. It makes the hiss of tongues all the more noticeable.

If you’re lucky, you might see a purple and grey stone shift in the distance, gone just as quickly as it was there. If you aren’t, you don’t see its much smaller, flower-patterned counterpart strike from the shadows. Snakes are working their way into the Grove, hiding in bushes and under steps, anywhere they can lurk and strike the unsuspecting, and their bite is venomous.

One bite brings excruciating pain, bone-deep cold, an increased frailty of the body and hallucinations. A second bite brings a deep, nightmare-filled sleep. A third bite brings death. All of them scar with a black sun over the bites, a mark of divine wrath — the Fallen Sun sends his regards, and his hate.

Those who perish to the snake bite will awaken in their bed in a few days, feeling nauseous and weakened, but…

'NEATH SERPENT'S GAZE

… This simply isn’t tenable. Between the paranoia and the snake’s stealth, it’s hard to feel safe outside of your home, and maybe inside, despite the fact that once again your homes offer refuge from the forest’s attacks—they hadn’t once upon a red, hot summer, after all. How did they face this last time? It was a flower, wasn’t it? And the new flowers in the forest seem special, if only because of their strong growth compared to the rest of the forest.

But if you go into the woods, two large stone snakes wait, ready to protect the natural gardens. Breaking them does little but slow them down for a time, and their bite is both larger and their venom stronger—the true version, the one that crippled a household in seconds. The severity of the symptoms are worse, murderously so, but survivable if it’s not the third bite.

They block the way, ambush would-be travelers, coil around the flower patches, and will not be stopped. Does this confirm that the flowers could help? Or are they simply protective of their master’s property? Is it play?

Regardless, they wait and watch.

CITIES & BONES

When all the violence of the month ends, and thank goodness for that, you decide to head to bed. For once, you might sleep well — there are no threats of snakes making you wonder if you or your friends might die tomorrow, and the Grove as a whole feels much safer. It’s as if someone or something is guarding over it — different from the Guardian Deities and the Goddesses as a whole.

For the next several days after the snakes disappear, your dreams are strange, as if you’re receiving a vision from another world. A modern city, so different from Aldric’s Grove that you’re not entirely convinced it lies in this dimension, blinks in neon lights behind your eyelids. Between the cacophonous sounds of motorized vehicles rushing by, the din of people talking in a language you don’t understand, and the distant electrical humming from the street lights, perceptive dreamers might hear something else:

The soft clacking of dry bones.

Spark Notes

summary

Wake up: You were apparently camping. You don't recall this. As you head out toward the sound of civilization, bits of giant blue flesh-tree nearly hit you in the head. You'll have to dodge the remaining flesh tree bits as it crumbles while you walk back to town.

A Snake In The Grass: Flowers spring up far too early in the season, and the fog wall returns. Purple and grey-coloured stone snakes begin to attack from the bushes and flowers where they're hidden. One bite brings cold and frailty, a second bite brings nightmares, and a third bite brings death. All bites scar with a mark of the Black Sun.

'Neath Serpent's Gaze: You've heard of a flower that can cure the poison, but to get there, you have to face two far larger stone snakes who are guarding over nature here. Whether they want to play or simply kill isn't clear. You're in danger of death either way.

Cities & Bones: While you sleep after the snakes disappear, you'll have strange dreams that feel like visions and feel watched by something safe and kindly. While your dreams are absorbed in that of a cityscape that feels almost too real, you can sometimes hear the clattering of bones.

out of character

Welcome to March's TDM and Event! Spring is springing and we've got a lot of really cool events coming up in the next few months. The magic system should debut this month as well, which we're very excited about. It is a slow process but the rewards should be well worth it.

updates

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

submissions

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

code

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Pure Vanilla is smiling but it doesn't reach his eyes and he looks like he wants to hit Loop with his staff... ]

Loop, my dear...

... I mean, it's a good idea.

[ LET THEM COOK]

...

I mean. It- it definitely works, because at least five Stars- a dog, a deer, an owl, a river otter and a rabbit- descend upon the group immediately, trying to get through the shields.

Something pulses beneath them, black bile spilling from their mouths and eyes, the nettles growing from them bristle. Let them in let them in let them in let them in let them in let them in help me let them in let them in submit let them in let them in let them in rot with us let them in let them in let them in--

[Beaming over at Will like yeah!! You get it!!! This is a great plan!!!

No time to argue about it anyway, since the corrupt stars are already taking the bait. They only jump a little at the banging against the shield. Turning to Will, since he's in charge of this step,]

They're following now, so where do you want them, Trapper?

[In the meantime, they tear off a strip of their clothes (just something loose and comfortable the Shopkeeper gave them, sorry for this Shopkeeper) to press into their wound. Soak up some of that blood into a gooey little bloodstained cloth-ball, perfect for throwing when they need it later.]

[ Oh! Good! Pure Vanilla gets to murder TWO of them after this! ]

Do be careful, I will subdue the extra we decide not to capture.

[ He re-energizes the shield quickly. ]

Hmmm... perhaps if it works that well...

[Uh oh, it might be three, actually. Timekeeper spins the Embroider, fully ready to either freeze or attack anything that does happen to break through the shield. The fate of the stars doesn't concern her much, so she will not hesitate should it come to it.]

Still, I get the impression we ought to make our gambit quickly.

[Will gestures for Loop to follow him]

Stay with me- the traps are pretty hidden. We'll lead the small ones into the snares. Counting on you two to take out the bigger ones!

[Not only would his snares likely just snap the limps of the big ones, if they didn't break the traps outright, but the big ones would be harder to examine later. So the rabbit and otter are his targets. Once Loop is with him he leads them towards the closest trap]

They follow! Boy howdy do they follow, snapping at what would be Loop's heels if not for the shield. The dog and the deer slump helplessly against it, chests heaving- the warmth of Pure Vanilla's light hurts, too. It hurts. They're so tired. Why must they hunger so... The owl and the otter are, unfortunately, more tenacious, slamming against the shield, clawing, howling, calling- a crack forms under shining talons as the owl throws itself against the same spot relentlessly, even as it's own bones begin to break. The otter does the same.

The rabbit just... kind of runs right into a snare, though. Whoopsies.

Something turns from the onslaught against the shielded shrine, watching.

[ And Vanilla makes pained noises to their injuries, grimacing hard. He knew they would do this, that they would go without consideration for their own bodies, and he doesn't want to hurt them. But he can't heal them, and fears his healing would only harm them further. ]

Timekeeper... can you reverse them?

[ They can't afford to lose any stars to the injuries they're causing themselves, and he winces to the crack in the shield. He can keep casting it, but they will keep attacking and keep hurting themselves. But if they take one and run, it leaves Fel's shrine unguarded. ]

The rabbit, gather that one. Loop, do not touch it.

[ Take it and go his voice says. ]

[Will leads, and they follow. Catching their mark turns out to be the easy part. As for getting back out of here...

They give the rabbit a wide berth, using their turn to Craft a healing skill—they let the glittering light scatter out from their cupped hand, providing a small bit of passive healing to the whole group. You know, just in case it's needed later.

... they consider trying to spread it to the injured stars, but it wouldn't do much good if they just keep attacking like that. Instead they focus in on that tone of Vanilla's.]

Palmier can make them slow, and I can make us fast. We all leave together, right? [they see you eyeing the shrine PV don't make them do something stupid]

My my, so demanding.

[It might be hard to tell for everyone but Loop, but it's in jest. Timekeeper is spinning threads of time in her hands almost before Pure Vanilla asks, and as they disintegrate above her fingers, they reappear swirling around the injured stars. She will reverse the time of their last few moments, like a video tape in reverse, enough to undo the most recent damage - and attempt to slow their time afterwards. They should only need the few minutes that she knows for sure she can pin down the Grove's time to abscond with the rabbit - she trusts that Will is on top of that - but who knows what Pure Vanilla might plan to do about that shrine.

So, while Loop speaks pointedly, she can only fix her eye on PV with a curious glitter in it and an anticipatory smile. Perhaps it will be interesting?]

[And indeed, Will is on it. He kneels down to grab the little beast by the scruff so it can't bite him or, more likely, tear his arms up with it's legs once it's free. He shoves it's head in his arm pit, holding it's thrashing body with both arms.]

Let's go!

[he's not waiting to see if Loop follows- they have order, silent or otherwise]

Edited 2025-03-30 23:31 (UTC)

Felicity's shrine shines like a radiant beacon, a lighthouse in the distance, a sign screaming to the infected, I'm here! I'm here!

Without Loop's fresh injury, some of the stars stop paying attention again, turning back instead to join the swarm. As they approach, pink shields, soft rosy-colored bolts of lightning, and the very flowers and brambled vines themselves move to defend the shrine.

The rabbit screams and it sounds human, struggling to free itself. It fails, very miserably.

... But it catches more attention.

Hoku the Holy Lion has arrived.

"Loop! I will follow, I promise, just go! Now! Before we attract more attention!"

There's no sweet Peepaw in this mans voice anymore. He used to be a King, an Ancient Champion, but he needs Loop and the rabbit out - Will quickly absconds with the Rabbit even as it screams and he'll thank him later - as he begins to charge something into his staff. The light brilliantly shining there begins to spark with the magic, as he grimaces to the scream of their departing corrupted star. Truthless used a repelling magic and if he can make it last until Dawn, he can set his staff beside Felicity's shrine to aid her.

... And then there it is, and that's the very one he was worried about. It's impossible not to recognize the Lion for who it is. It's the one Pure Vanilla truly wanted to capture, and he hesitates. Felicity can withstand against the other, lesser stars, if Hoku is removed. But Pure Vanilla may be Awakened, with an empowered Jam, and even then he's unsure if he has what it takes to subdued Hoku.

But Hoku's mere presence may begin corruption on Loop.

"Timekeeper, get him out!"

Edited 2025-04-01 21:59 (UTC)

[Loop doesn't move—they dig in their heels, if anything, bristling at both the order and the growing presence in the distance. Staying here is the last thing they want to do right now, but leaving Pure Vanilla alone to fend off that?

Not a chance. With a flourish, they gesture at Vanilla with their pointer and thumb extended. And to complete the Craft—]

Sorry, Healer, but I already made another promise! I'm not so tacky to just overturn it~

[They fire a surge of energy to Vanilla, powering up whatever spell he decided was worth wasting time on—well, here you go! Have a bonus turn with a complimentary crit buff! They're not moving until he drags them back himself!!]

Oho! Rest assured, Pure Vanilla, I will not allow them to come to harm. But nor am I about to leave when it has only just gotten interesting!

[Loop can do what they want, in other words. Timekeeper will not stand idle herself, however, hoisting up the Embroider and spinning it rapidly at her side, clockwise. As she does so, an ethereal golden clock face appears in the air above Hoku, winding at first in swift tandem with the motion of the scissors, then gradually slowing until it's at an unnatural crawl, fading away afterwards and leaving only a faint golden shimmer around the lion if it took. Timekeeper halts the Embroider's spin as it fades - if anyone can buy PV time to do whatever he intends to, it's her, after all. Plus, it will be interesting to see how much she can slow down a corrupted star this big!]

[Will pauses just long enough to realize Loop isn't following like he expected... but the rabbit was the target, and he can't compare to Vanilla, and from the looks and scent of it Timekeeper and Loop, in magic power. So he huffs and keeps running.

Call him a coward or just practical.]

Will's valid, get back to homebase.

Hoku tilts his head slowly, stalking around quietly.

You have stolen kin. I shall return the favor.

... He makes no move to attack.

Yet.

Loop will feel an oppressive wrath in the air.

[ Boy howdy he loves all his children, he tells himself through gritted teeth and a headache coming on. Timekeeper not listening to him is a given, frankly. The woman operates on her own chaotic morality, for good or ill, but Loop remaining raises his hackles because he's a Star target.

And that accusation makes him wince. The fact that Hoku isn't just a mindless beast... had Felicity told him wrong? Had he read what she showed him wrong? Would they have been able to communicate after all? ]

Wait! We will return it after we have found a cure for the corruption! We only need to study that which inflicts it, inflicts you all!

[ But he's still going to protect his daughters shrine so he hurls the staff in it's direction, using just a touch magic to propel it forward enough to land beside it, where it will begin to send out pulses of energy that will help push back the corrupted hoard. How well? He's not sure. He's not even sure if the magic will last. But it is a weapon Felicity can probably use if she can get her hands on it.

Then he moves back towards Loop, taking his hand with his own. ... Also sends out a thought. Shadow Milk? ]

[Are you FINALLY calling him? After he has been angrily pacing his room waiting for some kind of explanation but knowing the moment he chimed in he risked breaking Vanilla’s concentration??]

Finally!! What in the OVENS is going on over there?!

[ WELL he was HOPING YOU WERE RESEARCHING AND NOT PACING THE ENTIRE TIME, THERE'S A DEAD MAN TO RAISE THAT WON'T LAST FOREVER. ]

Oh, well! We got our star subject but have a tiny problem now! Not a large one! Just the first Star showing up, nothing too overly serious! Timekeeper and Loop are here with me, and I'm afraid Loop is in great danger. I'm certain Timekeeper can get him out of there but I'm unsure if she can get all three of us out. Are you able to open the Other-Realm?

[ Thank god for thinking via the power of thoughts, all that is dumped very quickly and cheerfully enough to hide the constant sound of aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa under his thoughts. ]

Oh hey, since this is a separate thing, here's some Comprehension for you: Only Hoku can speak coherently. ... He's still mega corrupted though, with his love for his siblings- Felicity included, that's why she must be assimilated to the Black Sea of Stars- being twisted into an avenue to spread it further. The rest... do have some thoughts. But they're muddled, muted, dimmed by the pain and the need to swallow the light.

Yay!

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purevanillacookie - 2025-04-02 00:42 (UTC) - Expand

I dunno Vanilly, that’s a lot of magic with my current limitations.

So, to make up for it tonight-

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purevanillacookie - 2025-04-02 00:43 (UTC) - Expand

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jesterlies - 2025-04-02 00:48 (UTC) - Expand

[With the spell cast, they can only pray that it was worth the risk. Stardust might've been tempted by the possibility of negotiations, but Loop isn't stardust, and experience has taught them that talk just leads to backstabbing. Besides, they already know even corrupted stars can talk, and that's definitely a bad thing—the malicious aura is more than enough to confirm it.

They grip Vanilla's hand tightly, using the other to snap their fingers. Speed buff! For escaping! No time to make a shitty pun at the big spooky lion!!]

Timekeeper! [if you've got any more tricks deploy them now they gotta go go go]

[Ah, PV is making use of his other half, she's proud of him honestly.

Also she's a bit tired of getting her name yelled at her, but since it was Loop this time, she'll let it slide. She'll have to drop all other time manipulation she's doing to pull this off for the three of them, but...

All she does is snap her fingers, and everything around them (save the flickering of the portal) slows to a near stop. All goes dead quiet. Wind ceases. A falling leaf hangs in the air. It's a time snap, the same skill Timekeeper regularly uses to steal snacks or seemingly appear out of nowhere, but applied to the group. Enjoy the accelerated time for a minute or two, you should probably use it to escape.

...But Timekeeper herself isn't touching the clown portal, nooooope. Because ew. But also because someone should probably make sure that the one person carrying their actual objective doesn't get eaten by a lion.

So, her smile widens for a second - and then she hops on her scissors and blasts off in the direction Will ran.]

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cw: animal injury

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