diplomaticimmewnity: (021)
diplomaticimmewnity ([personal profile] diplomaticimmewnity) wrote in [community profile] sticksandbones2025-04-21 09:51 pm

April Fammeet

Who: Town Meeting
What: Town Meeting
When: April
Where: Enciodes' Corporate Building Office Meeting Room (Neo Eden)
Warnings: Typical Stix game warnings: Child death mentions, physical abuse via Nene, torture, body horror, cannibalism via Callan. More will be in post titles as they come up.


[ Enciodes is actually thriving for this town hall meeting. He's not tired or anything - rejuvenated simply from existing in this silly town and kicking his husband's ass at CEO-ing. Still, he knows it's important to be keeping everyone updated on the happenings within the Grove. Thus, he's invited everyone via Notebook/Phone, or even by delivery drones, to attend the meeting at his office building (address listed) (he can send a party bus to pick you all up!). When you arrive, either by sent party bus or on your own, you'll be escorted by a little robot to the elevator, to the very top floor - floor 15. And then... to this pretentious-ass room.

He'll let everyone get settled before he speaks. ]


Hello and thank you for coming to our town meeting. As a reminder, I do not tolerate fighting, and you will be escorted out if that happens.

Secondly, I encourage you all introduce yourselves. Informing us of both your name and your skillset will help us all as a group, as it'll let us know who is here at the Grove and who is best to see for specific situations. This will also help myself, as I intend to keep a headcount and census of everyone here at the Grove, to keep track of who may have gone missing and to direct those who need help in the correct location. I shall begin by introducing myself. I am Enciodes Silverash. I am a diplomat of my world, and here I have taken a role of setting up meetings like this and clearing out the problems that lie with us in the fog wall.

And finally, for the newcomers, I am sorry to have to inform you of the circumstances, but I implore you to come to me for any questions you may have. I want to make this transition for you as easy as I possibly can, and wish to provide you with all the resources and information that we currently have available to us. This may be a bit lengthy, so I understand if you may have questions for clarifications or anything of the like. I do ask that you hold onto these questions until I've finished, however.

As usual, we'll go over the old stuff, and I have a PowerPoint Presentation to bulletpoint everything a little easier for everyone.

UPDATES since or from the last meeting:
Callisto, the merchant who had a hand in releasing the Forest from the temple, resides in the town.

Renard has been rescued from the forest and is sleeping off his... centuries of torment, I imagine.

Beiwe now has a church in the Northern part of the Grove.

Sehul has been revived, mostly. They are skeletal, however, and have been standing around Beiwe's church.

There's been an effort in portal-making to go to some sort of expansive divine library, I believe? I don't know much about this, however, so I defer to those involved.

As discussed last meeting, I have rallied everyone to a fight against the Forest. This ended at the cost of many lives, and many of us learning his name. We will not under ANY CIRCUMSTANCES spread his name more than he already has. This is a warning to all of you. We have learned things from this fight, such as:
- Dying feeds him. As such, even if we come back, do NOT die, regardless, as it will make him stronger.
- He can be damaged. Bombs seemed to be effective, as well as magic fueled by emotions.
- Calisto has mentioned that healing magic actually hurts him.
- Now that all of the Guardians are full strength, we may be able to contain him. If not bind him fully - as last time that required sacrifice - just keep his powers contained so we can fight him? Unclear. Something to workshop.
- He uses illusion magic to feed on our fears.

Aldric's Manor is inaccessible now, though Heimr's kids have been rescued from it and are currently comatose as far as we know. They are... no longer kids.

Where there was previously tree-like replicas of people we love back home, there is now a scar of Nethersea Brand. The Seaborn tend to make nests out that way. Do not step in it. They should make that abundantly clear, however.


To start with, we lived a previous life we have no real memory of here at the Grove.
This is mostly as it sounds, but we all used to be here at the Grove in one way or another. After horrible events occurred here, Heimr and Ydalir tried to preserve our souls, which lead us to our "current" lives. The ones we all have memories of. Though, it does seem many of us carry the same personalities and other such traits we had while here.

This in no way is an encouragement to learn about your past life, of course. If this makes you uncomfortable or frustrates you in any way, I completely understand. Learning about things you've done back here does not currently seem to help us find our way home, so you are under no obligation to try and find more out about this if you do not want to.


Our enemy here is the entity possessing the forest.
There's still a lot we don't know about him, but that is perhaps for the best. The more we know about him, it's likely the stronger he will become in turn. It's only right we keep this section brief, in that case. If you truly wish to know more about him, I would be willing to answer questions, but understand my hesitance in doing so. That, and also it's likely he can hear us through the people here who are Corrupted by the forest.

He is the entity who got us all here. He wants us to suffer. He feeds on our misery. We won't let him have that satisfaction because we have this second chance. If he couldn't kill us before in a way that sated him, than he'll never get that satisfaction from us because we are resilient. Just be careful when going out into the forest. He can corrupt you, and... if you'd like, you can speak with those who have had first hand experience with it before, but essentially it means he can possess you if we're not careful.

Do not call it by its name. Do not worship it. Do not give it power of any kind. I am no longer going to be understanding to those who give it more than it deserves.

He is afraid of the ocean. Beiwe, his sister, mentions she doesn't believe he's open to listening to reason. She said the best way to fight back against him is simply rejecting him, turning sadness into resolve, and continuing to call him rude names.


And we'll talk about the previous residents here - the ones who didn't have new lives. As well as the deities here.
Heimr and Ydalir, or the Shopkeeper and the Trader respectively, both lost their previous names to the Forest. Heimr recently became human; maybe there's a way to get Ydalir to be the same? You can say "Aldric" now, but Heimr still prefers to be called Heimr. Please keep this in mind if the Forest ever tries to speak with you. Do not, under any circumstances, give it your name.

Nene is here as well, and very recently purified, but had previously been confined to the Forest's hold for... centuries, it seems. Please be kind to her, as I'm sure I needn't even point out. She is daughter to Grace, who was a doctor here at the Grove. She has a few books in the archives that I've been perusing. She's also apparently the person behind the Garden - a place in the forest that I'll cover shortly.

The Guardians are a group of... demi-deities, as far as we are concerned. Treat them respectfully and give them offerings if you require their assistance or plan to take anything that is theirs. The few we have with us here at the Grove are as follows:

Moder, the forest Guardian, and the large moose-like creature who's seen wandering around. She is incredibly kind even if her appearances may be a bit horrifying. She's helped clean up the northern part of town with me. She's also willing to take people through the forest safely if needed, seeing both as she knows it well, and was also once corrupted, so knows roughly what to expect in there. Considering she's lost her domain to that bastard in the woods, I ask that you give her your tribute as often as you can, as I believe she will be the one to most fiercely fight with us for her home back.

Zahliya, who has many titles I've listed in the notebook, is the gargoyle who is generally on fire. He can burn away any Corruption, and cares about each of us. His powers have since been fully realized, and can rid of your corruption. If you're unsure if you have been corrupted or not, please speak with me, as I believe I have a method to find out.

Sinann, the River Guardian, is the blue, glowing fish within the River. It has regained its power and is able to turn into a humanoid form to walk and talk freely. Please do not remove the bones from the River, and return any fish bones of those you eat to it as well. Shells and medallions are able to be taken freely from it, however.

Callan, the Lake Guardian, is thing that you all may have seen diving into the well when we got back from our time under the ocean. He is... not the kindest, but I don't believe he is malicious or malevolent by any means. I'm not entirely sure what to make of him. The Behemoth is his daughter, and the giant crocodile-like creature you've seen around the Grove. She isn't a Guardian, as far as I'm aware, but it's still recommended you are kind to her as well.

The Cosmic Serpent is in the ocean. For a good majority of the time, they are asleep. They do not seem to be opposed to helping us, but can only offer us so much, and likely may get annoyed if we expect too much of them. Apparently became what they are today by feasting on fallen stars.

Aurora, the Sky Guardian. She had been recently dead, though we'd put in an effort to reviving her. She is the bird that can change its size from a towering pheonix to a much smaller one at will. Her feathers can also serve to revive the recently deceased.

The Gods — Beiwe, the Goddess of the Sun, and Ourania, the Goddess of the Moon, are the current overseers. According to Moder, they are very weak and may need some help regaining their strength through prayer and acts of devotion. We likely have the power to help them return to their former strength.. We just need to figure out how. We've spoken directly to Ourania with a seance, and we've done the same with Beiwe. People can speak with them personally by praying at their statues, though there is no guarantee they'll respond.

Zonari, uh, the forest's gargoyle. She's no longer in the Grove, but visits occasionally. Probably to keep tabs on us to let the Forest know. Refrain from giving her details you would not want him knowing.


Magic and belief of this world.
Belief in something gives it power. Names give it power. Hence why we don't want to be using names for the forest. It's recommended to swap out the vague reference you use. Vice versa for our Guardians — please use their names, and believe in them intrinsically when we require their assistance. Mizuki has recommended before that we sing to Zahliya when he purifies things. Songs of protection and such might do us some good, I think. Just remember not to wish for things too frequently, only if it's absolutely necessary.

There are shards that seem to hold power of deities inside of them. Sun and Moon shards from Beiwe and Ourania respectively, and star shards from... likely, the stars? Be on a look out for them, as the Forest wants them destroyed. It also leads me to wonder if there are any shards of the entity we may be able to destroy?

We've also learned that the seasons are controlled by spirits, and will lose control of their magic every hundred years and need some sort of "sacrifice" to stabilize them. We've just passed the hundred year mark, so this is likely not something we'll have to face again.

We have baby dragons who grant certain blessings, as well. Feel free to see them if you'd like.


Places of interest.
Aldric's Manor is a place where Heimr's kids are currently. We can't get to it, but the children inside do have a notebook, and we hope they'll try to communicate with us. One of his children… There's a grave outside for her. Do not do anything disrespectful by it. Read updates.

There's a part of the forest nearby where you might find people you know, but as trees. It's… very upsetting there. Refrain from visiting it too frequently.

The Garden is where you'll end up if you die. Nene brings you back if you do end up here. Do not die. Do not end up here. Coming back will have you giving up something important.

The River is where the River Guardian is. Return any remains of the fish we eat from there back to it after we're able to fish there again. Thank the River Guardian when you take apples from the tree nearby there, and thank Moder when you take berries from the bush near it. Do not take bones from the river without permission. Be kind to the river's inhabitants, and don't dump any trash into the water.

The Well's water will always stay clean. Don't go dumping garbage into it, of course, but know that the water there is safe to drink regardless of what happens, it seems. Also, the well is completely bottomless, so if you can't breathe underwater, I don't recommend trying to swim down it. Mizuki tried to, but at a certain point it felt like something was pushing him back.

The Lake, where Callan used to reside, and Terho's cabin nearby. According to Mizuki, the bottom is littered with bones, so it's likely not a good swimming spot.

North Aldric's Grove and Other Expansions — The Grove, prior to stuff going awry, was a sizeable place, so we're likely to explore more areas as a "reward" for participating in games. The part of the Grove to the north used to be horribly burnt and unlivable - in a perpetual state of fire and decay. We've since fixed the time anomalies there and, with Moder's help, I've managed to get it looking like the rest of the Grove. There are no more sinkholes to be wary of.

The Church was Nene's previous home, and a former place of worship for Beiwe. It has since been worn down and transformed into something to worship the entity of the forest.

The Temple is separate from the Church. Zahliya was formerly a statue guarding this place. It is also where the Creature was previously contained. It has since been destroyed due to our attack on the Forest.

In the Lighthouse is a corrupted person who seems very territorial. It's recommended that no one go into the lighthouse or get near it, or they risk being attacked or even killed. There is a statue of Ourania embedded in the cliff face nearby the Lighthouse. Any more questions can be addressed to Vash about this area.

The beach is now accessible thanks to Moder. You may head there with the path she has made without needing help of the goggles. Just stay on the bridge of fallen trees she's made and you'll make it there. In the water are very dangerous creatures, so be mindful. Dipper has also found the evil entity's original temple under the water. Maybe that is partially why it has it's fear of the ocean?

Within the forest are star shrines, which may provide moments of respite while you are out there. Not much is known about them at the moment, besides that star... spirits? guardians? creatures reside there. Hoku, a lion-esque spirit, seems to be the "leader". We don't know what happened to him.

There are other places within the forest and such, but if you want specifics, talk to Mizuki. He has a map.

If you do end up going into the forest, bring a pair of the golden spectacles that Heimr has with you. They will show you a safe-adjacent way into the forest. It won't guarantee safety, but it'll be your best case scenario.
chickenchoicejudy: Why Didn't You Stop Me? - Mitski (Paint it over)

On being a major normie in a magical world

[personal profile] chickenchoicejudy 2025-04-22 03:51 am (UTC)(link)
[After a few other people have gone, Ryan eventually holds up a hand like they're all in school or something. With the boardroom setting, it kind of feels like it? He's managed to turn himself around fully backwards in his chair, resting his free arm on top of it. He doesn't wait to be called on though, just for people to look his way.]

Hey, so...first of all? This is a lot! Like, a lot a lot. But, uh. Quick question! So everyone's talking about magic and weapons and some of you have animal powers and stars for heads and all of that stuff seems really cool and helpful for whatever's supposed to come up and I was wondering...

[He drums his fingers on the back of his chair and takes the leap and asks what's still on his mind.]

So, like. If someone doesn't have magic or any of that stuff...how screwed are they? Like saying "don't die" is good and all, but I only know how to play guitar. Am I just kind of fucked, or what?

[Something similar was asked about a month ago over the netbooks, but Ryan doesn't sound very much like the person who wrote it. It just feels like the natural place for them to go here. What do you do when your useful skill in a dangerous place is being entertainment?]
thebladebringstheflame: (026)

[personal profile] thebladebringstheflame 2025-04-22 04:00 am (UTC)(link)
It's a smart idea to arm yourself, in that case. Learn to fight for your life. Barring that, get real fucking good at running, because that's the only thing that's going to save you.
chickenchoicejudy: Good Old-Fashioned Lover Boy - Queen (Will do quite nicely)

[personal profile] chickenchoicejudy 2025-04-22 02:59 pm (UTC)(link)
[Ryan sighs a little.]

Yeah, that's about what I thought. Running was kiiinda the only thing I had going for me the last time something like this happened to us.

[Does he elaborate? Nope!]

So, uh. Any beginner recommendations, or...?
thebladebringstheflame: (082)

[personal profile] thebladebringstheflame 2025-04-22 06:01 pm (UTC)(link)
[Flamebringer simply takes it on the nose because he's Terran and it's not like this doesn't happen to most of them.]

I prefer swords, personally. [He has two on him right now!] Other people use guns. I think Heimr sells silver bullets.

I can't teach you to shoot a gun, you'd have to ask Ezell or Sesa for that — but I can teach you hand-to-hand and swordplay. And also how to kick someone's kneecaps hard enough to break them.
chickenchoicejudy: Good Old-Fashioned Lover Boy - Queen (We can do the tango just for two)

[personal profile] chickenchoicejudy 2025-04-26 10:11 pm (UTC)(link)
I...don't really think a gun's for me.

[For a lot of reasons, really. Poor eyesight, not wanting to be mistaken for an American, etc--]

Hand-to-hand would probably be good to know though? I'm totally up for learning to break a kneecap or two.
jesterlies: sandstar924 @postype (08)

[personal profile] jesterlies 2025-04-23 08:33 am (UTC)(link)
I will never understand why you all insist on acting like magic is out of your grasp. I've taught infants to cast spells. Really, the solution is right there.

[This does sound like that post he responded to before, but obviously the tone isn't matching up. Anyway. Have a chuckle from one of the weirdest looking dudes here with the magical staff that is definitely blinking at you in lieu of him actually making eye contact.]
psychokinesia: (I-0143)

[personal profile] psychokinesia 2025-04-23 06:16 pm (UTC)(link)
Because some people know better than to rely on something as uselessly volatile as magic. [says the guy who has a genetic condition that prevents him from using magic at all]

There are simpler and more effective self-defense methods anyway, so lessons like that are a waste of time.
jesterlies: rassblerry at tumblr (88)

[personal profile] jesterlies 2025-04-23 08:04 pm (UTC)(link)
[This is the most asinine thing anyone has ever said to him. He smiles with glee and the blueberry in the staff swivels to look at him.]

You’re a waste of time!
Edited 2025-04-23 20:06 (UTC)
psychokinesia: (I-0010)

[personal profile] psychokinesia 2025-04-23 08:08 pm (UTC)(link)
[Add just stares back at him while Dynamo settles themselves over his shoulders, sparking lightly. You're not the only one with extra eye(s), asshole. He won't be intimidated that easily!!!]

Oh? I guess that means I'm right, since you have nothing worthwhile to say, kukukuku...
Edited 2025-04-23 20:10 (UTC)
jesterlies: 41n4v15@twt (50)

[personal profile] jesterlies 2025-04-23 08:42 pm (UTC)(link)
I have seen civilizations rise and fall by my hand and seen technology progress and erode while the speck of time your life would be merely a blink in my eyes. You are simply a gnat and not worth my time.
psychokinesia: (I-0056)

[personal profile] psychokinesia 2025-04-23 08:54 pm (UTC)(link)
Kekek, what a familiar sentiment. You wouldn't be the first megalomaniac I've met who underestimated human ingenuity.

You'd be surprised at what a talented gnat can accomplish.
lilyberation: (007)

[personal profile] lilyberation 2025-04-23 08:08 pm (UTC)(link)
Both require effort and learning. But if he chooses to learn magic, Shadow Milk Cookie is... perhaps the best teacher there could be. He created our world's magic.
psychokinesia: (I-0023)

[personal profile] psychokinesia 2025-04-23 08:15 pm (UTC)(link)
That's a false assumption. A machine requires effort, knowledge and skill to construct, but operation can be designed around an unskilled user. Give the kid a gun and all he has to learn is how to point and shoot, the rest is handled by the weapons designer. Magic makes both parties waste time and effort learning something. That's just one of many reasons why magic is inferior to my technological prowess.
Edited (s) 2025-04-23 20:16 (UTC)
lilyberation: (010)

[personal profile] lilyberation 2025-04-23 08:18 pm (UTC)(link)
And if someone enjoys learning?

( failing at being a nerd...

mostly though lily just casts him a tired glance. she doesn't even have the energy to be irritated. )


Magic and technology tend to go hand in hand where I'm from, so from my perspective, you're just skipping an important step for faster results. A pity.
psychokinesia: (I-0107)

[personal profile] psychokinesia 2025-04-23 08:23 pm (UTC)(link)
Then study whatever you want. All I'm saying is it's inefficient on the user end. Does he want to spend months learning magic tricks? [sorry Ryan you're part of this debate now] Or would he prefer to have a solution he can utilize right away? This is about self-defence, not a personal hobby. Not exactly something you'd want to delay.
Edited (why cant i get my s in the right spot) 2025-04-23 20:25 (UTC)
lilyberation: (001)

[personal profile] lilyberation 2025-04-23 08:26 pm (UTC)(link)
That is up to him. But please refrain from both insulting and underestimating us to our faces. Thank you.
psychokinesia: (I-0225)

[personal profile] psychokinesia 2025-04-23 08:29 pm (UTC)(link)
It's not my fault if simple facts offend you, kekeke.

[sorry he's like this]

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chickenchoicejudy: Good Old-Fashioned Lover Boy - Queen (Hey boy where'd you get it from?)

[personal profile] chickenchoicejudy 2025-04-26 10:21 pm (UTC)(link)
[So much happened before Ryan could even respond really, and he super doesn't love that staff staring at him.]

Okay, uh. A lot just happened. I'll think about it, I guess? Magic isn't really...

[Hm. The train though...]

...well, it's kind of a thing where I'm from, I guess? But not a thing people learn. More like...a thing you fall into and then have to get out of.
jesterlies: rassblerry at tumblr (88)

[personal profile] jesterlies 2025-04-26 11:15 pm (UTC)(link)
[Look at him juggling to try and cheer up Lily- once he’s done he will turn his attention to ryan again. Well, the staff will, he very clearly isn’t making the eye contact himself.]

Thaaat, just means magic is definitely present in your world, which means there’s certainly a good chance you can learn something!

[He waves a hand a bit. Man who talks with his hands.]

I’ve founded several schools of magic. If anyone knows this its probably me. If you every get curious I’m easy to find.
lilyberation: (029)

a small interjection before she goes back to depresso lily

[personal profile] lilyberation 2025-04-26 11:26 pm (UTC)(link)
...

( after a moment, lily turns to ryan. )

There may be no better teacher, and our magic can be very potent. Even just a shield may be worth it.
jesterlies: 41n4v15@twt (25)

[personal profile] jesterlies 2025-04-26 11:33 pm (UTC)(link)
[She’s right but man its surreal for her to say anything remotely positive about him. They’re really fuckin in it lads.]
lilyberation: (026)

[personal profile] lilyberation 2025-04-26 11:36 pm (UTC)(link)
( don't look at her. )
chickenchoicejudy: Bang Your Drum - Dead Man Fall (Shout it down to the people below)

[personal profile] chickenchoicejudy 2025-04-27 12:46 am (UTC)(link)
[Honestly, Ryan wasn't too enthused originally, but it's amazing what a public show of kindness and good word from someone who doesn't look like a saturday morning cartoon villain at a glance can do. He's a little surprised when Lily chimes in, and looks from her, to wherever Min-Gi is in the room, and then back to Shadow Milk - or more specifically, the staff with the eye.]

Well...that's pretty cool? What kind of magic do you usually do?

[The question is so tentative, as if he's internally crossing his fingers that it isn't supervillainy. He probably won't commit to a yes or a no, but he can at least find out more, right?]
jesterlies: (67)

[personal profile] jesterlies 2025-05-01 11:02 am (UTC)(link)
Kid, I do it all.

[He waves a hand dismissively.]

It's not mere boasting when I say I brought magic to Earthbread. I've founded schools on almost every subject at the time. I can teach anything you want, from as boring to forbidden as you like.

[The magic he usually does is the forbidden stuff, obviously, because it's more fun, but he knows that's not what these goody-goodies want to learn, so that's fine.]

Basic self defense more than within my wheelhouse. Quick shields of light, illusions for distractions, quick bursts of force to get away from an enemy, really the world is your oyster here.
chickenchoicejudy: Bang Your Drum - Dead Man Fall (Wasted every chance I ever)

[personal profile] chickenchoicejudy 2025-05-04 09:06 pm (UTC)(link)
[Not wanting to learn black magic doesn't make him a goody-goody! He can still be badass and think that fucking around with the forces of darkness is probably a terrible idea.]

Okay, but. ...Is there any kind of a catch? Not even from you but like. So there isn't a ton of magic where I'm from, but there's a ton of stories about it where I'm from and a lot of them are like--

[He twiddles his fingers and talks in a spooky voice:]

"--OoooOOoo you can have all this magic power but it comes at a great and terrible cost that I'm not going to tell you about upfront oOooOoOO!"