EVENT & TDM 024

[sticksandbonesmods]

MONSTER MASH

WAKE UP

Where were you last? Do you remember falling asleep, thinking you’d wake up in your own home, your own bed?

When you open your eyes, the room you’re in doesn’t feel like your own. In fact, you’re almost certain you didn’t fall asleep here. You’re given only a short few moments to get your bearings before the door to that room opens, the doorknob jiggling as whoever is on the other side is unlocking it. Is it a library study room you’ve found yourself in, or an inn room that doesn’t belong to you? A home that isn’t yours? A business after-hours?

An unfortunate few of you may find yourself face-to-face with the real owners of these rooms, homes, and businesses — and surely they’re just as confused as you are. The lucky ones might instead find themselves being “rescued” from their sleeping states by a heavily scarred man with dreadlocks and an impossibly sunny demeanour.

“Mornin’, sunshine! Up and at ‘em!” he’ll say, hands on his hips and the door held open in a way that says he expects you to simply come follow him, whoever he is. “You ain’t where you’re supposed to be, but I’ll bail you out before the person who owns this place knocks your teeth out for trespassin’. It’ll be our little secret, ‘kay?”

TRANSPOREMATION

cw: body horror, monster transformations, fungal parasitism

As usual, Aldric’s Grove is something of a hot mess, and that’s especially true lately. Aside from random people popping into existence in various buildings, there’s a bit of a fungus problem lately. A wee little problem with cute little mushrooms. …a major, unignorable, horrendous problem with some very large, purplish-coloured mushrooms, fruiting on still-living trees and the forest floor. They look quite similar to meadow mushrooms, but far, far less harmless. While eating one won’t poison anybody too badly — aside from an episode of horrible stomach pain — stepping on them or touching them at all will cause them to shower you in a spray of spores, all of which suddenly curve around and cling onto you as if they have a mind of their own. Any attempt to remove them, to wash them off, to brush them away from your skin and clothes, only makes the spores cling more stubbornly. Soon, they’ve started to root under your skin, unable to be pulled out.

The resulting transformation is, for what little it’s worth, extremely swift. Perhaps you feel it, perhaps you don’t, but the spores leave you fundamentally changed no matter what.

Your bones lengthen and rearrange, grinding together underneath your muscle tissue. Snapping, creaking, where new joints form over the breaks. Wings rip through your back in a spray of blood and torn flesh, the wounds healing themselves over a short second later. You drop to the ground as your back legs become something foreign and new, toes bursting free of your shoes, claws digging into the soil as you writhe on the ground. Your spine elongates, the muscles in your neck tense and relax as it gets too long. The spores are deciding what to do with you, it seems, as extra eyes rapidly appear and disappear over your body alongside feathers and scales. Within the span of sixty seconds, it seems the mushrooms have come to a decision on what you should be, and the transformations it inflicts on you rapidfire begin evening out.

Whether that leaves you something wolflike, catlike, ghostly, chimeric, or otherwise… that seems to be up to the spores. Regardless, you’re no longer in your own skin. At least you’re still “you”, and at least you haven’t lost much more than your old form… right?

…

Well, not to worry. Try your luck stepping on the mushrooms again! This time, they might be kind enough to revert you back to normal… assuming they don’t turn you into a different type of creature instead.

TIME TREKS ON

For the foreseeable future, many people are “stuck” outside their normal bodies. It doesn’t mean that life in the Grove stops, however, as people flit from building to building — assuming their monster forms didn’t bar them off from entering most of them anyhow — and their daily routines continue. From the Church of the Golden Sun in the north of Aldric’s Grove emanates a lovely, warm light, inviting all who are loyal to the Goddesses within its halls and barring the Corrupted or those loyal to the Fallen Sun from entry. Describing it as a “church” may not entirely be accurate; instead of an altar, there sits a throne that automatically prevents anyone who isn’t the Goddess of the Sun from sitting on it (despite the fact she isn’t currently there). Instead of pews, the first room is a large combat arena, golden weapons hung up on the walls that are free to use if you need to spar. Thankfully, the doors are large enough to accommodate most monsters, though the halls in the back may not be sizeable enough for anyone over eight feet tall.

Within that church, the kilns in the back are fired up, pottery baking while animal spirits resembling lions and dogs mix paint with their paws. It’s difficult, being a little guy — help a critter out? You can paint a selection of finished pottery when you’re done, which they’d tell you if they could speak to you. If they bring you a flower-shaped plate or a vase in the shape of a tulip and a paintbrush, will you figure out what they mean? If you don’t, that’s not a problem, as they’ll nudge you toward the pottery wheels and get you clay to work with. When you make your own thing, they think you’ll be more willing to paint with them. Hope you brought your art hands, assuming you have any at all after those mushrooms got you.

In the opposite wing from the pottery room, the kitchen is going strong, the smells of freshly baked bread wafting down the hall. Here is where Ydalir is, the shadowy woman wearing silks who normally casts magic and sells items, who turns to you and extends a flour-covered palm. Come here! Let’s bake something together — it’s the least she feels she can do, since she can’t exactly eliminate the fungus problem. There’s a host of food sitting in the dining room nearby already, with Heimr and Renard setting the table, Heimr nitpicking the setup while Renard focuses too hard on decorating with garlands and candelabras.

If you can’t fit into the dining room for any reason, one of the three will bring you food. They’d hate to see you go hungry, after all.

IT NEVER ENDS

While the Guardians themselves are immune to the transformations — Moder is, in fact, eating the mushrooms when no one is nearby to get spore’d — it doesn’t mean they’re not enjoying the fact that some of you can now spend more time with them in ways you couldn’t before.

Those of you with wings or flight abilities are invited by Aurora and the newly-resurrected bone dragon Sehul to come flying. Though Sehul won’t land in the Grove (too many buildings too close together for a hundred-foot dragon to feel comfortable, you see), they’ll land on the seaside, and even invite you to race them there. They do have something of a body mass advantage, but when they eventually win, they’ll fairly concede that it doesn’t really count. Aurora, meanwhile, wants desperately to teach you to do a midair flip.

Those of you who find yourselves suddenly aquatic will be literally accosted by Callan, who swims up into the river for once only to wrap his tentacles around you and drag you off toward the lake with a watery laugh. He expects you to do the same to him in return, but the Guardian’s extreme strength might make it difficult. Worry not, because if no one comes to your rescue, Sinann will chide him until he lets go, and show you the nest the baby Seaborn have built at the deepest point in the river. You’re welcome to live with them for a while, if you want. Their pastime is singing, and they’d love to sing with you.

And to the folks with a sudden craving for plants, Moder will gladly show you where the best snacks are — her favourite trees to reach into, the best flowers to eat, a fragrant patch of wild herbs. She’s happy to stroll through the forest with you, calmer than her peers are. If you need a ride on her mossy back, she’ll accommodate, so long as you don’t mind her telling old tales of a world long gone.

The final Guardian, Zahliya, doesn’t seem too keen on playtime, and will simply perch in various locations throughout the Grove to keep watch, as he normally does. Gifts of food given his way are rejected for the time being. He has a job to do; why don’t you go play with everyone?

It’s a beautiful, sunny day. This world isn’t often peaceful and playful. You should take advantage of it before something horrible happens… you and everyone else here know the good mood can’t last too long.

Spark Notes

summary

WAKE UP: Welcome to the Grove! You've found yourself in someone else's home/business/room it seems. Good luck explaining this one, but maybe Renard will be in time to bail you out?
TRANSPOREMATION: The mushrooms in the woods will spray you with spore clouds if you're not careful, and then transform you into something else. After a potentially-painful transformation, you'll find yourself in a new, more monsterlike body for a while.
TIME TREKS ON: Despite the monster mash, Beiwe's church is going strong, providing an opportunity to get creative or cook some dinner. Ydalir, Heimr, and Renard are all happy to see you and invite you to a home-cooked meal. They'd probably appreciate help with the dining room decor, too.
IT NEVER ENDS: Despite the transformations, it seems like the Guardians are all super pumped to spend time with you guys in their own domains. Many of them will invite you and your friends to hang out, some more politely than others. It's peaceful for once, so why not take them up on that?

out of character

Happy May! Here is your usual reminder that TDM threads are game canon. Per our plotting post (linked below) please keep in mind our rules for the monster transformations, and have fun!

updates

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

submissions

❖ NPCs List
❖ Questions
❖ May Plotting
❖ Past Life Plotting (Closed to Game Members)
❖ Investigations
❖ TDM NPC Contact

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Comments

[foreversembrace]

[Till- who is an asshole- just kindof…deadeyes Val at that.]

I’m thrilled.

[foreversembrace]

You’re seriously from a place that’s already like this?

[Well…that sucks. Like yeah, Till’s world is 100% worse than the Grove, but it’s also not like the Grove is THAT much better by comparison.]

And you LIKE it?

[foreversembrace]

[Good…it means the two of them will share an amicable silence for a time as they both work. Till probably would have been content just staying totally silent the whole time, but…maybe it’s this place rubbing off on him, but he feels compelled to say something after a while.]

You’re that guy who runs the bar, right? The place with the drinks and the food.

[lovelyredthread]

[ He fidgets a little at the question, fiddling with his lyre as if it had suddenly become super interesting. He wasn't expecting to be asked for elaboration. ]

When you're raised in a cage don't you like the little freedom you can get?

[ a question for a question. Of course he has no way of knowing the can of worms he opened, but even with the forest being inside the cage this time, that's what it represented for him. ]

Besides, I haven't been in proper buildings in like, hundreds of years. Feels weird being in a town.

[outofsynth]

[There it goes, leaving only the barest of ripples behind. Once that settles it's almost like it was never there.

This world is the only place that Min-Gi's ever seen the Seaborn, so until his river vacation didn't have all that much reason to spend time around them. He'd felt like he'd learned a lot by being around them, but even if he can sort of see the hivemind when it's pointed out it still sends a shiver through him. He doesn't feel like they're trying to assimilate him. They're only babies. How could they?

Even having been comfortable around them until now, he still finds himself a little more worried than he was before. They've been friendly, but what if there was an ulterior motive behind that?]

I guess you can't blame them if they were trying to protect their homes. You don't think they'd attack anyone if they didn't have a reason to first?

[outofsynth]

[Min's about to protest when he finds himself being pushed under. He doesn't protest, mostly because he doesn't see it coming. For a moment he panics, scared of the water that's rushing in. Except... he can still breathe. He knows he can still breathe. He lingers for a moment, letting himself calm down before he resurfaces.

He looks annoyed, but definitely less flustered than he'd been before.]

Yeah.

[It feels strange to be grateful for, but getting dunked had actually been helpful. And Ryan doesn't look too much like he's laughing at him.]

Thanks.

[livlaughlove]

[while livio pauses to give lily his full attention, razlo continues picking out jade and grey pieces, only glancing at her out of the corner of his eyes. he isn't so good at the gentle stuff, but he's here nonetheless.]

Your first? [livio isn't entirely sure whether that's pure vanilla, dark cacao, or someone else entirely. best not to assume.]

[alphacraft]

She would offer a faint smile, but she's not physically capable.

"I am Odile. It's kind of you to offer, Min-Gi, but I have been well enough. In fact, I would dare say the change has been good for my back."

Is her spine entirely new? It's entirely different, and that seems to be good enough for her aches and pains.

[lupusxylem]

S'that so?

[Wolfwood is on his feet again by now, standing on one of the stepping stones. He isn't so much of an asshole as to pull or push Meryl in the water...

But he WILL take it upon himself to just give his body a brisk, violent shake, causing the water soaked in his fur to go everywhere.]

[lupusxylem]

[It's consumed it, totally and utterly. Ain is Deer now.]

Yeah.....yeah, it's me. Sorry I scared ya.

[lupusxylem]

Yeah, that's the one. You know him?

[Given the way he WHIPPED AROUND like that-]

[lupusxylem]

[It's a comical sight, the two of them as bestial as they are. But that doesn't matter, not when Wolfwood is offering Livio a wolfish grin as he leans forward to bonk his face against Livio's like a cat, affectionate.]

Gee, somehow I had no idea...

[He scoffs, his tail wagging slowly.]

You really don't give yourself enough credit for bein' such a sweetheart.

[foreversembrace]

[Haha, well. That sure gets Till to clam up fast.

He grunts, then glances away.]

Tch. Guess your definition of what a cage is is different than mine.

[reydelostests]

[Elysium is happy, despite it all. His tailfeathers flutter and he squeezes Thorns to his chest, pressing his nose to his hair so he can breathe him in. If he could manhandle him more, he'd simply tuck him under his wing and nest right there on the ground.]

Are you doing okay, despite all of this? Are you eating? Sleeping well? Staying hydrated? Have you been using sunscreen-?

[lovelyredthread]

Somewhere you're confined and not allowed to leave. Where you have to do what someone says or else.

[ ... ominous with how little he is. He strums quietly because he knows they're in another cage. He's not surprised that there are others like him here who know the feeling of being confined. ]

Master didn't let me leave unless I had a good reason and she expected me back in a certain time. I've seen what she does to those that resist.

[ He knows it could have been worse. He's not trying to say his was horrible or anything. He just smiles at Till ]

This feels at least a little less suffocating.

[nitrotempered]

[ Scratches, bruises, he's pretty sure he's nearly almost sprained his knew - whatever they are, feet. He hates it. Regardless, he adjusts out of the pile and uses his wings to try to get out and over onto level ground. Looking up at her, ]

You were born like that, or what, you were a normal moose before?

[ He's tired, so, he's gunna flop to the floor. ]

[unheiring]

[Luca can't help the snort that escapes him. His shoulders shake with the laughter that he does try to choke back, at the very least.]

You could say that, yes. [Luca turns a bright smile on him.] Most people just call me Luca, though.

[notsonewbie]

[Meryl yelps, doing her best to hide herself from the water. She's very small, though, and he's both very big and very soaked. It's a pretty feeble effort.]

Gross! I'm going to smell like wet dog now, Undertaker!

[She huffs and glowers in his direction.]

[outofsynth]

"Really?"

Min-Gi looks at her back skeptically. It doesn't look like it hurts her, but being curled up in that nest can't have been good for her, right?

"I know you don't want to ruin your normal house, but are you sure this one's big enough?"

[alphacraft]

[ Hmm. No reaction to 'Pines' either. He understands less than she'd hoped. Maybe she should keep an eye on him until his family comes to collect him...

Her neck is starting to ache a bit from being laid out on the ground like this. Slowly, carefully, she raises her head to a more comfortable position. ]

Very well then. So long as you don't try swim, I suppose this is as safe a place as any.

[nitrotempered]

No, but you were - [ A click of his tongue, sounding mildly desperate. Nothing bothers him more and sets under his skin uncomfortably like losing control over who he is. In this moment where there's no singing, he feels most himself again and is afraid that he'll lose sight of that if Min-Gi starts to sing again. ] what's with your mouth? Your music? I felt called here, that's the only reason why I came, and when you shut up, it went away.

D ish cw: 431 + spoilers

[nitrotempered]

[ Katsuki Bakugo is one to never bow out from a challenge, and he is confident in his skills in fighting, enough so, to want to take on this large, fiery dog. At first, he thought this was another God, or someone a part of the forest. He soon learned that was not the case; this entity was something else entirely. Perhaps much like him, Katsuki, in that his hands and feet are now claws. With a wingspan that stretches out behind his own body.

Unlike him, this entity had its full body changed into something otherworldly - he's never seen anything like it himself and was overly excited when he decided to take to fighting it. As it stands, the great beast was far too much for him to handle on his own, and he may be an ego maniac, but Kastuki can come to an understanding beyond his own prowess when something may be out of his league -

Out of his League.

No, nothing is ever way out of his league.

His body is rammed against a tree, and he's winded by the way the air leaves his lungs. A quick flash in that moment as a memory(CW: 431 spoilers/harmed minor) hits him, and Katsuki bares his teeth angrily. ]

Fuck! [ Is that all he is? Is that all he's ever going to be? Katsuki would rather die again then believe any of that bull shit, he adjusts himself attempting to gather his nerves and face this monster that he honestly provoked into fighting. His own fault in the end, then again, when isn't it his fault? ]

Come on you stupid fuck - [ A flickering thought, what would Izuku do? Use his brain, obviously, so Katsuki wonders what the fuck he is doing using his brawns this whole time. The conception of a dragon clearly milks his ego and makes him blindly rush into fights. Here and now, he has to use his head and realize if he doesn't STOP the other, he'll end up dead again. ] this way!

[ Wings flap, and he rushes forward. Thinking to himself, that if this is SOMEONE who transformed like him, then - the mushrooms? Maybe they will stop him, or make things worse - who knows? ]

[charlastan]

[...Safe? Safe a place?

He looks around again, just to be sure. For the moment it's just the two of them by the water, with no other signs of danger anywhere around. Once he does though, he eases for the first time in what feels like a long time. His ears are still perked up and listening, but the rest of him is less tense. He adjusts to make himself more comfortable on the ground and tentatively wags his tail, which makes a plume of extra smoke billow up behind him.

He barks again, but it's different - a more friendly sort of boof!]