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

code

Comments

[notsonewbie]

[Meryl gives the man a once over, brows drawn together as she searches for some kind of threat. Other than the size advantage, she doesn't immediately come up with anything. That doesn't mean he's off the hook, though.]

A few weeks is more than me. [His second question nets an exasperated eye roll.] Trust me, I've handled my share of crazy. Just tell me what you've got, okay?

[wolfetracks]

( even if she could see the gun, it's only for flares. he's just a dude, honestly. )

Fair enough.

From my understanding, we've been kidnapped to a different dimension and our captor is a fallen god. Because those are things that are real and can happen, now.

--Oh! Forgive me, I almost forgot- I have notes from our last info share and from the archives, if you'd like.

[notsonewbie]

Fallen... god? [She tries not to immediately laugh in Sidney's face. It's not entirely out of the realm of possibility, but it does seem to be a little out there for her.

Anyway, she holds out her hand.]

If you don't mind, I'd like to take a look.

[wolfetracks]

Fallen God. As a man who was never very faithful, I ain't too pleased myself.

( she doesn't have to wait long, since he automatically reaches into his breast pocket and procures a notepad that fits decently in his hand- his handwriting is actually really great, so despite the notepad being fairly small, it's more than legible.

it goes over things from the last family meeting, alongside his own studies from the archives, specifically focusing on an 'everett', 'clara' and 'sidney'. he has his own connections drawn and linked together with roman numerals if they cross pages.

he's also a giant nerd. enjoy your recap episode, meryl. )

There's a lot of avenue to cover, so I might not have everything.

[notsonewbie]

[She snatches the notepad from him, wrinkling her nose at the mention of "gods" and other things, but otherwise says nothing. She quickly flips through the pages, skimming the words as she takes in the informaion. There are definitely names she doesn' recognize or see the importance of — that will come in time — but there's still good data here nonetheless.]

These notes aren't too bad. [She taps her foot a few times.] I could probably do better, but these are passable enough. It'll keep people informed, if nothing else.

[She glances up at him.]

What were your three most important takeaways?

[wolfetracks]

... I'll ignore the insult given that this isn't the best situation to suddenly find yourself in.

( his tone is a dry deadpan, so it's... very hard to tell if he's serious or not. but he'd like to think he's pretty damn good at what he does, given that he's a detective! )

If you're going near the trees, its better to keep someone close by. From my understanding, visual and audio hallucinations are common, so verify everything. And carry a first aid kit, even if it's just a small one. Couple months back there was a snake epidemic.

[notsonewbie]

[Meryl shoots him a look. It's absolutely a "you damn well better ignore it if you know what's good for you." As one of the best journalists on No Man's Land (self-proclaimed) she'd like to think she knows better than, uh. Well. Everyone.]

The trees are dangerous, really? [There's a note of skepticism in her voice, but also perhaps a hint of disappointment.] Got it on the first aid kit. Someone else said something about silver bullets, too.

[wolfetracks]

( bold words for someone he could stick on top of the fridge to be honest. but he's a gentleman, and more importantly, he is tired and gay and not here for this shit. )

Not the trees themselves, far as I'm aware, but it's where some of the bigger threats I've encountered like to hide, and not everyone has a built-in warning system.

( he politely takes the notepad back and flips to a page, a sketch of some monster spotted in the fog and the stone snakes. )

Haven't seen the snakes in a hot minute, but they were massive, and their bite as a venom I've never encountered before. The clinic was running ragged just trying to soothe the pain.

[notsonewbie]

[She perks up, just a little.]

So I can still touch the trees, is what you're saying?

[Nature is still too new to her. Making it back to ship 03 had been an impossible task, and she often found herself missing the crisp air of the biodome. Being her had made that place look so impossibly small, too.

The skill he displays in his sketches is noted with a quirk of her mouth.]

Better artist than a note taker, huh? [She studies the page, that smile quickly evaporating.]

It's too much to hope this isn't just artist interpretation, right?

[wolfetracks]

I'm a detective, I'd like to think both are up to par enough to do my job well. ... And I wish I could say yes, but... no.

( it's telling that even in a sketch, hate radiates off the snakes. )

I don't have a proper weapon yet- just a flare gun I've used to stun monsters in the past. But the silver bullets are worth looking into. Wouldn't be surprised if this place had werewolves or some shit...

[notsonewbie]

[Meryl's eyes narrow. She gives him a sharp look, before muttering under her breath:] Cops

[Otherwise, though, she keeps herself on her best behavior. There's a chance he could be a private detective. Maybe.]

Mm, not just werewolves. Better to arm yourself in general though, right?

[But beyond that, she won't out Kiera's secrets.]

[wolfetracks]

( he can't even blame her. but there's a defeated tone when he replies, something that weighs heavier than just "yeah, cops are the worst, lol". )

Yeah. I know.

( but that's beside the point- and more than he wants to share with someone who's been openly rude for no reason. )

Generally, yes. I've been focused on other things. ... And admittedly, I'm used to stunning and running at this point.

[notsonewbie]

[Well, she can't help but crack a grin at that, even gives him an approving tip of the head. Respect earned!]

Well, I can't exactly blame you for that. [And since he's managed to carve out a bit of approval from her, she doesn't feel quite as bad by adding:] Where I'm from, even a gun won't do much good. It's a distraction, if that.

[She rustles in her pocket and pulls out the derringer.]

One shot, and then take off. It's the best someone like me can do.

[Which, when she thinks about it, stitches her stomach into knots. If someone as big and imposing as Sidney had to stun and run, then what hope did she have of ever getting ahead in a fight?]

[wolfetracks]

I'm used to things that don't die. Chase you down because you're an easy target, and an easier punching bag. The only thing I've faced here so far also didn't die, but they acted dead long enough to matter.

( long enough to get the goods and run, long enough to grab whoever needed grabbing and get to safety- )

... Man, that just sounds depressing. Sorry, Miss.... ...Ah, introductions.

Sidney Wolfe.

[notsonewbie]

[She glances toward those dark, foreboding woods, then away once more. Whatever's hiding in there, she knows she isn't ready to face it.]

You don't have to apologize. [She meets his eyes, and holds out her hand.] Meryl Stryfe.

[And since she is feeling generous...]

You're not so bad.