sticksandbones | EVENT & TDM 024

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EVENT & TDM 024

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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Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Oh. Right.

[The feathers he's used to. The hair is a bit new. It makes him feel all the warmer, even as he allows his shoulders to relax. Since Till is probably really studying Luca, he won't miss the way his cheeks seem to flush all the darker.]

This, then?

[Yep, he notices alright. But given that he's only sketching and doesn't have any proper tools for coloring, he'll just have to make the shading he does do the heavy lifting. Not an unfamiliar task, since the Aliens weren't really generous enough to give him crayons as a child.]

Yeah, just like that. Just sit there...you don't have to be a statue, but just don't like get up and leave.

[He says all of this while drawing by the way, the sound of his pencil's tip audible as it scratches the page.]

Ah, and whatever will I do about the stove I left on?

[It's a joke, deadpan as it comes out. But since Till has given him permission to move, he'll at least angle himself enough to focus on some art of his own. He reaches for some clay and picks at it, attempting to fashion it into something. Hard to say what it is, but at least it keeps his mind occupied, and the both of them safe from any stray sparks.]

[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.

[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.

Luca...

[He glances up, just briefly, as Luca laughs before he looks back down at his sketchbook, his ears flicking.]

I'm Till, I guess.

[It's HUGELY ironic they never exchanged names on the network because if only Luca knew this was the homophobic guy-]

You guess? [A playful smile dances over his lips.] Do you have another name you use from time to time? One that changes here and there?

[His voice is light, at the very least. If he's teasing, it isn't to be mean. Maybe it'll help loosen himself up. He still feels more than a little awkward in their current situation.

It would be far worse if he did know who he's talking to, though. For the best, really.]

No...I mean. It's complicated.

[How do you explain that the name you were given was given to you by your alien captors and is currently branded on your neck? The only reason Luca can't see it is because he's stuck wearing a collar again in this form, which covers it up. A double edged sword, really.]

It's not really that "normal" of a name, that's all.

Hmm.

[Luca tilts his head at Till, studying the young man for a quiet moment.]

If you don't like it, change it. I did, once. And I doubt anyone here will be bothered by it. If they are, they can kindly bring it up with me instead.

...change it?

[That's said in that sort of tone of voice, like- "you can DO that?"

He's not sure he would, but...he's never heard of someone just deciding to change their name. Maybe because he never imagined it could be an option when it's branded onto you.]

Mmhm. I did so when I was quite young. Granted, I suspect the circumstances were different but...

[Luca gives a delicate little shrug.]

You deserve to feel comfortable with yourself. If that means changing your name, or changing your appearance, or anything about yourself, so be it. There's a turn of phrase I've always enjoyed. "Those who matter will not care, and those who care do not matter." I have found that be largely true, albeit hard to swallow at times.

[Leaning back in his seat, Luca brings a hand to his chin, using his index finger to tap at it thoughtfully. He hums to himself]

If you are interested in taking that step. Start small. Ask for someone you trust to call you by a different name, and go from there.

[The idea of having any agency at all is so...foreign to Till, yet Luca does speak of it like someone with a lot of experience. To that end, he doesn't immediately dismiss the idea, even if he isn't sure how it would apply to himself.

He's sketching Luca's eyes now as he talks.]

I'd have to think about it.

[He finally says, after the sound of his pencil on the paper stops for just a moment.]

I've never known anything else.

[Those eyes narrow slightly. It's not out of anger, but in focus. Till's situation is very obviously different than Luca's own, and he can only surmise his upbringing. Certainly one unfamiliar with the idea of being able to change a name, which doesn't give Luca the highest of expectations. Nevertheless...]

No one is forcing you to do anything. That's the beauty of it all. You have time to explore and do whatever it is you wish.

[His eyes close as a broad smile takes hisface. It's probably the warmest (and most genuine) that Luca has managed to look since they first started speaking.]

And if you ever have any questions, you can ask me.

[Well you know what, just for that, Till is going to finish off his sketching with that smile that's on Luca's face right now. He could have just drawn him neutrally- he did ask him not to "pose", after all- but that's a natural expression. As natural as they come.

He's nodding along as Luca talks, and just a moment later he'll gather up the sketchbook carefully in his claws and turn it around for the other to look at.]

What do you think?

[Normally he doesn't, like. Care about other peoples' opinions on his art, but he's actually drawing someone else here, so....feels warranted.]

[It's a bit strange, to see his smile reflected back at him. Considering the trajectory of his life and everything that has happened of late, he would have expected something a touch more dour. Haunting. Not that he feels it's inaccurate. Given the warmth in his chest in this moment, the smile feels accurate. A sense of pride fills him. If ever there was a sign of his improvement, it was this.]

It's. It's really good. You're very -

[The moment, unfortunately, doesn't last long. With the outflow of emotion comes another press of power. A surge of warmth prompts him to take two steps away, fast as he can. Another rain of sparks rains down, thankfully controlled enough to avoid spilling over the already marred sketchbook.]

Sorry, sorry. [Luca lets out a flustered laugh.] It's... different to see myself like that, is all. Thank you.

[In this case, Till is just drawing what he sees. It's natural that Luca might be caught off guard by it though, even if he isn't quite expecting the sudden sparks to appear. Just as Luca steps away, Till is also leaning back out of reflex, his fur fluffing up a bit with alarm until he realizes it's just a brief blip more than anything. He calms down relatively quickly after that.]

It's fine. This is like...one of the few things I'm really good at, so.

[He shrugs.]

Means I'm doing something right.

[Luca's look swims with at least a thousand unspoken apologies. Thankfully, Till doesn't appear to be nearly as worked up as before. Luca's more grateful for that than he can put into words.]

I'm sure you are good at more than you think. [But he won't press that point. He doesn't know the man, not really. If he wants to make an argument, he'll need more evidence later.]

Just remember to keep at it. Don't lose your passion, or anything like that.

[The words of encouragement, coming from someone he doesn't know...it's strange. It makes him scoff before he can stop himself, his fingers running along the spine of his sketchbook.]

If I haven't lost my passion yet, it's not going anywhere any time soon.

[His tail shifts behind him, a little awkward...but he ends up continuing anyway, looking off to the side.]

...thanks.

[Luca, at least, doesn't balk at the scoff. He knows a thing or two about how compliments feel when you're trying to be prickly.]

That's good, then. It means I can look forward to more of your work. I doubt it will be long before I am purchasing something to frame and hang within my bar.

[But he won't press that particular line of thought. He lifts his hand to give a slight wave.]

I... probably should excuse myself, lest I ruin someone else's hard work.

[Purchase? Frame?? Okay THAT'S too much. Till feels his face burn with embarrassment, to the point where he can't even look at Luca now to properly see him off.]

Y-yeah, probably.

[...]

I'll, uh. ...see you.

[Good lord, the way that makes Luca absolutely giggle? Note to self — Till is actually kind of adorable when he isn't being a menace.]

See you, Till.

[He gives a small wave before making his way out.]

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EVENT & TDM 024

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