sticks and bones. (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
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sticksandbones2023-10-04 03:16 pm
sticksandbonesmods) wrote in sticksandbones2023-10-04 03:16 pm
Entry tags:
- !event,
- !tdm,
- arknights: gnosis,
- arknights: irene,
- arknights: mizuki,
- baldur's gate iii: astarion ancunín,
- baldur's gate iii: taliira a'daragon,
- digimon survive: haru,
- elsword: add,
- elsword: elsword,
- fate: bb,
- i'm the grim reaper: brook,
- jujutsu kaisen: toge inumaki,
- murder drones: n,
- original: caoimhe ailbhe,
- original: felicity morais,
- original: kiera canorus,
- original: lancelot,
- original: luca aurelius
Event & TDM 005
SPOOKY SCARY SKELETONS
WAKE UP
cw: immolation, sinkholes
When your eyes open, you’re lying in crisp, blackened grass. The sky is dreary, the world around you is still and silent. Were it not for the ash raining from the sky or the acrid tang of burnt flesh, it might almost feel peaceful. Familiar-feeling memories wash over you — a town burning, the cackling of an unknown beast, the shrill screams of friends and loved ones dying a slow, painful death—
Where did that memory even come from? You’d better shake it off and rise to your feet before the ash buries you, too. It isn’t real… right?
The town you’re in is dilapidated and charred. Something snaps under your feet, and when you look down, a bone lies pressed into the earth, perfectly broken into two neat pieces. You press on, toward the destroyed remains of houses — some missing roofs, some collapsed in on themselves, others still weathering the test of time — to where the trees are vibrant and orange, to where the grass has regrown and the buildings stand tall. You press on… and your foot catches in the mud, a hole opening up beneath your feet and dragging you in. If you’re quick enough, you might be able to escape the collapsing earth before it buries you alive in years of muck and decay. If not… perhaps you’ll be lucky, and someone from the nearby settlement will bail you out.
Hopefully you won’t have to wait long.
When your eyes open, you’re lying in crisp, blackened grass. The sky is dreary, the world around you is still and silent. Were it not for the ash raining from the sky or the acrid tang of burnt flesh, it might almost feel peaceful. Familiar-feeling memories wash over you — a town burning, the cackling of an unknown beast, the shrill screams of friends and loved ones dying a slow, painful death—
Where did that memory even come from? You’d better shake it off and rise to your feet before the ash buries you, too. It isn’t real… right?
The town you’re in is dilapidated and charred. Something snaps under your feet, and when you look down, a bone lies pressed into the earth, perfectly broken into two neat pieces. You press on, toward the destroyed remains of houses — some missing roofs, some collapsed in on themselves, others still weathering the test of time — to where the trees are vibrant and orange, to where the grass has regrown and the buildings stand tall. You press on… and your foot catches in the mud, a hole opening up beneath your feet and dragging you in. If you’re quick enough, you might be able to escape the collapsing earth before it buries you alive in years of muck and decay. If not… perhaps you’ll be lucky, and someone from the nearby settlement will bail you out.
Hopefully you won’t have to wait long.
KEEP MY HEAD TOGETHER
Somewhere on your body is an intricate, black mark that doesn’t come off no matter how hard you scrub. Perhaps there are two, or even three, or more. You don’t exactly remember getting these small, medallion-sized tattoos — it’s almost as though you woke up with them. Better make sure no one’s drawing on you in your sleep.
As the day progresses, the effects of these marks become apparent. Suddenly, everything hurts — a dull, throbbing pain as if you’ve been stabbed. Perhaps the pain is quick and sharp, like you stubbed your toe on the inn’s coffee table. Perhaps it slowly burns, like hot coffee accidentally splashed on your lap. No matter what the pain is, you feel it at less of an intensity than you would if you’d actually done these things. Later, you might meet with the person who shares a mark with you, and maybe they’ll tell you — they stubbed their toe, they spilled their coffee, someone randomly stabbed them, how weird is that?
These marks link you and your partner(s) — any pain they feel, you’ll feel, too, albeit at half the intensity they do. If you’re sharing that pain between three people, it’ll be at one third the intensity.
Negative emotions, though? Those, you get at full throttle. If those you share a mark with cry, you’ll cry, too; you feel their rage at being stuck here as though it were your own; you long for home, and you miss a mother that isn’t yours. Fight through your blurring sense of self, friend. Surely you’ll get used to it soon. After all, these will stay on your body for the rest of the month.
As the day progresses, the effects of these marks become apparent. Suddenly, everything hurts — a dull, throbbing pain as if you’ve been stabbed. Perhaps the pain is quick and sharp, like you stubbed your toe on the inn’s coffee table. Perhaps it slowly burns, like hot coffee accidentally splashed on your lap. No matter what the pain is, you feel it at less of an intensity than you would if you’d actually done these things. Later, you might meet with the person who shares a mark with you, and maybe they’ll tell you — they stubbed their toe, they spilled their coffee, someone randomly stabbed them, how weird is that?
These marks link you and your partner(s) — any pain they feel, you’ll feel, too, albeit at half the intensity they do. If you’re sharing that pain between three people, it’ll be at one third the intensity.
Negative emotions, though? Those, you get at full throttle. If those you share a mark with cry, you’ll cry, too; you feel their rage at being stuck here as though it were your own; you long for home, and you miss a mother that isn’t yours. Fight through your blurring sense of self, friend. Surely you’ll get used to it soon. After all, these will stay on your body for the rest of the month.
THE BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE
A week into October, a skeletal visitor comes rattling into the Grove, wearing a top hat on its bare cranium and a name tag on its ribcage: “Mr. Bone-Jangles”. Mr. Bone-Jangles cannot speak, but he’s very excited to take willing people into the burned town and lead them toward the far north of it, where a small army of fellow skeletons have put up a circus tent. Pumpkin-shaped flags decorate the scorched remnants of a street, and mysterious skull-shaped lights float in the air. Mr. Bone-Jangles joyfully motions to the tent, where a banner placed over the tent-flaps reads “MASKERADE”... you assume this is meant to be “masquerade”, but it would be rude to point out the spelling error. Skeletons don’t have brains.
Before you can even enter the tent, Mr. Bone-Jangles’ employees direct you to a smaller tent set up to the side, demanding with clacks of their jaws in morse code that you put on your costume and mask. Costumes are optional; masks are not. Luckily, all of these are free. The costume tent itself is entirely empty save for one giant mirror which, when gazed into, shows you standing in your outfit of choice. Once you exit the tent, you’ll be wearing that outfit, and the skeletons will hand you a wooden mask in any design you feel suits you, matching or not. Where did your old clothing wind up? Great question! They’ll be teleported back to your bed in a wrinkled heap, but you don’t have to worry about that until the party stops. And speaking of that mask… when you put it on between the party start at 10pm and end at 6am, it won’t come off no matter how hard you pull until 6:01am approximately.
The skeletons insist you don’t try to tug your skin off, though, and instead direct you inside the masquerade tent itself. It’s almost akin to being teleported to another dimension — a grand ballroom is decorated with classic Halloween decorations, a buffet of spooky-themed snacks is laid out on the tables, the music is almost too loud, and a lounge is set up off to the side for those who’d like to rest between dances. If you lack a dance partner, worry not — the skeletons are more than happy to waltz with you. And, if you’re of age, they’ll serve you any liquor you’d like.
Stay too late, though, and the skeletons will kick you out. They’re stronger than they look and aren’t afraid to toss you like a wet rag onto the burnt streets. Once the party ends for the night, you won’t be able to get back into the tent no matter how hard you try, so don’t leave anything behind!
Before you can even enter the tent, Mr. Bone-Jangles’ employees direct you to a smaller tent set up to the side, demanding with clacks of their jaws in morse code that you put on your costume and mask. Costumes are optional; masks are not. Luckily, all of these are free. The costume tent itself is entirely empty save for one giant mirror which, when gazed into, shows you standing in your outfit of choice. Once you exit the tent, you’ll be wearing that outfit, and the skeletons will hand you a wooden mask in any design you feel suits you, matching or not. Where did your old clothing wind up? Great question! They’ll be teleported back to your bed in a wrinkled heap, but you don’t have to worry about that until the party stops. And speaking of that mask… when you put it on between the party start at 10pm and end at 6am, it won’t come off no matter how hard you pull until 6:01am approximately.
The skeletons insist you don’t try to tug your skin off, though, and instead direct you inside the masquerade tent itself. It’s almost akin to being teleported to another dimension — a grand ballroom is decorated with classic Halloween decorations, a buffet of spooky-themed snacks is laid out on the tables, the music is almost too loud, and a lounge is set up off to the side for those who’d like to rest between dances. If you lack a dance partner, worry not — the skeletons are more than happy to waltz with you. And, if you’re of age, they’ll serve you any liquor you’d like.
Stay too late, though, and the skeletons will kick you out. They’re stronger than they look and aren’t afraid to toss you like a wet rag onto the burnt streets. Once the party ends for the night, you won’t be able to get back into the tent no matter how hard you try, so don’t leave anything behind!
DON’T CHASE THE DEAD
Turns out, the masquerade isn’t just for one night, but for every night for the rest of the month. On the second night of the masquerade and on from there, ghosts appear in droves, gathering at the party and in the burned town for a night out. No matter how hard you try, you can’t get their attention; they’ll merely pass right through you as if you aren’t there.
Some of the ghosts look eerily familiar to you, like people you knew in the past who aren’t here now. It could be your mother, your brother, a close friend, or maybe your old neighbour or coworker. Each is dressed in masquerade attire, each intends only to party until the sun comes up, and at that point, each ghost fades from the world as if dissolving away into nothingness.
They’ll be back the next night, of course. And the next. And the one after that. Until finally, the last day of the month rolls around, and the ghosts aren’t there. If you come to the burned town at 6am, you’ll be greeted by the sight of the skeletons packing up their tents and decorations. And if you stick around until 7…
Mr. Bone-Jangles takes off his top hat and takes a bow, waves one last goodbye, and then him and his skeleton crew take a dive into the sinkhole that was, somehow, underneath the masquerade tent the whole time.
Some of the ghosts look eerily familiar to you, like people you knew in the past who aren’t here now. It could be your mother, your brother, a close friend, or maybe your old neighbour or coworker. Each is dressed in masquerade attire, each intends only to party until the sun comes up, and at that point, each ghost fades from the world as if dissolving away into nothingness.
They’ll be back the next night, of course. And the next. And the one after that. Until finally, the last day of the month rolls around, and the ghosts aren’t there. If you come to the burned town at 6am, you’ll be greeted by the sight of the skeletons packing up their tents and decorations. And if you stick around until 7…
Mr. Bone-Jangles takes off his top hat and takes a bow, waves one last goodbye, and then him and his skeleton crew take a dive into the sinkhole that was, somehow, underneath the masquerade tent the whole time.
SPARK NOTES
CLICK TO EXPAND!
You find yourself in a burned-down town. As you try to leave, a sinkhole opens beneath your feet and sucks you in. Screaming for help is a viable option.
Everyone is now sharing pain and negative emotions. Please try not to get stabbed so that your partner(s) don't have to also feel stabbed. You can pair up with as few or as many people as you want, as long as you're paired up with minimum one other person.
Welcome to the masquerade! Mr. Bone-Jangles hopes you have a good time. Masks and Halloween costumes are provided free of charge, but be careful, because donning the masks between 10pm and 6am makes them unable to be removed until the party stops at 6. There's tons of food and drink, and liquor for those who are old enough to have it. Just don't stay past the party's end or the skeletons will yeet you out onto the street.
The masquerade goes for the rest of the month, and after day 1, it'll be frequented by ghosts who look like people from your past. They don't seem to notice you and will float through you if you stand in their way. At the end of the month, the skeletons pack up the party, the ghosts disappear, and the skeletons jump into a sinkhole underneath the masquerade tent. Goodbye! Happy Halloween! Mr. Bone-Jangles sends his regards.
Welcome to the fifth TDM & Event Log of Sticks and Bones! This log is game canon. The prompts are meant for all players, current and future, so have fun! Our applications operate on a rolling basis, so applications are open with no end date unless we suddenly cap players. If there are any questions, please direct them to the "questions" header below.
❖ None yet!
TDM TOPLEVELS!
❖ Vash (Trigun Stampede)
❖ N (Murder Drones)
❖ Rin Tohsaka (Fate/Stay Night)
❖ Rui Ninomiya (Gatchaman Crowds)
❖ Ain (Elsword)
❖ Hiyori Iki (Noragami)
❖ Taliira A'Daragon (Tav) (Baldur's Gate III)
❖ Genjiro Chibana (Handead Anthem)
❖ Haru (Digimon Survive)
❖ Samatoki Aohitsugi (Hypnosis Mic)
❖ Leon S. Kennedy (Resident Evil 4: Remake)
❖ Grusha (Pokemon: Scarlet & Violet)
❖ Woljif Jefto (Pathfinder: WOTR)
❖ N (Murder Drones)
❖ Rin Tohsaka (Fate/Stay Night)
❖ Rui Ninomiya (Gatchaman Crowds)
❖ Ain (Elsword)
❖ Hiyori Iki (Noragami)
❖ Taliira A'Daragon (Tav) (Baldur's Gate III)
❖ Genjiro Chibana (Handead Anthem)
❖ Haru (Digimon Survive)
❖ Samatoki Aohitsugi (Hypnosis Mic)
❖ Leon S. Kennedy (Resident Evil 4: Remake)
❖ Grusha (Pokemon: Scarlet & Violet)
❖ Woljif Jefto (Pathfinder: WOTR)
no subject
Y-You are so beautiful! [ Caoimhe catches herself talking over the other the same moment they also compliment her. She clasps her hands against her mouth and embarrassingly shakes her head. ] S-Sorry! I was most surprised, by your dress! Your jewels! They all compliment your figure so very well!
[ It's almost at this moment she realizes why Kingdoms held activities such as these, to see others dressed so beautifully - it was a delicacy that Caoimhe felt in the moment, she could never tire of. ]
T-Thank you though. [ Caoimhe's own eyes look downwards once more, regaling at the beautiful colors of her dress. ] ... I never thought I could look in such a way. It makes me happy though, this must be why the Kingdoms like to hold these sorts of dances so much.
no subject
The Elven girl would never survive in the Underdark.
Not that most people do, regardless. Drows barely survive down there, and it's a miracle that she ever did.]
Thank you. [She held her hand out. A handshake was something people up here did, right? Or was she supposed to give her a kiss on the cheek? What was an acceptable greeting?] In truth, I'm not very used to such parties. I've been to them back home, but it's been a few decades now. I'm more used to armor than lace.
no subject
O-Oh really? So then... You must be a warrior of some sort - yes? [ The thought of it made her eyes light up softly. Enamored by the idea of meeting true warriors or heroes never really occurred to her after coming upon this new realm. ]
no subject
[What else would you call someone that's highly skilled with blades, a bit of magic, and had been going off the countryside of the Sword Coast with a band of misfits that have quickly become closer than family?
Tales of heroes would call them something similar, but that was definitely not a word she had ever used to describe herself.]
Though I'm sorely lacking a sword and shield currently.
no subject
no subject
Well, it shouldn't be comforting, but it at least made things more familiar.]
I do know how to use a bow, though if that's all you have you should keep it. I know how to do some magic as well, but... [Her gaze softened as she watched Caoimhe.] Take this time to unwind. Situations like this — the party, I mean — are uncommon around here, I'm assuming. With all the fighting and... whatever is going on, take the time to enjoy yourself. Dance. Drink.
[The Gods know when they'll be able to catch their breath again.]
no subject
Is it not wrong...? I know that to enjoy yourself and carry these moments within your heart. As they are given, and as they can last... But... With all that I have seen now, and know... I feel as if, enjoying this moment - - that I have not so much as earned it, where others have. [ A frown, and perhaps this conversation is not something to bring up so lightly. Yet she speaks it anyway. ] ... I am unsure if, I can enjoy myself knowing there were others who did not make it this far and could not... Um... Sorry I - it's... It has been a long time.
[ A hand to her chest, where beneath her dress the budding of a flower grew. A feeling of guilt upon her shoulders, as she clearly feels if anyone knew they would berate her, and tell her that she was a disappointment. ]
Many of us have seen a lot happen in this strange place.
no subject
I know that feeling.
[She turned her head, reaching out to grab two glasses of champagne from a passing skelewaiter, and held one out to her. Might as well have something to drink while they talked.]
I think I've lived that way my whole life. It's still rather difficult to... look at myself as someone deserving of things. Especially nice things, good things.
no subject
Mm... [ Caoimhe wonders, should she say more? She feels like she has spoken so much, cradled the worth of her own burdens in the open air between them. ] I did not mean to make the conversation so grim... I would like to enjoy my time with you, a new friend.... To be frank, I am really grateful to see more faces - We... We could use all the help that we can get.
no subject
Probably.
Still, it didn't hurt to be vigilant.]
You have nothing to apologize for, Caoimhe. Regardless, I'm happy to help. In anything I can do, just let me know.
no subject
You have no idea, how much that means to hear...
[ She takes a more gentle drink from her cup, and holds it. Bearing a sweet smile towards the other. ]
If it was a request from me, I just want to make sure everyone here is safe and protected. As I would want from you, and any of your friends that may end up here as well.
no subject
Except for maybe Wyll, but he wasn't there currently.
A part of her, one that was still struggling to ignore a century's worth of learned racism and superiority, almost felt uncomfortable talking to her. Still learning to distance herself from Lolth and actually have a voice for herself was more overwhelming than anything else, though.]
You're really sweet, and it's obvious you care for everyone here deeply. And in a situation like this, it's best that we all help each other. Regardless of... well, everything, I am glad I met you, at least.
crying in the club.... wyll so good...
You do not know how much that means to me. Such a simple thing to say... I am glad to have met you as well! [ Her smile is bright, and she finds herself comforted in the softness the other allowed herself in the moment to have. ] Would... You.. Tell me of your time in your realm. My people, we share stories and hold the histories of our people and others in our hearts. This is so, they are always kept alive so long as we remember them and tell their tales.
we love wyll in this house. ALSO THIS MAY CONTAIN MINOR CHARACTER SPOILERS FOR BG3 COMPANIONS
I'm afraid there's nothing good about where I come from.
[Where she was born, where she grew up, her family... Those wounds were still fresh, and her mistakes still hung over her head like a pendulum. She didn't think the sins of the past would be something she could ever forgive herself about, and the wounds would always feel fresh despite how some would say time would heal them.
She was 95, she's had time.]
But... I can say that I have met some truly incredible people since I left home. People who I have such a privilege to call my friends. There's a man named Gale, who I found stuck inside a rock if you'd believe it. His spell had gone wrong after we escaped the ship that kidnapped us, and that's how I found him. Hand sticking out and waving frantically for help.
[She'd never let him live that down.]
There's a half-elf and a Githyanki I met on that ship, and they've been at each other's throats since but they care for each other. A man who made a deal with a devil to save his city, and he's one of the bravest men I know. A tiefling who's been through literal and figurative hell, and of course that's where I met Astarion.
[The moment she said Astarion's name a softness crossed her expression. A small smile crossed her painted lips and she couldn't help the way her gaze lifted to linger on him in the distance.]
its ok I KNOW ALL THIS IM AT ACT 4 FINALLY
[ So she says, watching and looking over to the person Taliira looks towards. He seems familiar, she has met him before - though not recently. It is good to see that he has a friend here, and that they have one another to confide in. Caoimhe herself wishes she had her sisters along side her, or even her friends - though in this moment she wonders if she could call them that. Idly thinking that she is glad they are not here to suffer with her.
At least she has Midna, her companion Buffalo who is wandering back at the grove. ]
HANDSHAKE MEME FR
You make it sound so beautiful.
[Unrelated but what if Midna and Scratch became friends? Taliira brought her trusty dog with her.]
no subject
[ ABSOLUTELY!! She will dub him an honorary Bison dog. ]
no subject
Love was always something she had read in books, though most had been read in the last few months after escaping the Underdark. It was a nice notion, though she didn't think Astarion would be willing to reciprocate... And not something that she would ever pursue if he didn't want her that way.
It was a lot to think about.
Maybe something to think about when she was not at some extravagant ball drinking champagne and wine.]
Thank you. [She finishes her drink and turns to look at her.] Your words are kind — you are very kind. But tell me about you; your friends and companions. I do not have much experience with things like this. Stories are wonderful.
[Yes!!!!! This is 10/10 best duo.]