EVENT & TDM 029

[sticksandbonesmods]

WAKE UP

A house springs up in Aldric’s Grove one day. That comes with the usual tidings of autumn — the leaves change colour, the air gets colder, pumpkins and squash start growing out of the sides of buildings and damaging rooftops, and people emerge out of caskets in square graves that have yet to be covered.

…

Yeah, all of that is normal. You may find that people here before you are willing to help pull you out of your grave, if you ask nicely enough. Maybe they’ll even tell you that you aren’t dead! Yet.

But don’t worry about that. Let’s worry about the house, which is inhabited by the dead — specifically a family of skeletons, who wave everyone, new arrival and old citizen, within their walls. A cloth sign hanging on the awning outside reads “BONE-JANGLES HAUZ! COM IN GET FUD”. The Bone-Jangles are a family of eight — Mr. Bone-Jangles himself wearing a sheet ghost costume for Halloween, Ms. Bone-Jangles wearing a pumpkin hat and an apron as she sets food from your homeworld on the table, and their six skeleton children (“children” may be generous, as these are full-sized adult skeletons, but is your baby not your baby no matter how old they may be?) are wearing various animal costumes. Bees, wolves, cats, the sort.

If you just crawled out of a grave, they permit you to use their shower before dinner. The water pressure is a touch too low, and the soap is several hundred years old, but it’ll get the dirt off.

You return to dinner with the skeleton family and several other Grove residents who came for the party, and despite the oddness of the situation, it’s a lovely time. At the end of the night, before everyone plans to head off to Roseroot — a city to the north, just over the mountains, which you are hopefully informed of by your peers before they all ditch you here to go on vacation — Mr. Bone-Jangles hands you a bag of microwave popcorn and an oversized chocolate bar. Trick-or-Treat!

A note attached to the inside of the chocolate bar wrapper reads in Ms. Bone-Jangles’ curly handwriting: “Be cautious on your journey tomorrow morning.”

You go to sleep holding the well-wishes close to your chest.

…WAKE UP?

What do you last remember?

You were somewhere. Not here. Not within this city. Were you at home? With your friends? At the bar, the cafe, one of the churches, the General Store? The Bone-Jangles’ house? …How did you get here?

…that’s right. The truck. A truck had barrelled through the woods a week ago, with two people stumbling out of it and telling you they could get you out of here. The truck was small, though — at most, it could fit six of you, and that was assuming all six of you packed light for the journey. You talked with who you were journeying alongside as you rode in the bed of the truck, while two others in the vehicle proper got to talk to the drivers. The ride had been bumpy, the car travelling at a medium clip through rough terrain. At one point, the car’s driver had shouted that those of you in the back should “hold on tight” and floored it, nearly jiggling someone next to you out of the back seat as you approached the mountains.

You did not remember the mountains being so close to the Grove. Weren’t they much farther away? You remember the—

The…

…

You’re in Roseroot! The truck comes and goes throughout the day, dropping people off before it turns around and heads out again. Some of your peers who were particularly fast or could fly might have opted to simply follow alongside the truck. Maybe if you can find one of them, they can help you bring your stuff further into the city? Where are you going to live from here, speaking of? In a house? A mansion? A hole-in-the-wall restaurant? You feel like you’re missing something as you wander the beautifully-paved streets on foot. You remembered to pack your toothbrush, right? A change of clothes?

The thought of “someone” comes to your mind, but the silhouette is blurry. A person nearby you asks if you remember two gargoyles with purple skin, and a shadowy woman with her turtle, and a kindly shopkeeper with salt-and-pepper hair, that they think they might’ve left behind in the Grove. You shake your head.

You would remember people like that.

THE CITY OF ROSES

Roseroot is a beautiful city, truly. Every building is beautifully designed, roses of all colors and sizes growing from the ground floor to window boxes to special trellises and even on the rooftops. It's almost overwhelming. A river flows through it, framed with stone sidewalks and curved wooden bridges. Warm streetlights line every few yards, illuminating it even in the dark. Museums and theaters can be found all over, and there's even an aquarium! … It's only got water and plants, but it's there. Truly, this is what one might expect from an affluent city dedicated to flowers and scholarly pursuits!

… It's just… empty. Not a single soul aside from the lot of you can be found. Businesses still provide services, but by who, and how? The answer eludes even the most curious of folk. If you choose to steal, dine and dash, break in to something, well. You can, and nothing is going to stop you. But the emptiness of it all is jarring, isn't it?

Of course it's not. This is how it's supposed to be!

As the days pass, however, the beauty begins to fade. Flowers wilt. A strange substance seems to grow out of cracks, creep up windows, grow. The beautiful sky gets darker, cloudier, drearier. A fog creeps in. And when you sleep- and you will sleep- you dream. Maybe it's the sweetest dream of your life, and maybe its a nightmare. Maybe it's something incredibly silly! What a pity that the dream doesn't stay in your head. Or stay as pleasant as your dream might have been.

Soon the fog is so thick, you can barely see the next streetlight. And you are no longer alone. But the trucks are gone, and the city borders seem to have vanished.

A PLACE YOU CANNOT LEAVE

The fog does not fade. But sometimes, you can hear something- just out of sight. The giggles of childish, cruel whispering. The sound of glass breaking, footsteps dragging across the pavement. Twisted beings born of your worst traumas shamble through the fog, lashing out, hunting, seeking, wanting. Every day the remains of Roseroot grow more dilapidated, some buildings even crumbling and collapsing while others cease existing all together. Roads vanish or twist to loop around into giant circles. Safety is growing limited, but how does one escape?

That may be on the forefront of your mind, but it's not something you can focus on- not while you're fighting off these monsters.

How does one get supplies when grocery stores are claimed by sudden bursts of an all-consuming rot? How does one sleep when those monsters could be anywhere, when one has to keep moving?

Fight on. Protect yourself. The way will show itself soon. You just have to outlast your pains made manifest.

MONSTERS ENCOUNTERED

This list will be updated as the event goes on, but feel free to pull from any monsters from our toplevel below as well in case updates are delayed!

An unholy, angel-like being found stationary in a warehouse. The top half of her body hangs down from a portal in the ceiling, and no matter which way you face, she can twist around to track you. Her wails and sobs cause hallucinations, panic attacks, dissociations, and crippling self-doubt; when characters are distracted, she will attempt to sever them with two oversized swords.

A shambling, undead, fully-armoured knight with seven swords stabbed into it, most of which through the back and one of which through the head. Each sword is engraved with words; five of them say “sacrifice”, one says “the one you loved most”, and the last says “hubris”. The knight wanders the city streets and attacks indiscriminately.

Seven assassins wrapped entirely in black robes and bandages to hide their identities. When they are being looked at, they become stationary, therefore they try to spread apart within their pack to keep most of them able to move. They move like glitchy robots with jerking and seizing limbs, yet are fast enough to slit throats in an instant, and largely stick to alleyways and tight corners to get a drop on someone.

A hand-monster called the Docent, who hides in the shadows and exacerbates negative emotions and insecurities. Even if you can't see it yet, if it's nearby, you will feel cold and miserable. Its physical form is made up of hands and if it catches you, it will add yours to the collection.

Mannequin-like people who look similar to Firefly, wearing plug suits and acting as mannequins in storefronts primarily. They will not "activate" until you come close to them, where they will be like dolls that creak and crackle and either start moving or pull themselves up off the ground to slowly chase you. They are dangerous in numbers, not as much as a single unit. They only speak if Firefly is around, saying things like "you let us die", "you didn't protect us", etc. By the end of the time in Roseroot, most will default be splayed on the ground all over looking dead, but they aren't.

The Swarm, a mass horde of diverse insectoid creatures with the sole drive to propagate and spread. They're big, and can hide invisible if they choose. They will start in small numbers, but slowly spread throughout the town during the end of their stay. They will swarm you and attack if they see you.

A young man with cat ears who has been burnt to a crisp and is still smouldering, who will wander the city and attempt to set people on fire.

A pack of small robotic bears with various weapons who run around indiscriminately and try to kill anyone they see. Despite how armed they are, they are easily defeated, but they roam in extremely large packs.

A phantom that specifically stalks Till, covered in blood and with several bullet wounds through various parts of his body. Characters who spend a lot of time around Till may have to watch out…

Shadows shaped like people on the walls, always watching, whispering, giggling, pointing. If one gets too close to them, they can reach out and attack like a particularly brutal child bully might- and like children, they do not know when they are going too far.

Shambling skeletons or rotting bodies dressed in strange village clothes, waiting to drag whoever they seek out into the earth.

An almost giant skeletal bird caught ablaze, trapped humans within its ribcage forming a grotesque heart. It does not fly, and molten poison drips from it.

Young men and women in a black uniform, half-gripping swords. Their footsteps sounds like bottles breaking. Soon enough they are accompanied by their killers as well.

A very tall priest in holy regalia... except his face is a mass of writhing blue tentacles of varying lengths, singing the song of the Seaborn. He shambles like he no longer remembers how legs work, swaying like a drunk almost, always wandering and reaching for his target. He sings a song of an unknown language, haunting and mesmerizing. If somehow you anger him, he will throw rocks at you... and if he gets his hands on you he will absolutely try to eat and/or assimilate you.

A monster that changes shape whenever you blink. It is normally faceless, and usually appears to look like some abomination-adjacent version of people you know.

A monster that wears clothing of a holy priest, with far, far too many arms. It "attacks" by trying to grab onto you and try to hug you almost comfortingly, while two hands strangle with rosary beads.

A creature that takes the form of something in the water- you'll never truly see what it looks like. But if you get too close to the river, something will reach out and try to drag you under.

A headless mannequin dressed in kingly finery, wielding a heavy sword. It wanders in search of one person, but will stop to kill anyone else it finds too.

An Ifrit, bleeding from a wound not unlike the ones Joshua inflicted upon Clive. It's furious. It's terrified. It will see your death done.

Shadows that, while not the most harmful things, will whisper, gossip and grab and pinch and punch and tear! They say things to characters reflecting their deepest insecurities. In short, the shadows are school bullies.

Two figures, a man and a woman, sewn together by the half. They bicker in a ghoulish language at each other, but are largely uncaring of others. When they find Zoey, they all but descend upon her, both wanting her for themselves and uncaring if they pull too hard in one direction or another. Their grip is like iron, and they're capable of tearing others in half.

A man-shaped monster whose head is a black skull. He wears a suit, tie, and gloves, and carries a rotating number of weapons- pliers, knife, scalpel, hacksaw, hammer, anything that might be used for torture, smeared with blood. Sometimes he just has a gun. He moves in an uncanny, inhuman jerk, and prefers his victims trapped and isolated. He will passively darken the area around him, turning working lights dim, and is accompanied by the sound of a power drill and his own creepy laughter.

Something dark, mostly shapeless, but the size of a large man, with bat-shaped spikes coming out of its head. Or maybe they're bat ears? He is able to shoot projectiles with deadly speed, sharp enough to gouge a hole in metal. They disappear like smoke once they've hit their mark. When faced more or less head-on, shoots a grapling hook at its victim with enough force to seriously maim, uses it to pull them close and break their bones. May appear suddenly from behind and break bones before you have a chance to react. He moves sometimes as a literal shadow, but when outside of shadow form, moves with grace and speed. Sometimes his presence is accompanied by flashbangs, smoke, and the sound of radio static or ringing in your ears. Otherwise, it is completely silent and doesn't even breathe.

A monster wearing armour and carrying tomahawk axes, with crablike appendages protruding from her abdomen that have pincer-claws. The semi-congealed gore that drips from them can be sprayed at enemies. As she talks, she claims to know "what you really are" and can absolutely back that claim up.

A brutish monster that is constantly on fire. He moves quickly enough to "blaze past" you, and likely set you on fire by proximity. Otherwise, he boasts impressive and inhuman strength.

A doll with swords through it that leaks toxic ooze as it moves around. Slow and moves around pathetically, looking as if in pain, and moving as if crying. Gives hugs instead of attacking, but the swords through it will hurt you if you let it, and the toxic ooze feels akin to acid.

A shambling amalgam of corpses and heads much akin to the Cramped Casket that pulls itself with its many arms across the ground. It easily spans around 12 feet tall. At the very front of it of it is the upper half of a young boy. It attacks by slamming itself into the ground where you stand, and is otherwise silent... unless you are Elsword, in which case it asks, "why didn't you save me?"

A monster that looks like a pirate that's on fire. Permanently. To most, it only appears to be leaving scorched earth in its wake. To Mizuki, it looks like everything around it is burning. It attacks with a cutlass, and otherwise looks mostly humanoid.

An ambling monstrosity that easily towers any house and building. It moves slowly, and seems as if it's "sliced" down the middle, with two "heads" and a mangled body. One arm carries a harpoon, one arm carries a kitchen cleaver. They mutter conflicting questions that, if you answer, you'll be contradicting the other. "Should we go left?" "Should we go right?" asked simultaneously, so answering "yes" would be answering both. Things like that. To kill it, you have to pick a head to cut off, and if you choose wrong, it instantly grows back and you'll have to try again.

A small, cute puppet with a circle of knifes protruding from its neck. It constantly cries and attacks by trashing around like a child. It doesn't even seem to be aiming for anything specifically, but its thrashing is so wild and erratic the knives in its neck are bound to hit you anyway if you don't put distance between the two of you.

An angel with wings and a halo of light that towers around 10-12 feet tall. It's head is replaced with a bouquet of flowers and it's hands are fused together in a constant prayer.Everywhere it walks, it leaves flowers behind, but they wilt and decay and rot within seconds and stay as a stain upon the land. It attacks by summoning blades of light from the ground under your feet. If you listen closely, you can hear soft singing.

A cloaked being with black crystals growing out of it who floats along the ground. It freezes anything it touches solid in blackened ice, and a trail of said ice follows after it. The air becomes frigid when it is close by.

A loud, ravenous monster that is majority mouth with waaay too many teeth. More dog-like than human shaped. Does not have eyes and thus cannot see, but can hear a pen drop. While it will bite to kill, it plays with its food. Lashes with claws and attempts to do anything it can to hurt you as much as possible before you break.

A mass of black crystals, the shape appears to be in that of Faust. Its arm is replaced with that of a crossbow. Its bolts are enough to shatter concrete. Despite being made of stone, it is very fast.

A monster that takes the shape of prey animals, starting off as smaller ones, then becoming larger ones as it stalks you. It does not necessarily attack, keeping a distance. But the more it watches, the more starved for food you feel. You haven't eaten in a while, have you? Are you hungry? Are you going to die because you can't eat? Aren't you just a waste of space if can't kill something to feed yourself? Killing it won't be easy, as it is fast, but if you do manage to, it will fall to the ground immediately as rotten, disgusting mass of meat that is not safely edible. The monster will spawn in again as it's smaller form all over again if not eaten.

A small army of husk-like creatures. They're just so hungry. Won't you help them? Won't you feed them? They appear like demons, with the stronger ones looking like some of Mystery's old friends...

A large, train-sized worm patterned in purple stripes. They have four eyes above their gator-like mouths which are full of sharp teeth. Their backs are ridged with green shark fins. Sandworms burrow through the ground at alarming speeds and feast on the dead along anything else they can catch. They aren't picky.

Spark Notes

summary

WAKE UP: Good morning! It's autumn! New arrivals are crawling out of graves, Mr. Bone-Jangles has invited everyone to his house, and everyone is having a nice little family Halloween get-together.
…WAKE UP?: Do you remember your old life? The people you left behind? ...of course not! You barely remember the truck ride over here! Welcome to Roseroot! Enjoy your vacation!
THE CITY OF ROSES: Roseroot is a beautiful, empty city. It's clearly a wealthy place, connected with nature, but you lot are the only ones there. ... That's how it's supposed to be, of course. But something forces you into sleep, and when you dream something awakens. ... Now that it's awake, something is making the city rot.
A PLACE YOU CANNOT LEAVE: The city is falling apart, rotting, vanishing and looping into itself and you are not alone. Monsters born from your trauma are out to hunt you down. Thankfully, they can be killed. You just have to keep fighting, even as places of rest and food dwindle rapidly.

out of character

Hello everyone! Welcome to our October TDM. This is a reminder that TDMs are considered game canon. This is our last TDM of 2025! November-December will be check-in AC and we will be back to our regular schedule with a TDM in January 2026. If there are questions, please hit up the toplevels below.

updates

None yet! Important updates about how characters interact with the log and change the course of events will be placed here.

submissions

❖ Questions
❖ October Plotting
❖ Past Life Plotting (Closed to Game Members)
❖ Investigations

code

Comments

[unheiring]

[Despite his earlier hesitation, Luca practically melts into the embrace. There's something in the warmth of that touch that he somehow knows the Forest, or whatever was behind this awful fog, could never replicate. And if he finds himself pressing his face into the crook of Joshua's neck (or as close as he can get given their different heights), so be it.]

I am fine. Nothing lasting.

[A few bumps and scrapes from tight turns or uplifted paving stones, but nothing he hasn't felt before. And now that they're this close, he doesn't hesitate to, at the very least, scrape his gaze down the other man's form as he, too, looks for wounds.]

I - was beginning to worry that everyone -

[Believing himself the only survivor was probably foolish, but what else was he meant to expect after so long spent alone.]

I'm glad you are alright. I was worried.

[kingincognito]

[ If Luca wants to cling for a moment, Joshua certainly won't deny him of it. After so long without seeing anyone, it's a small comfort that he's inclined to indulge, for both their sakes. ]

After this fog settled in, it has been difficult to find anyone else, much less know where I'm going. I've made a map, if you'd like to stick together.

[ Because it isn't a bad idea, now that they've found each other again. And if they find others, they can band together.

Thankfully, under Luca's scrutinizing gaze, there are no wounds to be found. Nothing more than the occasional scrape or smudge of dirt on clothing, anyway. ]

Will you stay with me?

[unheiring]

[He doesn't cling for too long, thankfully. He knows they have things to do, and things to be wary of. But Beasts if he doesn't feel all of his fear welling up in the few seconds he lets his guard down. It's been a long few days, and plenty that he had done his best to not let himself consider in the heat of it all.

What if he lost Joshua, like had lost everyone else.]

I think - [He has to clear his throat, playing off the way his voice wobbles. Just give him a minute or two to pull himself back together.] I think you would be hard pressed to get rid of me, at this point.

[Two flames would be better than one. And with how resourceful Joshua was, he has no doubt that they would be able to find their way out. Ideally with others in tow.]

[kingincognito]

[ It's a good thing to hear, wobble or not. Joshua feels a cold wave of relief wash over him, and he lets out a breath, giving Luca's arms a gentle squeeze. Two flames are indeed better than one, but to be able to keep someone that he cares for close in a situation like this is a chance he refuses to squander. ]

Good. That's good. Thank you.

[ He realizes that he's clinging just a bit, so he takes just one step back, releasing Luca as he does. Pressing his lips together, he lets one hand settle on the hilt of his sword once more as he turns his head to skim their surroundings. ]

We should prioritize finding as many of the others as we can, while trying not to get separated. But with how large this place seems to be...

[ Staying together is not a guarantee. If they're being purposefully isolated...

He lifts his free hand, manifesting a small, aetherial feather. ]

Take this. Should we become separated again, it should lead you back to me, and me to you.

[unheiring]

[Luca comes very close to stopping Joshua's attempt at leaving. His hand even hangs in the air for a long moment, before he remembers to lower it. Instead, he folds his arms over his chest, contemplating Joshua's words before nodding along. He's very close to opening his mouth to make a suggestion when -

When that happens.

Luca stares at the feather for a long moment, almost stunned by both the gesture and the beauty of the feather itself. He has to practically shove against his own mind in order to reach out and accept the gift. He pulls it close, all but holding it above his heart as he feels that connection between the two of them.]

I will keep it close.

[Long after it matters, too. But he chases that gay little thought away by clearing his throat.]

If I may make a proposition. Perhaps we should seek out the exit first. From there we may be able to work backward — setting up beacons or marks for others to follow. It may also help us test whether or not the town is capable of recognizing our attempts and adjusting for it.

[If they can figure out just how sentient the overall threat is, they'll be in substantially better shape.]

[kingincognito]

[ Good. He doesn't have to explain it, then. Joshua smiles, watching as Luca holds on to it. He'd left one with Clive, and given one to Dion. And now, Luca has one, too.

If Luca chooses to keep it long past their visit here, that is entirely up to him. But Joshua finds that he hopes that he does. ]

Ah... With two of us, it may be easier. I have gone to where we should have started, but there seems to be no clear exit there. If there is another exit, perhaps... but the trucks have also left, or gone missing. It will be a long journey back even if we can find another way out.

[unheiring]

I do not think we need to pave a way all the way through the mountains. Getting out of the fog would be a good start.

[Provided, of course, the fog does not reach all the way up. Luca simply has to hope it's a valley effect, and that even the slightest bit of elevation would drag them out of danger. It's a risk, perhaps, but likely a hell of a lot better than gathering everyone up and becoming sitting ducks.]

Regrouping out of danger will put us in a better position to figure out how to proceed forward, I think.

[kingincognito]

It would. Provided we could find an exit of some sort. Perhaps...

[... no. Surely it wouldn't work. It's an option he hasn't tried, though. With no one else to be nearby should something go wrong, he'd not even considered it a possibility, but now that Luca is here... ]

I could try flying upward, to see if the fog is merely laying close to the ground. If I can break through the top of it, I may be able to see a way out, or at least otherwise gain some bearings.

[unheiring]

[Luca glances skyward, clearly considering it. Noramlly, it would be a fantastic idea. In this place, where the sky has already been limited in the past, he can't help but worry about the potential for things to go very very wrong. But other option do they have? Especially when other lives are at risk.]

... If you're certain. I will mind the ground until you are back.

[He's already reaching to pull his rapier free.]

[kingincognito]

[ Good. Joshua lets out a soft breath, smiling. He's glad that Luca agreed so easily. Perhaps he'd become used to his brother's protectiveness, but he'd been prepared to argue his point. It's good that he doesn't have to. ]

Thank you. I will return to your side as quickly as I can, I promise you.

[ Even if the fog is thick, the feather will guide him.

With a stretch and flap of his wings, Joshua wastes no time in ascending. The fog quickly swallows him, and he disappears out of sight.

And he's gone for a good couple of minutes. With the silence cushioned by the fog, it probably feels a lot longer than that.

Eventually, though, the swirling of the mist heralds his return as he descends back to the ground, but he doesn't look too pleased. ]

If there is an end to the fog, it is beyond whatever invisible barrier keeps us from going too high. I couldn't see a thing.

[unheiring]

[The moment Joshua lands, Luca is on him. His eyes rove that familiar frame, once again searching for the sight of something being wrong. Thankfully, beyond hair that seems a bit more ruffled (which Luca attributes to wind rather than a thorough head bonking), he seems just as intact as before.

Which leaves Luca to simply sigh. It's half in relief, half in annoyance, really.]

I suppose we will have to do his the hard way then.

[He moves toward a nearby building and presses his palm to it, hard enough to leave a handprint there.]

We mark our steps as we go, in order to ensure we do not double-back on a path already taken. Once we have found our way, we'll go back through and adjust our markings to point the way out.

[kingincognito]

[ He is just fine, in fact! Nevermind the sore spot on his head from colliding with an invisible barrier. But he's fine, and he won't mention that little fumble. It is, after all, hard to tell how high you've gone when you can't see.

But, he will allow Luca to fuss. It's the least he can do. ]

An excellent idea. Let us hope our markings are not erased behind us.

[ If the exits are shifting, there's a chance. Not that he wants to think about that, but he has to be realistic. It could happen. ]

It may not hurt to leave multiple markings, in fact. The more we leave, the more difficult it is to remove them all, surely.

[ He manifests another feather, pressing it firmly into the building beside Luca's handprint. ]

Even if it grows over it somehow, it should not be able to extinguish the aethereal signature.

[unheiring]

[It's entirely a possibility they will be erased. Luca has already already considered it. But faced with the idea of doing nothing, he would rather waste their time on a fruitless effort in the hopes of at least trying to help. Moreover, he's certain Joshua feels the same.]

Let us hope.

[Luca surveys their marks together. Distantly, some part of him thinks about how he'd always hoped to carve his name beside someone else's in the orchards of his home. He shakes the thought away — time and place, even if a bit of levity might do them both some good.]

You certainly have me beat, don't you? [It's an affectionate tone, at the very least. Between the burn and the aether, surely something would stick.]

[kingincognito]

[ Joshua does indeed feel the same. He has difficulty sitting still and doing nothing when the situation calls for action. Far too many times, Jote asked him not to act for his own safety or health, but... This time, he has to. Jote, forgive him, wherever you are.

Luca's affectionate tone makes him briefly sputter despite himself, however. This is no time for blushing, and yet his ears decide to betray him anyway. ]

Ah... Do I? Your mark is just as good as mine, I think.

[ His tone, too, is affectionate, but genuine in its own way. Working together is the best way to ensure they can find their way back. ]

[unheiring]

[Luca can't help but smile, despite it all. Yes, it's true that this situation does not allow for even an ounce of levity. But here they both are, warmed cheeks and gentle smiles. It's a testament to the kind of man Joshua is, Luca thinks. Someone who can warm even the coldest of places.]

I only meant that yours should leave a lasting trace, where mine may easily be altered.

[He isn't trying to put himself down, necessarily. He just doesn't have the same level of power at this point in time.]

Any particular feelings on which way we should go?

[kingincognito]

[ There is a small part of him that, were they literally anywhere else, might be tempted to take Luca's hand while they walk. But it is not something he wishes to do without asking first, and this is not the time or place. ]

True, but my trace could be just as easily wiped from this place.

[ And while he won't reach out, he will at least gently nudge Luca with his elbow, a fond smile on his face. ]

We should find the perimeter first, I think, and follow it until we can find an exit. So... this way?

[ He gestures in one direction. Provided he hasn't been turned around too badly, it should hopefully lead to the outer edges. ]

[unheiring]

[Luca huffs at the nudge, eyeing Joshua almost playfully. There's a hint of tension still, of course, how could there not be in a place like this. But at least things feel a little more bearable with Joshua by his side.]

I doubt that. You are unforgettable. [A pause.] Your - power I mean. Once it is carved into something I suspect -

[But he runs out of words and ultimately just... shakes his head.]

The perimeter is wise. Surely, as long as we move in one direction for long enough, we will reach it.

[From there, who can say.]

Stay close. I... do not trust this fog to not try and separate us.

[kingincognito]

[ Ah. Okay, it may not be a situation that allows for much levity, but that brings the flush from the shells of his ears to the edges of his cheeks. It's incredibly absurd to feel this way, surrounded by such thick fog and creatures out to get them, but... Well, he's not letting his guard down, so it's fine to indulge a little. Right?

Luckily, Luca sees fit to redirect the conversation, and he will allow the small reprieve. They do need to focus, after all. ]

Indeed. I do not plan to leave your side. Would that we could find a rope to tie us together...

[ For security's sake. Like a lifeline. ]

I've been attempting to track exits as they appear, but I haven't had much luck.

[ He pulls a small leather book from his satchel, opening it to a page where his makeshift map has been drawn. Showing it to Luca, the perimeter is a mess of markings that have been scribbled out or have an X drawn over them. ]

Either they do not last long, or they are guarded until they move. I have not felt brave enough to attempt to storm one alone.

[unheiring]

[A thought occurs to Luca, brief though it might be. He lifts his hand, watching a small chain of flame weave itself together. He touches his glove to it, only to pull back as it singes the fabric. He clicks his tongue.]

Unfortunately I have not practiced crafting a flame that does not burn.

[And he isn't about to deviate from their task to actually find rope. It's... probably weird that he's even thinking about this, right? Yeah, that's weird.

... Anyway.]

Well, you know what they say. Two Phoenixes are better than one. [No one has ever said this before. But it's probably true anyway.] What ever may lurk out there, we will be able to handle it together.

[kingincognito]

[ Not weird at all! In fact, the manifesting of a chain made of fire makes Joshua's eyes widen in surprise. He's never seen anything quite like it before. And though it may burn, that makes it no less impressive. ]

I didn't know that you could do that. That's... amazing, Luca. Truly.

[ Even he can't twist his own fire into such a form. With further practice, Luca might accomplish a chain and more, and he would love to see it, frankly.

But, now is not the time. Joshua nods. ]

Right. Should we manage to find an exit and need to fight our way through, our odds are now doubled. Let us hope that whatever we might come across is afraid of being burned.

[unheiring]

[Ah, Luca's cheeks warm in the slightest. He clears his throat, trying to come off as unaffected as possible but... Fails miserably.]

I could not, for a long time. The Phoenix felt such displays were frivolous. A waste of its power.

[But he's had time to experiment, to try and play with a power that had felt like such a burden for so long. It feels a bit like being a child again, before he'd grown so jaded and resentful of the gift. Before said gift had begun to feel like a curse.]

On the other hand, it will be a bit difficult if we come across a creature of fire. [Luca cracks a bitter smile at the thought, before his thoughts shift.] I... have seen something that comes close to fitting the bill. A massive bird. One not unlike - [He sighs.] Like a Phoenix.

[He won't get into the other details. Hopefully, they don't come across it at all.]

[kingincognito]

Well, the Phoenix doesn't know what it is missing, then.

[ Not that he's ever really played with his own to that extent, either. He does what comes naturally. With some focus, could he, too, make chains of fire? ]

Ah... So there is a creature here to mock both of us.

[ It's lighthearted, in as much as it can be at a time like this. Still, Joshua presses his lips into a thin line, looking ahead. Nothing but fog, as far as the eye can see. ]

I have seen... awful things. I know not where they come from, but I must thank the baby dragons for my swiftness in flight, else I would not be standing with you here now. But so far, none have been creatures of fire, so perhaps we will be lucky.

[unheiring]

And it never will.

[On account of it being dead.]

Of course there is. There is always something to taunt us, isn't there?

[Like Joshua, there is a grim sense of amusement that trickles through Luca's words. If he doesn't try to grin through the torment, then he's only letting that monster in the woods win, right?]

I will have to thank the dragons personally. [You know. For protecting him.] Rest assured, I will have your back should the need arise going forward.

[But hopefully it won't, right?]

[kingincognito]

There always is.

[ Which tells him who is likely behind this. But he doesn't think he has to say that out loud.

But Luca's words make his smile warm despite the eerily chilling surroundings, and he nods. He knew it already, that Luca was here to work alongside him, but saying it out loud is a comfort. ]

Thank you. Truly. After who knows how long of roaming alone, it's nice to know I am not. I, too, will have your back.

[ Hopefully it won't be needed. Hopefully. ]