sticksandbones | EVENT 30

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EVENT 30

A USED UP BULLET CASING

The air is cold, the sky dreary. Ever since your return to Aldric’s Grove, the chill in the air is as bitter and sharp as a knife. The scent of stew from the General Store’s windows is comforting, almost as much as the teas Ydalir is handing out if you pass by her tent. Nene puts baskets of her fresh produce on every doorstep or before the doors of people’s rooms in the inn, and Evan and Rillian join her sometimes, the two also handing out sweaters or cloaks. It’s not going to be as bad as last year, but a bitter winter is coming. It’s best to be prepared, isn’t it?

As the winter approaches, plantimals busy themselves to prepare as best they can, too. Pinecone squirrels harvest away nuts while one by one birds move as close to warmth as they can — and that may well just be Sehul and Aurora’s domains. The river water is clear as ever and even colder, with only the blessed trees and bushes still flowering and bearing fruit.

Yet nothing prepares anyone for the green mist, knee-high at the lowest, waist-high at the highest. It smells earthy and grassy, almost floral like a garden,and it pours out of the research hall.

There’s a chill in the air. Something… strange is happening, yet again.

THE AFTERMATH OF SOMETHING LETHAL

The mist is not the only thing that follows. In your homes, walking around the slowly rebuilding town, resting in the inn — all over, there are ghosts, and they all look painfully familiar. After all… it's not every day you get to see your face without a mirror.

Ghosts of the former residents of the Grove have followed where the mist flows, fragments of history that are part of you given form. Some look pristine, like they’d simply gotten up and got dressed like any normal day. Others look bloodied and wounded, clearly killed and still persisting. None seem bothered by their state — if anything, the lot are curious about the changes that have been made to the Grove, or about you.

Of course they know you. They know your pains, the life you’ve lived, they’re part of you after all… though some ghosts know the full extent better than others. You must have something you want to say, don’t you? Or… maybe you’re approached by the ghost of another soul, with something else in mind.

AN ECHO OF INFLICTED EVIL

cw: a brief instance of animal death

Within the heart of it all stands a woman almost eight feet tall, maybe more. There is an unearthly glow to her green eyes, and she wears a black gown that looks like it’s meant for a funeral and a garden party in the same day. Draped in her arm is a basket as she talks to various blooms, and occasionally she may… pluck at a passing by animal, placing a silvery light within the basket as the animal comes to a stop and finds its final rest.

She looks at each resident of the Grove as she walks, poking and pulling at things that cannot be seen — from the air, from the buildings, from you-

And then she keeps on walking, pausing only at the fog barrier.

“... What a troubling scene this sets. And the rot in the roots… beastly, isn’t it? What a shame that I cannot be here in full to set this straight.” She hums thoughtfully, before finally she stops and sits down.

“Come along now, then. I’m sure you all have questions.”

So, will you talk to Morrigan the Lady Death?

... SO COMES SNOW AFTER FIRE ...

With talking to Morrigan comes a task: close the door once more. Once this is done, the Grove settles again, a blanket of quiet settling over the little village finally. Time passes, and once the first snow starts to fall, Heimr calls everyone to the inn. White snowdrops are painted along the banisters, the door frames and windows, and warm spices and savory smells waft through the air.

Renard is dishing up different plates as you come in, and he smiles radiantly with a wave. Later on he might show off some of his creations, or hand you an instrument.

Music flows through the dining room as Ydalir feeds the fire, and some of Callisto’s meads and wines — flavored or simple honey — eventually turn up on the table. It’s nice not to be alone, right?

Unfortunately it might be ruined when Heimr sets out what looks to be a deck for UNO. And a stack of other board games. But UNO is the killer, here. UNO may just ruin your carefully-crafted friendships with everyone here. …please don’t let it do that. You’ve already been through so much together, and there’s so much more to come.

Spark Notes

summary

A USED UP BULLET CASING Fall is here and winter is fast approaching. The residents of the Grove are trying to help take care of player characters after the past two months of hardships... but one night, a green mist spills out of the Research Hall.
THE AFTERMATH OF SOMETHING LETHAL All throughout the Grove, the ghosts of your past lives linger waiting to speak to you- or to the ones you love. They know your life, though the intimate details may vary, and can be touched. And linger they will! They're very curious, you know.
THE ECHO OF INFLICTED EVIL Morrigan the Death wanders the town, poking and prodding at the magics in play. Whatever she's found, however, they have decided can wait. After all, you probably have questions, don't you?
... SO COMES SNOW AFTER FIRE ... After the Door to the Afterlife has been closed- presumably by you, someone's got to do it- and Morrigan has presumably also left, Heimr decides it's time for another community meal. And this time, he brought board games! Please do not kill each other over Monopoly.

out of character

Welcome to November! Thank you very much to Jami for allowing us to use their past life plotting and location for this event, and to Aspen for helping facilitate it ICly!. This has been a long time coming, and now you get to meet another force of nature: Death!

AC will be check-in for November and December before resuming regularly. September and October are the last TDM of the year, and we encourage you to reuse them as desired if current players wish to test new characters, or if new players want to break the ice! We check the TDMs regularly.

updates

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

submissions

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

code

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

This morning... And that counts as having already eaten. On a technicality, I suppose.

[ Simply observational. Certainly not the sass of a healer by any means. Joshua does seem to consider his words, though, if only for a moment. ]

You may have carried your armor under worse conditions, but that does not mean you must now, you know. This food is free for all to take, unconditionally.

[ He smiles, lowering the bowl. But it is still there. Looming, in the sense that an elephant in the room can loom. ]

Forgive me for my pressing. I am Joshua. I am a healer at the clinic, so it is simply in my best interest to consider your best interests, lest you come across a clinic bed from lack of proper nutrition. It would be a terrible fate for such a formidable warrior to be laid low by his stomach.

[ :) ]

( if she could hear, she'd be giggling from her own seat right now- )

[There is a flash of purple within that helmet, irritation quickly rising. Wise though the young man, Joshua apparently, may be, Silent Salt has suffered centuries of experience. It feels wrong to be scolded by someone more akin to an infant when compared to him.

Though he tempers his tone in the end, and though the glow fades, the plume above his head flickers in irritation all the same.]

Correct though you may be, you misunderstand something. [His tone is clipped, mildly dry, even.] I do not intend to starve myself. It is simply in my nature to let others feast first. Whatever is left by the time the night ends will suffice for me. The food may be for all, but it is still limited in quantity. Let the others take what they wish.

[He shakes his head.]

I have carried my armor under worse conditions by virtue of ensuring some semblance of abundance for those that I serve. This is no different.

[ Irritation or no, Joshua doesn't even so much as flinch. He's faced far worse than a clipped tone, and he'd be an awful diplomat if he allowed it to make him falter. Still, because he is diplomatic, he knows better than to press. You only make enemies if you don't open yourself up to understanding. ]

It is very kind of you, then, to allow others to first have their fill.

[ It makes him wonder. Does he come from a place that experiences scarcity? Joshua can't imagine any other scenario where there would be reason for it. Even his father feasted with the men, not separately. It created a sense of camaraderie. And for there to be more of a need for others to have their fill, what else could it be?

He wants to say that there is no need for it anymore, that he doesn't need to hold out, but he will refrain. He even goes so far as to set the bowl down on a nearby table. Out of hand, out of pressure. ]

Now that you can experience this abundance, I do hope that you will be able to relax and enjoy yourself. So long as you do eat eventually, that is all that matters.

[That he backs down is a good sign, as far as Silent Salt is concerned. It is clear that Joshua means well. Insistent though he may be on his stance, he does not want to resort to any sort of argument. Toward anyone else, such generosity would be welcomed, celebrated even. But Silent Salt cannot stomach it as it pertains to him.]

You are a good man, Joshua. Know that your care is not unwelcome. Simply... misplaced. I hope you will yet continue to offer such kindness to others.

[As for the Feast...]

The weather is beginning to change. I have known many a bitter winter, but never one here. Until I know how this place will fare, I will temper my own needs in the presence of others.

[In the back of his mind, he can all but hear Salt Cellar Cookie's frustration. This is not solidarity, it is needless sacrifice. But if he can present it as sound enough logic...]

Edited 2025-11-22 03:33 (UTC)

Thank you. But I will continue to offer kindness to all here. My kindness is not selective, nor conditional. Everyone is deserving.

[ With anyone else, it could have come off as sharp, but Joshua's words and tone are honest and sincere and he punctuates them with a smile. He will not cease - he simply can't act without kindness. ]

I arrived in this place last winter. Despite all that the Forest can throw at us, we were not without food, I can assure you. Your concern is appreciated, but we are a hearty bunch. We will survive if you choose to take some food for yourself.

[His assessment of Joshua seems to have been the correct one. Something about those words makes an old flame within Silent Salt's chest stir. The man would have been a fine knight, he thinks, well at home within the Kala Namak stronghold.]

It is good to see the virtue of solidarity burn brightly within your heart. I have met many who have not known its warmth.

[He tucks the information Joshua offers up away within the back of his mind.]

Be that as it may, winters are ever changing. One can hardly say if you experienced something light, or if it was the opposite and the worst one could come across. [Still, while he is thinking of it...] What of the wildlife here? Is there anything one may hunt in an effort to bolster our stores?

Without solidarity, it is easy to divide and conquer. As the Phoenix, it is my duty to protect, and thus solidarity is important to me.

[ And though the conversation has shifted a little, it hasn't shifted in a bad direction. If he's interested in hunting, it can only help, not hurt. Joshua hums thoughtfully, lifting a hand to rest beneath his lips. ]

Most animals here are intertwined with plants, to some extent... But there are deer and other game creatures, as well as fish in the river. With the fish in particular, we must be careful to keep all bones and return them to the river when we are finished. Ah, please do be careful not to hunt the Guardians, however. I doubt they would appreciate it.

[Though Joshua means nothing by it, has no way of knowing what happened so many centuries ago, Silent Salt's head nevertheless bows.]

Even with Solidarity, seeds of distrust can easily take root. Do not forget that.

[It's an ominous warning if there ever was one, but Silent Salt does not dwell on it. Even now, he doubts he can stomach the control to swallow his feeling down, and the last thing he wants is to disrupt this evening's festivities.]

I will bare this in mind. I have no intention to disrupt those who call this place home.

... it is something I can never forget.

[ Joshua closes his eyes for a moment. He has no way of knowing what happened to Joshua in his childhood, despite the solidarity his father tried so hard to cultivate. Even so... ]

But I will still try my best. I would still rather have some solidarity than not even try.

[ Opening his eyes again, he takes a deep breath, as if shaking off the somber tone taken. ]

If you are to hunt, I would be glad to join you. The more hands, the better, yes?

[The reaction is an interesting one. At passing glance, he might have thought Joshua an inexperienced idealist. The Salt of Solidarity had met many in the early days. Perhaps he, too, had been one once. The way he responds, however, denotes more experience — the likes of which only tragedy can bring forth.

Unfortunately, but curious all the same.]

And just how have you summoned the will to continue forward, when others have undoubtedly spit upon your ideals?

[The hunting question is ignored for the time being. He makes a note of the offer, but there are far more important endeavors to investigate right now.]

[ It's not a topic that Joshua talks about, usually. At least, not in such a public setting. But here, on the fringe of the festivities, perhaps it is as good a time as any. It isn't that he minds if others overhear, of course, but this is a festive gathering. It wouldn't feel right to sour the mood with depressing talk. ]

The belief that we could defy our fate. That we could save our dying world and make the lives of everyone else living in it so much better. Even at the cost of my own life.

[ He was slowly dying anyway. Using what remained of his time for the good of all was the only clear path. ]

It wasn't easy. It is never easy. But to save the lives of the many, I would gladly take one more agonizing step.

[At first, the words Joshua offers seem like more idealistic drivel. He wonders, dimly, if he had misjudged that determination in the end. Those last words, however, leave Silent Salt stunned. For a moment, he is no longer in the polite din of the festivities, but standing beside an old friend and pledging his own life.

the way the young man speaks of agony tells Silent Salt what he needs to know. Nevertheless, he finds himself asking all the same:]

And did you pay that price in the end? [A pause.] And to what end? What did the world gain from your sacrifice?

Edited 2025-11-25 08:14 (UTC)

... I did. Though my final memory before arriving here was obtaining a grave injury, my brother confirmed I did not survive, while he was here.

[ With the style of shirts he likes to wear, it isn't difficult to tug the collar open, unbuttoning it just until he exposes the center of his chest. The gnarly scar from Ultima still sits there, not yet a year old. ]

I intended to stand with my brother until the end, but it was not to be. But with my sacrifice, my brother was able to defeat the god-like being that had drained our world as a battery to power a spell for his own gain. With his defeat, the world will replenish and flourish, though I will not live to see it.

[At first, Silent Salt remains quiet. He studies the wound, dimly wondering what sort of magic could cause such a brutal injury. Then, he begins to turn Joshua's story over within his head. It had been taught to the Knights that sacrifice was not an act of solidarity, not typically. Still, he can find no faults in Joshua's words.

He had made the best of the hand that had been dealt to him. Using his final moments to help someone else was more than he could have ever asked of his own.]

I understand. [He bows his head and lifts a hand, folding it into a fist and placing it above where his heart would be.] You are a noble warrior, it would seem. Certainly one worthy of respect.

It will be an honor to serve alongside you.

[ So his tale has had some effect after all. Joshua is glad to hear the acceptance, admittedly, though it does make him laugh softly. Not in a rude way, just fondly. ]

Thank you. That is kind of you to say.

[ Similarly, he bows his head, hand lifting to press to his chest. ]

As it will be an honor to serve alongside you, Ser Knight. I'm afraid I didn't get your name...?

[Admittedly, he doesn't know what about his gesture had been so amusing. Before he can find it in himself to be offended, though, Joshua moves on. Whatever had been the cause, it's clear, at least, that no offense was meant by it.

And well, more than anything, he's a touch... flustered for having neglected to offer his name in kind. He bows his head in acknowledgement, hoping that the metal of his helm obscures the way he huffs.]

Silent Salt Cookie. It is an honor.

[ The moment he hears that name, Joshua's eyebrows raise. Not because of the recognition of the name, but rather the Cookie portion of it. Another one, then. ]

Ah. You are a Cookie, then. We have quite the population here. I work alongside Lady White Lily Cookie at the clinic.

[ Which is probably obvious, considering how he'd introduced himself earlier. ]

I am not surprised that you are familiar with my kind.

[He's managed to piece together the names of the cookies that have come to call this place home. In a town as small as this, it's no surprise that Joshua has come to meet at least one of them. Good. It saves having to explain it all.]

White Lily Cookie has mentioned her role as a caretaker in the clinic. You will find none more talented than she. [Ah, but that's... a little much. He clears his throat.] I am glad to know she is joined by such capable minds.

Indeed. She has made considerable efforts toward curing a disease from another world. I have witnessed her capability firsthand, and I am forever grateful to have her expertise at my disposal.

[ He presses a hand against his chest, genuinely thankful for it. If she hadn't been here, when Pure Vanilla had left, he'd have been left to fend for himself in the clinic. Not that he would have faltered, of course, but having her here makes it all easier. ]

It sounds as though you know her well. Were you acquainted in your home world?

So I have heard. Though her methods concern me, she has proven to be a true embodiment of solidarity.

[He bows his head in a show of respect, before lifting it once more. There is a moment of silence on the other side, the cookie weighing whether or not to elaborate on their relationship. The truth of it would surely only serve to taint Lily's own legacy. But if he were to deny it, it would just as easily wound the relationship between the two of them.

Eventually, a sigh leaves him.]

The relationship between White Lily Cookie and myself is a complicated one. She exists as my better half, the embodiment of unrealized ideals and failed ambition on my own part.

[ What Silent Salt says makes sense, though. Joshua understands - or, at least, it's a situation that sounds familiar. He's silent for a moment, contemplating the words, rolling them around in his mind until he settles that it is reasonable to ask. ]

Forgive me for asking, and you do not have to answer, as I know it is none of my business and some subjects are difficult to speak of. But is it perhaps something similar to the relationship between Shadow Milk Cookie and Pure Vanilla Cookie?

[ It's the "better half" comment that has sold him on asking, really. He'd heard something similar between the other two cookies, and he is nothing if not curious. ]

[Perhaps he shouldn't be surprised, to know that this young man seems privy to so many details regarding cookiekind. He is a healer, so it would only make sense to need to know more intimate details. Not that he thinks linked soul jam would have any physical impact.

Still, he can't help but feel mildly irked at being compared to Shadow Milk in any capacity. His shoulders seem to stiffen, then rise — as if armor could puff up like a cat.]

It is... simplifying the matter. What White Lily and I have is far less - [He was going to say volatile but alas. He did try to set her on fire.] We have made our peace. Unlike the others of my... ilk, White Lily and I have found that our goals are in line with one another.

[ That's all he needs to know. Joshua nods, firmly, noting the subtle shifts in Silent Salt's stance. He won't ask further, but it's good to know that it isn't an isolated incident. Curiosity does have him wanting to ask if all cookies seem to have some sort of other half, but he will refrain. It might be a question better asked to White Lily. ]

I understand. You do not need to explain further if it makes you uncomfortable. I simply asked to obtain a better understanding of the situation, as I know that Shadow Milk Cookie and Pure Vanilla Cookie mentioned being... similarly linked.

[ And seemed to be getting along fairly well, at that. But he isn't certain if that dynamic still stands, and it isn't his to speak of. ]

I am glad that you and Lady White Lily Cookie have found a common ground. She has been through much, and I am happy to know she has a kindred spirit to talk to.

[It is good that he does not press. He has seen where knowledge can easily turn to deceit. Joshua has put forth a trustworthy front thus far, but Silent Salt knew that things could change. Time could change even the most stalwart of allies into the greatest of enemies.]

I am well-aware of all of her suffering. [The words might sound pointed, but his tone is not. It is simply a fact to him.] Or, I was. Now, I feel as if I barely understand it. Much has occurred since arriving here. Yet she remembers little of me.

[Does he sound a little forlorn there? It's hard to say. Some part of him does think it better that she doesn't remember.]

It is clear that she has been in well-meaning hands here, at least. Perhaps I should be grateful for you rather than the reverse.

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EVENT 30

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