buttrinthum | TDM #7

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TDM #7

Arrival / Enchanted Garden

Whether it be sleep or death, you feel your eyes close, and as your body begins to let go, you see a barn owl that is flying through the darkness, soon sweeping you across the clouded sky. You feel yourself mouth the words, “I wish, I wish..” and utter your deepest and darkest desire.

When you regain consciousness, you’ll find you are in an unfamiliar place with no recognition of how you arrived here. You have the clothes on your back, but nothing else. No weapons and if you had a particular superpower, you’ll notice it is missing. All you have is a satchel with a piece of bread, a vial of water and a potion. The potion could be red, blue or golden. There are no instructions about these potions other than two words: Drink Me.

Will you drink it or not?

There is a parchment, handwritten, and it simply gives you a welcoming:

“Welcome to my Labyrinth. Per our agreement, you have consented to live your life here for an undetermined amount of time. In exchange, I will grant you the wish that you desire the most.”

You’re in a garden, surrounded by flowers and plants– most of which you cannot identify. However, there are a few that you can make out: poinsettias and holly. You’ll soon find out that being around the poinsettias give you an odd sense of joy no matter how confusing the situation may seem and the holly, which is left over from the holiday season, offer different effects - standing too close to blooming holly will encourage a strong desire to be impulsive or try out something they never would have otherwise tried (whether it’s a wild new hobby, or shaving their entire head, or something else).

An Unexpected Blizzard

As harsh temperatures drop across Somnius, the townsfolk seem taken aback by how frigid cold the city is becoming. They expect this year to be chilly, but not exactly this chilly. Seemingly out of nowhere and overnight, a massive blizzard sweeps across the city, piling snow high and trapping Dreamers and townsfolk alike in their dwellings. Perhaps it's not wise to go out -- perhaps it might be better to snuggle up with your housemates instead.

As the day continues, the blizzard roars on, piling more and more snow on top of itself and making the air dense. Those who are adventurous enough to try and leave their dwelling may do so, but it poses as a risk with both high winds and freezing temperatures. Characters who have a fire element from their potion might be suited to be rescuers in this situation. Heat does make the snow melt and keep people warm, after all. They might be someone's only chance for survival, after all.

However, through the dense snow, something is lurking and they are very hard to see. It's the return of the Snow Angels, but because of the intense coldness, appeasing the Snow Angels by offering warmth will not work. Their weapons are drawn and anyone that approaches them at all will be attacked. Unlike last year, heat will NOT hurt the Snow Angels but ironically enough, making snowballs and throwing them at the Snow Angels will ... somehow ward them off. Clobbering Snow Angels with many snowballs will reduce them to just mounds of snow and their sword will vanish into pixie dust.

Any character who gets struck with their sword will risk severe frostbite which can be slowed down and cured by characters with healing abilities.

Trying to Relax

When the blizzard finally subsides, the bitter cold and snow will linger (As will the snow angels, so be careful.) Of course, this means a lot of places will be harder to reach- the path along starlight cliffs, for instance, will be far more treacherous and dangerous to access, and much of Lake Omen will be frozen over.

The path down to the beach, however, is still miraculously clear and easy to traverse- and, more importantly, there's a new path across sheets of ice across the ocean that have frozen over, broken, and refrozen, creating a long ice bridge that leads to a small island. On that island will be found a hot spring, complete with long-abandoned signs of use. This was clearly once an active onsen on this island, and for the most part, the natural warmth of the area has kept the winter cold at bay, meaning the hot springs are still accessible, steamy, and safe for visitors!

There are several springs of varying size and temperature. Anybody who bathes in these springs will find that they’re comforting and relaxing, soothing away the aches and tensions of your muscles and your mind alike. A few people may hear an odd, barely-audible whispering voice or echo on the edge of your hearing while you’re in the water, but don’t worry about that, that’s probably nothing. However, those who bathe in the waters may also notice a few odd side effects:

The most common effect will be uncontrollable emission of steam and bubbles from the bather’s mouth. The steam doesn’t burn them, the bubbles don’t interfere with speech and breathing, but both will be a mildly distracting nuisance until you’ve fully dried off from the spring
Many of the springs will make those who bathe in them feel incredibly refreshed and energized; maybe even too energized. You swear you’re not normally this hyper. Don’t worry, it will wear off after several very productive, very exhausting hours.
Some of the springs will enhance the most dominant personality traits of those who bathe in them. Anxious? Try ‘neurotic wreck.’ Brave? ‘Stupidly reckless.’ Reserved? ‘Completely emotionless.’ You get the idea. On the other hand, others will neutralize those personality traits, returning them to normal or even inverting them entirely. This can last anywhere from a day or two to a couple of weeks.
A few of the springs will induce a unique transformation. Those exposed to it will find that whenever they’re submerged in water, they grow gills and webbed limbs that make them fully amphibious and capable of swimming effortlessly. This transformation doesn’t impair them on dry land, aside from their skin being notably cold and clammy to the touch. Those who are already amphibious or aquatic by nature aren’t visibly affected. This will also last for anywhere from days to weeks.

Those under the effects of any hot spring will find that the mermaids in the unfrozen portions of Lake Omen are no longer as hostile to them. In fact, those affected by the aquatic spring, even those who are otherwise unchanged, will find that the mermaids are quite friendly and very chatty, though an unsettling amount of their conversations seem to revolve around how appetizing your fellow villagers look.

OOC

Welcome to the labyrinthum TDM! Characters will arrive depowered and with only their clothing, and will be given a satchel with a crystal pendant, a communication device, some water and bread and a magic potion. If they drink the potion, they will manifest an elemental, healing or animal transformation ability.

With the exception of Castle Vaeros, characters are free to go as they please, so feel free to place them in any of the locations available on the map. Yes, this includes the Labyrinth - though characters will not be able to clear the maze.

You can find more information about the game here. Any questions regarding the TDM can go under the comment below.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Usually when he agrees to help the newer arrivals out, they are less asking the bigger picture questions and instead more concerned with the deal and the potions. To say he's a little surprised by her questions is...

Well. It's surprising. Stolas studies her a moment before smiling a little.]

You know, most people that show up here are more confused than curious. I'm also guessing you've woken up in strange places before? At least, that's what I'm gathering from your various questions.

[As for answer answers, he slides his hands into the pockets of his warm coat and glances up at the sky for a moment.]

As for your questions, this place is called Somnius. Yes people showing up after making a strange dream like deal is normal. No, I am not related to the owl that made the deal with you.

Well, I'm not most people. I prefer to see and try to figure out the big picture, and yeah, you could say that. Just call it the risk of my profession.

[Now to the rest.]

Now then. Somnius. Never heard of the place, but there are a lot of places I haven't been yet. So, is that the name of a city....or planet? Just wondering since I'm not really sure where Somnius is supposed to be exactly.

Oh? And what profession is that?

[Call him curious.]

Actually, I'm not sure. This place seems to be its own realm of some kind. All anyone can figure out is that we're here at the invitation of our gracious deal making host and that there isn't a known way to escape.

Oh, you know, traveling, saving worlds, that sort of thing. Runs in the family.

[She brushes it off as not the most important detail here.]

Now moving on from that, you're saying it's own realm, so do you mean it's separate from the rest of the universe? From time and space? Well, there has to be more then that involved, and I have to leave. I have a friend who needs my help so I can't stay here, though I imagine he'd have a hard time tracking me down here at the moment, but we've thought that before about the Colt-5000. Seemed like she was always able to find us no matter where we went so if she could find me here, Noah probably would too, or if she couldn't, then probably not.

[She seemed to be mostly talking to herself by the end of that. Don't mind her, she does that a lot when she gets to thinking.]

Has anyone arrived here who wasn't invited by our host as you called him?

Saving worlds?

[Whatever he expected her to say, that most definitely was not it. He gives her a slightly closer look. However, to him, she looks as human as any other human mortal he's met. How odd.]

To answer the questions that I could decipher from your babble, When I said realm, I meant simply that. This appears to be a world or a kingdom cut off from the rest of the universe or universes as the case may be. From what I've heard, time passes differently here compared to home though, I'm not exactly sure what the ratio may be.

[He shrugs again.]

It's not that hard to understand really. Where I come from Hell is it's own realm and so is Heaven with the mortal world stuck between us. As for your last question, I'm not sure. Everyone I've met here has had the same invitation.

Yeah, you could say it runs in the family.

Anyway, sounds more like we might be in a pocket dimension of some kind then. How exciting! [Not the normal reaction. She seriously sees the concept exciting.] I'll have to get a better look at everything.

[She pauses.]

Ohhhhh, you meant realms like realms of the gods and demons. Aren't those things supposed myths. Wait, we were chatting about other universes so I suppose in others they could be real.

A.. pocket dimension? [He blinks for a few moments and gives her an incredulous look. Honestly, her reactions have basically been the opposite of every other person he's ever met when they first arrived.]

My dear, I can assure you that Demons and Angels are very real. Why you're talking to a demon prince right now.

[He sighs and brushes off one of his sleeves.]

Which means, yes. In some universes, we are very real and not just myths.

[Well, what can she say. This whole situation is really not unusual to her at all.]

Yeah, so a dimension that's separate from time and space. Runs by it's own flow and rules.

[Short explanation but enough.]

Well not in mine unless someone's masquerading as one, which honestly seems to happen a lot.

[He blinks and will file that away for later study if he can find anything on pocket dimensions later.]

Someone masquerading as one...? Just what kind of world do you come from? We don't take that kind of thing lightly where I'm from.

Right, well most people when you hear demons or angels are doing it to create fear or get something out of it, so they'll use technology or various tricks to try and convince others that they are when they're not. Things like that. Never really met a real one.

I see. Well, I can assure you that I just so happen to be the real thing. Surprisingly, there are a few different kinds of demons here and I do believe an angel or two that I'm aware of.

[He shrugs, still trying to wrap his head around anyone trying to impersonate a demon or angel.]

So, you're telling me that angels and demons are real here and not just manifestations of them that someone's made up. I suppose it's not impossible for there to be real ones around just as there are fake ones. A bit unlikely perhaps, but not impossible.

[Like so many things in her life and universe.]

Essentially, yes. I assure you we are just as real as you are.

[Even if he is missing his vast array of powers, Stolas is still very much a demon straight from from hell.]

So since demons like yourself are real after all, care to give me a run down of what being a demon entails exactly? You know, for curiosities sake since I know there are a million different renditions of the stories surrounding them. Well, dependent on the world of course.

That is a very good question and what it comes down to is simply what kind of demon one happens to be.

[He smiles a little as he considers just how to explain this properly. Though he does suppose the best way to answer might be to explain exactly what HE is, demon wise.]

Where I come from, there are different kinds arranged in a sort of hierarchy. My family and thus, type of demon, just so happen to be at the top of the metaphorical food chain. I am what can be called a Goetic Demon. That is to say, I am of the Ars Goetia family and we are mostly Avian type demons. Each one of us has a purpose in the service of Hell that we are born to perform.

What we were born to do determines what our abilities might potentially be. Myself, I was given the task of studying the stars and prophecies. As such, much of my studies and powers pertain to the celestial heavens and their movements. I am an observer. Of course, there are things I can do outside of that scope as well.

Magic, illusions..that kind of thing. We demons were born in Hell and that is where we reside for the most part.

[She considers that.]

So you're what, demon royalty then?

[See, she's quick.]

Alright, so your task is as a observer. What about others?

Yes I am. I'm a Prince of the Ars Goetia.

[Though, he'll openly admit that his title means next to nothing here. But, she did ask so he may as well clarify.]

My father is King Piemon. As royalty, we are directly under the Seven Deadly Sins in the hierarchy of Hell who in turn are right under the ruler of hell, Lucifer Morningstar.

[As for the others, he frowns a little.]

Honestly? I'm not exactly the entire scope of what my siblings and cousins are involved in. I spend most of my time doing my duties and raising my daughter.

The Seven Deadly Sins?

[He obviously was going to have to clarify that because Jenny wasn't familiar with the whole Seven Deadly Sins story.]

You have a daughter? [Based on that frown though.] I'm assuming she's not here with you?

No she is not and I am entirely not sure if that is a good or a bad thing.

[As for the sins, he blinks owlishly and turns his towards her without turning his body.]

Are you telling me that you've never heard of them?

Haven't been here long enough to say. You miss her though, yeah?

[She's not stupid.]

And nope. Never heard of them. But to be fair, there's a lot of things I haven't heard of. That's why I ask questions. Can't learn if you don't ask, yeah?

Definitely. My little Starfire is my entire world.

[And he misses her dearly.]

While you do have a point. It's a lot to explain so, where to begin? I suppose, we should start with the fact that there are seven of them and each sin has it's own embodiment of what they represent residing in hell.

You could consider them Kings and Queens of their respective circles of Hell.

[He frowns a little as not for the first time, he wish he had his magic. Then he could conjure up a small diagram and images of each one as he spoke.. But, sadly that's not the case right now.]

For instance, The Sin of Pride is represented by the King of Hell, Lucifer Morningstar. He's been there since the very beginning and I suppose you could say the reason Hell and it's current hierarchy exists. Next is Wrath, Ruled by Satan, Followed by Gluttony which is ruled by Beelzebub, then Greed which is ruled by Mammon, then Lust which is ruled by Asmodeus, then Envy which is ruled by Leviathan and then finally Sloth which is ruled by Belphagor.

Edited 2024-01-28 23:20 (UTC)

Right, so those circles would be Pride, Wrath, Gluttony, Greed, Lust, Envy, and Sloth then?

[She seemed to be thinking over and taking in the information at least.]

Yes, exactly and in that order. You could say they are their own realms stacked on top of each other. Of course, they are connected since we can travel between each circle rather easily.

Stacked on top of each other? So some are considered higher in the hierarchy then others then?

[He hmms for a moment before tapping a finger against his beak in thought.]

I suppose you could say that. Though really, each one has its own industry and native demons so I wouldn't say one is higher in the hierarchy than the other unless you could the Sin's own power in that mix.

TDM #7

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