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buttrinthum2024-01-01 05:31 am
TDM #7
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).
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.
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.
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.
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Thor had changed though. It had taken humbling on Earth, and adventures besides that--and more pain than either of the brothers probably cared for really. Once Loki calmed back down he studied Kaiba.
"He cared less about justice than about reminding the frost giants who was in charge. We're alive because I warned a guard before we left, and Odin saved us."
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"Oh. My apologies. People who are the least suitable for power are usually the ones to seek it out," Seto murmured. Again, pot, meet kettle. He shook his head. "Things must have been awkward after that."
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"Odin told us, when we were young, as he recounted the battle and showed us the casket--that only one of us could have the throne, but we were both born to be kings." He'd mentioned that to Kaiba before. "Thor is the elder, so it was always expected he'd take it over at some point. He grew up as the crown prince you'd expect of a warrior people. Arrogant, eager for battle and glory, admired for his strength. Popular with other warriors, including 3 of his closest friends. Also popular with the ladies, especially Sif though she was also a highly skilled warrior."
Loki moved to let his hands drift once more on the water's surface. Oddly calm about all of this, despite the telling of it. "I was...not like the others. Never as strong, and my talents not suited to be a warrior like they were. I had magic, which mother taught me. But trickery and illusions are not seen as honorable or fitting for a warrior though I was trained as a prince ought to be. Using magic weapons, that was for warriors--or Odin, as the allfather was an exception to many rules. Using magic itself was not."
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But that wasn't really the point of the story, so he nodded and allowed Loki to continue.
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"I was the tag-along little brother, never really trusted or admired." Not that Loki had, at times, done much to help that impression. Thor had adored him for some reason, pranks and all, but the others...
"In any case...Heimdall is the guard of the bifrost, and Asgard's borders. He's known as all-seeing and all-hearing. Getting 3 frost giants into Asgard without him putting a stop to it was not easy." Waiting to see if Kaiba would pick up what Loki'd just admitted to, or if he'd assume it was just part of the story telling.
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Wait. The frost giants. Three of them.
"...You were the one making a grab for the Casket?" There was no judgement in his voice, just mild surprise. He was curious as always.
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He decided to just. Shut up and listen for a bit. Sorry.
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Loki held up his left arm, hand out, almost as if he were examining it. "Volstagg suffered one such burn. One of them grabbed me, tore through my shirts armor and I expected to suffer the same--but I didn't. My enemy and I both watched and stared for a moment at each other, as my skin started to turn the blue-grey of his own."
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"You...were one of them, and didn't expect to be?" Well. Huh.
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A pause and Loki put his arm back down. "Odin banished Thor, stripping him of Mjolnir and his heritage, to Earth. He sent the hammer down, but Thor would only gain it again when worthy of it. I tried to protest but Odin was not in a listening mood."
Sighing, Loki brought his legs up now, to wrap an arm around his knees and let the other (his right this time) trail in the water.
"The warriors and Sif were not pleased at all that I had saved our lives. I believe they suspected me of being behind it all in some mad grab for power. Truthfully, I went to the vaults to examine the casket. Picked it up...it confirmed that yes, I was a frost giant. Odin found me, and explained. I am the son of Laufey, abandoned and left to die. Odin took me in, adopted me. Hoped perhaps that I could help unite their people--but I was angry and hurt and confused, and felt myself little more than a stolen relic. All of my life I had been different, felt different, and here was why."
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Was Seto projecting again? Probably.
"I still think well of you, if you're worried about that," he said first. "You deserved honesty, and better to be perpetually second."
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Though Loki tilted his head a bit, as he looked at Kaiba. "Thank you." A pause, and then back to story-telling. "Odin fell into his odinsleep--a state where he must have his body rest to restore his power. He'd been putting it off for so long anyways. Shortly after I confronted him. Mother and I weren't sure when, or even if, he'd awaken."
Now he raised that hand from the water and scrubbed it down his face. "I never wanted the throne initially. It was offered, while Father was asleep--but I wasn't sure I should accept. Mother convinced me, and then...well. Then I wanted to just prove that I could stand with Thor, or Father. To make Odin proud. I was not much better than my brother really."
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"It's...difficult, to lead. You can't know what it's like until you're there."
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"You can be prepared for something your whole life, but it never quite ends up being enough." Then there's a more rueful chuckle, and Loki took a deep breath in and out. "I had not intended to come here to pour out my life's story. Nor do I expect pity. I...think I am glad I told you some of it though."
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He ducked his head briefly, a little embarrassed. "You reminded me of my life at a few points, though on a much smaller scale. Obviously. Shall I tell you?"
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cw: death, past child abuse
"Like I said before, my mother died giving birth to my younger brother. If it's possible to die of a broken heart, my father died soon after. We were passed around from relative to relative who spent all the money they'd left us, then dumped us at an orphanage.
I knew going in that we had little hope of being adopted. Again, in my culture orphaned children are viewed as 'broken' or bad luck. I tried to prove my worth academically, but adoptions are mainly carried out by childless business owners looking for heirs. So that's who I found---and I tricked him into making a bet to adopt both of us, and won. It was the only way I was getting out with my brother, but I underestimated how difficult it would be.
He owned a war profiteering company and trained me to take it over---that meant I had to achieve perfection in academics and, more importantly, ruthlessness. I wasn't allowed leisure time or to see my brother. I was there to be molded, and any failures were punished harshly. Trust no one, and to lose is to die...those were his lessons for me."
He exhaled, folding his hands on the water's surface for a moment. That was the easy part. Harder topics came next.
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"How much older are you?" Loki kept the rest of his thoughts to himself, but he was giving Kaiba as much attention as he could. Part of him alert just in case for trouble, but otherwise on the other.
cw: faked suicide
It's a bit easier to talk about that bit, it's grounding. He's grateful for that, and he can continue to the harder part.
"I never wanted to get into the war machine, though. I'd promised my brother we'd open a theme park for orphans like us one day, and I wanted to put fun and games into the world...but those years corrupted me. When I was fifteen, he gave me my final test to see if I was ruthless enough to succeed him. I had to hurt my brother to do it...and when he saw that I really was ruthless, he faked his death, because to lose is to die. But I didn't find out it was a fakeout until years later, and..."
One more shuddering breath.
"I dismantled the war machine and started building the theme park, but I was driven by nothing but hate and wanting to be the best at this point. I blackmailed people into giving me the tools I needed to be the best game player in the world, I treated even my brother cruelly, I put other people my age into life-threatening situations...until I met another gamer with supernatural powers who bested me. He used his power to shatter my soul and force me to rebuild it, reconnecting with the parts of myself I'd forgotten in my rage.
So...things are better now, but like you...I still left a trail behind me. And I still hate to lose, I guess."
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It had been hard to share for the other, clearly. Loki was still unsure himself why he had shared so much.
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He was still a little embarrassed, but it was all right. He felt strangely better. Maybe it was the spring after all.
"I guess. I just wanted to let you know that it'd be hypocritical of me to not understand serious mistakes."
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But they both needed some grounding now, instead of more hard emotions. "When I was little, Mother...that is, Frigga, would do little bits of magic for me. Like casting fireworks over the water."
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Seto smiled a little at the shared memory, imagining what that must've been like. Life could get painful and complicated, but there were bits of joy to search for even then.
He shifted to sit on his heels, angling up to extend an arm back toward his pile of clothes. On top sat the rectangular locket he always wore, and he opened it to the precious picture inside, holding it out for Loki to see.
"Mokuba and I used to play together to pass the time in the orphanage. This picture was taken on one of our happier days, and he has the other half in a matching locket. I look at it when I need to remember to play a little."
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But Loki did lean closer, studying the picture--before bringing one hand up to gently touch the edge of the locket. With his other, he made a 'shh' gesture while winking to Kaiba. Then that hand was extended out above the water--and changed so that the water now showed a bigger version of that picture. An illusion, and Loki was letting Kaiba see it.
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