TDM #8

[labyrinevents]

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: purple carnations and generous fields of shamrocks. You’ll soon find out that being around the purple carnations can cause someone to act impulsively, following every whim of their heart to the point of almost being erratic. It might almost feel as though they’re having a hard time keeping track of which way is up and which way is down the way their whims change on a dime. This can cause quite a confusing first interaction, but the fields of shamrocks are no less confusing considering laying about in or spending time walking through these fields will cause the dreamer to feel lighter than air. Literally. Be careful! It’s almost like interacting with the world as though you’re lacking gravity. Jumps are higher, staying on the ground seems a little difficult, (but don't worry you won't float away), and generally being easy to push around are all something you should keep an eye on. Luckily, 30 minutes away from the shamrocks will make the effect go away.

Flower Magic and the Plantening

Though it’s not exactly celebrated every year, and sometimes it’s done more subtly depending on the whims of the land, the locals (Gelfling and Goblin alike) always prepare for the spring. This year the locals can pull out all the stops for the changing of the seasons thanks to a genial past few months (give or, uh, take haha) . As the cold weather starts to warm and the snow drifts thaw and melt away, new life is already growing. It’s the signal that the locals need to prepare for the planting season of their gardens and crops as well as prepare for the magical cleansing meant to bring in good luck and positive magical energies.

Planting gardens and planning for vegetables and herbs of all kinds has a special twist to it, or this wouldn’t be Somnius. It’s a group effort, and not a soul will be allowed to skip participation. So long as the grumpiest plant at least one seed, their participation counts. But it all must be done with flower crowns made by locals and dreamers alike. The locals are happy to teach Dreamers how to weave the crowns together and dust in little bits of magic to make them glow pleasantly once perched atop someone’s head.

Just… one little thing? These flower crowns will enhance emotions, or feelings just a little or a lot. It all depends upon the flower the crown is made of.

Flower Choices

• Amaryllis: The wearer becomes extremely boastful and confident, even when (or perhaps, especially when) they have nothing to show for it.
• Bittersweet: Good luck lying until the crown is removed! The dreamer will feel compelled not only to speak, but to speak only the brutal and honest truth.
• Columbine: The world just became 500% funnier. That random Gelfling sneeze? Adorable and hilarious. The way that Goblin’s hair looks? Absolutely hysterical. The dreamer will be unable to stop giggling until the effects wear off.
• Fennel: It’s time to show your appreciation for everyone. The dreamer wearing this will feel extremely complimentary, and will not hesitate to tell anybody the things they like about them.
• Rose: Love is in the air, but… have you… always felt this way about your friend, or is something strange happening? The dreamer who wears this crown will find themselves absolutely enamored with the next person they meet.
• Tansy: Everything just seems to be striking a nerve with you today. The dreamer will find themselves gripped with an intense bout of anger, and they won’t hesitate to show it. Better tell that Gelfling that just bumped into you who you really are.

Only after you have a flower crown can you then participate in the real labor of spring: planting. Hoeing, watering, fertilizing, it’s all hard work but it’ll be worth it by the time everything starts to grow. Food tastes better when you grow it yourself. Try not to play around too much, but a little horsing around never hurt anyone.

Cleansing for a New Year

It’s not only the fields and flower gardens that need tending to with the turn of the seasons, and the locals are making a party of it. The morning hours are reserved for changing out of “seasonal” decorations and other tidying, while the afternoon and evening hours are reserved for celebration and commerce.

Holly and pine wreaths and garlands are taken down, animals are finally let out from their cozy barns to graze on the new shoots of grass peeking from the chilled soil, homes are being aired out and well traveled roads need to be reblessed. Everyone seems to be doing their part in some way, but it’s still a lot of work to be done by the time things are in full swing for spring! Those dreamers who live to clean will really be living this month. Just make sure to sweep OUT the bad energy. Never in.

The locals encourage (and some even insist) that the ones they share space with pick up a broom, shovel or just get their hands dirty and start working. Animals need feeding and tending to and barn hands are in high demand! Whether it be chickens, ducks, cows, or sheep, the animals need their feed and also need their spaces to be cleaned, too. No one said this was glamorous work, but hey! Maybe you’ll manage to come away with some animal products from a particularly grateful farmer.

Salting the roads not only helps keep still receding ice from being as slick but it also brings in good luck and good energies. Be careful to spread the salt given out through the streets, but don’t spill any in the dirt or where things grow. Salted earth or plants will doom Dreamers with bad luck if they make this grave mistake! The effect will last for a week or so, so it’s best avoided.

When the warmest part of the day hits, that’s when the working gloves come off. The centermost part of town has been turned into a festival area complete with a may pole, potluck pot the size of a small boulder the size of a large boulder, tables of roasted food, and a variety of drinks. There are also a few games, including cheese rolling in which dreamers can either roll cheese or be turned into cheese to be rolled (maybe that’s just a joke? Hmm). Lively music played by one of the least terrible most popular goblin bands fills the air.

Contributing to the potluck pot will give participants a little joyful boost, there’s a little more pep in their step, a little less fatigue from working all day, and some may find that their dirtied clothes are woven into clean, springy attire for the celebration that lasts well into the night to wear at the Night Bazaar.

Nightlife Bazaar

cw: spiders

Coming along with the other festivities is a convention of sorts, for all things magical! Witches and all kinds of magical practitioners are here to show off their skills and sell their wares to anyone interested - locals and Dreamers alike. Take a look around, there might be something that catches your eye that a hag or so will be willing to part with…for a decent price.. Be warned though, not every witch and warlock at this bazaar are totally honest. Phonies will try to peddle basic goods and magical objects for far more than they’re worth. Keep your wits about you, Dreamers, otherwise not only will you lose your shards and come away with nothing but junk, but you may find some items that are more trouble than they’re worth.

Just a FEW of the Booths...

• Fortune Telling: A hag that is DEFINITELY not three kobolds in a trenchcoat is offering fortune telling services (tarot, palm reading, crystal ball, etc. Go nuts). Dreamers get their fortunes told! Can be about love, luck, other stuff.

• Brooms: Want to take a ride on a broomstick? Well, look no further! A dandy young witch is offering (insert pun about brooms/horse here) rides for anyone looking for a fun time soaring through the moonlight! Pay a fee and get a ride for you and maybe another person, if they’re bold enough to hang on tight… The moon is looking lovely tonight, so why not take a spin over the treetops? Just don’t try and go too far - these cleaning utensils are magicked to fly back to their “pens” after a certain amount of time. Also if you crash it, you cash it. So don’t.

• Brews and Tonics: That shifty-looking wizard there is offering up “brews” for an outrageous price, so clearly they must be potent, right? He seems very eager for people to try and even offers up a couple of sample sippers. Looking for teeth whitening? He’s got that. A growth potion for you shortstacks? Obviously, it’s right here. Can’t get senpai to notice you? Well, he’s got a brew that’ll make them never take their eyes off you! And with a smile as wide and toothy as his, surely nothing will go wrong, right? [[Note: They will ALL go wrong. How, is up to the player!]]

• Familiar Petting Zoo: Careful, some of them do bite, but that’s only the more exotic ones. Black cats of all shapes and sizes, corvids that will tell you to shove it if you ask them about Lenore, and toads that may or may not have hypnotic powers if you stare into their unblinking eyes a little too long - all manner of fun and interesting creatures are here to pet and play with for a small fee. Just do try not to poke and prod at them too much, will you? They only have a meager amount of fortitude and tend to, ahem…combust if under enough pressure. But not into flames! Goodness, what do you take us for?! No, Dreamers will find that once a familiar combusts, their hands and clothes will be stained with a glow-in-the-dark “secretion” that might cause them to sparkle under the moonlight. ....It also attracts spiders. En masse.

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.

Comments

Webby Vanderquack | Ducktales 2017 | current player, current character

[woo_oo]

I Say Hello Hello

[ Oh boy, time for Webby's favorite past-time in the Enchanted Gardens! You'd think after all this time - being punched in the face, screamed at, bowled over, etc - she'd stop popping out of trees, bushes, underneath benches, etc to any newcomer she spots while shouting, ]

HI, I'M WEBBY! ARE YOU NEW HERE?

[ But, alas, some spirits can't be tamed. She just really, really wants to be your friend, stranger. And you don't actually have a choice about that. ]

In the Golden Afternoon

[ Thanks to Vil's potion tutelage, Webby has gotten quite knowledgeable about gardening and plans! So she's more than happy to lend a hand, digging through dirt, planting seeds, watering, the whole shebang. And to do so while wearing an adorable flower crown? What a great day! Why, it just makes a person want to laugh with joy!

Actually, that last part might be due to the Columbine Crown she's wearing. She actually has to stop what she's doing because she's laughing so hard. ]

Heeheehee... I can't! I literally can't! it's too much! Hahahahaha! I don't know how much more of this I can take! My lungs are about to explode! HEEHEEHEEHEE! I'M GUNNA DIIIIIIE! AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Cheesed To Meet You

[ Rolling cheese down a hill sounds like the strangest thing ever. Of course Webby wants to do it. But before the odd contest starts, she's carefully inspecting each wheel for... who knows what. ]

Hmmm... do you think the type of cheese affects their speed? Does gorgonzola handle bumps better than swiss? And does gouda handle wind velocity, or does camembert handle curves better?

The Itsy Bitsy Duckling

[ No, this duckling isn't part of the petting zoo, but she wouldn't say no to a good headpat. Anyway, it's really no surprise when one of the familiars goes BOOM near her, leaving her splattered in sparkly goo. But instead of being horrified or disgusted... ]

Hey, check this out! I'm glowing in the dark! I'm all sparkly like a ballroom gown, but it's with guts and liquids instead of sequins! Think it has any other magical properties?

[ While she's gushing about the gush, she's oblivious to the approaching spider horde coming up behind her... ]

Wildcard
[ Make your own prompt! Feel free to plot with me at melcat33 at plurk/discord! ]

Say Cheese!

[heartofthestar]

Without question, it must.

[Venat takes the inquiry in the spirit it is offered, which is to say, quite seriously.]

Several factors must needs go into a cheese's performance. First, malleability. How easy is the cheese to deform? A firmer cheese will not find itself flattened by bumps and landings, but too firm a cheese might break or crumble on an impact. Second, weight, or perhaps density. A light cheese will gain speed faster, yet be more susceptible to obstacles of any sort. Next, consider width. A wide cheese will encounter more pitfalls, yet be more stable in the long-term on equal ground.

[woo_oo]

[ Not only did he take her seriously, he's coming up with perfectly sensible rationale! Her eyes widen in awe. ]

... You're the cheese master. Nay, the cheese whiz!

[heartofthestar]

Why, thank you. [Venat bows slightly, an amused but gentle smile gracing her lips.] But in truth, I only put together a simple bit of knowledge. You could ask the same of any material, after all.

[woo_oo]

We should team up! I bet together, we could totally win this thing! I love being on teams!

[ The idea of being on a team is a little more exciting to her than actually winning. ]

Itsy Bitsy Duckling

[a_cute_batata]

[Luz has regrettably, not brought her staff with her, so when she's walking by and happens upon Webby, she is actually pretty surprised and a little delighted].

Hey Webby! Aw! I think I'm a little jealous! Not sure what else it would-

[Luz happened to be turning back a little, and squinted. Boy, that was a lot of moving, squirming-

Oh. Oh NO].

Uh, Webs? How fast can you run?

[woo_oo]

Well, that all depends! I'm faster than the boys at home, but I haven't compared my speed to everyone here. Not to mention I was trained to be faster and more agile than most children my age, so that's an important factor.

[ Oblivious to why the question is asked, and oblivious to spider horde, spider horde, here they come and you won't be bored - ]

[a_cute_batata]

Oh, good, good. How are you around spiders?

[Luz is quietly hurrying Webby along, but she's moving a little faster. The spider horde isn't slowing down, and while Luz loved spiders, she wasn't a fan of a mass of anything headed toward her].

[woo_oo]

Well, I have fought a giant one in the labyrinth, that was fun! ... Why, is there a giant spider around that needs defeating?

[ is it accurate to play the jaws theme with a different creature? ]

I Say Hello Hello (cw: language because Webby's about to learn some new words)

[syncopathic]

[Why he's back in the Enchanted Gardens, Dito couldn't tell you. Call it a rare sense of wanderlust. Or maybe he just figured he'd try his luck hunting something in the Enchanted Forest and came upon the garden by accident. (He's 0-4 so far-- whatever beasties live in the forest are excellent at making themselves scarce.)

He's so focused on his own thoughts that it takes him a while to realize that the forest has opened up, and he's now standing in a veritable canvas of clover. Interesting. He doesn't recall there being clover the last time he was here. Oddly springy clover, too-- every step feels less like he's walking on ground and more like he's on a cloud. Is it simply due to the plants or--

Dito's thoughts screech to a halt as something small and white and decidedly alive bursts out of the bushes screaming. With a startled shriek, Dito leaps back, his spear already in his hands and pointing at the creature. It takes his frantic mind a few seconds to register those were actually words the animal was screaming, and his fear quickly warps into a potent, embarrassed fury as he realizes it's a child. A weird-ass duck child, but a child nonetheless.]

What the goddamn shitfuck is wrong with you, you nutty little cockwart?! You tryin' to make me have a fucking heart attack?!

[Oof, that scare made him feel lightheaded. Almost as if he were floating. Swallowing hard, Dito lowers his gaze to his feet to ground himself... only to realize that "grounding himself" is going to be a tad difficult given that he is currently floating a few feet in the air.]

Oh what the hell is THIS now? Don't I have enough to deal with already?!

[woo_oo]

[ The fact that she's being cursed at and threatened with a weapon doesn't even make her flinch. Which says... something, to be sure. She just continues smiling sweetly at him, as if nothing's gone wrong at all. ]

Oh, did you step in some of the plants? They tend to have unusual effects when the newcomers arrive. But now you can join the ranks of so many other fliers here too! It's lots of fun!

[syncopathic]

[Webby, you are an adorable little ray of sunshine and it is absolutely tragic that it's wasted on such a horrible goblin. Dito gives the kid his best death glare, keeping his spear gripped in his hand as if he actually means to reach down and stab her.]

You think I give a shit about that? Tell me how to get down, you idiot!

[Sorry, Webby. He has certain... issues with not being in control of his own body.]

[woo_oo]

Hmmm, well, that is a problem... See, these things normally don't have cures. We have to wait the effects out. Sometimes it's a just little while, sometimes it's longer...

[ Not to say this is an impossible situation. She might have an answer, but given how much of a grouch he's being, it might make things worse. ]

... I think I have an idea of how to get you down, but you might not like it.

Hello hello

[skyofdestiny]

[ Sora practically jumps out of his skin when the very enthusiastic duck suddenly drops out of the tree he was walking under. He even leaps back a step thinking that an attack is about to happen.

But no, it's just a young duck. A hand rests on his chest because his heart is beating so fast. ]

You scared me! [ Oh, she said something, right? ] I'm Sora, and yep, I'm new here. Nice to meet you, Webby.

[woo_oo]

Hello, Sora!

[ Silly Sora, what's so scary about a cute thing like her? ]

I've been here a long time so I can answer a lot of your questions! But I can't guarantee any satisfaction about the answers you get.

[skyofdestiny]

[ Mostly her popping out of the tree. He's calming down now that she isn't doing that when he least expects it. ]

How long is "a long time"? [ That's a question. ] Let's see... questions. Can I get my powers back?

cheesed to meet you

[wintolive]

I think you might be overthinking this a little.

[woo_oo]

I tend to do that. But come on, this can be our chance for victory! We've got to take this seriously!

[ our? we??? ]

[wintolive]

[Brothers in cheese!

[Eren's on board.]

Don't worry so much about what type of cheese and check out the quality of the wheels. It's not about how they taste - which one's going to roll faster?

CHEESE I regret nothing.

[konpeito_aji]

[Nobunaga is not sure what kind of cheese he is. It's not a Japanese thing, and even when the infinite cheese shop was on the Ship, he only tried whatever Crichton and Klaus told him to, and wasn't exceedingly impressed beyond his general love of novelty.]

[Being turned into cheese is.... definitely a novel experience to say the least!]

[There had been some incidents with run away rolling cheese, but what is the point of racing cheese? WHO KNOWS? Who cares?]

I think the springiness might reduce friction. [How can he talk as cheese? Listen, nothing makes sense anymore. He wonders if Klaus would love him as a worm, will he still love him as cheese -- but maybe that just means he'd get eaten? He should think less, but it's kind of hard... as cheese.]

[woo_oo]

[ Ducktales2017 is a very weird show. They go through very strange things.

But this? This is something even the writers hadn't touched, and as such, Webby is just staring for a full, solid thirty seconds before she finally says something. ]

Are you talking?

[konpeito_aji]

I talk a lot. I'm good at that. I have no idea what else I'm good at like this. [As cheese.] We don't have cheese in Hell.

[Hell cheese. wooooooooosh.]

I Say Hello Hello

[wormswarm]

[ They do scramble a bit to get away from Webby when she first pops out, but then their eyes narrow a little bit - was that a sapient little tomas?

It is!

That's more interesting than the yelling, and Zazie's standing up from where they were seated. Looking like a young teen, they put a hand on their hip and cock their head to the side. ]

You shouldn't yell like that, you know. What if you surprise someone dangerous?

[woo_oo]

[ She just continues to smile, hanging from a tree and swinging back and forth. ]

Well, this place takes away your powers and weaponry when you get here, so nobody's too dangerous when they arrive! The worst that's happened so far is I got punched in the face.

[ said ever so casually. ]

[wormswarm]

[ They follow her swinging with their eyes, and then gives a bit of a laugh as she says she's already been punched in the face. ]

That didn't make you take a better approach?