buttrinthum | TDM #8

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TDM #8

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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

▶ i w[a]nt you to show me your fantasy

[ Honestly, this wouldn't be the first time in the last couple of system hours that Stelle's found herself going unconscious and waking up in not only an unfamiliar sight, but in completely unknown circumstances.

Well, guess it's time to get moving - or at least, she would if she wasn't pausing to notice that something is, well... off.

She can't feel her weapons inside of her.

No bat. No lance. Nada. Zilch.

It's enough to cause concern, but... well. Her life's a bunch of twist and turns anyway, so she'll just have to deal with it. Of course, like the pack rat she is, she decides to collect whatever's around her, but doesn't drink the mysterious potion. Clearly, it's a secret tool that could be used for later, or so she thinks.

Once she starts to get her feet moving, she finally notices her surroundings: it's very different from the last couple of worlds she's been in. But that's to be expected. Eventually she finds herself really close to the plants, wandering through them as if potentially debating going through them before looking up to see if there's anybody else around and if there is, they'll find golden eyes looking up-- ]

[ And, in an act of sheer hilarity, she performs a handstand in hopes that it could shake that feeling of misdirection. It doesn't, of course. ]

[ #nailedit ]

▶ oh, [b]e my savior and take me away

[ Stelle finds herself pretty interested in learning about the kinds of events that happen in the new world; it's always neat to learn about other people's cultures. She's definitely dealt with varying types of flowers before, back in Belobog, but it was usually just simply buying bouquets for quests set by other people.

So to do something for herself is a bit thrilling.

However, there's just one singular problem as she stares at all of the flowers: ]

[ Decision paralysis. ]

[ STELLE NO YOU'LL BE HERE ALL WEEK- ]

▶ ti[c]k and tock, once more you're hosting

[ What, did you really think that a broke girl like Stelle that didn't even show up with a single credit to her name was going to be able to pay for any of the attractions?

If she sees another person, she puts on her very best puppy dog face, saying in such a sad, pleading voice: ]

big time

▶ wil[d]card

[ Want to play something else completely different? Feel free to hit me up either via PM or through

tsundereban! Stelle over here is coming in from the end of the 2.0 main story, so if you want to avoid spoilers or are cool with them, let me know. ]

Edited 2024-03-01 15:37 (UTC)

Though Blake's been here for nearly a year now, it's her first spring here, and she's been enjoying the festivities. She'd quietly been plotting starting a garden next to her treehouse anyway, and all the agriculture happening seems like a perfect excuse to get it going -- and later, she can surprise her girlfriend with a cute garden done up next to her rose bush!

Still, this is Somnius, so Blake's expecting some shenanigans. When she's directed by a local to a table full of flowers because one can't be expected to take part in the planting without a flower crown, Blake bites back an enormous sigh. Last month, the food did weird things. This month, she bets it's the flower crowns.

Well, there's nothing for it.

She sits herself down, takes a bundle of fennel, and starts working. And that's when someone nearby poses a question.

"You could, if you wanted, but it'd definitely take a while. And... you might not have enough room on your head to fit all of them," Blake says dubiously. Oh gods, if the flowers do do something, what would wearing multiple of them do? "Then again, the locals might love you for it. Maybe it'd be like showing extra enthusiasm?"

Edited 2024-03-01 18:27 (UTC)

Well, [ Stelle responds with a bit of a thoughtful hum. ] there's definitely two ways to solve that. You'd either stack them like this...

[ With her hands, she makes a top hat gesture. ]

Or I could share? [ Have the extra ones that she's made be for those who struggle to make them. ] But - the flowers might have effects...?

Blake can't resist a laugh at her first idea. "The big hat of flower crowns isn't actually a bad idea. I'd worry, though, because..."

Well, Stelle has already theorized that the flowers might have effects. That's actually incredibly perceptive of her, and makes Blake wonder if she comes from a place where stuff like that regularly happens. Because Blake definitely wasn't, and when she first ate food that made her super lucky, it was bizarre.

"Because of-- yeah, you guessed it. Something's almost certainly going to happen with the flower crowns." She's still making her own out of fennel, and all she can do is hope that she made a decent choice, and the fennel isn't going to make her blurt out all of her most horrible memories or something. "Sharing would be nice, though. They're not easy to make, and I know a few people that just wouldn't have the patience."

[ She can't help the heavy sigh that leaves her lips as she stares at the flowers, wondering what kinds of things could happen with them. ]

No kidding. Although now that's brought up... maybe it'd be bad to share. People might start blaming me for the flower effects, if there really are any.

"You've got a point," Blake muses. It's a sad thought, but yeah, some people probably would blame her for the effects, even if it's widely known in this place that food and drink and flowers just cause crazy effects sometimes. "Maybe if you make them, and then just leave them on the table -- so nobody knows who made them, but people can still claim one if they need it?"

Like an anonymous grantor...

[ Stelle hums to herself thoughtfully, keeping it in mind. ]

I guess I could do that.

[It’s been a month. Last time Aubrey was at the garden, wild rabbit chase notwithstanding, something about the place had put her in a good mood. Too good. It was deeply unsettling at the time. Today, however, maybe a good dose of chill is exactly what she’s looking for.

[An impulse control nuke is not it. But the annoying thing about that is that now she wants to go spelunking, but she doesn’t, and maybe she’ll meet some other hapless dropoff stuck in here and wouldn’t that be great, but it wouldn’t, and why the hell does it feel like she’s walking in space—

[“Baseball bat”?]

[Aubrey’s pacing when she comes face-to-face with Stelle. At the handstand she barks a laugh, of the ha-ha-ha-what-the-fuck kind. Clamps a hand over her mouth. Drops it. God, just when she thought the crazy was over—]

“Debuffed”? [Without waiting for an answer,] And hey, if you find a bat, let me know. All they sell here is medieval bullshit.

It feels like space.

[ She goes ahead and tries to hop onto her feet, although she definitely feels a lot more light than usual, as if she could lift herself off the ground at any moment. ]

Well, the bat I'm looking for is actually a pretty important... uh. Relic?

[ Honestly, Stelle isn't sure if that's the right word, actually. ]

It's not a normal baseball bat. But what kind of "medieval bullshit" are we talking about, here?

[ Might as well see if she can get some info. ]

Edited 2024-03-04 01:45 (UTC)

[Her eyes narrow a bit at the word “relic.” What, like it’s old and autographed? She might be more curious about it if her impulses, most of which were less than chill, weren’t running amok.]

There’s a whole blacksmith, but if you ask for a normal wooden baseball bat, the goblins look at you like you’re nuts. [This is a normal, sane reply.] Like, fine, I’ll carve it myself at this rate, but is it worth it? I have a sword. Why waste my time on that when I can just—

[She claps a hand over her mouth, as if that might tame the babbling. The pacing resumes. Aaand talking again—] Hey, you want to get out of here? I swear this place fucks with your head.

Well, I guess a sword isn't too bad...

[ It's better than nothing, at least. Stelle can't say she's used to fighting with her bare fists, even though she probably could in the worst case scenario.

Ah, but then she notices the pause in the other girl's words, sees her pacing, and decides to not say anything until she's asked the next question. ]

Sure. I don't mind; best not to stick to one place, anyway.

Right. [Okay! Settled! Aubrey turns once more on her heel, ever an airier motion than it should be, and starts to walk.]

[…Which way is the entry, again? Grumbling:] Son of a bitch.

[The pacing may have thrown her off. Aubrey glares back to the other girl like it’s her fault, which of course it’s not, but—]

Ball of light. Seen it?

[ Stelle just simply shakes her head, looking a little apologetic in spite of how this certainly isn't her fault. ]

Unfortunately not... but I can help look for it, if you want.

stelle | honkai star rail ( new character & player )

the white night lyric titles are chef_kiss_emoji.jpeg (be my saviour prompt)

i have had all variants living rent free in my head

i've had sparkle's trailer song in my head ever since it dropped 😭

honestly that song is extremely catchy

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am canonblind so spoilers are [a]-okay with me!

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b

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a!

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