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

Oh that was MUCH better, and much more like the old Doctor. Loki was very pleased, yes. Especially since the Doctor did like to think himself clever. That's what made talking to him fun.

"Are you familiar with the Fae, Doctor? Because that's what the common theory on who our benefactor is. They have their own rules and logic, and ways of working certainly. Things that magic operates on still that may not make sense to others but can be understood with time and work." Now the fae could also be described as 'mad' as well. But in Loki's experience, even with madness there was a logic and sense it all made. At least to the person who was mad, if no one else.

"Fae certainly also have their own ethical codes. Supposedly, in our case, we're being brought here because we agreed to it as part of a contract. The 'why' is the larger question and if you have thoughts on that I would love to hear them."

Loki brought his one hand up under his chin, other folded so that first could rest against it. "I admit, your positing that perhaps it's because we're too much of a threat is intriguing. I may have to think on that, as I've wondered myself. Mostly in the form of, why strip us of any abilities that are unusual, but allow us to gain them back too? Or perhaps it's not a matter of allowing us, as the being has no choice provided we follow the 'rules' of the place we're in. Time is often relative, but as for how long you've been gone...about a month or two? I wasn't paying that much attention, I'm sorry."

"I'm aware of fae." The Doctor growls, "Basically, how play logic works." Then continues in a serious tone, "And that's what bothers me. Been much more than a month or two for me. But you're right, why strip us of our abilities. Outside of just showing off. Not everyone would question how they got here. Could be part of the rules thar is something alive about the crystal but without my telepathic abilities I can't say anything more. Maybe the Overseer wants to make everything fair. I have a very bad feeling we're going to have to follow the rules in order to survive and get our abilities that we want that isn't a random potion."

Loki chuckled, and regarded the doctor a moment. Amused, and then he shook his head. "Doctor you're not telling me anything that I haven't thought of. Many of us here follow the rules, whether we like it or not, because it's how we survive. Do more than just survive."

Now the smile turned sly, and there were hints of secrets and lies in blue-green eyes. "Still, rules have been broken before, and rules can be twisted and played with. We just have to figure out how." Then he shrugged. "Honestly I'm not sure you're being telepathic would do any good. We never see our benefactor. We never hear from him. We haven't even been in his presence, as far as I can tell. Those of us who've been here the longest have been here for about a year, but have not met him at all. Save for when we make the contract, and only a small handful truly remember that."

"Your eyes lie to you." The Doctor remarks, "Sure we could find a way to break the rules but we havef to decide if that's worth it. I'm all for breaking the rules if it's worth it. Would our Overseer come out if we broke rules or maybe we'd just onset something else, entirely."

A thoughtful pause, "What does this place mean to you?"

"Oh your eyes, ears...all of your senses really. Even your mind, if one knows how." Loki agreed; being a master illusionist he should know. "What does it matter what this place means to me? Why do you ask?" Because he was curious about that, honestly.

The Doctor gives a small head nod, "Call me curious. That's all. Especially given, this is a place where we're not promised to stay."

"Far be it from me to not understand how curiosity works, considering it's one of my own traits too." Replied with amusement, before Loki made sure to meet the Doctor's gaze. "It has become a temporary home. A place where I've managed to actually have friends of my own, family of my own too. I know what I wished for, and I still want that wish. But this place has not become a prison. It's far from the worst place I've ended up when brought somewhere new unexpectedly."

"Good. I'm glad to hear that." The Doctor manages a small smile. He likes that this place isn't a trap. Of course, that makes doing anything against the rules, harder and wonders if Loki truly would with having friends and family.

"What did you wish for? I wished to find a way to defeat the Toymaker. I'll be honest, I don't know how I'm going to stop his rule of play."

"With due respect, that's a private question I'd rather not answer." But there was no anger or offense in Loki's tone. Just a statement of the boundary. "We were not close before, Doctor, though we had shared pleasant interactions. I know nothing of your Toymaker. Honestly none of us truly know how the wishes work, at least those wishes, as opposed to the smaller ones we make at the crystal in town."

See, Loki's full of all sorts of useful information.

"Right. Sorry. Just a lot on my mind, between being in this pocket universe that operates with lack of science. And - where I came from. Makes me wonder if mine got fulfilled and that's why I returned.... but why did I return? Why am this face again?"

The Doctor rubs a hand down one of his cheeks.

"Why do you think there's a lack of science, Doctor?" Because that had Loki's curiosity. He was more than willing to let the other ruminate on what seemed to be personal problems. He felt no need to pry either.

"Potions that give abilities aren't science."

"No? Potions have been doing things for people for centuries. They can help heal, or they can poison, at the most basic levels. Why can't they grant abilities? Why do you say they aren't science?" Now Loki was very curious.

"Yes, they heal. But granting you the ability to change into some sort of creature or gain elemental abilities. To me that's very magic. Especially since I've investigated my own and it's turned out to be base water."

Edited 2024-04-06 05:37 (UTC)

"You don't believe magic is real?" Loki was very curious now. It wasn't an attitude he hadn't encountered before. There were some here who also did not view what they did as magic though that was what others might call it.

"What's wrong with magic?"

"In my universe. Magic isn't real. It's just advanced science. I do believe due to probability, that thar can exist realities that are magic based. Sorry, bit not in the mood to be in a magic universe when a being outside of my universe scrolled right in and was able to control reality in a way that shouldn't be posssible. The Toymaker's play - is a lot like magic."

"What's the difference then for you, between magic and science? Where I'm from they're one and the same." Loki scoffed a bit too. "Besides which, you just said yourself it's just advanced science."

Tilting his head, Loki studied the Doctor as if he were an interesting bug, a curiosity, for a moment. "Perhaps you're just upset it's not something you understand."

"A teleporter for instance can be either."

"I'm upset because a being from outside my universe - could - transform people into playing cards. Now, I've lived a long time and that's what I would call magic."

"Transfiguration. Not uncommon in magic." Loki agreed, moving now to circle the doctor slowly, curiously and studying him. "But you've no idea how it works, and that's what bothers you most, isn't it?" A pause, and a soft laugh. "After all, you didn't really answer my question. What's the different for you between magic and science?"

The Doctor stands in place and watches Loki. "Science can be explained. And believe me I know about a lot of science that some human might call magic. But thar some things that exist outside the realm of science. Very few things in my universe can't be explained with logic."

"So why do you think this can't be as well?" Loki said, stopping at one side of the Doctor. Except another of him stepped around from the other side, moving to circle. This second Loki a copy of the first in all ways. "Magic has rules too, Doctor. Again, where I'm from it and science are one and the same."

The first Loki now moved to circle again, coming to stand with the copy in front of the Doctor. "So what really bothers you, is someone in your universe is using rules you don't know and don't understand. Is that right?"

The Doctor could logically put the other Loki into place as a hologram and goes to touch that Loki and finds it is fact what he thought it was.

"I don't like the rule of play." The Doctor remarks darkly.

"Entirely valid. But whether you like it or not, you have to deal with it." Said one Loki, while the other looked the doctor up and down assessingly. "So for you, if I'm understanding correctly, the difference between magic and science, then, is rules you don't understand versus rules you do? Is that correct?"

There's a stressed look on his face, "Yeah. I do." The Doctor remarks like he's holding his breathe.

"That's one way of phrasing it. Nothing just happens, thar's a reason for it."

Loki (both) nodded, and one of them vanished in a shimmer of green. "Again, entirely valid Doctor." But there was sympathy in Loki's tone now. "So, would you like a drink, given I just put you through an ordeal apparently? I'll buy."

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