![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
labyrinevents) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
buttrinthum2024-04-30 10:34 pm
TDM #9
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 in scrawling, jagged lettering that seems a bit... ominous:
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: Larkspur and Anemone You’ll soon find out that being around the Larkspur makes you almost overwhelmingly tired, to the point you might even feel sluggish and in desperate need of a comfy place to rest. Why not lie down right in the garden? Or better yet, find someone to snuggle up with and sleep your worries away. The only truly strange part? You don’t seem to dream. At all. Straying too close to the Anemones, meanwhile, grants an entirely different effect. One second you’ll be walking through the garden and then suddenly you’re twenty feet away and facing the wrong direction. Even worse, whatever those flowers have done to you will sometimes make it so you “glitch” through solid objects – your leg might suddenly be lodged in the ground despite it being perfectly solid a moment before, or your arm could be shoved halfway into a wall that… actually, was that wall even there before? Nevermind that. The effects only last for a few minutes at worst, so at least you’re not stuck there forever, right?
Thanks to the combined efforts of dreamers and dragons, Vaeros is asleep. No one knows for how long. The locals aren’t particularly pleased with this turn of events and the village is a mess, but at least the moon is high in the sky again and everything is back to normal… relatively speaking. Things start to change... morph into something more dreamy, more surreal. It's subtle at first but after a few days…
The aftermath of the overgrowth, animal attacks, and the overall chaos of Vaeros' tantrum has left the village a little worse for wear. While most of the damages are cosmetic and could be fixed by the local's efforts alone, maybe a little help would be appreciated? If nothing else, it might help alleviate a little bit of the tension still lingering in the air after the events at the castle.
That, and the locals seem to be acting kind of strange. Leaving them to their own devices might not be the best idea. The Gelfling you are aiding in repairing a half-broken wall has been hammering for what seems like hours and when you look to see what they're doing, they haven't actually made any progress - they're just hitting the same spot over and over again, potentially making the hole even bigger. Did the goblin you just passed have a completely blank face for a moment? Others might walk into things, off of things (Starlight Cliff might be a hazard zone), or suddenly and inexplicably become aggressive toward dreamers, grabbing anything they can get their hands on (kitchenware, vegetables, a goose??) to use as a weapon. It's a very bizarre scene and the villagers don't seem to notice there is anything wrong with the people around them.
It’s not just the locals either. The animals have been acting equally strange. There's a wolf inside the clothing shop trying on suits, a goat standing (or trying to stand) on its hind legs, bleating out random words like a town crier while jingling a bell around its neck to get everyone's attention. Where you should find the local baker, suddenly they're replaced with a deer holding a paddle in its mouth to stir up a batch of brownies.
To top it all off, there's an eerie sense of deja vu no matter where you go or what you do. Didn't you just help that goblin with the wheelbarrow an hour ago? So why is it halfway across town again? You could have sworn you had to go and grab groceries, but your pantry is full like someone already had.
Days pass and the oddities continue to make themselves more and more apparent. The sidewalks seem uneven and wobbly at times, threatening to toss people walking across them to the ground or even fling them into the air with a sudden violent ripple. Walking through the forest sees the leaves of the trees melting into green goo that sticks to your clothes, your hair, and your skin - potentially staining them green and leaving you in dire need of a bath. You can always wash off in the lake, of course, but even that is not free of the strangeness occurring in Visium. The water of Lake Omen has turned to lava, at least in color; although there is no heat radiating from it when one approaches. That, and the locals are still fishing in it without issue, save the fact that they keep pulling up fish with tophats on.
Speaking of fish - they're raining from the sky now (tophats or not) in all sorts of different colors, shapes, and sizes. Good news! They're still edible. Bad news, they're probably trying to sell you something.
If you do decide to try the fish or any other meal in town, especially those served by the locals, you'll find that it doesn't taste like much of anything and most certainly doesn't fill you up, at least not at first. Everything is bland and unappealing until left in the presence of dreamers - and the more you share the meal with, the faster the taste returns.
Even with Vaeros asleep, only a small portion of the labyrinth is still accessible. Those that attempt to explore will find sections made up of pillows and cushions, and no matter what time of day it is elsewhere, this portion of the labyrinth seems to be stuck in perpetual twilight. Explorers will also immediately feel drowsy, then lulled to sleep by the quiet singing whispered through the air like a lullaby. Anyone brave enough to try and rescue those poor souls from their impromptu naps would be wise to plug their noses and cover their ears with earmuffs to block out the sound.
At night, dreamers dream. They will be visited by the same melody heard in the labyrinth, though it is distant. They will also hear a woman telling them to spend more time together, to bond and create things together in order to soothe the effects of Vaeros' magic growing wild in his dreams. Dreamers will also have the ability to visit other's dreams, meeting in a dreamy light liminal space that will not feel so real when they awaken.
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.
Wesley Wyndam-Pryce | Buffyverse (Current)
[Wesley has spent little time in the garden since his arrival. Even when he was there two months previously, he wasn't focused on the flowers, he was more worried about finding out where he was and the possible threats it might bring with it. Now, as he tries to work on clearing away the overgrowth of vines, is the first time he's gone back.
So he lacks the context to be properly cautious when he stumbles upon a patch of anemone as he's working. He doesn't even notice anything is amiss until later, as he's walking out of the garden- and suddenly he finds himself shifting, in an instant, roughly five feet to the side, and the result is that his leg is awkwardly intersecting a wall in mid-stride. Unsurprisingly, this doesn't do wonders for his momentum, and he winds up falling face-first onto the ground, his calf still embedded in the wall behind him. He twists himself around to glance at the trapped leg, grimacing in discomfort.]
...Oh, that's... very unpleasant.
II. All which it inherit shall dissolve
[Wesley's attempts to continue helping with the rebuilding of the town continue for the rest of the day, but they're admittedly a bit hindered by the anemone, whose effects are lingering longer than they're supposed to for some reason.
Suddenly finding himself rubber-banding to a few seconds ago makes carrying things risky, because the things he's carrying don't seem to snap back with him. Shifting sideways when he's up a ladder has some obvious consequences. At one point, he even winds up above the roof of the building he's working on, his posture shifting to an oddly stiff and square stance with his arms outstretched- which means he's totally unprepared to catch himself as he falls onto the roof and slides down the side, though he at least manages to right himself and land on his feet.
Feel free to encounter him in pretty much any part of the village, experiencing the odd and lingering effects of the anemone as he glitches through Somnius.]
III. Wildcard!
(Don't see anything you like? Have something specific in mind? Feel free to hit me up on the in-game discord, DM this account, or add me on plurk at
no subject
The sudden appearance of a familiar voice from a short ways away may or may not improve matters. ]
Wesley? This is most unlike any hell I have encountered before.
no subject
It's not hell, not exactly.
[Even as he speaks, he's already trying to call a number- Fred's number.]
It can be irritating, though. There's a peculiar effect with the flowers, you'll want to be wary of them.
[A little too late, but he doesn't know that yet- and he is, admittedly, distracted. The call tries to connect, so Fred was here. And yet, he couldn't hear ringing. Her device was elsewhere.
Which meant Illyria hadn't replaced Fred here. They... coexisted?
Fascinating. But not implausible, considering the disparate timelines, and the panic seeps out of him when he realizes it.]
Otherwise, I imagine you'll find it dreadfully tedious.
sneaks back in here 15 minutes late with donuts
It's a problem she'll attempt to threaten her way out of later. For now, she merely regards Wesley with a curious blend of disdain and ... hope? ]
You are not dead.
[ She is fairly certain of that, but she finds herself taking a step toward him as though intending to reach out and touch to be certain. She stops short of actually doing so, however, instead balling her hands into fists and lifting her chin fractionally in defiance. ]
You deceived me.
no subject
[There's a faint hint of a smile when he speaks.]
I did die. I doubt I'd be able to deceive you on that score.
[He is, at least, not outwardly reacting to her implicit threat of violence.
Not because he assumes she's been rendered harmless- he could easily believe that even a depowered Illyria might still possess greater strength than Fred had- but because he doesn't think it will be helpful.]
Apparently, this place isn't terribly concerned with whether its victims are alive or dead.
no subject
She huffs a surprisingly human exhalation, her frustration visible. ]
Who rules here? They must undo this sorcery at once.
[ The one that keeps moving her where she doesn't wish to be; the one that's keeping Wesley alive may stay until further notice, of course. ]
no subject
[He grimaces and turns toward her.]
What you're experiencing now seems to be the result of our latest attempt to debilitate him- all we were able to manage is to put him to sleep temporarily, and his dreams have... destabilized the dimension.
[He's only recently escaped the effect himself.]
If you wish, I can show you to the village. With luck the effect of the flowers should wear off quickly.
[He even phrased it as an offer for her discretion, rather than advice. Hopefully she wouldn't be too difficult about it.
Hopefully.]
no subject
[ She searches her memory, finding it uncompromised but lacking any knowledge of this realm or the entity described. Unsettling, but not unsurprising once further details are revealed. Giving away one's true name was to hand over a portion of one's power. Still, it rankles.
Her expression darkens; she knows the mark of a rival when she hears it. ]
Fools, the lot of you. I hope you are prepared to grovel for your continued existence when he awakens.
[ She hears his offer, but acknowledges neither it nor his small attempt at unnecessary reassurance. She'll probably follow, though, if he starts walking. She does tend to enjoy monologuing in his general direction. ]
no subject
In point of fact, I was rather hoping we might more permanently dethrone him.
[He's still not worked out how, but Vaeros isn't the first person he's had to take on that's more powerful than himself, and the others here are a lot more... interesting as allies. He's reasonably optimistic.]
Besides, we've theorized that he's dependent upon us for his power. It's likely the reason he brought us in the first place.
[And if he does seek violent retribution, well, Wesley's dealt with that before as well.]
no subject
Surviving your own death has improved you; you have rediscovered your ambition.
[ She suspected that he possessed a great deal of it, hidden beneath his anger and grief. She would've certainly exploited it in time. Now, though, there is something a bit like sadness that tinges the observation. ]
Does he expect you to worship him? What promises has he made you?
no subject
He's been frustratingly vague, actually. Only that in exchange for living here he 'grants our wish.'
[He is pressing X to doubt so hard right now.]
no subject
A tempting lie, to be certain. Tell me, Wesley: has she granted yours?
[ Her tone is sharp-edged; she lacks the words to describe the resentment that faintly crawls beneath her skin at seeing him here, alive and at least somewhat more interested in remaining so than he had previously seemed. ]
no subject
[He's not at all eager to divulge what the wish was or how it was granted. It sounds... messy, for all involved parties.]
Thus far, this place has been rather unpleasant. Between that and the likelihood that he's exploiting us for his own ends, the lie lost its shine rather quickly.
[And yet it's still preferable to servitude under Wolfram and Hart. Perspective is a bitch.]
no subject
You say he granted you your wish. Every being alive will use another for their own ends; what could it possibly matter so long as he fulfilled his end of the bargain?
[ There's a touch of resentment in the question; perhaps at the fact that this Vaeros could grant the thing which she could not. Or that even granting it would not win Wesley's loyalty. Perhaps she ought to have wished to rule the world after all. ]
no subject
No, best to stick with the question asked.]
I don't know the full price of that bargain yet. And I'm tired of finding out the hard way.
[How many times has it happened to him now? To all of them? More than he could count, certainly.]
no subject
What wouldn't you sacrifice to have her back?
[ And then, icy as the day she'd met him: ]
You would betray the being who granted the wish you made of your own free will, despite him upholding his own end of the bargain.
[ She doesn't like what this implies for their own agreement, for one. The fact of him striking a deal with a more powerful entity than herself also rankles, but the point becomes moot if he is a betrayer at his core. ]
no subject
[He's not going to argue the other point, because, well, he can't. She's absolutely right. But this, this he's certain about.]
I'm not inclined to be trusting, nor idealistic. If a stranger came to me offering to restore her to life, I would dismiss him as a liar before I ever entertained the question of whether his price was fair.
II
She doesn't mind these ones. The last five or six years or so has helped her see different people as, well, people. Some of 'em suck, some of 'em don't, and mostly they're just doing what they can to get by. Cordy helps with weeding, finds a lost kid, and hammers a few nails. She hears a sound behind her and whirls with a hammer in her hand, ready to attack if necessary, only to see-]
Wesley?
[She's pleased. Definitely pleased, and smiling. Not as freaked out as some might be. Not her first time stranded in a weird place. At least she's not a cow here.]
Hi!
!!!
Well.
That's a voice he hadn't expected to hear again. He's not even offended by the hammer.]
Cordelia?
[...And a full smile, vanishingly rare from him these days, breaks out across his face.]
How long have you been here?
<3! (no clue what I'm doing)
[She's always liked his smile.] Couple days, I think. It's hard to tell when people keep repeating things? Like I could swear that lady over there already made herself a drink, but on the other hand I'm a mocha frappe girl and could down five or six in a row myself. So there are either some weird glitches, or more power to her.
How about you? Are you the rescue party, or did you get dumped here with that weird satchel thing too?
UGH sorry I'm so slow I swear I'm not normally like this.
... Both, I think.
[He doesn't offer any comment on the narrowly-averted threat of hammer- it's fine, he gets it.]
I arrived several weeks ago myself, so I'm still relatively new to all of this, but this... inconsistency... isn't normal. It even affected me, albeit mercifully briefly.
oh please it's all good, I vary a lot
thinly veiled comment- no, wait, no veil. Veiling is stupid. When Cordy makes comments about a person, she wants the person to know....Anyway.
When Wesley's actually being annoying, she's more likely to attack him with a comment about him being a tool, than with a tool itself. There.]
Both? You came here to help someone else...? [Now, that's interesting. Huh. She frowns, then shakes her head and plasters a smile back on her face.]
[chipper] At least I'm not having a stroke. Good to know. So you're okay, then? Okay to wait together for Angel to swoop in and enfold us both to his manly bosom before he swoops us back out again?
no subject
[He grimaces.]
And I'm afraid Angel won't be rescuing us this time. He arrived before I did, he's here as well.
[Also please never talk about Angel's 'manly bosom' again, he is begging you here.]