buttrinthum | TDM #9

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TDM #9

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 in scrawling, jagged lettering that seems a bit... ominous:

“Welcome to my LABYRINTH where your wish, you wish you wish youwishyouwish– Your CONTRACT is SEALED.”

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?

Liminal Spaces and Worn Out Faces

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.

Up is Down, In is Out

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.

Dream Within a Dream Within a Dream Within a Dream Within

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.

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

[It does seem possible, given how abrupt the woman's turn to anger was. Zelda would hate for anyone else to get caught up unawares. Pursing her lips, she changes another look at the woman, who seems to be slowing down in her grab for another apple. Odd.]

I agree that this was uncalled for. It should be set right by both of us.

[She's preparing to offer a hand in compromise to the woman when -- she blinks in surprise as Webby turns on a dime, like sunshine through clouds.]

Ah -- it's nice to meet you as well, Webby. My name is Zelda.

[ A bounce of her heels, happy to make a new friend! But then she turns back around to face the apple-thrower, back to being Super Upset! ]

Now, to the situation at hand! If I pay for these apples, will you apologize and be good? Because right now these apples are bruised and you won't be making any money at all today if you keep this up, with damaged products and a bad reputation.

[If only these were reasonable times, where such reasonable suggestions would be met with a nod. Instead, the apple seller hefts the fruit in her hand as though it's a precious object, and glares at Zelda.]

"I'll have no business with thieves, you hear me?"

[Thieves! At that, Zelda forgets to be alarmed and instead straightens her spine with a huff. Now? Now she's offended.]

I'm no such thing!

Then this baby right here is ours? Gee, thanks for the free fruit.

[ It's a silly thing to be smug about, but even small victories are victories. She keeps tossing the apple in her hand up and down a few more times before finally taking a bite out of it. She then gives a wavey hand motion. ]

... I've had better. No wonder you wanted to get rid of them so bad, who would want them?

[Instead of reacting to this, the woman seems to forget that she was even speaking to them. With a toss of her remaining apple into the basket, she hefts it up and starts walking off, muttering the same thing: "I'll have no business with thieves." Only it's no longer directed at either Webby or Zelda.

Zelda had been about to add something sharp to Webby's own comments, but that's distracted her.]

You're just going to leave? [No response. Zelda just has to stare at the retreating back, more bewildered than ever.] What is even going on here?

[She glances back to Webby, perplexed.]

Thank you for helping, with whatever that was.

[ Webby clicks her tongue. She was hoping to get an apology out of the old woman, but perhaps that was too much to ask for, considering the strangeness going on lately. She sighs before turning to face Zelda. ]

I swear, this normally doesn't happen. We usually have a pretty good relationship with the villagers... or at least, they're never mean to us. Not before now. We don't know why they're acting this way.

You didn't do anything wrong, that's a promise.

[ Zelda is probably already sure of that, but Webby wants her to really, really know it!!! ]

[An apology would have been nice, but Zelda's honestly more glad to see the back of the woman at this point. Now that the moment's passed she lets out a slightly shaky sigh. What a week she's having.]

That's encouraging to hear, but she wasn't mean when I first spoke with her. [Zelda spreads a hand helplessly.] You see, about half an hour ago I came across her having dropped those apples, and I helped her pick them up. She was grateful then; it's why I was too surprised to do anything this time.

Still, I wasn't sure if I had made some kind of mistake. I've not been here long enough to learn the customs.

And you're a newcomer? Geez, no wonder you're so confused... then again, I've been here over a year, and I'm totally confused too.

[ She takes another bite of the apple, trying to think. ]

... There was a BIG change we did before you guys came this time around, but we didn't really have a choice about it. And we didn't know this would happen! ... I don't think they knew they'd do this too. Weirder and weirder...

Then it seems we have something in common.

[It's a small consolation, but it is a relief to know she's not just making a blunder and this kind of thing is expected.]

What sort of change? I've seen some damage around the village, and some locals acting oddly. Not to mention some peoples I've never seen before.

[She's no stranger to multiple races. Still, she's unfamiliar with many of those she's observed walking around and doing business.]

Well, the short version is... the lord of this place, Vaeros? He threw a temper tantrum about this girl not dating him so he stole the moon which made the plants and animals go crazy so we and the dragons brewed up a potion to make him take a big nap.

[ Imagine the long version of that insanity! ]

[Zelda just stares, because where to even start? Only dragons sounds familiar to her, and it's not a topic she much wants to dwell on - though part of her wants to know how a dragon makes a potion.]

H-how does someone steal the moon?

I dunno. Honestly, whenever you encounter something here that doesn't make sense, just go with "It's magic". Simplifies everything.

[ With a shrug, she finishes off the apple, then reaches for her satchel and puts the core inside. ]

Welp, that'll be good fertilizer for the garden, at least, so this day still counts as a win! And I made a new friend, so, double-win!

I suppose magic could account for many things, especially if it's an unfamiliar type.

[She has seen dark magic turn the moon blood-red, after all. Zelda can't help but smile at Webby's enthusiasm.]

I'm glad something good came of it after all. I really do appreciate it, Webby.

Happy to do it! I'm the Knight of this world, so it's my duty to look after everyone!

[ She even gives a little salute to top it off. ]

Are you really? That's an important role to take up. I've known some very dedicated knights myself.

[One in particular. Though it's too sad to think about that now. There's another question on her mind however...]

I hope you don't mind my asking, but ... are you a Rito?

I have no idea what that is, so I don't know!

[ said with cheerful gusto. ]

In my world, I'm called a duck! Rechnically a duckling, since I'm a kid.

Oh - my apologies then.

[A duck? Of course Zelda's seen ducks before, but they're very different creatures to the Rito. How curious.]

You look very like one of the peoples of my world, that's all.

[The only person she's seen who looks similar, hence the question.]

Oh, really? That's great! A lot of people aren't used to people like me, so that's nice to hear!

[ She takes a few steps closer to get a better look at Zelda. ]

So what are you? A human? We've got a lot of those, they're pretty popular here!

You're welcome, then.

[It's a good thing her mistake wasn't too bad then. Zelda blinks at the scrutiny, though she's not too surprised by it. Some people have already stared at her ears before now.]

I'm a Hylian. Are humans the ones with the -- [She raises a hand and cups it behind one of her own ears] -- little round ears?

Yup! We get a lot of those, and a lot of species here also human-shaped. But my world doesn't have anything like them. It took me a long time to get used to this place!

[ And stop the screaming. ]

That must have been strange to get used to. My world has many different peoples - some of them look similar to Hylians, but others like the Rito and Zora don't look anything like us.

[So she's very used to it. Even with new people like the gelflings, it's more of a curious thing than a shock to the system. She remembers seeing Rauru for the first time, and even his appearance had taken a backseat to everything else.]

It really does make it obvious... that we're in a different world entirely.

My world isn't just ducks either! We've got beagles, pigs, pelicans, chickens, roosters, evil sorceresses, greek gods, luck vampires, people who live in a golden city on the moon...

[ so how many times did that list go into the 'wait, what' category ]

[Definitely more than once, and it likely shows on her face.]

I've heard of some of those, though they're more creatures than people where I'm from. [Who's to say the reverse wouldn't be true for her, though? Something to Think About.] You must come from a very vibrant place, Webby.

[ That makes her give a joyful little laugh. ]

Oh, you don't know the half of it! Whenever I tell people about my world, they have the same expression you do!

[Laughing a little herself, she offers Webby a smile.]

Maybe you can tell me more about it sometime. I know I'd love to hear more.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

TDM #9

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wrap?