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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.
liminal spaces
Inigo just stops walking entirely when he overhears the beginning of that, staring right over at BB when she continues saying.. so much here. Granted, with how strange things have been in town the past while, BB saying this stuff fits right in with the rest. It makes just as little sense as just about anything here.
And yet Inigo can't dismiss it so quickly. Even more so when she doesn't exactly look like one of the locals. It means the young man blinks, then blinks again, and then asks: ]
Ah.. excuse me?
[ Excuse him, but what was any of that. What do words mean when they're put into that order. Inigo looks so confused. ]
no subject
Just kidding! [ BB answers the 'rhetorical' question herself. ] Don't worry about what I asked, [ So she says, bumping into the next topic and ignoring anything that may have seemed out of place in her statements. ] except unless, like - you know anything about that Vaeros fellow or this strange place?
no subject
[ BB, please. This is a lot at once, and Inigo blinks at her blearily, seeming like he's really desperately trying to follow anything she's saying here. But no matter how actively he pays attention, he truly can't figure out a single thing she's saying. Arthurian.. what? Knights of what table?
Inigo shakes his head, like he's trying to physically shake off the ideas that way. If he tries to figure out what she means for a little bit too long, he might just give himself a headache and end up only more confused in the end. ]
I know a few things about this place, yes. [ See, there we go!! Focus on the things you do understand, Inigo, or this is going to get real complicated real fast. He doesn't even seem to think BB is strange as much as he's just confused about what she's saying.. ] Does that mean you're new? Have you only just found yourself here?
no subject
Score! [ Another one to add into her collection of mild obsession for the next - who knows how long. As long as one can warrant holding a hyper fixation on something new and puzzling. The AI who felt hungry and carnivorous for new information, wasn't about to pass up this opportunity to take what she can from him. His statement makes her run through processes, getting use to more and more of the idea that this place acts similarly to a singularity. BB still thinks it is one, for now... ] Yeah, I guess that's a thing huh? Being 'new' and all to this place?
no subject
[ Inigo is sure of his answer. It's not why that word actually kind of sounds like a question.
It's just that somehow BB manages to word even this in the strangest possible way, making Inigo's brain need a few moments to attempt to properly process it. ]
I mean-- Of course it is a thing. You can be new anywhere. [ Is that not a normal thing. The more he thinks about the stuff he's saying, the more he's slowly starting to feel like the odd one out here.. ] .. Are you sure you're feeling alright?
[ Maybe BB fell on her head.
That'd sure be one explanation for what's going on here, anyway. ]
no subject
Getting-kidnapped-by-some-extraterrestrial-being-who-decided-to-form-a-contract-while-hiding-any-stipulates, [ Said all in one breath, then with a slight intake she continues, ] and taking away your memory of the moment. Yes hello - THIS WHOLE THING, its all new!
AND THEN, it seems to be broken, with all the stuff going on.
So yes, Sir Knight of 'Who-the-fuck-knows.' What DO YOU KNOW? HMPH!!! HMPH!!! [ Despite acting cruel and being rude, she tries to still look and seem cutsey. ] Do you know your name at least? [ Another one, thrown towards his face. ]
no subject
.. the latter impression may not be helped by the fact it's probably kind of amusing to see him attempting to dodge the popcorn like she's shooting him with actual bullets. ]
I-Inigo! It's Inigo!
[ And yet he's answering her so obediently. Maybe he's just hoping it'll make her stop for a moment.. So he can live a little more peacefully.. ]
And we-- We are all in the same situation as you! There's no need to fight each other! [ If you'd count popcorn throwing as 'fighting', anyway.. Judging from Inigo's shrieking, he may be?? ]
no subject
SIGH, I guess BB can make you show her around. [ BB takes a little popcorn, and puts it in her mouth. Looking at him expectantly, allowing for the momentary pause to sink in and become only a little bit uncomfortable. Before suddenly saying, ] Come on now!! Show BB, what does this place have to offer?
[ Don't let her bully you Inigo... ]
no subject
He's even still kind of holding his hands on top of his head, just in case he needs to shield himself from popcorn once more. ]
I mean..
[ .. she is very scary.. Even more scary than most girls, and that's saying something by Inigo standards! ]
I don't wish to question you, my fair lady.. [ He sounds so hesitant about what he's about to say. Like he's afraid the popcorn may start all over again. ] But is that not a strange way to think about the people you meet..? People don't need to have a use, sometimes it is merely nice to be around them!
[ #goodlifelessons ]
no subject
[ Then BB gives a chuckle, ]
Wow, something about you just makes BB wanna be my actual self and not fake it BB. Stop being so tolerant - stupid, or I'll end up using you for sure.
[ RUN INIGO. ]
no subject
I don't mind you being your actual self with me though.
[ ...
Maybe also not the smartest thing to say, but Inigo doesn't realise it this time. He already used up the braincell on not saying the even dumber thing than this, apparently.
Or maybe it's because people already told him before that they'd just use him, and he didn't mind it back then either. It just seems to be something some people say. ]
Wouldn't it suck if you couldn't be your actual self here? Especially when this place seems to be confusing you. I wouldn't want you to be handling that all by yourself, thinking you need to put on any sort of front. [ .. a slight pause, and then he adds, a little more nervously: ] Though I hope your actual self doesn't involve any actual popcorn?
[ P-PLEASE.. He's done his time!! ]
SIGHS AT INIGO 1/???
2/???
[ English or Spanish? ]
3/3
YOU THINK YOU CAN JUST SKIP ON OVER ALL BB'S EPISODES AND HEAD RIGHT FOR HER SECRET GARDEN! YOU FREAK!!!! WHAT ARE YOU DOING SAYING THE SUPER SECRET SHIT ONLY SENPAI IS SUPPOSE TO SAY!!
[ BB continues on her rampage, yelling and screaming. ]
YOU WANT BB TO BE HERSELF? WANT BB TO BE THE DEVILISHLY CUTE KOHAI INFRONT OF ALL THESE STUPID PEOPLE ACROSS THE MULTIVERSE? WANT BB TO SHOW SHES THE END GAME BOSS EVERYONE SHOULD BE AFRAID OF!! [ She starts wandering off, seemingly screaming and yelling at him all the same. ] FINE! BB WILL DO JUST THAT!! JUST BECAUSE YOU SAID I SHOULD!!
[ With all her brazen shouting, and childish tantrum. BB seems to be kicking things, and throwing things on the floor as she walks. ]
ILL SHOW EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU JUST HOW UTTERLY SCARED OF ME YOU SHOULD BE!!!
no subject
M-Milady! [ He tries.
Emphasis on tries. Inigo is not even sure he's really audible over the tantrum BB is throwing.. He's pretty sure this entire town can hear what's going down here right now.. His cheeks are so red with embarrassment right now, and yet he tries to speak all the same, like Inigo finds the idea of just letting BB continue with this even more worrisome on her end. ]
Milady, I truly am sorry if my words upset you..?!
[ I don't think you need to use that if there, Inigo. BB is stomping around like she's Godzilla. ]
cw: deflection/manipulating
All of that was neither here nor there, and BB did not need this random she just met. To come into her life, saying things she would rather much hear from her Master. The fact that she felt even slightly taken aback, surprised her. She supposes this is because she is presented with variables that would have never happened otherwise. This was someone who doesn't know her, someone who doesn't know what she is capable of.
This in itself, even instills more anger. Humans being stupid and being easily manipulated. ]
You ruined my mood and everything. [ A slight pause before she continues down her angry path, turning only her head so her red eyes meet his popcorn-covered face. ] I told you, whatever happens from this point on is your fault!
[ And unless he wants to follow her, for whatever reason - she saunters off. ]