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

[Hello, Anna is from the generic Scandinavian region, she's heard of Asgard and Midgard before. She's been told the stories, she's read the books. That's why she frowns with confusion.]

Wait..... Sorry. Hang on. [She presses a curled hand against her mouth for a second, frown deepening.] Did you say you're from Asgard? And then you... You went to Midgard?

I take it you've heard of those places.

[Perhaps a bit of sarcasm, but not meant meanly.]

I'd been to Midgard quite a few times before actually. But that's where we were en route to when I was brought here instead. And yes, I'm from Asgard.

Okay but... Asgard as in just a town called Asgard? Or Asgard as in 'home of the gods' Asgard? Because I feel like that's a preeetty important difference. [Her hands start idly playing with the Oracle device as she talks, flipping it open and shut again.]

[That just makes Loki chuckle, and get to his feet to offer a bow.]

The latter. I am Loki, of Asgard.

[Then he's folding himself back down to sit again by her.]

[She stares at him for the longest time, then finally blurts out:] Loki the shapeshifter? With the... the tree binding? And the snake venom? And the horse thing? Eight-legged horse son?

[She only remembers the most otherworldly aspects of the mythology, go figure.]

[Loki sighs.]

Yes, the shapeshifter. The Trickster God of Mischief. Though in my world those events haven't happened. ["Yet" goes unsaid.] Or some of the myths you know have happened in different ways. You're not the only one to reference those tales.

[She's about to ask a follow-up question when it fully hits her that Loki seems a little exasperated. Is this the god equivalent of being gossiped about? So she swallows her curiosity and tries a different tack.]

Well. It's nice to meet you, Loki of Asgard. I'm Anna of Arendelle.

It is well met, Lady Anna of Arendelle.

[It was not hard to guess by her outfit that she was nobility. Loki didn't want to hazard what type, yet.]

I can tell you have other questions. As much as I may be exasperated by the tales, I'm familiar with them at least. You may ask more, or I can start helping you understand how to use your device.

[Oop, called out on her nosiness! She chuckles sheepishly, ducking her head a little.]

I thiiink understanding the device is probably more important. Tales are just tales, but the device is real. If it can be used to communicate with people, I can use it to send a message to my sister! [Because that is clearly a plan that can be executed here.]

Probably yes, but you can ask more later. Curiosity is one of my virtues or flaws too, depending on who you ask.

[Loki said in a confiding tone. But her request...that...might be trickier.]

I hate to bear bad news, but that might not be possible unless your sister is here too. Has anyone explained the situation to you yet? It does tie in with these devices.

Aaah, weeeeell... [Anna's eyes roll towards the sky, and she taps a finger against her cheek.] A few people did mention things like 'different world', and 'made a wish', aaand... 'people coming from different points in time'... But if it's a magic communication device, that means it can get a message to anyone, right?

It's magic only in how it's powered. Otherwise communication is limited to those who have a like device. As much as I understand the desire to communicate with one's sibling...

[Her face falls instantly, lost and pained.]

Oh... So, there's no way to get a message to my family? None at all?

I am truly sorry, Lady Anna. It might be possible to wish for it to be so, using the big crystal in town and shards, but I do not know if that would work.

[Loki does legitimately feel bad, knowing how pained she looks. How lost... He knows that feeling very well and hates it.]

As worried as you might be for them, it's not entirely clear if they'll even realize you're gone, given how strangely time may be moving with us in this place.

[Big crystal? Shards? Alright, no one's explained that one to Anna yet. Loki doesn't seem hopeful it would work, and that already tells her it's not an immediate priority. Something to tuck away in the back of her mind and investigate later.]

Even if they don't realize- if not a single second passes for them, I still... would like to speak to them. But I suppose that's not possible then, is it?

If it is, I do not yet know how.

Your device however, while mechanical in its basics, allows you to talk via audio, or moving picture known as video, or via text to others who bear one of these devices. It's a network of links known as the Oraclenet, as these devices are known as Oracles. They do not, as far as I can determine, tell the future or provide omens. The program--that is, the Oracle--DOES sometimes seem to know more about us than we would like.

[Loki couldn't help her with speaking to her family, but he could at least teach her how the device worked. And try to make her being here a bit easier that way.]

[She sighs, looking down towards the device in her hand again. Half of what Loki's saying is going over her head. 'Audio'? 'Network of links'? 'Program'? She can understand the gist of what he's saying through context, but the little details are lost on her.]

It knows things about us? [Frowning, she looks up towards Loki again.] What does that mean? What does it know?

[He picked up on some of her confusion.]

Audio means when you talk and speak, noises, sounds. Basically each of these devices connects to each other to form a network. A program is a set of instructions encoded to run automatically on devices such as these.

[Now for the other part...]

Every other month or so, there is a program that comes up to all devices that's known as "Sleepr." You'll be presented with a small image of a box on your device where you fill in some information, like your name, where you live, and a small profile about yourself. You'll also be given two questions to answer. This is all done by using the keys of the device to 'type' in the words for the answers. I'll show you in a moment, if you'd like.

In any case, it's been found that if you don't fill in your profile, or have someone else right it for you, then the Oracle will write one instead. It is not always kind about what it writes, and sometimes will share secrets you'd wish it wouldn't. So as for what it knows?

[Loki shrugged.]

[Anna's eyes widen, and her head tilts downward with a sharp movement as she stares down towards the device again. She's tempted to throw it away now, but going by what Loki just said, that might come back to haunt her. All she can really do is be mad at the whole concept of... this.]

But that's... That's not right! Who gave it the right to share our secrets? Just as punishment because we didn't want to answer those questions? That's... That's bullying! It's bullying us!

You're quite correct. Hence why some people ignore when that program comes around entirely. Others of us do find it amusing enough to respond, and it is a good way to make the acquaintance of others of us who are here. I, personally, prefer to warn people as well about the potential for it to be nasty.

[Anna just keeps holding onto her annoyance for a while longer. If she were asked nicely, she'd give some information about herself and answer some questions without hesitation. It's the threat behind it that makes her not want to do it anymore. 'Do it, or we'll do it for you.' It's so unnecessary and rude!]

Well... Thank you. For warning me. I'll keep it in mind. [Her fingers start flipping the device open and shut again.] So this thing... it shows pictures? Like photographs? But inside the device?

Yes, like Photographs. Also moving photographs--a format known as video. Which can be active or passive. Active in that two people can talk to each other while seeing each other through the device. Or passive in that one can record a video--much like one takes a photograph--and have it play again later.

[Anna's mouth opens with a silent little "oh". She thinks she understands it, but she probably won't be able to fully grasp it until she sees it with her own eyes.]

Moving photographs... That sounds wonderful! And very handy! We can just make these... these videos whenever we want? There is no limit?

If there is, I have not found it. I'm certain there are etiquette based limits, but I'm not as familiar with those yet. There are beings here, Lady Anna, from times and worlds far more advanced than your own. To many of them, devices like this, or of the things I've spoken of, are commonplace and mundane.

That's... Well, that's the nature of technology, isn't it? Things that we find commonplace now had to be invented at some point, and before then, no one could've imagined it would exist. [She smiles, tilting her head to the side lightly.] We should count our blessings that there's more advanced technology here, right?

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