TDM #10

[labyrinevents]

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. 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: Sunflowers and Hibiscus. You’ll soon find out that being around the Sunflower makes it difficult to pass through the already disorienting garden, even with the light guiding you. Where patches of them grow, even if only waist-high, you cannot pass through them, over them, or even destroy them to get them out of your way. In each grouping that blocks your path, there is one that has a key-shaped opening in the middle of the flower. Maybe the key is nearby? (Spoiler: it's probably under a rock nearby that you forgot to check!) The hibiscus offers an entirely different effect - inhaling the pollen grants you the temporary ability to shoot fireballs out of your hands. But be careful, those fireballs are difficult to control and seem to bounce in random directions no matter how hard you try to aim (cannot be used to destroy the sunflowers). The effect ends once you step out of the garden.

It's Dangerous to go Alone! Take This.

Somnius is once again recovering from a devastating blow. Buildings need to be restored to their former glory and the emotional turmoil of the previous weeks surely needs to be alleviated. What better way to lighten the mood than a little fun for the whole family? A new arcade has appeared in town, beckoning residents with its stone doors set wide open.

With multiple levels, a variety of games and even a snackbar, Appl3 Pi Arcade is sure to be a hit!

Of course, as with everything that ever happens in Somnius, the arcades appearance is not without some complications. For one, playing the games inside might see characters teleported into the machine itself, perfectly pixelated to fit the game they're in. Hope you weren't about to fight the final boss, because now you might be fighting for your life! The good news is, if you die in the game... you don't die in real life and are just popped back out into the arcade again.

Strange things happen outside the arcade too. Walking down the road you might suddenly see a healthbar pop up above someone's head. Are you supposed to fight them? Are they going to fight you? Best to be cautious and reach for any trusty weapons you have just in case. Weapons that have become pixelated and can be pulled seemingly out of nowhere like some kind of hammerspace. They are also prone to breaking and shattering into glimmering pixel pieces (your normal weapons are still intact, don't worry).

Boxes and pots around Somnius are somehow more breakable than usual, smashed open with a single swing of those pixel weapons and producing gold coins! What a shame gold coins aren't the currency here. But if you don't want to destroy more things around Somnius, why not try fishing instead? That seems safe - if not suddenly more difficult with the fishing minigame that popped up in front of you. Quick! Keep the fish icon in the green bar or you'll lose it!

All things considered? It's all relatively harmless fun up until-

But Enough Talk, Have At You!

Vaeros wakes up. For those new to town, this means nothing. For those that were here for the castle raid? They can rest assured that they're in for a surprise. The Overlord of Visium has finally awoken from his Hyalily induced coma and he is furious. A shout echoes from the castle:

"Did you think you had won, dear Dreamers? Did you think you had bested me? Go, play your games, but know that there is only one winner here, and it is me."

A wave of magical energy sweeps through the town, shaking it to the very core. Miraculously, the destroyed buildings and any remnants of the forest onslaught are gone and returned to their usual state. Perhaps Vaeros shouting was just another tantrum, an empty threat?

Not quite.

The town has been restored, but the locals? They are nowhere to be seen - cowering in their homes and fleeing to the sanctity of the Church of the Moon in hopes of staying out of sight of Vaeros and Dreamers both. The once tame video game effects are now far more intense - monsters from within those games are now rampaging through the town. They seem to shift through buildings, but if they run face first into a Dreamer, they will find them very corporeal and very deadly.

Not only that, but the lines are starting to blur between reality and fiction again, the healthbar above your head flickering in and out, the monsters turning from pixel beasts to real, live animals that roam Somnius - both feral and not. One second you are walking through town, and the next you are stepping onto a platform that starts to break under your weight, demanding you jump to the next platform before you plummet into an odd, multicolored abyss.

And strangest of all is that music coming from the labyrinth, growing louder when you approach and fading out when you move away.

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.

OVERFLOW POST

Comments

3

[woo_oo]

[ Since the fish is distracted with potential Yato chow, it fails to notice the little duckling girl calmly walking up behind it. Which is already an odd sight - odder still that she's carrying a large sword. Humming pleasantly, she holds the sword in both hands, raises it over the skeleton fish head, and then JAMS THE SWORD IN ITS MOUTH, TRYING TO BREAK ITS JAW APART.

As she begins trying to kill the undead, she glances up at Yato, all smiles and sunshine. ]

Hi, I'm Webby! This guy should be done in no time at all!

[intertwinedfates]

[Yeah, a walking, talking duckling wielding a weapon would definitely qualify for the "very strange" category, were Yato not already preoccupied with trying to avoid getting his ass bit. Thankfully his rescue is swift and painful only for the fish thing, leading him to slowly relax as it becomes apparent he's safe.

Only then does he register who (and what) his savior is. ...why is he even surprised at this point? He should be used to this kind of thing by now. And really, does it matter that this girl has feathers and a beak? Not really.

So letting out a relieved sigh, he starts making his way over to her, still staring in bewilderment. More bizarre to him is the way she handles her weapon. It's impressive.]

Yato. T-Thanks, Webby. You used to this kind of thing? Because damn you're handy with that sword! It's pretty impressive, I gotta admit.

[woo_oo]

Aw, why thank you! My Granny trained me in all matters of combat and weaponry, so this wasn't too hard.

[ She returns her sword to its scabbard, and casually kicks aside the remaining bones. ]

This wasn't even the first time I've fought something undead! Too bad we didn't get to keep the chainsaw-puppies from then.

[intertwinedfates]

Damn, your granny must be someone to watch out for if she's that knowledgeable. If only all family could teach such handy skills, heh.

[Once he's satisfied the bones aren't about to jump up and keep snapping at him, he finally turns his focus solely towards her.]

Seriously? I was kinda hoping this place might be as peaceful as the last one I was in, but so far things seem pretty hectic. [.....] Dare I ask what the chainsaw-puppies were about?

[woo_oo]

They were literally what they sounded like - puppies that had chainsaws sticking out of them. Adorable, and very useful! But they went away once the zombies did. That kinda stuff happens all the time here. And this right here is actually when we have a peaceful month!

[ Killer zombie fish is, indeed, one of the more peaceful aspects of this place. She says with a smile. ]

[intertwinedfates]

That's... really kind of creepy and sort of terrifying, if I'm being honest. And I mean-- [Wait a sec--] Z-Zombies?? Just what kind of place is this? Actually no, wait, don't answer that. I don't wanna know! Already it's shaping up to be as crazy as the last place I was in...

Is it really asking so much for things to not want to kill us for a change?

[His shoulders slump despite her cheerfulness. He needs a damn break... Just a little bit of breathing room, please!]

[woo_oo]

[ Aw, poor fella. She comes up to him and lightly pats his arm. ]

It'll be okay! There's lots of people here with all kinds of powers and weapons that will protect you - including me! I'm the official Knight of Somnius, so I'll always do my best to save you from anything and everything!

[ doesn't that just inspire you with confidence, coming from a tiny baby duck? ]

[intertwinedfates]

[He's being comforted by a duckling... Not sure what to make of this, but hey, take what you can where you get it. Especially since she's being so damn sweet and considerate. He doesn't have the heart to tell her he's (supposed to be) a badass war god. Not that he's presenting that kind of image, anyway.]

Oh wow, you're a knight? At your age? They really do come younger and younger these days, don't they... But thanks! It's good to know both me and the other people here have you to rely on when it comes to dangerous situations like crazy ass fish.

[If she can handle skeleton fish and zombies, there's no telling what else she can take on. So he certainly won't judge her solely on looks alone!]

[woo_oo]

[ Smile! All seems well! ... But then she pauses. Squints.

With her hand still on his arm, he gives his jacket a bit of a squeeze, mentally connecting some dots. ]

... Wait a minute. Yato... Are you Hiyori's Yato, the god in a jacket?

[ Before he can answer - or even fluster at being called Hiyori's Yato - Webby adds... ]

You're not fluffy fluff at all!

[ How disappointing! ]

[intertwinedfates]

[That pause is kind of ominous, though he's not expecting what follows at. all. There's no time for him to give any confirmation or denial, or even to really blush over being "Hiyori's" before Webby's disappointment is almost palpable.

F-Fluffy fluff...

Hiyori, what've you been telling people about him?!]

Uh, I... Suppose I am? Hers at least? Though I think she must've misspoke. I'm definitely not fluffy. My scarf is, though! But not me.

You should meet my shinki, Yukine, however. He's fluffy and can become even more so by changing into a wolf!

[woo_oo]

She didn't misspeak, that's exactly what she said! I asked what you were the god of, and she said, to quote, "the god of fluffy fluff!"

[ she had also said he was a delivery god, but clearly THIS was the most important part. ]

[intertwinedfates]

[hIYORI WHAT ARE YOU TELLING KIDS THESE DAYS]

Okay, that's... a little bit inaccurate. [To put it mildly.] I call my scarf a fluffy fluff scarf, but that's... pretty much it. Sorry to disappoint you. This one's on Hiyori.

I'll have a nice, long chat with her about the details of her descriptions.

[woo_oo]

What a weird thing to lie about!

[ She'll have to confront Hiyori about this herself later! ]

If you're not the god of fluffy fluff, what ARE you the god of?

[intertwinedfates]

I know! And usually she's so straight-laced about being honest and good.

[Is something going on with Hiyori? Now he's a little worried...]

I'm a god of fortune! Good luck! Happiness, that kind of thing. I help out people who are in need!

[woo_oo]

Oh! That's great! We could definitely use one of those!

[ ... hang on #2 ]

Buuuut. I think you might need to wish back your godliness, though, because I think good luck wouldn't have let your butt nearly get chomped on by a zombie fish.

[intertwinedfates]

[Kick him while he's down, why don't you, Webby...!]

H-Haha.... Yeah, guess that's gonna have to be one of the first things I do, after getting us running water and electricity. Hiyori kinda needs those to live.

[woo_oo]

And you might need it too, actually? Until your get your god-stuff back, you're probably just a regular human like everyone else here. That's how we all arrive - no powers, no weapons, just the clothes on our back!

[ Big shrug! Oh well! Not a problem! ]

[intertwinedfates]

Wait, seriously?? You think I might have to worry about all the same problems humans have? Like eating and sleeping! And-- [GASP] --what if I end up having to take a shit?! We don't have a toilet!

[yato plz, there's ducklings about]

[woo_oo]

Well, you'll have to make due the same way people did before toilets were invented.

[ She jerks a thumbs towards the plants and trees.

Gotta use the world as your port-a-potty. ]

But I think you'll like sleeping, dreams can be really nice!

[intertwinedfates]

Noooooo~!

[He's seen what humans had to resort to back then! He's heard the stories of snakes and spiders and poison ivy and nettles making short work of a pristine tushy!

Besides, how far out of town will he have to go, to go??]

Ah-- That's true. These days when I do sleep they are better dreams than what I used to have.

[woo_oo]

[ But does he have a pristine tushy? We'll have to ask Hiyori... ]

There you go, see? There's always a silver lining if you look hard enough! And good luck is overrated. I know someone who uses his good luck to never do a single day's work in his life, and he's kind of a jerk. We'll be fine without it!

[intertwinedfates]

[Oh to be a fly on the wall for that conversation...]

B-But granting good luck is what I want to do... I wanna be a god who people can rely on to help make their lives better in various ways! Though I guess giving some people too much luck could be a bad thing, like is the case for this person you know.

[woo_oo]

You just have to make it good, but not TOO good. People still need to know the value of hard work and making an effort, but you can lend a hand when someone's having a really bad day. It's all about balance!

[intertwinedfates]

Hrm... You make a fair point. It wouldn't do to hand someone everything on a silver platter. People need to be able to know they're capable of accomplishing things on their own, too. Plus, I can't be there all the time to do things for them. They gotta stand on their own two feet most of the time.

[woo_oo]

There you go! That's the right attitude! And since you'll probably be human for a little bit before you get back your godhood, you can see firsthand how hard it is to BE a human, and where the luck would come in handy, and where the hard work feels good!