![[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}
buttrinthum2024-07-01 09:12 am
TDM #10
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: 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.
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-
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:
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.
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.
no subject
[Sir, this man is lucky to find lint when he checks his pockets.]
no subject
no subject
[Gestures down at Akechi's feet.]
You throw your shoe or something.
no subject
[Akechi matches the look and the gesture.]
Perhaps you should throw yours.
no subject
no subject
no subject
no subject
[He doesn't fucking move.]
My apologies - that was a little rude. What I meant was - if neither of us can make a decision, one of us should climb back down and get something to throw. It's quite a long journey though.
we have to stop meeting like this
What do you say we keep moving. Clearly the bridge's integrity isn't all that much of a concern for you.
no subject
Hm.]
It doesn't seem to be an issue for you either. However, I'll revoke my earlier request and go first. It truly moves me that you're so frightened and I would hate to push you to do something you're so scared of.
[He's such a kind hearted guy that way!!
Anyway, he makes the initial leap of faith - platform one? Fine. Two? Vanishes in seconds. There's a clear pattern to it and it's easily to predict until the halfway point. That area-
Hosts an overly large golden platform that denotes a possible level change. New patterns, probably. The rest of the bridge glitching in and out of existence as it slowly renders in. YIKES.
Hopefully that guys kept up! Or not! Maybe he's crushed on the ground beneath him! That'd be a damn shame!!!!]
no subject
[He hates both, and he's relatively immune to both, as well. Akechi jabs and Whelk merely gestures for him to get onto the bridge.] Yes, I'm very scared. Please, go on, now. [This is Hell.
[Whelk keeps up! Leaping between level platforms is a lot less exhausting than hauling yourself upward, but...it seems like that's where they are again. Akechi's got the lead, so Whelk will let him continue on! He does haul himself up onto the higher platform first, though, groaning in frustration.]
God, this is bullshit.
no subject
It's a problem for certain. Though I hate to take the risk, we may need to jump quickly and adapt to the platforms as we move.
[Azathoth can cure Akechi! Sucks for this guy if he falls. Oh well! There's a clinic out there for the asshole.]
no subject
Makes sense. [It's...a video game, or whatever!] Deep breath, then. [Ugh. Cardio.]
1/2
No more delays, he moves forward and-
Hits every platform with absolute precision. The only issue occurring at the end, where a 50/50 jump didn't end up in his favor - the next area renders in completely out of reach. No way to jump. No wall to climb. No fucking cheap ass wire to sling across on. Nope.
No where else to go.]
no subject
Directly onto some shitty roof that cracks and creaks under the sudden weight of his back. Oh my god.
The second time today. His little victorian arms and legs. It hurts like a somebitch.]
no subject
[God, he sounds like a dying animal, the way he groans.]
no subject
The other guy's groan is a solace. His own aches forgotten as he pushes himself up to sit - slow and deliberate. Goddamn.]
Well, I suppose we did it. As clumsy as that was, we made it in one piece.
no subject
[There's a brief glance arou-- They are on a roof.]
Oh, for fuck's sake.
no subject
That's a far drop - rivaling the one they just made. Akechi's body aches - absolutely ridiculous. They could try to team up to get down, somehow.
But this guy's an asshole.
And Akechi can boulder. Perfect opportunity for this particular cultivated skill.]
Well, I wish you luck.
[He slides to the edge - looking for bearings and ledges to to start his balancing act down.]
It would be foolish for us both to stay stuck up here. I'll return with help. Please stay safe until then.
no subject
no subject
[He's scooting down - body already eye level with the ledge they were just on. He's LEAVING.]
I know many people and they will assist you where I can't. Please stay safe in the meantime.
no subject
Go on then, you little-- Before I step on your fingers.
no subject
Making his way down and wandering off with a slight wave.
After all, he could have called for help on his phone.
Depending on how long Barry waits, at some point, a little gelfling will appear with a too small ladder to help him get down.
See? He didn't forget!!]