buttrinthum | TDM #10 OVERFLOW

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TDM #10 OVERFLOW

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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[First of all-

Level 5 anyone challenging him? Please. He wouldn't waste his time on such a goddamn weakling.

Secondly?

The moment this person walks into his Personal Space AKA the five foot radius around him, a red bar with a not so flattering title appears near his knees.

The fuck.]

No. The world is operating like a game, but that doesn't mean you need to fall victim to it.

[.... That's definitely a boss title.

Maybe there's some speedrun cheese strat?]

Shouldn't you be giving some big monologue evil speech?

["Don't fall victim to it." Lol. Lmao even.

(he's not, but he does want to see how far this rabbit hole goes.]

[Ah.

This guy's a fucking idiot. Of course he is.

Akechi's fingers fall to the red bar, as if trying to physically remove it - that doesn't work. Another wave through. Nothing.]

Please don't make weird assumptions about me based on the distortions happening. I wouldn't call you a weakling simply because of your visible low level

[This is so annoying.]

Oh no. I am a weakling.

[Shrugs lol.]

I wasn't back home, but this place has seemed to have nerfed all my abilities. That's the right term, for this, right? It's like when you have a really strong JRPG protagonist get booted back to level one so they have to work at getting all their cool moves back.

[Kazuya. What the fuck.]

But since you have one of those boss titles, it means you've gotta have some abilities, right?

[There's unfortunately much to be gleaned, if you're genresavvy enough.]

No, none at all. I'm have no powers to speak of, but as for yours-

[OKAY. He didn't expect them to just give in and-

Offer an explanation that sounds more like Akechi's own origin story here, than a bizarre fairytale. Robin Hood and Loki returned to him in full only a few weeks ago.]

I've heard of others who lost their abilities and regained them over time. It's possible they will return.

[ He doesn't believe that for a second. There's no way this guy doesn't have powers if he's not level 5 like him.

But that's fine. Maybe he's sensitive about them. It's not his place to dig!

Except what else do you expect from a protag who callously asked why someone suicidal wanted to off themselves.]

You're lying.

But it's good to know I'll get my stuff back, I guess.

I'm not. Please don't assume you know me - this place is erratic and makes mistakes all the time.

[Oh, he's annoyed.

The boss bar vanishes by his body and-

Reappears over his head. A movement Akechi pretends to not notice by keeping his eyes off the shit entirely, focusing in on the rando instead.]

There's a large crystal in town you can request your powers at. Though I doubt you'll be able to get them back so soon.

[Well. He is new. And this guy does seem to be more adapted to this strange place. Maybe he's right?

... Nah. It's way too suspicious the way that bar moves, like the other guy is gearing up to beat his ass.]

Not sure what the point is lying about having powers. I admitted to having my own, so it's not like I could judge you. I've seen people summon demons and use all types of magic, so I doubt you have anything that would take me by surprise.

[He tries, like he's being comforting.

Jokes on Kazuya. The headdemons would be incredibly new, if he found out about them.]

Because I don't have any - please listen to what I'm telling you, instead of concocting up strange ideas to believe. Why on earth would I lie to you?

[That-

Hits a bit too close to home. Summoning demons and magic go hand in hand with the cognitive world back in his true reality. A place Akechi doubts this guy is from. It would be far too coincidental.

The only thing he knows for a fact is-

He's pissed off at every attempt to unweave the lie Akechi's threading, as if he knows anything.

One hand on his hip, the other makes a half assed attempt to wave the red bar away again. Nothing works, as expected, and it drops back to his side.]

You have, however, captured my interest with your own abilities. What do you mean summon demons?

You're self conscious. [Pause, as he watches the health bar get swat at again, even though it stubbornly stays where it is.] Or you don't want other people to know you have abilities. If it's that, then you can just say so. I won't say anything to anyone else.

[Promise!

Kazuya doesn't mimic Akechi's posture, but he does shove his hands into his pockets nonchalantly. He really doesn't have anything here to lose.

Like sure, his life, maybe. But whatever. Stronger things than this guy have absolutely tried.]

Exactly what it sounds like. [Summoning demons is summoning demons.] I could summon them too... Not anymore, though. That's part of my abilities.

[He isn't going to rise to this shitty bait.]

I'm not - I assure you. [Kazuya's posture-

Reminds him of someone, in that moment. A teenager's whose image appears with crystal clarity over the blue haired menace he's found his way in front of. Hands shoved in pockets behind a cafe bar and-

Waiting by a subway and-

Akechi ignores it all. Everything. The overlay of someone familiar and the comments prior to the summoning statement.]

I see. You'll have to forgive my curiosity - summoning is obviously not common where I'm from and neither were demons. Was it a specific entity or something random?

[ "Not common", but he doesn't say that it doesn't exist at all. It's another nail in that proverbial coffin of his lie.

He'll let it drop. He's not that invested.]

There's a bunch of different kinds of demons that people could use. As long as they formed a contract, they could summon them. But as for specific entities? The common demons I've seen are Jack Frosts, Pixies, Ogres.... There's really just a bunch of them to choose from. Those are just the common low rank ones. I could name a bunch more, but they're mostly that of mythological figures or deities or legendary creatures or monsters.

Edited (twists knife) 2024-07-26 03:39 (UTC)

[What.

Jack Frost. Pixie. Ogres. Figures and deities of creatures and monsters.

Akechi feigns the barest amount of surprise. Interest. A hand pressing against his chin, as if the thought itself is vexing and unknown.

Another persona user or -

Worse. Another one of him, if he's speaking the truth about being able to contract multiples. The names are too familiar, but-

It's unconfirmed. Worlds overlap, terminology shifts from place to place. A minor coincidence and something to note.

The barista's image seems clearer than ever.]

That's quite a tale, but not the most outlandish I've heard since arriving here. Many people in this reality hold unfathomable and almost nonsensical abilities. In that sense, you'll fit in well with the rest of the captives.

[See, that just makes it even more nonsensical that this guy cares so much about hiding his very obviously ability-having ways.

Hope he gets less self-conscious soon!]

What's the most outlandish?

[Just so he knows what he's up against. Not that it's a competition, but...]

That's a difficult question - I suppose it's a tie between the world that traps you in a dungeon or the one where giants eat people.

[Neither one are secrets, given his close relationship to the people involved. They talk about it frequently enough in public.

He takes a few steps away from his 'boss bar' - something that seems to work, for the briefest time it hovers in midair, before it snaps back to his body. Furiously. Viciously. It smacks right into his spine, holy shit.

In retaliation, he pushes it down to the ground and holds the health bar under his foot.]

Where was I - Ah, there are an assortment of realities you'll learn about in your hopefully short time here. If you speak to others, most are rather open about everything in their lives, especially their world itself.

[A world that traps you in a dungeon is pretty outlandish. The one where giants eat people? Not so much. Most demons are bigger than humans, and 99.99% of demons would love to make a snack out of humans.

He knows.

They've tried to eat him several times, and he has the scars to prove it.

Which is to say, he doesn't look very surprised at anything he says.]

I think the cannibalistic giants aren't that weird. They eat humans in a bunch of stories, so it's not too surprising to hear about a place where that's real and what happens. The dungeon one kind of sounds like a video game, though.

While it can be compared to a video game, our current situation is a bit too on the nose for me to consider this reality a game as a whole.

[GRIND THE BOSS BAR DOWN. HE NEEDS BOTH FEET. THE BAR IS SO LONG.]

Trapped in a world and held the whims of a supposed madman for his entertainment, forced to abide by a contract most don't recall signing.

[Boss bar cracked in half now. Hell yeah.]

You don't seem bothered by anything happening - if you don't mind my asking, why is that?

[... This guy is really just cementing the fact that he's got powers, isn't he? Otherwise that health bar really wouldn't be making him so irritated...]

What's the point in getting bothered? There's nothing I can do about it. And if I signed a contract, then I'm bound to it anyway.

[And... It's kind of nice. Having his humanity and soul back. (He assumes.)]

And on the off chance my wish could be granted, then I'll do whatever is necessary.

[Oh.

He's stupid stupid. Someone that believes a false idol's promise and a contract done under duress. Ridiculous. He's always baffled by these types.

Voice light and airy, he folds his hands together and lets them rest against his torso. Boss bar wiggling under his heels.]

Oh, you believe that at face value? I'm surprised and a bit jealous - it's difficult for me to trust someone's words like that. Perhaps that's a side effect of my job in my world.

[Ah, more idiots for Somnius.]

Your wish must be very important to you. I certainly hope it's fulfilled someday, though I can only hope it's by your own hand and not due to the whims of a madman.

There's no reason for me not to believe it at face value, since apparently that madman has granted it, at least in part.

[Sure, it may be a cop-out as things currently stand, but having his humanity back, his soul back, isn't something to dismiss so easily. What remains is his abilities, that of the Bels, which he knows he needs to very much keep, lest they roam free and destroy anything they please.]

Sometimes there's things we can't do on our own. There's no shame in admitting that. And if it ends up giving me back what is most precious to me, then it's worth it in the end, because it's not something I could do on my own.

May I ask what he granted? I have an assumption, of course, but I'm interested in hearing it in your own words.

[The other shit? Complete and utter drivel - all he sees is a compliant fool with a level 5 bar over his head.]

My soul.

[His humanity. Both are precious things that he gave up. The hope is that he can keep them, even if he gets his powers back. That would be the most ideal situation, but even if that's not the case, then maybe he can at the very least learn to appreciate what he'd simply taken for granted.]

[Sounds insane! But he's heard a plethora of shit since he's been here and all of it is baffling. A soul, a life, a godlike power - this guy settles neatly into an ever growing box of oddities.]

I see. I won't press you on the details of it, but I suggest you reconsider what has or hasn't been given to you by Vaeros. There's no confirmation he was even involved in the restitution of your soul and even so, would you truly accept a life that could be held hostage by another?

[Grind, grind, grind - his foot digs into the health bar. It finally shatters.]

My apologies - I nearly forgot. You have my name from this bizarre effect [Another heel crush into the remaining red line.] but I haven't gotten yours.

[You are so touchy over that health bar-]

Well, I owe someone something for it either way. And until someone else can come and prove it was them, he's the best I have.

[But... To be held hostage, like he says? There's an obvious line to be drawn there. No, he wouldn't accept it. Even if it'd cost him his soul again, there was no point in having it if there was no freedom to be found anyway.]

Kazuya Minegishi. And either way, there's nothing I can do right now to stop anything that's going on, so I'm here either way until I get my abilities back or I get told I'm free to go.

[An owned soul and a debt to be repaid - Akechi doesn't care what this wayward guy does from here on out. Seek help, seek payment, seek a place to throw all his gratitude at - there are plenty of false idols that would happily accept.]

Minegishi. It's a pleasure to meet you.

[It's not ♥]

Have you been able to find a place to stay? As you said, you're trapped here for the time being and our captors are kind enough to provide housing for us. If you haven't found the area, I can guide you to it so you can claim a home.

dangerous (ARE YOU HAPPY YAK ARE YOU HAPPY!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

abandoned....................

🔥🙄🥞🥞🙄🙄🙄✨✨✨✨

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cw: cannibalism lmao

kazuya: yeah that tracks

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