TDM #11

[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 nearby, being picked and torn at by a bird- is that a potoo? As soon as the bird sees you approach, it flies off. It leaves behind mangled scraps of bread, a smashed glass vial that seems to have spilled water all over the pack, 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 are scraps of torn, damp parchment, some of which have scrawling, jagged handwriting you can still barely make out:

“Welc” “aby” “r CONTRACT”

You’re in a garden, surrounded by flowers and plants– most of which are mundane, some you cannot identify. However, there are two that stick out: Faerie rings and Rafflesia.

The Rafflesia is easy enough to avoid, its horrid smell easily warning away anybody with a working nose. If for some reason you opt to approach, the only unusual thing you’ll see is that they seem to have attracted swarms of rats. The rats seem territorial and aggressive, but are otherwise unremarkable. The flowers seem similarly mundane. However, anybody who smells the Rafflesia begins to experience an odd fixation- the corpse-like smell of the flower makes you think about your own death. The more you were exposed to the smell, the longer and more intense this preoccupation becomes, from a mild distraction for an hour or so up to full-blown nightmares for the next week.

The Faerie Rings can be seen in the grass scattered throughout the garden, and they’re unfortunately a lot easier to miss. These, it seems, have been planted by the faeries infesting the garden this month, and anybody who crosses through them will catch the attention of the fae. Usually, this will be simple enough; teleporting you elsewhere in the garden, into the labyrinth, or somewhere in the village. However, those who are particularly disrespectful or unsavory might find themselves targeted for more malicious retribution.

Ill Wills and Omens

The tone in the village has changed since Vaeros retreated into his castle. The villagers seem anxious and paranoid, somewhat hostile to the Dreamers- even the newcomers will face their cold shoulder, despite having just arrived- and they’re spending most of their time indoors, except to angrily shoo out an over-curious potoo. They’ve also raided the garden and any shops and stores for all the pumpkins they can get, and overnight they’ve set up a variety of jack-o-lanterns outside their homes and shops. These seem to be intended to ward out evil, and notably, any Dreamer who approaches a warded home will briefly feel a sense that they’re unwelcome, though it’s easy enough to ignore.

Anybody who crosses through the warning zone of a jack-o-lantern and ignores it, however, might find themselves subjected to strange effects.

Jack-o-Lantern Faces

• Scary: Jack-o-lanterns designed to look scary will make you indecisive. You’ll be compelled to overthink every decision, no matter how trivial. The worst-case scenario will constantly weigh on your mind, and it will be difficult to accomplish anything.
• Funny: Jack-o-lanterns designed to look funny or cute will make you impulsive. Whims and emotions will pass through you extremely quickly, and it may be difficult to focus or stick to plans.
• Creative: Jack-o-lanterns with more unique, abstract, or artful designs will make you obsessive. What the obsession may be is dependent on the person; it could be something they already care about, or something that happens to occur to them after they encounter the effect. Either way, it will be all-consuming.
• Blank: Pumpkins that haven’t been carved at all do… nothing. Really. Nothing. We promise. Well, nothing internal. But after you get a glimpse of one, you’ve been marked, and the pumpkins will know. You may feel like you’re being watched. You may feel like you’re being followed. You may see a glimpse of orange movement. One thing is certain: The pumpkins are following you. They’re masters of stealth, but you know the truth. You know.

Regardless of which effect you experience, it should wear off after a few hours, a day at most- except for the blank pumpkins. They’re quite persistent, and may stalk you for days or even weeks; the pumpkins are patient and ever-vigilant.

Twinkling in the Darkness

Those who were in Somnius in spring of the previous year may remember- with no small degree of dread- the faeries who invaded Somnius briefly. Last time, they were in a good humor, and their jokes were playful. This time, something seems to have them in a bad mood. There’s no attempt to ask for favors, no negotiation… anybody who crosses the Faerie Rings in the garden might catch their attention, but you might just as easily catch their interest because they didn’t like your attitude or just objected to the look of you. They may simply try to lure you into the labyrinth until you’re hopelessly lost, trick you into more Faerie Rings until they’ve had their fill of you, or simply lay a curse on you.

The curses aren’t nearly so playful this time, either- they’re malevolent. Instead of petty inconveniences, these curses seem targeted to be personal. Somebody with a physical insecurity will find it magnified to draw attention to it. If you fear something about yourself, you may find it magnified and reinforced. If you’re desperate to keep something hidden, it will inevitably be revealed. It’s not clear if they somehow know what will hurt your character, or the curse simply finds it automatically, but it is vindictive and it knows how to hit home.

Fortunately, they mostly keep to the garden and the labyrinth, even when the potoo's around. These curses wear off after a day or so, but by then the damage may well be done.

The Times They Are A-Changing

There are many smaller side effects of Vaeros losing control of Somnius, changes that will last for the foreseeable future. Chief among them is that the labyrinth is no longer magical; it’s a mundane structure, albeit one that seems to have immediately attracted the same hostile fae and oddly-aggressive rats that infest the garden. Best not to meddle too much. Some other changes include:

• The Network Devices were powered by Vaeros’s magic. Without him, they’ve depleted to much more limited forms. Around the first day of October, the eye adorning them closes as the magic becomes dormant. Among other things, this means that Network posts will not be available for the time being. Sleepr will also not be taking place. Personal one-on-one or small group communication is still possible via text, voice, or video, as per usual, and old posts are still available to be perused, but mass broadcasts will not be available without Vaeros.

• The Crystal can still grant wishes, but Myrta seems to be the one granting them now; she’s trying to work out how to take full control of the thing and undo all the damage Vaeros has done. However, especially now that new arrivals are coming to Somnius again, she’s willing to do her best to grant stolen powers and objects; it only seems fair. Potion powers are also still granted to newcomers. [[The OOC reward mechanic has not changed, only the IC flavor and possibly the tenor of some of the results.]]

• Speaking of Myrta, she’s still asking the Dreamers for help in her work. She may send you on missions asking for all sorts of odd things. They might be extremely trivial mundane items that belong to random Dreamers, arbitrary bits and pieces of the setting, or even debris from the labyrinth itself, once the Dreamers start wrecking parts of it. Don’t worry, she won’t ask for anything suspect. (She might become indignant at the suggestion.) Occasionally, she'll pine over her missing bird, almost exclusively when you spot the potoo out of the corner of your eye. Coincidence? Yeah, probably.

• The Library now has more books on the world and history of the village before Vaeros took over, now that he’s not actively censoring them. [[Feel free to ask us any questions you may want answers to in our game FAQs!]]

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 the bubble of magic surrounding 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, which is no longer enchanted and will not move or shift to hinder them anymore.

You can find more information about the game here. Any questions regarding the TDM can go under the comment below.

Comments

[pedagogies]

Let's avoid any accidents!

If you'll follow me.

[bakegarasu]

I'll try.

[Maybe? He'll try to try at least.]

[But he follows quietly, possibly suspiciously so.]

[pedagogies]

[ qifrey merely hums as he leads yosuke to one of the mushroom houses. unlike most of them, qifrey doesn't have electricity or water set up. but he hasn't needed to. there are little floating lights scattered around the house and bubbles of water with handles. which qifrey grabs and brings over to the kitchen. ]

Do you have a favourite food?

[bakegarasu]

[He seems... slightly more at ease. It looks a little like the yokai realm rather than a normal apartment...]

Not... particularly. Usually I just get takeout or someone makes something for me. ... I eat a lot of ramen. ... And things with a lot of carbs to keep me going in a fight.

[pedagogies]

Well, if you want to be good in a fight, eating healthy is important.

[ qifrey sorts the herbs and vegetables on the counter. he surveys them thoughtfully, tapping his chin as he considers what they can. ]

Why don't we try a little curry and rice?

[bakegarasu]

[He eats his veggies! When he's reminded to eat at all...]

[Hm.]

Curry... sounds good. Simple enough to make?

[It's more a question than a statement, though only the slight rise in his tone indicates it.]

[pedagogies]

Pretty much! I'll guide you through it.

Why don't you start by washing the vegetables and chopping them up?

[ qifrey loosely gestures to the water bubble. ]

Just use that.

[bakegarasu]

[He stares at the bubble and shrugs. Sure, why not? He grabs one of the veggies and heads to the bubble, sticking it in experimentally.]

Did you... make these?

[pedagogies]

Hm? Oh, yes.

I am a witch. I can use magic to supplement things in my daily life.

[bakegarasu]

A witch? ... Two weeks ago I would have said that was nonsense, but things have changed.

[He goes to grab a knife to cut up the vegetables. It's... it's a rough chop.]

[pedagogies]

[ buddy. qifrey places a palm behind his back as he gently nudges yosuke's arms in the correct position. ]

The world is always bigger than what we imagine.

Careful. You don't want to cut yourself.

[bakegarasu]

[He practically jumps as he's touched, taking a deep breath as he presses the knife against the counter. He looks back at the other, his lips pressed together for a moment.]

... Please don't surprise me like that. I could have hurt you very badly. And the only thing that would happen if I cut myself is that there would be a little blood.

[pedagogies]

[ qifrey hums, not the least bit bothered. ]

Then you would hurt yourself. In the end, it's the same, is it not?

[ once more, qifrey nudges the arm, adjusting yosuke's grip. there is no fear in his demeanor. ]

Hold the knife tightly.

[bakegarasu]

I mean it doesn't hurt.

[He chops the vegetables a little better this time, nudging the cut pieces to the side.]

It's different than handling a sword...

[pedagogies]

Swords require a different grip. For a knife, you do need to spread your fingers a little more.

[ qifrey is proficient in the sword too. somewhat. ]

[bakegarasu]

I see. It's a different skill.

[He finishes cutting up the vegetables and sets them aside.]

There's a lot of skills that I know I don't have. ... But I'm good at what I can do.

[pedagogies]

[ qifrey goes back to preparing the curry, stirring it in a pot. a flicker of magic provides the flame underneath. ]

Skills can be learned. You can be good at many things if you set your mind to it.

[bakegarasu]

[He looks at Qifrey and tilts his head.]

... Why are you being so nice to me? ... Is there something you wanted?

[pedagogies]

[ qifrey merely shrugs. ]

Not particularly.

Cooking is useful. It never hurts to learn it.

[bakegarasu]

... So you're being nice just because?

[That... doesn't make sense, but... he'll take it. For now.]

Just be careful that you don't help the wrong people.

[pedagogies]

[ that prompts a light chuckle. ]

I'm nice because that's the kind of person I want to be. It is a choice I make.

And helping the wrong people doesn't reflect poorly on me as much as it does on them.

Now, here. Grasp the handle. I want you to stir the sauce clockwise and slowly add the vegetables. I'm going to wash and heat the rice.

[bakegarasu]

I see.

[It's still foreign to him, but still... he starts stirring the sauce.]

Like this? I'm... not used to being so... domestic...

[pedagogies]

That's fine. You're learning.

[ it doesn't need to be perfect or achieved immediately. qifrey has always been patient. he had some rice soaked from before but now he rinses out the water and begins to heat it. ]

Food should be ready soon.

[bakegarasu]

... Okay.

[He slows down his stirring - he's not sure if he still needs to? But he doesn't stop at least.]

Do you make this kind of stuff often?

[pedagogies]

I do. I teach my students to cook as well. It's a valuable skill.

[ and he enjoys being in the kitchen. late nights with olruggio as they prepare meals, soft golden afternoons with his girls as they concoct their meals together.

with the rice down, qifrey fetches some plates and cutlery, serving it up. then he returns to the curry, bringing the spoon up for yosuke to sniff and have a sip. ]

How does it taste?