buttrinthum | March 2025 TDM

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March 2025 TDM

Garden of Dreams

Whether it be sleep or death, you feel your eyes close, and as your body begins to let go, you see an inky starry nothingness spread out around you. 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?

Though there is nothing to prove it, you just know you have made a promise, a contract of sorts, with something and someone who remains but a shadow in your memories.

💐 Corpse Flowers are large stinky things, smelling often of rotting meat. There's only a few in the garden, four at most. However, those who manage to get lured in by the stinky smell will find that time spent with this "alluring" scent may find themselves feeling more amorous than normal. Kisses to hands, flirtatious words, and even the occasional wink are all common. Once away from these smelly flowers, the feelings will dissipate, but could last for several hours...

🌸 Gibralter Campions on the other hand, seem to inspire unbridled and intense hatred in those who get too close. It's almost as if the person they're interacting with takes on the appearance of their greatest enemy, their rival, or even someone who has done them great harm. Violence is usually a last resort, but sharp tongues and the silliness to argue are far more common. Convincing those under the spell of these flowers that you aren't who you LOOK like you are might be a little difficult. Hopefully the effects wear off after only ONE good night's sleep.

No matter your adventures in the garden with its many plants, before long you are found and guided by a dragonkin pair through the garden to the town of Sominus. From there you can choose to settle in the town surrounded by crystal or you can choose to cross bridge that leads up high to a portal in the sky, rimmed by glowing starlight and into the lands beyond, Lumindeas and the Crown City of Stellari.

"Please, come with us. Our world is your new home for now."

Something... A little Romantical

Romance may have been on the mind in early February, but the illness that swiftly swept through Visium and Lumindeas put a bit of a damper on things like dates and doting. In an attempt to boost morale, Dolph Laserhawk has decided to host a speed-dating event at his establishment, Club Quartz in Visium.

It doesn't only offer romantic connection, however. Dreamers are encouraged to stop in and participate even if they're only looking for friendship. In fact, curiously enough, most feel compelled to attend, even if it's normally something they wouldn't be interested in. Overwhelmingly, Dreamers begin to crave connection and closeness and flock to the event. Club Quartz is dressed for the occasion, with red tablecloths and white napkins. The music and lighting are both low, soft orange candlelight illuminating whichever Dreamers face each other at their tables.

Everyone is given a placard to fill out - or, perhaps it's, mysteriously, already filled out.

💘 Name:
💘 Age:
💘 Preference: (friends, romance, gender, etc.)
💘 About me:

There is also a useful set of conversation cards on each table for Dreamers to use, suggesting "get to know you"-style questions. Some are typical, and some are...less so.

💘 What do you do for fun?
💘 What do you do when you're miserable?
💘 What wish did you make to get here?
💘 Do you regret the wish you made to get here?
💘 What's your favorite way to unwind?
💘 What's the sexiest position?
💘 Are you crushing on anyone in Visium or Lumindeas?
💘 What three words would you use to describe yourself?
💘 What would your ideal partner/friend be like?
💘 What is your most cherished childhood memory?
💘 What is your worst childhood memory?
💘 Would you be a dictator or a leader?
💘 What is your craziest fantasy?
💘 What potato chip flavor would you be?
💘 What is something you want to change in the world?
💘 Do you believe in science or magic?
💘 What is your idea of purity?
💘 Do you have any phobias?

Pairs who find they've made a connection will be encouraged to leave their tables and participate in one of the many activities which have been arranged to really seal the deal on bonding. Some of the options include:

💘 Spoon Pass: pairs pass an egg back and forth using only spoons held in their mouths
💘 Charades: send your loved one a message using only your body language
💘 Hide & Seek: find somewhere inside or outside to hide, and see how quickly your partner can find you!
💘 Three-legged race: couples are tied together by one leg each and must hobble their way from one end of the bar to the other before time runs out
💘 Jump Rope: the rope should be long enough for you to both jump through at once, but only if you get close - try to jump together without tripping!

The night is long and lively with plenty of drink and conversation to be had. Hopefully everyone has someone to walk away with at the end of the night!

Nicefield's Nest

A strange settlement has appeared at the edge of Stellari, just a little further out into the meadows and hills that serve as a border between the city and the farmlands that support it. The haphazard collection of crystal-and-wood buildings seem to combine the aesthetics of Visium and Lumindeas in a way that completely (and, perhaps, intentionally) fails to get either quite right. This is odd enough, but stranger still are the curious beings that emerge from the buildings. In a land populated by dragonkin, gelflings, and goblins, it may not be all that alarming to notice their rabbit-like ears and fur, but it's still nothing that anyone could have claimed to see in the land before. There's no need to fear, though! The Loporrits are here to help!

And they are very, very insistent on helping. Wished into existence by a soul who had grown tired of the conflict between Dreamers and locals, these friendly hares go out of their way in every direction to flag down Dreamers and ask how they can work together to improve the space they all share. A particularly persistent pair of Loporrits, Pollingway and Surveyingway, confront any Dreamer they can see with alarmingly aggressive cheer, brandishing clipboards, and barking questions as quickly as possible.

“Do you like Stellari? How about Visium? What kind of improvements would you like to see? What are your favorite colors? What do you need most right now? What do you think of spicy food?”

And on...

And on......

There seems to be absolutely no way to halt their questioning - until they mention that they're looking for others to gather such information too. Dreamers are asked to take a clipboard of their own and poll their fellow Dreamers, then report back to Pollingway and Surveyingway. If they agree, the pair will mercifully stop talking and hop away. The list of potential questions is nigh endless, so make sure to ask something that counts.

Not far from the Stellari crystal, several Loporrits hammer away on what appears to be the foundations of a new building. Nearby, a more artistic-minded Loporrits paints a large wooden sign that reads: HELP CENTER. A brown-furred Loporrits named Helpingway explains, again, that the Loporrits want to help! They can't help yet, however - too busy arguing with an increasingly agitated priestess as the royal guard draws near. It seems the established locals are still deciding what to make of the Loporrits. Helpingway asks Dreamers to start helping while they deal with the red tape! They're asked to wander Lumindeas and Visium, completing good deeds for locals and Dreamers alike. The Loporrits aren't so much persuasive as they are persistent, so if you don't want one following you around, it's best to comply.

A few businesses run by the Loporrits have also popped up, including "Feedingway's Soup" which offers exactly one type of soup - creamy roast carrot. It's addictingly good. Meanwhile, Tailoringway offers headbands, sashes, and belts, at the moment, with more variety promised to come soon. The Loporrits are just as persistent about trying their products as they are about lending a hand. You'll help them advertise, won't you? Dreamers are asked to give the Loporrits' businesses a try and report their findings to everyone they meet! Once again, you really want to get these guys off your back...

Cleaning Efforts & Haywire Powers

As though prompted by the discussions Seravo recently had with a few dreamers, there is indeed a revitalization effort taking place on the island of Visium only a few weeks after the audience with the dragon-like ruler.

Groups of Dreamers will work together to either clear away crystal overgrowth in Visium, or visit the area and collect samples to bring back to Seravo. He is requesting all manner of samples, from soil to water to food to pieces of crystal. Those shouldn't be all that difficult to find, considering everyone is going around Visium, smashing all the crystal up. Myrta and the locals provide pickaxes and all the other necessary tools for digging through the crystal, but given its durability, destructive abilities are also encouraged. The locals also seem to be slowly warming back up to the Dreamers in Visium as they watch them reconstruct the destroyed island. They may bring Dreamers water, food, or small trinkets to show their appreciation, and will work alongside them if allowed.

There is another problem, though. A mysterious phenomenon seems to occur only while within Visium - Dreamers' abilities are going haywire. Whether it be a regained ability, or one granted by a potion, ability-users will struggle to control their powers. Abilities may engage at strange times, have exaggerated or diminished effects, or periodically stop working altogether. Those that don't have abilities aren't spared, however. While in Visium, every Dreamer is at risk of experiencing a random potion effect from either the red, gold, or blue potions. Even if the Dreamer has never touched their potion, they may find themselves healing wounds, firing off elemental attacks, or transforming into random animals.

Perhaps the most curious phenomenon is that Dreamers appear to be sharing abilities as well. The effects are greatly diminished, but standing too close to someone who has an ability may cause aspects of that ability to appear in the other person. No one appears to be gaining full use of others' abilities, but it's certainly cause for some questioning...

A Suspicious Message

One day, it doesn't matter what day, a message appears on some dreamers' devices, with no discernable user attached.

If you were to suddenly feel someone's hand in your own, whose hand would it be? But whose hand would you want it to be?

As if by magic, dreamers will feel compelled to answer, but also to answer truthfully. Once answered, there's no way to delete it from their phone or take back where it goes, as it is sent out into the network for all to see and comment on. There's no response from the initial person who asked the question, but perhaps there's a feeling of mischevious delight hanging in the air.

[[If you do not wish to participate in this prompt, simply assume your character did not get this message. All threads are public initially, and can only be privated after the initial answer.Threadjacking is allowed and encouraged so long as it is allowed in individual character permission posts.]]

OOC

Expand to see our Event Summary

Garden of Dreams

dreamers are brought to the enchanted garden
two flowers, Corpse Flowers and Gibralter Campions are causing amorous feelings and intense feelings of hatred.
Outside of the garden, newly arrived Dreamers are guided to the town of Somnius, from there they can choose to settle in the unfriendly hamlet or choose to explore further, beyond the portal and into the land of Lumindeas.

Something... A little Romantical

Dolph Laserhawk is hosting a speed-dating event at Club Quartz
Those seeking romantic OR platonic connection are encouraged to attend
Even those who would not normally be interested feel a magical compulsion to attend & an overwhelming craving for connection with others
Guests may find that their informational placards are already magically filled out for them
There are a list of questions to potentially discuss, some of which were not put there intentionally by Dolph
Those who feel a connection are encouraged to participate in mini-games (spoon passing, hide & seek, charades, jump rope, three-legged race)

Nicefield's Nest

A strange settlement has appeared at the edge of Stellari, with buildings that resemble both those of Lumindeas and Visium
Beings that resemble rabbits, called Loporrits, emerge from the building
They are obsessed with helping and want Dreamers to help each other too
Dreamers are asked to poll fellow Dreamers about their satisfaction surrounding the world and report back to Pollingway and Surveyingway (Loporrit npcs)
The Loporrits are building a help center, but the Lumindeas government is not necessarily reacting well
Dreamers are asked to go complete good deeds for others while the help center is being built
Dreamers are asked to try various Loporrits businesses and help advertise to spread the word
The Loporrits are very persistent and doing as they ask is the only way to get them to leave you alone

Cleaning Efforts & Haywire Powers

A revitalization effort is taking place in Visium
Mytra is providing materials to help smash up the crystal in Visium, and is encouraging the use of destructive power if necessary
Seravo is asking for samples of food, water, soil - anything - from Visium to study the phenomenon occurring there
only while within visium, Dreamers' abilities are going haywire
abilities are behaving strangely - engaging at random times, diminished or increased effects, inability to control, etc.
Dreamers are also experiencing random gold/blue/red potion abilities even if they have never drunk a potion - random bursts of elemental magic, random animal transformation, random healing abilities, etc.
Dreamers are also sharing abilities; standing too close to a Dreamer with an ability will cause the other Dreamer to start displaying aspects of that ability (diminished from their full power) for a short time

Suspicious Message

Some receive a suspicious message on their phone from an unknown user (this is opt-in; if you wish to opt-out, simply assume your character didn't receive the message)
Dreamers feel compelled to respond truthfully to the message, but once they do, the result is publicly posted for others to see/respond to
"If you were to suddenly feel someone's hand in your own, whose hand would it be? But whose hand would you want it to be?"

Welcome to Labyrinthum's March TDM! Two of our prompts are Inspired and Drafted by a couple of our players, Timmy and Dragon. Timmy has organized a more romantic portion of the event based in Dolph's Club over in Somnius. Dragon turned in 1200 shards and was rewarded with an approved setting addition! Creatures from FFXIV, created by Venat herself have arrived in Lumindeas. Dreamers ought to help get them settled in!

As always, please direct your questions to the appropriate header below.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[The Loporrits of Etheirys (or more properly, its moon) had extensive contact with the Sharlayans to gain their knowledge of humanity -- albeit with several noticeable gaps, such as the size of people generally. These Loporrits are starting from first principles.]

Ah -- what clothing would you deem most suitable for a formal occasion such as a coronation?

A coronation? That's much fancier than formal events I'm used to. Perhaps a suit with a tailcoat, then...?

And, dare I dream, a top hat?

[She is clearly envisioning this, to judge from how she regards him. And to further judge from her smile, liking what she envisions.]

I believe we must attend a coronation as soon as is practical.

Well, perhaps if Seravo marries the moon, we'll have one on our hands sooner rather than later. Although if that does happen, I imagine I'll be on babysitting duty...

[ Akechi..............

Maruki gestures for the clipboard. ]

Let me ask you one! I have to impress these little guys too!

'You'?

[Her criticism of the word choice is simply due to its implication that he alone will be acting as such. Of course, she passes over the clipboard without hesitation -- albeit with some great amusement, since she has no doubt that his position as her partner will impress the Loporrits far more than anything else could.]

Alright, let's see–

[ My god, the list truly does never end... ]

Ah! What's your favorite way to spend a lazy day?

[ If Venat has ever had a lazy day in her long life, he'll be amazed. ]

[They had to learn somehow, didn't they?]

Of late? In your company, whatsoever else we may or may not be doing.

[You asked for that answer, Maruki. Could you truly not see it coming?]

[ The Loporrits are going CRAZY at that. ]

Wh– no, I mean– that's not an answer that's helpful to them, is it...?

Oh? You do not believe it would help them to know that in many cases, whom you spend time with is more important than what you spend that time doing?

[She is, of course, having immense fun with this -- one of her great joys in life being, as the kids call it, "trolling" just that little bit. Though she doubts either Maruki or the Loporrits mind.]

Well, I suppose when you phrase it like that, it's true...

[ However, they're still crowding around Maruki, chattering away with follow up question after follow up question. When applied more broadly and generally, it's a valuable lesson for them to learn, but there seems to be a particular interest in him being the one to spend time with Venat, specifically.

Maruki gamely ignores it as his cheeks heat up, flipping through the list of questions until he finds another that will hopefully distract them– ]

Oh, this is an interesting one. How would you compliment the person you dislike the most?

[Venat is perfectly happy to let Maruki bear the brunt of the questions. The Loporrits aren't curious about her, after all. Who else would they know better? But oh, are they interested in Maruki.]

[Which means he has a moment more to put up with their attention as Venat considers that question. It really does take some consideration, because... is there anyone she does, in fact, dislike? Has there ever been? Even those who committed atrocities were only trying to live life in their way. Even her greatest foes only sought to undo a truly horrific act. How can she dislike anyone?]

I would say... that they have most certainly earned a special and unprecedented place in my attention.

Well, lucky them. Now you know my curiosity gets the better of me, so I have to go off-script and ask who you're thinking of!

[ Because truth be told, he can't imagine Venat truly disliking someone either. That's the main reason why he asked, to see how she might answer an impossible question. ]

In truth, I cannot think of anyone. Thus why I chose the word 'unprecedented'.

[Venat laughs, even if a faint hint of color touches her cheeks. To simply state, proudly and openly, that she dislikes nobody is certainly true, but Maruki already thinks so well of her that saying such things to him is the tiniest bit embarrassing. Whatever he or anyone may think, she is hardly perfect.]

You tricked me!

[ It's said with his free hand pressing over his heart in mock-offense, but the grin on his face gives it away.

Venat may not be perfect, but she's certainly a better person than he could ever dream to be. There are people Maruki will hate until the day he dies, and then beyond into the next reality. So it goes.

He glances down at the list again, and then– ]

When is your birthday?

[ ... ]

Wait. When is your birthday!?

I never tricked you. You asked how I would compliment such a person, not if such a person exists.

[But -- here is a question, and one which Venat can only answer with a rather uncharacteristic shrug.]

Setting aside the fact that the current calendar of Etheirys has no relation to the one here or even the one of my time, making an actual definitive statement impossible, you must understand that we thought little of such things. A passing year to us was much like a passing week, or even day. In truth, I've no notion how to begin answering you here.

That makes perfect sense, but...

[ He falters for a moment, mouth twisting as he tries to piece the right words together. ]

There ought to be a day to celebrate you. Even if we have to make our best guess at an approximation of what it might be. Right?

[Venat arches her eyebrows and slants her head at the picture-perfect angle to look surprised while obviously trying to look surprised.]

Bide a moment. Are you attempting to convince me you are not doing that every day already? For if so, your behavior belies it.

No, I would never attempt to convince you of that. But there should be one day that's more special than the rest!

[Venat reaches out to tap him lightly on the nose.]

I think you are simply looking for an excuse. Very well, if it is of importance, you should have no problem relating your own birthday in turn. Understanding of course that I shall alert all and sundry to it so that you may be made much of that day in turn.

[ The Loporrits are still clamoring around, trying to get him to return to the questions on the clipboard, but Maruki's now created a much larger problem for himself. ]

Ah... you wouldn't really do that, would you?

[Dear Loporrits, this is important. Venat smiles serenely, folding her arms with utter confidence in the argument she is about to make.]

My love, I make no pretense of being less than skilled, capable, and powerful in combat. You yourself know that well. Yet I beg you to consider how very many people care about you here, intensely and fiercely. And having so considered, I then ask you how even I would survive their wrath, were they to discover I knew such a thing and kept it from them.

[Though having so opined, and not even half in jest, she softens a slight bit.]

Though if you explained a preference to make no great outcry over the day, I've no doubt they would respect it, as far as they are capable of.

[ Unfortunately... Maruki can't bring himself to quite agree with that version of things. Not that people wouldn't respect it, but, well. There's no shortage of people who would see his genuine discomfort with attention as simple deference and would do as they pleased anyway. It's easier if they don't know.

Still, though... ]

It's coming up soon, I suppose. The twenty-second of March.

[ It's so strange, to have anyone to tell that to. The last time he celebrated a birthday, he didn't even know Akira yet. There was no one in his life, truly. ]

Please don't tell anyone. A few others already know, for one reason or another. [ Their own birthdays being celebrated, or simply wheedling the information out of him over time... ] I'd like to be able to celebrate it in my own way, when the time comes.

Oh! Soon indeed. [She'll make no hue and cry over the date, but a present? Oh, certainly that.] Then I shall easily be able to forestall complaint by noting I had no time to seek them out and alert them.

My reluctance to share saves us both, in the end.

[ One of the Loporrits very subtly prods at the clipboard still held in Maruki's hands, as if to say my guy, get back to work. ]

Ah, shall we go out and collect some more answers for them?

I believe that task shall never end... but we might perhaps handle a fair portion of the largest part.

[The Loporrits are, much like their creator, curious and eager to learn. She pauses only to thank the one talking to them for their time and promise to return valuable data, before straightening up to take Maruki's hand once again.]

[Everything feels very pleasant in the world, at this one moment.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

March 2025 TDM

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hehe we can wrap unless you have more you wanna do with The Bunnies :3c

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