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buttrinthum2025-05-01 10:11 am
May 2025 TDM
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.
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.
- 💐 Blood Weed is a sharp as razorblades. It grows waist high on a 6'0" tall person in places, but never less than 5" tall overall. Small paths wind through the grass, and those who find themselves waking up near the blood weed will have to carefully navigate through the paths in order to come out without being cut. The cuts themselves are painful, the sensation of pins and needles is accompanied with a burning that reaches deep to the bone. It's not debilitating, not completely, but it will make it harder to escape and more likely a victim will bleed to feed.... the blood weed.
- 🌸 Witch Hair is a strange plant, soft to the touch and with the scent of marshmallows. If eaten plain it can soothe the ache of blood weed cuts temporarily, but it is far more effective as a medicine when brewed into a potion. The strangest thing about Witch hair is that it only grows at the water's edge, and then weaves over the ground through the blood weed. It's almost as if it is encouraging a sacrifice to save someone else. A cut for a cure. The one side effect of eating the weed raw is that it can give those who ingest it a temporary ability to affect the weather in a small radius around them. Perhaps this too, could be a boon? The effect only lasts a few hours, 48 at most. Maybe there's a way to have fun with it in the meantime?
No matter your adventures in the garden with its many plants, before long you are found by a gaggle of inhabitants from both the City of Stellari and Somnius. They seem excited in general, and excited to see whoever it is they stumble upon without pause. They approach with handkerchiefs of varied colors and wave them about as they take new Dreamer's hands.
The chaos from last month has settled, leaving a celebration behind in its wake. Officials from Stellari explain that, every year, the city holds a massive event, meant to honor the spirit of competition. This year, they've decided to include Somnius in the competition as well. The crystal-clearing efforts have been fruitful, and slowly but surely, more of Visium is starting to become accessible.
To that end, Dreamers find both Stellari and Somnius transformed, dressed head-to-toe in festival stalls and decorations of red, blue, green, and yellow. Dreamers themselves are all divided into one of four color teams. They are selected automatically, and by traits inherent to their being.
A handkerchief of their team's color is magically fastened to every participant, and can only be removed when a game necessitates it, such as capture the flag. It's an important way of identifying who is on what team. You'll want to know who your teammates are, because teammates gain special benefits when interacting, such as increased strength and magical ability. As well as that, people can also communicate telepathically with others from their team for the duration of the event.
- Red team candidates are either extremely good, in a moral sense, or extremely bad.
- Blue team candidates are either extremely emotional or show very little emotion whatsoever.
- Yellow team candidates are either extremely powerful or extremely weak.
- Green team candidates are either extremely average or exceptionally special.
By the same token, however, being in close proximity with others who aren't on one's team cause negative effects. Different teams have different effects, depending on their color.
This is all, of course, in the interest of making the competition more interesting. Each team will also have a home base to work from, with team red's being the Amphitheater of the Mind, team blue's being Lake Termina, team yellow's being the (old) Church of the Moon, and team green's being The Stone Dragon.
- Red team members destabilize the emotions of opponents around them.
- Blue team members bring confusion and disorientation to opponents around them.
- Yellow team members destabilize magic/abilities of the opponents around them.
- Green team members bring bad luck to opponents around them.
For the duration of the festival, teams will meet to face off in various games and challenges, all earning points for their color team. The points are displayed on large scoreboards, stationed over the crystals in both Somnius and Stellari. Ribbons, medals, and trophies are offered as rewards during the celebrations and ceremonies that occur every night for the duration of the event. More than anything, though, the spirit of competition drives everyone, compelling them to dive headfirst into the games and give it their absolute best.
Some of the events are as follows, though pretty much any sport you can think of is offered - even ones one may recognize only from their own worlds.- 🤾Dodgeball
- 🚩 Capture the Flag
- 🏃♀️ Relay Races
- 🏊 A Triathlon
- 🙈 Hide & Seek
- 🫱 Tag
- 🪢 Tug-o-war
- 🥇 Obstacle Courses
- 🔴 Kickball
- ❓ Etc.
So, get out there and start battling it out - just not to the death this time!
Perhaps the largest event of all is a scavenger hunt in which the items are other Dreamers. Competitors are given a scroll with a list of descriptions, and are asked to seek out other Dreamers who fit those descriptions, and get a signature from them.
The list is as follows:
- 🔎 1. someone who can fly
- 🔎 2. someone who has never killed anyone
- 🔎 3. someone who has killed more than ten people
- 🔎 4. someone who can turn into something other than an animal
- 🔎 5. someone who betrayed someone they love
- 🔎 6. someone who saved the world
- 🔎 7. someone who wants to leave this place
- 🔎 8. someone who never wants to leave this place
- 🔎 9. someone who sacrificed their powers to Vaeros
- 🔎 10. someone who arrived after Vaeros' death
- 🔎 11. someone older than 30
- 🔎 12. someone younger than 15
- 🔎 13. someone who didn't drink their gold/blue/red potion
- 🔎 14. someone who has drunk more than one gold/blue/red potion
- 🔎 15. someone who has returned to their world, then returned to this place
Dreamers then sign their name next to the descriptor on the competitor's scroll. Magic compels them to be honest when confronted, and to give their signature even if they're unhappy to do so.
There is also a variation of this game, though much smaller in scale. Dreamers draw slips of paper with descriptions written on them, then pass them off to others who match that description. Some of them include:
- 💖 Someone you admire.
- ❌ Someone you hate.
- 😱 Someone you're afraid of.
- 🫂 Someone you trust.
- 😳 Someone you wish to know better.
- 😖 Someone you need to apologize to.
- 😊 Someone you're glad you met here.
- 😡 Someone you're angry at.
- 😨 Someone you're worried about.
- 🤕 Someone who hurt you.
Dreamers feel compelled to respond honestly, and genuinely give their slip of paper to whoever they think of first, even if it's something they wouldn't normally confess.
Both games last the duration of the festival, the Scavenger Hunt promising a massive amount of cords for anyone who can complete the entire list, as well as a medal.
Competitions can't be competitions all the time. Players need rest, the crowds need sustenance. But even though breaks are needed, parties never have to stop. Throughout the month-long Games, there's a Celebration along with it. Both Lumindeas and Stellari as well as Somnius are partaking in the celebration. No matter where dreamers wind up during this celebration, there's not a single location where Natives aren't doing their best to partake in a party that never ends.
The feeling and goodwill that comes with the games and camaraderie is infectious, and even the locals from Somnius are feeling more forgiving of Dreamers than they have in months. They visit Stellari while those who live in Stellari visit Somnius. It's the mingling and shared celebration that simply seems to warm up the town that has so long been alienated by crystal. With the glowing feeling of camaraderie in the air and the collaborative efforts to revive the land of Visium, everywhere seems to be in good spirits.
- 🪩 Dancing and Singing
There's music in the air and lights that shine on dance floors. It's hard to mistake the purpose of these portions of the celebrations, but everything is a game, even between the organized events. Every dance floor is a setup for a partnered dance competition. The genre is different in each location: romantic slow dancing, upbeat country music for line dancing, pop type music that thunders through the air and vibrates through the floor. The possibilities are endless, but the competition is stiff. Locals are paired with other locals, and dreamers with dreamers and everyone gets into the spirit, sweating and swaying to the music.
For more organized events there happens to be a cake walk, where dreamers and locals alike are encouraged to participate and win one of the many fruit flavored cakes. Be careful to not land on the same space as a competitor, or you'll both be eliminated and recieve a pie to the face! Don't worry though, towels and a change of clothes MIGHT be offered as consolation prizes.
For those that don't really feel the dancing beat, there's another way to compete for a little fun. Open mic is provided in some of these dancing locations, with magically powered instruments provided by Seravo himself. A simple request, a song title, and the instruments know the song to be played. Or perhaps in some cases a little poetry might be more someone's speed. In any case, the microphone is ready, the band primed to play.
🍔 Food and Socalizing
It's a bit of a task to get nourishment as well. There are food stalls installed in both cities, though every one comes with a bit of a game or competition in order to get your delicious sustenance. Those who approach the stalls of different kinds of food will be asked to win a compliment war with the guest next to them before their order will be fulfilled. Offer a compliment before the timer is up to win the competition against your chosen competitor. Each round you only get a certain amount of time to think up a compliment, with each round decreasing until no time is left. It might take several rounds before the attendant of the food stall feels inclined to hand over their delicious creations. Of course, once the game is over a plate or drink will be offered. If you want seconds, however, you're going to have to fork over another win.
Other ways of getting your tummies filled include participating in eating contests, several of which are set up throughout various locations. Burger eating, hotdog eating, even ice cream and cake or drinks themselves, the varieties of things offered are endless. Lucky dreamers might even find foods that are unique to where they come from. ...if a bit off. Its hard to make things exactly the same when the ingredients might be scarce.
If you're looking for a spot to relax while eating, there are tables and chairs aplenty. There is one catch, though. In order to sit and eat, one must play. Play what, you ask? Musical chairs. Both Dreamers and locals alike are encouraged to participate in a game of musical chairs with their tablemates, while eating of course. The winner will be given a small ribbon to remember the game by.
Well, perhaps even celebration can all be a competition after all.
Expand to see our Event Summary
Garden of Dreams
The Spirit of Competition
Living Scavenger Hunt
The Gametime Jubilations
A note that teams are ICly selected automatically for characters, but OOCly, we will not be assigning teams. Simply choose whichever team you think suits your character best.
Feel free to ask questions underneath the correct header! We also request of current players that most playing with the event happen on the event post so that those looking to TDM have a chance to play in all of the varied games and competitions we have provided! Overflows will be provided when and if needed.
no subject
[Whether the words he's saying are true or not - whether that's real talent or a childish delusion, he speaks like someone with true knowledge. Akechi won't judge it until he can see with his own two eyes.
The various arenas are within eyesight, but still across streets and fields. It'll be awhile yet until they make it over.]
A student of alchemy or not, I don't know a single person who's claimed to have such a background in that field. In my world it's only pseudoscience with little merit or claim.
no subject
[ And that's because... ]
It's like how you can solve a math problem, but not a fairy tale. People can only protect the existence of fictional creatures using the devil's proof... But with science, however mysterious something might seem, as long as we can observe it, we can understand it, and as long as we can understand it, we can control it.
[ So, different name, but same idea, or so Varian assumes. ]
no subject
[ It's naive. The same logic the researchers use to learn about the Metaverse, take steps closer to understanding it without ever truly knowing the full degree of danger inside.
For something like that, there is no end. There is no absolute and total control. A human heart unbound is a powerful thing. ]
There are some things you can never truly control - even when you think you're close to doing so, it takes only moments to realize the ruin you've stepped into, but-
I suppose you're the professional. I assume you take all the necessary precautions and understand the limits of science, however that looks in your reality.
no subject
Varian is just fourteen. He's just old enough to act independently, but not enough to understand the world; at that tender age, and having been raised with such care, but with an intellect that far exceeds anyone around him. He might have that in any environment for his natural aptitude, but all that much moreso for being born in a place where there was little in the way of intellectualism.
He is naive, but the corners of his lips tug downward, his chin tilting down, and his eyes darken for just a moment at Akechi's observation.
It only takes a moment to realize the ruin you've stepped into. Only a moment, but months can pass trying to undo the damage done.
Months. Years. Who knows how long? ]
I've had a lot of my experiments fail, [ He admits, before sheepishly adding, ] And every once in awhile it's done damage to the village I live in... [ Then more sharply, a little desperately, clearly trying to save face - ] But it's never been anything that wasn't easily fixable! [ And finally, his voice lowering, ] And I've always helped to repair the damage...
[ And returning to a more normal tone, ]
Learning to "control" something isn't the same as being able to utilize it or gain from it.
no subject
In the end, what he does is meaningless. A broken village, destroyed lives, someone consumed by their own strained grip on their wants.
Akechi watches him from the corner of his eye - listens. Understands, in a way.]
Failure is a part of life - hardly anyone could blame you for trying to hone your skills. Taking responsbility for such things is key - the good and the bad. Often people have difficulty reconciling that their actions result in any kind of fault on their part. They blame others, the world, society itself.
[ And it is others. And it is the world. And it is society itself and- ]
I suppose I'm rambling. My point is I find it admirable that you take ownership of what you do and react accordingly.
no subject
[ Varian's not yet close to overcoming his disgust at the king ordering him around despite being the one trapped, helpless, and with his wife under threat. Scorned and blamed Varian for that mess of his own making, just like he'd done while sitting atop his throne in the months prior. That was the first time that man had brushed up against justice. It could be the last.
That's only the first of many examples that he's racked up as of late.
Varian doesn't have that luxury. He doesn't want it nor does he have need for it. ]
No, that's not me. You can't get very far in my field if you're not willing to take ownership of your work. Besides, I've been able to make some really cool stuff.
no subject
[ It's not even a whole ass lie - inventors are a degree above most and have to be both intelligent and creative to see their dreams come to life. ]
I imagine it wasn't changing sand into an entirely new element that blew up a town.
no subject
Different element. That one is more like quartz. The jury's still out on what it can do. It's really pretty though.
[ But in a place where sand is far more accessible than gold and jewels, it has no small amount of value just by existing. ]
And it's not the Flynnolium that caused it, it's the chemical reaction that it triggered when mixed... And it wasn't really that either. Actually, if it were just that I doubt anyone would have noticed. But I was using it to power these massive high pressurized devices - five of them specifically, enough to be spread out beneath my entire village. The internal pressures was already exceeding its limitations, and while I was turning them off the entire flask wound up being mixed with the tub of the compound it's mixed with...
And since it only needs a small amount, the reaction generated gas faster than it can be vented, the pressure within the vessel increased rapidly, and that resulted in the devices themselves exploding. They're spread out in underground tunnels and throughout the village, so the pressure that propagated outward from the explosion source and induced seismic ground shaking. It was more like a minor earthquake.
[ There's a little sigh, and Varian folds his arms. ]
I wouldn't say it was destroyed either, and no one was hurt, but it took awhile to repair everything.
[ This is a child who very easily could blow up an entire village if he had any inclination to do so though.
A beat, then deciding it's important to add - ]
My current project is - was, [ He brings one hand up and flaps his wrists a couple times, ] - Making water heaters, or something like them anyway. Things like that don't really exist where I'm from. I mean, not yet anyway. I've been working on it.
no subject
With or without magic, it's impressive. Useful. Makes him far more resourceful than 75% of the people here if everything he's saying is grounded in reality. ]
Once you get settled, would you be open to audience while you work? This is all fascinating and I want to see with my own two eyes what you do - of course, I'm happy to provide minor assistance as needed and will refrain from distracting you.
no subject
[ He sounds a little surprised. Varian is the type who wants to share his inventions with the world, but alchemy isn't a well-known subject. There's not much interest in it, and less for the fact that he tends to speak to people as though using jargon and unaware of how extensive the knowledge gap is, but every once in awhile someone will stop by with a problem that he can fix. ]
Well, of course! I don't have as much space here, so I won't be able to show you any of the really cool stuff yet but, [ He claps his hands together with such a smug look, ] I'm sure you'll be impressed by what you see.
wrap??? <3 <3
Perhaps one that can get him on par with Akira's ability to create weapons out of scrap or use this kid to do it for him. It would be a useful skill.
Akechi smiles and offers a broad sweeping gesture towards the pool, now only a few feet away. ]
Agreed. I have a feeling you won't let me down. For now, let's see how much of this mess can be cleaned up.