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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.
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[ Those words are practically dripping with venom. He rights himself quickly though, searching for the right way to explain the entire after. He lets out a little sigh, rubbing his wrists. His voice evens out as he continues, traces of frustration coming and going, but remaining calm all the same. It's calm, if a bit flippant, and tired - so very tired. ]
It's a long story, but there's these black rocks that have been showing up, and the king doesn't seem to care if his entire kingdom is destroyed. So, I try to fix it, lose my dad, get accused of attacking my "friend" the princess, spend months hoping they'll help...
[ Varian rolls his shoulders and lifts his hand, drawing little circles with it as he goes along. ]
And when that didn't work, I kidnapped the queen and threatened her so he'd have no choice to but to care... So, some pretty serious stuff.
[ He doesn't regret acting, not really. Just failing. He didn't target any civilians in the end either, which is more than can be said of the people he did. ]
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[See, there was something there, obviously, and that was what he'd been trying to not specifically say, at first. Luz was sure she felt the same way when she thought about what things were like just as she got here, and even thinking about it got her blood boiling.
Varian seemed to be harboring a little of that resentment too].
So you went an extreme route then. I can see now why that'd land you for treason. Kidnapping royalty is bound to get people caring a lot.
Did...it help? I mean, as far as getting your dad back and fixing the kingdom is concerned?
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But... ]
The kingdom, maybe. Everyone knows the truth now, so they won't be able to ignore it. But even if they do, it'll be destroyed before too long.
[ Though he doesn't really care about that part. He frowns and shakes his head. ]
But... I'm the only one who really cares about what happens to my dad, and my plan for how to deal with the amber wound up being a failure.
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So his story, much like hers, was still waiting to be written before he was brought here].
So if you had a wish, it would probably be to find a way to rescue your dad. That, and figure out all that stuff with the rocks.
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Yeah. The rocks and the amber are connected. If I could figure out a way to deal with them, then I could handle the rest by myself. I would be able to fix everything.
[ Everything is a strong word, and he knows that there is a whole host of problems that wouldn't be fixed thanks to his actions. But all of that is secondary to his grief, his grief and the existential threat that's led to it. ]
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[Boy, would Luz know something about THAT].
Also, and I'm only saying this as someone who's just hearing this story second hand, what would your dad think about the whole, um, kidnapping thing?
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... Well, it's just one more disappointment now.
[ He shrugs his shoulders, lifting both hands up in a helpless what can you do sort of gesture before letting them drop back down. There's a smile, but it's as miserable as one could be, and it only lasts so long. ]
But if I had been right, [ He swallows thickly, ] If I had been right, I could have saved him, and, well - actually, he'd probably have killed me. [ A little laugh, something childish and just a touch anxious before he shakes his head, ] But once he realized what I'd done, I'm sure that he would have been proud of me.
[ Disappointment at what he'd done, followed by pride upon really seeing it - as a person, and then as a father, and as a father who realized that his son was left with no other choice. After all, his father was a good man. He was a good man and Varian was the bad guy. But there could still be pride. There could still be relief. He could still be safe. He would be there, waiting.
Varian could see him again, because he would be waiting. ]
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[She could see the misery in the smile though: she knew all too well what it was like to hide the pain you didn't want others to see.
Then again, she could also imagine he was still processing all the things that happened on top of being brought here].
No one is saying he wouldn't be proud. You're his son, and doing that would be an accomplishment. But I wonder what he would have thought of where you wound up in that journey. Parents usually want the best for us, and it hurts them when they see us going through heavy things.
I had to be reminded of that myself, before I was brought here.
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He wonders what he would have thought. Would his father have been disappointed? Would he have looked down on his son? Or would he be disappointed in the kingdom that abandoned both of them? He had begged for help. He had tried. He never wanted this.
Unable to answer, he focuses on her last statement: ]
... You did?
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Oh yeah. When I got back to my mom after I'd been, well, staying in another world. Some really messed up things happened to me, and when I got back, I was in a pretty dark place.
i might have stayed that way too, if it weren't for her.
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A loving family. Mother, father, child, wrapped around each other contentedly. That's how it so often is. If not that, then a loving, two-person family. Someone. Something.
Varian rubs his wrists again. ]
... She must really love you.
[ That's all that he can think to say. ]
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Granted, she still misses her own mom terribly, and it has been almost to years, which is more than enough to make her wonder how long it would be before she got to see her again].
I miss her everyday. I hope she doesn't know I'm actually gone though.
I feel like I've caused her enough strife sometimes. You ever feel that way?
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... Yeah. I'm an alchemist. But my inventions go wayside, and I've made a mess of things more than a few times.
[ But his father had never been angry at him, much less raised a hand against him. It might have hurt less than the disappointment. There was an absence of anything that was painful in a different way than punishment might have been. ]
Do you?
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[Luz could absolutely relate there].
A little. I did once, enough that I would have changed myself, to make things easier for her. I know her pain must have been hard back then. Even kids can feel that, you know?
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... Yeah. It's hard for them too. That's why I have to find a way to save him. It's my fault that he wound up in this position, so I have to be the one to fix it.
[ There's a light frown, and then looping back to Luz's original statement, ]
Did you change yourself for her?
[ It doesn't sound like it, but... He wants to hear it. ]
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[She could tell Varian had done some bad things, which was different than actually BEING bad, which had its own issues].
Actually? No. At least, not the way she thought. Turns out I just needed to not be in the world I came from to actually find a place I was accepted. At the same time that happened someone from that world snuck into mine, impersonated me and then did the "changing" part so mom wasn't suspicious. As it turns out, getting rid of the things that made me me wasn't something mom wanted at all!
Thought it would have been hard to convince me that was the truth back then.
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... What about now? Are you two close?
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But in Luz's case? That situation was far more complicated, and resulted in Luz having a kind of a foster sister now].
Before arriving here, we were good. It was because of her that I wound up finally meeting my Palisman. Basically, a magical creature made from wood that can act as a staff for you to fly and to help you cast magic if you know now. Additionally, they became a bonded friend who's features you sculpt and choose.
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[ Varian's seems mundane by comparison. He's dreamed of adventure as much as any other child, but in the end he was satisfied with how things were, and certainly it was preferable to the current state of affairs. ]
I have a friend too, but I don't know if I'd say he's bonded. And he's just a raccoon. And I just couldn't get him to stop coming in my lab.
[ They're friends though, so there's that. ]
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[Exciting, sure. That didn't mean it was free of heartbreak and suffering and strife, of course. In the last few years Luz had seen more excitement than she'd ever had compared to the other years of life she'd had on Earth, and being here had only further made things atypical].
He's "just" a racoon? No animal is "just" an anything but the friend you make it. The racoon chose to be around you, after all. That's just as important as any animal bond!
[Said by Luz, who not only loved animals but could also turn into them].
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You're right. He's a thief too, and surprisingly good at avoiding tripwires. And setting them off. He's better at that.
[ But he laughs a little when he says that, and there's a touch of affection to it. ]
But he's my friend first.
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Raccoons do have a bit of reputation for that. I think it has something to do with the opposable thumbs. I always thought that was cool though.
[She smiled]. I figured. Honestly, I hope you find more too, now that you're here.
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[ He hopes so too, really. ]
Hey, uh, do you - do you know the way back to the nearest town?
[ Now that the adrenaline high is coming down, Varian is... He's more fatigued than he thought he would be. ]
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[She smiled, nodding. He had some searching to do himself, she could see that plainly. It was funny: when she first arrived here, she was so sure she'd died that she thought this place was a sort of purgatory.
Years later, she was seeing there was some truth to it, just not in the way she thought].
Yeah. You need a place to recoup, I'll bet.
do we wanna do a lil wrap soon? c:
[ It's a breathy response, accompanied by a soft exhale that could almost be called a chuckle, and Varian runs his hand through his hair. He's begun to settle down, the adrenaline beginning to fade, and his smile is just a bit crooked. But he's a little better, at least. ]
It's, uh... It's been a long day... [ He rubs his arm nervously, ] If there's a place I could stay for the night...
Sure, if you like! They are talking on Sleepr too!
yes!! we can focus on sleepr c:
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