buttrinthum | TDM #4

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TDM #4

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, and it simply gives you a welcoming:

“Welcome to my Labyrinth. Per our agreement, you have consented to live your life here for an undetermined amount of time. In exchange, I will grant you the wish that you desire the most.”

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: honeysuckles & day lilies Time spent too close to the day lily invokes a state of forgetfulnesss. The longer characters stay in the garden, especially if they are close to the day lilies, they will begin to forget important things about themselves. What they forget is up to the player, but longer time spent in the garden can reduce them to a completely amnesic state. Better hurry out and try to find the way out while you can! Honeysuckles will have no effect on characters unless they decide to drink the sap from them. The honeysuckle nectar will give characters a temporary power boost. This applies to characters who have drank their potion or have regained their powers. This might be useful to salvage for later, especially considering the chaos that goes on in Somnius!

It looks like there are plenty of others who are just now waking up from their dream-state as well.. why not go ahead and say hello?

[ The arrival aspect of this prompt is reserved for new characters, but anyone can interact with the garden flowers. The effects will last for a few hours or days. ]

It's Getting Hot in Here

Speaking of chaos, the current state of Somnius is.. not great. It's not by any other means than a natural disaster that is completely a coincidence and not because Dreamers rebelled against the Skeksis and didn't heed to townsfolk warnings, right? Right.

As the weather gets hotter and hotter, the obvious side effects become clear - most notably, the townspeople are closing up shop until the weather settles down. The usual markets don’t open in the wee hours of the morning and even the blacksmith has laid down his hammer during the midpoint of the days, trying to avoid the peak of the warm rush. Anyone trying to speak to the townsfolk about the sudden change in weather will find them oddly standoffish and almost rude - it’s obvious who they’re blaming for their predicament.

Another clearly dissatisfied group of society are the mermaids of Lake Omen, who may be spotted more regularly than usual across the span of the boiling hot heat. While still a rare sight, the warmth of the water encouraged a few more angry and bitter of their kind to poke their heads out and try and find the source of their woes - hand in hand with their usual siren call. It may be possible to have them leave you be if you offer them something a little on the cooler side, but with the weather as it is… It might end up being more of a challenge than anticipated.

The days go by and it doesn’t seem as though the heat is ebbing in the least, the sun blazing in the sky and the shops still kept under tight lock and key. Even some of the town staples - the bakery and the inn - have their doors close to strangers, trying to find some means of keeping cool. As the days go by, characters that have affinity to fire (or any kind of fire power!) may find that their powers are a little… Out of control.

With the sun high in the sky and blazing hot, some fire seems to be going a little haywire across Visium and not acting as it should. Be it burning a little hotter than intended, blazing out of control or simply refusing to work whatsoever, fire powers are acting with a mind of their own. Characters who have fire-related powers, be it their own or through potions, may experience the same hazards, on a scale of disobedience to refusal to work.

Finally, the heat does seem to die down and the townsfolk release themselves from their self-inflicted isolation, but they’re still not completely at ease with the strangers and keep them at an arms length: some things are not easily forgotten, and the damage seems to have been done when it comes to the skeksis. They may speak to characters once the heatwave is over, but will consistently refuse to talk about the Skeksis, the attack or anything to do with the taxes. You had your chance, you blew it.

So Take Off All Your Clothes

Somnius has, from everyone's knowledge, always been nestled around a giant labyrinth built by The Almighty Lord Vaeros, as some townsfolk say. What's so good about a lord who seems to leave a town in shambles and doesn't seem to help? He's sus. Everything about this is sus.

However, one morning during the heatwave, both townsfolk and Dreamers alike will hear a crumble and a crash.. almost as if a wall is broken. The labyrinth has always been indestructible, but as Dreamers investigate, they will find a hole broken through the labyrinth, opening up to a new era. Should you go through the hole, Dreamers will see an area they haven't ever seen before...

Welcome to the New Location: Indigo Sand Grove. As the name implies, the sand here isn't white or.. well.. sandy colored, but instead a beautiful dark blue with the occasional glitter grains. It almost appears black if the scorching sun isn't hitting it just right. Any other foliage or trees seen here will be typical of Earthly tropical beaches with the occasional unidentifiable vegetation. All in all, Indigo Sand Grove and its beaches seem welcoming and not harmful at all. In fact, there are bamboo garden chairs sitting out, enticing people to have a beach party and sun bathe! As soon as characters touch their feet into the indigo sands, their clothing will change into a swimsuit from their home. The swimsuit is for keeps! Enjoy!

The sea is safe to swim in, filled with typical fish that would come from Earth and crystal clear waters. Characters will feel a sense of joy on the beach. It's not a forceful kind of magic, but something about this place really wants you to have a good time, so why not take advantage of that?

I am Gettin So Hot, I Wanna... Hunt Beetles!

CW: bugs, beetle imagery

Along with a swimsuit, characters will find a bamboo net, designed for hunting beetles. You may see that there is a bamboo forest neighboring the sandy beach where characters will find insects to capture with their net. If capturing beetles isn't your forte, maybe just go up to the person you have a close bond with and hit them over the head with your net. The choice is yours.

Among the typical insects, there are three types of horned beetles. Anyone familiar with beetle fighting may see this as an opportunity to find their new pet, but those with money on the mind may find out that the townsfolk will purchase beetles for bonus shards. Here are the types of beetles and their values:

CLICK FOR BEETLES!

Horned Dynastid (Red): 5 bonus shards.

Horned Atlas (Black): 10 bonus shards.

Horned Hercules (Gold): 15 bonus shards.

There will be a ruined down, old sign on the main path in the bamboo forest that lists these types of beetles and their price. Team up together and enter the forest to find a fortune!

Suspicious Message #2

On the morning of the 1st, some dreamers will receive a message from an unknown user.

Who or what has broken your heart before?

They will feel compelled to respond with a truthful answer, as if their brains had gone into a trance, and before they know it, their response will be there for everyone to see. It cannot be deleted or changed. The user will not respond personally, but you get the sense they are definitely reading. Characters who are disinterested in romance can also mention familial or platonic heartbreak. It can also be a devastating event or anything else.

[ This is an additional network option for characters to interact with. Feel free to add a network prompt into any of your top levels. If you do not want to interact with this prompt, simply assume your character did not get the message. All threads are public unless actively privated by characters. We generally encourage threadjacking and engagement, so feel free to mention if threadjacking is fine with you so that others are aware. Note that the NPC will not be actively responding. ]

OOC

Welcome to the labyrinthum TDM! All events are game canon. New characters (invited or not) and old characters alike are welcome to play in it. Existing characters can start their own logs or network posts for the event if they wish to.

New and Old characters are welcome to top level on the TDM. Please state in the header if you are a new or old player! Also, new characters may link their top levels under the new character comment so they are easier to find. Thanks for your cooperation!

New 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.

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

Unique to this TDM, we have a beetle hunting event. Be sure to comment under the RNG Beetle Hunt to see which beetle your character finds in order to exchange later for bonus shards! One RNG per character, please.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Arrival]

[As Kiara finds a red potion laying next to her, she wanders through the maze in a state of shock and confusion. The last thing she remembers, she was nuzzling Kovu after finding him after his exile. But she doesn't see him here...]

Kovu...?

[She calls out, but no one she knows responds. She finds some other people waking up, and if you happen to be the one waking up, there's a fully-grown lioness staring down at you curiously.]

[It's Getting Hot in Here]

[It's hot, and Kiara looks for a place to cool down somewhere in town. But you know what a bunch of townspeople don't like while dealing with the heat? A lion walking around their city.

People run past screaming "lion!! It's a lion! Run!!" While Kiara runs after them - not threateningly, but just trying to get some answers.]

Wait! I'm not going to hurt you! Just... come back! Ugh!

[It seems like she is causing more chaos than she means to, as people run and knock over carts and drop their groceries as she approaches.]

[So take off all your clothes.]

[Kiara doesn't have clothes. But somehow, a seashell necklace has appeared around her neck as she steps onto the sand. She doesn't really seem to notice, because she's never really seen a body of water this big before.]

Wow... it's beautiful! It just goes on forever!

[And with her tail swishing, she makes a flying leap into the water. Hope you don't mind getting splashed by a laughing lion!]

[Rogal, being of a rather heroic temperament, is immediately drawn to the sound of panic. Lion, lion, they scream, and his heart goes out to them! Turning up on the scene sword in hand, Rogal pauses.

She just looks so frustrated... and then she speaks, and Rogal blinks. He laughs, and then smiles warmly.]

Ah, hello! [He waves with his free hand, hoping that he's projecting "I'm friendly!" loudly enough with his body language to offset the threat of the sword in his hand.] Do you need some help, miss...?

[She stops her chase, ultimately realizing that it isn't helping. There's a person waving, and she cautiously approaches - just in case he realizes who she is and runs away too.]

Actually, yeah! I'm dying for a drink... maybe something to eat? But everyone I talk to has been running away... they're more skittish than antelope!

Levi turns at the sound of a voice, expecting to see someone (human) standing beside him. He looks down at the creature in confusion for a moment, unclear what exactly it is besides big - before it gives a peal of laughter and bounds into the water.

Instead of becoming thoroughly soaked, he suddenly feels the sun directly on his skin where there had been clothing - now only a pair of light woven shorts on his waist, bare feet pressed into the sand instead of boots. Somehow all of his clothing he had been wearing is now also bound up with his cloak and other items, set nearby on drier sand.

Another splash hits him, the water warmer than he expected, waves pulling at his ankles. He hadn't intended on getting wet, but - so much for that.

"Oi!" He shouts at the frolicking feline. "Watch it."

She laughs, and swims out of the water and onto the sand.

"Sorry! I'm sorry. I just got so excited - I'll try to mind the splashing."

He's seen all kinds of wild shit today, a talking animal somehow seems like nothing at this point - except that he's assuming she's simply a transformed human, much like his encounter with someone else earlier who could turn into a dragon. So sure, a talking...very large cat.

"First time for you too?" He gestures to the water. "The ocean."

[Okay, but a lioness wandering around Somnium is a little bizarre, but not enough that Katsuki isn't immediately going trigger happy trying to fight it or anything. It's one lion, first of all, and clearly it's just looking for a watering hole in this unbearable heat. And, you know...it can fucking talk. He shakes his head a little bit - another newcomer, probably, who's come in at perhaps the worst time of all. Distrust and resentment towards Sleeprs is at an all time high right now, so this feels about right.

Not to mention the heat is also probably frying the goblin and gelflings' brains. Katsuki approaches slowly - he's still wary, this is a lion after all - and keeps a distance between himself and the big cat.]

Tch...you'd think these fuckers would be used to a talking animal wandering around by now. Oi, Whiskers, you're thirsty, right? There's a fountain close by. [He nods for the lion to follow, shoving his hands into the pockets of his baggy shorts.]

Oh, is there? I've been dying for a drink, thank you!

[She pauses.]

You're... not scared of me?

Should I be?

[He raises a brow at her, eyes slightly narrowed. Yeah, he's definitely a little wary, but...no offense to the so-called King of the Jungle™, but Katsuki is pretty sure he could take on a lion relatively easily. Not that he necessarily wants to - big cats are cool, and he's friends with a friend's pet tiger - but...if push comes to shove and all that.]

[From the arrival to literally everything else, Jasiri has been scared and confused. A lion wandering around is one thing, sure, but a hyena is another entirely. She gets it, a little bit, most of the other hyena clans are mean, ruthless, cruel groups that allied with Scar when he was still alive. The distrust and stigma surround herself and her species is...well. It's not great, but it's at least somewhat justified.

Not that she enjoys it all that much, though. Or tries to preach that all beings in the great circle of life are the same. There's really not that big a difference between any of them, and if they play their roles properly, like they're all meant to, they can proper. Together. If only the other clans saw it that way, too...

Tentatively, the young hyena shuffles her way onto the sands, exotic and colorful flowers instantly appearing in her mane and wreathed around her neck like a lei. Her poor tail had been tucked between her legs practically all day - sticking to less populated areas to avoid being chased from water troughs, rubbish bins, or just walking the streets. But the sight of such a huge watering hole has her perking up instantly, making a dash toward the crisp water.]

Finally, water! [She hasn't noticed Kiara just yet, being a small distance away, and shoves her snout into the cool water to drink and--] Yeaugh!! Blech! It's terrible... Like a herd of buffalo took a swim!!

[Kiara notices Jasiri... and is immediately on edge a bit. Her father told her stories of the hyenas, along with Scar. But also... he told her stories of the Outsiders, and Kovu was nothing like that. She tries to approach - cautiously.]

Buffalo water... now there's something I haven't heard before.

[Kiara smiles, but it's a bit nervous and her guard is up.]

Hi.

[Jasiri does startle a little bit, but is immediately relieved to see a familiar face, and one of the royal family, no less. Thank goodness, she was starting to think this strange place was just filled with those strange, unknown creatures.]

Your Highness, thank goodness!! [She gives a bit of a bow forward, folding one paw to dip down a little, but straightens pretty quickly.] Please tell me you know what's going on, or where we are. I can't spot Pride Rock anywhere, and any time I try to look around, I'm chased off by those featherless storks waving around sticks and this flat, black rock-looking thing.

[It was a frying pan.]

[ Maybe it's partly because she's still missing her magic, but Willow somehow finds herself wandering back to the garden she'd woken up in; there were some plants she recognized that helped ease some of the homesick feeling she has, but there are also many others that aren't familiar, and she can't help wanting to learn a bit about them too.

As she's exploring, though, she eventually comes across Kiara. And while some people might freak out about being face to face with an actual lioness, Willow just offers a small wave. ]

Oh, hi. I'm guessing that you just arrived here recently?

[ There are still a lot of people she hasn't met in Somnius, it's true, but she has a feeling she would recognize or at least have heard about a lion walking around before. ]

[Kiara offers up a smile, feeling a bit relieved she's not here alone. While she doesn't recognize Willow's... species, that's no reason not to make a new friend!]

Yes! Do you live here? Or did you wake up here too? It's such a relief not to be alone here!

[ Willow certainly wouldn't mind a new friend, even one that happens to be a talking animal. Because why not? ]

Technically I did wake up here, but that was a while ago. I guess it's pretty common for people to suddenly turn up here once in a while.

My name is Willow.

[Well every day here was proving to be even more of an adventure than the last. Here he thought he'd seen it all when he found a high functioning talking duckling, but no, fate decided to throw a distressed talking lioness in his path.

While he'd been incredibly bitter at towards the locals since the incident with the enchanted costumes for that play- Vil supposed he'd show some mercy and gently guide the giant predator from chasing them down the streets.

Though honestly he was doing it more for the lioness.

He reached out as she was passing to place a hand on her back.]

Excuse me, hello, I'll answer your questions.

[She stops suddenly, surprised.]

Oh - thank goodness! I just - I'm trying to find the way back to Pride Rock? Or... have you seen any other lions around here? Maybe one with a black mane?

[He knelt down, but remained cautious and ready to bolt at the first sign of danger. She may look sad and sweet and lost, but she is STILL a lion that is fully capable of tearing out his throat on a whim.]

I'm afraid you won't like what I am going to say, but I'll have you know that I'm in the same situation as you.

You're currently very far away from home, and currently, there's no way for us to get back on our own. I haven't seen any other lions either.

[He tentatively reached out to pet the top of her head if she'd let her, maybe there's some universally cat instincts in there he can use for appeasement.]

I'm sorry, I know it's a lot to take in so suddenly. Is there something I can get you? Some water maybe?

[If this were six months ago, Jasmine might have cried out at the sight of a lion.

She has grown used to such absurdities at this point, and also has grown quite impatient to what exactly Somnius natives will tolerate these days. So when she sees a few of them scream and escape to their houses, she groans in exasperation.]

Really?! You'll welcome Rajah and let the Skeksis ransack your homes, but you won't accept other cats?

[A gelfling trips over a barrel as he runs around her, not paying the least attention to her words, so she rolls her eyes and changes into her tigress form to trot alongside Kiara.]

I promise, they were once not so hostile to strangers.

[Oh!! Another cat, though this one with stripes!]

Well... I don't think me chasing them helped. You haven't happened to see other lions around here, have you?

... Maybe that's a silly question, because everyone would probably be shouting less if they had. Or maybe more?

I'm sorry, but I haven't seen any since I've settled in. Some of us can change into felines, but none are lions yet. You must be the first one.

Honestly, I don't understand their problem. With how many of them come in all shapes and sizes, you'd think we look less threatening.

Ho there, little lioness!

[Nobunaga reflexively moves between her and the fleeing ~~idiots~~ locals.]

My name is Oda Nobunaga. Demon King of the 6th Heaven. [He is clearly not the least bit scared. But he's used to wrestling a tiger and fighting humans so there's that.] Perhaps I can help instead. What is you seek?

[Given the heat wave, he's not wearing all of his black full plate mail armor, but enough that he still looks a bit out of place, even if he's holding his own.]

[ As Kiara continues to explore, the hunter may feel like be the one being hunted, given that a pair of eyes seem to be following them...

... And then, there's a small flurry of petals and pollen as a tiny bird bursts from a flower bush in sheer excitement. ]

ARE YOU A TALKING LION?! ... LIONESS?!

[ oh shit a lion!!

... is what he would think if he were anyone else. Admittedly, yeah, he can't help looking startled when he sees her - he's only human - but he does have vague memories-but-not-his-memories of being a lion, and meeting some lions, and that has, perhaps, dulled his natural sense of fear a little bit. He's just finished swallowing that little potion (without hesitation) when she comes around the bend, and to his credit, he only nearly drops the bottle. ]

Woah! [ pause. ] Um... Hi?

[ raising his free hand slightly in placation. ]

Edited 2023-07-05 00:33 (UTC)

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

TDM #4

Kiara | The Lion King 2 | Newbie

It's Getting Hot in Here

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so take off all your clothes

Re: so take off all your clothes

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Getting Hot | i literally gasped out loud aaaaaa

<3

<333

Take Off All Your Clothes

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Arrival

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It's getting hot in here

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Gettin' hott in herre

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Getting hot

Arrival

arrival