TDM #4

[labyrinmods]

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.

Comments

Quasimodo | The Hunchback of Notre Dame | oldbie

[ugliestfaceinparis]

[Suspicious Message][un: Quasimodo]

My master... he was right about me being a monster. They all couldn't stand to look at me.

[Take Off All Your Clothes]

[As soon as Quasimodo steps onto the beach, his clothes change into a pair of swim shorts and a interesting Hawaiian shirt. He glances at a briefly, a little confused. But it doesn't last long because he sees the ocean!!]

This is incredible... is it okay to go in the water?

[He walks up to where the water sloshes over the sand, and cautiously dips his toes in. He backs away, a little afraid.]

I-I don't... know how to swim.

Message | UN: eldritchghost

[busball]

I'm gonna go out on a limb and say fuck that guy. He sounds like my dad, which means he automatically sucks.

[ugliestfaceinparis]

I mean, he is like my father. He raised me when no one else would?

I just. I don't know. I want to live a normal life like everyone else.

All them clothes

[inherentrage]

( Sun Spear sat a few feet away in her own swimsuit, her fiery colored shawl set over her shoulders. )

I haven't seen anyone get attacked or anything, so it's probably fine. ( She stood and stepped closer. ) You can get in fairly deep before you have to start treading water.

[ugliestfaceinparis]

Really? That's a relief. I don't even really know what's in the ocean... really big fish?

But I could try going out a little further, if that'll be okay.

[ausgebrannt]

Perhaps then, stay to the shallows to start with.

[The advice comes from a freckle-covered ginger in a fairly absurd pair of swim trunks standing just behind.]

But ja, I think it is okay. This is different than the ocean I have seen, but... still the ocean.

[ugliestfaceinparis]

Y-yeah, I don't think the shallow water is so bad...

What's the ocean like where you live?

Message | UN: DarkWings

[originaldragoon]

Usually those who say such things to others turn out to be the real monster.

[ugliestfaceinparis]

Oh no! No no, he saved me from being drowned as a baby! Without him, I would've died.

[Which of course, is a lie that Frollo told him, but who is he to question it?]

Suspicious Message Text; UN: Roseofdawn

[beautyrest]

Tell me, Quasimodo, what have you done that would make you a monster?

[ugliestfaceinparis]

Well, I mean, just how I look alone...

[Doesn't that make him a monster?]

[Message]

[onejump]

What? No you're not!

Is that really what he told you?

[... Well, it's remarkable how quickly this 'master' of his went from somebody Aladdin didn't even know existed to somebody he wanted to give a piece of his mind.]

[ugliestfaceinparis]

He said the world was cruel, and that I was ugly. But he was right about it. They all felt the same way about me - that I was a monster.

beach

[potentiae]

[ Also standing by the edge of the water is a very small girl, about 4'4". One might think she's quite young, but it's clear from looking at her and hearing her speak that she's a teenager— just a very short one. She's dressed in a blue floral swimsuit, with a white cover up and wide brimmed hat keeping her skin from getting sunburned. ]

That's alright. I don't know how to swim, either. But the water is nice and cool, which is a refreshing change from the weather in town, don't you think?

[ugliestfaceinparis]

O-oh, it really is! It was so hot, I thought I'd burn right up on the spot. But this place is really nice... even just sitting in the sun.

[Which Quasimodo does just that - let's himself sit down where the water meets the sand.]

Message, un: rosemary

[murky]

A monster, because of how you look? People have told me, too.

You're only a monster if you do bad things.

[ugliestfaceinparis]

Is that so?

They all treated me like a monster. It made me feel like he was right.

Suspicious Message - @un:UNDEFINED

[moldyolddad]

If it's any consolation, being a monster has nothing to do with what you look like and everything to do with what's in your heart. One of the kindest people I knew was a scarily large guy, while one of the most beautiful people I've ever seen was also the most evil person I'd ever had the chance to run into. Your master sounds like he's projecting his own guilt onto you, and that ain't healthy.

[ugliestfaceinparis]

I did see kindness in the woman who saved me from the Feast of Fools.

My Master has always been very strict, but he also saved me from being drowned as a baby. And he seems like he knows a lot about the world? So I just

I don't know.

Text | un: Dynamight

[xploud]

Those people are cowards. Your "master", too. Looks don't make a monster, actions do.

[He would know that firsthand, haha. :')]

Clothes

[anything_grows]

[ Honestly, Willow is wondering about the water herself, standing just out of range of the waves. But seeing Quasimodo dip his toes in with no negative consequences does have her relaxing a bit, and she carefully comes closer to the water.

Hearing his admission, though, she smiles a little and gestures towards the sandy shore. ]

Well, that's okay. You don't really need to swim if you stick closer to the beach. You can still feel the water without getting in too deep, right?

Clothes

[woo_oo]

[ Webby - obligatory swimsuit share - was about to go announce of course it's okay, let's go have fun! ... But she does pause. ]

Actually, this is a whole different world filled with magic and monsters, maybe the ocean here is different too... I'll test it out for you!

[ So she takes a running start and jumps into the closest part of the water! ... Hm, no acid, no tentacles, feels wet. Sorry for the minimal splashing. ]

Hmmm... so far, so good!

Clothes

[darkwaltz]

If you can't swim, you can stay at the shallow end. Or even just play in the sands without going into the water.

[Say the girl, in an old styled bathing suit. She's smiling at him, not at all bothered by his appearance.]

That Bloody Message

[callmeaprincess]

You are not a monster, Quasimodo. Like I said before, you're just as much a person as the rest of us, and if those people and your so-called 'master' can't see that, then they are the real monsters.

[She has never even met this master and she already hates him - to have conditioned this gentle man to see himself so badly.]

suspicious message, un: belle

[bibliotheque]

you are not a monster. just because he said so does not make it true. I don't even think that of Beast. I would think this is just a matter of people getting to know you.