TDM #1

[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: poinsettias and mistletoe. You’ll soon find out that being around the poinsettias give you an odd sense of joy no matter how confusing the situation may seem and the mistletoe, which is left over from the holiday season, gives you the desire to kiss or hold hands with the nearest person to you. 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?

Somnius / Snow Angels

With the influx of new life, the humble town a barkeep tells you is called Somnius seems to come alive as well, with new faces to join that of the resident fairies, goblins and other townfolk. There’s bustling energy to the land that the townfolk will tell you wasn’t quite there before, and some suspect that the presence of the new arrivals might be powering the world around them in some way - but that’s a question to be answered on another day. The quaint town of Somnius needs a little bit of care, that rustic feel to the mushroom houses, old shops and weathered castles too evident at first glance, but it’s not a bad place to live, as the locals will tell you. It almost seems like everything will be okay…

But of course, things are never so simple.

Whether you have been wandering around to get your bearings, talking to the locals or exploring your new humble (very humble) abode, you can expect to find mysterious ice sculptures - fashioned in the shape of snow angels, with blades in their hands - appearing in random places around the town. There are some that manifest in the middle of the street, some that sit quietly at the edge of an inn, and even some that appear right beside your bed, staring at you as you wake up. It’s unclear how these sculptures even got here, but close proximity to them will conjure up feelings of unrest, like you should not step any closer.

It’s smart to trust your gut in these situations. Step too close to a snow angel and it will come to life, moving with the grace of flowing water. They make a vague request and will spare only those able to heed it.

“Cold … so cold … Even the days of Visium are so cold. Have you any warmth to spare us?”

Some angels will accept an article of clothing as warmth. Others are greedy and keep demanding more, wanting to take everything that you have on your body. Heed their requests and they will spare you. Resist even just a little, and that’s when they draw their swords.

It’s not too easy to defeat an angel with brute force given that they reform themselves immediately. Running away or blasting them with fire could do the trick. Be careful not to get cut by their blades, however…

Characters who get cut by their blades will experience an inconsolable sense of chill and emptiness, right down to their bones. They will find themselves desiring ‘warmth’ from others in different ways - whether through physical contact, or affectionate words and gestures. There might be the few who go feverish in their desire for warmth. For those characters – the open fireplace is looking like a very tantalizing place to sit in right now (Yes, sit in, not by). They might even feel compelled to pull a friend in with them. That can’t be good for anyone…

The effects will only subside if the condition of receiving ‘warmth’ is met. This can be in the literal sense (physical warmth and intimacy) or figurative (feelings of love, acceptance and happiness).

Bonfire

When night falls, the temperatures only drop further, which does no favours for the poor souls who had to give up their clothing. The locals want to welcome the new arrivals and give everyone an opportunity to unwind from a busy and chaotic day of being hunted by snow sculptures. That’s why they’ve set up a gathering in the middle of town square. Food and alcohol is being generously supplied by The Cask & Anvil, and marketplace vendors have set up pop up stands to try and cajole the new arrivals into purchasing some fancy new clothes or a pretty gemstone they claim will ward off danger (claims not verified).

At the center of it all is a large bonfire that’s warming up the square. Everyone is encouraged to warm themselves by it after a long day, eat, and make merry. In fact, there’s a certain sense of enchantment to the crackling fire that seems to draw even the shiest wallflower in, pushing them to sit with others and make conversation. As the night goes on, the newly arrived dreamers will find themselves settling easily into the warm and bustling mood, any stresses and anxieties melting away. With time, they’ll start to find themselves without a filter, more than happy to talk about themselves and the life they had led prior to coming to Visium. In fact, they will feel compelled to share a story from their past - one that might be joyous, comedic, thrilling, or tragic. Whatever sorts of feelings come attached to their story, it will be one of emotional significance.

In the back of their minds, they might get the sense someone else is listening.

OOC

Welcome to the labyrinthum TDM! 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. Yes, this includes the Labyrinth - though characters will not be able to clear the maze. Please comment here to request an outcome for your character's labyrinth exploration and a moderator will get to you shortly. (The longest a character can stay in the Labyrinth is 3 days.)

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

Comments

[takumina]

( we are truly, truly sorry you're about to be traumatized, megumi. we did not mean for this to happen! and by 'we', we mean … yes, we did mean for this to happen, but it's all for the fun of it. nothing more than that!

of course, gojo doesn't realize that he's switched back to mostly-human — he still has a tail he's going to have to contend with until he can figure out how to make that go away, but that's neither here nor there — and while it does take him a moment or two to comprehend that he's actually spoken aloud and isn't just thinking to himself, it's going to take him a moment more to realize that his clothes are not on his person.

they are, in fact, precisely where he'd left them, which is at least a good arm's length away, and that is a long arm's length if we're going by his. which, we are. blast it all. ) I'm—

( yikes, that's a pretty powerful shove there, kiddo; his reaction times is generally much better than it is now, but having just been roused from a nice little nap and having shifted into a form of the feline persuasion has left him a little slow on the uptake, and as such finds him sprawling less-than-elegantly within reach of his clothes with a thin nail-scratch across one cheek and over the curve of one pale shoulder.

is he pouting? he's pouting. ) I didn't do it on purpose! ( behind him, his tail twitches in puffed-up agitation, and at least then he finally notices he still has it.

and he huffs, but at least he's reaching to pull his clothing back into place where it belongs. ) So mean … ( sulk, sulk, sulky sensei. )

[mahoraga]

[ It only dawns on him after that he's actually managed to hurt his teacher for what might be the very first time. Usually, the strongest man alive is virtually untouchable. That's worrisome in a way, that Gojo - one of the most important people in his life, and the key to solving all their problems back home - could be injured by something as miniscule as a cat's claws here.

Though they are both men, and it isn't too strange to be around nudity where they come from (in communal baths, that is), it's the circumstances around it that have Megumi flustered. They were lulled into such a peaceful calm before disaster struck, and he suddenly had a naked man on his lap. ]

You should've controlled yourself better. [ There's a snap, his gaze turned away as he waits for his mentor to dress themselves again. That pouting? He does see it, but he ignores it completely! ]

Wear your clothes ...

[takumina]

( it does startle him, at least for a moment, when he realizes he's been scratched in the first place; he's been well aware of the fact that he's essentially defenseless here aside from inherent things like wit and smarts and his training in things like martial arts, but he's been so heavily dependent on his infinity technique to nullify even having to think of much else, because the barrier itself is so complete —

it's. unsettling, to say the very least of it, but he's not going to have much choice in anything, is he? other than finding ways to deal with an effective handicap. he's adaptable, he will survive.

especially if it's only kitten scratches.

he pulls his clothes back into place at a meandering pace, perhaps more because megumi seems so flustered than anything else? nudity isn't so uncommon back home, no, but there is something to be said about suddenly having your naked mentor and benefactor in your lap without warning. surely. he's just going to think it's funny for a little while, if you don't mind. )

I was comfortable. ( he offers idly, like it hadn't been blatantly obvious with the excessive purring. ) And you can't expect me to have complete control over something new instantly, you know. ( what, you mean the strongest man in the world doesn't immediately have control over his new animal form??? scandalous.

he finally finishes dressing, complete with glasses in place of the blindfold. )

Happy now?

[mahoraga]

[ He knows that none of this is actually Gojo's fault, but he doesn't feel inclined to apologise for the violence he had inflicted. It's not that Megumi thinks he's in the right, or is the sort to disrespect his elders. They just have a familiarity that allows for such a thing - for occasional bratty or childish behaviour he wouldn't often show to anyone else. It comes with spending excessive time with someone for 9 years.

He feels just a pinch of guilt - not a whole lot, but it's there. There's a glance at that scratch he's caused, the bright red mark across the man's cheek and peeking out of the fabric over his shoulder. Megumi isn't used to seeing Gojo hurt at all, and that itself is worrying. ]

Let's find something to disinfect it with. [ Who knows what weird germs you can find in fantasy land? He doubts there will be much in the way of modern first aid but they can probably dab some rubbing alcohol over the scratch to be sure. ]

[takumina]

( megumi has always been more candid with him than he is with anyone else, and he knows that comes, in part, from being around him so much during his formative years — and being bossed around by him for any number of reasons, but that's neither here nor there — and, truthfully? he's glad that he gets to see that side of him, because it means he's comfortable with him and that he trusts him, and if it means he gets more of his bratty side than he would think to give anyone else. he'll take it.

even if it means, in this particular scenario, that he ends up physically injured in longer than he cares to remember. 'tis but a scratch, as we've probably mentioned before. he'll get through this.

he brushes the pad of his thumb over the cut at his cheek, checking to make sure it isn't bleeding or anything annoying like that, and gives a dismissive shrug. )

It'll be fine, Megumi. No need to worry over it. ( he closes some of the distance between them again, reaching out with one hand to ruffle the other's dark hair as he has so many times over the years. )

Unless you just want a reason to fuss over me …

[mahoraga]

[ After coming down from the absurdity of the situation before, and settling into a more usual dynamic, that's when Megumi starts to feel the gravity of the loss - how long it's felt like it's been since he's been able to have a silly conversation with this man, even if it's only been a month or so since the sealing. They've known each other for 9 years, and there was never a time he's been left alone or cast away by his mentor and benefactor during that time. Come to think of it, he took all that for granted, didn't he? And now they've on borrowed time in a way, because there's no guarantee when the whims of the land will decide to send this man back and doom him to his fate. ]

Quiet ... We don't know what germs are out here. [ He does want a reason to fuss over him. Reaching out, he tugs at the taller man's sleeve in a manner that's almost child-like, not unlike the rare occasions he would hold on to Gojo's clothing when he was slightly unsettled and needed reassurance. ]

We'll ask the shops if anyone has a basic first aid kit. [ Still tugging the older man, he walks them toward the town. ]

[takumina]

( he still doesn't know about the whole sealing thing, and the way you and yuji are going about it he never will, but maybe it's for the best in the long run, because he wouldn't like the thought of leaving his students to fend for themselves, much less megumi because he's looked after him for so long, been the one to keep him safe, and for what —

but. ah. that's just a bit of introspection for the sake of it, and there's no need to go thinking too hard about it, because he doesn't know.

if he's perfectly honest with himself, he's going to enjoy this time with him, because it doesn't seem there are any curses or anything else that needs worrying about outright, and he's not about to look that effective gift horse in the mouth.

megumi tugs at his sleeve, and his heart remembers those earlier times that he would do so without really thinking about it, seeking his attention just because he knew it would always be there, and gojo hates thinking about a time in which it might not.

he goes along with the pull, letting the younger drag him along as though he's put out by it, but really? it reminds him of when he was much, much younger … and policing the sort of things he tried to buy while grocery shopping. )

Okay, okay … if you insist. ( pause, just for the emphasis on something he's said so many times before: ) Bossy.