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buttrinthum2023-01-01 04:59 pm
TDM #1
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?
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).
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.
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.
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[Yes, his brain screams, but the Social Anxiety is shrieking the exact opposite. Why did he have to cause himself problems like this, why is this happening.
Basil shakes his head quickly, pulling his arms close to himself as if that will fix things, or make him less noticable, or something.]
N-no, it...it's okay, really!
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[And just like that, Kokichi snatches one of Basil's hands back. He beams.]
I'm Kokichi Oma~! Nice to meet you. We're gonna be friends, I just decided~
[boy oh boy he knows that social anxiety well. it's not quite shuichi brand, but...it's close.]
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It also means that his magically induced brain is at war with his logical brain and it's really kindof confusing, but there's not much he can do about that now is there!!
Instead, he tries to focus on what else this boy is saying...friends? Wait, really?]
I- ..I'm Basil...you...really want to be my friend?
[Just like that? On god?]
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Nice to meet'cha, Basil. And yeah, duh. You seem sweet. I don't have a problem making friends like that. But~ if you wanna get to know each other first, that's fine too. I like computers and stories about phantom thieves.
[He says, beginning to walk. This...seems like the right way to maybe get towards civilization, right?]
What do you like?
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I...I like plants. And photography...
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Oh, like nature photography?
[Kokichi beams a bit.]
That's pretty cool, actually. A friend of mine at home was an Entomologist. So I know a few little nature things.
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[You know, now that Kokichi mentions it...very little of Basil's photography involved his plants back then, really. He was mostly focused on taking pictures of his friends...and the activities they were partaking in. Memories. To that end, he's not sure he was even really that great at taking photos in particular, he just like taking pictures of things so he wouldn't forget them...
But he doesn't want to think too deeply on that right now. Instead he focuses on Kokichi, this whirlwind of a person he's somehow befriended in thirty seconds. Or, maybe it's more the other way around...]
I haven't really taken that many pictures in a while. So I mostly focus on my garden.
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[In the city, that was the best you could do for most people, Kokichi thinks. Not much room for gardens.]
We played hide and seek there and left hidden messages. To make games, y'know? It was fun~
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M...my friends and I used to play hide and seek in the park too.
[A lifetime ago, by now. God he misses it.]
We never thought to leave each other messages though...
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[Because he's not sure if they'll ever go back to their homes again. He, at least, doesn't have a home to go back to.]
I can teach you the way my organization does it!
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You don't exactly fall into a lake and wake up elsewhere assuming you just managed to "get out", somehow.]
...organization?
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Do you wanna be my first member, Basil~? DICE accepts anyone worthy~
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WAIT ABORT
Like he doesn't want to be RUDE but also hang on-]
I...I don't know if I would be worthy...
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Weeeeeeeeeellll. Not everyone IS! It's a prestigious honor. I can't blame you for getting intimidated. You're right to!
And, really, I'd never induct someone who didn't wanna join. Even if you're kinda turning down the opportunity to secretly rule the world once we really get going.
Not~ the~ first~ time. Neeheeheehee.
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He shifts a little in place, still holding Kokichi's hand as they walk somewhere(?)]
I...I'll think about it.