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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.
no subject
Walking inside though, and seeing that the library is in the middle of an overhaul? Her sense of urgency is slowly put away and replaced by a need to fix things and put everything in order. ]
Hi. I was... going to look for a book about magic, but I feel like I won't find it here any time soon.
[ Totally sideeyeing the stack of books on the table right now, because, wow. Messy. ]
Is this a bad time?
no subject
[Not that he disagrees with the disapproval over the state of the library. It’s pretty bad! But working on this solvable problem is a good distraction from all the other, more concerning and less solvable, problems. Elias pauses to nod in greeting at the newcomer, but then continues picking out books starting with “C” from the pile.]
The shelves after F haven’t been taken out if you’d still like to take a look. [You'd think a magic book would still be under "M", but you know. Don't bank on it.]
no subject
Are you just alphabetising all the books, then? I can help.
[ She can go searching for magic books later! ]
no subject
[He gestures to the wooden signs marking out the alphabets on various shelves.]
It’s not the best for nonfiction, come to think of it, but… it’s the quickest for now. Thank you for your help.
[It’s some relief to have like-minded company; something familiar in such an unfamiliar place.]
My name is Elias, by the way. And you are?
no subject
[ Not to mention, she loves organising things! And so, seeing as where he's working on, she figures to claim the "XYZ" shelf. They can meet halfway eventually! ]
My name is Weiss Schnee, [ Before getting to work, she performs a curtsy. Just because she's in some place she doesn't know anything about doesn't mean she's forgotten her manners and her upbringing! It's after that that she starts removing the books from the shelf so she can put new ones in. ]
Is there a reason why you kept the books here this way until now?
[ She thinks he's the librarian! ]
no subject
[Surprise and a brief panic flashes through his eyes as he tries to remember what he knows about etiquette. He knows this, he knows this! After a second’s hesitation, he bows back; much more formally than his earlier greeting.]
Yes, it’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance.
[He thinks he nailed it. Elias finishes assembling a small stack of “B” books to put back on the B shelf, before Weiss’ question makes him glance up.]
What? I found them like this, just, earlier today.
no subject
[ Waaait a minute. It's all coming to her now. ]
You... don't work here?
[ Sorry if she's looking a little sceptic about it. ]
no subject
[He quickly adds, defensively:] I did ask the nearby store-owners that it was okay!
[Because that’s definitely the issue here.]
no subject
[ Or is he leaving it be once everything's been sorted? This poor library... ]
no subject
I’m not sure, to be honest. I haven’t thought that far.
[He stops shelving his armful of books to think. To be honest… he doesn’t know if he should be taking up any long term commitments in this place. They want to leave eventually, and the sooner the better, right?]
Do you think someone else might? Would you be interested to help, for example?
sorry for the late tag! :C
[ ... People like us. What does that mean, though?
The ones who aren't from this place? Or... nerds? ]
no worries!! (also this could be a good point to wrap, but if you have more to add pls go ahead!)
Yes, I agree.
I only thought of making the place a bit more orderly when I started... but maybe we could stand to aim higher with a little recruitment.