![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
labyrinmods) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
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.
Fall-From-Grace | Planescape: Torment
[ No matter how much experience one has with Sigil, there is always the danger of ending up somewhere unexpected. All it takes is the wrong item, the wrong doorway, the wrong thought. A wish?
It means that when Grace wakes, she can't bring herself to be too shocked by her new surroundings, though the curiosity is there in spades. The bottle gets a quirk of interest and tucked away for later, but the parchment gets significantly more attention. ]
Our agreement...? [ She might sound a bit too amused by the idea, given the lack of further information. Well, she's talked her way out of binding contracts before.
She's much more focused on exploring her surroundings for the moment, anyway. The garden is like nothing she's ever seen, and Grace does not hesitate to investigate as much of it as she can. The odd burst of joy every so often is interesting, but no real cause for concern.
The sudden, inexplicable urge to reach out, on the other hand, is significantly more alarming. Instincts Grace has kept buried for centuries, fought against, for the sake of everyone around her. The kiss of a succubus does no good for anyone, and the touch of one is only slightly better. The sound of anyone moving near her pulls a smile that's attempting to be polite but twists a bit pained. ]
It might be best if you kept your distance. [ She's still reaching out towards them despite herself. Where has all of her control gone? ]
ii. bonfire
[ To say that things have been a bit overwhelming is a charming understatement, but if there's anything Grace can do it's sharing stories. She's tucked as close to the fire as she can get in deference to her light clothing and lack of shoes, even the large batlike wings she has tucked around herself not offering much in the way of warmth.
But she smiles easily at any and everyone, clearly listening closely to anything she can. When someone finally turns an expectant look on her, Grace only laughs. ]
Stories? I have many. Will you offer one in return?
iii. wildcard
[ Throw me anything you like or hit me up to discuss something! ]
Bonfire
"I don't have many stories I think people want to listen to." He settles on finally. "They don't tend to have happy endings."
His brow momentarily furrows. He'd intended to leave it at that. Why'd he keep talking?
no subject
Cautionary tale or expression of empathy? So many possible reasons. But Grace only shakes her head without looking away. "I won't press you, of course, but I'm happy to listen if you do want to share."
no subject
Intending to, at least.
"My wife, Helen." He says. "She passed away. Little more than a week ago. Long illness. It had been hanging over us for long time. I still wasn't ready when it finally came for her. Even started to think maybe it wouldn't. That she'd beaten it." His face doesn't betray much emotion, but his eyes very much do.
"It was raining when she was laid to rest."
There's not much hint of emotion on his face once that's all out there. But there's a tension of his body, a slight widening of the eyes, the way his lips suddenly purse. He hadn't known he was going to say that. Doesn't quite know what to do now that he has.
no subject
But with all things, the experience has taught her something. Ways to respond to loss, to heartbreak. "Would you like to tell me about her?"
bonfire
[ He's friendly, but definitely not fond of sharing, and the unusual feeling of connection and socializing is setting of tiny alarm bells in the back of Seimei's mind. He feels the pull, and that just makes him want to plant his feet and be extra stubborn. ]
Why don't you start? I don't know if I really understand how this works.
no subject
[ There's a hint of amusement in her tone that says she may not entirely believe him, but there's no point in forcing things. He'll share or he won't and Grace will be satisfied either way. ]
Shall I tell you the story of the man without a name?
no subject
Please. I'm intrigued. One can't really exist without a name, can they?
no subject
Alright. Once, there was a man who sought to avoid death. He found an incredibly powerful creature to aid him, so that any time he died he would immediately rise again. Only each time he rose, he forgot himself.
[ Grace lets out a breath, turning to gaze into the fire. The whole situation is still a bit too close, but what is the point of experiences if not to share them? ]
If he had a true name, he'd long forgotten it by the time I met him. We called him the Nameless One.
no subject
[ That is... an improper thing to say, and usually Seimei would refrain no matter what his thoughts were, but it just happens that being entangled by a contract has put him in a rather bad mood and humans using other beings to provide loopholes against the natural order--death, the hierarchy of personal power, difficulties--touches a nerve in his onmyoudou beliefs. Everyone wants a short cut. The compulsions to share aren't necessarily just prompting nice stories, apparently.
And it's also not right to insult someone in front of their friends. He raises a hand apologetically. ]
Forget that. I spoke too carelessly. Was he a kind person?
no subject
If a thing moves and breathes and thinks, isn't that enough to live? [ It's not just philosophy. Living in Sigil does give one an unusual perspective on some things and she's curious what his thoughts are.
But just in case he does want to change the subject more firmly, she smiles. ]
He was, when I knew him. He tried very hard to be.
no subject
[ He allows that with a quiet sip from his cup. It's not tea, but it's at least something to engage his hands. ]
A lot of things in the world exist, or "live", but being alive comes from the experiences and memories we keep. Those are what makes up our lives, locked within our names.
That sounds like a tragic story. For him and for you.
no subject
[ But tragic...well, perhaps. The Mark of Torment had brought them together, after all. Certainly the ending could be considered a tragedy by most. But Grace simply shrugs slightly, wings shifting with the motion. ]
It wasn't all bad. I got to see things in his company I never would have encountered otherwise. I don't regret it.
no subject
[ Reluctantly he has to admit she has a point about that. If every death was a new beginning, he can't say that person wasn't granted endless experiences. In fact, each experience would be unique, wouldn't it? Because every new life would be something they'd never had before.
What a mess.
Seimei sighs, shaking his head. ]
I suppose a tragedy is meant to find an audience. Otherwise, it can't truly live either.