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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
[Whatever that's all about.
But while he's musing out loud about his current altered state, she can witness the snow angel reform behind Metal and raise its sword...MENACINGLY
Will she give a stranger a hand?]
no subject
And then she remembers, mid-movement, that her firebending isn't currently working. Vexing. And sloppy to forget. She converts the movement to an idle gesture over his shoulder. He doesn't seem... socially inclined, maybe his interpersonal observation skills won't catch the shift.]
Well, apparently their parameters include coming back when you break them. You may want to move.
no subject
Except he isn't a robot anymore, so it's just a regular human jump. He leaps forward, hand moving to Azula's shoulder to...push her over since she's in the way, narrowly avoiding a sword to the back. He twists on the spot to face the snow angel again, eyes narrowing.]
Pulverization is...ineffective. [Yeah, he says this to her as if he didn't just shove her onto her ass.] A heat source must be found.
no subject
By the time he launches forward, she's too caught up in the snow to slip aside with her usual grace, and that momentary stumble turn her graceful dodge into an ungainly skid to the ground as he shoves her.
Normally, she'd react to such an indignity with anger, and she does shoot him an irritated glare- but she can at least appreciate the pragmatism, and there are more pressing issues. Such as that 'heat source' question.
If only she had her firebending. Rrgh. Frustrating. She quickly hops to her feet, assuming a defensive stance in case the sculptures turn their blades on her next.]
We're unarmed, depowered, and they can regenerate. I suggest we simply run.
1/3
no subject
AGAIN.]
no subject
If he were at least still made of metal, he would definitely not consider this but he doesn't know the limitations of his new form well enough to risk his life against something this meaningless.
Angry little rocket he may be, he has his priorities.....sometimes.
So yeah, he turns and runs.
HOPE YOU'RE FOLLOWING AZULA.]
no subject
And then he's gone.
She didn't even have time to tell him, which means she doesn't get to gloat that she told him. How inconsiderate. Of course, that lends itself to another problem, which is that now she is the nearest source of warmth for the hostile angel. Don't you worry, Metal, turns out she can move really fast when she wants to- even vaulting fences, short walls and other obstacles with surprising grace and efficiency in the process, not stopping to catch her breath until they're both well away from their icy assailant.]
I see you've come around to my way of thinking.
[It wasn't quite as satisfying as an 'I told you so,' but it would do.]
no subject
By the time he's stopped he actually has to catch his breath, which he'd like to make a note here is a really horrible first time Organic Life Form experience he can safely say he dislikes.
She'll only get a response when he makes that final big exhale that gets his breathing back in somewhat reasonable order.]
Normally...I would not...agree.
But...[UGH.] But until I have discovered the limits of this organic body, I cannot act as decisively as I normally would. Too many unknown variables.
[Here's his retort of YOU'RE NOT RIGHT ACTUALLY SO THERE!!!!!!!! but without saying it.]
no subject
Just how durable was he in his... non-organic (?) body?]
Speaking as the proud owner of one of those organic bodies, I find it best to learn how to adapt to the variables as they arise. It makes for better tactics.
no subject
[This is the other half of the reason he can't beat Sonic, given the guy is nonstop spontaneity. It's like trying to catch the wind with your bare hands.]
Do as you please. I will gather data first.
no subject
Oh, on that we agree. The fewer variables one has to contend with, the better- but sometimes they insist on happening anyway. I find it best to stay flexible, just in case.
[Like being abducted, losing your bending, or- apparently- being trapped in a squishy meatsuit, for instance.]