buttrinthum | TDM #1

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!tdm

TDM #1

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.

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[It seemed like a good idea at the time. To be fair, many things seem like good ideas to Gumshoe in one moment before a swift realization in the following moment! He gapes as he realizes that he just made the angel more buff.]

...M-my bad!!

[Okay, maybe not the best way to prove he can be reliable! But je doesn't have much time to follow up initially as the angel comes right at him with its sword! He frantically tried moving to the side. And he manages to be just lucky enough that the sword pierces his coat while missing his flesh.

As he pulls away from the monster, he frantically tries to think of what to do next!]

Of course I drank it, pal! I... I think it made me able to do stuff with the ground? ...But I dunno if it'll be much help!

[Still, he tries to focus! He makes the groumd rumble, and some pieces of earth jut up, just the right size for tripping anyone up! ...Also oh, now she's coming right by him! This is fine.]

Ground stuff?! [Damn he's right, that doesn't sound like it'll help! The angel is flying after all... unlike her, running at full speed his direction.

Attacks from below are one thing she doesn't have any reflexes against - lightgun shooters are on rails so you don't really have to think about where you're standing most of the time. So the slapstick comedy continues. She is now falling at full speed in his direction.]

I SHOULDN'T HAVE AAAASKED!!

[...But actually, it looks like the rumbling might come in handy after all. The angel can't fly for too long with its heavy snow body, and Gumshoe dodging has made its balance even more tilted. So when it lands on the ground with intention to start reforming its wing, the shaking immediately causes it to fall on its side with a big SPLAT instead. Several of its body parts on that side shatter at the same time. Nice.]

[Several things are happening right now!!

First, that girl is falling right towards him.]

H-hey pal, easy there!!

[He was trying to hold steady on top of his own earth shaking, but now he shakily kneels forward in an attempt to catch her!

And at the same time, he witnesses their adversary fall to the ground and into pieces.]

Did- did she just break apart?!

Oof!

[Gumshoe can do one more thing right and make this catch. She's really more of a woman than a girl though! It's an understandable mistake to make with her short stature and youthful pigtails, but once she's this close to him (well, literally being held) he'll probably notice she smells a bit like beer. Hearing the shatter and his outburst, she holds his lapels a second and looks over her shoulder at the body lying there, almost as though it had been split right down the middle. Zapper sighs.]

Took long enough.

[...Yeah, she has no empathy for that creature. As far as she's concerned, it's just a construct sent to bother them, and killing it was the goal. The wind picks up a flurry of snow, making her shiver and turn back toward him, the source of heat.

The half-body angel horrifyingly sits up to receive the repairing snow, gurgling angrily as it's unable to really speak in this state of disrepair.]

I didn't mean to... I guess I don't know my own strength.

[Oh yeah that's a grown ass woman alright! It's easier to tell now that she's right up close. And with that beer smell... She definitely better be one!

As she shivers, he looks down towards her sympathetically.]

You, you really must be cold, pal. [He flushes slightly while he opens the lapels of his jacket more for her.] Just stay close to my coat, it'll help you keep warm! [Until they can find shelter or something. But with his attention focused on her, he doesn't notice what's happening to the supposedly destroyed snow angel.]

[Zapper isn't sure what to make of his apparent regrets here. Guy's pretty soft for a cop, isn't he?? She almost wonders if her assumption about him was off - it's not like he announced it or showed her a badge or anything. Well, for now let's reassure him like a normal person who's not as likely to have killed someone before... as much as someone like her can be reassuring anyway.]

Well if it helps.. I'm pretty sure they're just puppets anyway.

[Her hands come loose from his jacket as he opens it more for her and she folds them together, blowing on them in vain while she considers this. She is absolutely going to be embarrassed about this later but.]

Y-yeah, there's really no good reason to turn you down. It's fucking freezing- but what are you going to do? I oughta get off you first so you can move!

[she can't make him princess carry her around town that's cringe. Even if he looks like he's kinda enjoying this. Zapper's cheeks are getting a little pink too, from the cold.

Then while they both ignore the angel horror monstrosity it starts dragging itself across the ground with its sword behind them. They'll outpace it easily if they start walking now, but if not, they may be in for a very chilly jumpscare.]

[He could be among the softest ones there is! He's definitely not aiming to take anyone out in that way. But her reassurance does seem to help him feel less distraught about the whole thing.]

R-right... she was made out of snow and all. I bet she wasn't even a real angel!

[In any case, that's clearly over with, and now they never have to think about that angel, ever again! Now they can focus on finding shelter and warmth, simple as that!]

It's fine, I can just walk like one of them penguins. Just... position yourself so you get some of the warmth from this while we walk. We can make this happen, pal! [He keeps the sides of his jacket held out for her to walk between. It lets some more cold air get to Gumshoe, but he's fine, it's just a little chill! It's worth it when he's sure they'll get somewhere warm in no time... even if they have to move a bit slow and steady to get there. They don't have to rush too much now that the angel's done for, right...?]

[A real angel.... sir... That has to have been a joke.]

Pffhehehe. Are YOU real?

[Honestly, Zapper hates the idea of taking a life too, but she's just that certain they're not really alive... she'll spare him her guess about what was going on with the angel for now, since they are putting it out of mind. Besides, she feels a little better with her feet on the ground and this plan is endearing in a very specific way. She can feel the ice melting already as she scoots into place.]

Cute. I actually love penguins! Like a lot! I can live with that.

[Though figuring out how to walk like this is still pretty awkward... the footwork is hard to get right at first, so while they stumble a bit, their old buddy drags itself behind them and takes a weak swing at Gumshoe's ankle, growling in that disturbing way as it does so. It might miss, but even a small prick would cause the cold effect. Zapper has not noticed this.]

Of course I'm real, I'm the real deal! [He says, just a little bashfully in response to her joking while he rubs at the side of his head.

His mood does lift with her next response, though, and he grins.]

Yeah, see? It's not so bad! We just gotta move like those cute little guys!

[And so it's time to shuffle awkwardly along! He tries not to bump into her too much. But soon enough, he does feel something knick his ankle and winces slightly.]

Huh... D-did I step in something...? [He says, as he feels a shiver run through his body...]

[She is definitely still bumping into him. Which she doesn't mind so much because it's warm, but she'll still glance back occasionally to try and coordinate this silly walk, and that's when she sees him wince. A much different reaction than the one from their awkward stumbles?]

What, like dog cra- [Zapper doesn't want to step on whatever it is, so she turns and looks and sees the cursed zombie ice angel at their heels] Motherfucker!

[ Speaking of heels, her reflex is just to stomp on it with the one on her boot. ]

[The bumping isn't so bad! But the little pain by his ankle doesn't seem so good. It feels like he stepped on something sharp. But before he could object to her guess, they have bigger problems to worry about.]

N-no way! It can't be! ...I didn't bump her off after all??

[But now there's still the problem of dealing with the snow angel before it gets them again! While she goes to stomp down on it, he frantically tries shaking the ground beneath the hellish angel to try to throw it off some more!]

[The angel keeps making horrifying noises as it's stomped on and shaken - the latter of which sends it rolling away from them until it stops a fair distance away. At this stage, it drops its arms, conceding defeat as it didn't even land facing them. Snow still whirls about it as it gives them the cold shoulder, but it is done. Zapper carefully steps back.]

Huff... if it's still like that, melting must be the only real way to finish it... not worth it at this point.

[It's a pretty disturbing sight. But it does seem like the danger is over for now, so Gumshoe makes the little tremors stop and catches his breath.]

Y-yeah... Hopefully she's learned her lesson. It looks she ain't gonna bother us anymore, at least. [He shakes his head... and then shivers.] N-now let's just find somewhere indoors. Is it just me or is it getting colder?

Well, I'm still freezing my ass off, so it's not just you. This blows!

[Her teeth are gonna start chattering if they're both cold now. What's a place to get warm... they were the closest to the marketplace but that's all outdoors]

I think depending on if we go east or west we'd hit the tavern or the bathhouse... those're the spots I noticed walking around.

[drinking and hygiene both a priority]

Uhhh...

[The bathhouse sounds like a way to get warmer quicker, but he feels Embarrassed about suggesting it to the woman he just met... And a tavern could be warm enough! He quickly clears his throat.]

Alright then pal, let's try for the tavern! Some drinks should warm us up good! [He opens up his trenchcoat.] Should we go back to penguin mode?

Eh... it was nice and warm like that but it's too slow. This time, let's just book it!

[but she will still hold a hand out for that because coldbrain]

Can't argue with that, pal! The sooner we get out of this cold, the better!

[She's making a lot of sense right now! Reversing his action to close his coat as much as he can, he definitely reaches back for her hand! With his own big ol' calloused hand. Time to bolt in the indicated direction for the first thing that looks like a building!]

[fortunately Zapper doesn't mind rough hands at all! Her own are soft by comparison but might have a lump on her trigger finger, maybe a couple on the other fingers from all the button mashing. Despite that, she has a confident grip and she pulls him along with her until she finally spots the tavern on the horizon]

That's it!!

[Not a bad hand to hold at all! As the building is spotted, he picks up speed.]

Almost there!! C'mon, sweet sweet warmth!

[He'll practically barrel right through the door!]

[Which leaves a WIDE opening for Zapper as he pulls her in after him, but somehow the indoors doesn't really feel much warmer than the outdoors... maybe it's just the cold looks they're getting from the rude staff though. Looks that are probably going to get colder as Zapper tries to order drinks since they're dealing with completely foreign currency in their starting gear. But soon enough, they have some cups in front of them filled with straight drinks, since the last thing they wanted was more ice.]

Alright, here's to beating the cold once and for all.

[it probably feels less warm since she'd have let go of him to do this but oh well!]

[He was expecting to feel the comforting rush of warmth that always comes with going in from the cold! But he doesn't quite feel that, either. ...That's fine, they just need something warm to drink. That'll warm them from the inside.

Once they have their drinks, he grins and raises his drink.]

Hear here! To warming up, pal!!

[With that toast, he starts gulping down his drink! ...But without any comforting warmth. Rather, he shivers and shakes while trying to down his drink, some of it dripping onto him.]

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TDM #1

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