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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
who knew someone would take interest in that story? everyone seems to treat it as some kind of fairy tale, a fantasy narrative of sorts where the next storyteller continues the events. because who else knows about her story but a handful of individuals, all of which are myths and legends themselves?
but his words about retribution and god-slaying sound more like words that aether might currently say if he were there. even the look in his eyes resembles her twin brother's the last time she's seen him. ]
Mm, that's how it should be.
[ and yet every leg of her journey seems to bring her further and further away from her brother. how ironic, she thinks with a smile. ]
After all, if the brothers are together, then I don't see any reason why the books should not end on a hopeful note each time.
no subject
[ it isn't that simple now that he's found people that are almost or just as precious; all he can hope for now is that he won't ever find himself at a crossroads where he'll have to choose between the two.
but telling his story seems to have returned his clarity of mind. now that he's thinking back to his reaction to her story just moments prior, lee has enough shame to look the part. being displaced from morray by five hundred years isn't something he can reconcile. ]
When I said your story wouldn't be worth continuing. [ he pauses awkwardly, seemingly for effect when really he's scrambling for words. ] It's because regardless of how continues, the twins should find each other. They have to find each other.
no subject
and if lumine were the type who easily bursts into tears, she might have just, if only out of relief. instead, her expression and smile soften at the edges as if momentarily unburdened by his words. even his pause felt like a respite in itself, if only because he sounded sheepish.
she shakes her head, hoping that would ease his discomfort. ]
I agree. They should find each other.
[ a sentiment she wholeheartedly shares. why else would she strive to continue with her journey against all odds? ]
Though it's been five hundred years. I'm sure so much has already changed ...
no subject
stories weren't always grounded in reality, but regardless of however much is omitted in the details, lumine's expression is unmistakably fond— melancholic, if he's reading her properly. and he doesn't need to know more than that to find solace in a kindred spirit. ]
If the feelings can persist through several lifetimes, I'd imagine there's little else they can't accomplish. Finding one another would be the simplest issue to solve.
[ his smile is wistful, tight. he knows he isn't the same person he used to be as when he became lee. ]
The biggest issue then would be if the brother became someone completely unrecognisable, and if the sister could accept that. Not to the scale of the passing of five hundred years, but the brothers had to go through a similar such trial.
no subject
lumine says nothing for a long moment as she muses and stretches her legs in front of her, her glass of cider resting on her knees, condensation lightly soaking into her skirt. strange, how sobering this entire conversation is. but it's needed, she thinks, lucidity and clarity to see a differing perspective on this ... predicament of hers.
slowly, as she recalls her brother's last words to her: ] Acceptance is simple, I'd like to think.
[ they're twins, after all. their bond has always been strong all these centuries, and nothing will alter that. ]
But if you were the one left behind, would you not want to understand why they changed? [ questions, she has so many questions. ] It doesn't mean that they won't accept them, just ... There must be reasons, right? For their changes.
no subject
Simple in a vacuum, yes.
[ it gets harder to look at her now that she seems to have more or less sobered up; it feels almost intrusive to with the subject of their conversation, opting to turn his attentions to the centre piece of their evening. he doesn't quite feel the crackling bonfire, but the warmth simulates the parts of his brain that allow him to pretend he does, temporarily basking in the sensation. ]
But unless we're willing to give up our individuality, I'd wonder where that acceptance would lead us. [ lee wishes he had questions; all he has are inevitable decisions to make. ] Otherwise, why seek answers?
no subject
but doesn't that only mean that her trust in her own twin brother is wavering? the revelations about him as of late weren't comforting, to say the least. so such feelings should be understandable and acceptable, right?
(no, not really) ]
Because I'd like to think I'm owed answers, if that were the case.
[ she was rejected, after all. made to go on a journey she didn't want to take because aether was busy waging a war instead of finding a home with her. ]
A younger sibling is allowed to act spoiled when they're hurt, after all.