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buttrinthum2023-09-01 08:21 am
TDM#5
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: morning glory and gladiolus. Time spent too close to the morning glory flowers invokes a state of intense obsession. Obsession over an event, a person, or things/objects are all possible, but the victim’s drive to be involved with their obsession is intense and all-consuming. Be careful, not all obsessions are peaceful ones. Pollen from the gladiolus flowers will find their strength increased tenfold. It might make day-to-day interactions a little difficult especially when gripping a pen or a cup winds up in a broken utensil or shattered mug. Of course, no amount of strength can affect the labyrinth walls, however…
CW: mood altering substances
It is time. Everyone knows it, and there is no denying it. It is time for the dragons to leave. No effort to keep the dragons from leaving will work, the dragons themselves inexplicably compelled to leave. It’s both a happy and a sad time for the pairs who have helped raise these dragons, but even the parents know somehow that it is time.
Dreamers and their dragons have one last night on Starlight Cliff before the dragon’s departure. It’s a simple gathering, put together by those who cared for the dragons and those who favored them. Picnic fare and simple decorations with glowing lanterns and soft blankets decorate the grassy flat portion of the cliffs. As the dragons leave, they leave a gift— one each for their adoptive parents. Gold dragons leave behind an item that reminds their parents of a loved one, red dragons leave behind an item that reminds their parents of their childhood, and blue dragons leave behind an item that reminds their parents of the wish they made when they found their way here.
It’s important to note that all are welcome to this celebration and departure. Some dragon parents have commissioned the townsfolk to create gift pouches for attendees. Each pouch has several packages of colored dust that when thrown into the air creates shimmering lights and effects similar to fireworks. However, if misused, like when thrown on others it can cause hair color changes, temporary sparks glittering from fingertips that can cause things to smolder, or even dye clothes that will all then affect the mood of the wearer. Red can cause tempers to flare, blue can create a morose mood, green will inflict an amorous feeling, and yellow will induce generosity. Luckily, washing off the dust will remove all of these effects immediately. Maybe throwing a glass of water on someone might help?
[ In the interest of fairness, each character who helped raise a dragon will get only ONE gift from them, even if they have helped raise more than one. In the case of multiple colors, it is up to player choice which gift they receive.
Items received from the dragons must be mundane in nature; magically powered or mystical items are not allowed. Weapons are allowed if they are likewise mundane and could have been received based on the 50 shard reward.
Dragon parents who received a magical tattoo will find that their tattoo persists even after the dragons' departure. ]
CW: spiders, tentacles
It happens in the middle of the night, a rumbling and tearing of earth that ricochets shaking throughout the land. Nothing is damaged, but even the air is awash with a new scent like something old has reappeared. Those who investigate the origin of the disturbance will find a small portion of the island has risen up out of the sea. It's land damp, still dripping with saltwater and half covered in seaweed, at first glance there’s little remarkable about this new piece of land. That is until wandering past craggy rock and slick ground lands the most daring explorers right in front of a large cave entrance.
The environment inside changes almost immediately. Gray crumbling stone gives way to more surfaces giving way to shiny dark obsidian the deeper inside you go. It’s hard to see, the lighting nearly pitch black past the entrance. As the cave twists and turns, something ahead seems to glow. As pools of salt water in the grotto appear, so too does the glow increase. Water that shimmers like a starry night blots a patchy, swampy chamber, crystals of deep watery hues jut from the walls and ground, reflecting glowing light that seems to zigzag across plant life that grows from every corner. Pools of dark tar-like substances are a hazard, creating a mess and potentially trapping explorers who aren’t watching their footing. Webbing that looks crystalized decorates the darkest corners, and those who wander too close might disturb crystalline spiders that will defend their nests with a vengeance.
The deeper the explorers get, the more dangerous the cave seems to become, like it is a trial that must be passed in order to see what is in its deepest reaches. Mist and fog hide deeper pools that house mysterious creatures who will reach out with large suckered tentacles in an attempt to pull in stray creatures no matter their size, almost as if they’re looking to sate a driven hunger. Those who make it past these creatures will find traps laid out that when sprung will loop adventurers into rope and twine cages, netting, and loops. Unfortunately, these traps only seem to be able to be cut by the sharp edges of crystal growing in the cave. Hopefully, travelers have considered picking some up on their way…
But those who are sensitive to magic and will might sense an urge to press forward, guided by an unseen force to see their exploration through until they come across a spiraling staircase to the exit. Just watch out for that slick stone, which could send you all the way back down to the bottom, luckily any falls will be softened by glittering moss surrounding the base of the staircase.
CW: potential death, emetophobia, body horror
Past the Mystic Grotto, beyond the carved exit and dangerously thin path that stretches along a cliffside that drops straight down into the waters below, is a small outcropping suspiciously connected to the Labyrinth itself. Those who look closer will notice that the outcropping is home to an entrance into the labyrinth. Unfortunately, thorough investigation reveals that this older, more run-down section of the labyrinth does not connect to the one that is more familiar, almost as if it was cut off purposefully. Those who want to get to this portion of the labyrinth only have one option, and they will need to tread along the cliff path carefully, Falling from this path will only end in death.
Twists and turns will eventually lead to the main chamber of this section, wildly overgrown with greenery and inhabited by fireflies of different shapes and sizes all with a pleasant, soothing glow. Most important is the tall stone fountain, still somehow functional despite the apparent overgrowth and decay. Perhaps it is because the fountain is encased in something clear and glass-like, preventing anyone from actually touching or entering the pool of water. From each of the 5 spouts different colors of water pour down into the main pool to converge in an almost oil slick like appearance where the colors blend and mix together in places. Next to the fountain, a stone and wood contraption sits, levers still intact. Should a visitor decide to investigate the device, they’ll find that it is magically enchanted. Any attempt to harm the device will result in the character being blown back with force, enough to shove them off their feet or send them airborne into the walls of the room.
Pulling the lever, however, activates a groaning sound, and the exposed gears of the machine clamber into life as the sound of something opening and clattering echoes through what must be an empty stone chamber. Eventually, a small potion bottle filled with one of five colors (Purple, Brown, Teal, Chartreuse, Navy) rolls out of the ground and toward the operator’s feet. The colors seem misty inside, sparkly but dull, almost as if their mixture is incorrect or incomplete somehow. Upon opening the bottles, the scent that wafts out is foul: overly sweet but spoiled. But perhaps this is the way these potions are meant to be? Those brave (or stupid) enough to drink the potions they receive will struggle with stomach cramps moments later, others might feel the need to regurgitate the potion forcefully. Characters’ sight may blur and they may feel dizzy or ill at ease, but should they hold the potion down one of several things may occur.
⚗️ Teal potion drinkers will find themselves crying, unable to stop no matter how hard they try. Their tears will not stop flowing, and the fireflies in the area seem oddly attracted to the tears that drop from their eyes. It makes catching these creatures easy, but also an annoying hindrance to anyone who is subjected to crying their eyes out.
⚗️ Navy potion drinkers will find themselves feeling lighter than air. Though the effect is slow in the beginning, the longer they are in this part of the blocked-off labyrinth, the more they are affected. At first, it’s like walking on the moon, then they slowly find they have a harder time landing… until they wind up floating up slowly, up and up and up. But instead of winding up in the heavens, or seeing anything useful of the main labyrinth, they find themselves mysteriously floating back toward the garden. Once there they find they stop moving but will need to hold hands with others who are affected in order to land safely onto the ground again.
⚗️ Purple potion drinkers will find themselves consumed by hiccups that cause bubbles to float out of their mouths. These bubbles, when popped by anyone other than the owner, will release a secret said in the character’s voice.
⚗️ Brown potion drinkers will grow the sickest initially, but will also feel better the fastest. However, they may find that as they walk, mushrooms and other fungi grow in the wake of their steps, the kinds varied and assorted and not at all safe to eat or touch. It might be best for those who didn't drink this potion to avoid eating, touching, or spreading this fungal growth.
⚗️ Chartreuse potion drinkers will find that much like some species of frog they have become incredibly sticky. Not only do they stick to other characters, but their skin will stick to anything they touch. It’s best to be careful when under this effect unless you want to become a living katamari ball!
Perhaps it might be best to investigate what this fountain actually is and leave it alone for now, instead? By the time afflicted and nonafflicted explorers make their way back to the mouth of the grotto, they will find the effects of the potions drunk by characters have weakened to nothing.
[ Anyone who tries to take a potion with them will find the potions mysteriously absent the moment they leave the fountain chamber, their containers dry and void of any liquid that may have been inside. ]
On the morning of the 1st, some dreamers will receive a message from an unknown user.
What is it that you are most thankful for?
They will feel compelled to respond with a truthful answer, as if their brains had gone into a trance, and before they know it, their response will be there for everyone to see. It cannot be deleted or changed. The user will not respond personally, but you get the sense they are definitely reading.
[ This is an additional network option for characters to interact with. Feel free to add a network prompt into any of your top levels. If you do not want to interact with this prompt, simply assume your character did not get the message. All threads are public unless actively privated by characters. We generally encourage threadjacking and engagement, so feel free to mention if threadjacking is fine with you so that others are aware. Note that the NPC will not be actively responding. ]
Welcome to the labyrinthum TDM! All events are game canon. New characters (invited or not) and old characters alike are welcome to play in it. Existing characters can start their own logs or network posts for the event if they wish to.
New and Old characters are welcome to top level on the TDM. Please state in the header if you are a new or old player! Also, new characters may link their top levels under the new character comment so they are easier to find. Thanks for your cooperation!
New 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.
You can find more information about the game here. Any questions regarding the TDM can go under the comment below.
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"We all do."
That's helpful to know — but it's not helpful to hear, no. Thinly concealed worry makes his face fall again, frowning slightly with his focus split. His gaze drifts away as she asks more questions of him, but he snaps back to meet her eye when she mentions the human-to-'not human' ratio. He gives her another curious once-over... then throws his head back, puffing his chest a bit as he places a hand on his hip. Confident, comfortable, contrapposto — as much nonchalance as he can muster. Like none of this is bothering him at all. He's toootally fine with this whole situation. No biggie, indeed! ]
Alberto Scorfano. Not human, actually. Guess I'm joining the club. Piacere.
[ He reaches out his hand for a handshake, hoping this may be the inspiration she needs to get out of the tree, but... somehow, he's not holding his breath... ]
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[ Hearing that, she will take his hand... to yank him in closer, using her other hand to ruffle his hair and touch all over his face. ]
Oh, my gosh! That's great! Then what are you? A space alien? Some kind of shapeshifter? I'm not feeling any feathers or scales, so you're still definitely something new!
[ Also, ignore any creaking noises that tree branch is making. Surely it's nothing. ]
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A-Ahh—! Ahaha, u-uh— I guess I'm all of those, yeah! Haha... I look human right now, but actually I'm a sea monster...!
[ Why's it sound like he's boasting...? He ventures a guess with an awkward glance up at her. ]
And you're a— seagull—...person...?
[ He's never seen a duck, sorry, Webby. He doesn't know too many birds... ]
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[ After slapping his cheeks once to test the rubbery flesh, she then uses both hands to point to herself. ]
As for me, I'm a duckling! And when I'm an adult, I'll be a duck! Not really impressive as a sea monster, but I am what I am! So are you a kid sea monster, or is looking young part of the guise?
[ That creaking sound is getting a touch louder. And her branch is perhaps a centimeter lower. Still, probably nothing to worry about. ]
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Hah— N-No, no, I'm a kid sea monster. Eeeven though I look like a kid human. S'not a costume I made or anything, though, just, y'know, my body.
[ Ahem. ]
Aren't there any sea monsters in, uh— Duckland...? Where're you from, anyway? If you're not from here. I know you're not from Italy — I've never heard of any ducks in Italy.
[ First of all: like you're some expert on all of Italy, Alberto, you, who have been to exactly one tiny town and one uninhabited island in Italy, and have only known any other people period for all of a month?
Second of all:
There are ducks in Italy. ]
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[ Finally, the creaking becomes so loud that, at least for Webby, it's impossible to ignore. Her eyes widen. ]
... Not relevant right now. Would you mind moving a few inches back right now? Otherwise, this is gunna be bad for both of us in a couple of seconds.
[ How many seconds? Five... four... three... ]
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But after another moment to compose himself, his reaction is maybe a little... unexpected. He just starts laughing. Peals of laughter, doesn't even bother clambering to his feet. Just stays on the ground a few seconds as he takes in the culmination of this absurd interaction. Hands down strangest way he's met anyone — and he met his best friend by pretending he was a human about to murder him, so... The bar is high. But this still takes the cake. He sits up once she's to her feet, grinning at her and wiping a tear from his eye. He stays seated, crossing his legs and holding his feet with his hands as he leans forward conversationally. ]
Ahahah, brava, brava...! Nice falling. You called it and everything, hah!
[ ...Does not even think to ask if she's okay or not. She's fine, she's fine. He's far more concerned with congratulating her for that...? She probably didn't expect to be complimented for crashing into him, but here we are. ]
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In the seconds it took the branch to break and gravity to take over, Webby could have gone through a number of moves her Granny taught her about safe landings... but she'd only been taught how to protect herself. With Alberto still in the way, she couldn't guarantee any of those moves wouldn't cause damage to him. And seconds pass quickly, and it's too late - THUMP.
She winces, not in pain - she's had way worse - but in preparation for things to come. Surely he's angry, furious - her need for weird has struck again, this time literally. He's going to yell at her, he's going to demand her to go away, he's going to...
... laugh?
Well. That's. Clearly not what she'd been expecting. She blinks at him, first wondering if his unusual reaction is due to a concussion, but... nope, he seems to be AOK. At least physically.
But the laughter is easing her worries, and her nervous expression easily enough melts into an embarrassed smile. Maybe it's a sea monster thing, or maybe it's a Alberto thing, but whatever it is, it's a great thing! And she winds up giggling as well, the laughter infectious. ]
Pffft.... ha ha ha ha! Why are you congratulating me?! We could have broken bones! ... Though I guess sea monster bones are made of sturdier stuff than bird bones... so if I had to fall on anyone, maybe it was best that it was you! Hahahahaha!
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[ A... weird way to phrase that. Implying he does all kind of things that could end in injury, ostensibly for fun by the way he's laughing at their crash, but... surely that's all he means, right? Webby may have started this off on a supremely weird note, but turns out she's well-matched, too...!
He gets to his feet
once he's done bragging about his own bones, oy, grinning still with his hand on his hip again, comfortably contrapposto as if nothing embarrassing or dangerous just happened at all. ]Sooo— You were saying. There're Italian dacks. But you're not one of them.
[ He waves at her a bit dismissively with his free hand, his amused smile tinted with a bit of a smirk now. Nevermind he's already losing his grip on proper nouns. It's fine. ]
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All of Sominus suddenly got a chill down their backs. ]
Nope! I'm American! ... With some British mixed in, on account of my Granny. I live in Duckburg! In the McManor of the world's greatest adventurer, Scrooge McDuck, and his family!
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Eh? Really?
[ The marvel in his tone, the spark that comes into his eyes... Clearly she said the magic words. She's found another aspiring adventurer! He glances around them, then waves her along to follow him, continuing in the direction he'd been going in before she, uh-- found him. ]
Dai, andiamo -- tell me about the world's greatest adventurer. Aaand show me places here, I guess, too. Hah.
[ As he leads the way...? Like he knows where he's going? This kid... Unflappable. ]
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Webby eagerly rubs her hands together before following him... and begins acting out dramatically! ]
Scrooge McDuck! The world's richest duck! From humble beginnings in Dismal Downs, he reached fame and fortune by treasure hunting all over the globe and sticking his fingers in every growing business there was! He climbed the impossible Mount Neverest and lived to tell the tale! He escaped the treacherous grasp of a greedy lucky vampire and saved his own kin! He defeated the evil incarnate that was the Queen of the Shadows, and trapped her with her own trick!
[ And with every new tale dropped, you better believe she is! Miming! Every! Single! Thing! With 110% enthusiasm! ]
How, you ask? By being tougher than the toughies! Smarter than the smarties! Sharper than the sharpies! And he made it square!
[ Meet his number one fan, Alberto! ]
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Ahaha, woooow, incredibile! That's basically all the kinda stuff I wanna do in my life! That's amazing, haha! Where did you meet this guy? You said you live with him — is he your boss? What's your job?
[ ...Nevermind she's just a kid. He just naturally assumes. Why not? ]
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Actually, he's my Granny's boss - she's his housekeeper! So he let us both live in his mansion, and I grew up there! When I was a baby, he had retired from adventure... but when his nephews moved in about a year ago, he found his love for adventuring again, and now he takes me along with them as he travels the world!
[ Then in an absolute moment of PURE pride, she crosses her arms and her smile is so big it threatens to crack her beak. ]
He even lets me call him Uncle Scrooge!
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So for the past year, you've just been traveling the world, having all kinds of cool, crazy adventures with this guy and his family. And now they're like your new family. So, if this Scrooge guy your uncle now, that makes his nephews your— ...Not siblings, um— ...Your cousins!
[ He smacks his fist to his palm and points at her with a snap of his fingers, all in one fluid motion, as the word comes to him. Like this is a new concept he's still getting the hang of...? Kid must not have any cousins — or siblings, for that matter — if he struggled to even remember the word... Yet has seemingly no problem wrapping his head around the concept of found family. Doesn't even bat an eyelash, talking about her "new" family, like it's the most normal thing she's said so far. At least that's nice. ]
Are your cousins rich and famous adventure ducks, too?
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She's just!!! So happy!!! Right now!!! Hard to contain, easy to express!! ]
Heehee! Well! They're not rich, and they're not famous, but they're totally adventurers too! There's Donald Duck and Della Duck - twins! He's a great sailor, and she's a perfect pilot! And Della has three boys my age, triplets! Huey, Dewey, and Louie! Huey's got all kinds of smart facts memorized, Dewey always has courage in his heart and a song in his mouth, and Louie can see the loopholes in any angle before the bad guys can!
[ And she loves all of them!!! they are the best!!!! ]
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He can't help but kinda chuckle at the triplets' names. The rhyming is a nice touch. He's ever-amazed by these descriptions, though, as he follows her along. ]
Woah, so there're three cousins?! And— [ He pauses, counting all the characters she's listed in his head, silently mouthing along indistinctly. ] ...two uncles, a girl-uncle, and a grandma? Plus you? Your family is huge! And amazing, hah!
[ ...A-A "girl-uncle...?" ]
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Girl-uncle! Hahahaha! That's great! She would love that... but I think the word you're looking for is Aunt... but the amazing thing is, the family is even BIGGER than that! Those are just all the people who live in the mansion! Scrooge has more relatives all across the globe!
[ More miming! More energy! Where does all this sunshine come from? ]
Fethry Duck works in an underwater lab! Gladstone Gander has been super-lucky all his life! Fergus and Downy McDuck live in a cursed castle with mystical fog! Oh, I could go on and on forever about all of them! I've dedicated my life to knowing everything and anything about Scrooge McDuck! I'm obsessed with him!
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Man, you guys must have the biggest family ever. I don't even have any uncles or cousins or, uh— aunts. [ He commits the word to memory with a little nod, thanking her for the new word. ] But maybe I have cool nephews or something out there that I never even knew about!
[ He... doesn't have any siblings. And he's fourteen. These gaps in his knowledge are a little strange, seemingly kind of guessing at these family dynamics, but it's also a little charming how hopeful his imagination is...? ]
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Oh my gosh - I've been prattling on and on about my family, I haven't even given you a chance to say anything about yourself! I'm soooo sorry!
[ With her hands clasped together and the sad look on her face, she does seem to be very apologetic about this social faux pa! ]
The floor is yours - I wanna hear every single last detail about you! Leave nothing about!
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Uhh— Me? Every last detail...?
[ No one's ever asked him to do that. He just volunteered information to Luca, but even that was ultimately like pulling teeth, and half of it wasn't even true. He's so much more action-driven... He hardly talked to Giulia alone, and even then it was about Luca, so she knew even less than Luca himself. And Massimo sure didn't ask him anything. Apart from that— well, his dad. But his dad knew everything about Alberto already! He's never been tasked with describing himself or his life before. But, you know — he's about it. He loves talking, and talking about himself, and bragging. He just... has no idea where to even begin. He gives a funny puff of a laugh, meeting her eye with a lopsided smirk, and picks up the pace again, opening his arms showily as they set off walking again. ]
Sure~ I'll tell you everything. Whaddya wanna know?
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She slows her walking just a bit so now they can walk side by side, instead of her epic mime-show. ]
Hm... the first question, that's a toughie... I've never really talked to a Sea Monster before. But I've heard so many things about them, who knows which ones are true?
[ Eventually, she decides to go with what would be the most exciting! ]
Have you ever attacked and sunk any ships that wade into your territory?
[ And yes, she is still asking that in a cheerful manner! ]
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[ The sudden "well," like there's some instance that might be debatable, is concerning. Kid looks cute and normal (well, by human standards — maybe not so much by duck standards) as he is now, but who knows what he looks like underwater... He fails to elaborate on his possible epiphany, simply rules it out and leaves her to wonder... ]
Honestly, most sea folk won't go anywhere near the surface — let alone try to sink any boats or attack any land monsters. That's what the humans do to us. Or— they used to. Some of them. Not all of them are like that.
[ #notallhumans ]
Next question~
[ He moves on so abruptly, like he didn't just drop a bomb on her in any way, like that answer wouldn't spawn more questions... He even snaps his fingers and points at her as he segues! 'Next question,' psssh... He likes being interviewed — he's already into this. ]
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Instead, oof, the humans seemed pretty rough in his world! The ones she's gotten to know here seem pretty nice, but then again, the main difference between humans and the folk of her world just seem to be lack of fur and feathers. Perhaps it's really the same with sea monsters and scales?
But if he wants to move on, move on they shall - webby can be very agreeable. ]
Do you know any mermaids? I've always wanted to meet one. Or are they just another category of sea-monster-ness?
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[ Oh my god, this guy… flat tone, flat face. The most anticlimactic answers. He feels like his life has been exciting — at least for the past month! But in his first sort of “getting-to-know-you~, getting-to-know-all-about-you~“ exchange, he’s starting to feel a little bashful inwardly to have such boring answers twice in a row… Especially compared to all the wild and exciting things she had to share! He feels like he has something to prove now…! ]
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haaaaaaa. disney. :P
no shame, baby, none at all
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