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buttrinthum2023-10-31 08:17 pm
TDM #6
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: holly and bluebells.
Standing too close to the bluebells for too long or smelling them will make a Dreamer unable to refuse requests. This can last for however long a player may wish, whether it be for a few days or just a few minutes. The holly, however, also gives off a strange effect when getting too close to it: Dreamers will feel compelled to be more helpful & outgoing, no matter how gloomy and closed off they are. This effect can also last for a few days or a few minutes-- it is up to the player!
Eventually, Dreamers will find their way out of the Enchanted Garden and into the city of Somnius, whether it be by following the alluring light or on their own.
It’s funny how if you ask for something, sometimes that’s all it takes to have it given to you. Maybe Webby is just that lucky, or Vaeros is feeling just that generous the day it’s requested but for two days and one night only in the beginning of the month of November, a large castle stands where one didn’t before. It’s grand in that it doesn’t need repairs like some of the available housing does, but it’s certainly nothing too awe-inspiring. But, it’s big enough for its purpose—a sleepover party for every inhabitant new or old.
During the night a few days before the party, EVERY person receives a handwritten invitation to this sleepover blowout. It doesn’t matter who, young or old. For those who wake up in Somius after the invitations arrive, they’ll find an invitation just for them in their pocket or satchel, like they were always meant to be invited from the beginning.
Decorations are bright and colorful, spanning the whole rainbow. One giant room full of cots and sleeping bags, blankets and pillows has been made to be the centerpiece of the whole affair. This is where most of the partygoers will mingle and play games, if they’re not too busy with one of the other activities located in one of the other rooms nearby. There’s plenty of room to wander, though any room that has not been decorated and made up for the party is locked down completely with no way in. There are, of course quiet spaces provided for those who need a quick getaway from all the partying. Or maybe going outside for a stroll in the night garden would be calming too?
For those who don’t have anything appropriate to sleep in, pajamas are even provided. But they might be a little silly, since beggars can’t be choosers. Who wants the unicorn fuzzy pajamas?
Games Galore - There’s plenty to play with, at Webby’s insistence (and by insistence we mean she gives you the biggest doe-eyes you’ve ever seen) and she’s more than happy to give you overly-detailed means on how to play the following -
🎉Twister - a huge sheet blotted with colorful spots has been laid on the floor, along with a square with similar colors and a spinny arrow. The rules are simple - one person spins the arrow, and where it lands you put your foot or hand. First to fall loses, so amp up the embarrassment - er, fun as you all get tangled up with each other.Bountiful Buffet - The best way to stay up late is to stuff yourself silly with sugar, which is why the dining room table is loaded with all kinds of desserts. Remy and Aurora have supplied some of their own sugary confections, and you’re more than welcome to have added your own creations to the buffet. Just don’t start any food fights. At least not where Webby can see it!
🎉Truth Or Dare - Two options, one chance for chaos. Surely you’re all going to be mature individuals and not ask mortifying questions or dangerous dares.
🎉Pin The Tail On The Donkey - Yes, Webby’s sole guardian was a woman whose idea of fun was from the 1950s, how did you know? But she’s also put up optional sheets of different animals to stick their tail/bodyparts on while you’re blindfolded, including past threats like zombies and skeksis.
As though the castle (or whoever ACTUALLY owns it) wants to help assist the party atmosphere, those who partake of the food might feel a little more inclined to be friendly and amenable to party activities. You know, just for those gloomy gusses out there. There are no drawbacks to this little bit of fairy dust, just a little bit of social greasing, you know?
Makeover Makeover Makeover - Vil has ever so kindly offered his beauty supplies for those of you who want to experiment with some new looks, and you’re free to have brought your own. Test it out on one another or try it out yourself. Then again, when he’s not looking, what’s to stop you from trying to paint yourself up like a B-movie monster?
Scary Stories To Tell In The Dark - Some of you may have had more than enough of your share of frights due to last month’s… fun, but surely you can handle a bit more fright? In a dark room with only one light torch, gather in a circle and share a spooky story from times gone by. Just be prepared for that one person who always sneaks up from behind and goes BOO at the right time. It’s inevitable.
Pillow Fight - Pick a side or be a lone warrior, grab a pillow and show no mercy! The last one standing wins! The only rule is your pillow is your sole weapon! In fact, there seem to be more pillows available than there are people here, so let the feathers fly! If the castle magically produces more, who’s to say? Shrug and keep the battle going!
CW: memory share, character specific trauma
Some may be aware that harvest season is a season of growth and not just in the cultivating sense. Townsfolk take this time to evaluate themselves and really think about things in their lives that have potentially been holding them back from being their strongest and truest selves. With the newly accessible Indigo Beach providing plenty of room for multiple bonfires, Dreamers will see several bonfires stretched across the dark blue sand, logs and rocks assembled around each one, beckoning Dreamers near.
As soon as they step out on the beach’s sands, characters will find a slip of paper on their person (in their pocket, up their sleeve.. any readily accessible portion of their clothing.) On that piece of paper, they will have a personalized phrase catered to them, making them remember a painful memory that has held them back in some way. The phrase can be anything players want it to be as long as it jogs the memory back into the head of their characters. Those with a paper slip will feel compelled to sit around the bonfire and contemplate their memory; they also will feel encouraged to share that memory with anyone who is sitting nearby. If characters choose to throw the paper slip into the fire, those who have heard the story of their grief will have a very vivid visual of the event in their mind’s eye along with feeling the exact pain they went through as well.
Once these memories are shared and characters take a moment to grieve, they will feel significantly better about the past situation that caused them so much pain. This can be temporary or permanent, it’s up to the player.
Although refreshments won’t be provided, Dreamers are encouraged to bring their own. And yes, something adjacent to s’mores can be something characters may bring.
On the morning of the 1st, some dreamers will receive a message from an unknown user.
Who or what from home do you miss the most?
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. Special thank you to Melissa for the player plot and prompts!
sleepover; bountiful buffet
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At least, that's true when he isn't hoarding a bunch of free candy. As the table clears, he feels someone's eyes on him and glances up, finding a young boy just staring at him. What, does he have something on his face? The boy's appearance, odd though it is, can't distract from the universally recognizable look of someone who is determined to leave this place richer (in desserts) than he arrived. Good for him, honestly. He's clearly got the right priorities.
Li Lianhua returns the boy's smile with a pretty silly wide-eyed oops you got me sort of look, then makes a show of glancing over his shoulder, finally giving the boy half a shrug and a lopsided smile. Guess we're both going to get into trouble, it says, before he goes back to slipping another piece of candy into the folds of his sleeve.]
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Get some of those before they're all gone, heh.
[ ...He already has three in his other pocket. And a couple on his plate. He's not playing fair, here. It's every man for himself! ]
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Thanks!
[He's already made the memorable experience of tasting chocolate, a truly heavenly treat previously unknown to him, and fruit is a common dessert where he's from, even if this one in particular might not be. But a combination of both... He takes an exploratory bite and instantly his eyes widen with surprised delight. Isn't life incredible? Sweets are the best thing that can happen to a person. He laughs, already picking up another one.]
This is really good!
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Right? What's your favorite so far?
[ Quid pro quo, Li Lianhua... ]
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Besides, returning the favor is
not inconvenientonly fair. So Li Lianhua wipes his mouth with a napkin to clean up a few drops of strawberry juice, then leans across the table, scanning the snacks for a good offering.]Oh! Here, try these.
[He retrieves a bowl of marshmallow peeps to set in front of the boy. Help yourself to the sweetest, softest, stickiest, violently-colored duck-shaped dumplings he's ever seen. He's already busying himself with piling the last two strawberries on his plate but he's definitely watching Alberto's reaction out of the corner of his eyes.]
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Mmm!!
[ He then proceeds to shove two more in his mouth enthusiastically, one after another, for a total of, uh, three peeps in his mouth at once. His cheeks look comically stuffed, like a
possibly rabidlittle squirrel, as he gobbles down these weird squishy sweet treats. It's... a strong reaction... but a good one? Li Lianhua's suggestion hit his mark, apparently. ]no subject
Don't have those where you're from, eh?
[He asks this with a friendly if casual smile, clearly distracted by examining a gummy worm.]
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[ Alberto shakes his head, humming with his mouth still too full of peeps to say No. It takes a second until he swallows, but he's smiling again as soon as he does, eyes alight. ]
Uh-uh — we don't have any of this stuff in Italy! Well, at least not in Liguria — well, at least not in Portorosso. I haven't been everywhere, aha.
[ Something about his tone and the little way he cants his head toward Li Lianhua seems like he means to imply he's been many, many places... but the actual words he speaks contradicts that, like he's only been to this 'Portorosso.' Hard to parse where the facts lie... But we love the energy, right? ]
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and regret. The sunny disposition, bottomless appetite and squirrel-like cheeks could have been a coincidence, but the prideful little cant of his head and the transparent attempt at boasting of experience he doesn't have, well...If the heavens are trying to tell him something by sending him another teenage boy with too much to prove and no good sense whatsoever about how to prove it, he's going to label this one Return To Sender, thanks no need goodbye. Or he would, if it weren't for the magic of the snacks tipping the scales just slightly towards maybe indulging this for a bit longer.
But he doesn't have to like it, and Li Lianhua can't help a kind of facial wince, though his eyes are still locked with the gummy worm's in a silent battle of wills. So it's probably not a face he's making at the boy's string of caveats, foreign in specifics but recognized in the shape of the whole. Probably it has nothing to do with him at all.]
Mmm. The world's roads are endless, but a young man's legs are not. Unlike his appetite for new things. Ah, just watch for stomach aches, alright?
[He eats the gummy worm.]
rsfdjz, the gummy worm is sending me
Hah— All true~ But I never get stomach aches. I mean— I do if I eat something and it turns out it's not actually food, ahah. But other than that, I've got a stomach of steel!
[ He heard that expression once in town and liked it. He plucks a gummy worm from the same bowl and eats it whole in turn, almost rhetorically, mimicking Li Lianhua's choice. He's already proven he has good taste with the peeps, right? Of course right. ]
it's a great comedic prop
But so would much joy.
A shadow of skepticism or sympathy pinches Li Lianhua's eyebrows for a moment, though whether it's at the boy's claim of regularly putting inedible things in his mouth or at his most recent snack choice remains unclear. It's just that Li Lianhua's footsteps are not usually meant to be followed. But after his moment of doubt, another friendly smile appears on his face anyway.]
I'm not surprised to hear it, if this young man is never afraid to try something new. I'm just telling you not every experience is worth the potential ache. The faster you learn to tell the difference, the more room you'll have in your stomach for the chocolate covered berries, am I right?
no subject
...Hah. Yeah. That's right. For sure.
[ So, in a nutshell, "use your best judgment and don't do stupid things just for the sake of it," which is... not Alberto's strongest suit. But he knows it. Oh, boy, does he know it... And this stranger just clocked him for it, like, five minutes after meeting him. Over sweets. Li Lianhua's turn to strike an odd chord, apparently. ]
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