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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!
Wildcard
It's across the street in the marketplace that Alhaitham spots him: short, blue-eyed, bowl-cut, the shape of his face certainly that of Nahida's assistant. Even if the way he holds himself is different, the physical appearance matches too exactly.
So, not having currency to purchase with anyway, Alhaitham abandons his curious perusal of otherworldly wears to approach him instead.] So you're here as well.
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Then promptly ignored it because this guy seems nice. He likes this human. Must be a good guy.]
Hello, I’m Kanoa! It’s nice to meet you!
[Said as he gave his new friend the biggest empty-headed smile his round little face could muster]
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Alhaitham's second thought: but he's not Hat Guy. It's as if Hat Guy had his personality inverted and is now being upfront with his name.]
Kanoa. [All right, time to figure out what's going on here.] I'm Alhaitham. I just arrived and I'm looking for someone to answer my questions. Have you been here long?
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[Then he paused to actually think about that. Right, humans felt time differently than he did. So he shook his head to dismiss his first statement.]
I'm sorry, but I am not so good at telling how much time has past, but I believe I have been here long enough to answer questions if you wish.
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That's not actually his first question though.] Is there anything about living in this place that's outside of the norm?
[Jobs, currency, things that Normal Human Society revolves around.]
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[He hadn't needed a reason to be able to tell one day from the next, maybe humans did this because they didn't live for very long? So if he wanted to be human... he should have a calendar and track days? This was good to know.]
I do not... believe so? I have only lived with humans for roughly three summers though. Everyone seems to wake up and work for the most part, just like back in Inazuma.
Oh! There's a large school people can go to as well... but perhaps that is only peculiar to me.
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But then, well, there's the implication he makes that he's not even human. And if he remembered anything about Sumeru, a large school wouldn't be much of a surprise either.]
I see. So before you arrived here you lived in Inazuma?
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[It’s said more to himself than anything, but the conversation moves onward to the topic of home. It was still s touchy subject in summer regards, but even so he still cared deeply for the blacksmiths that took him.]
Yes! I’m from Tatarasuna! Have you heard of it before? Most people here have not.
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A pity it seems like he hasn't ever paid much attention to dates, or he might be able to resolve part of his curiosity asking for the year.] I understand a very advanced forge is there.
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[He didn’t expect someone not from Inazuma to know about the new forge, but it was still something of a sore subject for him all the same. There was much he didn’t understand about all that happened, such as the deaths and illnesses, but he did notice that people that had been there were there no longer- and of course there was the incident with Niwa…
But he shakes his head trying to push that last memory aside.]
I liked it better without it. Everyone was happier, and no one went away.
[But there was still the question about where this man was from to know about it. Maybe he was from Fontaine too? If so he needed to be told his country was bad at making forges and needed to get better.]
Where are you from, if not Inazuma? I didn’t think anyone else knew about the forge yet.
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Sumeru. It's a land south of Fontaine. [And perhaps the proximity is an excuse enough why he would know, without having to actually get into being from decades into the future.]
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Sumeru is the nation of scholars. That makes sense. Please be certain not to let anyone from Fontaine make a forge for Sumeru. They’re not very good at forges.
[Though that got him thinking, he had spent much of his days making swords for others, he wasn’t sure about the people of Sumeru when it came to their tastes in weapons, but surely they could appreciate a finely made blade? Everyone should have something to protect themselves!]
You mentioned being new here, do you need a sword? I have been making them to help people!
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[Because surely he's been taking payment for what he's making. Right.]
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Oh you don’t have to pay for it! You should have a sword!
[And he’ll just grab Alhaitham’s hand and drag him towards the forges.]
Here, the forge is this way! It’s where I left the swords when I was finished.
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Hm. Anyway, he strides to catch up to Kanoa's side and carefully dislodge his hand.] Are there many dangers here?
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[Fortunately his attention span was still on the short side, so once they’re on the right track and Alhaitham asks his question, the Kabukimono forgets about dragging him along at top speed. The hand is dropped without any fanfare.
He slows his trot so he could mull over a proper answer. His perspective was on the skewed side, as far as he knew he was very difficult to damage, so he saw very few things as a threat, but at the same time, Inazuma was a complete and utter death trap and humans complained about it enough for him to believe zappy murder trees and such were the norm.]
There’s nothing like the thundering sakura, or the storms Seirai Island, but sometimes beasts like to be rude and go where they should not. There is also rude bird men, and I do not like them. I would rather sit under an angry thundering sakura tree then see them again.
[He paused to think about that fire a moment, belatedly realizing something.]
Though neither could cause me harm, but they might be able to damage you. So you need a sword!
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[As they approach the smithy, his pace picks up a little bit. He still struggled with the mixed feelings of fondness, betrayal, and loss from everything that happened at Tatarsuna, but Katsuragi was one of the few people that he could hold no resentment for. only made the matter of his execution all the more bitter.
Hit brow furrowed as he failed to understand his own getting on the matter, but felt them all the same. Katsuragi was gone now, but he was good. And important. Someone from Sumeru should remember him. Him and no one else.]
Do they know of Katsuragi in Sumeru? You should, he was very kind and very good smith.
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[He seemed satisfied with that. He had no idea how Sumeru actually worked, so he figured they’d just magically figure things out with that.
But they were at the forge now, and the puppet’s attentions again went elsewhere.]
Here we are! Wait just a moment, I’ll get some swords and see which one fits you best.
[He trotted over to a pile of blades in various stages of completion. He sifted through them, picking out the ones with hilts and returned to the front with an armful of them.
Then just dumped them all on the table with no care whatsoever. There’s also a pot somewhere in the mix.]
There we go, let’s see…
[He started picking them up over at a time, some he started dropping to the floor immediately, others he had to hold up to Alhaitham to measure them before casting his judgement.]
Too small… not finished… also too small… that’s a pot… too big… don’t like that one… too wiggly… ah! This one looks good! Please see how it feels to you, I have others if that one isn’t good.
[And finally he hands Alhaitham a sword. For only forging for three years, it was a sharp and efficient katana. Not a masterpiece, but thanks to the method of forcing he had been taught, it managed to elevate what would have been an average blade into something that would last and get the job done if cared for.
He then handed over the pot. It was a little lopsided… honestly it probably would be a better wok.]
You can have the pot too. It’s not very good though.
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He takes the final offered sword hilt first. The make of it is, in fact, immediately of much better quality than Kanoa's attitude towards his craft would suggest. The shape is only a little off from what he's used to and he's sure he can adjust his force as necessary.
He turns away so that he has nothing but air for an experimental swing. The weight is fine. He points the blade to the ground as he turns back to Kanoa.] It will work fine, thank you.
[And... then he's offered a wonky pot. Actually, Kaveh's going to hate that. So he takes it as well.] And for this.