TDM 005: HAPPY SPOOKTEMBER

[erkumods]

TDM 005: HAPPY SPOOKTEMBER

Arrival This time, you come out of the water, the Nameless Island's own inherent energy drawing people in. It's like being suspended between realities and abruptly pushed from behind through a rift in dimensions. It may make you sick, or that might be the motion of the ocean, lifting you to the surface and carrying you to shore. Waterlogged and covered in sand, new arrivals will be greeted by robots who welcome them with towels and bracelet devices. The A5 card is already loaded up. Feel free to explore the Island, though there isn’t much to see. Most of the buildings are abandoned and in dire need of repair, and beyond the city lingers a thick fog that obscures much of the wilderness from view. Wander too far into this fog, and you will find yourself mysteriously looping back to where you began, your memories of what you were doing and how you got there erased. With that in mind, it may be wise to stake your claim on a rundown apartment, a tent on the beach, or a bed in the "comfortable" new barracks. Your inventory will be found a day later, wrapped up haphazardly and delivered to each person's makeshift home. ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● I. Harvest Hunt As the daylight grows shorter and the muggy heat of the island’s summer gradually shifts to temperate days and chilly nights, Erku’s accessible wilderness explodes with a colorful collection of tempting fruits, fragrant-smelling herbs, and nuts and seeds plumped and ready for harvest. With warnings to beware of monsters, the robots of Erku encourage Islanders to take advantage of the land’s bounty by distributing basic camping supplies to those who are interested in exploring, hunting, and harvesting. They strongly encourage making the journey with a friend! Any surplus foods that Islanders bring home with them can be exchanged for credits with cafeteria robots! Just be careful out there - some of these fruits have strange effects once consumed. For extra protection out there in the wilds, the robots have fashioned crowns of flowers or foliage to wear on their adventures. The sweet and herbal smells from the crowns will discourage most Erku-native monsters from approaching, they assure - this is ancient knowledge from the planet’s long-gone civilization, so it can’t be wrong! What the robots don’t know is that the crowns have a deeper, more ritualistic purpose: after a few hours, the scent of flowers or herbs begins to awaken primal instincts within the wearer. Those who are wearing the foliage crowns feel overwhelmed by an urge to hunt, while those who wear the flower crowns delight in every opportunity to tease, outrun, and outwit the hunters. What happens when the chase ends? Well, that depends on the personalities and the chemistry between the hunters and their prey. While the robots are very insistent on placing crowns atop the heads of any Islander they see, they aren’t stuck on in any way and they are easy to remove, which can prevent or break the hunting trance. ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● II. seeds and sap Of particularly high credit value, the robots explain, is an elusive flower known as the skull sunflower. It appears exactly as one might imagine: at the center of an otherwise innocuous, towering sunflower is the gruesome visage of an open-mouthed skull. Don’t worry, the flowers are harmless! Even if it’s strange how the empty-socketed eyes seem to follow your every move. And why is it that the teeth - which, on closer inspection, are actually the seeds of the flower - only seem to chatter when your back is turned? Any Islander who can withstand their heebie-jeebies long enough to collect the petals and seeds from the flowers will fetch a handsome reward in credits upon exchange with the robots. Beware the sticky, blood-red sap that seeps from the eyes of each skull, however. Those who absorb too much through their skin will begin to hallucinate, visions of frightening or emotional events from their past dancing in the shadows. One might even mistakenly imagine that another Islander is someone they recognize from their past, someone who meant something to them - no matter whether that person is alive or dead in the present. The hallucinogenic effects of the sap can last for hours, or they can be shortened by a dip in the public baths. ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● III. Tarot Night comes, and in the darkness, a robot sets up a table by the beach. A solitary candle sits in the center, illuminating a deck of cards. F̶i̴n̵d̸ ̸y̶o̸u̸r̵ ̵f̵o̸r̷t̵u̶n̶e̷?̴ The robot reveals tarot cards and will do a variety of spreads to tell your fortune. Each fortune can be distilled into one central theme, which characters will find pervades their life for the next 24 hours. There is magic afoot: it can be sensed, and perhaps even dispelled, if luck is on your side. Though most robots on the island show a capacity for greater-than-average artificial intelligence, this pseudo-psychic 'bot -- M.S. Cl30 -- is less advanced. It only has six interpretations prepared: Always watch your back. - Characters will be compelled to walk, or even speak, backwards for the duration of the day. Those who mishear it as "wash your back" may spend longer in the shower than usual. Fake it til you make it. - Characters will feel compelled to act performatively. They will more readily fall into acts for serious or flirtatious roleplay, or try on costumes that reflect a particular persona they're interested in exploring. Faked orgasms will seem quite realistic. You will receive an affectionate letter from a friend. - Just as it is said, someone will be compelled to engage in correspondence - and whether it turns dirty or not, well, that's up to you! Characters may also quite literally receive an article of clothing with a red letter sewn on the top. What could it stand for? Hold on tight. - Characters who are given this life advice will start to feel rather clingy. They'll attach themselves to someone's side and refuse to leave, or they may find a "security blanket" item and won't let it go. You are a generous, giving person. - Characters will feel compelled to do something kind for someone else. Maybe they'll invite someone to the movies, come over and cook, or do that thing their partner is always asking for. Don't think. Feel. - Even if they weren't before, characters temporarily experience impulsive and hot-headed urges. They will also become very tactile. ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● N A V I G A T I O N

Comments

[halforc]

[ Snorting. ]

Yasha wouldn't. And I don't babble or vomit sea-water anymore, so the floor will be fine when you wake up before you get at me for that.

[devilstongue]

No... you're right, she wouldn't.

[ His features soften a bit at that, smiling. ]

Well, that's a fucking relief. For you and me. Wild gal doesn't make you spit up leaves or something?

[ ...okay so he couldn't resist slipping some teasing in there. ]

[halforc]

I'll spit a leaf at you if you're not careful.

[ Empty but wholesome threats. He's missed this. ]

No, there was just the ... seaweed egg-thing where everyone clawed me out.

[devilstongue]

If you spit at me it better be flowers, nature boy.

[ Molly's missed this too, and for him it's only been a day. ]

Seaweed egg? Are you half water chicken now?

[halforc]

Bock, bock. Maybe.

[ His brows waggle at Molly with what's meant to be mystery but probably looks stupid from his angle on the floor. ]

You don't know.

[devilstongue]

Guess we're having green eggs for breakfast, then!

[ Molly laughs, placing his folded clothes on a table in the room before coming back to his chair. ]

Sleep, Fjord. In four hours I'm waking you up, taking mine, and then you can have another four.

[ He looks a little amused. ]

...you could sleep in the actual bed, we're taking shifts anyway.

[halforc]

No, that's yours. You don't want me rolling around in your space, this is fine.

[ He tucks himself in with his booted ankles crossed under the blankets, settling down as bidden. He is ... actually exhausted, it hits him as soon as he closes his eyes. ]

Night for now, Molly.

[devilstongue]

You're too chivalrous for your own good. No wonder you're a paladin now.

[ Molly says fondly, and then nods. ]

Night. Get some rest.

[ He makes sure to be a little uncomfortable in the way he sits, so he can't accidentally nod off. Then Molly keeps an eye on the door and window, taking his watch. ]

[halforc]

That's absolutely why I became one.

[ Fjord sinks into a dreamless sleep, quiet for a while before he starts to snore softly into his pillow; a tired rumble from somewhere deep in his chest. It only breaks a couple of hours in as his active mind starts to kick into gear again and his subconscious taps into thoughts of the tower, of needing to get back, of needing to speak with ... ]

Mrrm, Caleb ...

[ He needs to warn him that something's wrong with the magic! But Caleb is a foggy vision and Fjord grumbles himself back into REM sleep, snoring again. ]

[devilstongue]

[ Molly starts going over all the things that had happened these last hours, mind too fired up to even think about rest anyway. It's nice to see that Fjord can sleep, though, and the tiefling glances back at him now and then.

When Fjord starts mumbling, he's amused and pays more attention. Caleb isn't quite what he expected, but damn. Things did change while he was gone.

Whatever kind of gone that was.

Caleb and Fjord might be nice together, though. Magic and stuff. It hurts a little, but not because of any perceived jealousy or anything, but because he's missed all this. His Yasha getting her wings, Fjord changing, apparently amazing adventures?

When the last hour comes to a close, he stands from his chair and moves over to the mattresses where the hexadin is sleeping, and gently knocks a leg with his foot. ]

Your turn.

[halforc]

[ Grunting as he's woken, he has to stare at Molly in surprise for a moment too long before he remembers, then sits up. ]

Yeah, sure. I'm up. [ He sets about finding his cloak and swirling it around himself, stretching his way to his feet. ] Anything weird happen?

[devilstongue]

Nothing, it's been really calm so far.

[ He frowns a bit, not sure what to make of that. ]

Wake me in four and you can have your last sleep.

[ Molly claps Fjord on the shoulder and then slips into the bigger bed with a near-purr of contentment. This was really soft! ]

Mmm, this is as good as the Pillow Trove, isn't it?

[halforc]

We should go back to that place, some day. Maybe you can even sleep there.

[ Heh!!

Swaddled up in his cloak as Molly sinks into the big bed, he pauses in folding up his own blankets and instead flicks them out over the lower half of the tiefling. No one else is using them, might as well have super toasty toes. ]

You have a good sleep, I'm going to do a patrol of the house. I'll be right back.

[devilstongue]

True, true. Even if I did spend a lot of time on my back in that bed.

[ Wink!

The sweet gesture of putting another blanket on him unexpected, but it feels nice despite the fact that he's already a lot warmer than Fjord. He spreads his toes out under it for good measure and then pulls the blanket cocoon under his chin for extra comfort. ]

Alright. Just watch your back, okay? We don't know how safe it is.

[halforc]

[ His snort-laugh can't be hidden, shaking his head in the doorway. ]

I promise I won't go outside, I just want to check the doors and windows. Sleep tight, bedbug.

[ Fjord's first stop is the bathroom which is nothing short of a miracle and his new favourite thing. Enough said. When he heads into the other rooms he softly rattles the windows to make sure they're closed and wanders his way down the stairs to do the same down there, getting himself a glass of water from one of the convenient taps in the kitchen. Caduceus would love this, he thinks with the ghost of a smile. Everyone would.

House secure (as it can be), he returns to the bedroom where he takes up Molly's spot in the chair, resting a heel on the big bed. The world outside the window is so foreign and cold that it doesn't hold his attention for long, gaze sliding back to Molly.

Who is alive as he ever was, right there. Breathing under a nest of blankets.

Fjord fiddles with his weird bracelet to follow the instructions and take a snapshot of him, astonished at the photograph as it remains on the screen. He saves it, settling down for his watch.

He lets Molly have an extra hour. The guy looks peaceful. ]

[devilstongue]

[ Molly thought he would have a hard time sleeping, but with all the stress today - both from running after the people that took their friends and this new bullshit - took its toll, and he's out fairly quickly. He sleeps soundly in his ball of blankets, tail sticking out and twitching now and then.

Once Fjord wakes him, Molly rolls over and yawns. He doesn't have the internal clock like Caleb does so he's not aware he's gotten another hour, but the tiefling does feel a bit better.

Sliding out of bed, he rolls his shoulders a bit and then pats the half-orc on the shoulder. ]

Your turn. Anything weird going on?

[halforc]

[ He smiles and shakes his head, still in the chair where he stretches with a yawn. Your tail popped out of the covers once or twice, I tucked you back in. Things he can't admit to, wouldn't know how. ]

Just me and the night sky having a heart to heart. Did you sleep well?

[ Creakily, he gets to his feet. It's so damn cold every time his cloak slips open. ]

[devilstongue]

Very much so. It was nice, very soft and cozy.

[ He lazily stretches again before he moves to look out the window, trying to figure out what time it is - and failing. Instead Molly turns around and gives Fjord a smile. ]

Take my spot, it's all warmed up for you. You're starting to look Jester-blue. Trade?

[ Molly holds out his hand for the cloak and pushing blankets open for Fjord. It's tiefling-hot in the bed, so at least he'll be warm for a while. ]

I'll wake you in four and then I can have my last sleep. After that we should see about those birds. Get some kind of base thing going here until we get home.

[halforc]

... Okay, trade. Only because I know you're a furnace.

[ And the big bed will be super toasty! Unclipping his cloak he shivers and swirls it around Molly, fixing it in place with Melora's pin. The outer brown fabric is coarse and rough but inside the red is thick and soft, one side tossed over Molly's shoulder to keep him wrapped up. ]

There, that should keep the frost out.

[ Fjord crawls into the bed and huffs happily as he soaks up the residual warmth, bundled up on his side so he can still see Molly. ]

Would you like it if Yasha turned up tomorrow? Or, well, any of the others too.

[devilstongue]

[ Molly is a bit shorter than Fjord so it's a nice size on him, covering this entire body. He's smiling, sinking into the chair and enjoying the feeling of the cloak.

It even smells nice, despite the dip they took! The pin is lovely as well, his fingers gently moving over it to have a closer look and feel. Whoever made it had definitely done so with care.

Looking over at Fjord, he smiles a little as he sees the half-orc all snug like that. His question makes Molly uncertain, though, gnawing slightly on his lower lip. ]

I... don't know, honestly. I would love to see her and just... know she's alright. I don't want her trapped in a sex place and forced to do weird things. That goes for all of them

[halforc]

It would feel less like the situation was out of our control if we were all here, but I get what you mean. I'd prefer none of them were trapped.

[ The brooch's blue stone glimmers in the dim light coming from the window, the colour of the sea on a bright Menagerie Coast morning. Fjord's smile softens to see it in Molly's hands. ]

Since you've still got your powers, can you still communicate with the Moonweaver? Or however it works for you.

[ If Molly even does anything at all. Certainly no praying over swords. ]

[devilstongue]

Yeah. It's... could you imagine Nott here?

[ That would be a mess, wouldn't it? Poor goblin gal.

Molly keeps gently turning the brooch a bit, watching the light reflect in it. At Fjord's question, however, he lets it go and looks out the window again. ]

I'm not really as religious as I pretended to be. I've never heard her, or really prayed for real. I just... I like what she stands for. It suits me.

[ There's a small chuckle. ]

"Seize your own destiny by pursuing your passions. Let the shadows protect you from the burning light of fanatical good and the absolute darkness of evil. Walk unbridled and untethered, finding and forging new memories and experiences." I like the sound of that.

[halforc]

[ He waits for a moment, the pause heavy and pregnant, before he throws out there, ]

I've seen the Moonweaver. She's scary as fuck.

[ Maybe Fjord has done everything at this point, he's sorry. ]

[devilstongue]

Bullshit. You have not!

[ Honestly! What kind of stuff are you guys doing?? ]

[halforc]

I have. She came out of the sky to bitchslap some sense into the Traveller, it was a fun time. By that I mean, vaguely traumatising for Jester.

[ He doesn't make any effort to be convincing, knowing he's telling the truth. ]

And she's got a ghostly kinda mohawk.