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TDM 006: SPECTRAL SPECTACLE
| TDM 006: SPECTRAL SPECTACLE |
00. 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. The Dragon's Matchmaking Welcome to the Island, cherub dragons! The auspicious actions of your fellow Islanders have foreseen the reintroduction of dragons to the world. Unlike the hulking, possessive creatures of ancient lore (and recent hot springs), these well-meaning little critters love to help. Their small size and roly-poly frames make them unsuited to laborious tasks, but they will be the perfect companion to any residents who endeavor to pick up a small item, wish for their lunch to be delivered to an absolute stranger, or need a fire started from a tiny, flaming sneeze in their drafty homes. If a cherub dragon sees an Islander they perceive in need of their assistance, they will zip right in and refuse to scram until they’ve done the job! No visible struggles? No problem! The little dragons also love to play matchmaker. Persistent dragons will gleefully nudge together Islanders they believe will have chemistry, and sometimes they aren’t wrong! Of course, even if sparks fail to fly, the dragons’ trilling songs are known to kindle romantic feelings between strangers and long-time lovers alike. II. Ruins While the Islanders have been enjoying their autumn relaxation, the ‘bots of Erku have been hard at work clearing the surrounding forests of dangers for their guests’ safe habitation. If you are of deft hand with monster slaying, forestry, or even just hauling debris and weed picking, the robots will gladly exchange credits for help with reconstructing the recently unearthed mountain temple grounds from the rubble that remains there. Just follow the path of gently glowing mushrooms to the site of the temple ruins. Beware of lurking creatures, grabby plants, and falling rocks!  The temple ruins are tall and breathtaking, despite the eerie chill of the fog that lingers just beyond. Or is it the fog that sends a shiver up your spine? After all, this place was very spiritually important to the original inhabitants of the Island, the robots say to anyone curious enough to ask. Although their own programming does not include religious worship, the Augur believes the restoration of this place to be vital to the continued augmentation of Eros energy. When questioned about the strange shadows that seem to slip from tree to tree, or the unsettling feeling of ghostly hands that seem to nudge volunteers deeper into the grounds, the robots respond with nothing but bafflement. Their sensors detect no unknown organic presence afoot. III. Ritual Islanders who chase those mysterious shadows may find themselves particularly drawn to a structure that lay deeper within the ruins, beyond where the robots have made the most progress. Three sets of crumbling, moss-covered stairs join to form a central platform, which - despite the overcast skies - seems to emit a soft glow. Those who step onto the platform may begin to hear a quiet, compelling voice, which urges them to be free of their inhibitions and to offer their energy to the spirits to be multiplied hundredfold. Visions of naked bodies in the throes of carnal worship dance before the eyes. Those who are especially spiritually sensitive - or perhaps, just lucky - may feel as if possessed by a consciousness that is not their own, and that consciousness is filled with a burning sexual desire. Leaving the platform is an option if alone, but the intense and overwhelming urge to seek companionship will persist until an Auspicious Act is completed. Those who are fortunate to be joined by company within the temple will feel compelled to worship right then and there, no matter the risk of being seen. Within the walls of the temple, Eros energy is enhanced such that any erotic act - big or small - will be enough to break the spell. N A V I G A T I O N |
good, you're welcome
Anyway, he's not encouraging them at all, but when one of them lets go of his cape and bobs up to plop in the vast expanse that is all that hair he has, he does not move to dislodge it at all. It has delivered its charge and now it deserves a nap; he totally gets it.]
Wooow, this is really it? [only half of that sentence sounds impressed,] I mean, I'm glad we get to hang out together more, Thanatos! But isn't this place kind of missing, I don't know, a whole bunch of mortals for you to, like, do your job on?
[On? With? Whatever, he's seen like, barely a handful of people roaming around, what is UP with the surface!! Also it's bright and he's squinting, more than he has to, because of course he is.]
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And Hypnos still has a knack for saying the sorts of things that aren't wrong, per se, but are still, like, super grating. Damn. Take this Look.]
The surface is vast, Hypnos. Mortals are scattered across it.
[...And yet? And yet. He doesn't want to, like, worry Hypnos—and how does he explain his job, anyway? The feeling of a thousand pinpricks pulling him in a thousand different directions, each one a soul calling out for its Fates-ordained release. Shit's complicated, bruh.]
But something is wrong. Nothing is... calling out to me, here. [HmmMMM—] There's no work to do.
[Say it isn't so.]
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And like, please understand this next thing, too, because the way he squints a little bit more seriously is the most Thinking anyone's getting out of him vis-a-vis how seriously he should be taking this situation they are now in. Something is wrong, Than says, there's no work to do...
Well!]
Soooo, wait, if I'm hearing this right, and I think I am, you mean you've got some free time now? Did you change your mind abut my idea for dealing with a whole bunch of mortals at once and not tell me?
[Like, he sees this work-addiction anxiety, and yet he hears More Brother Time, sorry! Priorities!]
I mean, wow, I didn't think you'd really listen to my ideas!
[Go ahead, brother, ruin his day.]
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I don't.
[Bam. So now we can cross brotherly rudeness off the list, too.]
This isn't as simple as having more free time. [The thought alone prompts a full-body shudder—or, well. It almost does.] We're cut off from the Underworld, here. You should be concerned.
[The line, Hypnos! The line leading to Lord Hades is definitely fucked.]
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Oh, hah, I guess not. [brother :(] Anyway, I didn't say I'm not worried about it, because I thought about it and it is a pretty big deal! Uh, but, I'm just saying, if nothing is supposed to escape, how did we get here? I wasn't trying to get to the surface...
[The Line... is a concern, that's true, but consider: he can just make a new line here? Will Master not accept this new, slightly different line? Not at all, but don't crush all of his dreams at once.
Or: hmm, he was kind of banking on Than and Zag to have the ideas here, considering he is List Boy and y'all actually go outside sometimes. They are in so much trouble, please handle it, he'll watch.]
Have you tried walking back into the water?
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Or: Thanatos doesn't know shit, for once, and it's disconcerting! Made all the worse by the fact that he feels some degree of responsibility for Hypnos, and hey, maybe he doesn't need to; it's not like Hypnos is helpless, but you know. Twinsies.]
No. [What the fuck!] And I don't suggest you try it.
[Waking up in that salty bathwater one (1) time was bad enough—and what if they're separated? How is Thanatos supposed to (eventually) explain to Lord Hades that he lost his, like, favorite employee. Damn.]
I wasn't on the surface when I was pulled here. All was quiet; I was [watching the Styx like a loser] in the House. [Hmm.] Whatever brought us here is clearly powerful, so don't tempt it.
[Under the supposed protection of Nyx and Hades. Chaos, then...? Anyway, it is now time to Think Broodily while once again glaring at the dumb little dragon.]
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Who, me? Nooo, no way, what would I do? You just let me know when you want to hang out— uh, or you know, come up with a way to get back, and I'll be there!
[But he's taking this seriously, promise!! He's not even going to make pointed comments about staring at the Styx, see, he's being serious. The dragon, in turn, chews on a lock of his hair, and he continues to just Let This Happen.]
These guys aren't so bad, huh? Here, this one is for you!
[The other one that has not chosen to chew on him, that is, which he is now nudging to bob stupidly into Than's personal space. Twinsie dragons, bro...]
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I don't—
[Well, he neither needs nor wants this stupid dragonling? But this stupid dragonling flutters close enough to, like, bump right against his face, and he really has no choice but to reach up and grab hold of it before it fucks up his very cool, very practical hood. Nice! Now he's holding a dragon like a basketball while staring into its beady little eyes.]
I told you not to encourage them.
[HYPNOS!!!]
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I thought you might want company! [Since he never wants Hypnos' company!!! Brother!!] They're too independent to be companions, but they're helpful! Let's see, what should I name this one...
[The one on his head, which he makes a foolish attempt to reach up and poke a little, an action that only inspires it to swipe at his hand and keep chewing on his hair.
So it's tsun, you see. He glances at Thanatos, the gears turning... the plan forming...]
I'll name it after you.
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You'll do no such thing.
[The nerve??]
It's not a... pet. You're not keeping it. [Something, something, too much responsibility.] Release it.
[Than will lead by example, here, which means he pulls his hands away from Basketball-kun, obviously intending for it to shoot for the stars... but it just sort of hovers there, instead? Staring dopily up at him all the while. Hypnos, Jr...]
I read this hours ago, and then my brain replied to it, and my hands did not. that's tuesday.
Huh! I almost thought that was going to work! I guess you don't have as much pull with helpful little monsters, huh, brother?
[Hypnos Jr. is a kindred spirit... he can feel it even without the lil guy being officially Named (tm)...]
Have you tried, I don't know, not being so grumpy all the time? They probably think you still need cheering up, you know?
[He do, tho... Hypnos knows.]
is this not just the weekday mood
Is that their opinion, or yours?
[Hmm. He reaches up to push the dragon away with the back of his hand? Gentle encouragement to get the heck outta here, except that the dragon sees it as an invitation to zip to his opposite side. Hhh.]
I have an important job to do, Hypnos. We both do. I don't have time to waste with— [—you. Ah. Well, that earlier twinge comes back with a vengeance.] I don't need an added nuisance.
[One comes standard!!!]