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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 |
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(He's already decided they're going to be friends or mortal enemies, here.) ]
You know, that is an excellent idea. It doesn't want to give me any answers that make sense anyway.
[ Molly looks back at the robot. ]
Hey, find me another towel, will you? This one is all wet.
[ Once the metal creates walks off, the tiefling slinks up at Hypnos' side. ]
Hello. very please to meet you and your good ideas. Mollymauk, call me Molly. I love your style.
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Hypnos watches the robot with mild curiosity - they are, after all, talking openly about getting rid of it on purpose right in front of it - but oh, off it goes, so clearly his advice is always on point. He hums as he watches it go, hums as he looks back at Molly, hums a liiiittle bit more as he produces a floating scroll from who knows where inside that red monster and squints at it for a moment--]
Molly, Molly... huh, nope, you're not one of ours after all! Go figure, I would have bet on it, I mean, I don't remember everyone's names most days, but you look like you'd fit right in!
[All of this, from the coat to the purple and back again. A quill also comes out of the mysterious recesses of his whole thing going on here, don't mind this, he just wants to jot down a quick 'Molly, purple, horns' here.]
Anyway, I'm Hypnos, whiiich now I think probably doesn't mean anything to you, but that's no problem. And hey, you got rid of that metal guy really well!
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Hypnos watches the robot and Molly watches Hypnos, trying to figure this guy out. The way he manages to get a scroll from... somewhere and then starts reading it is slightly off-putting, but the comment about not being one of theirs makes him believe that he's part of the people in charge of this.
After all, why else would he know that? ]
Hypnos, huh? I've been trying to tell everyone it has to be a mistake! Why am I here?
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Huh? Oh, hmm, I don't know anything about mistakes, maybe take it up with the management? You haven't seen anyone big and serious and stuck behind a desk all day, have you?
[This is what Management looks like in 100% of the places he's been, after all, which is -- just the one place, to be fair.]
Hey, real quick, let me try something. If I ask you a question, do you think you can answer it in, like, fifty words or less? Without asking a bunch of other questions first? I haven't had much luck with this so far!
no subject
Here I thought you were the management, writing things down.
[ Maybe Hypnos was just weird. He can definitely respect that, being quite strange himself and the most comfortable among weird people.
The last part as him hum a bit to himself, tail swishing a little as he looks faux-thoughtful. ]
I can always give it a try.
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[He's great at his job, never mind! Forget all of that! He waves his hands in a definite Never Mind Ha Ha motion, then taps his quill against his cheek as he looks Molly up and down.]
So, in fifty words or less, you... are mortal, right? I mean, most of you guys around here are, huh? I don't really get to see a lot, or any, mortals... still alive!
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No, he's still pretty certain he can die. At least him. ]
I'm quite mortal! Nothing special with me about that.
[ Molly's even counting the words on his fingers, just to be extra 'helpful'. He even holds back his own immediate need to ask questions. ]
no subject
[It's the horns. It's definitely the horns. That, and he spends all of his time cataloguing amorphous green blobs of the dead, but mostly the horns.]
And hey, you did it in the word limit, too! Thanks! I guess it's only fair if I let you ask me something now, huh? Go for it?
no subject
[ He does have quite pretty horns, full of baubles and jewelry, loudly screaming 'look at me' like the rest of both his wardrobe and demeanor. ]
Oh, I get a question anyway? Marvelous. I guess my question is what you are! Mentioning mortals and all that, it sounds like you're not.
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Huh, I thought you mortals were supposed to know your stuff way better than that, was I wrong? I mean, most of you have heard of my brother, at least, isn't that right? I'm Hypnos!
[....Okay, yes, he's remembering that that meant nothing to his very decorated new buddy the first time, so, uh-- take two. Why can't he be more popular with mortals, this would be easier...]
I'm sleep, you know... like, gods?
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[ He chuckles slightly, but that last part has his red eyes widening a bit. ]
...I'm sorry, what? You're a god?
[ Not even he had tried that lie, he stopped somewhere around royalty in exile. ]
no subject
[Does that bruise his ego... nah, not really.]
When you get right down to it, I'm the reason you can get a good night's sleep, I guess! Or at least I would be at home, huh, not too sure about here, wherever here is really supposed to be... Somebody out there can even mess with gods, go figure!
[This is Totally Fine.]
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To be fair, I'm not exactly very educated on religious stuff. I like my moon lady, that's about it.
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Oh, really? I don't know her too well, which you'd think I would, seeing as how my mom is the night, and, you know, sleep and all, but huh! Nope! Maybe my brother does? He's around here somewhere, probably brooding!
[That guy!! Surely, Molly would love to hang with death.]
no subject
Oh, so you have family here?
[ MOLLY DOES NOT WANT TO HANG WITH DEATH. There's too much 'crawling out of his own grave' for that. ]
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[One can practically see the good vibes radiating from him at the very mention... twinsies... love that grouch!!!]
He's kind of a workaholic, so, you know, he already hates it here. [lol sucks for him] My best friend and his dog are somewhere, too, so that's lucky! How about you? Family, friends, coworkers to nod at and keep far, far away from?
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[ Blood relatives have no meaning at all to Molly, but family? Very much so. The Mighty Nein was on the edge of becoming a new one before he got here, after all. ]
Yes, one of the members of our group is here, even if he seems a lot different from what I remember. Great guy, he's green so you can't miss him.
no subject
Green, huh? [is... HE a shade] Wow, okay! I'll keep an eye out for, uh, green mortals.
Say, do you think we should, like, get away from the water, maybe?
[Somewhere, a robot is clanking dutifully back with that towel, and here they've failed step two: actually leave the area...]
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[ He had completely forgotten everything about the robot thing and the towel. Amused, he gestures for Hypnos to lead. ]
Let's get out of here, hmm?
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Huh? [like he didn't just say--] Okay then, let's go... that way?
[He sort of... twists, floating as he still is, and points in A Direction. What's over there, who knows! Something wild or more robots, probably.]
I don't really get to go up to the surface, like, at all, so you'll have to let me know what I'm supposed to be interested in up here! What do you say?
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The surface?
[ He hadn't been paying attention, eyes rising to look at the man's face instead. ]
that icon... lmao
[He- swivels around, more or less, like yes? Is that strange?]
That is where we are, right? It's reeeally bright, so, you know, I was just assuming! Am I wrong?
i have so many dumb ones XD
[ So this guy was like... living in a cave system or something? He looked so fancy, though! Molly's quite confused. ]
what we all aspire to tbh
Yeah, I can see that! Pretty big!
[He looks up, squinting, with the distinct expression of someone surveying an object that is, hmm, less than satisfactory? Bright but not even pretty... sucks.]
Honestly, this is all pretty exhausting.
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[ For someone who doesn't know shit, it's almost nice to find someone who knows less... at least about one subject. ]
Do you need to go sit down somewhere?
[ Not that he isn't... floating. ]
(no subject)