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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 |
no subject
It's hardly possible not to. Some better than others.
[When he sees Molly go for the last card, he presses a hand across the table, trying to stay his.]
Must you play them all together?
[These are all rather on the nose and suddenly, nervously, he wonders if this is somehow cheating his patron of the usual signs. But surely another tiefling offering answers is, in its own way, the kind of coincidence that might as well be logged by fate? The card representing the eye tickles the back of his mind uncomfortably, and now his brows are furrowed. The same tickle sometimes renders him with terrible headaches for hours and though it's been months... the one time he'd succumbed had apparently been far worse than ever back in Waterdeep.
In short, Oran is lately more nervous of his fate than he ever has been before. Distracted like that, he belatedly realizes his hand is lingering and he pulls it back all at once.]
no subject
I don't have to do anything you don't want me to. It's your future, after all. Do with it as you want, there's freedom in that.
[ It's half show, half genuine truth in that. ]
The choice belongs only to you.
[ Once Oran moves his hand, Molly sweeps the card up without looking at it or showing it, and it slips into the rest of his deck. He splits and flips the cards, 'hiding' it among the others.
Molly knows his cards, of course, every little tell to pick the ones he wants, but Oran doesn't know that, and he wants his new friend to feel certain it's lost among the rest. ]
no subject
He hides his disappointment behind a sigh of relief, taking another sip of coffee and then recomposing himself with a grin.]
I think you might find yourself welcome here... there are a lot of people looking to know what the Augur won't tell them. Someone who can interpret its predictions... I'd say you could make a lot of coin, but this city has barely two pieces to rub together.
[Flattering, but apologetic; Oran knows it's a strange change of pace to go to trade and sex when gold pieces had been the only thing he'd been chasing for months.]
no subject
Well, I don't just read for coin. Sometimes it just makes people feel better to know that fate is looking after them, you know? It creates hope.
[ He smiles a little, and then looks out the window of the shop for a moment. ]
This place... it sounded like paradise at first, but I have friends that need me, and the one that's here? He's already had a bout with whatever drugs the robots put in the food they gave us. Is it like that, a lot? Things you cannot control?
no subject
It's... you can learn to avoid some things, but the Augur has a way of honeying traps. It's, um. If you know how to play it right...
[It can be really very nice, actually. Here is a veritable inexperienced idiot who's managed to make some very good friends thanks to some of the Augur's antics... but by the same mettle of Oran's inexperience and lack of trust issues have burned him, too, and that should be obvious by his expression.
Still, he feels some mixed concern and curiosity.]
I hope he's well. It can be... ah, awkward. I mean, it's good your friend is here! But sometimes that makes it worse, not better.