TDM # 6

[acatamods]

I ▫ main IV ▫ premise       XI ▫ applications XIV ▫ activity II ▫ logs V ▫ rules VII ▫ bestiary   IX ▫ canon updates XII ▫ taken XV ▫ drop/hiatus III ▫ ooc VI ▫ faq VIII ▫ setting   X ▫ mods XIII ▫ reserves XVI ▫ players test drive meme #6 It happens in the blink of an eye. One moment, you are home. Perhaps you are with your family, perhaps you are at work. It's a completely normal day . . . and then, suddenly, your stomach drops. You are overcome with a sudden sense of vertigo. You cannot see up, or down, or where you are. You fall flat on your face. It takes a few seconds for you to gain composure and catch your breath. You are surrounded by ancient stone buildings, with carvings you do not recognize etched into the stone. There's a sense of nausea, overwhelming and sudden, when you realize you aren't in Kansas anymore. . . . or maybe you are. It seems oddly like a state fair, except a bit more mystical, and a bit more . . . well, touched by faerie-magic.. THE TEMPLE OF BEGINNINGS. Welcome to the "Home Base" of Astoria's Circle. What the actual name of the base is called is lost to the ages, and there's no sense of where you could find it, unless you started asking around. At any rate, this is a central hub of the Circle, a place of powerful magic and mysterious energy. It is a scattering of ancient stone buildings and for the most part, it looks abandoned . . . except for what seems to be a few items, some rooms taken, items moved or organized, even a small garden planted. These are just the smallest hints that there are people here that have been here before you arrived. Overall, it's fairly beautiful. However, it is definitely not modern. Upon exploration, you find that the buildings are kept up by some kind of magic. Some of the rooms have items, things from other Circle members already settled, and others appear to be unclaimed. Pick your rooms, explore the grounds, see the beauty and wonder all around you in such a magical place. Once you're done with that, though, get ready -- there's a carnival in town. FEAST FOR THE PEOPLE. An array of familiar scents welcomes you — it reminds you so terribly of your roots. Perhaps it’s the clam chowder your grandmother used to make, or the distinct smell of your least favorite kind of enchanted crabapple pie traveling through the air. Regardless, it leads you to a variety of food stands, each and everyone being manned by one of the unseen servants.And lo and behold, you’ll find exactly what you’re looking for: food from the very place you’ve come from. The plates and portions are . . . er, floating in air due to how unseen the servants are, but when you reach forward to have a bite, you are promptly stopped. It seems as though the servants are asking for something in exchange. A sign floats up before you… “The food is free ♥ But first, find someone and show them… Your best smile! A flower! Spring is abound ♥ A neat trick using the power I gave you~” You’d best get on it — of course, you could try to simply steal if you’re hungry enough, but well...we’ll see how well that goes over. Ironically enough, the foods you may not be especially partial to will be offered to you without any trouble. Huh. TEN TICKETS GETS A PENCIL. There are a large variety of other stalls too. While the food definitely follows you wherever you go, there are small booths set up with games. Anything from a ring toss, target practice, games of strength or games of balance have been constructed and set up all around this patch of grass. You might notice a game from home, no matter how specific or seemingly out of place it appears to be in this festival. You’re here to have fun! And maybe the person standing next to you does too. Will you challenge them? Or let them go ahead? Besides, don’t you want those prizes? There is a wide selection of "stuffed animals" made out of grass and flowers to be won, but it all comes down to you. These prizes won't wilt or die, either! How lovely. Additionally, some of the booths give you out some arbitrary amount of tickets, regardless of how well you do. If you win, you seem to get . . . less tickets? But if you lose, you get the lot. Astoria doesn't seem to really get the point of carnival games. There is a booth to turn in said tickets, though! Ten tickets will get you a bright pink pencil. Fifty tickets will get you a kazoo that makes you irresistibly happy for thirty minutes at a time. A hundred tickets will get you a massive stuffed puppy made out of flowers. And two hundred tickets will get you a tiara made out of flowers. . . . these gifts seem to be Astoria-centric, but you'll surely like them, right? LOVE IS IN THE AIR. What is a festival without some carnival rides? They’re scattered around the faire grounds at random intervals, and seem familiar enough, if not for the fact they seem to be held together primarily through magic. The ferris wheel is made entirely from giant leaves and vines, but is still running, and absolutely safe. You might want to jump on it to see the entirety of the Temple . . . in the (near-ish) distance, you can see Lake Dona, stretching on for what appears to be miles. You can see the Forest of the Fey, equally massive and sprawling . . . and neither seems to have an end in sight. But hey, at least you got a free carnival ride. Bumper cars? More like bumper logs, floating in a small lake of sorts that (for those who have been in the Circle for some time) definitely wasn’t there before. Crashing into one another is a load of fun, but if you get up-ended, you might wind up being shoved back into the logs unceremoniously by some kelpies. Where in the heck did they come from? (They're harmless, for the most part. Astoria seems to have recruited the more tame ones.) And, even better, the unseen servants are keen to get new people to know one another! Are you in line with someone you know? Or next to a complete stranger? Either way, you’ll get shuffled into the next cart and put on your way. The Tunnel of Roses is a great place to meet someone, right? It's seemingly sprung up out of absolutely nowhere . . . a dark, quiet, romantic ride on a tiny little boat, just big enough for two! You’ve got some...time to break the ice. The ride apparently lasts four hours. COMMUNICATIONS. Upon arriving, you will notice on whichever is your non-dominant hand, you will have a fairly simply screen. A smart watch, if you will. Upon exploration, you will find that it has a directory of all those here with you at the Temple of Beginnings- names, and access to a direct message to them. The watch also has video, audio, and text capabilities, as well as what looks like a collection of messages sent to everyone who wishes to open them. This is your 'network', and also how Astoria can reach out and communicate with you. There is nothing keeping you from removing and/or losing your watch! But remember that you will not have access to this network without it. OOC: Also feel free to join us and other possible players on our discord server! enjoy! ♥

Comments

Vax'ildan | Critical Role | ota

[daggercubed]

A. FEAAAAAAAAAST

[Vax got here, took one look at his currently empty room, and decided he was going to forestall all thoughts of what the hell just happened to go to that carnival he saw instead.

Because... because to the nine hells with that. He expected the afterlife and instead he got this. It doesn't actually make him stop thinking, stop fretting, or turn that part of his brain off. Nothing ever does.

He stops before an unseen servant, not blinking or really feeling that surprised by that. He does, however, reach a hand out -- slowly -- and poke a sign instructing him to smile if he wants food.

Fine. Vax'ildan can handle that.

He turns, cuts the sign a look, and then gives it his best winning smile. And keeps smiling. And--]

Am I done yet? I think my my lips are getting crooked.

2. TICKET TO RIDE

[A little while ago, Vax saw a ring toss game. He decided that, perhaps, his skill in throwing knives would translate into throwing rings. It seemed like it should. However, he has found a couple things out:

Thing the first: clunky carnival rings are not finely balanced, magical daggers, including one used by the chosen of the gods. They're actually rather shit.

Thing the second: his reflexes are as good as ever, but see thing the first and thing the third.

Thing the third: the targets are weighted and wobble when he throws something.

Vax's expression screws up a little more.] Oi, I think this might be rigged.

3. WILDCARD

[Drop your own prompt! I'm easy! texside-at-plurk if you wanna plot!]

2

[burtreynoldsesq]

Rigged? Come on, Vax. You can't possibly be denigrating the noble profession of carny, can you? [Comes an amused voice from behind.]

It's called a challenge.

[daggercubed]

[Vax freezes up for just a moment. The last he saw Scanlan, he was walking away for the last time. Across the square in Vasselheim, towards his mother. With the Raven Queen. It feels like hours ago; it feels like years ago. Is it--

No, it's Scanlan. He might bring a laugh because what is there to say? It's no effort at all for Vax to smile, to look down at Scanlan, and then laugh. Maybe a little too much for that joke, but he's honestly moved.]

Eh, far be it from me to speak ill of a carny. But isn't cheating part of their noble profession?

Oi, Shorthalt. Good to see you.

[burtreynoldsesq]

[Scanlan, meanwhile, is from a point in time where Vax is alive and well and still stabbing things in this world, though the scar on his cheek does indicate that he's from after certain adventures in the criminal underworld.]

Oh yeah, of course it is. That's what makes it so challenging.

[Scanlan puts his arms together behind his head.] Vax, I've seen you throw daggers into the eyes of anywhere from between 1 and 5 dragons, all of whom, I assume, were angry and moving and trying not to have daggers thrown into their eyes.

And you're being beaten by a carnival game?

sorry for the delay, I've had a really bad cold!

[daggercubed]

[Vax can tell when he's being goaded. He can especially tell when Scanlan is goading him. His eyebrows furrow for a moment before he gives Scanlan a look. Fall for it? Not quite.

Choose to fall for it?

Absolutely. It's fun.] Well, then. Sounds like I just need to try harder, don't I, Scanlan?

[He wheels back... tosses the ring with flair and polish... and it still bounces off the side of one.

Vax's eyebrow twitches.]

Feast

[spaceforged]

I think it means smile at another person.

[The voice comes from his left where a white-haired man is leaning against a tree. He offers him an apologetic smile that's a bit worn around the edges. It's been a time of things.]

Hey there, it's always strange around here. Heard any kind of an explanation, yet?

[daggercubed]

That... that checks out, yeah.

[Vax turns to look at Shiro; the white hair isn't such a shocker, given Percy. It still takes him a second to realize this isn't someone older, though. He turns around, and waves his hand.]

Not a detailed one. I fell over, then... I was here. Well, back at that temple. I decided the carnival seemed like as good an idea as any.

[spaceforged]

Now comes the other question. Do you want the detailed talk? Or focus on the slightly unsettlingly off carnival?

[He pushes away from the tree to join him. His folded arms had hid his right is made of white metal or judging by the exposed hand, the hand is.] I’m Shiro, and I’ve been here a while. I can fill in those blanks as much as I can any time you’re ready to hear it.

[daggercubed]

Vax'ildan. Vax, for short.

[He shakes Shiro's hand... and considers for a moment. No, he thinks. Putting off knowing the truth isn't wise. He's as like to end up angrier for waiting as he is to hear why he was brought here.]

Sure, I'll take the explanation. That way, if I don't like it... well, I can distract myself with a carnival, I guess.

[spaceforged]

[He lets go of his hand and nods, approving of the choice. Vax reminds him of someone but he can’t place his finger on who just yet. The name has a ring to it that’s familiar too.] That’s a sound strategy.

I’ll start simple we’re brought here by a witch named Astoria and the temple itself. She’s chained here and wants us to do what she can’t. Whether you trust her or not is entirely up to you. She claims to seek to restore balance to all universes.

In my opinion, I think she is trying to do that. But she knows about as much as us and you can imagine how that ends up. [In short, it’s a mess. A big mess. The unseen servants drift closer with food. Vax seems to have earned the food he wanted.]

[daggercubed]

[Twinsies...]

Oi. Brought by a witch, is it? [He almost laughs. Did she mean to pluck him away from death itself? Or is this some sort of cosmic coincidence? Vax runs a hand down his face, before he nods.]

I'll have to meet her for myself. You think she's telling the truth, though? She seems honest?

:v feaaaaast

[decisions]

[ it's only been perhaps a month for percy, but the fact of the matter is that the horologium has made him incredibly... grateful of familiar faces. particularly vax'ildan's. he's almost certain that the only person more thrilled to see him would be vex herself, so he'll keep his relief tempered to a faint smile.

which apparently isn't big enough to earn him free food, so he's brought back up: a flower.

which he pushes in vax's direction Very Casually. ]

Maybe it's not a fan of your smile.

[ hello, vax. we're steeling our excitement. ]

[daggercubed]

[There's a start of surprise from Vax. Small, at first, as he failed to catch the flower being pushed into his view.

Then a larger, deeper sort of surprise.

Vax's first guess and fear, that this place might be the afterlife, is transformed from an "are you kidding me?" sort of irritation to one of deep dread. Percy was alive. He had to move onto the next world; he had done his duty, fulfilled his oath, and was to continue his service to his Queen. Why is Percy here?

Unfortunately for him, this shows quite plainly in the shocked expression on Vax'ildan's face... and it is a long moment before a smile, quite natural, replaces it. It is good to see him again.]

Hm, it's a shame it's picky, then. Hello, Freddy. [He looks back at the sign.] Oi, is my friend's flower good enough for you?

[A couple of bowls of rice porridge descend from on high.]

2.

[wraithes]

[ inej isn't leaving kaz's side for very long, but she catches sight of a familiar figure. or . . . someone she thought was familiar, but on approaching, she sees it's not vex'ahlia, but someone else. and she remembers, that percy mentioned vex had a brother . . . a twin, maybe? they look awfully similar to not be related.

but then she sees him throw the rings, with an air of expertise that inej finds familiar. and then the ring misses, because (as vax accurately says), the game is likely rigged. and she purses her lips before she suddenly is just

next to him

without warning

where did this tiny teenage girl come from and how is she so quiet +5000 dex that's how. ]

Are you having difficulty?

[ as she picks up a ring herself. ]

[daggercubed]

Gwah--

[Vax does, in fact, look like the spitting image of his sister. Once Inej is closer... yeah, it's easier to see the differences. He turns to her with surprise, and with little familiarity.]

You spooked me there. Good sneaking, though. [He appreciates that in the youth. Good trait! Leads to honest careers!] I suppose I am.

[He looks back at the game.]

It's weighted, yeah? I think the targets wobble when you hit, so there's a good chance they'll just bat the rings aside.

[wraithes]

[ she runs her fingers along the ring, balancing it between two fingers. it is, indeed, weighted, and weighted oddly -- throwing it straight is nearly an impossible task, and so you need to throw with the expectation that it will tilt to . . . the right, most likely. ]

My apologies, for scaring you. It wasn't my intention.

[ and she holds the ring back out to vax. innocently enough. ]

Have you tried throwing it to the left?

[ you know. as a test. ]

[daggercubed]

Don't worry about it. Most people don't get the jump on me, so it's pretty good when they do. [He nods.] I'm Vax'ildan. Vax, for short.

[He takes the ring.]

Couple times, but it's after I was getting testy with it. I can try it again, yeah?

[And he gives it a good toss. Vwoooosh~]

[wraithes]

Vax'ildan.

[ she repeats it, committing it to memory. vax'ildan and vex'ahlia? their parents must have hated them -- but inej keeps that comment to herself, instead turning to look at the bottles, curious to see if vax can hit his mark . . . and nearly, the ring hits the edge of a bottle, and flops right back off.

her eyebrows arch, slightly, as an unseen servant promptly hands vax about 50 tickets. ]

Perhaps the point is missing the mark, then.

2.

[mollymocked]

[Molly knows it's rigged, because he has been here before. Maybe his circus didn't do a whole lot in the midway aspect of traditional carnivals, but he knows how the game is played, and it's always important to remember in these situations that the house always wins.

Or at least wins enough that it can keep a profit.

Which is why Molly is here to be the barker Astoria never asked for as he observes this. It doesn't really help that this irritated half-elf's striking resemblance to Vex has his attention.] That's a funny way of pronouncing "I'm clearly not as good at this as I expected to be, and now I'm pissed."

[daggercubed]

[That... that is a colorful Tiefling. Vax looks Molly over with some appreciation for the whole style and getup; he couldn't pull it off, but he approves wholeheartedly.

Which makes him crack a smile, despite his irritation.]

That's because great things happen when I'm pissed off, yeah?

[His barking? It works. He grabs another trio of rings, and does an underhanded toss to show off and...

wobble...

wobble...

...clank. The ring falls to the ground, rattling, and Vax's expression screws up.]

Definitely rigged.

[mollymocked]

[Molly's grin widens. He's too arrogant for his own good and any bit of appreciation for what he claims is only for his mirror is met with a significant amount of giddiness.

He folds his hands behind his back and saunters backwards so that he's positioned a relative foot to the left and out of range of the half-elf's arm so he doesn't get clocked by an elbow. His solid red eyes widen like he's prepared to be dazzled, and then... Nope. Nothing.]

Should I turn around? Performance anxiety happens to the best of us, friend.

[daggercubed]

[The sigh that escapes Vax's lips is uneven at best.]

No. If I'm fucking it up, it might as well be on display. It's more honest that way.

[He spins the ring about his finger, then turns to look at Molly. He gives him a once over, before he makes his guess:]

Do you work here, friend?

[mollymocked]

I work at the Temple, apparently, which is close enough. The Circle's recruitment process is a bit iffy, but apparently the witch who runs this place throws great parties.

[He gestures grandly at the festivities.] It's really the least she can do.

[No the least she can do is apparently have one of her invisible servants had Vax a full yard worth of tickets for his failures. Even Molly has to slow blink at that.]

[moneytwin]

[ The ardent joy (followed swiftly by dismay) at discovering her brother, too, has now joined the proceedings has Vex frozen in place, her eyes wide. At first, she'd thought him naught but an illusion, as this place is so fond of playing tricks on guests and residents alike. But no, it is no flipped mirror, nor strange memory fog caused by equally strange foods.

Vax'ildan is here. ]

Or maybe you're just bad at tossing rings, brother.

[ Uttered airly, as she smoothly steps up beside him, eyes forward, trying not to give away her excitement to see him again. ]

[daggercubed]

[Vax turns when he hears her.

Surprise and shock and joy are all there at once. Fear quickly follows that; if this is the afterlife, then he and the Raven Queen are to have a long talk. If this is something else, then it is a gift. Maybe a curse, too. He's always been bad at hiding his emotions, so it shows, of course: Vax'ildan looks halfway between laughing and crying.

And he makes him suck it up, hold the emotion down, and then turn it into the simpler joy of speaking like they have a thousand times before. Like they were never going to get to again.]

Vex'ahlia. I find they're less pointy and balanced than I'm used to. [He tosses the ring over his shoulder -- not paying attention, he nails it in one -- and then walks over to pull her into a hug.]