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

[spaceforged]

There is something in that forest. I feel it watching me when I’m in there. The lake has mermaids. Some of them we rescued from a world called Akvos. There’s other things in there but I know better than to fly too close to the water.

[He recovers his dignity and straightens up. He can’t really comment on how Krolia met Keith again. She was uncover and from what he’s seen Kolivan hadn’t known Keith was her son when he sent him to her. It’s difficult to say without asking the man himself.]

...Circumstances aside, I’m glad you’re here. We could use your expertise and Keith has missed you. [He quietly puts the thought away how close they came to dying.]

Let’s go claim that room for you before someone else does.

[He heads for the door only pausing to snag his flight jacket from the hook by the door.]

[gavemyblade]

[...Mermaids. And who knows what else. The first isn't so surprising because there are planets where much of their population are merfolk of all sorts of different varieties even in their reality. Luckily, most have escaped from being subjugated. Still, the last part earns a few surprised blinks.

He refuses to fly close to the water.] Good to know.

[It makes sense, though -- mechanical lion form. Does he even breathe like that? ...Question for another time. Much like mentions of how close they came to the brink as well. Bad enough Keith started with mentioning some of their team died in the last world. Keith could have ended up grounded in a literal sense were he any younger than he is.

That said, Kolivan likely had some idea given the fact that even on instinct, Keith's form was similar to hers. He even had her blade. Whether he fully knew or not, she didn't have the opportunity to ask when they reported in briefly. Securing the Altean colonists took priority.]

I'll be glad to help in any way I can. [Yet she can't quite help the spark of pride in her eyes, despite the circumstances they've found themselves in. Her son's come a long way.]

If you don't mind, I'll copy this before returning it. [She folds the map back up the way it was before and moves to follow him.] ...And it is good to see you up and about.

[Just a tiny hint of what she last recalls; nothing more. Though the lack of surprise at the all-white hair should have said something.]

[spaceforged]

[He nods, She has his approval to keep the map as long as she needs it. Shiro pulls his coat on quickly with the ease of practice. The flight jacket was acquired in Shehui and he refuses to lose it. It’s a tie to who he used to be as a Garrison fly boy.

Enjoying the feeling of the coat settling over his shoulders gives him time to process the hint. Shiro rubs the back of his neck and laughs without any humor.]

Thank you. It took a little bit but, I’m more than back on my feet now. [His grin reaches his eyes. He pauses at the door she wanted and pushes it open. The room is empty but as he slips inside it shifts, accommodating to its new owner. Shiro stops by the doorway.] They do that. When Keith and I first became roommates the small room I claimed expanded to suit us. The temple is about as alive as the Lions but I don’t know how to talk to it yet.

[gavemyblade]

[She watches the reaction mostly out of habit, looking away at the laugh as she walks with him.]

I can see that. [She smiles faintly, but it also reaches her eyes. He seems far more comfortable in his own skin now. Hopefully that's a good sign in regards to his nerves around her.

Krolia follows him inside, raising an eyebrow at how it shifts around them.] ...Convenient. [She places the map down on the table by the bed, and something else she had in the holster on her thigh that had, until she pulled out the small yet slightly thick disc, seemed empty.] Does anyone?

[You have her curious now, Shiro.]