TDM # 7

[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 #7 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. To top it off, something seems to be...wrong with the weather. The seasons seem to be off. And yes, we do mean seasons - all of them. 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. SPRING. ➜ Spring is in the air! Or a solid quarter of it, more specifically. Flowers are in full bloom, and there is a massive field that stretches from the Temple to the lake that has been reformed into a garden. It offers everything from roses to daisies to hydrangeas to even specimen specific to your home, each and every one terribly vibrant. Before passing through the field, an Unseen servant will provide you with a seed. A sign marks the beginnings of the field. “This is your seed to plant. I recommend that you do it as soon as you can; the flowers grow especially fast today!” You are welcome to choose any vacant spot, and there are watering cans to be found in every corner. But should you do as the sign says, well...the flowers of this field are livelier than you’d expect. It seems as though the flower you’ve planted has a life of its own. It practically resembles an infant, crying and babbling of its own accord as it stretches its leaves out in a plea for comfort. Looks like you’re a parent now…? ➜ Spring is the season of bloom. And with flowers comes pollen. Be careful, for this pollen is more magical than the norm — it might make you blurt out something you don’t mean to say with every sneeze or cough. This can range from secrets, observations, the things you always think but don't actually say, little facts about yourself, embarrassing moments you wish people would forget - there doesn't seem to be a limit to what spews forth with each sneeze or cough. Only that it was definitely something you didn't want to say. These aren't just normal allergies, so good luck! SUMMER. ➜ Venture father off towards the lake and you’ll find that the sun is fiercer than ever. The heat is sweltering, and the glint of the lake is bound to catch your attention. The water is clear and colored a deep, inviting blue; the mermaids are out to play, merrily singing their songs. They’re in a particularly mischievous mood however and invite you to join them in the lake — fortunately, the Unseen servants seem to have laid out a fair share of swimwear for you to wear if you so choose to. Keep your eyes open, as the mermaids may or may not submerge you in the water for a laugh. They aren’t opposed to making new friends, that’s certain. ➜ Nessie isn’t exempt from the summer fun, of course. The monster is prone to choosing particularly random times to emerge and send a tidal wave rippling across...and even over the lake. She may also be a bit more friendly, to those of you who are interested in a bit of swimming, and she may even let you ride her. As long as you can hold on, of course. FALL. ➜ Fall, otherwise known as the season of harvest. Togetherness and new beginnings are abound. There are crops sprouting left and right! The pumpkin patch near the kitchen seems to be thriving, its pumpkins now larger and glowing a bright orange. However, should you turn around...one of these pumpkin’s vines will grow thrice their size and wind around your feet. Maybe it’ll go as far as to lift you up and thrash you around, or it’ll simply let you go and leave you be. It doesn't seem that the pumpkins are too keen on letting you or your friends leave the patch, but there doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to it. They are aggressive, but range in intensity - are you coming to the rescue? Or needing a hand? ➜ Past the garden, the warm scent of bread and home hangs heavy in the air. They eventually lead you to the kitchen. Spread across the tables are...pies galore! There is a pie of every variety imaginable laid out in the kitchen for your taking. They come with a bit of a twist...each flavor causes a different kind of memory to be triggered. ➜ Blueberry: You’ve remembered something terribly sad — practically sad enough to bring you to tears. ➜ Apple: A burst of comfort...one of your most heartwarming memories, heartwarming enough to long for home. ➜ Cherry: A memory that fills you with glee, perhaps the more mischievous sort. Be careful to not suddenly burst out laughing, now. ➜ Strawberry: Ah, are you blushing? This memory is one of a more...embarrassing sort, perhaps in relation to romance or your dirty laundry. WINTER. ➜ And at last, winter is the season of...snow. Surely, it’s more than that, yes, but the snow is more likely to garner your attention first — because there is plenty of it to be found beyond the Temple and in the Forest. Hills upon hills of white expand across the land, but fortunately for you, winterwear can be found back at the Temple. Unfortunately they are...very distinct. ➜ Snowmen are integral to the spirit of Winter. You may need a bit of help (or simply go at it alone), but the materials necessary to make one surround you. If and when your definition of a snowman stands before you, however...well, it may not be what you expect— it turns out he has quite a bit to say. And feel. And think. The snowmen of this land appear to have fully formed personalities of their own, and can even move around of their own accord...depending on how well you’ve built them. ➜ Approximately every 6 hours, the ground beneath you rumbles. And promptly afterwards, mounds of snow come tumbling through the woods. It turns out you are witness the start of an avalanche. You can opt to run, use your newfound magic to your advantage, or simply get...pulverized? 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

[acatastoria]

[ and, astoria tilts her head slightly . . . and as the snowball rockets toward her, it stops, in mid-air. and drops, harmlessly, to the ground. ]

If you are sure.

[ and astoria thrusts her hand forward, and the snowballs zoom toward ruby -- and with a certain brightness in her eyes that wasn't there before, an odd glowing, astoria raises her other hand, to summon more snowballs.

be prepared to face down springtime elsa, ruby. ]

[clickclickbloom]

[Ruby isn't discouraged as her snowball plummets to the ground uselessly in front of Astoria. In fact it only gets her to run faster toward the onslaught of snowballs. She leaps into the air and activates her brand new ability and shrinks down in size to avoid the first volley of snowy doom. It's more luck than anything that she doesn't get absolutely wrecked by this onslaught at her tiny size.

A moment later She returns to her normal size and collects a handful of snow. If she can't get her with a ranged attack then she'll go up close and personal. She makes one last headlong dash toward Astoria. Hand outstretched to try and shove the push the snow right in her face.]

[acatastoria]

[ oh.

the usage of her gift causes a sudden grin to appear on astoria's features, and she's about to wave her hand again when ruby suddenly appears in front of her. and when ruby attempts to shove the snow into her face, ruby's hand is suddenly met by this warm force. it doesn't hurt, but it is also all-encompassing. the snow melts in her hand, and her fingers grow warmer, and warmer, and warmer -- ]

Oh --

[ it's said as an afterthought to astoria, and she quickly moves (or, rather, glides) backwards, to give a bit more space between the two. ]

I do not think touching me is a good idea, Ruby, but -- is that necessary, for this game?

[clickclickbloom]

[Okay. The warm is a bit concerning but Ruby tries to follow through with the attack as it's just about all she can do at this point. Until Astoria suddenly glides backward out of they way. Ruby had been expecting to make contact and had no real back up plan to bail out, so she stumbles forward and lands face first in the snow.

A groan can be heard from in the snow acknowledges what was said. Then she pulls herself into a sitting position and brushes some of the snow off her face and shoulders.]

Uh- It seemed necessary at the time? It's all I could really think of to keep up with you without my abilities from back home. It was a desperate move in a desperate game.

[She does tilt her head a little curiously.]

So touching you is a no go? Not even for a like a high five?

[acatastoria]

[ with a wave of her hand, the snow cast over ruby vanishes, and astoria elects to sit next to her as well... though astoria's version of sitting seems to be more floating in mid-air, crossing her legs at the ankle, and resting her hands in her lap. ]

I can touch, but it requires a lot of focus.

[ she has touched members of the circle before, but always with a great amount of care. ]

I am not really built like the rest of you... I am not sure why. It feels like being held together with a lot of string, but there's too much for string to hold it. Does that make sense?

[clickclickbloom]

[Ruby actually looks impressed with the whole sitting while floating thing. That is one way to avoid getting a cold butt, but she has to wonder now if that's something Astoria has to worry about if she can just melt snow like that.]

Oh. Okay. Well that's better than not being able to touch at all.

More importantly. Have you ever had a high five before? That's probably the best of kind of touch there is.

[She considers Astoria's explanation for a little before she answers.]

Kind of? I think...

I had a friend like that back where I'm from. She wasn't quite the same as everyone else either. She had strings but they were used to hold up swords. It was pretty freakin' cool.

That didn't make her any less or anymore of a person though.