labyrinthum | November Intense Event 2024 [4th Wall Event]

November Intense Event 2024 [4th Wall Event]

Visitors Arrive

It's not clear when it starts. It's subtle, with one new face appearing in one of the alleyways in Somnius, a gold cuff bracelet unremovable from their left wrist. Another appears a little while later, on the outskirts of the woods. Several more appear, as the hours go on, scattered throughout the neighborhoods of Somnius. It continues like this, a sprinkle of new faces with questions on their lips that becomes a steady stream. The natives do their best to accommodate these new Visitors, but it becomes clear quickly that they are different from the Dreamers, arriving all throughout Visium, rather than in the Enchanted Garden. Rumor travels throughout the city that these Visitors with the golden cuff bracelets must not have contracts, and may still have their native powers. They're treated just the same, encouraged to make themselves at home until Vaeros decides what to do about their lack of contract.

Vaeros remains suspiciously quiet, even from his castle beyond the labyrinth. There's something electric in the air, the atmosphere crackling in anticipation. What's on the horizon?

🏘️ Making House
There's no end to the mushroom houses or hill houses available, and though there are fewer in existence, it seems as though the desire for a cottage means there will be one available. Visitors are encouraged to make one of these places their home, but some need a bit of TLC to be homeworthy. Roll up your sleeves to make these houses your home! Sweep out those cobwebs and find that the mushroom houses stand straighter and feel healthier the more their insides are cleaned. Other homes feel lighter, and the land around them feels more fertile the more tender care is put into maintaining them. Though many come without electricity and water, it may be found that, for Visitors only, these dwellings will self-connect if enough work is put in. Be careful not to get sprayed in the face by that hose or faucet you're currently polishing!
🌇 Exploring Town
There's a myriad of places to discover in Somnius. Not only are there native run places like the Stone Dragon Café (which will, unfortunately, almost always misinterpret your order in some fantastical way - they just don't have the best grasp on Dreamer foods), and other businesses run by Dreamers themselves. There's Club Quartz - which is often open late, and always welcoming to those who want to visit - Bloom Boutique, the Dreamer run flower shop, Kuchel's Tea Shop, a long running standard run by a different Dreamer, and of course, south of the cottages, a few miles off the main road, there's a pretty white farm house with a swath of field behind it. There's also the Church of the Moon, ran by locals who fervently believe in the moon and her power to keep the world in balance.
🚸 Unruly Kidlings
Like any city with people dwelling in it, there's bound to be children. This particular week, the kidlings, both gelfling and goblin alike, seem to be extra naughty. They'll take slingshots to shoot dreamers and visitors with sticky gum, and they're putting soap in drinks that cause those who drink the syrupy concoction to hiccup soap bubbles out of their mouths. Nothing they're up to is particularly dangerous, but it sure is mischievous. It might even be fun to join in when groups of these children take to the streets to race on self-made rollerskates, skidding and rumbling down the cobblestone.

Dreamers and Visitors might find themselves as makeshift parents, having to guide these unruly children back to their actual parents. Those who take up this task will be given small tokens in thanks - simple items like pearl beads or glass baubles that, if are floated in glass jars with water and several others, will show pleasant memories from the person who last touched them.
🪩 The Labyrinth
The Labyrinth, freshly reestablished has been quiet. Dreamers will find initially that they cannot enter, but that the labyrinth looks completely different to Visitors. Welcoming and warm, it comes across as inviting and somewhere Visitors seem drawn to. It will be up to Dreamers to stop them before they enter, or take advantage of temporary openings that WILL allow them to enter that only appear when a Visitor goes in, in order to chase after them.

Dreamers and Visitors alike will experience moving walls and shifting pathways, and find themselves drawn to one place in particular: a tall clear crystal statue that seems to hum. Time spent around this statue compels anyone around it to tell the truth, but when night falls it compels confessions of desire or even love.

Control Slips

cw: natural disasters, potential dismemberment

There's peace for a while, even with the mysterious appearance of these Visitors. However, as time goes on, things start to feel a little off kilter. The ever present barrier around the whole of Visium shimmers ominously, cracks and sparks appearing along the sky, almost as if a bubble is trying to burst. Swirls of color splotch through the sky, only becoming more and more evident. The weather begins to turn cold, then colder still, but then turns warm again. Rain falls heavy and fat, only to disappear the moment day turns to night - which seems to be happening rapidly and without much warning, the day shifting several hours in only a few minutes. These erratic shifts between day and night only seem to further fuel the storms and dramatic weather patterns that dance over the island. Some parts of the island will experience dramatic environmental changes from other parts. While the city could be covered in snow, the forest could be experiencing a heat waves. Concequences from these weather patterns are possible, including forest fires, flooding, freezing of crops, and the dramatic rise of tides on the beach.

What's worse—the very ground beneath everyone's feet begins to rumble occasionally. It, too, starts off subtly, but as the days progress these rumblings cause small cracks, then fissures, and finally, craters that seem to radiate heat as though they reach deep into the earth, beyond the ocean and land. Echoes of cackling and ominous whispers filter up from these fissures, and those who stand too close might find themselves possessed with violent desire or the wish to sap the energy from others in any way possible. Time away from these fissures will make this behavior wane, but be careful!

All of this activity seems to be waking up adversaries and creatures old and familiar within Visium, so be prepared to handle them!

👾 The Fireys
It's no surprise that, even with the wild weather, the Fireys are making a reappearance outside of the deep recesses of the woods they call home. They're wandering into Somnius, large gaggles of them looking for something FUN to do to match the wild atmosphere and crackling magic all around them. They will party in their usual way, their strange bodies able to detach wherever they want. They have no care that not everyone's body works this way, and will relentlessly pursue anyone they think is playing too hard at being a wallflower.

When touched by a Firey, body parts do come off, much like dismantling the limbs of a doll. For most people, it’s painless, but for the unlucky few, it’s as excruciating as having it cut off. The Fireys, though? They have no concern for the well-being of others. They will run off with their loot, kicking it around and hiding it, forcing that unlucky soul to go on a morbid scavenger hunt.
🌑 Shadow Wolves
Those shadow-like wolves have made a reappearance, traveling easily through the slithers of darkness as the moon and sun erratically change positions in the sky. The crackling energy rebounding through the atmosphere fuels them much as the blood moon once did, once again giving them solid form...

What once was a shadow becomes a ferocious direwolf as large as a tiger, blacker than the night itself, and with razor sharp claws and teeth. These wolves target the natives, who are the most defenseless in this chaotic situation. Adults and children alike are snatched and carried off with the intention of making a meal out of them. These wolves cannot be reasoned with and do not speak. They will attack indiscriminately if they are separated from their intended prey. Once again it is up to Dreamers to protect the native population and usher as many as they can to the new Healer's Conclave, a medical and healing safe haven for those less inclined towards combat.
🦇 Visium's IRS
No one likes it when government agents go rogue. But in the chaos of rebounding magic and crackling barriers, the Skeksis seem to be operating on their own. Instead of targeting the locals, as many expect once they first show up, the Skeksis target the Dreamers' belongings. They're vicious and will attack in groups when they happen upon a dreamer with items that they have regained. Your gun? Clothes? Any myriad of items you could be carrying on your person from home or gained by Vaeros' magic? They consider that theirs now. They have little regard for how they leave dreamers in the wake of their grabbing and snatching. Visitors will also be targeted for their golden cuffs, but the situation is dire for them; if their cuff is removed by the Skeksis' magical means, the visitor will begin to wither like a plant stricken with no water and a disease. The only way to stop this is to get the cuff back and place it around the visitor's arm again.

They won't stop at simple possessions either. Those who have wished for homes, castles, and home improvements will also find their homes targeted. Normally places of safe haven, there is no such unspoken rule this time around. Skeksis will wield wands made of purple crystal that seem fused to their hands to rip home additions from their foundations, to crumble standing buildings and pull out plumbing. They can be ganged up on should they get singled out, and should dreamers break their wands their homes will return to the way they were before the Skeksis began their nasty work.

Returning Magic

At one point, the sun sets from its point at high noon, the day rapidly descending into night and giving way to the moon. Shimmering along with the stars, something else appears in the sky. A magical shimmer ricochets through the sky before the image of a large white barn owl flies through the night sky. A screech echoes through the air, cutting through the crisp, stunned silence coming from the natives and the land itself.

"If you do not wish to see the complete unraveling of this place, then I suggest you give back what you have been given. If I am not given this power back, the island WILL sink, it is no longer my choice. Pray at the crystal and return my power to me."

An ominous rumble of thunder echoes through the sky as soon as the image of the perched owl—Vaeros— disappears from the sky in a shattered shimmer. The natives look towards Dreamers especially - expectantly - as they clamor for the help that only they can give. Vaeros is doing his part! You must do yours! Help us all before we no longer have anywhere to live! Give back to the crystal! GIVE BACK TO VAEROS! Ultimately the decision to give back to Vaeros is up to the dreamers themselves, but the consequences seem to be quite dire to the gelflings and goblins that make this place their home.

✅ Returning Magic
Those generous enough to be willing to sacrifice their regained powers will need to get to the Crystal to do so. When there, they will need to join hands in prayer with other dreamers willing to sacrifice, as well as locals who are there to bolster the wish. This action won't take long, but it does take significant concentration.

Interruptions or wavering resolve might result in electric shocks that sap energy. Those who do make it through the prayer and give up their power will feel significantly lighter, and a little weaker but they will find a deluxe potion in their pocket when they stand. These potions will replace the returned powers for now, and at full strength. Those who already have red or yellow potions can obtain a second to gain a second elemental power or a second transformation.
⛔ Refusal
Wait a minute. They want us to return our what?

So, Vaeros is urging Dreamers to relinquish their regained abilities back to the crystal in order to stabilize the crumbling world. Those who do sacrifice their abilities will notice that anomalies nearby begin to calm - some, however, are surely opposed to this idea.

What's the right call? Perhaps your character wants to advocate for sacrificing abilities as requested, or, perhaps your character is dead set on doing the opposite. Dreamers who disagree with Vaeros' requst might attempt to reason with others, speak out to the population at large, or even go so far as to interfere with others praying at the crystal to return their abilities. Locals will try to deter these dreamers from interfering, but the natives are generally much weaker than the contracted Dreamers.
🔮 The Crystal
Those who visit the crystal at this point in time may find that it feels like a safe haven. Besides the Healer's Conclave the effects during this time seem minimal the weather stays steady though the time of day still reflects the same fractures as everywhere else. Huts and tents are set up for those injured by the fireys or shadow wolves, and despite these creatures wandering around everywhere, they can't seem to get into this area. It's a welcome safe haven in all the chaos, and it allows those who wish to pray and donate their regains to do so in...relative peace.

Working Together

With their world and status quo once again thrown into chaos, the natives are growing restless with frustration. Those who are not cooperative with Vaeros are shunned from businesses that are native-run. They might even have a hard time seeking help at the local Healer's Conclave, a new establishment meant to replace a previous Dreamer establishment. Dreamers and Visitors alike may find themselves ushered unceremoniously out of buildings or even public spaces in the town if it's clear they've refused to help the situation. Those who do seem open to helping are greeted warmly and actively sought after with gifts and healing balms. A large contingent of locals have also hastily erected a large board near the Crystal, decorated with gems and carved creatures in its poles. This newly erected Quest Board is how they've chosen to organize their new desire to facilitate tasks that the dreamers and visitors can do to supplement the magics at work to save the island.

Quests appear on the board which insist that connection is vital to repairing the deteriorating world. The locals plea with Dreamers and Visitors alike to seek each other out, and find what connects them.

😱 Shared Scares
Dreamers and Visitors, you must find what bonds you! Sometimes weakness is louder than strength. Seek someone out who shares your greatest fear, and share it with them fully. Honesty is essential. The world will not repair unless you expose your most vulnerable anxieties.
🎇 Drive & Desire
Dreamers and Visitors, strength lies within you still! What is it that you want? Seek someone who shares your greatest desire, and share it with them fully. Honesty is essential. The world will not repair unless you reveal the heart of what drives you.

The magic in Somnius is currently unstable. With Dreamers sacrificing their regained abilities to the crystal in the interest of stabilization, many are left with only the power granted to them by potions. Even if one does still have their regained abilities, locals implore Dreamers to use their potion-granted powers to complete certain cleansing rituals.

🐺 Wolves at the Windmill
The White Windmill has been overtaken by a pack of shadow wolves, prowling inside and out. The magic surrounding the Windmill has become extremely unstable, but nothing can be done to cleanse the space until the wolves are done away with. Locals warn that only using animal transformation magic, granted by the gold potion, will successfully run off the wolves and regulate the area.
🌊 Lake Oh-no-men
Erratic weather near Lake Omen is causing massive waterspouts to form. The area has become extremely dangerous, but locals warn that only using elemental or healing powers granted by the red and blue potions will calm the phenomenon. Dreamers must work together and lend their magic in order to regulate the area once again.

OOC

Expand to see our Event Summary

Visitors Arrive

Mysterious Visitors appear all over the city of Somnius identified by a gold cuff bracelet around their left wrist that cannot be removed by any means
Other than the mysterious arrival of these Visitors nothing really seems awry. Visitors do not remember a contract with Vaeros or a wish being made.
Visitors are given the chance to clean a home to make it their own.
The town is active and open, with all of it's usual shops and locations open for exploration.
Somnius' kids are out in full mischievous force, causing all sorts of havoc and participating in rollerskate races
The labyrinth is acting a little funny, those drawn into it might find a statue that will either make them tell the truth or confess romantic feelings

Control Slips

Over time, the setting starts to break and things stop working as they normally have
Strange weather effects occur all over and at the same time. Blizzards, heavy rains, heatwaves.
Night and Day begin to swap over and over again.
Cracks in the island form all over, spreading and causing ravines that sometimes seem to drop clear to inferna.
The shadow wolves have returned, violently targeting locals
The fireys have appeared, once again looking to have fun in their own distressing way
The IRS reappears but targets dreamers and their regains.
OOC Note: Linked TDM plotting posts are for reference of these mentioned creatures only.

Returning Magic

Vaeros appears as an owl in the sky,. He demands repayment if Dreamers do not wish the island to be destroyed. He can no longer hold together the fabric of Visium.
Dreamers can offer their power regains to help Vaeros maintain the integrity of the island.
Dreamers that sacrifice these regain will temporarily be granted an extra potion power of their choice to use during the rest of the event.
Dreamers and visitors can doubt what Vaeros says and try to convince others of their way of thinking.
The crystal area has become a safe haven from the chaos of the island.
OOC note: The rewards that can be sacrificed can ONLY be powers or high-stakes items that facilitate character abilities. Regains to housing, mundane items and similar are not valid. Anything that is voluntarily sacrificed during this event will be returned at a later time via another event and cannot be regained with shards in the meantime.

Working Together

Locals have little desire to work with or tolerate Dreamers who won't help.
Natives have set up a quest board to facilitate working together in order to bolster Vaeros' magic to sew his magic back together.
By the time enough magic is returned to Vaeros to control his land, visitors begin to flicker and disappear. They leave behind their gold bracelets.

Welcome to our November 4th Wall Event! Please keep all event activity to this post and subsequent overflows. We have provided a couple of headers for both Visitors and Dreamers to post their top-level links should they want to! We are also including a third header where we will have a form to fill out regarding donated regains. Please see our plotting post for any event related questions.

An important note about Visitors! All Visitors still have their canon powers. But they can not donate them to Vaeros. Have fun with that!

The Healer's Conclave is our new "clinic" location! Located in roughly the same place the clinic once was, it is a building molded from the trunks of ancient local trees and old pieces of labyrinth wall for protection. Inside, it is much the same as the clinic with a magical healing wing and a traditional medicine wing. This is a well staffed and NPC run "business", though Dreamers can work here. A location entry will be added for the Conclave no later than January 1st.

A State of the World post will be put up on December 10th, based on activity within this event, so look forward to it! Have fun Dreamers AND Visitors! A special welcome to our Visitors coming to us from outside the game!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

( Basil takes a step back, eyeing Naoya nervously before looking to the dagger. He had run into him by accident -- and despite what Naoya has told him about not hurting him, he can't help but feel his stomach twist in fear.

He prepares to use magic if needed to defend himself, though his hands are shaking. )

Please... Please don't...

[He doesn't respond verbally, just continues to walk towards the boy. His head twitches oddly, like there's something he's trying to shake out of his ear as he reaches out to grab Basil.]

( Basil takes a step back then, vines beginning to grow from the ground. It's to put distance between them as much as possible. They aren't covering Basil from Naoya completely, if only because he wants to speak with him. )

S-Stop! Please, this isn't you... You promised you wouldn't hurt me.

( And Basil didn't want to hurt him, either. Kazuya might not forgive him if he did. )

[He promised? When did he promise? What did he promise? He takes a few steps, one of his feet getting caught by a vine. He has to take a moment to tug it free, but...]

[... The urge is receding a bit. He lowers the knife slightly, looking confused.]

( Basil doesn't miss how Naoya seems to pause then, and the vines begin to lower all the more. Gently, he reaches for he reaches for the hand holding the knife - fingers resting gently on the other's wrist. )

I-

I trust you.

[He twitches - part of him still wants to kill Basil - but the rest of him...]

Don't... don't do something like that... I could have hurt you...

But, you didn't. You told Kazuya you wouldn't...

I-- know you wouldn't hurt me on purpose.

( He doesn't pull away. Despite looking rather nervous, the vines between them disappear completely. )

[His eyes flick back towards the crack in the ground... no. No, he's stronger than this.]

I wouldn't... want to make him upset...

[He needs to get further away. He can feel his hand still gripping the knife tightly.]

I don't want him to be upset, either. And, I don't want to use my magic against you...

( He takes a step back, looking hopeful, yet nervous. )

P-Please. let's go back to the cottages, Naoya.

[He takes a step forward. Yes... following him.]

[Dark thoughts flit across his mind, but he slowly puts the knife back in its sheath before taking another step forward.]

( Basil doesn't turn his back, not yet. Instead, he offers a look of concern. )

Uhm... Will you be alright?

[He doesn't say anything for a few long moments, just... reaches out and puts a hand on top of Basil's head, ruffling it gently.]

[He's gentle. The boy is gentle and needs to be treated gently. Maybe he'll find some use, but... for now, best to stay in his good graces.]

Don't go near those cracks, all right?

[Will he be all right? He's not sure.]

( If Naoya looks to the hand that hadn't reached for him, he'd take notice of the bandages wrapped securely around his arm. When he reaches to ruffle his hair, Basil can't help but stop, surprised at the touch.

What exactly did the cracks do to him? It's not something that he wants to experience firsthand, whatever it was. )

... If the cracks did something to you, there are healers who can help. They've always been good at helping when something bad happens.

... I think I'll be all right. It's just... certain thoughts that were dragged to the surface.

[The fact that he has them is another issue, but...]

Let's get going. We should get you away from here. ... Though if you need a healer...

( Certain thoughts... of revenge? There's still so much that he doesn't understand. )

No, I'm alright... I've already been to a healer.

( His hand finds those bandages, looking away when he thinks of what happened. At least it was him, and not someone else who had been attacked by those wolves. He had intervened to protect them. )

Thank you, though. It-- makes me happy that we can look out for each other...

( He'll turn then, beginning to walk forward. They shouldn't stay any longer. )

... Yes.

[Look out for each other. He can... try.]

Let's head somewhere safe. You shouldn't be out when there are monsters around...

The crystal should be safe.

( Basil responds, stopping to look to Naoya. )

The monsters shouldn't be there, but... you should take shelter there, too. Some of them are really, really dangerous.

( A hand idly moves to bandages almost on instinct. )

[He sighs and rolls his eyes.]

I suppose. I have a knife, but as you might imagine that's not quite enough against the things that seem to be attacking us.

[Not all of them, at least. He's stabbed a few Skeksis.]

It's true...

( Basil hesitates for a moment. )

Magic doesn't seem enough. But, uhm-- a lot of the time... something bad like this stops, after a while.

'Just stops'. And there's no apparent root cause that you have to attack?

[Sounds fake to him but okay.]

A lot of people think that Vaeros might be responsible for them starting and stopping, but... I-I don't know if it really is because of him.

We'll see. It's hard to watch him closely because of the distance between here and his castle, but we'll do our best, right?

Uhm -- M-Maybe... someone has some sort of magic that we can use to see him from a distance? Though, I thought about using a wish to try to talk to him, too...

Or just binoculars.

... Though I don't think you should waste a wish on that.

Hahah, probably not...

But, uhm... I-I think... I'm okay with leaving him alone. I'm not sure if he's as bad as everyone thinks he is.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

November Intense Event 2024 [4th Wall Event]

fissure tension

oh no basil...

rip....

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