TDM #5 - Paradesium

[pumpkinhollow]

Pumpkin Hollow Gazette March Issue

[Find our plain text version here!]

Pumpkin Hollow Gazette

3/8/24 | TDM #5 - Paradesium
Content Warnings: individual CWs found per prompt in "Further Details"
Forecast: Partly cloudy with a chance of rain

WELCOME TO PUMPKIN HOLLOW!

By Yorick Aberdeen

Apparently the ferryman needed a bigger boat!

ACROSS TOWN - Since June of 16:53, a steady stream of new arrivals to our sleepy little town has flowed in by ferry, emerging from the fog. And it seems this trend is due to continue, as this March is due to be on record the highest number of new residents in a single month!

We are incredibly grateful for all of you coming to our home and filling it with life once more, even though the dangers of our local curse have significantly increased since all of you began arriving. This reporter isn’t complaining--- additional harm to my own person notwithstanding!

If you are a new arrival, please report to Town Hall at your leisure so that we can help you find work and permanent lodging. Or don’t! The Oak & Iron is happy to rent you a room for as long as you need. Best of luck to all of you, and as we say in Pumpkin Hollow, may your lanterns always be lit!

CHARITY DRIVE ENCOURAGES CULTURAL EXCHANGE

By Cecil Gershwin Palmer

One of the charming toys created during last year's Doll Picnic.

FESTIVAL GREEN - Preparations are underway for the upcoming annual Doll Picnic. A charity event sponsored by the Artisan’s Guild, this picnic is an Anwyllic tradition that was brought to the island and continued with love. The first Doll Picnic was organized by Dame Meredith Idlewild of the town of Glyn Rhuthun on Kora’s Haven, with the toys being donated to the local children’s hospital after a massive landslide engulfed a local school.

The Artisan’s Guild has baskets of material available for making dolls, including fabric, yarn, stuffing, buttons, and the like. However, tradition states that sourcing materials from the natural world (for example, acorn husks to use as buttons or deadwood to carve for doll arms and legs) results in the toys being blessed by Serrenai, who will watch over the children who play with them. The toys will be donated to local children after the picnic, including those who are ill or whose families can only afford necessities.

Newcomers are explicitly invited to join in the making of toys, and the resulting picnic. As a personal note: the locals have never heard of a teddy bear before. This reporter expects to see several, as we introduce our traditions to their traditions.

PLANTING SEASON BEGINS!

By Yorick Aberdeen

After a difficult winter, the appearance of spring's sprouts lifts our spirits.

NORTHWEST HOLLOW - The spring thaw is in full swing! That means it’s time for our local farmers to begin planting. Town Hall is offering a small reward to any of our newest arrivals who would be interested in assisting with planting season for farms less than a year old.

Anyone fresh off the boat interested in making 100 Brass should seek out Eddie and Angel Kasbrak, Arthur Morgan, Cèsar Salazar, Mairi Miann, Ylva Wolfsdottir, or Muriel and offer assistance with tilling and planting. We look forward to rewarding you for your contributions!

HOT SPRINGS OPEN FOR RELAXATION

By Yorick Aberdeen

Photograph provided by the Safety Board!

CRANE'S RIDGE - After a recent earthquake opened up a hot spring on the lower portion of Crane’s Ridge, a small portion of the Pumpkin Hollow Damage Claims Assessment Corps has been working to get the area cleaned up and safe for use by the general public.

Following its recent approval for compliance by the Safety Board, we are pleased to announce that Porter’s Spring is now available for public enjoyment! It can be accessed by taking the train to the North Station or by following the central trail out of Northwest Hollow, though the Safety Board does not recommend making this journey on foot due to its proximity to Lake Sal-Co-Penn. Enjoy!

STRANGE CAVERNS DISCOVERED BENEATH CRANE’S RIDGE

By Yorick Aberdeen

A small glimpse into this world beneath our own.

CRANE RIDGE - In addition to the hot springs, the earthquake can also be credited for a major cave-in in our Crane’s Ridge mines. A large tunnel was completely buried in rubble by the inexplicable natural occurrence. For the past several months, our mining team has been chipping away at the cave-in to try and regain access to the blocked tunnels in the lower area of the mountain.

In one of these tunnels, however, the team discovered a shocking surprise as the rubble was removed! Apparently, just beyond the mine walls, there has been an entrance to Hepogaia--- a subterranean nation running below our own fair country and many others. It seems that this particular portion of Hepogaian territory is also trapped within the barrier. Brief attempts at scouting by the Safety Board have noted a plethora of subterranean wildlife, both familiar and unfamiliar. This incredible new environment, hiding just out of sight beneath our island, is so full of wonder and splendor that it has earned a fitting name--- “Paradesium.”

A recent ecology study and expedition run by Pumpkin Hollow’s own Dr. Elias Coldwood has redirected their efforts to this new location, but those interested in exploring and scouting out this fantastical new discovery independently are encouraged to pack thoughtfully and travel in groups of two or more! Any information obtained during excursions into Paradesium would be appreciated by the Pumpkin Hollow Board of Safety.

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Further Details...

Charity Drive

The Doll Picnic Charity Drive will run throughout the next two months during our TDM, and there will be an event later on involving posing the dolls for a picnic. Once a photo is taken, the children will be allowed to come picnic with their new toys and take them home after!

There is absolutely no way this could possibly go wrong. Absolutely no dollmakers will be jumpscared or attacked by possessed dolls. None at all. (Okay, maybe some of them. But it’s fine. It’s for a good cause.)

[Mod Note: you can just make a doll without it coming to life and trying to kick your ass, that part is optional. Also the dolls will be blessed at the picnic and rendered unable to attack children.]

Planting Season

Any brand-new characters will get 100B extra on their stipend if they submit an AC-length thread with one of the existing farmers on their first Activity Check! This will be available regardless of whether the character qualifies for normal bonuses, but can only be redeemed by those who app in.

For reference for new players, threads are considered AC-length if they are ten tags in length (meaning 5 of your own tags and 5 from your partner.)

Hot Springs

Porter’s Spring is a perfectly normal and safe hot spring! However, you can encounter any number of perils on your way there if you decide to travel on foot, allowing new players to revisit some of our earlier events.

Check out our bestiary (pending update to new format) for more information on creatures such as Brutoks, the River Walker, and the Pine Devil, or stumble on Lake Sal-Co-Penn for a nasty surprise! Brutoks may also steal personal items from spring-goers on occasion. Don’t chase after them alone unless you want to be turned into a tree!

The Tristitia

In addition to the creatures in the wild, in town after dark characters may also encounter the Tristitia, Pumpkin Hollow’s newest cryptid.

She is a wraith-like spirit which haunts the island. Wearing tattered black clothes and colored all in shades of gray, she appears as a woman who walks around weeping with a caved-in chest, covering her face with her hands. Harmless if given a wide berth, but if she is set off, she will take out her desire for empathy for her grief on her target. She does this by embracing them and drawing out their own grief and trauma, leaving the target catatonic before she fades away, temporarily assuaged.

Into Paradesium

Crystals, golden with light and raw magical energy, cast what looks like sunlight down into the cascading cave. For every foot lower that the ground curls down from the entrance, the trees stretch ever-higher, carrying the raucous cries of animals unlike the surface of Marrow Isle had ever heard.

A jungle, so lush with life, sprawls ahead of any brave enough to venture into it. But what is there to see?

For Paradesium specifically, the bestiary has received a significant update. Creatures featured in prompts have their links to the accounts by Dr. Coldwood and his team marked with stars for easy location.

Below are multiple prompts for some encounters to be had in the jungle, but feel free to create any of your own encounters with any of the creatures listed! If the descriptions are short, feel free to write the creatures' behaviors however makes sense.

Welcome to the Jungle

Swallowed by dense canopies and noise, the jungle is quick to swallow any who travel within it whole.

Eyes are quick to find you, however. Perching in the treetops are a variety of small wyverns in vibrant colors, heads tilting as they try to comprehend what you could be. They squawk, chatter, and some of the bolder ones draw closer - if you sit anything aside and leave it unattended for too long, some even bolder than that will pilfer it, taking the object into the trees to admire with its companions.

Reptilian hunters with bright, keen eyes, the Plommon, consider you with much of the same interest. This interest increases tenfold if you happen to feed them.

If the prying eyes are no bother, then the forest's bounty is ripe for tending and taking. Bananas hang off trees, colorful citrus fruits catch light on their waxy peels, and bulky cocoa beans are jostled by movement in the branches above them. Even the broad leaves of the plants prove extraordinarily useful, whether you're looking to come in and quickly leave, or intend to push further within.

Wherever you go, those curious eyes follow you. Perhaps even out of the cave, should your attempts to shoo an adventurous creature away. What an odd way to gain a new team member.

Down a Few Notches on the Food Chain

(CWs: Potential for death, gore, or animal death)

Unfortunately, not all can be pure bounty and new friends in a place like this.

With the cavern sprawling widely and massively, there are many significantly larger creatures in this space, and some seem to be keen to take up opportunity for new prey. As you explore, there's a new feeling of eyes upon you, and the silence that overtakes the surrounding trees spells nothing good to come.

Any one of the massive predators in the wood has you in it's sights.

Escape is difficult, but manageable, as is fighting back. Creatures can be challenged, and hides, bones, and other spoils can be claimed from them, should there be success! If not, this is a good opportunity for familiarization with the Death page.

The silkhide chimera specializes in persistence. The longer and further you go, the more exhausted you'll get. A break is an opportunity that it will be keen to take.

The greenstalker excels at ambushing and high-speed pursuit. At top speeds of 30MPH, your party will need strategy and skill on their side to keep this beast at bay. (Or, alternatively, a source of fire.)

The elephant raptor does neither of these - the beast's sheer length of reach does all it needs to. Water and mud soften the sounds of the gargantuan creature's approach. Stay alert, and be sure that you hear it before it's upon you.

Safe travels become more difficult to manage, the further in you go. Deep, rumbling snores tell you that there's a chance you're just getting to the greater threats this paradise has to offer...

Fragments of the Past

Through great distances traveled, this "uninhabited" cavern begins to show signs that may speak to that not having always been the case.

Ruins of homes, crumbled bricks and tiles, can be found at the deepest reaches of the cavern. These dilapidated buildings, though worn with time, tell a story: the people who left his place, one that could be identified as a stenholm to any familiar with dwarvish culture, did not leave it on good terms.

Essentials were clearly taken with them, as the ruins of this place lack tools or clothing. Valuables are still scattered throughout, however. Large objects with too much history to have been left behind by indifference dot the collapsing homes. Ritual circles still waft radiant energy from them.

In the remains of a temple, an altar stands, cracking with age and covered in plants as the cavern reclaims it. Old candle-stands have rusted with age, but still stand, undisturbed.

Just before the altar, folded onto its side (as best as one can be, when only pieces remain), lies a skeleton. The clothes are tattered remains of stained whites and dulled blues, and the wildlife have cleaned flesh from bones, but it's remained undisturbed by time.

There's a quiet sadness to this place that lingers, even with the people who inhabited it so long since lost.

Should you linger too long, however, there comes the distinct feeling of not being alone.

Clair de Lune

(CWs: Long-term isolation, extinction)

Golden eyes of a human face follow your every moment, and the moment you lock your gaze onto them, the face emerges from the darkness, partially covered by spilling dark hair.

What follows this face, however, is not a human face - but, rather, a feline body with sprawling, grey-flecked wings.

There's a long, tense silence, as it emerges fully. Standing easily at eight feet tall while on all fours, the size of this creature becomes more and more apparent as it emerges from the dark of the collapsed wind.

Unlike the other animals of the cavern, though, there seems to be an anxiousness to its look. The lion's chest rises and falls with short, nervous breaths.

And then, in a hushed, woman's voice, hoarse from disuse, it speaks.

"Who are you? Why have you come here?"

-------------------

The Sphinx is a new NPC available for characters to interact with, should they delve deep enough into the caverns to find the stenholm. She's wary of all the new faces, and tends to be somewhat flighty, but seems cautiously interested in what new humans being in Hepogaia have to offer. For the sort looking to understand this place, it's people, or intend to trade, she can be communed with.

To interact with her, comment on the TL provided from beastsofthehollow with her icon, and if the initial introduction isn't your speed, feel free to encounter her however you like!

Comments

QUESTIONS/COMMENTS/CONCERNS

[pumpkinhollow]

Ask anything here!

[fishcatholic]

Steeples my fingers. What would happen, and/or what would one find, if one tried to break into the cave on Tawny Beach?

The Sphinx | NPC

[beastsofthehollow]

A quiet, somber air lingers here. Do you have anything you need of the stenholm's last resident?

( Feel free to respond directly to her entry in one of the prompts above, or throw a wildcard at her! DM the journal or message me on Discord at socksmuggler to plot! )

Claire De Lune

[iwasjustsayinghello]

There's a reason the Doctor likes him, much to Jack's chagrin in moments like these: he's pretty sure he's never met a 'keep out' sign he couldn't resist ignoring, and this cave system is brimming with them.

The sacred space is a little surprising, and it has him on high alert when he turns at that familiar prickle of eyes moving over him in the dark...

...his first thought, of course, is that she's beautiful. The second is that she's so much like the Doctor it hurts in a way that few things can hurt him anymore.

"I mean you no harm." he answers her question quickly--and in a rare moment, he's grateful that he doesn't have his Webley with him. Raising both hands, he stays put but lets her see he's unarmed and not aggressive as he takes her in. She's big, but she's also delicate--the slope of those feline shoulders, the elegant sweep of her wings, and her features are as shining and soft as the inner light of those golden eyes.

"I'm an explorer--a protector." he continues. "I seek only knowledge, and I only meet violence with violence. Clearly, that's not you, and not just because you're so lovely."

There's a mischievous glint in his eye, but the compliment is genuine as he lowers his hands.

"You...remind me of someone. Someone very old...someone who's the very last of their kind."

Drelasa Veloth || Morrowind (OC) || Around Town OTA

[misbegottendreamer]

The robed, hooded figure moves slowly, deliberately, face concealed behind a polished gray death mask. With every ponderous step she takes, the ringing of bells accompanies her. She's clutching a slightly blood-stained newspaper in her heavily bandaged hands, and as soon as she catches the sound of nearby footsteps, she turns to face the source.

"Excuse me, sera... could I trouble you to read some excerpts from this? My eyes don't work as well as they once did."

[skeletonkeay]

Gerard Keay is not hard to find on days when the paper runs. Being in charge of the print shop, he's the one who prints them all up and gives them to distributors, as well as stocking a news stand in town for any newcomers or folks staying at the tavern. He had just set down another sizeable stack of them and was about to cut them open when he is approached by a stranger with bloodied hands and a question.

Luckily for her, she found the keenest eyes in town.

"Sure, I got you." He reads the front page aloud to her, all the while casting glances at her to see if he can pick up any marks on her psyche.

Angel | OC | Existing Player (Farmer!)

[graveling]

Planting Season
Anyone who wants to gain that bonus money for helping out is absolutely welcome on Kasprak Farm. Angel's eager to greet them--though it may not look like it. Angel wears his face heavy, smiles hard-won, and he's also...y'know, neither breathing or blinking. And he's incredibly pallid, as well.

Still, he greets newcomers at the entrance to the farm with a mild little wave. "Hope you don't expect to keep those clothes clean today."


And Other Weeding
Angel can also be found at the Temple of Sacred Roots. This week, he's working on checking the hymnals for damage and figuring out which need repair and which need replaced. But anyone walking in will draw his attention. And he might draw theirs, in turn: there's a faint golden glow about him, especially where his hands are worn or have minor injuries from his farm work, like the light's seeping slowly out of the wound as it heals closed.

And also, he has a silver sleigh bell on a black ribbon pinned to his shirt, that jingles when he moves. That may draw attention, too.


Wildcard
Find me on discord at darkersolstice if you want to plot.

[freedomsuitsme]

The well-dressed gentleman scowls.

"I've grown accustomed to getting soil out of my belongings. The newspaper said I could inquire with César Salazar regarding assistance with planting. Do you know where I might find him?" Because César's name was the only one on that list that he recognized, and Maxwell is very slow to trust.

Bronwyn Thysania (they/them) || OC || technically new

[withthemooninoureyes]

Hidden among the lush trees of Paradesium, there is a figure. Tall, slender, pale with massive, mottled brown wings. A furred body and feathered antennae.

Those who have been around a while may recognize this as Bronwyn Thysania, a moth-like being who arrived in the winter time and was presumed to have vanished back onto the ferry, as many some new arrivals do. Upon closer inspection, it's not too hard to spot the makeshift treehouse they've constructed. Have they been down here this whole time...?

But to those unfamiliar, the enormous, dark-eyed creature might appear to belong here, in this strange place. Perhaps you might even mistake them for a monster.

[iwasjustsayinghello]

...or mistake them for someone worth talking to.

Jack has to take a minute, because at first he's not sure what he's looking at. He's worried about a few different things, but once he can pin down bipedal, he can move on to sentient...and he can stop to appreciate the view.

Which isn't much, from way down here. Craning his head back, he squints into the branches, and finally...

"Y'know, it's hard for a guy to appreciate the beauty of nature when it's hidden in the trees!" he calls up with a laugh. "Unless you're avoiding visitors?..."

Apollo | The Trials of Apollo (Percy Jackson/Riordanverse) | NEW CHARACTER | Will match style!

[divasmio]

Oak & Iron

Apollo is pleased to have his godly form back.

Most of it, at least. It was comfortable and familiar, but not quite right. His preferred shape had returned — An adult man with golden hair and a tanned, muscular body — but his immortality hadn't. Not that he'd tested that! After Caligula's yacht, Apollo had resolved to avoid stabbings of any kind, self-inflicted or otherwise. Still, he could somehow sense the threat of death in his flesh; If he were to be wounded, there would be consequences. The severity of those consequences, however, was still unclear.

As comfortable as the lanky, hormonal body of Lester Papadopoulos had started to feel, being an adult again was far preferable. For example, Lester would not have been able to sit at the bar and order alcohol.

He was not so foolish as to order wine at what was clearly a beer and liquor kind of establishment, and ordered himself a beer. Perhaps some other time he'll go for something harder, but in a new environment surrounded by strangers, Apollo wanted to keep his wits about him a little longer. Especially since he wasn't sure how much his body could handle just yet, what with its ambiguous immortality.

And so, he was a handsome and chiseled blond sitting alone at the bar, flashing his brilliant smile around to all who might make eye contact — Especially at attractive folks of any gender who catch his gaze.

-

Fragments of the Past

Apollo may be a sun god, but he is rather fond of caves. His favorite oracle operated out of one for thousands of years, after all. Even if his most pleasant memories of Delphi have been tainted by recent events, something about the mysterious atmosphere of caves remains very compelling.

The ghost town is certainly a sight to behold. His footsteps seem to echo throughout the whole town, as if sounding the alarm that a stranger has arrived.

Apollo has seen ruins before. His own beloved island of Delos is mostly ruins now, though he still finds comfort there. But there's something in the urgency in which inhabitants clearly left that leaves an ache in his heart, making the still, humid air feel heavy and melancholy.

When he reaches the temple in its ruined state, he feels that heartache sink into his gut. He wonders what kind of god this was for, and if anyone could still remember them. His thoughts wander back to Helios, how he'd been slowly stripped of everything as belief in him faded, as Apollo inadvertently supplanted him. Eventually he was nothing more than a memory whose only sparks of consciousness were suffering. Had this god faded, too? Was it a slow, torturous death as their believers dwindled? Or had it been a sudden end as their people were wiped out all at once?

To an outside observer, Apollo is simply standing in the temple's entranceway, looking absolutely devastated.

-

Wildcard

Hit me up on discord or plurk (thepreciousthing)if you wanna do something else!

Oak and Iron

[redlightgreenlight]

Perhaps the most attractive woman in the room also sits at a table by herself, sipping on a glass of wine while she reads a book. The powerful soul ordering a beer hasn't escaped her attention, but she keeps her eyes on the words. No matter how human he smells, the power of the soul is equal to hers at the very least. Valdis flips a page, glancing up for only a moment to catch a glimpse of the owner of said essence. Tall. Blond. Probably full of himself. She looks back down, prepared to completely ignore him.

César Salazar | Generator Rex | FARMER, OTA | COME GET YOUR MONEY

[pineapplesalmon]

Planting Season [César's farm]
César's farm is thankfully not too far off the trolley, and it's easy enough to find someone to point out how to get there. It's been recently upgraded with a small barn and a greenhouse attached to the farmhouse. A number of cows and a horse are roaming around in a fenced off field. César now has two employees helping him, a man and a woman.

The owner of the farm, César, dusts off his gardening gloves as he walks up with dirt on his face and clothes, hair still mostly in order. "Hello, I'm César Salazar. Here to get a tour or to help? Or something else?"

((OOC: Here's some choices for things to do that can come up during conversation:
LESS GROSS: planting seeds in the greenhouse, sowing seeds outside, cleaning up sticks and leaves around the garden, helping with a fence around part of the garden
MORE GROSS: Spreading compost around the berry bushes (raspberries, blackberries, blueberries), shoveling out some stalls in the barn
Have fun!))

WILDCARD
Poke me on discord at jennerally or on plurk at icelightning! Or just PM this journal. I may post a second TDM comment later... the farm just ate me.

Planting Season (All degrees of gross!)

[freedomsuitsme]

Already starting to sweat at the notion of menial labor but also privately relishing the chance to get his hands dirty, Maxwell makes his way over to César.

"Mr. Salazar. I'm glad to have finally tracked you down."

Mairi Miann | Dice Shame | Existing!

[listenforbirdsong]

-Planting Season-

Thank goodness! Some help around the farm. After Mairi and Ylva churned up all the soil magically, it should be a pretty simple matter to till and seed the soil, but it's a pretty big field. She has all kinds of seeds ready to go, and even made some apple cider.

If you've come out to Northwest Hollow looking for work, you'll see a blue-skinned woman with fins for ears, whose dark, curly, blue-gray hair is constantly at least a little bit wet (if not actively producing enough water to drip, depending upon her mood). Perhaps you know what a water genasi is. If not, you're about to.

-Hot Springs-

On one of the days that Mairi is not trying to get her fields planted, she decides to make her way out to the hot spring, catching an early train. Her hair is pinned back, and she's got a bag with her that resonates with delightful smells to anyone she's close enough to. She smiles politely to anyone who boards after she's seated. Maybe you'd like to sit with her?

-What Even is Jungle Magic-
[ Closed to César ]

With the assistance of a large and delightfully crooked walking stick, Mairi approaches the base of Crane's Ridge with César in tow. Having taken the train, the pair approach the entrance to the new location. "You excited to get started on the deep stuff?"

What Even is Jungle Magic

[pineapplesalmon]

César hasn't picked himself a walking stick yet, but maybe he should. At least it's not too far off from the train. He's taken his meds today, and he's ready to focus!

"I am. I sometimes can't even believe I am losing magic."

Annabel Lee Whitlock | Nevermore | Existing Player | OTA

[witheredpeonies]

Raggedy Annabel
As one of the town's well-known stitch bitches, Annabel's glad to give quick sewing lessons to those who want to make a plush toy for the upcoming Doll Picnic. She's left a note at the bulletin board that all are welcome to visit her shop.

(And if any of these dolls end up haunted, well. She's got her ways to deal with that, too.)


Dying in a Hot Tub
Those who visit the hot springs may find they're not alone. Annabel, in the process of planning a Girls' Night (mingle to follow), is checking out the site to see what the space is like and plan for what's to come.

Unfortunately, some of the rocks in the area are slippery, so this may be your chance to see the blonde-curled young woman stumble her way into the water fully clad.

SPLOOSH!


Wildcard
Find me on discord at darkersolstice if you want to plot.

Dying in a Hot Tub

[crushed_pearls]

Sometimes self care is just not being a person for awhile. "Should" Erin be at the hot springs? No. But she needs other people and space in equal measure, and today she's chosen to resolve that difference by being a rock at the bottom of the spring. Annabel's exploration was an interesting curiousity, making Erin remember their flirtation of power at the potluck. She'd only been worn by Cass and Crabb before, but being worn by a seamstress, someone who loves clothing...

Annabel falls, and Erin's first thought is: don't let her hit her head. She resumes her true form, a bit behind the jump, catching Annabel as her face hits the water and hauling her up into Erin's embrace.

(Wait -)

- FUCK -

"Now we're both soaked," Erin complains, with a guilty grin. "You okay?"

fever (dark urge) | baldur's gate 3 (+crau) | ota

[abhorrently]

(paradesium.)

The jungle is a curious place, and Fever delves into it with no hesitation, venturing forth with all the confidence of one who's used to stepping foot in unfamiliar ground, slowly beginning to settle to the days and nights here. The sheer variety of life astounds her, and she isn't shy about collecting fruits, both for later use and as a snack for now. A handy small knife is perfect for cutting pieces out of them and offering to share to a companion, or just to taste test.

Of course, getting surprised by the illusadermis wasn't in the original plan if there ever was one, but given that it's harmless, Fever sees no cause for alarm. If it wants to touch, then it may, and she laughs for how it tickles. But, soon enough, the neurotoxin sets in, and the effects have her needing to lie down on the ground, letting the world spin and her body feel too light to stay put. It's all so bright, so intense, smearing together like wet paint. She can be easily found if one hears her humming from the floor as she waits for her constitution to recover - or if someone is in her party, maybe it got them too, and you've both got to get through this.

Though it's not all merriment, for curiosity can take a more dangerous turn. This Fever knows, and this she is aware of - when one of the predators in this place strikes, she's ready to fight back. If it's coming to her, she's circling the beast and has her spells at the ready, as well as a very nice branch she's collected on the way and can use as a staff. And if the reverse is true, if one of the creatures has come to strike at another, a cry rings out, a word and a small barrage of red projectiles of light fly to hit it in the side. There's an ally now, and she's ready to stand the shared ground.

(hot springs.)

After all that journeying in the underground, some time above is more than welcome. Taking the train there, Fever has no hesitation about finding a place to slip in and soak. It's like that "hot tub" that she had grown so fond of, but better for the atmosphere and the weather around. Cool early spring and the warmth of the water suit perfectly, particularly when the two mix to create a layer of mist above the surface. Of course, all that mist, and someone might be liable to get a little mixed up if they're dead set on not running into any other bathers. Not that she minds - the water's fine, and she'll easily invite someone else in.

Alternately, if one does find Fever there without the confusion, they might just catch a ghostly blue hand hovering near her, picking up the drinking water she brought and helping her take a swallow, or a bite of one of the fruits she had gotten from the jungle. What, if she takes her arms out they'll get cold.

(wildcard.)

[have an idea that's not covered? hit me up anyway! will match format of any tag ins. general content warnings/opt out.]

hot springs

[nothingbadeverhappensto]

"That's a neat trick," comes a voice from the water's edge.

It had been Leon's intention to quietly leave this woman to her bath when he'd noticed he wasn't the first one here, but the hand thing is too interesting not to say something. It's not the weirdest thing he's seen here by far, but it's still pretty damn fascinating. Hopefully she doesn't take offense - he's still fully dressed and just standing by the edge of the spring, eyes pointedly on the ghostly hand and not looking any deeper.

Dr. Siebren de Kuiper (Sigma) | Overwatch | OTA

[spaghettification]

All that white hair [Hot Springs]
Upon hearing there's hot springs, Siebren almost immediately went to visit. Look, arthritis is a bitch and sometimes a nice hot soak is what one needs. Whether he's interrupting you or the reverse, his demeanor is calm and friendly.

"There's room to share, if you don't mind."


An artificial sky [Stargazing]
Nights find Siebren daring to wander away from town, where lanternlight doesn't compete with the broadness of sky. Defiant of the potential risks of being out at night alone, Siebren's found scraps of paper and charcoal to take notes on the night sky, as well as a book on the constellations and planets of this world from the library.

Care to join a mad scientist in indulging his passion? Or to protect him from the dangers of Marrow Island at night?


Never seen this picture before [Around Town CW: dissociation, confusion and possibly hallucinations caused by traumatic brain injury]
Siebren's been lucky, so far. He's had good days--up until now. One morning, he wakes up confused, uncertain where he is. Where his team is. What he's wearing and why.

He leaves his home, heading into town, a wild-eyed look about him. "Boefje? Dr. O'Deorain? Where are you? M-mauga? Where are you all? Where...what is all this?!" He is, notably, speaking in either English or Dutch, instead of Emeran.

As his agitation grows, nearby rocks clatter, some lifting to float mid-air. Anyone who startles him may be at risk of debris flying their way. Siebren himself is slowly floating higher than usual, several feet above the cobblestone streets, his frantic questions growing louder.


Wildcard
Find me on discord at darkersolstice if you want to plot.</small?

Never seen this picture before

[blindwatchersees]

A purple butterfly settles on his shoulder, soft as a baby's breath.

"Now now, Siebren. You're drifting away from where you need yourself to be. I don't quite know where I am either, but I don't think either of us are going to find what we're looking for in a blind panic. Go on. Find me in the town square. You'll know me when you see me, though I'm not sure how. We'll walk these strange roads together, perhaps with a cup of tea to start."

Ylva | OC | OTA

[actuallyawolf]

Planting Hunting season

A note appears on the community bulletin board. It is written in careful but inexpert letters, and there's been a very clear attempt to do it in Braille as well, with the limited tools she has -- though there are one or two spelling mistakes in the Braille version that don't exist in the print version.

More people means, we need more food. Come help me hunt or forage in the forest, I can teach tracking or what's good to eat if you dont know. Probably good if you now how to fight already. My name is Ylva so please use the sending stone.

Following up on this note will result in arranging a meeting to venture off into the woods together, and she will show up early and eager.

[nothingbadeverhappensto]

Leon's conversation with Ylva over the sending stones is short - he's more inclined to treat the things like comms than a phone - but it's efficient, the two of them arranging a time and place to meet so Leon can learn the ropes. He's by his own admission a bit of a city boy, but he's a crack shot with most weapons and figures it can't be too different hunting animals than fending off human or formerly-human attackers. If anything, it'll probably be a lot less frantic. By his understanding, most animals out there would much rather run and hide than try to bite your face off.

"Hey," he says, nodding as he approaches. "Are you Ylva? I'm here to help out with the hunting, if you'll have me."

He's got his Enforcer-issue sidearm with him, as well as that knife he stole from the restaurant on his first night out and conveniently forgot to give back. Probably not the best tools for hunting, all told, but for now it's what he's got.

Prisoner Number 6 (Peter Starr) | The Prisoner | Current player, new Character-Sail CRAU

[be_seeing_you]

In the woods, [cw: grief for a spouse]
He's dead, or so he's been told. And yet? This is the most alive he's felt in some time. The air here reminds him of home. The chill and even the rain are welcome after what felt like an eternity of sunny summer sailing weather. He turns the collar of his simple shirt up against the chill and pulls the large duck wings sprouting from his back closer around him like a cloak as he forages for dead logs just inside the forest. Trees. By God, there are real trees. It's beautiful, but it makes him ache at the same time. If his wife were here, maybe they could have had that apple orchard after all. Just that stray thought is enough to make him reach for a handkerchief to wipe a stray tear or three away. He'll plant one in her honor. She would want him to try to find happiness again. So, he will try. For his dear "Pumpkin." Maybe it was her wish that sent him here. That would be just like her.

Carving a Doll
A call was put out for volunteers to help make dolls for the children. He can still recall the carvings of the ballerina he made for Fio once. She had cherished it. So, using the logs he foraged out in the woods, he settles down on the picnic grounds with his simple pocket knife and gets to work whittling. It's meditative. After everything he's experienced, there is something wonderfully simple about working with his hands, using natural materials that he never had access to on that damnable cruise ship. He shapes a ballerina first and sets that aside. That done, he starts on the next project. It's starting to look, roughly, like a tiger. It's quiet work, but he will smile a friendly smile at anyone who comes by to look or chat. Gone are the days when he would have chosen to isolate himself. If he's been given a new chance at life, he'd better make the most of it.

Wildcard Me!
What you got! Come at me!

carving a doll

[notinflictthem]

Hawkeye finds his eye caught by the carvings as he walks past- just out to stretch his legs now that the weather's a little nicer.

"Hey- that's not half bad," he comments, crouching down to take a closer look at the ballerina, "a lot handier than anything I can do with a knife. I'm only good at straight lines. You a carpenter or something?"

Benoîte D. || OC || new || info & general character CWs on her journal if you want them!

[fishcatholic]

i. the oak & iron

One of the new arrivals is an individual both ichthyic and batrachian, who smells like she got here on a fishing-boat instead of on the ferry. One eye is hidden behind a patch, and everywhere there's exposed skin there are also scars; you may note a long one that runs from the corner of her mouth, giving the appearance of a lopsided grin.

There's nothing disqualifyingly alien about her. If you're expecting to see a human, then she could get away with passing as a particularly ugly one. But if you're not expecting that, because, let's say for example, you're in a magical world of a hundred and one intelligent species, then... she could go either way.

She lurks, hulking and menacing, at a table in some shadowy corner of the inn, reading the morning paper. Frowning and moving her lips as she reads. Giving it... looks.


ii. the oak & iron again, now with 100% less come-bother-me

None of the people in this place are 1) her coworkers or 2) her church, and they all talk funny, and therefore she has no idea how to speak to any of them.

But drastic times call for drastic measures. If you're standing at the bar, or leaning on a wall, or otherwise not obviously radiating 'I'm busy' vibes, there's a chance you'll be approached by a somewhat fishy-looking woman... man?... one of the two.

"Beg your pardon," she says in a rough voice, and then 'sir' or 'miss' depending on visual cues, and a halting 'friend' if she's not sure either way -- "And I'll let you get back to it; but I wonder could you point me towards, er..."

Shuffling paper shuffling paper. She's holding out a copy of the Gazette, pointing to the article about planting season with one stubby finger.

"...Any of these gentlemen written here, if you can read the names?"


iii. around town

It is remarkably difficult to buy an axe in Pumpkin Hollow, or at least one that Benoîte can afford with the pouch of little brass coins that she was passed during her arrival. Maybe you see her in some shop or other, attempting to haggle on the price, offering labour or barter, and being politely yet firmly shut down.

And perhaps she sees you seeing her, and gives you a good eyeballing (as good as one can with just one eye), as if you're a stranger who's wandered into her small town instead of the other way around.

As guarded as Hell after a breakout: "Want something?"

i

[maximumcake]

Max has been taking shifts working for the Oak & Iron. He'd like to be in the kitchen but he's still 'proving himself' whatever that means. So, today, he's a waiter. And he's been hovering nearby awkwardly wondering if he should say something or...

Fuck it. He'll say something. "Is everything all right over here? Can I help you with anything?"

Claude von Riegan | FE3H | Existing player

[inaurate]

hot springs

Look, the baths at Garreg Mach spoiled him a bit. Even the master bath at Reigan estate was nothing to sneeze at, never mind his private rooms in the palace in Almyra, though he didn't get to enjoy those again for too long before showing up here. Claude is not a complainer, but he has missed the luxury of a big warm bath he can really stretch out in.

So, on one of his days off from working in Sally's pharmacy, he takes the trip by train (which is in itself an interesting novelty to him) to the newly discovered hot spring. The weather here is still a little chilly for his taste, so he doesn't linger for long after stripping down to his boxers, sliding in to the hot water with a long sigh. For a guy who seems to take everything in stride, he sure does carry a lot of tension!

into paradesium

Nothing has put Claude's naturally strong sense of self-preservation to the test as frequently as his equally naturally strong curiosity. It was true in Almyra, and in Fodlan, and it's true here in Pumpkin Hollow as well. As soon as he reads about the jungle found in the caves, he knows he'll be taking some trips out there to see it for himself. He does everything he can to prepare, packing a few days worth of provisions just in case as well as borrowing a fresh bow from town hall, and hiding away a few daggers in his clothes and boots.

Just about the only thing he doesn't prepare ahead of time is an adventuring buddy, but surely the jungle will be full of other curious folk interested in checking things out, right? Well-- that's not entirely true. Blueberry sneaks herself into his pack (not that her ghostly form actually takes up any space) and invites herself along for the adventure!

The two of them can be run into at any point from the caves all the way to the stenholm-- he likely won't make the whole trip with a single companion, instead parting ways with people and meeting new traveling buddies as he goes deeper into the jungle.

Erin Peters | Changeling: the Lost 1e | Existing Player

[crushed_pearls]

Real Cooking! | Oak & Iron

Erin spends a lot of time at Oak & Iron, partly because she needs to be available for socialization, but in large part just to bask in the scents and sounds of actual cooking. Her table is open, and if you know her she'll wave you over eagerly - and if you don't, she's willing to entertain you. Come meet this tall-ass bird elf. It'll be an Experience.

Oh My God They Were Roommates | Closed To Existing CR

So there's twenty-three new residents of Marrow Island and climbing, and the inn can't bear them all. Erin needs somewhere to live while she's looking for a job...and to get out some thoughts on whether or not she should get her own house or move in with someone long-term. Or both, honestly, both could be an option...

The Job Hunt | Around

Looking to expand your business? Need new employees? There's a blind bitch asking around. She's willing to learn, if she lacks existing experience, but she can't work in high-fire environments like, say, most kitchens or forges. They don't go well with feathers.

Wildcard

Fuck me up.

Oh My God They Were Roommates

[freedomsuitsme]

So there's a certain someone wandering around town who's very much on Erin's list, and he very much didn't get a taste of her wrath before reality destabilized and everyone's oranges got shifted.

Now everyone's oranges are accounted for.

Heck him up, Erin.

Muriel | The Arcana | existing player/farmer

[no_goaway]

doll drive

Honestly, Muriel doesn't even read the paper most of the time... but he does hear about the charity drive, and while he prefers not to think about his own sad childhood, it tugs at his heartstrings enough that he can occasionally be found whittling figures of animals out of wood for the toy drive.

planting season... and tiny cows

Clearly at some point, Muriel must have ventured down into the caves because he has acquired a herd of pygmy cows. Eight of them in all, two bulls and six cows; maybe you even saw them all following Muriel out from the cave back to his farm in a frankly adorable little parade. You'll certainly see them grazing in the grass while Muriel prepares the field for planting.

If you're lucky, maybe you'll get to pet one-- they seem pretty anxious around anyone other than Muriel himself, but might just come over if you're with him.

Toy Drive

[thedayisyoung]

Anders has also been pretty quiet while hand-sewing some little dolls, but he can't help but be impressed by the expert whittler.

"Those are beautiful," he remarks. "I take it you've been doing that a long time."

Captain Jack Harkness | DOCTOR WHO/TORCHWOOD | Existing Player!

[iwasjustsayinghello]

Charity Drive

When Jack learns about the charity drive, he doesn’t consciously decide to do anything. He just…sort of finds himself collecting one of the advertised baskets, stopping at the shops for some extra notions, and…

Up until the Doll Picnic, Jack can be spotted in the dining area of the Oak & Iron at mealtimes with his basket, doing a little sewing. He appears to be making a couple of rag dolls, of a specific type, and if you have any natural elements that a fella could incorporate? Jack would welcome them—he’s not sure how to manage that part.

Planting Season

{Farmers need help? Jack is here. Choose your own adventure. XD}

Hot Springs - CW: non graphic allusions to torture, will warn if more graphic things come up

Hot springs? Hot springs.

Jack has endured a lot of shit in the last year or so. He’s felt a lot of pain, he’s died a lot of different ways…but this is the one blessing he’s had: Saxon never tried to drown him.

So he doesn’t hesitate to strip down, wade in, and just enjoy the water, the heat soaking into his muscles, the quiet sounds of nature all around him.

Maybe there are dangers in the woods, but those he can deal with later.

For just a moment, he has the heat, the trees…and a rare, precious thing that immortality rarely allows him to savor.

Serenity.

if i had a nickel for every slutty pansexual immortal in this hot spring i'd have two nickels

[divasmio]

The hot spring already has one patron soaking, but it's got plenty of space for more. Apollo has no qualms about stripping down in front of a stranger; There are plenty of statues and paintings depicting his naked form, and he's quite proud of it.

Apollo steps in and settles in a spot that's a respectable distance from the other man, about a quarter of the way around the spring. He glances over at the other fellow in the spring, who looks like he's finally unwinding from a one or two thousand years of stress. He means the thought metaphorically, of course — Apollo's got no way of knowing otherwise.

He decides not to interrupt the stranger's meditation, and relaxes against a comfortable stone outcropping to gaze up at the overcast sky, admiring the arc of the sun behind the clouds. Whoever was pulling the chariot in this world — if they had a Sun Chariot, anyway — was doing a marvelous job.

Of course, Apollo respecting the man's right to peacefully unwind doesn't mean he doesn't (respectfully!) sneak the occasional glance at him. Mortal bodies take time and effort to sculpt, after all. Someone should admire and appreciate his handiwork, even if half of it is distorted by water.

Arthur Morgan | RDR2 | OTA

[mister_morgan]

Toil and Soil (Farming, OTA | Come get that bonus!)
Though he'd grown up on a farm, Arthur hadn't worked on it long before he got pulled into the life with the Van der Lindes, and it showed clearly in his work.

The ranching came easily enough to him, and his animals were doing just fine, but the crops were another story. The soil was still stiff from the cold and lack of previous work, and though there were only two small fields, he'd made it through half of the first before he was ran ragged.

He'd only stopped long enough to start to have a smoke before he caught eye of someone heading towards the farm, and with a wave, he straightens himself upright from where he'd been leaned against the fence.

"Mornin'!" He calls over. "You here lookin' for work?"



Paradise, at What Cost?
He'd never been the brightest bulb in the bunch. He was quick to think on his feet, sure, but he'd admit that, in terms of logistics, there were often moving parts he overlooked.

This was no exception. What he'd been sure would be an easy trip in to get some fruit and cooking supplies, with no need to drag along a travel buddy, was now dragging on its fifth hour.

He was lost.

Arthur wasn't sure how he'd gotten turned around, but with a pack on his back, and several noisy little tag-alongs (and a tiny cow that kept chewing his pants leg), he trudged up the hill, but never quite found the cavern's exit to the mine.

The sending stone was his last shot, and one he didn't exactly understand, but it'd be worth a shot. He wasn't going to bother Sally with it, but it seemed a request to ping the person nearest to him would work, because the stone glowed with connection. Uncertainly, he spoke into it, glancing back to his small collection of critters as he did.

"Anybody there? If you're near the caves, I, uh... I could use a hand, if you're willin'. Got a lot to share if I can get a hand outta here?"

toil and soil.

[exaltruistic]

Ko is, indeed, looking for work;
he is very much not dressed for the part, however. He looks like a city slicker in his turtleneck and suspenders. But he’s quick to nod as he approaches.

In addition to not being dressed for it, he’s also short and slight in frame.

Obviously and visibly not suited for it — he knows, though, that a good way to get information is to help people. To meet them where they are.

He rolls up his sleeves — his right hand is visibly discolored, looking … necrotic.

“Good morning — I am. I’m Ko Tenjin — you are … ?”

Jarod | The Pretender | Existing Player!

[onyssius]

Charity Drive - CW: references to child labor/abusive working conditions

Jarod has decided to make his dolls on the street.

He wants to do this, wants to help the kids that need these toys. It’s…nice to be able to take something he’s learned to be and use it just to do some good—not to take revenge, just…to do something good because it feels good.

The problem is, he learned to sew in a sweatshop.

It was a very early simulation, one he still hates thinking about. He had to become one of the kids employed there, help Sydney figure out how they staged the attack that resulted in the managers of the factory being killed.

Jarod did his job: and now people have probably died because his simulation was used to improve security.

It’s hard to stay in the moment, working at a table. Even in the Oak & Iron, with food and people and firelight. If he sits too long with the needle and thread in his hands, he starts to feel the cramps from hours of labor. He starts to feel the hunger pangs, even though he just ate. He knows he won’t be able to sleep because he didn’t meet his quota—and he can’t say he knows it’s not real because it is.

For him, it’s always real.

So careful walking down the street in the afternoon. You don’t want to trip over a man and his basket, hand sewing a neat little stack of rag dolls for the upcoming picnic.

Planting Season

Having heard about the call for farm aid, Jarod visits some of the local growers hoping to do just that: help however he can. Planting or cultivating, he’s done a lot of simulations on farming technology and techniques—he’ll use them to help if he can.

One thing occurs to him as he visits the fields, taking a look at the soil. Glancing around, he spots someone he hopes is in charge and trudges over, wiping dirt off his hands with a rag.

“Hi! Sorry, but—who would I speak to about the fertilizer? I think I might be able to help.”

Paradesium

The plan was to look for bats—bats meant guano, and guano was great fertilizer. He just needed a sample…

But the caves? Well…they’re more than just some stalagmites and bat poop.

And Jarod couldn’t be more excited.

[[Treat this as a cave explorer’s wild card! Any of the Paradesium prompts, or choose your own. Help Jarod, or let Jarod help you. :)]]

Edgar | Snowpiercer (2013) + multiple CRAU | new player (semi-closed and OTA)

[hate_gettin_older]

there is a train that's headed straight / to heaven's gate, to heaven's gate (semi-closed)

The hot springs sound like something he definitely wants to try out, but the long walk doesn't sound like fun and neither do the hazards of the wild. The alternative for getting there, though, is ...

Well, all right, there's no rule says he has to go on his own, is there? And a hot soak's always better for company, and that can be all there is to it. He finds Max, and Nimona, and asks both of them if they want to make the trip with him.

-----
heaven we hope is just up the road (OTA)

Edgar's still not at all sure what to make of this place, or of himself being here, with three other strange worlds behind him since the battle at Yekaterina Bridge. (You died, said the white-haired woman gently on his arrival, and he laughed -- couldn't stop himself -- and said hell, I knew that, it's been years.)

This is the first place he's been for any length of time, though, that feels like it might be real. Not a fairyland, not made up by magic. Weird as it was for the day and a half he was there, Barsoom felt this kind of real. Like it kept going on with no one looking, and didn't just stop where you couldn't go any further.

He could get used to this, maybe. He could do some good here.

Today he's wandering the town, trying to get his bearings. He'll be happy to see anyone he knows, and almost as happy to meet anyone new.

there is a train

[yournewsidekick]

Edgar finds her as a cat, dozing in a sunbeam just outside the Oak & Iron. She perks up as soon as he makes the suggestion: "Ooh, hot springs?"

Nimona is IN, as evidenced by how she immediately pops into otter shape and vaults onto his shoulder. "C'mon! Time is money, money is milkshakes, let's go!"

It's -- actually kind of a startling display of enthusiasm, considering how skittish she's been since she got here. But it's not hard to figure out why Edgar's asking her to tag along, y'know? Guy who grew up on a murder train has to take a train, even a non-murder-y one, somewhere, and Nimona will gladly be his emotional support shapeshifter.

(Plus: HOT SPRINGS.)

River La Croix | OC (Dungeon Life Quest) | Existing Player

[somebodychildofanyone]

Cult of the Nails Part 2: Rise of the Needles | Infernal Arms and Armor

As advertised at the recent potluck, River's thinking on expanding her business and in the market for further students - or even another skilled smith, if she's been so blessed. But another sign outside says SEWING NEEDLES FREE OF CHARGE and, indeed, they are! If you need a needle to make a doll for the charity drive or, honestly, just to have one, come on in and meet the smith and her apprentices, who are, at this point, all resigned to making large amounts of very small, quite sharp objects.

Hot Springs | CW Nudity and, let's be real, possibly NSFW

River has not previously experienced hot springs, but boy oh boy does she cotton onto them quickly. Find her here on days off or even just after a long day at the forge, having ridden the train in and lounging naked in the water. For those who look directly at her, River's body is a story told in scars; defensive wounds, cuts, broken bones healed oddly, and a scar in her gut that probably, honestly, should have killed her. And that's not even talking about the burning sigils carved deep into her arms, which the water of the springs do not extinguish.

She's not shy. Do come on in.

Paradesium

This isn't so much a prompt as a wildcard, Bring This Elf Underground.

Infernal Arms and Armor

[misbegottendreamer]

The heat of the forge beckons her in like a lover's breath. She knows the feeling, the sound, the smell. The fires are a welcome reminder of home.

"Excuse me?" the masked womer asks, "Could I speak to the master of the forge?"

jeff | oc | existing

[cacophonish]

[ ooc: these are some general jeff prompts! if you want more TDM-specific things, lmk and we can get something going, or just fling whatever you wish at the wildcard ]

I. Ashes to ashes
Did you know that Jeff (with a significant contribution from Magne) has finally managed to save up enough brass for a guitar?

Well, if you didn't, you sure as hell do now, because as soon as the luthier informs him of the instrument's completion, Jeff picks it up and starts playing, anywhere and everywhere that will allow him.

Sometimes he'll be at a park, or the outskirts of the forest, playing where it's bright and sunny and safe. He can also be found noodling about in the town square, doing his best to introduce the town to rock music.

Mostly, he plays his own music-- alternative, with a splash of psychedelia, and lyrics that tend to evoke fragmented dreams, irreverent nonsense, or a blend of both-- but he'll also play covers of other artists. Sometimes, they're rather faithful (he seems to have a pretty solid catalogue of Fleetwood Mac in his muscle memory), and others, it's more like... Jeff's interpretation of what he can recall of a song.

In any case, it's clear that music is the one area in which he's focused and well-practiced. Jeff's often in his own world as he plays, but he'll pause between songs if he notices anyone listening in.

"Got any requests? I mean," he shrugs, "I can't promise I know know it, but I can improv."

Or you can just Come Bother Him for chit chat. Or tell him to shut up and stop playing. Anything goes.

Just don't touch his guitar without his permission.

(Side note, you can also find him at Empty Pockets from here on out, whenever there's an open mic night.)

II. and funk to funky
Now that the bard's got his instrument, you'll also find Jeff practicing a whole lot more magic these days. In the interest of minimizing potential disasters, he'll try to stick to quiet, remote places when engaging in magical jam sessions.

Anyway, it's easy to follow the sound of his guitar and find Jeff making things float around him, or making pretty lights dance, or doing his best to form those pretty lights into something cohesive (just a little illusion, something he's never quite mastered yet). He's also trying to expand his repertoire by making the breeze pick up, or calling down rain, but so far? Not a whole lot of success on those fronts.

Jeff can also get up to more impressive, less flashy magic-- some clairvoyance, some empathic manipulation-- but that stuff tends to require guinea pigs. Care to volunteer?

III. We know Major Tom's a junkie (cw: recreational intoxication/psychedelics)
Jeff's not an outdoorsy person, really. He never was a Boy Scout (partially because his parents were opposed to the group's politics, and partially because Jeff liked to call himself a conscientious objector from any and all organizations, even from a young age) and his wilderness survival skills amount to... nothing.

So what draws him to Paradesium? Rumors of magic and the promise of new, funky intoxicants, mostly.

Anyway, after his first run-in with an illusadermis, it's become Jeff's new favorite ritual. Wander the path to the jungle, find a noodle dog, pet the noodle dog, and settle in for a giggly, euphoric trip.

Of course, Jeff can't really do this kind of exploring and adventuring on his own, not without, like... getting lost, falling down a hole, or otherwise putting himself in danger. So that's where you come in. Are you a strapping adventurer? Great! Then Jeff's tagged along with you, solely for the purpose of picking fruit and tripping balls.

Or maybe you were already in the jungle for other reasons, reasons having nothing to do with Jeff and his need for an escort, and you just happen to find him. Sprawled out on the ground, giggling and petting an illusadermis (or, like, some other funky lil creature).

"Shh shh shhhhhh," he 'whispers' to the creature, much more loudly than he realizes. "Don't worry. I won't tell anyone your secret. It'sssss--" He giggles, then puts a finger to his lips, shushing himself. "It's between us."

IV. Wildcard
[ Hit me with anything! You can find Jeff out and about running errands for Deirdre, likely. He'll also be spending some time at Dahlia's, getting some job training from her staff. Also, for reference, here is a playlist of Jeff's general musical vibes, tastes, inspirations, tunes and artists he likes, etc. ]

Ashes To Ashes

[onyssius]

Jarod likes guitars--he's come to really enjoy the music on radio stations, and became a DJ for about a week shortly after his escape from the Centre just to get closer to the music. He's heard plenty of pianos and violins and classical music--the Magic Flute is still his favorite...

...but guitars are wild. They don't just play music, they scream and they groan and they sing the way woodwinds and pianos don't. They have voices of their own, especially the electric ones, and Jarod finds them absolutely captivating.

When the musician playing asks for a request, Jarod just smiles and shakes his head. He shuffles a few steps closer to the musician's perch in the town square and takes a nearby seat, setting down his basket of doll-making supplies.

"I don't actually know enough music with guitars to have any requests." he admits--and while his voice is deep, while he is very visibly a grown man, in the moment he's very much not a mature one. He's not childlike, he's too aware, but...innocent in a way very few adults are. There's a newness to the simple way he speaks and the light in his eyes that makes him seem far younger than he appears.

"I just wanted to listen." he continues. "That song was really pretty--you're very talented."

Eddie Kaspbrak 🎈 IT (miniseries) 🎈 Established Player [Farmer]

[batteryacid]

We Got Chicks and We Got Getting Dirty, Make Your Choice
There's been a sign hanging on the fence, next to the gate, ever since Eddie settled on his farm. Said sign has now been replaced with a freshly painted one that reads:
KASPBRAK FARM
(Angel and Eddie)

Best to be accurate, after all.

Of course, planting is a major focus -- potatoes in the opposite plot that they were planted in the fall, with cabbages again; tomatoes far away from the other nightshade; and a selection of the pepper plants being raised from seed in the greenhouse. (The pepper expansion will later see seedlings moved out into the planters that were built over the winter.) There's also a medium-sized plot for flax. Flax is very useful, though not a food crop for humans. Eddie will ramble about it if asked.

But there are newly hatched chicks in the expanded chicken coop, and caring for them is also an option. Working with Kit (the smooth collie pup that Agent Jean got for the Kaspbraks, to help with shepherding the chickens) is a part of the chick raising duties, so come say hi to the good doggo!

I'll Give You Something to Cry About
Listen, if you need a rescue from the Tristitia... Eddie does happen to speak softly and carry a big club. Just in case you want all the "what the fuck" and none of the catatonia.

Though, who knows, maybe the Tristitia will carry a grudge for that.

Wildcard
Got another idea? Want me to tag your top level? Hit me up.

Darcy's a Chick Magnet

[saltwaterlungs]

Look.

He's not a big fan of mud or smells or dirt or bugs, so farms are among Darcy's least favourite places on earth, behind only Evangelical megachurches.

But help has been asked for, and Darcy cannot deny their help when asked.

So he's just kind of. Watching the chicks climb all over their boots.

"Is there anything else I'm meant to be doing here?" he calls when Eddie goes past.

Chris Freeman ☠ DC Comics (Rebirth | semi-AU) -- Established Player

[thelatechrisfreeman]

Your Habits are Bad, Your Feet Have Gone Bad, and Now I Feel Bad!
[locked to Sam Porter]

It's some time after the hot springs have become a known and open location that Chris notices... Sam is limping. What in the world is up with that? Sam makes his living on his feet and walking everywhere. He ought to know how to take care of himself in that manner.

Chris is going to have to make sure.

One spring day, Chris falls into step with Sam while our favorite mailman is making his rounds, and says, "Swing by my place for lunch today, okay? I made more beef and barley soup than I can eat alone." The invitation is not quite a question, but it's not a demand and they offered a good reason for wanting to share food with Sam. (You know, other than 'sometimes I forget to feed myself but feeding others is a good workaround', as previously established.)

You Are the Ever-Living Ghost of What Once Was
[Open to All - the Tristitia]

Some night, you'll find Chris wandering the streets, eyes lit with an eerie red glow. They aren't really focused on their surroundings, wandering through the streets as though said streets were empty.

"I don't want to go," Chris is mumbling, but their feet move ever forward, ever on, "I don't want to go, I don't..."

A figure waits in the distance, clad in dark rags, with an empty, caved-in chest that aches for what Chris can give it. It raises a hand and beckons Chris forth.

Put Your Hands On, Put Your Hands On --
[Open to All - Doll Making]

Chris has some experience with making toys -- baby Gwen and baby Lou each have a soft plush toy to play with, courtesy of Chris and their sewing hobby.

Do the locals really not know what a teddy bear is? Well, Chris will explain if people want to know. You'll probably run into them as part of a sewing circle, sitting together with other people who are making toys for the Doll Picnic.

Would you like to join in? Chris wouldn't mind some design ideas, even if you're not crafty yourself.

There's A Story In Which My Eyes Shut
[Wildcard]

Come at me with your own ideas ❤

The Tristitia

[onyssius]

Jarod is still learning about his new home—and the best way to learn about any new locations is the people. Experience, time and again, has shown him as much, that learning about the people the old fashioned way can tell him more than any book, info sheet, or simulation ever could.

…okay, so occasionally he runs very small simulations in his head to help out where he can. But it’s not like he can help it.

Tonight, he’s looking for a good place to do some sewing for his own dolls when someone drifts past him…muttering. They seem upset, in distress (fugue state? drugged? hypnotized?) and moving in a manner that’s…forced.

It’s a little tricky, but Jarod pulls out two sets of skills and lets himself become a doctor and a police officer. Setting his basket down, he jogs up to the person walking onward, trying to make them stop.

“Excuse me? Excuse me…hey, are you all—whoah.”

He keeps a gentle grip on their shoulders, startled by eyes that seem to glow red from within—and entirely unaware of the danger up ahead.

“What…happened to you? Can you hear me?…”