Prepare for the #LodanRespawn2024 Existing characters may choose to be displace from/have memories of different timelines, thereby allowing returning members the option to retcon their whole character. These changes are the result of the "Unnatural Fog" plot device that is running between now and the Respawn. The plot is simple: no matter where your character is, that place is shrouded in a thick fog that suspends time, but not thoughts or memories, so even if they're repeating the same day over and over again, they continue to remember, so each time feels like a new day. For those retconning OCs; this is where new versions of themselves have the opportunity to replace the old versions. Official lore and tree updates will be announced asap
There was a crunch of vines snapping under foot, even after the costumed adventures paused to get acquainted. Somewhere, behind the hedges stalked a behemoth shadow beast, with his tentacles waving. Over the arbor tunnels covered in red trumpet vines and bearing a sumptuous harvest of grapes, there was a nest of shady imps, little eyes glowing in the night. A neighing could be heard in the distance, beyond the twist and turns of the maze, making it impossible to place. Take no comfort in the familiar sound, that's no wild pony growing restless under the moon, literally more of a nightmare. Crickets still chirped and frogs still croaked from the spatter of decorative ponds throughout the grounds. They offered a sense of normalcy between the hedges of bush berries, the arbors of grapevines, and the orchards of apples, pears, and passion fruit. Be wary, be alert and be ready....
Ikuze giggled softly when the huntsman finished speaking and was about to reply when the sounds of the maze reached her ears. She found herself clinging tighter to Jacob before she coughed gently, trying to regain her composure. "W-well... if there are monsters... then... perhaps we should move along? And besides... don't want everyone else to have... all the fun now do we?" she asked, as she continued to play the persona that she'd given herself for this evening, whilst silently wishing she'd gone with one of the other costumes now. At least then she'd maybe have some kind of manuverability, as well as the chance to stash a her dagger on her person. As it is, she was as defenceless as... well, as a princess. Sure, I could use my magic, but I doubt it would work on monsters... Plus there's Jacob here... why the hell am I caring what this guy thinks of me? the thief thought to herself as she caught herself looking back at his face, what she could see of it.
[Flos flinched at what sounded like an eerie neigh from afar and quickly clutched his hand over Miss Tamar's grip, as if she could actually give him courage and moral support. He bit down his tongue trying not to yelp or squeal in fear, lips tightly pressed together to restrain any sound. He kept his face away from Miss Tamar, trying his hardest to hold up a brave front. This was just embarrassing. Why couldn't she have found someone dressed in a prince suit, for crying out loud? Without a word in reply (he was too busy trying not to scream and flee), Flos kept himself and the girl moving along.]
The imps in the arbor began to stretch and yawn. Some blinked sleepily only to bolt upright and wide-eyed at the sight of the trespassers below. A buzz of chatter rose overhead as Flos and Ikuze passed beneath the red trumpet vines. Spooked, the two gripped each others limbs and the miniature shadow beasties went wild with excitement. What a tender pair was this that had come along in their midst? The glowing eyes of more than a dozen dozens of imps peeked out from around the fruit. Some free fell from the leafy vines to hover in the air around the couple. Some plucked the mystical fruit from its source and urged the juicy grapes at the wayward citizens.
Headed off in the other direction of the maze, Caitlin and her consort Will came toe to toe with even bigger problems. They had the unfortunate luck of crossing paths with the behemoth shadow beast. It raised its nose high in the air to sniff at them, his tentacles wavering curiously before his maul opened wide and let out a predatory roar.
(I know the RP is meant to end tonight at midnight, however, it would appear 2 weeks is not enough time to run a holiday Event, so from now on I think we'll begin them at the start of the month and run the whole way through for 4 weeks. For anyone interested in finishing the event, continue to post at your leisure)
Ikuze looked up at the... fairies? The thief nervously tilted her head at the sight of the small creatures, taking in their human-like appearance, and their gossamer wings... "They... they don't look scary..." she said softly to Jacob, her eyes widening as the tiny things seemed to be offering them some food. Her stomach gave a tiny growl which brought a blush to her cheeks. "A-apologies Sir... Although.. it seems these little thing's timing.. is excellent..." she said, collecting a handful of the grapes from the little winged things, who seemed to giggle in delight at her acceptance, to which she returned a giggle in kind. She popped one of the grapes into her mouth and bit into the fruit, its juices soaking her tongue and mouth as its flesh was torn by her teeth, before they were all swallowed.
Suddenly the young princess felt quite warm, and since she was holding some grapes in her hand, she thought it only best to try and cool off with some more of the juices of the fruit, eating another one. And another, and another, till she had consumed all six of the grapes the creatures had given her. Ikuze found herself feeling quite flustered, her breathing coming in shallower and shallower. She looked towards Jacob to say something when she felt a sensation of warmth overtake her senses at the sight of him. "Mi... milord... I... I think... This is so sudden... but... but I think... that I may be in..." she started to say, the colour in her cheeks rising to become a bright crimson at the sheer scandal this would cause. "I may be... in love with you good Sir..." she said after a brief moment's respite. The young woman tried to wrap her arms around the huntsman's neck in a loving embrace, and tried to plant a kiss on his mouth, going to her tip toes if need be even in her heels.
She felt her breathing becoming faster, her head was growing more and more dizzy. "Mi.. milord... I... I cannot breathe... When I... I look upon you here... Under this pale moonlight, surrounded by these... heavenly creatures..." said Ikuze with a gesture to the giggling imps floating around them, "and the hedges and flowers around you... Oh this is... this is like one of those stories... A princess and her huntsman... You came here looking for game milord... your bullets and arrows have pierced mine heart... Oh my love..." she said softly as she tried for another kiss, this time also trying to push them both down to the soft grassy down beneath their feet, so that she may be on top of him as he lay on his back.
Her breathing grew faster as she felt her passions building, a light moan escaping her lips as she felt her ardour rising. "Please... my lord... good sir... I... I cannot take it anymore... please... take me... I love you good sir and offer myself to you this night as proof of my love... I... I have never lain with another my lord... I offer it to you as a token of my love..." said Ikuze, her breathes coming out in pants for air as she felt herself growing warmer and warmer, the presence of the corset under her gown granting her no aid at all for her breathing.
The imps watched eagerly as the little princess gobbled up the tainted fruit. With cheers of exultation after she finished her fare they turned to the lad and offered him the same. The moment the girl began to act overly brazen; the mini-devils mistaken for fairies rolled with titters of evil laughter. It was creepy enough to send cold shivers of the most unpleasant variety down any man or ander's spine.
(Alrighty folks, putting a cap on this thread to wrap it up one way or the other. Last day is Monday the 18th. Wherever that leaves your character after the deadline, the rest will become a blur and if they haven't made it out of the maze by then, they have no hope of remembering how they made it home this fateful night (and will just have to try and figure it out again the next time they rally the guts to return here))