( the sickness: phase two )

[acatamods]

I ▫ main IV ▫ premise       XI ▫ applications XIV ▫ activity II ▫ logs V ▫ rules VII ▫ bestiary   IX ▫ canon updates XII ▫ taken XV ▫ drop/hiatus III ▫ ooc VI ▫ faq VIII ▫ setting   X ▫ mods XIII ▫ reserves XVI ▫ players the sickness ends. the temple. The Temple, shortly after Astoria's burst of energy, is in a constant state of growth. Trees are bursting into existence from seeds in mere seconds, flowers are growing wherever magic lands . . . and the Temple is abruptly a-buzz with energy, magic crackling throughout the air. You may find a tree in your house, or flowers suddenly growing along the walls, or plants wiggling their way through the stone walls of the buildings of the Temple. All of a sudden, the place looks very overgrown. The Forest of the Fey seems to be responding in kind, too. Sprites are exceptionally active, darting out of the Forest and into the Temple with increasingly regularity, playing basic little tricks on the members of the Circle they can find. Flower crowns are made at an alarming rate, and there might be a few fruit-food fights that break out with the sudden abundance of peaches and apples that appear on the grounds. Learn how to duck! With the magic comes the sudden fluctuation of energy: canon powers flicker on and off, as do the powers granted by Astoria. You feel more like yourself, you suddenly have access to energies you did not have previously in the Temple However, it's a double-edged sword -- it is not constant, and it may be more trouble than its worth. And, remember: the Sickness is not fading immediately. If you make it to Stage 3, then you're stuck with sensory deprivation for at least another week or two. Sorry, friends. lake dona. Lake Dona is a massive body of water, stretching outward for so far that it almost seems like an ocean until you see that the water is fresh. It is surrounded by long, leafy trees that dip into the water and has a variety of ancient ruins scattered around it -- weathered stones set into circles at seemingly even intervals, old buildings that seem to mirror the Temple in construct. In addition to the ruins, there are a network of caverns tucked along the water’s edge, just underneath the surface on the western side of Lake Dona, that appear to go underground into murky darkness. The actual entrance to these caverns seem to be underwater, seemingly guarded by merfolk, but poking around may seem to be more trouble than its worth. There is plenty of wildlife to be found within the lake itself, ranging from freshwater mermaids who would rather you stay the hell out of their backyard to a rather large and suspiciously friendly plesiosaurus-like creature (some would say that she prefers to be called Nessie) that seems intent on checking out who you are. The lake teems with odd-looking fish, most of which seem to be okay to eat, and plenty of plant life! But who knows what lurks in the depths below . . . that giant sea-monster looking thing has to be eating something. PROMPT IDEAS: Here are some prompt ideas for this new area! However, don't feel limited to such ideas! Feel free to fish, to explore, to swim, to poke around . . . it's always possible Astoria may check in on your character, too, once she is feeling better! ;) 1.) The Great Pumpkin The overgrowth of plants have caused a massive growth spurt in a lot of the trees, including the fruit trees that sprinkle themselves throughout the Temple. However, the fruit themselves seems to be growing at a rather . . . alarming rate, resulting in a few pumpkin-looking squash growing to the size of small boulders in the fields. Hope you have a lot of spare time on your hands to make a hell of a lot of Temple-pie, because these squash aren't going anywhere anytime soon. 2.) Food Fight!: Those damn sprites are at it again, and are collecting fruit off the ground and throwing it at people. Fight back, organize, and conquer! Or not. It's probably better to just not. 3.) Part Of Your World: The mermaids within Lake Dona are a suspicious lot, and they don't take kindly to strangers stomping through their territory. However, they are receptive to music, so if you are so musically inclined, they will definitely be more inclined to be a little more playful than territorial. If you aren't? Have fun getting tossed into the lake head-first by a bunch of pissed off mermaids who want you to get the hell of their lawn. They don't take kindly to your type around here. 4.) Nessie: Within Lake Dona is a massive plesiosaurus-type creature which seems to be . . . oddly friendly? It seems to pop up at the most inconvenient of times. Are you sitting on the edge of the lake enjoying the water? Enjoy a massive ass dinosaur sticking its impressively long neck out of the lake to check you out and also scare the bejesus out of you. That being said, Nessie is an extraordinarily friendly being, and will even give you laps around the lake if you ask nicely! 5.) Caverns: The caverns within the lake are dark, deep, and menacing The merfolk inform you that you cannot go there -- no one can, but the merfolk sure seem to be keeping a careful eye out on it. Testing the boundaries indicates a weird magical field around the entrance of the cave, that works like a bit of a forcefield. Weird, right?

Comments

[chromatized]

i: someone's in the kitchen with dinah

[ it was incredible how a bit of hardship could make people feel grateful for what they had. breathing deeply without bursting into fits of coughing... the total lack of dripping nose... walking around without feeling like he was going to die miserable...

yeah, Ludger was basking in the feeling of health, so of course he was going to kick back, relax, and avoid the particularly rambunctious sprites.
it's just his idea of "relaxing" means grabbing a bunch of fresh fruits and cooking a bunch of things.

if you poke your head in the Circle kitchen, you'll find a number of chopped fruits lining the counters, with a couple pots of pudding cooling on the stove. the chef himself is pulling something out of the stove. something red. that smells like spaghetti sauce. ]

Oh hey, you're just in time. Want to try the pudding? It's fresh.

ii: does nessie like lullabies?

[ even Ludger can get tired of cooking his worries away, so eventually he wanders out to the cliffs by the brand new Lake Dona. here and there, there's a small pile of rubble protruding from the grasses - maybe there used to be a building out here?

if you follow the sound of faint humming, you'll find Ludger perched on the rocks closest to the cliff's edge. he doesn't seem to notice your approach as he stares out at the horizon, absently toying with something in his hand.

approach him? bask in silence with him? push him off the cliff? he can't swim, but the choice is yours! ]

iii: wildcard

[ hit me up at amoray and let's hash something out! ]

is that pudding a lie

[reeliable]

[There's just something like a Noct dinner bell going off whenever someone is in the kitchen lately, or at least that's what he starts to think to himself when he pokes his head in the doorway at the smell of something going on. Some kind of sauce, he can smell that much, but with multiple pots all around it's hard for him not to want to investigate.]

Pudding? What kind is it.

[Pudding in his mind is a sweet, and if there's anything he really likes the most, it's sweets - so Noctis comes in, following his nose and peeking at that goodie that just came out of the oven. Why is it red.]

technically no...

[chromatized]

Tomato pudding! [ lookit his beaming face, he's just So Delighted with his creation. ]

I was pretty surprised there were so many of them lying around. Unfortunately I couldn't find any pasta, and I think everyone's pretty sick of soup... But there's still some leftover bread you can spread it on, if you want to eat it that way.

[ Ludger that's not really the problem ]

somehow i don't believe your 'technically'

[reeliable]

[Oh. Visibly pausing, his eyes moving to that red pudding again and trying to imagine just what tomato pudding tastes like, Noct's mind definitely centers on one thing: a vegetable. It's a vegetable - well, technically a fruit - but that isn't important. It isn't sweet is the point and as much as he tries to carefully remain polite, it's very apparent in his paused motion that he is really thinking over just how hungry he is and if he's willing to eat vegetables at this time.

He just ate some in the curry they had not that long ago, his veggie intake is fulfilled (it isn't), so he... does not want veggies.]

That's... I mean, nothing wrong with soup, I could eat a lot of soup. [Vegetables in soup are a little more tolerable, but he'd rather eat cheese and cream soups any day over Tomato Soup.]

would i ever lie to you

[chromatized]

Really? [ sounds fake - who likes running to the bathroom that often? unless he's still recovering... ]

Well, maybe I could make some for you later. I know a recipe for get-well-quick tomato soup.

[ hm, is that a glint of mischief in Ludger's eye? nah, couldn't be, it's not like he has copious amounts of experience with tomato haters or anything like that. ]

for 100,000,000 gald.....

[reeliable]

[What sounds fake is Enjoying Vegetables on a daily basis.

Managing not to straight up grimace at the offer to make him tomato soup, Noct gives an awkward hint of smile as he starts to try and take slow steps backwards, aiming to get back to the safety of the doorway.]

Ah - oh, thanks, that would be cool. Um, I don't want to eat everything here, so if you're offering I should probably go grab my friend - so he can eat too. He really likes tomato pudding, and it'd be a shame he didn't know and get to come try it out!

[Everything is a lie and Noctis would absolutely tell Prompto to come down, sorry buddy pal. The closer he gets to the doorway, the safer he feels.]

ii

[purrtagonist]

[FORTUNATELY. . . Akira isn't the pushing off of the cliff sort. but he is the "pester a complete stranger because they look extremely lost in thought" sort]

Nice view, isn't it?

[he speaks, but his own gaze isn't locked on the view he just complimented. he's trying to see what it is Ludger is toying with in his hand]

1/2

[chromatized]

[ that IS fortunate... probably.

Ludger glances up at the comment. ]

Hm? Oh, yeah. I haven't seen many sights like this back hom-

2/2

[chromatized]

[ ... Ludger moves his hand with the object to the right side of his body. he wants to see if his visitor's gaze follows the motion. he hopes his visitor's gaze follows the motion.

Akira might catch of glimpse of the item - it's a large silver object, sort of shaped like a compact. but the rest of it's obscured by Ludger's fingers. ]

[purrtagonist]

[. . . well. that's weird. Akira's gaze does follow the motion, but only for a moment before he tears it away to look at Ludger directly. was he staring too much??]

If you're trying to hide something, it's okay. You don't have to. I won't look.

[chromatized]

[ hm! how stra- nah, it's cool. Ludger doesn't look offended or upset, he just smiles a little and just holds out the object for Akira to inspect. ]

You can look, but I'd prefer you not touch it.

[ "it" being a large, silver pocket watch. there's notching around the rim of it, and the very faint appearance of gears on it's surface. well, what surface that hasn't been disrupted by several large, rusting gouges on it. ]

... It was my brother's.

[purrtagonist]

[a nod of understanding, and Akira's hands stay in his pocket, just so Ludger knows he's serious about not touching. he does lean forward a bit to peer at the watch. which, as far as he's concerned, is just a normal watch with some outward damage]

Ah. . .

[but the fact that it belongs to Ludger's brother is telling, even though Akira has never met him before]

Is it a memento?

i; no...

[metagame]

That's tomato sauce. [he doesn't give a fart that it's a fruit. tomatoes shouldn't be be made into pudding.]

yes......

[chromatized]

[ Ludger blinks at Atem, and then at his dish. ]

No, tomato sauce is more liquid. This isn't.

[ he even jiggles the pan to prove his point! it... is rather thick... ]

[metagame]

[Just, nope. Nope. He holds his hands up to prevent Ludger and the offensive pan from coming any closer.] 'Kay, so that's not sauce because it's thicker or whatever. Better question then... Why did you make it?

[chromatized]

Why... wouldn't I?

[ it's tomatoes! who can say no to that, besides literally everyone in the Circle, apparently. ]

[metagame]

Most people don't use tomatoes for pudding. [Chocolate or bananas but not tomatoes. He's not a cook by any means, but this is common sense, isn't it?]

i

[moonlightbeast]

[Normally Atsushi is not one to refuse food. But this...this.]

What flavor is it?

[He might as well ask, even though he can guess at the answer.]

[chromatized]

[ is there something wrong with "this"? ]

Tomato. Here, let me put this down and I can serve you a portion-

[ run, Atsushi. ]

[moonlightbeast]

[He's quick to throw up his hands.]

I-It's alright! I'm not too hungry right now.

[A blatant lie, Atsushi is always hungry.]

[chromatized]

[ yeah sounds fake, didn't they meet because Atsushi kept eating all the leftovers? ]

Oh yeah? That's too bad, I made egg pudding to go with all the fruit the fairies threw at me.

[ but since Atsushi isn't hungry. . . ]

i

[oathic]

[you know who'll pretty much eat anything that's edible? this guy. the weirder the better!]

Pudding? Sure! Never seen pudding like that before, though.

[chromatized]

I guess tomato pudding isn't very popular in other worlds.

[ it isn't very popular in your own world, Ludger. ]

Grab a seat, and I'll serve you a plate.

[oathic]

Yes! Free food!

[he rushes off to grab a seat, before he pauses.]

... It is free, right?

[chromatized]

[ "Yeah, of course it is!", is what Ludger was about to say. except, then he recalls a certain looming facet of his life. one he thought wouldn't apply to him anymore, since, well, he'd be dead.

but he's not dead, and what if his debt haunts him across the dimensions. ]

... Um, unless you know what a gald is?