Third TDM: Don't Turn Around

[upcyclingmod]

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Arrival


Not all characters (known as Wickie, singular or Wickies, plural) arrive at the same time, surprisingly enough! That’s life for you. Some Wickies find their way to the island at a pivotal (or very mundane) point in their life, or even after or during their death.

Wickies who were standing or walking often find themselves entering the town South Sister, located on Lighthouse Isle, through an open doorway. Those that were laying down, or sleeping, tend to be found lying prone in beds, bathtubs, showers, couches, and similar places within the cottages on Cottage Row. There’s no rhyme or reason to it all! To Wickies familiar with the era, they will realize that everything looks as if it’s come from the ‘90s.

The house which a Wickie finds themselves within could already be occupied. This includes walking into a fellow Wicke, waking up in the same location, or accidentally scaring a room full of people with their sudden appearance.

Oops.


Braving the Trail

A new trail has opened up in the woods today! Funny, that there’s never been a real path before, but this one promises a spectacular view for all Wickies who brave it.

However, the view has to be earned with one stipulation: until the Wickie reaches the trail’s end, they are forbidden to turn around. At all. There’s no mention of what may happen if the Wickie does glance back, but the scripted text on the sign marking the trail hints that the consequences just might be dire.

The hike itself is fairly easy. It even feels peaceful with the sounds of bird calls echoing in the distance. But for Wickies who are known for past procrastination, the walk will prove to be difficult. These individuals will experience an itching urge to turn around and leave the trail, and the itch worsens with every pause of their footsteps.

If a Wickie does turn around, they will find themselves staring up at a blank masked figure, slightly taller than themselves. And as wisps of fog cover the packed-dirt path, the figure hisses out a sigh, their voice barely audible as they issue their reprimand:

“I’m disappointed.”

Why, it’s not clear at all.

But with those words, the Wickie will find their body locked into place, unable to scream as their limbs become paralyzed, their eyes remaining fixed upon the masked figure. Somehow, the figure moves without walking, inching closer and closer until their mask and the Wickie’s face are close enough to touch.

The only way to become unlocked from this position is to have someone come and cover the Wickie’s eyes before leading them back to the trail’s start, somehow breaking their vision of the masked figure, or by speaking of a past regret outloud.

Otherwise, the Wickie has a good chance of dying from exposure.


Currently residing

It’s been nearly three months since the first arrivals started off on the island. It’s had its ups and downs, but with the previous quiet month, it’s been easy to relax in the cottages and houses, and even feel safe.

But not everything stays as it should. Whether a Wickie is just scoping the houses out, or returning to sleep in one of those comfy beds during the night, they will find that things are just a little..off. It’s as if someone has moved everything just a little, by no more than an inch or two. Sometimes, it even looks as if someone hurried away from the middle of a task. For example, mugs left in the sink will be washed; unslept in beds have been stripped, and their sheets are found in the laundry.

It’s only after sitting down with a fellow Wickie, that what’s going on will slowly become apparent.

People, looking more like blue tinted holographic designs, appear within the house. Slowly they become more visible, going through the motions of daily life. People with their significant others, children playing, even pets can be seen, playing with their owners or doing things that pets do.

These residentials don’t seem to notice the newcomers in their surroundings. But they do notice objects are moved, particularly if it’s furnishings. They frown, confused, before talking to one another and seeing the items returned to where they believe it should be. And curious too, that while the residentials appear to speak to one another, there’s not a sound that’s uttered when their mouths move.

It’s not possible to interact with them, unless the Wickie has the spiritual power to speak with spirits. Even then they’re quite confused, and do not believe themselves dead- it’s as if they think the Wickie is the ghost instead.

It is possible to deter the residentials manifesting by lighting a candlek. Upon the candle being lit, they recoil, some of them violently, and with great upset, before fading.

But they weren’t causing any harm.

Are they?


It Arrives

The pumpkins have vanished (finally!) there’s no more costumes in the various drawers in town; the apple bobbing is done, and there’s no more bonfires. Pity that means the food is gone too.

But something else has arrived. Something...small, white, and with webbed feet.

You’ll know it by its sound. It’s unknown what has brought this particular goose to the island; it might have been a laden desire, or it had flown here over miles. Or who knows, maybe the Admin has set this goose out as some kind of petty revenge.

All that is known as that this goose likes to wreak havoc. It likes going into the flower and vegetable gardens, looking for seeds, vegetables, and flowers to pull up; it likes to grab keys and toss them just out of reach.

It’s also clever enough that it figured out how to get into Fruits Basket, into homes, and even...sometimes...onto roofs.

Thankfully, while the goose likes to startle people, its mischief is rather harmless, and even, at times, enjoyable to watch. Just be sure not to leave anything electrical it can throw into a body of water by accident- or any bells it can keep in its temporary home by the woods.

For those who are curious, yes it will accept all sorts of snacks, and it is a wild, ordinary goose. (So yes, it is as harmless as a normal goose and yes it is edible).


Confession network

Yet again, the phone goes off. Doesn’t look like it’s anybody in town, but it’s that weird, cheesy app called The Heart Game. And it’s persistent, too: it doesn’t want to be ignored, making a series of beeps and chirps, much like a pet that wants attention.

The message that pops up is as follows:

We’re back! It’s the time for everyone's favorite game- Confession! So beloved users, our question is:

If you could go anywhere in the world, where would it be? Why? Tell us everything!

Comments

[worldbent]

[This woman seemed quite knowledgeable... Matoba finds himself pleased with the results of his experiment; to have already found some of such use was fortunate.] I agree. A spell or curse which has been left to linger too long could certainly be to blame. It shouldn't be difficult to dispel, if we find the source of its power.

[Or perhaps a servant which has been left to run amok with the death of its master...]

Yes. Ayakashi are the name used for spirits where I come from that dwell in the shadows and spaces on the boundaries of our world, [He answers with a newly taken on air of professionalism.] Ayakashi, or spirits... Be they meddlesome or destructive, they are beings which seek to prey on human weakness. It is my profession to handle such threats to the well-being of people who would otherwise unwittingly be their victims.

My name is Matoba Seiji, [He offers, with a polite smile.] Are you also some manner of spiritualist, Miss...?

[bindsthedead]

If it is... it should be at one end of the trail or the other. I didn't see any landmarks along the way that seemed like a likely focus.

[Ayakashi... sound like and unlike the Dead and Free magic entities. So Sabriel nods thoughtfully, trying to fit together what he's told her with her experiences in this world and her own. But an ally- one experienced in the supernatural especially- would be helpful in finding her way off this island.]

I'm a Charter mage of some skill, as well as a necromancer- but I do not raise the Dead, only lay them to rest.

[worldbent]

[It's possible that the warning sign itself had held some kind of cursing power.... Perhaps once it was read, the curse was already laid. Matoba had suspected as much when he'd set out.]

[Ayakashi spoke in whispers of places like this of natural wonder, which held power entirely by virtue of their purity from outside influence. Curious, then, that an ayakashi would actively seek to bring outsiders here. For what purpose? The trail was a spider's web, but at its center should still be the spider.]

A necromancer? I've heard of it in passing, [Matoba muses with a tone of interest, bringing a thoughtful hand to his chin.] Although I'm sure the common perception of it largely misunderstands the job. I deal mostly in non-human spirits, so your knowledge in handling them would certainly be handy.

I'll tell you what I expected, then. Generally, a trail such as this would be intended to lead the unsuspecting victims directly to an ayakashi's lair to be devoured. In other words, you fail whether you turn around, or not. I expected to be met by this territory's master, but as you can see, we seem to be alone in this. Instead, I felt a presence only on the trail itself, but was unable to determine its location.

Perhaps the only way to force it to appear is to fall for the trap after all, [He muses, with a small sigh.] It must be baited out.

[His next move, then, is to determine the bait.... His eye slides back towards Sabriel, and he smiles.] What do you think?

[bindsthedead]

Observing the effects of the trap might tell us something- there are certainly enough affected people on the trail that need to be helped. [The notion of using herself as bait has not yet occurred to Sabriel. But Sabriel still isn't convinced that this isn't some sort of elaborate spell.]

However, if this is a spell, rather than a spirit... either it was meant to do something else, but degraded over time, or something was placed at the end of the trail once, but is since long gone. Or perhaps it was meant as a trial of sorts. [A trial makes more sense than a guard spell, to Sabriel. Something to test ones ability to resist temptation, or follow instructions? And was it placed by the same force... or entities that had brought them here?]