TDM #1 - Welcome to the Fae Wild, Winter Edition

[faewildmods]

'You find yourself wandering through a forest of strange colors. The last thing you remember is a strange ring of mushrooms in a riot of shades, singing to you in ethereal tones, tempting you and telling you to step in the midst them to discover riches beyond measure. As you do, a bright white light flashes before your eyes. When your sight returns, the forest of bizarre trees and plants looms before and around you.

As you step forward, laughter—deep and menacing and also light and tinkling—follows your footsteps. Yelling, questioning, gets you nowhere. Only a narrow path of stones allows you to avoid the foliage that seems to want to eat you alive. If you step off of the path, you find vines wrap around your legs, dragging you into the dark interior of the forest, until you wake up later, your body covered in strange symbols that will disappear after a few days. For those wise enough to not tempt fate and stay on the path, soft blue lights—fairies of indeterminate sex—appear, and beckon you to follow them down the path through the trees. A few hours of walking brings you to a village of stone and wooden thatched houses that appear as if they're both brand new and ancient at the same time.

A creature that at once appears to be monstrously beautiful and hideously decrepit steps forward to greet you, holding out a small silver hand mirror with a smile that makes your blood run cold (if you have any sense). "Welcome to the Fae Wild, child. This is the domain of the Handmaiden of the Sidhe Queens. Come with me. The others are waiting. All will be explained once we are gathered." It is then that you see the others spoken of, people that look almost.... normal and just as confused and angry as you are.

Dare you step forward to learn your fate?'

☙ Arrival ☙

So, you’ve survived the trip down the path and made it to the village that is the heart of the Fae Wild. The Handmaiden and her helpers, mostly pixies, brownies and some sylph and dryads, are handing out silver hand mirrors to all of the newcomers. Once you’re all gathered, the Handmaiden will explain that you’ve been brought here with the promise of riches and treasure through the magical fairy rings. While you’re here, you will be expected to assist the fae creatures in the activities the Handmaiden has picked for you to do.

If you agree to it, you will be richly rewarded. If you refuse? Well, how much do you enjoy the thought of being put under a cloche jar for a while? Don’t worry. You’ll be able to breathe in there. It wouldn’t be good to have someone die on their first day after all. After securing your agreement, your mirror will flash five times, and tapping the surface shows a letter-type of message in flowing script, telling you how to reach your new cottage during your stay.

Questions to the fae may or may not be answered, but never fear. They want you alive. For now.



☙ Winter Proofing The Realm ☙

As the first frost strikes the land of the Fae Wild, all the pixies and brownies are running around to make sure that the cottages, huts and communal buildings are ready for the blast of the Winter Queen’s Full Power. The sylphs and dryads are plucking flowers and bringing in as many fruit trees and bushes inside so that they can continue to provide food for the upcoming season.

Hunting parties are being arranged to stock up on meat. Other groups are being formed to fish in the lakes. (Beware of the kelpie. They bite.) You can also offer to chop wood, check all of the buildings for any repairs that need to be done, and preserve some of the more delicate foods. Just because this is a land of magic doesn’t mean that they’re immune to the change in the seasons.

Player characters are highly encouraged by all of the faeries to join in during this time. Anyone who does will find themselves given three times the berries during this particular activity.

☙ Glimpses of the Winter Court ☙

As the Winter Solstice approaches, glimpses of the Winter Sidhe (faeries of the highest order) can be caught as they travel around the whole of the Fae Realm. Frost Trolls that look like walking chunks of ice that only a mother (and maybe the Winter Queen) could love are currently pushing out the remnants of the dryads and sylphs to make room for themselves and their kind. If you look carefully, a tall horned man leading a pack of dogs and being followed by a lot of vicious looking creatures has begun to prowl and the nights are filled with the braying of His Hunting Party as they look for prey.

Asking the normal denizens of the Fae Wild will win you the name of Der Erlking and his Grand Hunting Party. Anyone caught out after dark alone will find themselves picked for the “special honor” of being prey or asked to spend the night as one of His hounds.

Occasionally, a beautiful, pale woman strolls around. She is never alone, as her entourage of grimalkin (large, black cat-like beasts) are always in attendance. Sometimes, she appears melancholic and at others, she is regal, cool and distant. Anyone foolish to try to approach her will find themselves face to face with the largest of the grimalkin who calls himself Cait Sith. And he suffers fools never.

☙ Here Comes Santa Claus ☙

Winter has definitely arrived with the first snow. Plenty of elves in striped stockings and funny shoes with bells on their toes are running around the village, demanding that all the buildings be covered in holly and evergreens. Others are hastily baking as many biscuits and cakes as they can. Player characters are not immune to the assumption of assistance. Anyone caught resisting them will find themselves suddenly about the size of a five year old, wearing the very familiar garb of ‘Santa’s Little Helpers’ and being pushed by one of the elves that calls themself The Taskmaster.

If one asks why the elves are doing this, they will find out that they’re making preparations to keep Santa Claus out of the Handmaiden’s domain. These particular elves are escapees from Santa’s sweatshop in the Winter Court, where he forces them to slave away making toys for human children with no pay, no insurance, and with only gruel to eat for every meal year round. The only way to keep him away from this area—since he’s such an important member of the Winter Queen’s Court—is to decorate it with plants of the season and to leave a gift outside the houses. It can be food, berries or shiny objects, but the Big Man must be appeased.

Of course, should you choose to not help, come the time of the 25th of December, Santa might just come and visit your house.

Welcome to our first Test Drive Meme! We encourage you to please play around and have fun. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask here. (Or elsewhere!)
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Comments

[rosepaean]

[ Kris gratefully accepts the light string, and then after draping the other end downward, he is making a few artful hooks in the next section of the room, looping them and around each little nook until they formed a subtle dropdown effect. After he is done (with a bit of reaching over each hook-- he is fairly agile.) and has looped the excess to be festooned later, he climbs down the stairs and then offers his hand. ]

I am sorry, I didn't introduce myself. The name is Kristophe, though everyone calls me Kris.. and I honestly have nothing against making the cottages prettier, but I am wondering if it is for the right reasons that the elves are doing it-- but ah, that's besides the point, yeah.

[makingmyway]

[ Dorian remains at the bottom of the ladder, just in case the other man needs any further assistance, then steps back as he descends. With a smile he takes the offered hand. ]

Dorian Storm. A pleasure to meet you. I was wondering that a bit myself, but I somehow doubt the elves are open to suggestions at this time.

[rosepaean]

[ The shake is firm and cordial, and there is very few people that Kris does not get along with; perhaps the exception would be malicious types and he had a few arguments with his party member Milo over parental ethics, but that was also neither here nor there. He was by nature and default chaotically good. ]

From what I have determined while watching the elves, it appears that they are escaping from some sort of slaver that treats them ill and forces them to make toys?

[ The mutterings of elves surely have gone a long way. ] Come on into the cottage, I hope you have a taste for gingerbread and mulled wine? [ Which was absolutely the scent coming from the open window. ]

[makingmyway]

That is what I've heard. Though I can't help wondering if all this would [ He gestures to the decorations around them ] just be more inviting for him?

Thank you. I do enjoy mulled wine, though I'll admit I haven't had much gingerbread before.

[rosepaean]

Well... [ That caused Kris to take a few steps back so that he could survey the riot of festive colour that festooned the eaves of the cottage; the holly and the mistletoe, the sparkling lights like fairy fire as it scattered against greenery. One arm crossed over his chest, the other hand moved up to rub at a green goatee. ]

If this is his purpose, to cause a certain amount of cheer-- I think this would draw him like weevils to flour. [ And Kris knew full well the precautions to take to keep them out of such staples, as taught by his mother ]

However, it is pretty so I do not think I will kick up a fuss about it. If he comes, he comes-- and if he doesn't? Well that is fine as well.

[ Then he made his way toward the door and then opened it up, holding it open for Dorian to walk through it, a smile crossing over his face that absolutely touches down on his dark pink eyes and makes them glimmer. ] Gingerbread is a seasonal treat, best eaten when the days get colder.. so come on in, make yourself at home. [ The door thankfully led to the kitchen which was already warm and spiced with the scent of nutmeg, cloves and cinnamon, underscored by warm molasses. ]

[makingmyway]

[ Dorian nods, assessing the decorations. ] That's what I was thinking as well. [ Not about weevils exactly, but something like this would certainly attract attention, wouldn't it?

The rest of Kris' words receives a shrug. ] I suppose that's true. [ He has opinions about the decorations, but it's probably better not to get into them. ] I guess we'll just have to wait and see what happens.

[ Stepping into the cottage after him, Dorian can't help a sigh as the warmth washes over him. He's not unfamiliar with cold, but it was still nice to take refuge from it when you can. ] Thank you.

[rosepaean]

[ Into the kitchen they come.

Already Kris has managed to make a home out of it, there are a bowl of pomegranates on the kitchen table, a pot of wine mulling on the stove and then there was a tray of cookies that were nearly cool enough to eat now.

He wanders over, taking out mug and then pours it before setting it down on the wooden counter, following that up with some warm gingerbread drizzeled with spiced icing. The perfect compliment to warm wine. ] Eat up, eat up..

[ He motions with a smile. ] There is plenty where that is from and Will will not be able to eat a whole pan by himself.

[ Well the man could but the bard knew that Kris would always make more, and gladly. ]

[makingmyway]

[ It's simple but warm, certainly much more of a home than Dorian's sparse cottage so far. He'll have to work on that if he's going to be here a while.

For the moment, though, he simple focuses on enjoying the other man's company as he takes a seat with a quiet thanks. ]

Will? Oh, you two are acquaintances then?

[ It was hard to tell who might know whom around here, but it was nice knowing that he and Orym weren't the only ones who knew each other. ]

[rosepaean]

[ there was festive holly around, a few sprigs of mistletoe hidden in corners that Kris did not know about, fir and evergreen and other such trappings of holiday. Candles burned brightly and it was unavoidable the warmth of the kitchen, and it was a nice spacious kitchen. ]

Ah yes, Willow-- he is my bard friend, we've been traveling together for quite some time now? I am glad that we've ended up together here as he's rather prone to trouble, I wish I could introduce you however there is no telling where he is right now?

[ Lots of energy, that one. ] Have you found anyone from your own home here?

[makingmyway]

[ It was certainly a cozy atmosphere, helping Dorian relax bit by bit as he shares the other man's company. ]

I did meet him briefly when we all first arrived, actually. I didn't realize he was also a bard, though. I'll have to speak with him again when I get a chance.

[ He hasn't actually met a lot of other bards, and it'd be nice to have a chance to play music with someone else (as opposed to trying to play against them). ]

I actually did run into someone from my world. He's a halfling named Orym, have you had a chance to meet him? We weren't actually together when we were brought here, so it's been good to see him again.

[ Selfishly, he is glad that he wasn't alone here. And of anyone, he was glad that it was Orym. ]

[rosepaean]

I do not know anyone of that name however I will keep that in mind for future reference if I should meet anyone but he name of Orym.

[ It was far too early for the lore drop but a smile did touch his lips at the thought of Willow which was something loaded and not so easily verbalized; he was sure that Willow would enjoy a jam though with a fellow bard, and likewise he would support such endeavors. ]

When you get a chance you should try singing in the showers, from what I hear every morning-- I can attest that they seem to be very conducive acoustic-wise.

[ From Willow's happy singing. ]

[makingmyway]

I imagine it won't be long before you meet him. Orym is most certainly the type who tries to help others as much as possible.

[ He's trying for an exasperated tone, but he fond smile on his face gives his true thoughts about the halfling's nature away. ]

Is that so? I'll have to try it. It's been a while since I've had space to sing like that.

[ Turns out, when you're traveling and staying at inns, people don't like hearing you sing so early in the morning as you're getting ready for your day. ]

[rosepaean]

[ That was absolutely a shame and Kris would clerically defend Dorian's right to sing, but thankfully the cottages provided did not provide much in the terms of an audience. ] So what do you intend to do with your talents while you are here? Any planned concerts.

[ A mug of sweet mulled wine and a plate of ginger cookies were placed own for Dorian to eat. ]

[makingmyway]

[ Dorian thanks his host when the refreshments are set down, and carefully takes the mug to warm his hands a bit. ]

Ah no, nothing planned. I certainly wouldn't be opposed to an audience if people wished to listen while I play though.

[ Even if it would be a bit embarrassing. ]