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]

[ The thought of picking out curtains and naming children seemed to have his own heart in a rapid beat; how dare Will talk about things that Kris wanted. A home, and children and stability-- one day, the sort of life that was concerned with the day to day, of a bakery inside his home.. perhaps a boy and a girl chasing each other around.

Some sort of pet.

Why was it that there was another figure there in his mind whenever he thought of that dream. A figure with long red hair and flushed cheeks, picking up a laughing little pipsqueak of a child and kissing them soundly on the tip of their nose.

Maybe if he hurried quickly alongside Will, his feelings would not seep out of his rather tall elf ears. ]

Now, I have to ask-- what is drawing you to that particular house? [ He says as a away to deflect against those rampant feelings. ]

[unwisely]

[It's an image that has played through Willow's mind too, some impossible perfect dream where he wakes up to the sound of children's footsteps padding around and a smile in wildflower eyes, a dream that he in no way deserves to even imagine.

He will forcibly push those thoughts right back down and turns his attention to the here and the now and the question that Kris has asked him.]

Just a feeling. Maybe the way the light hits it, like it'll pour in through the window in the afternoons like a flood.

[Another little tug.] Let's see what the inside looks like.

[rosepaean]

[ That was the most romantic thing ever and likewise, Kris was charmed by it. But then Will was the poet here, not Kris. He appreciate beauty, but it never readily came out of his mouth like it did Will. A glib tongue that could take his way out of anything, honey sweet and winning-- and right now as he saw the way that a perfect window through the tears managed to hit one side of the cottage. He assumed that it would be the kitchen.

And so he followed.

His hand closed around the handle and then he pulled it open. Once he stepped over the threshhold, it was all silence. The scent was of pine, oranges and lemons-- as if it had been cleaned after some fashion. It reminded him of home. ]

Well, I already love it.

[unwisely]

So do I. But... let's make sure.

[Willow smiled to himself as they stepped inside. It did smell clean and welcoming, and he could imagine it smelling even better once Kris got his hands on the kitchen. Sugar sweet and warm, like everything about the Eladrin was.

So he pulled Kris off towards what he thought would be the kitchen -- and was proven right.]

Ah-ha! Not bad... what do you think, Sugar? To your liking?

[rosepaean]

[ The kitchen was so large and spacious that Kris might very well of kissed him, but he did not-- because he did not want to take any liberties with Will, and he was so focused on preserving that friendship. Instead he walked over to the kitchen island and the blossoming mushroom lights that hung over the area, bathing in a soft amber glow (which he was not going to lie, would look very good on Will), but then there was the sunlight bathing the little breakfast book with just as warm rays. ]

I am already seeing the possibilities, all of the things I could bake.. [ And when he looked at Will, it was with eyes that were more than a little halfway in love with the other man, burnished magenta that caught the light in little flecks. ]

It is absolutely perfect, Cinnamon Roll--

[ Them and their digusting pet names for each other; whoever decided to live with them would most certainly gag ]

[unwisely]

[Will lingered in the doorway to the kitchen, taking in the room and then -- much more importantly -- taking in Kris's reaction, taking in the way the eladrin looked standing in the spacious, softly lit kitchen. It was one of those moments where he took full advantage of looking at the other man with unguarded emotion, confident that Kris's attention was elsewhere.

Until it was right back on him and he had to duck his head to hide a flush at those eyes and that pet name. (In Will's mind, he was certain Cinnamon was spelled with an S in his case, but that was beside the point.) He laughed, pleased, glancing back up.]

I think so too. Then... guess we've found our home away, for the time being.

[rosepaean]

[ The thing with Kris was that he was horrendously and hideously sentimental. So as he watched Willow and saw the way that he turned his head just a bit-- well that allowed Kris the next uninterrupted view.

It was almost as if they were volleying back and forth. ]

There is possibility here in this kitchen and I like it though to be honest, I think that it will be strange setting up another house.. [ That is after the house that they were given by Sheriff Kyle, in which Kris had been in the process of setting up the kitchens ] I suppose more fun for me-- though I am sure I can cajole you into providing assistance, yeah?

[ That meant that if Will was helping him, it was less trouble that he could get into. ]

[unwisely]

Of course, Sugar. Never dream of leaving you to handle it all on your own. I've got a perfectly good pair of hands.

[And he wants to be helpful. He is unaware that this is a keep Willow out of trouble tactic, but that's mostly because he'll also find time for trouble. There is far too much new and interesting around here or Will to not stick his nose in all sorts of places, at least some of which will be places it does not belong.

For now though, he inclines his head.]

Shall we check out the rest of the place?

[rosepaean]

[ The day that Will managed to keep out of trouble was the day that the world ended. But Kris would make a valiant effort to prevent his best friend from falling into his own hubris-- or at least be close enough that he could swoop in and offer his assistance.

Would it be too.. presumptuous to take Will's hand?

He thought about it for a moment, they were alone and it was fine. But then finally he decided against it, because he did not want Will to think that he was being forward. And so he walked toward the door though he did glance over at Will with a warm smile. ] We should stake our claims, just in case we find others from Juniper Springs here.

[unwisely]

[But Kris! He just said he had a perfectly good pair of hands, and they were perfectly good for holding!

Though Will was unaware of that train of thought, so he was more focused on what Kris had to say.]

I hadn't even thought of that. You're right though. Both of us are here; there's no reason the others couldn't show up as well.

In that case...

[He waited for Kris to be right alongside him in the doorway before twisting around, a quick and precisely little motion like a preplanned choreography, a quick spin in front of the eladrin.]

Race you to the bedrooms.

[And with that Willow was off up the stairs at a run.]

[rosepaean]

[ Well that was an unfair headstart, however Kris was one to roll with things and thus as Will propelled himself up the steps, Kris followed after him. However, although it may not have been intentional, Kris did actually reach for that hand as if he could keep Will from going too fast, at least not until he was able to get equal footing on the stairs.

It was not a terribly spacious cottage, it's charm lay within it's coziness but it smelled clean and fresh. ]

A race to claim our room then? What do you get if you win ?

[ He could not stop the good-natured and entirely breathless chuckle that managed to fall from his lips. ]

[unwisely]

[Fair. Psh. Wasn't that boring anyway?

Still, that reach, the slightest brush of Kris's fingers against his own was enough to slow Willow down, to have the redhead looking back a moment of unguarded wistful something that the bard banished in the next moment with a bright grin.]

Breakfast in bed.

[It was a very easy answer to give. His hand caught up Kris's and urged the Eladrin up the stairs. So much for racing. He was still going to win.]

...and a backrub.

[Well now he was just being greedy.]

HOW DID I MISS THIS OH MY GOD

[rosepaean]

[ It was a bit ridiculous how a single look could make Kris absolutely consumed with longing for.. well something. A certain something that he had thought was buried-- he did not know how love went nor was he aware that one could love a few times in one's life. Thiero had been taken from him too early-- they were supposed to have had years together and yet here and now, he felt that blossom in his heart want to unfurl and he felt nearly powerless to stop himself from falling into something that he was a fool to believe could be returned.

Kris had caught the tail end of that wistfulness and then he was following after. ]

Are those not things you get all the time, Cinnamon? Perhaps, those for a full week straight would be more like it?

[ As if Kris did not bring Will breakfast in bed, or rub his back after an evening of strumming on that guitar. And while outside it was the beginnings of winter here in the Faewild, in his heart it was a vibrant blooming spring buoyed Willow's words, or right now how he was fleeing up the stairs like a dryad of the forest. ]

[unwisely]

[Well, okay, yes that was a good point. But. Will hit the top step and turned back to look at Kris, for once in the taller position.]

Sugar, we need to work on your negotiation skills.

[But that didn't dim the grin on his face even as he was reminded that he was entirely too spoiled by his friend already. Kristophe was too good to him in general, and Will was fully aware of this, had no illusions about that.]

But all right, full week straight.

[And Will would likely return the favor.]

[rosepaean]

[ This wouldn't be a competition then if Will was going to return the favor, the idiots had no idea of like turnabout fair play or like what is supposed to happen when they won. However no matter because he stepped onto the landing and then saw the little corridor with several doors leading off.

Then came the thought-- would Will still want to bunk with him? There was after all 'several' rooms and they could have separate-- if they so wanted to, the luxury of it. ] So which room are you going after?

[ Why was he suddenly worried? ]

[unwisely]

[And as Willow saw the several doors, well, similar thoughts flickered through his mind. He'd gotten so used to bunking with Kris, to sharing a bed since it made the most sense for finances and safety and just company when they were traveling. But there was space here, and Will wasn't certain how he'd sleep anymore without the reassuring sound of Kris's soft, even breathing.

He bit his bottom lip at the question, wandering down the corridor so that he stood in between the various doors and could look into each, turning in a circle and glancing through each door, he eventually stopped, facing Kris.]

Biggest bed's in the biggest room. It'd be warmest to share, what with the winter and all. [That was clearly just logic right there.]

Unless you want your privacy of course, after all the time on the road.

[rosepaean]

[ Well that just answered the question. Winter and the seasons, it made the most logical sense to Kris' own mindset, especially with how very tuned in he was to nature, but also there was that part of him that did not want to release Will to himself; it was horrendously selfish considering that Willow Harper was so very incandescent and his light glowed warmly within the shadows, like a firefly or the crackle of embers within a hearth of a darkened room.

But he was going to allow himself just (1) selfish thing here, and that was the mindfulness of having Will next to him. Will could not get into trouble if he was tucked in next to him, safely-- now could he? (do not answer that) ]

Well then, let us go and scope out the room and decide if we need to find another blanket to pile on top of us? [ With the Spring, they could perhaps find separate rooms-- that is if they remembered and had not gotten caught up in that which was comfortable and safe. This answered the question of course, that Kris would like to continue to sleep with Will and somehow did not mind the cold feet pressed up against his own. Truth was, he never had. ]