angryhearts | SO RESTED HE BY THE TUMTUM TREE

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SO RESTED HE BY THE TUMTUM TREE —

AND STOOD AWHILE IN THOUGHT

What an unfortunate time to be short-staffed, when there's so much to do! For days, staff members can be seen bustling about, always on the move. No time to stop and talk — the Queen is preparing a surprise! Staff members seem to positively hum with excitement. Their numbers are replenished in fits and bursts. Groups of new hotel staff appear all at once, until there seems to be even more of them than there were before the disappearances.

They don't seem to understand who you're talking about, if you ask about those disappearances. "Staff turnover happens in every establishment, dear. Why — they might have even gotten a promotion!" Aren't you much more interested in the upcoming trip, anyway?

Now that there are more of them, staff members are eager to expand on the surprise. Oh, to see the gardens and the forest! You Oysters are so fortunate that the Queen wishes to show you the wonders of Wonderland. Of course, the forest can be dangerous — or is it only rumors? The opinion seems to change with every staff member you talk to, and no one can pin down why it might be dangerous. The only consensus seems to be to stay close to your escorts.

And most importantly: please remember the buddy system at all times.

BUDDY SYSTEM
07/11 - 07/12

At some point during all the preparation, Oysters may find themselves pulled in by another person. Physically pulled in, in some cases. Once this initial draw happens, the pair will be unable to stay very far away from each other.

When asked, staff members will reply that the two have been paired up for the upcoming trip! They are quite serious about the buddy system, you see. Going out into the forest alone is never a wise idea, and the Queen is so very concerned about your safety.

What's that? You don't trust, or even know, the person you've been paired with? It's a good thing you two will be spending so much time together, then, isn't it? Plenty of opportunity to learn to understand each other.

Shouldn't you be packing, anyway? You'll be leaving soon, after all!

THE QUEEN'S GARDEN
07/13 - 07/14

The garden itself is beautiful and spans multiple acres. There is a winding path lined with neatly manicured rose bushes in all colors, groves of fruit trees, wildflower patches where the air is heavy with bread and butter flies. Elaborate water fountains and delicate streams flow between small ponds, each bordered by different types of water plants and filled with everything ranging from goldfish to koi. Bright, sunny spots perfect for a picnic are easy to come by, as are quiet nooks tucked away in the shade.

Everything needed for a rousing game of croquet is set up in a relatively clear area of the garden. Participation in a good, friendly game of Oysters versus their staff escorts is encouraged — all in good fun, of course! Croquet is the traditional game of the royal family, after all.

As afternoon begins to wind into evening on the first day, Oysters are ushered towards a part of the garden that contains a large hedge maze. The group is kept together as they wind through the maze. The staff members who lead them clearly seem to know exactly where they're going, and never hesitate at the many different forks in the maze.

Before the sun has set, they will arrive in a large clearing in the middle of the maze, where a great feast has been set up with the food they helped to prepare over the last few days. Oysters are informed that this is the last time on the trip that their meals will be taken care of for them. Enjoy it! Once they're out into the forest proper, they will have to make use of the Wonderland information pamphlets and their camping skills.

It is in this same clearing that they will stay the night. For this first night, staff members will assist in setting up tents if needed.

THE TULGEY WOOD AND RUINS
07/14 - 07/18

The next day comes with more bright sunlight, at first. As the group continues through the second half of the maze, the foliage above grows thicker and the inside grows darker. Astute Oysters may notice that the make up of their staff escorts seems to have shifted overnight. The members of the hotel staff that were so excited and helpful in the garden are few and far between, replaced by those in dark suits, all with some form of club pattern on them.

It's the Order of Clubs, the few remaining hotel staff will say when asked. They are protectors, enforcers — and the forest is dangerous. The Queen is so considerate of their safety, to bring the Order out now.

The end of the maze comes relatively quickly. It opens out onto an expansive forest, but even here the sunlight does not return in full force. Whether it's the density of the branches, the overcast day, or the wisps of fog that drift through the trees, the light overhead is weak and the air chilled.

The last of the hotel staff remain in the maze. From here on out, Oysters are accompanied only by the Order. As they walk through the forest, a member of the Order seems ever present — there's always one within eyesight, if not within hearing distance. Occasionally, Oysters will catch sight of someone else mingling with the members of the Order. His dark suit is sleek, plain, and the figure he cuts might not have been distinct from the rest if it weren't for his height. And if it weren't for the ceremic rabbit head on his shoulders.

Oysters who seek him out will find that he is no longer present among the group of Order members by the time they arrive.

"You saw Mad March?" one of the Order will say if asked, sounding startled that he was seen. "You best pretend you didn't."

The nights in the forest are even colder. Oysters better hope they can start a campfire, put up their tents against the chill, or stay close to each other for warmth, as the Order will offer no help. They are here only for guidance — and protection.

On the third day in the forest, the group will arrive at the ruins of an old kingdom. Old cottages and shops are only faint outlines, everything but the stone long since rotted away and overgrown with foliage. The remains of a castle isn't in any better condition. Oysters who choose to explore may notice that all shown signs of a battle from long ago. They may even find the skeleton of the king himself, still sitting on his throne. The members of the Order now seem to be alive with activity, splitting off into groups and venturing out while others stay with the Oysters.

Remember the buddy system, the Order tells them. They will stay here for a few nights. This is the last place that is safe to tread, but danger lurks on the outskirts.

THE RETURN
07/18 - 07/19

It starts on the night of the 18th. The woods have been quiet for the most part, with nothing other than the sound of nearby streams and the noises of various animals. That night, even those are gone. An unnatural stillness takes over the area. Those who venture out to find the cause may find nothing — or they may be one of the first to discover that what lurks beyond the old kingdom has ventured closer.

Throughout the night of the 18th and into the day of the 19th, Oysters are at risk of encountering one of three types of creatures.

It may come as the sound of many legged-footsteps, first off in the distance and then close enough that the creature should be within sight. There are only trees, as far as the eye can see. And then motion. Briefly, it seems as though the very trees themselves are coming alive, but it will soon become apparent that these are legs. The creature stands on four limbs as tall as the trees, and when it holds still it camouflages easily among them. The roots it buries into the ground are long talons when unearthed, each tipped in a hooking claw. Its long neck is lined with the same armored scales that make its legs look like trees, and its small head is dwarfed by its extremely long snout, filled with rows of sharp teeth.

This is the Bandersnatch.

Or maybe it comes first as a shrill scream, like nails against slate. The shriek will seem to echo, instilling an unnatural sense of fear in any of those who are unlucky enough to hear it. Before long, the scream will be accompanied by the heavy flap of huge wings. The creature's approach seems to be imminent, and yet, it doesn't come. The moment draws on — and on — and on — and on — is there anything there, or is it only your imagination? Are you afraid of your own shadow, are you hearing screams in the wind and wings in the rustling of the trees?

Until it swoops down and tries to pick you up in its claws. It is a massive bird of prey, resembling a vulture, if a vulture had a twenty five foot wingspan and eerily human eyes. You've found the JubJub bird.

Then there is the reptilian Jabberwock.

There is no subtlety in its approach. The ground shakes with every step, announcing its arrival well in advance. It is bipedal and seems almost ungainly as it stalks through the trees, lurching its scaly body around and whipping its long tail for balance. Whenever this causes it to connect with a tree, the force behind it leaves the tree broken and bent. Its arms end in three fingered talons, and the round head at the end of its sinuous neck is almost entirely mouth. There is the lick of flame in its eyes, and the drool that escapes from its powerful jaws is hot enough to burn.

The members of the Order who had always seemed to be so close are conspicuously absent. It looks like the Oysters are on their own to defend themselves against these creatures.

The Jabberwocky, JubJub bird, and Bandersnatch will not be easily defeated, and few who fight will escape injury! There may be more than one of each creature type, so different groups can encounter the same type of creature if you choose. You can choose to have your characters ultimately triumph and take down the creatures, or fall to the creature. The members of the Order will arrive at the end of the fight. They will take out any creatures that remain, for those who choose not to have their characters successfully kill one, and will begin clean up of the others.

For those who are interested in having their characters seriously injured or even killed, for ease of reference here is the information regarding death and injury from the FAQ:

With the Carpenter's skills, no death or maiming in Wonderland is permanent — though the consequences of it might be. When your character dies, send the mods a PM describing any injuries the character sustained in their demise. For lacerations such as being stabbed or sliced with a sword, etc, characters will be returned to full health in a few days with gold filling in their wound in the style of Japanese kintsukuroi. This repair is permanent and will be a part of your character for the duration of their stay in Happy Hearts, even if you drop and reapp. If your character is killed or maimed through decapitation or the loss of a limb, your character will be in recovery for three days, and will return to the hotel with a ceramic replacement — an animal head for decapitation, and a non-articulated limb for lost appendages. This repair is not permanent unless you wish it to be, and Carpenter will have a flesh replacement ready for your character after another week.

Characters who have medical skills, abilities, or supplies may work to tend the wounds of others in the brief aftermath of the fight. Members of the Order will assure them that they will return to the hotel in the morning to get the medical attention that they need. And indeed, those characters who are still conscious after the fight will find themselves falling asleep at some point. Characters may dream about the same padded box from their first arrival. When they wake, they will be back in the hotel.

If you have any questions, please leave them here!

PREMISE RULES FAQ TAKEN RESERVES APPLICATION MOD CONTACT HIATUS & DROPS WORLD INFO NPCS CALENDAR AC REWARDS PLAYER CONTACT

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

He is full of energy today for a variety of reasons. One of which is because of the teas that he got when he woke up before they left. A variety that included one of his very own that he promptly drank with absolutely no hesitation. And two very familiar ones that he has carefully tucked away in his robes. He figures they might come in useful which is why he brought them along.

He bounds up the steps easily and pushes on the door to make it open more, peering inside the dark castle.

"I bet there are a lot of spirits still in here."

Lan Wangji peers through the double doors warily. The door creaks and echo through the castle halls. There are signs that a battle has taken place a very long time ago as the stones are worn down, some curtains are in tatters and ripped to shreds, and there are long thin lines of slashes from a blade on the walls. On the floor, there are skeletons wearing armor, showing signs they were perhaps knights and guards once, have served their duty in their final rest.

"Is it safe? Maybe we can ask them? We won't know what lurks in this castle."

He grins as he walks around the bones, careful not to disturb them. "We could use inquiry and find out!" Since he does still have that little vile tucked away in his robes ready for consumption at any time. He plucks it from his robes and holds up the little liquid, admiring the color of it. Already knowing what it tastes like since he's had it once before.

"I also can use spirit attraction now! I got that tea this time as well."

Lan Wangji noticed how thick the dust is around here. It must have been a very long time since the last living soul was here. While it was creepy, in a way, this castle is abandoned, but this is the type of work he was used to back home.

With a quiet huff as he was saddened that he no longer has access to his powers, but for now he trusts that Wei Ying is capable to use it. It comes in handy.

With a nod, "Yes. Cast spirit attraction. Perhaps they are spirits in here and we can ask them questions."

He looks around, considering their options. "Considering we don't know what kind of spirits there are..and since we don't really need to summon them for any reason..maybe we should just use inquiry to find out about them first. It wouldn't do us any good to summon a spirit that might just want to attack us and not talk."

At least with Inquiry they can't get injured. And Wei Wuxian would very much like to stay in one piece while on this adventure. He heads into a big room and his eyes widen, "Ahhh...look at the throne."

Lan Wangji follows him to the throne room and sitting there, there's a skeleton wearing a crown on his head and a red robe, covered in thick dust. Were this person was alive, he may have been regal once.

"How about we ask him? I think that's a king."

He nods and pulls out the inquiry tea, drinking it and then pulling out chenqing. He will need to give it a few moments to let it kick in, but he gets closer while he waits.

"What should we ask first? Who he is?"

With a nod, "Mn. Ask anything. Remember to ask the important questions. Who is he? What is this place? What happened here?"

Just to offer a few suggestions. "Ask for the right information."

He nods and lifts the flute to his lips. he asks the first question, listens for the answer and then continues. taking the time between each question to listen to what the king has to say.

Then he looks towards Lan Wangji with a frown. "He is the king and this kingdom used to be known as the White Kingdom. And apparently he was defeated by the Red Queen. They fought because he didn't like how she wanted to rule and so she wiped his kingdom out."

At the information, Lan Wangji eyes widen and tries to absorb this.

"Wei Ying, this information is important. Do you think the Red Queen, the one back at the hotel is responsible for all of this?"

"If it wasn't her..then it was the previous red queen. The king might not know that answer if he doesn't know how long he has been dead..or if he hasn't ever been out of this place."

It makes things tricky but he has a sinking feeling that it doesn't matter which queen it is..they are both bad.

"That's true. It could be a long time ago. The king has died and with all the dust collected and how abandoned the castle is, it must be a long time ago. Probably a generation has passed."

Considering this information. "I think that is all the answers given. Do you have a plan, Wei Ying?"

He shakes his head, tucking the flute back in his waistband. He doesn't want to bother the king too much but it does make him worry that they queen is a lot stronger then any of them have thought.

"If her army can take down an entire kingdom..why is she bothering to.."

He stops and his eyes widen, "Lan Zhan..this is bad. Think about it. She has the power to bring people here and send them back. If she can do that with her own army she could destroy our homes."

"That's frightening Wei Ying, but back home there's a lot of capable cultivators." Grimly, "And we fought wars already."

If anything, Wei Ying did start a war at one point. Indirectly.

"If she wanted to do that, she would have done so a long time ago and conquered other worlds. So she isn't that powerful enough."

With a thought, "I wager a guess, but I think she just wanted to conquer this kingdom and territory specifically."

He can't really shakes the feeling that things might be not at all what he was thinking.

"But maybe she is bringing us here because she needs the power. She can take our powers away and give them back..which means just as easily as we drink those teas, she can also drink them. And if she has all the power from various worlds, then what is to stop her from going to those worlds and taking them over herself?"

The people on their world are strong..but no one would be a match for someone who has the powers of multiple worlds.

"Maybe giving us the teas is a way for her to test how well certain people can adapt. How dangerous the side effects might be to certain abilities. So she can pick and chose what she will need to defeat her enemies."

Crossing his arms, thinking about it. He always listens to Wei Ying's theories and methods on cultivation. It turns out he is right on the subject most of the time.

"You could be right. And yet, with all the powers at her disposal, is she immortal? Opposite of power, there is also a weakness. She may have the power to pulled people from worlds and make us her subjects, and yet she is here, so perhaps she cannot cross to other worlds herself. She is maybe bounded to her people and to this world. A person seeking immortality fears death, so to her, she could fear to be powerless and doesn't like people like us to go against her."

"The spirits are scared of her..and it takes a lot to scare a spirit. So if she is an immortal or have the powers of a god then that would certainly make sense. There is still too many questions.."

But even if all she can do is send her troops, if they are powered up on tea they would be a formidable foe that would cause even the highest cultivators on their world a bit of trouble. Especially considering some of their strongest are trapped here.

"Remove the strongest from the world..and then attack with the powers she has stolen..." Wei Wuxian is thinking aloud at this point but he doesn't like that thought at all.

"If the spirits are scared of her back in the hotel, and the spirit here tell us a story, then their deaths are proof of their tyranny."

Well, the strongest is now the weakest. Still, it's strange for her to pass the teas around if their group becomes oppressed.

"Let's look around the castle to find any more clues."

He nods and moves away from the king, walking down from the throne to look around. "Where should we head next?" He knows they could probably talk to any of the other fallen bodies around if they wanted but he worries about using Inquiry too much after how big a toll it took on his body before.

But then he remembers something and reaches into his robes, "Lan Zhan...look at the tea I was given." He hasn't had it yet because he wasn't sure if he should give it back. It has been a long time since he has had a golden core...

He holds it out to him so he can see the label, knowing that it is his golden core inside.

"I was thinking of exploring the castle to search for clues." But then he noticed he looks weary. "Are you all right? If you tire, let's find a place to rest."

It was then he shows him the vial, read the label, and in consideration, he thought about it.

"You can drink it. But you must save it in a real emergency."

"I'm okay right now."

He knows if he drinks the golden core then inquiry won't tire him out like he does now. But if he saves it then he might be able to use it should anything dangerous occurs. It would be easy if he knew how long the teas would last but for some reason it just seems to vary.

"Are you sure, Lan Zhan? It's yours.." He already feels more connected to this man then ever, but to have his golden core inside of him as well..well it's certainly enticing. But he also knows it isn't his and nothing would make him happier then to be able to give it back to its owner. He has already given back several of the teas he was given.

"Wei Ying. Between you and me, no permission is required."

He smiles sadly. He knew Wei Ying has no core. Without a core, most of the spells he collected at his disposal will require more energy on his body.

"Drink it. It is given. You have a flute, so we need Inquiry to find out what the spirits knows."

He is a little nervous as he looks down at the tea. It's been so long..But if they have anything else they need to find out then it is important. He opens the jar and lifts it to his lips, drinking it down. The taste is familiar..even as a tea it is clearly Lan Wangji. He smiles softly as he finishes it and tucks the container back in his robes.

He reaches out and wraps his arms around the man's middle, closing his eyes and waits to feel that core start to form inside of him. He wants to be wrapped in the warmth of his man on in the inside and outside when that core forms.

Lan Wangji tries his best to look impassive, pretending to express nothing, but inwardly he was sad to discover all of his spiritual powers were drawn out of him to make it into teas. He remembers in his childhood as soon as he can walk and talk, he was being trained in the harshest training style of his sect, in the tradition of his ancestors. He learned everything he could from cultivation methods to martial arts to swordmanship. Some of his feats isn't possible without his golden core. It took him decades to form his golden core to it's highest peak.

The moment Wei Ying drinks the tea down, the feeling the power of his golden core forming, the energy is massive and immediate as if the power comes from the core of the sun itself.

In the end, he could only be happy to make this great sacrifice. For the greater good. Without saying a single word, when Wei Ying embraces him, he wrapped his arms around him, silently hugging him, gently. He hugs him so tight close to his heart that he could lift him off his feet.

He feels that warmth and it makes the corners of his eyes sting with tears of happiness at feeling that which had been lost for so long. His core had been so strong..stronger then Jiang Cheng's. But Lan Wangji's core is definitely stronger then even his was. He smiles as he feels himself lifted slightly to his toes.

"If I get it again..You're definitely taking it back. You deserve this core more then I do."

He releases him only long enough to move his arms up to encircle Lan Wangji's neck.

AND STOOD AWHILE IN THOUGHT

BUDDY SYSTEM 07/11 - 07/12

THE QUEEN'S GARDEN 07/13 - 07/14

THE TULGEY WOOD AND RUINS 07/14 - 07/18

THE RETURN 07/18 - 07/19

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BUDDY SYSTEM
07/11 - 07/12

THE QUEEN'S GARDEN
07/13 - 07/14

THE TULGEY WOOD AND RUINS
07/14 - 07/18

THE RETURN
07/18 - 07/19