Baymod Helpers (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
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bopbay2025-09-10 10:16 am
bayhelpers) wrote in bopbay2025-09-10 10:16 am
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005 ⟡ SEPTEMBER TEST DRIVE
⋆✩ test drive 05 ✩⋆
The day begins like any other.
Routines, eventful scenes, and boring errands — no matter what you were in the middle of, there's a moment where everything begins to feel wrong. A searing pain tears through your body, so intense that it feels like every nerve has been struck at once. Muscles spasm, joints scream in protest, and as you double over, you find yourself clawing or clinging at anything within your reach. As your attempts to maintain composure fail you, your bones begin to twist with an agonizing force, the pain rising in a crescendo until it becomes unbearable to even breathe. Then, as quickly as it began, everything stops.
For a single, terrifying moment, there's nothing. No sight, no sound, no touch, no taste, no smell — just the weight of nothingness swallowing you whole. The absence of sensation might even be worse than the pain, leaving you adrift in a void you can't escape. Hopelessness threatens every fiber of your existence, and try as you might to fight it, your darkest thoughts begin to surface, flooding your mind in an onslaught of suffocating feelings and ideas.
In the darkness, you hear a voice.
It's faint, a gentle flashing of something warm along the edges of your mind, like sunlight itself. It's a voice, but you can't identify who or what it comes from, how it sounds, or what it means — still, you know it's directed at you. Something tugs at your heart, a powerful ache that throbs once and ripples outwards. You can feel the aches again, like fresh sores throughout your body. You feel off, like something isn't quite right, like you're not where you should be, or who you should be. But the voice continues, whispered just beyond your understanding. The sound is warm like hope, and it wraps around you, distant yet intent, before you wake up.
i. arrivals
HIDDEN IN THE TALL GRASS
All around you now, is the scent of loam and plantlife. It is just slightly damp - the morning dew has not yet dried, and the sun’s light visible even while the sun still crawls up from the horizon. The grass around you is somehow ridiculously tall however.
Or perhaps you’re just small?
It’s difficult to see much of anything in the fields you’ve arrived in, but at the very least you can see yourself. Your limbs, no longer what they should have been. Your very skin, covered perhaps with fur, scales, or something else entirely. There is much about this situation that bears no answer, but maybe that will change as you wander through the sea of grass.
The sounds of other Pokemon soon become clear to your new ears. Other confused wanderers, fumbling with their new bodies. One by one, you make your way through the grass to each other - or maybe, someone finds you. Pokemon who didn’t wake up dazed in the grass also begin to appear, and they bring with them offers of help and explanation. All of them point toward the same place, eagerly indicating a series of gleaming lights through the blades.
Don’t worry friends - Malamar is here to help!
Or perhaps you’re just small?
It’s difficult to see much of anything in the fields you’ve arrived in, but at the very least you can see yourself. Your limbs, no longer what they should have been. Your very skin, covered perhaps with fur, scales, or something else entirely. There is much about this situation that bears no answer, but maybe that will change as you wander through the sea of grass.
The sounds of other Pokemon soon become clear to your new ears. Other confused wanderers, fumbling with their new bodies. One by one, you make your way through the grass to each other - or maybe, someone finds you. Pokemon who didn’t wake up dazed in the grass also begin to appear, and they bring with them offers of help and explanation. All of them point toward the same place, eagerly indicating a series of gleaming lights through the blades.
Don’t worry friends - Malamar is here to help!
ii. The Town of Death Blood Murder Skull
AN OMEN OF THE SEASONS
Shortly after the sun sets, on the very same day that new arrivals began to wake in the grass, eerie lights and music drift down from one of the distant mountains. They wind their way into the valley, bringing with them an unseasonable chill. Something is coming.
Something is Froslass, queen of those dead by frost and in lonely spaces, and she is on her traditional visit down from the mountains. Does this happen yearly? Every few years? It's hard to tell - Ghosts aren't always the best at keeping track of living time - but however often it is, she is delighted to see that the Ghosts of the forest and valley have built an entire town this time, just for her!
What? Malamar wants her to know it's not just for her? Of course it is, silly! It has Death and Murder and Skulls in the name, doesn't it? She'll even magnanimously accept all these living participants, since they so graciously showed up to pay her tribute.
Quibbles over the town aside, Froslass's presence heralds the beginning of an undead ritual. Ghostly flames make delicate, flickering paths through the valley, visible only at night but felt even during the day. Trip through one of them and you will find yourself shivering, maybe even feeling slightly disconnected from your body.
Froslass herself holds court in town, expecting attention and entertainment, particularly near dawn and dusk. While she's not outright hostile, she is rather volatile: she's easily delighted by anyone who puts in a genuine effort, no matter how unskilled, but she's very quick to anger if she thinks someone isn't sufficiently motivated - or worse, avoiding her! Be ready to either participate or stay far, far away to keep unnoticed. Even that might not save you, as her presence seems to have a very odd effect on Ghosts and even other Pokemon in town. You may be subject to encouragement... and some of it might not be gentle.
Something is Froslass, queen of those dead by frost and in lonely spaces, and she is on her traditional visit down from the mountains. Does this happen yearly? Every few years? It's hard to tell - Ghosts aren't always the best at keeping track of living time - but however often it is, she is delighted to see that the Ghosts of the forest and valley have built an entire town this time, just for her!
What? Malamar wants her to know it's not just for her? Of course it is, silly! It has Death and Murder and Skulls in the name, doesn't it? She'll even magnanimously accept all these living participants, since they so graciously showed up to pay her tribute.
Quibbles over the town aside, Froslass's presence heralds the beginning of an undead ritual. Ghostly flames make delicate, flickering paths through the valley, visible only at night but felt even during the day. Trip through one of them and you will find yourself shivering, maybe even feeling slightly disconnected from your body.
Froslass herself holds court in town, expecting attention and entertainment, particularly near dawn and dusk. While she's not outright hostile, she is rather volatile: she's easily delighted by anyone who puts in a genuine effort, no matter how unskilled, but she's very quick to anger if she thinks someone isn't sufficiently motivated - or worse, avoiding her! Be ready to either participate or stay far, far away to keep unnoticed. Even that might not save you, as her presence seems to have a very odd effect on Ghosts and even other Pokemon in town. You may be subject to encouragement... and some of it might not be gentle.
SOIREES AND SERVICE
Fortunately, the festivities required aren't particularly deadly or horrifying! Froslass expects to be well fed and entertained as recompense for her very important role, but she is very happy to share with everyone as long as she's getting her dues.
Pokemon can choose to help make and serve elaborate dishes for Froslass, and attend on her needs - she'll require them to be well-decorated if so, to match her brilliance! Those who are less skilled with food can choose to sing, tell stories, make music, or dance for her - she particularly enjoys performances with fans or ribbons - or offer her little Ghost Pokemon figures made out of harvest fruits and vegetables. Barring that, Pokemon can decorate Skull Town and their less crafty townmates, making sure everyone is adequately adorned for the occasion (or crafting necessary props like those fans and ribbons)!
Pokemon who aren't particularly artistic have at least one other option: help maintain the ghostly flames throughout the valley. These lights were originally made by Froslass, and while they're currently placed to guide other Ghosts into town, they're being saved for another purpose later. She'll be very put out if any of them are snuffed! Fortunately, the lights are easy to keep flickering. It takes days for one to die, and the judicious application of a Ghost, Fire, or Ice move - or, lacking any of those, the addition of some completely normal kindling - brightens it right up again. There are, however, rather a lot of them...
Froslass outright expects any Pokemon who has taken a turn contributing to the festivities to have some time to enjoy them, too. Come, sit down, have some good food served to you by Pokemon in elaborate outfits, and enjoy a fun diversion! Or at least take a relaxed stroll through town with her and her retinue and take in the atmosphere!
Pokemon can choose to help make and serve elaborate dishes for Froslass, and attend on her needs - she'll require them to be well-decorated if so, to match her brilliance! Those who are less skilled with food can choose to sing, tell stories, make music, or dance for her - she particularly enjoys performances with fans or ribbons - or offer her little Ghost Pokemon figures made out of harvest fruits and vegetables. Barring that, Pokemon can decorate Skull Town and their less crafty townmates, making sure everyone is adequately adorned for the occasion (or crafting necessary props like those fans and ribbons)!
Pokemon who aren't particularly artistic have at least one other option: help maintain the ghostly flames throughout the valley. These lights were originally made by Froslass, and while they're currently placed to guide other Ghosts into town, they're being saved for another purpose later. She'll be very put out if any of them are snuffed! Fortunately, the lights are easy to keep flickering. It takes days for one to die, and the judicious application of a Ghost, Fire, or Ice move - or, lacking any of those, the addition of some completely normal kindling - brightens it right up again. There are, however, rather a lot of them...
Froslass outright expects any Pokemon who has taken a turn contributing to the festivities to have some time to enjoy them, too. Come, sit down, have some good food served to you by Pokemon in elaborate outfits, and enjoy a fun diversion! Or at least take a relaxed stroll through town with her and her retinue and take in the atmosphere!
iii. Fête of the Forgotten
VESSELS SAILING AWAY
As the festivities welcoming the immaculate Froslass settle down, the end of the month gradually brings the true meaning of the occasion to light. When she first arrived, it was easy to lose the facts among the fanaticism - not to mention, Malamar’s frustrations. It’s always difficult when friends fight. However, as the leaves slowly turn to the color of flame and the air begins to crisp for harvest, Skull Town gathers more and more Ghost Pokemon ready to bring forth their core traditions.
A tradition of remembrance. Of connection. A celebration of ‘ghosts’ who no longer walk the mortal realm.
During the final week of September, Pokemon such as Spiritomb and Oricorio begin to reach out to the Outpost citizens to collaborate for their final tradition. Having spent some time among the Pokemon of Bottlecap Bay, they feel confident that the communities of Spectrunk and Bottlecap can harmonize with its meaning. They spin tales of boats sailing across distant seas, and of faint lights floating through the blackest skies to guide spirits to their new home. Here and now, as the summer season officially greets the autumnal one, Pokemon may be granted a chance to reconnect with those who sailed ever further.
Those who sailed beyond, to their final place of rest.
Where the weeks prior were filled with festivities and excitement, the final week of September is a somber time as small boats to carry spirit flames are prepared for the final day. They will sail them down the river and out to the sea as the sun sets in those last moments - a tribute to the departed, as well as a message to those who still reside in the places they came from.
To the quiet surprise of Pokemon beyond this world, it seems there is something to this ritual. As their boat sails outward, spirits of those they left behind in their homes - whether deceased or otherwise - appear before their very eyes! It is a chance perhaps, to get some closure.
Or to simply say hello, as the Ghosts would say.
A tradition of remembrance. Of connection. A celebration of ‘ghosts’ who no longer walk the mortal realm.
During the final week of September, Pokemon such as Spiritomb and Oricorio begin to reach out to the Outpost citizens to collaborate for their final tradition. Having spent some time among the Pokemon of Bottlecap Bay, they feel confident that the communities of Spectrunk and Bottlecap can harmonize with its meaning. They spin tales of boats sailing across distant seas, and of faint lights floating through the blackest skies to guide spirits to their new home. Here and now, as the summer season officially greets the autumnal one, Pokemon may be granted a chance to reconnect with those who sailed ever further.
Those who sailed beyond, to their final place of rest.
Where the weeks prior were filled with festivities and excitement, the final week of September is a somber time as small boats to carry spirit flames are prepared for the final day. They will sail them down the river and out to the sea as the sun sets in those last moments - a tribute to the departed, as well as a message to those who still reside in the places they came from.
To the quiet surprise of Pokemon beyond this world, it seems there is something to this ritual. As their boat sails outward, spirits of those they left behind in their homes - whether deceased or otherwise - appear before their very eyes! It is a chance perhaps, to get some closure.
Or to simply say hello, as the Ghosts would say.
✩ OOC NOTES.
⟡ TDM CWS: Disorientation, Grieving/Death (as a topic of conversation), Hypnosis/Mental Influence
⟡ TDMs are game canon and act as events for the month they are posted.
⟡ New characters can link to their top level beneath the NEWBIE DIRECTORY
⟡ All new arrivals are not assigned to any one guild. However, they may assume themselves to share rooms within any one of them during the course of the TDM.
⟡ Remember that at least one thread for your application must come from the TDM! There is no comment minimum, but we will be looking for engagement, as well as for players and characters who take the time to delve into things like character thoughts, emotions, morality, and other deep themes. Take this time to engage with the setting as you would in game!
⟡ As a reminder, reserves and applications are permanently opened. Please see their respective pages for details on processing time.
⟡ Have any questions related to the TDM? Ask here! If your question is more general for the game, please make sure to direct it to the FAQ page instead. Thank you, and happy threading!
⟡ TDMs are game canon and act as events for the month they are posted.
⟡ New characters can link to their top level beneath the NEWBIE DIRECTORY
⟡ All new arrivals are not assigned to any one guild. However, they may assume themselves to share rooms within any one of them during the course of the TDM.
⟡ Remember that at least one thread for your application must come from the TDM! There is no comment minimum, but we will be looking for engagement, as well as for players and characters who take the time to delve into things like character thoughts, emotions, morality, and other deep themes. Take this time to engage with the setting as you would in game!
⟡ As a reminder, reserves and applications are permanently opened. Please see their respective pages for details on processing time.
⟡ Have any questions related to the TDM? Ask here! If your question is more general for the game, please make sure to direct it to the FAQ page instead. Thank you, and happy threading!
no subject
[But is there anything they can actually say here except:] Yes...?
no subject
How many times do you remember going through the House in Dormont?
no subject
Um. What do you mean? [they say, in a very normal voice that sounds very normal,]
[And more "alarmed" than "confused" but it's too late to take that back.]
[She knows she KNOWS how does she know?? What did they say??]
[Well, it's not like you were subtle, Siffrin, with the way you were so convinced everyone would be dead!! But she KNOWS -]
[For what it's worth, though it's not necessarily easy to pick up on... Odile's attempts at gentleness, and the fact that she's already reassured them several times and doesn't look mad even now, does seem to have had an effect. They are inching back toward freaking out, but it's not at the level of when they first ran into her. (Or, you know. At the level of Bigfrin.)]
no subject
I know about the time loops, Siffrin.
[1/3]
[She ]
[2/3]
[ and ]
[ she doesn't look mad...? ]
[...]
[Stern, maybe. But not any more so than Odile's usual. Not furious, like they were expecting.]
[There's still the almost compulsive urge to deny it. But it's way too late for that. And it... the reason they originally didn't want to tell people, it doesn't matter here, they know that, so...]
[They shiver a little bit, then go still again. Though they're thinking it'll annoy her even as they say it, they can't resist asking:] ...you're not angry that I didn't tell you?
Or - or did I tell you, and I don't remember?
[3/3]
[She asked... how many times...]
[In a very small voice, they say:] ...I lost count.
[Hundreds, they think? Thousands? The only thing they're sure of is,] Um. More than a hundred.
[With their tone, they're clearly understating it.]
[They... spent more time in the House than they ever spent with their friends outside of it, they're pretty sure. Even though a lot of those loops were no longer than a couple of hours.]
no subject
Ah. [ More than a hundred, at roughly two days each...but did they all go that full length? Odile's seen the traps in the House; she's not so sure. But that...don't think about that right now. He reaches out to ruffle Siffrin's...fur. On their head. ] You certainly didn't tell us. But no, I'm not mad. It's still cute.
[ Even cuter with that little cat face. ]
no subject
[It's hard to stay freaking out about someone being mad at you when they're calling you cute and ruffling your fur. But:] Cute??
[What. How. Here you go Odile, have an even more confused little cat face.]
[...that feels nice. They lean in a little bit, without thinking about it, then freeze up. They're Being Weird.]
no subject
[ Even more so with them as a cat, really. Odile gives them another careful scratch before withdrawing her paw. She really should have thought before doing that - except, Siffrin didn't respond poorly either time. Maybe their touch aversion isn't as bad as she thought? ]
But they're over now. You're not going back to that.
no subject
["Still" cute? What's cute about hiding time loops from everyone... they don't know and
at this point they're afraid to askthey're nervous to keep asking lest it go back to the things they don't remember...]R-right. Yeah. [Siffrin really did get out, one way or another. Time hasn't looped on them for months. They're... still worried about what would happen if they died, honestly, but it does help to have Odile reassuring them. They give her another smile - this one's small, but it seems less forced?]
[The adrenaline is draining, after yet another upswing of panic, and after having them teetering on a tightrope of dread and fear basically all night. And after spending the whole month running themself ragged for Froslass. Their shoulders slump; suddenly they are feeling very tired!]
[But! That's made them realize something else!] Odile... you've had a place to stay, right?
[They don't remember seeing her around Skull Town's communal housing, has she been sleeping outside?? Not even in a tent? She'd hate that!! Or... to be fair, they spent the bare minimum of time around the housing too, since it was so important to help with Froslass, so maybe they just kept missing her?]
no subject
[ Right, yes, of course. Siffrin is of course the most important thing here, but she has let her concern for them distract her from everything else.
Mostly, she's been sleeping tucked in some undergrowth. Trees would be safer, but even if she might manage to force herself up one, she doesn't think she could convince herself to sleep there. What sleep she gets is still uneasy and uncomfortable - and rather rare. The wilderness is better, but it still isn't safe. It's where Malamar is! It's just easier to avoid Malamar here than Froslass and all her minions in there. ]
And I think you ought to do the same, or we should make for this other town I've heard of. It's not safe here.
no subject
We can go to Bottlecap Bay, sure. But the forest on the way is a lot more dangerous than here... [The valley is less well-protected than the Bay, sure, but it's still better than the forest? Or - does she mean the ghosts? She didn't seem to like those.]
You don't want to rest first...?
[Especially since it's night right now? Especially especially if she hasn't been sleeping in an actual bed? Not that the ones in Skull Town are luxurious, but...]
You can take my bed. [Maybe that's the problem, there weren't any left? They won't mind!]
no subject
[ Odile hasn't fully dismissed the idea that Siffrin themself may be compromised to an extent, but...well, for one, she has her doubts if they would actually attack her over it.
(also for another her entire body hurts and she is sick and tired of this bullshit and she is gonna say what she's gonna say about the both of those Pokemon) ]
no subject
What's wrong with Froslass being there...?
[SO ABOUT THAT IDEA...]
[The near-mania that they've been operating under all month has faded with the last week - perhaps because all the Ghosts have been more solemn, perhaps because of being followed by the ghosts of their party, but most likely a bit of both. But they still see absolutely nothing wrong with Froslass.]
no subject
Siffrin, she's controlling peoples' minds.
no subject
...huh?
That doesn't make any sense. If she were controlling people... why would there be anyone who wasn't happy she was around?
[Checkmate, atheists?]
no subject
[ She's watching them in that particular sharp way again. This is a theory she's had for some time, but she's not sure how it plays into...this. Is Siffrin especially useful as a pawn here...? They're powerful, more powerful than she'd realized before the other day's events, but they can't access that Craft anymore. Still, they've had time to adapt. And people like them, even if they don't think so. It's far from unthinkable. ]
no subject
[They feel like they'd be more upset about this if it were a week ago (poor maligned Froslass!) but... they're worn out. And Odile's suspicious! That's kind of her thing! They just can't imagine how she got such a weird and specific idea like mind control.]
[Siffrin shuffles their paws, clearly unconvinced, but also clearly not wanting to push it. They settle on,] I'll stay out here with you. Um. If you're really sure...? [That she doesn't want somewhere more comfortable, they mean.]
[It wouldn't even be close to the first time they've slept outside without any real shelter. It's a lot nicer with fur and a cat-like spine than it was as a human!]
no subject
[ It's slightly softer. She's just relieved that they still trust her enough to go along, regardless of whether or not they believe her. It might be nicer if they did believe her, but Odile's practical. ]
I can keep watch while you rest, if you'd like. You look tired.
[ Granted, the sleeping conditions out here are not great. But though she doesn't think she's gotten any younger, something about being a cat does seem to make it easier. Besides. She's too stubborn to just give up and go join the cult now. ]