fablelands | TDM/September.

TDM/September.

Once upon a time, in a land far, far away...
You snap awake with a sudden jolt, the sounds of nature surrounding you. The ground is warm beneath your hands, a press of fabric under your head. Sit up. Look around. This isn't where you fell asleep. Not even close to it. But with no one around you, answers as to how you got there in the first place are a little beyond your reach for now.

If you decide to head off, don't forget your bag. You'll want that if you plan on making it out here. If you want to survive. And if you don't want to move, well...good luck. There's a shadow on the prowl. A rustle of leaves, a snap of twigs. Glowing eyes in the distance...

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Characters find themselves waking up on the bare ground (or a bed if they're very lucky), a leather pack beneath their head, and entirely alone. It's not where they fell asleep that night. Isn't even close. The sky is the wrong shade, the ground isn't quite right. The only note of familiarity are the clothes on their back.

Searching through their pack, characters will find a change of clothes, a few food rations, and something personal to them. They'll also find a pouch of wooden coins and a shard of mirror. Before they get a real chance to investigate those items though, they'll hear a rustle in the distance. The sounds of something moving around.

It's their cue to get moving too. And somehow, all characters find their feet guiding them in the same direction. Off towards the Great Lake, less than ten minutes walk away, no matter where on the island they first woke up.

Welcome to the island of Leutheria.

Welcome to the first ever event/test drive for Fablelands. Above is an arrival prompt that players are welcome to use to introduce or test out any characters they are interested in bringing to the game. Below is an on-going event that will be taking place throughout the month of September (though the wolf will still remain a constant presence on the island for the months to come). And of course, you are free to use this post for any other prompts you wish to use, or mirrorshard conversations too. All threads are able to be used as game canon, providing both players agree to it, and can ultimately be used for bonus AC if you wish to.

If you have any questions, please direct them to the FAQ.

And without further adieu, let's get on with the show!

premise | faq | taken/claims | locations | wishing well | bonus ac

Once upon a time, in a land not so far away...

You wake to the feeling of being watched. Of a set of unfamiliar eyes, of warm breath on the back of your neck. A jolt back to the land of the living, and it's gone. No matter how quick you are, how sneaky, the source of the disruption has long since disappeared, so you have no choice but to try and ignore it. To continue on with your day and try to set that moment of strangeness aside.

You eat, drink, speak with others. Perhaps you explore a little. Whatever it is you choose to do for the day, that feeling from the morning won't return. And by the time the sun sets and the moon glows brightly above, you've likely set those moments of strangeness aside. It's not like it's anything new, after all.

It's the same again for the next few days. No better, no worse. Something best ignored, right?

A speck of blood on the doorframe. That wasn't there before, was it?

A snap of twigs in the distance. A crunch of leaves.

Claw marks gouged deeply into the door.

Into the wall above your bed.

Scraps of red fabric, turned darker with blood. Pieces of fur. Of flesh.

Do you run and hide? Do you fight? Whatever you choose, it's definitely time to make sure your body parts aren't scattered next...
...what a horribly big mouth you have.

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Since first waking up on the island, characters have been stuck with that feeling of being watched. It isn't a constant. Isn't more than a few seconds at a time, dotted throughout the day. Investigation has never turned up much, and there's never been any sightings of the cause of it all.

Until now.

Throughout the first half of the week, characters will find themselves suffering from that feeling of being watched on a far more constant basis. Rather than it being a one-off, few seconds occurrence each day, that feeling will last for minutes at a time, and on multiple occasions.

However, it isn't until the fifth day that they'll start stumbling across physical signs of their monitoring. There are claw marks on doors. Spots of blood on the paths outside. A crack of twigs in the forests, or the imprint of bloodied paws in the snow.

Ten days in and those signs start finding their way indoors. Wet footprints, tinged with red. Claw marks in the walls, the floor. Torn sheets and the smell of wet...something. Whatever it is that's been watching you, its finally decided to come and say hello.

Two weeks in and characters will begin to have sightings of the creature, its fur dark and its eyes a glowing yellow. At times it looks like a wolf, prowling in the distance. At other times, it's walking on its hind legs, almost human were it not for the muzzle full of gleaming sharp teeth. Get too close, and it slips away like a shadow, gone between one blink and the next. It decides when to reach out to characters, not the other way round.

It's after characters finally get a good look at the creature that it starts leaving...gifts. Characters will start to find familiar items from their home worlds amidst the mess. The remains of a childhood pet, perhaps. Photographs of loved ones, faces torn almost beyond recognition. It's only once it delivers its final gift that the creature retreats to the trees again: a blood-splattered item of clothing that clearly belongs to the person the character misses the most at the time, alive or dead.

[credit 1 & credit 2]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[The moment he says "Going to need a bit more about things" - it hits Alec that he knows very little of the science behind magic. He's been a part of a magical force for so long he's just done it. Way to fail as a scientist buddy. Even if he was a jolly green giant, he was still a scientist. Capucine had pointed that out and others agreed.

Lazy. He'd gotten lazy.

When he mentions a bear Alec peers over and the first thing he thinks is Arcane.

Except no. That's foolish. Beyond foolish. It's not Arcane. Arcane is dead. He's killed him multiple times. Except that lock of hair. Abby might be here. If Abby is that thing? If that's Abby?]

...I don't know.

[If he can go to the green, then the red - there has to be a red avatar right? Or an avatar of the rot in this pocket dimension?-

Unless this is a trick. Unless this is some game of Arcane's. Again.

John might notice he looks tired. World weary. It's so obvious it shows on a big green monster creature.]

You can't perform a spell to find out? If you can't I might have...an idea.

[Go fully into the green and look for the red and it's avatar. Get a clearer lay of the land.]

[Wow, take it easy Alec. He's not a pez dispenser of spells you know. It's been maybe fifteen or twenty minutes since he woke up and if it weren't for the throbbing headache he'd be doubting the nature of his reality even more. If given a choice John would rather bluff his way out of this mess if he can than blast an irreparable hole. Every time he's tried the latter type of approach it always comes with a physical and emotional price tag he can't afford to pay.]

It's probably not that important mate. Don't wear yourself out. [Vegetable thing looks a little sullen.] Look, this could be fun. Like a camping trip. A bit of Bear Grylls action to distract from the mundane demonic warfare. You need to lighten up.

[John abruptly laughs at his own stick up the arse joke but he doesn't say it aloud as he keeps on walking towards the water. He's saving that for later.]

So how do you know me, anyway?

[He's uptight by nature. Stressed by nature, and even moreso when disconnected from the green and haunted by his past thanks to that stupid bag. While walking beside him, listening to the man - he acknowledges that It really is probably, It could be Abby, but-she might not even be here and that alone hurts and...

He stares at him.] I have burdens. I don't...lighten up well.

[Can he root himself in this green? He's a little...concerned. Who knows what would happen?]

...That and my whole life is camping.

[The latter is a bit easier to deal with.] You were the one who told me what I was. After what happened to me, you...opened the green to me in your own way. We've fought multiple demons.

You've regularly observed the kingdoms. Everyone...knows you.

We all do. That's what the whiskey and the 'green' is for. [And, you know, the ladies and the gentlemen too, if Alec swings that way, although he's not sure how much action Alec gets with all that morning, afternoon and evening wood.

His brows furrow as they get to the waterfront. He'd remember this conversation if he had it. While he doesn't think of himself as unhelpful, often if it's not a life or death situation or if he doesn't see much personal gain to be wrung out of it, he doesn't get involved. Constantine tries to do the right thing, sure. When it's convenient or when he sees it as a long-term investment. Maybe he thought Alec would be of some use to him.]

'Everyone''s a wee bit of a stretch, love. [He knows he's made a bit of a name for himself in Hell but it's a big place full of wankers that spout all sorts of gobshite.] So am I your sidekick? [Or just some sort of Delphic Oracle that Alec consults with vague magic eight ball style answers?]

I'll be honest. I'm sure I'd remember you, and I don't, but you know a lot more about me than you should be able to tell on a cold read. Either there's two of me running around or you're a really good conman. [Contree?]

[Two of him.

Alec stops walking and stares. Two of them. There's always a chance it's some sort of magical doppleganger or...If there's one reality, then there might be two realities.

More information is required. He begins walking again.]

We've been partners. I give you information about the green, which is the kingdom of living things-plant life.

[Pause.]

Not Cannabis.

[He's going to be honest with this man, looking down at him before looking ahead.]

I was a man. Obviously. I was a...scientist. Who died in an explosion. My consciousness merged with the plant life first. It created the first Swamp Thing. He was the first avatar of the green.

[There's a lot more. A lot more. He's not going to go into it now though because the guy might have a point. If there are two Johns. Pocket dimensions. That means there's an Alec Holland in his reality.

The thought is...troubling.]

I was brought back by the parliament of trees when he died to become the next Swamp Thing. So the first avatar was...a plant who thought he was a man. And I'm a man...who is a plant.

You taught my predecessor about his abilities as an elemental. We've - my John and I perhaps - been...colleagues since then.

[Two Constantines. Twice the trainwreck. Just because it'd be ugly doesn't mean it's impossible, and he's always suggestible when it comes to explaining things the most convoluted way possible.]

The swamp thing? [They're going to have to work on a better name than 'the next swamp thing', nevermind this confusing tree-man cum man-tree business.]

I'm just going to call you Alec, alright? And we can still work together here. [He's not sure how much use he'll be without access to his library in the millhouse, but it's just his good luck running into someone who's willing to work with him straightaway and Constantine's not going to stare a gift horse in the mouth.]

We should follow this lake around. People like to live close to the water. Maybe we'll find a house. [With a local whom they can bully, manipulate and extort for information.]

Agreed. [He straightens. At least this John doesn't know him well enough to make fun of him or his sense of humor. He respected that. This works as well.]

...If you do call me Alec, I'd appreciate you not sharing that name with others. Without my permission.

[One of his arms transforms into a very large spiked club, a twisted massive root covered in spikes before glancing to his new partner.]

Until you're feeling better I'll...defend you.

You really want me to call you the swamp thing when we've got company? [A delayed small shrug follows.] Alright mate. [Some people. Honestly.]

Put your big cock away, love. There's no one else here yet. [Weapons out of one hand and a beetroot and corn salad out the other? That's pretty bloody handy.]

You miss it? Being flesh and bone.

People find it difficult to believe that something like me used to be a human being.

It's...not something I want to deal with here. For the moment.

[His eyes narrow and the club recedes. Hngh. He needs time to root, to dissect this, to try and speak to the green of this pocket dimension.

Being flesh and bone? It's a loaded question.]

...No.

[Lying. He's lying.]

I used to. [Then the machine queen raised his body from the dead. Truth be told he doesn't have an answer but he's not going to get into that. Not until he has more of a lay of the land.

Better to be the monster in this case.]

I have a duty I must perform now. That makes it easier.

[He considers this] So if you aren't the John Constantine I know...

You don't know about the league? Zatanna?

[Constantine can't be sure what kind of damp and dark place the Swamp Thing is from, but considering all the people he's come across, Alec's probably more human than some of the humans John's had the pleasure of engaging with.

It's a no that sounds an awful lot like a yes, but John doesn't push. Maybe calling him Alec is making it worse. The Swamp Thing looks like he needs time. Figure all this shite out. They'll probably have a lot of time here.]

Only league I know of is football. [As in, 'soccer', not that American game where the ball barely touches anyone's foot.] So, enlighten me. What's a Zatanna league?

...It's not the Zatanna League. The Justice League Dark. [Alec slows his steps.] Zatanna is a member. You're one of the leaders.

[One of the things that's slipped away is his concept of "spoilers". He keeps pace with him, arms swinging at his sides. Things here are whispering.]

At least you were. You stepped - [Nice way of saying "was ousted"] aside so she could take charge. The magical community is a small one.

[You mean to say he joined some sort of boyband full of tryhard edgelords? Sounds fake. That's totally beneath him.]

She? Zatanna's a she? ...is she cute?

[That sounds like the John he knows. He laughs and his laughter sounds like rocks rubbing together.]

You're the same across any dimension.

[He pauses. One root extends from his shoulder and scratches the back of his neck in an almost sheepish gesture.]

She is...cute.

[She's a friend of sorts. One of many people who he keeps an eye on. That said, he's a married man. No matter what the circumstances.

There's that desire to protect him from spoilers.]

Very much your type. Be nice should you meet her.

[You mean to say it doesn't really get much better for him under wildly different circumstances?

That's... to be expected - hard to picture someone with his name and possibly wearing his face living it up somewhere making good life decisions and actually being happy for any stretch of time. Even though all that really needed to happen for that was one small little thing to change, like his mother surviving, or his father coping with her death, or never dabbling into the occult. Expected, but still a little disappointing.]

I have a drinking and smoking problem and think with my little head too much, you mean? [Could have told Alec that himself.]

Have you told her she's cute? [What's with that coy tree act?] Unless sexy and completely insane is not your 'type'.

I'm married.

[he was. Is. What are he and Abby now? They can't touch. They could never ry make love. They'd made it work though and Linda...

By way of response he expels the pack from his chest again and opens it, shifting things around with tiny roots before he wraps one around the ring and holds it up for John to see.]

Twice even.

[my root structure brings all the women to the farm...

I was funny once.

Alec slides it back into the pack.]

You should tell her though. Neither of you have it in you to commit but that doesn't mean you should lack for companionship.

The version of you I know is a better man then he gives himself credit for.

[be like him.]

[Married twice. To another anthropomorphic tree or some sort of ent or something? Except the ring looks very much like the kind of thing Beyonce would do jazz hands showing off. John can sense the tragic backstory coming before Alec's said anything about it, so he chooses not to pry.]

If she's cute I would have told her, mate. [He has no hangups about that, surely, so the other him wouldn't have the same reservations either.] I don't know about any other Constantine but I don't have the best luck when it comes to 'companionship'. I don't need her soul on my conscience.

[Despite his protesting about how much of a monster he is, Alec's truly a big softie at heart.]

You're an...arrogant, self-centered conman. I can see why you wouldn't want anyone's soul on your conscience.

It's what I like about you. You annoy the parliament of trees, we're... [Hm. Haw. Hrmm. Can't say friends. Can't say friends.] A successful partnership. Have a little faith in yourself John. Your...alternate self may be an independent operator but he's a good man. Don't be so hard on yourself.

[He pauses] I mean you helped me find my wife when she was lost. That alone means you have my alliance.

When you return to your world and I return to mine, have faith in yourself.

[Wow, lay it on him gently why don't you? John shoots Alec A Look - not that he's offended or anything, but it's rude to call out your only friend when you've just woken up in your underpants somewhere you don't recognise with someone from the wrong pants' pocket even if this is apparently his redeeming quality.]

You think your missus is here? [They can add that on the list of things to do, somewhere along with finding food, water and shelter. He did see some in his bag but he's not sure it's going to last.]

We can take a look around. If you want to find her that is. [Marriage. It's a lottery.]

I'd know if she were.

[He's both sorry and not sorry because it's hard to forget that you nearly killed him in Scotland and also - so many other reasons but there's...a degree of regret in his voice.

The moment they come to a stop his feet root again, slow, gently, just a nudge burying himself in to earth before he shakes his head.]

Every kingdom has it's own avatars. Beings like me. Some are destined to do it...

All are. I'm the avatar of the green, Abigail is...the avatar of the black. Death. I'm honored bound to know where she is, just as she should know where I am.

[It's not stalking John. It's totally not stalking.]

I found something of hers in the bag that was left to me however. If she is here...I don't envy the person who brought the both of us to this place.

...How are you feeling?

[Do you need to stop, eat, drink, anything like that.]

[Yeah, alright. That sounds complicated and unhealthy and ~~honestly the kind of codependent relationship John would accidentally stumble into and spend years trying to disentangle out of~~ he didn't want to get too involved there, regardless of whether he's supposed to be the Swamp Thing's best mate or whatever.]

I'm still really hungover and half expecting you to turn back into my coathanger. [John forces a smile and shakes his head.] Until then I guess we're going this way. [Of the two of them, Alec's probably taking their current predicament a lot more seriously.]

[The drama of the Holland and Arcane clans is basically like Romeo and Juliet with Constantine playing Mercutio. Alec just never lets himself acknowledge it because if he thinks about his predecessor-

If he considers what the being did. How he's a part of him, how they're all a part of him like some sick twisted family tree...

He'd go mad. succumb in a way he can't afford to.

Studying the man with an unreadable expression, he tromps away. Foraging was one of the first things he managed to learn (and largely not thanks to being either a plant or a Botanist. His step-father had been keen to think himself some sort of a hunter.)

It's made far easier being what he is now. Crouching down it's a matter of listening, listening to the trees and their roots. Most plants talk about water and sunlight on a regular basis and while these things are interesting, they're not that interesting -

No really.

He reminds himself of that multiple times before he finds what he's looking for. Asparagus shoots. Good for hangovers, grows in wild forest land like this. Extending a small sharp thorn, he slices each one carefully and quietly thanks them for the work they're about to do, leaving plenty for the patch to grow back. Making a note of it in his mind in case Constantine needs more human food -

(The balance must be preserved.)

He collects several sprigs of wild mustard as well before tromping back and offering them on an outstretched hand.]

This isn't the right climate for bananas, but asparagus should help you. There's mustard too if you need some sort of flavor. Or you could save it, boil it in a pot of water for flavor...?

[He hrrms. Looking off into the distance. Really he takes everything seriously (It's in his nature, ha ha.) but after time, once he gets settled or they see if this will lead anywhere, he can connect more fully with the green. Get answers.] depending on how long we end up here I made note of where that patch is.

If we keep going there's wild berries in the direction we're going. [pause. He almost says gossipy ones but refrains. Human beings probably don't appreciate knowing that the things that they eat think in their own way. (and 99% of them are more then willing to be eaten- better to be a person then in the stomach of a bear.)]

Roots too. This place has good soil.

Asparagus should help with your hangover though.

[Was it something he said? About the wife? John stops himself from calling out and instead just waits there, a little impatiently, for the Swamp Thing to return. Talk of bananas has him cocking an eyebrow but he lifts both open hands instinctively to catch whatever Alec drops into his palms.

Asparagus and mustard, apparently. To be fair Constantine is just a chef's outfit away from running his mouth like Gordon Ramsay.] ...I don't think I'll have these raw, but thanks. [John crouches down and drops the haul onto a nearby big leaf, wrapping it up and depositing it into his backpack for later when they find a place to settle down.]

You don't think we're getting out of here anytime soon, do you? [Why else are they having all this talk about foraging and thinking/planning for the long term?]

We can settle down around here for the day if you like. I don't know if you uh... sleep.

[An eyebrow is raised.]

I don't sleep. I'll root and explore the green a bit. That will get us out faster.

...I hope.

[He pauses, looking to the green trees beyond him.]

Either way I don't like the thought of leaving you.

[Maybe fifteen or twenty years ago John might have been able to keep up with the 'don't sleep' act. These days he's starting to feel slightly less invincible.]

Are you this clingy with the other John as well? How does he put up with you? [John's just joking of course, but it's not always obvious with his accent and perpetually snarky tone.] I'll be alright, if you want to go. [And if he's not, Alec will definitely hear him screaming and making a run for it.]

[His eyes narrow.]

You're still intoxicated. In a strange place. If you want me to leave however... [ And he fades. Dissolves in a haze of dark green leaves leaving a vaguely earthy smell behind him.]

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Damn it now I want a Zatanna.

She's so rare though xO I've only seen one around in memes

I think I know her...

I don't think I've ever threaded with her

Hmm.

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I googled SO MANY THINGS to make this tag accurate.

A+ but doesn't sound very appetising raw...

...Making fires is gonna be fun. I just realized this.

burn them all.gif

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