sticks and bones. (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
sticksandbonesmods) wrote2023-03-23 07:04 pm
sticksandbonesmods) wrote2023-03-23 07:04 pm
FAQ / PREMISE
FAQ & PREMISE
!STICKS AND BONES
Perhaps you were simply going about your day, or perhaps you were in the middle of some life-changing fight, staring down death. Perhaps you're already dead. Either way, you hear a voice whispering somewhere in the back of your mind: "Do you want to play with me?"
It does not wait for an answer.
You wake up in the center of a small settlement in a dark, dreary forest. An absurdly large turtle sits beside a warm-looking red tent by the well, and the general store’s lights shine bright no matter the time of day or night. A walled-off manor peers out of the fog, a gravesite just before it. You are not the first to arrive here, and you will not be the last — and should you attempt to leave, the fog surrounding the area stops you if one of the residents doesn’t. After all, toys don’t get to decide when they’re done.
STICKS AND BONES is a panfandom jamjar run by Amity (![[plurk.com profile]](https://plurk.com/favicon.ico)
amity_rose) and Wolfie (wolfchan). Within a nameless forest, characters will take up residence in the settlement of Aldric's Grove and seek out answers as to what happened, why it was abandoned and how the forest has so much power. Events will be within the settlement or in the form of the woods opening up to invite characters to explore... for better or worse.
Any and all updates will be made on the ooc coms, as well as announced on the mod plurk,sticksandbones. As a general warning, this game can and will include reincarnation, child death, body horror, emotional & physical abuse (from a supernatural entity toward player characters), possession, and supernatural parasitism towards humans and animals alike, among other potentially upsetting content. All instances of this will be marked in the header when used in the game.
It does not wait for an answer.
You wake up in the center of a small settlement in a dark, dreary forest. An absurdly large turtle sits beside a warm-looking red tent by the well, and the general store’s lights shine bright no matter the time of day or night. A walled-off manor peers out of the fog, a gravesite just before it. You are not the first to arrive here, and you will not be the last — and should you attempt to leave, the fog surrounding the area stops you if one of the residents doesn’t. After all, toys don’t get to decide when they’re done.
STICKS AND BONES is a panfandom jamjar run by Amity (
Any and all updates will be made on the ooc coms, as well as announced on the mod plurk,
!MECHANICS
WHEN ARE APPLICATIONS PROCESSED?
Apps are always open and are processed as soon as possible.
HOW ARE APPLICATIONS HANDLED? WHO CAN APPLY?
Anyone can apply at this time without an invitation. This may be subject to change at a later date should we go invite-only.
That said, as we want to keep our small community drama-free and safe for all players, we maintain the right to reject anyone from joining for any reason, including if we don’t think you would mesh well with the playerbase or setting. It is very important to the mod team to keep the environment curated so that everyone feels safe and welcome. We will examine each application on a case by case basis and use our best judgment, and we take player conflicts of interest very seriously. While this may sound harsh, this is to ensure that Sticks & Bones is, as stated, drama-free and safe.
HOW ARE TRIGGER WARNINGS HANDLED?
The mod team takes trigger warnings extremely seriously. As stated above, Sticks & Bones includes your “standard” horror game tropes, including: reincarnation, child death, body horror, emotional & physical abuse, possession, and supernatural parasitism. It will also include additional triggers such as gore and violence. Other trigger warnings are tagged on a case-by-case basis on the event logs before the prompts begin.
In the case of the players, we ask that all players be mindful of triggers — please have personal triggers outlined in your permissions posts, and any potential character triggers as well so that players know what they can expect. We have an expectation that these player permission posts will be read and honoured, and that all players put appropriate content warnings in subject lines both in IC Inboxes and the main comm. A good rule of thumb is that if you’re not sure, tag it.
In a case where trigger warnings are not used on an event post or something goes missed, we ask that the players contact us immediately so it can be rectified. In threads between players, all major triggers should be cw’d appropriately. We understand that everyone here is human and that mistakes can and will happen, and that’s okay. However, players who blatantly disrespect the comfort of other players by refusing to trigger warn, who ignore permissions posts, and who believe that trigger warnings do not matter, will be swept and banned from the game. If the mods do not believe a full ban is necessary but issues arise, we will ask all involved players to save and delete their thread comments up to the point where the content warning needs to be posted, and allow reposting from there.
WHAT’S THE ACTIVITY REQUIREMENT?
Activity checks are due at the end of the month but can be put in at any time. They require two threads with two different characters, with a minimum of five comments each. Strikes are permitted, and more information is available on the activity check page and bonus activity page.
WHAT KIND OF CHARACTERS ARE ALLOWED?
Canon characters, original characters, tabletop OCs and silent protagonists are allowed. Canon AUs or characters from canons with multiple adaptations are allowed, but direct doubles are not. For example, we would only allow two Noah Ebalons if they were different paths (Liberator and Celestia rather than Liberator and Liberator).
Customizable characters will have one of each permitted, but WoLs will not be allowed. Reality or dimension-traveling characters are also allowed, though their abilities would be cut off within the game.
Fandom-based original characters are permitted so long as they have no major connection to a canon character — the main character's sibling wouldn't cut it, but someone who attends their school would. CRAU is also allowed, but with a limit of one game history. The sole exception to this is if the games are directly linked, such as Deerington and Deer County, or multi-round murdergames. Otherwise, if you have stacked CRAU, please use the first game.
As a note, there is an age cap of 14 and older.
At this time, Nene Yashiro from Toilet-Bound Hanako-Kun, and Elsword (Genesis) from Elsword are not appable characters for plot reasons.
IS THERE A CAST CAP?
Not at this time.
IS THERE A CHARACTER OR PLAYER CAP?
As of August 2023, players are capped at 25.
As of March 2025, players may app up to 4 characters total- though we must stress that they cannot app 4 at once- and should they consistently meet AC and prove they are active within the game without skirting AC or meeting the bare minimums, players may app a 5th character. Players are also permitted to play from the same canon so long as their characters do not have overlapping interactions or are particularly close to one another.
WHAT'S THE TIME SCALE LOOK LIKE?
Time within the forest is nebulous at best — though time passes, and the sun rises and sets, and the moon has its phases, it's hard for characters to keep track of how many have passed and how long they've been in the woods. Major events like holidays or birthdays are best guessed based on the vibe, especially since sometimes you get three full moons in a row and then a new moon.
CAN WE CANON UPDATE?
Yes. Canon updates can be purchased on the Bonus AC page.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A CHARACTER DROPS?
Dropped characters will disappear from the Grove without a trace and be unable to be found by remaining characters. They will have functionally died, though the cause of death may be somewhat nebulous — they could have been eaten by something, drowned in the ocean, or what-have-you. On our drop form, we have a field indicating if we can have the dropped character’s corpse be discovered at a later date, but this is not mandatory to participate in (we will take no for an answer)!
If that dropped character is re-apped by the same player, they will suffer death consequences, elaborated on the “CAN WE DIE?” section below. If that dropped character is re-apped by a different player, there will not be any death consequences unless that player wants there to be. In the case of an old character being picked up by a new player, the mods will reach out to the new player first to let them know that this character was previously here.
ARE POWERS NERFED?
Only enough to not break the game or setting- teleportation is limited to places within the settlement, for example. The woods are notably impossible to traverse without being invited in- which will be established as happening from a mod for player plots and event posts- and cannot be harmed past a certain point through any means.
Should you desire a full nerf for character development or other reasons, just let us know and we will work with you!
At this time, magic cast in the Grove often warps and becomes uncontrollable. Player characters may notice that their native powers may sometimes come out stronger than intended.
WHAT WILL EVENTS BE LIKE?
Events are posted on the first Friday of every month, consisting of multiple prompts. Several may be connected somehow, intertwining into an overarching theme of the month, or may be stand-alone. All events are canon but engagement with specific prompts is not mandatory.
Occasionally there will be mini-events or player plot events as well, hosted separately and further in the month.
All main events and TDMs will feature an Investigation prompt, allowing characters to explore or investigate specific aspects of the environment at their leisure. This is open to TDM characters as well during these specific events. Investigations allow player characters to learn more about the game setting, be it the Grove proper, aspects of their past lives, or in regard to the current event. Occasionally, in lieu of a proper investigation prompt, there may be other ways to engage with similar aspects of the game. Investigations can also be handled on the NPC contact page if preferred, though this is closed only to current players.
IS THERE A NETWORK?
The "network" is composed of enchanted notebooks that, when written in, will have that same writing appear in the other enchanted notebooks ("netbooks"). Considering that mechanic, that means there are no private messages. Characters who purposely write in another language to try to circumvent this will find that their language is automatically translated to something everyone can understand. "Usernames" are merely the character's preferred name. All characters automatically receive a netbook. “Network” posts should be made on the main IC comm and should be labelled & formatted appropriately as such.
ARE THERE BONUS ACTIVITY REWARDS?
There are! All threads submitted must contain at least five comments from you, though the ammont of threads needed will depend on the item. More information is available here.
CAN WE BRING ITEMS OR PETS WITH US?
Upon entering the game your character will have their immediate inventory or a signature item- adventurers will have one (1) weapon no larger than an adult man and up to five repeat items (such as potions), for example, you could have your backpack of things, or something you often have on you (a phone and a sketchbook).
Only one animal companion is allowed, so long as it's not already an applicable character already — no Team Rocket's Meowth, Jesse and James. Familiars or summoned creatures are permitted — but only the one, as said. Animal companions may be shrunk down to be no taller than 5 feet if they're especially large, and may face power nerfs to avoid breaking the game or setting.
If you choose to regain empowered animals like Pokémon, we are capping them at three total. Additional animals can be regained as well if your character had more than one pet, but only once you are in the game — and there are also a breadth of native animals to the Grove that you can also steal, uh, we mean adopt totally ethically, who would love to be yours.
CAN CHARACTERS GAIN ABILITIES FROM THE GAME? WHAT ABOUT OTHER CHARACTERS?
Yes to both, though currently any game-granted abilities are locked, and the page is under construction. The information pages for these mechanics will go up once unlocked in the game. Characters who have magic or the knowledge to grant mechanical upgrades are able to teach or implant these themselves, if their magic is something learnable and not a biological ability. That said, powers gained from the game mechanics cannot be taught — everyone has to go through the process to get those, but they can practice together!
WHAT HAPPENS IF A PSYCHIC CHARACTER IS APPED?
At least once a month they will get a vision of an upcoming event, but maybe not with context. This vision may not also relate to the immediate next event. Good luck!
IS THERE BE A GAME DISCORD?
There is, but it is closed to game members only. It isn't meant to replace the OOC comms for plotting, however.
WHAT TIMEZONE ARE THE MODS IN?
The mods are scattered across the United States timezones, so the bulk of modwork will be done during about 9AM to midnight MST.
Apps are always open and are processed as soon as possible.
HOW ARE APPLICATIONS HANDLED? WHO CAN APPLY?
Anyone can apply at this time without an invitation. This may be subject to change at a later date should we go invite-only.
That said, as we want to keep our small community drama-free and safe for all players, we maintain the right to reject anyone from joining for any reason, including if we don’t think you would mesh well with the playerbase or setting. It is very important to the mod team to keep the environment curated so that everyone feels safe and welcome. We will examine each application on a case by case basis and use our best judgment, and we take player conflicts of interest very seriously. While this may sound harsh, this is to ensure that Sticks & Bones is, as stated, drama-free and safe.
HOW ARE TRIGGER WARNINGS HANDLED?
The mod team takes trigger warnings extremely seriously. As stated above, Sticks & Bones includes your “standard” horror game tropes, including: reincarnation, child death, body horror, emotional & physical abuse, possession, and supernatural parasitism. It will also include additional triggers such as gore and violence. Other trigger warnings are tagged on a case-by-case basis on the event logs before the prompts begin.
In the case of the players, we ask that all players be mindful of triggers — please have personal triggers outlined in your permissions posts, and any potential character triggers as well so that players know what they can expect. We have an expectation that these player permission posts will be read and honoured, and that all players put appropriate content warnings in subject lines both in IC Inboxes and the main comm. A good rule of thumb is that if you’re not sure, tag it.
In a case where trigger warnings are not used on an event post or something goes missed, we ask that the players contact us immediately so it can be rectified. In threads between players, all major triggers should be cw’d appropriately. We understand that everyone here is human and that mistakes can and will happen, and that’s okay. However, players who blatantly disrespect the comfort of other players by refusing to trigger warn, who ignore permissions posts, and who believe that trigger warnings do not matter, will be swept and banned from the game. If the mods do not believe a full ban is necessary but issues arise, we will ask all involved players to save and delete their thread comments up to the point where the content warning needs to be posted, and allow reposting from there.
WHAT’S THE ACTIVITY REQUIREMENT?
Activity checks are due at the end of the month but can be put in at any time. They require two threads with two different characters, with a minimum of five comments each. Strikes are permitted, and more information is available on the activity check page and bonus activity page.
WHAT KIND OF CHARACTERS ARE ALLOWED?
Canon characters, original characters, tabletop OCs and silent protagonists are allowed. Canon AUs or characters from canons with multiple adaptations are allowed, but direct doubles are not. For example, we would only allow two Noah Ebalons if they were different paths (Liberator and Celestia rather than Liberator and Liberator).
Customizable characters will have one of each permitted, but WoLs will not be allowed. Reality or dimension-traveling characters are also allowed, though their abilities would be cut off within the game.
Fandom-based original characters are permitted so long as they have no major connection to a canon character — the main character's sibling wouldn't cut it, but someone who attends their school would. CRAU is also allowed, but with a limit of one game history. The sole exception to this is if the games are directly linked, such as Deerington and Deer County, or multi-round murdergames. Otherwise, if you have stacked CRAU, please use the first game.
As a note, there is an age cap of 14 and older.
At this time, Nene Yashiro from Toilet-Bound Hanako-Kun, and Elsword (Genesis) from Elsword are not appable characters for plot reasons.
IS THERE A CAST CAP?
Not at this time.
IS THERE A CHARACTER OR PLAYER CAP?
As of August 2023, players are capped at 25.
As of March 2025, players may app up to 4 characters total- though we must stress that they cannot app 4 at once- and should they consistently meet AC and prove they are active within the game without skirting AC or meeting the bare minimums, players may app a 5th character. Players are also permitted to play from the same canon so long as their characters do not have overlapping interactions or are particularly close to one another.
WHAT'S THE TIME SCALE LOOK LIKE?
Time within the forest is nebulous at best — though time passes, and the sun rises and sets, and the moon has its phases, it's hard for characters to keep track of how many have passed and how long they've been in the woods. Major events like holidays or birthdays are best guessed based on the vibe, especially since sometimes you get three full moons in a row and then a new moon.
CAN WE CANON UPDATE?
Yes. Canon updates can be purchased on the Bonus AC page.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A CHARACTER DROPS?
Dropped characters will disappear from the Grove without a trace and be unable to be found by remaining characters. They will have functionally died, though the cause of death may be somewhat nebulous — they could have been eaten by something, drowned in the ocean, or what-have-you. On our drop form, we have a field indicating if we can have the dropped character’s corpse be discovered at a later date, but this is not mandatory to participate in (we will take no for an answer)!
If that dropped character is re-apped by the same player, they will suffer death consequences, elaborated on the “CAN WE DIE?” section below. If that dropped character is re-apped by a different player, there will not be any death consequences unless that player wants there to be. In the case of an old character being picked up by a new player, the mods will reach out to the new player first to let them know that this character was previously here.
ARE POWERS NERFED?
Only enough to not break the game or setting- teleportation is limited to places within the settlement, for example. The woods are notably impossible to traverse without being invited in- which will be established as happening from a mod for player plots and event posts- and cannot be harmed past a certain point through any means.
Should you desire a full nerf for character development or other reasons, just let us know and we will work with you!
At this time, magic cast in the Grove often warps and becomes uncontrollable. Player characters may notice that their native powers may sometimes come out stronger than intended.
WHAT WILL EVENTS BE LIKE?
Events are posted on the first Friday of every month, consisting of multiple prompts. Several may be connected somehow, intertwining into an overarching theme of the month, or may be stand-alone. All events are canon but engagement with specific prompts is not mandatory.
Occasionally there will be mini-events or player plot events as well, hosted separately and further in the month.
All main events and TDMs will feature an Investigation prompt, allowing characters to explore or investigate specific aspects of the environment at their leisure. This is open to TDM characters as well during these specific events. Investigations allow player characters to learn more about the game setting, be it the Grove proper, aspects of their past lives, or in regard to the current event. Occasionally, in lieu of a proper investigation prompt, there may be other ways to engage with similar aspects of the game. Investigations can also be handled on the NPC contact page if preferred, though this is closed only to current players.
IS THERE A NETWORK?
The "network" is composed of enchanted notebooks that, when written in, will have that same writing appear in the other enchanted notebooks ("netbooks"). Considering that mechanic, that means there are no private messages. Characters who purposely write in another language to try to circumvent this will find that their language is automatically translated to something everyone can understand. "Usernames" are merely the character's preferred name. All characters automatically receive a netbook. “Network” posts should be made on the main IC comm and should be labelled & formatted appropriately as such.
ARE THERE BONUS ACTIVITY REWARDS?
There are! All threads submitted must contain at least five comments from you, though the ammont of threads needed will depend on the item. More information is available here.
CAN WE BRING ITEMS OR PETS WITH US?
Upon entering the game your character will have their immediate inventory or a signature item- adventurers will have one (1) weapon no larger than an adult man and up to five repeat items (such as potions), for example, you could have your backpack of things, or something you often have on you (a phone and a sketchbook).
Only one animal companion is allowed, so long as it's not already an applicable character already — no Team Rocket's Meowth, Jesse and James. Familiars or summoned creatures are permitted — but only the one, as said. Animal companions may be shrunk down to be no taller than 5 feet if they're especially large, and may face power nerfs to avoid breaking the game or setting.
If you choose to regain empowered animals like Pokémon, we are capping them at three total. Additional animals can be regained as well if your character had more than one pet, but only once you are in the game — and there are also a breadth of native animals to the Grove that you can also steal, uh, we mean adopt totally ethically, who would love to be yours.
CAN CHARACTERS GAIN ABILITIES FROM THE GAME? WHAT ABOUT OTHER CHARACTERS?
Yes to both, though currently any game-granted abilities are locked, and the page is under construction. The information pages for these mechanics will go up once unlocked in the game. Characters who have magic or the knowledge to grant mechanical upgrades are able to teach or implant these themselves, if their magic is something learnable and not a biological ability. That said, powers gained from the game mechanics cannot be taught — everyone has to go through the process to get those, but they can practice together!
WHAT HAPPENS IF A PSYCHIC CHARACTER IS APPED?
At least once a month they will get a vision of an upcoming event, but maybe not with context. This vision may not also relate to the immediate next event. Good luck!
IS THERE BE A GAME DISCORD?
There is, but it is closed to game members only. It isn't meant to replace the OOC comms for plotting, however.
WHAT TIMEZONE ARE THE MODS IN?
The mods are scattered across the United States timezones, so the bulk of modwork will be done during about 9AM to midnight MST.
!IN-GAME INFORMATION
WHAT IF WE NEED WOOD OR OTHER SUPPLIES?
Heimr at the General Store will be able to provide most things — even items you may not expect from a general store. He also can provide fresh produce, but not fresh meat.
Wood and forageable items can be found in the immediate area, including amongst the bits of trees not shrouded by fog. The Forest demands thanks for these items, however.
Alongside the river is an apple tree and a series of blackberry bushes, as gifts of thanks from the Guardians. Flowers grow within the settlement and are able to be picked freely, alongside a few berry bushes beside what would be houses, but within the woods... it will depend on the situation, and noted on logs when this arises.
HOW DO WE GET WATER?
At the center of Aldric's Grove is a well that provides pristine water- and nothing seems to contaminate it either, as has been noted in various explorations. The Inn and player-built locations also have running water.
HOW DO WE GET FOOD?
Supplies such as food or cloth can be purchased from the shopkeeper himself, or wandering traders when they come to the settlement, in return for scales, medallions found while exploring, or other items you may have. He'll offer fruits, vegetables, grains, and materials to make your own bread, alongside cured meat.
Foraging in what parts of the forest are accessible is also possible, with a bounty of mushrooms and berries available, alongside fish from the river — though you must thank the forest for permitting you the former, and the bones and anything else uneaten from the fish must be returned to the river to continue the cycle of life as upheld by the River Guardian.
Alternative diets for those who require things like blood or, you know, human flesh, simply have to ask the merchant siblings to provide. Just don't ask them to elaborate, please. Or do.
HOW FAR CAN WE TRAVEL?
Aldric’s Grove and the outlying areas are expanded from time to time, meaning the explorable area grows less constrained every few months. Most areas not directly connected to the Grove such as the beach to the east and lake to the west have a ~3 day travel time, although a blessing from the River Guardian can shorten it to only 1. The north and south sides of the Grove, the south being across the river, are only a brief half-hour walk from the well.
To keep up with area expansions, regular check-ins of the plotting posts, event logs, and Locations Page are necessary. We try to make it very clear whenever there’s an expansion to an area in multiple spots, but if you’re ever confused or forget, feel free to head to our FAQ or the Q&A section of the Discord server so we can clarify!
WHAT’S THE WEATHER LIKE?
The weather tends to lean towards a little foggy with a dull cloud coverage, and a neutral temperature that may seem either a touch chilly or just brisk enough depending on the person. Any significant changes will be noted within specific logs.
WHY ARE THERE WEIRD PHOTOS OF ME AND ALSO WHY DO I APPEAR IN THIS DEAD GUY'S JOURNAL?
Player characters will note that Aldric's Grove feels familiar to them. This is because once, many centuries ago, they lived here and helped build the town in their own way, be it contributing to adult society or simply being the next generation destined to inherit the town and its legacy. However, the Forest slaughtered most of the inhabitants and it was decided that since escape was not possible, rather than fuel the entity possessing the Forest, all survivors would take part in a ritual to send their souls to another dimension, reincarnating out of its grasp... up until now, that is.
Every few months, we will hold a past life plotting meme to establish details of these past lives!
ARE THERE ANY ANIMALS?
There are fish in the river, and terrestrial animals who range between terrifying biblically-accurate deer to cute little plant-animal hybrids. There is an old dog who sits at the General Store. His name is Rusty, and he is your friend now. There is also a (cw: monster imagery) slightly-horrifying moose monster who roams freely between the Grove and the fog wall. She's friendly and will entertain conversation, but mostly keeps to herself. Other animals may be introduced to the game during events. The forest has many a monster however, each one unique.
Native to the world are also Plantimals, animal spirits that feature plantlike features. This may mean their fur is also moss, or they have leaves and flowers growing from them. They are distinguishable from Corrupted creatures in that they look much healthier and are immensely friendly and try to help, even if they do not understand what it is they are helping with.
HOW DO WE UNDERSTAND EACH OTHER? WHAT ABOUT MULTILINGUAL FOLK?
You understand each other because the forest wants you to. However, you can only be universally understood in the first language you speak within the game — any other, and only those who also know that language will understand you. Keep in mind that the latter rule does not apply to the netbooks.
CAN WE DIE?
For a little while! Characters who die will awaken in a part of the woods called the Garden, where the NPC Nene will guide them back — however, to leave the Garden and re-enter "life", they must pay a price to the forest. This can manifest in a memory, skill that cannot be relearned, or a body part. Please contact the mod if your character has died.
There will also be events where death is possible, but does not result in arriving at the Garden, but will often end with a resurrection within the Grove. These deaths will have their own consequences, but will vary depending on the event.
For characters with resurrection powers or items, they will work as intended on a much smaller scale, but something else may happen in turn — this will be situational, and a mod will keep you informed as it comes up.
SINCE WE CAN DIE, CAN WE KILL?
Sure, if you plot it out with a player! You can attempt to attack the NPCs, but this will be a case by case basis. Absolutely do not kill a character without permission. That said, do you really want to kill your fellow survivors when they'll come back and know damn well what you did?
ARE THERE CONSEQUENCES TO MISTREATING OR ANGERING THE WOODS?
Oh yes! The more you upset the Woods, the more it takes from you. This can range from something small, like an item, to something major, like a memory, a skill, or even a limb. It's also possible to trade these things to the woods for resources, or to lose them while 'playing', or as a cost of death. If your character is at risk of this, we will alert you and we can proceed from there if you wish to continue down that route.
WHAT ARE THE GUARDIANS?
Guardians are powerful spirits akin to demigods that oversee and protect certain facets of the game environment. All but one have been discovered — the guardian of the forest, the river, and the lake. The goddess-made guardian of the people, Zahliya the gargoyle, has also been resurrected and empowered with sun & moon magic through player actions. The fourth guardian has been slain, but through player action, change is always possible.
Within the ocean is also a guardian-like leviathan called the Cosmic Serpent, a shark who consumed a frankly ungodly amount of Celestial magic and mutated from it. The Cosmic Serpent is solitary and seeks to protect the oceans from outside forces, and is the source of holy rain that can ease corruption. However, it is not wise to ask them for this too often, because it likes its sleep very much and does not answer to mankind.
Related to the guardians are also the Star Shrines, little temples that are home to Stars who descended from the heavens centuries ago to aid humanity during the entity’s initial release and takeover of the forest. Discovering a Star shrine may lead to blessings!
IF THERE ARE GUARDIAN SPIRITS, ARE THERE GODS? GHOSTS? GOBLINS?
As a matter of fact, yes! Three gods have been discovered, though society has long forgotten them. The first two are Beiwe and Ourania, the goddesses of the Sun and Moon respectively, who tend to the skies together. Beiwe is a noted protective warrior, while Ourania is referred to as a healer and the mother of the stars.
The third is the Fallen Sun (also known as the False God or “the Creature”), who waged war against the other gods before being sealed within a temple. Centuries upon centuries later, he was let out on accident, and now he torments mortals, as one does.
There are no human ghosts, and the few ghosts that are there seem to be sleeping.
No word on the goblins, though.
WHAT’S THIS ABOUT SUN AND CELESTIAL MAGIC?
Magic is real and native to the setting, with Celestial magic being one aspect of it. Celestial magic is the overarching umbrella term for Sun magic, Moon magic and Star magic, overseen by the Goddesses. They can grant shards of their magic to mortals to empower them.
Sun magic oversees empowering, fire and purification through destruction. It is the warmth of the sun, and we all know the sun can burn.
Moon magic oversees healing, water and halting the corruption in its tracks. It is the gentle moonlight, but even the serene moon can inspire frenzy.
Star magic oversees aspects of both but on a much weaker scale, alongside blessings like rpg-style buffs and nerfs, defenses, and spirituality. They are the guides of fate, but scattered dimly across the night.
Other than Celestial magic, there are other aspects of magic native to the world. Heimr’s enchanted items in the bonus activity shop are considered to be standard magic items any adventurer could get at a standard store, for instance, and all NPCs have a familiarity with some aspect of magic. More accessible magic has no broad scale term, but is considered to be something anyone could learn.
…AND WHAT’S THIS ABOUT CORRUPTION?
The Forest can inflict a corruption upon those who earn its wrath or submit to its control. They are infected with parasitic plant growth that allows the Forest to control their body, influence their mind or speak to them with ease.
Corruption worsens over time with semi-unique symptoms including mutations, but can also be alleviated with sun magic, halted with moon magic, or cleansed to player choice by Zahliya's magic or with the Cosmic Serpent’s rain.
It should be noted that corruption can be transmitted from other corrupted characters, but this is by player choice.
Heimr at the General Store will be able to provide most things — even items you may not expect from a general store. He also can provide fresh produce, but not fresh meat.
Wood and forageable items can be found in the immediate area, including amongst the bits of trees not shrouded by fog. The Forest demands thanks for these items, however.
Alongside the river is an apple tree and a series of blackberry bushes, as gifts of thanks from the Guardians. Flowers grow within the settlement and are able to be picked freely, alongside a few berry bushes beside what would be houses, but within the woods... it will depend on the situation, and noted on logs when this arises.
HOW DO WE GET WATER?
At the center of Aldric's Grove is a well that provides pristine water- and nothing seems to contaminate it either, as has been noted in various explorations. The Inn and player-built locations also have running water.
HOW DO WE GET FOOD?
Supplies such as food or cloth can be purchased from the shopkeeper himself, or wandering traders when they come to the settlement, in return for scales, medallions found while exploring, or other items you may have. He'll offer fruits, vegetables, grains, and materials to make your own bread, alongside cured meat.
Foraging in what parts of the forest are accessible is also possible, with a bounty of mushrooms and berries available, alongside fish from the river — though you must thank the forest for permitting you the former, and the bones and anything else uneaten from the fish must be returned to the river to continue the cycle of life as upheld by the River Guardian.
Alternative diets for those who require things like blood or, you know, human flesh, simply have to ask the merchant siblings to provide. Just don't ask them to elaborate, please. Or do.
HOW FAR CAN WE TRAVEL?
Aldric’s Grove and the outlying areas are expanded from time to time, meaning the explorable area grows less constrained every few months. Most areas not directly connected to the Grove such as the beach to the east and lake to the west have a ~3 day travel time, although a blessing from the River Guardian can shorten it to only 1. The north and south sides of the Grove, the south being across the river, are only a brief half-hour walk from the well.
To keep up with area expansions, regular check-ins of the plotting posts, event logs, and Locations Page are necessary. We try to make it very clear whenever there’s an expansion to an area in multiple spots, but if you’re ever confused or forget, feel free to head to our FAQ or the Q&A section of the Discord server so we can clarify!
WHAT’S THE WEATHER LIKE?
The weather tends to lean towards a little foggy with a dull cloud coverage, and a neutral temperature that may seem either a touch chilly or just brisk enough depending on the person. Any significant changes will be noted within specific logs.
WHY ARE THERE WEIRD PHOTOS OF ME AND ALSO WHY DO I APPEAR IN THIS DEAD GUY'S JOURNAL?
Player characters will note that Aldric's Grove feels familiar to them. This is because once, many centuries ago, they lived here and helped build the town in their own way, be it contributing to adult society or simply being the next generation destined to inherit the town and its legacy. However, the Forest slaughtered most of the inhabitants and it was decided that since escape was not possible, rather than fuel the entity possessing the Forest, all survivors would take part in a ritual to send their souls to another dimension, reincarnating out of its grasp... up until now, that is.
Every few months, we will hold a past life plotting meme to establish details of these past lives!
ARE THERE ANY ANIMALS?
There are fish in the river, and terrestrial animals who range between terrifying biblically-accurate deer to cute little plant-animal hybrids. There is an old dog who sits at the General Store. His name is Rusty, and he is your friend now. There is also a (cw: monster imagery) slightly-horrifying moose monster who roams freely between the Grove and the fog wall. She's friendly and will entertain conversation, but mostly keeps to herself. Other animals may be introduced to the game during events. The forest has many a monster however, each one unique.
Native to the world are also Plantimals, animal spirits that feature plantlike features. This may mean their fur is also moss, or they have leaves and flowers growing from them. They are distinguishable from Corrupted creatures in that they look much healthier and are immensely friendly and try to help, even if they do not understand what it is they are helping with.
HOW DO WE UNDERSTAND EACH OTHER? WHAT ABOUT MULTILINGUAL FOLK?
You understand each other because the forest wants you to. However, you can only be universally understood in the first language you speak within the game — any other, and only those who also know that language will understand you. Keep in mind that the latter rule does not apply to the netbooks.
CAN WE DIE?
For a little while! Characters who die will awaken in a part of the woods called the Garden, where the NPC Nene will guide them back — however, to leave the Garden and re-enter "life", they must pay a price to the forest. This can manifest in a memory, skill that cannot be relearned, or a body part. Please contact the mod if your character has died.
There will also be events where death is possible, but does not result in arriving at the Garden, but will often end with a resurrection within the Grove. These deaths will have their own consequences, but will vary depending on the event.
For characters with resurrection powers or items, they will work as intended on a much smaller scale, but something else may happen in turn — this will be situational, and a mod will keep you informed as it comes up.
SINCE WE CAN DIE, CAN WE KILL?
Sure, if you plot it out with a player! You can attempt to attack the NPCs, but this will be a case by case basis. Absolutely do not kill a character without permission. That said, do you really want to kill your fellow survivors when they'll come back and know damn well what you did?
ARE THERE CONSEQUENCES TO MISTREATING OR ANGERING THE WOODS?
Oh yes! The more you upset the Woods, the more it takes from you. This can range from something small, like an item, to something major, like a memory, a skill, or even a limb. It's also possible to trade these things to the woods for resources, or to lose them while 'playing', or as a cost of death. If your character is at risk of this, we will alert you and we can proceed from there if you wish to continue down that route.
WHAT ARE THE GUARDIANS?
Guardians are powerful spirits akin to demigods that oversee and protect certain facets of the game environment. All but one have been discovered — the guardian of the forest, the river, and the lake. The goddess-made guardian of the people, Zahliya the gargoyle, has also been resurrected and empowered with sun & moon magic through player actions. The fourth guardian has been slain, but through player action, change is always possible.
Within the ocean is also a guardian-like leviathan called the Cosmic Serpent, a shark who consumed a frankly ungodly amount of Celestial magic and mutated from it. The Cosmic Serpent is solitary and seeks to protect the oceans from outside forces, and is the source of holy rain that can ease corruption. However, it is not wise to ask them for this too often, because it likes its sleep very much and does not answer to mankind.
Related to the guardians are also the Star Shrines, little temples that are home to Stars who descended from the heavens centuries ago to aid humanity during the entity’s initial release and takeover of the forest. Discovering a Star shrine may lead to blessings!
IF THERE ARE GUARDIAN SPIRITS, ARE THERE GODS? GHOSTS? GOBLINS?
As a matter of fact, yes! Three gods have been discovered, though society has long forgotten them. The first two are Beiwe and Ourania, the goddesses of the Sun and Moon respectively, who tend to the skies together. Beiwe is a noted protective warrior, while Ourania is referred to as a healer and the mother of the stars.
The third is the Fallen Sun (also known as the False God or “the Creature”), who waged war against the other gods before being sealed within a temple. Centuries upon centuries later, he was let out on accident, and now he torments mortals, as one does.
There are no human ghosts, and the few ghosts that are there seem to be sleeping.
No word on the goblins, though.
WHAT’S THIS ABOUT SUN AND CELESTIAL MAGIC?
Magic is real and native to the setting, with Celestial magic being one aspect of it. Celestial magic is the overarching umbrella term for Sun magic, Moon magic and Star magic, overseen by the Goddesses. They can grant shards of their magic to mortals to empower them.
Sun magic oversees empowering, fire and purification through destruction. It is the warmth of the sun, and we all know the sun can burn.
Moon magic oversees healing, water and halting the corruption in its tracks. It is the gentle moonlight, but even the serene moon can inspire frenzy.
Star magic oversees aspects of both but on a much weaker scale, alongside blessings like rpg-style buffs and nerfs, defenses, and spirituality. They are the guides of fate, but scattered dimly across the night.
Other than Celestial magic, there are other aspects of magic native to the world. Heimr’s enchanted items in the bonus activity shop are considered to be standard magic items any adventurer could get at a standard store, for instance, and all NPCs have a familiarity with some aspect of magic. More accessible magic has no broad scale term, but is considered to be something anyone could learn.
…AND WHAT’S THIS ABOUT CORRUPTION?
The Forest can inflict a corruption upon those who earn its wrath or submit to its control. They are infected with parasitic plant growth that allows the Forest to control their body, influence their mind or speak to them with ease.
Corruption worsens over time with semi-unique symptoms including mutations, but can also be alleviated with sun magic, halted with moon magic, or cleansed to player choice by Zahliya's magic or with the Cosmic Serpent’s rain.
It should be noted that corruption can be transmitted from other corrupted characters, but this is by player choice.