sticksandbonesmods: (Default)
sticks and bones. ([personal profile] sticksandbonesmods) wrote2023-08-24 11:28 am
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NPC CONTACT

NPCs
To request a thread with an available NPC, put their name in the subject line and anything else you feel is relevant. NPC threads cannot be used for Main AC, but can be used for Bonus AC.

Available NPCs:

Shopkeeper / Heimr.

(he/him)

A tall, heavier man who dresses in slightly oversized clothing not unlike that of a wandering merchant of sorts. He has golden orange eyes and long, curly dark hair that's starting to turn silver here and there, and though he carries a certain weeriness, this does nothing to mask his kindness. He has absolutely no pokerface whatsoever. During the day and late at night he mans the General Store with the help of Plum's magic, though now that he needs to sleep, he's more prone to catnaps at the counter. That said, he'll always be ready to listen or offer a cup of tea. Late winter/early spring, he became human — but not the man he used to be. Heimr gained his name from Mizuki.

Trader / Ydalir.

(she/her)

A large woman who adorns herself with rich colors and baggy clothes to hide her shadowy form, and the Shopkeeper’s sister. Like her brother, she has given her name to the forest and with it, her identity and humanity. She is much more energetic, but more likely to anger as well. She runs a trading booth, armed with magical items from who knows where and a mirror that allows her to reach for items across dimensions, which she will use for the new residents of the Grove! For a price. Her name was given to her by Mizuki.

Rusty.

(he/him)

An old dog who desperately wants to go home. Before the fence erected itself, he spent most of his days trying to get into the manor with little success. The Shopkeeper says the children of his former master are inside the manor, and he wants to return to their side. He can be fussy and has a flair for that doggy judgmental side eye, but he’s gentle and loving as well. What secrets does he hold?

Zahliya.

Played by [personal profile] purifier
(he/they)

A Gargoyle rescued from the fog who is very fond of his titles. Known as "the Purifier, He Who is the First Sentinel, the Grove's Guardian" and fifteen other things, Zahliya is short, combative, and possesses the ability to cleanse corruption by taking it into himself, or burning it out with magic. While formerly unable to conjure said magic, Zahliya is now capable of curing all but the most dire forms of Corruption. His true name is "Amun-Ra", given to him by the Goddesses who created him. He can typically be found perched on the roof of the church, and wields two holy blades called Daybreak and Nightfall.

Zonari.

(she/her)

A Gargoyle constructed by the Fallen Sun/Forest who was brought back to the Grove with some reluctance. Zonari is firmly on the side of the Fallen Sun, though she will entertain being spoken to, and is operating under a truce with everyone here under the promise that they will reunite the Fallen Sun with Beiwe and repair the trust lost between the siblings. She refers to Zahliya as her brother. Her magic deals in Corrupting and modifying memories, and she has a small amount of control over Time. She rarely visits the Grove to "check on you all", and will not get directly involved in affairs of the players at this time.

Moder.

(she/her)

A terrifying, two-story tall moose monster known as the Guardian of the Forest. Moder speaks exclusively in a language that sounds similar to Old Norse, but her words are automatically translated in the heads of those who hear her into something legible. She roams the Grove freely and slips in and out of the fog, regularly killing dangerous monsters to protect the people within the fog's protective bubble. If you ask nicely, she will give you rides around the Grove. During Spring and Summer, mosses and flowers grow along her back and bloom in her hoofsteps.

Sinann.

(it/its or they/them)

The River Guardian, Sinann is a five-foot long fantail fish. It is the reason the river flourishes, and it is the reason you should return the bones of fish you take from the river back to it. Despite appearances, Sinann is just as powerful as the other Guardians. It has the ability to enter a humanoid form to go on land, but will largely still be a fish in the river. Sinann's healing water can heal all but the most fatal of injuries, and it recommends carrying a bottle of it with you just in case.

Callan.

(he/him), art by [plurk.com profile] winterbolt

The Lake Guardian, Callan, lives within the lake primarily, but his "mobile home" is in a fishtank in Pure Vanilla Cookie's house. He has the ability to charm people with his siren's song, though lately he's learnt to "be good" and ask first before he tries to take bites out of people. To make matters worse, he's also a shapeshifter, and tends to take on amorphous forms. He cannot shapeshift to something that would break his usual powers — no birds/flight, and no saltwater creatures. Mostly, he wants to play and taunt people. He acts much stupider than he truly is, but he's not going to tell you that.

The Sky Guardian/"Aurora".

(she/her)

Dubbed "Aurora" by the residents of the Grove, The Sky Guardian, the "bird of rainbow", was killed by the Fallen Sun when it Fell. Thanks to the efforts of Pure Vanilla Cookie, she has been resurrected. When she initally perished eons ago, it is said the stars fell from the sky with her; with her return, the stars, too, have come back. She is kinder and more patient than the other Guardians, and can shapeshift into various types of birds. When in her real form, she stands at three stories tall. A single rainbow tailfeather can bring people back from the dead without consequence — but the offerings required can be steep.

Dragon Hatchlings.

(varies)

A clutch of seven dragon young who hatched upon the beach midwinter. The young vary greatly, but are friendly and playful little things. They like to play at the Rec Center or can be found in various places around the Grove, though they all have favored guardians and caretakers.

You may ask them for a blessing or two, threaded here.

Nene.

Played by [personal profile] mermaidcursed
(she/her)

A young girl who was previously corrupted, but healed by the Cosmic Serpent's holy rain and Pure Vanilla Cookie's efforts. This has resulted in the more malignant plant growths on her to drop and die, but at this point she is still significantly plantlike, as she's come to rely upon these mutations to survive for thousands of years. At a glance Nene will stand out due to her eyepatch, metal legs and the flowers growing out of her hair. As she's now free of the Forest, her exuberant and bright personality is starting to really shine through. Upon death and revival, Nene will personally lead you back to the Grove. Just don’t let go of her hand on the journey.

Elsword.

Played by [personal profile] simplicitas
(he/him)

A young man who was once living among the Grove's residents and formerly Corrupted. Elsword formerly resided in The Garden, where he greeted and spoke to the dead, as well as researched the secrets of it. He decided to resurrect for a chance at attacking the Fallen Sun out of revenge. Fully blind, he can be found living with Mizuki, but spends a majority of his time outside camping out across the river and upstream from Vash's House.

Callisto Abella.

(she/her)

A merchant and 'treasure hunter' if you believe her words, Callisto is a cynical woman who has the unfortunate crime of freeing the Fallen Sun, letting him claw his way back to power. He's kept her as a personal pincushion for centuries, killing and resurrecting her at whim, and though she's still full of fire, she is also weary from years of guilt, suffering and the realization that everyone she knows and loves is dead. Callisto keeps to herself but can be drawn from her room at the inn with good company, good food and good wine- which she also enjoys making.

Semi-Available NPCs:

Semi-Available NPCs are NPCs that are only able to be spoken to under specific circumstances. The circumstances are outlined under each NPC's informational blurb. These NPCs may or may not be moved to Available or Unavailable status depending on further plot updates. Characters who do not fulfill the requirements will not be able to thread with these NPCs. They live under a cut to save page space.

List of Semi-Available NPCs (Click to Expand):

The Behemoth.

(she/her)

The "daughter of Callan", The Behemoth is an enormous, many-eyed crocodile who is now trapped outside of the lake due to the fog wall. She has interest in humankind, and will regularly stalk anyone near the river, but will not try to harm them unless she is harmed first. She claims that she will side with whoever makes her home better, be it humankind or the Creature in the Woods. She can only be spoken to while using the Bone Ring.

Plum.

(they/them)

A little fox spirit within the General Store, Plum is the reason that Heimr can get so many supplies and keep it stocked year-round. There is a shrine to them in the back of it. Plum can only be spoken to while using the Bone Ring.

Beiwe.

(she/her)

The Goddess of the Sun, Beiwe's statue rests next to the well. She traditionally wears armour and wields a sword. She is boistrous, loud, and passionate, and praying to her will make the area feel warm for a time. At one point, she rode on the back of a giant dragon named Sehul. Her statue shows her without her horn-halo cracked, but the real Beiwe does indeed sport that injury. She can be contacted via prayer, but unless otherwise noted, cannot be physically interacted with at this time.

Ourania.

(she/her)

The Goddess of the Moon, Ourania's statue rests next to the well on the opposite side from Beiwe's. She wears a flowing gown and a scarf in her statue. Little is known about her, though she is said to be "very ill". Another humongous statue of hers lies underneath the far-off lighthouse, built into the cliff face. When prayed to, she makes the world feel colder for a moment.She can be contacted via prayer, but unless otherwise noted, cannot be physically interacted with at this time.

Felicity Morais.

Played by [personal profile] amethystic
(she/her)

A young witch and Star who was called to an uninhabited star shrine to empower it once more. She stays to both provide a beacon of safety to other Stars in the forest, share her power and a third, much less pleasant reason: to be live bait for that which would kill the holy lights and give them time to protect themselves best.

Unavailable NPCs:

Unavailable NPCs are, well, not available for threads for one reason or another, but are listed here for bookkeeping/lore reasons. They may or may not become available at a later date. Available NPCs may also become unavailable at a later date, and will be moved to this list accordingly. To avoid clutter, this list lives under a cut, but all NPCs are lore-important and should be considered part of the story even if they aren't necessarily contactable.

List of Unavailable NPCs (Click to Expand):

Aldric.

(he/him)

The founder of the Grove, owner of the manor, and Rusty’s previous master. He had planned on establishing the Grove as a pitstop town within the woods while trying to clear space for a shortcut trade route between towns. It seems that he invited people who needed to get away from their hometown as means of refuge as well. ... Recently, the Shopkeeper has confessed to being Aldric, though he can no longer call himself by name.

Renard.

(he/him)

Aldric’s best friend and the co-founder of the Grove. Currently, he is deep within the forest, sealed into a tree and awaiting rescue. He is said to have taken a magic artifact long ago that the forest wants, intending to hide to protect it.

Olivia.

(she/her)

Aldric's sister, who lived within the grove. Apparently she guards the star shards. Through magic and great sacrifice, Olivia gave up her name and with it, her humanity, to become the Trader.

Audrey.

(she/her)

Aldric’s youngest child. Her body was discovered in the manor, laid to rest within her bedroom. She has a gravestone outside of the manor, and both Rusty and the Shopkeeper can be found there sometimes.

Rillian.

(she/her)

Aldric’s oldest daughter, the middle child. She remains within the manor for reasons unknown, and refuses to exit, insisting that it’s for something necessary.

Evan.

(he/him)

Aldric’s oldest son. He remains in the manor alongside Rillian, and refuses to exit, insisting that it’s for something necessary.

"The Forest".

(he/it)

Or rather, the entity possessing the forest as a whole. Childish, sadistic, and power-hungry, the Forest has invited you to play! And you will play, whether you like it or not. Though it can show acts of kindness, it views all life as its toys, and will not be convinced otherwise. Known also as the Creature, the False God, and the Fallen Sun, the entity possessing the Forest was formerly a God that Fell and has seen fit to wreak havoc upon the world. The Guardians will tell player characters to call it anything other than a God so that it doesn't regain any more power. While not available for direct threads on request, the Forest will interact with characters through major events and storylines. At one point, it was named "Suri" by Affogato Cookie, though this name is not known by other player characters and should never be used ICly due to that. Do not do a metagaming, thank you.

Sehul.

(they/them)

A long-dead Guardian, formerly Beiwe's mount and said to be a flame-coloured dragon. Sehul was killed by the Fallen Sun in an attack. The Guardian's skeleton can be found at the lake's edge, sunken into the sediment.

The Cosmic Serpent.

(any/all)

Lying in the whirlpool in the middle of the ocean viewable from the cliffside, the Cosmic Serpent is a long, glittering leviathan who feasted upon the fallen stars eons ago. They will not entertain conversation, and their preferred hobby is taking a nap.
amhran: (pic#16415890)

Shopkeeper / Heimr.

[personal profile] amhran 2023-09-25 05:25 pm (UTC)(link)
Um... H-Hello... [ A gentle knock on the door to the store, more towards the later evening sometime after the fight with Modr took place. ] Are you... There?
amhran: (pic#16415892)

[personal profile] amhran 2023-09-25 07:47 pm (UTC)(link)
... Some company... Perhaps..? [ She hears the tiredness in her voice, matching it trully. ] Though, if you are tired I would rather you rest.
amhran: (pic#16415899)

[personal profile] amhran 2023-09-25 10:34 pm (UTC)(link)
Mmm.... [ She wobbles in and finds a place to sit. She seems tired and exhausted by everything that has happened and the way the world weighs against her shoulders now. ] How are you feeling?
amhran: (125)

[personal profile] amhran 2023-09-25 11:05 pm (UTC)(link)
... yes... Even so.. When someone dies, you lose something from yourself. [ Each one of them have so much to lose - she cannot fathom the loss of any kind. Such cruelty is unfortunate, that said. She seems to look up at him, searching for something. ] ... Is our circumstance so hopeless, that the want for change is meaningless?
amhran: (pic#16415902)

[personal profile] amhran 2023-09-26 12:36 am (UTC)(link)
Do you...


[ It goes quiet. The sounds of the world around them fills in for where Caoimhe wishes to speak. ]


Do you remember...?

[ A gentle exhale. ]

- - Remember what you said to me... That day, when you saved me from the woods... You said, 'The Woods are cruel, Caoimhe. It's not something you can save. And it's gon' eat you alive too if you try to follow her footsteps.' [ Caoimhe gently reiterates what the other had told to her that day. ] .... Do you feel that way? Of the world around you - - when it is lost unto itself, or unto the ways where darkness creeps in all its weight?
amhran: (127)

[personal profile] amhran 2023-09-26 02:28 am (UTC)(link)
I know that... I know that about, all those I meet. [ This is why she is a disappointment to her people, who did not think the other Gods or people of the Kingdoms deserved their benevolence - yet Caoimhe always felt otherwise... Despite their attempts to indoctrinate beliefs upon her.

'The Gods are the reasons Humanity mustered themselves into walls, and live in Kingdoms afraid of the outer worlds. They do not care for nature, do not care for any life beyond themselves, and let sin fester in their souls so the devils may feast on them!'

No, Caoimhe believed in all Gods, believed in their creations, believed in the faith they had in mortal kind, and believed in all living things that came to be even without their action.

What reason is there to live, if we are not meant to adapt and be with one another? If creation and the greater existence made us here for this moment - what reason was there to think, we did not all belong in it?

Fate and Destiny meant nothing to her - her logic was simply that carefree.

Every living being has free will, and it is that free will that can bend, make, or ruin things.

Caoimhe's thoughts on the world are like the breezes that caress the oceans, wandering, softly, gently, and not bound by anything.

And yet, to many, did not belong anywhere at all. ]


But even so... Even so - if it means I do not belong anywhere at all! [ She breathes, and clutches tightly to her heart. Standing up and looking towards the other. ] If it means my whole purpose is to truly die here after all, then so be it!

[ Caoimhe shouts - angrily? Sadly? Lost? ]

Let me die believing that there is a way to free you! That there is a way to free the Grove and return the forest back to how it was! Undo the powers of the moon and the sun - and the stars that fall in between!

[ She does not move from where she is but, she looks to him crying desperately saddened by this moment coming onto her shoulders. ]

It is not right that such cruelty can be said and not made undone! That the forest must cry because it is alone, that Nene must suffer the consequence of that solitary curse! That the forest - if it would only learn that it is not so ugly and decrepit in its ugliness that it acts no different from a selfish King or a broken-hearted child!

The cruelness of the world does not need to drag one another in its sufferings - [ She chokes, crying her heart out. ] You should not need to know loss anymore. None should feel lost or bewildered by the direction this place takes us - there is so much pain in everything you see... [ With some sense of urgency she says, ] I know that - - I know that everyone is suffering.

And I know its not just us, it is you, it is your children, it is the forest, it is in the way the air grows heavy... It is everything here around us - that is why. No matter the reason for the suffering I want to accept it, and change it into something new.

[ Better? New? Unmake it? In a place that is suffering, where do you intend to find happiness? To Caoimhe though, she feels it needs to be built upon hope - but deep down in this moment, she is lost and uncertain and - maybe, she wants Aldric to tell her she is wrong. Or, tell her again truly - understanding her feelings. To not lose hope. ]
amhran: (pic#16415901)

[personal profile] amhran 2023-09-26 03:02 am (UTC)(link)
I KNOW THAT!

[ She shouts back, upset and undeterred by what he just said. ]

WHY DO YOU? WHY DOES EVERYONE THINK THAT I WANT TO DIE TO END THIS MADNESS?

[ She steps forward upset, and angry - having never felt so dejected in her life. As she speaks her harp glimmers, and she seems to say something that - she actually should not remember... But something within seems to remember all the same. ]

THAT THE ONLY TRUE WAY TO A TRUE END - IS TO FIND IT - NOT SACRIFICE FOR IT! I REFUSED TO LET A GOD KILL THE FAEWILDS JUST SO THE MATERIAL PLANE COULD LIVE - I WOULD NOT LET THE COURSE OF ANOTHER LIFE DIE JUST FOR THE SAKE OF ANOTHER!!!

[ Caoimhe says this and, finds herself deflating immediately. With a shaky voice, she says quietly. ]

Why... Why does no one understand me...?



amhran: (27)

[personal profile] amhran 2023-09-26 03:49 am (UTC)(link)
[ She see's her worth, but questions it when all that she is - often is scrutinized because she thinks differently. Caoimhe loses her confidence, lost in her thoughts and the meaning of her existence. When she tried to save Sylas, she was told she was wrong. When she tries to find another way to save the spider - Cormac denies her humility and tricks the spider Megdrona into dying. So much of her travels were like this...

All that she is was, becomes squashed beneath such pressure. Buried beneath the ocean, except here - Beithir is not there to remind her, of her worth. As a father would or should . . . ]


I am sorry... Thank you for your words, I will... I will take my leave.

[ Shaking her head, she wants to escape. Wants to go to the ocean again, but it is nowhere near her. At least, she runs off to the next best thing... ]