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.
toaflame: (☀ this burden came to me)

[personal profile] toaflame 2024-06-27 10:51 pm (UTC)(link)
[It's appreciated that Vash doesn't pry. Even when he was alive, Adrian is at least aware he was a very private person. It's why he lived at this here Lighthouse, preferring to be out here than in the thick of the village with the other folk. What he isn't expecting is the way Vash stops to say a silent prayer over the grave before he fills it in with dirt.

And that is enough to get him to volunteer something.]


He was my son. I ain't gonna really be able to make this up to you, so...thank you.

[He's sitting back down on the steps now, looking tired. Even with the rejuvenating qualities of the rain, it's been so long since he's been able to turn off the aggression that the exhaustion is catching up to him ten-fold.]

You can. Just...tell the others they shouldn't come here. Not right now.

[Not until he knows it's safe. Vash...well. It's kindof too late for that.]

And. ...I'm sorry for what I did to you. I wouldn't wish this on anyone.
oleaeuropaea: (Truth or Illusion?)

pointing. rosso spotted.

[personal profile] oleaeuropaea 2024-06-28 03:17 am (UTC)(link)
[Ah. It isn't so surprising, but it really sucks to hear out loud all the same. Vash has never quite been attached to someone like that, but he's been around a hell of a lot of kids he'd cared about. And hell, if Rollo had gutting him as bad as it had, he can only imagine what it might have been like for Adrian.]

You don't have to thank me. I can't say I'm glad to do it but... figure I owe you one for all the trouble I've caused.

[He props the shovel up against the stairs, somewhere Adrian can reach when he's ready. He thinks about sitting down himself but.. he knows he's overstayed his welcome. Neither of them know how long the rain will last, or how long lucidity will cling to Adrian this go around.]

I'll do what I can, at least. I'm sure you've figured it out, but we're a real stubborn bunch. [A pause.] I'm sure they'll ask, and maybe I'm curious too. Do you need anything? We're a little stuck right now, but we still have resources. And just in case you're back with us for the time being, you might need supplies.

[He has more or less avoiding the apology for as long as he can. When he runs out of things to say, though...]

I wouldn't either. But I don't hold it against you. You weren't exactly yourself. And I - [He catches himself before he says it. "I deserved it." That probably wouldn't go over well.]
toaflame: (☀ if Im different from the rest)

:)

[personal profile] toaflame 2024-06-28 04:04 am (UTC)(link)
T'tell you the truth, I honestly dunno. When I was...that bad off, I don't think I ever once ate or drank. I can't even remember.

[He had to have been subsisting off pure spite or the Creature's influence or something, to be completely tethered to the Lighthouse this entire time.

Adrian shakes his head a little, rubbing at his face again with one of his free hands.]


I guess...if you can spare any, that's fine. But if not, don't worry 'bout it either. I've survived this long, I'll figure it out.

[And then he glances up, his claws falling back down into his lap again. He truly is a bug-person, even moreso now than Vash is. His wings are huge despite the way they're folded against his back, and his antennae are long and fluffy, though currently matted down a bit by the rain. His body is still unfortunately covered in black thorns, so...might be best that people don't get too near him on principle.]

Even if I could leave this place...I can't. I ain't gonna just leave the cove unguarded.
oleaeuropaea: (A Moment Sat)

[personal profile] oleaeuropaea 2024-06-28 04:44 pm (UTC)(link)
I can dig something up. Don't worry about it.

[His smile is reassuring, gentle. He's already making lists in the back of his mind, things Adrian will need to survive out here. Caring for others is easy, even if he doesn't always do it right. And if he throws himself into it just that little bit extra, well. Adrian isn't going to know any better. The distraction, if nothing else, is nice.]

This is your duty. I get it.

[He knows a thing or two about putting duty above all else. Especially when there is nothing else.]

I might see if we can get you a notebook. You don't have to use it to stay in touch or anything. Just... if there's an emergency, at least you're not disconnected from people that are willing to help. I'm not the only corrupted person back at the Grove. More people can step in without you feeling like you're putting them at risk.
toaflame: (☀ just wanted to fit in)

[personal profile] toaflame 2024-06-29 02:53 am (UTC)(link)
[He's right about that. For Adrian, there is nothing else. He's lost everything. His family, his home. The only thing he has now is this old Lighthouse, and even that carries with it more bad memories than good.

Adrian looks a little perplexed though, when Vash says that.]


Notebook? How's that gonna...

[He looks aside, rubbing at the back of his neck.]

Does anybody else even know I'm out here? It's prolly for the best they...don't.
oleaeuropaea: (In My Noble Asylum)

[personal profile] oleaeuropaea 2024-06-30 05:27 am (UTC)(link)
[At that, Vash can only laugh.]

Guess they're all magicked or something. Anything you write in it, the rest of our notebooks pick up. It's not perfect, considering how far away you are, but it'll be something, right?

[At his question, though, Vash looks a little guilty. He glances down at his feet, shuffling a little awkwardly.]

I told them when I first got back. Mostly because I didn't want anyone else getting hurt. But I also didn't want anyone hurting you.When I first met you I... [The laugh that bubbles up is an awkward one.] I've always had a good eye for people. I could tell there was someone worth saving beneath the corruption.

And hey! Looks like I wasn't wrong about that!
toaflame: (☀ a monster)

[personal profile] toaflame 2024-06-30 05:51 pm (UTC)(link)
Huh...okay.

[He's not sure how much he'll use it. Or, if people will want to hear from resident corrupted-guy from the Grove's past that they wouldn't reasonably be able to remember probably. But if Vash wants to, he won't stop him. Having an avenue open to him for emergencies isn't the worst idea in the world, thinking on it.

When Vash sheepishly admits to telling the others about him, Adrian just shakes his head.]


If that's the case, then it's for the best. You...seem like the only person who mighta' given me that chance.

[Even if he didn't maybe deserve it.]
oleaeuropaea: (And Make Believe Sincerity)

[personal profile] oleaeuropaea 2024-06-30 11:15 pm (UTC)(link)
I don't think that's true. There are so many good people back at the grove. I think a lot of them would have seen what you had to hide.

[Pure Vanilla certainly would have. Probably Beat, too. Livio might have, if he'd been allowed to stay in control for long enough. The list went on.]

One day you'll be able to meet them. If you want, I mean. We've got people working on a cure.

[He won't assume Adrian wants to come live a big, happy life with the rest of the Grove. Maybe one day, though, he'll be amenable to visitors.]

Anyway... I'll also bring back plenty of water. And some cans of food. You might not have had to eat before but... you never know what might happen now.
toaflame: (☀ and watch from far away)

[personal profile] toaflame 2024-07-04 09:06 pm (UTC)(link)
Maybe...I feel like you believe in me more than I believe in me, though.

[This is just how Vash is Adrian dwbi.]

This place...my home has been suffering for a real long time, so. If you all are tryin' to do what you can to fix it, then that's really all I could ask for. Just sucks I can't do much more all the way out here.

But yeah. I don't...remember a lot of those days. It feels like time passed without me even realizin' it. So you're probably right.

[Just him riddled with corruption, never sleeping, never eating, holding constant vigil over this part of the forest.]

Just...be careful goin' back. Even the stretch of woods between here and the beach is dangerous. All of it's dangerous, really, but...yaknow.
oleaeuropaea: (Abandoned My Will to Go On)

[personal profile] oleaeuropaea 2024-07-05 05:23 am (UTC)(link)
That's pretty normal for people who get to know me. You'll get used to it.

[Because they're friends now. And that means regularly bothering Adrian and checking in on him.]

I can't guarantee we'll make meaningful progress in any short amount of time but... we've made progress. More other folks than me. I've just been sorta bumblin' around. But we're all trying. And knowing that you need help just makes us all want to try more.

[Vash shoots a quick glance toward Adrian, before looking away once more —sheepish as can be. He makes a faintly nervous sound before finally saying:]

Think I've gotten myself in enough trouble lately. You can count on me playing it safe.
toaflame: (51)

[personal profile] toaflame 2024-07-29 07:24 pm (UTC)(link)
Progress...anythin's better than what I've seen over the past couple decades, which has been a whole lotta nothin'.

[He'll wave a hand dismissively now, as if to usher Vash back towards the forest.]

Get goin' back to your friends, then. I ain't goin' anywhere, obviously.