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.
mooninthewater: (196)

[personal profile] mooninthewater 2025-02-22 06:19 am (UTC)(link)
Mizuki cannot do anything here to help. He knows he cannot. It's a bit like watching a very long cutscene, he thinks. In the head of the player character enough to know what they're thinking, but unable to "take control". This is history, though. Changing it would be asking for far too much. And it's something that haunts Mizuki still, anyway: Does getting rid of these horrible memories help anyone? If this is their path to walk is it wrong to want to change it? Would it help? What is one's destiny, if not a tapestry continuously woven. They cannot change what is already made, but they can add to it.

His rationale gives a little frown from Mizuki. But these are questions he's definitely asked before. What is a God, truly? What does it mean to be one? Why do Gods have emotions at all? Does that not hold them back? If they're meant to feel, what emotions should they have? Are they different from people? If so, what separates people from them...?

Mizuki does not know. Not even We Many have been able to answer. They were made for a purpose they have not truly completed. So then, can they really be considered gods? Are gods supposed to have a purpose? What of Suri and his sisters? Is there a purpose?

...

Mizuki cannot do anything here to help. He knows he cannot. But in his comatose mind, with this memory playing before him, he still sings. Something he cannot do in his waking, with his voice gone, yet all the same, it's a song that comes to him naturally.


"Home, left his homeland miles behind.
The hunter he walks, on the seacoast way
with his path before him.
Crash, and the driftwood floats, evermore.
It's the salt on my skin
leaving their mark, where the walls once towered.

Oh, it's more than a dream;
It's a play, the tides attending.
Oh, our world comes apart at the seams

From the chaos,
scared and afraid,
I will wander.
I will remain
strong, but it sets with the sun.
Hopeless, I'm chasing the dawn.
And I wander, wander on.
"
mooninthewater: (385)

[personal profile] mooninthewater 2025-02-22 07:34 am (UTC)(link)
Oh! Hm. "Why"? He cannot feel the nasty scar on his neck right now, but that doesn't mean he isn't very aware to it being there, and instinctively tries to reach for it. Cicero had asked him the same question when he fed those bandits who razed his hometown and killed everyone there. Even basically killed him - if Cicero had not made him Seaborn, he would have surely died.

But he did not have an answer then. He certainly does not know now. He cannot say it's because he feels anything for the fallen god. Despite his joking use of "Uncle", he knows there's nothing truly familial there, either.


"I could say the same for you. Though, I suppose there's not much in the way of things I do understand." He's not exactly the smartest person. There's still so much he has to learn. And every day he feels farther from reaching the point he needs to be. "Do you want to understand? Would it change anything? I can accept your pain just fine. I would not be the first time a God has left their grief with me. The only difference is you are still alive."
mooninthewater: (137)

[personal profile] mooninthewater 2025-02-22 08:00 am (UTC)(link)
"Ah, forgive me for assuming.

Mmh... sometimes, I guess? But I think grief is supposed to hurt. I'm not unhappy in the end, though. Not even with my own stuff. I do miss the people that are gone, but I know so many more people now who care about me, too. Isn't that also good?"
mooninthewater: (356)

[personal profile] mooninthewater 2025-02-23 07:23 pm (UTC)(link)
Umm... I don't know if I understand it completely either. Being able to explain stuff like that... hasn't really been my forte... I've been trying to learn. Let's see...

[ Mizuki's attention turns to the grave, of a celestial being that he'd never met, yet still feels for all the same. ]

Perhaps it's because this is partially the fault of my god? He is dead, yet His grief still lives on, and He is making people relive their own. And I don't think that's good. Perhaps it's pity? To live a life full of pain, only to turn to pain yourself. That's also not good.

...But if I had to guess I don't think it's either of those.

[ He looks around at the celestial space they're in. It's funny, being out here in space. He knows, realistically, this is where We Many would like to end up, too. To escape the limited space of the Terran ocean, and simply exist among the stars. But maybe not in a place like this. But maybe someday they would be able to bring hope to even hopeless places like this...

Someday.

But that's not the question. Why does he hold sympathy for someone like Suri? He's desperately trying to think of an answer that he does not think he has. Mizuki remembers something Cicero had told him. To absorb joy around him, to experience the world, to be happy, but most of all, to retain his humanity. That never really made any sense to Mizuki. He's not human anymore. He'd embraced We Many when he, functionally, died. What "humanity" did he retain, when he is nothing like the others here? ]


...Perhaps... [ He's more answering himself at this point, but ] Perhaps to understand one's pain and be sympathetic is... to be human?
mooninthewater: (40)

[personal profile] mooninthewater 2025-02-23 08:33 pm (UTC)(link)
You sure do ask hard questions, you know. I'm not meant to make choices like that. I simply follow orders and do as I'm told...

[ What will he do... he doesn't really think about things like that. But he supposes he does have to here, right? Could he just talk to someone else about it and have them figure it out...? He doesn't know. ]

Do I... have options? [ Like an otome! But he doesn't really know what the options here would be. "Keep quiet" or "Tell everyone", maybe. ] I can't exactly bring it up to Mister The Forest, because he does not like me. More so than the others, even. I think it's because I'm from the ocean? I wouldn't want to tell Miss Ourania, because she is putting up with a lot right now, and I feel like stressing her out would worsen her condition. Telling Miss Beiwe might be bad, too, 'cause she seems the sort to tell her wife everything. Perhaps I can talk with Hoshibi...?

...

I don't know. What about you? What do you think I should do?
mooninthewater: (73)

[personal profile] mooninthewater 2025-02-23 09:43 pm (UTC)(link)
"Do not justify anything he has done"... [ Mizuki sits with that for a moment. It's the same sort of trolley problem that he's been asking others for ages, right? The same sort o conundrum he's been looking for the answer to. Is it right to kill someone before they take more lives, or try to help the murderer and let his victims die? Mizuki does not know. ] I do not need to know any moments of vulnerability from Mister The Forest. Even if I had none at all, my opinions would not have changed. I could always tell he's hurting. But it isn't like there's any way I can talk with him without upsetting him or putting anyone at risk.

Regardless of what I find out, or what I know, the people and Guardians of the Grove seem to have made up their minds. I am simply me. I cannot mend the heart of my own God, there's no way I can do that for a former one that does not belong to me. And I certainly cannot convince anyone to follow my lead, when I am the furthest thing from a leader.
mooninthewater: (29)

[personal profile] mooninthewater 2025-02-23 11:49 pm (UTC)(link)
...I don't think that's true. Wanting something different than the majority... That is why my God "died". He wanted Our kin to coexist with the humans, and when instead We slaughtered thousands, He died from His grief. I just want to stay happy, I think.

It would be nice if everyone were happy, though. It would be sad if Mister The Forest died like that, too.
mooninthewater: (419)

[personal profile] mooninthewater 2025-02-24 12:46 am (UTC)(link)
[ Sensitive and loving... maybe. Mizuki had joined We Many long after it had already died. He only knows what he hears from others. What they think in the hivemind... ] ...No, but it might be a little easier if that were the case. Makin decisions would not be impossible in that instance.

You sound a lot like my mentor. He said stuff like that, too. It still doesn't really make any sense to me. To want your own things, to do things on your own - but my individuality never mattered to me.

[ Desire... Crave... The only thing he's ever really wanted was food. And video games. To love and live and have friends and smile. And... ]

It's only when he told me to do what made me happy that I really understood anything. This kind of sadness... hurts. A lot. So I'd like to find a happiness that's so overwhelming, that pain like this doesn't have to persist anymore.

But that's a "good ending" right? Everyone wants one of those. I'm not different for wanting that.
mooninthewater: (360)

[personal profile] mooninthewater 2025-02-27 06:06 pm (UTC)(link)
Mmh... [ Maybe to anyone else, that's a tempting offer, but... ] That's alright. Bearing pain like this on your own is horrible, so even if I can take on just a little bit myself, it's kinda like I'm being helpful, right? In that case, I don't mind.

Oh, of course, I appreciate the offer! It was really nice to talk to you!! Can I ask... why you're here?
mooninthewater: (412)

[personal profile] mooninthewater 2025-02-28 04:34 am (UTC)(link)
I'm alright, really. If there's anyone who needs a break, it would be Nene, Ydalir, Heimr... or anyone who's spent so long here at the Grove.

A bit of...truth? Hm. Do you know lots of things? That must be nice. I don't know that much myself. Oh, but, you offer that to other people? What of you? What could I do to help you?
mooninthewater: (77)

[personal profile] mooninthewater 2025-03-01 03:41 am (UTC)(link)
Long since dead... But you're here now. I'm still talking with you. It certainly doesn't sound like you're dead. [ Not like the Arbor, anyway. It can't form new thoughts, only repeat Its old ones... ] Are you... related to "him" at all?

[ The fallen sun, he means. If that much wasn't clear. ]
mooninthewater: (38)

[personal profile] mooninthewater 2025-03-01 03:59 am (UTC)(link)
"Safe"? Are you in danger?

...

You're not "him" are you?
mooninthewater: (461)

[personal profile] mooninthewater 2025-03-02 12:22 am (UTC)(link)
Hehe, you don’t have to worry about me, you know! It’s very kind of you, but I’ll be fine. At the end of the day, I’m just a useful tool. There’s nothing that can be done to me that I’m not already prepared for.

You should take some rest instead of me. If you’ve been here for a long time, you must be tired. I can listen, if you need someone to talk to about your worries.

(no subject)

[personal profile] mooninthewater - 2025-03-02 01:36 (UTC) - Expand