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.
kingincognito: (104)

[personal profile] kingincognito 2025-03-10 07:18 pm (UTC)(link)
[ The spears bouncing off the surface of the ward make Joshua huff out a soft breath in victory, but he doesn't let the walls fall. Not yet. Not until he sees what she plans to do next.

And it's a good thing that he doesn't, because more spears are forming. He doesn't need to tell Clive to stay inside the ward - Clive knows not to leave it. Instead, he grits his teeth, the Phoenix's tail feathers fluttering at his back as he strengthens the ward, because goodness knows it's going to need it.

The spears come down on it, and this time, they don't bounce. Joshua growls, steeling himself as the spears relentlessly press their attack on his shield. To his credit, it holds through the assault - but not without a significant crack forming in the barrier. ]
aneikonic: (109)

[personal profile] aneikonic 2025-03-10 11:31 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Being a being of light, the Megaflare probably won't hurt so much, but they do twist in towards her to seek her out. He turns his attention briefly to Joshua as he hears and feels the shield crack, debating. They can either join together and withstand the onslaught, while ignoring Beiwe opening herself to attack, or they can join together and attack her once more.

He turns to raise his hand, Ifrits fire burning bright on it like Joshua's Phoenix as he joins his brother to stabilize the shield, his voice low. ]


One last onslaught?

[ Let's make it count, his voice says. Everything they have, short of Priming. He doesn't know if they can make a Semi-Primed version of Ifrit Risen... but there is Ultima yet in him.

Divine against Divine. ]
kingincognito: ([semi-prime] 72)

[personal profile] kingincognito 2025-03-12 03:30 am (UTC)(link)
[ Clive's additional aether serves to boost his ward, and the crack made by Beiwe's spears gradually heals itself. Joshua lets out a soft sigh of relief, but he can't truly give into it yet. They still have work to do.

To Clive's question, though, he nods. ]


One last.

[ He doesn't know what his brother has planned, but if this is their last, he will give it his all, just shy of priming. Only once he feels it is safe to do so does he drop the shield, and he immediately draws upon every ounce of strength he can muster, flames building at his hands to deliver a solid plume of flame directly in tandem with whatever Clive's next attack will be. ]
aneikonic: (ultima)

[personal profile] aneikonic 2025-03-14 12:12 am (UTC)(link)
[ Inhale. Exhale. He calls to Ultima's powers and feels the oily alien crawl under his skin. He normally wouldn't call upon it, but he's not alone here. Joshua is by his side, stabilizing him, and they're doing this together. He doesn't fear it.

As four wings appear along his back, along with the juts of Ultima's 'halo' as he coalesces his energy. It's not Divinity on the same scale as Beiwe's; it's only a fraction of what he wielded to remake the world, and there's no true harmony between vessel and power, but he's using Joshua to tie it together.

His brother is his stabilizing force, after all.

And he will hit Beiwe with everything they have to give together. ]
kingincognito: (29)

[personal profile] kingincognito 2025-03-20 10:39 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Clive is that fucking Ultima--

Seeing his brother summoning Ultima, of all things, makes Joshua falter for only a split second. He has never seen Clive do this before. He knows the danger that Ultima poses. But he can't let it distract him - they are throwing everything into this, after all. Clive's attack will be far stronger than his own, so he splits off just a little of his attention, making sure that Clive stays grounded.

And... it works! If Beiwe laughing is any indication. Though, the crater is a bit concerning. Thankfully, the speed of his semi-primed form allows for quick dodging.

Doesn't stop him from coughing wetly into his hand as he settles back on his feet, though, the semi-primed form bleeding away from him into motes of aether. Ugh, he may have pushed himself a bit much... ]


Thank you, Lady Beiwe. It was an honor.

[ She could have kicked their asses. He knows this. But she is impressed nonetheless. What would it have taken? Ifrit Risen? ]
aneikonic: (082)

[personal profile] aneikonic 2025-03-23 09:59 pm (UTC)(link)
[ No it's a weed-

And he thanks Joshua for keeping his attention on him, because it's being mindful of his brother that keeps that oily sinister sensation in check. And he's able to dodge as well with a quick slide of energy around him, spinning his wings at the last moment to keep them from being clipped, and landing himself as he does to quickly let that energy go.

Eyugh.

And once she calls an end to it, he drops the semi-prime as well, moving over to his brother to put a hand on his back gently and support him while he coughs, frowning a little, voice soft murmurs. Sorry, relax, breath. Then he turns his attention to Beiwe, only after Joshua has been taken care of, inclining his head with a little smile. ]


It has been. I'm glad we got to test ourselves against you.

[ And that she didn't just sit there and make them feel like ants kicking at a giants toe. ]
kingincognito: (44)

[personal profile] kingincognito 2025-03-25 01:49 am (UTC)(link)
[ Oh. A small... coeurl? No, the whiskers are not long enough. Joshua watches it run to the house as he catches his breath, glancing up at Clive in thanks a moment later. When the thing comes back and deposits a bottle at his feet, though, he blinks in surprise. He... hadn't expected anything like this.

He kneels, collecting the bottle and rising to his feet again, cradling it in his hands like a precious treasure. ]


Thank you, my lady.

[ It is a gift given in kindness, and one that he knows he should take now rather than later. So he does, listening intently as he drinks from it. It does indeed soothe his throat, and he feels significantly less ragged.

The question of a mark does make him pause, and Joshua turns to Clive, tipping his head. ]


... well, brother? What do you think?

[ Personally, he doesn't mind it. Beiwe has proven to be on their side. ]
aneikonic: (014)

[personal profile] aneikonic 2025-03-31 12:47 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Oh, that's a cub. No, wait, that is not anything he's ever seen before. He stares at it as it delivers something for his brother, barely hearing what they're saying because he wants to pet the animal. He gets the children back at the Hideaway would love it.

He glances up towards his brother to watch him drink, his hand soothing on his back still and murmurs a soft thank you to Beiwe as well once it looks like his brother is stable again.

The question makes him hesitate, studying Beiwe then his brother as he turns to him. He can see Joshua is alright with the idea and that makes him nod. Joshua is the one he was worried about, what with his mark from Ultima still. He turns back to Beiwe and salutes with his sword. ]


I would be honored, Lady Beiwe, to be your sword and Priest.
kingincognito: (25)

[personal profile] kingincognito 2025-03-31 12:59 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Clive's approval is all that Joshua was waiting for. His own scar from Ultima aside, if Clive wasn't interested, he would have respected his brother's wishes.

But, with his brother's approval clear, he, too, turns to Beiwe, and mimics Clive with a salute of his own sword. ]


And I, as well.
aneikonic: (031)

[personal profile] aneikonic 2025-03-31 10:06 pm (UTC)(link)
[ He might pet the animal after the blessings, which he will accept quietly. And of course he's going to check the spot out after. It's not that he doesn't trust her, he's just curious as to what it will look like. His armor shows off a pretty considerable amount of chest, after all, it's not hard to just push aside some bits and take a peek.

... Mm. It's less the mark of a God that gets him and more that it reminds him of a certain brand cut off his cheek. But it's also not the same, and he knows it, so that unease will fade after a second and he glances back up.

The last bit makes him raise an eyebrow, a small amused smile coming to his lips. ]


Somehow that seems rather insulting towards you. But thank you. I promise you won't regret your decision.
kingincognito: (148)

[personal profile] kingincognito 2025-03-31 11:03 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Ooh, warm and tickly. Joshua focuses on the feeling for a moment, and on where it ends up concentrating. But rather than look at his own chest, he glances to Clive, who is already looking at his own. It isn't hard to see the mark on his brother's chest this way. ]

Oh, it's subtle.

[ He likes it. Far better than the mark her brother had left on him. He places his hand to his chest, covering where he knows his own mark has been placed, and bowing gracefully. ]

Thank you, Lady Beiwe. We will do our utmost to honor your name and your cause.