idolpro | Apr. 24th, 2020

Apr. 24th, 2020

Something nudges at your ankles.

When you look down, you see you’re being headbutted by… a number of fluffy white, red-eyed rabbits that, unsettlingly, seem to have small human hands for front paws. They're doing their best to herd you toward an arched doorway that has opened in the thick brambles and leads to a winding path beyond.

Once you cross through, a gate closes behind you, and the voices of your fellow idols fade from your ears. It seems as if you’re on your own, now.

❀ ❀ ❀

Here, the brambles that surround your path have bits of torn lace caught in their thorns. Some of the fabric is splattered with what appears to be fresh blood.

It seems that the rabbits are carrying some things for you: a collection of sixteen different flowers, a small lantern of blue flame, and a wreath woven from gorse, Star of Bethlehem flowers, and water lilies.

Quick Links: Flowers | Status Effects | OOC Rules

Strange: there's a pile of pencils, pens, and crayons at your feet. Where did that come from?

As soon as you take notice of them, though, they move of their own accord, caps popping off to draw into being a collection of simple, animate doodle people. They can’t talk, but instead begin hurrying off in their wobbly way toward an arched doorway that has opened in the thick brambles and leads to a winding path beyond, waving their arms in the air for you to follow.

Once you cross through, a gate closes behind you, and the voices of your fellow idols fade from your ears. It seems as if you’re on your own, now.

❀ ❀ ❀

Here, the brambles that surround your path seem to be hung with old newspaper clippings and photos, all too faded with age to properly make out.

It seems that the doodle people are carrying some things for you: a collection of sixteen different flowers, a small lantern of blue flame, and a wreath woven from clematis, chamomile, and mimulus flowers.

Quick Links: Flowers | Status Effects | OOC Rules

There's a fluttering noise around you.

A gaggle of colorful miniature animals flit around your ears and nuzzle at your ankles, nudging at you gently but insistently. On closer inspection, it seems they’re made from brightly patterned origami paper. They seem to be herding you towards an arched doorway that has opened in the thick brambles and leads to a winding path beyond.

Once you cross through, a gate closes behind you, and the voices of your fellow idols fade from your ears. It seems as if you’re on your own, now.

❀ ❀ ❀

Here, the brambles that surround your path are hung with prayer strips in an indecipherable language.

It seems that the origami creatures are carrying some things for you: a collection of sixteen different flowers, a small lantern of blue flame, and a wreath woven from lotus flowers, chamomile, and oak leaves.

Quick Links: Flowers | Status Effects | OOC Rules

You feel something metallic nudge your ankle.

Don't be alarmed, but it seems that there are a number of round, spike-covered bombs with equally spiky legs now gathering at your feet. They all vibrate and glow intermittently, like they’re moments from exploding. Despite this, they’re seemingly quite friendly and burble and whistle at you cheerfully, herding you towards an arched doorway that has opened in the thick brambles and leads to a winding path beyond.

Once you cross through, a gate closes behind you, and the voices of your fellow idols fade from your ears. It seems as if you’re on your own, now.

❀ ❀ ❀

Here, the brambles that surround your path are intermingled with barbed wire, which seems to grow as naturally as the thorns themselves.

It seems that the friendly(?) little bombs are carrying some things for you: a collection of sixteen different flowers, a small lantern of blue flame, and a wreath woven from blooming aconite, gorse, and hollyhock.

Quick Links: Flowers | Status Effects | OOC Rules

Wheeling around your feet making quiet beeps and boops are… what seem to be friendly robots, almost like roombas, that have been given attachments of long, jointed arms with simple pincers at the ends.

They whir at the dirt and pebbles on the ground and chatter unintelligibly to each other—and to you, even pinching at your ankles to get your attention. It seems they want you to follow them towards an arched doorway that has opened in the thick brambles and leads to a winding path beyond.

Once you cross through, a gate closes behind you, and the voices of your fellow idols fade from your ears. It seems as if you’re on your own, now.

❀ ❀ ❀

Here, some of the brambles that surround your path have traceries of bright, modern-looking light along their branches, the colors slowly shifting in a fiber optic rainbow.

It seems that the ~~roombas~~ sophisticated robots are carrying some things for you: a collection of sixteen different flowers, a small lantern of blue flame, and a wreath woven from blooming vervain, clematis flowers, and water lilies.

Quick Links: Flowers | Status Effects | OOC Rules

There’s the clattering of hooves on the flagstones, and you turn to see… one extremely tired-looking definitely-human man who is definitely riding a horse and who is absolutely not actually a disguised centaur.

The Definitely Human Man curtly introduces himself as Sheriff Pferd, but any further questions just make him shake his head and give a long-suffering sigh. He beckons for you to follow him toward an arched doorway that has opened in the thick brambles and leads to a winding path beyond.

Once you cross through, a gate closes behind you, and the voices of your fellow idols fade from your ears. It seems as if you’re on your own, now.

❀ ❀ ❀

Here, the brambles that surround your path echo with occasional birdsong and the growls and yips of animals, though no other living creatures are anywhere to be seen.

It seems that Sheriff Pferd is providing an additional service by carrying several things for you: a collection of sixteen different flowers, a small lantern of blue flame, and a wreath woven from blooming vervain, Star of Bethlehem flowers, and honeysuckle.

(He really for real won't answer any of your questions, but if you're polite, you can ride on his—ah, that is, his horse's—back.)

Quick Links: Flowers | Status Effects | OOC Rules

There’s an odd sound, like stones grinding together.

Hopping around your legs and fluttering about your shoulders are what look like a number of gargoyles, each no more than a few feet high and in the traditional gothic cathedral style—and all animate, their flesh made of living rock. They hoot, yip, and howl at you to follow, leading you towards an arched doorway that has opened in the thick brambles and leads to a winding path beyond, chirping at you to follow.

Once you cross through, a gate closes behind you, and the voices of your fellow idols fade from your ears. It seems as if you’re on your own, now.

❀ ❀ ❀

Here, the brambles that surround your path are thick with shadow so dense it seems almost velvety, and the branches curl in strangely ornate shapes.

It seems that the gargoyles are carrying some things for you: a collection of sixteen different flowers, a small lantern of blue flame, and a wreath woven from blooming clematis, aconite, and wild roses.

Quick Links: Flowers | Status Effects | OOC Rules

There’s a peeping and chattering overhead.

Fluttering down to greet you are a number of small and colorful creatures—almost like fanciful stuffed animals, except definitely fully alive and somehow capable of flight despite most of them not being winged. Cooing in a way that is unarguably adorable, they circle around your heads curiously before heading towards an arched doorway that has opened in the thick brambles, leading to a winding path beyond. They then chirrup at you insistently, waving their tiny stubby arms for you to follow.

Once you cross through, a gate closes behind you, and the voices of your fellow idols fade from your ears. It seems as if you’re on your own, now.

❀ ❀ ❀

Here, the brambles that surround your path seem to hide the distant glitter of stars in their shadows, and some of the thorns have been replaced with colorful plastic.

It seems that the magic creatures are carrying some things for you: a collection of sixteen different flowers, a small lantern of blue flame, and a wreath woven from lotus flowers, blooming Star of Bethlehem, and stems of wild oats.

Quick Links: Flowers | Status Effects | OOC Rules

There’s a tiny light before you, like the winking of a firefly. Then two, and then more and more—but rather than going out, they continue glowing as lines connect between them, tracing the shapes of living constellations in the air around you.

Some of the constellations are people and others animals, but none of them speak. Instead, they tug gently at your arms to guide you towards an arched doorway that has opened in the thick brambles, leading to a winding path beyond.

Once you cross through, a gate closes behind you, and the voices of your fellow idols fade from your ears. It seems as if you’re on your own, now.

❀ ❀ ❀

Here, the brambles that surround your path are hung with delicate chimes, and in some places the wooden branches shift to sparkling crystal.

It seems that the constellations are carrying some things for you: a collection of sixteen different flowers, a small lantern of blue flame, and a wreath woven from blooming acacia, gorse, and honeysuckle.

Quick Links: Flowers | Status Effects | OOC Rules

There's a snap in the air like the fluttering of a banner in the wind, and then the heavy sound of some large animal breathing.

Gathering around you, though, are creatures that more resemble the idea of animals: lions, wolves, gryphons, unicorns, and stags with stunted bodies, gaping mouths, and rearing poses—like nothing so much as... heraldry. Indeed, upon closer inspection, their bodies seem to be made of stitched brocade. Nevertheless, they nudge at you with their heads, paws, and horns, guiding you towards an arched doorway that has opened in the thick brambles and leads to a winding path beyond.

Once you cross through, a gate closes behind you, and the voices of your fellow idols fade from your ears. It seems as if you’re on your own, now.

❀ ❀ ❀

Here, the brambles are dense, but the path beneath your feet is cobbled with ancient-looking stone. In the distance, from no identifiable direction, is the faint, steady sound of a drum.

It seems that heraldic animals are carrying some things for you: a collection of sixteen different flowers, a small lantern of blue flame, and a wreath woven from Star of Bethlehem flowers, blooming hollyhock, and oak leaves.

Quick Links: Flowers | Status Effects | OOC Rules

There’s a quiet fluttering from overhead.

Above you are... shifting geometric patterns of red and black. Watching them makes your head swim and your vision blur, but after a few moments they resolve into more coherent forms: owls with deep red eyes and a black-and-white zigzag pattern on their feathers. Swooping around you, they usher you towards an arched doorway that has opened in the thick brambles and leads to a winding path beyond.

Once you cross through, a gate closes behind you, and the voices of your fellow idols fade from your ears. It seems as if you’re on your own, now.

❀ ❀ ❀

Here, the brambles that surround your path have wine red thorns, and wisps of spiced smoke trail through the air.

It seems that the owls are carrying some things for you: a collection of sixteen different flowers, a small lantern of blue flame, and a wreath woven from acacia, aconite, and Star of Bethlehem flowers.

Quick Links: Flowers | Status Effects | OOC Rules