TDM 011

[goldmods]

【 Thank you for choosing the Golden Peacock, 5-star resort and casino. You are currently registered as a WILDCARD in our system.

We are thrilled to announce that the Golden Peacock will be embracing autumn with a special outing. Current and new guests are invited to join us for a refreshing outdoor experience where participants can unplug, unwind, and connect with nature. During this time, all Watches will be disabled to the most basic functions (texting, calls, checking chip account) in order to encourage guests to disconnect.

Please look forward to two weeks of finding yourself amongst the trees. We hope you enjoy your stay, and have a fan-CAMP-stic time. 】

CAMPING

GETTING OFF THE GRID

As the resort moves into what it claims is autumn, the days grow shorter. The projected sun in the Vale sets in the afternoon, after which a faint chill falls. Then there’s the most excessive transformation of all – a portion of the Vale has transformed into a campground complete with a scenic lake, seemingly overnight. Statues nearby have been dressed up with flannel jackets and suspenders. Folksy banjo fills the air without any discernible source.

A section of the campgrounds have been reserved for tents. These tents vary in size, shape, and supplies. All tents, regardless of quality, are supplied with sex toys and lube. Staff and long-standing guests all agree — pretending to live in the wilderness and 'rough it' for a while is thrilling. This is what the peasants feel like all the time!

NOT ALL TENTS ARE EQUAL

► High-rank guests are allocated spacious and luxurious tents. These elaborate mini-homes come with TVs, beds, heaters, and plenty of supplies. Provided camping gear is high quality, ranging from state of the art flashlights to designer backpacks. It can't quite be considered roughing it in these tents, but glamping is camping too!

► Mid-rank guests are allocated moderate tents that comfortably fit up to three guests. These tents come with cots or sleeping bags, as well as standard camping gear to make their time living off the land fairly comfortable. While these tents lack the bells and whistles of the high-rank accommodations, they are more than enough for a comfortable but realistic camping experience.

► Low-rank guests are allocated the shabbiest tents. These sagging accommodations can shield one guest comfortably, but that doesn't stop staff from pairing low-ranking guests together in order to save space. Their 'sleeping bags' are a single blanket and hay bale pillow. There are no other included amenities aside from sex toys and a single lantern.

► Last but certainly not least: our Wildcards! All Wildcards have been randomly assigned. Whether they end up in a glamping tent or sleeping beneath a propped up sheet is left to chance. Wildcards also may find themselves waking up beside a current guest or another new arrival.

► Guests that "go camping" will discover that the door connecting the Vale to the rest of the resort has mysteriously vanished. Uh oh! Looks like there's no going back to the comfortable life anytime soon. Don't worry, the door will return when it's time to pack up and head home.

LET'S GET CRAFTY

► New characters still wake up naked save for a robe, as is standard for the Golden Peacock. This round’s robes are flannel gingham to embrace camping and autumn aesthetic. Some of these robes are much shorter than others; watch out that the lake breeze doesn’t reveal more than you wanted.

► Unlike the standard, there are no racks of clothes waiting for new arrivals outside of their tents. You're roughing it out in the woods, remember? Instead of clothing, Wildcards will find an assortment of raw materials to make clothes.

Fabric rolls, hemp, buckets of leaves, leather, and other assorted goods are waiting to be cobbled into something new. The staff have been kind enough to leave some small hunting knives and wooden needles to make crafting a bit easier. Of course, they won't stop anyone that wants to embrace the wild side and strut around naked.

HOME ON THE RANGE

Welcome to the Peacock Campgrounds! Nicknamed the Stomping Grounds by long-standing guests. Rustic and right off a sparkling lake, guests will find everything they need to live in the wilderness. Staff have expertly set up fire pits, benches, hammocks, and a wooden shed to act as a tool depository. There's even an outhouse, which is a real novelty to many of the long-standing guests. Do they just... squat over that hole and do their business? How wild!

Unlike previous resort-sponsored excursions, guests are expected to manage without the help of staff. That pile of wood won't be replenished once used; guests will have to go chop down trees and split their own. Food won't magically appear in their tents regardless of rank. Camping is all about living off the land. Though staff make themselves scarce to make the experience feel real, they lurk in the shadows, discreetly providing necessary tools and fixing broken equipment so guests won't struggle too much. It isn't fun if it's real hardship, after all!

DOES ANYONE KNOW HOW TO COOK?

► On the first camp morning, guests will find barrels of ingredients and cooking utensils left beside the central fire pit. These barrels are stocked with fruits and vegetables that won't spoil quickly, many of which are seasonal to autumn. They have also been left a few protein options like eggs, jerky, and canned ham. These ingredients are communal and limited. Once they run out, guests will have to hunt and gather in the Vale to collect more.

► Guests must prepare their own meals while camping. Not even the high-ranks are given any special treatment on this! While oil and firestarter are included in the initial supply, these too are limited and won't be replenished after use.

► Staff would never let their precious guests go without a sweet treat. A generous supply of hot cocoa and all the fixings for s'mores has been left behind as well. While none of the other food will be replenished, the hot cocoa and s'mores goodies seemingly never run out. A night around a campfire without roasting marshmallows or sipping cocoa would be too cruel to subject guests to.

SUPPLIES RUNNING LOW

► Guests will have to hunt and gather once ingredients dwindle if they want to eat. The wooden shed is home to a selection of tools that can be used to hunt: bows and arrows, hatchets, axes, fishing poles and line, etc. All tools are rudimentary and can break if not taken care of.

► The Vale is lush with wild fruits and vegetables. However, much like in reality, not all vegetation in the Vale is safe to eat. While some berries and mushrooms are consumable, others are toxic or psychedelics. One must also not forget that they're in the Golden Peacock: some unusual plants that grow in the vale may trigger arousal. Watch out that you don't eat something funky by accident!

► Before 'leaving', staff will explain that guests can fish or hunt small game running throughout the Vale. One particularly enthusiastic staff member will suggest guests track down the snoggleboffs, as they're extremely delicious after roasting on an open fire.

ACTIVITIES

TWO WEEKS OF ROUGHING IT

Camping can't be all about survival. Where's the fun in that? Before 'leaving', the staff arrange activities and events for guests to enjoy. A wooden bulletin board outlines times for group hikes, camping experiences, and wilderness delights. Adirondack chairs line the edge of the lake and a few tire swings hang over the water, tied to strong tree branches. For the first week and a half the weather is pleasant and sunny. Perfect for camping.

At night, acoustic guitars and other wooden instruments come out so that guests can make music around the bonfire. Projected stars dapple the night sky, forming various constellations sourced from guest worlds. The moon enters a different phase each night, shining a gentle silver across the campgrounds. Why not pull your sweetheart in and cuddle beneath the night sky? It's so romantic.

IN CAMP

► Guests that don't want a cold shower should make their way over to the shower stalls quickly. These outdoor showers hold very little hot water and run cold after about five minutes. First-come first-serve!

► A wood-chopping competition begins around lunchtime. There are two goals: to split as much wood as possible and looking sexy while doing it. Guests that chop wood unsexily immediately fail! Alternatively, sexiness with a pathetic number of chunks is more acceptable, but still a loss. Those that achieve both goals will instantly win a large payout. Failing to sexily cut wood won’t have any penalties associated with it, and you can always try again tomorrow!

► Bear hunting is a popular activity that even the spoiled long-standing guests are getting in on! No, not hunting real bears. That would be insane. Peacock's version of bear hunting involves hunting down bear-like guests and capturing them! Any guest that fits the criteria of big, thick, and strong may potentially be assigned the role of bear. Hunters who manage to tie up, handcuff, net, or otherwise 'capture' a 'bear' will instantly receive a large payout.

THE LAKE

► This sparkling lake is rich with fish. Enjoy sitting back on the long pier with a fishing rod or take one of the wooden boats out for a row around the lake. It's also safe to swim in, for guests that would like to take a dip and rinse off the sweat of camp living! Don't mind the random swim trunks or drink umbrellas that pop up now and then. This water is definitely fresh and not recycled from the summer beach extravaganza.

► Guests that do decide to take a dip may encounter a familiar friend. Fernando the tentacle monster is camping too! This randy tentacle monster is as horny as ever, eager to embrace guests and stick slippery tentacles into any reachable orifice.

► Once the sun goes down, many of the long-standing guests strip off their shoddily crafted clothes and sprint into the water for skinny dipping by moonlight! What's a camping excursion without a lake-side orgy? The best way to drown out those erotic moans from the lake is to head to the central fire pit and join in on some campfire songs.

OUTSIDE CAMP

► Those that head out of camp for a hike or hunt can enjoy any of the Vale's usual wonders. With autumn, shiny apples dangle from the trees and pumpkins pepper beneath their protruding roots. Along with autumnal fruits and vegetables, canned beef and ham have been mysteriously left in pockets close to the campgrounds. A little act of kindness from the staff; not everyone is cut out to hunt their own game!

► For those interested in hunting down some fresh game, walking around the forest in the morning may come with a stroke of luck. Strange little creatures the size of an adult's fist are active during this time. These hairy beasts come in brown and white, and screech, "Scrun scrun screeee!" when agitated.

Yes, these are the alleged snoggleboffs! Don't feel bad about hunting them, they're an invasive species that are unfriendly and eager to steal from unsuspecting guests. Their main strength is their speed, but once caught, they don't put up much of a fight.

► Guests that explore deep into the Vale may find a dark cave mouth that leads downward into a damp chamber. The ceiling glitters with stalactites and, along the wall, they'll find a horizontal crease with what seems to be... hair? If touched, this crease will creak open, revealing a large eye that darts back and forth before focusing on whoever woke it. Black pupils and iris bleed into one endless abyss.

Those that gaze directly into the eye will freeze. Their mind will remain active while their body locks in place, not unlike sleep paralysis. This trance will break once the eye blinks, which it will do after some time... but it can also be forced into blinking by force if there's someone who hasn't made eye-contact around to help. Frozen guests will be overwhelmed with the fear of abandonment for the duration of their paralysis. This fear will fade after the connection is broken, as if it wasn't their fear at all.

Like a regular eye, dirt or debris can force a blink. If this route is taken, the eye will go bloodshot and shut, refusing to open again. Any guest that inflicts damage to the eye may find that their suite, upon return, has been trashed. As if someone or something threw a big tantrum in there while they were gone. Wonder why that happened...?

HOWLING

CALL OF THE WILD

Temperatures drop drastically at night as the camping excursion nears its end. Nights become so chilly that morning dew frosts over, crunching beneath guest feet. Every day the light and its warmth set a little bit earlier. Staff remain elusive and do not provide warmer blankets or clothes for guests, leaving them to cuddle for warmth or find other ways to sleep comfortably during nightly cold snaps.

The moon hits its apex on the final night of camping. Unlike the other nights, this full moon shines blood red. The Vale stills under this ominous sign, silent. Snowflakes begins to fall, spreading an endless clean sheet across the campgrounds. That reflected pink hue is inescapable.

THE WEATHER TURNS

► Along with chilly nights, the last few days of camping feature inclement weather conditions. Clouds overtake the sun and rain falls, alternating between light mist and heavy downpour.

► Winds pick up, with speeds threatening to whip away the less stable tents. Guests that don't hunker down and add additional support to their tents may end up chasing them into the storm. Other loose items around the campgrounds may end up blown away as well.

BLOOD MOON

► Wild instinct rises with the blood moon. As crimson moonlight beckons, some guests may begin to feel ... strange. As if they need to claw their true selves free. Those that answer the call to bathe in the light of the blood moon will undergo a transformation.

► Basking in the light of the blood moon triggers a were-transformation. While the standard were that the blood moon inspires is the classic werewolf, guests may transform into any kind of were. Along with hybrid transformation, the blood moon stirs mating and sex impulses in these new weres. Remaining humans are at risk of being eaten... in the sexy way.

► Transformation into a were is not mandatory. Other guests may step into the blood moon's light and not experience any kind of transformation or impulse. These guests are now actors in a sexy horror scene, given the task of surviving the night surrounded by monsters! At least they're sexy monsters? Giving in and fucking on the wild side may be more fun.

PACKING UP

► After the crazy weather and horny werewolves, the staff judge that it's high time to wrap this excursion up. Guests will once again openly see these diligent workers the morning after the blood moon. They come flooding into the site with clothing, snacks, and other comforts while praising everyone for surviving for so long without the resort's usual luxuries.

► A first aid tent and cleaning station are swiftly erected. All guests that volunteer to treat injuries sustained over the course of the camping experience or help clean up the site will be compensated with a large payout.

► Every guest that participated in the camping event, regardless of whether they help wrap things up, will be issued a spa voucher. Go relax, you've earned some pampering after all of that hard living!

OOC NOTES

INVITES | RESERVES | APPLICATIONS

▶ BLANKET CW: altered states; eyes (descriptions only, incl. eye injury); exhibitionism; hunting (incl. hunting fantasy creatures); orgies; public sex; survival; temperature play; tentacles; transformation; violence

▶ All characters on the TDM are WILDCARDS, which means they have not yet been assigned a card value. Suits will not manifest until characters are accepted into the game.

▶ All TDMs are game canon. This TDM acts as the game's September event. Camping will ICly begin September 15th and end October 3rd.

▶ Current characters may top level on the TDM. Any current characters posting to the TDM should note they are current in their subject header.

▶ The top level directory is for new characters only. We want to make sure new characters are prioritized and receive attention! If you would be interested in a game invitation, you can note that in your comment header.

▶ Smut threads that take place on this TDM can be used for rewards. If both parties in the smut thread join the game, you may retroactively apply the character's initial card values to your 52 bank. If one character does not join the game the thread will not be applicable toward rewards (as that character would not have a card value). The character that does join would still receive a small payout for the encounter. Hopefully it was a fun thread regardless!

▶ We ask you to kindly add content warnings to your threads as appropriate.

▶ If you do not currently have permissions and kinks listed in your character’s journal we suggest leaving a note in your top level of any limits or boundaries for other players to reference.

NAVIGATION • LOG • NETWORK • OOC • MEME

Comments

2

[greatestworks]

[ There is strength in numbers, they say. Phainon has been offering, when he isn't cooking in that makeshift community kitchen at the central fire pit, to accompany those headed out to gather firewood and forage for food. Armed with a sturdy hardwood branch for a weapon and dressed in a scant flannel robe, the upper part folded over its abbreviated hemline and securely knotted at his hip, Phainon at least looks sturdy enough for the self-assigned role of a guardian. Broad-shouldered and muscular, he affects the demeanor of one unruffled and comfortable in his own skin.

Mainly, it's just to put others at ease.

He looks up from where he's been rubbing the fronds of a fragrant herb between his fingers, trying to identify the plant by its scent. Brushing dirt from his knee as he stands, he steps over, his sandals strapped to his feet and calves by lengths of dry plant fiber stripped from hanging vines, and more of them have strapped some thick bark over his wrists as bracers. Maybe he's been having a little too much fun with this roughing it business.

The self-made guardian takes a knee, thankfully preserving his modesty, and rests the pole against his shoulder as he stoops to get a closer look. After a moment, a self-depreciating laugh breaks his silence, and with a chagrined and compassionate look angled in Ferdinand's direction, he confesses: ] It looks like one I might put on my own table, but my experience won't avail me much here, I'm afraid. I'm as much an outworlder as you.

[ Phainon flattens out his hand as he shrugs. Resting his forearm on his bent knee, he contemplates the growth, at last reaching over to delay any further attempt to reach for the mushroom by resting his hand on the other man's wrist. Brow furrowed and his expression a little more somber, he concludes: ] As a Chrysos Heir, my blood affords me a hardier constitution than most. Allow me to test it first.

[ Famous last words. ]

[nobiliteatime]

[ The point made by the other man is a salient one, and Ferdinand nods, grunting softly in agreement: they are both outworlders to this place, so any similarity to mushrooms they know from their own worlds may be superficial at best. He looks to the hand on his wrist, then to the mushrooms before them. ]

Hmm.

[ Ferdinand considers the offer, appreciative of the selfless nature of it. And yet, as both a nobleman with a strong sense of duty and someone with a Crest running through his blood, he wouldn't feel right just letting someone else take all the risk. ]

There is no telling what alien biology these mushrooms may have. Were we feeling truly cautious, I would say let us simply move on and forage for nuts instead.

[ Still, he's not one to give up so easily. He carefully plucks the oddest looking mushroom of the bunch — the least phallic looking, as well — and removes it from the tree. ]

I have studied the very basics of healing magic, but unfortunately, my skills are poorly suited for curing people of poisons and toxins. Let us be cautious. Even with your constitution, I would rather not take any more risks than necessary.

[ With that, he tears off a small chunk of the mushroom and holds it out between two fingers, ready to deposit it into the other man's hand once he's ready. ]

Here. I make no guarantees as to the taste, unfortunately.

[greatestworks]

[ It appears they're both in agreement about the risks. In truth, Phainon could very well be putting his life on the line; some mushrooms are known to be lethal, and some could make one wish it had been. Neither hubris nor overconfidence drives him to shoulder the risk.

Nuts and berries could only satisfy half of the nutrients a healthy body needs, but Phainon sees no need to press the matter. Those metal canisters sometimes supply valuable protein, if their attempts to hunt and fish bear too little fruit, but those supplies, too, might dwindle before long.

The bearded fruiting body that Ferdinand picks looks harmless enough; Phainon turns over his hand, and, after regarding it with slight dubiousness, he offers with a smile: ] For better or for worse, down the hatch.

[ He chews, and his eyebrows shoot up. ] Mm?

[ Subtly sweet... a bit meaty, yet has the bouncy texture of scallop. He makes an appreciative sound, nodding. ]

Surprisingly toothsome! I imagine that would suit any palate once roasted over a fire. ...Let's see how that sits.

[nobiliteatime]

[ Ferdinand watches solemnly as the stranger ingests the piece of mushroom. He has some very basic proficiency with the healing arts from his studies, but magic in general is not one of his strengths. He might be able to, with enough time, mend a small wound, but for curing someone of poison, he reckons he would need to run and fetch Dorothea or see if there was a more well-versed herbalist.

Much to his relief, however, the reaction is pleasant, and Ferdinand's expression immediately softens. His instincts had told him not to trust the mushroom that looked the most palatable, as knowing the resort's twisted logic, that would've worked out to be one with the most potent side effects. Of course, it's also quite possible that none of the mushrooms were toxic to begin with. ]

Ah, I am glad to hear it! But please, do let me know if you start to feel any effects from it, ill or otherwise.

[ He gives a glance to the other mushrooms, but decides it best not to take the chance. He retrieves a small, sharp stone from his pocket and uses it as a makeshift knife, scraping the rest of the mushroom off of the tree. ]

There are all kinds of magical herbs and mushrooms in my world, as well as plenty of the more mundane variety. So far, I have only encountered the latter out here, but there have also been plenty that I did not recognize, or that I worried might be the same only in appearance.

[ Gathering the scraped mushroom into his makeshift sack, he smiles brightly, pushing himself upright. ]

Thank you for your assistance. I think it best not to chance these other ones quite yet. If you were to fall ill, then we would not know which mushroom caused it at this state.

[greatestworks]

[ Nodding to reassure Ferdinand that his self-assigned guardian won't be shirking his duty to notify him of any further developments, Phainon takes a small burlap satchel from the knotted 'waistband' of his robe and shakes it out. Rolling the mouth of the sack back over his knuckles, he returns to his investigation of the leafy, fragrant herbs he had stepped away from.

While he doesn't try tasting them - he wouldn't want to taint the results of their experiment, after all - he does help himself to a fistful, twisting a stem around them to make a bundle, and drops it into the satchel. ]

Verdant blessings of the gods don't always agree with the palate of mortals, you're right to play it safe.

[ He plants his fist on his hip, offering a bright smile. ] Since we're waiting, how about a detour?

There are herbs along the rocks not far from here. They make a fine herbal tea. I've tried them and can attest to their safety.

[ Besides, sometimes you just want a hot drink, and you can only have so many cups of hot cocoa before the smell of it kills your appetite... ] What do you say?

[nobiliteatime]

[ Ferdinand smiles pleasantly, both at the reassurance that his newfound foraging companion won't suffer in silence and at the mention of tea. There are many varieties of tea that Ferdinand has had, both in the resort and in his own world, and brewed properly, there has not been one that he hasn't found at least a little interesting. ]

I say that sounds perfect. I was given some tea leaves as a welcoming present of sorts, but when I tried them, I discovered that they were...

[ His face flushes slightly, the embarrassing implication souring his mood very briefly. ]

Well, to put it lightly, it is not the sort of tea that I should share with just any company. So, some herbs that are guaranteed to be safe would be a welcome change of pace.

[ Very welcome, in fact. He can't remember the last time that he's had tea that he didn't have to get from the resort and worry about any potential aphrodisiacs. ]

[greatestworks]

[ Well! Phainon had offered it as a convenient alternative, having grown rather sick of hot chocolate's cloying sweetness while trying to quell the grumbling of his stomach during the night. Easy to forage, easy to prepare; that Ferdinand is interested just makes the detour worth the trouble.

But Ferdinand's tale - Phainon lacks some of the context, assuming that perhaps the taste hadn't been what he expected, or worse, that perhaps the tea had somehow been off - until he catches the hint of color on his fine features, and mouths a silent 'oh'.

Oh... that must have been why Dan Heng had warned him. Troubled, Phainon pauses to think. ]

I see. So... take nothing for granted. Anything, consumed or otherwise, has the potential to poison our intentions.

[ Like an insidious command buried in the signals that make them who and what they are. With this unspoken suspicion in mind, Phainon gestures towards the way onward and proceeds. The way is not far, as he'd suggested, and the only noteworthy thing is someone's collapsed tent tangled up in some bushes - which contained juicy-looking berries in colors ranging from pink to a purplish black. ]

Did you see those berries? If you're hoping to avoid embarrassment, [ he suggests with a wry smile, ] I wholeheartedly recommend steering clear of those. A shame, because the black ones were delicious.

[nobiliteatime]

[ Having been born into the station that he was, Ferdinand is used to speaking rather obliquely about certain sensitive topics. Of course, given where they are, such a delicate approach can seem quaint to those more used to what the resort asks of them. As such, he appreciates when Phainon requires no further explanation. Perhaps he is in like-minded company.

He casts his gaze to the berries that are pointed out, nodding in understanding. The berries look completely innocuous to him, and in fact, he had considered plucking a few of them. Now, he's quite grateful that he held off. It wouldn't have been the end of the world (or the end of him), he presumes, but he likes being in complete control of his own faculties. There is so little else he can control, after all. ]

Ah, what a shame. Though I suppose you could still enjoy them in moderation, provided that you are with appropriate company.

[ The thoughtful look on Ferdinand's face suggests he may be giving his own idea some consideration, but he's thinking in broader terms. The resort has provided tainted food and drink with the intention of making the guests more inclined to certain proclivities, but if taken of one's own accord, provided there are no lasting effects, then they should be relatively harmless. Mood enhancers for private company, perhaps. Of course, he's always been one to try to make the most of a bad situation. ]

Ah, that can be a thought for another time. Please, tell me about yourself. I am curious how you came to have that iron constitution of yours. You said it had something to do with your blood, I believe?

[greatestworks]

[ Nothing special here - just a good country boy, with manners drilled into him by a highborn noblewoman. He isn't particularly offended by the overt displays he's encountered here and there; it just seems careless to comport oneself in public the way one might in private.

Which isn't entirely the reason why he answers Ferdinand's speculation on the berries with a polite, if deeply self-conscious, chuckle, a hand scrubbing through the short-shorn white hairs just above his nape. ]

There's... not much to say, [ Phainon hedges, ] Most Amphoreans are your run-of-the-mill humans and, of course, the various Titankin. Those born with or who manifest golden blood are usually a bit different from the rest.

[ He waves that off, his hand reaching up to pull aside a bough of a tree that might have otherwise brushed against Ferdinand - or required he duck his head to avoid it as they walk. ] Not that it makes a difference, we're all 'guests' here. What about you?

[ A question about blood, but not in the way one might think. ] That noble bearing and your manner of speaking, you hardly strike me as your run-of-the-mill citizen.