The Fortress of Many Turnings [open]

[applesaucemod]

Welcome to Caerdroia. Though at first glance this world seems calm, even idyllic, closer inspection will reveal a startling lack of linearity. A doorway in one place can suddenly lead to another entirely, the locals going about their business seem totally unaware of your presence, and you may find reminders of home that are less than welcome -- and less than safe.

The countryside seems almost designed to set one at one's ease. Gentle, rolling hills overlook a town in the near distance, and herds of friendly cows cluster here and there (with unknown intent).

The Garden of Curiosities is a walled-off park. Inside, streams and paths wind through beautiful landscaping, and animals can be found on the loose everywhere. For the most part, these creatures are friendly (or at least indifferent) toward visitors, though their appearance might perturb. One might see an animal one has never encountered before, or one might find the garden inhabited by creatures from one's own world that are somehow changed, whether in size, color, or behavior. And, of course, one might find something rather more predatory has taken up residence….

The town hall never seems to be in the same place twice. Finding your way through the streets to any one particular building is an exercise in frustration, as the town seems to shift and change whenever part of it is out of your sight. The hall itself isn't much better once you get inside; stairwells have a habit of appearing on the ceiling, hallways turn into dead ends while your back is turned, and floors are liable to open up into fathomless pits.

The Labyrinth is where many journeys seem destined to end. The way out is, more often than not, the way in. Try to leave one part of Caerdroia, and the doorway might very well open into the labyrinth. And, like any good labyrinth, this one is home to a Minotaur. And, like any good Minotaur, this one would be more than happy to tear you to pieces.

[OOC: Once again, the shared dream is open to all characters, including those not currently in the game and those belonging to players who are not currently members. Once again, too, players are free to choose whether their characters see the dream for what it is, whether they are forced to abide by its rules, and whether they will remember this in the morning.]

Comments

[bluesuit_handy]

Andrew strolls dreamily through the countryside, something about the way the cows are following him niggling at the back of his mind. There's something important about them -- something about all those clanging bells round their necks....

It isn't until he crests a hill, though, that things click into place. Standing atop the crest and looking down at the town laid out before him, he takes in a sudden, sharp breath and puts a hand out to steady himself against a random bovine. "Oh, no. No. No, no. Not this, not again." He looks down at himself, then peers about sharply, as if expecting to see someone who shouldn't be here.

[modern_alpha]

Perhaps it has something to do with the large, chocolate-colored wolf following after them. These are not the streets of London, of this Biffy is absolutely sure. The cows, quite frankly, are making his stomach growl but even the most uncouth of the London Pack wouldn't be so rude as to eat someone else's livestock.

Well, maybe aside from Channing.

When the man speaks, Biffy tilts his head and sits up.

[bluesuit_handy]

Now, a wolf is right up there as something that shouldn't be here. It's not, however, what Andrew was expecting, and he looks right over the wolf's head once or twice, eyes trained at human head height. The dark patch in amongst the barnyard hues of the cattle, however, finally draws his attention downward.

"Oh!" he says. Then, "What? That's not -- that's different."

[modern_alpha]

Biffy yawns delicately, exposing his fangs but also suggesting his boredom with the situation. As if it's all quite de rigeur for someone like him.

Really, if he could just finds some clothes then he could shift back and discuss this situation civilly.

[bluesuit_handy]

Good luck getting that across. Andrew tilts his head at the canine. "The cows aren't running from you," he points out.

[modern_alpha]

He knows that and shakes his head in agreement. Then he nods toward Andrew's jacket, looking hopeful. If he's careful, it might cover him post-shift.

[bluesuit_handy]

It's too bad Andrew just sees the wolf looking at his midriff. Well, and shaking its head like it understands. Furrowing his brow, he asks, "Is it safe to assume you can understand me?"

[modern_alpha]

Biffy nods, slightly disgruntled that he is stuck between the rock and hard place of eternal charades or indecorous nakedness.

[bluesuit_handy]

Well, it's not like he isn't already naked.

"..Right. And you definitely weren't here the last time I visited. Do you have a name?"

[modern_alpha]

He shakes his head no and then nods his head yes to the second question. Biffy looks thoughtfully at the ground to see if he can write the B-I-F-F-Y.

[bluesuit_handy]

Forgetting his caution, Andrew edges closer to see what the wolf's doing. "I'm Andrew," he says, figuring at least he can introduce himself even if the wolf is currently unable to return the courtesy.

[modern_alpha]

Biffy dips his head toward Andrew by way of greeting and then nods toward the scratched out name, hoping it's clear enough to read.

[bluesuit_handy]

Finally catching on, Andrew peers at the letters. It only takes him a few seconds of staring to realize he's looking at them upside-down and to step around to where he can see it properly.

"Biffy?" He looks to the wolf for confirmation.

[wildmage_daine]

Daine is wandering amongst the cows, doling out ear scritches and producing a strangely never-ending supply of apples from her pockets. It isn't until Andrew crests the hill that she realizes he's here, too, and she grins up at his back, about to call out when his posture changes. Uh oh. Something's wrong.

Frowning, Daine wades through the herd of cattle, apologizing silently to the ones she hasn't greeted yet. "Andrew?" she says once she's close enough for him to hear her without her raising her voice. If there's trouble, she'd best not shout. "Is something wrong?"

[bluesuit_handy]

"Daine?" Andrew turns on the spot and gazes at her, mouth open, brow furrowing in confusion. This place, these cows, that town -- it all draws him back into a memory, and for a few moments he wasn't sure, despite having checked which body he's in, that he wasn't actually back in the moment he remembers. But then, C'rizz and Charley aren't here, not to mention --

Well, best not mention.

"We shouldn't be here," he replies, confused as much as he is troubled. "Here shouldn't be here, I don't think."

[wildmage_daine]

"Shouldn't we?" She hasn't given much thought to where she is, but to be fair, the cows have been plenty distracting. Daine lurches a little as one shoves its head beneath her arm to sniff at her chin, and she has to bite back a grin despite her second-hand worry. "Where are we?" she asks as she scratches between the cow's ears.

[bluesuit_handy]

Andrew's frown deepens, though he still hasn't taken his hand off the comfortingly warm cow beside him. "Caerdroia," he replies, feeling the answer inadequate. "I've been here before, hundreds of years ago. It's not...well. It's not somewhere you just go."

[wildmage_daine]

"Caerdroia," Daine repeats, trying the word out. "That's fair pretty." She gives the cow one last pat before easing herself away from it, then picks her way to the top of the hill before any more of the creatures can hold her up. It's not surprising when a good chunk of the herd ambles after her, and she absently digs a few more apples out of her pocket.

"New York isn't someplace you just go, either," she points out, offering Andrew one of the apples. If he's going to use a cow as an armrest, said cow might as well get a treat out of the bargain.

[bluesuit_handy]

"Initially," agrees Andrew reluctantly. "But it's a lot further than New York. This place -- this universe --"

He struggles to come up with something to express how wrong it always felt to him, even if he can't feel it now. Taking the apple, he gives it a confused look for a moment, as if thinking of biting into it, but then the cow under his arm turns her head in interest and he catches on and holds it out for her.

"This universe has no concept of Time," he explains, disturbed by the memory of it. "This isn't -- none of this is what it looks like, I remember that. I just wish I could remember what happens next."

[wildmage_daine]

Well, now he's just being confusing. And that's setting aside the fact that as far as Daine's concerned, New York is plenty far from Tortall.

"The cows seem normal enough to me," she says with a dubious little frown. She might not know cows as well as ponies, but she'd know if something wasn't right with them - or with any of the People, really.

[bluesuit_handy]

Andrew looks surprised. "They're real?" he asks, finally turning his gaze on the cow acting as his crutch and getting a good look at her. He'd been ready to write this entire world off as an illusion, though he couldn't remember specifically what was supposed to be real here and what wasn't.

[wildmage_daine]

Daine nods. "They're not like the Doctor's kittens. They have minds." She can feel them when she focuses a little; their minds have a soothing warmth that go a long way towards banishing any worry that Andrew's behavior stirred up. "The one you're leaning against is named Sunspot," she offers, as if that proves things. Sunspot is of the opinion that Andrew could stand to eat a little more grass, but Daine elects not to pass that comment along.

[bluesuit_handy]

"But the bells," he mutters, confusion clouding his face again. He still can't remember what's important about the bells or why they would contradict Daine's assessment of the cows' genuineness, but there really was something important about the cows. Or at least, something important about their bells.

Plaintively, he asks, "I've still got my face, don't I? We just came from New York, didn't we?"

[wildmage_daine]

What sort of question is that? "Of course you still have your face," she replies, gawping up at him. "And..." and she's not sure where exactly she was before she was here, now that she thinks about it. Brow furrowed, she pouts down at the grass for a few moments before inspiration strikes.

"Wait," she lifts her head sharply, eyes widening, "are we dreaming again?"

[bluesuit_handy]

That's right, he checked and he hadn't shrunk half a foot and grown curls. He lifts the hand not resting on Sunspot to check his hair again -- no, still...well, not short, but floppy rather than curly.

He stares at Daine, then opens his mouth, looks around, and shuts it again with a nonverbal whoosh of air. "That would explain how we're here," he admits. "It, ah -- it wasn't easy to get here the last time. Awful, actually. Catastrophic. But then why the cows?"