CROSSROADS ※ 1: DISCUSSION POST [mod event] [video] [open]

[konman]

Okay, so those bird dudes weren't lying about the different paths. I found the crossroads they're talking about.

[Kon really shouldn't be tromping around alone like this so much but he's used to being nigh on invincible. It's going to take a while for him to get used to the idea that he's not.]

[The road was all overgrown but there is a road through the woods - and it leads here, to a place where the line of the forest breaks into wide fields of golden grasses. Kon sets up his mirror to expand to its largest side and leaves it to float. There's a crossroads here with a battered wooden sign. The wood is so faded and weathered that words can no longer be read on it.]

[The path splits off into three paths. Down the left-most path, the unlabeled path leads down a dark and dreary road towards some hills. One hill can be seen all the way in the distance, standing out above the others. Rising a thousand feet above the rest of the land around it, it's covered in battered ruins that offer at least some shelter from the elements and cover from potential enemies.]

[Down the center path, the path clearly leads to a sinister-looking wild forest, a dark and dreary wood that seems filled with endless shadows. The path disappears into the woods and the tangled branches make it impossible to see into the forest's depths, especially at this distance.]

[Down the right-most path, there's candy. No joke. Dirt and normal plants start to give way to cobblestones made of hard candy and sugar-spun delicate trees. Gummdrops line the side of the road. The other two paths are grim, with even the hilly path dim from cloudy skies, but this path seems to have clear skies and constant sun.]

[Kon stands in front of the mirror, so that the paths are behind him.]

So our choices are: the Land of the Hill Trolls, Mirkwood, and Candyland.

[He narrows his eyes.]

I don't trust Candyland. [He gestures vaguely at it.] The other two roads have the good graces to be creepy from the get-go, but that looks deceptively nice. It's trying way too hard to be cheerful and sunshine-ey.

[ooc: See the OOC Post here.]

Comments

[the_hit_list]

[ Tim just raises an eyebrow at the mirror and starts counting on his fingers. ]

The Joker, The Ventriloquist, the Condiment King, the Mad Hatter, Kite-Man, March Harriet, the Polka-Dot Man, Crazy Quilt – stop me when I get to one that makes you think a place full of Candy is probably also full of cackling henchmen – Toyman, Cap'n Fear, the Trickster v1 and 2, Rainbow Raider, Killer Moth, Calendar Man…

[ Tim will go on until he is stopped or exhausts all over-the-top themed villains. ]

[konman]

Okay, but that means it could be a giant trap, in which case we're better off finding out where the edges of our captivity dome are and just getting out and then dealing with everything then.

Also, all those guys are too low-grade villains for this. We have dragons and talking mouse-people here. Chumps like Toyman don't have the chops to go multidimensional.

[the_hit_list]

They were examples. I didn't actually mean any of them were behind it. If I had to guess, it's Mr. Mx- you know the rest.

[ Tim sighs through his nose, and his mouth straightens into a line. He knows Kon has a point, but Tim had chosen to ignore that particular point. He doesn't like having a flashlight shone on it. ]

We also have middle-aged people and talking mice who might not be able to climb that mountain, and the forest doesn't look inviting either. If every route is dangerous, shouldn't we pick the path that is basically screaming 'this way, children'?

[ He wants to collect more information, and Candyland looks extremely different from anything they've seen so far. Tim still thinks its the most promising. ]

The same rules apply on any road. We keep the ones who can't fight in the middle, we don't all sleep at the same time, and, if something unexpected crops up, we turn around and take the next option.

[konman]

Every road is going to be hard for some of the group. Like for Mrs. Brisby I'm gonna make her a little, comfy mouse house out of a basket that she can chill in that someone can carry as a backpack.

And the hills'll be tough for some of the group but it looks like there are paths through 'em. It'll be a workout, but it's not Mt. Doom.

[A pause.]

It'll be slower going, though. And Brainy's at least got a point about food.

[outofresets]

If the candy is even safe to eat.

But I guess Candy Land would be easier on Tim's feet, too. At least from what we can see.

[the_hit_list]

My feet are fine.

[ The socks are dirty as hell, but he has managed to not get any holes in them yet. Come to think of it, he probably would be at risk of frostbite on that mountain. ]

But Imp's right. Not everyone is dressed for mountain-climbing. We've been having fires for warmth in the temple at night. There's way too many t-shirts in this group to pick the mountain. Candyland or forest.

[outofresets]

Kay, but just so you know, either way, you can always borrow my shoes if you need to. My feet are super calloused, so I can go without'um just fine for while if you want to switch them on and off or somethin'.

[konman]

We need to do something about this shoe situation. There's gotta be somebody that knows enough about making moccasins that we can use a deer pelt for it or something.

[outofresets]

I've actually made shoes for myself before. I mean, it was from stuff from our time, but if someone gave me the leather and needles and stuff, it probably wouldn't be too different to make something like that.

[wherenoonegoes]

...I probably should've thought of that earlier. I make most of my own clothes already. Shoes won't be a problem.

[wherenoonegoes]

If we do go with the hills Toothless and I can ferry people up. Alacruun's probably physically capable of it, but you'd have to ask him if he actually wants to.

[konman]

Which would be harder to do in a forest, right?

[wherenoonegoes]

Pretty much. Which'll be an issue if the terrain suddenly changes. No telling what it's like in there. Even if Padfoot is right about it being somewhere he's familiar with, it could've changed when it was brought here. We know that's already happened to at least one place.

[somnioergosum]

Where the hell are you guys from?

[Rhetorical question but Jesus Christ, that list.]

[the_hit_list]

Gotham. [ It's very matter of fact - said in the same way one says New York, London, Moscow or any other internationally known large city. ] It's not as bad as the news makes it sound, I promise.

[somnioergosum]

Never heard of it. Not sure I want to.

[the_hit_list]

You haven't heard of Gotham?

[ The phrasing might come off a little accusatory, but Tim's face and tone are 100% curiosity. He doesn't think Ronan's weird for not having heard of Gotham; he's adding it to his tally of weird multiverse discrepancies.

The other teen sounds... vaguely American Southern. ]

Does the United States of America exist in your world?

[followingdawn]

Okay so I get that you guys do the weird names thing but...

Please tell me someone doesn't seriously call himself Rainbow Raider.

[fiteclub]

He's not even the most ridiculous looking one on that whole list. I've seen photos.

[followingdawn]

I don't know what that is but I'll take your word for it.

[fiteclub]

Photos? They're like paintings or drawings, just in full color and a lot faster to take.

[followingdawn]

Oh, okay.

You explain things a lot more sensibly than Robbie.

[ he's taking his dumb "I don't know how to modern world" inquiries to her now. ]

[balladin]

[ This mirror is open to everyone. ]

Fine, get Anita to explain toilets and toilet paper to you next time.

[followingdawn]

It'll probably be a lot more straightforward coming from her!

[ Why couldn't you just say "like a chamberpot" and be done with it. Why are you you, Robbie. ]

[fiteclub]

[Teasing:] Don't feel up to the task?

Thank you, Sothe, though I'm sure Robbie does his best.