deercountry | magic, madness, heaven, sin

magic, madness, heaven, sin

JULY 2022 EVENT

IMAGE DESCRIPTORS IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE
Prompt One
[Image One: A statue of Lady Justice with her sword against a man's throat. ]
[Image Two: A pair of hands covered in blood. ]

Prompt Two
[Image One: Two people trying to reach one another being pulled back by multiple, disembodied hands. ]
[Image Two: A feminine figure lying on a boardwalk above the ocean. ]

Prompt Three
[Image One: A pair of black scales held by a statue. ]
[Image Two: A single hand reaching up from the water, implying drowning. ]

[NAVIGATION]

Prompt 1 • Prompt 2 • Prompt 3 • Plotting • Newsletter

[JUMP TO COMMENTS]

GOOD AND EVIL

WHEN: July
WHERE: All over
CONTENT WARNINGS: Violence, revenge, possible torture, possible death, mental manipulation

An excerpt from the book Thus Comes the Reckoning:

Are we inherently good or evil? Are we hard-wired for empathy? Or is violent behavior our innate reaction when the world has done us wrong? This is something that has been debated for centuries, even in the times Before Sodder. Have we evolved since the Dreamless World? Since the Nightmare? Have the Pthumerians and their blessings made us more peaceful and understanding?

While it is true that our world is more generous and caring than the ones we have read about in the Dreamless World, where in spite of our shortages, we want for nothing that we truly need, the very existence of corruption and beasthood should speak of our true natures and of the true natures of Sleepers. There is no time that this is more prominent in our world than in the month of July, when the Reckoning holds sway.

It is unclear if it is the unbearable heat, the Pthumerian's influence, or perhaps just our true selves coming forth, but each July is the prelude to chaos. The pleasantries die off, the generosity wanes, and we forget the lessons of our more kind and gentle benefactors. Fist fights over minor disagreements, people attacking one another with weapons when they don't get their way or wait too long in line, and murders over the loss of a game. Does the summer make monsters of us all? Or does the Beast Moon simply encourage what is already inside of us?

Sleepers will find themselves encouraged towards violence. Many will be drawn to do evil. They will feel a pull to hurt others, particularly those who have hurt them first. Anger will seem like a natural state and many will find that they have lost all ability to reason when they become even minorly frustrated. Vigilante justice will seem like a great idea. Did someone hurt your loved one? Then tear them apart! Did a person borrow something from you and never return it? End them. Criminal activity will skyrocket, particularly violent criminal activity, throughout the month of July. People will feel more inclined to steal, to damage property, to kill, and to get revenge. Torturing others will seem like a perfectly reasonable idea. It is the month to do so and it might even feel good to hurt other people.

Sleepers will also feel violently protective of those they love. They will want to make sure that the violent crimes happening to other people doesn't happen to their people and they might go to such extremes as locking their loved ones up so that nothing can get to them. It's an obsessive need to protect and not let go. Someone might even feel so inclined as to kill their friends just to make sure that no one else can hurt them.

On the flip side, those who manage to resist the violent urges will be more inclined to help those who are violent. Even if you are someone who has never wanted to help another person, you will be drawn to do good. It's not impossible to talk others down, to sway them to being better people and to remembering who they are. It's just a lot of work. But still, those who are impacted by the good will feel that same need to protect others; only for them, it doesn't have to necessarily be someone they know. They want to do the right thing, to protect people from themselves. Unlike the evil, they will know there are limits, and they will not hurt others in their attempt to protect them. But they may end up being willing to, possibly uncharacteristically, sacrifice themselves to do so.

QUICK FACTS: 1. You can only be impacted by The Good or The Evil at one time. Someone who is Good can be corrupted into becoming Evil. If someone is talked down from being Evil, they can either go back to being their normal selves, or they can become impacted by The Good instead. This can happen as many times in the month as possible, but they can only be Good or Evil at one time. You can not be both at once.

2. Characters who can usually heal demons/possessions/etc. can cure Evil in people. Their powers will work the same as they would in their canon/from their blood powers. Game based items that would normally cure corruption however will NOT work to cure Evil. They will still work to cure corruption/beasthood.

3. The Reckoning can still punish you. Just because you're being influenced by outside forces won't matter to her. If she catches you doing something bad and it isn't for revenge purposes, she will punish you as she sees fit. This is left up to player interpretation.

[JUMP TO TOP] • [JUMP TO COMMENTS]

FORTUNE'S FOOL

WHEN: July
WHERE: All over
CONTENT WARNINGS: Star-Crossed lovers, encouraged suicidal ideation, possible death

Love. A complicated feeling that puts people into complicated circumstances. And yet, people will find themselves focused on this emotion more so than usual this month. For someone who is already in love, the emotions will become even stronger, almost overwhelming, wanting to burst out of them like a song. For those who were not in love before, they may find themselves suddenly easily falling for others. Maybe they will love multiple people or maybe just one, but love will be an all consuming emotion to those who fall victim to it.

The only problem is that love isn't always accepted. People who are deeply in love will suddenly start to feel persecuted and judged from those around them. They will feel as though their love is unallowed, that the person that means the most to them is being rejected by their family, their friends, by society itself. It doesn't matter if that's the truth: there's just something inside of people that makes them thoroughly convinced that their love is not meant to be. Star-Crossed. Unattainable.

There will be an increased urge to solidify that love as being real and unbreakable. Maybe this is done through fighting back against those who are saying no. Maybe it comes in the form of secretly saying vows and loved ones spiritually tying themselves together forever. Or maybe in the end, the only true way that lovers feel they can truly be together... is in death. All of these will seem like reasonable options— or maybe even the only option. Love is never ending, after all, even if life is.

QUICK FACTS: 1. Anyone can fall in love with anyone else. It doesn't have to be the character that you're already shipping with if all players agree! You can fall in love with someone you know, someone you've just met, or even a total stranger. Love is a gift to everyone, right??? Who needs pesky things like introductions.

2. You do not have to commit suicide. You can, of course, and many will definitely feel drawn to it with the basis of the prompt, but it is not required. Please make sure to mark all threads accordingly!

3. The persecution against your relationship does not have to be real. You can, however, tie this into the first prompt, and have even the smallest slights be reason to think that your love is persecuted. Similarly, people who are impacted by the first prompt may be more likely to actually shun those who are in love. Feel free to work with it however you see fit!

[JUMP TO TOP] • [JUMP TO COMMENTS]

OUR OWN PRISONS

WHEN: July
WHERE: All over, but particularly by the ocean.
CONTENT WARNINGS: Self-hatred, judgement, suicidal ideation, homicidal ideation, possible drowning.

Everyone has personal flaws. Things about themselves they don't like, reactions they wish they didn't have, habits that they want to break. Sometimes the awareness of flaws can outweigh the awareness of our strengths as well. It's easy to get caught up in the feeling that we're less then perfect, that we'll never be able to fix ourselves no matter what we do.

This month, those feelings seem to be amplified. Sleepers will see flaws everywhere; in the people they love, in the Trenchies, and most heavily in themselves. Feelings of self-hatred and judgement will be amplified and even those who are usually confident in themselves will find that they're suffering from it. Sometimes these feelings may manifest as a simple bout of anger and depression; but for others, it can become more severe quickly.

Those who find themselves suffering heaviest from these feelings will feel called to the ocean. Maybe it's a desire to go back to a squid form, a place that's simpler and more straight forward. Or maybe it's the unbearable heat that's putting these thoughts in someone's head and they'll feel like going for a swim would cure it. But there's something inside everyone that knows that if they go into the ocean, they might not come back out again.

Sleepers will feel like the ultimate judgement is waiting for them out there. If they are seeing flaws more in themselves, being by the ocean will amplify feelings of suicide. If they're seeing flaws in everyone else, they might feel compelled to bring those people down to the ocean to drown them. The ocean, associated so heavily with rebirth, could be the very thing to cleanse people of their imperfections, after all. Maybe it would be a favor to everyone if someone just gave in and tried to fix themselves and others. For the good of Trench.

QUICK FACTS: 1. These feelings can cause people to become more corrupt. The longer they are exposed to these feelings, the closer they will get to high levels of corruption, and eventual beasthood.

2. Because these feelings can cause corruption, they can also be relieved through the same methods as corruption. Talking, touching, Moon Drops, get some therapy, whatever the player chooses.

3. People who do not address their feelings and/or who spend too much time by the ocean will inevitably deal with feelings of suicide and/or homicide. Please be sure to handle these topics appropriately and content warn your threads.

[JUMP TO TOP]

CODING

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"Not shocking. Some areas of my world have issue with that as well. I suppose it will always be common for prejudice to rear its head," Viktor sighs. "What is your race called, if I may ask?"

And he nods. "Sometimes it cannot be helped. The issue is always more the mentality that killing is the right way rather than making the effort. The life of the hunter and bystanders are just as important."

It's something that's been talked about a lot, on the network and in Sanctuary itself. A topic he's clearly spoken about before. "Sometimes the beast is too far gone, even when captured. It's odd to see those cured, they simply... melt away."

"Me? I'm a miqo'te. Specifically the Keepers of the Moon subspecies, rather than the Seekers of the Sun subspecies. We look quite different in my opinion, but many non-miqo'te have trouble telling us apart." It's always been weird to him. The easiest thing to do is to look at the eyes, but some people have trouble with eye contact.

Wait, hang on. "They... melt away? How? Why? Does that cause blood pollution?" His ears wiggle a little in interest - he's always curious about... well. Everything.

"Miqo'te," Viktor repeats, his accent a little clumsy around the words but trying to commit it to memory. "We have a species not dissimilar. Vastayans. What is the difference between the keepers and seekers?"

He always enjoys learning about new worlds like this, which a nice change of pace from making sure Nara'a wasn't going to keel over on the shore. But beasts, he nods with a frown as he remembers the first time he saw it.

"I'm not sure. Have you ever seen a beast cured and turned back? It is an odd thing, one that often changes. Mostly I have seen the form simply... melt away, as though it had never been. No blood pollution besides what already came from the fight, simply gone and the person remaining.

"Not every time, though. And the time no person came out, when the soul must have been corroded beyond repair... very odd. If you're interested in seeing it I can call you the next time I am able to observe." Curiosity is good and he respects it, more so that the knowledge may come in handy, spring some new idea. Always worth trying.

"Oh, there are many differences. For example, the Seekers have more traditionally feline eyes - as in vertical pupils. Keepers have round ones to catch the light better at night, as well as having longer fangs. We also have societies that revolve around small tribes of two or three families, with a strong female at the head and are largely made up of women with men tending to leave in early adulthood. Seekers have larger tribes with a single breeding male called a Nuhn - the other males are called Tia and train to defeat the Nuhn in combat to become the new Nuhn. You can also tell by our names - for instance G'raha Tia is a non-breeding male from the G tribe. My name is Nara'a Sunvara, so the 'a indicates a first son and Nara is my mother's name. Women in Keeper tribes get unique names, men don't."

He's not mad about it, it's just how it is. But on to beasts...

"I haven't, no. But I'd be interested in observing, the next time you have a subject to observe." If only he had the goggles that the other Scions had. He'd like to study the aether of Beasts.

Edited 2022-07-23 21:37 (UTC)

Viktor nods along, head tilting as he considers it. It's a very precise culture, a little odd to him less because the culture itself and more because he was raised in a place that is such a mishmash of cultures having such set and firm rules is startling.

"Do Keepers and Seekers get along largely? For that matter, when the young men leave your tribe what becomes of them? Do they find a new tribe?" Questions, he's nosy and curious.

"Then I'll inform you. Gods know it will probably be soon, with how much corruption is spiking," he says with a sigh. "At the very least it's starting to feel like we're getting somewhere with the corruption research. Not as far as I'd like but progress is progress I suppose."

"They do get along. Miqo'te are very serious about traditions in general... even if it seems strange to outsiders, we know where we came from and what our role is, which is more than can be said for some people." It's grounding and comforting, and he doesn't mind how things are. "But once the men leave their home tribe they don't tend to return. I'm seen as a little odd for sending letters to my mother and sisters, but I want them to know I'm still alive throughout the strange adventures I've had. But the men tend to wander for a while and then join up with another tribe to breed - and then leave again. They come back to see their children on occasion, but not often."

He doesn't mind the questions - after all, how else is someone going to learn? He nods at the other's assessment. "Any progress is good progress. Even if it means you have to eventually scrap it and start over, at least you know what doesn't work for next time."

"That is interesting, so many cultures view the family as an inseparable unit. Is it common for relationships between miqo'te and other races and cultures?" Yeah sorry he's just in full learn about a new world mode. At the very least Nara'a seems open to answering rather than suffering through.

Viktor's lips quirk at that. "Yes, the scientific process- getting it wrong and trying again with one possibility crossed out," he says. "I admit I do feel on a timeline here, you never know when you may be dragged back to the ocean."

"Oh, yes. Though in the case of half-breeds they tend to come out looking mostly like the mother's race..." ~~Except lalafells. We don't talk about lalafell half-breeds and neither does the game.~~ "Though most Keepers end up at least mating into other tribes, even if they have a relationship with someone not of their race."

He thinks on that for a moment. "I suppose that's true. I haven't really experienced friends going back, but I've only been here a bit over a month. I can see where that would cause somewhat of a time crunch."

"Really? Fascinating. I don't know enough about inter species breeding in my own world, aside from humanity tends to overcome most features when mixed in." Frankly the idea of yordles mixing is kind of a lot so thankfully that is ignored like lalafell half breeds. "That makes sense though, it keeps the bloodlines valid and varied."

Viktor considers for a moment before saying, "I've been here about five months now, and have been lucky in that regard. Few people I was close to ever left, but each month, usually near the end, there are always a few that vanish to the sea. Then the new month brings others, not unlike the tide coming in."

"It's often not widely talked about... but that can vary from culture to culture. Ishgard, with its high houses and strict traditions can be less forgiving about such things than somewhere like Limsa Lominsa, which is a nation founded by pirates who don't care much for traditions in their daily lives."

He nods and thinks. Five months... that's quite a long time, and yet still no time at all. "What's the longest you've known someone to have been here?"

Viktor lets out a vaguely amused huff. "That makes sense. Piltover sounds like Ishgard, plenty of high houses and traditions, and it's very particular about that sort of nonsense. I think I prefer the places like Limsa Lominsa." Again, accent curls oddly around the name but he manages it smoothly enough.

That question has him consider a moment, then, "There is a man I met who was in Sodder's dream for a year and then a year here, once it ended. There are others who were from the dream as well, they're the longest here."

"Sodder's dream? Who is Sodder, exactly?" You've piqued his interest, Viktor. "I'm not all that familiar with the name, my apologies." He's still very new here, as he keeps getting reminded. There's so many things he doesn't know.

"And who is this person you know? If it's not too invasive to ask. I'm just curious about this place and the way it works, is all."

Ah, welcome to Lore Time with Viktor. Who, in truth, probably doesn't know as much as many but can at least offer a basis. "No worries, it is a matter of history here that isn't always spoken of. To put it simply there was a girl named Julia Sodder, who was partially pthumerian and partially human. She slept and she dreamed, and the power she had in her dragged the sleepers into that dream.

"Or nightmare, I suppose. It was only a year or so ago that the dream ended and sleepers found themselves here. She was killed, sadly," he rounds off, shaking his head. "You can find some who were in that dream still here. Not many, but a few."

And speaking of- "His name is Wei Wuxian. I don't imagine he'd mind me saying so, he owns a shop around that sells tea and incense, if you're ever in need. Luna Lovegood who made the baking competition is another who was in the dream, actually. From what I understand it was a difficult place to live, even more so than the Trench."

He sits attentively, ear flicking at the other tells the story. Wei Wuxian... hm. He'll have to talk to the other. "I see. Is that part of why they call us 'sleepers'? Because people were in the dream?" That would make the most sense to him, at least. "I'm not sure how it would be more difficult as this is already a rough place to live, but I believe you."

He's got to believe his fellow Sleepers, or else he's not going to get anywhere. "What happened to Sodder after she died? Are her remains here, somewhere?"

"I believe so. Though it seems that it is also to do with the fact we 'sleep' in the ocean as squids until we awaken. Still, given her dreams seems to have been what brought corruption to this land-" Viktor pauses, then stands. "If you wait here a moment I can show you an interesting book addressing some of these matters. It was found in the tunnels."

But before any of that he has to tilt his head, a little surprised at the question. In truth it was a good one, one he hadn't considered before aside from a brief wondering if the poor kid had a gravestone somewhere. "I do not know. I always did wonder if there was a grave somewhere, but I doubt her body was buried traditionally, if there was a body. She... had a very unfortunate life, an many perceived her poorly."

"I do have time. I don't mind - I'm not going anywhere." He's still finishing his snack. It's very tasty... and the tea is excellent. "I didn't find much in the tunnels myself, sadly." Just a lot of bugs.

Hm... "Maybe we should ask some of the people who were here before if they know. It might be useful to know. I'm not sure why, but it's hard to tell sometimes."

So many bugs. Viktor nods, heading away before coming back maybe ten minutes later, a book under his arm. As he takes a seat again he slides it over, saying, "It's largely about the pthumerians, and has some interesting insight into Julia Sodder and what the pthumerians may want of us."

And he nods. "A good idea. I'll ask, next time I see some of them." And hope it isn't too dark a matter.

By then, he's finished his snack and his tea and is feeling much better. He takes the book gratefully, slipping it into his bag. "I'll be sure to come back to return it." He's not a monster.

"Please let me know what you find out. I'm curious about this whole world and how it works, and understanding her seems key to that."

"Take your time, I took images on the omni of the pages," Viktor offers, waving a hand. "Though it wouldn't be remiss if you checked in on occasion. If something in your environment is causing corruption it would be good to keep an eye on it."

And he likes Nara'a, had a surprisingly pleasant time with this conversation despite it starting as dragging the poor guy from his vigil. It'd be good to know he was doing alright.

"It... didn't occur to me to do that. The technology of the omni is still very new to me." He's doing his best, but the equivalent of group phone calls is the most advanced technology he's comfortable with.

"And if something's causing corruption, I'd like to isolate it. I'm trying to think of what it could be, and I really have no idea..."

"It's taken a while to get used to, I admit," Viktor replies. He's used to some odd tech but the omni is a whole other matter. It's nice to hear someone else is baffled by it.

"I think the first thing would be to see is Gaia is having any trouble. If not that it's unlikely something in your home that's causing the issue." Which is a start.

"It reminds me a bit of some technology from a civilization long since lost... they were very technologically advanced." And dangerous. The Allagans didn't believe in safety codes, apparently.

"I'll ask her. It's unlikely that it's something in my home since I haven't been home in a bit, but it's worth checking."

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

magic, madness, heaven, sin

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject