deercountry | he ate my heart

he ate my heart

AUGUST 2022 EVENT

EXTRA WARNING:

IMAGE DESCRIPTORS IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE
Prompt One
[Image One: The shore line lit up by some sort of bioluminescent organism. ]
[Image Two: A sunken pirate ship covered in algae, seaweed, and suffering from wood rot. ]

Prompt Two
[Image One: A tentacle wrapping around a persons hand. ]
[Image Two: A close up of someone's shoulder which is turning black and cracked and dripping water. ]

Prompt Three
[Image One: A statue of a human face, split in half, with a golden devil mask between the two halves. ]
[Image Two: A number of golden hands reaching up for a white sphere. ]

[NAVIGATION]

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

[JUMP TO COMMENTS]

WE GLOW SO DIM

WHEN: August
WHERE: The Ocean
CONTENT WARNINGS: Deep diving, possible drowning, possible death

Early on in the month, the waves start to have a strange look to them. They seem a little brighter, even at night, and it's then that it hits you: the waves are glowing. It's easy to at first to brush it off as the bioluminescence of certain types of plankton, but the way it moves and sparkles has an other-worldly quality to it that can't be explained by science. Those who look even closer at the glow will notice that it seems to be forming some sort of path into the watery depths.

Those who choose to follow the path despite the angry waves and awful storms that plague the seas this month will find that the ocean seems to be at its calmest along these illuminated, watery roads. Diving down to follow them won't require any equipment, as Sleepers will find that staying within the glowing path allows them to breathe under water when they might normally not have been able to. The pressure changes don't seem to be impacting anyone who follows the light either, allowing them access to deeper depths of the ocean than may have previously been explored.

Continuing to follow the path will lead Sleepers to a series of ship wrecks under the water. These ancient vessels are rotted and covered in seaweed, but anyone who is familiar with the cultures of Earth will notice that they seem to come from all over the world and their styles vary by multiple centuries. But all the ships seem to be covered in this same, strange glow that has brought people here.

Exploring the ships will lead to multiple different discoveries. There are chests filled with ancient artifacts: carvings of squids, statues of various sea creatures that feel a little off somehow, and stones carved with a strange text that is almost impossible to decipher. The artifacts are covered in strange, rust-looking stains that penetrate deep into the materials they're made of. These artifacts can be brought back to shore, and if someone were to try and ask the Trenchies what the writing said, they would only be able to say that these are clearly texts of the Old Ones from long before any recorded history that Trench has in its Archives. When asked about the sea creatures, they'll think it's obvious: these are Mariana's various forms from over the years. The off qualities are her unique takes as a Pthumerian on the creatures of the ocean.

Prolonged exposure to these statues of Mariana will cause people to become more bluntly honest, more open with their emotions, and often much more prone to large outbursts from said emotions, both good and bad. However, Sleepers who keep these statues near them will also find that they are able to keep more control of their blood powers. It's up to each individual if it's a worthy trade off.

If you leave the path, two things can happen: Sleepers will either turn into their squid selves and can continue to swim or they will drown. There will be nothing of interest outside of these paths, just typical ocean creatures, and maybe some of those monsters that have been crawling out of the watery depths as of late.

[JUMP TO TOP] • [JUMP TO COMMENTS]

MONSTER WITHIN

WHEN: August
WHERE: All over
CONTENT WARNINGS: Body horror, mentions of potential cannibalism/vore, possible death, contagious curse

Soon after people start to explore the ships, a strange occurrence will start to sweep through the city. Locals start to mutter something about a curse, one that seems to only be impacting Sleepers. The early signs that there's something off is an increase in strength and stamina. For example, Sleepers will find that they might go to pick up a chair or a mug and it shatters in their hands. Some people may find that they are incapable of sleeping. Others might find they're able to move quicker and for longer periods than normal.

If they look themselves over, they will start to find small patches of skin that have started to gray and blacken. These patches will be cracked, almost scaley, and will be consistently damp no matter how hard you try to dry them off. As time passes, this odd rash will start to spread, taking over more and more of the body. The torso might start to swell and distort, making Sleepers feel particularly top heavy. And eventually, suckers will start to form on the arms and legs.

This curse isn't beasthood in its usual forms; instead, it seems to be some sort of malady in of the magical blood that Sleepers have been granted. If the blood of an infected Sleeper is looked at under a microscope, there will be black patches clinging to the cells, similar to the patches that people see on their skin. If it isn't stopped, the person suffering from the curse will ultimately turn into a monstrous form of their squid-selves: these monster forms are large, aggressive, and able to move on land. They will feel a hunger for destruction and some Sleepers may find in these forms that they are only satisfied if they feed on other, uncursed Sleepers.

There are two ways to lift the curse. One is through a thorough blood transfusion with a blood type that is compatible with your own. This becomes more difficult to do the closer to the monstrous form people get, both due to aggression from the curse, and also due to the fact that the black patches of skin are highly difficult to puncture. Once the blood is completely replaced by fresh blood, the skin patches will disappear over 48 hours and the Sleeper will be left feeling thoroughly exhausted.

The second way to lift the curse is through death. While these monster squid forms are difficult to kill, it is not impossible, and they are particularly susceptible to magic over weapons. Once a Sleeper has died, they can be reborn, and their blood will be completely free of the curse.

The blood malady can be spread outside of those who come into contact with the ship wrecks. People who touch a cursed Sleeper, particularly the scaley patches of skin, will also run the risk of being cursed. It takes roughly a week for the signs of the curse to show, and can spread as slowly or as rapidly as players choose.

[JUMP TO TOP] • [JUMP TO COMMENTS]

LAVISH DESIRES

WHEN: August
WHERE: All over
CONTENT WARNINGS: Personality changes, mental manipulation, hoarding, obsessive anxiety, disassociation, depersonalization

The high waves seem to just be getting higher at the beginning of the month. Rougher and rougher seas start to cause something anyone who's lived around water will be familiar with: flash floods. These floods are large, powerful, and fill the streets of Trench. First-floors of buildings may get extreme damage, though they can be protected with physical and magical barriers if people are smart about it. The floods happen multiple times throughout the month without warning, so it may be good to get that protection built up sooner rather than later.

The after effects of these floods aren't just structural devastation though. People who get caught up in the water, particularly those who end up swallowing it, will have one word echoing in their mind on a regular basis: More.

More of what? That seems to be different for each individual. Maybe one person wants more and more food, anything from an extra slice of cake after dinner, to wanting to stuff themselves until they just might pop. Or maybe they want to hoard all of their favorite objects or pieces of clothing, filling more and more of the space in their homes until they're ready to burst at the seems. Some might find it's their emotions that come in excess, with over the top anger, or irregular excitement that leaves them unable to sleep for days. Anything and everything can come in excess and it certainly seems to be this month. Some people may get these obsessive needs to such a degree that they start to feel disconnected from themselves, fractured by the overabundance that has taken over their lives.

If people ignore these desires, they'll start to find they're plagued by hallucinations. Strong, life-like visions that riddle them with anxiety and leave them petrified of what might happen if they don't partake in this gluttonous behavior. They'll feel shaken to the core and slowly go mad with need and desire for whatever it is they've been craving. This feeling of madness can make them become violent, lashing out at those around them, even killing those who try and help them out of belief that they're trying to force them to give in to their vices.

The impact of the water will wear off either after one week without re-exposure, or by using a Moon Drop to help to cleanse the mind.

[JUMP TO TOP]

CODING

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Squid Be With You (We Glow So Dim)
CW: near drowning, partial squidding

Despite all the reasons that could lead to the conclusion that Pyrrha Dve going into the sea is a bad idea, she follows the glowing lights in the water upon seeing them for the first time. She wades, then swims, farther away from shore, deeper in the water, everything still illuminated in its glow. It's pretty, and Pyrrha finds herself honestly curious what she will find when, somehow, she's able to breath in this glowing water. Dark anchors within the light face ahead, and she swims further toward them. A current sweeps across the water, carrying her sideways, not keeping with the further bends of the marked path.

Her mouth closes instinctively. With care she lets a small amount of water in. It is unaccompanied by anything breathable. Death doesn't frighten her, and her body isn't injured yet. The urgency presses against her. Pyrrha focuses narrowly on this single simple task, the way she has so many others. The ease with which she swims through the water surprises her, but that doesn't matter when she's twenty, fifteen, ten feet away.

Once again within that special pathway, Pyrrha breaths and looks down her shape to see the bottom half a mass of tentacles working together to spur her on. Strange. She carries on to what turns out to be ships, swimming around one and through it, mapping it thoroughly before she touches anything. Careful, she opens one small chest filled with ancient treasures. How long have these rested here? She's unsure.

Looking around her, Pyrrha is careful, selecting a solitary statue of a squid that isn't quite a squid. It isn't either quite a squid mermaid, but it strikes a chord, and once she has it, she doesn't return it. Safely, she swims back to the surface and walks out of the waves. Yes, walks. By the time she reaches shore, she's fully human and striding out of the waters.

Lets Go Down Together (We Glow So Dim)
CW: none yet

Once, twice, a hundred times, there's more to see under the water, even only in the sections they are clearly invited to. This night, Pyrrha is prepared. She has a suit meant for swimming, in many ways like the rubbery skin they have as squids, along with a hardy bag, able to take the abuse of the water without permanent damage. Shoes and outer clothes are folded neatly on the beach.

Pyrrha sits in soft meditation a moment, feeling at peace with these different moods of the ocean. Chaotic as they are, they make more sense than the madness in the River. Here, she can safely navigate the waters in ways she cannot there. The monsters in the sea are Mariana, but so too are the ships beneath the surface. Prey, yes, to weather or whatever led to their deep resting places but more than that. A gift.

She hears someone behind her, and Pyrrha doesn't get up immediately or grab the knife belted around her waist. "Hello," she says when they are close enough to hear her.

Vibe Check (Monster Within)
CW: potential provocation, potential violence...

Duty walks the streets at a steady pace. There's always been hunting for beasts, and should one cross his path, should one present danger to others, yes, he is a hunter as his clothes mark him. He will handle it. His attention, however, is intent elsewhere, among those who still look, more or less, as themselves. Signs of disease that is not normal corruption. Patches of skin creeping out of necklines or in a flash of midriff as an arm is raised in hello. Anywhere it shows. And those showing signs of aggression.

Not to kill, he hopes. To intervene before it becomes a killing time. His rounds take him through many districts, looping around via different routes. Sometimes it's a simple conversation that can lead to a simple question. Other times, Duty is brusque, less polite, to determine what effect it has. In the face of violence, however much is needed to subdue.

Many Sleepers are fine. Some... are not. Which are you?

Personal Collection: People (Lavish Desires)
CW: possessiveness, hallucination, obsessive behavior

The city floods. The Bone House is safe behind tall walls of bone, bleached as though by the sun. They do not keep Pyrrha in, nor Duty. People need help, and only some of the people they care about shares that residence. When it is accessible, there is still the Outpost, with its walls enabling safe work on the next stages of development.

There's rounds now, regular rounds, between those they care about. There's always more. Never mind that other people may—do—care about them. The only way to be sure is to check. He would prefer to have them altogether, but as large a house as he lives in, it is too small for that. The outpost is not yet ready for that. Nothing can take them all.

He walks. She walks. Again and again and again, and when they stop, when they let too much time stretch out, they see horrors happening to them. Unreasonable, illogical horrors. They're honest enough for that. John is the only one they're sure about at all times, that connection between them stronger than the worries, a reassurance no matter what happens, however bad, they'll know.

Half of the time Daniel has no idea what's going on here in this place.

Today is one of those days. The sea being relatively rough this month is nothing new - it's something he has noticed many times already while he's out here on the beach meditating.

But someone walking out of the water.. well, that's different. Especially since it's not one of the new arrivals, since they seemed to wash up more than exactly walk out of the sea, from what Daniel has learned so far. And the fact he actually recognizes the person walking out of the water only makes it more surprising.

Eyes wide in surprise, Daniel scrambles up onto his feet from where he was sitting in the sand and meditating, quickly moving across the sand until he's closer to Pyrrha.

"Did you--" Hold on. His mind still needs a moment to process this. "Did you just walk out of the ocean?"

The fact that he sure didn't see her going in there only makes it stranger to him.

"Are you alright?"

Pyrrha wipes some of the water off her face so it's easier to see—and to talk—without accidentally swallowing seawater. The voice registers immediately, and Pyrrha appreciates the concern in the confused questions.

Her smile is easy and relaxed. It feels amazing, even dripping wet in clothes not particularly designed to go swimming, to swim below the waves, to explore the ships, to swim back. "Yeah, walked out of the ocean," Pyrrha answers, "I'm good. No drowning. No death. Some weird shit, but when isn't there?"

She waits for him to come to her, since she exited from the glowing water, even when she no longer needed it to breath. Turning to look back out at the churning sea that could, in places, be peaceful beneath the surface. "You see the water?" Pyrrha points out at the waves.

".. yes," he slowly replies.

The slow quality to his tone is mostly because he's resisting the urge to add something slightly more sarcastic onto the end of what he's saying, like pointing out that he's not blind. He's liked Pyrrha enough so far to want to treat her more kindly than that, especially when she literally just came out of an ocean that's been looking all month already like it's caught under a storm.

Even if he doesn't doubt her words about being fine. She looks like she's alright, after all, despite what she just must have gone through.

"It's been looking so rough out here all month." He does point out that much, especially since they can see it right now too, as they're standing there and staring at the water. "Did you get dragged in somehow?"

Or did she just.. voluntarily go into wild water? Maybe he ought to not put this past Pyrrha at this point.

Pyrrha smiles, highly amused as Daniel takes the straight man part of a comedy duo, something Duty is known all too well for. It's fun to be on the other side, even for something as trivial as this. Such is the power of Hashbrowns Cobra Kai that he knows her as Pyrrha, not Duty. A small thing but a large difference all the same.

"It's rough up here, near the surface, yes," Pyrrha agrees. She points his attention to the strip, the path, of water that glows from within. Given the sea creatures and the storms and all the crazy weather, she understands missing it or not paying it any mind. It's still there, along with everything else underneath.

"That illuminated path through the water is magical," Pyrrha says it with a straight face, the way it deserves no matter how ridiculous sounding, "it leads the way down down down, and you can breath underwater, no squidding required, so long as you stay within it." A fair amount of weird explanation. Not the usual caveats.

"I checked it out," she adds. "No dragging required." Pyrrha respects the ocean enough to reduce the odds of getting dragged in willy nilly. Purposeful, dangerous choices are more her style.

He glances for a moment. First at Pyrrha, then at the - indeed - glowing sea she is pointing at. Then back at Pyrrha again.

"Let me get this right," Daniel says, with the sort of tone that indeed ought to earn him the straight man title in this conversation. "You saw a glowing path into the monster-infested ocean, and thought.. why not, let's go explore."

He pauses for a moment, perhaps for effect, but then when he shakes his head, Daniel doesn't seem annoyed in the least. At worst he seems a little worried at the edges, but Daniel has seemed that way virtually every single day for the last few months, both in this place and before it. He wears it like a coat at this point.

"I'm not sure whether I should consider you brave or crazy." There's at least a hint of a smile on his face too as he says that.

(He's leaning towards the former, for the record, but it's mostly due to having gotten a very good first impression of the other.)

Laughing would be so easy. Daniel lays it out the way either of them might to an unruly teenager. Except, of course, Pyrrha is an adult, responsible for her own well being, and presumably with better judgment from a fully developed brain. Plus some credibility from earlier. She doesn't laugh, though her lips curve into a smile.

"I saw a glowing path into the monster-infested ocean, and thought... people are going to go down there and explore no matter what anyone does or says about it. I'd like to know what the dangers are and face them myself than leave them be for others," Pyrrha answers.

She comes farther up the beach, now that the issue of the water is out of the way. "The good news is that we can breath underwater, so long as you're in the glowing water. There's some strong currents, so it's possible to get pulled out of the safe path. I wasn't attacked, and I found sunken ships of various types," Pyrrha informs him. She's not about to encourage everyone and their omen goes for a dive, but it could be worse.

"If there are any long term effects, I should be among the first to know," Pyrrha adds. "I'm comfortable with that risk. Brave and sane enough for you?"

Pyrrha Dve | Duty | The Locked Tomb

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lets go down together!

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lets go down together

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Vibe Check

Re: Vibe Check

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