reddosmod: (Deer 2)
Deer Country Mod ([personal profile] reddosmod) wrote in [community profile] deercountry2022-08-08 09:32 pm

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. ]

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.

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.

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.

CODING
truerevival: (And the memory)

[personal profile] truerevival 2022-08-10 05:02 pm (UTC)(link)
One way to be sure...[He wades back to shore to deposit Mitsurugi, who had been hanging around his shoulders, onto the beach before moving back to and then past Manabu. He tosses a grin over his shoulder before ducking under the waves.

A few seconds.

A minute. Two. And then he resurfaces.
]

I think we might be able to--could still be a trap, honestly. But it does seem to go on for a distance.
siriusly: (MY WHAT.)

[personal profile] siriusly 2022-08-10 09:30 pm (UTC)(link)
Right, maybe we should go get some supplAH! HEY! [wait what the hell dude you're just GOING?! Manabu sputters incredulously, stuck between rushing to shore to put the jar away and just going after him.

he compromises by chucking the jar as hard as he can (sorry, omens) and then starting to push himself forward into the waves, toward the lights.

just as he's gathering his breath to dive--]
GAH!! [he windmills a bit as Kazuma pops back up, shooting him a glare.] Why did you just go and--wait. How did you hold your breath that long?!
truerevival: (Ones we have learned)

[personal profile] truerevival 2022-08-10 11:23 pm (UTC)(link)
What? How long was I down there? [He honestly hadn't thought about it at the time but now that he's faced with the fact that he must have been down there for a good lenght of time--]

I don't think I did...I might have, hm, breathed while I was down there. [Which sounds crazy, he knows.]

I didn't go far. And the best way to see more of it was to go under so...If we go together we should be fine, I think? Might be a good idea to let someone [And by that he clearly means Ryunosuke.] know what we're trying to do.
siriusly: (yo what)

[personal profile] siriusly 2022-08-10 11:59 pm (UTC)(link)
[Kazuma, what.

Manabu stares at him incredulously - in the face...the neck...does he have gills now or something?

he double-blinks out of the tangent to refocus.]
Wait, hang on-- go back? What do you mean? What's down there?
truerevival: (All the things you've said)

[personal profile] truerevival 2022-08-11 12:08 am (UTC)(link)
What? [Why are you looking at him like that, huh?]

...I'm not too sure. The path goes on for a bit--seems like it drops off, or maybe it goes down? I think we should check it out and see where exactly it goes.
siriusly: (yeah i'm ready)

[personal profile] siriusly 2022-08-11 01:31 pm (UTC)(link)
[down...deeper? but, but the pressure. the lack of air? not that it stopped Kazuma, but...

hang on. wait, is he, Manabu Yuuki, being the reluctant person in this party?? that's not right.]


...Rope. We should go to the boardwalk and check for some rope to stake out. Lifelines, you know? In case there's riptides.
truerevival: (All the things you've said)

[personal profile] truerevival 2022-08-11 09:35 pm (UTC)(link)
[Let it be known that Kazuma was not a planner. After all, his solution to getting Ryunosuke to England was to hide him in a piece of luggage.]

A lifeline...Is probably a good idea as we start. We might need a decent link of rope, though...
siriusly: (your moves are weak)

[personal profile] siriusly 2022-08-11 10:48 pm (UTC)(link)
Mn. But there should be enough around, right? [it's the beach! how else would Wakers help fish new Sleepers out?

he jerks his thumb back toward the shore.]
C'mon, let's go see. [editor put in the montage of gathering supplies like good boys and calling Ryuu to let him know they're going exploring and Not killing each other like even gooder boys.]
truerevival: (It's out of sight)

[personal profile] truerevival 2022-08-11 11:10 pm (UTC)(link)
[editor should note that these boys deserve a reward for being Good and Nice(tm) to one another. and for doing their due diligence in alerting Ryuu as to their whereabouts.]

Guess we'll see how far this goes...Are you taking point, or am I? [He isn't too sure about their ability to communicate once they go under, so best to decide that now.]
siriusly: (whoa what wait hang on)

[personal profile] siriusly 2022-08-12 01:32 am (UTC)(link)
You're the one who scoped it out first, right? [to some degree. that seems fair...

but wait. he frowns, thinking about it as he starts putting some loops and knots in the rope.]


But then again...you're taller, might be harder to pull out of trouble if you get snagged by something...
truerevival: (Only a winner)

[personal profile] truerevival 2022-08-27 07:08 pm (UTC)(link)
So it's safer for you to lead because you're shorter? [Cue: Amusement in the form of a raised eyebrow and a near-smirking grin.]

In all seriousness though, expeditions of any kind seem to be more in your realm of experience than mine. By all means, I'll follow where you lead.
siriusly: (>:\\)

[personal profile] siriusly 2022-08-27 07:33 pm (UTC)(link)
[he makes a face at that short dig, because it's perfectly fine for Manabu to mention someone else's height, but not vice versa, okay?

he sets that aside with a soft grunt, tying up a length of rope around his waist and rolling up his sleeves to get them out of his way.

afterward:]
You ready?
truerevival: (Can you carry it with no regrets)

[personal profile] truerevival 2022-08-27 08:09 pm (UTC)(link)
[Fair turnabout is fair play, so Kazuma is going to do his best to not feel guilty about that dig at Manabu's height. Instead, he focuses on his own preparations: Sleeves rolled neatly just to his elbows, rope secure to his waist, and anything he felt might get too weighty or cumbersome in the deeper waters stacked neatly past the tideline with Misturugi curled anxiously atop the pile.]

Ready when you are.
siriusly: (have you ever tried to read fob lyrics)

[personal profile] siriusly 2022-08-28 12:17 am (UTC)(link)
[Manabu exhales, hesitating a moment as the latest wave rolls over them. he starts to push out further, duck under the water and start the trek through the runway of eerie, glowing algae Ryunosuke's grown fascinated with.

the drag of the rope is slight, but it does feel strange - something to fight against on his way down. he thinks he sees a dropoff, but already feels his lungs starting to burn for want of air. he's no natural-born swimmer, so the fear of drowning prompts him to start veering up back toward the surface.]
truerevival: (The heavy weight of living)

[personal profile] truerevival 2022-08-28 12:47 am (UTC)(link)
[Kazuma follows easily enough, trusting in Manabu's ability to lead. The drag of the rope keeps him focused on the path ahead--without it, he'd be tempted to stray, to see what lies beyond the boundaries of their path.

It's the shock of a sudden ascent that throws him completely--a struggle against the rope, a swallow of water--

I could drown like this.

Except...Except I'm not. A thought that breaks the same time they hit the surface.
]

Ha-aaa. You...Are you all right?
siriusly: (you equipped bees?)

[personal profile] siriusly 2022-08-28 12:53 am (UTC)(link)
[is he? despite being the first to make the move up, Manabu's not the first one to surface - not a natural swimmer, after all. despite the fear kicking in to prompt him to try and hurry up, he can't move any faster than he can move, you know? but if he doesn't, he'll drown, so he has to--

to, uh...

wait.

where's the burn at? it was all-consuming a second ago, but the panic, like the tide, has ebbed, leaving him drifting a bit just shy of the surface.

slowly, he peeks up, his mop of soggy hair and eyes cresting the water for a few beats before he can bob the rest of his head up.]


S...Something weird's going on, Kazuma...
truerevival: (All the things you've said)

[personal profile] truerevival 2022-08-28 01:12 am (UTC)(link)
[Something weird. He couldn't argue with that. He huffs, a hint of a laugh at the strangeness of it all.]

You're right. [An admittance, made as he absentmindedly reaches to brush some errant strands of hair out of his face.] Should we keep checking it out or head back?

[Either way, with how they were treading water, they'd have to make a decision sooner rather than later.]
siriusly: (why do you gotta be so contrary)

[personal profile] siriusly 2022-08-28 01:26 am (UTC)(link)
[Manabu looks at Kazuma for a beat, as if the answer would suddenly come to him by seeing something - gills, maybe? but then, he's not so creative as to imagine gills on a person...

as for the question:]
...We're already out here. We got the ropes staked. Let's...let's see where this takes us.