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
givetheslip: (pb > upset)

[personal profile] givetheslip 2022-08-13 01:11 am (UTC)(link)
When you put it that way...I'm still not sure it's a good idea.

[The actual words aren't terribly optimistic, even if the woman's tone is. And yet Maria finds herself tiptoeing into the water, drawn in despite herself.]

Though if it is a trap, I suppose it may be wise to have strength in numbers.
cuddlery: (chipper)

[personal profile] cuddlery 2022-08-13 02:16 am (UTC)(link)
Oh, you'll see! Even if it is kinda trap-py, I'm pretty good at getting out of jams!

[She says with a confident chuckle. And she beams more as the other woman joins her.]

Teamwork does make the dream work. Come on, let's see this adventure firsthand! ...Oh, and my name's Scorpia, by the way! Don't think we've met before.
givetheslip: (ac2 > smile)

[personal profile] givetheslip 2022-08-13 03:47 am (UTC)(link)
I'm Maria.

[Despite herself, she's smiling. Excessive, unrelenting cheerfulness is not her thing, but it seems to work for Scorpia.]

Have you been here long? I only, ah...washed up just a few days ago myself.
cuddlery: (raised arm)

[personal profile] cuddlery 2022-08-13 04:57 am (UTC)(link)
Nice to meet you, Maria!

[With that all settled, she casually continues just walking through the glowing water as they speak.]

Oh, you're new-new! Yeah, I've been here... a whole lot of months. Am I coming up on a year now? I feel like, yeah, that's probably right! I've been here a while basically. If you need help learning the ropes around here, I'm your gal!
givetheslip: walk walk fashion templar (bloodlines > walking)

[personal profile] givetheslip 2022-08-14 03:16 am (UTC)(link)
I would most certainly welcome any advice you can offer. My time here has been...[She considers how to phrase it without going into unnecessary detail.] trying. There's much about this land that's different from any I've known, and I've done a great deal of traveling.

[And they're just going to...go into the water, all right, somehow she can still breathe. Honestly, it's not even the strangest thing to happen to her lately. She'll just...go with it.]
cuddlery: (understanding with tea)

[personal profile] cuddlery 2022-08-14 05:10 am (UTC)(link)
[Yep, here they go! Right... into the water! It's pretty weird, but Scorpia just rolls with it. It seems like they'll be able to proceed through this part of the water without problem, so she carries on their conversation without missing a hitch.]

I'm sorry to hear that. I will try to make your time here... try less? [She shrugs her shoulders.] So, uh, first off I should ask. Have you figured out your blood situation?
givetheslip: (ac2 > hooded)

[personal profile] givetheslip 2022-08-15 01:03 am (UTC)(link)
[Maria isn't much of a swimmer under any circumstances, but this is absolutely the strangest swim she's ever taken, if one can even call it that.]

I...think so. Coldblood, apparently. [Talking about blood leaves her visibly unsettled. She's more accustomed to trying to spill the blood of others while preventing them from doing the same to her.] I haven't engaged with it further than that.
cuddlery: (hooray)

[personal profile] cuddlery 2022-08-15 01:33 am (UTC)(link)
[Now she outright grins at her.]

Oh, me too! We're blood buddies! [She seems very excited with that as she makes her way through the glowing water.]

So, uh, haven't discovered any powers or anything yet? I guess it makes sense, they don't always show right away. Or at all for some people! But, y'know, it's something to be aware of.
givetheslip: hnnnggggghsigh (bloodlines > reflect)

[personal profile] givetheslip 2022-08-15 01:10 pm (UTC)(link)
Not so far, no.

[She chuckles then, though nothing particularly funny has been said, and shakes her head.]

The concept of people having...special abilities is quite unheard of where I come from. I'm used to thinking of myself as unusual for my willingness to swing a sword as a woman, not for anything else.
cuddlery: (pondering)

[personal profile] cuddlery 2022-08-15 02:32 pm (UTC)(link)
Ohhh, I see. So you're from a place that doesn't have magic or special abilities or stuff like that! There's a bunch of people from places like that.

[But not the magical scorpion princess here. SHe raises an eyebrow.]

I don't get what would be unusual about a woman using a sword... [Though that's also a norm where she comes from, where she's often battled a woman with a magical sword.] But okay, no powers yet! Well, if anything crops up and you need help keeping it under control, I'll gladly help you with what I know!
givetheslip: (color art > side-eye)

[personal profile] givetheslip 2022-08-17 05:29 pm (UTC)(link)
[Maria is surprised (and perhaps a bit unnerved) by the prospect of a land — multiple lands — where incredible abilities are as common as blades, but she's even more surprised by Scorpia's following comment.]

That's very kind of you. [She hesitates before continuing.] So, where you come from...it's not uncommon for women to fight?

[It's hard for Maria even to imagine.]
cuddlery: (thoughts)

[personal profile] cuddlery 2022-08-17 05:56 pm (UTC)(link)
Nope. [She shrugs her shoulders.]

There's a whole princess alliance back home who fought to save the world. And most of the strongest people I know back home are women, actually? No kne really makes a big deal about it... Or any deal at all. Pretty sure I haven't heard things about what different genders should or shouldn't do.

[It's like an alien concept to her! But it's something she's heard about here and there when it comes to people from other worlds.]

... But I guess it seems like it's kinda different in other worlds? That really throws me off!
givetheslip: (pb > upset)

[personal profile] givetheslip 2022-08-17 07:56 pm (UTC)(link)
[Maria understands all the words, but the sentences make no sense at all.]

I had to disguise myself as a man and run off to join the Crusades in order to do anything but live as man's wife and produce his heirs. [It's a remarkably candid admission, but the entire topic has her off-balance.] The lives of princesses are much the same — pawns in the ruling game of nobility.
cuddlery: (confused with tea)

[personal profile] cuddlery 2022-08-17 10:36 pm (UTC)(link)
...Oh. [That stops her in her track. Each of those sentences do sound very unlike Scorpia's experiences - and very bad.]

That sounds horrible. No one should have to disguise themselves, or... be stuck doing what other people want. If you know how to use a sword and want to use it, that's all that should matter! ...Sorry, sorry, that's just... It feels awful just imagining life being that way. But you're the one who had to actually live with it.
givetheslip: (ac2 > smile)

[personal profile] givetheslip 2022-08-17 10:54 pm (UTC)(link)
[The immediate, heartfelt concern leaves Maria more than a little touched. No one's ever had that kind of reaction before.]

It's all right. I was able to forge my own path in the end, and I don't regret where life has taken me.

[Even if she faced more surprises than she expected along the way. After a moment, she laughs lightly.]

Listen to me, going on about myself while we're somehow exploring underwater. I'd call this more interesting than anything from the past.
cuddlery: (speaking)

[personal profile] cuddlery 2022-08-17 11:23 pm (UTC)(link)
[Scorpia smiles back at her.]

It- it's fine! Really. It's something important to know. And I'm glad you made things work for you with all those obstacles! That only makes you even more awesome, Maria.

[She starts to move ahead some more.]

But yeah, it's definitely a beautiful sight down here! And the glowiness just enhances the effect, doesn't it?
givetheslip: walk walk fashion templar (bloodlines > walking)

[personal profile] givetheslip 2022-08-18 03:36 am (UTC)(link)
It's lovely. I can't help but wonder why it's appeared so suddenly, though...and where it may be leading us.

[And why they're walking underwater with hardly a care in the world. Even if they can breathe, it hardly seems wise to count on that continuing to be the case. And yet, she feels compelled to walk on.]

Assuming it's leading anywhere and not just sending us on a merry but fruitless chase.
cuddlery: (understanding with tea)

[personal profile] cuddlery 2022-08-18 05:14 am (UTC)(link)
[Breathing underwater just adds to the effect for Scorpia! She feels like a true creature of the sea, and she loves it!]

I'm sure this has to be leading somewhere! You'll see. Things like this don't just appear for no reason.

[Something is visible ahead, on the horizon. Right where the path seems to be leading towards... a set of glowing sunken ships.]
givetheslip: (ac2 > hooded)

[personal profile] givetheslip 2022-08-19 01:17 am (UTC)(link)
In my experience, things like this don't appear at all.

[But her experience is not terribly relevant to their circumstances, clearly.]

...oh. I suppose that could be it?

[It's unlikely that a cluster of sunken ships are there by coincidence.]
cuddlery: (happy scorp)

[personal profile] cuddlery 2022-08-19 05:24 am (UTC)(link)
[Her eyes widen as she looks ahead to the ships.]

Wow. Yeah, that - those ships sure like like top contenders for where we're going alright! They even got the same glow to them too.

[Excited, she starts moving faster.]

Come on, let's check one out!
givetheslip: (pb >attention)

[personal profile] givetheslip 2022-08-23 02:04 am (UTC)(link)
[Maria is right there with her. This is something she never would have imagined doing, but the excitement of exploring the heretofore unreachable grips her tightly.]

That large one — there, with the smashed-in hull.

[It must have held something interesting.]
cuddlery: (pose)

[personal profile] cuddlery 2022-08-23 04:19 am (UTC)(link)
[She snaps a pincer and smiles.]

Good choice! I will trust your instincts on the matter. Now let's head over for a closer look. Here it is, the adventure we were promised!

[Scorpia excitedly starts moving through the water towards that particular ship!]
givetheslip: lol afterglow (ac2 > lying down)

[personal profile] givetheslip 2022-09-02 03:09 am (UTC)(link)
[Scorpia's enthusiasm is contagious, but Maria doesn't let it carry her away, instead focusing on what's before them — the water itself may pose no danger, but it could contain a great deal of things that would. Her hand goes automatically to her waist as they draw near the entrance to the ship, but she forces it down. Drawing her sword would do no good here.

It's dim inside, and dirty, for all that the water seems like it should have washed everything clean. Plenty of cargo, but it all seems to be different shapes and sizes of chests. Could be treasure, could be nothing much.]


What do you think these might hold?

[Gold seems a little too obvious.]
cuddlery: (biting lip)

[personal profile] cuddlery 2022-09-02 04:26 am (UTC)(link)
[Scorpia keeps a little bit of caution in her steps as they enter the sunken ship. Just a little bit, as a treat. But mostly, she's overcome with a sense of wonder as she soaks in the sight. It might not be glamorous, but that adds to the adventurous feel. And it looks like some kind of treasure chests! How exciting. Scorpia starts to saunter towards one, curiously.]

Ooh! Well I mean, it's gotta be treasure, right? I mean, that's the sunken ship thing! You don't sink a ship if you don't have treasure. Maybe it'll be... a bunch of jewels, or gold coins. Possibly of a magical nature! We can't rule that out.
givetheslip: (bloodlines > explain)

[personal profile] givetheslip 2022-09-05 05:20 am (UTC)(link)
Maybe. There's the question of why no one came after it once it had sunk, though, if its contents are so valuable.

[Then again, perhaps it would be much more difficult to do without the benefit of water-breathing magic. Maria tries to get a good grip on the closest chest, but barnacles have grown over it, keeping it stuck tight. She glances over her shoulder at Scorpia, then down to her...claw-like armor pieces she wears over her hands. (That has to be what they are, right?) Hmm.]

Do you mind giving this a try...?

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