he ate my heart

[reddosmod]

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

Comments

[onerthes]

The squid did a swirling motion that made its tentacles fan like a spiral for a second before waving one of the bigger pads in a way that almost liked someone trying to wave their hand and motion that everything was fine. If squids could look friendly and like they were laughing? She'd be doing that.

reaching down, she wrapped one of them hard and the other against the other side, clenching tightly and starting to pull. Thankfully Luz was a bit stronger than she should have been. But it wasn't like Vira-Lorr actually knew how heavy this thing was as they started to move, right?

[imaglyphwitch]

Luz certainly derived that from Vira. Honestly, aside from a few situations, Vira tended to be one of the more friendly people Luz knew, and it seemed that turning into a squid creature had done little to change that.

Thankfully she was NOT that alien creature, which would have made things pretty hard.

Luz also gave the chest a grab and found, with their combined strength, they were able to pull it forward with relative ease! Now swimming with it, that would be the true test of strength for the both of them.

"On the count of three then?"

[onerthes]

Yup. She'd managed to get her transformations to take on one of two tracks. Squid... and that thing. One was much less offensive than the other clearly, not to mention it was a lot less useful in this situation. Vira-Lorr nodded her ... uh, head? yes, she was going to think of it as her head right now. A quick nod and she braced herself with just enough of her tendrils ready to help the process of swimming while her others wrapped around it for a good, tight hold.

Time to haul this prize.

[imaglyphwitch]

Luz would second that. If Vira mastered that transformation somehow, wow. She'd think she was the coolest and scariest person she knew. It was an interesting combination.

But she got the message, grinning and going upward herself, very glad for the illuminated path. She'd be in a bit of a fix without it. Now though, it was swimming to get the chest where it needed to be! Onward and upward!

She really did wish she could talk to Vira in this form though.

[onerthes]

Talking in the water was kind of difficult to begin with. It was all gurgle this, blurble that. But the path to get this chest back wasn't too far at the very least, so as the water's edge and the light began to show, she picked up the pace to try and help them get there just a little faster.

...but no Jet ink firing for increased speed. Squid ink was valuable, don't cha know?

[imaglyphwitch]

It really was, under normal circumstances. Luz was happy to be in the spot where she could walk and talk normally, but of course Vira was not in that same area, so Luz had to go out to her. So Luz tried to mime what she was saying, then looked exasperated and just jerked her head to the surface.

They could get the chest out with their combined strength, that was enough.

Luz did NOT know that about jet ink, but might have suggested a glyph had she been thinking about it.

[onerthes]

The cuttle fish definitely understood and nodded again... well, it was probably a nod. Swimming harder, she brought the chest up almost to the edge of the water, pushing it so that its bulk would now start to be pressed out of the water's edge and slapping her own tendrils onto the ground.

There was a moment, some grunting and heaving, and tendrils began to flex inwards, forming into limbs. While they did so, thankfully it became apparent that Vira-Lorr had managed to find a swimsuit that would ... uh, work with this whole process. She wasn't giving Luz any unnecessary shows as her body molded and reformed with a cough and she was there on her knees, coughing up some water and laughing to herself.

"Oh... gods... that never gets easier. I don't care how natural it is," she said, closing her eyes to make sure they were back to not being squid-y.

[imaglyphwitch]

Luz was doing her best to keep the pace and help squiddy Vira get the chest out of there. It took a bit, but the two of them were finally able to get it to shore.

Granted, Luz would have given her friend a polite look away had she not been dressed, but it being Vira, she thought of everything, and so she was fully clothed when she came to. She did, however, gently clap Vira on her back to help her ease some of the sea water out.

"I'm really impressed though! I wish I could do that! Of course, I can turn into a bird!"

[onerthes]

Another cough and she flopped onto the sand, an arm resting on the chest as she grinned over at her. "I can only turn into two things, and one's not fit for this," she said, winking over at her. They both knew the other, thanks. "And you can do this too if you practice. Well... I think we all can. But it might be harder. Turning into a bird's pretty amazing. You get to fly after all. Much less call for swimming these days."

[imaglyphwitch]

Oh yes. Luz was all too aware of the other one, and she could do without that one right now, please and thank you.

"You'll have to show me then! I don't think I've spent enough time in the water to try and do it myself! I do like turning into a bird, but since I have the staff I tend not to do it so much."

Which was shame, as that little cowboy hat was a gift from Eda in the first place.

"Ready to open that chest?"

[onerthes]

"Perhaps one of these days, when the waters are safe, we can practice in a tidepool. I don't know how much it helps, but it's never bad to practice new things," she said while getting to her knees and settling down, grateful to feel normal again. Resting her hands on the top of the chest, grunting and nodding over at her.

"Let's do this. I think we'll need both of us."

[imaglyphwitch]

"That's probably a good idea. That, and I'll be able to expand my roster of 'things I can change into to impress my girlfriend on a dare!' Thanks for helping me with the chest!"

She was grinning, then realizing...she DID tell Vira she had a girlfriend now, right?

And yes, very much time to rest, please.

[onerthes]

She giggled and then just started laughing as they finally got the chest open. It took a long slow groan before the thing to creak and groan before falling back as the lid slid back. Flopping onto the sand, she laughed. "Wait.. wait... do you have a girlfriend? How is this something I haven't found out? Who is she?" she said, resting on the heels of her hands. Far more important than the contents of the chest. Those would wait.

"When did you start dating? How did you meet?"

[imaglyphwitch]

Oops. Nope. She had totally not mention it. Silly Luz.

Luz was looking over the chest at some of the rolled-up parchments, fascinated by their appearance, only to be asked to talk about her favorite subject these days: Lexi Howard.

"Oh. Well, when I was talking about Varian and Fern leaving, she piped up a conversation with me, mentioning she was coming into her own with her powers. We got to talking a bit, and found we not only had a lot of similar things we liked, she also was opening up a bookshop! After that, I eventually did meet her in person, and I started using any opportunity I could to speak to her. More conversation led to me confessing I liked her, and I found out the feeling was mutual! Now we're both opening that shop together, and honestly? I haven't felt this happy in a while."

Luz looked like she was bursting with secrets. "Um. Does a possible future get away house count as a date?"

[onerthes]

Vira-Lorr was kind of laughing at this point. It busted out and she leaned back. They could get to the chest in a second. The stream of consciousness was... ok, it was painfully adorable, and her laughter had that bright quality that said she liked everything she heard. Leaning back on her hand, she put the other to her chest and closed her eyes, letting the mirth subside.

"Oh you're priceless. I love it. It sounds like you two are perfect for each other, and please. How could finding a getaway house in this place not be a date? Adventures are perfect dates!" she managed. "Though, in your haste. My dear? I love you, but what is her name?" She winked at her, because she'd thought about Lexi, but she had gotten so much out other than her name.

[imaglyphwitch]

Was she that funny? Maybe there were some similarities with her and Lexi and Vira and Minako? Luz wasn't sure what inspired the laughter, but she knew that Vira wouldn't mock her, so she figured Vira was probably relating to something.

"I am? We kind of stumbled on each other in a strange way! I went from being sad about Varian and Fern to finding someone I just instantly clicked with. It was so strange! And the house is just amazing, but of course it was, Korra and Asami were just awesome like that!"

And now Luz blushed. "Oh, right! Her name is Lexi, Lexi Howard. Really pretty, witty and an all-around great person to talk to!"

[onerthes]

Definitely not mocking her. She smiled and reached over to ruffle her while grinning away. "You are. I love it when you get excited about something, or in this case? Someone. She sounds amazing. I'll have to meet her one of these days." She grinned as she said it. "But most of all, I'm happy that you're happy these days and finding that someone to be happy with." She remembered that it had been on her mind a lot.

[imaglyphwitch]

It was times like these that Luz felt like she was being treated like someone's little kid sister or a puppy. Luckily, Luz lived for that kind of treatment.

"Hehe, ok, ok! You really should! She's one of the wittiest people you'll ever meet, and she's so great, and she likes me! ME! I still can't believe it!"

But Luz was feeling less unworthy of it these days.

"It's funny. Both of us have our own baggage, from our worlds and this one, but we're slowly making it work. That was the thing I was always worried about, that all my past and the mistakes I made would come back to bite me. But she accepts me how I am. It's...it's like I'm finally feeling some of that happiness that we were promised on the last days of Deerington."

[onerthes]

It wasn't entirely inaccurate to say sometimes Vira-Lorr did treat her a bit like a kid sister. But, she'd always had a bit of a motherly side, for many years now because of having raised so many over the course of the wars back home.

"Well, she has good taste then," she said with a wink. "I'll definitely have to meet her at some point. And... yes. That's exactly what I have with Minako as well. Something about living here. We learn to accept each other as we are. Regardless of what this place does to us. So it's good that she understands this."

[imaglyphwitch]

Again, Vira Lorr was easily one of those people Luz would never spurn for that, right up there with Varian and Korra. By coincidence, she was also one of the few people remaining Luz saw in that way.

"She had great taste!" Luz agreed, and brightened at the idea that she would be able to finally show someone she cared about the new person in her life! "I can't wait for you to meet her, preferably when we open up the book shop next month! And you know, I agree. I think I'm finally starting to feel some of that bliss."

Granted, she still missed some things she would never get back, but this was a start!

[onerthes]

"The bookstore will be a great time for us to meet. I want to support you two in the middle of it, after all. Where are you planning to set it up?" she said as she finally got to her knees and looked in the chest, frowning and reaching in before lifting out a very strange looking statue and squinting.

"Hmmm... this is a little strange, isn't it? I wonder if curiosities like these would be good in your shop?"

[imaglyphwitch]

"It will! I'm going to try and make sure we have everything set up and bang out the last details the moment we're ready to open! It's in this green craftsman house in Willful Machine."

Luz looked a the statue with a very excited face.

"Yes! I love it! It'll look great in the shop! It's just the right level of cool and creepy!"

[onerthes]

"I think there's a few in here. If you don't mind, I'll snag one of them for myself. I'm... curious what they might represent," she said, staring at the elder statue with a curious, dubious eye. "But you are right. These will definitely serve well in a book store that has the themes of this place about it."

[imaglyphwitch]

"Oh no, take one! You helped me get this up to the surface after all! I'm sure that Lexi will like them too, once I show her the ones we're putting up!"

Luz looked at the statues a moment.

"We might need to get some cute things though. Just to offset some of the Trenchiness of it all."

[onerthes]

She reached in and collected one of them with a curious look. It was smaller, perfect for her home as opposed to anything much larger. She idly stared at it before laughing softly. "I don't know if you can ever truly take the Trench out of Trench. But you can certainly try. I want to study this. I wonder what mysteries it holds. Is it from somewhere older than even the pthumerians?"