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
forcechanic: (Can't stop me)

Re: barrier building

[personal profile] forcechanic 2022-08-14 05:46 am (UTC)(link)
"What sort of construction materials do we have? Do we need to get creative?" There's something about him, but she's not sure what. She certainly doesn't recognize his face but that's been the case for a lot of people who she turned out to have something in common with, so it doesn't actually rule out that there's something to what she's sensing.
facultative: (pic#15750581)

[personal profile] facultative 2022-08-14 08:55 am (UTC)(link)
"Wood mostly. We can also haul over some of the sand from the beach. I could get my droid to bring over bags of it."

No, Artoo will not be happy being used as a pack mule, but if the astromech wanted to stay dry he would need to help.

Anakin isn't getting the same odd feeling with her. That comes from the fact that most people from their galaxy would know of him in some shape or form.
forcechanic: (Oh do tell)

[personal profile] forcechanic 2022-08-15 04:09 am (UTC)(link)
"You have a droid?" So far the only people who have used that word have been from her galaxy, so she's pretty sure she's onto something. "They're always really helpful. We can use the sand to mix up a mortar if the droid does okay on beaches."
facultative: (Default)

[personal profile] facultative 2022-08-16 04:33 am (UTC)(link)
"An astromech, but he'll be fine on the beach."

He activates the communicator that only serves to connect him to Artoo in this world. "Artoo, I need you bring over some sand from the beach." Anakin chuckles in response to the droid's beeping. "Don't worry, I'll make sure to give you a nice oil bath after."
forcechanic: (Smiling)

[personal profile] forcechanic 2022-08-17 12:17 am (UTC)(link)
Jaina's eyes light up at the familiar beeping. "Artoo's here?"

Familiar faces are always appreciated.

"Wait, Artoo is your droid?" This just raises further questions.
facultative: (pic#15750588)

[personal profile] facultative 2022-08-17 04:20 am (UTC)(link)
Anakin hesitates. He has a bad feeling about this. People freaking out about his droids meant future people.

"Yeah."
forcechanic: (Jedi don't get nervous)

[personal profile] forcechanic 2022-08-17 04:43 am (UTC)(link)
Jaina has to consider this for a moment. She has no idea what Artoo's history was prior to the Organas. So he has to be from earlier than that or possibly from the future.

"What year was it?" Diplomacy is not exactly her strong suit so she's going to get right to that.
facultative: (pic#15750577)

how dare you ask me this idk if this is the relevant calendar or not

[personal profile] facultative 2022-08-18 04:40 am (UTC)(link)
"'958 according to the Hosnian Reckoning."

He doesn't do anything as obvious as placing a hand to his side to draw his lightsaber, but he shifts his stance minutely to steel himself just in case.
forcechanic: (Disturbance in the Force)

I clowned myself and whoops her canonpoint sure is an annoying year for this

[personal profile] forcechanic 2022-08-19 02:13 am (UTC)(link)
The past, then. So Artoo won't know who she is.

She's not used to using Hosnian Reckoning, it's two calendars ago in her time, but she's well educated, so she's aware of it. "It's 8000 for me."

Knowing he's from the past doesn't get her any closer to knowing his identity, so she's just going to introduce herself. "My name's Jaina Solo."
facultative: (pic#15750582)

[personal profile] facultative 2022-08-20 08:30 am (UTC)(link)
There's a wariness that automatically comes when faced with someone from the future. He doesn't know how anyone would react when faced with him and there's the understanding that it doesn't matter that he hasn't done those things yet, they've all still had to live it.

He doesn't offer his own name with her introduction. Instead he asks, "Are you Anakin's little sister?" There's the faintest hesitation before bringing up his grandchild's name given that they share a name and it's almost like talking about himself in the third person.
forcechanic: (Explain now)

[personal profile] forcechanic 2022-08-21 02:42 am (UTC)(link)
"Older sister." It's an easy mistake, but the birth order still very much matters. At least if you're the oldest child and both your younger brothers are Solos. "The time thing again."
facultative: (pic#15750581)

[personal profile] facultative 2022-08-21 10:03 am (UTC)(link)
"Little older sister then." Like it or not she was still tiny and younger. He's dragging it out though, the fact remained that this was yet another member of the family.

"I'm your grandfather." He pulls a face as he says this. He's not old enough to be a grandparent and he doesn't enjoy the implications that he's old.
forcechanic: (What's all this?)

[personal profile] forcechanic 2022-08-22 03:43 am (UTC)(link)
She's probably going to have to live with that, but that doesn't mean she has to entirely like it.

And then the weird feeling came together. "Oh... wow." She knows which grandfather, since she's already run into the other one.

"Anakin told me you're here but... I heard stories about you, scraps of them, but I didn't... No one exactly had holos."

While, they had holos, but not of Anakin Skywalker. The holos that existed weren't useful for recognizing someone from obviously earlier than all that.
facultative: (pic#15750587)

[personal profile] facultative 2022-08-22 12:54 pm (UTC)(link)
He ducks his head. "There probably wasn't anything worth keeping." He already knows the droids get wiped later and they would have been the only ones who would have thought him worth remembering. Everyone else would have died or in Obi-Wan's case thoroughly ruined his life.

It hurts, but it was to be expected.
forcechanic: (Jedi don't get nervous)

[personal profile] forcechanic 2022-08-23 05:31 am (UTC)(link)
It's more than that, but she's pretty sure it would be a bad idea to go into too many details. "I'm glad to actually get to meet you, though."

The words are genuine. SHe's never been any good at diplomacy anyway. And she has no reason to doubt that there was good in him even after everything, so he certainly could be good before all that.
facultative: (pic#15750585)

[personal profile] facultative 2022-09-04 09:32 am (UTC)(link)
"You're probably the only one." While no one had been outright hostile when finding out who he was, he also wasn't embraced either. Disbelief or wariness was the more common reaction he received.
forcechanic: (Disturbance in the Force)

[personal profile] forcechanic 2022-09-08 03:11 am (UTC)(link)
Jaina frowns. That's a surprising development. She's not sure how much she should really mention. "I've heard you were a great Jedi, but not a lot of details."

She heard a lot of other things, but Artoo wouldn't want to hang out with him if that had started.