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
siriusly: (put the harmonica down)

[personal profile] siriusly 2022-08-18 07:48 pm (UTC)(link)
Get OFF!

[flailing aimlessly isn't doing it, and when pain persists, Manabu finds himself becoming more fueled by outrage than alarm. it heats up his blood as electricity starts to pop (maybe it'll have a kind of poprocks effect to a blooddrinker? much to think about), that energy coursing down to the knuckles of his fist as he thrusts a short-but-purposeful punch at the face hidden by his blind eye. that taser-to-the-face effect is coupled with his overall temperature spiking, so this guy may as well be glomming onto a tesla coil.]
ananym: (Yet forfeit their soul)

[personal profile] ananym 2022-08-23 01:32 am (UTC)(link)
[ well, that's stronger than the average punch. normally alucard could weather such a blow, but this one sends him reeling a few paces back, eyes narrowed. was that the vaunted blood magic powers he heard so much about.

but the hunger was still there. so he holds his ground, fangs still visible. ]
siriusly: (we fight like men)

[personal profile] siriusly 2022-08-23 03:32 pm (UTC)(link)
[space is what Manabu needs and it's what he's gonna greedily take once the pressure's off his body; he hastens to expand the distance his own way, all while drawing his pistol to have it at the ready when he whirls around. his other hand grips at his neck to keep pressure there, still steaming, still sparking.

he's never sure what to expect when there's an attack since there's just so many ways a monster can look here in Trench, but he rarely expects one to look so weirdly pristine despite the feral glint in the eyes. it's unnerving, reminding him that moments ago, words were spoken. is he lucid?]


Y-you try that again, and I'll shoot to kill. No games. You can understand me, right? [maybe?? oh man--]
ananym: (That is what defiles them)

[personal profile] ananym 2022-08-24 09:50 am (UTC)(link)
[ alucard's eyes are fixed unerringly on manabu as he cocks his head at him. ]

And what makes you think your shot will kill me?
siriusly: (i do not bite my thumb at you)

[personal profile] siriusly 2022-08-25 04:40 pm (UTC)(link)
As long as it gets you to back the hell off, it's a good enough job for me! Is this a thing with you? Just attacking and biting strangers out of the blue?! That's not gonna fly at all.
ananym: (Yet forfeit their soul)

[personal profile] ananym 2022-08-27 01:27 am (UTC)(link)
[ alucard seemingly ignores what manabu said. ]

It must be done.
siriusly: (put the harmonica down)

[personal profile] siriusly 2022-08-27 07:41 pm (UTC)(link)
Not tonight! [there's a gentle whine of the pistol charging up.] Just walk away.
ananym: (Default)

[personal profile] ananym 2022-08-29 09:30 am (UTC)(link)
[ sadly, unless the pistol is as fast as alucard is, it won't make a difference. he is a red blur, a blink and miss as he appears behind manabu, his hand an iron grip around manabu's wrist. alucard squeezes. ]
siriusly: (you LIED to me?????)

[personal profile] siriusly 2022-08-29 01:24 pm (UTC)(link)
[a laser shot fires, hitting no dhampirs in the process because of that speed.]

A-AA-! [that pressure makes his hand twitch, losing hold of the pistol - pretty forgotten in the face of that flash of pain. between that and the panic of how sudden it is, sparks light up anew, and Manabu ignites from the shoulders up.]

LET GO!
ananym: (Out of the heart come evil thoughts)

how did I lose this tag

[personal profile] ananym 2022-09-05 08:26 am (UTC)(link)
[ well, that is unpleasant and it's only thanks to his quick reflexes that alucard managed to get out of the way, but now there is distance between him and manabu. distance between him and the blood he needs. he toys with the idea, the weight of trouble vs the weight of his thirst. ]
siriusly: (ACTION YELL)

punched the notif straight out of ya inbox 👊

[personal profile] siriusly 2022-09-05 02:40 pm (UTC)(link)
[distance is what Manabu needs, that's for damn sure. he doesn't waste a second to grab up his pistol and pivot on his heel, booking it the hell away from him while still aflame. too risky to look back - could make him lose his balance, his focus...and anyway, with the insane speed of that guy, it'd just make a chase easier on him.

better to look for a lamp.]
ananym: (Miraculous powers are at work)

my hero

[personal profile] ananym 2022-09-07 07:30 am (UTC)(link)
[ he better move fast because alucard is close on his heels. he's only a bit slower because the thirst is taking up his thoughts. ]
siriusly: (ACTION YELL)

[personal profile] siriusly 2022-09-07 09:44 pm (UTC)(link)
[oh he movin' alright, all while his omen is reappearing in a puff, running toward Alucard as his person books it away. if all the little guy can do is launch himself up and latch onto him somewhere, then by god, he will. small dogs, even omen ones, will always punch way above their weight classes.

even if it provides but a millisecond of time, it's time Manabu has to get a lamp into view. his mind races with a dozen places he could go, but he really needs to focus on one. feeling the space behind him starting to fill up, his heart hammers all the harder. he takes a few blind shots behind him while his other hand reaches out to snatch the pole.]


Outpost! [better than Crenshaw, where lots of people are; god forbid this guy catch up and teleport with him! at least if it's the outpost, Manabu can ditch him and leave him to deal with heaps of unhinged monsters... he'll fit right in, probably!

the fog builds as the little lantern dudes do their jams, and away Manabu goes.]