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deercountry2022-08-08 09:32 pm
reddosmod) wrote in deercountry2022-08-08 09:32 pm
Entry tags:
- *event,
- alucard: timmy,
- anakin skywalker: michele,
- anakin solo: ellie,
- battler ushiromiya: chrono,
- chizuru yukimura: jelle,
- daniel larusso: jelle,
- goro akechi: kei,
- hector: laura,
- hotaru tomoe: xae,
- lance: charley,
- luz noceda: pedro,
- makoto kino: mesi,
- manabu yuuki: elle,
- maria thorpe: jaina,
- mercymorn the first: beth,
- murderbot: silyara,
- nico di angelo: xae,
- palamedes sextus: laura,
- pyrrha dve: silyara,
- scorpia: gore,
- sharon da silva: lunare,
- silco: prox,
- vi: aeri
he ate my heart
AUGUST 2022 EVENT
WE GLOW SO DIM
MONSTER WITHIN
LAVISH DESIRES
CODING
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. ]
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. ]
WHEN: August
WHERE: The Ocean
CONTENT WARNINGS: Deep diving, possible drowning, possible death
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.
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.
WHEN: August
WHERE: All over
CONTENT WARNINGS: Body horror, mentions of potential cannibalism/vore, possible death, contagious curse
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.
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.
WHEN: August
WHERE: All over
CONTENT WARNINGS: Personality changes, mental manipulation, hoarding, obsessive anxiety, disassociation, depersonalization
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.
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.
no subject
Toweling off, Pyrrha mentally reviews the ships and what they tell her. It's one dive, it's one look around, and it's limited. To truly learn much, more people have to dive more times. That's the kicker, besides the marvel of the experience—the chance for knowledge.
"There's many kinds of ships," Pyrrha says, "I didn't get a full inventory, but they've been down there a long while. The one I explored more fully still has items in it that could tell us more." What, exactly, she isn't sure. There's a connection with Mariana, of course, but that doesn't narrow much. Cassiopeia could tell so much if she were here.
She shakes her head slightly. "You know what that means right?" Pyrrha asks Daniel. She knows who she thinks of when she thinks 'someone is going to have to go down there again.'
no subject
Of course he has more than just a faint idea. He knows exactly what she means - and he figures that it's true that it would probably be hard for one person to find out everything about what's down there after one dive. Usually he'd be the type to tell her to leave this up to the professionals, but..
.. well, this is Trench. There are no professionals.
And with how absolutely untroubled Pyrrha seems to be about her dive, of course she's going to go back down there.
"Do you think it might be better for you to return there alongside someone else?" You know - so there's more eyes to lay on the stuff that's down there. And in case something bad could happen there after all. People usually dive in teams back home for a reason, right.
And, look, Daniel doesn't necessarily love the idea of going down there, but if it's to learn more about this place to aid in understanding this place and possibly even how to get back to their own worlds, he's willing to take some risks.
no subject
"I've always liked teamwork," Pyrrha comments. She can do most things by herself, such as this first dive, but for so long that's been a matter of circumstance. No backup. No exit strategy. Nothing but to do it.
She looks over at Daniel. Clearly, he doesn't relish the idea. A perfectly sane response to the ocean in Trench. There are other people, other adults even. Being on the beach when she came up doesn't mean he drew the short straw. "It doesn't have to be you."
no subject
"Do you think I'm scared?"
Please, Daniel. Don't constantly think about how you're among adults for once, only to act like a kid here.. But the man truly can't help it. Even if he's not quite as bad about these things as some other people he knows, there's still something about hanging back that doesn't sit right with him here. Sure, someone else could go with Pyrrha, but he's the one standing here with her right now.
Even if it's only be a minor inconvenience to go look for someone else, it's still an inconvenience all the same.
He moves a hand up to pull it through his hair, mentally preparing himself.
"I'm sure it'll fine. You came out of there alright too, after all."
Not that he thinks of Pyrrha as weak or anything. But if a sane, reasonable adult like Pyrrha can make it, then surely a sane, reasonable adult like Daniel himself could too, he figures.
no subject
"It's not about fear," Pyrrha replies, "or ability. It's about teamwork without words." Because for all she could breath down below, she still couldn't talk. The water swallows that sound. It's far from an issue on a solo dive. Together, however, they need to be on the same page.
She looks at him, seeing something of why he and Johnny must know each other. It amuses her, and she's glad to see another side of him.
"I'd planned to return another night," she shares, "it's a long swim, and I didn't bring supplies oriented for it." She could go again tonight. She has that endurance.
"Tell me—what do you want to do?" He could punch a giant squid in the nose and she'd be ready. Her concern is more what he's pushing himself to do and backing him up however he needs. Pyrrha herself went down without returning for proper supplies first, so she is hardly much different.
no subject
.. he's older now.
The man shakes his head before returning his gaze towards Pyrrha.
"I suppose it would be pretty hypocritical of me to scold you for suddenly jumping into the sea, only to do the same thing right after." Especially without preparations. That's not the Daniel way of doing things, right? He's not the one striking first around here. "So we can always do that later. We could just.. go home, think about what we need, rest up, and then do it tomorrow. Or some other time."
.. though there's one problem with that. One Daniel seems to realise as he's speaking.
"Assuming that everything down there is going to linger, anyway."
It's the sort of thought that would be ridiculous under normal circumstances. Of course those things will linger. Where are shipwrecks supposed to go by themselves?
But in this weird, weird place, pretty much anything is possible. For all Daniel knows, this is a one time occurrence.
no subject
Perhaps, she realizes, she isn't going to get any sleep that night before returning to her next day's work. Sleepers need less sleep, and Pyrrha's certainly gone plenty of nights without. Her body a little more forgiving than most. Neither she nor Daniel have been here long enough to answer his concern one way or the other, not with any real understanding of the factors. Mariana is mercurial.
Pyrrha chuckles, low and deep. "Come on, then, if you want. I'll show you where I left my things." So he can leave his too.
no subject
"Okay, but I've been responsible about this."
He's almost saying it like he has to justify this to someone. Himself? Pyrrha? The Pthumerians watching over them? Who even knows, maybe it's a mix of all of them.
Maybe it's just that the last thing Daniel wants to be seen as when he's always trying so hard to keep himself together is irresponsible.
"You've seen it, right?" Please, Daniel, don't involve Pyrrha in the need to make yourself feel a little bit more secure about this before you just jump into the water. It does make him look a little bit younger in this moment, despite his physical age. Like some younger part of him is rearing its head, needing to be told he's doing his best. "I was being very normal and responsible."
no subject
"Very normal," Pyrrha deadpans, "Very responsible."
Let Daniel read into that how he wishes. Pyrrha squeezes his shoulder and leads the way to the rest of her stuff. A long swim is no place to be weighed down unnecessarily, nor for awkward clothes to tangle her up.
Oh but adult friends are so much fun.
no subject
Not that Daniel isn't taking this situation seriously. As he moves over to the pile of items, starting to leave behind anything that could weigh him down - shoes and socks included, mind you, but he is very much keeping on his pants and shirt - he does look serious enough about all of this, even with what he said only a moment ago.
Pyrrha's survival seems to indicate that taking a dip into the ocean towards that light might be safe, but he's still not taking any chances.
"There," the man says, standing back upright once he's done putting away anything unnecessary, and starting to head back in the direction of the water. "Is some sunk ships all we should expect to see down there?"
Just confirming, really. Daniel likes being prepared, and he likes the idea of making sure they both come out of this alright even more.
And you never know in a weird, weird place like this one.
"Nothing ought to be blocking the way?"
no subject
With a small huff of laughter, Pyrrha walks back with Daniel. "There are more ships than we could explore in one night," Pyrrha answers. Even if his fear proves valid and they are gone come sunrise, they will barely scratch beneath the surface.
"Mind the currents," Pyrrha answers. That's how she half-squidded in the first place. "Beyond the glowing water, we cannot breath, not like this." She motions between their altogether human forms. The ocean, even with this gift, remains dangerous.
no subject
So it's a helpful warning. Even though Daniel was thinking of dangers that seem a little bit more typical for this place, like sea monsters, it's entirely true that even dangers that he could have encountered in his daily life back home are still present here as well. It's not like diving is easy, only helped here by an apparent ability to breathe underwater, however limited.
"I'm sure a lot of people will be doing down there though, so there's no need to worry about doing everything at once." Even if it would have been somehow within their limits. But Daniel trusts Pyrrha's description of what's down there enough to assume that it must mean they really can't view everything that's down there.
He's starting to walk into the water now as he's talking.
"It's probably the best to take a cursory look and see what seems like the most important stuff down there." That sounds like a solid plan to him, but Daniel is not uncooperative enough to not at least also ask: "Do you agree?"
He's pretty sure Pyrrha will agree, but hey, it's only polite to not assume. Especially when your companion is a responsible adult who can make their own decisions.