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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
The light from it shines ahead of them, and the faint pattern of wood becomes visible. With something that large, made out of wood...
"A ship?" Here? In this sea?
"Does that mean there was trade and such here at one point?"
no subject
And Chizuru doubts that they're just there because they want to capture unsuspecting squids who are only just turning into humans. They must have shown up there one day for a different reason - to rob actual ships. Not that Chizuru has ever encountered pirates before herself, but she's heard enough stories about them that she knows that's how it works.
The girl pauses after saying that though, still clinging to Nara'a, but shifting a little bit so she can take a better look in the beam of light his Omni is generating.
"But that must have been a long time ago." After all, they haven't seen any trade ships arriving ever since they themselves showed up in Trench. And Chizuru has been here quite some time now. "This looks like it's been down here for a long time already.."
no subject
He nods at Chizuru's assessment. "It looks like it. There's a lot of damage... I wonder if that was monsters trying to get at trapped sailors..." Maybe that's morbid, but that's just a risk of sailing. Some ships never make it home for one reason or another.
"The Navigator only knows how long these have been down here..." ... Right, she wouldn't know that The Navigator is a name for one of the gods of Eorzea. "But maybe there's still things inside. Do you want to go look?"
no subject
.. even though she sure hopes there's no monster left. It's a thought that only occurs to her now he's brought it up.. but she feels like she'll be safe as long as she's with Nara'a. He'll be able to get them out of trouble if there is any, right?
And while they make their way over towards the entrance of the ships, or rather, a hole made thanks to all the damage done to the boats, she softly says: "I don't think you really want to meet those pirates.. They were really scary last time around. I think they hurt all the people they managed to capture.."
And the last thing she wants is for Nara'a to get hurt.
no subject
"Ah. Those kinds. Those do exist in my world, though usually most just want plunder and then they'll go away. Those that hurt others... it's against the Code, from my understanding of it. Though some don't care about that."
He can hold his own in a fight, but he doesn't want to make Chizuru worry - so he drops it. "I don't recognize this style of ship... it's similar but slightly different to what I'm used to. Of course, there's lots of kinds of ships... but it doesn't look quite the same."
no subject
Look, the part about the pirates in his world is surprising to her too - but what she's replying to here, and seems even more surprised about, is what he's saying about the ship. Chizuru hasn't seen enough back home to really be able to compare, but that's exactly why she's instantly willing to believe Nara'a's words here. He's got more experienced, after all.
"What do you think is different? Or.. um, is it hard to describe..?" She could understand that. Especially since he's saying they're slightly different. Besides-- "I guess everything here in Trench is pretty different from what we're used to.. But if you recognize what's different, maybe we can tell what these ships were for. Or why they're making the water glow."
no subject
Even through the gloom, the metal parts of the ship reflect from the glowing algae. Swirls and patterns line the edges of the ship, with a dolphin on the prow. "It's... strange. Do you want to go see what's inside? There might be something in the hold that might tell us where this is from."
no subject
"Let's go look."
If they're all the way down here, then they might as well, after all. There's just the risk that there's some danger waiting for them inside, but.. it doesn't seem like that's the case. After all, these ships are lying here so still at the bottom of the ocean, like there's nothing at all moving in them.
So if Nara'a moves closer towards the ships to try and find a way in, Chizuru will continue to cling onto him, moving along.
And speaking up, now she's had a moment to think about what the other brought up. "So you think it's.. a trader ship, maybe..?"
Chizuru has heard of those, even if she hasn't seen them much in person. Not even back home.
"I mean, why else would a ship come here from far away..? Especially since most of us arrive through the sea, rather than on a ship." So it can't be people from another world arriving the way they do every month.
no subject
Unless it was people from before coming to this place, but he's not certain how likely that is. Surely people would know about something like that, right? He shrugs at the thought and dives down, easily kicking his way into a hole in the side of the ship.
Barrels, both broken and not, litter the bottom - or side, really - of the ship. There's a flash of white as Nara'a takes out his omni to shine a light but... ah. It's a skeleton, crushed underneath some of the barrels. It seems to be clutching a strange statue, though - one that doesn't seem to have any algae or anything growing on it.
"... That's weird."
no subject
And it's not like Chizuru hasn't seen bad stuff like this before. She comes from a war, after all. She has watched dying men, she has seen corpses. But it's one thing to be on the battlefield and expect that, and it's another thing entirely to just randomly come across one during your daily life.
So the moment the light falls on that skeleton, Chizuru lets out a shriek. Considering they can stand here, there's technically no longer any reason to cling to Nara'a - but Chizuru still does in the light of this, ducking behind him like she's trying to hide and clinging onto him from behind. The girl is clearly scared, to a point where she can't even get herself to say anything quite yet.
no subject
... Maybe it should.
He reaches back and puts an arm around Chizuru's back, trying to hold her and calm her. "It's okay. It's dead. It's not going to hurt you." He's pretty sure, at least - he's fought skeletal enemies before, but this doesn't seem like one of them. "... Do you want me to move it for you so you don't have to see it?"
no subject
Those are two different statements to grapple with in this moment. Because Chizuru knows a skeleton couldn't do anything to her, but that still means something killed this person, or they died here.. which isn't a great thought, knowing that both of them are standing right here now. And then there's the fact that the fact that there's a corpse is just.. sad.
But then there's that other question, and that one does require her to say something out loud. Which is still hard, so at first the girl just furiously shakes her head, before managing to say: "N-No, it would be disrespectful to move them.."
Even if it's just a skeleton. Chizuru definitely feels like she always ought to honour the dead. Their remains included.
"I-I'll be fine, it's just.. I.. didn't expect to find that down here at all." Now the shock seems to fade a tiny bit, it reveals more sadness in her facial expression instead. "It's so sad.."
no subject
He does move one of the barrels experimentally, grunting a little. "Gods, this thing's heavy. Must be full of cannonballs or something like that." Presumably that's what crushed the person, given the position. He lets the barrel slide back into place with a dull thud as it impacts the other barrels.
"It... is. But we might see more. Are you okay with continuing? We can go back if you're not." He doesn't want to scare her... but he's not going to lie to her.
no subject
.. but she also hates the idea of cancelling the rest of this investigation, just because she got a little scared.
She clenches her top with one hand, forming it into a fist - just trying to give herself a bit of courage here. Be strong, Chizuru..!!
"We can keep going."
There's a hint of fear in her voice, sure, but her tone is mostly firm. Like she's made up her mind.
"I'll.. try to be better about it." Not as easily startled, though it's hard to not be. "So please don't worry about me. Let's just.. head further into the ship, and see what else we can find."
no subject
He opens a latched door and reveals some stairs. The omni's light reveals a number of barrels and other things all slid to one side of the ship, gravity pulling them down in a pile. "Let's see what's in here." He swims over the stairs into the hold, careful to make sure there's no skeletons around. He doesn't see any at the moment...
"It looks like someone was in the middle of a card game." There's the rotted remains of playing cards in the pile next to an overturned table. He swims a bit closer, fascinated. "The suits look a little different from what I'm used to." There's hearts and diamonds... but the others are circles and triangles.
no subject
It's why she instead turns to look around them more.
"I guess they must not have anticipated that they were going to sink.."
Not that anyone goes out on a ship anticipating that, mind you. But if these people really were in the middle of something, and their bodies are still left in here..
"Maybe they were totally caught by surprise by.." Chizuru's voice trails off, thinking of what could make a ship sink out here in a place like this.
Quite a lot, huh.
".. something."
no subject
Caught by surprise... "Either they hit a rock or something hit them. That was a pretty big hole we swam through..."
But what could hit them that hard? Some creatures, maybe... but he has no real idea what sort of monsters lurk out here, other than the ones that came to shore a bit ago.
no subject
But the lack of bodies makes it easier to look around. To glance around them, until her eyes land on--
".. do you see that statue there?" Chizuru raises a hand, pointing at it. "It looks so.. odd."
Kind of like a sea creature, but not like one Chizuru has ever seen before. Like it has been twisted, somehow.
no subject
"Yes... maybe we should take it back with us. Someone at the Archives might know what to do with it?" Or who it might best go to, at least. It's not like it's going to do much good sitting down here. He holds it up for Chizuru to see before sliding it into his pocket.
Maybe there are other things around? He shrugs and starts looking in the barrels. He opens one and wrinkles his nose at the smell. "I think there was food in here once." Not anymore - all that seems to be left is some kind of black sludge. "I think fish got in here at some point and ate it."
no subject
After all, who knows how long this ship has been down here. Long enough for bodies to decompose, for one - though Chizuru isn't sure of the exact timing on that. But since she never saw ships sink near here, nor heard of it, the ships would have to have been here for at least half a year already.
.. that's not nothing. That's enough for terribly waterlogged food to turn awful.
"Um.."
After thinking for a moment, Chizuru turns back to Nara'a, watching the other look around and search the place.
"What else do you think might be important to bring back with us..?" Other than the statue which he already pocketed, anyway.
no subject
He's used to compasses and spyglasses, nothing all too complicated. "Anything that looks shiny might be good for trading, too."
Is it plundering a grave site, given how many people probably died here? ... Maybe. But he prefers to look at it as being opportunistic. "Either way I don't know that this deck has much more to offer us. A lot of this looks like it was just food once upon a time."