all i know is i don't know nothing

[reddosmod]

SEPTEMBER 2022 EVENT

A SPECIAL NOTE NOW THAT THE GAME HAS BEEN OPEN FOR A YEAR: Due to the cyclical nature of the world, during certain months, prompts from the previous year may be available to use. You can see September 2021's prompts here. Please make sure to note if you are using a prompt from last year, so that others will know where to look for the original content.

IMAGE DESCRIPTORS IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE
Prompt One
[Image One: Black birds flying in front of a church shrouded in heavy fog. ]
[Image Two: Red tinted clouds with a flash of red lightning piercing through them. ]

Prompt Two
[Image One: A stack of leather bound books. ]
[Image Two: A close up on the detailed arches of a Gothic/Neo-Gothic building. ]

Prompt Three
[Image One: A path in the woods with fallen leaves and bare trees. ]
[Image Two: Two swords covered in blood laying across one another in an X pattern. ]

[NAVIGATION]

Prompt 1 • Prompt 2 • Prompt 3 • Plotting • Newsletter

[JUMP TO COMMENTS]

Leap of Faith

WHEN: September
WHERE: Alternate Dimension
CONTENT WARNINGS: Parallel worlds, violence, possible death, religious cults

---

Throughout the month, people seem to just be... disappearing. It starts off as just a few locals here and there: maybe it's a butcher that's become a staple in the community, or a textile merchant that some Sleepers have come to rely upon in their time here. These disappearances seem to vary in how long they last. Some people are only gone a few days, others may never be seen again. The ones who return refuse to talk about where they've been or what has happened to them and will adamantly shut down any attempts to find out information. Rumors spread around the city at what could be going on and there's the occasional bit of conversation that mentions the possibility of reality bending Pthumerians being behind the ordeal.

It doesn't take long before it's Sleepers who start to disappear as well. It can happen at what appears to be any moment: sometimes during the middle of the night, a bed will simply swallow them up. Others might be walking along a path or road and suddenly drop through the ground, even when there's no hole to fall into. If a Sleeper with the ability to see invisible supernatural forces sees this in action, they will notice what looks like black, charred hands reaching up out of the earth and latching on to their victim before dragging them into black mist.

Sleepers who have been grabbed will find they've been yanked into a pocket dimension, a version of Trench that seems to be even more corrupt, even more polluted, and covered in dark fog that is difficult to see through. There's a heavy humidity in the air, the sound of constantly rolling thunder, and the occasional flashes of lightning across the sky. Bright bolts occasionally crash down through the fog and hit the earth, cracking it open and creating deep caverns filled with tar that is hot enough to melt a human being. Beasts larger and even more dangerous than those regularly seen back in Trench roam the streets, ready to tear apart and devour anything in their path.

The buildings are also crumbling to pieces and many of the staple locations of the city of Trench have been completely turned to rubble in this alternate world. Only religious buildings seem to be left standing and they have become crowded by locals who have yet to escape this new world. Sleepers will find that these religious buildings are the only ones that are completely safe from the beasts in the streets, offering themselves as Sanctuary from the out of control corrupted forces of this new world.

The locals in this place aren't here to make Sleepers feel safe and cozy while they wait to get out of this dimension. They're here to convert and it becomes obvious quickly. They claim this universe is the True World, the world that the Old Ones had wanted Sodder to create, one that they think the Nightmare could have evolved into if Sodder had been given the proper guidance. They believe that a Pthumerian by Riteoir brought about the perfect world that punishes those who have done wrong swiftly and spares those who are righteous and dedicated to a just path. This cult has elevated Riteoir to a God-like status in their eyes and they will do their best to try and convince all who gather in the buildings for safety that they are protected here because of their faith and dedicated to Riteoir's ideals.

They also become highly violent towards anyone who dares to insult Riteoir or who questions their beliefs in any way. Killing the non-believers is a perfectly justified reaction to these worshippers, convinced that any doubt in Riteoir's power to protect them will cause their safety net to collapse. They justify brutal murders of those they deem unrighteous as being necessary to keep the peace they have found for themselves in an otherwise clearly bleak world.

Playing along might be the best bet, but isn't required for people who would rather fight monsters over people. Sleepers may run in to other locals who also chose to get away from the cult madness out on the roads and these locals are more than willing to share the knowledge they've found while exploring this dimension. There's only one means of escape: finding a weak spot in the veil between worlds and performing a ritual to break it open.

Two Sleepers of differing blood types must find and gather together the claw of a large beast, a silver bowl, a piece of rubble, and a single red rose. Roses are hard to come by in this alternate world, but there is a small garden that grows in one of the churches. It requires sneaking around the cult members in order to obtain and they will attack anyone they find trying to cut the rose from the bushes. Once these object are found, the Sleepers must bring them to the area that would have been known as Sleepytown in the original Trench. Here, it is now a vast, open wasteland, with smoke rising from the crack in the ground, and a never ending fire burning beneath the ground. The faint sounds of screaming can be heard under the ground, but there isn't any way to determine if they're real or simply echoes from the past.

The claw can be ground down with the piece of rubble inside the silver bowl. The rose petals should be carefully plucked and placed on top of the claw. Finally, each Sleeper must cut themselves, and add equal amounts of blood until it begins to thicken. It doesn't take much, the magic working quickly to turn the mixture into a substance almost like slime. Each Sleeper must dip their hands in the slime and spread it onto the chest of the other, right above where the heart would be located. If the Sleeper has their heart located in a different area of their body than normal, then the slime must be spread there instead. Once this is complete, it will feel like acid burning against the skin, before it glows brightly. The lights will join together, forming a laser like beam that will then slice a hole in the air in front of them.

This hole will show the original Trench on the other side. It will only remain open for a few moments before closing up again. Sleepers must jump through the hole together in order to return to Trench. If the ritual fails, they will have to wait three days to try again, and will have to find a way to continue to survive in this alternate world. If it succeeds, the Sleepers will find themselves in the original Sleepytown, and will be able to return to Trench from there.

Bringing up the alternate universe, the ritual, or even Riteoir will put the locals on edge and they will quickly close the door of their shop or turn their backs on anyone who tries. Apparently this is a touchy subject that they'd rather ignore.

[JUMP TO TOP] • [JUMP TO COMMENTS]

KNOWLEDGE IS POWER

WHEN: September
WHERE: The Gaze
CONTENT WARNINGS: N/A

---

The Never Mind believes in knowledge and learning above all else. He can be found beckoning many towards the Gaze, encouraging them to attend the School of Mutter or visit the Archives to expand their knowledge. His ravens will try to guide people here as well and many Sleepers will start to feel a compulsion to follow.

There's talk of a prize being given by the Never Mind himself for those who learn something new while inside the Gaze. A bracelet shaped like golden wheat that can rid a small patch of land (roughly 4 square feet) completely of pollution, allowing the area to properly grow a small amount of plants. In Trench, this is almost as priceless as the gold itself, and so many are quick to encourage anyone to go and get one for themselves.

People can't just learn anything, though. When Sleepers arrive in the Gaze to claim their prize, they will be given a specific task: get to know someone new. There's no wiggle room for interpretation in the words. The only way to obtain the bracelet is for a Sleeper to talk to another person that they have never spoken to before. Casual small talk won't earn them this prize either. Sleepers must dive into a deep conversation that forces them to truly learn about the other person. It can be about their feelings, their past, their hopes and dreams... So long as it's something that they truly learn about the other and should, ideally, no longer make them feel like a stranger.

Bracelets will appear magically on the writs of each Sleeper once their conversation ends, so long as the criteria is met. Happy gardening!

[JUMP TO TOP] • [JUMP TO COMMENTS]

THE GREAT HUNT

WHEN: Mid-to-Late September
WHERE: Trenchwood
CONTENT WARNINGS: Hunting themes, possible death, large beasts, descriptions of gore.

---

An excerpt from Ancient Notable Beasts:

The story goes that as the Blood Moon rises and the farmers begin to hope for a bountiful harvest, Trenchwood begins to hear the growls of the Bugge through the trees. One of the largest beasts to ever roam the lands, it seems to only plague the woods in the autumn months, just before the leaves begin to change their color. Legend has it that the blood shed by the Bugge falls onto the green leaves from summer and poisons them, changing their colors, and slowly killing them until they fall to the ground. The Bugge hunts and feeds on any who enter the forest, but particularly enjoys to devour those who have let corruption touch their souls.

Hunters try to bring down the Bugge every year, many losing their lives in the process. The creature stands as tall as the old pine trees, covered in gray fur, and has claws said to be sharp enough to slice through diamonds. Drool pours from its mouth, matting the fur along its jaw and chest, and dying it a deep, rusty brown. Looking into the eyes of the Bugge can make a person paralyzed with fear, forcing them to relive their worst fears, and some say even freezing them into solid ice if they do not break free quickly enough. It is said that it is most important to track the beast as quickly as possible, for if you do not hunt the Bugge first, than the Bugge will find its way behind you and hunt you instead.

No one has ever managed to truly put an end to the Bugge. Even when it is slain, the shrieks of the creature are heard again mere hours later, and more who go into the woods unprepared end up never returning. Despite the danger, the farmers do no wish to be rid of the Bugge as the Hunters do. The blood spilled by both the Bugge and the Hunters who attempt to slay it does not seem to pollute the ground as it does other times of year: instead, the Blood Moon shines brighter, and the crops for the September harvest become richer than they were before. The farmers see the Bugge not just as a necessary evil for good crops, but as a blessing, a reward for all their hard work during the year.

Sleepers who go near Trenchwood will hear the Bugge from the trees. Getting too close to the woods will cause the cycle of needing to track the Bugge to begin. It does not matter if the Sleeper leaves the woods after, the Bugge will be willing to stalk them into the city, and kill them in the streets if it is not found first. Killing the Bugge is the quickest and easiest option, but the Bugge can be healed by those willing to put in the work. If a Sleeper has the ability to see souls, they will notice that the beast seems to holds a presence similar to that of a fairly large bear. However, if healed, it will run off before the Sleepers can see its true form.

Unfortunately, those who choose to heal the Bugge will find that there are consequences. Where killing the Bugge brings about a more bountiful harvest, healing the Bugge causes the crops and other plants in the farming district to suffer and wilt. The local farmers will be furious if they find out who has chosen to heal over kill and will deny any further trade with the individual in the future, seeing them as a weak link in the natural balance of this world.

Those who choose to shed blood through September, whether the Bugge's or others, will find that the legend is honest about its impact on the earth during a blood moon: while it won't rid the ground of pollution, it seems to make life around it stronger and more durable. This includes not only the harvest but all life forms, including Sleepers.

[JUMP TO TOP]

CODING

Comments

Scorpia | OTA

[cuddlery]

A. I'm a Scorpion Lady in Another World!

[Scorpia's getting real tired of being dropped into random places! And yet here she goes once again. This time she's grabbed by some charred hands and pulled through, so she feels like there's a little variety.

And so she wanders the new environment with an air of uncertainty. One can find her wandering the fog and seeking shelter. Or find her in the midst of dealing with monsters. Or Scorpia could instead come across someone else who is being threatened by monsters and/or cultists!

Or one can jump ahead. After figuring out the way home, it's time for Scorpia to work together in preparing the ritual to escape...]

B. Social Link Speedrun

[This bracelet sounds very enticing to Scorpia, who wants to do some more gardening and try to get some prompts! And on top of that, it's an opportunity to make new friends! Sounds like a win-win-win in Scorpia's book, because she's sure that everyone could use a new friend in a place like this!

And so she'll pop up in front of unfamiliar people all throughout gaze, with a sunny smile and a greeting - sometimes from behind a bookcase or around a corner!]

Hey there! I'm Scorpia. Coldblood, big fan of hugs, I'm a Night Walker - who are you and how are you doing?

C. Bloodsport II: The Bloodsportenning

[Scorpia feels a strange sense of deja vu...! She had passed out, and now the tall scorpion woman suddenly finds herself in the middle of an arena. The crowds of The Gate cheer and call out for blood!

She rubs her pincers together anxiously as she looks around.]

...Please tell me this is a singing gig...

[But there's no such luck, as her opponent is stepping out...]

D. Wildcard

[Feel free to come up with an alternate prompt or hit me up for plotting!]

C she will get reasonable i promise pls talk her down

[faceblocks]

[vi steps into the arena, clangs her gauntlets together twice - breath coming hard and fast and the cheers of the crowd ringing in her ears. she doesn't know if they're cheering for her or not - doesn't care, either. her blood is up thanks to so many things this month - and she's ready to fight whoever they pit her against.]

I can sing you a lullaby before I put your lights out.

[she smirks, clanging her fists together again and raising one into the air. she doesn't know this sleeper. looks like it might be a fun match - the woman's brought her own gauntlets. what she also doesn't know because it's been buried by bloodthirst is that her vileblood has made her a walking chill pill. that's ...probably a good thing.]

[cuddlery]

[As the opponent enters the ring, Scorpia's eyes widen slightly in recognition. Isn't that Vi... the girl she went on an adventure with some months ago during that whole Jumanji thing...?]

N-not exactly the kind of song I was thinking of! [She raises her pincers peacefully for the moment, but she's ready to shift into a defensive position if she has to defend herself. She's felt the bloodlust last year and learned to control it, but... she still does feel it bubbling beneath the surface.]

Maybe something a little more peaceful... Look, I'm just saying we don't have to fight!

[faceblocks]

[vi does not remember this - it had been a different vi then, and she's a different vi now as the thrum of bloodlust pulses in her, makes her grit her teeth and scream out into the air.]

What do you mean we don't have to fight? Do you hear that?

[a gesture to the crowd.]

C'mon, let's see what those claws can do. Or are you as easy to beat as one of those crabs I bring home for lunch a couple times a week?

[a 'bring it' gesture with her new gauntlets - the articulation lets her do that now. thanks, viktor.]

B

[tempredmental]

Uhh... [It had taken a lot for Keith not to jump out of his skin when this massive scorpion lady jumped out in front of him. It wasn't enough to stop him from dropping into a defensive stance, which he slowly relaxed from as she started talking.] I'm Keith... Paladin of the Black Lion... coldblood... I uh... guess I'm okay?

.....

How are you?

[cuddlery]

[It's fine. This is fine. This is a Friend!]

Hi there, Keith! Ooh, a fellow Coldblood. Blood buddies! [As she says that, she extends a closed pincer for a chilly fistbump. ...This is probably the third time she's called someone a blood buddy in the past month.]

It is great to meet you! Me, I'm fine. Doing great today actually! It feels like a good day to make new friends and learn everything about them and then raise some crops. Don't you agree?

I love Scorpia so much

[tempredmental]

[Blood buddies? Uh, sure. Okay. Keith sort of stared blankly at the extended claw for a second before realizing what it was she was trying to do. Right. He gingerly tapped his fist to her claw, his hesitancy more because he was just confused about the whole situation more than anything else.]

I... guess... so? [Wait... did she...? One of those things felt off.] Raise some crops?

C

[onekindsoul]

[And the crowd goes wild as Ruby steps out onto the field. Giant scythe held up in her other hand as she waves cheerfully to the crowd. Except then she sees who her opponent is and she blinks a couple times in confusion.]

Scorpia?

You're not a giant monster-

I think they made a mistake here.

[cuddlery]

[She worried the moment she saw Ruby enter, brandishing that giant scythe!]

Of course I'm not, I'm your super-pal Scorpia! Definitely sounds like a big mistake. I, I just woke up here!

[And yet the crowds don't seem to think it's a mistake, as they call out for blood!]

[onekindsoul]

[That's valid- It is a very big scythe.]

I did too- But the last time I came around here it was mostly about fighting monsters.

I don't want want to fight a friend- At least not like this.

[The crowd calls out for blood once again.]

What about sweat and bruises!?

[Now they're actively booing.]

Uh... Okay. That didn't work.

B

[forcechanic]

[Okay, if it'll help the farmers she'll mingle]

I'm Jaina Solo. Paleblood, I guess. I was training to be a Jedi before I wound up here, now I'm figuring out what I'm going to do here.

[This isn't enough to satisfy, but it's a place to start, right?]

[cuddlery]

Nice to meet you, Jaina! Ooh a Paleblood, that's really neat. Got a lot of, lots of mind stuff going on there. [She nods along.]

I hope you figure out what to do here. I never heard of a Jedi before. What - what is that?

[forcechanic]

Some of it's a lot like being a Paleblood. It's about being able to connect to the Force, a life energy. I can pick up on other people's feelings and sometimes I'll get hints of something that's about to happen. And move things with my mind, that's not really a Paleblood thing.

There are a few of us here. Everyone else has had more training than me.

[Mostly because little brothers have a lot of nerve being older]

B

[terribibble]

[The desire to go after one of those bracelets had fought so hard with Fiddleford's absolute hatred of Gaze, but in the end, the enticing nature of being able to have perhaps a little herb garden had won out. Something nice, something normal. Something to do.

He was expecting the skin-crawling feeling of being constantly watched. He was not expecting a scorpion woman to jump out at him from absolutely nowhere. He's been keeping his electricity under control better lately, but the shock (ha) of such a sudden introduction makes a full-body shiver of static lance through him. If he knew what a Ghibli movie was he'd liken it to that classic Ghibli shiver, but he doesn't so he can't, he just knows the air around him is now extra-spicy.]

Oh, uh -- I -- I wouldn't hug me if I were you, you're liable to get electrocuted. Unless you're a walkin' generator too and then I imagine it's fine. I don't know if that's a general Coldblood thing or a me thing. Uh.

[It's hard to tell since he's taken to wearing the layered clothing so popular in trench, but his visible skin is graying and there's two little tusks poking out of his mouth. The bags under his eyes are bluer than they would be on normal human. He is, how you say, not doing well.]

My name's Fiddleford?

[cuddlery]

[Her eyes widen as she takes in the man and all of the, well, unusual things about him.]

I- I think I might be fine? I have electricity of my own, even before I came here and became a Coldblood, so I probably have some kind of resistance? Man, it's really sad to imagine someone not being able to be hugged...

[She gives a concerned look and shakes her head.]

Still, it's good to meet you, Fiddleford! You, are you doing okay? Aside from being unhuggable, which is already really heartrending?

[terribibble]

No?

[Wait. That shouldn't come out like a question. Normally he'd pretend he's just fine, thank you, but he's jumpy from being in Gaze and his corruption has the additional side effect of making him a little more direct. Not so direct as to say 'I'm not sure I'd like being hugged by someone with claws and a stinger', but enough to admit when he's upset.]

To tell you the truth I really don't like bein' here. In Gaze, I mean. Don't like the eyes. How anybody lives here is beyond me.

[He thought he could do it, maybe, but as it turns out he still very much hates it. Oops!]

A

[imaglyphwitch]

It's a little disturbing how some of these sorts of situations have become old hat to Luz. Nonetheless, she's not about to let her friend get attacked by some monster. When the monster appeared to have worn Scorpia down to the quick, Luz appeared, dropping an ice glyph to give the monster a sudden block in its path: an actual ice sculpture in Scorpia's likeness!

So sometimes Luz could get flashy.

"Finish it off, Scorpia!" Luz called out from a nearby hiding spot.

[cuddlery]

One moment, she thought the monster had her. The next, she was looking at... herself? A pretty and icy version of herself! She blinks, baffled for just a moment before Luz's voice snaps her back to reality.

"On it!!"

With that, she rushes forward and leaps up onto and off of the ice sculpture towards the beast. As she does so, her pincer crackles as it absorbs electrical energy, which surges through the monster's body once she slams her claw down on its head! The monsters shudders with the electrical pulse before crumbling over completely.

"Luz, am I glad to see you! Thanks so much for the help there! ...Very, very well-sculpted help!"

[imaglyphwitch]

Luz watched her friend a moment, ready to snap into action if necessary. Luckily, Scorpia had been ready to take out her foe, and a minute later it was pretty much squashed flat. Scorpia was impressive, no surprise there.

"Same here! Been here a few hours, and trust me, you do not want to be on the 'wrong' side of the cult coin here. Had to shake off a few of these weirdo followers, trying to find out the best way outta this heckhole."

Because even in dystopia, Luz is not quite ready to give into swearing just yet.

"How about you?"

B. Social Link Speedrun

[convene]

[Behind a bookcase is more likely where he'd be found because Ryunosuke is terribly distracted. He glances up at the noise and nearly jumps straight up, startled by the sudden presence.]

Sorry! I was just-- [He's about to really start explaining himself when he spots her friendly face, relaxing knowing that he wasn't about to get jumped or something. At least she seemed friendly considering she just introduced herself to him.]

Ah! Sorry. I'm Ryunosuke Naruhodo, uh Warm Blood? [He bows.] It's nice to meet you. [You know, even now that he's getting a better look at her. Stranger things in Trench he supposes, he's trying to learn to roll with the punches.] I'm fine, thank you for asking.

Oh! You're a Nightwalker. What's that like?

[cuddlery]

[Scorpia props her claws on her sides as she listens to the guy, with a friendly smile.]

Now that's a long name. But, uh, it's great to meet you too! Glad you're doing alright, new pal.

[Oh and she gets a question first! Scorpia answers.]

Um, being a Night Walker's great? I love being there for my friends and lifting them up, and this is basically that as a job! It just encourages people to support others in whatever ways they feel comfortable with. For me, that usually takes the form of talking things through and hugs!

B

[occultfan]

[The bracelet seemed interesting to Ada, so she was set about trying to figure out what exactly it was she needed to do. Talking seemed easy enough at least and she was surprised when someone came up to her to start introducing herself that she was perhaps speechless for a little too long.]

Uh... Hi. I'm Ada. I'm a Paleblood and I'm fine. A little confused about how to get a bracelet but fine.

[cuddlery]

Hey there Ada! Nice to meet you, and I'm super glad that you're well! [With all the bad things that happen in this world, any non-awful feeling has to be cherished!]

Oh, but getting the bracelet sounds easy! We just have to keep talking to each other and get to know each other and become super-pals! It's easy as that.

Adding another B to the pile

[truerevival]

[Kazuma has been rather tempted by the idea of these bracelets--but he's not really the sort to start social links of this nature. Networking for the sake of career moves still meant keeping people at a reasonable distance. This...this did not.

Still, he wants that bracelet and he won't ignore someone more open than himself for the sake of trying.]

Oh, Kazuma Asogi. Warmblood, Scholar. I suppose I'm doing well enough...And--I'm sorry--Did you say you were a fan of hugs? [That was an odd detail.]

I Blieve it

[cuddlery]

[Good, another person who's receptive to her offer and not running off in response to her sudden introduction!]

I sure did! You heard me right. [She smiles and nods.] What can I say? I'm a hugger! I like hugging people and supporting my friends... and I support a lot of people with hugs as a Night Walker. If you want one for yourself at any time, just say the word! But also, it's nice to meet you! You must be right at home in this neck of the woods if you're a scholar.