reddosmod: (Default)
Deer Country Mod ([personal profile] reddosmod) wrote in [community profile] deercountry2022-09-09 09:25 pm

all i know is i don't know nothing

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. ]

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.

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!

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.

CODING
imaglyphwitch: (can't quite place it)

[personal profile] imaglyphwitch 2022-09-12 03:09 pm (UTC)(link)
Luz notices Scorpia trying to gather herself and kneels down to give her friend a hug. She didn't realize it, but they both probably could use one right about now.

"There's more of those, I've seen them. It's been pretty rough, but it's still not those last days of Deerington. As for getting out of here? You already got us one of the first things we'll need."

Without missing a beat, Luz walked over to the monster and used a fire glyph to burn off one of the claws, just around it's hand. She winced, not loving that she had to do this, but shook that off.

"I asked around. We'll need some debris and a small silver bowl, those are the easy things. You got one of the hard things, but the other thing we'll need will be way harder: a rose. That part you might wanna leave up to me. Only those freaky church people have the roses, and they don't like sharing."
cuddlery: (hugs)

[personal profile] cuddlery 2022-09-12 04:27 pm (UTC)(link)
Hugs are especially welcome now! So Scorpia will wrap Luz in a firm one.

She then looks on with hopeful curiosity as Luz talks about a way out.

"Good job, Luz! So we're partway there already. That's great!" Still, she frowns in concern. "But you know, about those church people, that actually sounds like a reason to not go it alone? Let me help you with that!"
imaglyphwitch: (can't quite place it)

[personal profile] imaglyphwitch 2022-09-13 05:36 am (UTC)(link)
Yup, Luz has somehow managed to not be scared out of her mind this time, but that doesn't mean she's not a little frightened at the way things are turning out, or how she got here in the first place.

"I'm going it alone because I'm going to attempt to go invisible. I'm kinda small and wiry, and have had more experience holding my breath. Besides, that's only PART of the hard part. The other part I'm totally going to need you for, since it's going to require both of our blood."
cuddlery: (pondering)

[personal profile] cuddlery 2022-09-13 06:52 pm (UTC)(link)
It's a worrying situation to be sure. Though it's a shame that Luz is stuck here too, Scorpia appreciates the company.

"Oh, okay. When you put it like that, you've got a point? If that'll make it easier for the spell to work... I guess you should go for it." Still, she raises a pincer to continue. "I'll just stay in the area then and keep a look out. And if anything goes wrong, please call out for me!"
imaglyphwitch: (gustanamo)

[personal profile] imaglyphwitch 2022-09-13 09:39 pm (UTC)(link)
"Believe me Scorpia, if it wasn't for stealth, I would absolutely take you. Those guys creep me out, and even if I can use glyphs, I have a thing with cultists since the factory, you know? So if I can do this lightly with no injuries, that'll be better than getting a bunch of people chasing after us."

Luz took the pincer, taking a breath. "I'll try to be as quick as I can."

With that, Luz popped on a tiny miniature cowboy hat, and turned into a crow, giving Scorpia an encouraging squawk and then flapping towards the church.
cuddlery: (understanding with tea)

[personal profile] cuddlery 2022-09-13 10:15 pm (UTC)(link)
"Of course, no injuries is the absolute best way of doing things! Just remember what I said, and... good luck!"

She can't help but grin at the little hat and seeing her turn into a bird. And she watches as she departs.
imaglyphwitch: (wanna be startin somethin)

[personal profile] imaglyphwitch 2022-09-13 10:51 pm (UTC)(link)
Luz swoops down where she sees the church garden, and lands in a nearby bush. Once she reverts back to her human form, Luz makes sure to hit her invisibility glyph, one that has combinations of her elemental glyphs to make invisibility possible.

Just one drawback: she has to hold her breath while she does it. Luz took a big swig of air as quietly as she could and then goes in, keeping close to the ground, finding the rose, and then making sure no one was around as she cut.

It went well, for about a minute. Then, once the rose was cut, Luz picked it up and heard a shriek.

It looked like someone had spied the floating rose from afar. Luz heard the trampling of people approaching and let out a small sigh before tapping her ice glyph. Immediately Luz was launched in the air, and she did something so impromptu she honestly had to mentally give herself a pat on the back.

She took the rose stem, put it between her teeth, and then donned on the cowboy hat again, turning into a crow with a rose between it's beak.

Luz flapped up into sky, looking down until she spied Scorpia, then dive bombed toward her friend and doffed the hat.

"I got it, I got it, let's gooo!"

Because in a minute, those cultists were going to be out of their church and looking for blood.
cuddlery: (um)

[personal profile] cuddlery 2022-09-13 11:41 pm (UTC)(link)
Scorpia stands there somewhat anxiously, waiting for Luz or some sign that Luz needs help. And soon, Luz herself appears! But she can't feel too relieved with the way she shows up.

Immediately, Scorpia starts moving.

"Okay! I am moving, I am moving, I am going at a brisk pace!" Time to get anywhere but there!
imaglyphwitch: (small not small fears)

[personal profile] imaglyphwitch 2022-09-14 01:37 am (UTC)(link)
"Good, they're not gaining yet!" Luz set, when the two of them were at enough of a distance. "How long can you hold your breath?"

Because if they could hide in plain sight, it would at least knock them off the trail for the NEXT phase.

"Let me known when you're ready!"
cuddlery: (yeep)

[personal profile] cuddlery 2022-09-14 05:06 am (UTC)(link)
"Wow, you know, I never really measured it?" She says uncertainly while running. "I wanna ballpark... maybe five minutes?"
imaglyphwitch: (CRASH)

[personal profile] imaglyphwitch 2022-09-14 05:33 am (UTC)(link)
"That'll have to be enough then!"

Luz took the older woman's pincer and grabbed two invisibility glyphs, handing one to Scorpia to tap.

"On the count of three, hold your breath! One...two...three!"

Luz tapped her glyph and held her breath with Scorpia. The two disappeared from sight, and several seconds later some of the cultist turned the corner to locate the running non-believers, but couldn't see any sight of them. Looking confused, they lingered a moment before turning from where the two were up against the wall, trying to be still as possible. After a moment Luz exhaled, leaning against the wall.

"T-that was crazy," she panted, wiping the sweat from her brow. "But at least we didn't have to fight them. We can save that for any monsters that might get in our path."

She sucked in her breath. "Ow. I think I scratched my back a little though."
cuddlery: (did i do that)

[personal profile] cuddlery 2022-09-14 11:56 am (UTC)(link)
At her indication, Scorpia starts holding her breath like never before! And once they're safe, she lets out a big sigh of relief.

"Yeah, thank goodness. The less fighting, the better!" Still, she quickly frets when Luz indicates her pain. "Oh no! Let me look."

She'll then try to check Luz's back for the source!
a_cute_batata: (staring down)

[personal profile] a_cute_batata 2022-09-14 12:14 pm (UTC)(link)
Luz looked over at Scorpia, chuckling a little.

"You're pretty good at that! Do you practice s-swimming?"

At the insistence, Luz gives her a weak smile.

"Ok, just...be careful."

Why does Luz say that? Well. Once Scorpia does inspect her back, she'll see Luz skinned her back a little, and atop that are some pretty ugly jagged scars at her back that looked fairly deep.
cuddlery: (fret)

[personal profile] cuddlery 2022-09-15 02:15 am (UTC)(link)
"Yeah, I like a good swim every now and then!" Especially in a world where Sleepers need to be recovered from the water every now and then.

Scorpia goes to look over Luz's back - and she immediately looks shocked at the scars she sees there!

"Wh-whoa! Luz, what... what happened here?!"
imaglyphwitch: (can't quite place it)

[personal profile] imaglyphwitch 2022-09-15 05:38 am (UTC)(link)
"I've gotten even more into it because of Luca, actually!"

Sometimes it wasn't enough to attempt fishing: you had to get up close and personal.

When she felt Scorpia recoil at the scars, she winced slightly.

"Yeah, that's...from the farm. I wound up getting dragged there after we escaped and, well, they had me for a certain amount of time I'm still hazy about. I kept fainting. Luckily, Rose got me down and helped me get out."
cuddlery: (sad)

[personal profile] cuddlery 2022-09-15 05:50 pm (UTC)(link)
"O-oh.. Luz, I'm so sorry. I had no idea... That's awful. So so awful."
imaglyphwitch: (onedayatatime)

[personal profile] imaglyphwitch 2022-09-15 06:22 pm (UTC)(link)
"I kinda don't love talking OR thinking about about that specific time, you know? The cave was already pretty bad, because those cannibal guys were looming, eager to remind me I'd be their next meal. But the farm was all pain and, like, agonizing time alone to be with your thoughts. In a way, that's worse."

She sighed. "But I couldn't really forget about it either. That was why I kept the scars. To remind me exactly how bad these things can get at any time. To remind me that like everybody else here, these places do something to you that makes you different."
cuddlery: (hug bow)

[personal profile] cuddlery 2022-09-15 09:33 pm (UTC)(link)
"O-oh... Oh gosh, Luz..."

Scorpia just wraps her in a hug.

"Let's just get out of here before anything else can happen."
Edited 2022-09-15 21:33 (UTC)
imaglyphwitch: (woozy)

[personal profile] imaglyphwitch 2022-09-16 06:24 am (UTC)(link)
Luz returned the hug, and honestly, she felt a little better. Luz tended not to talk about that time for a reason, and it helped to get some of that off her chest.

"See, that's where things get a little tricky. We have to go back to original Sleepytown from Deerington days. That where we have to mix everything up. Normally I'd just fly there, but no staff. So we're going to have to walk there ourselves."

She sighed. "Probably going to meet a few monsters on the way too. Think you're ready for that?"
cuddlery: (salute)

[personal profile] cuddlery 2022-09-16 02:29 pm (UTC)(link)
"Oh. I see. That... that is a bit of trek, but we can make it." She nods along, determined to see her through this safely.

"I'm ready to take on anything we have to! And also you can piggyback on me whenever you want, if it helps!"
imaglyphwitch: (is this real life)

[personal profile] imaglyphwitch 2022-09-16 04:46 pm (UTC)(link)
Luz nodded. "Yeah, a little bit. At least we can keep each other company."

Luz was already on her feet, dusting herself off. "Thanks, but I'll walk it with you! If a monster pops up, both of us need to be ready anyway. A piggyback might slow us down too much."
cuddlery: (pondering)

[personal profile] cuddlery 2022-09-17 04:51 am (UTC)(link)
Scorpia nods along. "You do have a good point there! I guess it works best for both of us to be alert. Well, let's head on over then."

With that, she starts moving forth in the direction of Sleepytown!
imaglyphwitch: (Holy balls!)

[personal profile] imaglyphwitch 2022-09-17 04:08 pm (UTC)(link)
And luckily, it wasn't like the scars were reopened or anything! It just sucked that it brought her back to that specific day.

The two of them walked for about twenty minutes when Luz noticed that the silence was starting to get eerie. She motioned for Scorpia to stay quiet, positioning her body low to the ground, her hand reaching into her shirt to throw down the glyph.

The monster was smaller than the one they had fought earlier, but it was much quicker and launched onto Luz's face before she could pull out her glyph. It knocked the girl to the ground and with its claw extended managed to pierce Luz's shoulder.

"Augh! Scorpia!"
cuddlery: (shouting)

[personal profile] cuddlery 2022-09-17 05:04 pm (UTC)(link)
"Luz!"

Scorpia immediately panics and springs into motion! She comes right up to the monster while it's on Luz, roughly grabs it with her claw and tries to hurl it off of her friend!

"Get away from her!!"
imaglyphwitch: (luz is a pirate)

[personal profile] imaglyphwitch 2022-09-17 07:06 pm (UTC)(link)
Ooh, good swat! It was at least two feet tall, but the teeth were definitely sharp and it was still heavy enough to knock someone to the ground. It hissed at Scorpia's grip and attempted to bite her but didn't get the chance. Luz tapped it with an ice glyph and froze it on the spot.

"Thanks," Luz said, out of breath and wincing slightly. It did get a good bite on her shoulder.

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