slowly lurching towards your favorite city

[reddosmod]

NOVEMBER 2022 EVENT

Due to the cyclical nature of Trench, PROMPTS FROM LAST NOVEMBER are available to be used this year as well! Please be sure to note that you are using prompts from the last event when making your starters so people are aware.

IMAGE DESCRIPTORS IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE
Prompt One
[Image One: A still from Dali's A World of Nonsense, showing overly large, melting eyes filling a ceiling. ]
[Image Two: A hand covered in lady bugs. ]

Prompt Two
[Image One: Mushrooms inside of a tree. ]
[Image Two: A person kneeling in a cloak. ]

Prompt Three
[Image One: A text that says "Imma email the squad about the cult we're starting, brb." ]
[Image Two: The IT Crowd. ]

[NAVIGATION]

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

[JUMP TO COMMENTS]

A World of Nonsense

WHEN: November
WHERE: Throughout Trench
CONTENT WARNINGS: Eye trauma/gore, bugs crawling out of skin, hallucinations, paranoia, violence, self-injury.

---

The city is a mess. Streets don't seem to go where they used to, building warping constantly, architecture seemingly melting in on itself... There's something clearly off, something that is even making the Trenchies nervous. The Blood Crazed Zealots this November seem to be even more desperate to find sacrifices, convinced that it will somehow make the city right again.

It's not just the city that's starting to act strangely, though. As the month goes on, Sleepers will start to be plagued with odd hallucinations, ones that become more persistent and realistic with every passing hour or day. It starts off with hearing the sound of a child's laughter, maybe hearing them running through the hall, or the quiet singing of a children's lullaby running through the air. Sometimes, Sleepers may even think they get a glimpse of the child going around a corner, or standing in a crowd just... watching. A young girl with dark hair, who seems achingly familiar somehow, but who disappears before a connection can be placed.

The hallucinations start to advance rapidly from there. People will start to see images of random attacks. A woman getting her eye slit open in broad daylight, but the victim vanishes within seconds before she can even be gotten to. They may see a friend clutch their heads, screaming as bugs pour from their skin, only to have that friend be standing upright and looking at them funny when they've rushed to their side. Sleepers may even look down and see holes like a beehive in their arms, with large, winged insects crawling in and out of their skin. Blink and it's gone, with not even a hint of scarring left behind.

These visions will start to make people question reality. They will be unsure whether the pain they see another suffering is real or just in their heads and it begins to make them terrified of everyone and everything around them. It may start to feel like too much, like it would be better if things were over. Some people may start to react violently, trying to claw at their own eyes to get the visions to end, or attacking others who get too close in fear of it triggering another attack.

And just when it seems like too much, a clarifying thought will enter their mind, whispered in their ear in that familiar child-like voice: The Tower is weakening and soon shall fall. Say it out loud, spread the word, and the visions will clear up as quickly as they came.

To help others who could possibly be suffering from hallucinations, those who have had the clarifying thought themselves will be able to tell it to the sufferer in order to save them from the hallucinations getting worse. This will only work if told by someone who already suffered from these hallucinations, and the other person must truly accept it and start to tell others as well.

[JUMP TO TOP] • [JUMP TO COMMENTS]

WILL YOU BE A FRIEND OF MINE

WHEN: Mid-November
WHERE: Outside Trench
CONTENT WARNINGS: Themes dealing with disease

---

Anyone who tries to get in touch with the Tower will realize quickly that there's no use in trying to ask him directly what it is that's going on. His thoughts and words are steadily more incoherent, and while he can tell something is wrong, he doesn't quite know what. Those who see him in person will notice that his appearance is not as well put together as it usually is. His clothes are a little shabby at the edges and his attempt at a humanoid face is slightly off now, with his lips drooping and his eyes not quite evenly centered. It's almost like looking at an early cubist painting.

Never Mind is worried. Worried enough to start to reach out to Sleepers and ask for their help. It's strange to see from the Pthumerian who always has the answers, but for once, he seems to not know what is wrong with his lover. The only thing he knows is there is something that can help ease the symptoms, give the Tower some clarity, maybe in hopes that it will give them hints of where or how the Tower may have picked up this illness that is plaguing him. Or maybe just because he doesn't want to see him suffer the way he clearly is.

Those who respond to Never Mind's call for help will give them what one can only call a quest. He tells them of a mushroom that grows on the outskirts of Trench, deep in the woods, hidden inside a hole in an oak tree. It's a very rare, very small mushroom that blends in to the bark around it, making it difficult to see. The Pthumerian would normally go and try and get it himself, but the fibers of the mushroom are too delicate, and Pthumerians who have tried to pick it themselves have found that it crumbles to pieces in their hands. In order for it to help the Tower, it has to be used whole in the ritual that will help ease the Tower's symptoms.

Never Mind understands that it's a great deal to ask. Getting to the wood where the mushroom grows can take days for even the fastest runners and it's far enough outside of Trench that beast attacks are frequent. They even begin to attack in packs, making it highly likely that the Sleepers could be injured or killed. He also recognizes that many of the Sleepers are bitter with the Pthumerians at best, and outright blame them for their circumstances at worst. He will try to reassure them that they are not enemies, but it may be something some Sleepers will agree to disagree on.

If a Sleeper chooses to go to get the mushroom, it's recommended they go in groups for safety. He will also suggest those who obtained the compass last month use it to make sure they don't get lost, as well as to help strengthen the gem inside of it. Never Mind will also provide them with a small, silver ring on a chain, one that glows when the moonlight hits it. The ring will help to lessen how easily beasts can detect the person wearing it and help to give them a chance to run away rather than fight if they need to. He will provide enough rings so that each member of the group gets one.

Because Pthumerians can't touch the mushroom, he will also provide Sleepers with a single pouch, one that will fit and protect the mushroom from harm on the journey back. Be careful when picking it, as human hands can also destroy the fibers if it is handled too roughly. Never Mind will be eternally grateful to those who help the Tower and any who do will find that from now on, ravens are more likely to try and protect them from harm around the city.

[JUMP TO TOP] • [JUMP TO COMMENTS]

NOT GONNA REACH MY TELEPHONE

WHEN: November
WHERE: The Network
CONTENT WARNINGS: None.

---

With the rest of the town falling apart, why wouldn't the technology do the same? Throughout the month, the network, particularly the omnis, seem to be malfunctioning at random. There's no rhyme or reason to when or how it breaks and it doesn't seem like there's any quick fix to it.

Types of malfunctions include randomly changing usernames, misfired texts, voice-to-text failures with awkward typos or completely altering what was trying to be said, glitching videos, sudden audio playing without prompting, and completely shutting down. Anything and everything seems to be breaking when it comes to the omnis and no hard reset will work to fix it.

Omens can still be used to avoid the errors, though there's no guarantee their connection to the network might also end up malfunctioning. It seems to be entirely up in the air. If you want to guarantee not being impacted, maybe stick to face to face interactions this month.

[JUMP TO TOP]

CODING

Comments

[onerthes]

hehe. There's always things to be glad you missed. And who knows? He might show up, him or his brother.

...

Who is kind of a dick.

[imaglyphwitch]

Maybe! That would be neat!

Loki, right, the god of mischief? I'd figure you'd have to be. Sounds like it would be a requirement.

[onerthes]

Oh. Is that what he was? [She snorted] I only knew him by name, and as an asshole. So, I'm not necessarily surprised to hear that's what he was.

Fits.

[imaglyphwitch]

Whoa. I don't think I have ever heard you call anyone that. So I'm guessing it has to be true.

[As long as she'd known Vira, she was pretty sure she had never tried to speak disparagingly about people (save for one in particular) so maybe it was best she had never met Loki].

[onerthes]

mmm. I reserve it for a few people. Oddly enough, it's sometimes affectionate. Like with Reaper. He's definitely one too. [Snicker]

But Loki tended to be very ... bombastic and egotistical whenever he spoke.

[He really hadn't been around long enough to calm down was the issue.]

[imaglyphwitch]

Oh, makes sense! And with Reaper...yeah, I see that.

[Luz loved him anyway, of course].

Oh, one of those. Ugh. Well, we've had a few people here that give him a run for his money.

[onerthes]

I can think of one in particular. [She's thinking of you, Emperor. Go on, sneeze. She's definitely talking about you as well after all.] But most of those eventually learn a little humility.

Forcefully. Loki was no exception.

[imaglyphwitch]

Me too. [Luz has heard enough about THAT guy]. I sure hope so.

What about the ones that never do?

[onerthes]

I think, Luz, it's best if we don't dwell on the miserable fate of Bill Cypher. Because that's basically the answer to your question.

[imaglyphwitch]

You're probably right.

[Luz could hope, anyway].

I mean, he's gone but we're still here.

[onerthes]

One of the only times that I think she actually personally ejected someone. [Maybe not but it was a nice thought.] And we're still here. Says something.

Even the Emperor isn't that much a fool.

[imaglyphwitch]

Couldn't be happier. I knew there was no way I could even fight him. I hated him.

[Luz hated to admit that, but it was true, and no amount of lying to herself was going to change that].

I'll take your word for it. I don't get good vibes from that guy.

[onerthes]

At the fullness of his power, I would have needed a team of people, based on what I saw. Better not to have to deal with him any longer.

[She nodded.]

I get none either. But... for lack of a better way of putting it? He's a danger, but not a danger to everyone all at once. Does that make sense?

[imaglyphwitch]

No, I know. Once I understood he was bad juju, I tried to fight him and realized that was impossible.

And I promised Eda I wouldn't go in over my head.

[Something she was sad that she couldn't keep].

I think so? Anyone who buys into his crapola would make being here a dangerous place.

[onerthes]

It's a good promise to make. Sometimes hard to keep, but it's far too easy to get in over what we can handle. Still, we can try.

[She grunted]

You're not wrong, but I don't think he's really 'building' anything just yet. But he bears observation and watching.

[imaglyphwitch]

I don't blame her for it. Actually, the one time I WAS finally killed, I felt super guilty about it, like I broke that promise with Eda.

[In reality, there had been plenty of moments Luz walked away from a fight to honor her promise, but it was a bad habit she had of coming down hard on herself when she didn't fulfill expectations].

That's good. This place has gotten a little sketchier lately, don't you think?

[onerthes]

You didn't. No matter what happens, it is this world. [She sighed and smiled over at her, reaching to pat her on the shoulder.] Though I do understand the feeling. I've felt it before.

... and maybe a little bit. Still manageable, but I am starting to wonder if the Tower really is unwell.

[imaglyphwitch]

Thanks. Vira. I love you for caring. I...

[She was quiet].

I need your help. Guidance. I mess up a lot.

You can see it too, then?

[onerthes]

Honestly, I've been seeing a lot of things. [she frowned.] I will help, and give you all the guidance I can. What specifically am I looking for?

[Because right now? She wanted to be sure.]

[imaglyphwitch]

I mean, how things are getting stranger. How we're getting more people here who are willing to use other Sleepers.

I've been trying to do my own thing, so I haven't been as involved as I could be.

[onerthes]

Ah... yes. That. I believe that part of it is that Trench, for all of its problems? It may be because it is not as unmitigatedly awful as it was in the nightmare at times. That place could force even the worst in humanity to band together for fear of the alternative.

It's easier to use someone if you think your survival is actually benefited by their loss.

[imaglyphwitch]

So you're saying that us not collectively suffering is the reason that we're not banding together?

I wish I could say that is wrong, but. There are a LOT of people who were going down a dark path who have changed because of Deerington.

[Larxene and Darth Maul came to mind].

That's pretty awful.

[onerthes]

[She nodded soberly.] I'm not saying that's the only reason, but some troubled souls are more likely to reach out to those who have different world views when they're in mortal peril.

Still, there's at least a little hope with most of them. It isn't a complete about face. Hopefully more stay sensible. The older ones still remember how bad it can get.

[imaglyphwitch]

No, I hear you. You might have differences, but the thing that keeps you together is how badly we all want to live.

That's for sure. I think people coming in fresh to Trench are more likely to want to cause trouble if they haven't been here long enough/

[onerthes]

Yes. We do all begin to develop a certain camaraderie. I think we see that with some of the hardest cases. If they've been here long enough, they're much rarer to cause trouble.

...

I'm thinking of Reaper right now.