reddosmod: (Default)
Deer Country Mod ([personal profile] reddosmod) wrote in [community profile] deercountry2023-02-08 06:25 pm

and my heart went 'boom!'

FEBRUARY 2023 EVENT
Due to the cyclical nature of Trench, prompts from the PREVIOUS FEBRUARY are available for use again. Please note when you are using this years prompts vs last years prompts when plotting or writing top-levels to avoid confusion.

IMAGE DESCRIPTORS IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE

Prompt One
[Image One: A broken mirror with a woman looking into it, pressing her fingers against the glass. ]
[Image Two: A rose lit up like embers. ]

Prompt Two
[Image One: Neon hearts glowing on a wall. ]
[Image Two: A pocket watch on top of a book page. ]

Prompt Three
[Image One: A young woman with dark hair standing in the snow with red flowers. ]
[Image Two: Footprints in the snow. ]

BAD LUCK OF THE EARLY WORM
WHEN: February
WHERE: All around the city
CONTENT WARNINGS: Curses, violence, danger, misfortune


Everyone has their own streak of bad times. There are some days or weeks whre it feels like nothing is going right. Most people would try and tell say that it's just the tendency to focus on the negative. That it can be relieved by writing down all the good things that happen in our lives, because we have a tendency to only ever focus on the bad. And maybe most of the time, people are right! Maybe the idea of luck really is just perspective.

But not in Trench. Not this month.

No matter what way it's looked at, bad luck seems to be clinging to some people. It might start out small, with simple things like knocking over a favorite drink or snack, or ruining a project that had hours invested into it. Then it might become bigger. A person might start to trip over things and injuring themselves, they might get lost in a blizzard and nearly freeze before finding their way home or to someone they know. Eventually, it could even become undeniably dangerous. The person impacted by bad luck could start to notice corruption levels rising quickly, they could start to turn into a beast at random, they could start to attract violent beasts to them and put themselves or others at risk with heavy battles. The possibilities seem to be endless and none of them are good. Did someone break a mirror? Or twenty?

It will be easy to see that this isn't just impacting one person. Sleepers and Trenchies alike seem to be being plagued by streaks of bad luck across the board. Luckily, the locals seem to know what to do about it. Bad luck pops up from time to time, and of course there would be a ritual to help cleanse it.

Small vendors will start to pop up through the city selling wooden carvings that they promise will absorb all the bad luck that's been going around and dispell it with a simple ritual. A drop of blood from the person impacted and a drop of blood from someone they are close should be placed upon the carving. The blood types of the persons involved should not match (i.e. Coldblood/Coldblood would not work, but Coldblood/Warmblood would). It must be left to soak into the wood overnight, leaving behind deep red stains. The carving must then be placed with a fully bloomed rose and burned in the entrance doorway to the home of the inflicted. The ashes should then be placed into a container and kept somewhere in the home for the duration of February, to make sure that the bad luck stays away.

It seems like it really works! The tricky part is making sure that the bad luck following doesn't get in the way of the ritual while the blood is soaking over night. It may be best for both parties involved to hunker down together until morning, just in case. Time to break out the small talk. Or the deep, meaningful conversations that can sometimes happen in the middle of the night.

GETTING TO KNOW ALL ABOUT YOU
WHEN: February
WHERE: A magic room in the city.
CONTENT WARNINGS: Reference to mild shocks. Forced honesty. Embarrassment. Lots and lots of embarrassment.


Honestly, after being in Trench for so long, people should be used to not ending up in the destination they initially intended for. This month, it seems like the city is trying to encourage people to social, to form new bonds, whether they're romantic, platonic, familial, or any other option one could think of. The bright idea this month for that sort of thing?

Speed dating.

It's not traditional speed dating, necessarily. No one is here to exclusively seek romantic partners, although there are certainly options for it. And it's not something people are signing up for out of their own free will. Instead, people seem to simply show up at the event, with no real recollection of how they got there. Maybe they just woke up on one of the comfy couches and found a "Hi, my name is..." sticker slapped on them. Or maybe they were wandering in the snow and got lost, ending up finding shelter in this strange place, and are now forced to participate until the blizzard passes. All in all, it's harmless fun, isn't it? Who doesn't need a few new friends.

Each person will have a small information blurb given about them that can't be seen by the naked eye, but will appear as soon as someone looks at the other party through their omni. What the blurb says is unique to each person, but it might become clear pretty quickly that they didn't write it themselves... Deerington survivors may find themselves having flashbacks to the days of DeerlyBeloved.

Pairings are completely random. People will be given a series of random questions they can ask one another or they can always feel free to make up their own. Anyone who tries to lie or avoid answering a question might feel a small shock from the chair they're sitting in, one that gets stronger with every lie they tell. The after effects of the shock seem to encourage the need to answer the question with full transparency. It's important to tell the truth when getting to know someone, after all.

After five minutes, both parties can either press a button beside their chair to continue talking to the person they're paired with, or they can move on to the next pairing. Both parties have to press the button in order to stay where they are.

Have fun and remember to always be honest!

LONELY HEARTS CLUB
WHEN: February
WHERE: Trenchwood and throughout the city.
CONTENT WARNINGS: Violence, abuse of power, jealousy, possession, supernatural events, possible death from elemental exposure


There's a tale that comes up around this time of year, one that seems to be an old favorite in Trench. Long ago, in the heart of a blizzard, a young woman was found wandering in Trenchwood. She wore only thin fabrics to keep herself warm and had no shoes. Her skin felt cold as ice. The Hunters who found her quickly brought her into town, giving her shelter in a local in to try and get her warm. She stayed for many nights and it didn't take long for the inn keeper to fall in love with her. But she did not seem to return to his feelings and so he was heartbroken and jealous of all the other men who gave her attention. He demanded she offer him something in trade for her stay and when she could offer nothing, he threw her back out into the snow. The woman went back to the woods and some could hear her howling in anguish, carried through on the strong winds of the blizzard. The Hunters tried to find her, following her cries, but they were unable to, and had to return home before they too might freeze to death. The innkeeper was shunned from the town and forced to leave the city for his cruelty, but nothing stopped the howls of the snow woman.

Throughout the month of February, people will start to hear that the sound of the wind blowing strongly through the streets is starting to sound a little more human-like. The woman's cries will be heard in empty alleys, will be loudest near the edge of the woods, and can even penetrate into dreams. The cries might sometimes sound like cries for help, begging for someone to help save her from the cold. There will be a compulsion that sets deep into the bones of some and many will find it hard to resist her call. Eventually, they may even go looking for her in the woods, trying to brave the winter storms to help the lost snow woman.

Those who give in to that temptation will eventually find the snow woman, but she will not be friendly when found. Her skin has turned a pale white, her lips blue, her eyes glowing a bright red, her long hair blowing every which way in the wind. She will rush at whoever she sees, but instead of giving a physical blow to guard against, she will go through any solid objects and latch on to the soul of her target, possessing their bodies. Male or female, it doesn't seem to matter, she simply wants a chance at life again.

Those who are possessed by the snow woman will not realize they are possessed. They will forget why it was they came out into the woods looking for and will return to the city in a daze. As time passes, they will find that they become irritated by any signs of affection, will become physically aggressive towards couples they see around them, and will attack those who care about them most. The spirit does not necessarily hate love: instead, they see affection as a possible risk for all those who love others. Jealousy kills and she wants to save everyone around her from it, as well as keeping herself safe from losing this new chance at life.

Signs of possession outside of the aggression can be noticed by others. The possessed person will have: ice cold skin, blue-tinged lips, they might shiver even when inside where it's warm, and an aversion to fire or warm/hot water.

Information on how to banish the snow woman from another's body can be found in a book of local legends. This book is sold in stores or can be found in the Archives. To save someone from the snow woman, people must tell the possessed person the things they love most about them. It will cause the possessed person to react violently, so it is suggested that they be restrained during the process. The longer they are forced to hear the positive messages about love, the feelings that they can stir up in another (whether platonic or romantic), and the safety that can be found in that love, the more weakened the hold from the snow woman will be. When the possessed person eventually stops struggling, a cut must be made on the back of their neck, before a cloth soaked in warm rose water must be placed on top of the wound. Their skin will begin to steam before a large gust of snow will pour from their mouth, swirling around the room, and smash through the window. It's suggested to leave it open if you'd like to save the glass.

CODING
schoolingfish: (Listening human)

Bad Luck - Alley

[personal profile] schoolingfish 2023-02-10 02:37 am (UTC)(link)
[When he sees her making a deal with the chocolatier, Luca comes closer, wanting to warn her away from the chocolates...when she screams, throwing them down and stomping on them. Quietly, he speaks.]

That's a good idea. You really shouldn't eat those.
fogsong: (139)

[personal profile] fogsong 2023-02-10 06:28 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Her head whips in his direction, face contorted in the kind of emotional rage that comes after someone reaches their mental breaking point. It takes a lot of self-control not to lash out at him, lips twisted in a snarl, but she grinds her teeth and sucks in a breath of cold air. She's trying to self-regulate; calm herself. But it's hard. It's work. ]

Yeah, I know, it's not my first chocolate rodeo. [ The words are ground out between clenched teeth. ] Except I've encountered that fucker four times today. Four! [ Shrill with disbelief. Another sharp intake of air as she shakes her head. She knows it's not on him. She knows he's just trying to help. But, gods, she's pissed off. ]

Sorry. [ She finally mumbles and kicks snow over the mashed chocolate pieces. ] It's been a really bad day.
schoolingfish: (Nervous human)

[personal profile] schoolingfish 2023-02-10 06:57 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh.

[Well, that explains why she's so angry.]

It's okay. I think living in the Trench can give people some really bad days sometimes, so I understand. At least now you can resist the chocolates enough to be able to destroy them instead of eating them. That can be hard to do.

[Luca knows that first hand.]

So matter how many times he tries, he's not going to win again.
fogsong: (013)

[personal profile] fogsong 2023-02-10 08:47 pm (UTC)(link)
[ That is a surprisingly positive way to look at the situation and that appears to give her pause. With her lips pressed together in a thin line, she nods. ]

That might be a better way of looking at it. [ She admits, stuffing her hands into her pockets. There are chocolates in there, too, and she pulls them out and tosses them on the ground with the others. ] It kind of feels like he wins every time I give him my blood, though.
schoolingfish: (Listening human)

[personal profile] schoolingfish 2023-02-13 04:27 pm (UTC)(link)
Yeah but he doesn't really. Not completely, anyway. If he just wanted our blood he'd just give us really good regular chocolate, he doesn't need to give us chocolate that makes us paranoid or sing or change. If he's making the chocolate do that, he must want to do those things to us, and you're not letting him get that.

[And sure, he probably wants the blood, too. Blood in this place is valuable, but he doesn't want to focus on that.]
fogsong: (058)

[personal profile] fogsong 2023-02-14 10:37 pm (UTC)(link)
Point taken. [ She says with a bit of a huffing laugh. She's not sure whether or not she believes that entirely but... It's better than getting caught up in every time she fails to resist. She's resisting the chocolates, for the most part, and maybe she needs to give herself some props for that. ]

Have you encountered him yet this month? [ A touch of friendly concern as she approaches, leaving the chocolates behind in the snow. A win is a win, he's right. ]
schoolingfish: (Neutral human)

[personal profile] schoolingfish 2023-02-15 01:28 pm (UTC)(link)
Not this year. Last year I ran into him and it went really bad.

[So he's kind of glad he hasn't been forced to make the deal for chocolates again this year, and only hopes that if he is, he'll be able to resist the urge to eat them.]
fogsong: (012)

[personal profile] fogsong 2023-02-17 11:48 pm (UTC)(link)
What happened? [ She had an encounter last year, too, but it hadn't gone too-too badly for her. She just wound up extra friendly and a grew a pair of antlers; nothing she couldn't handle, even if, at the time, it pissed her off and frightened her. Now, she's used to it. ]
schoolingfish: (Neutral human)

[personal profile] schoolingfish 2023-02-21 08:53 pm (UTC)(link)
I ate a bunch of it and had a bunch of different effects, but the worst part of it was the paranoia. I became so afraid that people were trying to steal the chocolate that I turned into a beast.
fogsong: (013)

[personal profile] fogsong 2023-02-22 10:09 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh shit. I didn't even think that could be possible. [ She's been lucky. Her experiences with the chocolates have been miserable but not once has she endangered others or herself because of them. ]
schoolingfish: (Listening human)

[personal profile] schoolingfish 2023-02-23 03:27 am (UTC)(link)
Yeah. They can be pretty dangerous, and I've heard I'm not the only one to have really bad effects.
fogsong: (036)

[personal profile] fogsong 2023-02-24 03:06 am (UTC)(link)
That makes me hate that asshole even more now. [ the organ vomiting had been awful but she thought the chocolates were limited in their effect upon them, stupid things that couldn't push them over into beasthood or raise their corruption. she should've known better. ]

What other effects have you heard about? I've dealt with the organ vomiting, falling in love, and feeling flirty. Grew antlers from one of them. [ Hmm. She's eaten more chocolates than that but some of the effects on her hadn't been all that obvious to her. ] And now I know there are paranoia chocolates.
schoolingfish: (Neutral human)

[personal profile] schoolingfish 2023-02-24 06:32 pm (UTC)(link)
Well...I know about ones that make you grow wings and tails, but that might be the same kind of chocolate that made you grow antlers...and then there's singing chocolates...but the paranoia and the organ vomiting are the worst two I've heard of so far.

[After a pause he asks.]

The organ vomiting actually sounds worse...like a lot worse...how did you even survive that? Or...did you?

[Because he knows he needs his organs.]
fogsong: (036)

[personal profile] fogsong 2023-02-26 01:30 am (UTC)(link)
It fucking hurt but I wasn't vomiting up my own organs. Not that I didn't think I was for a second. [ it was one of those moments where the world slowed down as your adrenaline ramped up and the horror of it all settled upon you. ] It didn't last too long for me, thank fuck, but... I wouldn't say it was the worst thing I've experienced here but it's something I hope I never experience again.
schoolingfish: (Nervous human)

[personal profile] schoolingfish 2023-02-27 06:26 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh. That still sounds terrifying, but I'm glad they weren't your own organs.

[He still doesn't want to take any chances that he could end up with one of those chocolates, though.]
fogsong: (060)

[personal profile] fogsong 2023-02-28 05:31 pm (UTC)(link)
Honestly, same. I don't know if that's a trauma I could've gotten over if they were. [ and she'd rather not consider it really. she can be really blase about her traumas but... oof, that one would be rough. ]

I'm starting to wonder if there's maybe a hidden trick to ward him off that we need to find.
schoolingfish: (Neutral human)

[personal profile] schoolingfish 2023-03-01 03:07 pm (UTC)(link)
Yeah...maybe I should try looking into that. There's a lot of information in the archives about pretty much everything.
fogsong: (𝚠𝚘𝚗'𝚝 𝚐𝚎𝚝 𝚊𝚠𝚊𝚢 𝚏𝚛𝚘𝚖 𝚖𝚎)

[personal profile] fogsong 2023-03-03 12:59 am (UTC)(link)
Lemme know if you find anything out. I'd check the archives myself but I... I kinda hate the place. The whole district, really. [ Gaze gives her the heebies and she's never quite managed to adjust to it. ]
schoolingfish: (Friendly human)

[personal profile] schoolingfish 2023-03-03 02:59 pm (UTC)(link)
Then leave it to me! I love the Archives. The Gaze is actually my favorite district in this whole place!
fogsong: (007)

[personal profile] fogsong 2023-03-06 03:23 am (UTC)(link)
[ That seems to startle her ] Really? [ Disbelief ] Why?
schoolingfish: (Squee)

[personal profile] schoolingfish 2023-03-06 02:54 pm (UTC)(link)
Because there's so many books and classes and there's so much to learn there!
fogsong: (008)

[personal profile] fogsong 2023-03-06 11:17 pm (UTC)(link)
[ For the first time since they've run into one another in this alley, Sharon actually smiles. ]

I'm glad I'm someone here likes all of that. If you find anything, shoot me a text. It'd be cool if we can stop him by next year.
schoolingfish: (Friendly human)

[personal profile] schoolingfish 2023-03-07 01:24 pm (UTC)(link)
I will.

[It'll feel nice being able to do something back at him instead of just trying to avoid the danger.]