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deercountry2023-08-08 05:02 pm
terriblepurpose) wrote in deercountry2023-08-08 05:02 pm
Player Epilogue: August
AUGUST 2023
PROMPT 0: THE CALL
PROMPT 1: THE STAIRS
PROMPT 2: THE CHASM
PROMPT 3: THE TEMPLE
CODING
With the Reckoning's gift, Sleepers can now explore far past their previous bounds. August rolls in hot and humid, and as more Sleepers begin to travel, many - both within Trench and far beyond its walls - are struck by a new unease. Some Palebloods wake from fragmented, unfamiliar dreams of a stone staircase that rises into the sky until it is swallowed by clouds. Darkbloods may glimpse a looming shape which blots out the stars, there one moment and gone the next. And all Sleepers may feel a strange gravity, as though something is trying to draw them in two directions: up into the sky, or down into the earth.
It isn't difficult to follow the call. The actual location seems to change on a whim. One day, the call may come from just past the edge of town; on others, it is distant, out in the untamed wilds.
It isn't difficult to follow the call. The actual location seems to change on a whim. One day, the call may come from just past the edge of town; on others, it is distant, out in the untamed wilds.
CONTENT WARNINGS:
extreme heights
Somewhere in the land, different every day, is a spiral staircase. Rather, it used to be a spiral staircase; the visions were far more pristine than the reality. Shards of pale, crumbling stone hang suspended in the mist. They lead up into the sky, chunks of ruined staircase hovering like stepping stones. Be careful: pieces may give way beneath your feet and send you into freefall.
As you go higher, the steps become blanketed with glowing flowers, stirred by the wind into rhythmic, eerie whispering. Around these flowers, Sleeper powers fail - enough to drop a flying Sleeper out of the sky.
At the top of the staircase, way up among the clouds, is a floating temple. The structure is ancient, crumbling, built of the same pale stone. Its grand doorway stands open, choked with the same glowing flowers. Thick bands of mist shroud its foot and its spires; the top of it can't be seen.
If a Sleeper reaches the doorway alone, the mist whips into a sudden maelstrom, powerful enough to drag an unlucky Sleeper back into the sky. But if they come with a companion, the mist boils up into a new shape. It's a sky Pthumerian: a dragon of wind and vapor, with a voice like moaning wind.
None may pass without a witness. Who stands at your side?
If it does not like your answer, the raging winds begin to rise. To earn passage, you must truthfully define your companion: are they your beloved mentor? Your dearest friend? A disappointment? When it senses truth, the dragon disperses into mist, and the doorway stands clear.
TL;DR:
- There's a floating temple in the sky! It rejects solo travelers with a powerful blast of wind.
- To reach the temple, you can fly or climb the crumbling spiral staircase. Beware of the power-nerfing flowers.
- To enter the temple, you must confess who your companion is to you.
Somewhere in the land, different every day, is a spiral staircase. Rather, it used to be a spiral staircase; the visions were far more pristine than the reality. Shards of pale, crumbling stone hang suspended in the mist. They lead up into the sky, chunks of ruined staircase hovering like stepping stones. Be careful: pieces may give way beneath your feet and send you into freefall.
As you go higher, the steps become blanketed with glowing flowers, stirred by the wind into rhythmic, eerie whispering. Around these flowers, Sleeper powers fail - enough to drop a flying Sleeper out of the sky.
At the top of the staircase, way up among the clouds, is a floating temple. The structure is ancient, crumbling, built of the same pale stone. Its grand doorway stands open, choked with the same glowing flowers. Thick bands of mist shroud its foot and its spires; the top of it can't be seen.
If a Sleeper reaches the doorway alone, the mist whips into a sudden maelstrom, powerful enough to drag an unlucky Sleeper back into the sky. But if they come with a companion, the mist boils up into a new shape. It's a sky Pthumerian: a dragon of wind and vapor, with a voice like moaning wind.
None may pass without a witness. Who stands at your side?
If it does not like your answer, the raging winds begin to rise. To earn passage, you must truthfully define your companion: are they your beloved mentor? Your dearest friend? A disappointment? When it senses truth, the dragon disperses into mist, and the doorway stands clear.
TL;DR:
- There's a floating temple in the sky! It rejects solo travelers with a powerful blast of wind.
- To reach the temple, you can fly or climb the crumbling spiral staircase. Beware of the power-nerfing flowers.
- To enter the temple, you must confess who your companion is to you.
CONTENT WARNINGS:
extreme heights
Those who venture down, into the land's many tunnels and caverns, might find something new - and this one is more reliable than the staircase. It is a vast chasm, impossibly deep, with the gleaming spires of a great temple in its depths.
Woven of shimmering blue-green light, a hundred slim hanging bridges lead down to those spires. Down in the depths, the temple's balconies are woven of the same shimmering aurora-light. If a Sleeper arrives alone, they can fall directly through that light - but if they arrive in pairs or more, the light turns solid as glass beneath their feet. As they draw close to the temple, the light rises up into new shapes and speaks with a low, ringing voice:
None may pass without a cause.
If you've ever pledged yourself to a person, an organization, or an ideal - even in the privacy of your own mind - the light takes that shape. You may find yourself staring down aurora-visions of your old mentors, old allegiances, old loves.
Name your masters.
You must name these visions aloud. Worse, you may have to explain them, because the temple's guardian takes more interest in a meaning than a name. It takes its cues from your traveling companions: only when they seem to understand and acknowledge your loyalties does it dissipate, and the doorway stands open.
TL;DR:
- There's a deep, spooky crevasse underground. The same temple seems to reach up from its depths.
- To reach the temple, you can fly or traverse thin bridges made of light.
- The temple will create mirages of every person, organization, or ideal you've ever dedicated yourself to - formally or otherwise. To enter, you must confess those loyalties aloud.
Those who venture down, into the land's many tunnels and caverns, might find something new - and this one is more reliable than the staircase. It is a vast chasm, impossibly deep, with the gleaming spires of a great temple in its depths.
Woven of shimmering blue-green light, a hundred slim hanging bridges lead down to those spires. Down in the depths, the temple's balconies are woven of the same shimmering aurora-light. If a Sleeper arrives alone, they can fall directly through that light - but if they arrive in pairs or more, the light turns solid as glass beneath their feet. As they draw close to the temple, the light rises up into new shapes and speaks with a low, ringing voice:
None may pass without a cause.
If you've ever pledged yourself to a person, an organization, or an ideal - even in the privacy of your own mind - the light takes that shape. You may find yourself staring down aurora-visions of your old mentors, old allegiances, old loves.
Name your masters.
You must name these visions aloud. Worse, you may have to explain them, because the temple's guardian takes more interest in a meaning than a name. It takes its cues from your traveling companions: only when they seem to understand and acknowledge your loyalties does it dissipate, and the doorway stands open.
TL;DR:
- There's a deep, spooky crevasse underground. The same temple seems to reach up from its depths.
- To reach the temple, you can fly or traverse thin bridges made of light.
- The temple will create mirages of every person, organization, or ideal you've ever dedicated yourself to - formally or otherwise. To enter, you must confess those loyalties aloud.
CONTENT WARNINGS:
plant monsters (including parasitic options)
The Temple is ancient. Its halls are round, smooth, and winding; most are deathly quiet. Communication from characters outside the Temple (such as via Bonds) feels distant, as though you're now in a space beyond Trench.
There are no windows, and yet many levels are choked with the glowing, power-negating flowers. Unfortunately, there is also an overgrowth of greenery that wants to kill you. Watch out for shambling mushrooms, tentacle-like plants, and burrowing roots.
On other levels, you won't find any flowers: instead, the air is thick with Blood Pollution. Here, Sleeper powers are stronger but more volatile. Gemstones have been inlaid into the walls and floor in beautiful geometric patterns-- and if you pass near them, you'll trigger the traps. Coldbloodstone hallways erupt with fire or ice; vilebloodstone traps burst into a choking gas; darkbloodstone traps reverse gravity and throw you to the ceiling.
Through every level, Beasts are prowling: the twisted forms of rodents, birds, insects... even long-overcome former humans. Venture deep enough and you will uncover storerooms, gardens, and alchemical workshops. For some reason, it all stands abandoned.
TL;DR:
- The temple is a ruin overgrown with violent plants and riddled with bloodstone-based traps!
- Ambient Corruption can vary heavily, and you can come up with minor Beasts of all shapes and sizes to fight or flee from.
- Feel free to scavenge stores of food, water, and bloodstone-crafting supplies.
The Temple is ancient. Its halls are round, smooth, and winding; most are deathly quiet. Communication from characters outside the Temple (such as via Bonds) feels distant, as though you're now in a space beyond Trench.
There are no windows, and yet many levels are choked with the glowing, power-negating flowers. Unfortunately, there is also an overgrowth of greenery that wants to kill you. Watch out for shambling mushrooms, tentacle-like plants, and burrowing roots.
On other levels, you won't find any flowers: instead, the air is thick with Blood Pollution. Here, Sleeper powers are stronger but more volatile. Gemstones have been inlaid into the walls and floor in beautiful geometric patterns-- and if you pass near them, you'll trigger the traps. Coldbloodstone hallways erupt with fire or ice; vilebloodstone traps burst into a choking gas; darkbloodstone traps reverse gravity and throw you to the ceiling.
Through every level, Beasts are prowling: the twisted forms of rodents, birds, insects... even long-overcome former humans. Venture deep enough and you will uncover storerooms, gardens, and alchemical workshops. For some reason, it all stands abandoned.
TL;DR:
- The temple is a ruin overgrown with violent plants and riddled with bloodstone-based traps!
- Ambient Corruption can vary heavily, and you can come up with minor Beasts of all shapes and sizes to fight or flee from.
- Feel free to scavenge stores of food, water, and bloodstone-crafting supplies.
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