reddosmod: (Default)
Deer Country Mod ([personal profile] reddosmod) wrote in [community profile] deercountry2021-09-08 06:20 pm
Entry tags:

All men must die, but first he must live.

SEPTEMBER 2021 EVENT
IMAGE DESCRIPTORS IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE

Prompt One
[Image One: Woman holding skull in bag. ]
[Image Two: Plants sprouting out of earth.]

Prompt Two
[Image One: Woman rocking back and forth in dark.]
[Image Two: Woman rowing down river with corpses on stakes on horizon.]

Prompt Three
[Image One: Beef cake man breaking arrows off of shield with a sword.]
[Image Two: Beefy man slamming axe into troll-like creature, spraying blood.]

GROWING PAINS
WHEN: September
WHERE: Everywhere
CONTENT WARNINGS: Minor blood ritual.


September, for many in Trench, is considered a month of personal sacrifice. It is the month of self-actualization and promise. To grow your future, you must first be willing to sacrifice your past. You cannot walk forwards while walking backward. All throughout Trench, natives can be seen in yards and on plots of land digging small holes and planting a variety of items. Some plant seeds, some drop in a ring, others bury small parts of a body. But the ritual is simple: bury something that represents your past and seal it with a promise for your future.

You can write yourself a note or cut off a lock of your own hair. The ways in which people do this are limitless since it's a largely personal experience. Find a small patch of soil and dig yourself a shallow hole. Bury the item inside, say goodbye to who you used to be, and cover the item up with dirt. Once you are done, you must shed at least one drop of blood onto the sacrifice. It must be your own blood willingly given. Once the blood hits the soil, a small flower will miraculously grow out of the earth within seconds.

A single, powerless flower, but this flower will be completely immortal. You can either keep it on the patch of land or dig it up and bring it home. The flower will be a representation of your progress in Trench: if its petals wilt, you are lingering too much in the past. If it is in full bloom and vibrant, you're on the right path to a better future. If the flower starts to rot, you're heading down a dangerous path.

The flower may not be able to sway you one way or another, but it may serve as a valuable reminder of the kind of life you wish to lead. Some people abandon the flowers entirely and never bother with them. After all, there are no real consequences if you let the flower rot. If a character is dropped, their flower will fleck away like dust. Many believe that the flowers are made of the same stuff omens are made of.

You can dig up other people's flowers and watch their progress (make sure to get player permission) instead. After all, not everyone will care enough about their own flowers to really observe them closely. The flowers can come in any species or size, even fictional flowers, but they will only be replicas. Meaning if your character's flower is typically used for healing, there will be no healing properties in this replica. The flowers cannot be destroyed.

Many natives in Trench will repeat this ritual a few times every couple of years since the ritual is for letting go of the past. After all, the promises you make to yourself now won't be the same promises you make to yourself ten years from now. People change and so too will their flowers. What the characters bury is largely open to interpretation.

RIVER OF REGRET
WHEN: September
WHERE: Some obscure location within Gaze
CONTENT WARNINGS: Mangled corpses of loved ones, birds eating corpses, themes of regret.


You will find raven feathers all over Trench. They may drift through the air, lightly touch you, or you might decide to pick one up. The moment you come into physical contact with a feather, a conspiracy of ravens tears through the air and scoops you up into a whirlwind of feathers and caws. It only lasts a few seconds before you're deposited into a canoe drifting along a still river. Another Sleeper is in the boat with you. You pass beneath massive stone walls carved into the likeness of Never Mind and his ravens.

The world is silent around you. There is no rain here. Instead, sunlight pours through breaks in the clouds. Sunlight dapples across the water and golden-red leaves of nearby trees. It's more serene than most places in Trench.

You turn a corner and smell it before you see it. The picturesque summer day is dampened by the stench of rot. Then you come upon them: corpses. Corpses tied up to posts with barbed wire, corpses put through spikes and suspended in the air. Ravens flutter to and fro, picking at strips of meat. It isn't until you're close enough that you realize you recognize the corpses.

They are the corpses of people you have hurt. And that doesn't just mean people you killed or physically harmed. These are the bodies of people you have deep regrets towards: a lover you wronged, a best friend you lied to, an enemy you wish you had forgiven. Not everything is as black and white as murder, after all, and this grisly graveyard of mangled bodies says as much. Sometimes our regrets haunt us like the dead, and it seems like yours have followed you to Trench. You might even see your own body up on a post or the body of your canoe companions.

You have one of two choices: ignore your regret or face it.

Choosing to ignore your regrets doesn't seem to have any ill consequences at first. You pass by the corpses and continue on your river voyage. But the water grows thicker, and you come across the same corpses only in a worse state. The situation gets progressively worse each time you ignore it, and the river gradually becomes a river of blood and gore. The stench becomes insufferable and you will become increasingly corrupt. Some may even turn into beasts right there on the river.

Facing your regrets means talking about them, even mildly, to your canoe companions. You simply need to acknowledge the corpses, acknowledge the slightest truth to your feelings towards those regrets. When everyone in your canoe has acknowledged their regrets, the ravens will come for you once more. You will be brought back to Trench and awaken in the School of Mutter. Those who faced their regrets will discover that they have been gifted a white gold compass. The compass's needle will always point in the direction of the nearest Lamp Friend no matter the chaos going on in the world. But the compass only works once you have calmed down and focused.

QUICK FACTS

1. Each boat can hold up to 4 people. There can be multiple canoes in the same area.

2. If you try to leave the boat, you will drown in the River of Regret.

3. This does not have to encompass every regret someone's had. It can only represent one or two things. The regret should have to do with another individual or one's self. Something like "I regret not going to college" wouldn't necessarily work within the parameters of the prompt.

4. The river can only be accessed by touching a fallen raven feather. Touching a raven feather attached to the bird or a quill does not count.

5. Characters can engage with this prompt as many times as they touch a raven feather.

6. Characters with no regrets will not see corpses, but they will still be able to interact with characters who do have regrets.
BLOODSPORT
WHEN: During the Blood Moon
WHERE: Everywhere but specifically, The Gate
CONTENT WARNINGS: Violence, fighting, forced aggression/violence, forced fighting.


The Blood Moon invokes religious reverence among Trenchies. September and October are the ultimate months of sacrifice to pay tribute to the gods and the blood that rules this world. An energy begins to swell among Trenchies and you keep hearing the same word whispered excitedly around the city: "Bloodsport."

As the Blood Moon floods the streets in red, you begin to feel antsy, like you don't know what to do with yourself. You're not necessarily angry, you just have an abundance of energy. You don't need to be told what it is: your blood is reacting to the moon. The Blood Moon enhances blood powers significantly and you're simply not used to that yet. You don't feel in control of your own power or maybe even your own mind. At least until you exert some power, some force. Slam a door shut or swing a sword, shoot some electricity or spit some poison and you'll feel at peace with yourself. That nervous energy will ease out.

Only to come back twice as strong. It starts to put you in a real fighting mood and you start to realize why the locals call this Bloodsport. Hunting down beasts and monsters might seem like the fun thing to do right now, but the real attraction for Bloodsport takes place at The Gate. You can hear the roaring crowd blocks away. Hundreds of Trenchies have settled in to watch Sleepers duke it out with each other or with locked-up monsters. Maybe join in the fight. At least you know the other Sleepers there want to be there...Right?

Unfortunately not. Those who resist Bloodsport will find themselves passing out more and more frequently. Eventually, they will be taken by Mysterious Forces to The Gate to be pitted against other Sleepers and monsters. Some Sleepers will be forced into a gladiator-style fight that they either must win or die trying. Most fights at the Gate do end in death, but there are some circumstances where someone surrenders. Of course, that never stops their opponent from killing them anyway...Hopefully, you're fighting someone who is still relatively reasonable. Both parties can be resistant to fighting, but they will feel obligated to fight each other. If they don't, monsters will be unleashed into the arena and your situation will get a whole lot worse.

Bloodsport can greatly enhance a Sleeper's ability and many believe it is a gift from the Pthumerian gods. It is generally considered an advantage to Sleepers during the Season of Blood to prepare them and train them to hone their skills for the Season of Bone. Many believe it is wisest to submit to Bloodsport and let yourself get used to the motions of violence in order to survive the remainder of the year.

QUICK FACTS

1. Casual physical training will alleviate Bloodsport feelings. You could get through the month just by jogging around a lot.

2. Characters forced to the Gate will not remember how or when they arrived - they will just wake up and be thrown into the Gate by some shadowy force.

3. Characters who willingly participate in violence/fighting will feel temporary relief from Bloodsport only for the feeling to increase.

4. Effects of Bloodsport last as long as the Blood Moon shines through September and October.

5. You can treat symptoms of Bloodsport with calming techniques such as aromatherapy, meditation, medications, etc. Can be based on what would ICly help calm your character but it should require a lot of it.

6. You can invent the monsters/beasts that are at the Gate. They should be killable creatures and easily captured for the purpose of the Gate.
CODING
incandescentfaith: (Hairbrush)

[personal profile] incandescentfaith 2021-10-15 04:14 pm (UTC)(link)
"Of course."

Rei held out her hand, offering it up for Winter to do what needed to be done. She trusted her partner, and her own body to heal quickly. So, she locked eyes with the other woman, nodding.

"Do it."
winter_bestowed: (Silent objection)

[personal profile] winter_bestowed 2021-10-15 05:52 pm (UTC)(link)
Winter kept her eyes on Rei's own. And with those words Winter did what was needed. The sharpness of the blade combined with the speed and care that Winter took left a clean cut. Just big enough to draw the requisite blood but that would be easily bandaged and quick to heal.

She then released Rei's hand so that she would be able to add a few drops to the soil which was waiting. Taking a moment Winter cleaned the blade as Rei made her offer, remaining quiet and respectful as she did so.
incandescentfaith: <user name=cupcakegraphics> (Focused)

[personal profile] incandescentfaith 2021-10-17 10:40 pm (UTC)(link)
Rei turned her finger up after the cut without any trouble. Squeezing the tip, she let several droplets of blood ooze from it, leaving a dark stain that soon paled as it seeped into the group. Closing her eyes, she brushed away the remnants of the blood and reclaimed her knife, her fingertip already healing over. Blood magic and senshi magic easily overwhelmed such a small cut.

"...And now we wait."
winter_bestowed: (Snarky)

[personal profile] winter_bestowed 2021-10-19 01:16 am (UTC)(link)
"It seems that's usually the hardest part."

Though generally, it's because of the uncertainty and because what they were waiting on was something they knew wouldn't be good. This time though, it wouldn't be so bad, and she was waiting there with Rei, so they could pass the time together.

"Unless you have something to keep yourself occupied."
incandescentfaith: (Winkyface)

[personal profile] incandescentfaith 2021-10-19 02:48 pm (UTC)(link)
"Well..."

Rei turns with an impish smile on her face, reaching up to touch Winter's cheek and draw her closer.

"...It's not supposed to take very long. But I have the perfect distraction right here."
winter_bestowed: (Snarky)

[personal profile] winter_bestowed 2021-10-20 12:59 am (UTC)(link)
"Things always seem to happen in a short period here. But I'm here for whatever you have in mind."

Winter brought her hand up to Rei's, wrapping the other around Rei's waist as she was pulled in closer. The warmth and confidence of her partner drew her in as much as the motions and guidance.
incandescentfaith: <user name=cupcakegraphics> (Playful)

[personal profile] incandescentfaith 2021-10-20 04:45 am (UTC)(link)
Rei slid into Winter's embrace, tilting her head to press her lips to Winter's. Slow, deep, and filled with all the passion she contained, she allowed it to linger...ignoring the budding flowers at their feet.

This was way more important.
winter_bestowed: (Kiss)

[personal profile] winter_bestowed 2021-10-23 03:18 am (UTC)(link)
Winter slide into the embrace, closing her eyes as Rei's head tilted and their lips met. At this point, the two of them had kissed often and been intimate with one another in a number of ways, and yet each time that was that warmth that drew Winter in. Each time it still contained the passion and exhilaration as it did at first.

It made Winter forget about the ritual, and the flowers, about the patrols or anything else that might have been on her mind. It drew her in so that all of her attention and thoughts were turned towards Rei.
incandescentfaith: (<3)

[personal profile] incandescentfaith 2021-10-23 07:50 pm (UTC)(link)
Rei gave everything she had to the moment, savoring the intimacy, enjoying the press of someone she loved against her. It was like taking a drink from an oasis after days in the desert, every bit as sweet and soothing. Her hands held tight, her eyes remaining closed, her world narrowing down to just Winter.

No patrols, no soldiering, no scholarship, no ritual. Just two people sharing a quiet, deeply affectionate moment.
winter_bestowed: (Snarky)

[personal profile] winter_bestowed 2021-10-23 11:17 pm (UTC)(link)
Rei's taste, her scent, the feeling of her aura and warmth, they were all that Winter noticed in that moment. It didn't matter where they were or what world, in this moment everything was alright, everything was perfect and Winter was exactly where she wanted to be. She was at ease and not in conflict with what she was supposed to do, there was no doubt of whether this was the right choice or not, because of course it was.

The hand that had taken the one Rei cupped to Winter's cheek now pulled it down slowly, fingers intertwining with the other. Winter's other arm still holding her close, and a smile coming across her lips as she took a break and the kiss broke for just a moment.
incandescentfaith: (Winkyface)

[personal profile] incandescentfaith 2021-10-25 04:34 am (UTC)(link)
Rei's fingers laced tightly with Winter's as she drew back, her smile remaining fixed. She loved these little moments, when her partner let go, when she could allow herself to let go. They were something she wouldn't trade the world for.

Her eyes flitted down, and she couldn't help herself.

"...That was so nice, you made flowers bloom."
winter_bestowed: (Casual)

[personal profile] winter_bestowed 2021-10-27 12:39 am (UTC)(link)
"That would be the first time I've managed to do that."

Flowers were far from being Winter's specialty, and even if she had grown up with a garden she knew next to nothing about tending it, or how to make flowers grow. However, she was rather certain they didn't bloom that quickly, though she still smiled and continued to hold onto Rei's hand.

"I couldn't have done it alone. You were an important part."
incandescentfaith: (Happy Smile)

[personal profile] incandescentfaith 2021-10-27 03:41 am (UTC)(link)
"Well, of course. It takes two to tango, doesn't it?"

Rei smiles, self-assured and happy.

"We...could take this inside, if you like?"
winter_bestowed: (Snarky)

[personal profile] winter_bestowed 2021-10-30 12:59 am (UTC)(link)
"Not just two, but the right partner to do it well."

Winter looked at the blooms and then back to Rei with a smile. They were pretty much of one mind about this as well it seemed.

"I would love to."
incandescentfaith: Unsure (♂ Red Angel)

and fade to black?

[personal profile] incandescentfaith 2021-11-01 12:54 am (UTC)(link)
It certainly seemed so. Rei reached out, taking Winter's hand and turning to slowly lead her back into the house.