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
onekindsoul: (No path)

[personal profile] onekindsoul 2021-09-22 11:36 pm (UTC)(link)
[Thank goodness these two could be delinquents together. Somethings would never change. She feels a smile play up on her lips when he mentions Luna but she also catches the way he brings up Paimon. She is not sure she's ever heard him say his name outloud before. It's different- But it feels like progress. She worries for Peter knowing his situation. She just... Hopes that's a good sign.]

That's cute- Honestly. Luna has spent a lot of time in a world- well kind of like what both of us are used to? At least the more casual things. [Ruby was incredibly aware of how bizarre her world was. She wasn't going to pretend Remnant was like any sort of earth.]

And it's great you're hanging out with her too. It's great she got to share that with you.

[She pauses briefly and puts a finger to her chin as she thinks.]

Almost right away- I was getting tossed around by waves and she was the first person I saw. I didn't have much control of my limbs and she couldn't talk. But- We just sort of knew each other.

...Was it like that with you and Luna? When you finally ended up finding her? You were a little out of sorts when I found you.

[She snorts.]

I was just thinking that- What the heck is with this place? If I were actually attending it would be my first complaint to the people running it.

Going to have to stock up the next time I come here.
possessum: (showed how vile we were in our hearts)

[personal profile] possessum 2021-09-25 08:58 pm (UTC)(link)
Yeah, I think this place might actually be a little... easier for her to fit into? Than Deerington was.

( An American town from the 50's that was mostly occupied by Sleepers from the future... He knows Luna must have struggled with all of that, but this place is... weirdly... timeless, he thinks? There's still modern stuff to be found here, but overall it definitely doesn't feel anything like America, or like.. the future he'd be used to back home. Like, they use quills and stuff here, and the streets are cobblestone.... That seems really Hogwarts. )

It's good to hear you're adjusting pretty well here, too. I guess this is even considered tame compared to what you're used to...

( Peter bends his arm on the table so he can rest his chin against his palm, listening to Ruby talk about her reunion with her girlfriend. Another little smile lights up his face at the thought. )

That's really nice, Ruby. I'll have to meet her sometime! And yeah, it uh.. it took me a little while, but when I saw her... it was like I knew she was important to me somehow? The memories started coming back pretty fast once we were together. She got here a little later than me, I think? Like she could barely talk or anything when I found her, but I helped her through it.

( But wait— he blinks, realising. ) You found me? Oh... oh shit. I don't even remember that. I hope I didn't uh, give you too hard a time...

( Peter snorts lightly, casting a glance around the breakroom again as if maybe a vending machine will have somehow popped up. ) Tell me about it. There's probably some kind of.. eating hall around here or something, right....? But damn if I haven't seen one.
onekindsoul: (Time falls away)

[personal profile] onekindsoul 2021-10-02 10:16 pm (UTC)(link)
[She feels a grin cross her lips as Peter acknowledges it might be easier for Luna but she can't help but notice it might not be the same for him.]

I'm sure you'll get used to it. I mean it is an adjustment for all of us.

[She gives a little shrug.]

I mean this might be a bit more dangerous than my home- Most of the major cities had protection against monsters getting inside. Or at least it wasn't as common as it seems to be here.

[Her grin is wide thinking about her reunion with Ange and honestly it warms her heart to hear that it was the same for Peter and Luna.]

I was there when you found her- And I'm pretty sure I might have mentioned that it would be something like that for you.

You were pretty out of it- Could barely talk or walk. We managed to find some cloths for you and we ended up going our separate ways shortly after that. It was like helping big wobbly baby. You were fine.

[She gives a huff.]

You'd think they have like a map of the school with that listed on there? This place seems to be totally against easiest convivences. It was so hard just to find some comics in the library the other day.

Totally called it with you and Luna though.
possessum: (could you love one of us)

[personal profile] possessum 2021-10-06 08:01 pm (UTC)(link)
Thankfully I haven't bumped into any monsters, yet. But I haven't been outside of Gaze too much. ( Peter mulls thoughtfully on it for a moment. He's barely scratched the surface of this place, mostly sticking close to home. )

God... I'm so sorry you had to deal with that, Ruby. Big wobbly baby... probably drooling over myself and everything. ( Okay, Luna was a lot like that, too. But unlike him, Luna's adorable even as a big wobbly baby. )

Oh that.. that library place? It's fucking awful. I went in there one single time and almost lost my mind. ( Peter leans back in his chair, idly drumming his fingers against his stomach. A lot of his discomfort was from Paimon.... the demon flooding to the surface of him so quickly, so intensely curious of all the books and weird creepy ancient artifacts.... but also just the maze-like labyrinth of the library itself, it was all just... really overwhelming to Peter.

There's a small grin at what she says about him and Luna, though. It's nice having friends you've known for so long that they in turn know you really well. He's glad Ruby's here. )


You do know us pretty well, I gotta admit. It's... kind of wild to think how long we've all actually known each other, really. ( The past couple of years back in Deerington... it seems like both a long amount of time and a short one. Peter's still smiling as he tilts his head curiously at his friend. )

You said Ange doesn't really like the whole school thing— so she didn't go back in Deerington? I'm trying to think if I've ever seen her before.

( ....He has no idea his demon has already met her. )
onekindsoul: (Where the wolves and)

[personal profile] onekindsoul 2021-10-08 10:16 pm (UTC)(link)
Really? Well it's a big place so I don't blame you. You should really try going to Cellar Door sometime though. There's tons to do over there. A bunch of shows and theatres. I could take you and Luna sometime if you want.

[She snorts. Honestly it had just been a huge relief that he was there and safe, and now his mind was a bit more intact too.]

I mean- There might have been a little drool. But don't worry about it, I'll just never let you forget about it.

[Ruby was if nothing else, Ruthless in her teasing.]

Ugh- Yeah. I know that feeling. Drives me nuts that nothing is organized in there either. Just give me my fantasy novels and comics, Library! It's not that hard.

[She had lost her mind for completely opposite reasons.

She taps her chin lightly and considers her next words a little more carefully.]


She keeps to herself for the most part. So if you haven't seen her I definitely don't think it's from a lack of trying. She didn't do school back in Deerington. I think back in her home world she had things really rough. Didn't seem like people at her school took kindly to that...

Maybe I should introduce the both of you when I get a chance.
possessum: (𝟎𝟎𝟕)

[personal profile] possessum 2021-10-13 03:57 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh, that sounds cool.... I think she'd really like that, yeah! ( He can totally see Luna enjoying that kind of thing, and he's wondering what kind of shows might be put on in this place — sounds like stage production kind of stuff? Peter's mental image is of like a... Shakespeare... stage. )

Oh maaaaan..... My drool's gonna go down in infamy..... ( He's grinning wider at that, amused by the teasing. But then there's a loud sigh of solidarity; of course Ruby would understand his Library Complaints. )

Seriously, who'd they even make that place for? It's impossible to find anything. Even Books-A-Million wasn't so complicated... Oh— that was a bookstore thing where I'm from. ( He explains, fairly confident they wouldn't have had BAM in Ruby's world. He's also sour that there's no Starbucks to be found in this place's library. How is that fair? If he's going to have to be around a bunch of books, he at least wants some damn biscotti. )

Oh.... I'm sorry she had to go through that. ( Peter frowns softly, eyebrows knitting together. Though he doesn't know the intricate details — and certainly won't ask — it reminds him a bit of Luna, at least on the surface. If people at her school treated her badly or different for some reason... That sounds awful. Nobody should be ostracised like that. )

Yeah, for sure! We can all hang out or something. And if she's coming here sometimes, me and Luna can definitely chill with her during class, too. ( He knows Luna would have absolutely zero issues with that; she had the Ultimate Friend title back in Deerington, after all. The pair of them would gladly adopt Ange.

....He has no idea his demon is already in the process of that. )
onekindsoul: (pic#15218826)

[personal profile] onekindsoul 2021-10-25 01:22 am (UTC)(link)
[She sees him grin like that and she starts to beam.]

It definitely is? I've already get your set up as the Dreaded Drooler in my phone and that's going to be locked in forever.

[It's true. Back at home she has her friend Jaune set to Vomit Boy and it's been like that for two years.]

I have no idea- Me and Luna kind of talked about trying to reorganize it. I have a feeling they aren't going to go along with our plan though. And I don't know how she felt about comics being at the front either. But I think that's just the serious studier in her.

Books-a-million huh? Did you go there often?

[Look. She was always interested to hear more about Peter's home life. She looks down at the ground when Ange's school life comes up again.]

Yeah... Me too. It- Well I don't want to speak for her but it sounds like she had it lonely back in her own world. And I just want to be sure she's got people looking out for her.

If you and Luna can do that I'd appreciate it. And hanging out sounds great- Maybe we can do a double date sometime?