Gain the weight of you then lose it

[reddosmod]

JANUARY 2022 EVENT

IMAGE DESCRIPTORS IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE
Prompt One
[Image One: Woman in an elaborate blue dress with high collar staring at camera while people dance in background.]
[Image Two: Woman in pink dress touching chest and smiling at camera while people dance in background.]

Prompt Two
[Image One: Explicit gif of snake shedding its skin and a new viperlike snake coming out of the old skin.]
[Image Two: Gif of eyes gazing at camera and right eye turning yellow.]

Prompt Three
[Image One: Image of rock snake with fire glowing in its mouth.]
[Image Two: Gif of a snake made entirely out of flames hissing.]

[NAVIGATION]

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

[JUMP TO COMMENTS]

SNAKE DEN

WHEN: Evenings throughout January
WHERE: The Red, Cellar Door
CONTENT WARNINGS: Alcohol/Drugs, possible NSFW scenarios, forced honesty, mood altering substances.

---

Around Trench, Sleepers will find a gold-edged flyer pinned to most doors, lamps, and posted around stores and throughout the market. Some may even find the flyer pinned to their front door:

MADAM GENEROSITY INVITES YOU TO THE SNAKE DEN

Hello darling and dearest Sleepers! Do not let the cold dampen your spirit or weaken your hope. Do not allow our differences to divide us; do not let the frigid drive you to isolation; do not hurt your soul by forgetting one another. They say snakes cannot thrive in the cold, yet here I am, defying it, thriving despite it. You can too. We must persist. We shall persist. Not with violence and bloodshed, not with pollution and corruption, but with unity! With compassion and fun.

I invite you all to join me at The Red every odd evening of January! Welcome to the Snake Den! A little Talent Show I throw occasionally to remind Sleepers of their profound potential for greatness and awe! Come be flashy on stage or to support your friends. After the Talent Show is our famed Fashion Show. Do you have eccentric outfits you would like to show off? Now is truly your time to shine!

The evening will be filled with plenty of food and drink for all. We shall dance, we shall show off, we shall persist and defy corruption together. Let my lovely Night Walkers shine and keep you company for the evening. Find some new friends, have an illicit affair, or just come so you don't have to be alone for a night. You are all welcome...And don't worry, I've enchanted the Red so that none of your powers can cause any damage while inside the building. Feel free to really make a light show with your fire! It won't hurt anyone.

I so look forward to seeing all of you there.

With Love,
Madam Generosity

The Red has been elaborately decorated for the Snake Den spectacle. Enormous golden statues of snakes have been placed throughout. Golden lights glitter above. Servers carry about golden flutes of champagne, soda, and sparkling water. You can order other drinks at the bar. While the invite has gone out to Sleepers, there are some regular Trenchies who have come to show their support. To perform in the Talent Show portion, one simply needs to go backstage to prepare with the rest.

A female Trenchie named Dorothea seems to be directing the acts. People can perform multiple times. Talents performed can include music, comedy, dance routines, or little skits. After the Talent Show concludes, a Fashion Show will be put on, and everyone is encouraged to join. You can get your hair and make-up done elaborately backstage and find eccentric outfits to try on if you're not so happy with the one you showed up in.

Going to the Snake Den at this time will cause incredible stress relief. Even those who are typically shy or introverted will find themselves soothed at the Snake Den. Giant pillows have been thrown about so people can puddle in together and snuggle up. Private rooms have been created out of silks for some private conversations or interactions.

There must be something in the drinks or the snacks going around because it becomes easy to become a much more outgoing version of yourself at the party. It may increase friendliness or touchiness and relax people's usual reservations. Who knows? It might encourage you to go up on stage and show off a bit or talk to that handsome stranger who has been eying you the whole night. Regular intoxication from alcohol/drugs is possible as well which means some people might not need the additional encouragement.

Regular dancing occurs after the Fashion Shows with various musicians performing on stage to fill the night up with plenty of mood melodies. As the evening prolongs, the lights dim and things become quiet and soothing. Since paleblood magic is exceptionally strong this month with honesty, attendants of the party may find themselves being more open and honest about themselves. Hopefully, you don't confess anything too vulnerable about yourself...

FAQ:
1. Characters with mental abilities may be able to resist the honesty sway if they consciously realize it is happening.

2. Any talent can be performed on the stage.

3. The flyer is magically enchanted so that people who touch it will feel unusually excited to go to the Snake Den.

THE SHEDDING CEREMONY

WHEN: Begins in January - Effects may be permanent. Players choose when the effects wear off.
WHERE: Everywhere
CONTENT WARNINGS: Forced modification of body, possible themes of body dysmorphia, shedding/peeling skin, burning/eating dead skin, alternate versions of characters, possible genderswapping, possible alteration of personality/memories.

---

[A passage from Rituals and Reality; Chapter 2: The Shedding Ceremony. Found exclusively in Gaze:]

"Worshippers of Madam Generosity believed that the shedding of snakeskin was symbolic to the shedding of an old life and the acceptance of a new life. The skin left behind was a reminder of past trials and tribulations, and the skin you walk away with is evidence of all that you have learned and experienced. In ancient times, Sleepers would ritualistically select one of their own to sacrifice to Madam Generosity. Eventually, Sleepers would come to learn that Madam Generosity did not appreciate blood sacrifices. Due to her gentle nature, she encouraged Sleepers to pay tribute to her in other ways.

Thus came the Shedding Ceremony. Sleepers would rub away chapped skin and set it afire in a bowl. They would reflect on lives left behind and the new life they had been given in Trench. Over time, this created a powerful magical experience that persisted beyond the original ceremony. The Shedding Ceremony is both a ritual and an enchantment.

As January begins, Sleepers may find that their skin has become dry and brittle. The generous application of lotions and oils may soothe the skin, but neglected skin can begin to peel off. Although it is a painless experience, it can be rather gross to look at and a bit itchy. Then one day, you simply fall asleep and when you awaken, you are an entirely different version of yourself. You will find a nearly perfect replica of your old self in a shed skin nearby. Your new body may be stronger, faster, more powerful. Old scars may be healed, lost limps replaced...Or you might be an entirely new gender. Some have even experienced becoming a different species. Some awaken as an older or younger variation of themselves while others find that they have become an alternate version of themselves.

These effects have been known to last for a few days up to months at a time. In some scenarios, the effects have become permanent. Some believe it to be a curse while others believe it is a gift. It may happen multiple times and take a few sheds to return to your original body. It is believed that ingesting your old skin or burning it alleviates the changes and brings you back to your original body faster. Generous application of lotion and oils can prevent the Shedding Ceremony altogether for some - or at the very least, slow it down."

FAQ

1. Characters can avoid this prompt altogether via the application of lotion.

2. If you decide to permanently change your character in a big way (ie; changing their species/gender/age) then we do ask that you update your character on the taken page to reflect that they are now an Alternate Version of a character. This would open up the original character to be applicable to new players.

3. This can change blood types for those interested in trying on a new blood type. You can either temporarily change a blood type or permanently. If you permanently change a blood type, let us know on the Blood Type page and update your information on the taken page.

4. You can play out the transformation as explicitly or non-explicitly as you want. Maybe characters see the changes happening under their peeling skin or just wake up in their new body. The peeling does not need to be any more graphic than what you would typically see on dry skin.

5. You can alter a character's gender, species, age, blood type, or switch to a general alternate version of a character (ie; Coffee Shop AU, an AU of your character but with different powers, an AU of your character if they came from a different canon or timeline.) Please have fun with this and explore the possibilities for as long as you like!

Unsnakely

WHEN: All of Bone Season
WHERE: Anywhere outside
CONTENT WARNINGS: Possible injuries or death from burns/fire.

---

[A journal entry from the Wayward Watcher that can be found in the Archaic Archives reads:]

"Do not trust the naked snake trails of January. They exist to trick you into a sense of Madam Generosity's comfort. The Good Pthumerian leaves snow tracks in her wake, but the Unsnakely leaves melted trails of snow. This creature has spent centuries cloaking itself to rope in those who devotedly follow Madam Generosity. The kind people of Trench look to snakes as a trustworthy, compassionate symbol filled with good intention.

There are many ways to anticipate the Unsnakely's presence. Besides its melted trails (that eventually turn to ice in the cold), you may notice pockets of comfortable heat. While many believe greenery is a good sign, do not be fooled by the melted patches of grass you find. These are not symbols of an early spring. They are symbols of incoming destruction.

The Unsnakely is not of blood or soul; it is a blood curse of the earth, a product of Blood Pollution. It's a creature made out of rock, with no pulse, no soul, no mind. Molten lava pours through its body. It moves in and out of the earth without disturbing the surface, transforming from rock into small beasts or a snake the size of your home. It looks to spill blood to freshen its own magic and its choice of weapon is its size and the fire it breathes. A furious Unsnakely will light up in flames and can bring great destruction to its surroundings. People have lost their homes to the Unsnakely and of course, people have lost their lives.

The Unsnakely, no matter the size it takes, is as fast and lethal as a typical snake. It cannot truly die, as it is a curse of the earth, but it can be physically destroyed by immense blunt strength or coldblood abilities whether fire or ice. Typical ice abilities will not work against the snake - they must come from a coldblood source. Enchanted coldblood items will be effective against the Unsnakely.

The Unsnakely can spit fire like venom and boil the air around it. It can be difficult to get physically close enough to land a blow due to the suffocatingly hot temperature rolling off its body. It traditionally hunts in the streets and in the woods, by the beach and among the cliffs. Once someone has slain the beast, it returns to the earth where it rebuilds itself over a period of 2-3 days. It primarily hunts during Bone Season, preferring to use the cloak of Madam Generosity to its advantage.

Since this is not a traditional snake, it has no desire to "eat" anyone. It will simply roast you alive - which is arguably worse for some. Its fire burns hotter and brighter than regular fire, and it is a slow, agonizing death that has caused absolute madness in some. People have claimed to see strange visions in the smoke that pours off of the Unsnakely, causing distortion in battle. Do not inhale too much of the Unsnakely's smoke as it will cause intense vertigo. Remember: this is a creature of deception.

Lastly, it would be beneficial to know that the Unsnakely cannot hear or see. It responds to the vibration around it. Some who stay still may get the upper hand, but the creature can feel the vibrations of your heartbeat if your pulse is unusually elevated. Good luck, fellow Hunters. Treat burns by the Unsnakely with vileblood. I know it sounds mad, but the vileblood seems to attack whatever cursed heat comes with burns from the Unsnakely.

Take care of yourself,
- The Wayward Watcher"

FAQ
1. Characters who can manipulate earth can contort/stop/fight against the Unsnakely's natural body. It will take great control to fully control or dismantle the body.

2. Coldbloods with fire abilities can similarly control the fire of the Unsnakely with great control.

CODING

Comments

Luca Paguro | Luca - Shedding; Closed to anyone who would have a reason to be in the Disaster House

[schoolingfish]

When Luca sheds his skin, he emerges as a younger version of himself. Younger by exactly nine months, complete with the memories of his nine month younger self. This might not seem like it would be a huge change, but Luca's been through a lot of changes in the last nine months, including going to land for the first time.

And that's why, when he wakes up and realizes he's not underwater, he screams.

Then, when he realizes his skin is fleshy and scaleless, and his fins are gone, he screams again.

He's heard of the change, of course, but he'd never imagined he'd actually do it himself, and certainly not just wake up changed and on land with no warning. He frantically thrashes around on the bed, then, realizing he has to get out of here and get to water, he frantically tries to move. Then realizes he doesn't know how to move on land. He flops around as he tries to swim, wiggling and flopping around as he tries to use a tail he no longer has.

[imaglyphwitch]

Clearly Luz was going to be drawn to the yelling and flopping around inside her house. She runs down from her attic/room, witnessing Luca in some kind of strange struggle with an invisible person.

"Whoa, whoa, LUCA! What's going on? Are you all right?! Where's the fire?"

[schoolingfish]

"Land monster!" he yells, managing to scoot back from her before it registers that she just called him by name. "How do you know my name?"

[imaglyphwitch]

Land monster? That was a new one.

"I'm Luz, you LIVE here. Of course you know who I am. And since when am I a monster?"

She's feeling out the situation, because clearly this is a new thing.

[schoolingfish]

"No I don't! I don't live on land! I'm not supposed to be on land! I...I don't even know how you move around on land if you can't swim. I don't even have my tail!"

Which is super important for moving around, at least for the method of locomotion he's used to.

"Mom and Dad'll be so mad when they find out I was up here."

[imaglyphwitch]

Yup. It looks like it was one of those situations where Luca might have lost his memory. Gosh, this was going to be kind of weird.

"Luca, it's ME, Luz. You know, your housemate? Why are you talking like you haven't been living..."

She stopped. Wait a minute.

"Do you remember Alberto?"

[schoolingfish]

"No! I'm telling you, I don't know you or anyone here! Why are you acting like you know me?"

Making it all too obvious that Luca doesn't even know that Alberto isn't someone here, that this Luca has never met Alberto.

[imaglyphwitch]

Boy, she really loved when this place messed with their minds like this and made them forget stuff. She sighed, rubbing her head a moment, and trying to gather what would be the best way to go about this.

"I guess we can talk about that later. In the meantime, while you're here, maybe I can help you relax a little. For one thing, being in land is not so hard, and you can breathe pretty ok, right?"

[schoolingfish]

"Yeah, I can breathe, but...I can't swim on land. And why are you being so nice?"

Aren't land monsters here to do murders? And she clearly knows he's not human since she doesn't question the 'on land' thing.

[droptheious]

Varian comes racing at the sound of screaming, an alchemy bomb at the ready in his hand. He's absolutely nowhere up to fighting fit yet, but as far as he's concerned there's a threat to Luca and that has to be dealt with immediately. So he's busting into Luca's room, looking around for the DANGER!!!

...And he finds Luca just...flopping around like a confused fish in this room.

"Uhhhhhhhh," his hand with the bomb lowers as he realises nothing is trying to kill the younger boy. "...You okay there, Buddy?"

[schoolingfish]

Luca gasps and scrambles back clumsily, barely figuring out his limbs well enough to move away from Varian.

"Land monster!"

The answer is no, no he is not okay. He doesn't know where he is or what's going on, and now there's apparently a land monster in the room with him. At the back of his mind he wonders why he's being asked if he's okay, but he's too terrified to reason through any explanations.

[droptheious]

"Land....what?"

Well. People have been suffering some weird effects recently, Varian realises this is probably more of that. The fact Luca is yelling about land monsters and is definitely freaking out about being here at least narrows down a little what could be wrong with his friend.

Understanding does temper him though, as he slowly waves his hands in a palm-flat motion, tone gentle.

"Hey, hey. It's okay, take it easy. I'm your friend, you don't remember it right now but I am. I'm not going to hurt you, Luca."

[schoolingfish]

He's still tense and terrified, but the fact that he's clearly not being attacked at least allows Luca to calm down a little.

"I don't understand. If we know each other, why don't I remember it? I think I'd remember meeting a land monster."

[droptheious]

At least he's calming down. Varian will take that. He lets out a steady breath, moving into the room a little more, keeping his movements small and slow.

"Well, this place we're in messes with people's memories a lot, so it's probably that," he offers a smile. "Like, look around, does this look like Italy? You've been living here for a few months now, honest."

And because he wants to ease Luca a little more:

"My name's Varian."

[schoolingfish]

He shakes his head.

"This place doesn't look like anywhere I've ever been before. But then, I've never been on land before. I don't even know how to do the whole thing you're doing to get around on land." Walking. The word he's looking for is 'walking'. Then, at the introduction, he says, "I'm Luca...which I guess you already know. If I've been living here for months."

It still seems weird to accept the idea that he's been living here at all, though.

[droptheious]

"...You mean walking?"

Obviously, he means walking, and he remembers, right- of course, Alberto taught him that. Alberto who isn't here. He nods smiling and comes closer, offering his hands out for Luca to take.

"Okay, well, I know I only have the one leg now but I can definitely help you with the walking thing."

[schoolingfish]

He nods, then looks down at Varian's lack of a leg. Oh. Well, Varian does seem to have the walking thing down, even with an artificial leg, so he certainly knows more about the subject than Luca.

"Thanks," he says, taking Varian's hands and scooting as far to the edge of the bed as he can, dangling his feet down until they touch the ground but, looking down, he seems a little uncertain about going that last little bit so he's standing on them.

[laminae]

While the house is full of unusual things, screaming definitely isn't a normal thing. It is, in fact, concerning, and it's why when Fern hears it he hauls himself towards the source of it. Forming a sword in one hand he bursts into Luca's room, and that probably isn't the best first impression for a nine-months-younger-Luca.

Fern doesn't even consider this might be another shedding incident, he's just looking around frantically for the nonexistent monster the other boy is clearly terrified over. "Get away from him, ya donk!"

[schoolingfish]

Luca sees the sword and lets out another scream, then...stares in shock. He's never seen a green land monster before, and what was this guy talking about? Get away from who?

"No one else is in here, I don't know who I'm supposed to get away from!"

[laminae]

Fern finally processes that Luca is indeed the only one in the bedroom. There's no monster, no immediate danger, so he lowers his sword awkwardly. Maybe he was a little too trigger-happy here.

"Oh - uh, sorry dude," he says slowly, the sword disappearing back into his hand. "How come you were screaming?"

[schoolingfish]

"Because I woke up in a strange place on land! I'm not supposed to be on land!"

Maybe he shouldn't shout that in front of the land monster that might not have realized he was a sea monster, but he did and there's no taking it back. Besides, it might not matter. This was the strangest land monster he'd ever seen, after all.

"I've never seen a green land monster before."

[laminae]

"I, uh, what? Why wouldn't you be on land?"

Fern frowns, stepping closer to try and help Luca onto his feet.

"What are you talking about, dude? You know me, we're housemates."

[schoolingfish]

"Uh...what do you mean we're housemates?"

He's debating whether he should clarify or not. Maybe he should have pretended to be a land monster. On the other hand, this guy clearly isn't a normal land monster, so maybe it's fine?

"And I wouldn't be on land because I'm from the sea?"

Luca doesn't even try to get to his feet, not really knowing what he'd do even if he managed it.

[laminae]

Staring back in confusion, Fern crouches down in front of Luca. What the heck is going on? Luca doesn't remember him at all? Or all of Trench, it seems like.

"I know you're from the sea, but you've been living here with us. The sea here's kind of..." Errr, he tries to think of a good word for it. "It'd eat you alive if you lived in it."

[schoolingfish]

"What do you mean? The sea is safe. The sea has always been safer than land. How am I supposed to go back home if I don't go back into the sea?"

He has no idea how he'd even begin to navigate on land.