deercountry | Gain the weight of you then lose it

Gain the weight of you then lose it

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

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Kazuma didn't need much of a push, already trying to roll off to the side. Why is that so much easier than just getting up?]

It's not your fault. I've never--something like this is new. To me. The--is this a seat?

[Ah yes, casual, if awkward conversation with someone you punched not too long ago. Good.]

We could try rolling off...pick a direction and go for it.

[honestly? right now, Manabu's fairly sure this guy doesn't even remember that, because he's not accusing him of burning him or whatever. which is probably the best outcome he could hope for...and the one he's not actually getting.]

Um.

[he exhales, looking around. this is not the only beanbag zone, so...]

How the heck does anyone...

[...

...

he sees someone in their own plush prison get out by...by grabbing one of the dangling rope cords overhead to hoist up.]

...Oh...

Wha--Oh. [He had about to ask what had gotten his attention when he catches the last seconds of someone hauling themselves up.] Is it really that simple?

[If Manabu wasn't going to try first, he will. The reach for the cords causes the sleeves of his haori and nagagi slip to reveal burn scars, beginning to heal over but not quite to the point of not being seen. The prior incident with their first meeting isn't so much forgotten as...ignored for the moment.

It doesn't take much of a pull to get himself up and out of the bog and back on his feet.]

Here. [He makes sure the rope is within Manabu's reach.]

[well, if there was any chance Manabu mistook this guy for someone else? that pretty much dashed those. guilt punches him straight in the gut, and he shivers with a wave of fresh cold, looking a bit fraught for a beat before that here prompts him into moving.

it's a quick pull and hop up and he's finally free from that pillowy prison, left to steady on his feet and avoid stepping on his omen who is trying to nose on in for attention. he looks down at Magnet for a beat before lifting his head and giving Kazuma a wincing look.

he steps back, pressing his arms against his sides, and bows deeply.]

I'm so sorry.

[Kazuma had been avoiding his own apologies, had hoped to do so once they had both made it out of the trap that was beanbag bog hell--Only he's beaten to it. Left staring, open-mouthed, as Manabu gives a deep bow.]

Wha--no, no. The apology is mine to give. [A half-step back, and he's giving his own bow, low as he can manage.] I'm deeply sorry for the way I behaved upon meeting you. It was very rude of me.

[Manabu's blind to the bow, himself still apologizing to the floor. it's a very silly-looking sight to the other patrons of the club, but that's not important right now!]

That's different! My irresponsibility left you hurt! It's unacceptable. No matter what, I should've never risen and used my power like that.

And you never would have had cause if I had simply let it go and not hit you. [He could have held a grudge for the injury--would have, if he hadn't directly caused the conflict that led to it himself.]

I hold nothing against you.

[Manabu's shoulders draw up, back and head starting to hurt from being in this position.]

E-even so...just! Just know that you didn't earn that! It was wrong of me, extremely, extremely wrong!

You've already apologized...[Kazuma raises his head to peak at Manabu--who hasn't moved either. He sighs, moving to stand fully again.]

You don't have to--[Mmm.] I forgive you, there's no grudge.

[Manabu lifts his head a bit, hesitating even still. it's only when Magnet hops and licks at his nose that he's obliged to getting back upright, wiping at his face.]

Umh, o-okay. If you're sure. Still... I don't take that kind of stuff lightly! So don't expect it to happen again...not unless something's gone wrong. Like then. Okay?

Quite sure. [Look, this boy can apparently smile like a normal human being.] Honestly, I have no doubt that you'll avoid it. Ryunosuke spoke very highly of you...

[And, because he's curious, he gestures toward Magnet.] Is he yours then?

[it's nice that there's a quick pivot in conversation before Manabu can fully process and react to the remark, because he's mortified enough as it is.]

Uh, ye-yeah... [Magnet's tail wags, pleased to be the topic of talk.] That's Magnet.

[he extends his hand, trying to get his bearings here.] And I'm Manabu. Manabu Yuuki. Can we start over?

Friendly fellow...[Kazuma's weakness: cute animals, apparently.]

Oh--[Cue surprised blinking at the offered hand before he takes it with his own and gives it a firm shake.] Kazuma Asogi. Happy to start over...

[what's it say when the cute animal is just a manifestation of some guy's personality with fewer hangups???]

Aa, good. I'm glad. [more relieved than anything, really, but glad can count. after the handshake, he rubs the back of his head sheepishly.] Really, though...are...how bad are they? The burns?

[If Kazuma knew how this all worked re: manifestations, it would lead to some reflection, consideration, and some spluttering.]

The burns...They've healed well. [Which says absolutely nothing.] They don't bother me anymore. Honestly. [Should he offer the ability to see them? The thought has him fidgeting with one of his cuffs.]

I, I believe you... [he exhales, letting some of the guilt in his gut unknot just a bit. his hand falls away to his side.] I won't bring it up anymore. Honest.

[not unless he is really running low on things to feel bad about, at least.]

So long as it's not to your own self-depreciation...I won't mind if you ask due to concern.

[Now that he wasn't under some odd haze of aggression, Manabu was personable, someone Kazuma would have easily have gotten along with regardless. He would hate for their encounter to be a continued source of angst.]

It's...impressive, what you're able to do.

Edited (html why) 2022-01-16 01:50 (UTC)

Oh, n--well, [he winces a bit with a shrug.] I, I guess so? It's...not something I'd call normal. It's a...a Trench thing. I'm still learning, that is.

It...seems to be a thing. People suddenly getting new powers. Blood-stuff.

"A Trench thing." [Kazuma chuckles, shaking his head.]

That's something I've heard more and more often since arriving. I haven't had anything like that make itself known...Blood does seem to be a running theme as well.

The number one theme, yeah. It's creepy to me overall, but...I guess...it's not all the worst? [a helpless shrug.] I mean, apparently we can't get sick normally. Like colds or flus.

Mm. But we have our own ailments. Lock-joint, unpleasant. [He's had his share of bloodletting for that reason.] I take it the blood determines what abilities you have, if any?

Uh, yeah. Yeah... I mean--lots of folks who washed up here already had some powers or things like that? But also...well, I know I didn't, and now I'm cold forever and can make fire happen.

...It...doesn't really make sense to me. But it's still happening all the same.

[Ah, that much explained the burns. He isn't sure if it's more or less comforting that those abilities weren't innate, but "gifted" on arrival here.] I doubt much of it makes sense without in-depth study...I haven't discovered any new abilities, and I had nothing supernatural before coming here.

[Interesting.]

Ah--I'm not making for a fun conversation or time, am I?

Eh? [blink blink.] What? N-no, you don't have to worry about that! I'm not bored! [wait. does he look bored? he looks down at his feet, at his omen, who just tilts his head at him, before looking back up.] It's important stuff anyway, right?

[Kazuma laughs, something soft and full of well-meaning humor.] Sorry, I didn't mean to suggest you were bored. Or that this wasn't important.

Just...[He gestures to the room at large.] It seems more the place to have fun, doesn't it?

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