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

Peter Graham 👑 Hereditary

[possessum]

CLOSED STARTERS

^{plotted starters here. feel free to hmu if you'd like to do something! plotting.}

— Stiles Stilinski

[possessum]

( While Peter was a source of terror last month, January sees a very different person. Gone is the snarling feral thing speaking in weird garbled languages, flying through the city to terrorise the citizens of Trench....

In its place is a Corruption-free (...however long that lasts) Darkblood who's Feeling Himself in a way Peter rarely does. He's actually willingly at the Snake Den on multiple nights! Imagine! And while the outfit he was gifted by Madame Generosity does leave a slightly strange taste in his mouth (he knows full-well who that gold is for, and it's not a fun reminder), Peter's still genuinely enjoying himself. He's so much more relaxed than he's been in.... probably years.

He's usually with Luna, but there are times they separate for awhile to talk to various friends or watch shows and whatnot. Peter's just roaming the crowds now, when he spots a familiar face. Having no memory that the other boy is one of those very people that he'd terrorised before, Peter starts approaching him, lifting a hand in a friendly wave. He doesn't know the guy well, but he's feeling Amiable and Talkative... two very rare moods for Peter Graham. )

Hey...! This place is pretty wild, isn't it?

[kingofsarcasm]

[Stiles certainly had a Time being chased by Peter last month, though he's intelligent enough to realize that it… wasn't him. Not really. There was definitely something wrong, but that understanding doesn't mean that when Peter walks over to him and sparks up conversation, he's not gonna jump a little.

After a momentary spike of "ohshit," Stiles looks Peter up and down for a moment. He'd feel better about the amiable and talkative vibe if it wasn't also #different from what little he already knows about the other boy. As a fellow darkblood, Stiles is similarly more relaxed and charming, though. So he rolls his shoulders back and staggers his stance with ease.]

Uh-huh. And you'd know a lot about things that're wild, am I right?

[He raises an eyebrow as he says it, but doesn't look angry or afraid. Just guarded and questioning. Then he smoothly grabs two champagne glasses off a passing tray and hands one to Peter. Half a peace offering, half appeasing whatever possessed him to try and kill him.]

[possessum]

( It's only due to Peter having sunken into the relaxing mood of this place that he doesn't jump in reaction to Stiles' little jump the way he usually would. Instead, he just blinks once, but he's still smiling, tilting his head a little almost like they're two dudes sharing some joke or something.

He's fully aware that his interactions with the other teen so far have been a little strange (....except, of course, for the strangest interaction of all), but in retrospect, it's kind of funny. The invisible shit, Stiles with his trusty bat, stealing food from stall vendors..... Good times, right? )

Oh yeah, man. I'm as wild as they come. ( Peter says with a lopsided little grin, clearly meaning it in a sarcastic way. Like, he knows he's not wild at all; he's scared of just about everything, so he sort of assumes Stiles is poking fun about that fact or something, and he's just jumping in to join him. He doesn't mind making fun of himself; self-deprecation is, in fact, his comfort zone. )

Thanks, ( he adds, taking the offered drink and going ahead with a hearty gulp of it rather than sipping it. Holding up his glass, Peter's grin brightens, amused. Wow, he downed some champagne; he's truly out of control. )

See? Totally wild.

— Melius Senyan

[possessum]

( Peter Graham willingly attending a party is maybe not the weirdest thing that could ever happen in this place. But it's pretty far up there.

Not only is he willingly at the Snake Den, but he seems to genuinely be having a nice time?? Sounds fake?? The teen has an easy smile on his face as he watches the shows — though he won't actually be participating. Not even a dose of Darkblood charisma could get him on a stage to perform. No, he's content just to be an observer, mostly sticking close to Luna, but occasionally they do separate and he can be found wandering around, poking at fancy snacks or greeting people he knows.

There is a slight discomfort there in him; the outfit gifted by Madame Generosity is a split of plain black and glittering gold, and Peter knows exactly why that is. He's not happy about that gold being there, but he's still finding himself relaxed despite the constant reminder that he shares his body with something else. No, not even demonic possession can put a damper on his evening.

He's roaming around when he spots someone he recognises. A very unique individual, whom he'd barely glimpsed before he'd ducked away off-screen for the majority of the network conversation. But there's no missing him; it's the Mushroom Lizard Guy! The one he'd sent some gold coins to in exchange for some of those mushrooms. While Peter's still a little bit shy by default, he's certainly nowhere near his usual anxious self, and he's approaching the other with a friendly little smile on his face, even lifting his hand in a wave. )

Hey—! Fancy seeing you here, dude.

LOOKS GREAT

[fusrodaaaah]

[He'd taken up as little space as possible. A pillow in a corner, with a plate of snacks and a good view of all the people. His own gifted outfit a bit more muted than those around him. But still, fancy for the guy who usually wore linen shirts and worn cloth pants. There's no holes in it or anything!]

[His omen is curled at his feet, the size of a dog, now. She'd recently discovered her ability to grow in size, resulting in a guardian sized dragon. Hissing something in dragonspeech. Warding off anyone she doesn't recognize. Or doesn't like. Occasionally sneaking bites of snacks off her lizard's plate - which he allows, because what the heck is he going to do about it?]

[Both of their heads pop up at once when Peter approaches. The Omen relaxes immediately, opting to trill a greeting instead of hiss.]

O-oh! Hi. Hi um. I... kind of had to come.

[possessum]

( Honestly, Melius's set-up over here is really ideal. Even if Peter's more willing to actually be around people for once in his life, he can still appreciate the tucked away little safe space that the other has established for himself. With snacks and everything!

Peter immediately looks to the dragon — who is noticeably larger, now. Ordinarily he might be Frightened and Maybe Shout A Little, but now he's able to give a wider smile as he looks down at the Omen. )

Hey, you got bigger! ( He's still careful as he approaches, not wanting to startle her, but there's definitely a friendliness to him as he draws closer to the pair. )

I wasn't going to, but... I don't know, something about it kind of drew me in, I guess? ( By now, Peter should know that certain places magically seem to coax people in, but he didn't question it too much this time. Touching the flyer had immediately made him want to attend and he'd just kind of rolled with it. )

Did you come alone?

[fusrodaaaah]

O-oh, yeah! Yeah, she does that. Sometimes.

[He sits up a bit straighter. So does his Omen, but not in an aggressive way. She sits on her back legs, and trills out a high-pitched 'Drem yol lok'. A greeting. Definitely more friendly than anyone else who's passed by.]

Y-yeah. Me too. I don't. Really like parties, but. This seemed. Fine. [Especially since he has a nice outfit. A warm outfit. Sure he doesn't feel cold anymore, but cozy is a whole other story.]

Yes. Is that - was that wrong?

[possessum]

Having a dragon that can get bigger definitely sounds like a good idea around here.

( Given how fucking crazy this place gets. And Peter... still has no idea his own Omen can grow, too. There's lots of things about Susurrus he has yet to discover, in all honesty. But he's giving a soft laugh at the sounds the Omen makes, finding himself immediately charmed by her trills. )

It's nice to see you, too. ( He says in response, smiling at her before he looks back up to her companion. )

Oh no— it's totally cool to come by yourself. Not that I'm the expert on parties either, or anything. This is kind of the first one I've been to in.... like a year....

[fusrodaaaah]

Does it? I mean um. It's - it's not that bad here. After ... after Deerington.

[Even though Melius had got off easier than most. The dubious benefits of living on the fringes of town, of knowing how to survive in hostile terrain. But it was still not even remotely a fun time.]

[Another trill, before the Omen bat-walks over to her lizard, clambering up to his shoulder.]

O-oh, really? I um. That's good to hear. That I'm not... um. Weird.

[possessum]

This is probably going to sound completely crazy, but sometimes I feel like... I almost miss Deerington? I don't know, this place is just so... different.

( Ah — that would be some of the Paleblood Honesty Effects of this place creeping in, helping to coax some of Peter's thoughts outwards, where he'd usually keep such things to himself. Has he been having a really hard time settling into Trench? Yes. Has he done the healthy thing and opened up to anyone about it? Not at all! )

No weirder than me, I promise. ( Peter grins a little; self-deprecatory humour is all he knows. ) Is it cool if I join you for a little while?

[fusrodaaaah]

O-oh. Um... I'm sorry. I... I don't think I was there. Long enough to miss it.

[He shifts a bit, in his seat, curling his tail around his feet. Melius maybe hasn't had all that difficult of a time. This place is much more familiar to him than Deerington - at least in terms of the tech, the buildings. On the other hand, he's still living on the beach.]

It um. It must be... hard. But - but maybe it'll get better? And - and you're not weird.

[Not by this big lizard's standards, anyway.] So... so yeah. You um. You can stay.

[possessum]

continued here!