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Deer Country Mod ([personal profile] reddosmod) wrote in [community profile] deercountry2022-01-08 12:48 am

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.]

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
siriusly: (um. well uh. i. uhhhhHHHHHHHH........)

[personal profile] siriusly 2022-01-17 10:36 pm (UTC)(link)
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?
truerevival: (Upon your sleeve)

[personal profile] truerevival 2022-01-17 10:57 pm (UTC)(link)
[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?
siriusly: (golly gee shucks)

[personal profile] siriusly 2022-01-18 02:38 pm (UTC)(link)
Seems so... [he rubs at the back of his head.]

Aa, then...g-go ahead! Sorry for keeping you from it. [because the fun is not here, it is not this guy, he's pretty darn sure of that.]
truerevival: (I can't fill it)

[personal profile] truerevival 2022-01-22 12:54 am (UTC)(link)
Oh I--[He looks a bit startled, and then he laughs.]

I wasn't suggesting--It's not that I was looking for an excuse to leave your company. I was inviting you to join me. If you would like, of course.
siriusly: (do i get any say in this at all.)

[personal profile] siriusly 2022-01-22 05:41 pm (UTC)(link)
Eh? [blinkblink.] Really? [me?

Manget barks, standing between them.]


Oh--aa, su-sure! Sure...What did Magnet pull you from?
truerevival: (Let's finish what we started)

[personal profile] truerevival 2022-01-23 06:40 pm (UTC)(link)
Yes, really. [Amends were made, no reason not to make friends. Or try.]

Oh...nothing important. [Just him being a wallflower. You know, as you do.] Perhaps a drink? Or we could try our hand at the dance floor.

[Kazuma was in a good mood here, the wealth of possibilities.]
siriusly: (oh my God please don't hit me)

[personal profile] siriusly 2022-01-23 11:51 pm (UTC)(link)
[Manabu is quick to cut in when "dance" hits his ears:] Drink! Uh, drinks...drinks are good! Sure! [drinks! not dance. because he knows how to handle the former.]
truerevival: (Upon your sleeve)

[personal profile] truerevival 2022-01-30 12:56 am (UTC)(link)
Not one for dancing I take it? [The laugh that follows is good-natured, amused but not mocking, as he moves to lead them toward the bar.]

I wasn't much for it either back home if I'm honest.
siriusly: (b but i didn't mean to i mean i uh um)

[personal profile] siriusly 2022-01-30 07:17 pm (UTC)(link)
Auh, I don't--really know how? [he looks away sheepishly before fixing his attention on the array of bottles and glasses behind the bar.

barely audible over the music:]
Not that I know much about drinking, either, but...
truerevival: (Ones we have learned)

[personal profile] truerevival 2022-02-03 11:18 pm (UTC)(link)
I find the best time to learn is the present. [He seems to consider him for a moment.] Though there is no shame in not being a dancer--there are plenty who avoid it.

[And while he knew the basics, Kazuma was not one to often seek out the opportunity to dance. He hums, eyeing all the bottles behind the bar quizzically.]

Where I'm from, if you're looking to drink something alcoholic, you'd be looking at sake. Maybe a whiskey or absinthe. I have no idea why there are so many varieties here--or what you would even do with half of them.
siriusly: (I TOO EXPERIENCE EMOTIONS)

[personal profile] siriusly 2022-02-04 03:43 pm (UTC)(link)
Ehh, really? [Manabu's voice is peppered with a little laugh.] Jeez, our universes do have a lot in common while being so different. The trains, some of the sports, food... Aa- [he rubs at the back of his head.] That is, what Ryunosuke's told me about the place and all...
truerevival: (They lie there hand in hand)

[personal profile] truerevival 2022-02-05 04:16 pm (UTC)(link)
It doesn't surprise me that he's told you something of home. You are a friend of his, after all. [There's a hint of gratitude in that statement, in knowing that Ryunosuke hadn't been alone.]

But indulge me: What similarities have you two noted thus far? Outside of the generalities you mentioned.
siriusly: (sitcom laughtrack)

[personal profile] siriusly 2022-02-05 05:28 pm (UTC)(link)
[drinks are poured - sake for the both of them, it's familiar! - and Manabu tries to recall a handful of those things. he has to resort to fishing his Omni out of his pocket and checking their texting history - so many texts - to come up with the rest.

...it turns out to be a lot of food. food's the great equalizer, after all! different noodle dishes and combinations, some with the same name, others different...teas and sweets...]

--Haa, ah, though...I think it makes sense? Back when people in my universe expanded across the galaxy, everyone was looking for a planet like Earth! So making things familiar just stands to reason, right?
truerevival: (Ones we've inherited)

[personal profile] truerevival 2022-02-05 06:02 pm (UTC)(link)
It's not surprising. Food is a way to share and communicate past all languages and barriers. [He didn't miss the amount of scrolling he had to do with those messages though. Interesting.]

You can tell a lot about someone based on things they like for example. And I suppose what they find familiar and comforting would say a lot as well.
siriusly: (let's just get this over with)

[personal profile] siriusly 2022-02-05 06:10 pm (UTC)(link)
Aa, but it sounds like there's still a ways to go with the technology for you guys! [he doesn't mean to sound arrogant, he's just...proud of where he's from.

after another swig and a grimace (ew, alcohol taste):]
Ryunosuke says you haven't gotten things like the Omni network, or space travel... [he sighs, shaking his head.] And you guys and anyone else who hasn't can't even experience it here, either!
truerevival: (Let's finish what we started)

[personal profile] truerevival 2022-02-05 06:16 pm (UTC)(link)
We are making advances, but yes, we are rather behind others. [He's not ashamed of it, nor does he begrudge Manabu his pride. He wouldn't be the first to note that difference, and likely won't be the last.

He takes his own drink, with less grimacing. Ah, the joys of politicking: getting used to alcohol so you could save face. He's a master at that particular game.
] Space though. Fascinating...Though doubtful we'll see that travel in my lifetime.
siriusly: (i do not bite my thumb at you)

[personal profile] siriusly 2022-02-05 06:31 pm (UTC)(link)
[with a little huff:] Not unless I can do something about it!

[pause for stupid effect - just a few beats of whatever music is bumping.]


...Er, what I mean is...I'm...I'm looking into things. Seeing what can be done. The Galaxy Railways has made contact with other universes before - why not this one, too?

[why not, indeed? besides the horrors, the nightmares, the eldritch god-characters who roam the town and oversee things impassively.]
truerevival: (Upon your sleeve)

[personal profile] truerevival 2022-02-05 06:43 pm (UTC)(link)
I can see now why you and Ryunosuke are friends. [Kazuma leans on the bar, chin in hand, trying to bite back the grin threatening to surface.]

Your passion is something to be admired--to want others to see what you've been able to. So...Why not, indeed. I'd like to see something of this universe of yours; if you find a means to do so.
siriusly: (yeah i'm ready)

[personal profile] siriusly 2022-02-05 06:52 pm (UTC)(link)
[Manabu nods, determined in his nebulous, plan-less hope.]

Mn! And I want to get us out beyond the borders of this city. It's a whole planet out there, you know? We shouldn't be stuck in one spot! There were boats on the shore, did you see? They have to have come from somewhere - had to have gone somewhere to come back.
truerevival: (So nothing's left unturned)

[personal profile] truerevival 2022-02-05 07:03 pm (UTC)(link)
Of course--there's more than this place, this one town.

[He seems to consider it for a moment before he sits up straighter, a look of determination crossing his features.]

Then, in that case. I'll help you. Whatever you need. We'll find what there is to see of this world--and how we can do that.
siriusly: (confused puppy noise)

[personal profile] siriusly 2022-02-05 07:06 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh? [he perks up with some interest.] Did you get some weird blood-powers, too? Fire? Ice?
truerevival: (They pass from man to man)

[personal profile] truerevival 2022-02-05 07:11 pm (UTC)(link)
I...didn't, no. [And he is going to try to not be disappointed in that.] But I can fight and manage on my own. My sword isn't just for show.

[A frown.] I know it may not be as useful as the powers some have, but it is something. I can do something so...Please, let me help. Whenever you choose to try pushing beyond this city, I want to go.
siriusly: (those are sugar-free gummi bears)

[personal profile] siriusly 2022-02-05 07:23 pm (UTC)(link)
[Manabu mirrors the frown.]

I mean...sure, but...have you gone toe-to-toe with some of things out there? On the outskirts? Or even what trickles into the Gate? A lot of those things...it takes more than a sword, is what I'm saying.
truerevival: (You have always worn your flaws)

[personal profile] truerevival 2022-02-05 07:31 pm (UTC)(link)
Then...

[Then what? He doesn't like sitting around and putting everything to someone else, but he hasn't had to fight, not really--not yet.]

I should learn--I can learn how to handle them. I don't--[A huff.] I don't like doing nothing, being useless.
siriusly: (pretty sure i got this)

[personal profile] siriusly 2022-02-05 07:33 pm (UTC)(link)
[nod nod. the buzz is starting to kick in.]

You should get a sparring partner. Diluc and Childe, they--they're from places where fighting weird monsters is normal. But there's lots of other people who have been tackling these things, too! So if you're not afraid of a little work...

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