I love you and that's all I really know

[reddosmod]

FEBRUARY 2022 EVENT

IMAGE DESCRIPTORS IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE
Prompt One
[Image One: Bloody fingers hovering over chalice of blood.]
[Image Two: Semi-nude people dancing in circle with joined hands.]

Prompt Two
[Image One: Hauntingly large man coming up behind young girl while other girl screams.]
[Image Two: Old woman walking towards a panicked young woman.]

Prompt Three
[Image One: Obscure, nude bodies twisted together in a circle. Non-graphic.]
[Image Two: Nun holding holy book while red liquid pours from unseen face.]

Prompt Four
[Image One: Chocolates.]
[Image Two: Chocolate.]

[NAVIGATION]

Prompt 1 • Prompt 2 • Prompt 3 • Prompt 4 • Plotting • Newsletter

[JUMP TO COMMENTS]

BONDING PACTS

WHEN: Anytime
WHERE: Anywhere
CONTENT WARNINGS: Blood ceremony, bodily ceremony, telepathic/empathetic connections, possible forced/coerced relationships.

---

[From BEGINNERS GUIDE FOR BLOOD PACTS. Found in the Archives:]

"There are a variety of blood pacts one can make, but the most popular are Bonding Pacts. Bonding Pacts should never be made on a whim: they are a serious commitment.

PROCEED WITH CAUTION!
We can thank the Doorway for Bonding Pacts. Everyone knows the story: the Reckoning was made to go fight the impossible battle against blood pollution, corruption, and beasthood. The Doorway vowed to wait for the Reckoning to return and has never moved since. This is ultimately believed to be the first Bonding Pact ever made in Trench and it is considered to have opened up Bonding Pacts as a possibility in general.

The most common misconception about Bonding Pacts is that they must be exclusively for romantic partners. This is not true The majority of Bonding Pacts, as a matter of fact, are actually familial and platonic in nature. Most romantic pairs decide that marriage is a safer option just in case someone gets a case of cold feet. On the other hand, this also means that the Bonding Pact can be the ultimate sign of devotion in a romantic relationship. We aren't interested in telling you what is right for your relationship, but the history is worth considering before taking that step.

So what is a Bonding Pact and how do you do it? Despite being one of the strongest pacts in this world, it is also one of the simplest to perform! Here's what you'll need:

1x Vial of blood per participant wishing to enter the pact
1x Small essence* of each participant
1x Live red rose
2x Live white roses
1x Pouch of ashes
1x Silver cup/container of some sort

*It was once believed that "essence" translated to organ, but we have since learned that this can be a single strand of hair, nail clipping, eyelash, teardrop, spit...You get the gist. It has to be something that came directly from your body that isn't blood.

You need to leave the silver cup out under the moonlight for at least one full night. You must complete this ceremony the evening after and only in the evening. Bonding Pacts cannot be made during the day. When you plan to begin the ceremony, you will need to perform it in a doorway or under any type of arch. This is to allow the Doorway to bless your pact and strengthen it permanently.

You will combine all the ingredients into the cup and thoroughly stir with a fragment of bone/antler. This concoction will thicken into a pastelike consistency and it should be black in color. If it smells like fresh roses, you did it right. If it smells like rancid food, you messed it up and will have to completely redo the ceremony.

Finally, each participant will cover one hand with the paste. To seal the bond, you will need to place your hand upon the one you wish to bond with. Where you place it matters and will determine the nature of your Bonding Pact. Each will have a drastically different consequence/benefit.

ROMANTIC BONDS: Place the hand somewhere on the face. This indicates a public relationship that is to be respected by all involved. This bond will create a telepathic connection between all participants. This telepathy cannot be heard by anyone else nor can it be interfered with from distance or chaos. It is possible to bring your romantic partner back from beasthood through this connection. Extreme cases of this bond have allowed romantic partners to take over one another's minds in severe situations. It can be difficult to shelter your thoughts from your Romantic Bond partner, but it is possible. They will know when you are keeping thoughts from them. Some partners have learned to respect each other's privacy while others have gone insane from the connection.

PLATONIC BONDS: Place the hand somewhere on the chest/shoulder area. This bond will create an This bond will create a physical connection. between all participants. This physical bond will allow participants to pick up on each other's physical pain or pleasure. You will be able to know when your friend is in physical harm. This creates a "phantom pain" of sorts. This can either weaken you substantially or give you an enormous boost during a fight. Best friends have been known to harness this ability well and use each other's pain to literally get stronger during a fight with monsters. On the other hand, a strained relationship can just cause you to feel the same debilitating pain as your friend. This cannot be used to bring someone back from beasthood.

FAMILIAL BONDS: Place the hand somewhere on an appendage whether arm, leg, tail or otherwise. This bond will create an empathetic connection between all participants. This empathetic bond will allow participants to naturally know what the other is feeling and may be able to sway one another's emotions through this connection. Like the romantic bond, it cannot be ruined by distance or chaos and has been used to bring people back from beasthood. Extreme situations have allowed partners to take total emotional control. You will always know when your Familial Bond partner is in emotional distress. You can send your Familial Bond emotional support when you can feel their stress, even at a distance. While this may not always work, many have reported it can greatly alleviate corruption and can even be used to recognize corruption patterns in order to prevent it.

HOSTILE BONDS: Place this bond exclusively on the neck or on anywhere on the back. While it may seem farfetched to make a bond with your enemy, there is some merit to the madness. This will create a unique power connection between all participants. This bond will allow one another to feel the ebb and flow of one another's powers. It is said the most well-forged Hostile Bonds may even allow characters to share abilities between one another. Hostile Bonds are known to drastically increase aggression and competitive behavior between participants. This has caused hostility to stir and may even lead to hatred. However, a successful Hostile Bond that is worked on with steady communication and agreement can be enormously successful and horrifically powerful.

Once you have left your handprint on your partner's skin, the spell will take hold. The handprint will glow and everyone will briefly have a vision of the Doorway standing before them. Don't be alarmed: they are only here to solidify the connection. You will feel great warmth and then the connection will be made. The handprint will stain your skin permanetly so choose wisely. The stain may be extremely light, barely visible. For others, it may be much darker. It is unknown what causes the variation.

This pact can be performed any time of year but is strongest when performed during or near the Egg Moon. While it is not required to have an audience for this ceremony, it is believed that an audience greatly strengthens the bond. It has become customary for people to make vows in combination with the ceremony for an additional layer of power.

As a further point of caution...These bonds can be forced on an individual."

FAQ
1. These bonds cannot be broken except by extreme magical interference such as through some sort of game event, a character being dropped from the game, or something like the Blade of Agency. Death will not disturb the bond.

2. There is no "limit" to the number of participants for the ceremony. Romantic bonds can be made between multiple people. The connection will only exist between those who partook in the ceremony at the same time.

3. People can be added into a Bonding Pact at any time.

4. Gender/species has no impact on the bond.

5. People can create different bonds with the same person.

6. These bonds are open-ended and can be translated to better fit your character.

IMPENDING INTIMACY

WHEN: February
WHERE: Everywhere
CONTENT WARNINGS: Intimacy-based monster, intense themes of stalking, jealousy, possession, guilt, shame, physically violent deaths, possible themes of adultery/cheating, some negative ideaology towards promiscuity.

---

[From History of Blood Crazed Zealots: Chapter 15 Caution About Curses found in the Lumenarium:]

"Do not be fooled by this seemingly passive curse. There are few things more potent than a Blood Crazed Zealot's magic, and few emotions are stronger than that of jealousy. The story goes that one Blood Crazed Zealot was in love with another and entered a sacred blood pact to unite their blood and souls. However, the other Blood Crazed Zealot's love was not as pure, and soon they strayed in body and in mind. Of course, no secrets can be kept in a blood pact, and one thing led to the other.

The jealous and betrayed Blood Crazed Zealot created a vicious curse that still plagues the world to this day. We know of no cures, no remedies, no way to beat it. We only know how to keep it at bay. But It is always around, It is always near, and It will always follow. We have not yet determined the exact way It is transmitted from one person to the next, but we believe it has to do with exchanging some form of intimacy. Whether that be with sex, words of love, or even just saying a loved one's name, the curse will follow.

It appears as a person walking directly towards you. At first, you might not even pick it out from the crowd, until it gets closer. Then you see oddities. Water spills from its body, or its arm looks broken, or many walk along completely naked. There is something off about the creature, and worse yet, no one sees It but you and anyone previously cursed by It. It moves slowly, and it would be easy to assume that it can't really hurt you. After all, if you shoot it with a gun or tear it down with powers, it breaks apart as easily as a human body...

But then It gets up. It reforms. It is impossible to kill. It doesn't react to pain. It doesn't react to words. It changes appearances when you lose sight of it, making it almost impossible to keep your guard up against it. The last time you saw it, it might have been a little girl, but now it looks like a six foot tall man. You might buy yourself some time, might be able to distance yourself by taking a swim or a fly...But It will find you. It will always find you. It can break through doors and windows. There are no wards against it.

When it finds you, it will kill you. It matters not what your powers are, what your blood is. This creature existed with the single purpose to destroy and it has perfected the art. Once it has a hold of you, you are powerless. You first lose all abilities, and then rapidly, your life follows in one crushing moment of paralyzing fear and agonizing pain. It throws its victims to the ground and breaks their bodies apart. No one wants to find the bodies of those it has consumed. It takes only seconds to kill you. Don't let it touch you. Don't let it get close enough to touch you. It will win.

When it has finished, it begins to stalk to the person that had passed it off. It's a never-ending cycle. Person A has it then gives it to Person B who gives it to Person C. Person C dies, so it goes back to Person B until person B can find someone new to give it to. Be wary of giving affection this month. You tenderly saying your beloved's name or engaging in sex or flirtation might just pass the curse along."

FAQ
1. The curse is meant to be severely undermined. The creature appears as an ordinary, unsettling-looking person with no obvious abilities. It can kill anyone regardless of their abilities or species.

2. The curse can be passed by saying a loved one's name (platonic/romantic/familial), sex, kissing, loving touches. To break the curse, one can sleep with a Trenchie or say the name of a loved one not present in Trench.

MOTHER'S MERCY

WHEN: The hex only appears during February
WHERE: Everywhere
CONTENT WARNINGS: Religious based trauma/forced guilt/shame, extreme themes of self-mutilation and possible sucidial ideations, hexes, altered mental state, forced confessions.

---

[A sermon by Mother Mercy as recorded by an unnamed Disciple, followed by an attached document titled MOTHER'S FORGIVENESS. A misspelling or unusual wording throughout the sermon is intentional. Disciples debate whether the document was intended as support of Mother Mercy's hex or as a way to help people avoid it. The sermon and Mother's Forgiveness are written in different handwriting. The documents can be found at the Pale Sanctuary:]

THE SERMON
"It was in the midst of Febuawry that the Doorway suummoned me for council,
They had fallen in love with the Reckoning and desird to create an eternal bond,
They wanted to have me present at the seremony to [provide] blessings,
Yet it was with regret I [had to] deny them their wish and instead provide cawsion,
But you see, that is the role of a Mother. We tell our spawn what they do not want to hear but muust.
It is a Mother's Mercy to pass on wisdom, to show compassion and care.

I told the Doorway that we live in a cruuel world, a cruuel world that can rawt a gewd heart,
I told the Doorway that it would be kindr to leave bonds uuntethered,
That it would be a kindness to both to let their love lingr and fade,
Than to let it be subjected to the atrocities of this world's bluud lost.
For what is a strongr emotion than jealousy? I ask of you.
What is a strongr emotion than loneliness? I ask of you.
What is a strongr emotion than longing? I ask of you.
What drives people to insanity quickr than being denied their heart's desires?
No, I told them, they should let go, for a Pthumerian owes this world selflessness,
And a Pthumerian's love can permanently stain this world in a way no one else can.
It would be a kindness to all.

But the Doorway did not want to listen. The Doorway defied [my] advice and created bonds,
The Doorway opened an eternal connection to the Reckoning, The Doorway stained this earth with the consequence of love, of relationships.
Do not be fewled by the luuxury of these words.
There is suuch a thing as selfless love, and this was not it, And so the time came for me to regrettably be proven right.

The corruuption of our cruuel world festered as people created bonds,
For the bonds made the agony of loss so much greater.
With the Doorway's curse*1, people who lost their family, their spouses, their friends also lost themselves.
Loss is painful no matter how you enduure, but the Doorway's curse ensuured it would ruun*2 deep into your soul.
It would corrupt. It would ruun*2.
This was not merciful. This was not love.

And so I counseled the Reckoning to go and keep the corruption at bay,
The Reckoning will not return to the Doorway for corruption will never end,
For beasthewd will never end.
The Reckoning keeps her sword high, and the Doorway will wait for eternity for a lover who will never return.
This is a mother's mercy. Perhaps one day, the Doorway will dissolve their curse.

Now let us bow our heads and pray. And remember, my Disciples, abstain from the curse.
Regulate your desires. This is not to cast shame, but to cast cawsion."

*1: The "curse" refers to the Bonding Pacts that are now popular in Trench. There may be some logic to Mother Mercy's rhetoric given the intensity of corruption experienced post-Bonding Pact. However, one could argue there is an equally high chance of counter-corruption due to deepening relationships through blood magic.

*2: It would appear that the word "ruin" and "run" were spelled the same at this time.

[Footnotes are in the Wayward Watcher's handwriting and clearly added at a much later date than the original sermon was recorded due to the darker quality of the ink. The following document "Mother's Forgiveness" is in the Wayward Watcher's handwriting as well.]

MOTHER'S FORGIVENESS
"Thus shortly after the sermon, a hex began to spread throughout Trench. The source of which seemed to be people who were actively resisting personal desire in some shape. People who tried to resist lust or love or other basic desires began to experience convulsions of pain. The internal agony would rapidly escalate the more they resisted "temptation" and eventually, people found one of the only ways to alleviate this pain was to mutilate themselves. A small cut would bring some relief, but the more harm they brought themselves, the more relief they felt.

I have theorized that this may be the first incident of Sleepers transforming themselves into the Blood Crazed Zealots. This was the first time I began to experience Sleepers who had permanently modified their physical bodies in drastic ways. Many would seem content with the modifications but their personalities were distorted by exacerbated corruption. Those who avoided harming themselves would fall into beasthood in alarming numbers. For a while, the only solution the Hunters and I believed in was to mercifully put these creatures out of their misery.

I quickly learned that many people, especially Sleepers, had burrowed down so many desires that it became an outright plague of corruption throughout the city. We needed to do more than just hunting down those who fell to it. The bodies were piling in numbers and the blood pollution was creating more beasts than we were killing. I sought out Mother Mercy and demanded a solution. I reasoned with her that while she may want to avoid the Doorway's blood magic, it was unfair to allow Sleepers to go punished so severely for a Pthumerian's choices.

Eventually, we came to an agreement. She would purify those who came to the Pale Sanctuary and asked for her forgiveness. They must confess their desires to lift the hex. Mother Mercy will, fittingly, take mercy on those who wish to redeem themselves. Be careful of your desires, Sleeper, for if you keep them locked up, they may just be your ruin. Confessions to Mother Mercy should be a last resort. To avoid the hex, consider honesty.

Good Luck,
The Wayward Watcher."

FAQ
1. The "desires" do not need to be romantic or sexual. They can be someone who desires to resolve an issue, someone who wants to have more friends, the desire to be successful/powerful/famous etc. The "desires" should be prominent. Small desires like wanting a donut for breakfast will not cause harm.

2. Crippling feelings of guilt over desire will consume and corrupt. Characters can avoid the hex by admitting their desires to someone. It does not have to be to Mother Mercy.

3. Those who confess to others or Mother Mercy will feel immediate relief of the hex. People can experience the hex multiple times if they go back to hiding their desires.

4. Confessions can be given to anyone. If you're in love with someone, you can just confess it to a friend rather than the person you are in love with. Of course, it's not like Sleepers would know that...It would be easy to think you have to be forced to confess to your loved one.

5. Characters do not need to self-mutilate for this prompt. Many can just go through their usual corruption stages/beasthood that you would have planned for your characters ahead of time. This is intended to be a bit of history for the Blood Crazed Zealots. You can be flexible on how your character goes to extremes to alleviate their pain. This may include substance abuse, irrational behavior, etc.

THE CHOCOLATIER: BONUS PROMPT

WHEN: February (Chocolates can be saved for the future via freezing.) The drive to find the Chocolatier only lasts during February.
WHERE: All throughout Trench and surrounding areas.
CONTENT WARNINGS: Themes of temptation (non-sexual and/or sexual), addiction, blood sacrifice, severely warped personality/reality including temporary amnesia, inability to use body, paranoia, vomiting organs, homicidal feelings, mild body horror.

---

"What is the weight of your pleasure?"

You hear the gravely, sexless voice greet you somewhere in the streets of Trench. You knew the creature had not been there just a minute ago, but now you are no longer alone. A creature roughly the size of an elephant sits beside you, a chalice hovering in the air between its outstretched hands.

The scent of chocolate wafts from the creature. But this isn't just the smell of chocolate. It is the experience of pleasure itself. You can feel the warm melt of chocolate over your tongue, your body wrapped up in inexplicable warmth and silky softness, something whispering across your skin. Your scalp tingles as if someone were playing with your hair or you just heard the best song in your life. It's like sinking into your own bed after getting home from a long trip away.

It's nearly impossible to resist the stupor the creature puts you in. The Chocolatier gazes at you calmly. This is an infamous beast, rare to show its face, but known among locals as one of the most dangerous...For no one can bring themselves to slay it. They dare not even write about it in fear of this creature being capable of taking pleasure away from Trench altogether. Corruption has thoroughly consumed this soul, any sense of self lost, but is this truly the kind of beast that Hunters wish to bring down? It pacifies all those that meet it, even the most violent of souls. The desire to fight, to be hostile will be greatly diminished in its presence. Surely...Surely it cannot be bad.

"I only ask for a token of your blood. For that, I will give everything...Your pleasure, your desire...It is yours. In one single bite...Or perhaps...You may think to give one of my chocolates to someone you admire...For surely...Who could resist such a gift...?" It offers its chalice. "Just a drop will do, my friend..." It seems like such a reasonable request for such a grand gift. Common sense would normally be kicking in right about now, but the Chocolatier drives common sense from the mind and replaces it with sheer want. Someone with mental protection abilities, enchantments or blessed items may be able to resist the temptation and step away. Most people however will likely give over a drop (or more) of blood. The more blood you give, the more chocolates you receive...

And oh! Even if you dislike chocolate or typically can't eat it, you know that you can eat this piece. You know that you will like this chocolate. It's perfect in every way. It was made exactly for you...Or perhaps, even, a special someone in your life. A chocolate for your friend, your lover, your sibling, or...maybe even your enemy. Once you have been given the chocolate, the Chocolatier vanishes. You don't have to eat the chocolate right away, but the longer you resist, the greater the temptation will become. God forbid you lose the chocolate. Some have gone completely insane by the loss. Maybe you should just eat it or get it to your buddy!

There are a wide variety of chocolates you may be blessed with and each one has a different effect. The Chocolatier may seek you out multiple times, but it seems impossible to intentionally summon the Chocolatier.

All effects last a few hours to a few days. Consuming paleblood or darkblood will help alleviate symptoms. All chocolates may lead to corruption and beasthood if they get out of control. Resisting the symptoms worsens effects. While these chocolates are intended to set up new connections, the effects will be doubled if the effect is layering on a pre-existing situation (ie; if you eat a dark chocolate around the person you're sleeping with, you'll find them even more irresistible. If you eat a milk chocolate around your significant other, you'll feel even more in love). You can eat multiple chocolates at once to experience multiple effects at once.

Milk Chocolate: This will inspire extreme romantic attraction to the first person you interact with after eating this chocolate regardless of if you know them. Melted and consumed with other food, it will provide additional feelings of being loved.

Dark Chocolate: This will inspire extreme sexual attraction to the first person you interact with of your preferred gender(s) after consuming. This has been used as a powerful aphrodisiac. Melted and put directly on the skin, it can cause extreme pleasure.

White Chocolate: You desperately want to befriend the first person you interact with after consuming. Melted and consumed with other food, it will provide additional feelings of security in your relationships.

Caramel: You will feel deeply indebted to the first person you interact with after consuming. You will want to do anything they ask, be anything they ask, and follow every order or command they give you.

Almond: You will be extremely compelled to communicate exclusively through song to other people. You will also be compelled to randomly sing your inner monologue and overshare via a spontaneous, musical number.

Raspberry: This will cause you to start vomiting a variety of organs. They aren't your organs. Some of the organs may still be functioning when they come up.

Orange: You will begin to completely confuse people for each other. Their faces and names will swap around in your mind. You might mistake your best friend for your partner. You will have difficulty remembering who is who.

Strawberry: Your emotions will be projected from you without your control through an aura. This aura can provide visual cues (such as a golden light around you when you are happy or a blue when you are sad) as well as smells and possibly even sounds.

Cherry: This will make you extremely flirty and cheerful. You will find it difficult to be in a bad mood and wind up hitting on people regardless of your personal attraction to them.

Coconut: This will cause temporary amnesia either long-term or short-term. Some people may have false memories put in their heads by this chocolate, many of which will be better than the lives they originally lived.

Coffee: This will cause extremely erratic, irrational behavior. You will become reckless and arrogant, making moves in situations you normally never would. It can boast confidence and ego. The crash from this chocolate is terrible and feels worse than a hangover.

Hazelnut: Some physical marker will appear on your body to show that you are romantically and/or sexually compatible with someone. This may be their name appearing on your skin, the first words they ever said to you, or your eye color changing to theirs. This does not force sexual/romantic attraction but rather lets you know who you might make a good match with!

Peanutbutter: You now have animal features of some sort. Dog ears, wings, new eyes. This has been known to provide temporary abilities similar to the animal you have been combined with. Some have even been known to be able to transform completely into the animal at this time!

Peacan: You will drastically lose function over certain body parts. This can cause feelings like your arm is no longer there or under your control. It may cause a complete surrender of your bodily functions in general.

Truffle: You will feel a crushing sense of paranoia that something is controlling you, watching you, and dictating the experiences around you. You will become increasingly suspicious of interactions and start theorizing about little things.

Vanilla: You will become obsessed with specific individuals and begin to actively plot their murder and likely attempt to commit it. This isn't just bloodlust: it's plotting violence. It's about wanting to get away with murder as much as committing murder.

CODING

Comments

Equius Zahhak | Homestuck (CW for possible masochistic tendencies in prompt 2)

[alternia_strength]

Impending Lack of Intimacy
You know what? He was going to blame this on Karkat. He wasn't sure how. He wasn't sure why. But someone said that saying the name of a loved one was the way that this started, and Karkat was just about the only person that he had even the slightest bit of emotional connection with in this rotten, blood obsessed town.

He was one extremely narrow miss past having encountered the creature. It had been approximately two inches from getting him when he'd realized that he suddenly felt way too weak, and that this was one of those things that was impossible to kill normally. And, in that moment? He'd beat a hasty 'Strategic repositioning' into the next county.

At this point, he was staring back over his shoulder and panting. "Glob damnit, it's there again, isn't it?!?" he practically shouted. "Oh would you just go bother someone else?" He wasn't afraid. Trolls didn't get afraid. He was just tactically concerned. That was all.

Mother's "Mercy"
How had he survived that whole incident? He barely knew. Someone probably had taken pity on him and he'd shouted Marisa's name. Why her? Because he wasn't risking that thing going after the two trolls he actually cared about in their world, no matter how powerful they were, and Marisa could fucking fly. So... yeah. He'd probably said her name.

At this point, though, most of the month was left with him spending a lot of time away from people. Anyone coming near for something so much as a handshake was getting growled at. He was focused in a workshop attached to the local foundry he'd found to work at, getting his shop set up. However, there was a problem. For all that he was trying to focus on himself? He kept having those thoughts that made him use a towel, but as soon as he'd done that.

"NGH! What... is... AUGH! Going on here?" He was getting angry, frustrated. His hammer slipped and hit his knee. Nothing broke but it bruised and suddenly he felt better. Oh... this ... this wasn't good. Lifting the hammer, he stared at it with a squinty eye. "Did someone put a hex on you?"

The Chocolatier
a) Hazelnut
He'd felt the compulsion, and honestly? He wasn't one to admit that he couldn't resist it, so now he was staring at the least sweet confections this strange creature could provide. He'd insisted. Grunting and popping a hazelnut into his mouth, he chewed and shrugged. It was tolerable. With a swallow, he continued his work, looking over at the other person.

They'd seen him eat what was clearly a magical concoction, but nothing happened. "Aren't these supposed to be ensorcelled in some fashion?" he growled in weird irritation. Where was the kaboom? He'd expected an earth shattering kaboom? Don't tell him that it was because there was literally nobody in this town compatible with him that way. He might feel bad. Or do. It could be good for a cheap laugh.

b) Pecan
Now this was more like it. Only it wasn't. His left arm hung limply at his side and he grumbled in irritation. "As bad as the trickster god," he muttered, working with his hammer in one hand and looking over at someone. "You there. You want this work done, I require assistance. Hold the tongs hard. I will beat the metal."

Uh... it might be worth mentioning that even one-handed, Equius was strong enough that this might be an unpleasant experience, but he wouldn't let his hand slip at leaast.

c) Almond
"You load sixteen tons, what do you get... another day older and deeper in debt!" Oh god. He was singing. He was pounding hammer to steel at the foundry, and he was singing. Who taught him that song? Nobody. That was the chocolate's fault. And damnit, but he was off-key, out of tune, off tempo, only knew one song, and WAY TOO LOUD.

This might have been the day that his boss finally decided it would be best if he had his own stall. For the sake of his ears and sanity.

b) this will end well

[nilheality]

Nil wasn't having a great month. Between the incident with the hex, and the public shame of puking her guts out (except it wasn't her guts), she just wants this month to be over. Nevertheless, there was more of Trench that she had seen, and her most recently curiosity had put her directly into the Equius Zahhak's domain.

She is shocked at what she could only assume was a beefy goblin--or perhaps he was a small orc--shouting at her. Not really wanting to make a scene she quirks a brow and tentatively picks up the tongs as instructed.

"Like this?" She did not know what she was in for.

Oh so well

[alternia_strength]

Yes. Yes. Like so. Hold it steady. I will have to work one fronded for the time being. This hoofbeast shoe will not bend itself into shape.

[He growled, though it was more at the situation than her. The man definitely looked beefy enough to be some gray-skinned orc, if they came with candy-corn colored horns. He lifted the hammer and brought it down in a swift stroke, barely giving time to set it. There was a heavy ringing and the force of it...

Those muscles weren't for show. He routinely broke any bow he tried to string because he was too strong for the draw, so there was a significant amount of force being brought to bear on the metal as the sparks flew.]

[nilheality]

[Nil wasn't about to judge on the candy corn horns, thinking that they are perhaps some sort of strange ornamentation. His words were also different but easy enough to follow. He could only use one arm, and he needed some help to finish this horse shoe.]

[Easy enough.]

[What was not easy was the power of concussive force coming down onto the shoe transferring out into the tongs. Nil's hand jolts and metal vibrates in her hand. She jumps up, releasing her hand from the tongs and causing the hot horseshoe to fall limply onto the floor.]

[Hoofbeast excrement]

[alternia_strength]

[He was about to start shouting, but didn't. He seethed a little and then groaned. No, this wouldn't happen if his frond was working properly. Pointing to it, he gestured to the flames.]

Put it back in. I need to have the dust cooked off and it reheated. it will have cooled off from dropping. Ngh...

We should find a vice. That might serve... no I'd break that. Gah. Stupid confections!

[nilheality]

[She didn't need to read his mind to know that she messed up. But WOW was this guy strong. Well, as expected for an orc with candy corn-colored horns.]

I'm sorry! That was--! Much stronger than I was expecting! Um...

[Right. Right. This was familiar. She remembered this. Recollections of her times with the dwarves. An especially cranky one watched as his apprentice dropped a sword -- a grieveous offense at the best of times. But there was a little trick that they learned.]

--I think I can fix it. [With a bit of telekinesis she brings the hoofbeast shoe up in front of her. Her hands glow as the dents in the shoe bend away. Her attention turned to the forge, and the shoe obeyed, floating itself back to the heat to return to temperature.]

Um... I don't know what I'm looking for, so you'll have to tell me when to take it out...

[alternia_strength]

Hmmmm...

[His irritation faded momentarily when he saw the telekinesis at work. So this one had powers like the mutated bloodlines. That... might actually prove useful here. He considered and then realized she'd spoken to him.]

Wait until it is almost white. I want it properly hot when it comes out. Can you hold it with that power better than the tongs?

[nilheality]

Yes, I think so.

[She's pretty confident in that, but she'd have to brace herself. With the way he hit, she was going to have to use some STRONG telepathy.]

[The hoofbeast shoe is held in place until it got suitably hot. As soon as it gets just on the border of white she returns it to the anvil, raising both her hands to keep it in place.]

((She's good for up 1,000 pounds, Equius! But can he keep his STRENGTH in control??))

[alternia_strength]

[When the hammer came down this time, it was with less force. He had control, though it could be difficult to apply at times. Here? He could more easily avoid overdoing it, but it was clear he was trying very hard. Grunting as he worked, he looked at her through his shades.]

You are new. Not human. What are you?

[Etiquette was not this one's strong point.]

[nilheality]

[She was used to that. Many of the non-human races had a tendency to be blunt, straightforward, and direct. Even a few of the human races, like Goliaths, had no need for tact. There was something to admire of that, but less so when you are the subject of their attention.]

[Her focus slips for a moment as she considers the question. What was she? That was no longer a question she was able to answer...]

I don't know exactly. [She draws her attention to the horseshoe again right as the next strike landed.] I have a guess. But I might be wrong.

What are you?

[alternia_strength]

That... is not the answer I expected to hear.

[He looked for a moment between the poundings of the hammer, squinting and considering before he grunted and then nodded. Her question was at least easy to answer, and one he was happy to answer.]

I am a Troll from the planet Alternia, former seat of the Alternian Empire. We were aa starfaring race, not to be confused with human stories of trolls.

...honestly, where that species gets its obsession with bridges, I do not know.

[nilheality]

[For a mercy, her focus is more on the process of keeping the horseshoe set. Considering what she knew of trolls...]

You are short, for a troll.

[She knew of them well, and may have encountered one or two at a distance. Hiding near bridges were the least of human's worries when trolls were involved. Fearless and brutish, depending on where one lived the easiest thing to do was move the entire town and hope that the trolls did not notice.]

[But she can't cast judgement too quickly. After all, blacksmithing -- or any craft at all -- was a skill that would ordinarily be far beyond a troll's abilities. They were more inclined to make clubs out of wood or bones than to take the effort of making and setting a horseshoe.]

One of the things that I know of trolls is that they have amazing healing abilities. I am a bit surprised that your arm is still lame. But, also, that trolls only fear fire.

[alternia_strength]

Ah. Well, first of all, I have been familiarized with what most consider "trolls" to be similar. Those are closer to monsters that we fought within the realm of the game. [He grunted] It is the regenerative quality that makes me know this. It was once mentioned.

[He pounded, heat and sparks going flying in such a way that it was very un-trollike. They tended not to like fire or heat much, but he seemed almost to glory in it.]

As for my frond? It is a curse bestowed by a confection bestowed by a very ugly creature earlier. I should have known better than to trust it. It should return in time, but it is irritating.

We are a starfaring empire, and our capacities vary greatly based on bloodlines and blood color. My bloodline is known for its purity and physical prowess.

Pecan

[opress]

Savage had suffered no strange chocolate creatures giving him sweets to compulsively eat. He liked to think it was because he was of a species that didn't eat such things, but also that he'd tried a bit of chocolate once and definitely wasn't a fan of it. So, that was clearly why he was left alone or at least he had no interest in chocolate.

He'd seen the Foundry, the familiar scent of heating metal and the sound of it. That had been a comforting sound when he'd been a kit, and it was a trade that he learned just enough to get by. Mostly, like all Zabrak, he could hit things hard, consistently and follow instructions.

He happened to look in when the blacksmith - oh look horns and odd skin tone - to a customer. The human in question quickly shook their head as if being part of the work was the exact opposite of what they wanted to do.

Savage growled at the human as he stepped in further, standing to his full massive height and lumbering around to the other side to the forge. He grabbed the tongs and held them in his mechanical prosthetic hand and waved away the human with his flesh one.

"What planet do you come from?" Obviously not Earth.

[alternia_strength]

He tipped his sunglasses, regarding the Zabrak studiously before pushing them up and nodding in a very 'You'll do' sort of way. When he brought the hammer down on the horseshoe that was being held, the force was well beyond what a human could muster, but he didn't bother to hold back. His voice had a growling element to it as he replied.

"Alternia, former seat of the Alternian Troll Galactic Empire, and yourself?" he said, focusing on his work while trying to ignore his off hand hanging there like he was injured. Guh. Pitiful. "You look as the angry one on the network, the red-skinned fellow. Are you the same species?" No real judgment in his tone. If anything? He said 'angry one' almost affectionately. Then again, rage was normal to trolls.

[opress]

Savage was not at all bothered by the force of the hammer hitting the metal, and it was clear to him this was someone who might actually hurt punching him. The reverse would be true he imagined, not that he was planning on starting any fights currently. The fact this male had a broken horn was earning enough respect from him who had had two of his own crown of horns sheered off during battles.

"So you're part of the aggressive species that invaded Earth and killed all the humans then?" He didn't specifically ask if this one knew Dirk. It didn't seem important right now. "I'm from Dathomir in the Outer Rim," he replied. "And the angry red-skinned one is my brother. We are both Zabrak."

[alternia_strength]

Wierdly, he'd had the broken horn for almost all of his adult life. Nobody had ever really bothered to ask how it got that way. It did, however, offer him a certain battle hardened look, didn't it?

"Hmmm. Is that how it's been described. The opportunity for the empire to arrive was never afforded, but our species did interact with what remained of theirs after the mutual destruction of our worlds." Was that an accurate way of putting it? Possibly. He hadn't survived long enough to get more of the story of what actually happened. "Zabrak you say. Not a species with which I am familiar, but I grow accustomed to races and universes that are similar. It is part of this existence, as it was in the last."

He pounded as they conversed. His tone was both serious and a touch blase. he was very much accustomed to certain things, namely that he didn't know everything about what or who he was talking to after years of meeting so many strange races. "Tell me of your race? I presume you are martially inclined as are our people."

[opress]

Now that was interesting. He had perhaps heard wrong, but it had sounded like Earth had been destroyed and everyone along with it. That was before Dirk had been born, right? Who knew. It wouldn't be the first kind conquest that ended in the eradication of both species, leaving only scraps behind.

"That means there aren't many left of your kind either then," he remarked. "Did you lose your horn in combat?" That seemed like the usual story where he was from anyway. Horns weren't just for show, and he had killed a few with his along the way. Too bad they were so slow growing normally.

Savage held the tongs as instructed, only altering the metal when he was told to. "We are a warrior species on the planet Dathomir in the Outer Rim. I am... or was one of the Nightbrothers, but I left that to assist my brother obtain power and have his revenge in the galaxy."

[alternia_strength]

Oh, he'd heard that correctly. Both worlds had been destroyed, but it would be easy to misunderstand that it wasn't actually an invasion. They just ended up stuck with each other in the game.

"My understanding is that at some point, our species has begun to re-populate, but that is an occurrence that exceeds the temporal point I hail from." He grunted. "There will be a long time of recovery. We were in single digits when I expired. As for my horn, it was youthful indiscretions and early attempts at strife. I was precocious in the ways of combat."

He worked at a steady pace, grateful for this one having the strength to hold it properly. "Ah, the Nightbrothers then are an order within your society? We have similar ones. I approve of a quest for vengeance. A good use of one's time, generally. Productive." Because violence was often the answer in Equius' book.

[opress]

"How did you die in your timeline? And I suppose... you didn't contribute to the repopulation efforts?" As a male of his species, the best he could ever hope for was to fight for the Nightsisters and to contribute to their population. It wouldn't matter much, not with Dooku's army having slaughtered most of the Nightsisters.

"You seem like you would be a difficult opponent to combat against. The loss of a horn in combat is the only way to lose one," he purred, nodding his chin. As a combat species, he could not imagine not fighting and taking his battle scars with pride. "Do you fight these days, or is this how you use your strengths?"

He nodded his head, though he wasn't certain about giving details about his clan. "We are... the warriors and the breeding stock of the Nightsisters. Within the Nightbrothers, we are separated into clans to distribute the males so no one clan is overwhelmed with losses or raising male young." So, they were an all male group who only raised other males. "My brother has once been consumed with vengeance. I was there to assist. Loyalty is important to me."

[alternia_strength]

"The opportunity was never possible. Our population's ability to procreate is ... involved, and one of the means was destroyed prior to coming of sufficient age to be productive in that fashion." He grunted and shrugged. That mattered less than it once did. "As for the how? I was choked to death by another of my species. One more physically powerful with a certain legal privilege to go about it."

"I am more than willing to engage in strife whenever the opportunity comes along, and keep trained and fit. However, despite my prodigious skills in combat, I consider my true calling and ability to be that of an artificer. The ability to craft the weapons and tools of conquest is something rarely held by the average citizen." He nodded as Savage explained and grunted.

"You are a good sibling if you were there to assist in vengeance. It's a worthy goal when called upon." But then again, both species were rather ... bloody at times.

[opress]

He couldn't begin to guess what 'involved' meant when it came to procreation, but he assumed it wasn't just fighting and then making it work then. "Is your population at an end point then?" He'd heard of sentient species going extinct for one reason or another, not that he could provide much examples. History beyond his planet wasn't given freely or easily.

He could understand the idea of legal privilage, bobbing his head in agreement. He supposed it wasn't a bad death, and it was typical in his society. That didn't mean he had to like it. "You don't resent your death?"

Savage found that announcement interesting, and it seemed to him that this troll was skilled. The power that came in pounding the metal and the clear knowledge on what to do was obvious. "So that's what will be your calling here in Trench then? Fight when you must, but make the tools of warriors whenever possible."

That might have been the first time anyone had told him he was a good sibling for following Maul into vengeance. So often he was called a fool for being so loyal. "Few consider me a good sibling. You might be the first."

[alternia_strength]

"It was, prior to the destruction of Alternia, faring well. But regular quotas of genetic material were collected every season to maintain population levels against the regular cullings." He grunted as he said it, shaking his head. "With the destruction of the homeworld, we are given to believe the population was ultimately reduced to roughly two dozen, plus one very angry empress."

So... yeah, at its end point. "I regret aspects of my demise, but not the fact that it happened. Ours is a species of war. Death is a natural part of this process. I suppose you could say I regret that I was not able to defend another more effectively." Because she'd followed him and gotten herself killed right after.

He nodded once, lifting the hammer and inspecting the metal before gesturing to the fire for it to be returned for a moment. "Humans do not think of revenge as a fitting thing. It is a natural task of moirails for those they defend, and common among kismesis. but our people are violent." A shrug. "And yes. I will fight when fitting, but the tools of war are my passion. I can make such wonderful devices of destruction with the right instructions and material."

[opress]

Regular quotas of genetic material? Savage was almost curious enough to ask, but he decided that he could probably guess what that boiled down to and left it. He watched this odd alien at the mention of cullings then turned his eyes back to the fire. So... there was another culture that culled too? "And there were none of you spread out in the galaxy to take from?"

This might have been the first conversation he had with anyone - including his elder brother - where the natural hardship of being a warrior based race was something he could actually discuss and experience understanding. "Death is a part of life, and if you're strong enough, lucky enough, and gifted enough, you'll live to see the next sun rise." He hummed through his nose. "Sacrifices are always made."

He used the tongs to grasp the metal and push it back into the fire, deep into the heating mechanism so it would do so evenly. He turned to stare at the other male. "Humans are hypocrites. For many, if not most, their codes sway and shift depending on what is going on around them. They believe revenge is just a cycle of violence, but what they don't seem to understand is that violence, combat, and war makes or breaks a species. I'd rather die assisting my brother in his revenge then live a full lifetime of comfort." Savage was at his best when uncomfortable; that's how the Nightsisters liked their male counterparts.

[alternia_strength]

"It is my understanding that the catastrophe that struck our world struck all worlds of the empire, and that a preceding such event may have come before the empire itself, rising out of those ashes. If you wish the details, you can ask Karkat." Pause. Think. No, this deserved a warning. "I warn you, however. The story is extremely, profoundly stupid."

That was putting it mildly. He nodded once while the metal went back in to heat. He listened and nodded. "Your people have a proper understanding. Within our society, we have relationships whose sole purpose is for the protection, the control of violence. To put each in its place. It is a grinder that makes the grist of life greater, causing us to be stronger. There were ... issues, but this was not one of the things I disapproved of." He snorted. "And you are definitely right. They are hypocrites quite often."

So was he, but shhh.