EVENT #13: ADVERSITY 8765546

[expiationmods]

EVENT #13: THE BEAST INSIDE US ALL

THE STORY SO FAR (click to expand)

-Over time, characters have discovered that the world of Expiation is actually a large, elaborate simulation run by an AI that seems to be intent on helping them atone for their crimes. This news is well-known by the Chosen, enough so that any new character who wishes to handwave this knowledge is able to do so.

-In September 2024, that AI needed to be reset as a consequence of some catastrophic systems failures. So far, there has been no downside to this reset–but the AI has also been strangely absent since then.

-Things have been quiet in Aldrip since September, aside from the routine arrival of new Chosen. The locals seem less than happy with the Chosen, though, as if they have already branded them all criminals. As if they no longer trust them…

EARLY MARCH / MARCH 11TH

Something doesn’t feel quite right, does it?

There’s a strange feeling in Aldrip, something tense and strained, as if something’s about to happen. The black lines outside of the Aldrip travel further into the city and begin to spread the miasma. The fields, crops and the portion of the forest continue to wither away as a result. The signs of catastrophe. The air is thick, as if it itself is waiting for the other shoe to drop.

Very abruptly, it does.

The earth quakes as something erupts from the ground: huge, snakelike heads, towering as tall as a two-story building. These heads seem to circle the city of Aldrip: a ring of threat, keeping everyone and everything within the city limits. These heads don’t change locations, and they only attack if someone gets too close. They seem almost like they’re waiting for something. At first, however, they’re invulnerable to damage. Those who get too close may be injured or even killed if they try…

TRANSFORMATION

As soon as Fauna hears the rumblings of the Beast, detects the presence of a monster, she's off without waiting for any information. Confronting monsters is what she does, after all. She transforms and attempts to destroy the Beast with her full might, but despite the fierce fight, she's unable to land any decisive hits. Eight heads are too much to fight alone, and as the fight drags on, she's cornered, and takes the Beast's attack head-on, canceling her transformation and sending her flying. But as she's blown away, from her pockets, seeds fall- A pair of seeds to grow trees from, or something greater. The seeds, divine items with no divinity to empower them, fall to the ground, and are absorbed into the Beast's black body...

What is it you wish for, deep down? What do you desire?

Those Chosen unlucky enough to be affected by wish seeds may find this wish consuming their thoughts and driving their actions. Slowly, surely, they find themselves…changing, turning into something that is not a human. These changes may be slow and painful, or they may be instantaneous. We encourage you to be creative in these changes, both physical and mental, but also to warn for potential body horror or any body part trauma that might need a content warning.

I wish… I wish…

Driven nearly to madness by their own desire, by whatever’s happening to them and whatever physical changes it brings, these Chosen may be dangerous, with uncontrollable urges or new powers they aren’t used to. Can their aggression be directed toward the coming fight? Time will tell.

SLAY THE BEAST

So much anger, hatred and pain, all rolled into a single calamitous entity, baring its fangs at the entire world. It's almost a little embarrassing for it to be out in the open like that, even if the other Chosen don't necessarily realize it's a part of him. It's not too long after the Black Beast's first appearance that Ragna makes his way to face it, though not before he makes sure everyone else has some information necessary to finish the job afterwards. But first, he would need to ensure they even stand a chance against the monster, and he came up with only one solution that could work ─ and that's to do so from within the Beast itself. And so, with a final sigh, muttering "What a pain in the ass," under his breath, Ragna approaches the giant creature unarmed. The nearest heads turn their attention to the man, immediately attacking and ripping him apart, devouring the remains.

Something has changed. Impervious until now, the Black Beast soon shows evidence of wear and tear: hits land, cuts remain, and its fighting becomes more vicious…but more desperate, too.

If the Chosen have any hopes for defeating this creature, now will be the time. Maybe if they hit it with everything they’ve got, they’ll be able to bring it down–one head at a time.

SAFE...TY?

In the past, there’s been protection. In the past, there’s been so-called “safe houses” that have been created by the environment for noncombatants or those who don’t wish to fight.

But no such thing appears.

Nothing will hold the monsters back, nothing will hold the effects of the Black Beast back as they rain destruction on the city. It seems as if the Chosen are on their own – for those who don’t wish to fight, or can’t fight, they must band together to find protection of their own. Characters who are able to fight may need to help protect these areas where those sorts of Chosen have decided to hunker down for safety. The locals have vanished completely, locked so tight into their own houses that Aldrip businesses come to a halt.

That is, unless Chosen work together to keep it going.

AFTERMATH

The Black Beast is finally put down after the hard and exhausting fighting. The black lines around the city fade away, and it seems the Chosen who have transformed… are unaffected. Those Chosen who find themselves confronting their “wish” will discover that they soon change back, shedding monstrous forms for their familiar forms. However, the Chosen who don’t confront their wishes will keep their monstrous forms, either fully or partially, for the indeterminate future. They might continue to struggle to keep their sense of self and fight against the monstrous urges. Maybe they continue to be more aggressive, have a hard time recognizing a friend from a foe and have a distorted view on what is their wish. Effects don’t wear off over time, this time. There’s no magical “reset” where they wake up one day and find themselves back to their normal selves.

No, either they confront their wishes, or they stay like this for… ? It’s up to the Chosen.

WILDCARD

Make your own fun! Just because it’s not in the prompts doesn’t mean it’s not possible. Have at it! Go crazy! Try not to break anything (too much)!

♡

Comments

[nightwild]

[She stares. Monsters... But they're helping her? Were they minions of another monster... A Wish's offshoots? But... That's not...

Her vision goes hazy. The static zap jolts her up a bit, but once she's on the monster's back... She can feel her consciousness slipping again...

As she passes out again, all she can think is... Why are they protecting her?]

[chimericalclaw]

[Between the panther and its two companions, they manage to keep her balanced enough to travel, and they dart towards the city.

Zekarion has been watching the chaos of the Black Beast's emergence from a distance, theorizing, waiting. One of the crys he'd pointedly left in the wilderness arrives then and points him in a particular direction, and though he's not pleased to be potentially seen in their company, he knows they work on his own will. He orders it to rejoin the others, heading towards the edge of the city.

Before long, three more of his creations are in sight—along with a familiar head of red hair. The monsters see him, as well, and after depositing the girl on the ground, move to disappear into the city, their current task complete. He half mutters to himself:]

Fauna?

[There can be no doubt about it. In fact, the circumstances come to him easily with how terribly predictable she is... His pace increases.]

Fauna!

[He slides to his knees next to her, a hand on her shoulder for the practical purposes of detecting how badly she's injured. Even with her enhancements, he can tell she needs immediate attention...]

Can you hear me?

[nightwild]

[After a moment, one eye cracks open.

Zekarion... Did he save her? That makes more sense. The monsters must have been a strange dream.... She looks up at him.

Her body is enhanced, but the Beast was still too strong. It seems like no bones are broken, thankfully, but she's still taken quite a beating. The internal damage is severe- She must have taken quite a few blows directly to the ribs. She's bleeding heavily, as well. So...]

I... What about the monster...?

[chimericalclaw]

[A surge of emotion he thought he'd left behind a long time ago swells in him and he finds himself raising his voice at her, an uncharacteristic sharpness in his gaze.]

Worry about yourself right now, you foolish girl!

[He grits his teeth as he calms himself, shaking his head. After a breath, at a lower volume:]

You went to fight it by yourself, didn't you?

[nightwild]

[Her ears droop. Yeah, that's... a fair reaction.]

'F course I did... I have to fight.

[Her mind is racing, trying to pull together the scraps of memory and consciousness into something cohesive.]

But it's... still out there...

[chimericalclaw]

It is.

[He won't sugarcoat it. That monstrous creature is still raging. Perhaps it's a miracle its form hasn't intruded into the city yet. Perhaps it's by design. He doesn't know.

His voice is quiet but insistent.]

Next time—you ask for help. Do you understand?

[nightwild]

... No way...

[So she says, but it's hard to even talk.]

I can... handle it alone...

[chimericalclaw]

[Stubborn. Not unexpected, but still frustrating.]

You're not fooling anyone.

[He won't waste any more time; he slides an arm under her knees and behind her back, slow and deliberate with the way he lifts her off the ground as to not cause her more pain than necessary. They're going to the clinic, whether she likes it or not.]

[nightwild]

[... Is this a princess carry. She feels confusion- Why her? Why is she being picked up like she's fragile? Like she's weak? Like...

Like she's someone who should be protected?

She shakes her head- and winces, learning not to do that- but...]

I have to. I have to handle it...

[chimericalclaw]

[He rises to his full height with the girl in his arms and moves with long strides.

His tone makes it clear he disagrees, but fine—he'll allow her the chance to explain herself, if that makes any difference.]

Why?

[nightwild]

Because...

I have the power to. So... I have to... So others don't...

[If she doesn't, then who will? People who don't want to shouldn't have to. And... Because she doesn't trust anyone to help.]

[chimericalclaw]

But you don't have that power; not on your own. Look at what that thing has done to you.

[He's not accusatory as he says it, glancing down at her; merely frank.]

Others will have to anyway, now. You have to accept that.

[nightwild]

It took my Seeds.

[She's desperate, trying to struggle upright, even as it's impossible...]

I have to... clean up my own mess. I can't just make things worse!

[chimericalclaw]

[His grip remains steady as he walks; he's not about to let her down so easily, even if she did manage to find the strength to try and pull herself out of his arms.

For a moment, he's quiet, thinking. Then, in a softer tone:]

You have to learn to let others help you, do things for you, even if it's your fault.

[He takes in an audible breath through his nose, almost a sigh.]

You don't have to prove yourself, Fauna. You don't have to be the strongest or the most determined or independent. You don't have to solve every problem or fix every mistake.

[nightwild]

[She struggles, but, well. She can't. She's beaten but good. She might have cracked ribs. She's definitely not functional right now.]

I do- I do have to! I-

[And then she starts coughing, trying to force air in, even as it makes her ribs hurt worse... By the time it subsides, her voice is weaker again.]

I can't... let my mistakes hurt others again...!

[chimericalclaw]

Is that what you think you're doing?

[His steps slow, but he doesn't stop; his task is to get her to the medics. But he uses the slower pace to look down at her without worrying about the path ahead.]

Do you think I enjoy seeing you beaten half to death? Does forcing those who care about you to watch you suffer not count as hurting them?

[nightwild]

[That gets her to stop. She looks confused...]

... Care...? About me?

[chimericalclaw]

Yes, about you!

[He shakes his head out of apparent frustration and picks up his pace again, his grip just a little tighter.]

Did you think you meant nothing to anyone?

[nightwild]

I should.

[... even she knows how messed up that sounds, but...]

I don't... deserve that care. Not until I can do more to atone...

[chimericalclaw]

Then, what?

[He knows how attached she is to her idea of justice. It means nothing to him, but he knows he won't convince her by tackling it head on.]

Am I supposed to leave you on the ground? Pretend like it's meaningful in some way, standing aside and watching the girl who saved my life punish herself until it's enough? I refuse.

[nightwild]

That's... That's not...

[But she can't form a response. He's right. He couldn't have left her... That would have been wrong. But... She still has to do something.

She can't see a right answer.]

[chimericalclaw]

You don't get to decide how or if other people care about you.

[His voice has lost some of its edge, exhaustion left in its wake.]

Please. Let us help you. That's all I ask.

[nightwild]

[She goes silent, unable to respond for a minute. And when she finally does, her voice is... small. Weak.]

... Am I allowed... to be helped?

[chimericalclaw]

[His own answer is soft, sympathetic.]

Of course you are, you ridiculous girl.

[He holds back a sigh, knowing the next corner they turn will bring the farmhouse where the clinic is stationed into view.]

And around here especially—I think you'd have a hard time stopping anyone from trying.

[nightwild]

I...

[What should she do? She can't do nothing. But... if people really care... If she's really allowed to let people help her, then...]

... What should I do?