expiationlogs | EVENT #13: ADVERSITY 8765546

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EVENT #13: ADVERSITY 8765546

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)!

♡

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[He whirls around, while trying to follow the trail of the dark mist, and he shudders when he feels the chill. All the while, he tries piecing this together. Especially considering how he's been on his mind since his disappearance, Kurt does think he recognizes that voice.]

A... Altius...? [He asks uncertainly.] Is that you...?

[The mist comes together within a few seconds, gathering into a denser cloud until most of its edges are discernible enough as the man whose name Kurt has called, standing close with a hand on Kurt's shoulder. It's only the shape of him, though—he's clearly a living shadow, and his eyes glow in yellow, his pupils sharp slivers like a cat. Still, his expression seems sincere enough with its mild concern...]

You've still been working hard, haven't you...?

[His eyes remain wide as he takes in Altius's current form. There's no denying it's him! In some other form. Kurt slowly nods along.]

Y-yeah. I've been doing my best. Trying to help everyone I could, and... and trying to find you.

[Everything about this is weird. Perhaps not too weird by mutant standards, but still - Altius's hand is on his shoulder, but he can't properly feel it.]

...What happened to you? [He thinks he knows, but he hearing what Altius has to say about it sounds like the first step.]

[As if Kurt's answer has saddened him somewhat, the shade seems to let out a breath, though he has no lungs to speak of.]

It's nothing you need to be concerned over. I am sorry if I worried you.

[It's subtle, at first. The longer his hand remains on Kurt's shoulder, the more bits and pieces he steals from the young man—his feelings and opinions about himself, whatever confidence or uncertainty he may have in his actions, thoughts about what sets him apart from others. With something like lament in his voice, he continues:]

You shouldn't have to be caught up in all this...

But I'm here now. I guess.

[He says with an uncertain frown. He's starting to feel a little less confident about this, after all, but he still tries to focus on Altius. He's the important one here after all.]

Are you sure this is okay though? I- I've never seen you like this before.

[The shade only offers Kurt a small, reassuring smile in response to his concern.]

I'm sure. Being like this is how I can finally help the way I've wanted to.

[If he truly could have, he would have squeezed the young man's shoulder as if to comfort him, but there's only the vaguest idea of it that comes through the contact, no real physical force to the solid shadow.]

I know you understand how troubling it is to stand aside while everyone else gets hurt...

[But how and why is he like this! That's what Kurt really wants to know! Though his resolve feels like it's wavering. He frowns as he listens to his response.]

Y-yeah... That does sound like a bad thing, for sure.

[He scratches at his head uncertainly.]

So what kind of help are you providing now?

[Altius brings his other hand to rest around the back of Kurt's neck; a sense of growing numbness follows, physically and otherwise. Solemnly, he answers:]

I can keep them from hurting at all. Keep you from hurting.

[There's almost a sense of a plea as he continues, yellow eyes looking into yellow. Others have refused his assistance—but there's always a chance for the next to accept, to let him take everything away before he finally disappears.]

Will you let me help you, Kurt...?

[The numbness starts to wash over Kurt. But he feels it as he speaks. He can feel the physical numbness and his mind starting to numb, just as Altius grips him. Even in his current state, he can get some sense of what's going on here. He lets out a soft gasp as he answers.]

What- what are you doing?

[And now he teleports several feet away, out of Altius's grasp.]

What kind of help is this??

[Though the mutant escapes his touch, the pieces of identity the shade has taken don't return to Kurt—at least, not yet. Altius turns his gaze to Kurt again, hands slowly returning to his sides, one of them returning to unformed mist as it does.]

Nothing more than what I said. [He doesn't seem bothered or changed at all by the sudden movement or the questions, still calm and apparently sincere.] I can take all of your pain and worry, and make sure they never return. It would be easy... the easiest thing you've ever done.

Edited (tenses...) 2025-03-26 05:27 (UTC)

[Kurt feels shaken. He can't completely tell what happened to him, and he doesn't feel as determined as he should be, but he can tell that Altius has done something to him. Taken something from him. Especially with the way he talks.]

B-but... no, I didn't agree to that. Altius, going around and taking that stuff like that... It's not right. [It might sound appealing on paper, but Kurt can still tell that it's wrong.]

It will be worth it.

[His voice drops to a near whisper as he takes a step towards Kurt, hand moving forward as an offer. A hint of desperation comes to him, in the lowering of his eyelids and the strength of his tone.]

It will. If any of you would come with me, you'd realize... being nothing is so much better.

[He stands there hesitantly. He feels muddled after that up-close interaction with him, but he can still feel hesitance about what he's saying.]

I don't know about that. Being nothing - isn't that like being dead?

[The shade makes no effort to argue with the idea or insist what he's offering is any different. Instead—]

Whatever word you use for it... the peace is the same. Never having to worry about how you're perceived, or how the next crisis will hurt those you care for... rather than having to settle for a lifetime of struggle.

That... It just doesn't feel right. [He frowns.] What about things like joy, or happiness?

[Somberly, as he shifts like changing his stance, moving the space of a step closer:]

They never last. [And it sounds like he truly laments that—but can't see it any other way.] And there's never any guarantee you'll find them again. Why suffer just for the random chance?

[Kurt takes a step back, uneasily.]

It- it's not like it's random. Good things like that are out there for all of us. And even when it comes with bad feelings, it's all part of being alive. It doesn't feel right to give that up... a-and I don't get why you did. Something's wrong here, Altius.

What's wrong is that it all keeps going.

[His voice gets stronger, but more out of his conviction of what he sees to be true rather than any anger directed towards Kurt. With both arms he gestures to the city around them, silent except for the Black Beast's roars in the distance and the sounds of other monsters causing further chaos.]

Look at this place. Can you really tell me it's worth it, watching everyone around you get torn apart, again and again?

[His frown tightens.]

I... I don't like that. It's definitely not good. But this - it doesn't feel like the right solution. When people get torn apart, we should help them get back together. N-not make them into... nothing. Won't that make them... not even them anymore?

[It feels harder than usual to find the right words and conviction, but he is trying.]

[With no apparent dismay over the idea of the loss of identity, he replies,] It's the only solution that will last.

[His arms return to his sides, shoulders sinking.]

Anything else... we'll just have to keep fighting, and losing, and wearing ourselves down until there's nothing left regardless. Why shouldn't I accept the painless option?

That's not true. Come on, Altius. You can't give up like this. It's not all losses. We still have victories, too. And no matter what, we learn. We can keep working at being better people - and being there for people who need us.

[He's able to hold onto that much conviction.]

Nothing... Nothing can't help anyone. People have been scrambling a lot more to keep on top of things at the clinic since you disappeared, you know.

[The implication makes him pause. Still, so what? Another will step into the role—or they won't, and things will continue as they are, over and over again. People filtering in and out, returned to their worlds or deleted, it's all the same.

But there's a flicker of uncertainty in his eyes, just for a moment. He shakes his head to dismiss it, wisps of darkness moving in lieu of strands of hair.]

Pyrrhic. Pointless. What difference will it make? Nothing I do will ever stop the suffering...

[His head falls into his hands. The feeling that he'll never make it out of here feels insurmountable. After coming so close to the end of it all, another set of gods has picked him to become their plaything.]

I'm so tired...

[He frowns as he looks at him.]

It sounds like you still feel something at least. And if that's the case, what you need is rest. Not... not this.

[Kurt gestures all around them.]

Come on, man. It's true that you can't stop suffering forever, but there is still suffering you can stop. And every bit - every ounce helps make the world a better place. Like you were in the clinic, looking after Fauna and everyone.

[With that, Kurt hazards to start coming closer.]

Please, Altius. Try- try to become yourself again. Get some rest, and then... come back to help us. We can beat this together, and we can do it while we're still us! You can be so much more than 'nothing'.

[The part of him that wants to argue is drowned out by his wish to stop. He lifts his head just barely, blearily watching Kurt's approach just past his clawed fingers.]

I don't want... to be more.

[He'd chipped away at himself for so long, only ever playing the parts he felt he needed to play, grinding away any aspect of himself that got in the way because it didn't matter, in the end—it was going to be over, anyway. Until he came here, and it wasn't. But still he continued as he has been, because... why?

Because... of people like Kurt, wasn't it. Young people forced to fight, never given a chance to escape that fate through no fault of their own. He'd wanted to end that, even if only for his own world. He thinks—Kurt reminds him of one of them, the children who've been put in his way. The fiery one who works so hard to be cheerful because so many of his friends can be so grim.

Despite his voiced rejection and the way his eyes slide off of Kurt's face to gaze at a spot in the pockmarked street, one or two wisps of shadow that rise off of him in small spots reveal something much more solid than shade—the familiar coloring of the man instead of darkness and absence.]

[He pauses for a moment as he catches those wisps of shadows. Those glimpses of the Altius he knows. That causes hope to stir up within him. In some way, he might actually be making progress. He can help him.]

You say that. But is that what you really want? I get a feeling that you're less sure of this than you say you are - or that you think you are!

[If this was a time for jokes, he'd say something about him seeming wispy on the matter. But now, it's a time to try talking from the heart.]

Come on. Just think about it. That feeling of wanting to help others. Or any feeling, really! You must really miss feeling things.

EVENT #13: ADVERSITY 8765546

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