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

[laserguy]

[Mmm, soup is good. Thanks. Doesn't quite instantly heal everything, but it does warm his stomach and further helps with his mood.]

You're like ten years old.

[Although, why is a ten-year-old in this place in the first place? Well, probably Jerry and the AI or whatever up to its usual bullshit. The simulation's done that before, hell, his current 'crime' isn't even something that he actually did. It's kind of all crap to him.

But it's kind of sobering to hear Czeslaw admit the stuff about violence. Sure, he was kidnapped and brought to this place, but. It sucks still. Didn't he mention that he was used to it too?]

...Yeah, it can be this way. [No point saying otherwise. It wouldn't help anyway.] This place tends to be creative about it too.

[eternalcutie]

I noticed there's not many kids around. Makes it more important than ever to be useful, right?

[since he kind of needs protecting and all.]

The "creative" part is what has me worried. I know the leading theory is that it's all a simulation, but do you ever wonder...

[he hesitates, realizing he's getting into kind of dark territory. scott probably doesn't need that right now.]

Um, never mind. Just a stray thought.

[laserguy]

You should be watching Saturday morning cartoons, not worrying about being useful.

[Yeah, not many kids around, although they shouldn't be brought to a place to be punished for a crime in the first place. He's including Czeslaw in that description because what the fuck. He doesn't have the full energy to get mad right now, especially since his hand still shakes a little while trying to eat, but it's not something he's just going to forget either.

He's just a little distracted by thoughts of the Black Beast. His girlfriend transforming into a monster. Those kind of things.]

...Wonder what? [Okay, what is the kid trying to say?] You might as well spit it out now that you brought it up.

[eternalcutie]

[czeslaw rubs the back of his head, now feeling quite the idiot. why had he brought this up in the first place? well, like scott said, might as well spit it out.]

Um...it just makes you wonder if this could be some kind of...I don't know, purgatory or something. Somewhere bad people go.

[a beat.]

Not that I think you're a bad person! It was a stupid thought.

[laserguy]

[...Ah.]

Do you think we're all dead? [Which is sort of a grim thought, but Scott is pretty sure that isn't the case. Unless a meteor just came out of nowhere and nuked the whole school, then he was just brought here. Again.

But more importantly...

Scott temporarily stops eating, spoon placed back down on the tray as he levels a look that is both serious and maybe just a little piercing. Not unfriendly, but maybe just a little uncomfortable combined with his visor.] Do you think you're a bad person, Czeslaw?

[eternalcutie]

No, nothing like that.

[he says immediately in response to the first question. he knows he can't die. but when the second question comes firing after, he seems startled, then a little guilty, then tries to cover his feelings with a smile. he does look away from that piercing gaze, though.]

Well, I have apparently been convicted of a crime.

[was his voice a little more high-pitched than usual there?]

[laserguy]

[Double ah.

He wonders what a kid could've possible done, how much of it is bullshit but how much is it true. Scott continues to watch Czeslaw and the way he looks away from him, clearly showing some guilt about what happened. The shift in his voice only adds to it. The mutant remains quiet for a couple of seconds, as if letting that silence build, before he speaks.

There still isn't judgment in his voice, but he's definitely pressing him.]

What did it say?

[eternalcutie]

[czeslaw wasn't expecting that question - in fact, it startles him, making him jerk a little in surprise. it was so unexpected that a ready lie doesn't come to him. stupid, he should have thought of this possibility as soon as he arrived.]

It, ah, it doesn't...

[he looks back at scott, finally, and firms up his voice.]

I don't want to talk about it.

[laserguy]

[So, his crime is probably true on some level. He probably wouldn't be acting like this otherwise, right? There's definitely acknowledgement that whatever it says on his parchment actually happened. Scott stays silent, still keeping his focus on him but remaining patient. Even with the difficulty of this conversation, he still finds it better than talking about the crap that happened to him.

Yeah, bothering others about their problems instead of his own. A sure fire tactic.]

You don't have to tell me. [...] But just want to give you a heads up, because this place might sentence you over it at some point. And it's usually really hard to face it alone.

[eternalcutie]

[czeslaw stiffens in alarm.]

I thought being here counted as being sentenced.

[laserguy]

[Yeah, guess that confirms it: no one has told Czeslaw about the whole sentencing ordeal. It sucks that he has to be the one to tell a kid about all this, but there's no turning back now. He doesn't want to backtrack anyway, because it's important that he knows about it. Having Jerry show up at your house without warning? Yeah. Awful.

Doesn't mean that Scott won't sigh, his eyes turning back to his now lukewarm soup. He should start eating more, but in a moment. Or two.]

No, there's a separate sentencing thing that happens. Jerry... or whomever, usually takes you to city hall-- courthouse, and it's there you're actually sentenced for the crime that's on the parchment. [He doesn't look grim, more like all of this is a pain. He doesn't believe in the stupid system.] People usually end up having to do some sort of task to repent for it.

[eternalcutie]

Do...a task? That's all?

[he sounds very small. for something as serious as his own crime, he would expect something crazy like jail or even death as a punishment. not that he can really die, but say someone decided to take that as a challenge...he shudders at the thought.]

[laserguy]

['That's all?' Heh, when Czeslaw puts it like that, the whole sentencing thing does feel kind of mundane. He hasn't seen anyone get sent to some torture rack or get killed for their crime; it's always working on the actual crime itself. Guess it's the whole seeing the 'error' of their ways. It would actually be kind of nice if they weren't kidnapped here in the first place, not to mention that some of the crimes are bullshit.

Still... it's clear that Czeslaw's crime isn't fake, even if he doesn't know what it is.]

Yeah, usually it forces us to reflect on our crime and talk it through with others. Then we report back to Jerry or whomever. [...] Although, if you don't complete that task, you get punished in some way.

[eternalcutie]

I guess in the grand scheme of things it's not that bad. But that still sounds unpleasant.

[there's a lot of trauma tied up in his crime. he doesn't relish the idea of having to talk it out with someone.]

Getting stuck here...it's hard to come up with positives, you know?

[laserguy]

[Scott slowly exhales hearing that. Yeah, sometimes it can be hard dealing with all the crap that happens here. Most of the time, he thinks he's been handling it, mostly because of his friends and girlfriend that's with him. He hasn't forgotten, however, just how hard it was when he first arrived in Aldrip.

Back when it was just a small village.]

It's hard. [He acknowledges, but it's not what he wants to just leave the conversation on.] But there's good things too. I made a lot of friends here. Learned a lot.

[Grew up in a lot of ways.]