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

[despitethenora]

[Unfortunately Ellie has run into someone whose concept of the apocalypse still revolves around robots, not pathogens, and Aloy simply has to meddle.

From a safe distance. She might not be running like Ellie wants, but Aloy is backing up, step by step.]

Then you need help. There has to be a healer somewhere.

[Maybe she can figure out a way to restrain her, even as strong as Ellie is. Think, think.]

[giraffic]

[ There's no humor in the laughs that escape her, the sound cracking like leaves in her lungs. ]

Way past that.

[ Even if a healer could...this is fair. She's outrun this shit as long as she can.

The fungus forces her to her feet, even as Ellie groans and fights, her entire body jerking unnaturally. She's trying to drag herself in the other direction, widen the gap between them. ]

Could - shoot me. Before I eat your face.

[ It doesn't have the sass she wishes it does, unfortunately. ]

[despitethenora]

[Sounding pretty doomed. Aloy may be poorly socialized, but she's seen enough of Ellie to understand what the lack of sass means. Shooting Ellie would be easier than the last time someone asked her to put them down, but Aloy has learned from that experience.

She doesn't want to do that. It doesn't sit right, not like killing someone she understands as an enemy.

She'd try to find an answer and fail like a firefly.

At least she moves back, too.]

You're not going to eat my face.

[giraffic]

Don't wanna. Might still.

[ look, she's not gonna lie, she's seen the fungus make infected do some gnarly stuff.

it's the last thing she manages to get out before she loses control, a warning before Ellie is gone again, and the fungus takes over and....welp, yeah, looking like Ellie's running for Aloy and her tasty face again.

is it fun getting bum rushed today, Aloy, is this what you wanted?? ]

[despitethenora]

[At least this time, Aloy's prepared for the possibility. This would be so much simpler if she had her pullcaster, just go zipping away. But she does have plenty of practice at diving aside, rolling and coming up in a sudden sprint.

Don't know how fast Ellie is, with that fungus. Doesn't want to underestimate Ellie a second time.

Instead she beelines for a tree, scrambling up the branches. Not like she's out to impress anyone with this. Just has to survive. She calls down,]

What, don't have a say in it?

[giraffic]

[ There's no response, just a gurgling growl as she claws at the tree. Her hands and fingers grow sore and bloody quickly, though she doesn't seem to notice the damage she's doing.

Unfortunately for Aloy, infected Ellie is smarter than the average bear infected, and uh oh, she's starting to scale the tree. It's not a particularly good attempt, she's tearing herself up doing it, but there's definitely a closing gap between them. ]

[despitethenora]

[Unfortunate! Whatever's happening to Ellie, it doesn't hold her back from physical action, then...

On the other hand, by virtue of starting climbing first, Aloy does have the high ground, so to speak. And she's not afraid to start kicking at Ellie's hands.]

Stay down.

[giraffic]

[ she claws for a while, knocked back down repeatedly by Aloy's kicks.

finally, eventually, some part of her seems to realize it's futile, and that she's not getting anywhere. that, or some small part of Ellie still in there has decided fuck this--

off she wanders to find someone else to bite, the only thing left in her way a beaten up, slightly bloody note lying forgotten on the ground. ]

[despitethenora]

[Aloy lingers in the tree a while, this time readying her bow once there's some distance. Just in case the girl's getting some running distance for another go. It's just been such a feral attempt to catch her, eventually a person would have to draw a line and escalate.

But Ellie doesn't turn back. She mumbles to herself.]

Wait, what's that?

[Once it seems safe, she'll drop down again. Her ability to notice details does involve a degree of cheating, but Aloy's skulking over to see what's up with the note, pressing her Focus to scan it first and foremost. She lingers, staring into the air as she reads.

And tries to keep her face steady. A mother's hopes and goodbye all wrapped up in one.]

Old glyphs. Anna...I have to see if I can get this back to her, if she can get her head level again.

[Aloy collects the paper, careful with it. It would be important to her if it was her mother's note, so she assumes it has the same importance to Ellie.]