expiationlogs | 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)!

♡

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

No! I don't know what the fuck just happened!

[ she practically shouts it, nowhere else to go with her back up against the wall. she needs to run. she only manages to get to standing, clutching the wall.

a sharp pain leaves her clutching her head with a groan, her vision flashing. it feels like something is pressing against her skull. ]

Y-you need to stay over there, I don't know if-- If I do it again, f-fucking stab me. [ she jerks suddenly, coughing and wheezing violently. like she's been inhaling a bunch of spores, and-- ] Should - should probably do it anyway. Fuck.

You attacked me, girl. What's the matter with you?

[Was it an affliction of the city or something else? He risked a look at his arm, at the blood soaking into his sleeve with... tendrils? No, it was just the frayed fabric where she bit him, wasn't it?

He raised his knife between them, willing to stab her if she came at him again. He held his ground, keeping close to the stool in case he had to throw it at her and then there was the bar he could scramble over to retreat.]

You come at me again, and I will slit your throat. [She would not be the first, but he had kept such violence to himself for the most part.] This isn't the city... is it?

[ At least someone here would have the balls to do it. ]

I don't know! I don't-- I don't fucking know. This shouldn't be possible.

[ But shouldn't her immunity have been impossible too? She was never supposed to walk out of that mall. She should have turned with Riley that day and she's been living on borrowed time ever since.

She can't be infectious, though. It's not possible. Is it?

She couldn't hurt anyone in the forest. If she got worse-- A2 was there, wasn't she? She could stop Ellie. Surely an infected wouldn't be stronger than a combat robot. ]

But I couldn't control myself.

[ Was there any better proof than that? ]

Edited 2025-04-06 05:37 (UTC)

Explain what you mean by "shouldn't be possible".

[He was wary, keeping his distance from her but also unwilling to completely flee either. This was uncharacteristic behaviour from her, and he needed to assess the level of danger that she was for himself, those close to him and the city at large.

He shook his head, still aiming the tip of his knife in her direction.]

Yes well, the lack of control is well felt on my end. There will not be a second opportunity.

[ As a rule, Ellie doesn't tell anyone about her immunity. She covers a chemical burn she's self-conscious about has always been the excuse. She's careful to the point of being paranoid about keeping it covered.

It's been hammered into her head repeatedly; first by her life itself, and then by Joel. But Silco is smart. Lying to him would be a gamble. Sure, she might be fine without the job, but-- It's leverage against her. Silco has influence, even if she's not really sure how much. Influence and power and plans. ]

Don't suppose that question can wait until this is over.

[Silco was informed of the monsters of her world (these infected) because Ellie had been very open about them and their stages. She had even provided him details about some of their aggressive seemingly arbitrary behaviours when it came to non-infected people.

He glanced at his arm with the blood staining it and glared at her for the lack of answers. It was a shame for her that he was already piecing together the behaviour she had showed to him based on those creatures from her world. It wasn't a difficult connection to make.]

Did you just infect me, or do you randomly bite people for the joy of it, hmm?

I'm not infected!

[ Shit. Fuck.

She takes a deep, shuddering breath. ]

I'm fucking immune, okay? This shouldn't be - [ she groans, the sound taking on a crackling quality. ] It shouldn't be possible because I can't get infected. Unless this stupid fucking city is fucking with me.

[Immune? That information was her business, and he expected it was a well guarded secret too. He may or may not use it against her later now that she had gone off the rails and bitten him. It certainly had seemed for a moment that she was infected after all!]

It shouldn't be? We know this place can turn on people. [Okay, okay, calm down. She was just a teenage girl, and he didn't hate her normally.] Fine, let's assume you're still immune. Are you safe to have around here at present?

No.

[ she wants to hit something. she wouldn't be able to be warded off forever if this got worse. ]

I'm not safe around anyone until this passes. If I go to the forest, I can't bite anyone.

[Slowly, Silco lowered the knife to his side rather than holding it out threateningly. He only did so because of her honesty, and he felt he could believe her on that topic.]

Unless someone happens to be wandering the forest. Perhaps you should consider a locked cellar instead.

[ for a moment, Ellie imagines it. huddled in the dark of a cellar, slowly losing her mind like a thousand infected before her.

the thought makes her nauseous. ]

Too much chance someone would hear and let me out. There's a robot patrolling in the forest, A2. She can't get infected. If I become a problem, she can stop me.

Well, hopefully it would be someone neither of us would be unwilling to sacrifice.

[He considered the value of simply killing her now and reducing the risk to everyone. She could be willing, but then again, he didn't hate her. The forest and the robot could be useful, and it wasn't as if he cared to keep someone on the verge of losing their shit around him without appropriate protection.]

Then perhaps it's best you not waste time and find this A2.

Yeah.

[ she can feel the urge growing again. best to move while she has control of herself. with that, she's dragging herself toward the door with everything she has. ]

Don't start sprouting shit.

[ and with that, she's gone into the night to bite 2 more people. just girly things. ]

Come closer and say that to me...

[Where he would try to stab her and finish the job she so desired. No, she left him standing there in the brothel and looking at his arm. Sprout shit? What did that even mean?

He tucked his knife away and moved to scrub the bite on his arm aggressively. She wasn't receiving a raise this quarter.]

EVENT #13: ADVERSITY 8765546

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