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

[sinningtree]

Kurama has the benefit of being a demon and having experience on his side. This isn't the first time he's undergone transformation against his will or felt increasingly violent and belligerent urges that he's struggled to control. Back home he was able to regain his sense of self through discipline and willpower, here he has been spoiled enough by having Hiei's assistance. Scott is extremely lucky in that the fox is able to hold his own as much as he is right now. He was not immune to the outbursts that caused Kotone to attack - Hiei's gotten the brunt of those episodes when they do come - this just happens to be a moment of clarity, if he’s honest about it. Not that he'd provide that information, and not that he is fully himself even now. If he felt threatened in any way, by Scott or outside interference, things would change for everyone very rapidly.

Hiei responds and the fox waits, this time allowing the touch when the fire apparition rests a calming hand on him. That was fine, it would allow Hiei to keep track of him physically when he apparently disappears completely from view not long after. Kurama simply lies down, ensuring the contact is maintained despite the movement as the large fox settles in the grass beside him. This much, at least, is familiar.

“To answer your question, this-” From the mist, Kurama steps forward. Appearing perfectly human and seemingly not transformed at all, as he gestures to the smokescreen around them. “- is an illusion. I'm sorry, but I thought it might be easier on everyone this way. I'm afraid Hiei is right... sort of. My original form is a fox, but this is not how I was born. Abilities that I would normally have are twisted in a way, but they are not... new. I can still grow plants, just like always. They are simply coming out of my own flesh as well. It is not exactly a pleasant sight so I reverted to my fox form instead, only to find myself transforming again into what you see now.”

Or, what he saw before the smoke, at least. Kurama's change was not instantaneous, happening in a flash, but gradually developed over the weeks that followed and fought against every step of the way with everything the two have at their disposal.

“Likewise, a smokescreen is a simple enough trick with the right tools. Creating the one we are in at the moment was intentional. However, with this transformation - when it is not - I become the smoke. As it expands, my own physical body is replaced by the fog, intangible, as you saw happening before. That… I can not control, and it seems to happen most often when I am resisting the urge to lash out.”

Exactly as Hiei had suggested. If he's honest, it was embarrassing to be seen that way, not recognizing Scott and treating him like a threat in some animalistic panic. Frankly, he does not want to think about his initial reaction to the disturbance earlier. It's taking a great deal of effort to maintain this level of control, even now.

He gestures in the fire apparition's direction, green eyes never leaving the mutant as he speaks.

“Right now, Hiei has physical contact. As long as we're touching, he knows exactly where I am and whether or not I move. I could not attack without his awareness, and he'll most definitely stop me before I can do something to feel guilty about.” The airy quality of his tone with those last words speaks volumes for his opinion of the fire apparition's motivations and earlier comment, even if he doesn't say as much directly.

At the mention of Fauna, the redhead's illusion does glance back in Hiei's direction.

“Since that creature's arrival, my powers do not work as well outside of the city limits. All I had truly wanted of late was to get the farm's crops sustainable. I have stayed out here to avoid hurting anyone, it is not safe for me to go into the city, and yet that is the only place where my power seems to consistently work. I suppose if I had to guess, my motivation for a wish would be centered around that. However, I could not say for sure, as I did not make one consciously.”

So, they're working on best guess here, really.

[laserguy]

Scott does his best to take everything in, listening to what both Hiei and Kurama are telling him about the fox demon's powers. It's a thorough explanation and honestly not one that the mutant fully understands, but he still appreciates how open the demons are about this, especially the latter. These are his powers that are being influenced after all. So his actual form is more of a fox than humanoid, and it's stuff that Scott would actually want to learn more about at a later time. Right now, it's probably not the best idea to ask him questions that aren't connected to the whole wish seed thing. So...

"So your wish is for the farm's crops to remain protected from everything? It's a start, even if you're not sure. Besides, it would be good for that to be protected when we might have a food shortage later." So, to Scott, it's a win-win situation overall, at least when it comes to protecting the crops.

Although...

"Okay, so I'm not really helping you or Hiei out by being here. Hiei can keep you calm, but he's being drained doing so. In other words, maybe I can help with making sure that nothing gets to them? Or if there's some other area around the forest that you care a lot about."

[jaganshi]

Hiei takes the opportunity to zone out a little, tuning in to Kurama's physical form more than paying attention to the conversation at hand. He doesn't need the explanation after all, and if there is some way he can assist in Kurama going back to some form of normal.. he's sure the fox would let him know. Hiei is a simple being, after all, and particularly now.

Most of what he wants is a nap, which has evaded him for much of their time spent here in the woods.

"I told you to go away." ... He could not let that one go, of course. Not when this entire encounter had started with him telling Scott to turn back around. Why do people never listen to him? Particularly when he's acting fishy as hell? Still, the idea of protecting the crops isn't all that bad, if a bit below what Kurama is fully capable of, but this is not his to comment on.

.. Other than when he inevitably questions Kurama about going in to town.

"Could you assist from here, Kurama? I'm thinking it's too far, but I don't want to assume too much."