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

[chimericalclaw]

[Yellow eyes open in the cloud to peer at the avatar and his companion, no emotion apparent in their featureless gaze.]

Does it matter?

[The reply is neither snide nor truly curious of any answer Ryoji may give him. All of this is pointless... what's another ruined street in the grand scheme of things?

The crys seems much more anxious regarding the shadow in front of them than the transformation of its new friend, even though his speech is apparently calm. The gaze turns slightly away, pensive if the tone of voice is to be believed.]

Since you're here... perhaps you could answer something for me.

[luneminary]

[It’s instinct more than anything that moves Ryoji in front of his new friend, putting himself inbetween the crys and Zekarion.

This does not have to end up in bloodshed. Not yet.]

What do you wish to ask?

[chimericalclaw]

[The crys straightens up in surprise, but with no voice the only audible indication is the way its hooves scratch against the street briefly. Its focus moves from the towering friend and the dark cloud and back, uncertain...

The shadow's voice doesn't become harsh, but there's nevertheless a directness in the question as the shade's gaze focuses on Thanatos again, and the shape of him starts to solidify.]

Why do you pretend to be human?

[luneminary]

[Well. That's easy enough to answer:]

Because a part of me wishes that I am human.

[Not all of him, because his being has been a strange amalgamation of different facets. But the part that feels the most like himself yearns for it.]

[chimericalclaw]

Don't be absurd.

[The reply comes almost immediately, though the shade's fatigue permeates it. There's no anger in him like this, not right now, but his distrust of beings like Thanatos is too strong to leave behind.]

You of all creatures... Why would you want such a thing? Has all the misery left in your wake not taught you that being human is only a series of senseless tragedies?

[luneminary]

[Despite his monstrous form, Thanatos recoils. Like he went too close to a torch, and got stung by it as a result.]

But it isn't! There may be tragedies in being humans, but there is the joy and beauty of living, too!

[chimericalclaw]

Brief moments drowned out by the rest, if they happen at all. And when they do every second comes at a cost, stealing something or other from those around us or the world itself.

[He moves towards an empty shop—not quite towards Thanatos but not away, his cloudy lower half leaving the street below him eaten away.]

We can't help ourselves. Cruelty and selfishness always wins out.

[luneminary]

Even if it's not that much, I still think those few happy moments make it worth it. You talk about suffering and pain, but seeing humanity rise above such obstacles is why I hold so much respect for them.

And there are also those benevolent souls, heroes who would go against such cruelty and selfishness.

[He may still be Thanatos, but one can clearly hear Ryoji in the echo of his words.]

Humanity isn’t as weak as you think it is.

[chimericalclaw]

[If Thanatos were not the kind of being he is, perhaps Zekarion's answer would have delved more into the idea of what it means to be a hero—a topic he's long been invested in. But the gaze that meets Death's through the reflection in the shop's window is sharp, and instead, he retorts in a low voice:]

So our misery should continue for the sake of your enjoyment? So you can watch those rare few of us rise above it while all the rest drown in the attempt?