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

[incorrigibles]

[ the softening of his expression already feels like a victory, and when scott actually smiles — well, there's absolutely nothing charles could do to keep from grinning back, unable to hide the relief that warms his eyes. ]

You Americans, [ he sniffs, shaking his head like he's an offended old lady... but then he snickers, breathing out a laugh that settles into something quieter, more genuine. ]

Hey, none of that. Of course I am. I told you, didn't I? I've got you, mate.

[ a pause. ] So... you wanna tell me what happened?

[laserguy]

[It's good to see Charles smile again. All this probably hasn't been easy on him either, huh? Dealing with his own shit, seeing friends transformed... and having others in the clinic, including him. Yeah. He's been an asshole. An apology is about to leave from his lips, but he instead just nods at his friend. Yeah, Charles got him.

It's only when he asks what happened that Scott's smile fades slightly. He's not angry like before, not entirely closed off, but he stays quiet for a moment. His gaze returns to his lap, hands idly digging into the bed covers.]

I got beat up. [Vague, almost a smartass response. Scott isn't fully trying to be one, but it's the first reaction he can't help but give. Something instinctual while he tries to cope with everything and what he wants to say.] Got my ass kicked.

[incorrigibles]

[ he doesn't need an apology — all he really needs is scott, back to himself, no longer trying to shut himself off, or push the world at large away from him, charles included.

still, the response almost makes charles roll his eyes... but he recognises it for what it is, a deflection, a desperate attempt to buy time. ]

Yeah, I sort of figured, [ he says instead, his own expression falling back to something quieter, concerned. ] Just like I reckon what happened is something you don't really wanna talk about. But, mate, you can trust me. And whatever it is... it'll feel better to talk about it to someone.

[laserguy]

[It really is hard to push Charles away when he speaks like that. Maybe it's because Charles has been open to him about stuff, things that were probably hard for him to talk about. It makes him feel more okay with it. Or maybe he's pushed enough people already and he finally has the courage now.

Scott breathes in.]

You know the wish seeds? Fauna talked about it over the tablets... they've been transforming people into monsters. [A small grimace. Body tensing despite himself.] Kotone was one of the ones affected.

[Scott figures that he doesn't have to explain more than that. He's not sure if he can go into those specific details just yet, how she was trapped as Orpheus-- a mechanized Persona. She couldn't even talk, just scream through a speaker on her. Which. She did. While beating him nearly to death with a giant harp.]

[incorrigibles]

Yeah, I saw.

[ he doesn't mean just the post that fauna had made — he means seeing someone transformed, too, remembers the slight weight of altius and his shadowy hand on his shoulder, the quiet whisper of his voice.

and then, as scott continues, his response is a succinct, ] Oh, bloody hell.

[ yeah, he doesn't need any further explanations. ]

Is she alright?

[laserguy]

[It always helps when he can focus on someone other than himself, especially if Kotone is the person he's putting his thoughts towards. It's that shift that brings some life back to Scott, the teen acting just a little more like 'normal.']

She's back to normal. [Which probably doesn't answer Charles's question too much about if she's really okay or not. He... he doesn't think she's okay, knowing her. Sure, she might be smiling at others, pushing her own guilt and feelings down, but that's how she always deals with things. He's worried. Of course he is, even if she's the reason why he's hurting so much.

It's not her fault.]

...But I don't think she's okay, Charles. [Should he speak for her like that? He can't help it, he's really worried. At least Charles is someone that they both trust.] I-I'm worried about her.

[Scott turns to Charles, something almost pleading about him.] Can you check on her?