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]

[Aloy's not sure how far she's going to have to go to get to the end of the tracks, so she tries not to take her time with it. Not until she gets to that wrecked building, though. Was it like that before, or is it the result of whatever A2 has been dealing with, she wonders. In a way, what she's looking at as she approaches is a typical building for her. Broken, and holding...something.

No mumbling to herself now. Makes it harder to hear, and she is trying to listen to that sound.

Can't seem to make it out, though. Maybe if she just gets closer. The hunter tries to be quiet as she picks her way over rubble, hand near her bow as she enters, gaze darting about for the source of the speech.]

[abandonware]

[Shadows move and twist oddly in the empty space of this building, itself already barely bright enough to see in. The last of the dark splatters shimmers away into glittering dust as Aloy makes her way inside. The distorted sound is not quite like a voice, but close enough that its murmurs sound almost like words. It abruptly drops to a whispered hiss and cuts off. Whatever is making it has noticed it has a guest.

Near a window casting in a pale shaft of moonlight, something black as a moonless sky crouches among rubble at a far corner of the room. The body has the suggestion of a human being, as if someone had given a shadow depth and weight. Its limbs are closed in tight. Staticky hitches of breath... is it breathing? It's hard to tell in this poor light.]

[despitethenora]

[Movement - Aloy freezes. Not drawing back, Aloy is far too curious and certain of herself for that, but certainly taking the time to assess what's ahead of her.

Going from the posture, the change in what Aloy can hear...she moves her hand away from her bow, to hold them both low and open. Trying not to look threatening. But not closing the distance any further, either.]

Are you okay? You sound - rough.

[abandonware]

[The voice that carries over to the shadow is calm, perhaps familiar. Hard to say, to discern in the haze of her confusion. Slowly, her head lifts — she turns around to regard Aloy with wide and empty, glowing eyes.

She tries to speak. It comes out in distorted, warped clicks in the back of her throat, low and discordant.]

[despitethenora]

[She tries to understand, maybe just as hard as this figure tries to express itself. But it doesn't make sense to her. At least with machines, Aloy has context clues, understands a sound as a cry of alarm or a sign of aggression.

But strange clicks, and that disconcerting look.

Aloy takes a half-step back before she's even thought about it.]

Little bit of a rough voice, huh.

[abandonware]

[At first, the shadowed figure's eyes slide over and through the woman standing at the entryway. Then, she notices the blade. A horrible noise shudders up through her throat, a rusted and scraping distillation of too many voices. She rises to her feet. Slowly, slowly.

Then she bares down, lowering her shoulders. The shimmering gold symbols along her flesh shimmer and flash as black spikes begin to jut out along her spine and shoulders like broken bones. She thrashes and shudders in agony, though for this is oddly quiet. No sound, save the rending of flesh, the splintering groan of bone forcing its way out of skin.

The thing lurches forward with frightening speed.]

[despitethenora]

Shit.

[She breathes the word as Aloy watches the figure move. It looks - wrong. Painful. What's she supposed to think about this thing lurching toward her, except that she needs to play it safe?

Aloy leaps to the side, banking on the figure having trouble changing the direction of its momentum that quickly.]

That really doesn't look like it's good for you.