Expiation Mods (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
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expiationlogs2025-05-13 12:07 pm
expiationmods) wrote in expiationlogs2025-05-13 12:07 pm
[Zekarion's initial investigation of the Garden doesn't quite go as planned. The fact of the matter is that neither he nor his creations can climb the walls nor leap over them from the forest's trees, and an attempt to use his destructive abilities to break through only ends up with a sharp bite at his ankle.
Fine, he thinks. He'll find another way to investigate—without trusting anything to these aggressive, suspicious creatures. Turning them against each other is exactly what their enemies would try to do.]
⬬ just a puppet on a lonely string | fatigue
[For a day or two Altius returns to his typical schedule—moving around town and working but keeping an eye out for those snakes to warn anyone away from their temptations. A few times he finds himself strangely winded or his eyelids particularly heavy, but surely it's nothing he can't overcome, even if he has to take a moment with his hand over his face.
At one point, he finds a specific item waiting for him on his usual table at a local cafe: a watch, silver with a red face and gold accents. A distant look on his face, he sits and turns it over in his hands, reading the inscription:
Every moment counts. Whenever you need a reminder, I'll be here.
Rion]
⬬ shattered windows and the sound of drums | overload
[The exhaustion begins to show through constantly, after that. Dark circles remain under his eyes and he limits his physical efforts to maintain his energy, but he's still determined to be aware of what's going on with his projects and around town given the... concerning circumstances, rather than lying in bed doing nothing to keep other Chosen from proving themselves gullible fools.
Then Altius finds himself hit by what he now is forced to acknowledge as a supernatural illness. His vision blurs; his ears ring and he sways as his balance tilts. He staggers a step, barely managing to stay upright, hands over his face as he sucks in a breath through his teeth.
It keeps coming back in waves after every time he magically cleanses it from himself, each episode a little worse than the last. Even though he's still confident in his ability to outlast it, the effects are debilitating whenever they show up, sending him reeling all over again.]
⬬ next the walls were closed on me | delirium
[If there is an answer to be found, it is with the snakes and their Garden. Besides that, the things are practically kidnapping the idiots among them, trapping them inside and keeping the others out—for what purpose? It can't be anything good.
Overestimating his ability to keep up with his deteriorating health, Altius returns to the forest.
He can be found on the way to the gates, lying on the forest floor, unconscious. Even a brief examination can spot his shallow breaths and the sweat that sticks his bangs to his face. For those looking closer, it's obvious his skin is clammy and his pulse is weak. Strangely, a handful of snakes lie dead, scattered not far around and behind him, despite having no obvious wounds to explain what happened...]
⬬ who would ever want to be king | wildcard
[OOC: Other ideas? Hit me up at![[plurk.com profile]](https://plurk.com/favicon.ico)
lumieresdedragon or at my PWM!]
Fine, he thinks. He'll find another way to investigate—without trusting anything to these aggressive, suspicious creatures. Turning them against each other is exactly what their enemies would try to do.]
⬬ just a puppet on a lonely string | fatigue
[For a day or two Altius returns to his typical schedule—moving around town and working but keeping an eye out for those snakes to warn anyone away from their temptations. A few times he finds himself strangely winded or his eyelids particularly heavy, but surely it's nothing he can't overcome, even if he has to take a moment with his hand over his face.
At one point, he finds a specific item waiting for him on his usual table at a local cafe: a watch, silver with a red face and gold accents. A distant look on his face, he sits and turns it over in his hands, reading the inscription:
Every moment counts. Whenever you need a reminder, I'll be here.
Rion]
⬬ shattered windows and the sound of drums | overload
[The exhaustion begins to show through constantly, after that. Dark circles remain under his eyes and he limits his physical efforts to maintain his energy, but he's still determined to be aware of what's going on with his projects and around town given the... concerning circumstances, rather than lying in bed doing nothing to keep other Chosen from proving themselves gullible fools.
Then Altius finds himself hit by what he now is forced to acknowledge as a supernatural illness. His vision blurs; his ears ring and he sways as his balance tilts. He staggers a step, barely managing to stay upright, hands over his face as he sucks in a breath through his teeth.
It keeps coming back in waves after every time he magically cleanses it from himself, each episode a little worse than the last. Even though he's still confident in his ability to outlast it, the effects are debilitating whenever they show up, sending him reeling all over again.]
⬬ next the walls were closed on me | delirium
[If there is an answer to be found, it is with the snakes and their Garden. Besides that, the things are practically kidnapping the idiots among them, trapping them inside and keeping the others out—for what purpose? It can't be anything good.
Overestimating his ability to keep up with his deteriorating health, Altius returns to the forest.
He can be found on the way to the gates, lying on the forest floor, unconscious. Even a brief examination can spot his shallow breaths and the sweat that sticks his bangs to his face. For those looking closer, it's obvious his skin is clammy and his pulse is weak. Strangely, a handful of snakes lie dead, scattered not far around and behind him, despite having no obvious wounds to explain what happened...]
⬬ who would ever want to be king | wildcard
[OOC: Other ideas? Hit me up at
[ It was really only a matter of time before he stumbled onto a corpse in the forest, especially this close to that damnable garden. He bends to give the unfortunate fool a better look, only to discover he's not a corpse at all.
Altius. As invisible to his sight as ever. Perhaps one day he'll ask about that.
For now, it seems pertinent to get the man out of here. Emet-Selch would so hate to lose such a valuable source of information about the goings on in this place, and frankly he'd rather not leave anyone lying around where more of these snakes can find them. So, the Ancient simply slings the man over his shoulder with surprising ease, considering how noodly he looks, and begins the trek back to civilization.
This is fine! ]
Altius. As invisible to his sight as ever. Perhaps one day he'll ask about that.
For now, it seems pertinent to get the man out of here. Emet-Selch would so hate to lose such a valuable source of information about the goings on in this place, and frankly he'd rather not leave anyone lying around where more of these snakes can find them. So, the Ancient simply slings the man over his shoulder with surprising ease, considering how noodly he looks, and begins the trek back to civilization.
This is fine! ]
[About halfway through that trek, the sack of popotoes unwell man begins to stir; a sound that's half-groan, half-wheeze leaves him.]
Ungh...
[He would have been disoriented even without his position and the movement, but those aspects certainly don't help. Luckily for the both of them, he doesn't have nearly enough coordination to push himself off Emet-Selch's shoulder, which is his instinct. Instead, he only ends up with a shaky hand grasping onto the back of the other man's top.]
Ungh...
[He would have been disoriented even without his position and the movement, but those aspects certainly don't help. Luckily for the both of them, he doesn't have nearly enough coordination to push himself off Emet-Selch's shoulder, which is his instinct. Instead, he only ends up with a shaky hand grasping onto the back of the other man's top.]
[Does a fence around a fake garden of eden count as a border?
Gradually, the calm tone of voice reaches his awareness, even if the message doesn't quite make it past his hampered senses. The ever alert, near-paranoid part of his mind can only stay in control for so long; he's apparently not dead yet, so he has to count that as a win in some way.
The sound that leaves him next could hardly be construed as a definite word, but there's certainly a questioning tone to the rasp-turned-hum.]
Gradually, the calm tone of voice reaches his awareness, even if the message doesn't quite make it past his hampered senses. The ever alert, near-paranoid part of his mind can only stay in control for so long; he's apparently not dead yet, so he has to count that as a win in some way.
The sound that leaves him next could hardly be construed as a definite word, but there's certainly a questioning tone to the rasp-turned-hum.]
[ Well, they're getting closer to some sort of mode of communication. Emet-Selch angles his head, for all the good it does him with a full-grown man slung over one shoulder, to reply. ]
I found you passed out on the forest floor. We are going back to town, and then you are going to tell me just how in the hells you ended up in such a state.
I found you passed out on the forest floor. We are going back to town, and then you are going to tell me just how in the hells you ended up in such a state.
[That muffled voice sounds vaguely like it's giving him a lecture, he realizes after a few moments.
Altius lets out a grunt of acknowledgement that's half agreeable. What is he even going to do at this point, argue? He's clearly made some mistakes here... even if he can't clearly remember what exactly they might be.
The trip, at least, should give him a bit more time to come back to his senses, even if his head isn't going to stop swimming for a while. Take him where you will, sir.]
Altius lets out a grunt of acknowledgement that's half agreeable. What is he even going to do at this point, argue? He's clearly made some mistakes here... even if he can't clearly remember what exactly they might be.
The trip, at least, should give him a bit more time to come back to his senses, even if his head isn't going to stop swimming for a while. Take him where you will, sir.]
[ Oh, and he will. A few more steps, a wave of shadow swims up and around Emet-Selch and his unwitting passenger. They're both swallowed by darkness, ushered through some sort of indescribable void, and when it clears, they are in the city proper.
Very likely not near where Altius lives, but there are some benches that Emet-Selch can deposit him on, which he does in short order. ]
Still with me, I hope.
[ If you expired on the way here, sir, he's going to be VERY cross. ]
Very likely not near where Altius lives, but there are some benches that Emet-Selch can deposit him on, which he does in short order. ]
Still with me, I hope.
[ If you expired on the way here, sir, he's going to be VERY cross. ]
[Ah, the indescribable void, just like home—or his own portals at least. Somewhat less disorienting than his, perhaps, but familiar enough that he doesn't question what's happening.
The change in orientation and the sudden addition of light into the equation is unpleasant, though, and he ends up covering his face with the inside of one elbow with a grimace.
The man said something. They've met, Altius knows, but the name isn't coming to him yet. Between the ringing in his ears and the static in his head slightly lessening, though, the words finally reach his consciousness.]
... 'm here.
The change in orientation and the sudden addition of light into the equation is unpleasant, though, and he ends up covering his face with the inside of one elbow with a grimace.
The man said something. They've met, Altius knows, but the name isn't coming to him yet. Between the ringing in his ears and the static in his head slightly lessening, though, the words finally reach his consciousness.]
... 'm here.
No point.
[The mutter leaves him before he thinks it through. Normal medicine won't heal him if his magic isn't doing the job, that much he's sure of—but explaining that isn't happening, and he shouldn't have even allowed the chance for the question. And besides that... if he is to recover, he won't do it lying in bed alone. He is at least going to need help to take care of himself, if he's going to make it through this at all.
A few shallow breaths pass before he answers the question properly.]
Clinic. Northwest border... near the farms.
[The mutter leaves him before he thinks it through. Normal medicine won't heal him if his magic isn't doing the job, that much he's sure of—but explaining that isn't happening, and he shouldn't have even allowed the chance for the question. And besides that... if he is to recover, he won't do it lying in bed alone. He is at least going to need help to take care of himself, if he's going to make it through this at all.
A few shallow breaths pass before he answers the question properly.]
Clinic. Northwest border... near the farms.
[ At the very least, Emet-Selch has been around the city a time or two in the last few days, familiarizing himself with the geography. It makes teleporting easier when he knows where he's going, he's found. ]
Can you stand?
[ Said as he offers a hand. He'll let the other man lean on him if he must, but he would really rather not sling him over his shoulder again. It's annoying. ]
Can you stand?
[ Said as he offers a hand. He'll let the other man lean on him if he must, but he would really rather not sling him over his shoulder again. It's annoying. ]
[And he'd rather not get flung over much of anything, himself, so he's more than willing to try. He briefly squints at the offered hand from under his elbow, but only because things are still on the edge of unbearably bright at the moment, and reaches to take it and attempt to pull himself up.
Emet-Selch will in fact have to do most of the work, but it's not for a lack of Altius trying. There's still strength enough in him to stay upright, but balancing on his own is unfortunately too much to ask for now, if his unsteady stumble is any indication.]
Emet-Selch will in fact have to do most of the work, but it's not for a lack of Altius trying. There's still strength enough in him to stay upright, but balancing on his own is unfortunately too much to ask for now, if his unsteady stumble is any indication.]
[ tmw i have an icon for this
Emet-Selch has to dip down a bit to let Altius sling an arm over his shoulders. Beyond that, he seems to support him with relative ease, as before when he was slung over his shoulder.
For a small mercy, they do not have to walk, or at least not walk far. A teleport or two will find them within reasonable distance to the clinic, and from there it is only a matter of getting Altius into a cot. With luck, he's perhaps a bit more lucid by the time they get there. ]
Just what happened to get you in such a state? You look a mess.
[ Thanks, Emet. ]
Emet-Selch has to dip down a bit to let Altius sling an arm over his shoulders. Beyond that, he seems to support him with relative ease, as before when he was slung over his shoulder.
For a small mercy, they do not have to walk, or at least not walk far. A teleport or two will find them within reasonable distance to the clinic, and from there it is only a matter of getting Altius into a cot. With luck, he's perhaps a bit more lucid by the time they get there. ]
Just what happened to get you in such a state? You look a mess.
[ Thanks, Emet. ]
[Oh, the sweet embrace of a bed. As much as he's been hoping to avoid sinking into his own over the past week, at this point it would be foolish not to take advantage of it. He practically collapses into it, and he doesn't try to hide the way he covers his eyes with a hand again.
It's a testament to the amount of relief he feels despite himself that he's able to muster up the sarcasm to reply,]
Had no idea.
[THANKS, EMET. He takes a few more breaths before offering a proper answer.]
One of the snakes.
It's a testament to the amount of relief he feels despite himself that he's able to muster up the sarcasm to reply,]
Had no idea.
[THANKS, EMET. He takes a few more breaths before offering a proper answer.]
One of the snakes.
How else would I investigate.
[At least he's not enough of an idiot to go harming his fellow Chosen for it; this way no one would come after him for it. He just didn't expect the damn things to inflict something he can't heal.]
[At least he's not enough of an idiot to go harming his fellow Chosen for it; this way no one would come after him for it. He just didn't expect the damn things to inflict something he can't heal.]
Edited (my brain is also not working.) 2025-05-15 04:12 (UTC)
A. Entry
B. The Garden
C. Wildcard
[ The golden gate Arlecchino is suddenly confronted with is quite decidedly suspect. She's always been skeptical of things too beautiful, and given the snakes' obsession with crime, she doubts what lies beyond will be pure and innocent. Regardless, she's already made up her mind. Not all hearts are made for unsavory deeds, so those that are must do their part.
She makes no effort to cover the snake tattoo on the back of her hand as she strolls up to the gate, its pattern at home among the black lines running along her darkened skin. As she approaches someone else loitering by the gate, she speaks up with even cordiality. ]
Heading in? Don't let me stop you.
B. The Garden
[ The garden beyond the gate is deceptively peaceful. Even the snakes are less unsettling, seeming more like simple creatures and less like the vehicles of temptation that have been permeating Aldrip. Arlecchino is happy to fill in the gaps. ]
Shh... Quiet, now.
[ Her voice, hushed and lilting as if addressing a naughty child, comes suddenly from over the shoulder. If all remains still, then Arlecchino's hand will come into view from behind and reach up slowly, black and red nails coming to beckon a matching black and red spotted snake that's been hanging peacefully overhead. Don't mind as she waits patiently for the snake to make its way down, the little thing winding around her hand... and by your Chosen's head. ]
C. Wildcard
(( Anything you like! If you'd like to chat things out, I have a plotting comment. ))
I. 🌙 THERE’S A SNAKE IN MY BOOT
II. 🌙 CRIME TIME
III. 🌙 WILDCARD
[ "Something about snakes" he’d thought when he was told that those strange questions on the network usually had something to do with whatever strange thing was coming. He figured that perhaps the new-old arrivals from Rumpitur were it, but no. There was more to it.
There is always more to it.
He is skeptical at best regarding the whispers of these snakes, telling him things to do in vague or, in at least one case, oddly specific. He does not care for it. He watches, as well, as these snakes approach other Chosen, and is not shy about making his disdain clear with a scoff. ]
You are not seriously going to listen to that thing, are you?
II. 🌙 CRIME TIME
[ Emet-Selch is dubious at best regarding what these snakes want them to do, and perhaps that makes him an appealing target. He can be found all around, in the city, in the forest, investigating this, that or the other. It’s like he’s just begging for someone to try and pick his pockets (do Ancient robes have pockets) or perhaps something worse??
A harmless prank won't do more than get his hackles up, but any attempts at violence will be met with the same. Dare you try your luck against this sorcerer of eld? ]
III. 🌙 WILDCARD
[ I am down for pretty much anything! You can hit me up via PM, ping in the game discord, or drop a comment to my PWM. ]
Edited 2025-05-15 16:55 (UTC)
[ Bruh. The judgement in Emet-Selch’s gaze ratchets up several notches, arms crossing as he peers down at the man in the bed. ]
I rather thought you more sensible than that. To become injured is one thing, but pushing yourself to the point of collapse? What good has that done?
[ BRUH. ]
I rather thought you more sensible than that. To become injured is one thing, but pushing yourself to the point of collapse? What good has that done?
[ BRUH. ]
[Ugh... sure, maybe he's earned it, but that doesn't mean he enjoys a lecture.]
I didn't think it could get this bad.
[He's never had trouble maintaining his health. He's never had to worry about his health. But now...]
I was clearly mistaken.
I didn't think it could get this bad.
[He's never had trouble maintaining his health. He's never had to worry about his health. But now...]
I was clearly mistaken.
I have been told by several people that our abilities, and even our minds, may not always be trustworthy due to the simulation's influence.
[ He gives Altius a once-over, not at all being subtle about it. As ever, the man is a void. Simply nothing more than flesh and blood to his eyes. ]
If there is aught which shields you, then 'tis clear it is not working, and you should have listened to your body.
[ He gives Altius a once-over, not at all being subtle about it. As ever, the man is a void. Simply nothing more than flesh and blood to his eyes. ]
If there is aught which shields you, then 'tis clear it is not working, and you should have listened to your body.
Edited 2025-05-15 16:32 (UTC)
[ Snakes. Gilgamesh has a lot of history with them. He was often associated with it. People even call him a snake, but he disagrees. He wasn't fond of them; if anything, he would rather destroy them. ]
Hah? I would rather break a treasure than listen to a snake.
[ After all, what kind of king would listen to a snake of all creatures? ]
Hah? I would rather break a treasure than listen to a snake.
[ After all, what kind of king would listen to a snake of all creatures? ]
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