EVENT #14: ADVERSITY 8765456

[expiationmods]

EVENT #14: YOU'RE A SNAKE I CAN SEE IT IN YOUR FACE

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.

-Fandaniel has put his backup of the AI into the system, and now there seems to be an update on devices.

MAP UPGRADE: 80%... .... .... ...

-Viktor has changed some of the Naga from Rumpitur into their original forms -- more or less, further proving that those who live in the cities from before are former Chosen.

OOC NOTE: This event will still go on for ten days OOCly, and the aftermath of the event via the poll will be posted on the 23rd instead of the 22nd.

SSSOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMESSS

It seems like the recent arrivals aren't the only guests at Aldrip this month. Beginning on the 12th of the month, the Chosen might notice an increased presence of snakes ─ at first it's in the outskirts and in the fields, where it can be expected, but soon it becomes clear they can show up just about anywhere: in the inn, chilling in the library, and even at homes. They're not aggressive and seem to largely mind their own business, so most will probably assume it's best to leave them be.

Until they begin to speak.

"It'sss time,"

It comes as a soft whisper, cooing to you from beneath your feet as the creature slithers on the ground.

"The sssystem hasss failed you. But you have the power to change that. The power to ssstop it."

You may disregard their words, but they're quite persistent, and will keep following you, promising to share the ways for you to fight back. To find a way out. And, perhaps most importantly, to stop the cycle of sentencing for good.

All you need to do is break the system by doing the very thing it's designed to prevent: committing crimes.

But not just any crimes will do, oh no. The snakes are quick to note that there's little point in trying to antagonize the locals, as they're already part of the system. But the other Chosen? That's who you should target, they say. Steal. Lie. Cheat. Maim. Kill. They cannot stop all of you, but it's up to you if you'll end up as a victim or the victor.

The snakes will not attack or harm those who refuse them, but to those still hesitating or questioning their suggestion, they have one reminder:

"That'sss the price for freedom."

Are you prepared to pay it…?

ENTER THE GATES TO THE GOLDEN GARDEN

CW: SNAKE PICTURES LINKED IN THIS PROMPT

As the lies spill past your teeth or the item that you’ve lifted from another Chosen or the shudder of flesh from your blow, there is an elevation of energy around like the simulation itself is breathing a stuttering breath that it had been holding. Suddenly, they stand before a gilded gate that is partially ajar and welcoming.

In fact, it is the only destination available. All around otherwise is a thick fog with muffled sounds, and if a Chosen decided to avoid the sensation of welcome to enter through the Gate, they will find themselves back in front of it no matter the direction that they consider venturing into. The muffles they may think they are following grows quieter until there is an absolute oppressive silence.

Then they are back at the Gate. The longer they avoid entry, the more the temptation to do so will grow until it is unavoidable.

The moment that they slipped through the gilded elaborate gate, the world around them suddenly bursts forth with the scent of sweet flowers, the musical elation of various bird species serenading to one another, and the soft feel of foliage under bare feet. Wait, when did you lose your shoes? Oh well, the foliage is layered densities of deciduous trees with leaves of red, orange, and most proliferatively green There are fruits weighing down branches, mushrooms peeking from under unfurrowed ferns and other underbrush.

There are game trails that double as winding garden paths. They lazily verge off this way and that, taking a person deeper into this beautiful garden. One could lose themselves here if they aren’t careful for there is a blissful peace at first.

As a Chosen moves around or even just looks around, they will notice snakes sliding through the trees or along the ground in the undergrowth minding their own businesses. Big, small, various coloured and patterned but they’re heading off to wherever a snake concerns itself. There is no other wildlife here regardless of the bird songs. That’s strange, isn’t it?

Wandering around exploring either by following the paths or spelunking into the brush or even clambering through the trees will eventually find two Chosen finding each other. It’s easy to recognize each other because evidence of their crimes is marked on them whether that’s the item the lifted, bruised knuckles or a forked tongue for those who lied. Both are attracted to each other as if the impression that leaving the garden requires a pair.

But how to find their way out? The gilded gate seems to no longer be where one might think, and the forest stretches out in all directions. One could wander hours or days and not make headway on how to leave. Except, there are two common denominators: snakes are the only animals here and bird song is a constant presence no matter how much time passes.

Eagle-eyed Chosen will notice that there are certain snakes with identical colouring and patterning. Keen-eared Chosen will notice that bird songs have a certain tune around a select snake type. What could that mean? Maybe it deserves investigation?

Reticulated Python - East
Eyelash Viper - South
Rubber Boa - North
Red-Spotted Garter - West

Teams need to collect a pair of the same species of snake and follow the bird song that grows louder in a certain direction. If they follow the direction appropriately, they will discover an altar and upon placing their snake pair upon it, a quarter of the map of the garden is revealed. Collect all four pairs and take them to the altars and a map is revealed to allow the pair of Chosen to find their way out of the garden.

EVERYTHING IS NOT AS IT SEEMS

This may all seem easy, but the garden throws a curveball at you. After a little while of exploring, Chosen will start to hallucinate in the Garden. Hallucinations will vary by character – namely the worst possible endings for them. It could be either the worst possible ending in Aldrip, or in their canons, but none of them will receive a happy ending.
None of them.

Among the hallucinations of their home world or their lives, they see others. Other cycles that have ended. Those that have completed the RNG of targeted crimes from the snakes are more likely to see these visions:

Bodies of Chosen with the same tattoos on the back of their hands as the ones who’ve done crimes. The thought of I can’t let them die goes through the Chosen’s heads, and suddenly the Chosen shift. Their bodies become more snakelike, foreign of the humans that they used to be.

I have to save them.

Another scenario, this time a thriving city in a desert. A shadow passes through, almost like a plague as Chosen turn into something monstrous. They start to rip and tear into each other, infecting the next person with the shadows. A thought rips through the current Chosen’s minds, despair as the thoughts of I can’t save them happen.

The image flickers, and cuts. Then there’s just a bunch of ruins in the middle of a desert, former technology buried in the sand.

Another scenario, this time a city surrounded by water. The image looks a little hazy, but... over time, the water rises, and rises. It rises through the tiers of the city, drowning it all in water.

The water recedes, and the life that had been bustling around before are now gone.

I couldn't save them.

ON THE OUTSIDE

Chosen that won’t or haven’t committed crimes may see the Garden. While the ones who have committed crimes will find themselves in front of it automatically, the ones who don’t have to find it. They’ll find it deep in the forest, almost as if when they start looking for it, it starts to call for them. The thought of help them may even enter their minds. Once there, they may even attempt to get into the Garden, but… will find they can’t go through. They cannot fly over it or damage it by any means. Enough attempts at forced entry will have a snake come out of the wall and attempt to bite them. If bitten, Chosen may fall ill and even die – this is up to player’s discretion.

Kurt, however, and the characters he chooses to share the glimpse of the world through his item with, are able to enter the Garden without problems. The hallucinations may affect them still, but are much easier to fight through, as they can see through the illusions. They may notice that everything looks old and withered instead of the vibrance that the others see, almost as if it’s… not real. Something that isn’t really tethered to the world at all.

There may be some that would like to question the Naga-turned-people on the happenings of this, but they seem to have disappeared from where they were living with Viktor. Almost as if they ran from this situation…

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]

[The man's hand twitches, first—then his shallow breaths stutter as he comes to something nearing consciousness, jaw clenched.

Where is he? What happened to him? Nothing can make it through the buzzing in his head and the hazy veil that's blurred his senses. The fact that something is wrong is the only thing that's clear.

Wait—no. There's someone here; he can hear a young man's voice, vaguely. And there's a glow—a light that comes through despite his eyes being closed, a familiar enough sensation for him to recognize. Despite his head practically screaming at him not to, he pries one eye open.]

[laserguy]

[He sees those subtle movements from Altius, at least signs that the man is still fighting to keep alive. That's how Scott views it anyway, how he wants to, especially after their conversation about the wish seeds. He doesn't want him to slip away like this. Isn't he normally careful?? But pushing away those thoughts, he uses his tablet to call in support-- someone that can actually heal Altius.

Maybe he should start dragging him to the clinic too. It might be a little hard to lift him though, not to mention that maybe it's not the best idea to jostle him too much. Still, the idea is not off the table, especially if no one comes to help them soon. He keeps his hand on his pulse, face hovering close in concern.]

Altius, hold on, okay? Help is coming. [Cling to his voice!! He sees that one eye opening and yeah, keep that up.]

[chimericalclaw]

[He hears a voice but the words are muffled to his ears, filtered through foggy senses and the screech of static in his head. The mess of shape and color that meets his eye doesn't make much sense to him either, but the bits and pieces he can comprehend come together to a conclusion.

Altius takes a labored breath. His tongue feels heavy and his lips barely cooperate but he has to speak—to talk to the young man who's been in his thoughts for so long.]

Ferran... why do you still help, after everything...

[laserguy]

[Ferran...?

Oh, right, that's the young man that Altius had taken in. The one he cares a lot about-- the one that was shot right before the businessman came to this world. And. That's probably not great, right? Okay, don't panic Summers, it's clear that he's just hallucinating-- mistaking him for Ferran because of his state. This is a result of the snakes, right...?

Because all the dead snakes around them is one solid clue. How did the man take all of these guys out? He doesn't see any visible injuries on them. Which. How do you kill something without leaving any trace of a wound? More thoughts for later...

He's still keeping a hand against Altius's neck, the other reaching up to press against his clammy forehead.]

Come on, don't die now, okay?

[chimericalclaw]

[Altius's eyelids flutter in a flinch as he takes in a short breath of surprise. Scott will easily be able to tell he has a high fever, even if the other indications didn't make that obvious.

What is the young man saying? Something about dying, perhaps. There's worry there, maybe panic; he can imagine it well enough even though his senses are failing him. His eyes threaten to shut again as he mutters,]

Leave me.

[laserguy]

Shut up, I'm not leaving you. Just hold on, I already called for help.

[Maybe he can at least start dragging Altius away from the entrance of the garden? Away from the dead snakes? Don't want more of those guys to come slithering about and try to attack the feverish man. Of course he could take them, but he'd rather not tempt fate.]

I'm going to move you. [It's about the only warning he gives before Scott slides his hands underneath the older man's shoulders. With a great pull (and grunting just slightly in the process), he starts dragging him away from the garden.]

[chimericalclaw]

[Despite his apparent aversion to being helped, something like instinct takes over when Scott tries to move him, and the heel of his boot digs into the undergrowth to push himself in the direction he's being pulled. Perhaps the subconscious thought of not being a burden has taken hold, if he can't get the other to let him go.

The strength in his legs isn't exactly great, though; there's only so much he can do to make the process easier, and only so long he can keep that minimal effort up. Eventually, his mind catches up again, and he mutters another attempt to dissuade the young man.]

None of it was real...

[laserguy]

[Good. He notices how Altius is pushing himself in his direction, the small bit of help more than welcome at a time like this. Definitely beats the older man trying to fight him off and making this more difficult or attract more attention to them. The snakes might be dead, but Scott is still keeping alert for anything that might come out. One can never be too safe or cautious in Aldrip.

He's learned that. Maybe since he first got here over two years ago.

Scott continues to pull him away though, not resting until he thinks they're a comfortable distance away from those gates.]

...What are you talking about? [There's a part of him that thinks he should just agree with Altius, that whatever he saw wasn't real. But. Best to make sure.]

[chimericalclaw]

[Shouldn't Ferran know what he means? He must have wondered in the moments he was lucid; he so clearly came to the wrong conclusion about it. The man's head slumps against Scott.]

Everything I did for you... what I said.

[There's a clear misery in the half-slurred confession, closer to the dark gravity that Scott has seen out of him more in the past few months, rather than the gentle regrets he's expressed in his "normal" moments.]

[laserguy]

[...He's still confusing him with Ferran, isn't he? Maybe he should try and correct Altius right now, tell the man that he's not the boy he's been watching over, but maybe it's better if he just lets him speak. Whatever is ailing his mind he clearly wants to get off his chest.]

What do you mean?

[Plus, he's still focused on getting him to safety. Scott thinks he's pretty close in reaching that point as he pulls him back and across the ground, almost reaching the forest that surrounds the garden.]

[chimericalclaw]

[His frustration rises, and with it comes what feels like knives in his head and chest, and pins and needles in his extremities. Altius can't help with moving himself any longer.]

You know it was all fake, [he grits through his teeth, eyes wrenched shut as his body screams at him to—he doesn't know what. To stop; to stop everything. But he can't just give up.]

So why...

[laserguy]

[At last, they make it a safe distance away from the garden, Scott releasing Altius near the base of a tree, but the mutant still continues to kneel down by him. Someone should be coming to help soon, but he's not leaving, not when he's still combatting that sickness. Worry continues to beat in his chest as Altius continues to mumble, saying things that don't entirely make sense to Scott.]

I don't know exactly what you're talking about, Altius, but just know that I'm not leaving you to die. I'm not letting you have that chance.

[Does this have anything to do with that 'wish' he had? Altius assured him that he was just at a low point, but he had his doubts. Some suspicions still. He's just been around so many people that feel this way to some degree, even for different reasons.]