expiationlogs | EVENT #14: ADVERSITY 8765456

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EVENT #14: ADVERSITY 8765456

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)!

♡

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

< ...Probably not the best time to admit I was curious to see what would happen if I did. >

[ His expression falls with obvious exasperation. ]

Dante...

[ Even recovering in a dark room from apparently overworking himself, his tone leans towards scolding them. But he can't say he doesn't understand the temptation. ]

Would you have at least told someone [ him ], if you had decided to try?

[They reach up and rub the back of their neck, ticking away.]

< I wouldn't have done anything serious? It's just... you know. You have to figure out how these things work somehow. >

[They make a mental note to not tell him the sorts of things they've tried in the Mirror Dungeons.]

[Yeah, he's in lecture mode, a furrow in his brow. He doesn't think about the fact that it's brought on largely by the fact that he's upset by the thought of Dante coming to harm and not having any help.]

That's why you set up contingencies, if you're taking risks, and this place is unpredictable. If something happened to you and no one knew to look out for you, what then?

[Their shoulders slowly inch closer to where their ears would be, duly chastened.

Still, they can't quite bring themselves to meet his gaze.]

< I was only thinking about it. I wasn't going to actually do it... >

[ Altius lets out a slow breath, a little shakier than usual. With it goes his stern tone and the solidity of his frown, and a few moments later, he makes a soft request. ]

Come here for a moment, please?

[They stay exactly where they are for a beat or two, but finally approach.]

< Everything okay? >

[He only waits a moment before reaching to take Dante's hand in both of his, his eyes meeting their face.]

You know I'm not asking all of that because I'm trying to humiliate you or make you feel ashamed. Don't you?

[There's that tight feeling in their chest again. They're never sure what to do with it.]

< ...I know. You're not the only one I've heard this kind of thing from. >

[ He lowers his gaze to the gloved hand he's holding. What others have they heard it from? Their Sinners? Their superiors? Does it come from the same place as his scolding now, or does it come from where his used to come from? ]

Have any of them told you it's because they care for you?

< They've... >

[Have they?

Don Quixote said something about a family of twelve that one time. But was she just counting herself in that or...?]

< We've been through a lot. That kind of thing gets complicated after awhile. >

[Complicated. ... he supposes he can't judge that. As busy as they all are, who knows what opportunities they may have had or not had to express that kind of sentiment, if it's there. Would Dante feel as strongly about their duty if there wasn't some genuine sentiment among their team?

Regardless.]

Then let me be explicit about it.

[His hand curls a little tighter around theirs, and he raises his eyes again. There's a tired but serious look on his face.]

You mean a great deal to me. And I hate the thought of not being able to help you when you needed it simply because I wasn't aware.

< .... >

[For the second time since they came to after losing their memory, Dante feels as if their clock hands have rusted to a stop. The feeling, similar in intensity, similar in overwhelming enormity, hangs on their shoulders and drags at their limbs in a heavy weight.

This time, though, it's... different. It clings, but doesn't choke or drown. It sinks deep, but doesn't seek to bury them alive.]

< ...I won't put myself in danger unless I have to. >

[Altius watches them for a long moment, expression softening. While it would be a lie to say he isn't comforted by the thought of them avoiding harm, especially for his sake... it would be unfair, wouldn't it? To try and wrap them in a bubble, to keep them from taking any risk because of nothing more than his feelings.

He decides to clarify, at least.]

I don't mean to ask you never to try anything, [he says, letting a breath out of his nose.] I just want to know you'll have what you need to be alright at the end of the day. But... thank you. For listening.

< I know. You're just worried. >

[And it's not as if they could ever promise him they'd never end up hurt. Some things are worth the risk, they believe that much, no matter what limitations they may or may not have.

They let their hand linger in his for a moment longer, allow themselves to wonder what it might feel like if the barrier of the gloves they wear wasn't there. Just for a moment, and then their hand returns to their side.]

< If it makes you feel any better, I do have something I can use out there if I need to. >

[ He considers not letting go for a split second, as Dante's hand slides out of his. But the moment passes and he sits back so he can look up at them more easily. ]

What's that? Does it have to do with your souvenir?

< Yep, sure does. >

[They reach into their pocket and pull out a capped syringe filled with green liquid, the glass etched with a green, black, and white logo.]

< It's been awhile, but... You remember shortly after the whole doppelganger incident? I think I mentioned one of these things to you in a roundabout way. That I wasn't really used to needing to worry about recovery time. >

The technology from your home?

[He does recall, and he looks at the syringe, squinting slightly. Hm... not just technology after all, he can see. But supernatural concepts seem not uncommon in their city. Perhaps they're already aware?]

That is good to hear. [Reassuring, certainly. He trusts that they'll be able to use it when they need, for all their pain tolerance.] I got something of a souvenir myself, but I'd say it's less impressive than yours.

[They cock their head to the side, syringe still in hand.]

< Really? What was it? >

[Altius explains as he reaches into his inner jacket pocket for the engraved watch he'd recently found waiting for him. It felt like more of a mockery than a reward—but he's glad that Dante got something useful, after all that mood they'd been put in.]

Something I bought for my ward, Ferran.

[Holding it up for them to look at if they like, he pauses and realizes something. With an amused hum, he remarks:]

It matches you, too. [The colors of Dante's prosthesis are fairly close to the red and gold of Garnet's costume... which is what probably drew him to buy this watch in particular for the boy, with its red face with gold numbers and hands. The silver band matching Ferran's pendant made it all come together.]

[They know he likely means the colors as well as the watch, but there's still a moment where they stare at him before examining the watch a little closer.]

< It has to be a recreation, right? It'd be a little strange for it to just suddenly disappear from them and end up here. >

[It's only in that moment of staring that Altius realizes why comparing Dante to a timepiece might not have been the best idea, and he offers an apologetic sigh.]

Only the colors, I meant.

[Is it strange that he doesn't even think of their head as a clock anymore...? Or maybe he's just that tired.]

I wouldn't be surprised if it was drawn from my memory, but would it be any stranger than us disappearing and ending up here?

[Unlike most anyone else, he'll allow Dante to hold it if they like. If they don't take it, after a moment he'll turn the watch over to the inscription: a message of support he hadn't really met at the time, signed with the name Rion. Some of his exhaustion seems to come through as he reads it again. How things have changed...]

Perhaps it will return along with me, as others supposedly have been.

[They don't take the watch in hand, but they do elect to sit next to Altius, close enough that their arm nearly brushes up against his when they move it.]

< At least he'll get it back either way. >

[More importantly...]

< I take it that's been something on your mind? >

[He's thought about it. He keeps thinking about it. The logical side of him knows there's no point, but the rest of him refuses to let it go. He hadn't meant for his plans with the young man to turn out that way, he'd thought to himself, but he realized that was a lie. How else was it supposed to end? He'd just decided the temporary pain he'd be causing was worth it, before. Why did his feelings change...?

Altius is silent for a few moments, and a clearly somber expression comes to his face, a troubled downturn to his lips.]

As much as I try to believe it's true that we'll make it back like so many have described, I still wonder if I'll get there in time.

[Lowering the watch in his hands until his arms rest on his legs and his elbow makes contact with their arm, he turns to look to Dante.]

The blood you saw on me when we met was his. The last thing I did before I arrived was hold him after he was shot. [He turns back to the watch, unable to keep looking at them, even if their presence is a comfort. There's a bitterness to his tone directed at himself as he continues.] Sitting here and trying to find ways to make simulated money while I still don't know if he's alright...

[It feels wrong.]

[They could tell him about their own experience. That when they returned for those brief few days, not even a minute had passed since they'd exited into the WARP station of District P. But would it help?

When time is of the essence, when someone's life might be on the line, when months have passed when moments count... Could something purely anecdotal be of any comfort?]

< Sometimes... keeping your mind and body busy is all you can really do. The time's going to pass by whether remain still or we keep moving, so I don't think there's anything wrong with making use of that time. >

< Besides, it's not like that's all you did. >

EVENT #14: ADVERSITY 8765456

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