{EVENT #2} ADVERSITY 168518.2092

[expiationmods]

THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM

MOD NOTES: Please direct any questions to the corresponding comment below. Note that characters can be involved in multiple prompts (whether you choose to thread that out or not), and that character decisions and actions taken on these prompts will affect future events, storylines, and relationships with other peoples of Expiation. You can find the OOC poll here. Please pick from the corresponding options with the appropriate character journal. If you use a personal journal or a journal not part of Expiation, your votes will not be counted. Remember that if your character did something different than what is in the prompts given, leave a comment in the OOC poll entry and link to your comment in the option made available. Our State of the Game, which will include results of this event and changes of the world, along with some future goals and events we would like to work towards will be posted 1 week from today (May 26, 2023). The various prompts are, of course, optional. Consider that taking part and not taking part both have their potential effects on the world and how Expiation moves forward in terms of overarching storyline.

A FAMOUS DISAPPEARING / REAPPEARING ACT

Those who were plagued by nightmares and visions after venturing into the forest awaken to find that a mark has appeared somewhere on their body. It’s unclear what made it, but its function quickly becomes clear. Upon discovering the mark, whispers begin to sound in their minds, beckoning them to a secret clearing in Pessiria Forest. Something awaits them there.

After some time, a faint image of an unnaturally tall, lanky man appears in the mind. He wears a hooded robe that bears several runes resembling the strange marks and is surrounded by acolytes wearing identical robes. Raising a single hand, he calls the afflicted his Branded, and presents them with a simple offer: “Pledge yourself to my glorious cause, and you shall be granted overwhelming power to twist this world into your personal paradise.”

The offer repeats itself in the minds of the afflicted, slowly intensifying over time. It's clear that this man will not relent unless he gets what he wants. Those with strong willpower, however, may be able to reject his dark offer.

I. A TEST RUN FOR NEW POWER

     

For whatever reason, you have chosen to accept the whispers’ offer. Some may have been overwhelmed by the mental link that demanded your fealty, while others found the offer of overwhelming power appealing. Regardless of your reasons, this decision finally brings you a strange peace, as the intense demands are replaced with your promised reward. Now, the brands start to feel like a blessing as they begin to spread across your body. They feel good and natural—almost as if you have found a missing part of yourself that you had never known.

You begin to feel an unknown power coursing within your body, but you aren’t entirely sure what it is. Some will gain powers associated with the mind, allowing for psionic powers ranging from telekinesis to possession. Others will gain a mysterious power to cast elemental and blood magics that they had previously never been able to use. Once you reach the secret clearing, its nature and usage will become clearer to you.

Things are odd at the place you’ve been summoned to. In the clearing, you’ll find strange stone monuments and tablets containing text in an indecipherable language. At the centre of this collection of monuments, descends a pit-cave with several winding paths, each containing cells with bruised and battered prisoners. The more perceptive among you may notice that these are the people who have gone missing over the past few months.

You and your fellow Branded are free to do as you like. Will you make these prisoners into experimental pawns to test your new powers with? Or will you try to resist the power you’ve accepted?

---

II. ABDUCTION

     

Unlike your possessed fellows, the brand doesn’t take. The whispers intensify with each passing hour, demanding that you give in. Still, for some reason, you never accept their offer. Perhaps somewhere in your heart, you know that this is wrong and have managed to hold on through pure force of will. Maybe your latent powers managed to hold the brand’s influence at bay despite their constant demands. Either way, the hooded figure knows that it has been denied a thrall, and it does not take rejection lightly.

A piercing shriek can be heard from the forest before all hell breaks loose. Shadowy figures emerge from its depths and press into Aldrip. If you are claimed by the shadows, your character will be enveloped in darkness and pulled back to the hidden grove. This will take you out of the action for the duration of the event, only to reappear in Aldrip sometime after the chaos subsides. However, others may choose to flee from the shadows and seek help from other Chosen. This is optional, primarily for those who need a reason to be absent from the event for a portion of the time. For characters who are present and unbranded, consider this an opportunity to interact with those who are, and to be susceptible to their abilities, or experience an odd desire to serve or otherwise demonstrate loyalty toward them.

SPEAK NOT OF THE OLD ONES

Unfortunately for those who were marked, their struggle mostly goes unnoticed in those critical first moments. For most people, it just seems like just another day. Some strange people are rising at strange hours of the morning to venture into Pessiria forest, but for the most part, life goes on as usual. While some of the Chosen may find themselves struck by a sense of unease, the locals go about their normal lives, unaware of what is to come.

However, that quiet was only the calm before the storm. After some of your fellow Chosen venture into the forest, a piercing shriek can be heard across the entire region as a gargantuan creature emerges from the earth a mile away from Aldrip. At first, all you see is a giant tentacle made of dark crystal. However, the abomination’s upper body soon emerges, flailing its limbs in an absolute frenzy. Golden tendrils course across its frame and into the ground, draining the life from the surrounding land and leaving rot in its place. Meanwhile, its many tentacles could fell a tree in a single swipe.

This unnatural event causes Aldrip to erupt into absolute chaos. Most of the Aldrip locals take to the street, taking anything valuable they could find in their homes before sprinting away. Others cry out for some kind of divine intervention to save them from their trial. However, there is no order to the escape effort, leaving most either trapped at the city, or at risk of being trampled in an onslaught of fleeing locals.

III. TAKING ON THE UNKNOWN

     

If the Chosen are to have any hope of dealing with this impending crisis, they need to act soon. For now, the strange beast flails about clumsily, almost as if it is unaccustomed to its corporeal form. However, there’s no telling how long this will last. The golden tendrils emerging from the creature’s body seem to be sapping the life out of the nearby land, strengthening the monster as it prepares to finish climbing out of the ground and destroy Aldrip.

Several opportunities seem obvious at first glance. Brave Chosen may choose to take the gargantuan creature on directly, banding together to bring it down before it can reduce Aldrip into a lifeless husk. However, those who are not as proficient at fighting may instead try to do something about the spreading golden roots that are sapping the life from nearby area. It might not be as glamorous, but it will buy valuable time, nonetheless. Either way, this is not a one-person kind of job. You will need help from your fellow Chosen if you want to see this through.

---

IV. WHEN CHOSEN CLASH

     

Characters who have accepted the brand’s offer will hear a call in their minds. It’s the hooded figure that granted you the power you’ve been gifted. His order is clear—the creature’s rebirth must not be disturbed. Protect it at all costs. This will give you a fantastic opportunity to show off your new powers. Band together with your fellow Branded to cause a little mayhem or face off against the unbranded as they struggle to stop the behemoth.

Fighting against former comrades will not be easy for the Chosen. Those bearing the brand have all gained strange powers based on their personalities. They include possession, mind control, elemental and blood magics, the ability to create areas of silence, life draining, or even the ability to capture others in shadowy grasps. Worse yet, the Branded are becoming stranger by the minute. As the Brand spreads across their body, their behaviour becomes increasingly violent and erratic, drawing out the worst of their personalities.

Some of the Chosen may discover a strange quirk about the new abilities that have appeared among the Branded. While the abilities may be powerful, Chosen who act selflessly to help their enthralled comrades will discover that they have become entirely immune to their influence. It won’t remove the mark itself, but it will equalise the playing field for those who want to convince their comrades to renounce the hooded figure.

THE ONE WHERE THERE’S A WILDCARD

V. LEADING—OR BENEFITTING FROM—THE SITUATION

     

As the creature’s scream resonates across the nearby area, residents of Aldrip begin to panic and flee from their homes. Unfortunately, such processes are often messy. In fact, plumes of smoke are even emerging from a few houses that were left just a little too hastily.

Whether you decide to assist in the process or decide to take advantage of the mayhem is up to you. The evacuation effort could almost certainly use some people to arrange the panicking mass into an organised exodus. Alternatively, you could try and attend to people who can’t get out on their own. Whatever you choose to do, people rarely forget the faces of those who personally come to their aid, and the villagers will almost certainly feel indebted to you if you ensure their safety.

Chaos can also bring opportunities. With everyone leaving their homes, there’s almost certainly plenty of unattended valuables left in the town. If thieving is up your alley, the opportunity to loot to your heart’s content is ripe. Just make sure that no one is watching. It would be a shame if one of your more justice-minded Chosen saw you doing something naughty, after all.

---

VI. FUCK IT, WE BALL (WILDCARD)

     

Just because there’s not a prompt for it doesn’t mean that your character’s actions aren’t acceptable. If you wish to do anything that hasn’t been directly addressed by the prompts, leave a message for the mod team to say what your character would do. If you choose to go down this path, note it as a comment on the OOC poll when it goes up, and leave a link to your threads so that we can take all actions into consideration for the next State of the Game.

Comments

EVENT QUESTIONS

[expiationmods]

[emet_sulk]

Just wanting to clarify the distinction between Chosen/Branded etc.: all the Chosen are those who were selected OOCly a little while ago, right? And from there, they had the option to accept the brand or reject it?

Re: EVENT QUESTIONS

[iravehementi]

Are there cultists in the clearing the Branded are called to or is it empty except for the monuments/prisoners?

Sephiroth | Compilation of Final Fantasy VII

[iravehementi]

[Various starters below. Mind content warnings.

Want to be infected with Jenova cells? Drop me a line here. Want to plot something different? Head on over to the CR Meme]

When Chosen Clash (Open)- Jenova Infection

[iravehementi]

[CW: blood, disease metaphor, bloodletting]

[Sephiroth floats over the din of battle, the struggling monstrosity rising from the earth creaking somewhere behind him.

He doesn't feel much of a desire to protect the creature, despite the clear orders given by the ritualists. His mind is his own. His own, but as feverish as it has been since that fateful day he'd fallen into the Lifestream several years ago.

Inside him, his blood churns and flips through his heart. Ancient instinct rises up within him. He needs to grow, he needs to spread. Like any disease, he needs to spread.

And today he has the means to do so.

With a swift, graceful movement he tugs one glove loose and summons the Masamune into his grip. All it takes is one slash across the palm for magicked blood to arc from his body and harden into blades before falling into the gathered melee below.]

((ooc: Characters struck the bloody blades will be infected by Jenova cells. Initial infection causes headaches and confusion that can subside whenever you want but it likely wouldn't last longer than an hour. Given the chaotic nature of this post, people should feel free to tag among themselves.

If you want to just play with headaches you are free to do so. Long-term infection is opt-in only. To opt in go to the plotting post!))

marianne von edmund | fe3h | branded

[snowslip]

[ starters below! if you'd like to plot something, feel free to drop me a message on the cr plotting post. ]

foreboding call | open

[snowslip]

[ In the days leading up to the incident, Marianne has become more withdrawn than usual. Often cooped up in her inn room, bags under her sleepless eyes, emerging only to go to work uncharacteristically distracted, then excusing herself early stating illness. During evenings, she can be seen head bowed walking towards the forest, where she'll disappear for hours before emerging again with mud clinging to her dress.

The evening before all hell breaks loose, her hands shake as she drinks tea in the inn's dining hall. ]

I just have a bad feeling.

[ The call in her head has become deafening. She knew it was in her blood all along, that compulsion for destruction. Was this how her ancestors felt before they succumbed to the curse? If that's what's happening to her, she...she needs to tell someone before something terrible happens. ]

Will you hear what I have to say?

Emet-Selch | Final Fantasy XIV | open (will match format)

[emet_sulk]

Emet-Selch's powers as Branded:

CONTROL/POSSESSION - Hearken to the words of the emperor or look too long into his eyes and you'll open yourself up to potential possession or hypnotism. (With permission; also open to the idea of Emet posing as someone to trick CR)

SHADOWPLAY - The Ascians 'lack shadows' so you'd better watch your own or you may find it turning against you.

SILENCE - Shh! It's rude to speak during a performance. It may suddenly feel like all the sound has vanished from the world.

(Click the headings to open them)

1. Fall From Grace

It isn't unusual for Emet-Selch to disappear to parts unknown. The Ascian enjoys solitude - even more so these days what with the state of his star. Yet there is no-one here quite familiar enough with his habits to call out his absences now. No-one to question his odd(er) behaviour. No-one to suggest that perhaps swearing oneself to yet another dark entity is perhaps not the best way to move forward in one's life.

Now blood-red lines snake over his skin, twining down his left arm like thin vines, budding with simple patterns meant to mimic tiny flower buds. A mockery of his own ley lines. With them comes power, yet also a sense of peace - like this is how everything should be.

Or it will be, once he wrests control of this land for himself.

Once he has accepted the power, he finally has the presence of mind to look around and see who else has also answered the summons. After some cursory examination of the stone tablets and monuments, he follows the path down to the prison cells. Emet-Selch is not a cruel man, but other Branded can find him testing out his powers in non-harmful ways on those cowering inside the cages.

"Oh, stop whimpering!" he bites out. A snap of his fingers and all the sound rushes out in the area around him. The blubbering prisoner's mouth moves but no sound is forthcoming. Emet-Selch smiles, satisfied.

2. Poorest Players on the Stage

He strides out on the heels of the shriek to meet those who would attempt to halt the creature's birth. Only one thought circles his mind and it repeats like a mantra: defend the creature.

The first person he sees is immediately assaulted by a hail of dark spears, cast by Emet-Selch as he hovers above the writhing tentacles. With a faint, self-satisfied smirk, the mage does not hesitate to combine his new powers with his existing ones, and he thinks nothing of killing those he sees as an enemy. The red 'vines' visible on his skin glow bright red as he uses the brand's magic and, as time passes and its influence sinks its hooks deeper into him, this will progress to the colour of his eyes.

But for now, other Chosen will run across him standing amidst a charred circle with some few scattered bodies. The bodies are too badly burnt to identify, but they're probably the few, brave and/or reckless villagers who thought to protect their home instead of fleeing with the rest.

"Oh? There's more of you. Well, this should be fun."

3. Wildcard

Feel free to drop me a comment on the CR meme if you want to do something outside of the prompts. For fight-related outcomes, please let me know if you plan to have your character win or lose so I can have Emet react/retaliate appropriately.

Prompt 2

[illumiknight]

[A long sigh leaves Mlynar's lips as he arrives at the gruesome scene left by the ascian's onslaught. Damnit all, once again, innocent blood has been shed because he's too late. He then looks over to the source of the mayhem, giving Emet-Selch a look of mixed wariness and disgust as he draws his long, thin blade from its sheath. The stranger is certainly well-dressed, but there was a familiar madness behind his eyes and actions.]

I fear that our definitions of fun do not align. Mind you, I’m not a mad caster, so I suppose I will never truly understand your perspective on this.

[After a twist of the knight’s wrist, his sword is engulfed in golden light and he assumes his stance. His eyes narrow, and his equine tail whips across the ground, kicking up dust as he prepares for the worst that this man has to offer.]

If you have any semblance of humanity left, I recommend that you stand aside. Though this hope of mine might be too naïve.

kotone shiomi | persona 3 portable | branded/ota

[orphne]

[For weeks, she'd told herself that wanting to explore the forest was normal. She was looking for the people who'd disappeared, of course -- that was the desire driving her forward. Everyone was talking about the brands, but she didn't have one, so it was fine.

Unbeknownst to her, however, between her shoulder blades, a skull had blossomed, faint at first but with increasing intensity as the days went on, spreading inky black wings across her shoulders with stairs leading up to a door marching up her back.]

A. 00:00

[At the stroke of midnight, a soft whisper starts in the back of her mind. It's not that she's unused to hearing voices -- that's just part of being a Persona user -- but this one is different. New. It reminds her a little of the Lovers Shadow she'd faced with her team almost a full year ago, calling for her to give in.

She doesn't care about power, about "remaking the world" or anything stupid like that. She likes the world the way it is. But to stop it, she has to go to the forest, right? That'll be where the villain she has to fight is. That's how it's always worked. Kotone grabs her feathery green naginata and holsters her Evoker on her hip before heading out into town at a half-jog.

She should wake up Shinji, or Dazai, or Akira, or any of the myriad of people she considers reliable friends to fight beside, but it doesn't cross her mind. It's late, she's exhausted, and if she can fight this enemy and defeat it, maybe she can finally rest. She can't let anyone stop her.]

B. Clearing

[The sense of profound relief at finding the missing people unharmed, physically if not mentally, immediately sets her mind at ease. They weren't too late. But even as she takes stock of the clearing itself, its stones and strange markings, something starts gnawing at the inside of her skull, trying to eat its way through and let itself out. Should anyone attempt to harm or test out their powers on the townsfolk trapped her, Kotone will step in, drawing herself up to her full five-foot-three height and dropping a hand to her Evoker.]

Leave them alone. Leave them alone-!

[It almost sounds like she's trying to convince herself, rather than the person she's speaking to.]

C. I Am Thou [cw: suicidal imagery]

[She has to fight back. She has to fight back she has to fight back she has to fight back-

Sprinting alongside the creature, she's trying to head it off as it heads toward town, but it's hard. Her hands don't seem to want to obey her commands, and overwhelming desire to grab her Evoker and just let her Personas run wild making her stumble and almost fall more than once.]

Stop. Stop! [It's a scream as she bursts through the trees into the welcome sight of the other Chosen arrayed against the creature. They can do it. They can fight back. Finally, she draws her Evoker and presses it to her temple, free hand gripping her chest over her heart. Her eyes close and her lips part in something almost like ecstasy.]

Persona.

[Her head jerks with the impact as she pulls the trigger, a brilliant blue flame enwreathing her head and exploding out the other side. But instead of Messiah's comforting strength, something else rips itself out, a huge dark figure that lets out an inhuman shriek almost as loud as the creature's own. Rather than turn against the creature, Thanatos lunges forward toward the other Chosen, sword drawn and arms outstretched, ready to tear and destroy and kill.]

D. wildcard!
[If you'd like to do something specific with Kotone, use this prompt or drop me a comment on the CR meme!]

B, oops.

[usarinpa]

[ Mizuki never fully accepts the offer that the whispers in her mind have promised. The brand on her arm that has formed over the weeks started as nothing more than a small, ugly rabbit, yet it has grown and distorted over time, like a balloon being slowly filled. The brand starts to burn and sting the more she resists.

She has no friends here. Be it the influence of this entity or her own callousness, she briefly wonders why she shouldn't accept the offer, and perhaps the tall lanky man has taken that weakness for acceptance. Even now, as she's staring into the faces of those who went missing, months ago, there is a small hunger that gnaws at her. Seeing them feels like being presented a feast while starving.

Do it, a voice calls to her cruelly. Don't you want to see what you can do?

It won't hurt. Not if you kill them.

The voice is familiar, and riles her up far more than it should, but before she can loose control, Kotone's shout can be heard. She raises her pipe, ready to strike down literally anyone, but then there's a moment of clarity. ]

K-Kotone!?

Nikolai Gogol | Bungo Stray Dogs | Branded (ota!)

[quizpersona]

[ Despite his efforts his conscience weighs heavy with every evil action he has taken in this life. These days the gnarled twisting of emotions within reaches an intolerable boiling point as that voice refuses to relent. It's an agony out of his own personalized version of hell. Such a complicated relationship with the concept known as God but this voice pulls and pushes and he stumbles to follow it. And thus—

A sense of serenity sweeps in as he accepts that voice's sermon. Finally, now, he feels a complete detachment. It feels like reprieve; it feels nothing at all like freedom. ]

i.

a. Early On, but still too late - Faux Network Post

[ Well! He has been called out by a certain do-gooder and all so who is he not to respond? The charm flickers on to show a back-lit figure. The face, the long silvery braid, the penchant for unnecessary showmanship might seem the same as always to those who have made Nikolai's acquaintance previously. ]

Hiii illustrious and most industrious Chosen of this world! I have been thinking a lot recently. Should I share those thoughts with you?

[ Save for the mask none of his usual jester-y accoutrements are anywhere to be seen. That last piece was saved for a live removal. He does so with a branded hand. The brand itself resembles the diamond one can find on playing cards.

In part, it's an obvious public retort intended to taunt, and yet the thing about instinctual awareness is how terrifying it is to sense wrongness but not to know the extent of it. Freedom of the mind is something Nikolai's is focused on always and so the blithe voice dies off as quickly as it came. The emotion that presides now is confusion. ]

I can no longer tell if I'm not me. And so? Do you think that's plausible evidence that I'm no longer myself?

ii.

a. The Devil Made Me Do It But I Also Kinda Wanted To CW: referenced gruesome death of a npc

[ A pale figure stands silent in the clearing off to the side of the stone monuments. He's waiting as it turns out... but for what? A snarl like grin slashes across the figure's features as he beckons out with a bloodied hand held out. Caught him after the act, have you? Being close enough to see that means that he can see you.

Despite all the screaming from the lump of viscera at his feet earlier there's not even the sound of the breeze in the surrounding area now. The... trail of evidence leads halfway back to the cages. Suddenly words soundlessly shape around the being's mouth. The words are not even a whisper but perhaps you'll be able to discern it from the unnatural silence regardless.

"Come here." ]

b. And Now For My Next Trick!

[ That figure gets tired of waiting. Those who stall for too long will find themselves pulled mercilessly through a shimmering golden tear in the fabric of reality. Despite travelling an unknown distance quickly it's evident that you're not alone. The culprit has subsequently followed. But where is Gogol stalking?

Wait just a few more seconds and find out! The silence drops abruptly for a cheery lilt to ring out as the man himself steps back into view. Bent slightly at the waist, he's got a hand pressed behind his back while the other gesticulates while he speaks. ]

So sorry for the inconvenience but as you can probably tell you've actually got a big choice to make here. Can you guess what it is?

c. Velociraptor Tactics!

[ Maybe you never got near the action at all. Those who believe they've got safety in numbers might find themselves getting snatched at the most inopportune times. A keen sensation of being watched will accompany Chosen when they gather to strategize what to do to stop the birth of the creature.

Gogol can, and will, and is using his spatial ability to open up the space beneath people's feet to steal them in front of others mid-sentence. Dare to wander from the group? He'll happily try to abduct those easy targets as well. ]

iii. Wildcard! It's as they say... fuck it we ball. 🕊️
{ooc; (´⊙ω⊙`) Spatial ability Opt-in here. Prompt ii.b and ii.c are the Overcoat immediate ones so if you tag those it's a given that ability is being used there so !Beware!

For prompt ii.c. I'm willing to take at least one thread with more than one person if you'd like your character to chase after a friend who has been yoinked right in front of them. Just lmk here if this is the case. }

c ish? i do what i want.

[nullificates]

(gogol's done this trick once, and it's not going to happen again. he's been searching, attentive, and it's for this exact reason he ditched his shoes - to feel the earth moving underneath him as the portal start to open. a touch, and it closes back again, and dazai yells into it as it dissipates.)

Come grab me, love!

(HE IS SO MAD AT THIS WHOLE THING.)

Joel | not branded | ota let's fight a tentacle monster

[aintyourdad]

cw: violence!

[ When Joel said he's been waiting for the other shoe to drop since they got here, this maybe isn't exactly what he meant - but it's not not what he meant, either.

He might've expected people more than a giant tentacle monster is what I'm saying.

Still, he has enough experience of shit hitting the fan that he takes it relatively in stride, making sure his gun is secure in his waistband, his backpack with his makeshift nail bombs in it, and he goes to the little armory where the bows and arrows and other hunting weapons are kept. ]

You got a weapon? An axe, maybe, or a rifle? That things gonna take out the whole town if we don't stop it!

[ ooc: if you wanna plot something out, hit me up at frodabaggins! ]

[inemeraldfaith]

I have—

[Well. A staff. One that just doesn’t really compare to the one she had back home in Midgar, but the smithies in Aldrip have seriously done their best. Taking it into hand, she lifts it indicatively, though her attention is largely focused on the oversized and odd creature they’re now up against. She’s expected any number of things, but this has not quite made it into her list of expectations.

Maybe back home, but not here…]

I can use this. And I have magic. I can help. I’ll put up a shield, it might be able to hold just long enough that we can get some hits in.

[A mighty bold assumption on her part that anything she has on her will be effective against this monstrosity. How can they know, however, unless they try?]

leanne erod | original character | unbranded

[caregives]

i. a monster emerges

[Leanne could feel it moving under the ground just before it emerged above it. she ran outside of the inn and towards the edge of the city, just to notice that... there was death. so much death already, where the creature was moving.

panic bubbles up in her throat, and she tries not to cry out. but she can feel the ground dying nearby, and it's almost too much.

her breath comes in short, rapid bursts for a moment as she gathers herself. she's not exactly brave, but she does raise her hands in an effort to stop the rot that's happening. but even as she tries, all it does is maybe slow the efforts, because she can't give back to the earth.

only take from it, like this monster in front of her.]

ii. evacuation

[she's not nearly qualified enough for something like this. she can fight (even if she's sorely out of shape), but the nature of the monster that's causing chaos around her makes her fairly useless. the only thing she can do with her abilities is make shields around the fleeing citizens with rock and hard packed earth to make an attempt for a safer getaway.

she's not much of a leader, so she'll try to calm people as they make an escape, but she's also a little too panicky herself to try to organize anything. it's giving her too many memories, way too many of them... of being helpless, while everything went to hell around her.

it's a scene that's playing in her head over and over, but she makes herself stay in the present moment. instead of organization, she's going to help those who can't help themselves as easily, at least until they get to the group.

and sometimes, people who have gotten pinned under debris.]

I'm going to need some help!!

[she calls in one instance as she rushes to one of the citizens, moving to try to get the fallen item off of them... it's really fucking heavy, and she knows that as strong as she is, she's going to need a second person to lift it off of them.]

ii

[hemlocked]

[There's a part of Ven that wants to run straight for the forest and take on the creature. And that's probably what a young, stupid Ven would have done. Foolishly ran straight into danger, no questions asked. But this old man recognizes there's plenty of people here with magic and powers too, but the locals aren't so lucky.

It's the civilians that get forgotten in war, and tend to take the highest losses. So before he does the stupid and goes into the forest, he's in the city, trying to help people escape the chaos and destruction.

Leanne's shouts catch his attention, and he rushes to her aid. He takes in the situation, and even with his own strength, he's not sure they can lift the object, but he has an idea.]

If we combine our powers, I think we can move it together. [The earth and plants might be dying around them, but between the two of them, surely they can summon enough earth to help push the debris away.]

Młynar Nearl | Arknights | OTA

[illumiknight]

CW: Injuries, violence
A – The wounded soldier never rests

[Beads of heavy sweat roll down Młynar’s face as he releases arc after arc of light-elemental Arts from his blade to sear away the roots before they spread into the nearby area. It’s inelegant and inefficient, but it’s the best he can manage to stop them from sapping the life from everything in the nearby area. Unfortunately, it’s also very conspicuous, and it quickly draws the beast’s attention.

A flurry of tentacles lashes out at Młynar, who does a decent job of evading them at first. However, during the barrage of blows, the knight notes that an Aldripian villager was in its path, prompting him to make a decision that would cost him dearly- he blocks it instead of dodging. It serves its intended purpose, stopping the massive appendage before it can flatten the hapless man. Unfortunately, Młynar is sent flying like a ragdoll in the process, and smashes into an oak tree before falling helplessly to the ground in an explosion of splinters.]

Ah… that’s probably a few bones cracked…

[It was almost certainly more than that. There’s a pain in the knight’s ribs that flares up with every breath as he shakily rises to his feet and channels his Arts into his blade once more. In all likelihood, he’s broken a rib or two, along with other injuries that he’s in far too much pain to diagnose at the moment. He could probably use some healing- or at least a sensible Chosen to tell him that keeping on in this condition is effectively suicide.]

B- When Chosen Clash

[To call today madness would be an understatement. Many of the Branded that surrounded the beast are people that Młynar had once seen helping around Aldrip, doing their best to make the most of their new lives in this strange world. Yet, here they were now, defending the source of this chaos. It makes no sense to the knight, whose tail whipped across the dirt in frustration as he stares up at his new foe. In fact, the foe could very well be you.]

I am choosing to believe that you have some semblance of humanity left in that heart of yours. Just turn back. We all make mistakes, so please- prove me right. I don’t want to hurt someone who can do good in this world.

[Despite these words, a faint hum sounds in the air as brilliant golden light engulfs Młynar’s blade. He’ll do what he must to drive off this new threat. Still, given how the Branded all have incredible new powers, the knight isn’t entirely sure that he will stand a chance against these unknowable threats. Still, he’ll do his best to protect the lives of those around him.]

C- Helping the Helpless

[While sprinting towards the source of the unnatural scream, Młynar arrives in Aldrip and finds that the town has devolved into absolute mayhem. People are screaming and scrambling over each other to get out of the area as fast as humanly possible. It makes sense, given the circumstances, but several people are also getting left behind in the process.

Namely, Młynar comes across a short woman with brown hair that seems to have fallen on the ground in the human stampede. Her leg is twisted, and she struggles to regain her footing. Despite these injuries, she seems more insistent that Młynar go into a nearby building that had ignited in the panic, with thick plumes of black smoke stretching up into the sky from it. From her frantic words, Młynar pieces together that her son is still in the building and trapped in one of its upper floors.

With a frustrated sigh, the knight rises to his feet and sizes the place up. He knows nothing about rescue efforts, but someone has to help out.]

Someone- anyone! I need someone to watch my back as I go in there.

A

[baldrshand]

[Ethlyn doesn't know what to do about the tendrils and tentacles. She's trying to sever as many of them with her sword as she can as she searches the town for those in need of aid, but some of them are tougher than others, and she's definitely going to need to visit the local blacksmith if the forge still exists at the end of the day.

She catches sight of Młynar out of the corner of her eye and starts trying to fight her way towards him--as she's making her way through, she hears the scream, and the thud, and the crash of a body hitting the an unforgiving object.

She ducks and dodges, sheathing her sword in favor of her staff--it's Młynar at the base of the tree, barely able to stand and doing so anyway.]

Wait! Stop! You're in no condition to continue!

vi | arcane | branded

[grappler]

i. playing with power

[Vi had thought she could control it. she'd walked into the forest more out of curiosity than desire for power -- and maybe because she wanted to punch someone in the face. that's how it'd started, but then... as she grew closer, the voice was harder and harder to resist.

after a lot of physical struggling, she finds herself swept away in the possession of that voice that'd been calling to her for so long. and why wouldn't she? everything was so nice now, so much easier to manage once she accepted it. there's still a part of her that fights though, even if it's in the background. this Vi, the one who started juggling fireballs in an attempt to experiment with her new power, was wholly entranced on what she could do now.]

I could set so much shit on fire, now...

ii. when chosen clash

[she'd tried to fight it, when she'd come out of the forest. there was still something in her that was telling her to fight, but as the brand of the graffiti starts to take control of her body, she finds herself unable to control herself.

if someone tries to interfere with the the creature, she'll be there, growling and attempting to punch them with a fiery fist.]

Get the fuck out of the way!

[she feels even more angry than normal... which is saying a lot.]

Don't interfere.

[and she'll be coming back with another punch as flames lick and grow along her body harmlessly -- but it will certainly hurt whoever ends up burned by it.]

ii

[laserguy]

[Scott's not a fighter, not yet anyway, and the only reason why he's managed to dodge her first strike at all is through some sheer luck-- although, he stumbles and falls to the ground in a slightly undignified heap soon thereafter. He looks up at the fiery redhead (although everything is red to him anyway), and just what the hell is he supposed to do??

He came here to shoot his optic blasts at a giant creature, not fight another person. He doesn't want to use them on anyone, he can't--]

W-we can't let it continue though. It's destroying everything around it.

[Scott responds, slightly determined, but also obviously fearful. If she decides to pummel him while on the ground, he probably has no chance.]

cloud strife — final fantasy vii remake

[mercedis]

( starters below, feel free to hit me with a wildcard as well! if you want to chat or discuss anything, you can find me on the plotting post here. fyi, cloud is not branded. )

speak not of the old ones

[mercedis]

STRIFE RESCUE SERVICE.

[ At first, he doesn't think anything of it. The scream that echoes through the air, as though erupted from somewhere below the earth, is strange, but it's not the first time he's heard something like that. A monster attack outside of town, perhaps, or another strange happening in the forest: his chin jerks up from where he's tending to some of the weapons at the forge in town, polishing them up for a bit of extra coin, but there's nothing that comes over them. No sound of a siren, or further screams, or anything misted through the air; a part of him nearly expects to see the Whispers, coiled up from the ground, ready to block him from any effort. In some ways, it triggers memories of the plate drop--the sound of something terrible, echoed and rooted and churning in his stomach.

But it's something different, this scream. There are hushed voices around him, whispers and confusion, which suddenly boil up into the sound of one blacksmith, pointing a soot-smeared hand up towards the sky; in the distance, the ground trembles, sending shockwaves through the streets like the beginnings of an earthquake. All it takes is seeing that first tentacle-like root, clamoring for space--he drops what he's doing and immediately moves to take to the streets back towards the main square of town.

By the time he makes it there, chaos has already bubbled over; there are roots snaking their way towards town, he hears, among screams and panic and fear. Some of the people in town seem to be rushing from their homes, trampling for the exit with handfuls of precious commodities and knick-knacks full of memories--his throat closes, immediately thinking first of Aerith. Had she stayed in the inn, today? Or had she gone out? The inn is likely too far for him to get to; it's better to follow the flow of the crowd and head towards the exit of town.

Once he gets there, he realizes how terrible it is. People are pushing, shoving, crying, yelling; voices overlap voices, threatening to push his honed senses to a headache. Swearing under his breath, he fights his way through the crowd, using his sword to try to ease the ebb and flow of people through the exit. It helps: at least minimally, but even so, as he assists the town with their exit, he finds himself looking up at the sky and that creature. A little girl runs right into his thigh; he picks her up without thinking, carefully lifting her over him to continue going. He won't be able to sustain this forever: there's just too many people, and only one him.

With another curse under his breath, he eases back a little, crouching to help someone up from where they've been knocked into by others--it appears to be another one of the people like him, someone not native to this place, and he holds out a hand to them to help them rise. ]

You good? [ His voice is clipped, commanding and to the point, as he bodily lifts them to their feet. ] Think you could help me out, here? We need to control the evacuation, or people are going to get killed.

Ethlyn | Unbranded | OTA + note for the Arztenritter

[baldrshand]

Leading and led

[Ethlyn has never seen, not even in her worst nightmares, a creature such as the one that looms over Aldrip. She wouldn't know where to begin with her sword. She wouldn't even know where to begin with a trebuchet. This thing doesn't need a warrior, it needs an army dug in for the siege.

But the townsfolk are panicking, and that means Ethlyn isn't. She doesn't have time to get her horse Venture, but she's making do with her battlefield voice and her healing staff, waving it above her head to try and rally people into some sort of order.]

This way! [She spots another Chosen in the crowd.] Come help me! We need to lead people away from town!

[She's not giving you a choice, apparently!]

It's not what it looks like

[You might also find Ethlyn diving into a home or business that is not her own. The Willow Clinic is on the edge of town and she doesn't have time--she is here for one thing only, and that is anything like medical supplies. Bandages, disinfectant, sharp scissors, aspirin, it's all going with careful haste into her rucksack. If there's a town left by the end of the day, she'll compensate people for what she's taken. Right now she's anticipating more injuries than her staff alone can handle.

If you catch her in the act, she won't be abashed. She'll just pause, stare at you a moment, and then:]

There are going to be terrible injuries. Help me gather supplies.

Worse than thrips

[Ethlyn is from a lineage of knights. She is a battlefield healer. A royal from a time and place where that means riding out as a general in war.

None of that prepared her to face down the tentacle roots of a massive colossus rising above the landscape. But here she is, trying to get from one part of Aldrip to another, and there is a mass of golden roots. A strange shriveling noise makes her eyes dart to a trellis of tomatoes against a nearby house, shrinking and withering.

She doesn't waste any more time dithering. She draws her sword and hacks at the roots before her, trying to sever them before they do any more damage.]

Pendant ping (for the Arztenritter, unless she "misdials")

This is Ethlyn! There's a terrible monster risen outside of town and extending its--its roots into it. The townsfolk are running for their lives. There will be terrible injuries before today is out. Get any healing kit you have and look for people who need help! Calm them if you can. Don't bother with a horse. They'll surely panic.

[She isn't necessarily looking for a response (so if your healer is Branded then she won't notice if it's ignored) but feel free to use this as a prompt! And she's a little hasty cycling through people to contact so even if your character isn't in the Arztenritter, they may get a ping anyhow.]

Wildcard

[What you want isn't here? Hit me up by PM, in the server, or @ compassinks!]

wildcard!

[feintofhart]

[ When trying to fight the beast towering over the village, Claude had gotten whipped but real good, an errant root lashing out and slashing across his shoulder. Nothing life-ruining, but certainly something that needs to be tended to before he can go back out there -- and he intends to go back out there, rather than let everyone else fight that horrid thing. As is, though, he's sitting with a group of other fighters who found themselves thrashed, thrown around and otherwise threatened by the creature towering above them.

Claude sits, patiently waiting his turn to get sewn up, clearly having just been through battle, an eerie looking bow sitting across his legs. When he sees Ethlyn, he brightens and waves with his good arm. ]

Ethlyn! What a surprise! Now, what's a girl like you doing in a place like this? [ He says airily, doing his level best to ignore the fact that his nice new jacket is drenched in blood. He's familiar enough with battle wounds to know that it looks a lot worse than it is, at least. ]

Kisara | Tales of Arise | Branded

[sisterlyshield]

[Click the below headlines to expand.]

I. A Branding - TW: Self Harm (Cutting)

[It was only a small, faint little thing when she and Vi had exchanged ideas on where the marks had originated. At the time, there had been plenty of theories, but no real conclusive answers. In the days that came, Kisara's own brand had only become more apparent. And spread. What once was a simple little marking on the neck just below the ear had spread in scattered design down and over her shoulders and along her arms.

In one of the kitchens Aldrip has made available to the locals and Chosen alike, Kisara's finished washing up from her latest culinary adventure. As she's scrubbing her arms beneath water that's likely hotter than it needs to be, she looks frustrated.]

Soap and water isn't going to do the trick, I guess.

[Then what? In the back of her mind has been a lingering voice. A lingering calling. Something she isn't sure is just her or not. Something she hasn't felt like she can talk about. But that's nothing new when it comes to her. Talking about herself has never been her expertise, it seems.

Loosing a breath weighed down by frustration, Kisara's amber eyes rest on a knife she's freshly cleaned. She could use it, couldn't she? Maybe just... cut it off. Gruesome, perhaps. Necessary? Kisara doesn't look certain even as she rests the sharp edge just lightly atop her skin.

It will require some finesse.]

Is there no other way?

II. Forest Callings

[The more she attempts to put it out of her mind, to distract herself with other things, the louder that call becomes. One that says what she's looking for is in the Pessiria Forest. What is she even looking for? Haven't they been there enough? She just thinks back to whatever she and Alphen thought they found the last time they were there together.

Maybe that has something to do with it.

When she can't bear it any longer, Kisara does eventually begin to make her way there. Her pacing is quicker than it ought to be, perhaps. As if she's in a hurry to find something. Anything. Whatever it might be to silence the voice that grows all the louder in the space between her ears.

She passes trees and bushes, rustling through the latter impatiently, a flicker of annoyance passing over her expression as she does so.]

Come on. Don't make this harder than it has to be.

III. Magicked

Oh—

[A flutter of fire leaves her open palm, which snuffs out about as quickly as it's arrived. She can't say where it's come from, but there's a nagging voice in the back of her mind telling her it's related to the other events at hand. For some days now, she's had a strange affliction for heat.

As a Dahnan, Kisara has only known that her people have been looked down upon. Treated as lesser beings. Considered less than worthy or perhaps incapable of special skills like that of the Renans, it's a strange thing when one wakes up and suddenly can set things on fire.

Which means accidentally doing the same to things that likely belong to other people.]

Oh, jeez. I'm sorry.

[Really. She didn't do it on purpose. Probably. At least it's an accident for now.]

IV. Guardian

[Like so many other things that Kisara has been unable to explain—the brand, the voice that's lingered in her head, the need to pay visit to the forest, the ability to use fire—she can't say what compels her to defend the creature that towers above her. She wouldn't call it unsightly, though surely others might. She shouldn't want to rightfully protect it.

So why does she?

All she knows is when she sees it facing potential harm in the dim lighting of the cave that stands around them, preventing it from its escape, she must intervene. As if her ability to breathe hinges on that very success. Whatever you might be doing, if you're meaning to take down that creature, you'll have to get through her first and Kisara likely doesn't intend to make that an easy exchange.

With impressive tower shield in one hand and mace in the other, she's on the scene.]

Draw your weapon. I can't let you proceed.

V. Wildcard

[What it says on the tin! This is for all of your additional prompt needs. Feel free to hit me up for closed starters here, as well. You can PM me or catch me in the discord.]

i (for now)

[menancia]

[Whether it is some sort of kismet or simply luck that brings Dohalim to the same kitchen Kisara has busied herself in that afternoon, he cannot say. It's not the sort of place he's inclined to visit on his own with any sort of frequency, but the growing urge to try and put some of what Shinjiro and Astralin have managed to teach him into effect without their aid had lead him to do so. He has still not spoken of his pursuing cooking lessons to his companions from back home, at least not at length, and hopes to surprise them by producing something worthwhile— but all thoughts of doing so leave him when he arrives to find Kisara already in residence, and in a position that is so strange that it takes him the space of a few heartbeats to decipher what it is she means to do, unlike her as it is.]

Kisara, I had not expected to— Kisara!

[There is urgency in his voice as realization dawns on him; he moves quickly, his eyes startlingly wide as he draws close enough to catch her by the shoulder, crimson brows knit together in concern.]

What are you—?!

[He's so startled that he cannot finish his thought, cannot fully form it in the first place, let alone speak it.]

dazai osamu | bungo stray dogs | not branded

[nullificates]

𝐢. 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐢'𝐯𝐞 𝐠𝐨𝐭 𝐚 𝐬𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐦𝐲 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐠𝐨𝐞𝐬

(a man departs of the inn as soon as dazai puts his charm down. it's wearying, figuring out what chuuya is going to do when their seemingly collective mind is not their own. at least, with how dazai's paid the locals to monitor and report, he knows exactly where the redhead is going. once he caught up with him, however, things take a deeper dive into the unknown. gogol, and now, neither. it means dazai has to hike, and so he does, heedful of marks, attentive to whatever he can scan with his capable detective eye. not that it always helps, when gogol and chuuya can overcoat in and out as much as needed without dazai's nullifying touch.

eventually, he needs to rest his legs, sore and beaten from all the walking, eyes exhausted from all the squinting, and shoes soaked from the humidity of the forest. whoever walks in will see dazai with his eyes closed, cigarette between fingers, recently lit, and ears will pick the slowest heartbeat, faded, so he can cool down his own body before he proceeds his search. once the presence is felt, his index finger rests upon his lips, asking for silence.

please.)

𝐢𝐢. 𝐢 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞 '𝐞𝐦 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐬𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐞

('no longer human' has always been a wonderful thing. one touch, no ability can touch him, a person's livelihood embalmed and contained within them, unable, calmed into an eery silence as a cool wash encompasses it. it's a rare ability that has made him as valuable for it as he has been for his wits and mafia black heart. thing is, while he is a fairly good fighter, he can't do miracles, his stamina isn't his greatest strength. it's dazai's intellect that makes it.

his thought is plain. reach chuuya, so corruption doesn't eat him alive. reach kotone, then reach gogol. from there, his hands are pretty much full, and he can station at a safe place holding as many as he can. as long as he's touching them, it should be fine. it's reaching that's the problem, with all the chaos, the destruction, and he's just one unit of twink.

to whoever is next to him, dazai pleads.)

Help me make space! If I touch them, it'll go away!

𝐢𝐢𝐢. 𝐦𝐚𝐲𝐛𝐞 𝐢 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐛𝐞 𝐚 𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐡𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞 (𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐝 + 𝐜𝐰 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬)

(beds, either real ones, or make-shift, now make the arrangement of his room. it's what he can do, even if he too isn't good on his feet, if everything aches. if something makes an appearance, it's all but a touch to quiet it. he can't sleep, under no circumstances, so the amount of stimulants he's on will certainly cause him to crash as soon as he's able.

right now, however, that's his own problem, not anyone else's. serenely, as if none of that is on his mind, he sits on the edge of a bed, a glass of water offered, and one of those rather credible, however hollow smiles.)

Here, yeah? You should catch some sleep! Is it hurting anywhere?

iii.

[quizpersona]

[ Just as thought the downtime is disastrous for not thinking. At least with Dazai running around playing nursemaid that's something to watch from his haphazard assortment of blankets. No emergency hidden blanket pile was safe from his reach it seems. It's only from his mix-matched gaze up to the top of a messy head of hair that manages to pop out from that soft barrier.

Which means it's such a devastating development when the man approaches and he avoids looking at him out of instinct. ]

I think you should guess the answer to that.

[The energy here is really giving Cinderella on a smoke break at D*sney w*rld... Although evidently he wills up SOME whimsy after hearing himself.]

and then maybe I'll give you a prize if you guess it right!

kate galloway / original (unbranded) / ota | cw: panic attacks

[bratherine]

—if it all burns down, well that's just life.

( An echoing, bone-scraping shriek turns the town into chaos, and panic rises through the city like the bile in Kate's throat.

An emergency.

It isn't a surprise, not really - of course a place like this would have shit happening, and that guy in the inn said he felt they were due one - but the chaos all but explodes out. The creature's shriek followed by a million crying, howling voices of terrified villagers, feet stampeding through the streets, the rattle of the building as a panicked mass flees.

The inn shudders, a motion which does more for making Kate's legs work than the scream itself. A sprint down the stairs of the inn quickly becomes a stumble, hand grabbing the wall as her lungs constrict like she's been running for hours. Stuttering to a halt, she heaves, trying and failing to drink in air and stop the racing of her heart.

Trying and failing to stop her mind conjuring shattered buildings, smoke and fire curling through streets.

She doesn't even notice that she's coiled up into a ball, arms latched painfully tight around her legs, pressed into the corner of the corridor, only the sound of approaching footsteps and the violent scream of danger, of being a trapped fox, blaring in her chest. )

Go away!

—we're all going anyways.

( hit me with anything! feel free to answer her permissions form if you want to play with her power sight ability. )

if it all burns down

[snowslip]

[ Perhaps unfortunately for Kate, the first one to come across her is among the branded. Marianne has been guarding her long-limbed friend as it feeds on the town. She strolls serenely through the chaos as if she were taking her horse out to the meadows to graze. The part of her consciousness that hasn't been completely overtaken pauses at the sight of one girl huddled alone in the rubble. ]

Are you alright?

[ A hand marred with black curse marks reaches out to her. ]

You must leave. It's not safe while this child is out.

Chuuya Nakahara | Bungo Stray Dogs | Branded

[darkdisgrace]

Playing with power - CW: NPC mutilation

[Eventually, the voice had worn him down. Homesickness, yearning, and a strong sense of helplessness had been enough to push Chuuya over the edge, after enough time. And while it had taken a fair bit of effort to escape a certain nullifying bastard and get to the forest, with some timely help Chuuya had managed it.

He's actually fairly calm and perhaps even friendly, to his fellow branded. Practicing with his new powers--shadow binding--, but almost serene for someone like Chuuya.

Until he catches one of the captives trying to escape, anyway.

The bloodcurdling screams echo through the clearing as Chuuya twists one of their legs a full 180 degrees with red-glowing hands, shattering bone and tearing muscle.]

Guess I'll have to make sure you don't make any more trouble, huh?

[Hm, he might need to do the other leg, just to make sure.]

Speak not of the old ones

[Chuuya doesn't hesitate to head out to clear a path for the newly arrived creature as to makes it's way forward. While the creature is still pulling itself out of the ground, Chuuya is walking towards town, fully intent on stopping anyone entering the forest he comes across.

Shadows beneath the feet of the unbranded twist and grasp, trying to snarl legs. Chuuya smirks, approaching slowly.]

Sorry, but we don't need any interruptions right now.

When Chosen Clash

[As the creature starts to close in on the town, as chosen start to fight back in earnest, Chuuya knows they doesn't have enough firepower to handle all of this, to protect what must be protected at all costs. New powers or not, they're wildly outnumbered.

Well. There's one way to change that.

It's a choice Chuuya wouldn't normally make, unless it was do or die. But right now it feels exactly like that, his priority the protection of the creature slowly approaching town.

He tugs off the leather gloves covering his hand. Takes a breath.

Lets go.]

O, grantors of dark disgrace... do not wake me again.

[The atmosphere near Chuuya is suddenly oppressive, heavy.

Literally heavy, in fact, as the red brand on his cheek and neck starts to blend with more red marks appearing all over his body. The ground beneath his feet craters and crumbles, earth shattering and tree branches snapping.

There's no awareness in his eyes as he grabs one of those trees, rips it out of the ground and throws it towards any oncoming chosen. No awareness in his eyes as he raises a hand soon after, a ball of black nothingness gathering in his palm.

Some might think it's some sort of energy blast, until Chuuya throws it and it seems to devour whatever it immediately hits, tearing everything else apart with the force of a black hole.

There's a snarl on Chuuya's lips and no awareness in his eyes, only pure carnage. His hand raises again, lobbing another black hole towards the direction of the treeline and any approaching chosen. At the very least, his aim isn't perfect like this. But also... his aim isn't perfect like this.

The town isn't that far.]

[OOC: Plot with me over at his CR meme comment or through Plurk symbological, or discord at AlisaMakora#8376 if you want something different or specific! Warning that the last prompt where Chuuya unleashes the full extent of his power is Extremely Dangerous, he will fight without mercy or rational thought until he his own ability kills him, destroying everything in his path with no regard for personal injury. Eventually Dazai Osamu will step in to nullify him, but until then people can have fun fighting a walking natural disaster.]

when chosens clash

[nullificates]

(even from the distance, dazai feels the very structure of his bones freeze. it's not like he's already tired, his feet torn to pieces due to the lack of shoes (an anti-gogol measure), stabs, wounds, cut lip, and however he's moving was also beyond him, but as soon as he hears it, he knows exactly why.

chuuya. this is the worst possible outcome, one he had predicted, and one he had been fighting against every since he got here. his first plan. he knows this state too well, like the back of his hand, and he knows it's not long until chuuya's body gives out to the immense energy that it's expelling. fuck, shit, fuck. getting closer is a nightmare, punches, stabs, burns, frozen skin, his bandages undone from the damage. he'll take long, way too long to arrive, at the pace and at the chaos before his eyes. his heart is uncontrollable. it's like watching his own ticking death arriving as chuuya's own does.

it might be very last minute when dazai finally reaches him, panting, exhausted and from behind because then, it's safer, and he wraps arms around his waist.)

Rest, Chuuya. I got you.

(but honestly, he almost wants to come down once chuuya does.)

Alive, Chuuya?

(if not, he is going to burn this place up himself.)

Aerith Gainsborough | Final Fantasy VII-R | Unbranded

[inemeraldfaith]

[Please click the respective below headers to expand! All prompts are OTA. A wildcard prompt is for everything else. You can DM me to make plans or contact me on Discord (I'm in the server!). I'm very happy to write closed starters for any interested parties.]

01. It's like Herding Sheep

[More and more of the Chosen that have begun to be referred to as 'Branded' have been making their way to the forest. Aerith follows where she can, tries to keep an eye on any of them, whether she knows them or not, just in hopes of keeping them safe. But that number feels like it grows, the more days pass.

Her feelings about Pessiria haven't changed. If anything, every time she follows a Branded answering a call she can't hear, she feels that sense of dread and foreboding grow. It nibbles at her insides, an anxiety that she cannot simply shake off. Something is going to happen.

Soon, she suspects.

It would be wiser to avoid the forest if they could. With a gentle hold on a shoulder, perhaps a forearm, or even snagging of a hand, Aerith is trying to coerce you, the very lucky Branded (or unlucky, as the case may be), from the lull of the forest.]

We've spent enough time here. We should go back. I don't like the feeling this place gives us.

[Gives her.]

02A. When Chosen Clash - Aerith: 4-Time Coliseum Battle Winner

[On her proverbial list of things to do, Aerith has not put 'knock sense into people' terribly near the top. Although with that said, she has certainly learned to expect the unexpected, especially in this place. Better not to get too comfortable, too complacent, or too confident that things will actually fall into some kind of organised order.

It seems, objectively, a little silly to go protecting something that, to her, is clearly not here to be anyone's friend. Although she hasn't quite figured out the creature's true motive, whatever that might be, she hasn't been able to directly get to it. Mostly because she keeps getting stopped by Branded, who seem to think they're doing it a service.

With a firm hold on her staff, she expertly spins it about, giving the most put out look that she can muster.]

You really don't want to make me angry! I hit people with chairs and I'm actually very good in a fight!

[Yeah, sure. At least the chair part is true. She probably isn't completely a pushover, honestly.]

02B. When Chosen Clash - Maybe Less Fighting, More Healing

Hey—

[Maybe you've just really taken a beating. Perhaps you got one hell of a wallop from one of the tree root tentacle things. Whatever the case is, you might not be one hundred percent and Aerith is here to help you with that. Right at your side, she's patient with imploring and hopeful expression.]

Stay with me, okay? We're gonna get through this. I can help you.

[At least she can if you're willing to let her. She isn't sure she can tap into planet energies or anything on that impressive level of ability, but at least she has some curative magic at her disposal...]

03. Tactical Retreat

[The rumble of the pit-cave itself is worrisome. Its integrity won't hold and Aerith suspects they're all on borrowed time, regardless of whether they're Branded or Unbranded. The markings no longer matter. What does matter is the ability to save as many people as she can.

No matter what side you're fighting for, Aerith's intent of curling an arm around yours with an encouraging tug. This is no time for proper introductions if they've never met before. This is no time for pleasantries and charming conversation. This is the time for action.]

Come on! I don't think we have a lot of time! If you follow me, I'll get you out of here.

[Never mind that she too, probably needs to get out of there. Let's call it a team effort, shall we?]

01 to start with! :>

[theleadingman]

[Ignoring the brand after his initial discovery had seemed, at the time, as solid a plan as any other— it had quickly become quite clear to him that no amount of scrubbing would remove it from his flesh. Its spread made it even more clear that ignorance would do him no favors; his brand remains largely hidden by his sleeves and high collar, but by the time he makes his way into the forest, it has begun to peek over the latter, creeping along the line of his jaw, red and angry.

Curiosity had won out over his efforts to resist the call, and yet coming here... it did not feel entirely like a conscious choice. The lure is so intense, his focus so narrowed, that he does not even notice Aerith has joined him until he feels her hand on his shoulder, her voice careful and coaxing. He turns his gaze to her, narrowing his eyes for a moment before giving a gentle shake of his head in turn, fixing his attention on the trees ahead once more.]

There's something here.

[He lifts to take her hand, fingers curling against it so that he can carefully move it from his shoulder, freeing himself to walk forward.]

Whatever it is, it's important.

Abe no Seimei | OC | branded

[emyoji]

i. Testing, testing

[ Let me in. As someone familiar with many different monsters and spirits, Seimei knows the sound of a deal when he hears it. A soft, too pleasant whisper in his head, promising all manner of things in return for obedience. Just a little aid in a greater fight. Seimei doesn't care about overwhelming power, and he's certainly not an expert in paradise of any form, but the lure itself is its own appeal, because the fox has done some possessing himself, but he's never been possessed.

How else is he going to know the limits of their power? Or his own?

He initially notices the fire ability suddenly waiting in his mind, granted by the strange voice directing him. When he reaches the monuments, he lingers, poking his head down a few of the paths to confirm what is at the ends. And then, when other Chosen happen to notice him, perched on one of the monuments, he waves. ]

Hello there. I thought things would never get interesting.

ii. Playing with psionics (Potential possession if people want.)

[ When unbranded start to fight back either to defend the prisoners or themselves against the branded, Seimei starts fighting back more seriously. He starts by using telekinesis to grab weapons and throw any available projectiles--including tablets and perhaps people. And for some, he reaches out with the voices of the hooded figure, letting them pick out the people and memories that matter most using them as leverage to convince others to follow him and yield to possession. He can't let them interrupt the coming birth. ]

iii. What was I doing?

[ Once the strange creature starts to rise, Seimei defends it, using his new fire abilities and some minor illusions of his own, and maybe even some of the psychic compulsions to way the unmarked and defend the monster sucking life from the ground. ]

It's beautiful, isn't it? Why would you want to hurt such an important creature? Don't be jealous. You can join it too.

[ ooc: I'm here for any Branded teaming up/competing, playing with powers if anyone wants to see Seimei's more feral kitsune side, or if anyone would sacrifice for him and break the curse. If you have other ideas, lmk! I'm open to whatever plotting. ]

what was I doing?

[snowslip]

Seimei's right.

[ Marianne agrees as she steps forward to join him. She looks different than usual, and not just because of the black curse marks over her body. Accepting the call had brought her clarity, relief. She's eerily calm as she greets him with a smile, all while the creature continues to feed destructively around them. ]

It's good to see you. It pains me that the others won't accept our friend.

noel kreiss | final fantasy xiii | branded

[oracledriven]

i. into the forest [ANYONE]

[He didn't even notice it happening, not at first. Magic has been part of life on Pulse since before Noel was born—it's something he's known all his life, so when it started coming a little easier, when things started getting a little colder a little faster, he didn't think anything of it. It felt right. Easy.

By the time it's big enough to notice, it's too big to stop, and he's not even sure he wants to, anyway.

He's made his way into the forest, by now. There's a chill in the air, despite the warm weather, and explorers will note that their breath begins to fog as they proceed, the chill becoming more and more pronounced. Soon, they'll notice the crunch of ice underfoot, as if an unseasonable frost has taken hold of the area.

Noel can be found in the center of a clearing, everything around him encased in ice. He leaves in his wake a trail of destruction, of a sort: ice has made the surroundings and new plant growth undeniably brittle, tender spring buds and fragile young trees frozen so deeply that they will shatter with a touch.]

ii. a test run for new power [for UNBRANDED]

[ooc note: this is a prompt that utilizes mind control; responding to it is considered an opt-in for that effect]

[There is some small, faraway part of him that knows this is wrong. He can see it on the faces of the prisoners in their cages, the desperate fear in their eyes. This is wrong. These are people, real people, and they're terrified, and none of them deserve the pain they're going through.

All of this he thinks distantly, unable to stop it.

Like a caged animal, he paces the streets of Aldrip, their faces burning holes in his mind. Something in him cannot, will not, let him stop it or free them. Something in him knows there's nothing he can do.

But you? You, unbranded, are perfect for this.

Noel makes eye contact with anyone who happens to cross his path, and as he does, you'll find yourself unable to move, in the thrall of this half-wild young man with deep, dark circles under his eyes. Can you speak? Can you protest? Maybe. But you're going to do what he says—some part of you knows that inescapably.]

I need you to come with me.

[And you'll obey.]

iii. when chosen clash [ANYONE]

[ooc note: this prompt may involve small amounts of attempted mind/power control, but successful attempts can be opted into or out of at any time. this prompt can also involve fighting or trying to free noel from the thrall of the creature]

[It's not the first time he's fought on the side of a monster, but something in the back of his mind questions whether this is right or not. Not enough to shake him loose from the creature's control, but the seed of doubt is certainly there.

That being said, he stands before the roots of it, looking for all the world like he's calm and collected. His swords are drawn and he's taken up a defensive stance.]

Sorry, but if you wanna get any closer, you're gonna have to go through me.

[It's not the first time he's fought someone in a face-off like this, either.]

wildcard
[I'm open to anything! PM me or ping me on plurk posolutely if you want to plot something out.]

iii

[baldrshand]

[Noel isn't the first one of the Arztenritter to be infected by the creature--that's how Ethlyn has come to regard the affliction. The solution is probably to destroy the infection at the source.

And he's here, and he's not going to let her without a fight...? That's not good. Ethlyn has no desire to fight him. She knows she may have to, but surely there's some way to avoid it....]

Noel. Why do you protect this creature? Haven't you seen what it's done to the town?

alphen | tales of arise | unbranded

[sincleavers]

i. leading the situation

[He's generally most helpful in a fight, but even without the Iron Mask blocking his ability to feel pain, Alphen isn't going to flinch away from helping people get out of this mess. He readily begins taking on the work of organizing the evacuation, whether it's navigating through the chaos of the city or helping escort those who can't leave on their own.

Finding people who are trapped under rubble or at threat of being trampled by the crowd quickly becomes a priority. Perhaps you're one of those—he'll waste little time trying to help dig you out, finally offering a hand to pull you up.]

Are you alright? Come on, let's get you out of here.

[Anyone looking to help out will get a tense nod and be put to work.]

I could use some help blocking off some of the paths that aren't safe anymore. And we should probably get some better transportation for people too slow to keep up with this mess.

[Despite his best efforts, he's starting to look a little worn down, himself.]

ii. taking on the unknown

[Alphen has been going through no small period of adjustment, recently, and as much as he's been shouldering it all with a good attitude, he feels it all most keenly in this moment. With his ability to feel pain restored, and lacking Shionne's presence to use the Blazing Sword, he's frustrated by his own abilities but no less doing his best. Longsword in hand, he does his best to take on the creature. It's not as if it's the first larger-than-life enemy he's ever fought, and it certainly won't be the last.]

Heads up! [A warning, as Alphen charges past, quickly followed by a colossal root, which slams down onto the ground as it tries to catch up to him.

To those attempting to flee the scene, Alphen will offer to cover you and distract the creature as you go. He might also take a blow from a monster or from a branded Chosen he's trying to snap out of their thrall. But if you happen to be able to fight, he's going to work on a team-up, going easily into the mode of a team leader.]

Circle around, we'll attack it from both sides. Watch your back!

wildcard
[open to anything with him too! posolutely or PM/discord message if you want to make plans]

ii

[finisaeternam]

[Vholran teleports around the massive creature in flurries of ice and freezing wind, slashing wherever he can.

This creature is controlling the branded and branded had tried to control him. Whatever this thing is, it's the source of a major problem just like the Great Spirit of Rena had been.

He's intent to kill it but no matter how many roots he carves up, more seem to sprout in their place.

With a furious roar, he charges at the creature's main body and is lifted entirely off the ground by a blow to his midsection from a swinging root. He lands on his back and slides until he comes to a rest near Alphen, looking dazed.]

Bartolomeo | One Piece | Branded (all prompts open come get)

[chicken_kun]

I. Abduction

[At first, Bartolomeo resists. Best as he can. His will is strong, but that voice in his head is nagging. There's only one thing he wants and it's not in this world, so hanging around and doing anything to it is basically not even slightly tempting.

But then come the shadows. They're coming for him.

He doesn't run, but what good is fighting? We'll find out. While the townspeople flee around him, he's near the edge of town, almost waiting for his potential enemies. That said, he has no idea what form they'll take, so any Unmarked who come upon him might just find themselves accidental targets instead]

C'mon! Come get me, you creepy fucking bastard!

[in the end it will fail, but this is a good place for someone to try to stand their ground, with or against him]

II. Chosen Against Chosen

[yeah so, fighting didn't work. In the end, Bartolomeo is there at the feet of the eldtritch horror, arms up and fingers crossed, cackling wildly. He slipped, and the shadows got in, encouraging him to just let go for once, and he does. If he was bad before, he's downright awful now.

Get close enough and that's as far as you'll go. He's putting up barriers to prevent anyone from getting close enough to the behemoth. Sure, he has shiny new elemental magic, but it's more fun to bait the Unmarked to come for him and watch what happens. It's really not hard to take him down if you can get past the barriers. Fortunately, he has a limit, and the hotter he runs the faster he'll reach it, but nobody knows that yet.

Come at him!]

[OOC: there is more info on how his Branding has affected him here as well as open prompts to meet him before the event, I will backtag to eternity!]

claude von riegan | fe3h | unbranded

[feintofhart]

i. what the fuck is that.

[ Claude has barely been here for any time at all, and up until this very moment, has considered this place to be not unlike the villages he's passed through back home. Everything at least feels the same, from the farmlands to the markets to the hustle and bustle of people busy with their daily lives. He has no reason to expect anything else, beyond a little religious weirdness and their impending trials, whatever those may be.

Which means he's not expecting this enormous monster to come flailing out of the ground like the devil itself. He staggers back, eyes widening and mouth going slack as he takes into account the sheer size of the creature.

Unfortunately, this isn't his first rodeo when it comes to some terrifying creature coming out of nowhere, but that doesn't make the sight any more welcome. ]

What the hell is that?!

ii. evacuation efforts.

[ In the coming moments, Claude nearly gets buffeted away by the crush of people running from the creature before them. He doesn't blame them, but Claude's been in governance long enough to know trouble when he sees it: this sort of rapid, undirected evacuation will end with people trampled and crushed, the young, sick, and elderly unable to move with the crowd.

This, he knows how to do -- but he'll need help. ]

Hey! [ He seizes upon whoever seems to have any clarity of wit and what he hopes is a clarity of disposition. ]

If this keeps going, we're gonna have more problems on our hands than just that monster! We need to direct the crowd or else someone's gonna get hurt. Help me block off the side streets and get some of these carts out of the way!

iii. plan of action.

[ Once everyone who's going to be evacuated has been, many of those who remain have holed up in a pub. Some have been helping themselves to some free alcohol, but as long as there's no obvious looting going on, Claude's happy to accept it as taxation for what's about to happen next. Honestly, he had thought about evacuating himself - he has no power here, no guidance, and certainly no friends or family - but something didn't feel right about it. It's not pride. There's no honour in staying to face down your unnecessary doom, no honour lost in fleeing. Responsibility, he supposes. Worry for those who have been left behind. ]

Okay, [ he says, leaning across the table. ] If we're going to deal with this, we're going to need some sort of game plan. What does everyone know about that thing? And what do you all know about those of us who decided to side with it? I know there's something weird going on there.

iv. wildcard.

[ Hit me up with anything else you'd like! If you want to plot, feel free to PM me, DM me, or hit me up on plurk @ wisdombitch. ]

Biwasaka Eiji | Caligula Overdose | Branded

[nonbinding]

A. A Test Run For New Powers | Open

[Even in his right might, without being urged on by something as nefarious as the brands, Eiji is inconsiderate and uninterested in the boundaries of others. It is something he often doesn't act on because of two facts: the chance of being caught and held accountable, and how unseemly it is.

But those facts don't matter now. Not when it is as clear as it has ever been that Eiji is above the common man. Because of his traits, because of who he is, Eiji has been acknowledged for his superiority. The brand that he bears attests to this. It is his right to do to those below him in station whatever he wishes. If anything, those poor, pathetic wretches should be grateful that he is so merciful in his treatment of them. Eiji could do much worse, he feels.

Right now, he is satisfied with having used his mind control to cause some of the prisoners to fall prostrate before him. To bow, as should be the position such utterly pathetic refuse takes before him.

He taps his chin, considering what to command them to do next.]

It's unfortunate there are such limited options here.

[He muses to himself.

If Eiji has any concern about how much the Brand has grown, has begun to trace patterns across his body, he does not show it. Why should he? Let it. It's a sign of his superiority. Of his status as overman. Why should he be bothered by it?]

B. Clash | Closed to Shikishima Ritsu

[It was inevitable, Eiji supposed. Too many people just do not know their place in the world. Eiji can appreciate struggling against that which binds you, but he cannot tolerate those who would fuck with him. A swarm of pathetic ingrates who should be grateful Biwasaka Eiji would even acknowledge their existence in testing his signs of ascendence.

By this point, Eiji has entirely lost it. He lashes out not just with his new found powers of mind control, but with the pyrokinesis he has always had to try and keep these animals off of him. Between the control of the eldritch entity, and his own rage, Eiji is a burning pyre, and not much more, as he defends himself.]

Get back. Do you want to die, you bastards?

[For the moment, Eiji hasn't gone for a kill on any of the escaped prisoners or those facing him. Holds back on it only because he wants the chance to try and control them, if he can.

It isn't a good plan. He isn't paying enough attention, and if he doesn't soon, the chance of him being overwhelmed is high.]

[suicideprototype]

[Perhaps an unforeseen consequence of the brainwashing is that Ritsu's Catharsis Effect just doesn't come out the way that it should. In the end, it's a power solely driven by one's individuality — and so, with Ritsu's identity being suppressed and drowned out by an external force, it's only natural that the Catharsis Effect isn't working correctly.

An enemy is charging full-force at Eiji from behind. Ordinarily, it would be a simple matter for Ritsu to shield Eiji with a barrier. However, in his current state —— ]

Watch out!

[All he can do is push Eiji out of the way and take the brunt of the blow himself. The force of it knocks him off his feet and sends him sprawling onto the ground, and in that instant, something happens.

Can Eiji sense it? Their link has been severed.]