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expiationlogs2023-05-19 08:15 am
{EVENT #2} ADVERSITY 168518.2092
| 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.
no subject
here, that's what he's doing.)
Ah, no worries, I actually don't sleep much regardless! I'm fine, drugs are wonderful, you want some? Ah, actually, no, these are totally mine, don't know why I offered, fufufufufu! Mine, mine. You, however, I'm going to give you some sedatives for the pain, you totally should be resting right now than worrying about detectives without a medical degree, yes? Where does it hurt? Let me take a look.
no subject
He gives Dazai a long look, the kind of look that says he sees what you're doing.]
I-- [I'm fine, he almost says, and even if he wasn't, he could cast a quick healing spell...but then he looks at Dazai and wonders if maybe he's not the only one who needs something else to focus on. He sticks out his arm, still blackened by the brand -- fading now, but only just. Beyond that, there's a large, messy gash along the back of his arm where the vines turned on him.] ... Maybe I need a bandage after all.
no subject
('no longer human', a blessing, a curse. if he were to be healed, he'd have to be on death's door, heart no longer beating, so 'no longer human' couldn't interfere, and, well, as soon as it heals a little bit, it'd stop doing so. dazai's just got to keep up with the pain, pretend it's not his, and move on. the first aid kits are everywhere, so it just takes a little stretch to reach it.
let's clean this first, his hand touches the arm, and he looks at noel to remind him it's fine before he starts wiping it with medicine.)
no subject
[Small talk. He can do that. He watches Dazai as the man administers the first aid kit. That first touch really is something else, and he winces, not because it hurts or anything but because it feels so weird. Magic has been part of life on Gran Pulse since long before he was born. Being without it feels...like suddenly walking into a quiet space after you've been somewhere noisy. Something is just absent.
A power like that...he can't help but wonder if it might have been able to save Yeul. If it might have saved Serah. Maybe it could've saved the whole world.]
cw self harm mention
(perhaps not that secret, considering how he remarkably clearly has issues with his being on this earth. either way, he won't ever come out to say it that straight-forwardly. it's easy to bullshit with his little giggles, as he takes his time making sure all wounds are clean, the iv is set in place correctly, before he reaches for the bandages.
not much escapes his eye, and there's a chuckle to punctuate that.)
It's strange, isn't it? I hear so sometimes.
no subject
His eyes move to Dazai at the observation, and he nods.]
It feels a little weird, yeah. But I can see how it'd be useful, too.
[His voice softens a touch with those words. Yeul would have hated it, wouldn't she? Even if it could have saved her life.]
no subject
(no longer there, perhaps. he's never felt anything different, born with it pumping in his veins, so it's not like he's ever stopped to wonder how it would feel to not have it.)
no subject
[The words feel a little bitter, not because he feels them but because he's heard them before. Was this how Lightning felt, then, when her god made her into the Savior? Was this what he was fighting against?]
Has it always been like that? You having that ability?
no subject
Mhm? Yes. We are born with it, where I'm from. Those two over there are also from my place.
(his finger points to the man with long silver hair, clown posture, in his blanket fort, and the one he definitely has been giving sedatives for. gogol, chuuya, himself, and he wonders who else could show up. it'd be helpful, certainly.)
no subject
Friends from home? Must be nice.
[His tone is a little light. Given how Dazai is, he has no idea whether the two are actual friends or just people he knows. Still, having that familiarity...doesn't sound too bad.]
no subject
(it's rather complicated. gogol is a terrorist, fighting against dazai, whose latest endeavour was to put him to escape the most secure prison in the world, along with killing fyodor in the process. ah, with poison in their veins, to make it more fun.
chuuya... ah, the hatred of the ordeal of being awfully known.)
You got people here too, kid? It's bad for you to just have me visiting your attic, you know.
no subject
Sure sounds that way. I bet they keep you on your toes, though, huh?
[At least, that's been his experience with that sort of complicated. He pauses at the question, shaking his head.]
No. --I mean, I know people here, of course, but...no one from my home.
no subject
(it sounds too serious, but, truly? not really. their relationship is symbiotic, soulbonded, killing one would not do the other any good. keeps both breathing and disgusted at each other in the process.
the pause. ah. does he miss them?)
Would you like there to be?
no subject
I...guess that's one way to deal with an enemy.
[Does he believe Dazai would do that? He doesn't know the man well enough to say for sure -- he'd like to think the answer is no, though.
... Now there's a question.]
No. ...maybe. [A brief sigh.] It's complicated. I don't know if I'm ready to see them again -- especially not here.
no subject
Ah, wanna talk? I'm all ears. You never really tell me anything!
no subject
I don't, huh? Is there something you want to know?
no subject
What kind of people are your friends at home?
no subject
They're good people. They've been through a lot...and maybe one of them is a self-sacrificing idiot. [A faint smile.] But no matter what happened, they always treated me like a friend.
[No matter what he said about them. No matter what he'd done. It was almost too much, having them on his side, and when Hope had vanished, he couldn't handle Snow's altruism anymore -- especially toward him. And yet... He glances at Dazai.]
You ever have someone like that? The kind of person who puts up with you even when you don't deserve it?
no subject
(all he's hearing, however, is self-forgiving issues for whatever it is that noel can't seem to let go. 'derserve', 'no matter what happened', all these sound awfully like one single thing:
i fucked up, i've been forgiven, and i don't understand it.
it had been a simple question, but how one sees their relationships does say much about them than it says about others. dazai's ears always dissect what they hear, after all.
but the question makes him look at chuuya, sleeping, clinging to his health with all he has. dazai's ruined him, betrayed him, and the bed he's on is their own, where both sleep.)
Mhm... Absolutely not! ✨
(can't say it out loud, but he's giving noel the real answer with his eyes.)
no subject
[A knowing glance, because you can't always get something for nothing, after all. Dazai is plenty good at asking questions -- maybe eventually they'll get to see if he's ever able to answer them.
It should be unsettling -- the fact that Dazai seems to get him so easily. But Noel has never been able to be dishonest; for all his bravado, he wears his heart on his sleeve. Thinking about it that way, maybe he shouldn't have been surprised that people compared him to Snow. They could never see eye-to-eye on most things, but they both cared deeply.
He can't help it now, either. Not when Dazai has that look in his eyes -- the look of someone caught in their own trappings.]
Right. Of course. [He sees you.] Then I guess you've never tried to make up for it, either. Even when you know the way you try to make amends doesn't really change what you did.
no subject
(he does it on purpose, after all, hides the truth in little snippets of bullshit, hoping to be called out for it. the mask is in place most of the time, and dropping it means there's another, and then another, and then another, and then--
'no longer human'.
and there's a laugh, because truthfully, not a single thing he could ever do could erase his past. going forward that is important, isn't it?)
Kiddo, look into the future, not the past.
no subject
[What someone chooses to say, not to say...all of it is important. Caius had kept things from him because he unequivocally refused to fail in what he set out to do. Serah had kept things from him because she didn't want to worry anyone. As for him? He kept things quiet out of shame. It says a lot about a person.
Look into the future, not the past. Whether he's actually just being avoidant, he does have a point.]
... You're right. You can't live in the past. The only way to go is forward.
[He used to be so good at that -- looking fearlessly, optimistically, into the future. Maybe eventually he'll be able to get back to that.]