Cedrik Reede (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
heavenstorn) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
logs2022-12-08 08:03 am
heavenstorn) wrote in logs2022-12-08 08:03 am
Entry tags:
(Open) Waste No More Time Fighting Your Demons
WHO: Cedrik Reede, open to all
WHERE: Stygia, the Adventurers’ Guild
WHEN: December, including full moons
WHAT: Monthly catch-all
WARNINGS: Werewolf violence, body horror. Vague Shadowbringers spoilers.
First Full Moon (the 11th thru the 14th)
[ Only a few weeks ago, a confrontation in the library left Cedrik with a new set of scars. Claw marks drag down his chest, starting just below the hollow of his throat. Just a few inches higher and his jugular would have been ripped open but he’s had closer calls. He’s more bothered by how difficult it is to fully cover them. The last thing he wants is Hibiki noticing and feeling guilty for his own mistakes.
Beyond that he thinks little of them.
The moon had been strangely bright as of late, especially as it grew fuller. Even in the Adventurers’ Guild just below the ground, the moonlight spilling through the one window well was nearly as bright as day. Cedrik was not able to admire it for long before a sudden pain wracked through his body. ]
Gah!
[ Behind the bar Cedrik suddenly hunched over, reaching for his chest where the scars had begun burning anew, as if the wound was still fresh. The other hand clings to the bartop, the Viera’s vision blurring as he watches it begin to change. His fingers curl and warp, nails blackening into claws as dark hair--dark fur grows down the length of his arm.
Black fur, not white feathers. There’s no light welling up from his gut like sick, and the edges of his vision are darkening, not whiting out.
Not a Sin Eater. It’s the last coherent thought he manages, though it does nothing to lessen his terror.
With a strained cry he drops below the bar top, voice warping as the changes hurry to completion. The pitch rises, becoming a snarling whimper before fading into momentary silence. Behind the bar something stirs, a rustling sound like clothes being struggled with followed by…
A very…
...tiny…
Growl. ]
Rrrrrrr…!
[ A black, fuzzy wolf pup tumbles out from behind the bar, still half-tangled in Cedrik’s heavy clothes, snarling in frustration as he tries to free himself.
He is going to chew on everything. ]
Second Full Moon (the 22nd thru the 28th)
[ As uncomfortable as they were, those first changes gave Cedrik some idea of what to expect. Transforming into a very angry but very small werewolf is inconvenient but not terribly dangerous…so long as no one lets themselves get nipped. Until a cure is found, the best he can do is isolate himself when the next full moon comes.
He’s chosen his room above the Guild, locked and barred the door well above the few feet he can reach as a pup, and included a few scraps of leather and other ‘toys’ to keep himself occupied and avoid destroying his furniture…
Everything in place he sits and waits, watching the light change through the window, bracing himself--
From the first moment, something is different. The pain is worse and he’s immediately growing bigger rather than shrinking down. The dread returns as he realizes--far too late--that his preparations are completely useless.
In the streets below the sound of shattered glass draws little attention from the passing Restless. These are the Harbors, hardly the safest part of Stygia, but the piercing howl that follows turns several heads. The silence only lasts a heartbeat before Cedrik--now a fully grown and very angry werewolf--drops down into the alley and bursts onto the scene, causing Restless to scatter and scream in panic.
Pale eyes fixate on one in particular--perhaps they were too slow to start running, or maybe it’s just an unlucky day--and bolts towards them on all fours, jaws open and fangs gleaming in the full moonlight. ]
Wildcard
(OOC: If you’d like a custom prompt or something else entirely, you can DM this journal or reach me at![[plurk.com profile]](https://plurk.com/favicon.ico)
purplesyrup. If you’d rather run into Cedrik as a werewolf somewhere other than around the harbor that’s no trouble, he’ll be running rampant for a bit during the second full moon. Finally, here’s Cedrik’s plotting post.)
WHERE: Stygia, the Adventurers’ Guild
WHEN: December, including full moons
WHAT: Monthly catch-all
WARNINGS: Werewolf violence, body horror. Vague Shadowbringers spoilers.
First Full Moon (the 11th thru the 14th)
[ Only a few weeks ago, a confrontation in the library left Cedrik with a new set of scars. Claw marks drag down his chest, starting just below the hollow of his throat. Just a few inches higher and his jugular would have been ripped open but he’s had closer calls. He’s more bothered by how difficult it is to fully cover them. The last thing he wants is Hibiki noticing and feeling guilty for his own mistakes.
Beyond that he thinks little of them.
The moon had been strangely bright as of late, especially as it grew fuller. Even in the Adventurers’ Guild just below the ground, the moonlight spilling through the one window well was nearly as bright as day. Cedrik was not able to admire it for long before a sudden pain wracked through his body. ]
Gah!
[ Behind the bar Cedrik suddenly hunched over, reaching for his chest where the scars had begun burning anew, as if the wound was still fresh. The other hand clings to the bartop, the Viera’s vision blurring as he watches it begin to change. His fingers curl and warp, nails blackening into claws as dark hair--dark fur grows down the length of his arm.
Black fur, not white feathers. There’s no light welling up from his gut like sick, and the edges of his vision are darkening, not whiting out.
Not a Sin Eater. It’s the last coherent thought he manages, though it does nothing to lessen his terror.
With a strained cry he drops below the bar top, voice warping as the changes hurry to completion. The pitch rises, becoming a snarling whimper before fading into momentary silence. Behind the bar something stirs, a rustling sound like clothes being struggled with followed by…
A very…
...tiny…
Growl. ]
Rrrrrrr…!
[ A black, fuzzy wolf pup tumbles out from behind the bar, still half-tangled in Cedrik’s heavy clothes, snarling in frustration as he tries to free himself.
He is going to chew on everything. ]
Second Full Moon (the 22nd thru the 28th)
[ As uncomfortable as they were, those first changes gave Cedrik some idea of what to expect. Transforming into a very angry but very small werewolf is inconvenient but not terribly dangerous…so long as no one lets themselves get nipped. Until a cure is found, the best he can do is isolate himself when the next full moon comes.
He’s chosen his room above the Guild, locked and barred the door well above the few feet he can reach as a pup, and included a few scraps of leather and other ‘toys’ to keep himself occupied and avoid destroying his furniture…
Everything in place he sits and waits, watching the light change through the window, bracing himself--
From the first moment, something is different. The pain is worse and he’s immediately growing bigger rather than shrinking down. The dread returns as he realizes--far too late--that his preparations are completely useless.
In the streets below the sound of shattered glass draws little attention from the passing Restless. These are the Harbors, hardly the safest part of Stygia, but the piercing howl that follows turns several heads. The silence only lasts a heartbeat before Cedrik--now a fully grown and very angry werewolf--drops down into the alley and bursts onto the scene, causing Restless to scatter and scream in panic.
Pale eyes fixate on one in particular--perhaps they were too slow to start running, or maybe it’s just an unlucky day--and bolts towards them on all fours, jaws open and fangs gleaming in the full moonlight. ]
Wildcard
(OOC: If you’d like a custom prompt or something else entirely, you can DM this journal or reach me at
no subject
They race at one another, and he can feel the sizzle of excitable energy coming from Cedrik's new form. His left arm extends; he offers the palm in Cedrik's direction, and a twisted, old face appears through the surface of the skin.
When they meet, it's a collide. The hand connects with Cedrik's face above the muzzle, but whatever Left Hand intended to do, though, doesn't happen. Nothing comes out of or changes with the face-wielding palm.
Left Hand gives a muffled holler of surprised noise, followed by a spiel of panicked conversation. D bares down on his legs and his feet, an attempt to stop himself from being pushed back again.
But, well, his hand is out. Cedrik will simply have to chomp it off.]
no subject
Hydaelyn's Blessing grants him some protection, even now. Cedrik would have thought it would keep him from being transformed in the first place but there is something more to this curse than magic. It's in his blood, now. A physical ailment as much as anything. But Left Hand's little nighty-night trick? That, apparently, bounces off the ward immediately.
Which is deeply inconvenient, to say the least.
There's no warning beyond the constant, angry snarls. Cedrik twists his head and this time, teeth close on flesh instead of air. Long, powerful jaws have D by the arm, right above his wrist, the werewolf finally tasting blood...
All four feet plant themselves on the ground, wrenching and shaking his head now that he's got a good bite, trying to tear the dhampir apart. ]
no subject
Pulling away will cause tension between them and make it worse. The face on his palm frantically blabbers about the biting. Suddenly, he pushes solidly forward, pressing himself into the werewolf rather than pulling away. The grip of the jaws are strong. He won't get away if Cedrik doesn't let him go.
So instead, he snaps his arm down quickly and back toward himself. The teeth tear into the flesh, through the meat and the bone. The hand rips away. D absconds back. Cedrik has a prize!
Unfortunately, it's a whole hand.]
no subject
For a split moment he stands there, glaring up at D, muzzle wrinkling as he bears his teeth around Left Hand. ]
Rrrrr...
[ Then he shakes his head, trying to get Left Hand to make more noise. He tosses it and pounces where it lands, only to pick it back up a shake the hell out of it all over again.
His tail has started wagging. He's found a new game, now that 'chase' is over and won. ]
no subject
He… really stands there with no hand like it’s nothing.]
N-Now, now! Uh, good… doggy? Go—OOD DOGGY! Aghh! D! D!! Do I look like a dog’s plaything?! Call him off! Ow! I-I know I’m a parasite, but what did I ever do to deserve this?!
[Ignoring the hand, D says to Cedrik:]
I’ll need that back later. Don’t eat it.
no subject
But in the current moment Cedrik's eyes lift at D when he speaks, loud enough to be heard over Left Hand's constant panic, before he lies down to chew contentedly on the still wriggling fingers. His tail thumps against the ground.
D still isn't prey. He could be a threat...but after that merry chase, the dhampir finally feels familiar to Cedrik. The old memories still don't make sense, some of the emotions too complicated for the werewolf to parse, but it's enough. Enough for him to feel...comfortable?
It's progress! ]
no subject
Besides, he receives some schadenfreude when one of his greatest personal tormentors is being nibbled on like a Milkbone. That is also karmic payback.]
D! D, you can’t be serio—Ow! Watch the teeth! My skin is delicate! You’re going to let me be dog food until he changes back?! We don’t know when that’ll be!
You’ll survive. It’s keeping him from hurting others. [He is already finding a place to sit among the roots of one of the nearby trees.] He may get bored of you soon.
[Then they can play fetch.]
no subject
The moons do not set in the Netherworld, but they do change. It takes over a day for them to change enough to make a difference.
Cedrik stops whatever current 'game' they were playing, hunching over and letting out a sudden, pained whine. Left Hand is dropped as the werewolf retreats and then begins to shrink, the same horrific transformation Cedrik went through before now playing out in reverse. Fur falls away to reveal scarred skin, teeth and claws retract to reveal a face; ears and tail return to their normal shapes and sizes. His voice warps from the animal's back to a man's, crying out until at last it's done.
D is left with a more familiar figure, barely even able to kneel and shivering on the cold forest floor. ]
G-gods...
no subject
If it’s just him, that’s okay, hand removal or not.
He’s still there when Cedrik starts to return, but he doesn’t get in the way until it’s over. Left Hand truly plays it up by lying on the ground as if it’s a normal hand, and now it looks more suspect for Cedrik.
From beneath the pauldrons, he unclasps the long cape as he carefully walks over to Cedrik’s reversed from. He drapes the cape over Cedrik with his remaining hand.]
How do you feel?
no subject
What did I...
[ He remembers.
They're only fragmented flashes blurred together by basic but strong emotions. Much like his own memories felt to the mind of the wolf, they are almost alien and difficult to make sense of. But he does remember.
And with the cape over his shoulders, it's not hard to spot the stump on D's left arm. With a shudder Cedrik grabs for the edges and draws the dark fabric closer; he knows what he did. ]
...Gods be good...D, I--did I hurt anyone else?
no subject
[Slowly, he turns only his head to glance back at the hand lying haphazardly and chewed on the ground. The parasite is really hamming it up here.
This scene looks decidedly worse than it actually is in reality.]
No one else was hurt. I lured you away.
[To the hand:] Get up. Don’t act useless. [After a moment of lingering hesitation, the face appears on the palm of the hand and the mouth lets out a huffed PAH! It flips over to its fingers, surprisingly quick, and scuttles hastily across the ground toward D.]
Is there somewhere you’d like me to take you?
no subject
[ Cedrik stares in muted shock as Left Hand pops back to life and hurries back to D's side.
That...certainly did something to the Viera's mood. He's not sure what he's feeling now, exactly, but it isn't the crushing guilt that had been consuming him a moment ago. So that's good.
He blinks, hard, and remembers how to speak. ]
Thank you. Though I am sorry for putting you through that...I am deeply grateful you found me so soon.
[ Cedrik doesn't want to impose on D further, either. But he realizes he doesn't have much choice. Bringing him to Serene was a good call, Cedrik has no complaints about D's decision...
But he it means he is now naked (save for D's borrowed cape), in a very deep and unfamiliar wood, during the middle of winter.
Slowly Cedrik gets onto his feet, mostly to be sure he still can, and gods but his body does not like being made to move. ]
A pity 'home' isn't an option. [ A dry laugh. The closest thing would be his Door and now that he's said it...a momentary retreat into someplace familiar sounds like the best idea he's ever had. But the Shadowlands are too far of an ask. He'll go on his own time, once he's recovered. ] The Guild? Provided I've not chewed all the furnishings beyond recognition.
no subject
I’ll take you. [Pupper Cedrik chewing up the Guild…] Did you know about the curse?
[Once the hand gets to D, he scoops it up with the one he has left. And just…
…presses it against the place from where it has been removed. It takes a few moments before the flesh starts sewing itself together. Miraculous what a parasite and having experimental great genetics can do.]
You don’t have to worry. I’m fine. And there wasn’t anyone you hurt.
[When the hand is attached enough to be let go, he extends his good out out to Cedrik as he rises to a stand.]
no subject
With another blink Cedrik shakes his head, looking instead to the hand currently being offered to him. ]
The last full moon changed me as well, yes. I knew. [ The desire to kick himself is obvious in his voice. ] Though it was different the first time. I was almost harmless...
[ He ate D's gift! ]
...so the preparations I'd made were not enough.
[ But D tells him it's fine, that no one was hurt, so he'll try and listen to his friend.
Cedrik reaches out to take D's hand and, with the man's help, pulls himself upright. Nearly every muscle still aches terribly, but they aren't enough of a hindrance to keep him down. Not as long as he allows the help. ]
I owe you, D. A great deal.