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Entry tags:
- ! mod event,
- arknights: shalem,
- bleach: grimmjow jaegerjaquez,
- bleach: jugram haschwalth,
- danganronpa: fukawa toko,
- encanto: bruno madrigal,
- ennead: set,
- fe3h: claude von riegan,
- fe3h: felix hugo fraldarius,
- ffvii: vincent valentine,
- genshin impact: tartaglia (childe),
- genshin impact: the traveler (lumine),
- hades: zagreus,
- htwmho: rudbeckia de borgia,
- jjk: fushiguro megumi,
- jjk: itadori yuuji,
- naruto: uchiha sasuke,
- orv: han sooyoung,
- orv: jung heewon,
- shadow and bone: the darkling,
- stranger things: steve harrington,
- the last of us: joel miller,
- vld: keith
(no subject)
I. PUSHING UP DAISIES
cw: depiction of hanahaki, mention of blood, mild body horror
The Frightful Harvest ended on a bloody, eerie note, but the Respite's most welcome interlude has proven exceptionally fruitful. The sky's darkened again, moons struggling to glow through turbulent clouds, but crops all over Stygia have grown dense and healthy, herbs and plants and flowers aplenty. Normally, it'd be a time to rejoice, even as sleet pours and winds grow bitterly cold -- and it might have been, had greens and stems and petals NOT elected to blossom inside you. Your lungs, specifically.
It's an uncommon side effect of the Harvest, affecting those who foster affection or attraction towards another, triggered only by a stray thought. Almost as if punished by Oblivium for harboring any kind of positive feelings. The worst part is that the object of your desire doesn't even have to be in the Netherworld for you to be afflicted. Over the span of three months, you'll gradually experience various degrees of the "harvest's curse", depending on the source of your feelings:
II. DO NOT PASS GO
cw: mention of blood, torture, branding, violence, forced captivity
Full-swing investigations concerning the Harvest's murders have begun, though the mysterious rider has yet to resurface. The day is young still, but no matter; the Hierarchy firmly believes that the creature was summoned by a group of renegades, fully intent on finding and dismembering the organization. Perhaps even literally.
If you've spilled blood not your own in the previous event, the Hierarchy finds you. Do they know? It doesn't really matter; they've targeted you for reasons they won't divulge, persuaded of your involvement -- and off to the Gallows you go. Each of you receives the same greeting when you arrive, held down by rough hands and branded upon the arm with the letter F. The mark signifies ‘forsaken’, and the painful scar is indelible proof that each of you has betrayed the Hierarchy's hospitality. Writhe and scream and glower as much as you want; next thing you know, something heavy hits you across the head, and you collapse.
When your vision slowly creeps back, your eyes adjust to a dimly lit stone cell. Your feet are secured by iron cuffs tethered by one long chain, and you lie in nothing but filthy, tattered rags. It's dark; the air is bloated and filled with agonizing shrieks. Dead vines scrap the walls of half-crumbled buildings, weather-worn stone pillars surrounded by withered clumps of grass. You may converse with your cellmates: the guards patrolling the Gallows couldn't care less, convinced that no one could possibly escape anyway.
III. TO THE RESCUE
cw: depiction of hanahaki, mention of blood, mild body horror
The Frightful Harvest ended on a bloody, eerie note, but the Respite's most welcome interlude has proven exceptionally fruitful. The sky's darkened again, moons struggling to glow through turbulent clouds, but crops all over Stygia have grown dense and healthy, herbs and plants and flowers aplenty. Normally, it'd be a time to rejoice, even as sleet pours and winds grow bitterly cold -- and it might have been, had greens and stems and petals NOT elected to blossom inside you. Your lungs, specifically.
It's an uncommon side effect of the Harvest, affecting those who foster affection or attraction towards another, triggered only by a stray thought. Almost as if punished by Oblivium for harboring any kind of positive feelings. The worst part is that the object of your desire doesn't even have to be in the Netherworld for you to be afflicted. Over the span of three months, you'll gradually experience various degrees of the "harvest's curse", depending on the source of your feelings:
► PHYSICAL/EMOTIONAL ATTRACTION & REQUITED LOVE
It starts with an itch. Your throat tickles, an odd sensation in your lungs, slightly constricted. Allergies? Not quite. It worsens overtime, and days pass by, perhaps weeks. You cough, a little more every day, a little deeper, and then it happens: petals, stuck to your lips as you wheeze and try to empty your chest. Marigold, carnations, daisies, peonies... Thankfully, for you, it's more of an annoyance, sporadic at best and leaving you exhausted at times, but you're in no immediate danger. Unfortunately, not all Restless share the same luck.
► UNREQUITED LOVE
It doesn't matter whether it is truly unrequited; as long as you think it is, whether you're fully convinced or distantly resigned, you get the whole package. It starts the same way the lesser variation does, gradual, and with unsavory (!) additions: lilies and dark red roses. The first slowly spreads its poison in your body, inducing fevers, skin rashes, blistering in your mouth and stomach aches. The second pricks your throat bloody, making speech difficult and breathing even more so. It spreads throughout Stygia, and if most wound up meeting their end in the past, some speak of a highly hypothetical cure. It's believed that if the object of your affection confesses equally strong feelings for you, the curse should rapidly subside. If this option isn't viable, Doran promises that all Healers in Hale are working extremely hard to find a solution. In the meantime, symptoms can be partially soothed with poultices and spells that you can find in the Marketplace or in Serene. Some merchants might even take pity on you and offer them for free.
It starts with an itch. Your throat tickles, an odd sensation in your lungs, slightly constricted. Allergies? Not quite. It worsens overtime, and days pass by, perhaps weeks. You cough, a little more every day, a little deeper, and then it happens: petals, stuck to your lips as you wheeze and try to empty your chest. Marigold, carnations, daisies, peonies... Thankfully, for you, it's more of an annoyance, sporadic at best and leaving you exhausted at times, but you're in no immediate danger. Unfortunately, not all Restless share the same luck.
► UNREQUITED LOVE
It doesn't matter whether it is truly unrequited; as long as you think it is, whether you're fully convinced or distantly resigned, you get the whole package. It starts the same way the lesser variation does, gradual, and with unsavory (!) additions: lilies and dark red roses. The first slowly spreads its poison in your body, inducing fevers, skin rashes, blistering in your mouth and stomach aches. The second pricks your throat bloody, making speech difficult and breathing even more so. It spreads throughout Stygia, and if most wound up meeting their end in the past, some speak of a highly hypothetical cure. It's believed that if the object of your affection confesses equally strong feelings for you, the curse should rapidly subside. If this option isn't viable, Doran promises that all Healers in Hale are working extremely hard to find a solution. In the meantime, symptoms can be partially soothed with poultices and spells that you can find in the Marketplace or in Serene. Some merchants might even take pity on you and offer them for free.
if your character has heard of similar diseases in their home world, they're absolutely welcome to share their insight on the netherwork or anywhere else
the evolution of the disease can be as gradual, as fast or as severe as you wish it to be
a mini quest to retrieve ingredients for a cure will be available in december or january
by february, all characters should be cured
II. DO NOT PASS GO
cw: mention of blood, torture, branding, violence, forced captivity
Full-swing investigations concerning the Harvest's murders have begun, though the mysterious rider has yet to resurface. The day is young still, but no matter; the Hierarchy firmly believes that the creature was summoned by a group of renegades, fully intent on finding and dismembering the organization. Perhaps even literally.
If you've spilled blood not your own in the previous event, the Hierarchy finds you. Do they know? It doesn't really matter; they've targeted you for reasons they won't divulge, persuaded of your involvement -- and off to the Gallows you go. Each of you receives the same greeting when you arrive, held down by rough hands and branded upon the arm with the letter F. The mark signifies ‘forsaken’, and the painful scar is indelible proof that each of you has betrayed the Hierarchy's hospitality. Writhe and scream and glower as much as you want; next thing you know, something heavy hits you across the head, and you collapse.
When your vision slowly creeps back, your eyes adjust to a dimly lit stone cell. Your feet are secured by iron cuffs tethered by one long chain, and you lie in nothing but filthy, tattered rags. It's dark; the air is bloated and filled with agonizing shrieks. Dead vines scrap the walls of half-crumbled buildings, weather-worn stone pillars surrounded by withered clumps of grass. You may converse with your cellmates: the guards patrolling the Gallows couldn't care less, convinced that no one could possibly escape anyway.
► Ironically, a magical barrier around the Gallows prevents magical/spiritual abilities from functioning. However, characters who roam free still can absolutely sneak in! Be careful not to get caught, though!
► Loud disagreements might attract unwanted attention. A single guard will come, and if he finds nothing else amiss, will threaten them to be quiet. A second violation earns the offender a rap on their bare feet with a club. A third violation will cause the offender to be gagged. Note that in order to beat or gag the offender, the guard must first open the cell.
► If you share affinities with Gargoyles, incapacitating a guard in any way will draw the attention of one. It'll show you to the gates where you'll be able to escape, taking care of sentries on your way. You should probably keep a low-profile from then on, and avoid showing-off your brand.
► A secret passage may be found through a mausoleum nearby; an arrow of flaking red paint marks the entrance. Or is it blood? Inside, it's nearly pitch-black. Perhaps, if you're lucky, your vision extends as far as 30 feet in front of you, but occasionally, the darkness is broken by clinging phosphorescent fungi or crawling luminescent creatures, and from out of the silence echo sounds of dripping water. You're underground, and Abysmals can be encountered here if you're too loud. You should also watch out for cave-ins, but as you get farther away from the general region of the Gallows, your magical abilities gradually come back.
► Eventually, a long, broken staircase will lead you to Hale. If you're injured, you'll be sent to the main infirmary; characters with healing abilities or knowledge are super welcome to help!
Luckily for you, there are so many prisoners it's a difficult task for the Hierarchy to always keep track of all of them. Your brand, however, is a dead giveaway, so you might as well try and find a way to get rid of it; you might hear through the grapevines that the dead skin of Badaliscus can be used as bandages, and overtime, the brand will fully heal and disappear.► Loud disagreements might attract unwanted attention. A single guard will come, and if he finds nothing else amiss, will threaten them to be quiet. A second violation earns the offender a rap on their bare feet with a club. A third violation will cause the offender to be gagged. Note that in order to beat or gag the offender, the guard must first open the cell.
► If you share affinities with Gargoyles, incapacitating a guard in any way will draw the attention of one. It'll show you to the gates where you'll be able to escape, taking care of sentries on your way. You should probably keep a low-profile from then on, and avoid showing-off your brand.
► A secret passage may be found through a mausoleum nearby; an arrow of flaking red paint marks the entrance. Or is it blood? Inside, it's nearly pitch-black. Perhaps, if you're lucky, your vision extends as far as 30 feet in front of you, but occasionally, the darkness is broken by clinging phosphorescent fungi or crawling luminescent creatures, and from out of the silence echo sounds of dripping water. You're underground, and Abysmals can be encountered here if you're too loud. You should also watch out for cave-ins, but as you get farther away from the general region of the Gallows, your magical abilities gradually come back.
► Eventually, a long, broken staircase will lead you to Hale. If you're injured, you'll be sent to the main infirmary; characters with healing abilities or knowledge are super welcome to help!
III. TO THE RESCUE
As you attempt to escape, or perhaps once you’ve successfully snuck in, you come across a terrifying spectacle: in front of you, impaled through the shoulder by a spear, a weary humanoid figure covered in blood. The body is being restrained by additional shackles on each arm and leg, which are linked to chains anchored within the walls. There's a guard nearby, armed to the teeth… and still you decide to free them.
The guard’s magic is just as useless as yours, and while impressive in size, dexterity definitely isn’t his main strength. He hits hard — with brass knuckles, a chain mace, and a sturdy shield — and his stamina almost seems endless, but it’s not. Keep evading, and he’ll eventually tire enough to topple over. It’s also possible to have him chase you around if you don’t go too far, which would allow someone else to grab the spear. Once he’s too exhausted to go on, you can either kill him or chain him to the wall. The keys are in his boots, and you’ll find a bottle of water as well as a small vial of ointment in a satchel on the ground, where he previously stood.
The prisoner is a young man, perhaps in his mid-20s. Once freed from his shackles, he immediately keels over, though he’s not unconscious. He thanks you with a deep and raw voice, begging for water. You can tend to his wounds if you’re able—the ointment quickly soothes—and when he finally stands again, he asks you a question: “I’m a stranger to you, and you could have died. Yet, you chose to free me, unaware of my past. Of my crimes. Of my virtues. Why?”
Regardless of your answer, he smiles, a private understanding that turns the stretch of his lips enigmatic. There’s a bubbling chuckle in his throat, very hoarse, and then he hisses, touching where you’ve helped him apply the ointment on his body. “You know what they say. If it stings...” He looks at you, deliberately pausing there and staring bold into your eyes. “... then it must be working.”
It might feel like there’s more to what he’s trying to say, though it’s pointless to ask: he bows, and then he slowly inches away from you. “Until we meet again.” White and thick tendrils of smoke envelop him, seemingly coming out of nowhere, and then just like that, he’s gone.
The guard’s magic is just as useless as yours, and while impressive in size, dexterity definitely isn’t his main strength. He hits hard — with brass knuckles, a chain mace, and a sturdy shield — and his stamina almost seems endless, but it’s not. Keep evading, and he’ll eventually tire enough to topple over. It’s also possible to have him chase you around if you don’t go too far, which would allow someone else to grab the spear. Once he’s too exhausted to go on, you can either kill him or chain him to the wall. The keys are in his boots, and you’ll find a bottle of water as well as a small vial of ointment in a satchel on the ground, where he previously stood.
The prisoner is a young man, perhaps in his mid-20s. Once freed from his shackles, he immediately keels over, though he’s not unconscious. He thanks you with a deep and raw voice, begging for water. You can tend to his wounds if you’re able—the ointment quickly soothes—and when he finally stands again, he asks you a question: “I’m a stranger to you, and you could have died. Yet, you chose to free me, unaware of my past. Of my crimes. Of my virtues. Why?”
Regardless of your answer, he smiles, a private understanding that turns the stretch of his lips enigmatic. There’s a bubbling chuckle in his throat, very hoarse, and then he hisses, touching where you’ve helped him apply the ointment on his body. “You know what they say. If it stings...” He looks at you, deliberately pausing there and staring bold into your eyes. “... then it must be working.”
It might feel like there’s more to what he’s trying to say, though it’s pointless to ask: he bows, and then he slowly inches away from you. “Until we meet again.” White and thick tendrils of smoke envelop him, seemingly coming out of nowhere, and then just like that, he’s gone.
so you’ve chosen to free him, which in turn has generated a future plot point that’ll occur some time in february. some of you WILL see him again.
what he says to you is a clue.
you can answer his question OOCly right here. it’ll have some bearing on the way your character will be approached re: future plot point.
if you've voted no and would still like to participate, you could always allow your character to be convinced or reluctantly dragged by another!
ooc note
► As always, check out the Notice Board if you'd like additional prompts! Older quests from previous months are always available as well. You'll also find the Calendar right here.
► You'll find already answered questions just here, and if you'd like to ask new ones, ask them here!
► For fun's sake and similarly to the puck adventure, you may play it out in different groups or on your own, and still obtain the same results as everyone else whether your characters threaded together!
no subject
Armed with supplies, including fishing hooks and a net, Sasuke approaches the shore. He's barefoot as he crosses the sand.]
Can't you tell from looking? [... All right, a bit sharp for so early in the morning.] Yes. There's a need for it in the city, and the pay is higher than usual.
Who are you?
[He's certain he hasn't seen this stranger around.]
no subject
Muscade is pretty generous, isn't she? And the waters are pretty calm today so it's a good day for fishing.
[ Right next to him is a bucket with ice and some of the fish he'd already caught. He casts his line out yet again. ]
You can call me Childe though. Who are you?
no subject
A pair of dissimilar eyes flicker back to the other man, narrowing.]
Why would I call you that? You aren't a child.
[I apologize if you've heard this a million times, but not really.]
Unless you mean that is your name. [In which case, he wonders whether it's a translation issue... They're all speaking the Netherworld tongue, he knows. What is this man's native language?] My own is Uchiha Sasuke. We state our family name first, so just 'Sasuke' is fine.
no subject
[ He has a third name too, technically, but that's beside the point now. ]
Think it's supposed to mean young lord, but I'm not a noble or anything. [ Anyway. ] Either way, it's nice to meet you.
Are you someone who's been here long?
no subject
[The pronunciation doesn't come easily to his lips, even upon repetition. Childe is certainly the simpler of the two, but he wonders at the relationship between both. Is one a family name? Or a nickname? Or, perhaps as Childe goes on to say, it's only a title.
Sasuke doesn't say anything to that pleasantry, facing the ocean with resolute calmness and concentration as he begins to unload his supplies, nets and hooks set down on the rocks alongside a fishing rod. He begins to attach the line and bait, methodical through the process.]
Comparatively. Not as long as some of the other Restless you'll find in the city, but the longest among those of varying worlds who use the Netherwork. Have you arrived recently? I don't recognize you. [And he's tried to memorize most of those faces as part of their 'group', so to speak.]
no subject
(Muscade is probably getting pretty sick of him. Or maybe she's delighted he's brought her a whole lot of fish.)
He hums thoughtfully. ]
Something like that. Maybe it's been a week now? Time passes by strangely in this place, or maybe it's because I've spent most of my time fishing. [ Who knows. ] Do you like keeping track of other Restless?
[ Since he didn't 'recognize' Tartaglia. ]
no subject
[A simple answer to what he views as a simple question.]
It is in our interests to track one another. If we are to Ascend, or face annihilation, or even escape — it isn't likely to occur all at once. If one individual was to vanish overnight, we should know who they were and what it is they were doing prior to their disappearance. Anything can aid our situation.
[And yet, has Sasuke actually befriended any of his fellow Restless? DOUBT.]
What is the name of the world you came from?
no subject
[ That's what he says outwardly, but there's another reason why he wanted to know too. Knowing that Sasuke is the type to keep track of any outliers just means he has to be careful around the guy, that's all. ]
But I hail from the world of Teyvat. Have you met anyone from that world before?
no subject
Yes, once before. A woman named Sangonomiya Kokomi. Our interactions were over the Netherwork, so it was limiting, but she shared some information about the Teyvat world. That there are several nations who all use the Teyvat language, though they have their own native languages and cultures.
[A pair of mismatched eyes slide over the Childe, watching to see if there's any reaction to his words.]
Do you know her?
no subject
He hums thoughtfully, busying himself with unhooking the fish. ]
We've only met a few times so far, but I wouldn't say I know her.
[ He knows of her, of course, because he does read reports here and there. Plus, he was in Inazuma for a decent amount of time so it made sense to keep up with who the important figures are. ]
Haven't seen her in a while though.
[ A casual comment, nothing too worrisome. For now. ]
i am back from the holiday fugue
Hm.
[Before Sasuke can think of a response, a sudden wave sweeps the shore, much larger than the calm, lapping froth up to this point — and crashes over his head, soaking him to through to the bone. Childe may get caught in it if he's too near and not paying attention. With an irritable curse in a foreign language, Sasuke puts down his fishing rod between some rocks and steps back to strip off his soaked shirt, wringing out the fabric.]
... Naids. [He nods toward the ocean, where three humanoid creatures swim into view, seaweed-green hair and long, furling tentacles a brief disturbance in the water before they disappear below.] Don't engage them if you can avoid it. They're not friendly.
welcome back! :blush:
Oh? Speaking from experience?
[ A warning like that does nothing to curb the Harbinger's curiousity. If anything, he wants to know what it is that makes them not friendly... Time to splash water right back at them—
Maybe it'll turn out to be fun. ]
god sorry for being slow it's that time of year(tm)
I've encountered them a few times before, yes. If you aren't physically capable or otherwise trained in combat, it's dangerous to be outside the city limits.
[Now shirtless (Sasuke's natural state, Kishimoto would probably agree), he steps over as soon as Childe splashes the water back at the sea creatures and snatches his wrist.]
Stop that. What are you doing?
pls it's the holidays, you're fine!
Trying to see just how dangerous they are. They don't look that bad right now.
[ Which is? Probably the wrong thing to say. The Naids coming towards them is proof enough, one of them reaching out with wild tentacles, ready to swipe and drag the rude ginger into the watery depths. ]
no subject
Then clearly you're more foolish than I first thought. When they group together this way, they're a difficult target, but they won't hesitate to come onto land either. [Case in point: the snare of tentacles splashing ashore to grab Childe, slick humanoid forms glimpsed through the dark water. He raises his sword and slices the tip of one tentacle off in a clean, efficient cut. One of the Naids begins to howl. The tentacles shrink away; blood splatters the sand.] It's a warning. Get out of here.
[A low susurrus, How dare you! followed by another hissing voice This one is rude. You don't hate us, do you? directed at Childe.]
Don't listen to them.
no subject
Hate is a strong word, don't you think?
[ He's got a small blade in his hand within the next second, ready to attack should they go for him again. And when he speaks, it's directed to everyone here: ]
Why don't we have some fun?
[ Sorry, Sasuke. Looks like this one is more interested in seeing how dangerous this will get. If it might look like he's trying to get them to attack Sasuke more, surely that's just your imagination... ]
no subject
At this point, they may as well give up on the fish. There's a good chance the Naids have scared them all off, if their own voices and the turbulence of the water haven't. The persistent, unearthly creatures titter with laughter at Childe's words. We are having fun! We want to play with you more.]
You're doing this on purpose. [He says it accusingly to Childe, realizing that intent.] Why? Do you want me to kill them?
[Generally, in most cases, he'll strive to avoid conflict if necessary. But when one of the Naids is clamoring onto shore again to reach them — there's no choice. He swiftly intercepts between Childe and the creature, releasing a burning blast of katon from his lips. The Naid, weak to fire, bursts into flames and blackens before crumpling to their feet.
It wasn't a severe use of chakra, but still he's exhausted afterward. Beads of sweat gather on his brow as he looks at the red-haired man. Two other Naids are hissing unintelligibly from the water; their heads briefly vanish beneath the waves.]
If they attack again, then I assume you take care of it.
no subject
When Sasuke accuses him of purposeful baiting, Tartaglia can only respond with a simple shrug of his shoulders. His grin basically spells out that he's as guilty as charged but that doesn't mean he'll own up to it. Not that he thinks it's necessary when the other guy is already convinced of what he's up to.
Oh, well. It's worth it. The burst of chakra is more than enough to satisfy his curiousities. ]
Why? Can't you do your little trick again?
[ Hey, just seeing it once isn't enough!! Do it again! ]
no subject
At the shoreline, the Niads have come back in a vengeance, hissing and howling as they clamber onto the beach. Sasuke's gaze briefly slips that way before he's staring the other man down again.]
Good luck.
[And with shunshin, he's gone, abandoning Childe to his fate.]