oblivium: (Default)
nightfell mods ([personal profile] oblivium) wrote in [community profile] logs2022-11-09 09:42 pm

(no subject)

INHUMAN COURTESY


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:

► 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.
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.


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.
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!

zhanmadao: (Default)

i hope you had lots of fun!!

[personal profile] zhanmadao 2022-11-14 06:05 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh, it's fine. The people I grew up with called me a biting dog. We will get along.

[ he jokes in return. he does walk closer just to crouch again and he carefully drops the berries in her palm, resting his elbows on his thighs afterwards. he observes her without any judging intent, just to assess her condition, an easy smile on his lips. she looks a little pale, but at least she isn't heavily injured, it seems. ]

I heard they're looking for a cure. [ he motions to his throat, to mention the cough. ] I hope we won't have coughed out our lungs already by then.
pissoffbook: (k39)

I did! Home now!

[personal profile] pissoffbook 2022-11-15 06:53 am (UTC)(link)
[She laughs weakly at his reply, which ends in another coughing fit, petals and blood welling on her lips.

Holding out her hand to take the berries, she offers a grateful smile. As for her complexion, she is actually always pale and if she was injured, it would normally heal, except her abilities are messed up here.]


Yeah? Well they better get their asses in gear 'cuz this fucking sucks. I feel like shit!
zhanmadao: (pic#15887158)

[personal profile] zhanmadao 2022-11-15 11:22 pm (UTC)(link)
[ he warms up to her even more upon seeing her expression brighten up, so his lips purse and his features turn concerned at the next coughing fit. it's harsh, too much blood on her mouth.

but he laughs heartily at her outburst, finding it very refreshing. ]


It does feel like shit! [ he agrees, a smile in his eyes and deep dimples next to his mouth. ]

My teacher got me this... [ he mumbles, rummaging in his sleeve to produce a small glass bottle full of something resembling oil. ] I haven't used it yet because I can still endure it, [ he won't mention how it's not that it doesn't hurt yet, but he thinks he deserves to feel it. ] but it's proven that it soothes the symptoms. You need to rub it on your chest.

[ he puts it in her hand, before he untangles the pouch with berries from his sash and places it on the ground between them, so she can take as many as she wants. ]
pissoffbook: (sm28)

[personal profile] pissoffbook 2022-11-15 11:51 pm (UTC)(link)
[She blinks when he puts the vial in her hand.]

But this is yours? Why would you share it with someone like me?

[Despite the trouble she's having due to her unrequited love, assuming her Shadow and Tyrann are right, she can't help but think that those dimples are pretty cute and he has a nice smile. She glances at the bottle and then to him.]

I'm no pussy. I can handle it, it just sucks.

[She does take a couple more berries and shoves them in her mouth. They do work well to mask the blood. Maybe when she horks them up again it won't taste as bad.

Wait, maybe she should ask him if her Shadow and Tyrann are telling the truth or if she's caught some kind of death cold.]


Do you know what the hell this is?
zhanmadao: (Default)

[personal profile] zhanmadao 2022-11-16 12:21 am (UTC)(link)
Why not?

[ he turns the question around with extreme ease, tilting his head to the side, his high ponytail swaying behind him. he looks earnestly confused as to why he shouldn't give it away. it's clear her symptoms are currently worse than his, she will make better use of it. it's as simple as that.

he laughs again and raises his hands, palms outwards, as if to claim innocence. ]


I've never assumed otherwise. Use it or not, it's yours now. Think of it as a gift.

[ he smiles and he shifts his weight to sit cross-legged on the ground, joining the berry party himself, munching as she asks the question and he hums thoughtfully. ]

I've heard it called the Harvest's Curse. Affection seems to be the cause and in some cases the cure as well.

[ his expression gives away how he thinks that makes no sense: most times the cause of something isn't the cure at all. but maybe because talking about it has made him inadvertly think of someone, it's his turn for a coughing fit, though thankfully it just ends with him spitting a daisy to the side, no blood in sight. ]
pissoffbook: (9X2NkVA)

[personal profile] pissoffbook 2022-11-16 02:30 am (UTC)(link)
A gift? [Her hand closes around the bottle. She can count on one hand the number of times someone has given her a gift in her lifetime. Absently she touches the flower in her hair.] Thanks. I'm Kainé, you got a name?

[She watches his hair flow behind him as he answers her question, chewing the berries slowly so the juice can flow over her tongue before swallowing.]

Affection is causing it, and it's the cure? Well fuck, that's never happening with me. I'm...

[a freak. No one could ever love a monster like me. It's left unsaid. Her Shadow and the Shade inhabiting her body laugh at her suffering. The man's coughing, however drives her from her thoughts as she stares, concerned, with yellow-grey eyes.]

You sure you don't need this?

[She gestures with the bottle of ointment.]
zhanmadao: (pic#15887157)

[personal profile] zhanmadao 2022-11-17 10:55 am (UTC)(link)
You are welcome. [ he beams. ] Don't think too much of it, I heard you can get it for free. [ he plays it down, lest she thinks that maybe it's something highly precious and he may want something in return, at some point. ]

I'm Mo Ran. [ he closes his right hand in a fist and presses it against the opposite palm, in a formal greeting, before he's back to his bright and carefree behaviour. ] Nice to meet you, Kayné. [ he carefully pronounces it and looks at her intently as he does, to make sure he's doing it right.

he can't help heaving a sigh and he absently scratches at his eyebrow, gaze wandering around for the first time since he got here. ]
Unless they find a different cure, I don't have any hope my situation will be fixed either. [ he gives a dry laugh, his eyes having grown softer. his thoughts echo hers, even if unknown to each other. ] The sins that I carry with me are too deep. [ how could he deserve love?

but he laughs earnestly, waving his hand when it's her turn to worry. ]


Wouldn't that be great? I come here and offer you medicine, then I cough and take it back. "Goodbye!" [ he can't help snorting, a hint of brattiness floating in his expression. ]
pissoffbook: (pic#14765990)

[personal profile] pissoffbook 2022-11-18 04:06 am (UTC)(link)
Mo Ran [She repeats then gives him a look at the gesture.] You can cut the formal crap with me. I'm no one special.

[She smiles at his attempt and gently corrects him. No need to be rude after all.]

It's Kai-nee. I'll give you a pass this time. [She's joking.

He actually gets her to laugh with his joke, though she could totally see some people doing that. People from her own world.]


I'd have to kick your ass if you did. Don't think some stupid cough is gonna hold me back.

[Kainé smirks. She decides this guy is all right.]

You picked out a place in Stygia yet?
zhanmadao: (Default)

[personal profile] zhanmadao 2022-11-20 02:20 am (UTC)(link)
You're the most special one I've met so far. [ he laughs, the glint in his eyes showing he isn't lying or trying to sweet-talk her. he just holds onto his manners as a way to honour his adoptive relatives. he hopes she doesn't mind it too much. ]

Kaaai-nee--[ he repeats slowly, looking a bit childlike as he makes faces while working around the noises. and, honestly just to tease her, he gives her the same greeting as before, adding to it even a bow of his head to thank her for the pass. ] Too gracious, my lady! [ he jokes in return.

his dimples deepen at her laugh. ]
Oh, I have no doubt you would beat me up in a heartbeat. [ he doesn't even try to deny it, almost matter-of-factly. ] But I'll show you my weapon if you show me yours. [ he has a fascination for those, after getting here and seeing people using such different ones from him. ]

I'm trying to fix up a small abandoned house with my teacher... I'm not sure how that'll turn out, but it was our best option. [ he shrugs, and scratches at his nape. nothing even remotely fancy so far. ] You?
pissoffbook: (pic#14927556)

[personal profile] pissoffbook 2022-11-20 04:33 am (UTC)(link)
I'm... what?

[Her mind is blown. Thanks Mo Ran, you have officially rendered her speechless. Her cheeks are now bright red.

She is only brought out of her stupor by his teasing and she shoots him another look, which dissolves into a shake of her head and a laugh through her nose.]


You wanna see my weapons? [That's a strange request, but she'll oblige.

Kainé holds out her hands and a pair of jagged looking dual blades appear in her hands in a shower of sparks.

She holds them out for him to see, still continuing the conversation]


I prefer to camp out here. [She gestures around her camp. There's a fire pit, a tent, a wooden box with supplies.] I'm not really... used to cities.
zhanmadao: (pic#16088037)

[personal profile] zhanmadao 2022-11-26 12:35 am (UTC)(link)
[ she is very welcome, he is here every friday, come again!

but he's gracious enough that, even upon noticing her blush, he doesn't tease her for it (or maybe he just holds his life too dear for that). but his softening gaze will give away he finds her really endearing. he may start addressing her as a little sister --still, if his survival instinct doesn't kick in before that.

he nods when she repeats the question and his eyes positively glisten upon seeing her blades. he tilts his head left and right to observe them from different angles, before he outright reaches out for her hands and holds those, to make her turn the blades so he can observe the thickness and design, rather that touching those directly. he knows weapons are awfully personal. ]


I'm not too used to cities either. It's good to visit, but not good to live there. [ he agrees before he enthusiastically praises her. ] Your swords are really cool. You wield them at once, right? You're really skilled.

[ leave it to mo ran to be so excited abought fighting. he lets go of her to turn his hand palm up and beckon jiangui, his red willow wine whip appearing in a bout of red sparking energy and he smiles at her wide, dimples deep. ] This is mine.
pissoffbook: (mwB9CQU)

Little sister? She's older than him! Unless you mean his mental age lol. She could use an oniichan!

[personal profile] pissoffbook 2022-11-28 05:02 am (UTC)(link)
[The first thing he will notice when he takes her hands, is that the blades are incredibly heavy. Kainé is startled nonetheless when her hands are grabbed and she flushes again, which deepens when he continually praises her.]

Y... you don't have to say nice things about me, you know...

[She half chokes it out, but is glad when he seems to leave the subject there in order to summon his own weapon. Kainé is usually pretty excited about fighting as well, but he's got her all flustered with the compliments. She watches closely, intrigued by the whip. It's not a weapon she's seen before. His enthusiasm is cute though and it gets a smile out of her as well.]

How does it work?
zhanmadao: (pic#16088036)

people he finds cute are automatically younger than him, i don't make the rules!

[personal profile] zhanmadao 2022-11-28 05:38 am (UTC)(link)
[ ooc: but yes, he was considering his overall age, if you and kaine don't mind! he would very much enjoy being an overprotective older brother! ]

Woah, you are so strong. Teach me your ways! [ he almost looks like a child with how animated he is about this upon feeling the weight of her weapons, even doing his too polite greeting towards her again, as if putting himself in her care.

but it really is too endearing how she keeps blushing when he speaks his mind and mo ran laughs. ]
Are you scared I will charge you for every good thing I said? Ah, you found me out. Pay up, meimei. [ he teases her once again, and he holds out his hand with his palm up, wiggling his fingers like he expects her to put some coins there. an absolute brat. ]

Ah! It's a whip imbued with fire and wood elements. It's connected to my core, so it follows my will. When I attack, it can also follow the enemy or wrap around them, or beckon vines from the ground... that kind of thing. [ he smiles bright with a shrug, while he reaches out with his hand to flick at one of her swords, listening intently to the sound it makes. it's so thick that he can't imagine how being hit by it would feel like. ]

It's also good for interrogations: when it's curled around someone, they will have to say the truth, otherwise they will be in unbearable pain. [ he explains, as he tugs to the side a lapel of his robe to show tanned skin and a sharp and clear welt scar underneath, laughing as he lets go of the fabric. ] I got interrogated and punished by its twin one too many times.
pissoffbook: (pic#14888238)

[personal profile] pissoffbook 2022-11-29 01:51 am (UTC)(link)
[[ooc: this is fine! she'll act like a brat outwardly, but inside it will make her feel warm.]]

[When he comments on her strength, she can't help but look away.]

It's not worth the price.

[A small sound of surprise escapes when he jokes about making her pay for compliments, which changes to a breathy laugh on exhale. He sure likes to joke. It's refreshing to have someone like that around.]

Wow! That's pretty fucking badass!

[An honest show of amazement. Though she's not sure about the whole, telling the truth. She's got secrets she'd rather not have get out.]

What happen? You piss off the wielder too many times?
zhanmadao: (pic#16088073)

[personal profile] zhanmadao 2022-11-29 03:51 am (UTC)(link)
You made a deal with the devil, little sister? [ his voice is softer upon saying that though, his eyes holding understanding. he made plenty of terrible decisions in his past life, to the point of becoming the devil himself. if there's someone who can hold sincere empathy for a bad choice that you were cornered into taking, that is mo ran.

but he is quick to smile again and change the topic, if she doesn't want to delve into that. he pinches between his brows, while heaving the most dramatic sigh he's capable of. ]


Oh, I did. And you don't know how much he made me regret it. My teacher is ruthless when someone deserves it. [ and he sure deserved that. ] It happened even some days ago... [ he scratches at his eyebrow, looking serious now all of a sudden. ] My shadow got a little too insistent and there weren't other ways to fix it. [ he gives a sheepish smile, even if he's learnt that admitting weakness is a source of growth too. it doesn't get any easier.

he pushes himself up on his feet, his weapon vanishing again in a small lick of flame and he pats his pants clean, looking around again. ]
Do you go into the city to get food, at least? You should look after yourself.
pissoffbook: (4WVtZuk)

[personal profile] pissoffbook 2022-11-30 10:15 pm (UTC)(link)
You're closer than you think...

[She starts and intends to share a little more, but he just said something that caught her by surprise.]

Little... what?

[She sort of says the words incredulously. Was this guy calling her family? Was he adopting her like Grandma? Is that what people do? She never had family other than Grandma that she remembers. The he goes to change the subject, but her mind is still reeling.]

Wait, hold up, what did you call me?

[She nods her understanding of his story. Her shadow hasn't done anything too bad yet, just berate her, and with it and Tyrann both doing it, it can get insufferable!

Kainé watches as he stands and she tilts her head a little.]


I do. But I don't stay long. I don't belong among people.

[She blinks when he says she should look after herself, the question burning in her mind.]

Why do you care about a complete stranger?

[Another coughing fit and she decides to finally rub some of the medicine on her chest. It really is soothing and She smiles a small, grateful smile.]
zhanmadao: (pic#16088037)

[personal profile] zhanmadao 2022-12-01 05:17 pm (UTC)(link)
[ mo ran laughs brightly at her shock, hands on his hips, looking at her from his upright position. there is a certain softness sparkling in his eyes upon observing how taken aback she is. and yet it doesn't look like she's refusing him, just can't believe him. ]

Little sister, we've had a meal together. [ he grins, pointing to the berries. ] We're hardly strangers now, don't you think? [ it's as easy as that, especially to him. if he takes a liking to someone, if he's shown friendliness in return, mo ran will care: he's always been a rather simple big dog. he won't bite when he's been patted. ]

People are vicious and wicked without a reason all the time. That means I can show kindness just because I want to as well, right?

[ he laughs and he crouches down again, just to lightly swipe at her bangs, playful, before he crosses his arms on his knees and he looks in her eyes, speaking again only after a long moment. ] Come look for me, whatever you need. I can cook you a proper meal, or we can spar and you can whoop my ass. The problem with making a deal with the devil is that the devil never stops haunting you: you need company to bear with that.
pissoffbook: (k40)

[personal profile] pissoffbook 2022-12-02 02:33 am (UTC)(link)
Shit, you're damn right about that. [Kainé knows the world is a cruel place, but she still doesn't understand his kindness.]

Why would you do that for someone like me, I'm a freak...

[It's habit for her to call herself such, but she's not gonna elaborate why.

Kainé makes an indignant face when he tussles her bangs and playfully bats at his hand.]


Okay, I'll let it slide, for now. [but the smile she has on her face shows it's not such a hardship.]

You... wanna cook for me? Well [She smirks, getting a little more comfortable with the dynamic] You better be ready to pony up, 'cuz I eat a lot. [She laughs] And I'll take you on anytime!
Edited 2022-12-02 02:34 (UTC)