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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
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?
no subject
[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.
no subject
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.
Little sister? She's older than him! Unless you mean his mental age lol. She could use an oniichan!
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?
people he finds cute are automatically younger than him, i don't make the rules!
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.
no subject
[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?
no subject
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.
no subject
[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.]
no subject
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.
no subject
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!