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childrenofbahamutlogs2025-02-01 12:10 pm
diceofthegods) wrote in childrenofbahamutlogs2025-02-01 12:10 pm
EVENT #2: BRAIN BOGGLING
A CRASH IN THE NIGHT
In the dark hours of a snowy early morning, a sudden BOOM can be heard all across Town. It is swiftly followed by sounds of warping metal and then a screeching crash. Curious, albeit groggy, residents emerge only to find a smoking wreck just a mile outside of Town.
The strange craft appears to be almost nautiloid in shape with wrenched, broken tendrils streaming out the opening.
Much of it is metal although some of it almost seems... organic.
Those who with to get a closer look will be met by Charlie and Dimitri who are already on the job. They request curious onlookers keep their distance since this craft is, without a doubt, tremendously dangerous.
Later in the day, there appears to be an outfit of officials coming from the west to investigate and clean up the wreckage. Thankfully(?), you will all find out soon enough what's going on.
The strange craft appears to be almost nautiloid in shape with wrenched, broken tendrils streaming out the opening.
Much of it is metal although some of it almost seems... organic.
Those who with to get a closer look will be met by Charlie and Dimitri who are already on the job. They request curious onlookers keep their distance since this craft is, without a doubt, tremendously dangerous.
Later in the day, there appears to be an outfit of officials coming from the west to investigate and clean up the wreckage. Thankfully(?), you will all find out soon enough what's going on.
INVESTIGATION & PROTECTION
Deathcard Cabin by Jonah Senzel
4:07 / 13:06
▶︎
From the Inscryption OST: A unique and haunting sound paired with a unique and haunting game.
Charlie reports to the citizens of Town that an Illithid cargo transport. The pilot did not survive the crash, but they appeared to be transporting some kind of new breed of Intellect Devourers.
"We do not yet know what this new breed is capable of, but..."
Charlie does give everyone a rundown of what an Illithid and what an Intellect Devourer is, what they are capable of, and a keen warning to tread lightly. Many dead ones were discovered in the cargo but several of the enclosures were damaged in the crash and the likelihood of escapees is high.
Charlie reiterates: These creatures are to be killed on sight, or contained until someone can kill it. If you are not confident in your combat abilities, please remain in your homes as much as possible and seal all openings to your dwelling. Those who are capable though are urged to begin patrols of Town alongside Slayd, Dimitri and himself to ensure that Town and the surrounding areas are safe.
Please travel in pairs or groups, do not be alone! Attack from a distance when possible. Hoshiko will offer her assistance as a markswoman as well by picking off any Intellect Devourers from a distance that she can for those that are forced to travel alone. (Don't worry about any jokes she makes of her service not being cheap though. Charlie wouldn't actually let her charge you anything.)
Unfortunately, not even they can predict the blizzard that rolls through Town in the midst of all this. If you happen to see anything skittering through the snow, don't panic too much. It could just be a tiny woodland creature looking for a warm burrow to hide away in!
At least you hope it is.
"We do not yet know what this new breed is capable of, but..."
Charlie does give everyone a rundown of what an Illithid and what an Intellect Devourer is, what they are capable of, and a keen warning to tread lightly. Many dead ones were discovered in the cargo but several of the enclosures were damaged in the crash and the likelihood of escapees is high.
Charlie reiterates: These creatures are to be killed on sight, or contained until someone can kill it. If you are not confident in your combat abilities, please remain in your homes as much as possible and seal all openings to your dwelling. Those who are capable though are urged to begin patrols of Town alongside Slayd, Dimitri and himself to ensure that Town and the surrounding areas are safe.
Please travel in pairs or groups, do not be alone! Attack from a distance when possible. Hoshiko will offer her assistance as a markswoman as well by picking off any Intellect Devourers from a distance that she can for those that are forced to travel alone. (Don't worry about any jokes she makes of her service not being cheap though. Charlie wouldn't actually let her charge you anything.)
Unfortunately, not even they can predict the blizzard that rolls through Town in the midst of all this. If you happen to see anything skittering through the snow, don't panic too much. It could just be a tiny woodland creature looking for a warm burrow to hide away in!
At least you hope it is.
PROMPT #3
Hybrid intellect devourers are unique from the regular ones in that the goal is not to kill their target, but to gather intelligence and act as a kind of spy network.
They will flee when confronted directly by greater numbers, but will attack a lone target. They do this by jumping at the target's head and wrapping a wet tendril around their neck. They will choke who they've wrapped around if anyone tries to remove it. They are also far more likely to try and attack sleeping target (hence the advice to keep your homes closed!).
These hybrids emit spores that will keep the target asleep during feeding. Their primary goal appears to be infiltrating the targets' minds and absorbing some of their memories. The target will have their mind left mostly intact... though they may suffer short term memory loss, confusion, distress, fatigue and head pain.
Here's where the fun starts!
Once one of these critters has fed on someone, they are onto their next target. When a fed Intellect Devourer feeds from another target, that target may absorb some of the previous target's memories. This can span across multiple victims and be erratic in whose memories taint whose mind. The memories will cross-pollinate in the form of dreams or waking visions and hallucinations.
If one of these creatures is killed, it will explode, releasing a powerful psionic wave and the memories it had absorbed from any recent targets. Anyone within ten (10) yards of the dying creature will be afflicted with extreme head pain in the short term and also witness the memories of it's previous victims.
Enjoy your muddled memories and leggy brain-hunting!
The outfit of people who have come to investigate are from New Svihelen's disaster containment squad and are investigating the hybrid creatures and the possible reason for an Illithid ship to crash here of all places. Right now, the running theory is that interference from the selfsame summoning circle that brought you all here could have caused the interplanar navigation systems of the ship to malfunction but nothing has been determined yet.
Eventually, these creatures will all be rounded up and taken care of. They are persistent and stealthy though in their efforts to survive above all else. Charlie assures that they're doing all they can to make Town safe once and for all but it will take some time.
They will flee when confronted directly by greater numbers, but will attack a lone target. They do this by jumping at the target's head and wrapping a wet tendril around their neck. They will choke who they've wrapped around if anyone tries to remove it. They are also far more likely to try and attack sleeping target (hence the advice to keep your homes closed!).
These hybrids emit spores that will keep the target asleep during feeding. Their primary goal appears to be infiltrating the targets' minds and absorbing some of their memories. The target will have their mind left mostly intact... though they may suffer short term memory loss, confusion, distress, fatigue and head pain.
Here's where the fun starts!
Once one of these critters has fed on someone, they are onto their next target. When a fed Intellect Devourer feeds from another target, that target may absorb some of the previous target's memories. This can span across multiple victims and be erratic in whose memories taint whose mind. The memories will cross-pollinate in the form of dreams or waking visions and hallucinations.
If one of these creatures is killed, it will explode, releasing a powerful psionic wave and the memories it had absorbed from any recent targets. Anyone within ten (10) yards of the dying creature will be afflicted with extreme head pain in the short term and also witness the memories of it's previous victims.
Enjoy your muddled memories and leggy brain-hunting!
The outfit of people who have come to investigate are from New Svihelen's disaster containment squad and are investigating the hybrid creatures and the possible reason for an Illithid ship to crash here of all places. Right now, the running theory is that interference from the selfsame summoning circle that brought you all here could have caused the interplanar navigation systems of the ship to malfunction but nothing has been determined yet.
Eventually, these creatures will all be rounded up and taken care of. They are persistent and stealthy though in their efforts to survive above all else. Charlie assures that they're doing all they can to make Town safe once and for all but it will take some time.
Notes
⁂ The partner plotting post for this event/quarter is also up!
⁂ Additionally, we have a state of the game post available for people to read about updates, clarifications, and housekeeping items!
⁂ If you have any further questions or feedback about this event specifically, please comment here!
⁂ For even more ambient event music, you can check out this this playlist!
⁂ Full Navigation ⁂
⁂ Additionally, we have a state of the game post available for people to read about updates, clarifications, and housekeeping items!
⁂ If you have any further questions or feedback about this event specifically, please comment here!
⁂ For even more ambient event music, you can check out this this playlist!
no subject
At some point, apparently. Or in another universe perhaps. If not for what he knows of the Intellect Devourers, Ignis has to admit that he'd struggle to tell which is a more viable answer. For now, he simply nods and pulls his cloak back into place tight around his shoulders.
"The creatures do seem to prefer more subtle ways of attacking people." Subtle like a brick to the head that almost make Ardyn seem like a lost puppy instead of a rabies-filled mess that should be put down behind a shed, but still. Although since there is a chance... "I have never had a chance to see your healing. What is it like?"
The Caelums he knows can imbue their power into the average drink, which has a restorative effect, he knows... But what of Ardyn? Get a flask of water, and do the same? Or something else?
no subject
"Nothing special, really," he says, humble as ever. At least it's closer to true humility than whatever pretenses he had in current day when downplaying his abilities. "Different than what most people expect, but it gets the job done. I can put my energy into things - like plants - to enhance their natural healing factors when they're used in medicine." So, similar to what the Caelums do (except it's not a healing Monster Energy Drink in the end). "For immediate healing or things medicine can't always mend though, like the Scourge, it's a bit more... complicated."
There aren't any infected he could demonstrate on, but: "Do you have any fresh wounds from fighting those things?"
no subject
He's approaching the current conversation with a bit more... nuance, perhaps. At least, he's taking each bit of information carefully and with consideration rather than being quick to judge. You know. More than he normally judges Ardyn, which is every time he is even reminded of the man.
The bit about speeding up natural healing processes isn't wholly surprising with that in mind and what he knows of him. That he is able to do something else, however...
"...Nothing of great import." Or else, if he were greatly injured enough, he would never have been allowed to step outside of the house. Gladio would have laid right on him to keep it from happening, hissing and spitting poison be damned. And that's not even referencing the guilt tripping that Noct and Prompto would have done. "However, if the size of the injury doesn't matter, I do have some bruises, here and there." Little scrapes from flying or landing, more than anything.
no subject
Presuming he's given permission, he'll demonstrate exactly what he's capable of. Those aforementioned scratches and bruises, no matter how minor, will heal. Or, rather- They are transferred. It might be hard to tell but Ardyn rolls up his sleeves once he realizes that's the case; on his own arms now, a bruise or perhaps a minor scratch. They're also healing before Ignis' eyes - as his body tends to regenerate faster thanks to The Scourge needing to keep its host alive - but it's not a perfect system by any means.
"I like to think a man of my station should be willing to take his people's pain," he explains. "I suppose the gods did, too, granting me with this ability."
no subject
Ignis doubts it will last longer than a month, if he's optimistic, but he does keep it in mind and simply gives his permission, all eyes on what Ardyn does. It's a surprisingly simple affair, truth be told. Nothing flashy whatsoever.
He can feel the scrapes, the little slowly forming scabs, vanish more before he can pull his sleeve up to see. So in that respect, it isn't... completely a surprise, when Ardyn holds his own arm out.
That... is fascinating. And brings to mind the question on just what else that Ardyn can do, and if he's lost this ability completely in the present. Although, earlier, when he'd mentioned the Scourge, so...
It's a train of thought that is put on hold when Ardyn speaks again, and there's just a slight frown at the mention of the gods. "Certainly it is a generous sort of view," Ignis says, and politely doesn't talk about the gods. "However, you would want to be careful with such a thing... in multiple ways." A raised eyebrow over his glasses, direct to Ardyn. "It is fortunate that I only had a scrape."
no subject
"Oh, I've suffered worse," he admits, easily, as he rubs his scruffy chin idly. Now that Ignis knows, there isn't really any reason to not speak of his ability. "But you don't need to worry about that. I couldn't heal anything that I couldn't recover from myself, naturally, so there is a threshold." How does he know? Did he find it? (Wouldn't you like to know, weather boy?) Ardyn brushes past it though as his sleeve drops back down and he sighs.
"The Scourge makes me feel ill briefly, for example, but then that fades." The nightmares and increase in intrusive, violent thoughts are completely unrelated and just signs of stress. Totally. He's pretty sure about that.
no subject
Combine that with the Scourge, well... Perhaps he did only the bare minimum.
But more importantly than that...
"Ill in what way?" Ignis asks, in a quietly dry tone that says, actually, bullshit that is the only side-effect of something which warps people into daemons who have no hope of becoming normal again.
no subject
"The typical way?" he questions. "Nauseous, lightheaded, fatigued for a bit after. It always fades, eventually, but depends on the severity of the infection." He won't speak to the other issues since he doesn't want anyone to try and deter him from his mission of helping people.