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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
Home. Cloud ponders the word a little bit as he walks, focusing on getting back as quickly as he can with minimal jostling to the exhausted man in his arms. Their home. Together. It really wasn't a home for Cloud until Wedge showed up. Before then it was a cold, empty space he used to sleep in and exist as comfortably as he could during the isolated agony of his dragon changes. Then Wedge came into his life like the sun itself, insistent on making the space cozy and happy. He added new paintings on the wall, decorations atop the fireplace mantle, shopped for much softer, comfier blankets. The list went on and on, really...The cottage now stands as the first place Cloud feels he could, and wants to return to since Nibelheim. A space where perhaps he belongs. He feels it every night as he curls up in bed at Wedge's side. After that vision, a part of him knows they belong together even more than ever before.
Which begs the question: Just what are they to one another?
Cloud is roused from his thoughts the second he makes it to their front door, opening it and wasting no time to get Wedge to their shared bedroom. He lowers him onto the bed itself with great care before taking a seat next to him along the edge. Those sharp, presently slitted eyes never dare stray from keeping watch. There is a protective fire alight in his chest.
"One of those things got you," he says quietly, brushing his fingers over the puncture wound on Wedge's forehead. "You didn't come back for way longer than I expected, so I came to find you."
no subject
His lips curve into a faint smile, not just because of being held so protectively but because of the ease with which Cloud calls their little cottage home. It's a change he's not even sure Cloud has noticed. When Wedge had first arrived it wasn't home, it was just some place he'd been staying, not unlike Marle's place had been. But now? Now it is something more like a home for both of them... maybe even more than his own place in Sector 7 had been. Even if the lack of cats makes it feel empty when Cloud isn't home.
Wedge blinks slowly once they're inside, humming his contentment to be home and leaning into Cloud enough that it may well make it a bit difficult for the blond to put him down. Reluctantly he disentangles himself from the other man, grateful for the dim lighting in their bedroom compared to the violently bright snow outside. It means he can actually open his eyes, no longer squinting or forced to hide against Cloud's chest. When fingers touch that wound though he does wince slightly. "It's okay, man. No big deal... promise." As much as it would be easy to take that as a dismissal, always downplaying the importance of anything that happens to him, it is a very minor wound.
He does reach out to gently extract his bandanna from one of Cloud's hands, frowning as he looks at the ragged hole torn into one end. "After everything else I can't believe it's this place that finally ended up ruining this thing..." Something minor in the grand scheme of things but it's the symbolism of the thing, a mark of who he is, where he belongs, a sign of unity with the rest of his team. And... even if it was only for a short time.... that included Cloud.
no subject
Ah. The bandanna. "...I can get it fixed for you. You focus on resting." Cloud gives a slight nod of the head, plucking the bandanna back from Wedge's fingers without further comment. He has an idea of what to do and where to go for it, luckily...Just as soon as he is comfortable leaving Wedge's side. Which, with his protective instincts flaring up, won't likely be all too soon. Cloud Strife was already a loyal and protective sort before the draconic features busted onto the scene. Now, it is questionable just what force could keep the tenacious warrior from protecting those important to him.
A gentle silence hangs in the air between the two of them for a few beats, and Cloud cannot help but flounder for what to say next. There's such a storm of emotions in him that sorting it out seems impossible. For a moment he wonders if just basking in the radiant warmth between them would be enough, to just savor the feeling of home. His attention promptly snaps back to the fact that his- that Wedge is injured. He reaches a hand forward to stroke his thumb gingerly along the edge of the puncture wound, making a point not to touch it again as before. What he wouldn't give for a Cure materia at this very moment...Still, potions shouldn't be too difficult to come by to help. Until then...Action first, words after.
"Wait here."
Cloud disappears from the room and paces towards the kitchen, making haste to get back to Wedge. Being away from him creates a pit in his stomach- were he to have the fur of his draconic form, his hackles would be up. The blond finds a rag and soaks it in the nearby water basin, wringing it out some before returning to Wedge's side sitting on the bed's edge. He presses the cloth up to Wedge's wound like a cool compress, eyes flicking away to focus on the floor as he once again struggles with what to do with the silence.
"...I saw something, when I killed the thing that got you. A memory. One I was in. It wasn't mine. Or, not from my perspective." Cloud pauses, pursing his lips. He aches to his very core, thinking once again about the sheer love and admiration he felt towards himself whilst seeing through Wedge's eyes. It's enough to wind him momentarily.
"Was yours. From when I got back to Seventh Heaven and gave Marlene a flower."
Cloud can only hope the darkness of the room hides the pink tint that overtakes his cheeks. "I felt what you felt."