diceofthegods: (Default)
diceofthegods ([personal profile] diceofthegods) wrote in [community profile] childrenofbahamutlogs2025-02-01 12:10 pm

EVENT #2: BRAIN BOGGLING

A CRASH IN THE NIGHT
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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.
INVESTIGATION & PROTECTION
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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.

PROMPT #3
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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.
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!

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snapp_crackle: (:))

[personal profile] snapp_crackle 2025-04-17 02:43 am (UTC)(link)
The trip back and the quality time have unrattled Popp enough for him to give a wave and a quick greeting to anyone else sheltering in Themis' household. His face is still red and blotchy from all the crying, but he sounds overall upbeat... which is in large part a front that he's putting up, this was an upsetting experience that isn't over. He's quick about hanging up his snow-covered cloak and heading upstairs with his current teacher, where he makes himself right at home. Even if there's an actual chair, he's taking the edge of the bed.

"Ahh... you know, this is actually a pretty ritzy living situation. Master Avan liked camping outdoors, and Old Matoriv had this creepy cave out by the whirlpools... I'm pretty sure you saw Avan, I was with him a long time, but uh... I've had a few teachers."

In the absence of the cloak and presence of warmth, his wings flicker out and wrap around his shoulders for comfort.
zodiheart: (pic#16437280)

[personal profile] zodiheart 2025-04-21 07:14 am (UTC)(link)
Dutifully following Popp up the stairs, he listens as the boy continues to speak in a way that deflects the situation at hand. Themis shuts the door behind him and locks it before taking any other action. Popp deserves what privacy he may provide. And comfort. Privacy and comfort. To that end, Themis crosses the room and selects an extra blanket from a pile before settling himself next to Popp on the bed. With a flourish, the blanket is draped over both of their shoulders.

Popp's comfort may be provided in tandem with Themis's own.

"I have worked to improve what I was provided at the beginning. Would that my abilities were at their full strength, I would show you the wonders my people were capable of Creating. My tastes were never as ornate as some, but there was a certain style in Amaurot that I find myself missing even now."

But now is not the time to think of geometric patterns and lost civilizations. Now is for Popp. Themis slinks a hand around his shoulders beneath the blanket.

"...It was Avan that I saw, yes. What I presume to have been his end."
snapp_crackle: (he's gonna do it)

[personal profile] snapp_crackle 2025-04-21 11:36 pm (UTC)(link)
It's still kind of unbelievable that Elidibus isn't in top form as is; Popp's seen him pulling out minor miracles and still hasn't seen him on the back foot outside of navigating otherworldly social differences now and then.

"Yeah." His voice cracks, and he looks down at his hands. "The Avan here, the young one. You can't tell him; he doesn't know anything about it. He's not even a real hero yet; I can't go putting all that on him."

Not that Popp feels particularly heroic right now. He might not be physically leaning on Elidibus for stability right now but his heart sure is! Even so, he considers himself more mature than Avan in some respects and confronting your own mortality is one of them.
zodiheart: (pic#16525458)

[personal profile] zodiheart 2025-05-05 04:45 am (UTC)(link)
The Emissary is a seemingly endless well of energy, but that is only because he has others that help him behind the scenes. Had he been alone in this place, he would no doubt be far less productive. As it is, however, he is able to spare enough to comfort both himself and Popp after this experience - and as Themis, the man.

Considering he had witnessed the memory himself, it does not come to a shock that the Avan here meets his end as he had seen. But the young hero is nothing if not clever, playing the fool for the public and holding all cards close to his chest. Themis pulls Popp slightly tighter against his side as a thought comes to him.

"He is the type to know more than he allows others to see. Do you think, perhaps, that he knows about it in some manner? Or suspects?"
snapp_crackle: (WHAAAAT)

[personal profile] snapp_crackle 2025-05-07 09:39 pm (UTC)(link)
This close, Themis can feel Popp's heartrate spike as this possibility hits him like a tidal wave.

"W-what?! No... No, he couldn't! He's smart and all, but there's no way he knows!"

If he does know, it's because Popp failed at keeping a secret; who else would have given it away?! He really doesn't want that to be the case.
zodiheart: (pic#16525649)

[personal profile] zodiheart 2025-05-28 05:00 am (UTC)(link)
The next part must be done delicately, but honestly. Popp deserves the truth that Themis suspects. But it does not feel good to know that he will deliver such a blow. Though he knows Popp will perhaps not appreciate the style of comfort he's about to employ, far more fitting it is for one younger than the boy, his heart urges him to do so regardless.

And so he shushes Popp, softly. Brings a hand to stroke through unruly hair the way an adult would do to a frightened child. It's meant to calm, to soothe, though he does not linger in it overlong. The truth must be given, after all.

"From what I know of him, he may indeed suspect it to be, though not from any revelations from you - more the lack thereof. I am certain he knows that he was your mentor at some point, and could have drawn his own conclusions based upon that fact." What we do not speak of reveals more than what we do, he does not say.