EVENT #2: BRAIN BOGGLING

[diceofthegods]

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.

INVESTIGATION & PROTECTION

Deathcard Cabin by Jonah Senzel

4:07 / 13:06

▶︎

Click here to listen.

From the Inscryption OST: A unique and haunting sound paired with a unique and haunting game.

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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

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

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Comments

[parer]

Certainly, Ignis knows that much as well. While his own personal experience may be severely lacking for now, he's done enough research on various beasts and daemons outside of the Wall to know that their tricks can be many. Just nothing quite like this.

"Indeed... Whatever containment was used for these creatures initially, it obviously couldn't survive a crash, while too many of them did."

With even just one being too many.

"What would you do, in the case of something such as this escaping?"

[abyssalflames]

"Pandaemonium itself is heavily warded, with access to the halls tightly controlled. For a creature to entirely escape Pandaemonium would necessitate a fairly of multiple systems."

To say nothing of the fact that the neus would like as not permit a creature to escape by that method even should one have the forethought to try.

"In the event of a breach of one of the cells, however, the individual sections of Pandaemonium can be sealed off. Thus either barring or limiting the locations to which a creature could escape; the wards that would be brought up answer only to the authority of keywards. Once the relevant section was sealed, warders would then seek to find and re-inter the creature in question. For something of a similar nature to those we currently seek, that would likely involve warders working in pairs, and the use of a specialized binding magic once the creature was found."

Though binding over outright destruction of the entity has more to do with the nature of Pandaemonium overall.

[parer]

"I see... It does sound like a rather well thought out imprisonment." Although terrible to exist in as a living creature. But Ignis isn't here to start making judgment calls about this sort of thing right now, especially with limited information.

Instead, he is using what information he has been given to start formulating a sort of plan. Already, he has something of an idea.

"Do you believe that we could perhaps make a construct in which to lure these creatures into, and then seal it off, not too unlike your Pandeamonium? It would of course not be to the same scale, but a miniature maze of sorts may do well enough - something we can trick it into one way or another, and then trap in one area."

[abyssalflames]

"Creating a maze with such aether as I have would be... difficult. Especially if it would be necessary to maintain it for any significant period."

Not impossible, and he's no stranger to pushing himself farther than would perhaps be advisable. But it is still a far cry from the simplicity of making a display of colored lights for the holidays.

"Still, the theory is sound. Should we be able to lure them into a specific area, they could then be sealed or bound - I am fully capable of recreating the binding magicks of Pandaemonium, and I see no reason they would not work here."

[parer]

"I see..." He had though it might be a little bit more than the lights, but he hadn't known how much more. Having this discussion is helpful in more ways than one, he has to admit.

"Then, what sort of area would be most ideal for you to work your magicks? I can find somewhere which may do, and we can work from there."

[abyssalflames]

"The binding magics I would employ are designed to be able to be used in the hallways of Pandaemonium. Though they do require some amount of space, anywhere the creatures might easily be found will suffice, provided I am able to see the creature I intend to bind."

And that is as much for the sake of knowing the precise location of his target as it is a desire to not have the chains strike merely a glancing blow.

"A wider open space will provide better visibility, to the extent currently possible, but it is not necessary."

[parer]

So enough space, and visual contact. Ignis nods, understanding. Truth be told, it is a rather simple set of requirements. Goodness knows that they could be quite worse.

"Then, perhaps simply setting up bait would be far more practical for this sort of thing."

Which leaves very little options, but Ignis isn't opposed to what this assumes his position to be in this sort of suggested plan. Any sort of hunt is going to have dangers associated with it. Why on earth should he be surprised or unduly worried? (Which isn't to say he isn't at least a bit duly worried, because only a fool isn't.)

[abyssalflames]

In fairness, Lahabrea hasn't mentioned that the spellwork is not exactly the simplest either. True, he is well used to doing it an situations that might otherwise be less than ideal. But there is no denying that it's a complicated spell, by nature and design.

Still, he figures he should be able to adapt well enough to whatever should happen.

"It would prove the easier. Should you be willing to trust to my skill at magic to ensure your safety."