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
ALT TEXT

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
ALT TEXT

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
ALT TEXT
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!

Full Navigation
firsteditionbfs: ("I could fix him")

[personal profile] firsteditionbfs 2025-03-21 04:24 pm (UTC)(link)
One would be forgiven for thinking that the response of stillness is simply an after effect of the ID psionic backlash. However, as Cloud jogs over, Angeal responds fairly quickly with a light smack at his arm. At this point, he's nearly used to the bullshit after affects - maybe a little faster than normal because of what he is. However, the exact specifics of what was in the blast...

Still without saying anything, he guides his hand back to pinch the bridge of his nose, eyes squinted shut. There... was a lot to take in, with that memory. Dizzying in a way that he's rarely ever felt.

The static-like mako effect. The reverb of hearing Cloud's voice, his voice in that moment. And...

A ping of loss and wistfulness. He knew those mannerisms. He'd know them anywhere. And that's how he knows for a damn fact that they're nothing like Cloud would be in a million years.

"You don't do squats," he mutters, brain still hurting a little bit as he mutters into his palm.
relativefugue: (chatting)

[personal profile] relativefugue 2025-04-03 12:16 pm (UTC)(link)
Angeal is still and silent like he's someplace else when the blast hits. Cloud, having already experienced the memories of Wedge, knows just what that means. What the First is going through. Traveling through the past of another person.

The problem is that there is a nonzero chance the memories Angeal is witnessing belong to him. With how much of a mess those are, well...

The terrible confirmation comes with the first words out of Angeal's mouth following a slap to the blond's waving arm. Cloud scowls, brow knitting as his arms cross and he takes on his usual stoic pose.

"The hell are you talking about?"

Unfortunately, Cloud is pretty sure he knows. Damn it. Still, he's not entirely sure what his ability to do squats means in the grand scheme of things. Not yet.

"...You saw something."

Cloud can only wonder how much of a mess it was. Angeal looks like he has some level of a headache.
firsteditionbfs: (So apparently the "bad vibes" I've)

[personal profile] firsteditionbfs 2025-04-19 02:45 am (UTC)(link)
Of course he saw something. They both know it well enough. Still, while he'd of course heard about the entire matter from Sephiroth... It's different actually seeing it through someone's eyes. Or, at least, sort of through his eyes.

He still has such a headache. What the god damn fuck.

Angeal breathes into his palm a moment, forcing his mind to settle in. To not dwell too hard on how unfamiliar Sephiroth had seemed in the flames, or the similarities to Zack he could see all too clearly in literally every single thing.

In. Out. Okay. He removes his hand from his face. "A mission to Nibelheim."
relativefugue: (notinterested)

[personal profile] relativefugue 2025-05-14 03:16 pm (UTC)(link)
Cloud's expression darkens, though he also pays close mind to how Angeal acts- as though he has a splitting headache. Is it possible that his memories, possibly problematic ones according to Sephiroth and Genesis both, are painful? The merc is certainly used to the constant pain. He doesn't fully realize just how bad it is until seeing the way it staggers even one of the greatest SOLDIERs of all.

....Something he ought to keep in mind. But for now....

"Nibelheim. My hometown. The one Sephiroth burned to the ground." He feels his own head ache as he tries to think back. "Sephiroth already probably told you all about it." This Sephiroth, it has become increasingly clear, likely told the tale as it really was- not twisted. That in and of itself is momentous for Cloud to accept.

"So I don't see why it's such a big deal."

Except for the fact it was probably from Cloud's perspective. One he's increasingly started to question.
Edited 2025-05-14 15:16 (UTC)
firsteditionbfs: (After careful consideration)

[personal profile] firsteditionbfs 2025-05-23 03:25 pm (UTC)(link)
Yeah. He wouldn't understand why it's such a big deal. Angeal doesn't answer him straight for a minute. All he does is grind and pinch at the bridge of his nose, like that will distract his brain from the pain. It's easing away bit by bit, but still. What a hit.

"...Sure." They'll just agree with that for now. Angeal suspects he's not prepared to handle Cloud's mental problems fully head on. Best to just... poke at things a little bit. See what exactly he can handle.

And since he already let it slip... Angeal straightens up with a low breath, steam plentiful and hot in front of his mouth from how hot he runs nowadays. "Anyway. Seemed like you did a lot of squats in that memory. Never see you do that nowadays, even though it seemed like a tic. Something you did all the time."

But he didn't, of course. That was all Zack. Always Zack, with excess energy no matter the occasion, who couldn't stand being told to wait, to hold back, who hit life with everything he had.

So what the fuck is happening here?
relativefugue: (Headache1)

[personal profile] relativefugue 2025-06-10 03:24 am (UTC)(link)
Trauma, that's what. The trauma of Zack Fair dying to save him, paired with severe mako poisoning. A perfect set of ingredients to land Cloud with a fucked-up amalgamation of Zack's memories claimed as his own. Gaps to fill. Losses to avoid. A shattered psyche desperately attempting to protect whatever is left.

...Squats. Why did he stop doing those? He remembers it definitely was like a tic back before the burning. Cloud pauses for a moment, a frown tugging at the corners of his mouth. There's a nagging something in the far reaches of his mind that he cannot articulate. Like he's forgetting something important. Someone. Did he know someone who-

"Ngh!" The blonde staggers backwards, clutching at his face as his entire mind practically recoils at that train of thought. It takes a few moments of ragged breathing to get back to a space where he can speak.

"I was anxious back then. Not really a problem now. I get my energy out other ways. Like combat."
Edited 2025-06-10 03:27 (UTC)