Paul Atreides (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
terriblepurpose) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
countryclub2023-10-05 04:32 pm
terriblepurpose) wrote in countryclub2023-10-05 04:32 pm
Player Epilogue Plotting: October
OCTOBER 2023 PLAYER PLOTTING
PROMPT 0: THE DOOR
PROMPT 1: THE SCIENTIST
PROMPT 2: THE PRIESTESS
PROMPT 3: GOODBYES
CODING
As the curse continues to wear upon Sleepers, the Temple seems to loom ever closer in their minds. Palebloods may dream of complex arcane machinery, and wake to find themselves sitting among it. Darkbloods may find themselves stepping through their own front door to emerge, unwillingly, in the gardens. Coldbloods and Vilebloods may snap out of a trance that draws them up into the sky or down under the ground to reach the Temple. Warmbloods seem most resistant to the call.
Inside, traps are still active. And there's something new: lines of light well up in the walls, shifting delicately down the hallways. No matter where you are in the temple, the light leads to a great central door.
Inside, traps are still active. And there's something new: lines of light well up in the walls, shifting delicately down the hallways. No matter where you are in the temple, the light leads to a great central door.
CONTENT WARNINGS:
blood, gore, monster fight
The door seems to be hewn of ancient, fossilized wood. Arcane patterns are carved upon it, thrumming with that blue-green light. There is no lock, no handle, only two smooth panels the right size to receive a handprint. One is made of ancient wood, the other arcane steel.
If two Sleepers place their hands upon the panels, they will feel a resonant thrum from the door as the light builds-- and then it's interrupted by a horrible shriek of bone-on-metal as a woman manifests in the room.
Have you no shame? You ruin everything.
The Scientist was human once. Now it's difficult to tell how much of her is human, how much is arcane augmentation, and how much is Beast. She can collapse into a blood-and-bone mist to evade blows, then reconstitute herself and lash out with bloodstone weapons: Darkblood gravity manipulation, Coldblood elemental blasts, Paleblood illusions. She's quick to attack.
If you press her for information, she will snarl that The world was simpler before Sleepers. You think yourselves gods or heroes. What have you done to earn it?
At best, she can be coaxed to a disdainful truce. Strike her down and she will disperse into bone and blood to escape her death.
Either way, if you place your hands to those panels and let the sound and light reach its crescendo, the vault door grinds open. Before you is the inner sanctum.
TL;DR:
- An arcane door requires two Sleeper handprints to open.
- Opening the door will trigger an attack by the Scientist, a half-Beast augmented human who loathes Sleepers.
The door seems to be hewn of ancient, fossilized wood. Arcane patterns are carved upon it, thrumming with that blue-green light. There is no lock, no handle, only two smooth panels the right size to receive a handprint. One is made of ancient wood, the other arcane steel.
If two Sleepers place their hands upon the panels, they will feel a resonant thrum from the door as the light builds-- and then it's interrupted by a horrible shriek of bone-on-metal as a woman manifests in the room.
Have you no shame? You ruin everything.
The Scientist was human once. Now it's difficult to tell how much of her is human, how much is arcane augmentation, and how much is Beast. She can collapse into a blood-and-bone mist to evade blows, then reconstitute herself and lash out with bloodstone weapons: Darkblood gravity manipulation, Coldblood elemental blasts, Paleblood illusions. She's quick to attack.
If you press her for information, she will snarl that The world was simpler before Sleepers. You think yourselves gods or heroes. What have you done to earn it?
At best, she can be coaxed to a disdainful truce. Strike her down and she will disperse into bone and blood to escape her death.
Either way, if you place your hands to those panels and let the sound and light reach its crescendo, the vault door grinds open. Before you is the inner sanctum.
TL;DR:
- An arcane door requires two Sleeper handprints to open.
- Opening the door will trigger an attack by the Scientist, a half-Beast augmented human who loathes Sleepers.
CONTENT WARNINGS:
religious themes, enforced intimacy
The inner sanctum is a quiet, humming cocoon of great white roots. Delicate cracks of light run through them like veins. The whole temple has been alive, all this time: like the Tower, it is the body of a Pthumerian.
The Priestess doesn't wish to fight you. She moves with slow, inhuman grace, and shifting doppelOmens flit around her feet like attendant spirits. Behind her, the roots curve down like a spiral staircase, lost to a brilliant light deep below.
If our Lord has allowed you here, she says, then you are welcome. Cleanse yourself and be at peace. So long as you don't walk alone.
If struck down, the Priestess disperses into aurora-light to evade her death; if left alone, she is simply encouraging. When two Sleepers enter the root staircase, it will react to the bond between them. If they share any tension, any sentiments hanging unsaid, the roots will grow wild - tangling them together or trapping them in a snarl of white wood. If they're in harmony, glowing flowers bloom where they walk.
The further they descend, the brighter the glow becomes. The walls are blanketed with tiny, glowing flowers and delicate sprouts. These are power-nerfing flowers, and they smell beautiful.
At the bottom is a doorway with pure light beyond. The Scientist and the Priestess manifest before it, side by side, washed out by the brilliance of this living corridor. They won't look at each other. The Priestess clasps her hands in prayer, and the Scientist sets her jaw.
Your people trespassed here, in lifetimes past, says the Scientist. When the world was wet and red and new.
It is a threshold, says the priestess, more gently. If you carry something of no more use to you, cast it away.
And swear yourself to what remains.
TL;DR:
- The inner sanctum is tended by a half-Beast Priestess who doesn't wish to fight.
- Sleepers can only progress down the glowing staircase if they resolve any lingering issues between them.
The inner sanctum is a quiet, humming cocoon of great white roots. Delicate cracks of light run through them like veins. The whole temple has been alive, all this time: like the Tower, it is the body of a Pthumerian.
The Priestess doesn't wish to fight you. She moves with slow, inhuman grace, and shifting doppelOmens flit around her feet like attendant spirits. Behind her, the roots curve down like a spiral staircase, lost to a brilliant light deep below.
If our Lord has allowed you here, she says, then you are welcome. Cleanse yourself and be at peace. So long as you don't walk alone.
If struck down, the Priestess disperses into aurora-light to evade her death; if left alone, she is simply encouraging. When two Sleepers enter the root staircase, it will react to the bond between them. If they share any tension, any sentiments hanging unsaid, the roots will grow wild - tangling them together or trapping them in a snarl of white wood. If they're in harmony, glowing flowers bloom where they walk.
The further they descend, the brighter the glow becomes. The walls are blanketed with tiny, glowing flowers and delicate sprouts. These are power-nerfing flowers, and they smell beautiful.
At the bottom is a doorway with pure light beyond. The Scientist and the Priestess manifest before it, side by side, washed out by the brilliance of this living corridor. They won't look at each other. The Priestess clasps her hands in prayer, and the Scientist sets her jaw.
Your people trespassed here, in lifetimes past, says the Scientist. When the world was wet and red and new.
It is a threshold, says the priestess, more gently. If you carry something of no more use to you, cast it away.
And swear yourself to what remains.
TL;DR:
- The inner sanctum is tended by a half-Beast Priestess who doesn't wish to fight.
- Sleepers can only progress down the glowing staircase if they resolve any lingering issues between them.
On a great platform high above the world, between the clouds and stars, is a ritual space carved of crystal. Before you are ten statues, arranged in a circle. They were created long ago, when the world was young, but many of the motifs feel familiar.
To make an offering will immediately lift the curse upon any Sleeper present. Back in town, corruption will dissipate back to usual levels. At the center of the circle, a glowing door shimmers open. Through it is Trench and all the lands beyond.
The world lies open for you, ready to explore.
TL;DR:
- Choose one or more patrons, NPCs, or thematic statues to address.
- Say goodbye to something and move forward into the world.
PLOTTING FORM
- The first is a serpent with moon-white flowers blooming down the curve of her back, gently holding an egg. An engraving reads: compassion and protection.
- The second is a person with a rose in their hand and a dog at their side: loyalty and community.
- The third is a creature with the head of a wolf and the horns of a goat, depicted halfway through a transformation: change and identity.
- The fourth is a raven with a single wise eye, perched upon a book: knowledge and understanding.
- The fifth is a delicate tower with a tangled crown of antlers: structure and creation.
- The sixth is a confused tangle of tentacles built of mechanical components, its grip turned inward and uncertain: self and identity.
- The seventh is a woman with a nun's habit and a sword, steady and fierce: protection and vengeance.
- The eighth is a swirl of flames around a tree of antlers: destruction and survival.
- The ninth is a swirl of stormclouds, lashing tendrils, and pounding waves: cataclysm and apotheosis.
- The tenth is a child with feathers on her shoulders: innocence and hope.
To make an offering will immediately lift the curse upon any Sleeper present. Back in town, corruption will dissipate back to usual levels. At the center of the circle, a glowing door shimmers open. Through it is Trench and all the lands beyond.
The world lies open for you, ready to explore.
TL;DR:
- Choose one or more patrons, NPCs, or thematic statues to address.
- Say goodbye to something and move forward into the world.
QUESTIONS
no subject
Player Contact:
Monthly Pacing: It doesn't matter to me
Character Name: Izuku "Deku" Midoriya
Overall Goals: Deku has had a rough time in the temple, but he's determined to get to the bottom of the Corruption afflicting Sleepers. Other than that, I'm just vibing.
New CR: Open
Timeline/Event Ideas: I'm open to all of them, but here's my idea.
Prompt 2: Midoriya is curious who this "Lord" is, other than the body of the temple. I'm all for "tension" and "sentiments unsaid" of any size, whether or not Midoriya is able to cast something away and gets to the inner sanctum.
Overall Goals: He's too curious for his own good. Other than that, I'm just vibing.
New CR: Open
Timeline/Event Ideas: I'm open to all of them, but here's my idea.
Prompt 3: Being stubborn and bristly in a place of worship is peak Altaϊr. Listen to him tell a statue what's what and/or grudgingly agree with this or that Pthumerian's statue on certain points.
no subject
no subject
Which area do you propose we start threading from?
no subject
no subject