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video; un: transient_lord
[backdated to January 5th, lol]
[Video opens on several large pieces of paper that have been tacked to a cork board, containing a list of the months of the years and a sparce and basic list of the odd effects Sleepers (read: Shen Yuan personally) have encountered. Notably over three-quarters of the available space is blank. From behind the camera Consort Shen speaks, his voice identifiably the same as Shen Yuan's but much more cheerful.]
It seems peerless_hobo was trying to put together a list of the "weird shit" that happens here in Trench, but ran into a few roadblocks in his research. In my experience such things can usually be conquered with a little outside help, so! I'm crowdsourcing the project. Please write in or message me with a description of something odd you've encountered, and if enough people corroborate it, I'll add it to the list. Anything goes except for odd events that were identifiably caused by Sleeper actions; while powerful, such things are inherently unpredictable and we're trying to get a handle on the weirdness inherent to Trench here, in particular the yearly cycle.
...I hope that makes sense, peerless_hobo's notes were frankly an absolute mess.
[The list is as follows:
January – Party at the Red, Shedding Ceremony, alternate versions of Sleepers swapped in from parallel universes, snake monster that leaves ice trails?
February –
March –
April –
May –
June –
July – HOT
August – Hot and HUMID, monsters came out of the sea?
September – Bugge appears; spilling its blood helps ensure a good harvest, while attempting to heal it can blight the farmlands.
October – Black Parade, enchanted masks caused Sleeper transformations
November – The Tower sickened; city experienced warping effects. Sleepers were sent into the woods by Never Mind to seek healing mushrooms.
December – DEEP snow. Tunnel-digging snow monster. Dorothea (who??) caused Sleepers to have panic attacks. Winter Mournings (typo?) caused shared flashbacks.]
[Video opens on several large pieces of paper that have been tacked to a cork board, containing a list of the months of the years and a sparce and basic list of the odd effects Sleepers (read: Shen Yuan personally) have encountered. Notably over three-quarters of the available space is blank. From behind the camera Consort Shen speaks, his voice identifiably the same as Shen Yuan's but much more cheerful.]
It seems peerless_hobo was trying to put together a list of the "weird shit" that happens here in Trench, but ran into a few roadblocks in his research. In my experience such things can usually be conquered with a little outside help, so! I'm crowdsourcing the project. Please write in or message me with a description of something odd you've encountered, and if enough people corroborate it, I'll add it to the list. Anything goes except for odd events that were identifiably caused by Sleeper actions; while powerful, such things are inherently unpredictable and we're trying to get a handle on the weirdness inherent to Trench here, in particular the yearly cycle.
...I hope that makes sense, peerless_hobo's notes were frankly an absolute mess.
[The list is as follows:
January – Party at the Red, Shedding Ceremony, alternate versions of Sleepers swapped in from parallel universes, snake monster that leaves ice trails?
February –
March –
April –
May –
June –
July – HOT
August – Hot and HUMID, monsters came out of the sea?
September – Bugge appears; spilling its blood helps ensure a good harvest, while attempting to heal it can blight the farmlands.
October – Black Parade, enchanted masks caused Sleeper transformations
November – The Tower sickened; city experienced warping effects. Sleepers were sent into the woods by Never Mind to seek healing mushrooms.
December – DEEP snow. Tunnel-digging snow monster. Dorothea (who??) caused Sleepers to have panic attacks. Winter Mournings (typo?) caused shared flashbacks.]
text | un: sds
March - A board game sucked people into a jungle and you had to finish the game to escape. There were giant man-eating frogs in the jungle and they sucked.
People also fell into catacombs and had to go through challenges to get out. The one that really stood out to me was a burning house with shadow figures. It was definitely a trap. You heard someone scream and the moment you went in to save them, you found no one in the house. Except for those shadows.
April - Portals. Portals to other worlds and dimensions. A lot of them let in monsters from people's worlds. Some people managed to get items from home from them, too.
May - Bees made hives inside of people. Also, plants wanted to grow out of people. I think to get rid of the plants you had to take a cold bath or get scrubbed down with salt but it's not something I personally had to deal with.
June - Earthquakes that opened up tunnels beneath the city.
July - Some people got pretty violent. I don't know why, it wasn't corruption, but it was bad. Others wanted to just walk into the ocean to be judged for their crimes. It was a shit month all around.
video | un: graham crackers
Branching off what sds up there said, March was especially weird. Getting sucked into the jungle, the mentioned man-eating frogs, and there was also stuff like quicksand, giant mosquitoes, and this hunter guy who was absolutely insane, just going around trying to kill everybody he saw.
( Peter Graham has been personally victimised by Jumanji. )
...But July's been the worst. ( His voice draws very quiet, and he's looking down for a moment. ) One of the worst. The Patron of that month is like... about judgment, and stuff. If there's anything that people feel... guilty about, or... bad stuff from their past? That Patron makes sure you don't forget it. Lets other people know about it, too.
It's a dangerous month. Really... dangerous.
no subject
Thank you for contributing! I'd like to ask some follow-up questions about February and March, if that's okay!
1) Do you remember what the man with the chocolates looked like? Did he give a reason for collecting people's blood?
2) Were the antlers permanent?
And for March --
1) Did the board game have any indentifying features, such as a label or identifying marks?
2) Can you give some examples of the challenges people faced in the catacombs?
3) Did the shadows appear to be sapient, or demonstrate any behaviors other than attacking people?
It sounds like you've been through a lot, my friend. Thank you again for sharing. Peerless's hope was that by collecting information on previous months, people would be better able to avoid trouble in the future. Looking at this list now, I can definitely see why he was worried!
no subject
Thank you for contributing. I'm sorry you had to do endure all that. Would it be okay if I asked you some follow-up questions?
Also, I'm sorry if this is too personal, but are you safe right now? Is there anyone there with you who can help you stay calm and, I don't know, give you a hug or something? It's not my intention to retraumatize people.
no subject
And he knows how he is, how he.... seems. He can't conceal the ways he's bruised underneath, wears it too plainly. His discomfort and anxiety, the way he shudders like a child. It can make people... uncomfortable, awkward, maybe even nervous in return. But this person's asking about his well-being... )
No, it's uh— it's totally okay. Feel free to ask anything you wanna. I've been here a pretty long time, so anything I can do to help a new guy out. ( He offers a little smile. )
I do have someone here, my girlfriend, she's— she's in the house with me. It's okay, I'm— okay. ( He's awkward, fumbly with his words, but earnest. After a beat— )
Thank you for asking, though. I guess talking about all of this... it can be kind of hard. This place is a nightmare...
no subject
2) No. Thank fucking god. They did hurt coming in, though.
As for March.
1) Jumanji, I think?
2) There was a room full of treasures. I kind of wanted to take a few but I didn't. I kinda think that was the trick. And my birth mother haunted me for a while. She turned to ash after I spoke with her.
Uh. There was a trick exit. Went towards it and suddenly I was in a pit with a bunch of mushrooms. That then started to grow out of my skin. Had to pull them all out. And it fucking sucked.
And to finally leave we had to... Confess our faults to someone. Which also fucking sucked.
3) They didn't really attack. They just. watched. And the closer they were, the more you felt like you were fading. It was like they drained you of life and air.
That's Trench for you. Every month, some brand new bullshit that pokes at old wounds and reopens them or gives us brand new ones that we won't be able to heal from. It's bullshit.
no subject
I don't have any more questions at this time, but if you think of anything else that might be useful, please don't hesitate to reach out. I don't expect to be here past the end of the month, but when peerless_hobo returns I'm sure he'll be appreciative.
no subject
Okay, I'm glad you have someone with you. Do me a favor and let your girlfriend know about this conversation? And if it gets to be too much, don't worry about walking away, all right? Wanting to help others is a noble goal, but it shouldn't come too much at the expense of yourself.
So, my questions. Can you elaborate on what you mean by the Patron of July? Is that one of the Pthumerians? Also, did you see any examples of people becoming violent in July, like sds mentioned?
[He won't ask about people walking back into the ocean. The connection seems obvious enough, and he fears spelling it out would be too upsetting for Peter...]
no subject
About getting help with it. Taking care of himself through all of the things he struggles with here. Even just the act of recollecting things to someone else can affect him this much... and clearly, the other man can see that. Peter blinks, surprised, and then offers a soft nod. )
I'll tell her. Yeah, I uh. I can do that. ( It's a good idea, a really good one. And being given permission to leave the conversation if he needs to? To walk away? There's something about that idea that feels safe. Feels nice. )
Thank you. ( He adds again, smile still small and shy, but genuine. Before it flutters gently away into a thoughtful frown as Peter tries to think how to word all of this. )
One of the Pthumerians, yeah. That one's called... The Reckoning. I never saw what it looked like or anything, but... I heard people talking about it. There were warnings about it coming.
( He pauses, glances down at his hands for a moment. )
Yeah. People getting... angry, picking fights. Hurting each other. I got pretty mean, too. Hurt some people I care about. Said things I shouldn't. I guess it can make you physically violent or just... emotionally.
People also got... branded. Like uh, with letters on their skin? If they've ever done something really wrong, something they feel guilty about.... T for Thief. L for Liar. ( The next one comes out with the softest flutter of eyelids, though he manages to keep his composure pretty well, somehow. ) M for Murder. Stuff like that.
no subject
I'll wrack my brain and see what I can remember.
no subject
Hang on, I'm sorry to bother you again, but would you mind unpacking that for me? What do you mean 'how it can influence you?' Have there been other examples of entities using mind control?
no subject
Thank you for your help, you're being very brave right now. I've just got a couple more questions, but don't worry if you can't answer. I understand that it was a lot to deal with at the time, and stress is notorious for how it can mess up the memory.
Do you remember if there were any rumors or discussion at the time about ways to reduce or avoid being affected by the heightened emotions at the time? Also, did anyone try removing the brands before the month was over?
Thank you again for helping. If your girlfriend or anyone else you know has the time, I'd appreciate them writing in as well. The more people I talk to, the more raw data Peerless will have to work with.
no subject
In December, I hunted a friend of mine. I knew I didn't want to do that. I knew I didn't want to hurt him. But I still felt this overwhelming need.
This place pushes you and there's a good chance you might not even realize it's happening. Might never realize it. It sometimes feels like what you want.
Video; un: darkness
If one had a romantic partner in July, there was a mental compulsion to form bonds with them because you felt persecution that wasn't real from other Sleepers, whether that be the ties of marriage or the kinds of bonds that can be formed here in Trench.
I can't remember much else specific to certain months, they've blurred together for me.
1/2
[Okay, gotta play this cool. Be cool man, be cool. Don't make it weird.]
Can I have your autograph???
2/2
I am so sorry, that was deeply unprofessional of me. You can ignore that if you'd prefer. [Unless maybe it DIDN'T bother him, in which case -- no, stop that.]
Thank you for contributing, Lord Maul. I'd been informed that a person or entity compelling people to trade blood for chocolate showed up last February, but the murder is new information. Do you remember any outstanding physical characteristics the man or monster had that might help other people identify him? SDS says he was roughly the same size as an elephant.
[Wait, do they have elephants in Star Wars? Never mind.]
The information about July is also new. Could you tell me a little more about the mental compulsion and the persecution you believed you were experiencing? I'm told the Reckoning was also very active that month; could it be they were involved in this too?
[Should he go there? Oh, why not! How many times do you get the chance to speak to a real Sith lord??]
My other self mentioned in his notes that the two of you worked together to slay a monster in September. I'll admit to some envy, there; he made it sound very exciting.
no subject
Sooo, possibly a silly question, but does anything weird but nice ever happen around here? Or is it just horror and psychic damage 24/7/365?
no subject
I don't know of anyone who tried to remove theirs. I um.... didn't try to do anything to mine. I guess I was too afraid what might happen if I messed with it. After a few days, it just went away.
And I don't remember anyone talking about ways to escape July's influence, but... there's a book. About the Reckoning. I haven't read it myself, but... someone I know was trying to study it.
( Thaaaaat would be the demon inside of him, a literal king of Knowledge, who has been poking through the Archives and making notes of things over the months. Peter's seen the tome mentioned in some of Paimon's scribblings. )
It's called Here's the Reckoning or something like that? I bet you could get ahold of it if you wanted. ( ...It's actually Thus Comes the Reckoning, but. Close enough. ...Really, Paimon would be a better asset for information, but Peter doesn't exactly want to just throw a demon out onto this poor guy's lap. )
Oh yeah, for sure. There's definitely a lot of people who know more about all this than me, and I— ( Peter suddenly pauses, glancing up off-camera to where his doorframe is, and where the girlfriend in question has just poked her head in to check up on him. Peter's visibly brightening, waving his arm slightly in the air to gesture her over. ) Actually, my girlfriend's right here— hey, Luna? There's someone on the network who could use your Ravenclaw brain.
( Peter's reaching for the girl's hand as she moves into his bedroom, and gently tugs her to sit down beside him on his bed. It puts her right into frame: long blonde waves and big silvery moon eyes. Peter smiles over at her, visibly more at ease in her presence. )
He's asking about weird stuff that happens every month.
no subject
It didn't last long but... the pain of it is what sticks with you, not the apple cider you got to drink as the parade passed.
This month, there are parties at The Red. And that's fun. It's a little weird because this month's pthumerian dropped a present off with an outfit for it that we'd like but we get to go out and drink and have a great fucking time. But the horror of this month, people shedding and turning into children or some other version of themselves, that's what's going to stick the most.
In a way, it doesn't really matter if weird nice things happen because those aren't the things you'll remember in the end. It's gonna be the pain. The horror. Watching your friends suffer. Dying. It's those things that stick.
text: un: tenskulls
The beach was full of prosthetics, and if you returned them to the kids at Koz, they gave out photographs from your home. Not sure there was a limit to how many you could get, but if there was I didn't reach it.
Ghosts following people around. Maybe not exactly ghosts, but something like them. The more you talked to other people, the more those ghosts lost their hold.
Couldn't stop crying. Out of nowhere tears. Tears I didn't even have any memories left to attach to them, so then I guess I was crying about that.
Cursed lighthouse. That was a fun time.
Video; UN Lothrat
[PLayer is too tired to type all that out.]
May I suggest taking your collected notes to the Sanctuary, too?
belatedly slides in here
Hello. [ There's a usual crooked and dreamy smile at the camera as she lifts one had to wave before her head shifts to look at Peter for a moment. Someone asking about the 'weird stuff'—? A new Sleeper perhaps—? Hm. ]
Well— [ There's a pause as she considers for a moment. ] that's quite a broad range, considering there's plenty of things that happen every month that people may or may not find weird.
[ Everyone's a bit different in terms of how they'd rate something 'weird', she means. ]
hiiii!
A fair point, Miss -- Lovegood, I presume? [He is hilarious. And struggling to pull his dignity back together. He continues in a more professional tone,] Please call me Consort Shen. To be more specific I'm collecting information for a sort of database that can be used to quickly and easily provide newcomers on the recurring elements of Trench's strangeness, so they can take appropriate precautions. For instance...[He checks his notes.]
I've already been told by several people that in previous Februaries, a mysterious person or monster appeared in the city and attempted to sell people magically-tainted chocolates in exchange for their blood. Are you perhaps able to confirm that?
no subject
Oh? He knows Luna? Peter is aware by now that his girlfriend exists in the world of fiction (though not quite to the extent... he was not a Harry Potter kid....) and so he just thinks it's because her name might be kind of infamous around this place by now... )
You've heard of her? She's definitely someone who can help with Trench information stuff. She's even writing a book. ( He adds, proudly, looking over at her with a nose-scrunched grin. )
Oh, the chocolate guy, you ate some of those, right? Wasn't that when you had all those colours around you?
( He can't remember most things, but he couldn't forget Luna glowing different colours because of her emotions. )
text; un: peerless_hobo
text; un: lady; private
Sharon, are you all right? If you are ever having any trouble with the curses or corruption, you need only say.
I have found solving the curses to be similar, in a way, to dreamwalking, and I should be very glad to help you with them, if ever I can.
private
no subject
You can stay with us in Cellar Door, if you like. It's easier to remember how good it can be, here.
SHEN YUAN! /WHEEZES cw: murder-suicide pact mentioned
If you'd like.
[Ah, it was so nice to have a fanboy of his here in Trench to stroke his ego upon occasion.]
I'm not sure what an elephant is but he was enormous and sinister-looking. Perhaps if one combined a rotting deer with a number of human beings and the Bugge, this is the creature that would result.
As for the July affliction, my partner and I felt like everyone disapproved of our relationship, that no one wanted us to be together and that they were going to actively try to tear us apart. None of this was true but it was an absolute conviction with us. While I briefly entertained the notion of the two of us killing ourselves, I'm not one much for suicide, and so instead I proposed the idea of marriage and forming blood bonds. It took a little convincing but he agree on both ends, which I otherwise know he would have staunchly refused had he been in his right mind. While it is possible the Reckoning was involved, I can't say for certain if they were.
[Then he chuckled at reading the last message.]
Indeed, that was a rather enjoyable outing. If you wish, we could go monster-hunting together.
no subject
I might take you up on that offer some time, though.
no subject
You're always welcome in my home and at my hearth.
text; private
...But Binghe isn't here, so Consort Shen can flirt with impunity! Just for fun, of course; he would never cheat on Binghe, or encourage someone else to cheat on their spouse.]
Lord Maul is most gracious, but alas. This one made his request in error, as I do not expect to remain in Trench past the end of the current month, and I doubt I will be able to take anything with me when I return home. However, if the offer of a hunting trip was seriously meant, I can promise the memory will be very well-treasured indeed.
[He might make a painting about it, when he gets home! Binghe might complain about it, but what is Consort Shen supposed to do, not commemorate going on a night hunt with the Darth Maul in some way??]
Might I also offer both congratulations on your marriage, and condolences on the challenges faced to get there? [So hardcore!] My other self didn't say anything about a spouse when he mentioned you in the notes he left for me, but then he seems to be a rather unobservant sort. [Ffs, he doesn't even know he's gay!] As a married man myself, naturally I have a better understanding of these things.
I've had only a little time to spend in research on the Patrons, but it seems that the Reckoning herself is in a star-crossed relationship of some sort with the Patron called the Doorway? If other people come forward with stories of having had their passions inflamed in such a way, it may be a theory with pursuing further. I'll add it to my notes for Shen Yuan to look into when he returns. Once again I must thank Lord Maul for his insights; the retelling of your experiences has been extremely helpful indeed. ^_^
no subject
You know me. [ A little unnerving how it's offered, like some little thought off-hand — spoken out loud. She hums thoughtfully before he gaze shifts to Peter with a little smile in reply to his grin. He's being very sweet. ]
... That's right, yes. [ She nods at Peter before continuing, looking back to the camera: ] The chocolates the being tempted Sleepers with had a variety of effects, the one I ate projected my emotional state in the form of a colour aura.
[ A bit of an inconvenience, but hardly troublesome. ]
The other prominent event within February I experienced is Blood Bonds. While they're something people can do any time of the year, they're more potent when conducted within Doorway's month, under the Egg Moon — considering those kinds of bonds lie within their domain.
[ There's a pause as she considers for a moment before shrugging. ]
It's all a bit thematic, really. A great deal of the things that happen in Trench usually have some kind of connection to the Patron of the month, which makes sense.
no subject
I understand, Sansa. It's all right that we feel differently about this place.
And you're always welcome at mine.
no subject
I don't want you to be miserable here. I should like to help, if ever I can.
no subject
text post; un: peerless_hobo
[Private message...]
I got by hit pretty bad by the draugr too. Glad you're still with us despite everything.
no subject
Besides, that's not the point of this interview.]
Do you happen to remember what flavor the chocolate was, or if it had any identifying characteristics? I know it's been a long time, but if we can figure out which pieces cause which effects, people who get caught up in the distributor's sphere of influence might still be able to avoid the really dangerous ones.
[He makes a few notes about the blood bonds on a piece of paper.]
I'm sorry, did you just say something about an Egg Moon? I'm afraid I don't know what that means -- I've only been in Trench for a couple of weeks, myself. [Small self-deprecating laugh. He's really doing his best here, but there's been a lot of information to process!]
Interesting that the month is February is still so heavily associated in romance, in a world that's mostly moved on and forgotten Earthly societies...is Valentine's Day still celebrated at all?
[And a final question, since he's genuinely interested and it might be useful to Shen Yuan later...] What sort of book are you writing?
you guys feel free to skip over Peter now, he's just going to be listening! ...and demon zonking out
Somewhere in him rests the uncomfy realisation that Paimon is probably listening too, always drawn to Knowledge Talks (and again, all of this is definitely more the demon's speed....) but Peter just quietly lets himself enjoy the moment. If it helps someone out — and could ultimately help more people out as a result, the spread of information and all that, it's definitely worth it.
...Besides, he's forgotten so many details about past things that it's probably good for him to get a little refresher too. Though don't mind him if here and there he does start getting a glassy look in his eyes and staring widely into space like he's zoning out... Maaaybe some of it is because Peter has a hard time Concentrating and Thinking, but it's definitely mostly because the demon is surfacing from time to time to listen more intimately. It's fine. )
no subject
[Plus it was practically guaranteed that this version of Shen Yuan would fawn over him just as much as the usual one did.]
Ah, yes, I do believe the other version of yourself here is single. And thank you, I am very happy with Reaper. [The name alone spoke to the sort of person Maul had involved himself with.] We've known each other for going on three years now, though we have only been properly married for about six months.
It is possible that has something to do with it. The emotional state of the Pthumerians has affected our minds before, particularly where strong emotions with them are concerned.
also private
Or "I'd like to forget it." Which is a little ...something else.
Back at you, and you have my sympathies.
he's just vibin
I believe it was possibly strawberry, ... or maybe raspberry. [ It was absolutely not raspberry. That one does something else entirely. But it was almost a year ago, yes. ]
The Egg Moon, yes. Things like the seasons and moon phases are a little different here, the latter due to Moon Presence. There are six moon phases in a year, each one lasting two months: Egg Moon, Wild Moon, Flushed Moon, Beast Moon, Blood Moon and Bone Moon. [ Luna is a big fan of the moon, well— Moon Presence. ] Egg Moon is considered to be the best time for rituals.
It might be a little bit of coincidence, but Doorway doesn't focus on just romantic relationships. They're the Patron of all relationships. [ When she was researching the Blood Bonds, there's even ones you can do between enemies. Doorway encourages strong bonds amongst everyone, regardless of the kind of relationship. ] Only by the Sleepers who celebrated it in their own worlds. A lot of human holidays aren't celebrated here by the natives, but they have their own which can be similar for some — like new year celebrations.
[ And some traditions are completely new. There's... honestly a lot going on with everyone. ]
Oh, my book? [ Still not finished, unfortunately. But— ] it's... like an index of Beasthood forms of Sleepers, and how best to deal with them, how to bring them back from Beasthood. That sort of thing. I've taken a bit of inspiration from someone I admire very much.
[ Newt would be very proud of her. ]