Deer Country Network

[The feed opens up to an unnaturally beautiful garden. For those familiar with Ange Ushiromiyra or Beatrice's magic they'll certainly recognize the golden butterflies fluttering about the and resting upon the golden roses. While this area looks nothing like Trench, one of the carnivorous plants can be seen going to snap at one of the butterflies.

Only for Ruby Rose to pop up on the screen and slices the plant in two with a scythe made of scythe made of pure energy that she had not been seen with before. In fact she seemed incredibly energetic for someone who should be dealing with the draining effect on cold bloods this month. She's also dressed surprisingly formal for her usually very goth tendencies. She quickly dusts herself off and looks to whatever is projecting the Feed.]

Sorry about that. Just dealing with a few nasty pests that stumbled in here.

Speaking of which~!

I thought it would be fun to give everyone a little tour of The Golden Land my beautiful wife, The Golden Witch Ange Ushiromiya has created.

[The feed turns shows off the beautiful Garden, along with a gazebo with a table set for a tea party beneath it, a massive hedge maze that contains various doors that poke out from the overgrowth unnaturally. As they pass by a couple of the doors one might hear a few bangs or something that might sound like finger nails raking on the doors. Ruby seems to ignore it until she notices one slowly start to open and she'll step in to slam it shut and lock it with a key before turning back to the camera.]

Oh, just ignore that! Some people get a little rambunctious waiting for dinner, you know?

[Speaking of dinner, the next door in the hedge maze is open, and it leads to an extravagant kitchen. Inside that kitchen, one Xerxes Break is not making dinner. He is sitting cross-legged on the table, forming bits of crust into an intricate top for a terribly pretty pie. He has already made cookies and some wads of frosting shaped like roses that probably have cupcakes underneath, and is having a grand time. He glances up as Ruby steals a cookie.]

There you are. When you've finished whatever you're up to, come see me, would you? I was thinking we ought to come up with a present to make for Miss Ange. [As he speaks, he picks up a fork and casually hurls it off to the side somewhere. There's a thunk, and the angry gurgling of another carnivorous plant that tried to follow Ruby in.] Since she's made us such a lovely new home, we ought to make something really great for her too, don't you think?

[Quite frankly sitting on tables and throwing cutlery is just normal Break behavior. But those who recognize him may notice that the one red eye he keeps visible has a distinct glow about it, and his ever present omen — who is on the floor nearby, happily chewing up a pumpkin someone has conjured for him — has all of his too many teeth out in a manic doggy grin he cannot quite seem to put away.]

[Ruby bounces on the balls of her feet in excitement.]

That's a great idea! I'll wrap this up quick!

[And quickly begins to float out of the kitchen and into a grand lobby that seems to be just as over grown as everything else. There is a Portrait of her and Ange that eventually stops by and presents with open arms.]

Any who wish to visit this wonderful world created by our Golden Witch, Ange Ushiromiya are welcome to.

But please try not to cause any problems. I'll only politely ask you to leave once.

[And the feed closes with a smile that seems almost a little too sweet as she again grips that large scythe.]

[OOC Purple is Break.

TLDR Ange has made an interdimensional hidey hole centralized There will be a log coming up in the next few days to explore the area and have some fun!]

[ After much consideration, she's decided to put herself out there and do a little research. Of course the matter is a personal one and she's a little embarrassed, so she'll hide behind text and her role as a doctor. ]

Has anyone here ever thought about having children? It's not as if there aren't children here, it's just seems that they all belong to native families.

From a medical standpoint, I've been wondering if it's possible, but if not I want to figure out what's making it impossible. Or is everyone just on really good birth control?

Thoughts? Has anyone looked into this before? Did you find anything useful?

[She’s been here for over a week now. Time to get the lay of the land. The video opens up to a particularly tall blonde woman with a golden skeletal arm and a smirk. She's here to cause problems on purpose.]

Greetings, hello, salutations. My name is Ianthe Naberius. I’m new in town, twenty two, a princess of Ida, unfortunately single and dreadfully bored!

Now, I come to you today, not only to introduce myself, but to ask something of all of you.

Who do you hate most in Trench and why? I’m trying to meet people, network, but it’s so hard and overwhelmingly positive! So consider this an open invitation. Warn me about that dangerous scoundrel who kicked your puppy, seethe about how much you despise me for whatever reason, tell me about your parasocial hateful fixation on one of the local divinity. It can be a minor slight you want to complain about, a friend of yours who owes you two perfectly intact human skulls, or it can be an actual danger to this lovely little community of ours.

Now, before you try to say “this is childish and stupid!” You’re absolutely right, but it is a necessary part of self care to allow oneself to be an absolute cunt once in a while. [Or all the time, if your name is Ianthe.] So let’s not make any grand claims to being above something like this, mm?

Feel free to use the anonymity feature. Or the privacy feature, I guess, if you’re shy or worried about being fileted like a fish.

So I will make this quick so as to not waste anyone's time.

I'm new and I have a few questions which I would appreciate being answered by anyone NOT named Darth Maul or anyone dumb enough to call themselves one of his cult members.

Are there any actual schools in this place besides an endless amount of weirdo dojos and their even weirder belief systems? [He saw all of the bickering comments.]

How likely is the house I pick to live in going to get wrecked the first month in... mostly because I rather have a car NOT fly through my roof a second time... not that I've seen any cars around but that's beside the point.

Seems like winter is going to be an absolute pain so where can I get decently warm clothes?

Lastly, how often am I going to open a door and experience an Escher painting suddenly surrounding me?

Thank you in advance.

[ The broadcast seems to be coming from a Japanese-style garden, though with less greenery, given that it’s Trench. Some people might recognize the man standing in it as Daniel, though he’s not wearing his usual Trench getup, instead wearing a white karate gi, complete with headband. Next to him is a boy some people might recognize as Robby in a similar white gi.

It’s Daniel who speaks up first, his facial expression a relaxed smile. ]

Now, I know that there are a lot of people in this place who already offer help with fighting lessons. But this place can be so dangerous, and there are a lot of people here, so.. better to have too many opportunities to learn than too few, right? [ He shakes his head. ] That’s why I decided to open up the dojo I ran back home here as well, Miyagi-do Karate.

[ Yes, he’s gesturing an absolutely unnecessary amount as he speaks. It’s the Italian within him. ]

Miyagi-do isn’t about learning how to go around picking fights. It’s about learning how to defend yourself and how to protect others, while also focusing on your internal balance. All of which are invaluable skills in this place.

[ Daniel pauses, glancing at the boy standing besides him, before his smile widens a tad and he moves a hand to pat Robby’s shoulder. ]

I’m sure some of you might recognize my student Robby here. He’s been practicing Miyagi-do for a long time now [ never mind some stuff that’s being shoved under the rug here, sshhh ] and will be helping out around the dojo.

[ Robby has been quiet up to this point, letting Daniel speak without interruption, eyes cast in the man's direction without directly looking at him. But his lips roll when the hand falls on his shoulder, and his expression turns serious. ]

It's true we don't come from a world as dangerous as this one, or as many of you do, but the dojo will hold to its promise to help protect its students by passing on any knowledge and training that will give each one a better chance out there. I'll be helping to lead some beginner classes outside of weapons training, and I can give any advice to newcomers if you want to talk to someone closer to my age. [ Or theirs, perhaps, but same difference. ]

We welcome anyone from any of the other schools of fighting, just as we'd recommend that people go to others to find what works for them. Sensei Uchiha of the ninja school and Sensei Lawrence of Eagle Fang are good teachers with their own styles I can recommend, and if we can help alongside the other teachers here, that's our goal.

(ooc: daniel is the black text, robby the green text! ooc information can be found over here!)

[sansa, in front of her direwolf sigil tapestry as usual, has her face painted like a raven for the black parade's ongoing festivities, black feathers around her eyes and painted on her cheeks. someone has also given her black lipstick. it doesn't seem to be causing any ill effects. she has black feathers braided into her hair and sewn on to her dress, which is charcoal linen embroidered with glossy black ravens. lady sits with her in a matching collar of black feathers and gemstone chips. she looks somewhat nervous.]

Hallo, this is Sansa Stark. I wanted to say that the people in the strange wasp's nests are only the Zealots that were attacking and kidnapping Sleepers last year, and no one should risk themselves to save them. The Zealots can be recognized by their scars; some of their skin looks half-flayed open. If anybody knows anything else about the Zealots, it would be well if they could share it.

[sansa straightens and draws a breath. she flicks at her omni.]

[locked from user names leavegodalone, 1ststrike, and dabi. that is, in fact, it. she thinks that probably john gaius will be able to see this anyway but doesn't know what else she can do.]

Anyway, as near as I can tell it's my nameday on the seventeenth of this month, and as I've been unable to celebrate my past three namedays I thought I might well have a small feast at the Sanctuary to mark the occasion. Since that day is a Monday I thought perhaps it might be easier for everyone to have it on the Saturday before, which is the fifteenth. We'll be in the larger dining hall. I should be very glad if any of you choose to attend.

[The feed opens to a view of a worktop in Wesker's lab space at Soma, as evidenced by the dim lighting and some howls of pain heard in the distant background, but a few items stand out among the equipment: a copy of Frazer's Golden Bough atop a desk reference on virology, a row of leather-bound books on a shelf, above them on another shelf sit a bleached skull with a pair of aviator sunglasses perched on the bridge of the nose and a specimen jar containing a heart beating gently as it floats in its bath of preservative fluid.]

[Wesker peers into a microscope, a lean, brown-haired young woman watching him intently through her thick eyeglasses, adjusting the sling supporting her right arm.]

Hm.

Is that an interested hm or a concerned hm? [She asks]

It's both. These don't resemble the usual cells you find in a sample from a Beast. The structures are similar to what one finds in Beast cells, but there's a coating of something like Sleeper Squid Ink. Also, the cut I took this from started to regenerate as soon as I removed it.

[He steps back from the microscope, giving his assistant space to peer into the eyepiece. She takes off her glasses as she does so.]

Seriously... whoa.. How do you think it's possible?

I'm wondering if our dear Bugge is a Sleeper trapped between Beasthood and transforming back into themself. Perhaps one of the Zealots' little pets?

[She steps back from the worktop.] I'm wondering if it's a hybrid between a Beast and a Sleeper.

[She claps one hand over her mouth, half-suppressing a giggle] Oh no... you thinking what I'm thinking?

Leiermann, am I certain that I want to know the answer to that?

I'm thinking some Sleeper got crazy with a Beast. [As she says this, a greenish pink tint crosses her cheekbones. Wesker, on the other hand, looks into the camera trying to keep his composure, but his lips wrinkle as if he's cringing inside.]

If you think about it, it's sweet. Someone cared about their loved one enough to embrace them and bring them back to themself, even in that terrible state.

I, however, was about to demand of our audience, which of one you gluttons for the delights of the bedchamber had anything to do with this? But given the farmers' talk about it, I'd say it has existed for quite some time now and the parents may have passed on or returned to the Sea.

Wait, audience... [She darts a look at him, then at the device as an utterly trollish smirk crosses his face.] Did I hit the transmit button along with the record button??

Ok. This is officially an invite to something amazing.
If you are here, and you have not disappeared on me, and know about the Entertainment Feed.
Tomorrow. Six o Clock. Join us at the Entertainment Feed to live Fast.

See the wonders of Rio de Jainero like you will never see them before, and never will again!

Ok, so I've never actually been to Rio, whatever.
It's a hilarious trip, and you do NOT need to have seen the first four to understand what is going on.
You just have to be badass.

Two rules. No fighting. Also, no disappearing mid-film. That's an order.
Also, additional rule. Don't ask me how I got the thing that plays this video originally.
It involved getting some sweaty asshole a towel.

[... Ruby. This is your fault. She's blaming you. No disappearing on her.]

(OOC: Not that we've ever actually had a member of the Fast franchise in this game, and if we'd do I would laugh my way all the way to the bank? Assume that all kinds of the details of the film are just wrong so there's no ACTUAL spoilers. She did swipe it from the Archives after all. Besides, it's Fast. Some names and faces can definitely be changed for the sake of the ... well, Dom. You get the idea.)

Why hello there! May I just have a little bit of your time?

[Snow is, as always, surrounded by her animal friends and companions. She gently straightens her hair bow a bit and then puts her hands back in her lap.]

I was just wondering if I might have some help from people who are much more further in the timeline than I am... that is, people who are past the 1500s.

Is it alright for women to request courtship first in your time period by any chance?

[Why yes, Snow would very much like TO JUST DO THAT, she's just not sure if that's even a thing yet, or if it'd be as much a shock nowadays as it currently is in her own time. Although, since they're both women, she's not sure how that would even work if they COULDN'T request it first.]

I'm afraid modern courtship is still utterly unknown to me, though from what I have seen and read, it does seem to have a lot of things called pick-me-up lines, oh! Do people still serenade one another or is that not really what's done anymore?

Still, thank you so much for any help you might be able to offer!

[ he really hates doing this . . . but alucard knows he needs to commit to it. the feed turns on with him looking . . . not quite sheepish, but a tinge of irritation layered with contriteness. ]

Last month, I had the unfortunate issue of losing control of my vampiric nature and lashed out onto a number of people here. I hope you would be willing to accept my apology and if not, direct me in ways where I can make amends. I . . . do not usually need or require blood as sustenance so it took me by surprise.

My apologies. If it helps, it seems I've lost my sense of taste. Perhaps that is penance in a way.

CW: Drug and Alcohol use, including with a minor. Insensitive Language

( Post is BEHIND the cut. )

content warnings: identity theft, salacious libel

[ Someone logs onto their very own Omni, in a normal and regular fashion. ]

How do you do, fellow squids. This is Gideon Nav, cavalier of the Ninth House, here to clear up some critical misinformation I have seen circulating around our gutterswill nightmare local network.

( truth and revelation this way lie )

CONTENT WARNING: psychological changes, hoarding, and obsessive behavior related to lavish desires

[ this video opens up with the blink of two eyes and a disgruntled chitter. perle is filming falco and focusing on . . . quite a mess of books in various assortments, stacked upon each other until they were in danger of tilting. among the open spines on the floors pinned with bookmarks were scrolls of paintings, sketches, statues, sepia photography— anything resembling a loving relationship, falco has seemed to have snatched it and keeps it all hostage in his little cabin home's attic like a greedy little dragon buried in precious, hoarded gold. he's pacing left, right, and has been caught mid-explanation as he works a red thread between his fingers. ]

( he rambles and an omen goes ham )

This afternoon a handsome face is gracing the network. It's most likely new to, well, pretty much everyone, though perhaps you might have caught a glimpse of him wandering about town, occasionally asking questions but mostly just listening to the answers.

It's amazing what people will tell someone who's a good, attentive listener.

In any case, the new fellow gives the camera(?) a positively charming smile before speaking.

"Hello, greetings, salutations, and all that. My name is Oberon. Fairy King Oberon, if you like. A pleasure, I'm sure!"

A pleasure for whom? Never mind, he's still got more to say, apparently.

"Now that the pleasantries are dispensed with, I have an important piece of business to discuss. You see, it's come to my attention that I happen to possess a rare and valuable commodity, that many here would dearly like to get their hands on. The so-called 'virgin blood', to be precise!"

He pauses briefly to make sure everyone clearly heard and understood that bit.

"Now, rather than simply squandering it for my own sole benefit, I thought I might instead generously offer everyone the opportunity to acquire this precious resource by holding a teensy little open, public auction. All bids are considered, and bidders are welcome to pool their resources into a single bid, should they believe they can share in the spoils."

Is this guy serious? He seems to be totally serious about this.

"You may begin the bidding... now."

So for those not in the know, our house burned down last month.

[ What a way to open a post, right. And yet Ange manages to say it with something very close to a pokerface. Those who know her well may see something at its edges though. An annoyance that starts to bleed more and more into the girl's tone as she speaks on. ]

And not in the 'dumb accident' sense. No, it's because apparently it's socially acceptable in this place to come to someone's house and set it on fire, before bringing your friends inside to start murdering its inhabitants. [ Okay, yes. At this point it's not thiny veiled annoyance anymore. This is obvious annoyance that she doesn't bother to hide. ] And before anyone asks me if I'm alright— I'm fine. Totally fine. I mean, I half-turned into a beast back there, but it's clearly cool. It's fine.

[ It's clearly not fine. The sarcasm is thick.

Though Ange seems to realise that's not why she was supposed to make this message, and manages to snap herself out of passive-aggressive-ville for just long enough to sigh and sound a little bit more neutral as she speaks on. ]

Anyway, we want to rebuild the house, but that's obviously something we need help with. None of us are exactly architects.. I think. I've learned to not question weird Remnant hobbies. [ You never know what those Remnant people are capable of. ] Not to mention we'd need help with the actual physical rebuilding itself too.

We could use help from a lot of people, so if anyone would be willing to help, that'd be great.

I would like to ask for advice.

Last month, I badly hurt someone.

I don't like them, but they didn't deserve what I did to them.

And this person is important to people who are important to me, too.

What should I do? I don't know if an apology is enough. I don't know if they even want an apology, and I don't know what to do if they need more.




Thank you for taking the time to read this, even if you can't respond.

[sansa's usual raven tapestry background has been replaced by one of her direwolf sigil framed by weirwood leaves and branches. a matching version is emblazoned on the front of her charcoal dress, the branches wrapping around her leaves and over her shoulders, where they are joined by raven feathers interspersed with silver scale mail pieces and sweeping around her neckline, cut just low enough that the dark bloodstone buckle of her needle necklace rests against her skin. lady wears a matching collar at her side sewn with little weirwood leaves and chips of amethyst and pale bloodstone, joined by tiny black feather pieces at the back. her hair is braided back and gathered into her usual half-ponytail; her expression is solemn, a little wistful and sad. for once her white raven omen rests on her shoulder, her hounds in the courtyard sleeping peacefully among the mushrooms.

sufficient time has passed to prove that people are no longer possessed by whatever made them so difficult in july (some of them even came by to apologize for an incident involving vi and a basement). she has already told some of her friends that she means to reveal her name when it's safe enough, and that certainly seems to be the case this first week of august.]

Hallo, most of you know me as Alayne Stone, but I'm afraid that's not my name. I am Sansa Stark of Winterfell, the rightful Lady Protector and Warden of the North in the Seven Kingdoms. My enemies in that realm murdered my Lord Father when he was Hand of the King and seized the Iron Throne. They have taken everything from me–my home, my family, my wolf, my name. They held me hostage while my brother and mother waged war in order to avenge him and rescue me. They will hold me hostage no longer.

I had been hiding as Alayne Stone for over a year before I came here. The Queen Regent thought I helped to kill her son, the cruel and unlawful king who murdered my father in the first place, and she has had a bounty placed on my head. Know then that I am innocent of that crime, and my blood on your hands will drive you to madness even as I crawl out of the sea, and you will not see even one of the golden dragons she promises.

[sansa pauses and glances down at her lap, briefly and sorrowfully, and then back up at the omni camera.]

I never wanted to deceive any of you. [...this is probably not true, depending on who's watching.] I can only beg your forgiveness, and offer in exchange what protection I am able. The words of House Stark are "Winter is Coming;" they serve as a reminder that trouble will find us as certain as autumn turns to winter. I've found that is as true here as anywhere, even if they call it the season of bone. I have done my best to fortify the Sanctuary and my home against all danger, be it corruption or starvation or the cold, and I will always offer guest right to any who seek it at the Rookery. And I will continue to aid the city of Trench to the best of my ability, whether or not any of you choose to forgive my deception. It is my duty as a Stark of Winterfell, and I will uphold it no matter where I happen to be. I would swear it on the Doorway, if it would give any of you any comfort.

[she means it. she smiles, wistful again.]

Thank you for listening to me. I shouldn't expect anybody here to care about the politics of my realm, and I won't burden you with them any longer. If any of you have need of any clothes or what bloodstone I can make, you can find me here at the Rookery, or at the Sanctuary often enough. I am very sorry that I lied to all of you.

[The feed opens up to the front of a brick building with a sign hanging out the front that might look familiar to anyone that had been around in the dream.

A beat passes before Ruby Rose steps out in an old checkered suit looking very much like a used car salesman.]

Are you fed up with feeling defenseless during crazy judgement fueled rampages?
Tired of weird guys claiming to be god pissing off the local deities?
Sick of toddlers coming around and burning down your house?
Absolutely annoyed with the fact that your sword isn't also a gun!?
...Miffed about the usual monster related problems plaguing our world?

Well have I got a solution for you!

[Ruby whips out her massive scythe which she swings once before it folds up into it's rifle form. She cocks it and aims at the camera.]

Come on down to The Roses Thorns and solve your problems the good old fashioned way! With high powered weaponry!

I've been making weapons ever since I was baby- Or well maybe like eleven to thirteen to be more accurate. But that's pretty much baby. And I have a proven track record of making awesome weapons back in the dream just take a look for yourself!

[She steps inside the building revealing a very classy forge decorated with various weapons, and large cold blood gems of roses, butterflies and little dogs.

She approaches the table and picks up a guitar.]

Like this! Just a normal guitar, right? WRONG!

[She flips a switch on it and strums a note only for a burst of flame to shoot out from the guitar head.]

And just incase the fire doesn't do the trick, it also doubles as a spear!

[Don't mind her as she demonstrates the guitar turning into a spear. She twirls it around and accidentally knocks over a pile of other weapons. There's a light yelp as everything clatters but she's quick to go back into character.]

We've got tons of options and can make you the perfect weapon for you!

[She holds up a few examples including a circular shield that sprouts out into a Buzzsaw blade. A prosthetic arm with a gun in it's forearm. She stops briefly on a a cane and looks confused for quick second. ]

Huh, How did that get in there? That's Ozpin's- It's kind of lame and boring- but-

[And she gives it a twirl before pointing to the camera.]

Come on down to The Roses Thorns and check out our inventory or get prices on custom weapons!

Because if you aren't armed you're doing it wrong!

Is this thing on?

[ The camera opens on a man, but there is something horribly inhuman about his eyes: they are black from edge to edge, the iris burning with a ring of white light. He is flanked by two skeletons which stand at attention, each with a speck of glowing red in their shadowed eye sockets. ]

Been a while since I had to do this. Hey, hello, kia ora. You face the King Undying, the Necrolord Prime.

( cw: mild body horror (corruption); religious themes; topics of mass death, violent imperialism, human sacrifice likely )

[ A familiar song starts up, and the video opens to reveal a lone young woman, dancing in an abandoned warehouse. The cots on the floor only add to the ambiance. ]

Hey, what’s up, Trench? [ The dancing continues. ] This is a callout post for John Gaius. You might know him? Shit sense of humor, black eyes, calls himself Teacher. He fucked over the ocean, recently. Hard to miss.

( cw: mentions of child death, extinction events, gaslighting, abuse, locked tomb spoilers )