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aftr_ooc2018-08-04 07:57 pm
lifeaftr_mods) wrote in aftr_ooc2018-08-04 07:57 pm
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August Event: Overgrowth
AUGUST EVENT: OVERGROWTH
As we hinted in this month's intro log, it's likely that characters will soon begin to experience...symptoms since the freeing of the newest arrivals underneath the ground of Umui. ARUM-25 has reacted in such a way that would imply that this is, indeed, a very bad thing - and it is. What killed the people living here before may have been dormant for some time, but when you freed those trapped in the chambers beneath Umui's surface, you dredged up its remnants.
And what it's found is a veritable goldmine.
Though They Are Beautiful, I Cannot Breathe
Those who spent their time on Umui called this affliction the Overgrowth, and for very good reason. Its most potent and deadly characteristic is the growth of flowers in both the body and across the skin, until eventually said flowers claim the life of the infected. While it is possible to keep the disease at bay for a time - as you've noticed from records past, some would burn off their petals or drink consumable herbicide compounds to tamp down the worst of it - there is only one way to prevent the disease from claiming you entirely.
Admissions of guilt, admissions of love, admissions of self, admissions of personhood or lack thereof - it is emotional dishonesty that corrupted and plagued the people of Umui, and they died choking on their flowery words, their repressed concerns, their lies. It is only to admitting to something you have attempted to deny - to others, to yourself, to anyone - that you can hope to shake this disease free. Depending on how sincere said admission is, this may be enough to slow or delay the illness...or even cure it entirely. For example, saying you stole something will get a couple petals to drop off, while admitting to something deep and highly emotionally resonant will cure you entirely.
Unfortunately, this also goes both ways. If you find yourself predisposed to lie - to lock your emotions up, such as, for example, to deny being afraid if you truly happen to be - this will serve to advance the disease more rapidly. If honesty will cure you, then deceit, particularly self-deception, will kill you faster.
Those who spent their time on Umui called this affliction the Overgrowth, and for very good reason. Its most potent and deadly characteristic is the growth of flowers in both the body and across the skin, until eventually said flowers claim the life of the infected. While it is possible to keep the disease at bay for a time - as you've noticed from records past, some would burn off their petals or drink consumable herbicide compounds to tamp down the worst of it - there is only one way to prevent the disease from claiming you entirely.
Admissions of guilt, admissions of love, admissions of self, admissions of personhood or lack thereof - it is emotional dishonesty that corrupted and plagued the people of Umui, and they died choking on their flowery words, their repressed concerns, their lies. It is only to admitting to something you have attempted to deny - to others, to yourself, to anyone - that you can hope to shake this disease free. Depending on how sincere said admission is, this may be enough to slow or delay the illness...or even cure it entirely. For example, saying you stole something will get a couple petals to drop off, while admitting to something deep and highly emotionally resonant will cure you entirely.
Unfortunately, this also goes both ways. If you find yourself predisposed to lie - to lock your emotions up, such as, for example, to deny being afraid if you truly happen to be - this will serve to advance the disease more rapidly. If honesty will cure you, then deceit, particularly self-deception, will kill you faster.
Sometimes You Have to Crack the Pavement
As you may have gathered from the documentation gathered over time, the Overgrowth comes in three definitive stages.
As you may have gathered from the documentation gathered over time, the Overgrowth comes in three definitive stages.
[ ♆ ] Stage One: Germination. Initial symptoms involve fever, coughing fits, numbness to nerves and extremities, and general joint stiffness. Difficulty breathing or performing other basic functions will often occur. Fatigue, difficulty sleeping, and intense weakness or dizzy spells are also liable to occur as the flowers begin to harvest nutrients from the body. This will also generate extreme thirst and periods of intense nausea. Tremors and the sensation of something "itching" from inside are also common. The end of Stage One is usually marked by the act of vomiting or coughing up flower petals or spores, along with a not-insignificant amount of blood.
[ ♆ ] Stage Two: Budding. The floral growths spread more completely inside the body, and begin to grow on the skin or exterior. Difficulty performing basic functions will increase as, for example, airways become obstructed and flowers grow around joints and pinch them still. The site of affliction also yields rashes, blisters, and blood sores as the flowers sprout from the skin. The rate of vomiting or coughing up floral growths will increase dramatically. Flowers often bloom quickly, and very painfully. Numbness in affected areas will increase, oftentimes rendering parts of the body completely inert - a pair of legs claimed completely by blooms, for example, will no longer work.
[ ♆ ] Stage Three: Bloom. The final stage, most clearly evident by the development of a crown of flowers around their head, face, and eyes. A victim of Overgrowth in full bloom dies, and the flowers begin to root to the ground beneath them, creating yet another clump of beautiful blossoms on the island.
Before You Can Bloom
Of course, we completely understand if you'd rather not participate in this event, and therefore you're free to opt out! Those afflicted by Stage One can have some sort of basic immunity that was overlooked, as it wasn't present in the people of Umui, if you'd prefer. And you can also consider that even if ARUM-25 claimed everyone had contracted Stage One, their systems are still in need of further repair and are prone to error.
If your character is inorganic, this does not automatically render them immune - just look at all these Overgrown automatons, after all. If they're susceptible, they will suffer symptoms similar to those that organic characters would - critical systems failing when plant matter starts to interfere with inner workings, and so on - if you'd still like to participate.
In the meantime, feel free to use this post for plotting!
Of course, we completely understand if you'd rather not participate in this event, and therefore you're free to opt out! Those afflicted by Stage One can have some sort of basic immunity that was overlooked, as it wasn't present in the people of Umui, if you'd prefer. And you can also consider that even if ARUM-25 claimed everyone had contracted Stage One, their systems are still in need of further repair and are prone to error.
If your character is inorganic, this does not automatically render them immune - just look at all these Overgrown automatons, after all. If they're susceptible, they will suffer symptoms similar to those that organic characters would - critical systems failing when plant matter starts to interfere with inner workings, and so on - if you'd still like to participate.
In the meantime, feel free to use this post for plotting!
Event Timeline
[ ♆ ] August 5th: Afflicted characters begin to exhibit Stage One symptoms
[ ♆ ] August 10th: Afflicted characters begin to exhibit Stage Two symptoms
[ ♆ ] August 17th: Those who have not shed the Overgrowth enter Stage Three, and suffer a death
[ ♆ ] August 19th: Characters who succumbed to Stage Three are revived, and suffer a death penalty
[ ♆ ] August 20th: The monthly Storytelling occurs
( CODED BY BOOTYCALL )
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