Deer Country Network

Hello, everyone— [ Luna has brought news for the second time this month. She looks entirely at ease, as one might when they’ve completed a huge undertaking. Not to mention quite exciting, given the bright, beaming grin on her face.

She holds something in her hands, which she promptly lifts up to show the camera: a blue and gold leather-bound book, engraved with the title: FANTASTIC BEASTS AND HOW TO HELP THEM. ]

I... wrote a book—!

[ The toil of a little over a year. Ever since her own run in with Corruption and descent into Beasthood last April, where she publicly announced both her sincerest of apologies and her determination to do something about what she’d done. This is the result: she wrote a book. ]

It’s a compendium, or directory of sorts, about Beasthood. More specifically about the kinds of Beasts that both Sleepers and natives turn into, detailing their abilities and how best to approach them. [ She’s heavily drawn inspiration from her former mentor and very dear friend Newt Scamander. She likes to believe he’d be very proud of her, Theseus too. ]

It also lists and explains the ways in which Beasts can be brought back to themselves, to be cured of their Beasthood. It isn’t an exhaustive list, nor is the directory itself— I’ve been working on a way around that.

I’ve charmed all the copies of the books with a specific spell. It’s called a Protean Charm. [ Thank you, Hermione Granger. ] I hold the ‘master copy’ of the books, and when I make edits into it — all the copies will be magically updated. So that way, everyone has up-to-date information. So if anyone who’s experienced Beasthood isn’t featured in here, I can add your entry in.

I wanted to do something that means we don’t have to kill Beasts on sight just because they’re Beasts. Sleepers are afforded the ability of resurrection, but natives aren’t. And even if we do have that gift— [ There’s a pause, and she frowns a little. It’s not a very easy thing to explain, really. Difficult to put into words, the true impacts that death has on oneself that go beyond the times where she’d be ill with ‘death flu’, or when she’d forgotten herself and her magic. Not to mention the effect of death on others. ] dying in the Waking World is not an experience to be taken lightly.

I... wanted to make something good out of all the harm I caused last year.

They will be free to everyone, of course. I couldn’t possibly take a payment for them. I know that exactly isn’t a very good strategy in terms of book sales, but I don’t think that’s quite the point... [ ... Well, anyway. ]

They’ll be available from Ritual Gig, or from myself personally. I’m also going to try to… see if I can distribute them amongst the Hunters. [ There’s the tiniest of winces. ] Although I’m not quite sure how that might go.

[ Hunters and Arcane Scholars have a... not-so-straight forward relationship, after all. ]

And if anyone has any questions, I'd be happy to answer them.

[ ooc page for the book is here! ]

[Maul usually only posted once to the network per month, so the fact there was a second post from him and so soon after the first might have been cause for alarm, except he didn't look at all serious. He had a rolled scroll with him. After seeing Savage post on the network, he'd felt it was time to take action.]

It has come to my attention that my little brother Savage is going to be without a date for the second year in a row here in Trench as Valentine's Day approaches. This is unacceptable, so I am rectifying the situation by finding him one. To that end, I have complied a list of his traits for those of you who have not had the pleasure of getting to know him well.

[Then he unrolled the scroll. Yep, Maul had written down a numbered list of all his brother's good qualities.]

Item one: He's tall. Ridiculously so. Which is not pertinent to those of you who are also tall, but for the short ones in this city, it is always good to have someone who can get things off the top shelf and step on those who oppose you.

Item two: He's extremely loyal. It takes him a very long time to open up to you and learn to trust, but once he does, you will have his trust for life. You can't ask for someone who will stick by your side for a longer period of time than he will.

Item three: He's very caring. Related to the above, he always puts himself last and so he'll make sure all your needs are met first. Indeed, sometimes it can be hard to get him to take care of himself even when he needs to.

Item four: He comes with a very cute pet named Ruin who is a rathtar he will gladly show off to you if you come over to visit.

Item five: He is a decent fighter. Considering the perilous nature of this city, it's useful to have someone who knows how to wield a lightsaber or who can gore an opponent to death with his horns on your side. Do keep in mind he may challenge you to a battle in order to start proper Nightbrother courtship, so you may want to bring weapons on your first date.

Item six: He's good-looking. I will accept no arguments on this fact simply because some of you are used to human-centric worlds. Don't be speciesist. The proof speaks for itself.

[He held up a sketch he'd put down next to this item on the scroll to prove his point.]

Item seven: He's good at hunting. When this place eventually collapses into dust, there will be little food left, so it will help to have someone who can track down and kill game for you to eat. Not to mention there might be lean months as it is for one reason or another.

Item eight: He is family-oriented. He is very good with kits and I'm sure wouldn't mind having five or six of his own down the line if the relationship progresses that far.

[He rolled the scroll back up.]

I will now take applicants to be vetted by me first before I set you up with him. Do keep in mind if any of you break his hearts, I will be forced to break you in return, so be kind to him. Go out for a nice dinner or hunt in the woods or have a good sparring match and this will all go according to plan.

[.......Stick around long enough on this post and one might have the pleasure of seeing Savage toss Maul through a wall for trying to set him up on a date.]

[Savage almost never posting to the network, but with all the people being affected by this upcoming heart day, he figured there were answers that were necessary to make it survivable. Or at least probably less anger-inducing because people were insufferable overall.]

This... Valentine's Day thing. It's for mates to reaffirm their bond to one another from what I have gathered.

What do all the singles supposed to do? We don't have such a day like this where I'm from, and our mates generally despise us anyway, so nothing like this would work.

It seems last year it was some single people being sad and pathetic. I assume there is something single people are supposed to do that I'm missing.

[He may as well try to learn some traditions beyond his own. He's never had to frantically try speed dating; their version was a fight to the death to impress a Nightsister, so it was short-lived for some.]

Been experiencing a number of break ins and thefts at the roost
Heard similar from some willful machine vendors
Hardware and things
Anyone else notice it

If its someone in a bind to fix something i have no problem helping
You dont have to resort to stealing
Just ask me
When the roost is open
At night please

[that said, he can also be found during the day there...cleaning up stuff that'd been disturbed in his absence and feeling out where he can put locks on things.]

Theres a new heading on my compass
Are others getting this signal too
Even at the Outpost its glowing

Checking out that ways gonna take some setup same as last time
Incense weepers protective gear
The woods are no joke and the corruption is almost nonstop
Dont go out there unprepared and just become a liability someone else has to deal with

Best bet is at least four people in a group if not more for safety and sleep rotations
Someone with fire for sure
Healer helps a lot

Seriously do not forget the mushrooms

Anyone wanting to squad up can meet me at the outpost before daybreak tomorrow
Best to travel in daytime and defend at night
If anyone has a lantern to donate or use please bring it so we can stake out whats out there and save the travel later

Chizuru
K
You dont have to open up the roost if you dont want to while im out
Up to you
I know theres some shedding stuff going on thats causing some chaos

[A certain someone had come in late to the game, with only a stack of notes and what looked to be a bulleted to-do list tacked to the wall. There were a multitude of unanswered questions-- and the few answers available only brought more to the foreground.
It was time to make some forward motion.]

Morning all.

Here's a questionnaire to answer at your leisure. Feel free to use the anonymous and privacy functions if they are more to your tastes, given the sensitive nature of the questions. Detail isn't necessary, unless you want to give them. This is just a surface level poll.

1) Who is your Patron?
2) How do you relate to them?
3) How is your Blessed Day significant to you?
All answers will be screened on request. I understand that people may want to keep certain details private.

[With that matter taken care of, 'Athena' set about their life in peace. They landed in Trench with a grand puzzle, and it was going to be fun to solve.]

Why hello there! [Snow White looks even cheerier than usual, which is impressive considering her general nature.]

What a lovely winter we're having! [Snow, having come from German winters of the Renaissance is honestly quite cozy with all the inventions Trench has to keep you warm. ]

Now, I've never gotten to celebrate my birthday before, and since it's today, I was hoping for some ideas on what I might do! I have been told, quite vehemently by my beloved, I'm not allowed to bake my own cake.

Though, I don't think there should be a party, I don't wish to waste food for something that doesn't matter all that much. Just something small should be alright. So, I would love to hear any recommendations you might have!

I hope you're all staying nice and warm and fed as well! If not, please let me know and I will be happy to help with food and clothing.

Alright, bitches. It's apparently been a hella long time since I've graced anyone in this timeline with my presence. I tried the whole reaching out one by one thing so as not to shock the system, but that shit got time consuming and my attention span is only so strong.

So, if you remember me, tell me, and maybe fill me in on important life developments. Or like. Just leave me a meme that sums up this shit hole the best.

...

Actually, everyone should leave me one of those. Chop, chop, get to it. Whenever Santa's elves aren't busy trying to eat your fucking face off or whatever.

[ She goes to shut off the feed but flicks it on literally two seconds later. ]

Is there weed in this place, by the way? Asking for a friend.

[He still doesn't trust people, not here. Not anywhere, really. But he has to know. In a place this weird, he has to know.]

I'm just wondering... who here is not human? You don't need to tell me who you are if you don't want to, but I just want to get a sense for how many people who are not human are here.

I can't be the only one.

And a second question: is it safe for those who are not human here? I mean, I am definitely not like one of those beast things and I have no plans of attacking people. But human-dominated places tend to be somewhat unsafe for us.

And if you are some kind of mad scientist type reading this? Fuck off. We don't need people like you on our asses.

[Is that enough of a difference from his usual typing? He'll have to be careful about capitalization and punctuation so it sounds different from him, but...]

[a photo of the outside of a tavern is attached to the following message:]

This is manabu
I am keeping the roost open nightly this month in case people need a safehouse from all the zealot activity
So if you wind up lost in cellar door you can come here
Lights will be on and incense will be burning
Be smart and try to avoid traveling at night if you can help it
Carry weepers with you
If you need extras i have some to give

Also if anyone has seen any shipwrecks out at the beach let me know
They were there last year with extra provisions
But if theyre not here this time we may be looking at a very lean winter
Stock up

[There are a number of indications that this is a misfire, even before it becomes clear what's going on. First, there's the fact of the username. Ariadne has never once set a username. Everyone who keeps promising to show her how to do it keeps disappearing or dying on her. So she's been "username not set" for years, at this point.

Then, there's the angle. It's tilted. And the feed isn't vibrating and shaking as Ariadne tries to hold it steady. Clearly, her Omni is sitting off to one side, forgotten, at the moment.

Ariadne is standing in her bedroom, sunlight filtering in through the gauzy curtains. She's in her underwear. Of course, it's pretty medieval underwear: a ribbed corset, tied in front, and knee-length bloomers. Bare feet. Green feet. She's in her natural form, her candy-floss blue hair loose and streaming down her back, practically to her knees. She wags her hand in front of her face, as if she's holding a fan. Daintily, she touches her fingertips to her collarbone.]

Me? You want to dance with me?

[There's non one else in the room. It appear, she's been caught in a game of make-believe. Adorable? Creepy? Hard to say.]

Why, sir, I would be delighted!

[She dips into a neat, perfect curtsy. And then rises, eyelashes fluttering.

At which point, she starts to dance a waltz, her arms around an invisible, imaginary partner. She moves smoothly, gliding across the room, looking very much like she's ready to fall in love in a ballroom.

One, two, three. One, two, three...]

[ It's in the early hours of the morning of the second that Luna opens the feed. At first nothing looks awry, there's simply the cosy low-light of her bedroom and from what can be seen around Luna's shoulders everything seems calm. Well, slightly eerie, considering the soft glow that comes from under her skin, even slightly visible through her pyjamas. That's a new thing for this month, as if she (and everyone else for that matter) might see the very pulse of her blood within her veins. It's like she's turned into a literal nightlight.

And then Luna's face comes into view as she brings the camera up: bedraggled and wide-eyed and expression strained. There's panic in her eyes, worry. Her breathing's shaky as she stares at the camera for a moment, not sure how to start. Something is clearly wrong. ]

I need— answers. [ Her gaze shifts off-camera, then back. She swallows thickly, relenting. ] We were fine, we went to bed. We had a nice day, and we were fine— he was fine, and now— now he's— I'll just— let me show—

[ With much fumbling, she shifts the camera round. It turns to her bed, where a strange, human-shaped mass of grey lies upon it. She moves closer, and it slowly becomes clearer that the mass is in fact Peter Graham — concealed in the grey mucus, covered in tiny eyes that all stare up at her. The young man doesn't seem to be in any obvious distress: he simply sleeps inside the gross-looking slime that covers him. Luna keeps the camera on him for a long moment before she turns it back to her. ]

What is this—? What does it mean—? [ The questions come quickly. It is rare for Luna Lovegood to get herself all in a fluster, but this is Peter she's talking about. She's worried, and the fact that even she's openly worried and scared for him speaks volumes. ]

I've heard about... something like this. It happens to Sleepers sometimes, but I've never seen it. Is this when they go home—? Is that what it means—? Where do they go? Where did he go? I need answers, someone must be awake—

[ It might be obscenely late, but surely someone will be up to provide her with information. Does it mean going home? Luna's... frightened of that. She doesn't know everything about how things were in Peter's world, but she knows more than most. And she knows that there's nothing good for Peter back home. ]

How long will he be like this? How long does it last? He'll come back, yes? He has to. [ She flops down to sit on the edge of her bed, Peter just behind her in the camera's view. She's fretful, bewildered. Silence falls for a long moment, Luna looks utterly exhausted. But then again, this is hardly the most pleasant way to wake up in the middle of the night. And she's woken up plenty times in the middle of the night due to horrible, terrible and sometimes disgusting things.

Her voice grows very small, barely a whisper. How did this happen? ]

... I don't understand, he just— it was his birthday—

( This is not Peter Graham, though of course, posting anonymously takes away that possibility. The user didn't want to use the boy's network handle, to inevitably be seen through the filter of "Not Peter."

The user is trying to define his own identity. )

why did you choose your title here on this THING
what is the meaning
?
?

( ...Texting is still something he struggles with, though the demon has been watching and learning and forming his own conclusions on how to do it. Autocorrect is a life-saver. Two questions get two question marks. ....Even if they go in the wrong place. )

i will grant you a
GOLDEN COIN
if you
RESPOND

( ...For those who know Paimon fairly well, that particular offer of exchange might betray who he is. But the demon of Knowledge is curious to hear reasons, and within them: perhaps stories, memories, self-perceptions. There is a meaning to everything, whether simple or complex.

And perhaps by the end of it, he will know what title he would give himself, here on the network. )

[If you can believe it, Snow is even MORE CHIPPER than usual. She's all giggles and blushes and Faramund, her Omen, just shakes his head at the giddy teenager. Her animals are all very used to her giddiness by now.]

I wanted to thank everyone who helped me last time regarding modern courtship and I am happy to announce that Rose Dawson has graciously accepted my proposal for courtship and we are now together!

Oh, I'm truly so excited! And very fortunate to have someone so lovely love me.

Regarding my decision on all the advice I was given, I decided to go with the bouquet, I shall serenade her another time!

Again, thank you everyone for your kind advice!

Oh! And one other thing, that is of course, just as important. Winter will be upon us soon which means it's pickling, curing, canning, drying, and preserving time! If anyone needs a few lessons on how to properly do anything of those things please don't hesitate to ask!

It's been a year
A full solar cycle...and the blood river is back
That means other things may come back too
The moving buildings the zealots
I dont know how many of us are still here that remember...but i think its important to share what we learned so everyone else can be safe

So much here tries to hurt you with your past even if you dont really need any help getting beat down by it
There may be ghosts or creatures that try to drag you down with them
But you can shake free of them if you have the help
So always ask for help OK?

We go forward whether we want to or not after all

[Rose sits calmly on a boulder in the back yard, trees and flowers surrounding her already showing the signs of autumn. she looks more solemn than usual, but that's because she's been thinking things over carefully]

Even with...all of this [she waves a hand around as if encompassing all of Trench and its peculiarities] how many of us want to stay? Because we like it here better than home, because we don't have a home to go to, any reason really.

I'm curious.

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

( Post is BEHIND the cut. )

((ooc: CW for a brief mention of recreational drugs.))

[For two months, more or less, she's been in mourning. She hasn't shown her face much. And there's been a lot of crying.

But sentimental though Ariadne can be, she's also practical. Which means she recognizes when it's time to try moving forward.

So behold. Not Padmé, not Jane. Just a sad Ariadne, her hair in a loose braid, with a few tendrils curling around her face.]

I've decided it's time to clean through the rubble that was the Winchester cottage. The ground needs to be cleared so someone else can build there. And I'm sure a few things survived the fire which need to be sorted and placed.

I guess...I mean, I'll do it myself. But if anyone would like to help I would...appreciate it. I can pay you in fruit or herbs from the orchard.

[Her face is like porcelain. She's not letting a single crack show, even though it still hurts.]

I'll be there for the next week or so. Please let me know if you'd be willing to join me. At the very least, I think some of his--some of Dean's--marijuana plants survived. I'd like to try to replant them in my garden.

I can pay you with that, if you like.

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.

[ A tawny, aquiline man in a white hood stares at the device which has just clattered to the ground. His brown eyes have widened under dark furrowed brows, frowning apprehensively. He remains very still, as if staring at an agitated snake.

Eventually, curiosity shades into an intrepid hunger glinting in his eyes from beneath the shadow of his hood. He would like to know what secrets this device holds. He reaches forward with one calloused hand-- ]