WELCOME TO THE HIVE

[rysligparasites]

MOD PLOT: HAPPY ASCENSION DAY

It's a long journey to Kulen and you’re paralyzed for all of it. The parasites aren't very delicate about carrying you there and you may get prodded with the odd pincer, but they diligently protect you from any external threats so you arrive relatively unharmed.

They carry you into a series of tunnels and into the belly of the hive where they lay you down on the ground. You lie there, unable to move or speak as more of the parasites converge on you, chittering excitedly and smelling you with their antennae. As the paralysis starts to wear off, they roughly and enthusiastically help you up and guide you through the tunnels, excitedly showing you around.

Eventually, you'll meet a parasite with human features who will give you a stilted, but genuine welcome. Apparently you are a special guest who has been brought here to help celebrate their beloved queen's first ever ascension day! While you're here, they want to learn as much about YOU and your traditions as they can so they can make this the greatest party ever.

The parasites implore you to eat their human cooking which is mostly composed of various things (both edible and not) that they've deep fried. They worked very hard and they will be very offended if you don't finish it. They also invite you to contribute to their cave paintings which are entirely composed of parasites doing parasite things.

During your stay, you'll likely run into other monsters who've been replaced by doppelgangers. Maybe some of them have been here for a while. Maybe others have just turned up.

Your quarters are dark and maybe a little cramped given that you're sharing them with a whole bunch of insectoid creatures and maybe one or two monsters. Other than that, they're relatively comfortable.

Settle in and make yourself at home. You'll be here for a while.

Comments

[naturevsnurture]

[Rhoda doesn't know what "anarchy", "capitalism", or even "government" are - though she has heard the latter at least once and assumes it has to do with federal authority.

She is really confused. But she understands the whole "things that make you mad" part.]

So you run into other people because you're mad? That still doesn't sound like dancing!

[naturevsnurture]

Well, she can't read minds, so she can't see. Geez, Reira. So maybe it's better that way.

Still, Rhoda has to squint when Reira says she likes to eat flowers. "Why would you eat a flower?" Clearly she doesn't realize that people do eat flowers quite often, but she has a specific picture in her mind of what a flower is.

[soft_focus]

"Mhn, I think it's just an alpaca thing," she admits, shrugging. "Things like alpaca and horses like flowers, right?" It's true, they do actually.

"So...things like roses, and other flowers like that, they taste pretty nice to me. They probably don't taste good to most other people though." Little does REIRA know,

[soft_focus]

"Mnhh.... ...Did...he have a computer?"

She did promise the bugs that she wouldn't tell them about where they were, or spoil the surprise.

She supposes that trying to contact someone who's missing wouldn't be breaking that rule.

[hantale]

A bit more nervous fidgeting, they give a nod,

"Yeah- They usually went by.. uh. C, or UmbrellaMan" Or some other host of names, Charles was a difficult one to pin down sometimes. Still, there's some hope left.

[soft_focus]

Reira stares.

"Umn.... ...do you have his number..?" Please Fran. She needs the number.

[hantale]

This is totally a thing Fran should know, and definitely tells Reira when they ask for it....

((His inbox page was never actually made, so I have no idea what the number is OOC))

[notsoclumsy]

"He's fighting against the Fog God?" [That had to be a good thing, right?

...But then again, Eisuke had a bit of reason to be wary of any gods or godlike beings, given that a god had apparently brought him to Ryslig in the first place.]

"...What does Elias do to fight against the Fog God?" [Even if Eisuke was wary, he was still curious enough to want to know.]

[scholiast]

Well...

(It's not trash per say, it's... definitely supposed to be food? Lucretia can't see from this angle what resides inside of the crispy outer layer of whatever Grace is chowing down on, but honestly, she prefers it that way.)

It's, uh-- probably not that nutritious, let's put it that way.

[scholiast]

They're taking care of you because they're raising you to walk right into their open mouths without protest.

(That is probably a little too blunt for this particular situation (and the age of the person she's talking to), but to Lucretia, the girl seems utterly delusional.) You know that's the only chance you have at life, right? You aren't coming back after they eat you. That's it. For you, and your family.

(The girl simply stares at her. Lucretia has no idea if she's shocked or if she choosing not to dignify this with any kind of response at all.) We could help you get out of here. All of you. You could come and live in the city, or...

("With the rest of you? With all of the monsters who might eat us anyway?"

Lucretia looks a little lost for words, at this.)

[scholiast]

(She glances at his horns, and can't help wincing a little at the thought of them coming through. The price of having an overactive imagination.)

Yes, several people did tell me that... and yet, I wasn't quite prepared.

[hauntpadour]

It's always a surprise. I didn't expect to disincorporate into light during my first fog either.

[He bites into something fried and winces, finding a fishing lure inside.]

Have you learned to fly yet?

[soft_focus]

Yeah!

...Though he can be dumb about it... [This is one of his priests saying this... Great sign.]

He makes a lot of really big hits, but he doesn't always think about who would get caught in the middle. Mostly right now, I try to make sure he remembers to think about that.

[It can be easy to just set your eyes ahead instead of on what's around it, sometimes.] But so far, the fog's fog has been really patchy, so that's a good sign I think...

[soft_focus]

[Well, she'll try it in any case.]

Mnh.

It doesn't exist.

[...As far as Fran will have seen, Reira just closed her eyes and stood there for a second.]

[hantale]

[That's... Odd. A more skeptical person might have doubted her... After all, she could have just closed her eyes and said anything.

Fran believes her though, and that's even more worrying. They only just stop themselves from chewing on their bottom lip]

W- what does that even mean? I was talking to him just the other day! But I don't have my device with me to show you...

[soft_focus]

Mn. Addresses disappear when people go away, [She explains.] ...So.

...I think it means...he's not in Ryslig anymore.

...I'm sorry, [She adds belatedly, looking somewhat uncomfortable.]

[hantale]

[What... do you even say to that. Fran's lips part, a silent 'oh' forming but never voiced. There's a very long, uncomfortable pause.]

I-... [That's an emotion they haven't felt strongly for a while. Sadness? Loss? Fear?] I need to go.

[They stammer out, a slight crack in their voice as they turn about, not even waiting for a response as they start walking towards the nearest exit.]


((Can be a wrap up point, or could follow along if ya want~))

[naturevsnurture]

"Oh." That answer actually satisfies Rhoda, who perks back up.

After all, Reira is... some strange amalgamation of something, one of which is an alpaca. And alpacas are dumb animals who eat plants, so that works.

"But... I'm not an... alpaca. Why are they giving me this gross food?

[me_underfire]

N-no, it's fine, you don't have to mince words. I knew this would happen someday. I just never pictured it being served like it was fine cuisine by giant insects.

[me_underfire]

It's entirely possible there is fruit, but it's so overfried you couldn't tell.

[Out of the corner of her eye she spots one of the bugs just kinda windmilling its arms wildly.] Whoa, whoa, not that fast!

[justbeingknife]

[ He shook his head. ]

The cabaret? Nah, I started a financin' company. Business has been pretty brisk. Though I do try and make it a point to provide a solid customer experience, anyway.

As for the sightseein', Dyster and that arcade the Fourth God keeps. Although it looked to me more like an arcade and apartment complex. Fancy stuff. Wouldn't wanna live in either place, though.

C

[me_underfire]

[This poor kid. Grace, as a raccoon, sneaks under the table as the bugs swarm around Rhoda, and tries to get her attention.]

Psst! Down here!

[hantale]

[Finan- Mmm- Their head tilts a bit more, cocking to the side in what is possibly the universal signal for confusion.]

Well... The first question then, what is a financin' company? [Heaven help this nerd if they ever had to actually manage their money.] But travel seems nice!

If you're looking for something scenic, strand's watch was very nice to walk through, the winter beaches can be very stunning! Just be careful~

[soft_focus]

"I don't think they gave me it because I'm an alpaca." Well that would certainly answer it wouldn't it.

"...I think they just think it's all normal food."

Bugger.

[bound_skyward]

Keeping us cut off from communication with the outside world is exactly what they want, I've no doubt. Though you have to wonder… people will surely notice we're missing, before long.

[Or have the bugs thought of that? He wouldn't put it past them to have some plan to prevent their rescue. They've been here a good couple of days already, after all.]

[Kain keeps an eye on the scenery as they move along. It really is easy to get lost down here, though.]

We'll just have to do our best with navigating. I don't think I've tried this direction yet, so… we may as well.