The Ooze

[Random Event]

Things have been going pretty well as far as random events in Beqanna go. A peaceful pair of ghosts, some sweet little baby bats. But you? You my friend are wandering near the River one night when you realize... that's not water that's coursing over the rocks. It's a vibrant green ooze that starts to glow a little brighter the closer you get to it. And it's definitely not running the way water does, more of a meandering slop than anything.

Seems super approachable, right?


Happy Spooky Season!
- this drop is open to the first two characters to reply (only one per player)
- gifts will be randomized but autumn-themed
- if you miss out, don't worry! Keep your eyes open every Friday this month for more chances.
- if there is still an open spot, players that had entered into the previous drops may do so again on Thurs Oct 23

[Claudia]

She lay in a bed of emerald and ash — bones and glittering scales scattered about her, catching the silver moonlight as she crunches through yet another fattened fish body. The trees around her are returning to their winter-season slumber, with brightly gilded leaves that tremble in a calm midnight breeze. Yellows, oranges, and vibrant reds show through even in the night’s deep shadows. This night — an indulgent night, just as any other for the kelpic huntress.

And yet, not a night like any other.

A smell — a peculiar, sour tinge floating where once the sweet scent of bark and mist had threaded through the deafened air. The breeze has stopped. The sound of the river’s tumbling waters — their humming flow — is muted. The sounds around her: crickets, katydids, night birds, and footsteps — all snuffed away. Her companion crawls from his little nest of leaves and lichen, yawning as he blinks his eyes into focus.

“Something is not right, Tybalt.”

The kelpie mare rises on four long legs. She’s lithe and long in her equine form, her glowing eyes scanning her surroundings to find nothing odd in front of her. Behind her, however, the river has turned into something unknown. Thick ooze replaces the once-crystalline, fertile waters — green and unnatural. With all that she has seen in her long life here in Beqanna, this was not necessarily a shocking surprise... but it was certainly a curious one.

“What’s this?” she asks the little dragon, who is sneering, disgusted. Both of them just watch the water change to ooze.

Was it poison? It has to be, right?

Does a friendly ooze take over your local river? Probably not.

So, what now? she asks herself, quirking her head to one side as she mulls over a thought. Retreating far from it would probably be the safest, yes? Boring. She grabs a stick and tosses it in. Will it sizzle and dissolve away in the toxic fluid? Will it rise as a stick beast? Will it simply float away with the current? She stands ready for whatever.

[Starbry]

Starbry looked up at the sky, her brown eyes gazing into the abyss looking for something, anything, to give her some direction. Nothing but glittering stars. one, two, three, four, and on and on she counts. Finally, her neck grew tired, and she lowered her blue splashed head and looked out into the night beyond. A deep breath brought in the scent of fall. The cool, crisp air and scent of changing leaves.

She decides to move on. Perhaps she will find some company, or perhaps she will continue to count stars until the morning comes, and the sun wipes away the glittering sky. Her blue legs carry her through the grass until her eyes settled on some figures in the distance. Longing for some company, even silent company, she sets her sight on the scene ahead and moves forwards, coming to a stop near an unfamiliar mare.

Her attention turned towards the river, and she is slightly taken aback. It's foul and not at all like a serene, cool flowing water that should seem welcoming. She approaches closer as the mare tosses a stick in and watches to see what will happen to it. 

"What is that?" Her soft voice finally breaks from her mouth. She brings her nose closer to the mess, and sniffs. She whipped her head back up, her blue mane flying about her black neck. The scent is unfamiliar, and not right, not right at all. She turned her gaze again to the unfamiliar mare next to her, unsure what to do next.

[Random Event]

Two mares are brave enough to approach the oozing green river. Not to touch it themselves, and the stick thrown into it does cause a reaction. The ooze swells - seeping over the edges of the bank and the mares find themselves unable to run as it seeps around their hooves.

It rises just enough to touch skin – it feels cool and slick and when it retreats there is an undeniable residue.

Once back in the river, it becomes slowly apparent that the ooze is just a patch and that the River’s current pushes it out to the ocean. When dawn finds Beqanna, no evidence of the ooze remains.


Congratulations
@Claudia has received Darkness Adaptation
@Starbry has received Turns into a Skeleton at Night

These traits are genetic unless requested otherwise (due to spacing or whatnot)
You may transfer these traits to another character with an IC post. Please post in updates with a link to this drop or the transfer post with what character you’d like them to apply to.

Thank you for replying and happy spooky season!