Happy Naberus! [Party post]

[labrathor]

There's a chill in the air and a distant howl, and the sun is nowhere to be seen. On the outskirts of the Plaza, grinning faces carved into squashes tempt passersby to follow their lighted path, leading visitors down twists and turns through darkened streets, fog swirling around their feet. Did you already pass this way before? Are you going in circles, lost forever? Doubling back on yourself will lead to much the same result. And you don't remember when or how, but your clothes have somehow become a costume - whether funny, horrific, or downright bizarre.

Eventually, you find yourself in a small street carnival, tucked away far beyond the beaten path. Lights and lanterns run the length of a darkened street, the smells of fried and baked treats in the air, a light haze of smoke gathering under the awnings of food stalls. Beyond the food stalls, a haunted house beckons the brave to venture into its dark, cramped corridors, the sounds of distant screams coming from deep within. To the other side, a mountain of pumpkins waits to be carved, scoops and wicked-looking knives laid out on a tall table. Further still, wooden washtubs full of dark red wine host a small flotilla of apples to be bobbed, leaving all participants with deep red stains running down their necks from trying.

But before you can investigate the many wonders this strange little celebration has to offer, you must first be confronted by the host.

What looks for all the world like a fleshy flower writhes in the entryway to the festival, already towering over most visitors at fifteen feet high. But then that flower opens, unfolding into the form of an even larger young woman, bloody handprints painted on her exposed skin and shards of glass seemingly jammed directly into her head, and papercraft severed limbs hang in a necklace around her throat. She grins at you with unrestrained glee. "Couldn't resist, right? This is the happiest time of the entire year! Happy Naberus! You do know what that is? The Orokin festival of death, darkness, and deviance." She peers down at those in her presence. "We're all equal on Naberus night now, under our masks. Who's to know who's powerful and who isn't?"

She straightens up and laughs, waving her arms towards the carnival behind her. "Don't say I didn't warn you!"



[ooc: Happy Naberus, Nexus-goers! This is a party post, so feel free to tag around under the activity tags or just with each other! And remember, everyone must have a costume to participate! You can make it as mundane or as terrifying as you like. If you are open to spooky and/or horrifying events happening to your character, please also contact me through DMs here or to Ael on Discord so we can plan it together beforehand. The horror side of this event is opt-in, and threads containing such content should be tagged in the subject line.]

Comments

[labrathor]

Is the hallway getting narrower? Another spasm, much like a swallowing motion, and a stench that intensifies the further he goes...

It's just enough time for Minoru to second (and third) guess his decision before the floor drops out from underneath him, and he finds himself in an unstoppable slimy slide.

Deeper, deeper, faster, faster...!

And then...!

Oof! He tumbles to a landing in a pile of bones that clatter as they're struck, bleached by acid and dry to the touch. The walls are lit with glowing orange pustules that cast a dim light over small abattoir, a darker passage at the far end of the chamber.

Movement stirs among the bones, the skittering of countless chitin legs...

[itmeanstruth]

The increasing speed of the slide helped take his mind off of the fact that it was slimy (and absolutely gross). But he was expecting to end up outside on the street after something like that. Not in a pile of bones surrounded by… that sounded like insects. Lots of them…

“Okay… maybe I’ve had enough fun for one…” he said to himself as he stood up. “uh…”

He definitely didn’t expect to end up in front of a small slaughterhouse. The sight, the smell and the feeling of slime still clinging to his body made him immediately nauseated.

“Okay. Yeah. Ready to get off this ride.”

Not like that was going to happen…

[labrathor]

The only way out is through the dark passageway, fleshy tunnels leading into a labyrinth. Scuttling sounds from beneath the bones may encourage Minoru to hurry into their twisting grasp. Anywhere is better than here... right?

No sign of the exit. Perhaps it's somewhere at the end of this maze?

A strange light shines through the walls of each passageway, like a flashlight shone through skin. There doesn't seem to be anybody else down here, at least, not until Minoru catches sight of a roughly man-sized shadow making its way through the labyrinth...