COTERIE INTERACTIONS (IC) - CHAPTER I

[treasuremap]

COTERIE INTERACTIONS

NAVIGATION

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RULES/FAQ

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COTERIES

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LOCATIONS

The leader of each coterie, all colloquially known by the same name as their group—Jaguar, Eagle, Viper, and Salamander—will play a major role in the story, oftentimes appearing in events and even, during major plots, accompanying the player characters on their quests. While having constant access to them in threads would be difficult to keep track of and may lead to unfair advantages for some characters, and they will never directly comment to any network or log posts made in incensed or incenselogs, we do want to offer the opportunity for characters to interact with them. Therefore, with the exception of the aforementioned event posts where the NPCs might appear, all direct interactions with the coterie leaders can be done here. Simply comment below with the leader you'd like to interact with and whether it is in person or via medallion/journal in the subject line.

Note that it is fine to handwave minor interactions with the NPCs, such as in the case of exposition or receiving their quest orders, and you do not need to thread that out here nor ask permission from the mods. Relationships beyond passing familiarity as leader/subordinate cannot be handwaved however—in general, characters will not "build CR" with their leader to the degree they might with other characters in the game. They will still get to know them well over the course of the story, though.

Please also note that the NPCs are played by the mod team and are subject to the same tagging speed or question-answering expectations. We will respond as soon as we can!

Comments

[treasuremap]

No, it runs its course quickly and decisively. Mist sickness typically only happens in extreme exposure cases—situations in which the patient has been breathing it in for days or more. They're typically paralyzed and have trouble breathing, can't keep food down, and run a horrible fever. Fresh air and hydration are the only cures we have, and sometimes even that isn't enough to prevent their systems from shutting down and dying from it. Those that do recover from it typically do so without any issues, though. What's more, there aren't often other side effects, such as transformations or mental alterations, so in this case... no, it doesn't sound like you're sick from it.

It's possible that you've been in a heightened state since then, considering what happened. Adrenaline and incense together have an odd synergy. The tension in your body coupled with the mist's tendency to amplify those states of mind, or perhaps even the chemicals in the body entirely, could be the cause...

As for Law and his tail... we don't usually see permanent changes in people who've been exposed, but they have been known to happen. That usually is something that occurs after extended periods of exposure—that is, people who have lived here a long time, who go out often. I didn't have horns right away, it took... years. But I also didn't go out into the mist myself very often, whereas Law is out and about quite a lot, from what I gather, so... I can't be certain if this isn't indicative of something more worrisome yet to come, but if he seems otherwise normal, then I don't know if we'll need to jump to that conclusion.

[ Sorry, she's an even bigger nerd when she writes. ]

[crimsoncrow]

That's a relief to hear. Sort of. Knowing what to look out for is a big help at any rate, and I know he'll be relieved to know that we're not getting sick with something. I don't know if I told you (I may have when I was out of it in the past), but we lost someone very near and dear to us from an illness about five years ago. To say it's something we're worried about would be an understatement.

_{[ Zephyr still remembers the dread that shot through his heart when he felt Dohalim getting a little feverish after that trek he made to Coatepec in the pouring rain all those months ago. Thankfully it had been nothing, but man. ]}

If it were a heightened state brought on by adrenaline and all that, isn't it strange that it's only my sense of smell? I'm no doctor/healer/incense expert/etc but it seems a little funny to me, that's all. I'd have thought everything else would be cranked up right along with it.

He's been traveling quite a bit. I've been going out here and there too, but not nearly as much since the incident. Do you th
Will he
Has this ever
How was the process for you, if you don't mind? Was it gradual, or did they suddenly appear? Or
Hang on, years...
Do you think it might be...

_{[ Clearly he can't get his thoughts in order because there's more things that he begins to write only to cross out. Sorry, Salama'am, he's trying. He's no nerd but damn it!!! ]}

Do you think we might be more... susceptible? Given that we're not from this world?

[treasuremap]

Well, the both of you mentioned what I assumed was the same person at different states of "out of it," so... I had my guesses, yes.
I understand that fear. I lost my family to illness, too. I'm glad I can provide some relief, small as it might be, considering...

It is strange, but consider this: the incense is strange, and behaves strangely both on its own and in how it affects people. It's only a theory, but it seems compelling, given what triggered it. It's possible that if you find yourself under further duress, other effects could start to manifest and linger as well.
So... you should avoid that. Easier said than done, I know.

For me? Well... the incense has a profound effect on my mental state, first and foremost. It also suppressed my ability to do magic, to such an extent that I'm barely capable of it at all anymore. That ties in to my belief that the mist, or perhaps whatever's behind it, or maybe both, has a direct effect on mana—on the life force of living things. Those were the first things to fall apart.
The horns happened suddenly, but I had transformed into a monster many times beforehand. It was always the same form. Eventually, over a long time, "pieces" of that form would "stick." The horns, claws, the color of my eyes... I couldn't get them to go away, so I hid as many of them as I could.
But that took decades of time to manifest. Even now, whenever I've gone out, I can sense something just below the surface—something wrong. And it isn't my curse. That's something different.

[ There's a long pause. ]

I'd never considered it before, but you may be right. There are no set timelines for anyone to be affected, experience changes, and the like, but it's strange...
I may need to do further research into this.

[crimsoncrow]

I'll admit it is a comfort knowing that we're not alone in all of this, even if I wish it hadn't happened like that. I wouldn't wish it on anyone, enemy or otherwise.

I can't promise anything, but I can at least say I'll try and do what I can.

You know, I... think I know what that is. That feeling. I felt it within those bubbles and afterwards while I was outside of them. Normally when I'm out and about I don't feel it but when I went out to find those herbs before I changed? It was there. Like... something clawing at the back of my neck, just under my skin. Growling. Like it's trying to talk to me, but I can't quite understand it at first. Out in the jungle it was panicking right along with me, and after I lost myself it took over. On the boat, it... I think it was afraid? Or it was worried.

_{[ Instinct given voice. ]}

I didn't think about it that much until reading that just now.

Anything I can do to help? If not for my son's situation, then for everyone else like us.

[treasuremap]

Yes. We are all in this together.

[ Too bad there's no WILDCATS coterie. ]

That's...
Yes, that sounds like... that sounds a lot like my experience as well. I'm not certain if it's another presence, but I never really got the sense that it is. It isn't like being possessed, or even like the influence of the guardian when it reaches out to me. It's almost like a... separate mind that's somehow still my own, and yet entirely different. As if the little voice we sometimes attribute to our conscience, or that uncertain gut feeling when we get that animal sense that something is wrong, is a living thing all its own, trying to overcome me and drive me to...
To do things I shouldn't do.

I've never spoken about it before. There must be others that are affected this way, too.

I'm not sure yet how I'll proceed. Right now, the only way I can think to test it is by making contact. I can't touch people, only monsters. I have a good idea of what the line is, but how does the incense determine that? There must be something that lingers. Is there more of it inside of people who are showing more dramatic changes? Or what about in the outlanders in general?
To be honest, it makes me feel even more strongly that we all need to get out of here. Quickly.

[crimsoncrow]

For better or worse.

It felt like it was saying everything I was feeling. On the boat everything was along the lines of "get away" or "run", but we both know I obviously didn't listen to that. In the jungle, it was desperate. It kept repeating the description of the flowers and to hurry. I'm starting to wonder if I ought to listen to it more when I do hear it, but at the same time I'm almost worried about what that'll bring. I'll ask Law if he's heard anything like that too when I next talk to him.

You know I'm going to volunteer myself, and I know you'll likely refuse but I'd like to offer a potential fix if you're open to it? I don't know how well it'd work, but it's an idea. I trust Volkbert, so maybe if we had him help... And if we did it through a gap in a door or something. Maybe that same room I've been shuffled in before in the past. Just to see if anything happens like this, and in the future if I wind up with other changes.

[treasuremap]

Yes, we need to survey everyone who's experienced these effects and see if they've had similar experiences.
I've heard of what we sometimes refer to as "animal mind" or "monster brain" start to "take over" during transformations, but this is something different even than that, I think. Our instincts or perhaps our subconscious, reaching out to us more loudly and desperately as we struggle with what we are.
What we've become.

You know better than to offer, and yet I knew the moment I wrote it that you would. I welcome any ideas you have, but I'd rather avoid using you for research if it can be avoided. You have a family.
Those are good suggestions. I trust Volkbert as well, and a few others. Putting together a capable team and a secure space is paramount. Many of the Salamanders are superstitious about coming into contact with people who have been transformed, or are otherwise quite reasonably afraid. We'll need a stalwart bunch that won't panic at the idea of being affected even while appearing mostly human.

[crimsoncrow]

Maybe it's both.

Volkbert, Jira... Hell, definitely Jira seeing as she didn't shy away from smacking me right in the nose. In hindsight it's a funny thought, but I still feel bad about it even though I've apologized nearly a dozen times at this point.
I made a promise that I wouldn't put myself in danger if I could help it and I do intend to keep it, hence the extra hands since it'd involve contact. I think we were both thrown off a bit on the boat, so with them around they'd be able to pull us apart if it started to go too far.

At the very least I know Volkbert could. He's surprisingly strong for a man his size.

_{[ He's so proud of the dude. ]}

But you're the expert in all of this, and you're still in charge. Nothing will happen unless we're all on board, so we'll have time to come up with a solid plan.

[treasuremap]

Perhaps so.

Jira has been a close colleague of mine for a long time, and she's gotten used to the coming and going of various people trapped inside their transformations by now. She doesn't have the same bedside manner as I do, but it at least helps that she isn't afraid of them. Volkbert is also very reliable. I would also recommend Ceema, Dariel, Xoco, and Macuilxóchitl (goes by Max).

I was very unprepared for what happened on the boat. I don't often let people that close to me to begin with, for their sake, but I suppose the illusion leading me to believe I could touch people without hurting them is partly to blame for that. I prefer not to use it for research purposes either, but the only other way we've been able to study people who are affected by the mist is by cutting them open after they've died. Energy reads don't give us enough information, not like... this would. I suppose in some ways it's a step up from vivisection, but not by much. There is an extremely thin line between when I can stop myself and when I become unmanageable. To put it bluntly, you were very fortunate I didn't cross it that time.

But yes, it is extremely dangerous, and I would feel more comfortable if I knew your family consented to the risk you're taking before you do it.

[crimsoncrow]

Honestly, that was just the sort of bedside manner I needed at the time. I did have it coming anyway seeing as I did try to bite and it had jostled me enough to let the others wrangle me the way they had to. I'll ask around the lodge for them - I think I've met Xoco before. Short, usually wears their hair in a braid and a scar over their nose? Volk mentioned this Dariel once or twice too, so if the two of you trust them then I will too.

Fortunate, is one way of putting it given how it felt. That aside, I'm also honored that you were willing to trust yourself and me enough to try it. I know it isn't an easy thing to do.

I'll speak to Law and Dohalim about it once things settle down a bit. If either of them refuse, we wait, and see if we can't figure out a Plan B to get to the bottom of it.

[treasuremap]

Sometimes it does take a firm hand or a stern "no." I believe I once told you to sit, in fact. I don't like striking my patients, though. Jira's a bit tougher than I am.
Yes, that's the one. Dariel doesn't speak, so Ceema speaks for him. Some of the others have learned to just... tell what he wants, too, like Volkbert.

Well, on the ship I didn't choose to at all. But now... if I can't think of a better way before we begin to put this idea into motion, then... I don't know. Sometimes you have to do difficult things to get the answers you need. I've never been one to risk hurting or Goddess forbid kill anyone to do it, but that's why we'll have a good team. To stop that from happening, I hope.

Good idea. In the meantime, I'll see what else I can learn and let you know if I hear anything.