#dehqplot

[devilselbowhq]

* DEHQ PLOT DROP 001

While the Children of Mothman have never been a stranger to the citizens of Devil’s Elbow, the equinox festival sure came to many as a shock. Most thought the group was harmless up until now. The ‘vision dust’ as they called it was actually neurotoxic dust and it is not harmful to most in small amounts, but the effects are a different story. Giving people hallucinations without their knowledge is rather unsettling and sent bystanders into shock in reaction, thus causing a domino effect which led to an overall state of panic. In result, there were fights, accidents, crashes, and medical emergencies leaving the hospital and clinic backed up. Even though the Eastern Atlantic Army ( Owen Westfall and his unit ) was able to work with Devil’s Elbow Peacekeepers to get the fans disabled and the festival ended a little over ten days after it started, by the end of April 2125 there had been over one thousand people hospitalized or treated and twelve dead in direct relation to neurotoxic dust inhalation.  The citizens of Devil’s Elbow are outraged by the results and are demanding answers from both the EAG and Afterglow as a whole. It was discovered by some that there is a medicinal mist called Serene that Afterglow Research Solutions has had available the entire time that neutralizes most effects caused from mind altering narcotics. The catch of this product being that it is only available from the EAA and Afterglow clinics and hospitals. This rumor has added fuel to the already wary undertone the presence of EAA units and uptick of peacekeepers in the city has brought. A paranoid sense that the Eastern Atlantic and Appalachia as a whole is becoming a military state, despite there being no proof to confirm such reasoning. Still, in order to quell the public’s concerns, there will be a special council meeting with a town hall afterwards to address how to handle the cultists in the future and other problems brought forth. So far, no arrests have been made and no extreme action has been taken. All other factions ( Jackals, Shamrocks, and The Silver Lining Militia ) have yet to make their feelings known. Last but not least, it is now known that there are giant moths in the environment, some with red and some with purple glowing eyes. It is unknown whether the eyes are caused by radioactive elements in their mutation or not, though some are attributing them to supernatural forces. Leaders of the Children of Mothman have promised the Night Mother will be addressing the eclipse soon. Afterglow Research Solutions and entomologists in the area are looking to get their hands on one of the species or observe them to find out more about them.

* OOC :

that wraps up the spring awakening event, thank you for being patient while kit got all the details together. going forward we promise to have it wrapped when the event ends if there is an event associated with it. now, what does this mean for your characters? that’s up to you. in the coming week there will be statements released from the shamrocks, night mother, and silver lining militia. since there’s no jackals president, either the next highest ranking member ( currently archer caine ) is free to make one or the group can decide to stay silent and individually react or not to things. as a whole and in general, this is a plotting point for you to use or not with your characters in their personal plots with others, to make connections, etc. if you have any questions feel free to send them to the main or ask in discord.

[devilselbowhq]

Meet the mammals of Devil's Elbow!

it's been a whole week of lore drops, and here's yet another one! it's not just plants and insects that have gotten a little buff by nature, but our fellow mammals have as well. wake up, tags, new pet dropped!

ODOCOILEUS ARBORIS  ( WHITE-TAILED DEER / ‘ARBOR DEER’ ) :  the arbor deer is named for the way its antlers have grown to look more like the branches of a tree, entirely with flesh-like sprouts here and there resembling flowers. while the arbor deer has grown to look very emaciated compared to what it’s evolved from, it has made it a more efficient runner, which is their main defence against predation: at any sign of danger, an adult arbor deer can run at about 110 km ( 70 mi ) per hour.

CERVUS GIGANTOCEROS  ( ELK / ‘CRESTED DEER’ ) : the crested deer, or sometimes just ‘crest’, is a large elk species which has seen its antlers mutate to terrifying proportions. sprouting from the base of their skull, antlers wrap around the head, pointing forward like a wall of spikes, and the crested deer doesn’t seem to be bothered by them very much. while elk have historically been capable of injury—perhaps even death—given the right circumstances, what it has evolved into is a creature that will stand its ground when threatened and has no issue goring whatever is looking to harm it on its crown of spikes.

SUS CALYDONIUS  ( WILD BOAR / ‘DREAD PIG’ ) :  wild boars have always been dangerous creatures, but the dread pig is a wild boar on steroids. it’s described as being the size of a bull with bristles as jagged as daggers and tusks as sharp as swords. even a singular dread pig can cause devastation to an area, not just in the way of harm to people, but also the environment itself, capable of upending trees as it sharpens its tusks against them, and uprooting other flora. you’ll know a dread pig has moved into the area by the signs it leaves upon its surroundings long before you see it; and let’s hope you don’t.

GLAUCOMYS VENATIS  ( FLYING SQUIRREL / ‘VAMPIRE SQUIRREL’ ) :  it’s not so much radiation or mutation that changed the flying squirrel to what it is now, rather than a devastation of its natural habitat and its sources of food. instead of going extinct, it adapted, seeing a previously omnivorous creature fully click into a carnivorous diet to sustain itself. the vampire squirrel isn’t really a danger to humans—though there’s always the possibility of it carrying rabies—as it mainly predates on small rodents such as mice, rats, voles, and things similar to that. it’s also not uncommon to see one try its luck at an insect or two, regardless of the size.

BLARINA INSECTECTORIS  (SOUTHERN SHORT-TAILED SHREW / ‘SHREW’ ) :  with its main prey evolving to grow bigger, so did the shrew. about the size of a larger rat or an opossum, the shrew is venomous but non-lethal to people—that’s not to say the venom doesn’t do anything, it hurts and can cause rashes, but it’s not lethal. many people keep them as pets, especially in the more smaller towns, the same way as people kept cats and dogs to ward off pests. shrews are social animals and get very attached to their owners, and while they’re practically blind, they have great hearing and sense of smell; they can hear a bug from a mile away, making people take their shrews with them on trips away from civilisation where running into dangerous insects is a bigger possibility.

[devilselbowhq]

Meet the carnivorous plants of Devil's Elbow!

while we're hard at work over here putting together the various factions, lore, and locations here in wild and wonderful appalachia, take a moment to explore the savagery of nature and learn about all of the carnivorous plants thriving in devil's elbow and the irradiated waters of crater lake!

DIONAEA MUSCIPULA ( VENUS FLY TRAP ) : perhaps one of the most commonly known species of carnivorous plant, dionaea muscipula can most easily be identified by the jaw-like structure of conjoined leaves that clamp shut to trap their prey. mutated variations of this plant can grow up to three feet tall with leaves up to six inches in diameter — the perfect size for catching not only large insects but small rodents as well. because of their size and the energy required to snap their leaves shut, venus fly traps are only triggered to shut after repeated contact multiple times within a window of thirty seconds, often lulling their prey into a false sense of security.

SARRACENIA ALATA ( PALE PITCHER PLANT ) : unlike the flytrap, sarracenia alata does not use movement to trap prey. instead, the tall, trumpet-shaped shaped plant lures in large insects, rodents, and birds with its sweet scent and nectar; once its prey moves past the lip of the conical leaf, the waxy inner surface aids in funneling it into the bottom of the pitcher where downward facing spines prevent escape. it will then be drowned and dissolved in a potent digestive fluid so that its nutrients may be absorbed by the plant. fully matured pitcher plants can range in size from twelve inches to up to seven feet in height, over twice the size of its old world variant.

DROSERA ( SUNDEW – MULTIPLE SPECIES ) : the drosera plant has an abundance of different subspecies that thrive in the appalachia, most of which manifest in the form of differently shaped leaves — from round to oblong to tendrilled — but all of which are carnivorous. sundews lure in their prey through  a series of tentacle-like stalks that extend far beyond the base of the plant; each of these stalks is equipped with a mucilaginous secretory gland that produces a fluid that appears like dew; once a thirsty insect or creature approaches to drink, they are quickly trapped by the sticky secretions and enveloped in a net of tentacles. the sundew then releases a digestive enzyme to break down the victim so it can be absorbed by glands on the plant’s surface. 

UTRICULARIA VULGARIS ( GREATER BLADDERWORT ) : easily one of the most diverse and unique genera of carnivorous plant, utricularia vulgaris is a free-floating aquatic plant found in abundance in the waters of crater lake. climbing up to two feet above the lake’s surface, the bladderwort consists of a flowering plant above the surface and several spoke-like leaf branches extending from the stalk where it meets the water. these stalks are inflated with air to keep the bladderwort afloat and allow it to drift freely through the water so that it can catch fish and other small prey in suction-powered bladders that sit beneath the surface.

GENISLEA AUREA ( CORKSCREW PLANT ) : upon first glance, genislea aurea appears as harmless as a succulent one might keep on a windowsill. a compact perennial herb that forms rosettes from tightly clustered bundles of linear leaves, mutated versions of this plant can be found in waterlogged seepages along the shore of crater lake and can grow up to eighteen inches in diameter. but beneath the surface, corkscrew plants have a series of long, root-like organs that extend into the saturated soil and trap, break down, and absorb their prey. old world specimens lived on a primarily protozoan diet, but mutated varieties can consume much larger victims such as waterbugs, backswimmers, and worms. 

PINGUICULA PUMILA ( BUTTERWORT ) : the simple, white-petaled flowers of pinguicula pumila belie the carnivorous intent of the plant, a distraction from the sticky, glandular leaves at the plant’s base. these leaves, much like the drosera plant, produce mucilaginous secretions that lure in prey in search of water. touching these leaves triggers more of the secretions to be produced, meaning that struggling prey is often completely enclosed in a matter of moments. victims are broken down by digestive fluids released from the leaves and nutrients are subsequently funneled into cuticular holes embedded in the leaves. flowering specimens of mutated butterwort can grow up to two feet tall with a base diameter of up to eighteen inches and have been known to trap and digest small rodents.

[devilselbowhq]

Meet the bugs of Devil's Elbow!

while we continue working hard on the plot, other lore, factions, etc. have a look at the mutated species of insects that inhabit devil's elbow and it's surrounding areas under the cut.

PSOROPHORA CILIATA ( GALLINIPPER / ‘GLOWNIPPER’ ) : by far the largest species of biting mosquito on the eastern coast of the united states, psorophora ciliata was already a horror to behold before radiation mutated the insects — previously measuring in with a wingspan of up to half an inch, mutated specimens have grown up to twenty times that size, with the some of the largest reported having a wingspan of well over ten inches, roughly comparable to the size of a northern cardinal. with sharp, dagger-like hairs on their tarsomeres capable of penetrating and latching onto the flesh of their prey and half a dozen needle-sharp, razor-thin stylets that protrude from a retractable proboscis that are capable of penetrating through up to an inch of thick pelt and flesh to feed, these massive, mutated mosquitoes have painful bites that are carriers for several blood-borne illnesses and diseases. glownippers often travel in swarms and can most commonly be found between dawn and dusk when the weather is humid or after a heavy rain.

DOLICHOVESPULA MACULATA ( BALD-FACED HORNET ) : a viciously aggressive breed of yellowjacket native to the eastern united states, the bald-faced hornet is most known for its intensely combative and territorial behavior. hyper-intelligent insects, even old world specimens were capable of recognizing and remembering human faces, particularly those who trespass upon them; mutated varieties, in addition to growing up to four inches in length — up to five times their original size — and retaining smooth stingers that allow them to inject their prey with venom several times without physical repercussion, have the ability to recall humans from encounters years prior. reports of being pursued for miles by an angered hornet — or a few — are not uncommon, and most result in painful, welt-like stings accompanied by localized fever and numbness, temporary paralysis, and in severe cases, death. their nests should be avoided, but they are fortunately difficult to miss: a mature hive is roughly three feet in diameter and four feet in length, most often found hanging from low, sturdy branches in wooded areas with heavy overgrowth.

HALYOMORPHA HALYS ( BROWN MARMORATED STINK BUG / ‘CHOKE BEETLE’ ) : while the brown marmorated stink bug was an invasive species long before the end of the old world, halyomorpha halys was never considered a danger to humans or animals but instead to the crops that fed them; even these newer, larger mutated specimens are reported to maintain the same docile and non-aggressive behavior common to the species, free of biting, blood-sucking, or otherwise spreading infectious disease. however, when disturbed, the stink bug releases a pungent chemical odor as a defense mechanism. this defensive fluid is released in the form of an aerosol mist that can carry on the wind for up to half a mile, and it is incredibly potent. inhaling this fluid can cause acute respiratory distress, including coughing, sneezing, wheezing, throat irritation, and itchy, watery eyes; contact with the skin will trigger contact dermatitis, resulting in a foul-smelling rash. nausea is not uncommon after exposure. anaphylaxis and possible death may occur in those with pre-existing sensitivities or respiratory conditions.

PERIPLANETA FULIGINOSA ( SMOKYBROWN COCKROACH / ‘RADROACH’ ) : with an elongated thorax featuring wings that extend well past its abdomen and antennae that measure in longer than the length of the specimen itself, periplaneta fuliginosa was perhaps one of the most unsightly and unsanitary of pests in the old world, a truth that has only been exacerbated in mutated populations. the largest among them measure in at upwards of eighteen to twenty-four inches long, but their stiff, hollow exoskeletons and disproportionately large wings mean that flight is not impeded by their increased size. carriers of bacteria, viruses and parasites — including e. coli, salmonella, typhoid fever ( aptly renamed glowfever by locals ) and tapeworms — these irradiated smokybrown roaches feed on rot and decay, and when they are not scuttling through thick underbrush, they can often be found crawling and feeding on the flesh of the undead. mature radroaches will frequently burrow into the abdominal cavities of still-living individuals and lay an ootheca that can incubate anywhere from fifteen to twenty larvae; these larvae will take over their human hosts, eventually causing total organ failure and death; the reanimated cadavers act as incubators for the eggs until they hatch and eat their way out.

ACHERIA STIMULEA ( SADDLEBACK CATERPILLAR / ‘BLISTERSLUG’ ) : acheria stimulea is the larval form of the saddleback caterpillar moth and, unlike its mature relatives with subdued colors and soft, fuzzy wings, the saddleback caterpillar has an aggressively bright coloration that serves as a warning to its many potential predators. mutated specimens can grow up to six inches in length with a vibrantly neon green body spotted with a reddish-brown saddle and half-inch, red spiny growths protruding from both ends of its body. these spines are not just visual deterrents; just as fragile as they are venomous, even simply brushing against the spines will cause them to break off and inject venom into the skin. the venom causes near-instantaneous acute urticaria — a blistering red rash accompanied by severe itching and burning — and immediate removal of the spines is required to prevent prolonged damage to nerve endings in the epidermis. other symptoms include headache, conjunctivitis, difficulty breathing, and gastrointestinal distress. in rare cases, anaphylactic shock or internal hemorrhaging may occur.

TRIATOMA INFESTANS ( KISSING BUG / ‘JUDAS KISSE(R)’ ) : aptly named as their bite is more often than not a harbinger of death, the kissing bug is a species of assassin bug known to carry trypanosoma cruzi, a parasite that causes chagas disease. growing up to five times the size of their old world counterparts, mutated specimens have a damaging bite — and, as their name might suggest, they have an affinity for feeding from or around the mouths of their prey. within days of contracting a bite, a fever will develop alongside swollen eyelids and other flu-like symptoms that may last for weeks to months. the acute reaction, though painful and prolonged, is not what is deadly about a bite from triatoma infestans; some years after contracting chagas disease, heart complications and neurological problems will begin to manifest, ranging from arrhythmias to heart enlargement, seizure, and stroke. kissing bugs are nesting insects which are most commonly found in and around environments where rodents and small mammals live.

PHOTINUS PYRALIS ( COMMON EASTERN FIREFLY / ‘GLOWBUG’ ) : fortunately, not all mutated insects are aggressive! photinus pyralis, or the common eastern firefly, is docile and nonaggressive. like many other insects affected by radiation, mutated fireflies are significantly larger than their old world counterparts, with mature adults measuring in at approximately four to five inches in length. perhaps the most dazzling of any natural mutation in the insect kingdom or otherwise, the bioluminescence of mutated fireflies manifests in a vibrant array of hues ranging from warm reds and yellows to ethereal greens and blues. this bioluminescence is used both for mating and communication with other fireflies, but the result is a spectrum of colorful, twinkling lights to illuminate the appalachian forestry at night.

[devilselbowhq]

hello lurkers, potential members, and beyond. i am here to let you know that the plot for devil's elbow hq is up in it's entirety and can be viewed HERE. i am going to be here for the foreseeable future posting bios for characters the admins play and filling in the remaining information left to be written so if you have any questions, feel free to spam us!

[devilselbowhq]

Meet the Children of the Mothman !!

later tonight i will be posting the rest of the finished lore drops, area descriptions, and if i have time i'll be adding in local urban legends. but for now meet the followers of the wised winged one!

READ ABOUT THE MOTHMAN CULT HERE

[devilselbowhq]

Are you ready for the infected of Devil's Elbow?

we're starting to get to the final stages of readiness for the lore and the wider rpg, and we're here to present you with the absolutely disgusting lore of our infected, hand-crafted for this rpg. if you thought zombies were bad, wait until you meet these guys!

STAGES OF INFECTION

STAGE 1 ( INITIAL INFECTION ) : while a radroach attack doesn’t always mean immediate infection, this is always where initial infection starts; the first thing one must do is check their abdomen for puncture marks.

STAGE 2 ( 24HRS - 36HRS ) : in this stage, the infected person will feel compelled to leave their home or areas with a large concentration of people, and seek out dark, dirty areas, such as abandoned buildings, basements, underneath a low bridge; anywhere that is sheltered and has low foot traffic.

STAGE 3 ( 36HRS - 168HRS ) : after the infected finds a place that soothes the compulsion from stage 2, they will lay down, and it’ll be the last time they move as a living entity. between two days and a week, the infection will cause full-body organ failure—this is the most common cause of death, opposed to starvation, dehydration, or even non-natural death.

STAGE 4 ( 168HRS - 336HRS ) : as the newly deceased host moves into the hatching stage, the infection will animate the body to find their way back home in the exact same path as the host had found its way to its place of death. at this stage, the host will act in an aggressive and violent manner to anything living that poses a threat to its precious cargo. destroying the head of the host will stop it from moving, but it won’t eliminate the true threat, and it’s highly encouraged to burn any infected body you eliminate to assure its payload is destroyed.

STAGE 5 ( 336HRS+ ) : stage 5 is also referred to as ‘post-hatching’; a host that survives the hatching and the larvae consuming it until they are old enough to fly and go on to infect other hosts. the age of the infection is easy to spot from the state of the host: 1) hosts new to stage 5 will often be covered in radroach larvae, 2) hosts a week into stage 5 will be covered in still flightless—but equally dangerous—radroaches, and 3) hosts well into stage 5 will have no radroach activity around it. stage 5 hosts do not have its ‘protection’ signalling turned off and are especially violent and aggressive towards anything, lacking the self-preservation of stage 4, making them more reckless, relentless, and vicious.

APPEARANCE

while there’s no real difference between the infected, the age of an infected can be determined upon their appearance and behaviour, as well as how difficult they might be to eliminate.

NEWLY INFECTED : most newly infected, albeit pale and lifeless, look like they did in life; there’s no indication of decay, no overt signs of injury. by all accounts, they look like healthy people, except for the fact that they’re, well, no longer living.

POST-HATCHING : granted these hosts survive the hatching event and are otherwise mobile, they will look, for lack of a better word, moth-eaten. the state of decay entirely depends on the age of the host; a host who has hatched only two weeks prior will not be in a significant state of decay. hosts that are much older might look like your classic zombies.

IRRADIATED : the longer the host walks the world without final death, the more the body reacts to the ambient radiation. these infected will display a variety of radiation burns, hair loss, ulceration of the skin, peeling and sloughing, etc. unfortunately, this doesn’t seem to stop or even deter them.

ARMOURED : uncommon as they are, these are some of the oldest post-hatching infected roaming the world; having withstood such high levels of radiation for so long, the infected has worked their skin into an exoskeleton of sorts, making these violent, feral, vicious creatures veritable tanks. perhaps it’s a good thing that infected find a final end before they get to this age or stage of irradiation, because even just one can cause untold devastation in an area.

MISCELLANEOUS FACTS

PREVENTION : zombies can usually be warded off in the same way one can ward of their parasites: don't enter places that are an accumulation of rot and decay, and try to keep your spaces relatively clean.

WATER : they do not like water, or at least being submerged. it doesn't kill them, but escaping into bodies of water may end their pursuit.

RADIATION : like the radroaches, the infected are (mostly) immune to radiation, no matter how severe, except that it hardens their skin into something that makes it very difficult to penetrate even with bullets.

SELF-PRESERVATION : while they don't have self-preservation per se, they will not pursue into situations that might damage the ootheca they're hosting; post-hatching infected are more reckless and lack this self-preservation, making them much more dangerous.

FLESH-EATING : infected will not eat flesh, as they have no use for digestion, they simply kill as a means to protect.

HORDES : when in hordes, it's not unlikely that a few infected are pre-hatching and the rest of the more aggressive and violent infected are post-hatching.

MOVEMENT : granted the legs are still in-tact, infected can run, but not beyond what the person could in living. most have average human speeds. as they age and the host body decays more an more, they start to become slower as muscle tissue decomposes; speed is traded in for irradiated armour instead.

MOTOR SKILLS : they lack fine motor skills and most gross motor skills; gross motor skills they do possess is walking, running, jumping, crawling, grabbing, etc. they can also swim, but the only ones that would are post-hatching infected, and even then it's very unlikely they will.

[devilselbowhq]

you know, regardless of what you believe in ( or how skewed your morals are ) there is one thing i've found always remains true — you'll find your people here in the devil's elbow. perhaps it's with the suits and ties of the east atlantic governance or the labcoats of afterglow research solutions. or, if you're more brawn than brain, you need only pick a side — from what i hear, both the east atlantic army and the silver lining militia are actively recruiting! we've still got a bit of work ahead of us before open, so if you're to looking to bide a bit of time in the wasteland, it couldn't hurt to take a peek at the propaganda powers that be. i'll be here all night to indulge any questions you might have, so feel free to ask away. oh, and don't forget — curiosity may have killed the cat, but it will only ever work in your favor here, survivor.