shimmermods: (Default)
The Shimmer Mods ([personal profile] shimmermods) wrote in [community profile] theshimmer2020-07-25 11:52 pm

WEEK TWO



A new day dawns bright as you leave the town behind you; the map you've found is simple, easy to follow, and perhaps most importantly it's the only lead you have.

And besides, it takes you closer to the source of the Shimmer's influence; that alone may make it worthwhile.

The through the woods leading up the mountain is one that seems to have been taken before, though it's difficult to tell how long ago; the long grass seems to have been tamed in some ways, tamped down and trod upon, and the presence of odd flowers remains constant. They seem to obey no season, growing out among the grass and the trees high overhead.

Though it's worth noting that you don't seem to be alone here; occasionally there's a silence that sweeps over the area, the sort of dead quiet that accompanied your initial approach to the Shimmer. The sort of silence that implies a predator in the area.

Checking will reveal exactly that.

It seems as though something has been stalking you - cougars from the woods have come down toward the group, and while they keep their distance for now, that may not hold true for the rest of the week...

You hear things in the night.

It sounds like humans screaming.

SUNDAY | MONDAY | TUESDAY | WEDNESDAY | THURSDAY

[OOC: Welcome to the second week of The Shimmer! Unlike the deer and the other wildlife you've seen so far, the cougars that are tracking you are hostile - you are free to interact with them in any way you see fit, but they will react as a cougar would and they are entirely willing to try to attack the group. While we will not be NPCing these encounters, you are welcome to do as you like with regards to their presence, including fighting them off.]
crestological: ....hanneman looking neutral but also brandishing a rusty axe (worm off his string)

[personal profile] crestological 2020-07-26 10:04 pm (UTC)(link)
[The discoveries in the town certainly gave Hanneman quite a bit to think about as they follow the path marked for them. It's definitely a thing that keeps his mind wandering as they hike, and he can seem a bit... lost in his thoughts at times. Not necessarily "walking into trees" levels of distracted, but if you want to speak to him, you might have to tap him on the shoulder...

In any case, during a break sometime shortly after lunch, he reads through his notes... the unreadable ones, anyway. He's trying to determine patterns and see if he can... maybe move towards working out a translation? He might ask for the other materials in the weird code language sooner or later and he's not a linguist by any means, but... he's trying.

Night brings, uh, some nightmarish nonsense! The screams are actually terrifying, and he's outside his tent kind of debating between the bow and the gun, because he definitely isn't going to pretend whatever is making or causing those screams is going to leave them alone.]


...I wonder if we should look into that at all, or if it is simply some sort of trap...
alchemicals: (012.)

notes

[personal profile] alchemicals 2020-07-26 10:31 pm (UTC)(link)
[Oh, good, you're still trying to work on this shit, hopefully you don't mind Kimbley getting up in your business, Hanneman.]

Having any luck?
scythegun: (CONSIDER โ‡ hair-playing intensifies)

night

[personal profile] scythegun 2020-07-26 11:06 pm (UTC)(link)
[Yeager's got his weapon transformed into the rifle, but he doesn't seem particularly bothered by this. On edge, certainly, but his version of that is still remarkably chill.]

That is definitely a trap of some sort. It's a dreadful idea for us to head out there after it.

[Oh sure, he can understand where people are worried about human screams in the Shimmer, but there's no way he's going to trust anything out there and especially not late at night like this.]

We stay put until morning. We can go investigate then, ja?
atrueheroine: (๐Ÿ•ฎ Steady)

[personal profile] atrueheroine 2020-07-27 09:23 am (UTC)(link)
[The exploration of the abandoned town left them all with plenty of food for thought, and Page is no exception. The mysterious owner of the house, and his mysterious fate, play on her mind as they march their way along the path, as do the eerie tree-figures in the church. Was it the worship of the Shimmer - the welcoming of its influence - that transformed them, or would it have happened regardless? Where did the owner end up; in the church, amongst the cult, or was he one of the victims in the stores? They'd gone there for answers, but really only found questions.

As they walk, Page distracts herself by practising with her handgun and torch. She'd had to use them together out of necessity in the house, and it had felt awkward; after a while, she ends up in a position where her hand holding the torch supports the hand holding the gun, allowing her to both aim accurately and shine her light along the gun's sight. It satisfies her.

The handgun practice serves to be rather useful, when the group takes a break; through sheer bad luck, Page stops near the edge of their chosen clearing and right near a hidden cougar, which promptly starts to close in on her and whoever is nearby. At least she's got her weapon out, and it's quickly pointed right at the dreadful creature's head.]


Stay behind me.

[Surely, this can only end well. Anyway, assuming it does....

The presence of the cougars necessitates guard duty during the night, as far as Page is concerned, and on Monday night she's taken it upon herself to be responsible for it. The tree she's chosen to seat herself against is wide enough to ensure none of the horrid beasts can claw her from behind, and she's got both her knife and her shotgun resting on her legs, within easy reach. The sounds (she believes) the Shimmer has decided to bless them with grate on her, but if she thinks of each scream as an individual person in pain, she'll lose her resolve and end up investigating - the opposite of what they should be doing. It takes some focus, but after a while she's able to tune out the screams.

She's not quite sure how she feels about that. This doesn't seem like the time to desensitise herself to the sounds of suffering, useful though it may be.

Either way, night owls or those who just can't sleep are more than welcome to join her.]
instrumentalized: (serious;angst;  heart to heart)

[personal profile] instrumentalized 2020-07-27 09:20 pm (UTC)(link)
[ All of this? Sucks. Garma is having severe second thoughts about signing up for this mission which is pretty embarrassing after he'd spoken big game about determination and courage. He wants to be back in Los Angeles, overseeing his own troops and sipping champagne. There are so many things he could be doing in his own world to prove himself to his sister once and for all and instead... he's here.

During the walk there are two things about Garma that stick out. 1) His constitution sucks. Though Garma claims to be (and is) a trained soldier, his physical fitness is really just so-so. Every time the trek gets harder, you can find him huffing and puffing even though he very much wishes none of you would notice. But.. 2) if nothing else, he is tenacious. He never once asks anybody to slow down nor does he fall behind. He simply walks, gritting his teeth through it all, because he won't hold them back and he's not a liability and he's earned his spot here. By the time they set up camp he's absolutely needing an extended break before he can set up his tent though.

After his tent is set up, you can find Garma around the edge of the campside, looking at the flowers. They're strange and unsettling and... ]


Why did it have to be flowers of all things? That is going to really mess with my sense of interior design when I get back.

[ And then in the evening, Garma is going to be making rounds around the camp and checking in with everybody. Absolutely nobody declared him the leader, but he feels better when he acts as if he were. Taking responsibility is a good thing, right? ]

How are you holding up? We'll all need to maintain the best condition we can, so if you need assistance, you should let the group know. That goes for all of us, of course.

[ And then at night, you can find Garma sitting in the opened entrance of his tent, listening to the screams that are keeping him from sleeping as well as he'd like. Maybe he should plug his ears, but then he might miss some real danger... It's hard. He wants to lead by example, but in the end, he can't quite take care of himself. ]
instrumentalized: (stress; smug; in control)

Night!

[personal profile] instrumentalized 2020-07-27 09:33 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Garma cannot sleep. And at first he doesn't want to alert Page to this fact because it is rather pathetic. He should be getting rest. They will need their strength again tomorrow. And yet... Sleep won't come. There's just screams and screams and more screams and he's going to start tearing his hair out soon if he doesn't find distraction.

So it's time to actually leave his tent and hesitantly make his way over to Page, who has a legitimate excuse to be awake. And he's going to make it look like he's just casually strolling up to sit with her, he's not escaping his own fears, no no. ]


What do you think they actually are? These sounds.
Edited 2020-07-27 21:34 (UTC)
atrueheroine: (๐Ÿ•ฎ Resigned)

[personal profile] atrueheroine 2020-07-27 09:55 pm (UTC)(link)
[Well, if it's any consolation, Garma, Page has no issue with said strolling; they'd worked together surprisingly well in the abandoned house, so he's one of the group members that she's got more than enough time for.

...no comments on why he might be awake, either.]


Hopefully not what they sound like. Other than that, I've got no clue.

[As if on purpose, as soon as she finishes speaking another scream rings out - loud, agonised. It makes her wince, sharply, and close her eyes.]

Doesn't make them any easier to listen to, but I suppose we don't have much of a choice.
aokisouhei: (05)

walk;

[personal profile] aokisouhei 2020-07-27 11:06 pm (UTC)(link)
Oho...me, stay behind? I don't think that's necessary.

[ The cougar seemed to at least have the idea the jig was up based upon the collection of two individuals nearby and let out a low growl in its throat. There was no doubt the sound likely was unholy given the attribute of human screams that probably mixed in there as well. Straight out of a horror movie! ]

You got the gun and you seem like a good shot, so I'm sure you can cover for me in case more decide they want to have fun too.

[ And that's all the warning she's getting before Lancer just literally shot out towards the creature, which had decided to move as well.

But hey, there was a sudden streak of red in one of his hands that wasn't there before. Was that a...red spear? It sure was, and he was twirling it in his right hand before going for a bold straight stab at the cougar's side. ]
aokisouhei: (02)

[personal profile] aokisouhei 2020-07-27 11:07 pm (UTC)(link)
[ The fact that they're being tracked like prey didn't sit well with him. He's not someone who'd end up sitting around either. So maybe it's not much of a surprise that as soon as he rose up, he decided he should at least see about thinning the herd.

It's strategically sound as well, as far as he was concerned. So around midday, he seemed to step away from the group and leap onto a tree branch to get a better vantage point...hell, striking point. And of course, it wasn't difficult to catch at least one of those bastards with how many of them there were around in the first place.

Feel free to catch him before he decided to go on a 'hunt' of his own.

Giving that he's had experience in hunting wild animals, dangerous ones at that (and knowing not to stray too far), it's likely to have gone well enough, so he'll easily have rejoined the group by afternoon. He looked entirely too pleased with himself, though he'll give anyone looking his way a smirk of sorts, and then raise his hand a little in greeting. ]


So, did you have as an eventful day as I did?

[ Towards the evening Lancer didn't seem all that interested in sleeping; like some he seemed more interested in keeping watch because there were doubtlessly still some of those problem creatures (re: cougars) remaining even after his and others' efforts to knock down their trailing. ]
me_underfire: (Bored now)

Evening

[personal profile] me_underfire 2020-07-27 11:36 pm (UTC)(link)
Aside from the creeping sensation of being watched? I'm fine.

[Only a little sarcastic.]
instrumentalized: (stress; yes make the arrangements)

[personal profile] instrumentalized 2020-07-27 11:37 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Garma appreciates the lack of callout for his presence more than he can accurately express. If questioned, he's not sure he could keep pretending that he's fine and that this mission is something he is qualified for. And once he stops being able to pretend, well... who knows.

So he just settles on the ground for what is definitely a Team-building Chat, yes. ]


It feels as though the Shimmer is trying to wear us down, but... I'd rather not believe it to be sentient. That's just going to make everyone more afraid.

[ Himself. He'll be afraid. ]
crestological: a frowny face. (but my RESEARCH)

[personal profile] crestological 2020-07-27 11:38 pm (UTC)(link)
Not at all, I'm afraid.

[look, he doesn't mind interest in his research! ...he's just bummed he doesn't have anything to actually say here...]

Perhaps if I had done some study of linguistics, I would have more luck, but... unfortunately, I seem to have neglected that end of things...
crestological: a frowny face. (but my RESEARCH)

monday night

[personal profile] crestological 2020-07-27 11:49 pm (UTC)(link)
[...sigh. Hanneman can't sleep on account of all the... you know... screaming... so he'll leave his tent with his gun and, you know, see if there's anyone he can talk to in order to get his mind off things...

...oh, hi, Page.]


...ugh, it's awful, isn't it? Do you suppose it's some sort of animal?
atrueheroine: (๐Ÿ•ฎ Serious)

[personal profile] atrueheroine 2020-07-28 12:07 am (UTC)(link)
[Honestly, he's not the only one pretending; as calm as Page is forcing herself to be, this whole experience has been....draining, and they're only been here just over a week.

...

...or, well. Just over a week that they remember.]


I'm of two minds. If it really is a trick of the Shimmer, then at least we know there aren't actually any people out there creating those screams. But thinking of this place as a living being itself is....worrying.

[Lose-lose situation, really.

...]


...what did you think? Of the house, I mean. I can't stop wondering what happened to the owner.
atrueheroine: (๐Ÿ•ฎ Surprised)

[personal profile] atrueheroine 2020-07-28 12:14 am (UTC)(link)
[OH GOOD LORD WHAT IS THIS MAN DOING-]

Be careful, for god's sake!

[The flurry of movement is making it difficult for her to ensure she's got her weapon trained on the correct target, but at least that stab was accurate and true - the spear goes neatly into the cougar's side, resulting in a yowl. The injury looks serious, and appears to be so - there's some agonised flailing, but it doesn't look like a wound it will be recovering from any time soon.

At least the spear puts distance between Lancer and the beast; without thinking too much on it, Page steps forward and delivers two shots straight into the cougar's head. The sound rings out through the woods, and it makes her wince, but it also does the job. The cougar twitches a few more times, before becoming still.

....

Right, well. That solves that, then.]


.....I think that's done it.

[Give her a second, that. all happened very quickly.]
atrueheroine: (๐Ÿ•ฎ Profile)

[personal profile] atrueheroine 2020-07-28 12:16 am (UTC)(link)
[oh hey Hanneman how's it going]

I'd love for it to be, rather than the alternative.

[Being that there are people out there making that racket. As tough a faรงade as Page puts up, she's deeply sensitive to human suffering; all these screams are making her feel ill.]

Either way, we shouldn't try and find out. Something tells me it's a trap.
aokisouhei: (12)

[personal profile] aokisouhei 2020-07-28 12:34 am (UTC)(link)
[ Sorry he's like this, Page. He'll pull his spear out with a grin, looking at the very dead animal and then back at the brunette. ]

...Talk about some improvised teamwork. Not bad. Not bad at all.

You've definitely put the nail in the coffin, so don't worry about that.

[ And he's apparently still as cool as a cucumber about everything. It's fine. ]
instrumentalized: (smug; when you're handsome)

[personal profile] instrumentalized 2020-07-28 12:37 am (UTC)(link)
[ ... ah. Well, he can't begrudge the snippiness. He'll just smile nicely anyway. ]

You too, then. Well, it only speaks for our team that we're all alert to it.
atrueheroine: (๐Ÿ•ฎ Serious)

[personal profile] atrueheroine 2020-07-28 02:38 am (UTC)(link)
[That animal is most certainly very dead, but Page will still give it a kick, gun trained on its head. When there's no response, she holsters her weapon and gives Lancer a wry look. The spontaneity was admittedly aggravating, but she can't deny he got the job done. Hopefully he'll keep up the enthusiasm for any other hurdles the Shimmer decides to throw at them.]

Are you used to spearing big cats, then, or was that just pure confidence?

[She's getting the feeling it's likely the latter....but you never know.....]
Edited 2020-07-28 02:38 (UTC)
me_underfire: (Oh no...)

[personal profile] me_underfire 2020-07-28 03:19 am (UTC)(link)
I... sorry, I guess I'm a little on edge. I'm still processing everything I saw in town and now this. It's... it's a lot.

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