parz | PLOTTING 005: THE HOT SPRINGS EPISODE

PLOTTING 005: THE HOT SPRINGS EPISODE

I. INTO THE WOODS

The Augur and its denizens acknowledge that perhaps things have been more tense lately. They want you to relax and enjoy yourselves. And thus today you will find that a path lined with trees and rustic fencing has been created leading away from the city into the forest.

But those who leave the path and venture into the woods could become lost easily in the trees that seem to change colors as if the seasons are occurring all at once. You can wander for some time and never find your way back to the road. Anyone who becomes lost at dawn or dusk may find yourselves feeling the sense you are being followed. By who or what will not be clear. It will always be something out of the corner of your eye, a shadow that is gone when you turn your head. But maybe at the right moment you may find its red glowing eyes looking right back at you. The Mothman.

The Mothman does not chase, does not try to harm. It merely stares and stares and then, in a blink, it is gone. Anyone who looks into the Mothman’s eyes will be overcome with a deep sense of dread and isolation. The world is suddenly darker, heavier, more lonely, things are out there you will never understand and that knowledge burdens you. You will feel compelled to seek out the comfort of another person(s) to ease these oppressive feelings. A need to not be left alone with whatever fate may befall you.

These feelings can be relieved quickest with extended physical contact with another person, but will pass on their own after several hours. The first time such a meeting occurs. Repeated encounters with the Mothman can lead to long-term dread, loneliness, and paranoia that can only be alleviated with skin-to-skin contact with another person. You must embrace another to push away the darkness it forebodes.

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II. WELCOME TO THE SHAME A LONG HOUSE

Follow the path, stay to the road, and you will find yourselves at a resort at the edge of steaming hot springs. The sign creaking in the wind outside says WELCOME TO THE SHAME A LONG HOUSE. WHERE THERE IS NO SHAME IN A HOT SOAK.

This two-story hot springs resort is large enough to fit several dozen people at a time, although few of the rooms are solo. You may have to find yourself a roomie (or two...or three). Two sides of the second story rooms even come equipped with balconies, although some of them are not as well maintained as other areas of the resort. Each room is furnished with simple clothes, robes, and even a few themed items such as toga and kimono. Everything is meant for ease of putting on (and taking off). There is a large dining hall where meals will be offered at set times every morning and evening, but lunch is a free for all buffet.

The grounds are lush with acres spread out in forests, grasslands, and of course, the hot springs themselves. Paths trail through the woods and fields, with signs posted that clearly say TAKE THE ROAD LESS TRAVELED, BUT STAY ON IT. The robots if asked will also remind you of the importance of staying on the paths and warnings to not become lost in the woods. No one explains why this is, only the importance of not becoming lost in the woods.

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III. ALL SPRING ETERNAL

As expected, the main attraction of a hot spring resort is the hot springs. Follow the paths leading away from the resort to take you to different hot springs all across the estate. Some of the hot springs have stone walls giving an air of privacy, while others have more simple chain link borders and wooden fences. There is usually a small hut accompanying it where you will find towels, robes, and other simple supplies with benches to leave your clothes.

There is also a long wooden box in each hut that opens to reveal several toys and other pervertibles. Just in case.

But the hot springs themselves draw the eye for their steaming, misting atmospheres. Taking a dip in some of these pools may even lead to other surprises you did not expect:

Soul-Switching - Two souls who doze off in this comfortable hot spring will find themselves floating above it - then shooting back down into the wrong body!
Infatuation Station - A light dusting of flower petals float across the surface of this next hot spring. If you lock eyes with anyone during your soak, you'll become absolutely infatuated with them.
Hy-pool-thermia - The water goes from hot to icy-cold quickly, but you can't bring yourself to leave until you know there's a warm body to attach yourself to.
Sensitivity Training - Everything the water touches is suddenly more sensitive. Too sensitive to not do something about.
Clean Water, Dirty Mind - There doesn't seem to be anything unique about this particular hot spring. However, you may find yourself thinking sexual thoughts about the people there with you. Thoughts become stronger and harder to ignore the longer you stay in the pool, unless you choose to act on one (or more of them).

All effects wear off in three hours, or sooner with the completion of an Auspicious Act.

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IV. WHAT THE WATER MADE ME

Those are not the only hot springs. Some of the pools are further away, less noticeable from the resort itself. But as night falls, the paths seem all the clearer through the mists and clouds surrounding the sky. Follow the right road to the more secluded hot springs, where the areas are clean and well-maintained, but there might be something different about them. Something alluring that calls you to step into their waters. They have small huts that are more worn down than the others, but carry the same supplies inside and space to leave your possessions.

Like the other hot springs, there is a cost to relaxing in these pools, but they are not as tame. No, extended time in these springs will find you overcome with an itch in your skin you can’t relieve, and then aches all over your bodies. It will feel as if you are being twisted inside, things being moved and shifted. Then the changes become more noticeable. Scales on your skin, fur you never had, claws covered in secretions meant to leave prey at your mercy. It doesn’t always stop there, oh no. After leaving the waters these transformations will continue until you find yourself warped completely into someone else. Something else.


MERMAID	DRAGON	MINOTAUR	SIREN
Sleak, scales, and fishy tales. That’s what mermaids are made of. You will find your body covered in scales, gills on your neck, webbing between your hands and feet, or your legs replaced altogether with a tail. You’ll be overcome by the need to hide away from others who aren’t like you, seeking safety until loneliness urges you to drag others into the waters with you.	“Mine, mine, mine.” That’s what will burrow into your mind. As your body is covered in scales, gains a tail and wings as you twist and warp into your new reptile form. The urge to horde will be strong. Horde what? It could be anything. But you want it all and you’ll do anything to make it yours and keep it that way. And you will do with it as you see fit.	A desire to find, a desire to claim. The minotaur stalks its prey and you will have the same need. The trees beyond this hot spring are a twisting maze one could easily get lost in and as you transform into an immense beast of the hunt, you may stalk these woods until you catch your prize. What you do when you have them is up to you.	A call pulls you in at this hot spring. Something natural, yet inhuman that soothes you until the changes begin. Then you will feel a strong desire for mischief. A need to trick and twist others to your whim. Your voice will lure them to you into the waters and you can lift them with your wings and dash them upon the stones below. Or do something else entirely with them.

NAGA	KRAKEN	CERBERUS	GORGON
The scales may be the first sign, but your legs falling off or growing into a long, slithering tail would definitely be another. The Naga is the serpent guardian, a need to protect is strong but warped by pride and obsession. You hold others tightly in your “protection.” Only you are strong enough to do what is right for them and you will make them recognize this...or else...	The largest of these hot springs turns out to be deep at its center. Very deep. So deep you could dive into it for hours and perhaps never reach the bottom. Deep enough to manage the size of the tentacled beast you may become. You may gain a deep sense of apathetic curiosity. The waters are vast and the smaller beings you encounter may become nothing more than playthings you seek to learn more about. To move and use as you see fit.	Ferocious, loyal, the important traits of a guard dog. But what are you guarding? Anything your Master wants. Large, furred, two heads or three, as Cerberus, you will do whatever it takes to keep out those judged Unworthy, even if it means forcing them into submission. Those you see as Worthy will find themselves the most obedient servant ready to do anything they ask.	Bitter, angry, vain, and vengeful, all these dark, twisted feelings will erupt inside of you after taking a dip in these shimmering emerald waters. You may know you are better than those around you, yet feel compelled to seek their attention and validation. If you don’t get it, well, maybe you’ll make them give it to you by staring them down until they do anything you want them to. They should be careful, as those snakes growing as your hair do bite.

The changes can be mostly human to completely monstrous and everything in between. No two creatures will look the same, or act the same, although like may recognize like. As long as it is on theme for the monster, it’s good to go. The changes will fade up to a week after you have left the resort, or you can complete Auspicious Acts to cure yourself immediately. The further along you are in your transformation, the more you may need to do to return to your normal self.

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Plotting post text here for your ease if you would like to use it:

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N A V I G A T I O N

PLOTTING 005: THE HOT SPRINGS EPISODE

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