Tera

Nothing to see here

Name: Devil's Taste
Species: Sea Cucumber (Holothuria pardalis)

Appearance: It has a soft and cylindrical shape, with white thorns protruding from its rough pink skin.
Origin: Inshore region surrounding No Names City.

Ecology: Inhabits the sea between the shoreline and the edge of the continental shelf. Often seen attached to human or animal corpses.

Feeding: Saprophytic. Feeds on bloated human corpses as they decompose within the sea. It grows into the human body as the Devil's Taste consumes its host's nutrients.

Reproduction: Capable of both sexual and asexual reproduction. It secretes sweet serum when the sea cucumber is matured enough to reproduce. Animals and humans are attracted to the scent, and are often tempted to consume it. Using a trick similar to the parasite toxoplasma gondii (link), the ingested sea cucumber will cause the victim to release a slightly sweet scent, influencing other living organisms to turn aggressive and prey on its host. When the host is dead, the Devil's Taste will release thousands of spores attaching them onto the inner skin of the corpse. Each spore will grow into a new Devil's Taste, as they eat their way out of their victim.

Folklore: It is rumored that people can predict their own deaths by consuming the Devil's Taste - a bad taste indicates survival while a good one indicates upcoming death. However, in reality it was only the working of the sea cucumber's peculiar mating mechanism. In fact, there are cases when people ate a disgusting Devil's Taste only to be killed right after.

Commercial: Fishermen in the City of No Names are known to harvest the Devil's Tastes on a monthly basis and sell them to the local market or inns. Prices (as of 2017) can range from 435 to 1000 Euro per kilogram.

References

[Short Story]The Peculiar Dish
[Short Story]On the Edge of Hell

[Hollow Earth Aftermath] Urban Creatures: Contracts (Died of Natural Causes)

@Forgiveness Alright detective, approved. You can post on CS and on to your first case :)

[Hollow Earth Aftermath] Urban Creatures: Contracts (Died of Natural Causes)

still accepting?
@Traps

@Forgiveness

Yes :) In need of players

[Hollow Earth Aftermath] Urban Creatures: Contracts (Died of Natural Causes)

Nov 1, 2017 - the Serpent's Lair - 1:00pm

Mabel could never forget the day Benril Mangus died in her pub.

Ronan had just left and she was cleaning his table when it happened. Mangus stood up abruptly from his seat, his eyes wide-opened with horror. He tried to look down on his own neck as his left hand reached and felt for it. Then he panicked and started scratching on his throat frantically.

"No, no, go away!" He screamed, catching the whole pub's attention as his nails clawed deep into his throat leaving behind deep blood marks. He looked so terrified that he stumbled back into his chair and fell down on the floor, yet he kept scratching on his throat with his hands. Mrs Mabel was shocked at the turn of events and she tried to rush to the poor man's aid, but as she approached blood started bursting out from Mangus's throat- his nails had cut through his own blood vessels. The man's body trembled rapidly and uncontrollably as blood flooded into his windpipe, choking him as he tried to say something.

"..."

"What you mean?" Mrs Mabel asked, urgently. But there was no reply.
Benril Mangus had died, drowning in his own blood.

---

A new mystery had unveiled itself.

Curiosity and the Cat

Designation: David Reynold
Location: Sammie's 2257-35ul
Time: 21:30:00

Tattersail's inner dialog was interrupted as PI Reynold tapped him on the shoulder, "Have a minute?"

At first glance, Tattersail seemed like a maniac to Reynold. He wore weird exaggerated accessories, and appeared to be talking randomly to himself; but as Reynold approached the medtech, he was surprised by how sane and helpful the man actually was. "Mavis, get this man a beer," the detective said, settling beside Tattersail at the bar as he extracted his pen and notepad. "I'm David Reynolds, a PI. Don't mind me, just find it more secure to record things in black and white than in... data form."

He was about to start his questions, but a newcomer diverted his attention - an expensive-looking PlayBeing with silver hair and violet eyes. She appears to be alone and... free. What is she doing here? Where is her owner? The PI was curious and decided to ask 'sail. "See that PlayBeing over there? What do you think she is doing here?" @Tenslashsix

A Bloody Mess

@LordofthePies how does scavenging work? Do we need to roll for it or we can simply get resources within logical reasoning?

A Bloody Mess

9:30AM, March 5, 2005	Angie's house, Brooklyn, NY

Angie

Reality

"Bang,

bang,

bang,"

What was that sound?
Angie opened her eyes, startled. She found herself laying sideways on her bed, staring at her bedroom door.
Someone, or something, was out there. Don't open it...

Where is daddy and mommy? She wondered, as she looked around her room. It was pitch dark. Don't open it...

The banging stopped for a second, then the sound of heavy breathing and wood scratching.
W-who's there? she sat up, hugging her koala plushie with her as she stood up timidly facing the door. Don't open it...

Where is the light? W-why is it so dark here? she sobbed, braving herself to step towards the door.
Sis, i-is that you? This is NOT funny ~ I'll tell daddy about it... Don't open it...

The noise stopped as she arrived at the door. W-who is this? I'll open it now...
Tiptoeing, she tried to reach for the door knob~ Don't open it...

"Bang!"

The door responded with a loud slam,
and she woke up.

Sunlight shone over the opened window, caressing Angie's chubby cheek as she woke up from her nightmare, sweating hard. She sat up and listened carefully. Noises of morning wind brushing through tree leaves, the sizzling sound of Rick's cooking downstairs. There was no signs of undead. Another bad dream~

The girl left her koala toy on her bed as she changed into the long sleeve T-Shirt and denim pants Rick prepared her the night before. She looked around. Her bedroom looked exactly the same like how it was when her parents were still around. Purple walls with a lilac carpet flooring. A single bed right beside the window and a reach-in closet that was big enough for Angie to hide in.

A couple of months had passed since the initial outbreak, Angie's parents never got back from their work and her sister was dead. She shivered slightly, as the four year-old recalled vividly how scared she was, being left all alone in the dark before Rick and Rocky found her. It's okay now silly, she comforted herself; she was now living together with the two of them.

Rick

In the kitchen, Rick was cooking with a gas stove. They had scavenged a box of gas canisters from the neighborhood two weeks ago. He had to gather firewood to start a fire whenever they needed to cook back then; and last winter was really tough, as they almost died starving.

He knew that Angie had woken up as he heard footsteps running down the stairs. Just seconds later, a tiny head popped out peeking from behind the door. "Good morning ~!" she giggled and ran in cheerfully hugging on Rick. "What's for breakfast today?" she asked, smiling as the girl looked at him.

"Spaghetti with mushrooms and ham," the man replied, smiling back gently. Rick had been stuck with Angie for months now, knewing that she was a burden as she could not do anything herself and he had to protect her every now and then from the undead. The kid was often positive, but at times when things got tough she would break into tears easily; and Rick needed to find ways to comfort her. He could have left her alone where he found her, but he also knew that she could never have survived a day out there on her own. He liked the kid.

Rocky

Rocky came in from the living room, wiggling its tail as the aroma of food reached the dog's sensitive nose. "Good doggy ~" Angie patted Rocky's head as she helped Rick put its food on the floor. Rick had cooked a separate serving of spaghetti for Rocky without the sauce. Together, the trio enjoyed their brunch together before starting another day out in the dangerous post-apocalyptic world.

Nothing to see here

March 5, 2005	Angie's house, Brooklyn, NY

Angie

Reality

"Bang,

bang,

bang,"

What was that sound?
Angie opened her eyes, startled. She found herself laying sideways on her bed, staring at her bedroom door.
Someone, or something, was out there. Don't open it...

Where is daddy and mommy? She wondered, as she looked around her room. It was pitch dark. Don't open it...

The banging stopped for a second, then the sound of heavy breathing and wood scratching.
W-who's there? she sat up, hugging her koala plushie with her as she stood up timidly facing the door. Don't open it...

Where is the light? W-why is it so dark here? she sobbed, braving herself to step towards the door.
Sis, i-is that you? This is NOT funny ~ I'll tell daddy about it... Don't open it...

The noise stopped as she arrived at the door. W-who is this? I'll open it now...
Tiptoeing, she tried to reach for the door knob~ Don't open it...

"Bang!"

The door responded with a loud slam,
and she woke up.

Sunlight shone over the opened window, caressing Angie's chubby cheek as she woke up from her nightmare, sweating hard. She sat up and listened carefully. Noises of morning wind brushing through tree leaves, the sizzling sound of Rick's cooking downstairs. There was no signs of undead. Another bad dream~

Angie left her koala toy on her bed as she changed into the long sleeve T-Shirt and denim pants Rick prepared her the night before. She looked around. Her bedroom looked exactly the same like how it was when her parents were still around. Purple walls with a lilac carpet flooring. A single bed right beside the window and a reach-in closet that was big enough for Angie to hide in.

A couple of months had passed since the initial outbreak, Angie's parents never got back from their work and her sister was dead. She shivered slightly, as the four year-old recalled vividly how scared she was being left all alone in the dark before Rick and Rocky found her. It's okay now silly, she comforted herself. She was now living together with the two of them.

Rick

In the kitchen, Rick was cooking with a gas stove. They had scavenged a box of gas canisters from the neighborhood two weeks ago. He had to gather firewood to start a fire whenever they needed to cook back then; and last winter was really tough, as they almost died starving.

He knew that Angie had woken up as he heard footsteps running down the stairs. Just seconds later, a tiny head popped out peeking from behind the door. "Good morning ~!" she giggled and ran in cheerfully hugging on Rick. "What's for breakfast today?" she asked, smiling as the girl looked at him.

"Spaghetti with mushrooms and ham," the man replied, smiling back gently. Rick had been stuck with Angie for months now, knewing that she was a burden as she could not do anything herself and he had to protect her every now and then from the undead. The kid was often positive, but at times when things got tough she would break into tears easily; and Rick needed to find ways to comfort her. He could have left her alone where he found her, but he also knew that she could never have survived a day out there on her own. He liked the kid.

Rocky

Rocky came in from the living room, wiggling its tail as the aroma of food reached the dog's sensitive nose. "Good doggy ~" Angie patted Rocky's head as she helped Rick put its food on the floor. Rick had cooked a separate serving of spaghetti for Rocky without the sauce. Together, the trio enjoyed their brunch together before starting another day out in the dangerous post-apocalyptic world.

The Savage West: Horrors of the Frontier

Sorry the post I did yesterday was incomplete xD Just edited and put in a tab "Two Weeks Ago". Kimberly arranged a business with Wichita's sheriff if that's okay @Pirouette

A Bloody Mess

Will work on a post later today as well :)