BELIAL.
wanna bewitch you in the moonlight
xxxx
/* credit to sugarvine*/
- THE DEVIL YOU KNOWOnce honey-suckle breath was rotten now, stinking of decay and dried spit. The lips that moved, cracked and smeared with flecks of spittle, were not the same lips that Harvey remembered. All of her was the same, or so it would appear, but he knew wholeheartedly that it was not his wife anymore. Sweet Beth, whittled away to bone and stretched flesh, swollen fat against sunken skin.
She lay on their marital bed, something that if he thought carefully about he could recall greater days; softer touches. Her wrists were bound to the bed posts, writhing to an unknown pace, having already rubbed themselves raw in the weeks it had been since sheโd been untied. Her feet lay limp, one fallen to the left and the other inverted to the center. Heโd smashed her ankles about a week ago after sheโd tried to wriggle herself off of the bed, half ripping the joints from her arms and half twisting her own tender limbs into knotted muscle.
He prayed every morning. The cross above the bed, nailed into place after it had fallen off the wall about ten times, seemed to shine like some holy beacon. He hoped it would cure her, but everyday she just got worse. She seemed to waste away in the bed, and everytime he looked at her he could swear that whatever had taken her was looking right back at him.
She spoke, too, but Harvey was sure that Bethโd never spoken more than one language before. Deep, baritone rambles of mere gibberish, or so heโd thought. The feral gaze, twisted tongue, and hate that she spewed told him that he hadnโt prayed enough for her health to return.
How long could a man keep praying before his own words seemed to form gibberish?
Theyโd taken no visitors, no company, not even the doctor. Who would listen to him? Sheโs been taken by the Devil, heโd tried to tell the physician when heโd first come all those weeks ago. I hear him at night, when the house is all quiet. I hear him in my own ears. Satan has taken her!
No one heard his ramblings. He thought himself crazy once the food had begun to rot, and heโd sworn off eating himself. His aching, his pain-- he knew it could save her, right? The hunger pangs had worn away a few days ago, replaced with the bitter clench of a stomach that was always hungry. He sat often, curled into some position to try and squeeze the pain from his skin, like wringing out a wet cloth.
He watched her most nights, praying for her safety. It helped pass the time. It wasnโt as if he could sleep, either.
โHaaaaarvey,โ came her low voice. Rasped from screaming, raw from choking on her own spit.
He looked up from his chair in the corner of the room. The bible was tight in his hands, white knuckles shining like their own light in the dark. The moon tried to peer through the bedroom window, but it was a cloudy night. He was sure he felt static in the air.
A tremble came to his lower lip. He saw her dark eyesโฆ gleaming, almost, in the low light.
โHaaaaarvey.โ
He would not listen.
โHaaaaarveyโฆโ
Silence followed.
โBeth?โ
Then a chuckle, barely audible under the thundering race of his pulse in his ears. Something that melted like a chicken cooked off the bone, the way that the fat would spittle and pop. It sent gooseflesh down his arms, and the hair on the back of his neck rose.
โWe canโt be saved, Harvey. Heโs left you, Harvey. Arenโt you so hungryโฆ?โ
Itโs voice came almost like a death rattle, bouncing with an airy cough from her lungs.
โHaaaaarveyโฆโ
spirits
โฅ spirits, alternatively known as ghosts, are the once living that have been condemned to existing in purgatory. they exist between life and death, somewhat visible to the living through semi-corporeal apparitions or poltergeist behaviour (manipulating of objects, people).
โฅ spirits are, in comparison, rather passive usually. hauntings are plagued by circumstantial maladies, such as flickering of lights, moving of objects, drops in temperature, or potential possessions. it is rare that a spirit, unless they are a full poltergeist, will actively terrorize the living. they require the patience and guidance to reach the afterlife, however, through a variety of means.
โฅ spirits exist in purgatory for several reasons: sudden deaths, violent deaths, unresolved business, vengeance, or extreme emotions at the time of death that render them unable to move on.
โฅ spirit possession of objects is marked by limited or extreme movement, depending on the nature of the spirit, or proximal effects on their surroundings. as specified, lights that flicker or temperatures that drop, as an example.
โฅ cleansing areas can be enough to ward, or in some cases move on, a trapped spirit. exorcisms may be needed for particularly stubborn, or unresolved, spirits.
โฅ they cannot communicate through a possession of a person, but can speak through radio waves or other energy-based mediums.
โฅ ghost possession of a human is rather painful, inflicting what is known as ghost sickness: flu-like symptoms, purpling of the joints, and vomiting of ectoplasm. flashes of emotions or images may be present in a possessee's mind, being one of the most visual ways that a ghost can express themselves.
demons
โฅ demons are the pure manifestation of evil and chaos, of undoing and destruction. where they come from varies per religion or belief, but the united factor is that they are one of the most terrible things to afflict a person, or home. some demons have names, and it is the only real power that a demon holds: to know its name is to hold control over it, useful for banishing or exorcising.
โฅ their methods are less concise than a spirits, but there are a variety of ways that demons can be found. weak-willed are often more susceptible to possessions or luring demons, as well as those who have preternatural abilities that enable them to linger closer to the afterlife (mediums, coma patients, etc.) what is known, however, is that a demon requires food to stay alive: that of the living, and life force.
โฅ known symptoms of a demon's presence in a home or building include: the smell of decay/sulfur/rotten eggs, objects or things moving on their own, and the death of things in the area (plants, living things like people, pets or insects even). a demon haunting is more violent, with independent interactions being more common as well (in comparison to spirits, who are proximal). hallucinations of bleeding walls or visual disturbances are also common. a demon antagonizes, zapping the will and physical health of those that it wishes to feed from.
โฅ demon sickness is when someone is possessed by a demon, similar to ghost sickness but far, far more lethal. demon sickness results in enlarged or inhuman pupils, the bruising of skin, anemia, forceful manipulations of the limbs or voice (often accented with self-inflicted wounds or violent words), and general decomposition of the host from inside out. the host will succumb to madness, as expected, but those around them may be afflicted by some form of demon sickness but to a lesser degree.
โฅ demons speak a wide array of languages, but notably that of which they do not speak is vulgar latin-- higher tongues and more formal presentation marking them from someone faking.
โฅ the only way to remove a demon is to exorcise it. nothing else will work. cleanses can be temporary wards, but demons can hop hosts and evade wards. you cannot kill a demon. it will always come back.
- premisea little 'the conjuring', a little 'exorcist', a little 'evil dead', a little religious flavoured ghost adventures...
The year is 1973, within the United States of America. Summer has come full swing, leading into late August. The time period is nestled with war, innovation and the sweeping change of society and the people. US Troops have pulled out of the Vietnam War, the World Trade Center cuts its premiere ribbonโฆ And the cold war has yet to stagnate, forever ramping beneath oneโs nose to the chorus of political intrigue.
Life, otherwise, is normal. All except for a select few who have had the unfortunate witness to be plagued, in some manner, by demon or spirit. Forever severing oneโs soul from normalcy, they plead to the masses who would believe hysteria and religious secularism to be the blame for such delusions.
You have, in some manner, been exposed to this paranormal activity. Brought together by this trauma, you are not the only person that you know. Belief is so cherished, especially of what one has seen versus what one may choose to understand. To be heard, finally, and find that you are not alone in your nightmares isโฆ reassuring. Even if you arenโt Catholic, or remotely religious at all, the offer was appealing in some way. It was a flyer on the town bulletin board, or maybe someone you know handed it to you: HAUNTED BY TERRIBLE MEMORIES OF A TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE? GHOST, DEMON OR UNFORGIVING POLTERGEIST. WE DO NOT JUDGE. GOD FORGIVES AND WE SEEK TO ENLIGHTEN NOT JUST OURSELVES, BUT OUR BELIEF. WEDNESDAYS AT SIX P.M, SAINT BENEDICTโS CHURCH. FOOD AND SNACK PROVIDED.
It started with one meeting out of thirty, maybe, at the local church, just talking through the usual things. Then somebody starts talking about others who have been affected, and who havenโt come out about their experience. Of the quietly suffering, who through clenched teeth brave it out as every aspect of their life shatters with the realization that there is life after death, and it is not peaceful.
Then the talking became planning, and the planning became a full fledged agreement: that you and the motley crew would tour and educate, expunge and exorcise whatever demonic or spiritual hosts plagued the innocents. It would be foolish to call it anything other than group insanity, really-- but you all believe, and thatโs enough for someone, surely.
Rounding up whatever tech you can afford, climbing into the priestโs hatchbackโฆ The story begins. 
THE NOVELIST
the most likely to not have truly had a real experience with spirits or demons (if you so choose), you are someone who craves a good story. be it by your own pen, or from others, but you are an avid consumer of written media and it consumes you, sometimes. nights spent half-awake, churning out manuscripts or reading book chapters. sometimes you think you see things, when the sleep plays tricks on you... or maybe they are real. whether your intentions are legitimate or a farce, you began to attend the meetings at saint benedict's and were captivated by the people there. for some reason or another, you haven't left-- and you're more than enthused to start this little adventure.
THE EX-POSSESSION VICTIM
darkness haunts you. the shadows that were once mere flickering echoes of lost light now speak of nightmares that you seek to forget. however it happened, you were possessed. by a demon, or a spirit, you found yourself at the will of something that was not living. it was a harrowing ordeal-- and had whoever saved you not taken you seriously, you probably would have died from it. many, many restless nights led you to saint benedict's to attend a meeting of sorts, for people who were like you or knew what you'd gone through. maybe you thought it was a joke, or maybe you had true and genuine belief that it was an honest effort, but the meetings at saint benedict's have managed to stop some of the nightmares-- for now. but the whispers you hear tell you that your link to the afterlife remains... and you are forever in danger.
THE ARCHIVIST
your bookstore and record collection were haunted by a restless spirit of the old lady who owned the building before you. the damage done by the haunting was scarier for your bank account than your own mental health, you're sure, but the plagued memories kept you up and restless for some time before you sought some help. meeting at saint benedict's, you found the answers to your questions and could have otherwise moved on: you were affected by circumstance, not by any vengeful spirit. yet, for some reason, you have stayed. and by god, they can't get rid of you.
THE NEW AGE ENTHUSIAST
obsessed with the spirit, the self, and the plethora of crystals you keep on hand for immediate relief to anyone who asks, you are the very picture of the new age. a hippie, if anyone from the city asks-- but you are so deadset and determined in your profession and your beliefs that you are about as compelling as any scientist with a clipboard of data. perhaps you are a massage therapist, or an artist, but you hold your experiences and emotions to the same degree that a writer holds the pen to their hand, relying on the motion to deliver a story. whatever happened to you, be it spirit or demon, sent you reeling-- but your belief was strong enough that you defended yourself. curiosity, more than trauma, brought you to saint benedict's. above everything, and say what you will about catholics, but they bring the best snacks to these silly meetings.
THE COP
a current, or former, servant of the law, unfortunate circumstances led you down a path of dwindling belief. after a traumatic experience, something that could somehow only be explained by a spirit or a demon, you found yourself seeking some sort of support from saint benedict's. you didn't go so willingly, or maybe you did, but every meeting has been the best way for you to try and find some remedy to the pain in your heart; the grief, the horror. battling your inner thoughts, torn between someone so firmly placed in logical and realistic circumstances, and someone who had seen something too horrific to be answered by facts or science alone... you are in the middle. maybe not a real believer, a little skeptical... but still interested in what sort of things are out there. above all, you want to help people; that's compelling enough.
THE RATIONALIST
anything that happens to you, you explain it. compartmentalization could be your middle name, and dealing with problems is as simple as swallowing a pain killer. any kind of strife that's found you, you solve the problem. someone with a background ingrained in rational thinking, and doubt to everything in the world... it is a surprise that you would be affected so much by something you've already dealt with, right? it was something that you already had written off as a hysterical relative, or maybe a case of leaky pipes in a house or whatever it may be... but there's no way that ghosts or demons are real. yet, here you are in saint benedict's, listening to others who believe in it so whole heartedly. it seems ridiculous, and maybe you're amused more than you are curious... but you've stayed. perhaps the relationships made were worth it, if anything to just talk to someone... but you, more than anyone, will not be so willing to believe in someone saying 'the devil made me do it'.
THE NUN
taken
brought up in a less than forgiving southern baptist family, the nun has forged her way to being someone better in the years since. devout but not naive, the nun is quite knowledgeable in things that most nuns would not be: demonology. always a little superstitious, and having come across some unexplained events, she's held it in her heart that the ills that have plagued her in life have been from the acts of demons. with a brief stint as a teacher in a catholic school drawing her into the priest's circle, the two of them lead the meetings in saint benedict's. she's the real mastermind behind the meeting plans, however.
THE PRIEST
taken
a veteran of the korean war, the priestโs history is not one of a godly man. peace must be learned, negotiated and honed, with long hours of devotion in pursuit of betterment. demons, he learned, come to men in many guises; sins that follow from fathers to sons, self-inflicted by the darker human instinct, or the weight of one's misdeeds. studying exorcisms and christian ritual in the heart of rome, such performances of ancient practice soothed long-standing superstitions, placated victims, though revealed more than what a holy man wishes to imagine possibleโ โ โharmless shadows, thumps in the night. young women eating fistfuls of their own hair. family pets found in sealed wall cavities. having been in the company of a sister whose eye for phenomena exceeded his, meetings within the community were the nunโs suggestion; yet not without the priestโs overt interest.- rulespreface: the roles have written descriptions to them, giving a vague idea of the type of background we'd like for them. keep in mind these are very interpretive and are just a baseline. the dynamics work with what we have, but if you think of something a little different or want to take the description and twist it a little, go ahead-- but please keep the baseline there at a minimum. if all roles have at least one applicant, and you wish to make up your own, feel free: but for now, we just want to fill the roles.
general rules
1. follow RPN TOS, bits and bobs-- the usual. please respect one another and try not to bring your real life drama into the OOC. If you have any problems with someone, or any issues come up, please reach out to a GM (myself or @idalie ). We will try to resolve it, but it is not our job to deal with your beef with other people.
2. 18+ only, please.
3. As mentioned, heavy topics will be brought up. Composed of but not limited to: possession, body horror, critiques and religious trauma/horror, ghost horror, mentions of child death, descriptions of death (anything you'd find in a horror movie, really, that isn't some gratuitous torture genre.) Intense descriptions will not be permitted of gore, but of the spookies and the scaries, yes. If this is not your vibe, be warned.
4. real life faceclaims only, please. try to go for something 70s esque; but you do not need to include actual actors from the 1960s-70s, unless you choose to. no anime, no drawings, no artbreeder.
5. posting will be once a week minimum, if you please. more per week is fine, and we will adjust as needed if some folks post faster than others. trying to keep this relatively paced, if you feel that you cannot post during the week be sure to communicate to others the best way to work around it. two paragraphs minimum: we won't heavily enforce the minimum unless it is routine that shorter posts are killing people's inspiration. we want to foster semi-lit/literate writers; essentially: NO ONE LINERS. As always, quality over quantity, so don't be pressed if you feel you're wanting to hit a high number of paragraphs but they are all fodder.
6. discord OOC is mandatory, as we will have lore/fun tidbits (a store for purchasing equipment and hints to be used In-RP, among other things). Until sheets/characters are accepted we will have the OOC on RPN.
7. roles will not be first come first serve, but we will adhere to the roles listed in terms of numbers. if there is an influx of characters, and they are really great, we will accept three extra people. but this is an rp better had with a smaller group, so please forgive us for keeping the numbers small.
8. this rp will require active communication on posts, plots and puzzles. if you're more of a lax rper who doesn't want to be involved with things, or doesn't wish to do more than passively post, this is not the RP for you.
9. more character/character sheet specific rules will be released when the CS Thread goes up. For now we can ask any questions!
01
02
03
04
