text; Sleeping Curse

[afflatusexarch]

Type: Text
Sender ID: afflatusexarch ( G'raha Tia )
To: General
Subject: Assistance
Warnings: Nothing, honestly

I apologize in advance, for I truly wish that I could present you all with a more cheerful message. In truth, I am asking for assistance and any knowledge in relation to the malady that has stricken several individuals in the last couple of weeks. Some are finding it difficult to desire to get an appropriate level of rest, for fear of a nightmare that might ultimately result in the loss of life.

[ Okay so he's not really sleeping that much either, but that's a normal life choice for him. And only about two people at this point actually know that G'raha is afflicted as well. ]

There are means to temporarily alleviate symptoms, but thus far a cure does not seem to be within sight. As the nature of this does not seem to be physical, it must be magical in nature.

I was hoping to acquire aid in researching the matter. Curses, hexes, other illnesses that are thought to be magical in nature. Given how many are sharing in the same nightmare, I wonder if we might start there.

Comments

text; un: torinoko | LOCKED/PRIVATE TO G'RAHA

[torinoko]

I know a fair bit about curses and hexes, but a shared nightmare speaks of something else to me.

Tell me what you have observed, in as great of detail as you can. I assume you've at least seen someone with this curse firsthand.

private;

[afflatusexarch]

Admittedly, my definition of such things might be colored by how magic operated on my star. Though, truthfully, this seems to have an intelligence behind it.

You are correct in your assumptions. Initially, there is a dark marking upon one's hand. One might find some discomfort or pain there after some time, but it does not appear to be an injury for it does not heal. The nightmare itself takes the dreamer to the darkest, deepest parts of the ocean.

So vivid is the nightmare that one might find themselves out of breath as though they were the one drowning.

private

[torinoko]

It's always the exact same dream? And for everyone who experiences it?

[THere's a pause for a minute while she thinks.]

Let me revise my previous statement. It could well be a curse, but by an active participant, not lingering malice.

private

[afflatusexarch]

Even if the dream begins differently, what transpires is the same. Encroaching waters and being submerged, plunged into the depths.

This shared trait is why I thought it no mere physical issue to be healed. There should be a source, one would think.

private

[torinoko]

I can think of a few kinds of beings that can cause that effect actively, but it's hard for me to determine without direct contact.

It can't kill me but this may still be problematic.

Ranma Saotome | Ranma 1/2 | OTA

[catsgothistongue]

[Oh, what's this now?]

Weird. Usually in these cases, from my experience, it's the opposite where people fall asleep and no one can wake them. Never the other way around.

[Hm... People can't get any sleep. What to do, what to do...]

Has anyone tried a little percussive maintenance on anyone's head? That usually knocks people right out. [Because of course that's his first suggestion.]

[afflatusexarch]

The issue is not the ability to fall asleep. Rather, it is what occurs once one finds themselves drifting into a deeper one.

'Tis nightmares that are causing the problem, for they are so real that some find death before wakefulness.

[catsgothistongue]

[Oh... Yeah no, that's bad.]

When you say find death, are you being literl here? Have people actually died from their nightmares, or the dreams are that bad that they feel like they're dying?

[what kinda freddy krueger bs is this??]

[afflatusexarch]

Why would I waste time by not being literal?

It is both.

[vermilloci]

Xenk and I recently looked into using the angelic jellyfish bounty as a possible counter to the curse, since the curse appears to be caused by something demonic in this world. We brought pieces of the jellyfish to a healer in Eltrut. Making its eyes into a jelly seems to have some good effects, like warding it off and slowly countering it, but it doesn't cure it fully. At least not according to the healer.

Still, if anyone would rather use that jelly instead of smelling salts, it could be a nicer alternative. Less stinky, too.

[ You'd (general "you") just have to live with the fact that you're eating seraphim jellyfish eye jelly. ]

[afflatusexarch]

Demonic energy... Might I inquire as to how you came to this conclusion?

[vermilloci]

As soon as the curse started appearing among the locals, I asked around and also went to the archives. There's a sleeping curse that involves a demon that targets a person at night. It sits on a person's chest, cursing them. The text there also mentioned sulfur and smelling salts as a way to help, but that this still does not act as a cure.

There aren't really such creatures in my world, so I asked around some more and talked with Xenk for his expertise. Celestial and angelic type of creatures are counters to a demon's type of power. So, we consulted a physician on Elah if a part of the angelic jellyfish could be used to counter the curse, which brought up the result above. Even if there is no literal demon involved, there's some type of demonic or hex magic that can be somewhat countered by a substance that's made from an angelic-type beast.

I've also been scouring the volcanic mountain on Avaleci for any information. [ As she types it out, she realizes it's just Ice lava spelt backward... wild. Okay. ] One of the still intact texts mentions a dark, round disk that was used to dispel sleeping demons. Finding or making that disk might be the key, but I haven't any idea what it could be.

So I'm still exploring there almost daily for other artifacts or this "disk". There could be something else missed.

[afflatusexarch]

You realize that some have dismissed such claims of a demon by discovering "sleep paralysis." Not to mention, I doubt it is something as simple as that, for that would mean there are many demons all doing the same thing either at the same time or differing times. If there are multiples, how would we not have come across them at some point? How would someone not have been able to sense their presence?

Though I won't deny that there must be some sort of malevolent force if "holy" aligned magicks or byproducts seem to work against it. At the same time, since it doesn't seem to cure the person of the affliction, the source of it isn't within the person, but from some externalized place. Perhaps it is some sort of entity or even location. Mayhap even item.

Regardless, that "disk" may very well be needed.

Text;

[heir_conditioned]

[CURSES YOU SAY?]

Have you talked to Toge about it?

Text;

[afflatusexarch]

I have not, though in hindsight? Mayhap I should have.

[heir_conditioned]

I'm sure he would be happy to assess if you have anything to do with a curse he can handle. If it is something he can deal with, my trust would be in him. I can't help you with a curse like he could, but I watched in a movie that if you share your nightmares, they're not so bad.

Maybe here that's more than just speaking them out loud.

[afflatusexarch]

"Share your nightmares?" Can you specify what you mean by that?

text

[emet_sulk]

How do you know 'tis a curse?

text

[afflatusexarch]

Local medics have started to call it as such. I know not if it is truly a "curse" or not, but I do know 'tis not able to be healed through conventional means. Curative and restorative magicks have done little to nothing thusfar. Therefore I can only assume that it is something that must come from another source.

[emet_sulk]

Are they certain 'tis not a coma they have fallen into? The afflicted would only look as though they are sleeping.

[afflatusexarch]

I don't suppose you are afflicted so that we might test that theory.

text

[andstill]

So if it helps.

Looks unlikely that cutting off whatever limb the nasty mark is on would fix it. You don't need to try that.

text

[afflatusexarch]

You didn't.

Please tell me you did not.

[andstill]

Calm down, I still have two arms. Do you want the information or not?

[afflatusexarch]

Yes, but not at the expense of one of your hands!

How did you find this out in the first place?