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Story Prompt Challenge for Colmaton/BOS writers!
13 years ago
In the spirit of the holidays, I am giving you the opportunity to give one of your characters a gift - superhero, supervillain, minion, support, it doesn't matter. However, the Hagfish is a Lacunaean, who runs on emotion, the more complex the better. As such, some of his gifts might best be left unopened.
He was an alien looking creature. As far as [s]he could see, it had no nose, eyes, or ears. It's mouth was a rubbery hole, devoid of any jaw, surrounded by limp tentacles. It's neck was too long, and it had the unpleasant appearance of being coated with slime. In one of its rubbery hands it carried a black briefcase.
"I am here to make you an offer," it croaked, putting down the briefcase and carefully opening the numerous locks that held it shut. "I will give you one of the items within my briefcase. Whichever one you desire, it is yours to use." [Character name] barely had time to notice its hands were asymmetrical - one with two fingers, one with three. The creature opened the briefcase, displaying a host of bottles and strange objects held within. "Be warned, though, mortal. What you desire may not always lead to happiness, and the ill-thought wish may lead you to ruin."
The Choices
Liquid Knowledge
An unappetizing grey liquid lay within the featureless bottle, identifiable only by the spidery label that stated "Liquid Knowledge." Drinking it will reveal a great secret of the universe. But sometimes, ignorance is bliss...
This cannot reveal another character's secret identity, but it will grant knowledge that could lead to anything from becoming a supergenius to gaining knowledge of the fourth wall. Definitely booby-trapped.
Elixir of Venus/Adonis
A narrow test-tube filled with glowing, rose-pink fluid. When uncapped, it gives off a faintly musky scent. It will give you a body that most men/women would only dream of having. but beauty is only skin deep...
Consuming this elixir will cause the character's body to change into a paragon of male or female attractiveness. Particularly weak or out-of-shape individuals will gain an added bonus as they gain the appropriate muscle tone and size - not to mention benefits down below, if you want it to be a red-border story. It will not, however, change the character's personality.
Galvanizing draught
This thick-walled flask bears a blue liquid that randomly lights up with an arc of whitish energy. To consume this would grant you greater power. But greater does not always mean better...
If your individual has at least one superpower or ability, the capabilities of that power are drastically increased. Otherwise, they gain a superpower or ability. However, the results are always a Faustian bargain of some sort
New leaf tea (villains only)
It looks like tea...
If given the opportunity, a reluctant or unaware supervillain who drinks this will develop the willpower to abandon their evil ways. They can always choose to ignore this opportunity. But either way, they may be teased by the grass seeming greener on the other side.
Water from the Acheron River
This sinister looking vial contains what seems to be just water. Attached to it is a pen and a notecard bearing four words, apparently written in blood:
"Who do you hate?"
A nasty one here. If they write somebody's name on the card, then dissolve it in the water, they will be able to kill another character. That's right. Perma-death. You can't use this on any of my characters (yet), and you need permission from the character's creator to do it. The downside of this? That's up to you.
Nothing
Given time to think it over, none of these potions seem like a good idea.
Your character is confronted with numerous events that would make using one of the potions seem like a wonderful idea. But, for whatever reason you choose, he or she turns down the Hagfish's offer. He will not take offense.
Also, there will not be any opportunity for a character to get revenge on the Hagfish. He will explain that he gave them fair warning, and that any consequences of using the potion are entirely the OC's responsibility. If attacked, he proves to be as slippery as his feral counterpart, vanishing to the Lacunae until he deigns to visit the reality of Colmaton once more...
He was an alien looking creature. As far as [s]he could see, it had no nose, eyes, or ears. It's mouth was a rubbery hole, devoid of any jaw, surrounded by limp tentacles. It's neck was too long, and it had the unpleasant appearance of being coated with slime. In one of its rubbery hands it carried a black briefcase.
"I am here to make you an offer," it croaked, putting down the briefcase and carefully opening the numerous locks that held it shut. "I will give you one of the items within my briefcase. Whichever one you desire, it is yours to use." [Character name] barely had time to notice its hands were asymmetrical - one with two fingers, one with three. The creature opened the briefcase, displaying a host of bottles and strange objects held within. "Be warned, though, mortal. What you desire may not always lead to happiness, and the ill-thought wish may lead you to ruin."
The Choices
Liquid Knowledge
An unappetizing grey liquid lay within the featureless bottle, identifiable only by the spidery label that stated "Liquid Knowledge." Drinking it will reveal a great secret of the universe. But sometimes, ignorance is bliss...
This cannot reveal another character's secret identity, but it will grant knowledge that could lead to anything from becoming a supergenius to gaining knowledge of the fourth wall. Definitely booby-trapped.
Elixir of Venus/Adonis
A narrow test-tube filled with glowing, rose-pink fluid. When uncapped, it gives off a faintly musky scent. It will give you a body that most men/women would only dream of having. but beauty is only skin deep...
Consuming this elixir will cause the character's body to change into a paragon of male or female attractiveness. Particularly weak or out-of-shape individuals will gain an added bonus as they gain the appropriate muscle tone and size - not to mention benefits down below, if you want it to be a red-border story. It will not, however, change the character's personality.
Galvanizing draught
This thick-walled flask bears a blue liquid that randomly lights up with an arc of whitish energy. To consume this would grant you greater power. But greater does not always mean better...
If your individual has at least one superpower or ability, the capabilities of that power are drastically increased. Otherwise, they gain a superpower or ability. However, the results are always a Faustian bargain of some sort
New leaf tea (villains only)
It looks like tea...
If given the opportunity, a reluctant or unaware supervillain who drinks this will develop the willpower to abandon their evil ways. They can always choose to ignore this opportunity. But either way, they may be teased by the grass seeming greener on the other side.
Water from the Acheron River
This sinister looking vial contains what seems to be just water. Attached to it is a pen and a notecard bearing four words, apparently written in blood:
"Who do you hate?"
A nasty one here. If they write somebody's name on the card, then dissolve it in the water, they will be able to kill another character. That's right. Perma-death. You can't use this on any of my characters (yet), and you need permission from the character's creator to do it. The downside of this? That's up to you.
Nothing
Given time to think it over, none of these potions seem like a good idea.
Your character is confronted with numerous events that would make using one of the potions seem like a wonderful idea. But, for whatever reason you choose, he or she turns down the Hagfish's offer. He will not take offense.
Also, there will not be any opportunity for a character to get revenge on the Hagfish. He will explain that he gave them fair warning, and that any consequences of using the potion are entirely the OC's responsibility. If attacked, he proves to be as slippery as his feral counterpart, vanishing to the Lacunae until he deigns to visit the reality of Colmaton once more...
