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SoK Chapter 178
🕑 Added 2025-07-11 15:00:13 +0000 UTC***
It took a fair while for the group of people to understand what it was that the massive monster wanted them to do with the corpse, but after he came back with Styrofoam disposable plates and rusty cutlery, it became rather apparent what it was that he wanted them to do. As TJ’d warned, they would be eating the monster.
TJ cut one of the monster's arms off and tried to use his Wendigo Blade to skin the limb. He had no such luck, and had to ask for Mimi to pass over her Fungr that, by pushing his mana through it, could cut through the armored skin and scales. Even with a Skill tied to the weapon that was focused on being able to cut through defenses, the going was tough and it took TJ several minutes to even expose a portion of the flesh to be cut free. Once he finally had a cut of… steak? free he set it to the side and wondered about what to do with it. Cook it?
“Give it here.” Michelle was insistent on being the one to cook the meat. She fashioned a grill out of some spare metal from the ruins nearby in less time than it took TJ to cut the meat free from the bone. Then, she put her hand under the grill and it burst into flame for just a second before the fire condensed back into her hand, making her mahogany skin crack and look as if there were live coals underneath.
“I know snobs will say medium rare, but I don’t know anything about this meat or what it needs to have done to it to be safe to consume. We’re going well on the edge of maybe going crispy. Any complaints?”
Nobody raised a hand or their voice, not even TJ who had both purposefully and inadvertently eaten monsters, basically from the beginning of the Integration. With her idea confirmed as the ones that they would be going with, Michelle raised her hand up closer to the meat, and this sizzling sound quickly elicited a surprisingly mouthwatering scent. Just a few short minutes later, Michelle cut the meat open and tested the temperature before she deemed it complete and probably safe to eat. Even with his spike of hunger coming from the smell, TJ didn’t speak from a place of selfishness when he said, “I’ll be the first to eat. The System should be able to tell me if there’s anything that can be harmful to the rest of you.”
Nobody disagreed, and TJ deactivated Divine Transformation as he stretched out a hand and took a thin strip of steak. It smelled strangely fishy, but beefy at the same time, and as he put it in his mouth, it held together with the stringiness of beef while also being flaky like fish. It was, altogether, a strange experience, but TJ found himself enjoying it. As soon as the food was ingested, he asked the System, “What kind of effect will this meat have on me?”
Serpentine Eldritch creatures are widely considered to be a delicacy to those who are capable of finding and hunting them. Once drained of their blood, the meat is harmless to any whose Vitality and Endurance combined are greater than 150. To those whose combined Attribute totals of Vitality and Endurance is less than 150, there is a chance of the Maddened, Gibbering, or Insane afflictions to be applied.
He couldn’t help himself, and TJ checked the effects of the three afflictions. As the descriptions of helpless hunger, need to kill, and the inability to move while nightmares tormented him flashed through his vision, he quickly came to the conclusion that this was enough to keep him from continuing to think about it. Suffice to say, he didn’t want any of those afflictions.
“All right,” TJ called out, “if you have at least 150 between your Vitality and Endurance, you’re totally good to eat. If not, there’s quite a few debuffs, or afflictions, that you can be afflicted with. If you’d like, you can ask the System what Serpentine Eldritch creatures’ flesh will do to you. It’s not good, for those of you unwilling to ask and find out. For those who can eat it, it’s not bad eating. Frankly, it’s better than a lot of the stuff I’ve had recently.”
TJ took the time to use Wind Manipulation to clear all of the filth off of the Styrofoam plates that the Elite tiered allied monster had brought. With the worst of the scum scrubbed off, TJ took another serving for himself and placed it on the plate. With his example, Sarah was the next line, though Seth, Sam, and Mimi were not far behind. Molly dragged Tessie to get their share, and it was quickly very obvious that, as people ate and enjoyed the meal, they would need to claim more of the creature for the hungry people.
TJ walked over to the site where Acalan was feasting on the corpse. Already, the other limbs were gone, and only the head and torso remained.
“Thank you for your gift, friend. My people appreciate it greatly. If it’s all right with you, we would like to partake in more of your gift, would that be all right?”
it is a gift. eat what you want. i can give more if you need? make trade?
“No, I think we will be fine for now, just so long as we get about the same amount that we have already taken. That will feed everyone who is capable of eating the flesh without hurting themselves.”
some of your people are weak enough that eating will hurt them? maybe i really do need to eat them. that way they can see that it is good! good to eat.
“No, my people are not food. Now, I’ll take whatever you have to offer, and I’ll go back to my people for it tonight. Then, we will kindly take your offer of safe travel across the lake.”
mmm
The monster didn’t say anything more after that, though TJ felt himself smile at the creature giving up. Then, taking the hunk of meat back to his people, TJ passed it over to Michelle to continue cooking the rest. As people continued to indulge and enjoy the meal, it was obvious those who didn’t have the Attributes necessary to enjoy the meal like everyone else were considering possibly subjecting themselves to the afflictions. The System warned them they would gain by consuming the flesh. In a moment of curiosity, TJ asked the System, “What is it about this meat that possibly makes people go crazy?”
A typical aspect of all Eldtritch creatures is the ability to foment madness in those who behold and interact with them. The more that one interacts with the Eldritch, the more likely it is that they will be permanently changed by the experience. The higher the tier of the Eldritch creature, the more impactful their influence is.
TJ narrowed his eyes, and only at this point did he realize what the System meant when it was saying “Eldritch.” “So…” He said, “these things are related to Cthulhu?"
The eldritch God Cthulhu, the Incomprehensible High Priest of the Great Old Ones, has no relation to these creatures. However, were they to ascend to godhood, their form would be like unto that of any number of eldritch deities, given that all have the ability and propensity to twist and break the minds of those who come in contact with them.
TJ slowly nodded as he asked his final question, “So if I came in contact with a Silver or Gold tier Eldritch being right now, would I start suffering from permanent madness simply from looking at them?”
Any afflictions that you acquire by looking on an Eldritch creature that has not yet reached the Ruthenium (VII) tier of divinity have a possibility to be recovered from. However, merely being in the presence of an eldritch God would permanently and invariably mutate your soul.
TJ allowed himself to muse over that, and Seth came to stand beside him as he did so.
“What are you asking the System about now?” Seth asked
“You ever heard about Eldritch gods?” TJ asked.
“Sure. You know, HP Lovecraft and all them. You telling me that those are real?”
“I guess. And what we’re eating is some new Eldtritch abomination.”
“Honestly? That’s pretty fucking sick like, we are eating a baby Nyarlathotep?”
“Assuming that’s some Eldritch being, yeah, sure.”
Seth nodded excitedly, but as he came to a conclusion his face fell. Turning to TJ, he asked with some more healthy fear, “Is this gonna do anything to us? Like, in all these stories—”
“I already asked. We’re fine. Maybe if this was from something that was much higher tier than it is, then we would be in danger. As it is, so long as your Attributes are high enough, you’re fine.”
Seth was obviously reassured by that and he turned back to his plate. TJ went ahead and ate his own second serving while most of the rest of his followers quickly finished as well. Finally, they were ready to cross the lake, and when TJ brought his people forward to begin speaking with Acalan, the monster opened its wide maw and swallowed the last of its monstrous prey hole. As the Ahuizotl crunched the bones, TJ spoke.
“Thank you for your gift, friend. We look forward to continuing our relationship and continuing to support one another. Please, let us know if there is anything that we can do to help you, besides those things which I have already told you, I am unable to deliver to you.”
we shall cross. have your people stand together, you fly above.
“As you say, Acalan.” TJ gestured for his people to do as he commanded, and they didn’t hesitate to gather together. Under Acalan’s direction, they all stepped forward onto the water, and just like the blades of water that were solid while also not ice, the water solidified into the shape of a barge of some sort. Then, with 30 people standing there, the large monster formed a harness of water that he solidified and began swimming across the lake. TJ took to the skies, the expenditure of mana quickly climbing as he did so. Without Storm Soul or his Divine Authority lightening the load, his Attributes were too low and his MP expenditure was simply too strong for him to continue floating along above his people for long.
With a thought, TJ sent wind pushing the barge to greater speeds as he flew ahead. He peered down into the water and could see nothing, his heightened perception, giving him no tell of any approaching monsters. He refused to lower his guard, though, which was just as well as the sky started to rebel from his control and the sun grew hotter above him.
