pillz: (Default)
joseph kavinsky ([personal profile] pillz) wrote in [community profile] thisavrou_log2017-07-09 01:05 pm

The Demon Plot: DEATH OF GRINDING MADNESS [July Player Event]

Who: Ensemble production, all individuals who opted in to the plot
When: July 9-21
Where: Two inhabited planets around the Ingress
What: The demon plot kicks off, in which malevolent shadow beings, copies of existing characters, begin to materialize and harass the PCs across the worlds. Plotting post is here, and a network post will go up within the next 2 days from several PCs advising on how to end the plot.
Warnings: Violence, psychological themes, possibly past trauma, etc.


Death of Grinding Madness
The Demon Plot
(mild spoilers for The Raven Cycle)

On July 9, a demon begins to make its way through the Ingress, summoned through by a shitty teenager.


July 9-12
Harrying
It's innocuous in the beginning. A movement in the corner of your eye, a shadow through a curtain-- merely a tree. But then the shadow figures begin to emerge into full being. Black-eyed wraiths that look like enemies, friends with whom you've had past conflict, or even you yourself. At first, it's merely harrying, minor harassment. Threatening gestures, broken gestures, jump scares.

Pursue them, and they disappear-- you might even catch a glimpse of how. They melt down into black slime, racing away across floors, through sewer grates, up walls, impossible to follow. By now, the worst of the climate freeze is over, but residual ice does pose a needles extra obstacle.


July 12-15
The Violence Escalates
In the days that follow, the situation only gets worse.

Sporadic harassment turns into outright attacks. The targeting is unmistakable. The shadow beings who can speak tell cruel tales of animosity, spite, even hatred. They are as deadly with their hands or strange powers as their doppelgangers are, and worse, they're functionally indestructible. Rip off one's head and it merely reforms out of sticky black ink. Limbs regenerate just as easily. The being might dispell for a few hours, but no doubt— it'll be back, if not to hurt you then someone you know.

The Savrii begin to notice. It's hard not to. While there is hardly an epidemic of panic, the disruptions are hard to miss-- broken windows, screams, random violence. Soon, the authorities begin to open safehouse facilities at which characters can seek shelter.


July 15-18
The Golem
On July 17, something horrific begins to happen— several shadow beings merge to form a massive golem in Kauto R1. It is a grotesque, horrifying spectacle, of limbs and eyes and pulsating flesh. It reaches almost sixty feet in height. Combined together, this shadow creature is considerably less intelligent than the individual beings were. However, it is also immensely strong and regenerates just like the smaller ones did.

Within the mall, hundreds of daytime shoppers are trapped within. Luckily, they have food and climate control. Perhaps you're one of them-- or perhaps you're trying to get in to provide medical care.

In the meantime, the attacks from the individual shadow beings don't stop. Despite the intelligence exhibited by some, all of them seem mindlessly bent on tormenting their targets until they are killed.


July 18-21
The Sacrifice
On the 9th day, a network post goes up (link pending, will be OOCly forward-dated to July 10th latest) revealing how to remove the invincibility of the attackers.

And by the 21st, the remaining beings utterly vanish without explanation— unless you happen to bear witness to the events that take place at St. Monmouth.



shiro2hero: (has anyone seen my contacts??)

[personal profile] shiro2hero 2017-07-27 05:28 am (UTC)(link)
Little and frail. Like a mouse. Hardly a Lion.

[And then there's someone else. Someone it hadn't had the pleasure of "talking to". Its grip slackens -- still holding her up. Not choking any longer. If it turns, Hunk will see its eyes. The black goo coating its front.]

[So it doesn't turn. It keeps its eyes right on Pidge as it laughs. Voice once again mimicking Shiro's.]


Or what? You'll feed me? Throw a frying pan? I'm so terrified.
pidge_out: (about to cut loose)

[personal profile] pidge_out 2017-07-27 05:34 am (UTC)(link)
[Its grip loosens. That's the monster's first mistake.

As soon as she doesn't feel like she's being choked, Pidge is pulling in a huge gulp of air. Primarily so she can yell.]


H-Hunk, stop him!! [Her voice is still a bit hoarse from the chokehold, but it's loud enough to reach him. And just for extra good measure, she tries to kick out at the fake Shiro even harder.]

This isn't Shiro!! It's a fake!
lavelly: (buy some gaatlok)

[personal profile] lavelly 2017-07-27 05:40 am (UTC)(link)
[Lavellan bites out another curse as he only barely manages to summon his own sword in time, the impact nearly sending him to his knees. He'd never used the thing for dueling, and he knows he has no chance in defending himself for very long his way. He needs to get the advantage now.

His only consolation is that this isn't really Sideswipe. That this isn't really Sideswipe he would be hurting. It's very little comfort. Still, he uses his own stumble to get some distance between them, and uses the opportunity to drive his sword at the place where Sideswipe's ribs might be, were he flesh and blood.

Part of him hopes that this not-Sideswipe will see through it and kill him, so that he won't have to do this. The other part of him tells himself that's the coward's way out. He still has work to do before he can lie down and die.]
im_a_leg: (nE7cFvG)

[personal profile] im_a_leg 2017-07-27 05:41 am (UTC)(link)
What? [For a second he's hung up on trying to process Shiro's words, because no way Shiro would ever assume Hunk would hurt one of his precious pieces of cookware unless he absolutely had to.

But then Pidges words registered, and he didn't even think. It made sense. And it also meant Pidge was in trouble.]

Oh. Okay.

[All his trademarked mirth left his face as he reached for the heavy coffee table. He lifted it above his head, flipping it around like it wasn't any heavier than a pillow.]

Let go of my friend, you creepy friend face stealer!

[And he brought the table down as hard as he could, squarely on not-Shiro's head.]
patchricide: (Why does a fish need education?)

[personal profile] patchricide 2017-07-27 05:42 am (UTC)(link)
I don't think it's here, [she points out, walking towards the center of Lion House,] or else I would have heard it by now. I've tried calling him several times already, and I doubt I'm the only one.

So, the chances seem good that he's carrying it with him.

[Actually, there's plenty of other options that jump to mind. Perhaps he got sick of ignoring the calls, and threw his TAB away? But she doesn't breathe a word out loud, as if trying not to jinx their best lead.]

I'll let you work. Just please, let me know if you find anything.
shiro2hero: (me @ god why me)

[personal profile] shiro2hero 2017-07-27 05:46 am (UTC)(link)
[Okay, the shadow really, really should have expected that. Or something like that. Maybe it was too intent on the supposed victory it saw. Maybe it thought once it started speaking again, that would be it. It would end everything.]

[It did not foresee the coffee table.]

[Somewhere, the real Shiro is probably crying with pride, but that's beside the point.]

[It cracks the shadow over the head, and keeps on going. Pushing it down flat. Bones and flesh crunch and crumble, its hold on Pidge releases. The shadow goes down. Flattened like a cockroach under a sandal.]

[... it doesn't move.]

[personal profile] pidge_out 2017-07-27 06:00 am (UTC)(link)
[Pidge does not go down gracefully. She hits the ground and immediately drops to all fours, a hand to her neck as she starts coughing and gasping for air. She's not sure if the lightheadedness is because of the choking or the mild concussion she probably has, but there's no time to worry about that now.

She doesn't bother sparing a thought for the crushed imposter underneath the coffee table. Once she has a little more air in her system she starts moving toward Hunk, determined to reach him and pull him out of the living room.]


Hunk, we- We have to warn everybody. [Standing is hard right now, though. So Pidge is leaning pretty heavily into Hunk for support while she reorients herself.] And Shiro, we have to find Shiro...
im_a_leg: (Yvu22F5)

[personal profile] im_a_leg 2017-07-27 06:04 am (UTC)(link)
[That was ... seriously gross. Hunk lifts the table a little to peek underneath.] Eeew.

[And then Pidge is there, and oh her neck does not look good.] First we gotta take care of your neck man, thats gonna swell up bad. And what the heck is going on?
redshitlord: (another kind of guest)

[personal profile] redshitlord 2017-07-27 06:16 am (UTC)(link)
[It probably doesn't help that when Lavellan hits, the shadow screams. It's doubtful the poor guy has ever actually heard the Autobot scream, but still, it's there, and it sounds real enough. Black ooze spilling from the wound in place of the normal, glowing fluid it would be otherwise.]

[It rolls away from him. Looking for all the word as if it's sobbing. The shadows are nothing if not good actors.]


What are you doing!

Are you trying to get rid of me again?
nyx_it: (on a hot night)

[personal profile] nyx_it 2017-07-27 06:45 am (UTC)(link)
[YOU EXPLODE??]

[She just stares at it because what do you think she was doing there? Watching your tiny floating back, that's what.]

[But then there's no more time to chat. Time to, instead, move out. Following the map she'd been given.]


It's a nickname.
deal_me_in: (Golden Gun)

[personal profile] deal_me_in 2017-07-27 06:50 am (UTC)(link)
[Well, he catches on fire.]


[The Ghost seems a little uncertain of what to think about being given a nickname. It's better than 'Little Light,' but not by very much.

Vertices giving something of a shrug, it floats along after, trusting Vetra to lead the way.
]
infailtration: (2519159 (17))

[personal profile] infailtration 2017-07-27 07:36 am (UTC)(link)
[ It can't attack her, not yet, but she's being passive enough that it can stick around and hate on her. ]

You are. Not for the first time. I'm sick of the trouble I get for being your friend... and I bet you expect me to go back and just die for you without complaint. Because you're the special one.
squadgoals: (1 LIKE = 1 REAPER DEFEATED!!!!!)

STILL CW GORE

[personal profile] squadgoals 2017-07-27 12:44 pm (UTC)(link)
[The knife goes up, and through the shadow's lower jaw. It wrenches back, a sick crack of bone echoing through the alleyway as motion and gravity do the rest of the work for the weapon. Now the face melts again, the murky ichor lolling off the remains of a human face, dripping off in dribs and drabs, eyes still marred with deep, black oil scars.

The shadow's free hand positions under the wax melt, attempting to catch the falling damage, scoop it back on to the wrecked frame. There's a gurgle, wet and half-tongued, and the blade turns, presses harder, pushing for deeper.

You feel as though if the shade did have capability of expression, it would be angry.]
notglitching: (red - watching)

[personal profile] notglitching 2017-07-27 03:31 pm (UTC)(link)
The jerking, desperate push and pull finds no give in the least. The gout of flame darkens his frame—not burnt, but melted to a glistening black. When J's breath expends itself, the oily darkness reforms: armor and shell, core and limbs. Flawless. Undamaged.

Smiling.

His grip tightens, pressure rolling experimentally from the smallest finger toward the thumb. Each squeeze draws more snaps, a crackling symphony of jagged edges as broken bones shatter further. A sack of meat filled up with shards. It's what all of them are. So fragile. So weak.

They all deserve this.

Her screams are raw, voice warped from the pressure. Still irritating. He lifts their joined hands overhead, pulling her close by the leash of her own arm. His head tucks to the side of hers, and whispers: shhhhh.

"Why are you screaming?

"No one's cut into your mind. No one's ripped out your purpose. You never had one," his voice catches, sharp with laughter, "but that's hardly my fault." Another, gentler squeeze on her wrecked hand.

"A few seconds?" Incredulous. Disappointed. "I used to think you were gods. Try a century like this. Try spending your life cut down to pieces."

He draws back just enough to look at her. Thrashing and weak. Agonized and pathetic. Black eyes glint, grin widening across his face.

"I'll help."

The hand holding onto J's vanishes—and locks back in the same instant, wrapped once more around her throat. Rinzler surges forward, slamming the user down against the ground and holding her in place.
pidge_out: (determined to destruction)

[personal profile] pidge_out 2017-07-27 05:06 pm (UTC)(link)
[Pidge just shakes her head, still trying to push Hunk out of the living room. Away from the creepy goo pile that was the Fake. She's seen enough horror movies to know that this isn't over.]

I don't really know. All I know is that- [She points back at the coffee table.] -was a fake.

[She feels like she has more of her feet under her at this point, so she starts to kind of hurry toward the kitchen.] We should probably... burn the remains or something. Just to be safe.
notglitching: (red - enforcing)

No worries at all! I'm not exactly quick either.

[personal profile] notglitching 2017-07-27 05:35 pm (UTC)(link)
The user doesn't need to close. [Rinzler] will do that for her. He continues the approach, slow and unassuming, smirk creeping up a little further as an eyebrow quirks in disbelief.

"Oh? You prefer killers, then? Murderers?"


Quick steps turn to a slash of light: Rinzler, closing the gap to strike out at his duplicate from behind. Whatever harm the user might intend, it's not immediate—and not nearly so urgent as this threat. Glitch, viral, malware—it doesn't even try to dodge, just—


—snaps both disks together to a single pair, free hand snapping back to grab his weak self's wrist even as its disk slashes into his side. Code splits and reseals, dark liquid seeping out and smoothing to form new, undamaged shell. The same can't be said in the reverse. [Rinzler]'s grip tightens, and red-orange cracks form up the helmeted program's arm, light pulsing and fading with the corrosive dig.

"Or is it fine if you betray him, so long as he's not around to see?"
inconsequence: (❤ to skeletons with butt plugs)

[personal profile] inconsequence 2017-07-27 08:23 pm (UTC)(link)
[It isn't much. But it is a window, and they push back, thin legs kicking out to try and press it away. They thought of attempting to run from a FIGHT is unthinkable, but - they indulged the same instinct many times, did they not?]

[Now they're slashing, wildly. Cut it away, cut it to ribbons, get it off of them so that it will take its dark eyes and dark blade and go.]

[They have better to do.]
neverheardofhim: (scoffy)

[personal profile] neverheardofhim 2017-07-27 08:36 pm (UTC)(link)
Don't think you'll need to worry about that.

[Her efforts were noted, but the shadow made no attempt at thwarting them. Let her run, let her think she had the upper-hand. Her overconfidence had always been a weakness. Someone had thought it was endearing, right up until it got her eaten, of course.

It just meant that Cirrav would enjoy her attempts at heroics all the more.]


You try to pretend otherwise, but you're a smart girl. You know what I am and what I'm doing. Likewise, you know that if I have my way, you'll be taking a very long rest. [He met her eyes, sharp smile coiling across his lips.] How do you feel about that, Chuckles, was it?
otiosity: (responsibility do not want)

[personal profile] otiosity 2017-07-27 08:41 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh, I never liked that nickname. It's just too obvious.

[Hawke says with a heavy sigh before she rips the bolt out and then leaps into a dodge roll out of the immediate aim of Bianca. Or Acnaib? Well, you know. Then she throws up a wall of ice to try and cut him off from her escape route.]
neverheardofhim: (bianca)

[personal profile] neverheardofhim 2017-07-27 08:50 pm (UTC)(link)
Never did appreciate what we did, did you Hawke?

[The ice wall was a pleasant touch, a decent obstacle to prevent his hunt. He shifted toward it, placing his hands against the frozen surface, then stepped back and jammed his boot against it. Once, twice, three times, hoping that the cracks spiderwebbing along the surface went deeper.]

Which one will you run to? Stark, or Drake?

[His voice was loud and harsh enough to rasp against his throat, but he didn't care. It would be worth it, in the end.]
nyx_it: (and young)

[personal profile] nyx_it 2017-07-27 09:15 pm (UTC)(link)
[WOW.]

[It's a term of affection she keeps hearing. So accept it.]

[But, regardless of nicknames or no nicknames, she keeps marching. Pausing occasionally to glance around their position. Just in case something followed them in. Unlikely. But still.]


Okay, we drop the supplies, and get out again. I don't like leaving him out there this long.
deal_me_in: (I was magnificent)

[personal profile] deal_me_in 2017-07-27 09:20 pm (UTC)(link)

[That's why he thought to shut the door behind them. If anything comes up on his radar, the Ghost will certainly let Vetra know.]

I fully agree. I just hope it doesn't take too long to get to the drop point. -or that they delay us any longer than necessary.
nyx_it: (you're gonna miss me when i'm gone)

[personal profile] nyx_it 2017-07-27 09:22 pm (UTC)(link)
Depends on who they've got running the show. If we're lucky, we'll get someone who takes the goods, asks later.

[If not...]

[If not they might have to do paperwork or some crap. She wouldn't put it past the people here.]
deal_me_in: (Then I shot that guy)

[personal profile] deal_me_in 2017-07-27 09:35 pm (UTC)(link)

Considering the circumstances, I should hope so.

[And if they aren't, well, he'll insist that Vetra just shove the package in their faces and they beat a quick exit out.]
nyx_it: (the dust cloud has settled)

[personal profile] nyx_it 2017-07-27 09:38 pm (UTC)(link)
Surprising how many people don't consider the circumstances.

[They're almost there, though. So she picks up the pace a bit. Jogging down a long stretch of darkened mall. But hey -- long turian legs come in handy this way.]

Think I see the doors.

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