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

[pillz]

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.

Comments

[startpoint]

[ It's been too long since she fought out of armor, her reactions don't feel right without the strength it adds and even though she moves to dodge the hit he still strikes her ribs hard enough to knock the breath from her lungs. Making a quick decision Carolina quickly moves back and forces herself to focus through the pain and bring her fists up. She's on the defensive and it's not good.

Even worse is the way she's reminded that York was always ranked right behind her on the leaderboard. He was one of the best and that hasn't changed. Everything about this feels wrong, the anger in his voice and the violence. She knows York, knows this isn't like him. ]

What's going on? Talk to me.

[infailtration]

He does talk. You don't listen. Why should this be any different?

[ Of course what the shadow has to tell Carolina is far different from what York would say. It stalks towards her, ignoring the fists -- it can take whatever hits she can manage, it's armored and she's not. ]

You killed him.

[startpoint]

That's not true. What happened... I regret it but that wasn't my fault.

[ The fact that she wasn't there still hurts but the what-ifs have plagued her for years and she knows that path only has heartbreak. She slides her hand down to her pocket and opens her TAB without looking, her fingers finding York's contact by memory alone. She hopes he understands what's going when he gets the call.

It's a leap of faith, and honestly she hopes Delta will be able to figure out her location before it's too late. Shifting her stance Carolina keeps moving back to keep the distance between them, knowing she's outclassed without her armor. ]

You're not him. I know York and you're nothing like him.

[infailtration]

You should have been there.

[ The shadow keeps advancing, keeping an even pace. It seems satisfied to wreck her emotionally, for the moment, since she keeps backing up. If she runs, though, it'll follow, and York keeps easy pace with Carolina. ]

I'm everything he's too cowardly to say.

--

[ Meanwhile, York gets a call from Carolina's TAB, but when he answers she doesn't say anything. He only hears ambient noise and frowns at his device. ]

Is this a buttdial? Carolina?

[ Except then, amidst the distant-sounding voices, he hears his name. And doesn't like the sound of it. ]

D, can you get a location? Enhance the audio, too.

Enhancing. Agent Carolina is in Kauto region one, not far from us. Coordinates are on your map.

Thanks, D. Keep the line open and working on that audio.

[ And he's already pulling up the map and heading swiftly for Carolina's marker, hair on the back of his neck bristling. Something's wrong, he knows it. ]

[startpoint]

York has always been a lot of things but a coward isn't one of them. He's brave.

[ Options are slim as she keeps moving back. How could she have been so stupid as to not carry her gun? Or her stun baton? She's gone soft, made herself vulnerable thinking she didn't need to constantly on guard. ]

He was braver than me back on the Mother of Invention.

[ Her back hits a wall and she realizes she's out of options. This might get her hurt but she goddamn hates being on the defensive. Without a word she charges toward the shadow, hoping maybe she can catch it off guard and maybe get in a few hits. At the very least she wants to rip that helmet off its head. ]

[infailtration]

That just makes you the bigger coward, Carolina. Don't you see how stupid he was to want to trust you?

[ The shadow seems unimpressed by her rushing it -- it leans back, aiming a kick at her midsection. If she's able to dodge she can get up in its business while it's still turning back from the kick, and get its helmet off. Its eyes are inky black and it's sneering with hatred, an expression York would never make. ]

--

[ York himself is about halfway there, and just as importantly, Delta's started passing the filtered audio along to York. 'I know York and you're nothing like him.' 'He's brave...' 'He was braver than me...' Who is she talking to...? He runs faster, hearing now the clear sounds of a fight. ]

Hold on, Lina.

[startpoint]

[ Her dodge isn't clean, she spins so the kick only grazes her ribs instead hitting her right in the stomach and forces herself to keep moving through the pain to rip the helmet off the shadow's head. Her shoulder is still killing her and now her ribs are clamoring for her attention and she knows she's going to really be hurting once the adrenaline wears off.

The helmet she throws off to the side with a clatter, cracking her neck and getting into fight ready posture now that she can look at her enemy. This isn't York, this is a monster wearing his face. ]

Are you done yet? The only coward I see right now is the one who waited until I was unarmed to fight me. You knew you wouldn't have a chance otherwise.

[infailtration]

[ The shadow hisses, a foreign sound coming from York's throat. Instead of responding to her taunt it just lashes out, aiming straight for her face. Of course it would attack when it had the advantage, and it's going to press it now. Whatever it can get a hold of, her hair or her throat, it doesn't matter. It'll crush her one way or another. ]

--

[ Unarmed?! Is she even in armor? Fuck fuck. York pours it on, dodging people as best can but grazing a few in his haste. He's almost to the square Carolina's calling from and barrels around the corner to see ... himself? Attacking Carolina fiercely.

He pulls his pistol but they're standing practically one in front of the other and, he doesn't trust he could get a shot off. Cursing under his breath he keeps rushing forward. Closing the distance at top speed. ]

Carolina! Roll!

[ And he launches himself into a flying kick at the thing wearing his face. ]

[startpoint]

[ By the time York gets there she's not in great shape, her throat already bruising from where the shadow got hold of her for a second too long. All she can think when she hears his voice is two words.

Thank god.

Without a second thought she drops to the ground and rolls away from the shadow as York slams into it. ]

Glad you got my call. [ Her voice is rough, she'll definitely be feeling all of this later. ]

[infailtration]

[ York's kick impacts the shadow's chest, knocking it back and onto the ground. He manages to land on his feet from it, recovering his balance and moving to block it from Carolina. At all costs. ]

Thank D, he found you.

[ The shadow's getting up and without hesitating, York raises his pistol and shoots it square in the face. It falls again, melting into a puddle of black goo that he hardly gives a second look in favor of turning to tend to Carolina. He offers her a hand up, reaching to touch the rising bruises on her throat. His voice is furious under his helmet. ]

God, can I kill that thing again? What the fuck?

[ She'll have to be the one to notice that yes, in fact, he can. And has to. It's reforming off to his left, where he can't see. ]

[startpoint]

I'm fine, it's just- York!

[ The movement of the shadow has her eyes widening a fraction before she grabs York and forces him to turn so his good eye is turned toward the reforming thing wearing his face. ]

I think you're going to get your wish.

[ This... is honestly not good. Whatever this thing is, it got up again after being shot in the face. ]

[infailtration]

You-- oh shit. What is it?

[ He doesn't hesitate before shooting it again, but it's still just an inky mass that doesn't seem to care about his bullets. Okay. Calm. Prioritize. He's gotta get Carolina out of here, he'll fight it as long as he has to. ]

....run. I'll hold it off.

[startpoint]

Do you have a grenade? Because a grenade sounds like a really great solution right now!

[ She's not going to leave him, not when the impostor can recover even from a bullet to the face. Not even when she's hurting and outclassed, unarmored. ]

I'm not going anywhere.

[infailtration]

Just a flash bang.

[ He wouldn't want to set off a proper grenade in the middle of R1 anyway, there are so many people around. What he does do is move to block Carolina, dropping into a defensive stance in front of her. ]

Carolina, don't be ridiculous. You're hurt and out of armor. You could kick its ass easy if this was a fair fight, but it's not.

[ The inky mass finishes reforming, and York finds himself staring at his own face but with black eyes and a hateful scowl. It's. Pretty off-putting. It rushes at York, but its gaze is set behind him -- it wants Carolina. ]

[startpoint]

I'm fine.

[ She's not but like hell is she leaving York to deal with this in his own. This thing came after her and she's not going to give it the satisfaction of seeing her run. Standing back while someone else fights her battles has never been her style.

Hopefully York doesn't mind when she takes one of his sidearms without even asking. ]

It's after me, I'm not going anywhere.

[infailtration]

Exactly, it's-- it's after you!

[ He doesn't object to her taking the gun, since he's firing his own again and ducking beneath the shadow's arms, adding a leg sweep to try and knock it off balance. It works, for a moment, then the creature straightens up too-fluidly, still charging at Carolina. York can't shoot again, he might hit her. ]

Fuck!

[startpoint]

[ This isn't good, she knows she should run but she's not that type. If this thing wants her so badly it can try. When it gets past York's attempt to block it Carolina rolls, flinching as her injured shoulder hits the ground.

Gritting her teeth she fires off a cluster of shots, all focused on the main mass of its chest. It's not York, it isn't him and its trying to kill her. Hurting it won't hurt him. She isn't looking her best but she's still good at ignoring her injuries until the crisis is resolved. ]

[infailtration]

[ The fight is a flurry of activity, York mostly trying to divert the shadow's attention on to him and failing. Shooting it until it dissolves and reforms and this time it's formed with its helmet again, and (out of ammo) York launches himself at it to knock it off balance and away from Carolina. They go tumbling onto the pavement, wrestling with one another, evenly matched.

It's pretty hard to tell them apart now... ]

[startpoint]

[ Shit! They look similar enough now that the shadow has reformed its helmet that Carolina isn't sure who to take a shot at. She knows York would rather she run but she won't.

Not without him.

Thankfully the solution hits her a moment later. ]

Delta! I need a way to tell York from the copy!

[infailtration]

[ Delta appears over the real York's shoulder, then dissolves into a glowing green light that surrounds him head and torso. The shadow reflects it a bit, but it's easy enough to tell them apart. York hears Carolina yell and can see the light, mentally thanking D for his help.

He's trapped on his back but manages to get the shadow by the throat and hold him up at arms length, getting enough distance between them for Carolina to shoot again. ]

[startpoint]

[ The moment Delta distinguishes York from his double she starts lining up a shot, one that she takes the moment York shoves the shadow up and away from himself. One shot that takes it through the temple and sending it off him to melt into a puddle. ]

We should get out of here before it gets up again.

[ She's not going to mention how her arms hurt from the recoil. Everything sucks when you aren't wearing powered armor. ]

[infailtration]

[ York picks himself up, backing towards Carolina. ]

Yeah... run. Maybe if we get away before it reforms it won't be able to track us.

[ He'd rather see it die but they need more intel -- it might just keep getting back up and he's not willing to risk Carolina. This way, he gestures, bolting back through the crowd that's gathered towards transit back to the complex. He wants to get Carolina's injuries looked at. ]

[startpoint]

[ She's hot on his heels as he makes a break for the crowd, adrenaline helping to numb the worst of her aches as they retreat. When they're safe, or at least reasonably safe, on board the transport she sits down as the fight starts to catch up to her, that fight or flight energy draining away.

She looks at York and smiles slightly, exhaustion and hurt softening the edges of it. ]

Thanks for the rescue. I was starting to think I might have to call Tex when you showed up.