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

[efficacy]

Marian-- [ Pepper jumps at the bang of the fist, slamming the cupboard door shut in the process louder than she'd meant to. Facing the shadow now, the counter digging into her back, Pepper eyes the other woman warily. If a second ago she'd thought this was Hawke, she certainly doesn't anymore when the... creature goes on. She catches on quick, but now she's faced with trying to get out of this clean. Pepper thinks fervently. She thinks she's alone in the house -- her TAB is in her room. Crap.

In the moment, she can recall none of the advisories on how to deal with these shadows, cold sweat prickling along her spine.

The coffee maker gurgles and percolates innocently behind her, breaking the tense silence. ]

...What's it?

[ Keep the shadow talking; preoccupied. Maybe there'll be a chance to escape if she distracts it. ]

[otiosity]

She doesn't know what to make of it when you call her that. I think she likes it. She wishes her mother had said her name like you do. She always said it with disappointment.

[The shadow stands and pulls a staff out of nowhere. It's got a long blade on the end and a bright red orb on the top, just like Hawke's. Suddenly the area around Pepper distorts as gravity changes and begins to press down, harder, and harder, crushing her her to the floor.]

Everyone around her always dies. First her real family, and now you. I'm just getting it over with quickly so we don't waste anymore time on you.

[efficacy]

[ The words go straight through Pepper, causing a stinging twinge behind her breastbone. She doesn't have time to process them further when the shadow materializes a staff somewhere, exact replica of Hawke's. Pepper's never had any cause to fear Hawke's magic, but suddenly she's reminded of what a destructive force it can be; and now it's wielded by someone obviously hostile. Adrenaline floods her veins as her instincts scream at her to run, her fight or flight reaction leaning heavily toward flight. She doesn't consciously make the decision to flee, but she only gets a few steps away before the shockwave bearing down on her from above knocks her to the floor; just far enough away that she evades the worst of the scalding coffee spilling and splashing down as the coffee maker caught in the area of effect explodes as it gets crushed, along with other ceramics and appliances nearby.

Pepper screams sharply in shock and fright as hot droplets and broken glass, like little shrapnel, rain over her and penetrate clothing, digging into her skin, at the same time as her knees and hands slam hard against the floor. Dull pain radiates through the limbs and panic claws up her throat as Pepper begins to understand what's happening, the invisible weight pressing down on her harder and harder, slamming her helplessly face down on the ground. ]

Stop it! [ She doesn't recognize her own voice, steeped in blind panic and desperation. She claws at the floors and tries to crawl away, anywhere to escape being crushed to death, wheezing and gasping for air like a fish out of water as the pressure compresses her ribs and shortens her breath dangerously. She tastes blood in the back of her throat, unable to even scream anymore; all she gets out is a pitiful whimper, equal amounts of pleading and fear. ] Stop, please...

[otiosity]

[The force of the spell knocks the glasses off the shadow's face. It's eyes are black and deep and don't reflect any light. It's rather unsettling in stark contrast to Hawke's eyes that always glint with humor and mischief. And the way it regards Pepper is strange... it's cold and unfeeling in a way that Hawke never is but there's a sadness to it. Like it's being forced to do something that it really doesn't want to do and is simply resigned to fate.

The pressure lets up slightly.]

I suppose I should make it quick. It was quick for her sister. She saw her death and faced it anyway and it was quick and she wasn't afraid. Or at least that's what she tells herself. But that's also why she didn't get to say good bye.

[The pressure drops as the shadow flips the staff around so the blade is pointed at Pepper's throat as she advances on her from behind like a strange sort of demon.]

[efficacy]

[ Pepper gasps loudly when the oppressive pressure over her lifts, sucking greedy, ragged lungfuls of air even though every pull sends a sharp wave of pain through her chest, her whole body aching and sore. Her panic lessens to a more manageable degree, but cold fear still courses through her veins at the implication behind the shadow's words Pepper barely processes with everything else, the approaching footsteps having her attempting to crawl away again; she feels clumsy, her limbs like lead, and her efforts amount to little more than some desperate scrabbling. ]

You don't have to do this, [ she rasps out, her throat feeling raw, desperation written across her face as she flicks a quick glance over her shoulder. ] Wait, please-- don't...

[ Her heart is hammering so loudly, joining the rush of blood in her ears. All she can think of is that blade closing in -- of dying here, on the kitchen floor, in a horribly grisly manner at the hands of a trusted friend's evil clone and Tony will come home to see it-- ]

Help!! [ She's not concerned about being the damsel in distress right now, pushing everything she has left into getting that one desperate cry out of her mouth just in case someone's out there to hear her -- anyone at all. ]

[arcreact]

[ Well, Pepper's not wrong about Tony coming home to see this. Fortunately, though, grisly deaths aren't really on the menu tonight.

By now, he's encountered these ridiculous Mirror Universe clones himself, which fast tracks them past the awkward "why are you trying to murder Pepper in the kitchen?" questions. It's also why he'd high tailed it right back home, a bad premonition telling him he really doesn't wanna be out of the house today.

He hates being right.

They'll both hear it before they see it, as usual - like a small jet barreling into the house, though this time something about it sounds off, like it's not functioning exactly as it should. Still, that doesn't stop several tons of metal from crashing into the kitchen, nor does it stop a repulsor blast aimed to knock Shadow Hawke off her feet. (And maybe through a wall; something about Pepper's voice just now made him forget to pull his punches). ]

[efficacy]

[ At first Pepper thinks she's hearing what she wants to hear in her time of need, but a beat before he crashes in the blissfully familiar whistle of repulsors is loud and clear -- the choked sound of relief Pepper issues is more of a sob, wetness welling up in her eyes. She picks up on the odd cadence now present in the usually smooth whine of the suit but doesn't have the presence of mind to address it right now, giving a small cry in spite of herself as the well-aimed blast knocks the menacing shadow away from her and -- judging by the crash -- into solid wall. ]

Tony, [ she calls (or pleads, maybe) in a somewhat shrill voice as she starts scrambling to her hands and knees, still trying to catch her breath through it all, crying out slightly in pain as she tries to brace her weight on her left wrist; yeah, that's not happening. Her whole body hurts but she needs to move, to get to Tony, to get away from that thing that is definitely not Hawke. ]

[otiosity]

[The shadow is indeed thrown through a wall. The impact cracks the frame of the house and shatters the front windows as its form is thrown by the force of the impact of the repulser blast. It reacts at first like a person would, it's body flying and landing heavily on the ground where it comes to a stop after skidding a few feet. But then instead of getting up, it's entire form melts away into dark black oil.

Where it reforms suddenly in the kitchen, unharmed and unfazed, it regards Tony with a cold sort of curiosity. Like she had expected him to show up like this.]

Oh, it's you. I thought I'd probably kill you last. But I'm not going to be picky.

[arcreact]

[ Tony beelines for where Pepper is struggling, noting the wince as she tries to move - he can't determine the extent of her injuries just yet, but he'll go ahead and mark it down as The Single Most Pressing Thing To Deal With after they've avoided this lethal situation. He offers two metal hands to help hoist her up, letting her grip however she deems fit, since pulling her up by the wrists right now just might worsen her existing injuries. ]

Hi honey. Sorry I'm late.

[ Tony's voice comes out perfectly level, like they're quipping about the weather. Acting must be his real superpower.

He turns to the re-solidifying Shadow while he physically puts himself between it and Pepper. ]

Last? That cuts deep, buddy, I thought we had something special.

[otiosity]

[The shadow shrugs, like someone trying to do an impression of Hawke's humored casualness but without the emotion behind it. It's both Hawke and yet disturbingly unlike her. Like looking in a mirror to a face that's familiar but distorted.]

I always knew you'd be the hardest. And not just because of the suit. She has a lot of faith in you. But you're going to disappoint her or... she's going to end up destroying you. I'm here to stop it.

[And there's a mass of freezing that explodes from the ground beneath his feet in an attempt to trap him and prevent him from flying off.]

[efficacy]

[ Pepper accepts the help all too willingly, clinging to metal arms mostly with her right hand; the left is probably sprained, minimum. ]

Just in time, as far as I'm concerned, [ she returns with a shaky huff of breath, falling back on banter herself even though she's still shaken to the core. The shadow's reappearance has her tensing up immediately, shifting slowly behind Tony even as he moves in front of her. The blast of ice from beneath has her yelping and clumsily springing away a couple of steps, her frown of unease shifting to that of annoyance as sudden indignation flares.

Tony was right, magic fucking sucks. ]

That's a cheap trick!

[arcreact]

[ Tony feels vaguely nauseous just looking at her. Like Hawke, but with all the things that make Hawke herself stripped away. He should've sent her through the wall harder. ]

Okay? I disappoint everyone on a daily basis, I really don't see what's so noteworthy —

[ She cuts him off mid-quip, which is, frankly, fucking rude. He instinctively moves to take a step back, but realizes the armor's boots are frozen to the floor - he swivels to make sure Pepper is still on her feet as he feels her move away, panic flaring anew.

Get Pep out get Pep out get Pep out get Pep out-

He engages the repulsors on the boots, melting away the ice - except for how his left boot isn't, and hasn't been, working. ]

Pepper! Can you run?

[ If she can't, he'll get her out himself - it's as simple as that, no debate about it - but if she can flee by her own power, then he can at least keep the shadow off her tail. It seems intent on her, after all. ]

[otiosity]

[The shadow was intent on hurting Pepper but now there's new prey to be played with. Tony was always the end goal. The most powerful and someone that Hawke had put an usual amount of trust in. So he's the most dangerous.

The shadow slams the staff into the ground and rocks start to crawl from the ground and form around Pepper's legs. If's she's unable to escape, the rocks will hold her there, so the shadow can return to her. Though second by second, the crumble as the spell fades.

Then she twists to back to Tony and sends a massive swarm of rocks, almost shaped like a fist, right into his core.]

[efficacy]

[ Pepper is already moving before Tony gets the question out completely; she knows she's better off getting as far away from this rumble as possible. Not that she makes it far. In fact, she doesn't make it very far at all before the rocks close around her and effectively trap her where she is. ]

No! [ she cries out, uselessly trying to break free, not just because this is bullshit but because there's suddenly a giant hail of big rocks hurtling straight toward Tony. ]

[arcreact]

[ Shit. Tony finds himself needing to think fast - as usual.

His right boot has already melted free of the ice, but his left remains stuck - he can probably wrench it free from the force of taking off with the remaining repulsor, but doing so will put Pepper directly in the line of fire.

So, that's not happening.

He lifts both arms on instinct, the vambrances rattling unpleasantly as the rocks pummel into them, but nonetheless plants himself and takes the hit so that nothing gets through to Pepper behind him. It's fortunate, actually, that the left boot is still anchored - he might've gone flying right into her otherwise.

His eyes frantically scan the HUD as the rocks pound into him (ignoring the half a dozen warning lights blinking for his attention) and focuses in on one detail: trendy light fixture, vaguely above Nasty Hawke's head. Shame. He liked that light fixture.

He drops his guard long enough to send a blast into the lights above the Shadow's head, trusting that'll at least keep her distracted long enough for him to free Pepper. ]

[otiosity]

[The light fixture, that Hawke would often regard with curiosity and a desire to figure out what the hell was going on with to no avail, crashes down on the shadow with a crunch of bone and a shatter of broken glass.

The body is prone for a few seconds under the rubble before it slowly melts into the dark oil as it tries to reform itself. It's definitely enough time for Tony to go over to Pepper and allow her to escape. The attack seems to have disrupted the spell which makes it easier to clear the rocks that hold her still.

But of course, eventually the creature reforms again, unharmed, and unfazed.]

This is taking too long. I'm important, I have places to be you know.

[It thrusts the staff forward at Tony and a bolt of lighting explodes out of thin air, snaking across the distance in the room towards him, aiming straight for the arc reactor.

Hawke doesn't know what it actually does, only that the answers she gets about it are cagey and silly, which means that it's more important than he's willing to admit. So she doesn't pry. The shadow uses that trust to exploit his weakness.]

[efficacy]

[ Instinctively, Pepper shields her head with her arms and stoops down a little as if to duck for cover even though none of the rocks hit her with Tony taking the brunt of the attack, giving a short, sharp scream at the first rocks pummel him; intellectually she knows the suit protects him from the worst, but emotionally it's harder to see and hear it happening.

She jumps on another cry when Tony drops the light fixture on top of the Shadow, startled and grossed out by the terrible noises that follow. ] Oh! God! [ Distress had drawn her voice tight and shrill, upset not only by the personal attacks and getting injured but also the destruction of their house. Thankfully, the moment the Shadow is knocked out, the spell holding Pepper trapped seems to lose its potency and the rocks about her crumble with little effort, some even dissolving on their own. ]

Oh my god... Tony, be care-- [ OH LOOK WHO'S BACK and escalating into lightning bolts jfc. This is so where Pepper makes herself scarce, barely managing to dive behind the nearest couch for cover. ]

i kept this icon around for a reason

[arcreact]

[ Tony watches the chandelier crush the shadow with a grim kind of satisfaction, even if it fills him with a primal horror all the while. This isn't Hawke - he's encountered enough of these doubles to know that, but that doesn't change how disturbing it is to see something with Hawke's face go down like that.

But he doesn't watch for long.

As soon as he's sure the creature is down, he whips around to make sure Pepper has a clear path of escape. ]

Get out of here, Pep!

[ A moot point - Pepper's no fool, she's already bolting - but her warning prompts him to wheel back around as the creature re-assembles itself behind him. Lightning is hard to dodge, he knows from experience, and it's almost comical that this isn't the first time he's been in this situation.

The difference now is that the whole suit is already beat to hell, and a full-system shock doesn't help. There's a terrible whine and hiss, an explosion of sparks, and then the lights in the helmet and reactor go dark.

Time for him to start formulating a plan B. ]

[otiosity]

[Oh well... That's disappointing. The shadow was hoping for some kind of fight. or something a little more satisfying than this. Too bad someone else clearly got to have all of the fun before her.

She approaches the dead suit with a look on her face that's similar to Hawke's look of idle amusement anytime Tony starts talking about his suit or other technological things about the house.]

Hmm, maybe she wasn't actually joking when she said that thing was stupid.

[And it moves again, prepping another lightning bolt attack straight at him.]

[arcreact]

[ Tony weighs his options. The suit's more or less down for the count, since he seriously doubts their guest will give him time to whip out his tools and do some electrical work. His opponent is armed with absolute bullshit that he doesn't remotely understand, and he's armed with a heavy metal bludgeoning weapon, at best. Strategizing must follow accordingly.

He decides to do what always seems to work out in situations like this: stupid, reckless shit.

Timing is key - he waits until she's approached close enough, until she has her electric attack poised, and then all at once the seemingly-dead armor is moving; it opens like a maw releasing its prey, Tony leaping toward her just as she's launching her lightning. She can attack the arc reactor if she wants, but at this proximity, overloading it is absolutely gonna roast her too.

Get fucked Lame Hawke. ]

[otiosity]

[When he leaps at her, the shadow feints with inhumanly fast reflexes, probably because it isn't one, try to move the blade of its staff towards a killing blow into his chest instead of the arc reactor. It knows that damage to the arc reactor will kill him, it wins either way. But self sacrifice? That's just not satisfying.

But then something grabs the end of Lame Hawke's staff preventing it from redirecting away from the reactor. It's Cool Hawke here to save the day. Well, not really because she has no weapons and no time to summon any sort of spell. The Fade is too far here for what should come naturally. So what she did to stop Lame Hawke from avoiding hitting the reactor was to throw herself in between Tony and the blade. She knew she couldn't stop it. She knows that blade and she knows it's strength, so the best she can do is make sure Tony hits his target.

The blade catches her through her stomach, slicing through her torso as though she were a piece of meat. It doesn't matter. She's endured worse. Her hands wrap tightly around the shaft of the staff to prevent Lame Hawke from pulling away. She's like a wire between the two.

It's what she does, she connects people. Too bad there's no time for a quip before there's an explosion. Probably.]

[arcreact]

[ It all happens almost too fast to register - things are going according to plan, and then they're not, and then they are again, but - When did Hawke get here? Why is she doing stupid shit? That's his thing. He has time to wonder about the extent of her stupidity before everything is white and hot and - briefly - nothing at all. This part is familiar too, and no less unpleasant. He wishes they didn't have to keep dispatching enemies this way.

When he comes to, at least several feet away from where this all took place and most definitely flat on the floor, it's still not clear what exactly happened. The arc reactor, always visible even through black shirts, is flickering treacherously, and everything within four feet might be smoking a little, but he's alive. For now. One step at a time.

He gestures weakly in the direction of whatever's left of Lame Hawke at the moment, though it's more like vaguely jerking his arm while he hopes his heart doesn't do something really stupid, like decide to have a heart attack when he's got better things to do. ]

That's for wrecking Pep's favorite chandelier.

[ There's always time for a quip. Git gud. ]

[otiosity]

[Hawke was expecting an explosion. Probably. Things tend to explode around her and Tony. It's like their thing. They have explosive personalities.

So when she's flung forward into her shadow and they both tumbling across the floor and rubble, she somewhat expects it. Enough for her to try and throw a hand out to catch herself. Unfortunately, her body is weak and not really up to taking her weight so she just goes sprawling instead. For a few seconds the world is dark, then her vision comes back and her ears are ringing and she's trying to force herself onto her feet. Her torso feels unpleasantly wet and sticky but she has to get to her feet before the shadow does even though she knows that doesn't matter and she can't kill it.

"Just go. Just... leave them alone."

"You're just going to lose them, like you lose everyone else. It's what you do," The shadow replies in a low voice. An almost sad voice. "It's going to hurt."

"I know," She replies without much thought. Her voice and her head seem disconnected at the moment. "But right now I want to pretend it won't. Just for once. They're my family here."

And then it's gone. And she realizes that she's just in the living room where she spends every day but now it's ruined and that somehow feels worse than the hole in her stomach.

And then Tony's talking, she glances up at him with vision that's still blurry.]

It's too late. It's gone. ...Like the chandelier. Window missed.

[If she makes jokes she'll feel less shitty right.]

[arcreact]

[ Tony drags himself into a sitting position, but it takes a great effort. He casts his eyes first to the couch, where he know Pepper disappeared - it looks unscathed (unlike just about everything in the kitchen), which bodes well. He'll somehow figure out how to operate his legs and go find her, but first, the most pressing issue is -

Is -

Taken care of, apparently, as he watches the shadow melt away to nothing beneath Hawke, the threat dispelled just like that. It's a few moments of bleary staring before he can accept he didn't just hallucinate this. Which leaves... ]

Say something only the non-shitty Hawke would say.

[ He's entitled to his paranoia. One quip isn't enough. ]

[otiosity]

[Hawke doesn't move at first. She's suddenly really taken with the fact that her arm hurts. She moves her hand to grip the hole where she yanked a bolt out with a hiss. It fucking hurts. The fact that there's a gaping hole in her stomach doesn't even seem to register.

Then Tony's talking and it sounds far away, like he's speaking underwater. But after a few seconds her brain clicks to the words he said and she looks at him. Even if she can't offer any words, the difference is in her eyes. The shadow's eyes were dark, like pools of oil, this Hawke's eyes are bright blue but wide and her pupils dilated like she's in shock.]

I'm not shitty Hawke? So... what you're saying is you admit you adore me and think I'm wonderful. I'm fluent in Tony Stark by now.

[She's making a distinct effort to be cheerful, like this didn't hurt, like she wasn't afraid, and is putting on a pretty good show.]