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

YES THE MALL

[nyx_it]

[Admittedly, her first reaction is to pull her weapon. Given all the weird shadow people lately, however, it's probably an understandable reaction. Even when he takes cover near her, she doesn't lower the weapon.]

Show me your eyes.

[That's been the one constant. Spectres of people never had the right eyes. She's got to be sure before she goes in on this with him -- even with the golem thrashing and crashing around nearby. Spirits it looks like something out of a bad video game.]

[Her eyes track to the Ghost for a second, as she considers something. Sure, it seems like AI, but who's to say the little guy couldn't spit up shadow goo too?]

You too, sparky. Then we talk strategy.

[deal_me_in]

[It's funny how casually Cayde takes this. You'd think that being at gunpoint isn't anything new to him or something.

He lifts his free hand and handcannon in something of a placating gesture.]

Only ones I got. Just try not to get lost in 'em- we're kind of in a tight spot here.

[Making light of the situation, that's Cayde for you. At least he's not questioning her order, not after he'd seen his own face staring back at him with an appearance reminiscent of the Taken. Or Eris Morn, and between the two he's not too sure which he would have preferred.

The Ghost turns about, seeming to cock its head in the way it angles itself as it peers at Vetra.]


I suppose this counts as much for an eye as anything else, but are you satisfied?

[nyx_it]

[Hey, given the situation, she'll take cool under fire. If the guy flipped out, it'd be more telling than the calm. Calm means you don't have anything to hide. Usually. It's hard to tell on faces that robotic-looking.]

[She looks between them for a moment, then nods once. Sharply. Turning her attention back to the task at hand.]

Works for me. You were saying something about getting through security?

[deal_me_in]

Yes. I can circumvent the security system to allow access. Of course, although it shouldn't take too long, it will still take time to do so...

[Cayde nods, tossing something up and down in hand.]

The usual. I know the drill. Don't worry, I got a grenade with this guy's name on it. You gonna run with Ghost, Vetra?

[nyx_it]

I can. And if that thing decides a grenade is just a firework?

[She's already crouched, ready to move out. Rifle held easily in her hands. Glancing back at Cayde. He'd pulled his weight pretty damn well on their last little run in. It feels wrong to go on ahead without checking.]

... I'm not worried.

[deal_me_in]

Welp. I already figure it won't take it out permanently, but this thing doesn't take to being ignored very well. [Beat.] And neither do I.

[Saluting Vetra with his handcannon, the Exo turns and starts to run back out towards the gloppy behemoth.]

Hey! Ugly!

[Cayde fires off a few shots at its back to get its attention, continuing his charge as it swings around.

Ghost watches, vertices twitching before he looks back at Vetra.]


We'd better get moving.

[nyx_it]

[Spirits, for a second, he sounds like Ryder. That same cavalier in the face of danger attitude. And damn it if it doesn't make her less comfortable just letting the robot (?) guy saunter out there to get crushed.]

[What is wrong with her.]

Right. You first.

[Turning to the Ghost then. Deliberately. If it's not worried, maybe she's just being what Sid always called "Sister-zilla." Damn old human vids.]

[deal_me_in]

[Ghost wouldn't say it wasn't concerned. After all, Cayde's its Guardian. But things like this are nothing new, and as much as the Exo loves to throw himself into the heat of things... Well okay, Ghost can't say Cayde's not reckless either, but contrary to popular belief, he does consider his actions before following through.

It's just that usually his actions involve a lot of firepower and explosions.

...the latter of which isn't long in occurring as Cayde ghost-steps through a swipe from the golem as it means to crush him, reappearing to run up its arm- not without nearly tripping over the writhing flesh as he makes his way up. He pulls his arm back and chucks his grenade, which flies at what he thinks is the thing's face. The resulting seems almost anticlimactic at first, violet points lighting up and scattering upon contact, but then it's followed by multiple explosions as the bits home in on whatever part of the golem they're nearest.

Meanwhile, the Ghost's led the way towards the service entrance that Vetra had suggested. It wastes no time in scanning the door components before disappearing into the controls embedded into the wall beside the doorway.]


Just...about... Got it!

[nyx_it]

[She can definitely hear the fireworks back behind them. And it's not as uplifting and optimistic as one might think. It's a little more concerning. Because it's explosions and the golem howling. Or whatever noise it is golems make.]

[She keeps glancing behind them. Just to be sure they're not being followed by anything unfriendly. But so far, so good. All there is now is to wait on the Ghost.]

[... kind of like waiting on SAM. If SAM were a free-floating AI, instead of in Ryder's head.]

Okay -- we go in, drop off the package, and go back to make sure he's not dead. Got it?

[deal_me_in]

[IT'S FINE! EVERYTHING'S FINE! So long as there's noise out there, that means Cayde's doing his job, right?

The Ghost reemerges just as the lights on the panel blink green and the doors slide open. It gives a 'nod' at Vetra.]


Got it. -I'd know if he died, but all the same, I'd rather avoid that. Let's go!

[nyx_it]

[EXPLOSIONS DO NOT SOUND FINE.]

[She huffs, looking back and forth between the Ghost and the now-open doorway. At length, she nods.]

I'd like to avoid that too. And I'm not gonna ask how you know that.

[Forward they go!]

[deal_me_in]

[So long as it isn't Cayde exploding they are totally fine!

The Ghost hesitates, waiting for Vetra's response. Not bothering to explain, it waits until the Turian moves through so it can shut the door after them before hovering alongside her as they go.]

[nyx_it]

[OKAY BUT WHAT IF HE DOES, GHOST. WHAT IF HE DOES.]

[Explanations can come later. Now they have to get into the mall and deliver this first aid crate. Which is still strapped to her hip.]

Can you do some kind of scan thing, figure out where they're at?

[It's an AI, right, that's got to be a feature.]

[deal_me_in]

[DON'T WORRY THE GHOST, VETRA. Probably already worried as it is. The sooner they get this pack delivered and get back out, the better. Ghosts usually don't leave their Guardian's side if they can help it.]

Ah- yes. That I can do. Although I have a limited range for finding anything within a given radius, and I haven't yet picked up anything. Understandable, as I'm sure they'd prefer to be further within the building.

But if the power is functioning, perhaps I can pull up feed through the security cameras to pinpoint their location.

[nyx_it]

[Look they're both worried, it's a worry party in here.]

[She looks at it for a moment, before nodding, and making her way to a wall.]

All right. Do your thing. Chances are, there's a power line in here somewhere.

[deal_me_in]

[Sadly, Cayde is probably the only one not worried.]


Excellent. It shouldn't take long. Doesn't look like power's been cut off, at least.

[Aaand it does its vanishing trick into the thing. It takes a bit, but Vetra's TAB will ping with a layout of the mall and their current location marked, as well as an outlined area further within, most likely their destination.

Shortly after, the Ghost pops back through the wall.]

Thankfully things haven't been damaged in here. Climate control is stable, and security's still on although most of the power has otherwise been rerouted to cycle for emergency situations. Did you receive the map I found?

[nyx_it]

[CAYDE SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH YOU.]

[She actually sort of has to double-take at what the Ghost does. That's still going to take a lot of getting used to. A lot of getting used to. She waits, though, putting her back to the wall. Covering the exit.]

[Just in case.]

[... which means it pops her right in the small of her back. Causing her to yell, whipping around with her weapon at the ready.]

Watch where you're going! [Ping or no ping, that was uncalled for!!!] ... and yeah. Got it. Move out, Blink.

[deal_me_in]

[HE'S A HUNTER, IT'S WHAT THEY DO]


[WELL WHOSE FAULT IS IT FOR STANDING IN FRONT OF THE EXIT POINT

The Ghost seems startled as well once he hears Vetra's shout, whipping around as its vertices widen and then narrow to give its central lens all the more an eyelike appearance.]

What were you doing there???

[It sounds exasperated, but quickly shakes itself.]

Right- "Blink?" *Sigh*

[nyx_it]

[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]

[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.]

[nyx_it]

[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]

[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]

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]

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]

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.