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thisavrou_log2017-07-09 01:05 pm
pillz) wrote in 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.
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)
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
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.
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
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.
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
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.
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
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.
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.
no subject
There's a snap, a nanosecond of breath, and some poor Savrii is getting thoroughly gutted through with a sizzling orange blade. Which is ridiculous overkill, because the impact was more than enough.
Letting the corpse slide away, the shade looks around, mouth a thin line. Whatever, or whoever she's looking for, is clearly not here. It's only when she turns to depart that she notices Zer0 making his own way over.
There's no hesitation, no pause in her step as she switches directions, heading straight for him — gun out, firing.]
no subject
Luckily, he has pretty damn good reflexes. He doesn't miss a beat, tracking not!Shep's every disturbingly smooth movement, managing to jerk to the side quickly enough to avoid taking the full hit. The shot grazes him, ripping through leather and... flesh? Metal? Maybe both? Whatever the fuck his arms are made of, there's a chunk missing, but it does little to slow him down.
He goes on the attack immediately, sword drawn as he dashes in to close the distance between them, trying to keep his movements unpredictable so he's not as easy to target. He already knows that he can't fuck around with these things, and Shepard's seems especially aggressive. If he manages to get in close enough, he'll attempt to chop off it's shootin' arm. Not that removing the gun arm will make ShadowShep any less dangerous considering the space magic and glowy orange knife, but hey, gotta start somewhere.]
no subject
It's when she finally turns, sighting a solid shot on him close up, that he manages to take her whole arm off. The Shepard shadow watches it fall, the whole thing blackening in midair, landing with an oozing plop when it finally hits the ground — before starting its snaking way back towards the main body.
But never mind that — she's already recovered her will to fight, one arm missing or not. Here comes the glowy space knife!]
no subject
Just because he knew he shouldn't push his luck didn't mean he wasn't going to, though. Good life choices.
As soon as the shadow's arm hits the ground, Zer0 hops back to put a little distance between them, barely avoiding being run through by the glowy space knife. Taking advantage of the fact that, at least for a moment, Shadowshep doesn't have a gun, Zer0 takes out his own and fires off a few rounds. His movements aren't as unpredictable as they'd been a moment ago, since he has to slow down at least a little bit to aim. If he was further away from her, slowing down for just a moment probably wouldn't leave him open to attack, but this was kind of a weird situation all around so hey.]
no subject
One minute she's shifting, as if ready to run--
--There's a crack, like a sharp clap of thunder, a whiff of ozone--
--and suddenly, 750 newtons worth of force, Shadow Shepard included, is slamming into Zer0, attempting to pin him—literally—with the fun glowknife. When at first you don't succeed, stab, stab again.]
no subject
His sword goes flying, he has no idea where it ends up, but he maintains a good grip on his gun. Only problem, he's too dazed to put it to use right away. That, and as he comes back to his senses he immediately becomes aware of a searing pain in his side, and the fact that Shadowshep is still right up in his face.
This really wasn't going too well. He was kind of glad that none of his buddies were around to watch him get his ass kicked in.
It was probably time to try doing that whole escaping thing, seeing as he was clearly outmatched and injured badly enough that it would actually start to slow him down. Lacking any other options at the moment, Zer0 jams his pistol into the shadow's wrist and begins firing, hoping it's enough to sever the hand and that horrible glowknife from the rest of the arm.]
CW KINDA GOREY?
--Or it would, if it was there anymore. Blade, hand, and gauntlet flop free at the wrist, hanging by oozing, oily threads—only to be blown away in turn by another shot. The whole set goes flying, melting into the shadow-black substance mid-air.
For the first time, the shade of Shepard seems genuinely perturbed at the oozing wound. It's clearly not due to pain, however — just the temporary lack of a key piece of weaponry.
Well, never mind that. She's only too happy to answer Zer0's attack in kind, pistolwhipping her weapon across his mask for space, then opening fire again. Ambidexterity!]
NICE GORE
This is the first time he's made any sort of noise this entire fight, a pained grunt escaping him as he stumbles backwards. Once again, he regains his footing quickly despite his injuries, and... vanishes. Like a goddamn ninja.
His stealth cloak activated, he starts to back off, activating a holographic decoy as well in the process. It appears behind the shadow, over her shoulder, its movements mimicking an attacker. Zer0 hopes it's enough to distract her for at least a moment. His cloak may make him invisible, but it's not going to do anything about the blood trail he's undoubtedly going to leave behind.]
WEHHH
It flickers.
The farce is short, but long enough. By the time the shade has flipped around, trail of carnage visible in the road, he is far enough away to be untraceable.
Regardless, the shadow that is Shepard follows, cutting down any who get even vaguely in her way, screams following her pursuit.]
:D
These people are too stupid, clearly. Just let 'em die.
--Is what Zer0's honestly thinking for a moment. Unfortunately, he's developed something of a conscious. As long as he's still able to fight, abandoning all these idiots, who are still outside for some reason, would be a dick move. So, despite his better judgement and his own admittedly questionable sense of self preservation, Zer0 decides to stick around.
The shadow is heading in his direction, but only seems to have a vague sense of where he's gone. That gives him enough time to find himself a nice sniping position, ready his rifle, take aim at her stupid face, and fire. The kickback from the rifle is nothing short of horrible agony thanks to his shoulder being shot all to shit, but it'll be totally worth it if Shadowshep's head pops like a goddamn melon.]
D:
This, horrifyingly, does not make the body collapse, or even stop moving. Instead, it starts shooting its gun again, aiming wide, and up.
On the plus side, no more civilian slaughter, and also, no more head.
For now.]
:3
Amazingly, the turds listen, and Zer0 is able to turn his attention back to Shadowshep, aiming his rifle at one of her legs should she decide to grow a new head and start running someone down or something.]
no subject
While the head has yet to regenerate, the shade of Shepard has generously re-formed its hand, and eyes first, a bubbling lump of black gel, remolding itself around them just about her neck.
Sight, as it turns out, is all one really needs to launch off another biotic charge.
Wreathed in blue eezo flames, Shepard is suddenly there, pounding back into Zer0.]
no subject
On the plus side, most people seem to have realized that standing around waiting to die was maybe a bad idea. Apart from a few stragglers, the area is mostly cleared out.]
no subject
But just as she does — he disappears, attempting to kick her off, as the one-eyed monstrosity struggles to know quite where to grab. For a moment, it seems like it may give up--
--when it suddenly grabs everything where Zer0 should be in a bear hug. Any parts caught in the shadow's grasp will suddenly become keenly aware of her body melting away — and an acrid black acid eating through as much as it can.]
no subject
-Iiis probably the last thing Zer0 should be concerned about but you bet your ass the thought briefly flashes through his head before he comes to his senses. The cloak deactivates on it's own after a few seconds, and while it's hard to maneuver a sniper rifle while stuck in a goopy bear hug, he manages to get the end of the barrel jammed up against the shadow's shin. He pulls the trigger, hoping that crippling it, if only for a moment, will help him wiggle free. And he is wiggling his ass off.
Also his face plate is flashing a >:( because he is super annoyed right now ok.]
no subject
It's just a moment, but the entire shadow does a bodily twitch, the acid dripping and dropping just a little slower, grip loosening like oil losing its hold.]
no subject
As soon as he feels the goopy grip loosening, he lurches forward, trying to 1, knock the shadowgoop off balance and 2, rip himself out of it's grip fully. Assuming he doesn't fuck this up, he's going to tear ass down the street as soon as he's free and activate his cloak again.
So, today's been kind of interesting.]
no subject
But even as it's reforming into its old familiar Shepard shape, it's just one step too slow. There is no one left in the streets to ricochet off of, to give effective chase. Mouth reforming, there is a scream as it runs after, attempting to follow Zer0's trail, the unearthly noise echoing off the alleyway walls and street windows.
It is still in pursuit. But it has been delayed.]
no subject