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

[forgeabettertomorrow]

[Except while he may heal faster than a normal man, the severity of his wounds will take him long before he can heal from them.]

[When they hit the ground again, Darin rolls onto his back. He coughs and chokes, blackred blood streaming from his lips. Sealing his shadow into his own body was a gamble, and his mind, his very essence was on fire. It was true pain on a metaphysical level. His wounds, though they weren't bleeeding freely, were clotting over with a similar tar-like substance that the shadow had been made of. Darin was growing pale, and as the color was leaving his skin, it was being replaced by thin black veins spider-webbing out from his many wounds.]

[He lies there, coughing, fighting to breathe through the jet black bile rising in his throat.]

[Finally, his voice croaks out.]

You need...to get out of here...

Not far from home...on the edge of...Kauto. Region five...

M'not...going anywhere...

[He gulps down a breath.]

Need to...tell you something...

S'important...

[shiro2hero]

We're -- both going.

[Somehow. Even if he doesn't know how just yet. If he can just get them to the exit. Wherever that is. He's not even sure he can get himself there, let alone two of them. But since when has that ever stopped him?]

[Never, that's when.]

[It doesn't really work, but even so. He'll try his hardest to get a hand around Darin's collar or get a shoulder under him. Something -- for leverage. If he can do that, then, surely he can haul them along. Haul them to the exit. The shadows had to get them in here, somehow.]

[Drag marks -- from the trunk. If they follow them...]

When we're out. Tell -- tell me then.

[forgeabettertomorrow]

[Darin makes no real effort to move. It's taking everything he's got to keep breathing.]

Never...listen...

Stubborn ass...

[He chokes out a laugh and continues talking. If he doesn't say this now...]

He was right...y'know. My clone. Shadow. Whatever. [Cough] Everything he said was right but...he forgot one thing. One crucial thing.

[The pain is enormous. He feels like his entire body is on fire. He hears Diomuhr fighting to take control. And despite the pitched battle going on inside his own soul, to Shiro, his body feels cold and it only grows colder by the second.]

He never said...how thankful I am. To have you. To have Pidge, Hunk, Keith, Lance, and Allura.

[As he speaks his eyes sting. And it's only at that moment, when he can't find the strength to bring an arm up to wipe them, that there are tears rolling down his cheeks. He didn't know what was going to happen to him now and that terrified him. But what scared him more was losing these people who had taken him in. Given him a place. Suddenly, the all-important words he so desperately wanted to say were escaping him. He wanted to tell Shiro to tell the team how much they meant to him. To tell Pidge that he was sure she would find her brother, to tell Hunk that he's never met someone so kind and caring, to tell Keith that he wished he had the chance to know him better, to tell Lance that he was proud to be compared to someone so full of life. To tell Allura that he wished they had more time together. In the end, the tears just flowed faster than the words could come and, using all the strength he could muster, he reaches over to grab Shiro weakly by the shirt.]

[Then he gives the man, his best friend, the brother he always wished he could have, the biggest smile he could.]

Thank...you...

For being...

My family...

[His voice was gone. He couldn't speak anymore. Instead, he slowly reaches behind his back and clumsily unfastens his dao and its sheath. He pulls it off of his back and practically shoves it at Shiro, though with what little strength he had it seemed more like he was dropping it towards him.]

[Hold onto this for me. A black blade for a black paladin. Made of something stronger than anything I've ever known. A perfect weapon for defending. It suits you way more than it suits me.]

[And then slowly, his eyes glaze over, his gaze fixated on the unseen. His muscles relax, and everything goes dark. His heartbeat is faint, but there's no sign of consciousness, no response from his body. And when his head slumps over, the only thing that truly remains of Darin is the small smile creasing his lips.]

[shiro2hero]

[Not saving someone is the hardest thing I've ever lived through.]

[How many more times is it going to be?]

[That nagging voice in the back of his head won't stop. The shadows are gone, for now. But it's like their voices never stopped. The look on remembered faces as they do something stupid and selfless for him just burn into being in his brain. While he shakes the body on the ground. Desperate.]

[Words don't come out. Or, so he thinks. He didn't realize he'd shouted himself hoarse already, trying to change the outcome. He can't even be glad to hear these words. Because he knows why they're coming. He knows this kind of speech. The It's been an honor speech. And it makes his blood chill worse than even the shock in every limb.]

[This can't be real. This can't actually be happening.]

[Not saving someone is the hardest thing I've ever lived through.]

[He just ends up sinking to his knees, sitting there, feeling himself shaking and feeling his eyes sting until he has to blink, or lose sight of what's in front of him. He can't lift both ... the body... and the blade. As clear as the intent was. Any other day, no problem. But not now. Now... he's at a loss.]

[Why is it always for him. Why is he something worth saving? And what if the shadow was all right, what if --]

[Why him.]

[Not saving someone is the hardest thing I've ever lived through.]

[So live through.]

[He doesn't even realize he's moved until somehow, a piece of that awful trunk is under Darin's body. The sword placed on top. It looks like the beginnings of a funeral pyre. He has no memory of moving any of it. But what else is new?]

[Step by slow, painful step, however, he will get them out. Find the exit. Drag the makeshift sledge along. The motion sends pain through every injury, breath shuddering hard in his lungs, and leaving him gasping for breath. It's impossible to tell how long it takes. How many false starts and wrong moves.]

[It's only when sunlight stabs him in the eyes that he stops, swaying where he stands.]

[Not saving someone is the hardest thing I've ever lived through.]

[So live through.]

[And drops.]

[patchricide]

[Meanwhile.]

[It's been a strange couple of days at Lion House. Of course, some might say it's such a place that "strange" is normal for the people living there -- but not like this. At least, not that the princess could recall.]

[An 'imposter' Shiro had been in the house. The other paladins had started coming up with more colorful names for the man, since no situation was too serious for a good pun, most of which reflected his sinister nature. But as for Allura... well, she only reserved the word 'evil' for one Black Paladin, and it wasn't Shiro.]

[At any rate, seeing 'that' Shiro in the house had been cause for alarm enough. But it turns out the alternative was far worse.]

[Allura is sitting. Then standing. Picking up a cup of tea. Setting the cup of tea back down. Standing. Checking at the window. Leaning against the door. Sitting again.]

[Pacing like an agitated lioness in a cage.]

[Fretting is unbecoming of the princess. But they had been gone for just a little too long, with no way to contact and every reason to believe that something had happened again. Finally, the princess pulls out her communication device (which she had set down only five minutes ago, but it feels like hours) and dials one person she knows is still in contact.]

Any luck, Pidge? Please, tell me that they lost their way home from the grocery store...

[pidge_out]

[If she's being totally honest with herself, Pidge is definitely afraid to run into the fake Shiro by herself. Not just because of the way their initial encounter went, but because everything about it was so wrong. Shiro's face, Shiro's voice, saying things that it claims were real things Shiro thought but would never say... It shook her deeply.

But at the same time, they can't just let it keep running around. They have to find it, have to find the real Shiro before something awful happens.

Unfortunately Pidge has lost track of where the others have gone, and they don't seem to be answering her calls over the TABs. She's not sure she has enough time to try to triangulate their individual locations, and even if she did that wouldn't help--

...Or she could try doing that to find Shiro's TAB. Which is what she's doing when Allura's voice comes through, and it's clear that the princess has been doing nothing but worry the entire time.]

I'm still looking, Allura. I've lost the others, but I think I might be able to track down Shiro's TAB unit. Assuming it's still on him. And emitting a strong enough signal.

[patchricide]

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.

[pidge_out]

[Pidge nods, trying to look less worried or concerned, and more... determined. The expression she ends up with still lands solidly in the middle of the two.]

You'll be the first, princess.

[She hesitates before doing anything else, chewing on her lip a bit. And then her eyes return to meet Allura's.]

And if you hear from anyone else, or- or if anybody comes into the house, contact me right away. Okay? We don't know if it can shapeshift into anyone else.

[patchricide]

Anybody?

[And that thought is enough -- Allura looks even more nervous than she did a minute ago. Without a moment of hesitation, she grabs the nearest thing she could point threateningly at someone. Which is... an umbrella?]

Right. [She keeps talking as she finds a cozy spot behind a piece of furniture.] I'll keep out of sight for now, then. I wouldn't want to get spooked and hit one of the real ones by mistake.

If it does come back here, will it be hard to tell the difference?

[pidge_out]

[Under normal circumstances, the fact that Allura's equipped herself with an umbrella of all things would be kind of funny. Right now? Pidge will take what she can get.]

They might be wearing sunglasses or something to cover their eyes. For some reason their eyes are just... black. Like, all black.

[patchricide]

That might be unusual for a human, but... those eyes could match to any one of a number of alien races. Mimicry, on the other hand, is a harder thing to place...

[But she doesn't elaborate any further. Mostly because it doesn't really matter. They can figure out what's happening as soon as they catch this doppelganger.]

All right then. I will keep an eye on the, erm, eyes. [And debates trying to match her skin to the wall. If he's wearing sunglasses indoors, he might not be able to see well.]

[pidge_out]

[Pidge shakes her head a little, frowning.] At the very least you'll know if it's not one of us. As for anyone else... it'll just feel weird. They'll probably say stuff to you that just doesn't sound right.

[Unconsciously Pidge's free hand moves up to touch her throat... But then she seems to catch herself and drops the hand again.] Just- be careful, okay? And send out an alert if anything weird happens.

[patchricide]

Of course. The same goes for you.

[If the circumstances were different, Allura wouldn't have wanted to split up like this at all. And surely, Pidge would have preferred to be having this conversation in person, right? It's safer in numbers.]

[But the fact of the matter is that someone had to stay behind in case they came back, and someone had to head out in case they didn't. Besides, either one of them should be able to handle themselves if they did get cornered... right?]

[Best not to think too hard on that one.]

What if it is one of the other paladins? Do you think you'll need support?

[pidge_out]

[To be honest, Pidge is in total agreement with Allura. She'd turn back and wait for everyone to come back to the house if that were an option. But it's not. This is the plan that they have, and they need to stick to it.

She's frowning at the princess's question, though. She's hesitated maybe a bit too long to instill stronger confidence in Allura, but honestly... Pidge isn't sure.]

I... should be fine. But I'll send an alert if I need back up.

[patchricide]

Right. If not, I could send them out to cover more ground. But to be frank, if this thing fights like Shiro, working in teams is the safer option.

[She doesn't really have the ship's holographic displays to help her. So, y'know, she's drawing lines with her fingers on the back of the furniture. She redraws a map of the surrounding area from memory.]

[If Pidge went this way, then there's still this entire area that's not being checked... and depending on whether Pidge turned left or right here...]

Sorry to continue bothering you, but where are you right now?

[pidge_out]

[She frowns a little. Working in teams is the safer option. Allura's absolutely right.] I know. But we don't really have much of a choice right now.

[Pidge keeps moving though, eyes peeled as she hurries down the street, pausing every few seconds to check if her computer has managed to pick up on anyone's TAB signals. Nothing yet.

And at Allura's question, Pidge raises her TAB so that the camera can get a look at her current surroundings, rattling off the closest street intersection. Once that's done, she looks back at the TAB with one eyebrow raised.] Why? What're you checking?

thought I replied to this! whoops.

[patchricide]

The ground you've covered. In case you don't find him soon, I can start plotting out the next best route to check. It would be far easier if I had the ship's mapping system, but I should be able to make a good guess, at least.

[And that way, Pidge can focus on the search itself.]

[It's actually a reasonably good map that she's drawing, considering the medium. Not enough to get into the cartography business, but all the streets seem to be going at the right angles, at least.]

asldkmacl SO DID I lollll i'm doin' great over here

[pidge_out]

[Pidge nods in understanding, turning her eyes away from the TAB to survey her surroundings again.]

You've probably got a better map figured out than I do down here and being in it. Where would you suggest I go from here?

we are the strongest members of team voltron

[patchricide]

Let's see. Left at this fork should eventually take you to a large bridge. From there, you should be able to see halfway across the city, and all the way to the perimeter.

You won't be able to see well, but given our two friends, they shouldn't be hard to spot from a distance. Especially if they're using their respective abilities.

[Like Shiro's nightlight hand, or Darin's casual destruction of private property. Also, any large unusual buildings like a coliseum would be easy to spot, but neither of them know about that detail yet.]

After that, keep following the street. It keeps leading uphill. That's only the first of several points where you'll be able to survey.

go us~!!!

[pidge_out]

[Pidge nods once.] Got it. [And then she's off to follow Allura's suggestions, quickly moving into a full out run. They don't know how much time they have, after all. Every second at this point is precious. She doesn't talk much once she's on the move, saving her breath for the strain on her muscles, for the possibility that she might need to yell out the names of her friends. Her TAB is still on video mode, despite the fact that the constant motion might just make Allura feel nauseas; it feels more important that there be more eyes available to scan the surroundings. She doesn't stop until she gets to the first good survey point, moving to the edge of the path so she can look out over the cityscape. Since the TAB is still on, she raises it up so Allura can see as well.] I feel like... [She stops to gulp down some air.] I should be able to- to see something blow up...

[patchricide]

[Considering how much time Allura has spent on the ship, it's pretty safe to guess that she's not all that vulnerable to motion sickness.]

[And this is incredibly convenient in its own way. More eyes can only help, right? She peers at the tab screen...]

Wait, what is that?

[Out of reflex, she gestures to focus on a spot and enhance -- ah, right. This isn't the ship. There's only so much she can do with the visual, here. On the other hand...]

Pidge, can you confirm what I'm seeing? Over near the edge of the region. I hesitate to call it out of place -- [since this is the timey-wimey mismatch region, after all] -- but I don't think that large structure was there before?

['Large' is a good word for the arena. Too large to have been built up overnight. It reeks of supernatural activity.]