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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.
S T O P
Virtuosity. So that was this one's angle, then? Boy, tough crowd today.]
You looking to talk, or fight?
[Talk, she petitions internally. Monologue for me, you son of a bitch.]
no subject
Why would I want to fight you? Why would anyone want to fight you? You're just so perfect, aren't you? So spotless. Such an inspiration to everyone.
[Despite its own words, its hands fully clench into fists and licks of flame spark to life around them, like spurts from a dying lighter. Its body language, if it can even be said to have any, is tense. Aggressive. It might claim it's not looking for a fight, but it certainly looks like it is.]
You're a good person, Shepard. A good leader. No one could possibly have a grudge against you.
no subject
Fire.
This speech was getting too short on words.]
I'm far from spotless, Lavellan. Everyone makes mistakes, and I've had my share. I'm only human.
[Rather than retreat, she walks in, maintaining the air of casual as best as possible, picking her way across the room, thankful J was somewhere else.]
You only know what you see here in Thisavrou — who you see at work.
no subject
I'm not so sure that's true. Do you ever leave work, Shepard? Do you ever take off that helm? Do you even know how?
[It smirks humorlessly. Sneers.]
No, I think it's who you are. It's in your bones. But if you're tired of it...
[It's closer, again. Raising its hands, as if to offer something.
It's reaching for her. It's going to make contact, if she doesn't move.]
I may be able to help.
no subject
No, thanks.
I'm happy with who I am.
[True or no, there's no time to debate frivolities.]
I think you've worn out your welcome.
no subject
At least it stops moving toward her. But its hands are still outstretched toward her face.]
Have I? What are you going to do? Throw me out?
no subject
[She watches the hands, eyes flicking back and forth, reading the situation — how fast she'd have to move, how much force she'd have to pull, whether she could fire off a nova given the timeframe — and shakes her head.]
Leave, Lavellan. Don't do this.
no subject
I don't doubt you'll shoot me.
[Then further, back the way it came. Toward the sofa. It leans against it, casually, resting an arm against the back...
And in its other hand, the flame is back. It weaves it through its fingers playfully.]
The question is, what good will it do?
[Then, like an afterthought, the flame is flicked onto the nearest cushion, where it flares to life impossibly fast. It's not a natural fire, after all.]
rip sofa january - july 2017
When she'd first seen him pull the flames, sparks jumping from his hands, she imagined a future where they were being used on her. Between the hardsuit, armoring and kinetic shielding, she hadn't been concerned. If anything jumped, she could put it out as it came up.
But lighting things on fire first...
The gun is away, re-clipped in a heartbeat — and she launches herself at Lavellan, attempting to grapple him, throw him on to the flames, extinguish them physically, and all at once. Unnatural or no, she had to buy time.]
it died as it lived
But at the very last millisecond, the thing shaped like Lavellan dissipates, leaving Shepard careening forward without interference. Just as quickly, it reforms behind her, a good distance away.
It's already laughing.]
You'll have to be faster than that.
[It's by the curtains; lazily, it drags a finger down the breadth of them, igniting more flames where it goes. And yet another wreath of flame is forming in its other hand.
It clearly has no intention of stopping.]
But even if you were, you couldn't do anything to me, could you?
covered in traces of flammable alcohol
You're not Lavellan. I don't have any qualms about dealing with a face-stealing impersonator attempting to burn my apartment down!
[The blue eezo flames wreath her form — and suddenly, she's slamming in to the elf with all the force of a wrecking ball, a crack of displaced air and ozone filling out the sound of crackling flames.]
no subject
Aww. You do care. But I didn't steal anyone's face, Commander. So what are you going to do now? Beat me to death?
no subject
Just a little light bruising.
[With little warning, a right hook comes smashing into the side of the shadow's head. Surprise. It chipped away at reaction — at least for a little while.]
no subject
But in the end it isn't flesh and blood, and something like this can only hurt it as much as it chooses to allow.]
Ouch.
[It straightens up, as if Shepard hadn't even touched it. And then, apparently, it decides it's done playing around.
The flames it's already set around the apartment begin to circle, despite the spray of water, beginning to form a vortex with the shadow at the center; as they move they begin to grow in size and intensity until they begin to coalesce into what starts to look like a small tornado of fire.
Apparently, it's decided it's simply going to burn Shepard's apartment to the ground.]
no subject
So much for talking, monologues or otherwise. Now, it was just time to move. With a grunt of effort, she succeeds in uplifting, and then swinging the solid steel-like coffee table through the air — designed to look like a blow towards Lavellan.
Instead, it slices past him, whether he moves or not.
Behind his back, there's the gritty reverb of spidering, cracking pseudoglass.]