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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
Of course it hadn't worked.
But of course he'd wanted it to. Of course he'd want to be past it. Want them both to be past it. He's who you've always--
Mentally, she pulls herself back from that line of thought, the cliff of inquiry, wrapping herself up in focus on her partner, her friend. Her love. If there was ever a time to think, to talk about it, it wasn't now.
Moistening her chapped lips, she gives his hand another small, but significant squeeze.]
It isn't your fault. You were just trying to do whatever you could.
[That much, at least, was the truth.]
no subject
Cycling in a slow, deep breath, Nihlus tries to ease the tension in his shoulders before looking up again, catching Shepard's eyes. ]
You met my shadow?
[ Considering her reaction, the answer to that was likely a 'yes'. ]
no subject
[There's a pause, and it seems like she might expand — but then she stops, hesitating, opting instead for:]
It made a post on the network with your TAB. Referenced me directly. I knew I had to disconnect from you if I was going to buy myself some time.
no subject
[ Pressing his free hand against his mouth, he clamps his mandibles against his jaw. He didn't even think to wonder where his TAB had gone to after the shitshow'd started. Shepard's expression and grim tones didn't bode particularly well either. ]
What- [ Another breath, and then he forces himself to ask. ] What did it say?
no subject
[She takes another minute, scrolling backwards through the stream of network communications over the days that had followed, until she finds it. Opening the post, she hands it over silently, jaw squared ever so slightly.
Now was not the time to touch on the rest of it.]
I already had contact with other shadows at that point. [Contact was putting it extremely generously.] I knew I didn't have much of a choice.
no subject
Nihlus almost didn't want to know. He takes the TAB from Shepard automatically, just staring at the little device for a moment before, very hesitantly, hitting play. He listens to the sound of his own voice wash over him, familiar and utterly alien, a visceral recognition that transcended any electronic distortion or disconnect.
The mannerisms were his. The tilt of his head, the flick of his mandible. It was his mirror staring back, eyes flickering black, black, black. ]
Probably the best thing you could've done, [ he remarks quietly. ]
no subject
[There's another beat, this one longer, drawn out.]
We fought.
[Fought.
It's as much as she's able to give. As much as she can, without thinking beyond the concept of the word. They had met, and negative action had been exchanged.
Fought.]
And you met mine.
[It's not a question.]
no subject
Shepard's deflections had always been rather transparent.
And like a lot of her deflections, Nihlus quietly lets this one slide under. There was a time to ask and regathering themselves to fight an enemy like this was- not it.
Her own not-question has Nihlus shuttering his eyes. ]
Yeah.
[ The sizzle of the garrote, the meaty crack of skull hitting the tarmac, the empty stump where a head should have been- ]
Yeah I did.
no subject
We still have time.
Maybe there's something we can... [what?] confess.
no subject
[ He presses his forehead against hers, exhaling slowly at the familiar softness of her hair, the warmth of her skin. There was soot and sweat, the sour smell of acid the ferrous scent of human blood. ]
But it can't just be anything, right? I can't just tell you I've been sneaking Hammy extra treats?
[ There's no optimism in his tones, barely any humor despite the words. ]
It has to be something linked to our shadow's natures.
no subject
[The familiar pressure is enough for her to almost sag with relief, and she reaches for his other hand, threading her fingers into his. Only by iron will does the load of today not make it to her hands as more than a tremulous shake, already awash with emotion.
For a moment, she doesn't make any further move to speak, eyelids fluttering closed in an effort to re-center.]
no subject
[ It felt like selfishness. It IS selfishness. 'I' had been easy to hide under the compartmentalized armor of Spectreship. Personal wants and needs lost to a bigger, more important identity. ]
I don't... want to hide this.
[ Closing his eyes, he swallows, stroking his thumb over her palm, feeling the tremors through his gloves. ]
Us.
[ But they have every reason to hide it. Enemies all around them, old and new, all who could turn it against them. ]
I don't want to scream it from the top of every building but I just want... I want...
[ Oh, Spirits, what did he want? He's not been in a steady relationship for more than a decade, what the hell did he want? ]
I'm scared. That we're going to run out of time and I'm not. I'm not there.
no subject
Nihlus did not often speak of his own wants.]
I want that, too.
[What must she look like, right now? Standing in the ruins of her own apartment, that she'd been powerless to stop. Hair singed, body beaten, a complete mental headcase. Yet, here he was, telling her his innermost feelings regardless, standing by them.
The only way she could return that care, that respect, was by doing the same.]
I'm... jealous.
[It took more effort than she cared to admit.]
That Saren is living with you. And I'm not.
no subject
[ It comes out before Nihlus could really think it through. He finds he doesn't really regret it though, the weight of the words comfortable and warm. ]
Once this mess is sorted out. [ Quieter, but a bit more sure, a bit more even. Rubbing his forehead against singed bangs, Nihlus moves to gently embrace her. ] Once everything is sorted out. We should move in together.
[ Optimism had never been Nihlus' greatest strength, but he lets himself believe, here and now, that this would work, that they would get through this.
They will get through this. ]
no subject
[Is it enough? Is that enough of a confession? It seemed small—selfish, stupid, a ridiculous thing to be owning. It was hardly the biggest admission she'd ever made. It wasn't even hitting the top ten.
But if what it wanted, what it took to destroy her black-eyed counterpart was something she'd felt, held back—it was that.
Opening her eyes, she looks at her partner, her lover, and something seems to click. Like the first time he'd blurted out "I love you".
Comfort. Safety. Support. Partnership.
Love.
This was it, wasn't it? Here and now, this was really it. Two ghosts, given a second chance.
Leaning in to his embrace, she runs a gloved hand down his cheek, across his mandible.]
I love you, Nihlus Kryik.
no subject
This. This felt right. All his doubts, all his fears pushed to the wayside, a sure path lit by full moons and starlight.
Stability. Trust. Acceptance. Companionship.
Love.
And if his shadow was going to try and take it from him, if their shadows were going to try and take that from them-
Well, they can damn well try.
Gently, so, so gently, he parts her bangs with flat of his gloved claw, tucking the sooty strands of hair behind her ear, green eyes half closed. ]
I love you too, Jane Shepard. More than anything.