January Event: Setting Fire to the Sky

[lifeaftr_mods]

JANUARY EVENT: SETTING FIRE TO THE SKY

Who: Everyone!
What: The sun dies, and the creatures of the night emerge from the depths
When: January 21st - January 28th
Where: Everywhere! Ensō, Monsun, Chol, and the Islets
Warnings: Character death, possible body horror and violence. Please mark any additional warnings as needed!

So We Can Take the World Back From the Heart-Attacked

The night of the 21st, the sun begins to dim. It dips in the horizon, sinks to nestle itself in the center of Chol like a star falling in slow motion, where it begins to smolder quietly - massive, smoking, and hot, like a massive egg. The night grows colder, the sky reduced to an inky black. The surface of the surrounding water is still but for the occasional ripple, the odd, strangely subdued wave, with not even the hollow lights of distant stars to glint off its reflective waves.

The Jormun gather around the sunken, dying sun with their scaled hands on their weapons, their expressions grim. They fan out across the island of Chol with arms in hand. Their fortifications have settled around the island's center in a dense ball of bristling weapons. They have been preparing for this. They are ready to fight.

Are you? No island is safe. From the well-trodden mainland of Ensō and its islets to the stark dichotomy of Monsun to the craggy shores of Chol, all manner of strange things have begun to haul themselves, dripping, from the watery dark.

No more preparation. No more running.

From here on out, it is fight or die.

One Maniac At a Time, We Will Take It Back

As the Storyteller has promised, there is sanctuary in their temple on Ensō, which will keep out the worst of the creatures. It will not, however, protect characters from the cold and dark, and so they will have to keep themselves warm some other way.

The Jormun fight fiercely, but they do not fight alone. Aside from the help that the willing of your number have offered, you may glimpse the Storyteller battling alongside the rest in a flurry of strange, shifting animal shapes: a heavy-antlered reindeer, a shrieking owl with outstretched talons, a slavering grizzly bear with the Storyteller's signature tome strapped across a broad, furry back, to name but a few. Those creatures that the Storyteller defeats will burst into a flurry of paper and dark, spattering ink, rather than being felled in the conventional manner. How odd.

As this is an event with a high risk of death, the Storyteller will impose death penalties for one week only. However, deaths succumbed during the event will count towards the character's total.

Then I'll Raise You Like a Phoenix

Come the sunrise on the 28th, the sun will launch itself into the air with a victorious shriek, its wings trailing plumes of fire behind it. The phoenix takes flight, reborn from the ashes. The shores of Chol are littered with corpses, both shadowy and scaled, along with an even smattering of crumpled paper and splotched inkstains. Despite the triumph of the fight, it did not come without its costs. The Jormun gather their dead and prepare to mourn them quietly. Those who perished in the fight will not see the sunrise from this unique perspective, watching the murk of the night tint to soft, milky yellow and pink, and then to a glorious new day.

Munin will greet the survivors with a mixture of solemnity and relief, thanking them profusely for their help. There is not much more that her people can offer you, at this point - they must grieve their dead, and she must return to the sea to prove that she has cemented her worth as a leader in the eyes of the other Jormun - but that does not mean that your stories will part forever.

Event Timeline

[ ♆ ] January 20th: Monthly Storytelling occurs as usual
[ ♆ ] January 21st: The dark arrives, the temperature drops further, and the first hostile creatures begin their assault
[ ♆ ] January 28th: The dark ends and the sun rises
[ ♆ ] January 30th: Those who perished are revived, suffering from a reduced death penalty

Event Specifics

[ ♆ ] If you have any questions, feel free to look over our OOC Info Post.
[ ♆ ] Feel free to make your own logs if necessary!
[ ♆ ] If your character perishes in this event, please let us know!
[ ♆ ] Item trades with the Jormun can be found on the OOC plotting post here! Even if you were only recently accepted, you are free to participate!

LOGS ● OOC ● STORIES ● MAIN NAVIGATION

( CODED BY BOOTYCALL )

Comments

A birb is never late, they are always precisely on time

[achievementhunter]

She should've known to call for help, really. Doesn't she know? There are demons in this part, and they always come when they're called.

Lup's position is noted by blasts of fire quite akin to what had been seen another day, when sand turned to black glass beneath their feet. And what Chara remembers most about that event is not the amazing feat of magic that had caused it, but the utter exhaustion Lup had experienced afterward, wiping herself out before she'd really had a chance to begin.

Whether or not it's true, they feel that such fire is an indication of trouble. And they're quick to respond. As they run into the thick of the clearing, intuition seems to have served them well- she is in trouble, kneeling upright, but practically nonresponsive as several creatures close in on her, reaching out with bulbous arms.

They're exhausted. They don't have the strength to take on this many alone. They need help.


They don't care. A fiery blade in each hand, they stand in front of her, and sweep their knives in wide arcs, purely to cause the creatures to recoil and back away.

"Lup. Get up."

A Vanessa is also never late, she arrives precisely when she means to

[tenthstreetbred]

Shepard knows her objectives. Protect the sun. Protect the citizens of Enso and Monsun and Chol as best as she can. They need help. They need her. And come hell or high water, she will be there for them. It's the blasts of fire that initially catch her attention and Shepard, after communicating quickly with her own group of Jormun she'd been fighting with, breaks away from the group to storm across the beach towards it. She doesn't know if Lup really needs her there but backup is always appreciated in her experience. It's when she gets closer and spots Lup on her knees, and Kidwun brandishing a knife, just a knife against the horde, to protect her, that she realizes how dire this has become.

The only warning either of them get that she's here is the quick and loud popping of a round of gunfire, bright in the dark. A few of the hounds from hell are struck, some yelping and tearing away from the source, a few falling to the ground unmoving. Then there's the smell of burning ozone and the faint feel of chemical heat and in a blur of blue and white crackling light, Shepard Charges directly into the fray and the center of the pack. With a guttural shout she swings the butt of the assault rifle around, knocking the shadows back. The tingle of exhaustion that she's come to associate with using her biotics creeps up her back and she switches threads, leaping into the air and gathering her powers to her fist and with another cry strikes the ground with a powerful Nova. The impact sends out a wave of energy that knocks some of the hounds back and kills a few others. In the mere seconds this gap gives them Shepard calls back to Kidwun and Lup behind her as she keeps her eyes trained on the enemy.

"Lup! Kidwun! Are you two able to run?"

A Laura arrives two weeks late w Starbucks to her own thread

[hellawrath]

Even though her knees have long since hit the ground, Lup still feels like she's falling, tumbling between the dull white of the snow and the black of the sky. Black and white and snarling jaws so far away, a rushing in her ears that keeps her from thinking anything at all.

And then, a flash of red in front of her, and flames dancing in small arcs, dragging her focus back from the brink. Her vision clears just enough to make out-- Chara, facing way too many bloodthirsty glinting eyes in the dark. Her heart sinks and soars at the same time; too many for one, maybe, but she's not fucking done yet.

Lup gets her feet under her, pushes up just in time to spot the bright crackle of energy blasting the hounds and, alright, that's a bit of a relief. Eat that, shitheads! she doesn't holler, because she's kinda devoting all her breath to not passing out. But she's yelling it in spirit for sure, Shepard.

Running, not the worst plan she's ever heard, the kid's movements are sluggish and her knees still feel like pudding, maybe let's not stick around. But one of the beasts chooses this moment to seize an opening and leap forward, right for Chara's turned back. Lup bares her teeth at it and swings her umbrella with furious precision, heavy wood connecting with whatever passes for bone in these ugly ass things and producing a satisfying cracking noise. It doesn't even get a chance to yelp before it drops to the ground. Not today, motherfucker. She shoots Chara a smug grin. And then she collapses.

We're all amazing at this bless

[achievementhunter]

They already have far too much to focus on, but with Shepard's (admittedly very welcome) addition, it's chaos. The pop and crack of bullets from a chamber, the snarls and howls of the Grimlings, the bulbous shadows, no more than blobs, attracted to all the noise. And Lup.

Lup who, in the time it takes them to turn their head, grins victoriously where she stands over a prone Grimling, before toppling right back to the ground.

"Fuck." Hissed out frustration, before they call back to Shepard. "No. I can't carry her."

But they can step over her prone form, setting their feet on either side of her waist and digging out a second blade, lashing out at anything that comes remotely close. Ideally, there'd be a few more coming; some Jormun, another islander, anyone.

Best not to count on that.

we are the best at this

[tenthstreetbred]

Things are looking pretty grim. Shepard wishes she could get more manpower over here to assist but she knows the Jormun she left are busy enough with their own battles; At the end of the day, the sun is more important to keep alive. If that goes down, none of them have the chance to come back. She looks out over the shadows and for a moment her hand twitches to her wrist. Medi-gel, they both need medi-gel. It's a split second later when she remembers that her armor doesn't work like that here. It's only metal that protects her, nothing more, and when a Grimling seizes her outstretched arm she curses, shaking it around and throwing its body into its brethren in the crowd.

Focus Shepard. You're not home. You're on foreign shores and there are civilians to save. And they don't have the same kind of armor nor omnitools synced up to yours. So make do. She knocks more of the hellhounds back, firing a few shots at the other shadows on the edge of the fight and opens up a compartment in her armor. It feels odd to open it manually rather than have things distributed by the armor's computer but that's beside the point.

"Kidwun! Catch!"

She throws two packets of something to them, moving so as to cover Kidwun for a moment so they can get them. Whether they do or the packets fall near them, Shepard continues to beat back more of the hounds.

"It's called medi-gel. It's supposed to heal. Use one for you and one for Lup."

If they have any injuries it should take care of them for now. Maybe even get them back on their feet if they are lucky. All the same however the more she assesses the battlefield the more she knows that a simple retreat won't be enough. Chara's abilities are best in one-on-one close combat and Lup's crowd controlling spells are inaccessible, to say the least. Out of the three of them she has the best chance at doing anything. And her biotics may be the solution.

"I've got an idea, but it's going to take a little more time for my biotics to recharge. Can you stand your ground for a few more minutes?"

If they can't, she'll improvise. She's not letting either of them die today.

honestly? couldn't be better

[achievementhunter]

It would've been awesome if they'd actually caught what was thrown, but at best, they manage to snatch at one of the packets before they both hit the ground, eyes skating across the area closest to them before they dare step away from Lup for even the small amount of time it takes to collect them.

Medi-gel. The name nor the packaging is familiar to them. They have no idea how it's meant to be applied, either, mind racing for a second as they rip open one of the packets with their teeth and coat their fingers in an almost...jelly-like substance. Medi-gel. Gel. They'll have to take a stab (ha ha) in the dark.

"Do what you have to." They call back, voice tight. Dropping down next to Lup, they really hope this stuff works by just being smeared literally anywhere- they don't have time for much more than smearing the goop across Lup's cheek and neck before they're back up, stepping towards a creature that's getting far too close for comfort.

They really don't have time for this. How long has it been, how long since- they have no idea, no time to collect themself. Lup needs them to stay standing, right now.

As they fend away the closest shadows to Lup's prone form, their eyes stray, for a moment, to Shepard.

[tenthstreetbred]

Not everyone can be cool in the middle of battle, Chara, it's fine. What matters is that they got it and- right. They have no idea how to apply it but you know what? That's fine. She'll teach them sometime. She'll teach both of them sometime, when this is over and they're all safe.

She's going to make sure that future comes.

They stand their ground, voice tight and clearly worried. They're strong, so strong in spirit and if Shepard had time she'd lament what that probably means they went through in life. But instead for now she focuses on letting her biotics build up inside of her, punching away any shadows that get to close to her or Lup and Chara. She looks back to them and her eyes meet theirs. She gives them a nod and a smile. She's got this. They both got this.

It feels like eternity, waiting, but really it's only a few moments for her biotics to return. It's longer than it would be back home but what matters is that they come back. They always do. When she feels that familiar prickle along her spine she yanks her arm away from a Grimling and easily slips into the mnemonics she learned a long time ago.

She throws her right arm out, letting the ripple of a Shockwave roll off her into the thick of the shadows. She's done this before. A few grimlings go flying but the majority stay put. But this time she doesn't wait, instead aiming within the couple of seconds the Shockwave exists to shoot another biotic attack, propelling herself forward into a Charge towards the tip of the blasts. She's never attempted this here. But when the powers hit, it ignites a spark that compounds. One moment, she is wreathed in blue light. The next, she is completely obscured as a blue and white ball of energy explodes from the point of contact, sending out its own wave of destruction from the epicenter.

The biotic explosion expands out into jagged points that strike a few meters out from itself, killing shadows and sending others flying. It's bright and flashy and those shadows not caught in it reel back from it, scattering into the night.

When the light finally dies Shepard stands there, amongst the bodies of the shadows and she turns back to Chara and Lup, running to them.

"I don't know how much time we have, but let's get her to a mana pool and get her to the Temple. She should be safe there."

You'll both be safe there she thinks to herself, but she'll cross that bridge when they're not in the heart of battle.

[achievementhunter]

She nods their way, calm and confident- seemingly sure of her abilities. When she wreathes herself in light, charging towards her foes and knocking a few shadows back with a force they don't have the time to contemplate-- Chara has to trust her. Has to depend on that confidence to keep them all afloat, so that they can go against all their instincts.

And stop fighting.

God back to Lup, finish smearing medigel across her neck, pausing to confirm her breathing, her pulse. Death isn't the end here (never seems to be the end, never fulfills that promise), but it has its own consequences. Horrible enough to make Chara wish Frisk had stay dead, just another week, to avoid everything that occurred in the interim. Relying on Shepard... trusting her; it could be the difference between making a morbid joke at Lup's expense later, or losing her in the same way.

They aren't prepared to do that again.

Looking up to Shepard as she runs over, Chara wips sticky hands on an already grimy sweater, taking a hold of their knife once more. "If you would carry her, I shall take point."

[tenthstreetbred]

It’s only a brief respite from the oncoming onslaught but it’s worth every second that both Chara and Lup breathe. She bites back a retort, something along the lines of you’re a kid, you shouldn’t be defending us. She knows that no matter how much she dislikes it, sometimes everyone must fight, even those who never should have to. That’s just how war is. Besides, she can’t reasonably expect Kidwun to be able to carry Lup themselves.

So she nods and reaches down to Lup’s prone form, hauling her up and over her shoulder. She’s surprisingly light and Shepard lets out a low grunt at the exertion but settles easily.

“All right, she’s secure. Lead the way.”

[achievementhunter]

Now really isn't the time for discussions of all the things they shouldn't have to do, at their age- luckily, any hesitation on her part is missed in favor of getting out of her way. Eyes flicking back and forth, they look for any movement in the darkness, giving her words a short nod of their own.

They'll be as fast as they can be, with exhaustion biting at their heels. A twist of their wrist and Chara's knife sets aflame once more, casting a small, flickering circle of light around them. At the least, they won't be running blind.

"If you have any more of that Medigel, feel free to use it on her. I don't know if I've applied it correctly."

[tenthstreetbred]

"Without an omnitool the only way you could have applied it would have been manually. I'm sure it's fine."

If a bit messy. She follows them dutifully, keeping watch of her own as they move. Whenever she sees a shadow move too close she calls out their position to alert to Kidwun to alert them to their presence. The necklace given to her by the Storyteller also adds to the light around their group as they push forward.

"How close are we to the pool? Do you know?"

[achievementhunter]

If she's sure, though they're admittedly dubious. The two of them keep a good pace, stopping only when a shadow draws near. Chara's dispatching of the creatures is- efficient. If not violent.

"The pool is to the northwest of us; I would estimate three for four miles, roughly." More like guesstimate- they didn't precisely keep track of how far inland the fighting had taken them. "If we can get through to the pool beside the Storyteller's temple, we should be safe enough to linger there... perhaps, if your medigel has not had the desired effect, it is magic she needs."