EVENT LOG: ENTER MR SANDMAN (DEFENDERS)

[inthenightmods]

EVENT LOG:
ENTER MR. SANDMAN (DEFENDERS)

characters: those who signed up as defenders for the event
location: all around Beacon
date/time: november 16-29
content: the defenders attempt to drive off a spirit invasion
warnings: lots of horror! body horror, psychological horror, gore, violence, etc.. please cw all threads where appropriate! mods will do the same

in your closet, in your head.

It all happens in a matter of moments. Your friends, your companions, and even some people you aren't all that fond of; everyone who took so much as a bite of the spirits' feast suddenly collapses into a comatose heap. Which is bad enough already, but the worst, by far, is yet to come.

Before anyone can really figure out what's happened to the sleepers, the woods surrounding the town come alive with sound. Rustling, screeching, clicking, howling, and under it all, the characteristic hoots and whistles of the forest spirit tongue. But these aren't the friendly creatures that set up the banquet in the first place, and they aren't the familiar faces (or masks) from around Beacon. As they begin to emerge, bursting forth from the trees, these spirits reveal themselves as a horrifying army of terrors. And sprinkled among them, distinguishable by the emerald glint in their sockets, are the infamous "green eyes", the dangerous spirits that appeared once before.

Attempting to talk to these spirits is a moot point, made obvious by their immediate assault on anyone they get close to. They attack with claws and teeth, with limbs far stronger than they have any right to be, and the green eyes, as they are wont to do, will try to get into your head. Somehow, they seem to know what it is that scares you most, and they don't seem too hesitant to use it. It's not clear what they want— are they here to eradicate you? To frighten you? To send a message?

Whatever the case, one thing is very clear: you and everyone else, sleeping or waking, are in serious danger. Are you ready to defend Beacon?

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VS THE SPIRITS

[inthenightmods]

Post here for mod-directed threads against the invading spirits. Please keep the following in mind:

• Post group members in the subject line of the first post. Groups may be no more than 4 members.


• Please stick to post order to avoid confusion.


• Remember that spirits may still appear in any thread on this log, at random. You may also request a spirit appearance in a thread.

Good luck!

Vanitas + The Jasons

[evulsed]

[ They aren't after the people sleeping, but then, maybe that much they should have figured out. Vanitas can't think of a time the spirits ever interacted with someone that wasn't awake, or alive.

And these ones— he'd known they were still out there. The ones that ripped him limb from limb. But even after that last time— when the foghorn happened, when the friendly spirits turned their backs— it wasn't like this. This constant onslaught, these twisted bodies with too many arms and too many mouths. They have to go through the woods to get to the museum. It had never been dangerous before.

Going back and forth had only been tempting fate.

There are Unversed in the museum already, ones that will alert them if something comes back to wipe them out, so Vanitas takes off after Jason Todd as he starts to lead the mob away from the building. He catches up riding on the back of another of his fledgling emotions and vaults off of it to land next to Jason, summoning his keyblade and landing in his ready stance. The Unversed slams both hands on the ground and prepares itself for battle, too. ]

[mind_blown]

[ Jay has his gun on hand, ready to be loud and obnoxious where necessary, but there's a certain tension in his entire body as he moves. The spirits don't exactly terrify him-- he's seen similar before. Been possessed by similar. It is what it is. But he wants, more than anything, to avoid a situation like when the fog horn went off.

When people died all over the town. After a party.

It's hard not to draw the immediate parallels. But he glances at his two companions, looking for where they're covering, where their gaps are-- and subtly trying to get a sense for their exact skills. He's got his guns, his utility belt, and every skill he's ever learned. he can cover everything in the middle. ]

[notthatjason]

[Jason had heard the stories of course, but this was his first encounter with the spirits that didn't want to compromise or put on awkward plays or be mischievous. As soon as that initial attack he'd had a much better, clearer understanding of that difference and he felt like, on some level, he had a better understanding for how he could help here.

Though he wished they hadn't been caught so off guard in the process. How had he gotten to that point in the underworld of all places? When spirits and monsters lurked in this constant darkness he should have been ready like a properly trained Roman...

He had no armor, but he was at least carrying a sword, one he had equipped himself with some time after the discovery of the armory. He would trust the others to have his back or, at the very least, be able to fend for themselves. He hadn't seen Jay in combat, but he had gone on an exploration with Vanitas awhile back and at least had a basic understanding of his abilities.]

Xayah and Bucky

[featherknives]

[She's not used to hand-to-hand combat, and she will do her best not to resort to it for as long as she can. She can hear rattling outside of the building and she looks over at Bucky-]

We have to keep them away from this place. [She glares at the door. They can't really barricade the entrance because others might want to come in so they have to try something else. Looking at the ceiling, an idea finally pops in her mind.]

I'll take them from the top. [She heads towards the stairs-] Try to make some ruckus to keep them distracted from me and I'll rain blades on them. I will be in three minutes on the roof. [She'll sneak out through the attic window as fast as possible before barricading it again.]

[worthallthis]

[Odd, not being the one with a rifle on the roof. But there is no rifle, and it will heal any damage faster than Xayah will. And also is a lot bigger.

So the Soldier pulls out a pair of knives. They say, deadpan,]

Then I'll go out in two minutes and start the party. Don't be late.

[They wait by the main door out, where the spirits will undoubtedly anticipate anyone coming out and be ready, counting down seconds... then lift the bar they've rigged on the door and kick it out. With luck, it will hit any waiting spirits; without luck, one or two will be waiting to one side for them to come out.

These spirits can match the Soldier in speed and almost in strength. They're not stupid. If it weren't deadly, and there weren't the lives of people they care about at stake, it would almost be fun.]

[inthenightmods]

[Well, luckily there's no spirits out there waiting for Bucky to emerge. Unluckily, that means the door didn't hit any, either. As a matter of fact it seems as if there's... nothing. Just the still night air. That's... odd...

Oh, but what's this? Something is peeking out from behind a nearby tree, from about the height of an eight year old child. The spirit giggles and hides again, then pokes its head out once more. Is it just playing a game? It doesn't seem to be attacking at the moment...]

Teenage Rampage 1: Should I Stay or Should I Go? [Jason, Eleven, Steve, Nancy]

[notthatjason]

[A few days in and The Invincible was getting crowded and they were going to run out of supplies at this rate. Jason knew he couldn’t go it alone. He also knew there were other pockets of defenders looking to hold out against the siege of spirits. He needed help and so did everyone else. They were stretched thin and so while he wasn’t sure they could all fight, he also felt like he didn’t have much choice.

He at least felt they were capable, which was why he stood with them now at the back of the Invincible, checking to make sure the coast was clear.]

The goal is to get to the Armory. We can get more weapons there and make sure those of us who took off that way are okay. You guys don’t HAVE to come with me, but I’ll appreciate the support.

[It was difficult to see in the dark, but as far as he could tell the immediate area near the door was secure.]

You ready?

[fawcetted]

Hey, are you kidding, man? I'm starting to lose my mind being stuck in this place.

[ Sure, Steve doesn't have his ol' familiar weapon-of-choice with him, but as far as defending himself (and others) goes, he can be pretty resourceful. That's kind of the thing about life or death situations — something as simple as a butter knife could probably stab something pretty bad if necessary.

Besides, they've got the superpowered kid with them. And yeah, maybe once upon a time (okay, like a few months ago even), he'd have told her to hang back where it was safe but the afterlife was a whole other ball-game. He spares a glance in Eleven and Nancy's direction before he nods at Jason. ]

Let's do it.

[keenely]

[ it's all too familiar, honestly. it's just a much bigger scale than it ever was at home. more people to protect, more monsters. at least the town isn't in the dark ( haaaa ) about the situation like they were in Hawkins - it's not just up to her and the people she loves most to take down the monsters in the night. at least there's that. but it really was good timing when Jason approached them, considering how antsy Nance was to do more than just watch over those who had fallen asleep and those who didn't know how to fight. she has her gun because of course she does, but she's not ready to draw it just yet, not when she knows it's too dark to tell the difference between a monster and a civilian at first glance, and she's feeling too keyed up to tempt fate. no, she knows she's a quick draw, so it can wait.

they move fairly quickly once they step away from the invincible, but Nancy brings up the rear, wanting to be able to see all three of them. ]

We stick together. [ stick. together. is emphasized, that mom-tone coming in at full force even while she whispers. ] And if we have to run, we head straight to the armory, or straight back here, unless we've found a solid rendezvous point along the way. We can't risk getting lost out here right now.

Crowley and Bucky, first day

[worthallthis]

Getting Aziraphale and Crowley and the Soldier's own sleeping burden or two to the Invincible wasn't too hard. It's keeping the spirits out once they're there that's the difficult part. The Soldier throws Bodhi's body inside, shoves Crowley ahead of them inside the door, and draws the gun from its back holster and a knife from a hip sheath to turn on the pursuing spirits.

"Crowley, lock and bar the door!" they growl, fully intending to keep the demon inside with the sleepers and handle the threat themselves. Crowley isn't a fighter. The Soldier is. And they're not going to let anything hurt their friends.

[sauntered_downward]

Crowley can't remember the last time he actually fought anything. He knows he did. He can remember barfights and wars and all of the good times being a proper demon, but most of the time he would just recruit humans to do the fighting for him. He'd never actually fight himself.

He lays Aziraphale gently on the floor, taking care of his head. Stupid, stupid angel. Couldn't just listen to him, couldn't just help himself when people are apparently being nice all around him. No, he had to just---

He hears them call out to him, and Crowley turns. He blinks, and he's suddenly at the door, locking it as fast as he can, and moving to grab a broom to shove across the handles as a bar.

[inthenightmods]

What follows the pair is a howling, snarling, snapping pack of hounds. Sometimes they sound like dogs or wolves, but sometimes more like coyotes, their yips and chatter almost like the raving of madmen.

There are about seven of them in all, each one standing about three feet at the withers. They look ungainly in motion, trotting about on short legs beneath their heavy heads. As they approach, they slow down and fan out around the Soldier— and the door. They seem to be assessing for now, pacing back and forth.

Among the clacking jaws and writhing tongues, Bucky might spot something glinting in the pale light from his lantern: a pair of green eyes. One of these hounds is not like the others, but with all of them in constant movement, it's difficult to keep track of which one.

Cao Pi and Javert

[pure_havoc]

[simply standing behind a window in the Invincible isn't enough. At some point Cao Pi strides over to nudge Javert with a fist and then toss his head toward the door]

Join me. I feel a strong need to patrol the perimeter while we have a moment.

[that moment probably won't last long, but the only way to get outside to meet the spirits head-on is to wait for a lull. Cao Pi is mindful of taking a buddy along, no one should go out alone. Yet, he doesn't wait to grab a couple more people - one partner is enough.]

[policier]

( Javert doesn't need to be asked twice. He already looks as if he's prepared to go, with his sword strapped to his belt and his overcoat on, ready to throw himself out the door and into danger at any moment's notice. There's a lull in the onslaught, but Javert's vigilance doesn't sway in the slightest. )

As you wish.

( He takes to the entrance first, drawing his sword and pushing the door open slowly. Once he's certain nothing's going to immediately jump out at them, he motions to Cao Pi and leads them out the inn. )

We should inspect the fortifications, if we can.

[inthenightmods]

[A wise idea, inspecting the fortifications. Wouldn't want anything getting through. And for a few minutes, at least, it seems like nothing has gotten too close. For a few minutes.

The two will soon notice a set of footsteps crunching through the autumn leaves behind them, faint at first and then louder. The steps follow a steady beat, and with careful listening, one could determine that they belong to something with hooves. Something... bipedal with hooves.

Turning around to point a torch or lantern at the entity, they'll see something distinctly unsettling totter out into view. It stands there a moment, swaying in a light breeze, and then begins to wobble toward them once more.]

Teenage Rampage Part 2 - I’m Just a Teenage Dirtbag [Masaomi, Allie, Jason]

[notthatjason]

If you asked Jason how they’d gotten themselves into this particular predicament he wasn’t sure he could give you a coherent answer. Especially now that they were in the thick of things. Spirits could be anywhere, the Invincible was under siege, and he and his companions nowhere near where they should be, no where near safety.

What he could tell you was that he’d seen his friends from the air in some serious trouble and had dropped out of the sky (literally) to help them. At least now he had a sword, which was a small reassurance.

“Are you guys okay?”

[mellowyellow]

"Too much cloud dust in your eyes? Just had to drop in for yourself?" Masaomi launches back in a harsh whisper. Because he can't just say yes. No, he's too wired for that, adrenaline pumping out his damn ears even as he presses his back against the overgrown evergreen serving as their current cover. He continues through gritted teeth, palm tightening around a battered crowbar. Don't ask what those stains are from. Just don't. "As you can see, I've been showing off to this total angel here, and now you're ruining the good vibes we had going. Thanks for that."

[mayorly]

Not to worry, Jason. Allie's knows exactly why they're here, or at least why she is and though at the time it seemed wiser to try and make the insane run from the Inn to the General store on her own? She'd both greatly underestimated the other people who might see her trying to do something this stupid, almost as much as she'd overestimated how useful a broken chair leg was going to be against a spirit. Judging from the look she's giving Masaomi right now, though? She's strongly considering testing its effectiveness on him if he keeps talking.

"If this is you showing off I'd hate to see you on a bad day." Her sarcasm doing little to conceal the panic that threatens to overwhelm her now she's forced to stop and register just how bad this could be.

Nope. Pass on being overwhelmed. She'll turn her head to stare at Jason instead.

"You can fly." Is this the time or place to state the obvious? Of course not, but the other guy wasn't reacting to it and somebody had to.

Cao Pi and Quentin (21st/22nd)

[pure_havoc]

[Cao Pi is one of the first to jump at Quentin's suggestion for a mission to the armory, to check on its status and resupply. There could be others out there yet, in fact he knows there's a few holed up in other locations. He's tired, but it has to be done.

So it isn't long before they're trudging out into the darkness. Cao Pi has both swords already drawn, the lantern hooked to the empty scabbard throwing light on the path immediately before his feet.]

I have not yet been there to see it for myself, which way?

[there's an urgent snap to his voice, nothing personal Q - he just knows they're going to be attacked and would like as much headway before it happens as possible]

(21st/22nd)

[moderatelymaladjusted]

[It's been a fucking long week already, and Quentin clenches his jaw and bites back a rude reply to that. Because he's still struggling to get the travois settled properly around his waist and still having enough movement to shot his bow if or when the time comes.

He takes two steps forward, hand white-knuckled around the handle of the bow and he nods at the second path leading off the one they're already one.]

It's that one. I went for, uh, other reasons? Before all of this whole fucking thing happened.

Jon Snow + Quentin (17th)

[song_of_ice]

I heard something.

[It was only a matter of time before more spirits arrived. He had assumed that most would be distracted by the people remaining at the feast, but it seemed that anywhere someone was awake, spirits would find them. They at least had weapons at the ready, even if it seemed likely that they would be outnumbered.]

We need to keep on an eye on the perimeter.

[There was at least some measure of protection with both cottages. He didn't need to be too worried about straying further away to patrol and look for threats. If Ghost were here, maybe he'd have a better chance of finding whatever it was creeping closer. But he didn't need the direwolf to tell him that something was near, the hairs on the back of his neck were already standing on end.]

Do you feel that?

17th

[moderatelymaladjusted]

If you mean, do I feel like I'm about to crap myself and-- uh, yeah. Yeah, I feel that.

[Not like he's about to have an unfortunate bathroom accident, but more like how it feels when you're too close to a lightning strike. The static-y feeling of his body knowing something he doesn't.

Quentin leaves the door to the cabin ajar, the dining table leaning against the wall just next to the door and with one final look back, he walks down the few stairs to join Jon on what could have been the front yard if this hadn't been a hellhole.]

We can't. There's no way to keep track of both sides of the cabins, and still stay in contact.

Vanitas + Riku (cw: eventual character death)

[evulsed]

Go!

[ There's such a thing as being outnumbered, out matched. Vanitas learned this the hard way his first month in Beacon— but even so, he's not the kind of person to run from a fight unless he's convinced he's outmatched.

These spirits, they're on another level. Vanitas can't know, of course, what it is. If they're simply that powerful, if it's because all of them aren't half as strong as they should be after dying and arriving here— or if it's the pure, unadulterated rage that comes off all of these monsters. Adrenalin and fury are terrific in their power. Vanitas knows because it's the kind of thing he uses as a weapon.

Vanitas is already bleeding from this encounter. Riku hasn't escaped unscathed either— and this spirit just keeps getting back up.

He shoves Riku hard, to turn him, to get him moving, and starts sprinting even if Riku doesn't comply right away. While in motion, Vanitas yanks off his shattered helmet and throws it to the ground with a clatter. ]

[equinoctials]

[ He turns him, Riku stumbles a step or two for the shove, Vanitas gets that much and he whips his head back around to look at him. Sweat beads on his skin, little points of light where his lantern illuminates them, Riku is breathing hard, which is why it takes him a moment to speak. To think.

They could flee. They're tired and injured, it's questionable they could get as far as the Museum, or the Invincible, or even the Armory, any of the little strongholds they've managed to dig themselves into against the attack. They might even have a better chance if Riku tried cloaking them both in Darkness. Even then, their prospects aren't great.

There's little chance they'll make it unless one of them stays behind to hold them off. Hold them off, no-more like distract them, for however long it takes for these things to overwhelm, to immobilize, and eventually tear to pieces under the brute force of their fury, perhaps.

That makes a sacrifice of one and then what? These spirits become someone else's problem and Riku's not so confident anything the two of them can't handle wouldn't be just as insurmountable for anyone else.

He'd be keeping his promise to Sora if he left Vanitas behind right here. It's what he seems to want, a fact that stuns him, that throws into a new light all the moments shared between them since those weeks he spent holed up with him and Bruce in the Museum. He saw it there, when all this started, with Vanitas protective of their unconscious friend, reluctant to hand him over to someone else who trusted him as little.

He would be fulfilling his promise, but it would be at too great a cost. Riku won't save his own skin by running over the corpses of his-

Of his friends. ]

And let you steal the glory? Get real!

[ He puts himself at his back, hefting the greatsword with one arm, the other outstretched, his palm loosely perpendicular with the ground. It was never about any glory. ]

You stay, I stay.