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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Comments

Xayah | League of Legends

[featherknives]

I. Stranded

[For the first time in her life, Xayah doesn't even blink at people that are swarming the Invincible. There is panic, sadness, and anger in the air and her primal instinct sympathizes with them. They care for the ones they are tending to and Xayah can't be angry about it. She does look like she doesn't belong amongst the groups of people huddled together of the ones that are sleeping, so she tries to get herself distracted by getting busy.

She climbs the floors, one by one, and starts checking in on the rooms. Wherever she sees a window, she walks over to the nearest, tall cabinet, and drags it over. It's a push-and-pull kind of situation, but she gets it done. If anything tries to get through the windows, glass breaking and closet being knocked over should alert them.

And she will keep on doing this, regardless of who she finds in the room, until she makes sure that all the windows are barricaded.]

II. Lookout

[It's probably dangerous to be outside like this, but after the first wave of spirits subsides (some of them glide over down to the docks), Xayah gives her best to stealthily creep her way to the top of the Invincible. She perches herself on the edge, wings making her look like some kind of gargoyle, as she scans the grounds below.

Thankfully, the place is a bit lit up now so she can spot anyone who gets in danger nearby. She has to play it smart, otherwise, these things will kill her too. She's ready to swoop down and fight off spirits from (or with) anyone that's trying to reach the Invincible.]

III. Cuts (warning: light injury and blood)

What a bitch... [Xayah mutters to herself as she sits at one of the tables at Invincible, trying to bandage her palm with one hand. It's not clear whom she's calling a bitch- the wound or someone else. If you guess someone else, you'd be right. She's so distracted with her thoughts that she keeps failing to tie up her hand properly, and she keeps redoing it.

She's still so confused, and confusion makes her angry. What the fuck is up with this attack? Is this some kind of test? That sciency guy has passed out. She didn't see Robin on the network and it figures. She's never around when they need her. What happened with whole "controlling the spirits" thing? The questions keep spinning in her head that she stops tending to her cut up palm, making a mess on the table.]

IV: Wildcard

[ooc: You have anything else you wanna play out? Drop it right here! Or if you wanna plot, poke me at WindsongWitch]

ii.

[survivaltricks]

[it might be dangerous to be outside, but Akira had promised that he'd guard the Invincible with everything he had. especially after (accidentally, really) cluing the spirits in on his plan to turn it into a safe haven for dreamers and defenders alike. oops]

[Xayah will probably find Akira pacing in front of the Invincible from her perch on the rooftop, his shoulders squared and his hands held into gentle fists at his sides. he definitely looks tense and alert, ready for a spirit to leap out at him from the shadows, if that's what they decide to do]

[chance has him glancing up just in time to see the silhouette of Xayah's wings in the darkness. he pauses for a moment (his brain immediately wondering if those wings belong to a spirit), before he. . . lifts a hand and waves]

[what is up fellow Invincible sentry]

[featherknives]

[She spots the guy before he spots her but doesn't do anything at the time. It seems that he was just checking out the surroundings and there's (for now) nothing and no one in the vicinity, so she remains on the top of the roof. The trees are still restlessly swishing, clicking from time to time and it's sending a very unpleasant chill down her back.

When he waves at her, she nods in greeting, although she's not sure if he can see her. Her eyes wander over the tree rooftops, glance at the Lighthouse in the distance and then she stands.

She jumps off the edge, wings spread and swishing few times to grant her soft landing on the ground. They may have pushed the first wave of spirits but the prickling feeling on the back of her neck is telling her they'll come back.]

Everything alright?

[survivaltricks]

[the only thing Akira does in response to this mysterious stranger leaping off of the rooftop and landing gracefully in front of him is step back to give her more room. he's used to those impressive displays of athleticism and grace, after all]

Mm. So far, so good.

[no signs of danger. . . yet. but much like Xayah, the hairs on his neck stand on end, as though he can feel something sinister out in the trees plotting against them]

You didn't see anything from up above either, did you?

[featherknives]

[She folds her purple wings down, after scanning through the area and sees no immediate threat. Taking him for his word she nods and turns to face the trees in front of them.]

Nothing just yet.

[The rustle of the trees in the wind is ominous, like a call or a warning. She pulls her cowl tighter on, frowning.]

The forest... it never felt this deadly before.

[She'd know it- she spent her entire life in forests and mountains. Of course, she won't be able to tell what is making it deadly, but the feeling... it's there.]

[survivaltricks]

[it might just be the wind rattling the branches, but Akira's senses are attuned to every little sound. he finds himself tensing as a breeze cuts through the forest, gaze whipping towards the trees like that of a startled rabbit]

[it takes a conscious effort for him to relax afterwards, a deep breath expelled from his lungs]

Is this the first time something like this has happened here?

[he turns back towards her again, expression stony but still curious]

I'm new, so. . .

[featherknives]

[She doesn't blame him, nor teases him about it- better be on guard and jumpy than be ambushed and killed.

Her ears are still flicking from time to time, but she turns attention to talk to the guy. New huh... he looks like a kid...]

There was an incident before. When we tried to reconnect the Keeper to this network thing. They attacked us. A lot of people died, permanently. Never came back.

[Her eyes scan around,] But this is far worse. That attack lasted for several hours. This is already lasting for a few days, it feels.

[survivaltricks]

[permanently echos in Akira's mind, and he thinks back to the friend underneath the trap door that Daylight told him about. could not everyone who died a second time be brought back, then . . .?]

[it wasn't as though he intended on throwing his life away a second time. but that's all the more reason for him to guard it as carefully as he can. along with the lives of the others in Beacon]

Someone must have done something to really piss them off.

[he grumbles, and lack of proper rest means a small hint of irritation is flicking into his expression]

I.

[worthallthis]

[A metal hand reaches over the top of Xayah's head as she struggles with one of the bigger pieces of furniture, and scoots it effortlessly into place. The Soldier attached to the metal hand offers,]

I was thinking of barricading the stairwells and halls, too. Even more obstacles. Would make using these rooms hard. But be safer.

[featherknives]

[She steps aside to dust off her hands and gives Bucky appreciative look. So someone was thinking along the same lines as she did. Nice.]

Hmm... it will be hard to get away as well. Maybe we should block just the second floor and above and make the first floor easier to reach.

[worthallthis]

[The Soldier shrugs, then heads out of the room, across to the next one.]

Having multiple fallback positions is tactically sound. Main room, kitchen, store room. Stairwells and only upper floors as a last resort. I can jump from the top floors easily, you and Crowley can fly, but not everyone can get out that way.

[featherknives]

[She follows after him, her ears twitching as she tries to hear if there are any sounds coming from the rooms. There's nothing so slips into the next room with Bucky to help him out (even though he probably needs no help, but she hates standing around, doing nothing).]

Well, we need access to beds if someone is terribly hurt. You can't just let them lay down on the floor. And there's no space for everyone downstairs either way. Maybe free up the first two-three rooms and blockade the rest?

[worthallthis]

I was going to haul down mattresses and blankets and put those on the floor downstairs. The main room is big enough if we keep them close together.

[Would make fighting in there harder, if it came to that, but so would watching the upstairs windows. The Soldier can't weigh which is more of a potential threat. There are pros and cons of both options. So they offer the compromise:]

Maybe a couple rooms on the very top floor. Harder for spirits to climb that high maybe?

[featherknives]

It takes too long for us to reach the top floor, not the spirits. They are fast...

[They need actual rooms to use with this many people around. She still thinks that the first floor should be enabled and constantly monitored and all other floors blocked off- even the stairs.]

Besides, if we have to run, it's easier for people to jump out of the first story window than third.

[Or fourth, or how many floors this place has. It's easy for her, she can fly- humans, however, can't.]

III

[sauntered_downward]

Here. Let me see.

[Crowley hasn't left the Invincible. He puts a glass of liquor in front of her and offers her his hand to look at her wound.

He is feigning real indifference.

Considering the fact that the world appears to literally be ending, he's not doing a great job.]

[featherknives]

[Xayah didn't even notice that Crowley was standing there so she almost jumps out of her skin when he speaks up.

She doesn't protest but is reluctant for a moment before she finally gives him her hand, even though she knows he can heal. She's not sure why though; the slash on her palm is deep, cut right through the handguard she has on.

The drink looks tempting, but she only pulls it to herself and stares at the liquid.]

...Aziraphale?

[sauntered_downward]

[Crowley takes her hand with a gentleness that his demeanor would say he doesn't have in him, and he focuses. He's been doing quite a bit of healing lately----this comes a little easier, he's able to see the gash, focus on mending layers of skin.

These things keep hurting the people who matter to him. None more so than Aziraphale.

At her question, he shakes his head.]

Bait that's good food and company? If I didn't know better, I'd say they were trying to lure him in specifically.

[featherknives]

[Her gaze shifts from the drink to where Crowley is trying his best to mend her wound. There's a sense of deja-vu, a brief flash of Rakan and her, sitting like this hidden in a small cave, tired from fight, and yet he's still using last bits of his strength to heal her up.

The wound stings and promptly brings her back, making her hiss softly, then sigh. She speaks in lowered voice:]

It happened before... a party like this. Spirits wanted to make it for us, as thanks for leaving them food and trinkets. [Her fingers twitch a bit.]

Some snuck out to reconnect that Keeper to the network, managed to do it but... all hell broke loose. We were attacked like this- but it lasted for several hours. This time it's worse.

[sauntered_downward]

This time they've incapacitated half the town. Perhaps forever.

[Crowley says it impassively, but the thought chills him to the core----the thought of Aziraphale never waking up. Not dead, just there, asleep and helpless. Totally helpless.

Layers of her skin knit back together and he releases her. The healing isn't totally smooth and perfect, Crowley's healings rarely are, but it's definitely not a bleeding gash, jut a pink mark.]

We need to figure out what they poisoned them with, try to find an antidote. Wake them all back up.

[featherknives]

[She flexes her palm a bit- it's tight, there's some numbness, but way better than before. She can use it again for fighting.

Crowley talks about antidotes, and she hears him "with one ear", her mind not completely here. With a queasy feeling in her gut, she reaches for her inner pocket and she pulls out her device and tries to go on the network.

Only to be greeted with stattic.]

....where is she? Why isn't she trying to recall them...?

[Is she really trying to reset them?]

II.

[paletteswap]

[It may be dangerous to be outside, but Kuai can be far more effective out here than inside trying to tend to the wounded. He's not cut out for that, training his whole life for fighting and defending Earthrealm. Certainly he's sympathetic to those who are injured and the ones who were.. poisoned he supposes. But he can't do anything for them. He's not a healer nor does he know much about tending to wounds other than the basics of stopping the bleeding and then getting them to someone who does know such things.

No, it's better to be out here, patrolling the perimeter with a keen eye towards the darkness of the forest.

He's noticed Xayah perched up on top of the roof. Maybe between her above and him below they'll have a chance at spotting anything that seeks to attack the inn.]

[featherknives]

[After her fight with Crowley, she didn't find a reason to remain inside as well. She was angry with this entire situation because she can't see a solution to it. The spirits just keep coming and attacking them, the Keeper's not answering and they can only so long remain barricaded inside of Invincible.

She spots Kuai standing below, in front of the Invincible; he didn't eat from the feast either, huh? She wishes she had more answers.

There's a soft rustle of the trees nearby and her attention instantly snaps up at it, daggers summoned between her fingers, ready to shoot if anything comes rushing at Kuai.]

[paletteswap]

[At this point there's more people than the Invincible can comfortably hold. He hasn't been to the village since this happened but for all he knows the spirits are raiding the houses of everyone who resides over there. There's no solutions here. They clearly can't stand siege forever - but eliminating every single forest creature seems equally impossible. Their glowing eyes stare back at him as he patrols, waiting for an opportunity to attack. There's so many of them in there, blinking and snarling and intent on their destruction.

At the movement in the trees he reacts without thinking, sending a barrage of icicles towards it. He can't see deeply into the forest but it didn't sound like it hit anything living. Maybe some trees.

A feint then, trying to lure him out alone. Except he isn't alone.

Kneeling down he seems to concentrate on the ground instead of the green eyed creature a short distance away, still invisible in the darkness of the treeline. There's a blue mist rising up around Kuai, frost crusting along the ground by his feet where a shimmering ice ball is coalescing in his palm.

Abruptly he slams it into the ground, ice shooting along the ground towards the creature and then erupting into frozen stalagmites that launch the surprised forest spirit out of the trees and up into the air, limbs flailing as it tries to figure out what's happening to it.]

[featherknives]

[Deja vu.

It feels like it. She's seen this scene so many times before. Rakan rushing in, using his magic to toss their enemies in the air and then-

-it's a perfect set up. Then and now. She doesn't hesitate and jumps in the air, from the roof where she's sitting at, sending a shower of feather blades at the forest spirit. Mid-air, she recalls the feathers back to her, those that stuck in the trees and branches behind the spirit, piercing the creature and cutting off limbs and tying up the body with wild magic, rendering it immobile.

It just needs one more shot to finish it off.]

[paletteswap]

[It's incredibly effective. The feathers have pierced through it with hundreds of tiny wounds, blood oozing from every single one. Still it tries to struggle out of its restraints and rush the Invincible.

Can't have that.

Kuai manifests an axe in his hand slamming it right into the head of the creature. Those green eyes go out and the creature seems to fade away. It's a victory, but something about it feels off. A worry for another time.

He turns to look up at Xayah, nodding to her as he throws the axe to the ground to shatter it.]

Well fought.

[That's Sub-Zero for: good to see you alive and well.]