logsinthenight | EVENT CONCLUSION: BEYOND THE SEA

characters: everyone!!
location: in the helix station under the lake, and back to the surface! (hopefully)
date/time: july 19th ish
content: After successfully exploring the Helix Station, characters have all they need to deal with the world eater stuck in the portal down below. How are they going to do it? Click and find out!
warnings: injury, body horror, monster horror, blood, maiming, you know, the usual

game plan.

Based on the votes, the consensus is quite clear: it's time to see if a creature that can destroy worlds can be killed. Characters are well armed from the finds in the test lab. Having recovered Weaver from the R&D wing, they have her assistance in attempting to use the MK VIII to assist with this task. The Key Extraction group found strong potions that might help to pacify the creature long enough to fight it. They have all they can hope to in this impossible fight — the idea is simple. Open the doors, distract the monster with brute force and attempt to pacify it with the narcotics they've recovered, while Weaver does what she can to get the drone restarted and hopefully in place for a killing blow.

If things go badly, though, the team has all agreed on a Plan B. If the tides start to turn, then the group will finish what Alastair started and shunt that bad boy back into space. It's not possible for them to change the trajectory, the World Eater will end up back where it started. However, it won't be in their lake anymore, so that's still some sort of a win. As Weaver is controlling the drone remotely, she will be the one in the control room, and will run the reversal routine if the attack begins to fail. Cao Pi is in charge of the radio to call if things start going south. Hopefully someone taught him how to use it!

boss battle.

Javert, Fitz, and Law (armed with a key Weaver provided him), with a coordinated use of the lockdown keys, manage to open the Portal Bay. Even with power restored, it is practically pitch dark in the room. It's as if the World Eater trapped in the portal manages to suck in and contain any light that dares get too close. They can hardly see the monster before they brave entering the room, though as they walk deeper into the darkness the group can see its shadowy form lodged in the portal. It's trapped around the torso, with only a small part of it visible to the group. Impossibly huge, and perhaps somewhat reminiscent of something that might have resembled a green eyed spirit, once, though it has started growing new extremities and limbs, as well as a few more sets of eyes. It rouses as they enter, and just looking at the World Eater manages to send an unspeakable wave of unease, anxiety, and hopelessness through the group.

Gregor, Stone and Jill throw the fragile bottles of sedative. They crack and settle on the skin and wide empty eyes of the monster. While it's clear it did not incapacitate the World Eater, the mental effects lessen and its movements seem to slow.

With that, it's a free for all, all members of the party armed to the teeth and determined to fight for all they have. The weapons recovered by Cao Pi, Link, and Reiju prove especially useful, though as they cut and slash, the World Eater seems to recover new limbs, new tendrils, seem to generate at random. Like a hydra, every piece they cut down seems to restore itself. Braving closer to its torso leaves the creature leaking toxic black blood over the floor. Touching it proves it is bitterly caustic, easily burning through rubber and clothing and flesh alike. It's a bitter, ugly battle, and not without damage to the fighters themselves.

The fight seems doomed to fail, even with the World Eater slowed and mostly immobilized. It's more than just slashes, heavy hits that can send bodies flying across the room. A flash of attention can leave an attacker immobilized, dark swirling terror clawing through them strong enough that they might try to hurt themselves or their company instead of the monster itself. Worse yet, any time the World Eater seems to lull, it seems to draw the living energy from any lantern nearby, rousing itself and dampening the fighter that might have been feverishly fighting a second before.

However, with the distraction provided, Weaver successfully reactivates the MK VIII. It sounds much like a giant sized bumble bee, until it rockets through the air toward the monster. The beast manages to swat the drone away, once, and for a moment all hope seems to be lost. Until the device lurches in the air and zooms right back to its task, landing on the monstrosity and scuttling deftly over the surface of the World Eater in attempt to find a weak spot. The battle swells, attempting to keep the World Eater from clawing the drone from its body before the drone has a chance to work properly.

It feels as if it takes hours for the drone to locate a weak point, though the reality is it doesn't take much longer than a handful of minutes. The sickening churn of flesh, bone and blood resonates in the room as the drone buries successfully inside the monster. Those lingering for the fight aren't spared, as even as the device whirls inside of it, the World Eater keeps up the fight, reaching for and lashing out at whoever remains close enough. There's no running for cover, as the fight rages until the very last.

There's no warning for when it happens. The World Eater cries out, a terrifying bellow that echoes throughout the station. With the cry comes a flash of bold light, brighter than any of them have seen since arriving in Beacon. The light builds, pushes outward, and the explosion deafens suddenly and completely. The room is bathed in light and anyone in the Portal Room is thrown to the sidelines, bouncing like ragdolls off the sturdy metal walls. The implosion paired with the light existing inside the creature floods through the room, likely to leave characters blinded and deafened for a few seconds after.

However, as they come to their senses, they find the World Eater felled, lying in multiple bloody burnt pieces. Troubling, some of them do seem to keep twitching and moving. Still, it seems to be over. The fight was not without consequences, and certainly not won easily, but it was won all the same.

return to the surface.

With the beast felled, and the party much worse for the wear, the group collects back in the submarines which have thankfully had a chance to charge this time around. The ride isn't exactly fun, but there's no alarm messages or rides in pitch darkness, at least. Even if there's still a good chance that characters might suffer decompression sickness, dizziness, queasiness, and headaches as they head back topside.

It's a battered and bruised group that makes it back to the docks. Plenty will need medical attention, and there might even be some with broken lanterns that will need to be taken to the lab and repaired immediately. Those that died in the fight will awaken in 3 days, however, there might be some consequences when they revive.

Those that are in better shape have a lot to share. What they've seen, what happened, and what should happen next. They've had a rough go of it, characters on the surface have their own oddities to share, too. There's a new guy in town, after all... And boy does he have some ideas and opinions.

ooc notes.

For refreshers on the first part of this event, please see the first event post! The results of this event are based on the voting found here. If your character was involved in the portal room fight, we have provided a comment for injury rolls here. If your character died in the fight, please head over to the Death Page to report it. Thanks for taking part in the first major event of our Next Night! It was quite a ride but we hope you had as much fun as we did!

Feel free to use this post for action tags set during the fight, as well as meeting up and sharing information with the others topside. As of this event, new NPC Weaver will be ashore with her submarine to offer her aide to the residents of Beacon after their help with the Helix Station. Keep an eye out for more from her soon! She will be staying at the docks in a submarine. If anyone has a cot a bunny can borrow, hit a girl up...

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Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

( Javert almost meets his gaze, glaring at him with a look fixed somewhere between Soldat's shoulders. He knows what the other man is asking, but it's not something that he wishes to discuss, and since he cannot lie and say he's fine, he does the next best thing and ignores it. )

There's no need for concern. Unless something perilous happens within the next hour or so, I suspect your patrol will be quite uneventful.

( He isn't going to mention that he will still be patrolling, just in the opposite direction, so their paths don't cross. They both know each other well enough to have each other's habits and schedules memorized by now. )

[Not looking at Soldat's face means not seeing the worried, uncertain flickers of expression. There clearly is need for concern, Javert. And avoiding it with practicalities is only making it worse.

Soldat nods once, hesitantly, then steps back-- and stops.]

Did I do something wrong?

What?

( He never considered that his absence would cause Soldat to worry so much. If anything, he thought that his presence would only make the other man worry more, and Javert didn't wish to cause him any more distress than he had to. He goes on, reassuring, )

You've done nothing wrong, Soldat. Why would you think that?

You. Haven't been to the cabin. We haven't played chess. You don't come to get leftovers from the group lunch.

[To summaries: passing off patrols and catching a glance from a distance is the only time they've seen Javert. Which makes it feel like they're being avoided. Why else would Javert avoid them, then if they did something wrong?]

I didn't mean to upset you.

( He means that sincerely, and to punctuate his words, he takes a step forward, to fill in the space Soldat retreated from earlier. He raises his eyes only slightly, to catch a glimpse of his friend's face. )

I haven't been feeling much like myself recently. Sleep has been difficult, and I saw no reason for me to stay in the cabin otherwise.

( That's not the whole of it, but it's more than Javert ever intended to admit to. )

[Which... sort of makes sense. Soldat doesn't agree with it, and it kind of makes them sad to think Javert still thinks that there's no reason to be at home if he's not sleeping, but from the inspector's perspective it does make sense.]

If. That's what you'd rather do. Okay. I know you don't like people around the way I do. Can I find you to bring you lunch? If you don't come by the inn?

( He had been the same way when he first moved in with Rosalind. Hardly around unless it was to sleep, eat, or bathe himself, albeit that was only because he didn't wish to feel like he was imposing on her. He'll gradually start spending a little more time at the cabin, once he's able to sleep again. For now, he acquiesces, )

You may.

( He can't stay still for very long, knowing that there's a chance may fall asleep and be woken up by nightmares, but he can at least sit still to eat. )

I will visit the inn, but only when everyone else is gone. If that is not possible, we may meet elsewhere.

[Soldat will take whatever they can get, honestly. This is a step, a concession, and it's not terrible. They nod quickly.]

That's fine. I can wait until you're there to put the last things away. Put a plate together for you. People usually grab their food pretty early, anyway.

[They try a small smile.]

If it would please you.

( He hides his face. Soldat is far too kind for his own good , and Javert doesn't feel as if he deserves it. He clenches his hands awkwardly at his side and says, )

You needn't linger to make certain I eat. If I promise to do so, I will. You must take care of yourself, too.

[Soldat pauses to consider their own reaction to that statement, a kind of worried disappointment. Then they say, still musing,]

Maybe I'm lingering to see you. Just for a moment would be enough.

[Does that mean their desire to feed people is mostly a desire to see them? (Don't think that's all of it, but.... No, you're right.) Watching people eat something they provided is also intensely satisfying, as if it's some kind of proof that they're capable of helping instead of just hurting. And using cooking and delivering food to keep busy is part of it. But there might be some of it that's just an excuse to interact. Huh.]

( It seems he was wrong. Javert looks quite astonished by this, his expression shifting between that of surprise and humility. It's not the first time he's heard someone admit it, but it will never cease to amaze him that anyone would find his company pleasant. )

Well.

( He doesn't know what to say. The word hangs between them awkwardly, until Javert cannot bear the silence any longer and forces himself to speak, )

I suppose that would not be a hardship. I've missed you, too, but I cannot return to my usual routine until my mind is clear.

[That absolutely makes sense, and Soldat can respect it, with the compromise of the brief visits. They nod, give him a little smile, and say,]

All right. Take whatever time you need. And I'll just see you long enough to pass off lunch, and pass off patrols. Deal?

Very well.

( That doesn't seem so difficult. Javert doesn't meet his gaze, but keeps his eyes lowered toward the ground, touching the brim of his hat and taking a half a step back as if to leave. )

If that is all, I should be going.

Yes, sir.

[Soldat takes his own half-step aside to let Javert continue on his own path, while they turn to continue their own patrol, with a lighter step, at least.]

EVENT CONCLUSION: BEYOND THE SEA

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