ɪʀᴏɴᴡᴏᴏᴅ ᴇᴍᴘᴇʀᴏʀ ᴇsʜᴀɪ (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
ironwood) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
tushanshu_logs2017-10-13 11:58 am
ironwood) wrote in tushanshu_logs2017-10-13 11:58 am
[EVENT] Month of the Living Dead
Characters: Open to all
Date: October 2017 (2018 in-game) - and Oct 15th specifically for Parts II & III
Location: Keeliai + Courtyard of Public Opinion
Situation: The month starts off with people's attempts to deal with the deathly visions afflicting the whole of the turtle - and then during the long awaited conclusion to these shenanigans. Much work got set aside to deal with Daseng’s attacks, but now it’s time to settle the matter of high crimes once and for all
Warnings/Rating: Mentions of violence and sexual assault in the context of criminal acts, but otherwise to be added as needed. Also dead people. Like a lot of them.
Part I - Around Keeliai - A Vision and a Prayer
October settles on Keeliai with a chill - and a supernatural shiver. As the border between the merged Life and Dreaming planes, and the Death plane (which has been sealed off and inaccessible for the last three years), grows thin, eerie events begin taking place. It starts slowly, as though rolling into the streets with the fog, and it's not reserved to affecting Foreigners.
People often dream of their deaths, but this is different. All across Keeliai, visions of their deaths begin plaguing citizens. They may strike suddenly, without rhyme or reason, or may be triggered by a specific object, image or phrase. Those who have had brushes with death may relive those moments when they approached the barrier of the Death plane and were drawn back to life. From time to time, it may be possible for others to view visions not their own, particularly when in close proximity.
Not all of these visions are violent - plenty of people die peacefully, at the end of a long life - but that can be unsettling all the same. The majority of kedan don't know what to make of this development. Anyone studying the Planes, on the other hand, are in a veritable tizzy. Many of them look harried and are too busy to stop and chat most of the time. The visions are a symptom of a much bigger problem, and their sudden onset is deeply worrying.
And of course, there is a rise in superstition and a correlating increase in methods to ward off the visions: packets of herbs, bones, and other ingredients; specially decorated bibiru feet; and engraved jewelry are some examples of items being sold. None of them, unfortunately, work as advertised.
Part II - High Crimes - Politic Chic
The Courtyard of Public opinion is abuzz despite the chill. Many Kedan are dressed snugly, and warm refreshments are passed around frequently. It’s been decided to put the matter of High Crimes to a vote, and ballots are passed around for each guild and its members to fill out. People are free to to publicly discuss and debate matters before the voting begins.
A major issue to address right now would be directed at the KPD - how do they plan to keep very powerful Foreigners who could easily escape the confines of a cell imprisoned after arrest? There is a hesitant suggestion that, perhaps, something can be done to the soul gems to limit such potent abilities….?
Part III - High Crimes - Who You Gonna Call?
Panic and pandemonium are the name of the game once the dead show up (though not to cast their own ballots) and as leaders try to reign in some semblance of order, there’s a very real danger of getting trampled in the ensuing chaos.
Ghosts drift through the walls (and through people which is never pleasant), some desperately seeking those who wronged them. Many take center stage, naming their murderers and their gruesome methods. Prominent cultists that still lurk within the walls of Keeliai have their names dragged out of the shadows by the dead. On the flipside, dead cultists seem intent on harassing and pestering those who opposed their once mighty demon lord.
Part IV - Around Keeliai - Just When You Thought
After the High Crimes meeting, the situation worsens. Spectres of the dead begin slipping through the barrier in the planes, perhaps to impart messages or warnings or to take much-desired revenge. As with the visions, these ghosts are not exclusive to Foreigners, and quite suddenly the population of Keeliai seems to have nearly tripled overnight, though the numbers fluctuate as the ghosts come and go. For now, none of the ghosts have a physical presence and are unable to cause any bodily harm.
The surge of incorporeal dead has mixed reactions: for some, it's an opportunity to see lost loved ones; but for others, it's a waking nightmare.
OOC Notes: This log can be used as a general catch-all for the October dead happenings, as well as the events at the High Crimes meeting on the 15th. Because of the ghosts' interruption, the actual final voting process will not be happening, but characters are still welcome to discuss the vote as if it will be going forward before the ghosts wreck the schedule!
Date: October 2017 (2018 in-game) - and Oct 15th specifically for Parts II & III
Location: Keeliai + Courtyard of Public Opinion
Situation: The month starts off with people's attempts to deal with the deathly visions afflicting the whole of the turtle - and then during the long awaited conclusion to these shenanigans. Much work got set aside to deal with Daseng’s attacks, but now it’s time to settle the matter of high crimes once and for all
Warnings/Rating: Mentions of violence and sexual assault in the context of criminal acts, but otherwise to be added as needed. Also dead people. Like a lot of them.
Part I - Around Keeliai - A Vision and a Prayer
October settles on Keeliai with a chill - and a supernatural shiver. As the border between the merged Life and Dreaming planes, and the Death plane (which has been sealed off and inaccessible for the last three years), grows thin, eerie events begin taking place. It starts slowly, as though rolling into the streets with the fog, and it's not reserved to affecting Foreigners.
People often dream of their deaths, but this is different. All across Keeliai, visions of their deaths begin plaguing citizens. They may strike suddenly, without rhyme or reason, or may be triggered by a specific object, image or phrase. Those who have had brushes with death may relive those moments when they approached the barrier of the Death plane and were drawn back to life. From time to time, it may be possible for others to view visions not their own, particularly when in close proximity.
Not all of these visions are violent - plenty of people die peacefully, at the end of a long life - but that can be unsettling all the same. The majority of kedan don't know what to make of this development. Anyone studying the Planes, on the other hand, are in a veritable tizzy. Many of them look harried and are too busy to stop and chat most of the time. The visions are a symptom of a much bigger problem, and their sudden onset is deeply worrying.
And of course, there is a rise in superstition and a correlating increase in methods to ward off the visions: packets of herbs, bones, and other ingredients; specially decorated bibiru feet; and engraved jewelry are some examples of items being sold. None of them, unfortunately, work as advertised.
Part II - High Crimes - Politic Chic
The Courtyard of Public opinion is abuzz despite the chill. Many Kedan are dressed snugly, and warm refreshments are passed around frequently. It’s been decided to put the matter of High Crimes to a vote, and ballots are passed around for each guild and its members to fill out. People are free to to publicly discuss and debate matters before the voting begins.
A major issue to address right now would be directed at the KPD - how do they plan to keep very powerful Foreigners who could easily escape the confines of a cell imprisoned after arrest? There is a hesitant suggestion that, perhaps, something can be done to the soul gems to limit such potent abilities….?
Part III - High Crimes - Who You Gonna Call?
Panic and pandemonium are the name of the game once the dead show up (though not to cast their own ballots) and as leaders try to reign in some semblance of order, there’s a very real danger of getting trampled in the ensuing chaos.
Ghosts drift through the walls (and through people which is never pleasant), some desperately seeking those who wronged them. Many take center stage, naming their murderers and their gruesome methods. Prominent cultists that still lurk within the walls of Keeliai have their names dragged out of the shadows by the dead. On the flipside, dead cultists seem intent on harassing and pestering those who opposed their once mighty demon lord.
Part IV - Around Keeliai - Just When You Thought
After the High Crimes meeting, the situation worsens. Spectres of the dead begin slipping through the barrier in the planes, perhaps to impart messages or warnings or to take much-desired revenge. As with the visions, these ghosts are not exclusive to Foreigners, and quite suddenly the population of Keeliai seems to have nearly tripled overnight, though the numbers fluctuate as the ghosts come and go. For now, none of the ghosts have a physical presence and are unable to cause any bodily harm.
The surge of incorporeal dead has mixed reactions: for some, it's an opportunity to see lost loved ones; but for others, it's a waking nightmare.
OOC Notes: This log can be used as a general catch-all for the October dead happenings, as well as the events at the High Crimes meeting on the 15th. Because of the ghosts' interruption, the actual final voting process will not be happening, but characters are still welcome to discuss the vote as if it will be going forward before the ghosts wreck the schedule!
Open; CW: Violence and death, as expected.
Most of the time, Pepper tries not to think about death. Everyone died, and as a superhero her odds of dying young are higher than a lot of people. She's walking down a busy street in the Central sector when someone bumps into her shoulder.
"Armor integrity at 14%," the computer warns her. "Power levels below 20%. Recommend deactivate stealth mode."
Pepper ignores it; Tony's advanced her suit, the Ghost can't see her like this, and she's not going to waste it. Another few seconds and Pepper is on top of her prey, knocking the hovercraft out of the air. He drops, hundreds of feet up, plunging towards the pavement, and Pepper dives after him - his death will serve no purpose, and they've been trying to avoid it. Maybe he won't allow himself to be taken alive, but she has to try. Reaching out, Pepper tries to snatch her wrist and goes right through him.
"I'm trying to help you!" she yells over the speakers, deactivating stealth mode. "Turn off your phase shifter!"
The Ghost laughs harshly, still falling, and points his pistol up at her. Time slows.
Three. If she evades, the Ghost dies. There's a chance she could avoid the first shot or two and still grab hold of him. If she allows him to fall, he won't have to pay for what he's done - it'll be retribution, and not justice.
Two. Rescue presses closer again, her HUD lighting up a warning that there's an energy buildup in the pulse pistol. Getting behind him would let her tear apart his suit's power supply, but she knows he won't become tangible from that position, not when he has her in his sights.
She's going to get shot. The armor is so damaged that it probably won't withstand the attack.
One. His wrist feels solid under her grip, and Rescue pulls up, yanking his arm out of the socket. She rolls, barely avoiding the first shot, arcing towards a rooftop. The second shot breaches the armor, launching titanium shrapnel off her shoulder. They tumble towards the roof, Pepper's sparking gauntlet outstretched towards the power cell.
She's not sure what she feels first: the impact, or the pulse pistol firing into her abdomen.
Part I - B
The second vision is entirely unlike the first, sneaking up on her while she's letting her mind wander over a steaming mug of tea.
Pepper blinked slowly at the people around her, taking in their faces. Most of them were smiling through tears. It was good to see all those smiles. She was surprised that the hospital staff had let them all in here; her family and friends filled the room. That had to be against fire code.
Two hands were clasped around each of hers, warm in contrast to the chill emanating from deep within her bones. The end was approaching, swift and gentle.
"It's okay, mom. You can let go," a woman with strawberry-blonde hair choked out.
Pepper tried to nod and found she couldn't, so she only smiled softly at her, and at her other two children. Her eyes dimmed, the room fading in and out, seeing and not seeing. In the small crowd, figures moved through space where there wasn't any: a tall man with brown hair, hand in hand with a redhead who could have been mistaken for Pepper's sister - her mother and father; a man with short cropped hair and a stupid, endearing beard, next to the man who was the Mandarin - Tony and Gene; her best friend, dark skin and warm eyes, who had left not so long ago - Rhodey.
And as her breathing slowed and slowed, each inhale a struggle, her eyes caught silver hair and a grin like a knife.
She took her last breath in this world, and her first in another.