Event | Satellite | Spectres!

[ironwood]

Characters: Any and all!
Date: May 23 - 26, 2013
Location: Keeliai, turtleside, ARSHEPHELIOS cluster remains
Situation: Repairs and salvage operations operating innocently have triggered an invasion of spectres that possess and wreak havoc upon all they see.
Warnings/Rating: Please put CW in your subject lines

Satellite Crash Event

Crash Landing | Salvage Party | Shocking Spectres


Questions | Keeliai | ARSHEPHELIOS


Salvage is sweet, but not all is well on board the ARSHEPHELIOS cluster. The seamless cylinders salvaged from debris and the cluster, now being frequently traded, turn out to be pods the first time one is penetrated or cracked open. Each breached pod releases a flood of energy-based apparitions hellbent on world domination -- or, more accurately, person domination (and it's not the fun kind).

These apparitions -- spectres, if you will -- are driven by a need to protect the technology of the satellite cluster that their pods are associated with. They will stop at nothing to see this through. Each is immune to physical attacks, but seem to be injured or dissipated entirely by things like electrical shock or other energy-based projections. If people touch them, there is also a brief window of vulnerability, but it acts also like a door that swings both way. Through contact, these spectres can and will invade one's psyche, take over their body and cause them to attack friend or foe alike! Should the possessed body be subjected to sufficient electrical shock, the possession should fade. Strong natural will can also drive the spectres out, but it is no walk in the park to do so. Possession is not the only tool in the arsenal, for these spectres use electricity as their main offensive weapon. They'll leave deep-tissue burns on anyone they fight, and show no degree of fatigue after constant use of it.

Ten thousand of these creatures will be freed from pods, resulting in a veritable flood of Keeliai, the turtleside, and the satellite cluster. With such a driven enemy, it comes down to killing or being killed.

Meanwhile, those taking shelter indoors may notice that the spectres will get into the biomechanical functions of Keeliai. Consoles will be malfunctioning during this time, with lines of mysterious code and strange, ghostly images. One might hear people screaming for help or hours of patchy radio static.

Comments

[bindsthedead]

[There's nothing but a wordless snarl from Sabriel, and she lunges forward with her sword- only for a twitch of her hand turns the strike into one with the flat of the blade instead of the edge, and her other hand is twitching madly as it struggles with the bandolier, trying to undo the straps around the second largest bell.

Somewhere deep inside her own head, Sabriel starts screaming and redoubles her efforts to take control of her own body.]

[virginprice]

[Alcuin has nothing to defend himself with, no sword, no shield, and to see a sword coming at him (again) makes him realize he made a mistake. One that might end up with him dead.

He throws his arm up and takes the blow on it, hissing in pain. Sabriel is still in there- that would have been the edge, else. Can he let her go and run away? But she wouldn't want to hurt him. He is certain of that, and the turned blade is proof enough.

He runs, though likely not fast enough to escape Saraneth.]

[bindsthedead]

[Saraneth's voice is was always unnaturally deep, and the will behind it was nothing human.

The thing possessing Sabriel didn't speak, but the impulse to stop and kneel was almost irresistable.]

[virginprice]

[The compulsion catches him and he stops, tripping over his own feet and onto his knees gracelessly- trying to fight it does him no good, but it's impossible not to. He can feel his body, controlled like a puppet, and it terrifies him- it must be worse for Sabriel, though.]

[bindsthedead]

[Sabriel may be internally screaming, but unfortunately she can't seem to break free, although she manages to force the thing to hit Alcuin with the flat, instead of the edge one again, a nasty blow aimed at his side with an ugly snarl, and it's followed by a few more punches and kicks before Saraneth sounds again after a few minutes without any further violence.- this time it's get up, though the sound is slightly distorted, as Sabriel's own will and the bell's rebellion at being used by anyone but it's rightful master starts to take effect.]

[virginprice]

[Alcuin doesn't want Sabriel to see him in pain, so he closes his eyes and takes the blow, the punches and kicks. He won't let her see how much they hurt.

He hesitates as long as he can at the order, until the tug of it grows unbearable and he rises more gracefully, forcing himself to breathe slowly and stay calm. He couldn't let his panic seize him again.]

[bindsthedead]

[Sabriel's face is twisted into something that might loosely be called a smile, though the corners of her mouth keep twitching as it jerks her head towards an approaching group of spectres.]

[virginprice]

[Alcuin manages to turn his head to see the spectres and his eyes go wide. No. No, he can't do that. He doesn't want to become one of them. He fights the binding harder, since it's weaker than before- he has to get free before they get to him. He doesn't want one of them inside of him.]

[bindsthedead]

[The binding is definitely weakening- Alcuin should be able to escape it before the spectre arrives, and the one inside of Sabriel is busy trying to laugh, although it quickly dissolves into a coughing fit. It doesn't seem to quite have the hang of her vocal cords yet.]

[virginprice]

[Alcuin takes a breath and then exerts all his strength, wrenching and twisting and finally shattering the binding. He can do nothing but run- he has no way to fight the spectres. The hot shame of abandoning Sabriel fills his mouth. There should have been something he could do, some way to save her.]