redshiftlogs | march 2020. welcome to the void.

Entry tags:

march 2020. welcome to the void.

Who: Everyone in Anchor.
What: Seventh Introductory Mingle
When: The Month of March 2020
Where: Around and outside the city.
Warnings: Please add any warnings in the subject lines.

Redshift: Welcome to the v͖͕̺̲̘̱̜͎o̴̦̣̠̦̘̹͞i̯̖d̛̪̬͈̱̦̝͍̕.

Click here to read what characters will experience when arriving in Anchor.

a. escape the dome.

It seems the mysterious, massive plant with its giant bud is not going anywhere. In fact, the bud is starting to bloom, which presents a problem - it's starting to press against the dome that protects Anchor. So far, no harm done, but is this really the best way to test the kind of pressure that the dome can withstand? There's got to be some way to bring the plant down without destroying chunks of Anchor in the process...

And uh, you might want to get on that. The plant has been growing, sending out thorny vines into the various levels, and the flowers growing from those vines are, shall we say, aggressive. In fact, they're liable to bite if you get too close, and these things have razor-sharp petals. More eerily, they can mimic the voices they hear, usually using those borrowed voices to beg for help at the end of long corridors or in the back rooms of abandoned shops and restaurants.

b. planetary fly traps.

Following the voices can get a body in all kinds of trouble, because, well. They want to eat you.

In those dark areas where the voices call out there are larger buds, too, ones that look similar to the one now pressing up against Anchor's dome. They're about twice the size of an average human, and they've just barely opened. The colors inside are brilliant, gorgeous, mesmerizing, kind of exhausting... Get too close, and you could find yourself being slowly dragged in through the mouth of the plant into a bath of liquid that saps your energy while also slowly (very slowly, don't worry) consuming your flesh.

Better hope you snap out of it quickly, or have some backup to get you out of there.

c. misfire mayhem.

In case that wasn't enough, there's something funny going on with the comm system again. Texts being sent to the wrong people. Simple things, small things, yes, but also some things that you might have wanted to keep private or off the network. The misfires start on the morning of the 20th with just a few texts going to the wrong recipients, but slowly amps up throughout the day until voice and video calls are connecting to the wrong people. Recordings of conversations, including the audio and video ones, getting sent to completely unrelated residents, regardless of how private the conversation was.

The reason for the malfunctions becomes... well, clear-ish when Creepy Joe appears on the network. He’s in the agricultural sector, petting a reindire and very much not in that secure quarantine where Qubit et all left him. The angle is odd--not from a communicator, but from one of the security cameras overhead. It blinks from one shot of Joe to another angle. Almost like someone is trying to keep an eye on him.

mod notes.

Misfire texts, voice, and video conversations are on an opt-in basis, it is up to each player if they want their characters tormented with their messages being sent to others or receiving misfires. Misfires can be played on this log, on the network, or in IC inboxes.

The NPC network entry will explain some details on why, but characters who were kind to Creepy Joe or who have put in a lot of effort to contribute to the community will find that their messages are getting misfired much less often and the contents are nowhere near as sensitive. Characters who were cruel to Creepy Joe or who have hurt/stolen from others will find their messages going astray more often, and with more sensitive material.

Messages received by characters can include any message posted in

redshiftrp or in IC inboxes, including messages from dropped characters. Have fun with that!

Important but Unrelated: March and April have been designated as check in only for AC. If you have not yet posted your AC, feel free to just put a check-in notice under your character's AC thread. April check-ins can be posted any time on or after April 1st.

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[ Fighting alongside Charles, whatever physical form he takes, is different from fighting alongside anyone else Jacob has ever known. It's not like fighting with Evie, who always wants to correct his stance, it's not like the gang who wait for his orders, it isn't like Angel who acts like a one-woman army.

It's Charles who keeps half an eye on him but trusts him to fight well enough to hold his own. Even if Charles has all that supernatural strength to call on.

Being knocked out of the way of the thorns does not knock him out of the fight. The instinct is to roll as he hits the ground, get back up on his feet with a weapon out. The vines are focused on the pair of them now, lashing and threatening to curl around the wolf's limbs. ]

Watch it!

[Thank god that the knives can be thrown, and one slices at a vine as it inches closer to Charles' hind leg, stopping it in it's tracks, just as another attempts to grab Jacob's arm. A slash and grunt as he yanks away, moving back to Charles to grab up the thrown blade.]

Remind me to have a serious talk with the gardeners!

[ The vines do indeed seem to be trying to restrain now, rather than simply lash out in attack. Jacob's quick reflexes prevent one from snaring Charles's leg, but there are more trying to encircle his large, furry body.

Seeing them try to enclose around them, the wolf backs up a step, then another. Hunches shoulders, trying to put itself between the bulk of the attacking vines and Jacob. One tries to rip past, and he whirls with more speed than one might expect for a beast his size, digging his teeth down savagely.

The thorns cut his lips, his tongue, but he's determined to shake it free regardless. ]

[ Jacob has seen the wolf attack demons and monsters before now, seen Charles risk himself on Jacob's behalf. When that protection comes at the cost of Charles' health, when it causes him pain, Jacob knows that falls on his shoulders. He remembers all too well the terrifying lethargy that consumed Charles in the City, that took days for him to wake from.

Now he sees those thorns rip into his flesh and it only makes Jacob angry. Guilty. Possessive in his own right.

He can help. He's not weak. And he isn't going to let Charles get hurt on his account.

Heavy boots stamp on the creepers that snake across the ground towards them, and the blade slices once more at the vines trying to curl around Charles' body. But with the wolf moving so quickly, aiming a strike threatens to bite into him as well as the plant.

How can they fight this thing? How can they best it? None of his weapons are designed to fight something like this.]

[ And with the wolf twisting and turning so quickly, it doesn't present any easier a target as the vines coil in closer. As soon as he's severed one vine, two more loop around his neck and face, trying to draw him towards whatever their source might be.

The wolf digs in his heels, shaking viciously and snarling, but he's unable to get his muzzle loose enough to take another bite. It does nothing to calm him, a creature already born of repressed rage, and relaxing long enough for Jacob to take a swing at the things is not a thought in its mind. ]

Rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

[ The spark of anger catches and takes hold, fear as good a tinder as any. He can see Charles' claws mark the floor as the strains against the pull of the vines, as the thorns bite into him. And he can see what they pull him towards: a great flower on a fat stem, it's petals open like a maw.

There isn't time to curse, although he feels like he should. He doesn't have fire, or an axe, or anything he feels would be useful. But he does have Bark at his hip, and he pulls it free, aiming at the source of the vines, letting a hail of bullets and lightning tear through them.

There's the green smell of bleeding sap as the vines recoil from Charles, pulling back. But not for long. ]

Go! Move!

[ Well he's certainly made it mad, and it flails about, vines loosening and allowing Charles to tear his way free. Spatterings of the sap fly everywhere, catching sticky on his fur, but he doesn't seem deterred.

Even if there's blood mixing with the sap on his dark fur, and dripping from his bared, snarling teeth. ]

[ Jacob makes everyone mad, so infuriating a plant doesn't bother him. Not when it attacks Charles, hurts him, tries to squeeze around him like a vice. It deserves all it gets and more besides.

But why hasn't Charles moved back? They can't beat this, not just the two of them. Even Jacob can see that, even he knows they need a better plan than this.

He pushes at Charles, trying to get that big furry shoulder to budge.]

Come on! We can't win this!

[ There's desperation in Jacob's voice that draws the wolf's attention. The expression on his face is anger, fear, concern. He wants...to run?

The wolf takes a step back, still facing the plant for the moment. If he wants to run, the wolf will of course go with him. But he'll cover him first, make sure he's safe before joining on his heels. ]

[ He doesn't normally retreat. But he has never had to fight a giant plant either, one that knives make little impact on. You can't slit the throat of a plant, you can't choke it or punch it into unconsciousness. His usual methods of fighting aren't working.

And like a hydra, the more they fight the more vines reach out for them. And Charles' mouth and fur are already red and wet with blood where thorns have sliced him.

As Charles steps back Jacob feels another tendril curl around him, wrapping around his leg like a boa constrictor. It's all he can do but curse and kick out, trying to get beyond the plant's reach.]

[ And just as Jacob had come to his aid before, the wolf dives for the vine now attempting to snare the other's leg.

Ignoring the spiky thorns, he digs at it with his claws, before biting down and shaking hard, ripping fiborous tissue and spilling more greenish sap all over the place. It tastes terrible, and the wolf shakes his head afterwords, as if he might be able to rid himself of the residual that way. ]

[ The wolf's actions seem to send a shudder though the vine as it's torn, the thick sinews in it tightening sharply around Jacob's leg, biting in and then jerking him off his feet as it snaps back like elastic cord, trying to whip at Charles in turn.

He's back up in a minute, slightly unsteady, as blood oozes from the deep punctures in his flesh and the thorns still embedded there.

But he's more concerned that whatever in that sap is toxic, that swallowing it will put Charles at far more risk.]

I'm okay, I'm okay.

[ It's to reassure, to make Charles let go, turning and stumbling towards the safety beyond reach of the vines.]

[ And the wolf lopes alongside him, just slightly behind, knowing that with an injured leg Jacob isn't likely to be moving at his usual clip. He's not leaving him behind, no, not for anything.

And if that plant thing tries anything else, he'll bite it again, and again, and tear as many chunks out of it as he has to. ]

[ He certainly isn't moving normally, it's obvious that putting any weight on that leg is causing him far more pain than he would admit to, a strange tingling sensation radiating out from the knee. He's had to leave buildings and escape Templars or Blighters or Police injured before, he can escape a plant surely.

And this time he has Charles. He can hear his claws on the ground, the deep breathes as he moves with him. Reassuring. Protective.

It's almost embarrassing his often Charles has had to save his arse, Jacob thinks, but there's certainly no one else he'd rather have these adventures with.

And then his leg gives out, and the vines rush forward.]

[ This time the wolf barrels into them bodily, knocking them off course and snapping threateningly. Its legs brace around Jacob, giving him room to get up again while they recoil and ready for another strike.

Once he's moving again? The wolf nudges his side encouragingly. Come on, if they're going they're going, if they're fighting they're fighting. But they can't just stand here doing nothing at all. ]

[He's glad Charles is so close, because in getting up he has to wrap his arm around the wolf's massive shoulders and haul himself bodily up. His leg feels numb almost all the way to his hip, pins and needles prickling through his muscles as he stands. It's easier to keep a hold of Charles, despite the wolf urging them on.]

I'm coming, just... give me a minute!

[He's trying, he really is, but bloody hell it hurts.]

Go, I'll be right behind you.

[ But instead of waiting, the wolf bolts. As soon as he feels Jacob's arms secure themselves around his neck, he knows what he has to do.

Two legs just aren't going to cut it.

And he launches forward, dragging Jacob with him as he goes, before those vines can make a return attack. ]

[He's not expecting that, but perhaps he should have been. At least he has enough strength to pull himself fully up and onto Charles' back, rather than be dragged. The floor is just too close to those creeping stems.

He'll have to apologise, once they stop. Charles isn't a horse, but there's something very comforting about holding tight to the thick fur mane, Charles' powerful limbs swiftly bringing them back to safety. He really can't resist pressing his face down, taking a steadying breath of the familiar scent. He's okay. His leg hurts, but it's not the most pressing thing.

They have to work out how to get rid of that plant.]

[ There's no apology needed or demanded. They need to get out of here before they can be attacked again. Find the den, find somewhere safe to defend. Find the rest of the Pack.

And feeling Jacob's grip tighten, the wolf tears through the hallways, following the scents he knows away from the green monstrosity, towards the dormitories. ]

[ It's no small relief to arrive back at the familiar rooms, although he'd seen vines and creepers as they'd run through the complex, pushing their way through ruined doorways and collapsed masonry.

But the shared dormitory is safe. It feels normal, and Jacob lets himself let go of Charles' fur and slide to the floor, hissing between his teeth as his knee protests. It's clear why soon enough, the thick fabric is ripped and bloody.

Then again, so is Charles' jaw and fur, and Jacob forces himself to sit, back braced against the nearest piece of furniture, as he reaches out to touch the wolf. ]

Let me look at that love. Christ, that thing cut us up.

[ The wolf gingerly licks at his face, before lowering his head to sniff at the wound on Jacob's leg. He wants to lick it better, but his tongue hurts. Everything hurts a great deal, and fighting that thing had taken a lot out of him.

So he sits beside him instead, lying his head across his lap. From nearby, the wolf that had been follow Charles around appears and trots over as well.

It appears Jacob's not going to want for company, for the time being. ]

[If he'd had the energy he would have tried to get up, find something to properly clean the blood off both of them. As it is, he just pulls one of the cotton squares from inside his waistcoat, and as Charles settles, carefully clears some of the mixed sap and blood from his jaws.

When it's a little better, he drops the handkerchief and rests his hand on Charles' head, gently scratching behind his ear. It might just distract Charles from his discomfort like it distracts Jacob.

And when the other wolf moves closer, and settles down, Jacob's other hand moves to scratch his ears too.]

Rest up. We'll have to get rid of that thing, but we're no use to anyone while we're walking wounded.

[ Both wolves seem a little more content, at that. But the noise beyond results in pricking ears, both lifting their heads in unison, just in case the fight comes their way.

Nothing just yet. They have time. And the larger wolf turns his head and licks Jacob's cheek before settling down once more. ]

Its okay. Packs safe.

[ Part of it. Jacob can't be sure where the others are but he is sure Angel and Connor can handle almost anything.

But the wolves and he know they can'tstay here hiding forever. That means they need a way of fending the plant off. Without it ripping them to shreds.

He gazes around the room, trying to come up with a makeshift plan.

And spots some of the bottles and cans of flammable liquids and gases that Angel has been investigating as weapons. ]

What about fire?

[ There's a restless grumble from the wolf that is actually Charles, before he turns to start licking at his own wounds. It tastes terrible, but fortunately he heals a little faster in this form.

Jacob doesn't have that luxury. It looks as if he might be sitting this fight out, at least for the time being. ]

[ Jacob is not going to sit here on his tod while other people risk their lives fighting that overgrown dandelion. He doesn't like the idea of others doing what he could do, what he could help with. He's got skills they don't have after all.

When Charles moves, it gives him the opportunity to get to his feet, a little wobbly, but better than before. The numbness is wearing off, gradually. The desire to find some way to destroy the threat to their home is enough to make him forget about the pain and hobble over to Angel's corner of the table, picking up an aerosol can, turning it over in his hands. ]

We can't kill this thing the way we're used to. It's a plant. It's not got a heart you can stab or a neck you can snap. We've got to think about it differently.

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