Event - All In Your Head

[apocalypsehowmods]

↬ Main Navigation

All In Your Head

➥ Night's Embrace

(cw: supernaturally-induced hysteria/intense emotion; violence; maiming; assault, burglary; murder; implied violence against children)

There's been a sense of unease hanging over Gloucester as the Ides of March approach. First a few, and then a great many locals begin to hurry indoors each evening, lights kept blazing in the windows of homes and businesses all night…when they can be. Stories of assault, burglary, and vandalism dominate the news and no one can seem to agree on the cause, psychiatrists weighing in on air as reports flood in of a woman, a creature, that hunts in the night, along with perpetrator after perpetrator with no history of violence before they suddenly broke into a neighbor's home to smash every source of electric glow. It might be mass hysteria, the talking heads hypothesize, or perhaps pranks taken too far. The alternative is not spoken. It's safe, though, with the lights on and the door bolted. Stay inside, stay in the light, and nothing can harm you.

Too bad about the blackout, then.

It's the night of March 16 when the efforts of the shadow woman meet success thanks to the earnest efforts of a kindred spirit. Gloucester is plunged into darkness with only the waxing moon to dapple the city in silvery shadows, the entire grid taken down. ADI Headquarters and apartments flicker weakly back to life on emergency power, though there's more shadow than light in their halls. Bonnie's Flophouse, like much of residential Gloucester, doesn't have even that saving grace.

The attacks are swift and furious. The shadow woman seems to be in many places at once, appearing simultaneously in family homes, all night businesses…and ADI properties. Where there had been some reprieve in the last days for those in ADI apartments or spending the night at headquarters, as of tonight those places are no safer than the city streets. Some of those she catches she kills or maims; others are sent spiraling into blind terror by the touch of her claws and released to run and be chased again.

But still she does not step into the light, seemingly repulsed by what little brightness can be found or made. Best hope the batteries in your flashlights are fresh.

➥ Illuminating

(cw: derogatory language; mention of long-term imprisonment and murder attempts)

un: n.lehrer

To All Staff,

Report to ADI HQ for an emergency meeting at 11 AM in Conference Room 6. I will be broadcasting over the network, but I would prefer to have everyone together so that we can hand out equipment. Reyes has briefed me on what's been going on while I've been away.

Katie Dunn, an avatar for the Dark native to this world, was recently set free by Deepthi Anand. Dunn is practically allergic to light. We'll be handing out supplies for those who attend the meeting in-person. More soon.

- Nia Lehrer, Warden

It's only a few hours after the message goes out that people who come will find Nia Lehrer stepping up to a podium in the designated conference room. There's also a filming set-up so people can watch the broadcast on the network. Questions that come from the network will be… read by Reyes for Nia to answer, but a back-and-forth conversation may be more challenging for those not physically in attendance. On the wall behind her, there's a projection of a seemingly harmless-looking woman.

There's a definite air of relief among the native staff, along with a significant uptick in focus. Non-native staff may notice a similar sense of renewed determination and attentiveness for themselves, if they let themselves be swept up in it. Whatever fog and oppressive sense that's hung about for the past month or more appears to have dissipated… at least for the moment.

"Thank you all for coming. I'll make this brief: Katie Dunn is one of the most dangerous avatars we've ever encountered since I joined the Apocalypse Disruption Initiative. We've had run-ins with her more than once, but haven't actually figured out a way to kill her, yet. Her capture was a major achievement about two years ago. Which makes her escape particularly frustrating. What's done is done, though.

"Deepthi Anand developed a connection of some sort with her while she was assigned to assist with guarding her while here at ADI. I suspect that's why she returned to free her. And make no mistake, everything I've seen about the attack points to Deepthi… with her boosting Katie's abilities somehow. Right now, we're most concerned with keeping the lights on. Cape Electric has been trying to restore power, but each time they fix something, another piece of the grid gets hit. Whoever blew the entire town's power supply gave her the in she needed to wreak havoc.

"We're going to need all hands on deck. First, we block her ability to cause problems. For that, I need people willing to help with requisitioning generators and high-powered lights, and getting them to the places and people in town who need them most. Hospitals, nursing homes, food supply warehouses, all-night locals, playing interference for electric company personnel. I'm also going to need PR folks spinning up some reasonable explanations for these blackouts and what's been happening with people who get touched by her. Electromagnetic storms? Something about tectonics. Experimental drug from the military that blew through on the wind. Whatever you can come up with.

Little Ms. Blackout wants to play games to create fear and turn people on each other? We cut off that power flow to her, and she becomes an inconvenience, more than an actual problem. I expect her to start targeting us more directly once we start squeezing her, so we'll be issuing flashlights to everyone here. If you know someone who needs one, tell us, and we'll get them one, too."

Nia takes a breath. "While Dunn doesn't like the light, she can survive in it. Direct exposure to it will ward her off, but as long as she can find some kind of shadow, she can squeeze herself into it to stay alive. We know she has the ability to split into multiple shades of herself to cause wider problems. We caught her by trapping all of those in beams of light last time. We need a more coordinated response to be able to handle her, though. I'll be here, working on that if anyone wants to weigh in. In the meanwhile… let's make that bitch's life harder, huh?"

➥ WALKING HELL

(cw: altered mental state, hallucinations, violence, scopophobia, body horror)

Suddenly and without much warning, the world changes. Or….it changes for some people, some of the time. Anyone who finds themselves outside the sanctuary formed by ADI’s buildings will feel woozy, perhaps drowsy for a moment before they blink….and find themselves trapped in a nightmare.

The exact flavor of the nightmare isn’t always constant. In fact, it may not even feel like anything at all is wrong….at first. Characters may continue on after their brief dizzy spell, going about their business until they slowly start to realize that the strangers that they pass in the street are watching them. Watching them as they pass, watching them as they walk away, watching them as their heads turn at unnatural degrees to just keep watching.

Or maybe the nightmare is more immediately obvious. A hole you fall down and just keep falling down for what feels like forever. An angry mob of townspeople who descend on you at random, hands like claws that seek to rend your flesh. It can be any number of things. And it can change. Characters might find that seeking to get away from the source of this horror might work….for that particular horror. Get far enough away, and trade one nightmare scenario for another. They might even find familiar faces stuck in the same situation and can try and work together to get out of whatever nightmare they’ve found themselves in. (It won’t work. But they can try.)

The nightmares don’t come over everyone at the same time, though, and they may even be intermittent for some. Characters might find themselves walking with a friend, only to have one of them begin to react to something that the other can’t see. (..Any injuries sustained, however, will become visible. Even if what’s causing it isn’t. Where did that chest wound come from?)

Even if you’re alone, snapping out of a nightmare might mean finding some of Glouscester’s townspeople staring at you in something like distress or horror. Trying to get medical help from them…will only exacerbate their concern. What wounds, you don’t have any wounds. But you do…don’t you? They’re definitely there.

The only true safety seems to be in ADI Headquarter or housing. ADI staff will be concerned when they do hear reports of the nightmares, but most will swear that they can’t see any wounds that characters have either. And they understand it might be terrifying….but things still need to get done. Characters will be asked but not pushed to go out into town. Or they can just stay inside until this is fixed. Whenever it’s fixed. If it’s ever fixed.

➥ Dunn With This

(cw: attempted capture and imprisonment; reference to attempted murder; violence)

There comes a time when the best defense is, as they say, a good offense. The work ADI has done to cut off Dunn's power by turning back on the lights and calming the public is working; though there are still sightings around Gloucester, she does not seem to have the full free reign she enjoyed in the first nights of the blackout. It's clear that she hasn't given up on whatever she means to accomplish, that she isn't prepared to retreat or lie low.

It's ADI's turn to go on the attack. Word comes down from the top that all staff with field or combat experience are requested to assist in a coordinated effort to recapture Katie Dunn. The plan, as it stands, is to lure each of her shades to a location where she can be pinned in a beam of light. The catch, of course, is that they've done this dance before and she'll be expecting them to try just that. As such, the floor is open for suggestions.

Characters who volunteer to participate in the effort will be informed that the planned procedure for an encounter with one of the shades is for an agent (chosen from those quickest on their feet) to act as bait and try to get Katie to chase them to a predetermined location where other ADI agents lie in wait with a rig of floodlights. It's tricky, dangerous work, and there's no guarantee she won't catch on and avoid the trap or even attack the agents waiting there for the return of their comrade. Worse, it's unclear whether the multiple shades of her roaming the city are separate entities or if they're a hive mind instantly aware of whatever trap one of them falls into.

Characters may also propose alternate plans and methods, and agents will be allocated to assist with any such plans that are deemed to have a decent likelihood of success. Or, of course, they could strike out on their own, though ADI strongly advises against it.

➥ Mod Notes

• GENERAL - Players are welcome to play background NPCs for themselves when they are needed in a thread. If you need more information on general behavior for these types of NPCs, please feel free to ask! In general, the information provided in the prompts should be sufficient and ordinary people will act like… ordinary people! You're welcome to make up any details beyond that for your specific scene. Nia Lehrer and Katie Dunn will be available as mod-played NPCs for their specific prompts via the starter below. Also, please remember that character deaths are permanent and plan accordingly!
  
  
• NIGHT'S EMBRACE (16-18 March) - Characters may find themselves the victims or the perpetrators of the violent and wild acts induced by the shadow woman and her touch. They may also be able to ward her off of an active attack if they're lucky and happen to have a good flashlight with them. After the 16th, nowhere will be safe in town, and characters may find sleeping a challenge when there's a good chance they'll be attacked in the middle of it. Sucks that the coffee pot runs on power, too.
  
  
• ILLUMINATING (19-23 March) - Nia will be available to take questions directly from PC's during the meeting. Players will generally be welcome to threadjack as everyone will be hearing Nia's responses collectively at the same time. Network interaction will be possible, but less focused on quick back-and-forth, and more Q&A-style things that Nia can respond to. Characters in the Administration and Public Relations departments will get a particularly heavy tap to assist with requisitions and spinning up stories, but everyone is welcome to help with either the logistics of acquiring supplies or actually bringing them to people in town or setting up extra floodlights around town. The locals will be very grateful, but confused by the gifts of the generators and lights. Characters with mechanical knowledge will be asked to help with actually installing these for people. If you would like your character to come up with a specific IC story for the blackouts and/or crime streak, please let the mods know in the Questions header on the event OOC post! We will incorporate these into our Headline News items next month.
  
  
• WALKING HELL (22-28 March) - This prompt is very much open to players inventing their own nightmare patches. As stated in the OOC summary, the nightmares can last for any amount of time (including days). Anyone not experiencing the nightmare (including other PCs) will not be able to see what the character is reacting to or see any sort of wounds they suffer while stuck in the nightmare. Any wounds sustained during the time in the nightmare will continue to be visible to PCs and some NPCs even after it ends, but will not be immediately life-threatening no matter what. Two characters in the same place who are both stuck in the nightmare will see the same thing. Please remember to appropriately warn for any triggers/content warnings, especially considering that they are going to vary greatly between different threads. Here is list of player-requested content warnings to keep in mind specifically.
  
  
• DUNN WITH THIS (29-31 March) - While characters are advised by ADI to use the tactics noted above, they are welcome to employ alternate methods of dealing with Katie Dunn. They will have ADI's general support regardless of whether they follow ADI's playbook or come up with their own tactics, including equipment as well as the ability to recruit background ADI NPCs to their plans. However, NPCs generally will not agree to take part in anything that looks like a suicide mission (if you have any questions about whether background NPCs would agree to your character's plan, please submit those under the Questions header on the OOC post). Katie will be available for (hostile) NPC interactions. Please note that the outcome of all encounters with Katie must be decided by March 31, as the outcome of this event will impact the April TDM. If threads have not reached their natural conclusion by that date, players will be asked to decide OOCly on the outcome (and are welcome to continue to tag to reach that conclusion ICly).
  
  

↬ Main Navigation

Comments

[heyunderoos]

[He squints against the light in his face, but at this point, it's better than being mauled.

Peter tries to follow just where the woman went, his skin crawling at how easily she disappears into the darkness.]

Okay, that's ranking high on my weird list right now. What.

[Peter shakes his head at the mention of being hurt, his attention shifting back to the man helping him.]

Oh, no- I'm fine, Mr. Jaeger, really!

[bloodalwaystells]

The "Weird list" gets a pretty thorough workout here.

[He's still frowning, a deep crease in his brow as he keeps the light on them. Another attack from behind while they're vulnerable isn't out of the question, and Jaeger is concerned about that.]

You're bleeding and we have no idea what was on those claws. Better to at least clean it up a bit.

[He's taking this seriously. Then again, he takes pretty much everything seriously.]

We can go to my apartment, I have a good first aid kit. Then I'll take you home, if you're done wandering for the night.

[His tone there is a little softer. He's out here wandering at night, too, due to restlessness. It seems no one in their little community sleeps all that well, these days and it should be safe on the grounds.

Apparently, not anymore.]

[heyunderoos]

The weird list is varied and weird for a reason. [Peter says absently, finally reaching up a hand to touch the cuts on his cheek. He winces a little at the sting of his fingers making contact and the fact the pads come back wet. The gashes on his arm aren't any better, though the shredded fabric of his shirt sleeves covers it vaguely.

He looks at the older man, flushing a little at being called out so thoroughly.]

I think after that, I'm done wandering. I- I dunno what just happened. I guess getting these cleaned up would be a good idea.

[bloodalwaystells]

[Jaeger will have a look at those arms, too, before he makes a judgment about whether Peter should see the medics or not. But right now, getting around is fraught at the very least. The dark woman is probably still out there, and while the light discouraged her, there isn't an awful lot of light to form actual safety.

Jaeger has lanterns at the apartment, though. That's something. He can work with that.]

Usually the apartment grounds are safe enough, with the existing security. I'd like to know what's happening, too...but I don't believe that whatever that was, was actually human.

[An avatar on ADI grounds, hunting them? That is bad news, but a possibility he has to entertain.

He extends a hand down to help Peter up, mindful of the shredded cloth of his sleeves.]

[heyunderoos]

[Peter readily accepts the help back up onto his feet. He's more stunned by the encounter than frightened by it. He makes a face at his arms, but shakes it off as he looks around the dark hallways.]

Yeah, I... I don't think that was human either. I don't know who she is, but that was just really- [He's trying to not use the word weird again, he swears.] freaky. Super freaky.

I'm gonna take a guess that this isn't normal?

[bloodalwaystells]

It's worrying, whatever it is. But I expect security can only do so much against these things.

[Just as one disaster ends, another one comes up. This place is exhausting and Jaeger lets just a little bit of it creep into his voice. Frustration, tangled with weariness.]

Usually we have to go out to find things like this. I don't like the fact that they're coming to us, now. It was before you got here, but there was an incident with the Corruption as well, hacking our network with a game full of worms.

[He casts his gaze around the shadows around them, keeping the beam of the light close by.]

[heyunderoos]

Until power comes on, we're all kinda winging it. [The thought doesn't ease the teenager any. His lips pull into a thin unhappy line as he loosely wraps his arms around himself. Peter hates feeling this helpless. He wants to be able to help, but he really can't.

The information Jager gives him doesn't make Peter feel any better, not remotely. He grows a bit tenser. He opts to stay close to the man, not sure how far he can be from the light without something attacking.]

So, the whole world ending stuff is just finding us now? That's pretty alarming.

[bloodalwaystells]

I have lanterns at the apartment, and a good first aid kit. That will help.

[It's hard to be reassuring, but he's doing his best. Focusing on the small things that he can fix, instead of the bigger mess that he's just as helpless against.]

I think the fact that we're taking action against avatars and Powers is attracting attention. Which was inevitable at some point.

[He sighs quietly, as they start to make their way to the apartment Jaeger shares with Tony and Cortana.]

The best we can do is help each other out, pay attention to what's going on and be ready as much as we can. We can't prepare for everything, but we can do our best to make plans and be alert to things.

[heyunderoos]

[Peter for his part is still warily watching their surroundings, tense and waiting for something to happen. The fact it isn't doesn't make Peter feel any better as he walks with Jager.]

Yeah, that is- the best we can do. Its still frustrating since... I dunno, we're supposed to be safe here? Now everyone here and out there are probably in danger.

[Peter wants to help, but he knows he can't, which only makes him more frustrated with himself.]

[bloodalwaystells]

I think it's going to get worse before it gets better, unfortunately. And I don't think ADI quite knows how to handle it yet.

[If ever. The harsh reality is that the horrors in this world are big, and that's hard to come to terms with. The idea that no place is really safe in the way they'd like it to be.

But Jaeger's trying to hold onto some small hope, some small refuge. For his own sake as much as the others.]

It's not a good situation, but there's a lot about this world that's troubling. To say the least.

Is this place a big change for you, from your world?

[heyunderoos]

So, I guess we're the ones just figuring it out with them? [Peter speculates back. He's still getting his footing here and thrown off by what they can do.

It doesn't feel like they can do anything.]

Yeah, kinda sorta- normally I can... do more. [He's not sure how to explain or if he should.]

[bloodalwaystells]

[It frustrates Jaeger, too, the sense that things are so immense that they can't really tackle them. He's used to problems that he can do something about, even if the solution is direct and brutal.]

Gathering as much information as we can is the first step of any operation. Going in blind, you might get lucky but it's nothing to count on.

[He shines the light around, just to make sure their perimeter is clear, before coming up the front walkway toward the door. Inside is cloaked in gloom, but he can fix that quickly enough. It's coastal Massachusetts and of course he's ready for a blizzard or hurricane. Or other, more sinister power outage.]

It's already sort of obvious, but I'm guessing you lived an...exciting life back home.

[Especially if he was involved in any way with Tony.]