Event Log: End of Arc 2

[hadrielmods]

Who: All characters
What: The event log for the End of Arc 2
Where: All over the city
When: November 25th-December 12th
Warnings: A full-scale battle, including character death, NPC death, and various other ways to suffer

It was bound to happen. The Null warned you, after all, and this has been building for awhile - and now it's here. First comes the initial attack, the agents of the Null attacking Hope's temple. Then, an SOS, warning the city of what's happened: a betrayal, and Hope being injured. Luckily for everyone, thanks to the actions of his guards Hope survives the attack. Unluckily, his attacker, the goddess Delight, escapes and lets the Null in.

Flooding into the cave, the Null will attack anyone who they believe is resisting them. They'll destroy buildings and deploy dangerous crowd control weapons, in addition to their sheer strength and speed. Confusion empties the monsters in the tunnels into the city, to help distract the Null. Some gods fight, others provide safe havens, but everyone is in danger.

After about a week and a half of the attack, Fear summons enough power to teleport the city. This stops any new Null from arriving through the tunnels, but the remaining Null must be hunted down and destroyed, or else they'll signal their location to the rest of their species. The danger will lessen as Null are taken out, but things won't really be safe until Fear moves the city again, so don't get too comfortable.

What will you do? Run and hide? Fight? Help the fighters? Turn on the gods yourself? Whatever you do, it's time to make a decision.

► This log covers November 25th-December 12th.
► Feel free to make your own logs, as well
► Please tag headers of threads with content warnings where they apply
► Please put your character's name and open/closed in the subject line of your starters!
► If you get taken out by the Null, please let us know here.

Comments

Curufin Fëanorion | OTA and some closed starters

[so_dark_a_road]

[ General plans and timeline are here. If you need to plot anything in particular with me, PM me at Curufin's journal or plurk me at tangyminx. (Feel free to add me!) ]

11/25 -- Hope's temple (open, but especially looking for Luke Skywalker)

Curufin and other reinforcements arrive at the temple in response to Henry's emergency call, and though the scene is dire, their efforts are not entirely in vain. Ikaruga fights with Delight, who absconds, and Hope proves to be injured but not killed. But very soon, the Null whom Delight has summoned to back her up arrive and surround the temple. Curufin runs down the steps and charges into the mass of them, sword drawn, his energies sparkling and crackling along the blade as a faint blue flame. The Null have steel carapaces, but Curufin's blade is Elvish steel, forged from meteoric iron and further endowed with Curufin's spells. It turns out he can puncture the synthetics' central processors and disable his foes.

But he does not lose awareness of those who fight beside him, and during a pause in the Nulls' onslaught, he grins and calls to his companion in the fight. "They're just tin cans after all!"


11/25 -- At an unknown location is the city (closed to Yukari)

After the first horrendous battle with the Null for control of Hope's temple, Curufin races through the city, looking for his friends and family -- and also, for his partner, with whom he began to reconcile before this mess began. As he is now near the city center, he begins to look in all the places Yukari be likely to be found.


11/30 to 12/5 -- Anywhere in the city; mayhem, blood and guts (open)

As the Null begin to destroy buildings and installations, Curufin finds himself battling day and night. Elves are very durable and they don't need much sleep, so he suffers less from fatigue than a mortal would. But still, it is hard. He has multiple responsibilities and they frequently are in opposition to one another. But somehow, he manages to fight the Null wherever they are; respond to calls from other Guardsmen; help the Clinic staff and patients get to Love's hotsprings; keep an eye on the Firehouse, which has been opened as a temporary refuge, a backup to the others; direct people to the various refuges; and take his turn protecting the Elfhouses and Delight's Housing.


12/5 -- the city as Fear transports Hadriel to a new location and after (open)

Curufin staggers and holds onto the nearest wall or grips the nearest support as Fear wrenches Hadriel out of the planetary substrate and moves it in some amazing and possibly sorcerous fashion. To Curufin's Elvish perception, there is thunder in the air and a mighty rushing sound, as though the cave were rocking on a typhoon wind, like a ship, and traveling at tremendous speed.


12/12 -- Hadriel after the next move, at its new aboveground location (open)

Curufin steps out into the open air for the first time in a year. At first, he can't believe his eyes, his nose, or his brain. There is a sky above, a real one. There is grass under his feet, soft and meadow-like. There is a brilliant star in the heavens, a sun, and it pours its light over everything. Strangely, the first thing he does is dig in his satchel for his reed flute. He sits down on the grass and begins to play a lively, poignant tune.

/Gently changes this to December 2nd

[fracturedbeauty]

Yukari's orders from Atem had been relatively simple - Protect the populace, incapacitate as needed, and don't die. For the Mercenary, this should have been easy. But... well, the Null were proving to be much more complicated than he had anticipated. He'd already gotten injured during his combat - taken to the back of his right leg. If it weren't for Atem, honestly, he might already have been dead.

But here he is, now, just in the distance of Fear's Temple. Carrying on, despite that injury. He has to do his best; he promised Curufin after all. And he stands, after quite a bit of hassle he'd been having with one of his enemies, next to the husk of a Null, shattering its motherboard with Ayamachi.

He gives a huff and clicks his tongue. He has to admit, even these are more difficult to dispose of than a King. His most offensive Aura had very little effect, and his Colourless didn't do too terribly much to keep him and others protected for very long. It's frustrating.

Still, there seems to be a reprieve. For a moment, that's the last of the Null in his nearby vicinity. He can breathe and recompose himself before he has to continue fighting. Sweat, blood (not necessarily his own), and dirt smudge his complexion, with tears to show along his jacket and clothing. Normally, this would be a crime against beauty, but there have to be exceptions to the rule. He doesn't bother to rub any of the grime away. What would be the point?

Without sheathing his sword, he starts walking away from the husk, focusing on hiding his injury as best as he can, moving flawlessly despite the pain. He has to appear strong, he won't resign yet. Not until this war is over, or until he meets his death. Maybe he should go find Curufin, make sure that he's still alive. That'll rejuvenate him to know that the man he cares for is still alright. Give him a little more strength, a little more determination, a little more resolve.

12/2 it is, then!

[so_dark_a_road]

Curufin has been battling Null in the area of Spire 3, and having decimated his share of them, he wipes his sweaty brow and takes a look around to see if any of the other fighters are injured or need help. No one is or does, luckily. But one of them mentions that some of this wave of Null were seen heading off toward's Fear's temple. Curufin whacks off a few Null arms for Alphys, stuffs them in his satchel, and trots off in the indicated direction.

He is as tattered-looking as all the resistance fighters are, his fatigue showing even through the fierce emanation of First Age Elvish energy and drive. His hair is hastily and messily braided back to keep it out of his eyes. He's been patched up a few times, but the bandages don't show under his clothing. Only a few scrapes on his wrists and forearms are visible. He is positively clanking with weapons -- having figured out how to hang the firearms as well as the sword on the back of his sword harness.

As he nears the temple, he spots the mercenary. There is still some ambiguity about their exact relationship, but just before this disaster began, they seems to be moving towards reconciliation, and Curuifn is very, very glad to see him. He smiles.

"Well met, Yukari! How are you faring?"

[fracturedbeauty]

Yukari doesn't return the smile, unfortunately. He's still having issues finding himself even worthy of Curufin's presence. It doesn't mean he's any less grateful that Curufin showed up, though. If only to see that the Elf is alright.

"I am doing well enough, Curufin-sama. Hopefully, you're doing alright. I'm sorry I haven't had much of the time to come fight by your side. Orders from my King, after all."

Yukari resists the urge to lean against a nearby wall in the desire to alleviate his leg; he's afraid it'll reveal that he's injured. He doesn't want Curufin to worry, or worse, send him to safety. And Yukari's determined to stay on the battlefield, both for orders and Curufin.

So, instead, he just sets a hand on his hip, putting his weight on his uninjured leg.

"What brings you here, then? A request for assistance, perhaps?"

[so_dark_a_road]

Even without an answering smile from Yukari, Curufin's expression does not diminish in its gladness.

"Well enough, huh? Okay, I'll believe you, for the moment." That jaunty posture, hand on hip, doesn't quite comport with the situation. Yukari looks like hell, and the cheerful mercenary routine isn't really working. But Curufin too is terrible about admitting he's injured, and so he's not impatient with Yukari for being the same. "I'm all right myself. And you don't need to apologize. What matters to me is that you and I are fighting on the same side, even if not on the same part of the battlefield. You've agreed to follow your King's commands, and so you must keep your word. I am proud of you for that."

"I came to Spire 3 in response to a call for help, but I and others have taken care of that. And then I heard that something might be happening over towards Fear's temple, so I came over to see. Besides, I was looking for you. I just needed to see you, even if only for a few minutes."

[so_dark_a_road]

And that is Yukari's sweetness, right there. Even with his strength so drained and his life endangered, he makes the effort to reassure Curufin that he will hang on. And in the hotsprings refuge, he reaches to touch Curufin's chest, to signal the same again. Curufin takes that hand in his and squeezes it to keep his lover focused, to keep him here. If worst comes to worst, he'll wait in Hope's temple for him, but he hopes he will not have to.

When Yukari is carried off to surgery, Curufin looks around for a place to sit, and since chairs are a bit scarce, he sits down on the floor against a wall, out of the way of foot or gurney traffic.

He must look a little woebegone, with his black hair disordered and his face grimy from the fighting and Yukari's blood still on his shirt. One of the staff brings him coffee and tells him what little they know at this point about Yukari's condition. He's badly hurt, but he's a fighter, and he's holding his own.

Hours later, they come to tell him that Yukari made it through, and that Curufin can come and see him. The Elf jumps to his feet and follows.

The staffer ushers him into a tiny cubicle surrounded by white cotton curtains, and brings him a chair. Yukari is lying on a cot, bandaged and covered with a sheet. Curufin doesn't sit down yet; instead, he comes to Yukari's bedside and leans over and brushes that pale forehead with his lips. It is the gentlest of kisses.

[fracturedbeauty]

Yukari halfway stirs when those lips touch his forehead, giving a soft groan as his eyes flicker open briefly. Everything looks blurry, but he doesn't have to guess who the man caressing him is. There's only one person that would. And Yukari's lips give just a faint smile.

"You're safe." Either that, or they're both dead and this is some sort of afterlife, right?

And then he remembers assuring Curufin that he wasn't going anywhere, faintly trying to hold on. And then he realises where he really is, and he tries to reach out a hand to brush his fingers against Curufin's face, clumsy as he is in this exhausted, medicated state.

"I'm still here. I held on, just as I promised." You don't have to worry anymore.

He's sorry for worrying him. But, even more so, he's satisfied. He saved Curufin, which was all he wanted from this war. It was all he begged for back in the beginning. And Yukari pulled through, when he thought it was the end. Until Hope would be able to resurrect him again. But here they both are.

This is better than he could have hoped for.

"I'm afraid I might have to sit the rest of this war out." He knows he can't fight like this. And he knows Curufin will continue to fight. And so he tries to offer a faint laugh, but the faint pain that sears acrost his chest reminds him how bad that injury was. "Can you stay safe for me? Just come back alive. That's all I ask."

That icon above is so adorable! What a cutie Yukari is! XD

[so_dark_a_road]

Curufin looks down into those sweet amber eyes and smiles into them. "Yes, I'm safe. You took care of that."

When Yukari touches his face, Curufin reaches up to enclose those questing fingers in his own.

"As you promised," he murmurs, squeezing Yukari's hand gently. It is a ghostly echo of the words he spoke to Yukari those many months ago in Hope's temple, but this time, the words are spoken with no hesitation, no withholding of affection. The Elf's face says it all: his love is very great, and he is joyful to have Yukari back, alive and on the road to recovery.

Here they both are, and it is good beyond measure.

"If you have to stay here for the duration of the fighting, don't worry. You've done your work well. I am proud of you and I think Atem will be, too. And don't worry about me. I don't intend to be felled by any of those miserable androids. I mean to come back alive, and in fact, I'll come back as often as I can, just so that you can see and know that I am alive, and still with you, my dear one."

He leans down again and this time he kisses Yukari's lips softly.

11/30 after the clinic falls

[hot_mes]

Everything else he's done today has taken a considerable toll, Law no longer has the stamina to use his ability at all. Fortunately, as he stumbles his way through the streets, he spots someone he knows and trusts - ironically, after shooting him. He knows full well the elf is a capable fighter.

"Curufin-ya!" he yells as he changes direction to catch up. "You got a moment?"

[so_dark_a_road]

Curufin also has done quite a bit of fighting today, including at the Clinic, and has been helping people get to Love's hotsprings or other places of their choice. He turns around when he hears Trafalgar Law calling his name, and stops. Law is actually one of his favorite people, despite or even a little bit because of the paintball match. A good opponent can be a good friend, too.

"Law! Yes, I have a moment. What's up?"

[hot_mes]

Law still looks all around them as he catches up, breathing hard. It really sucks that the Null are actually machines, he can't sense them coming unless they move into sight. "I need something from my apartment," he says with a nod toward one of the spires. "But there's too many of them between here and there. I could use a hand cutting a path."

Re: Curufin Fëanorion | Re Starter for Luke

[farmboyjedi]

"Really not unlike a few things I've had to face back home." he said. "Although it wasn't as common as it used to be. During the Clone Wars, there were military droids all over, i've heard."

He's curious about the blade, occasionally glancing at it, though he has to keep his attention on the Null for the most part. "Your blade reminds me a bit of my own...perhaps if mine were physical rather than energy. It's quite a weapon."

[so_dark_a_road]

"I suppose so, from what you and Anakin have told me about your world! You both called them droids. Seems a good appellation."

He smiles when Luke admires the Elven sword.

"Thanks, Luke. I forged it myself, and it's been with me since I journeyed with my family to Middle-earth. It was with me when I died. A very faithful blade. And yes, even though its a physical weapon, it is highly responsive to the will of the wielder and it carries his energies."

"I've been watching you wield your light saber, by the way. I don't think I could ever get tired of that. You are quite the swordsman, and would be even without the energy weapon, I am convinced."

[farmboyjedi]

Luke listened to him talk, occasionally nodding. "Perhaps there is a similarity to them in a way." he said.

"Thanks...I've often wondered about it...I didn't have a lot of formal training. I'm glad to hear you say that."

sometime around 12/1

[pocketspa]

Taako would strongly prefer not to be doing as much fighting as he is- he's trying mostly to protect his family, but with most of them on the Null's direct hit list, that's becoming a struggle. He's separated off from Lup to draw them different directions, but he's still running down the street with at least four Null hot on his tail.

He spins on his heel, pulling his umbrella-shaped staff off his waist and firing off three red-hot rays, slamming into one Null each, but it misses their central processors and therefore only stalls them for a moment so he can gain a little distance.

Looks like he could use some help, if Curufin's got a hand to spare.

[so_dark_a_road]

Curufin sees the running Elf with the three irate Null on his tail and swerves from his path to assist him.

The running Elf points his staff at the Null and delays them with those red rays of whatever energy that is, but it does not put them down.

Curufin pulls his rifle from behind his shoulder, aims, and fires at the dead-center of the Null's bodies. One, two, three shots. He's seen with this particular type that the processor is in their middles, and he's dug a few out, so he knows the exact spot.

[pocketspa]

His head swivels as the shots fire, seeing-- oh, hey, that's an elf he's never seen before. How many elves are there in this city, anyway? They keep coming out of the woodwork. Regardless, he doesn't quite have time to contemplate while the Null are still running, and he's got a finisher.

He turns behind him, and out of the air right behind them, a portal opens to a cold void. Suddenly, milky white tentacles shoot forth, grabbing at the disabled Null, ripping them to pieces before they have time to further react.

Taako, breathing a bit heavy still, turns towards Curufin, eyebrows raised a bit. "Nice shot there. I mean, I could'a gotten it, but it's cool, it's cool."

did someone say mayhem?

[bythewaves]

It's not like fighting Balrogs - less fire - nor like fighting dragons - too small. But war is war, and the elves were students of the inventor of war, and they learnt very well.

Maglor never did get around to signing up with the guard - but in battle he cares more for his family then he does for the city as a whole. When Curufin falters, he is there, a deadly, vicious shadow. His hands shake - the Null armor grows thicker with every itineration, until it's as much will as much as blade that allows Maglor to cut through them - and his hands hurt so much. But he won't fall, not while his family still need him.

yessss

[so_dark_a_road]

Curufin stumbles in the midst of a battle, struck by a Null's appendage, and suddenly there is Maglor tearing up their enemies -- just as it was in the old days, when they fought for most of six hundred years together. One brother supported the other, and they were so attuned to one another that they scarcely needed a word exchanged to be in agreement about tactics.

Curufin catches his balance, whirls around, and helps Maglor finish off the offending Null.

He grins at his brother afterwards: a big, brilliant smile full of affection for Maglor and savagery for their enemies. There is blood leaking down from his hair, where the Null hit him. But he doesn't seem fazed by this at all. He swings around and looks to see if any more Null are coming.

[bythewaves]

Maglor smiles back, reaches a hand to wipe the blood out of Curufin's eyes with a free hand - they're shaking, both of them, but there's no time to stop for more than a moment's breath.

"Let me tie your hair back out of your eyes."

11/30

[requiemshark]

Ephemera loses time. Ends up in different parts of the city and can't remember how he got there. Finds himself missing ammo as well, and wondering if he's killed someone or just hurt them. It feels like an excuse that he can't remember. The Null wormed their way into his head like it was nothing and just set up show.

On it goes.

He runs into Curufin by accident. But here's there and the Null are ready - they don't seem to sleep or stop - and he's firing his pistol before he can think to shout a warning.

[so_dark_a_road]

Curufin is hastening along one of the paths he takes between the buildings to get from one part of the battlefield to another while not being visible from a distance. There are no Null on his tail at the moment, and none near him. But suddenly there is Ephemera, and he is lifting his weapon and firing. . . at Curufin.

Curufin flings himself sideways as he sees the gun go up, but he is not fast enough to avoid getting creased across the upper part of his left arm. Blood begins to flow, darkening his sleeve.

"What the hell?"

city;

[restinglichface]

[The individual battles against the Null aren't much, but the sheer numbers of them are simply overwhelming. By the time that Lup meets up with Curufin on the battlefield, she's looking a little weary and worn down, a deep cut across her forehead, the knees of her pants matted with blood and dirt. But she spies the other elf and grins just the same, whipping a fireball to life at the tips of her fingers and hurling it for the Null closest to Curufin.

The robot stutters as it's processor is incinerated, before collapsing to the ground, lifeless.]

Booyah!

[so_dark_a_road]

[ Curufin is just bringing his sword around for a cut at the Null, when the fireball smacks right into its central processor and that essential device flames out. Lup is looking as battered as you might expect, considering how enthusiastic she is about fighting and how energetically she slams into the Null warriors. Curufin grins back at her. ]

Lup! I am pleased to see you. How is it going?

[restinglichface]

Oh, you know. [The hand that isn't flaming gives an exaggerated swipe across her brow, the elf feigning a huff like she's exhausted. Which she kind of is, but come on, this is still pretty fun.]

Burning through robots. Trying to keep all of Hadriel from collapsing. The ush. How's it going on your end? Music nights canceled until further notice?