hadriel_logs | Event Log: End of Arc 2

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Event Log: End of Arc 2

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.

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[Barry can't sleep.

He's supposed to, but he just can't.

Never mind the screaming and sounds of combat outside the temple walls, never mind the occasional rumble underneath his feet of powerful machines patrolling the streets, never mind the shortage of food and medical equipment as the most severely injured take priority over the rest. Never mind the bodies.

Barry just can't get the image of Taako out of his head. Every time he closes his eyes, he can see him. Struggling to breathe. Bleeding out. Even though he knows Taako will make it - he has to, that fucking rock brought him back, he's going to be okay - knowing he's in pain is killing him.

There's no wonder Lup can't rest either. They're both still covered in her brother's blood.]

Hey. [He keeps his voice down as he sits down next to her, already pulling his cloak off so he can gingerly drape it over her shoulders. He doesn't feel too bad interrupting her meditation - he can tell it's not a productive one.]

What do y'need? Talk t'me, Lup.

I've seen my brother die before, Barry. [It happens purely on instinct. Lup's mouth presses together into a thin line, voice coming out too sharply, tone pained but pushing out mad to cover up the hurt.] I'm fine.

[But the realization hits her just as fast, a whiplash of a mood swing, Lup's expression shifting to apologetic as she turns to meet his eyes. It's just been so long since she's been comforted, since she's had to deal with real emotions with anyone actually around to lay witness. She's been alone for so long, sometimes the elf forgets that she doesn't have to be anymore.

Lup's eyes look wet as she reaches out to rest a hand on his arm, wanting Barry close. She was without him for so long, the last thing Lup wants is to push him away when they've only just been reunited.]

Sorry, [she mumbles, dragging Barry's cloak closer around her shoulders before she's leaning into his chest.] Didn't mean to go all bitch on you. This isn't your fault. It's just...

[She doesn't have to say it. Barry was there, he's as much of family to Taako as anyone possibly could be. But Lup sucks in a deep breath and speaks anyway.] Just can't get it out of my head. [It should have been her. Lup would have come back immediately, lich form slipping from her broken body like it was nothing. But if Taako hadn't had that stupid rock on him, he would have just been gone. Maybe even permanently.]

[Barry won't lie. That hurts. They fight on occasion, of course, like any couple, but he will never ever get used to hearing that sharp, angry tone of Lup's voice directed at him. Even though he knows she doesn't mean it. It still hurts, right in the pit of his stomach, sour and heavy.

He doesn't let that put distance between them though, immediately wrapping his arm around her shoulder and pulling her close as soon as she looks like she'll let him.] It's okay. It's okay, Lup, I... I'm sorry.

[He can't ever fully understand her anguish right now, of course. But he has an idea. Taako is his family too. He loves him. And he just saw him die again. It never gets any easier. His voice is small when he speaks next, words muffled in Lup's hair.] I can't either. I... I still see him wh-when I close my eyes. I know it's not...

[He stops himself as he feels his voice catching, his eyes burning with tears he refuses to shed. Lup doesn't need his excuses right now, and certainly shouldn't need to comfort him. She's the one suffering. His hold on her tightens, arms strong and protective around her slight form.] He's gonna be okay. Taako's tough, he... h-he's had worse.

[Maybe it's not exactly what she needs, but the emotion in Barry's voice drags Lup's attention out of her own spiraling thoughts and onto him instead, which is a much better distraction than just sitting here seeing Taako's bloody body behind her eyelids. Barry's voice is soft and tender, full of the emotion she loves him for, so Lup slips a hand up to cup his cheek fondly, keeping him close.

The reminder that her brother's been through worse coaxes a wet laugh out of Lup. That's the honest truth. She thinks of the dream the two twins had shared, one of the many they'd walked through together during that awful event a month ago, where she'd seen the horror of Glamour Springs firsthand. Dying just couldn't compare to that.] I know. Toughest guy there is behind you. [which is said like it's fact. it's what she believes.]

His stupid rock kept him from kickin' it. Idiot'll be fine.

[It doesn't erase her worry and guilt for not having kept her brother safe in the first place, but Lup will shake it off, just like she does anything else.]

[Barry closes his eyes as Lup's hand touches his face, and he lets the sound of her voice ground him, keeping him from straight up sobbing against her, like he wants to. He can feel his throat closing up with emotion already. It's fine, though. Taako will be fine. Taako will be fine.

Taako will be fine.

'Toughest guy there is behind you.' Yeah, right. Barry doesn't feel tough. Barry feels useless. Helpless. He couldn't help Taako back there, he couldn't help Lup back there, he can't help Lup now. He's just sitting there, arm around her, in tears thinking about his brother-in-law being in pain. What is Kravitz going to say? Will they all even make it out of here?

They have to. Barry takes a deep breath, his throat burning, and tightens his grip on Lup. He needs to take care of her right now.]

What d'you need right now? Tell me. I wanna make sure y'get some rest.

[Taako will be fine. They all will be.

With Barry here, so hurt and barely able to keep his emotions in check, it's so much easier for Lup to push everything else away. She'll catch up with Kravitz later after she's had a few moments to breathe, just to let him know what's going on, to reassure him that Taako's still kicking. And she can deal with her own shit later too, to beat down the guilt still pressing so heavily into her chest.

Her soft smile doesn't quite reach her eyes, but Lup huffs out a laugh.] Can you just straight up knock me out? Might work best.

[Barry laughs too then, a soft choked sound. He can't quite stop the tears from falling down his cheeks, but he's quick to wipe them away, keeping a smile on his face so he won't start bawling.]

No c-can do. Taako would obliterate my ass.

[He sniffles, shifting and adjusting so she can rest more comfortably against him. She really needs to relax some way or another, she's completely wiped. And he knows her well enough that she won't appreciate having to cry it out while here in public. That's not how Lup works through her problems.] D'you uh, want me t'help you meditate? I can tell you a story o-or somethin'. Start reciting decimals of pi.

Boo. And I ask for so little...

[Barry sniffs and Lup's mouth twists into a pout, but she shifts to rest against him, appreciating the comfort just being near him provides. She moves against him without thinking, her face pressing against his neck, a hand twisting carefully into his shirt. His warmth, his smell, all of it gives Lup a touch of the comfort she so needs right now. She's not quite close to resting yet, but at least this is one step nearer to their goal.]

A story? You gonna try your hand at Luce's job and lay down a sick story for me, babe? I'd love to hear that.

Heh, nah. I couldn't ever... [Lucretia's storytelling is beyond anything Barry could accomplish. Thinking about Lucretia just makes him sad, so. He tries not to.

His arm around her pulls her close, draping the cloak around her like a blanket so she'll have some warmth. Now to think of a story. Something to distract her, take her mind off today's battles and traumas. What does he even have to tell? Is there anything fun, anything interesting he has to impart? His imagination is much too poor to spin something completely new, but... he did spend over a decade separated from her.]

... When I was lookin' for you, I uh. I tried my hand at a bunch of new stuff. Did y'know I can sword-fight now? [He laughs softly.] I mean, I couldn't remember a bunch of stuff, like... a lot of my magic was just gone, 'cause we'd taught ourself so much of it durin' our research, you know? But uh, in one of the towns along the Sword Coast - I think it was Daggerford, I was followin' a lead about a glassing around Serpent Hills - I took a job from this dwarf lookin' to bolster the town militia. She was a real hard-ass. Great with a sword, though. Taught me everything she knew over a couple months. Lost almost twenty pounds just from trainin'.

Didn't last long, 'course. I died in th'winter when a tribe of hobgoblins decided to invade. I could fight alright, but couldn't dodge for shit. [Barry smiles softly at the memory.] Then it was back into th'tank for a while. I was so mad at myself for gettin' distracted for that long, but at least I learned a new skill. I could teach ya sometime.

[Lup isn't quite sure what exactly she was expecting to hear, but this was so not even close.

If Barry's goal is to make her pass out via boredom, he's already failed. Though Lup's pressed tightly against him, her head resting at his shoulder with his cloak draped over her slender frame, her head is tilted upwards and focused intently on his face. It hurts the same way it always does to talk about their years apart, to hear about the memories that their whole family had lost. They'd all worked so hard to get stronger over the course of their century together, decades upon decades spent on honing magical ability, that hearing it had been wiped away like nothing always leaves such a bitter taste on Lup's tongue.

Barry's story perks up quickly though, the hurt swirling in Lup's belly quickly disappearing under a look of genuine awe spreading across her face.]

Holy shit, you're such a badass. I've gotta see you in action, Bar. Like, the second all this robot shit is done. [The imagery floating through her head is simply fantastic.] I bet you look totally hot with a big ol' sword in hand. I am all about this now. Sign me up for lessons.

[Her sweet, nerdy lich boyfriend multi-classing as a fighter? God, that's hot.]

You must've met a ton of people in your travels. Any other stand out figures? Anyone I get to meet someday?

W-Well, I dunno about badass exactly...

[Barry chuckles shyly, grinning a little into her hair. It feels good, hearing his wife saying he's cool, a hot sword-wielding badass. He hadn't felt like much of one when a hobgoblin had made a shish kebab out of him and a fellow fighter. But he did feel pretty cool wielding a longsword...

At least he's distracted her a little bit from thinking about Taako. Good. He can keep this thread going, entertain her a little. At some point, his stories will get boring enough to hopefully put her to sleep.]

U-Uh, well... I met some folks, yeah. Mostly necromancers and eldritch warlocks, y'know, the usual. [His tone suggests that really was the usual at the time. His long, lonely months as a lich were sometimes spent outside of his magically bolstered cave, gathering rumors from unsavory folks in dark magic circles. Not really the best types for socializing.]

Made some contacts in Neverwinter, good people. There's Addison, he's this ranger I traveled with for a while, swear he could hit a rabbit through the eye with an arrow from a mile away. Then there's Tess and Wallace and Miranda, they played a lot of th'pubs in the River District, let me play piano with'em on and off. Sweet girls.

I uh, met this guy Sildar in Waterdeep, mercenary fella. We traveled together for a long time, he's th'one who brought me to Neverwinter, 'cause he was meetin' a client. Introduced me to the Rockseekers. Worked for them for a while. Sildar was a good dude. Handsome. [That admission comes with a very quiet, very bashful little laugh.]

The usual, [Lup repeats with a grin, her eyes crinkling up at him, fondness shining through her weariness. She understand more of what he'd been through now than when they'd first reunited, knows the long stretches of time he'd spent alone, always searching for information that could lead him to her. Even when he'd thought she was dead, he'd never given up the hunt for her, never allowed himself to just move on with his life.

But for all his time alone, it warms Lup to know it wasn't always that way. He'd met plenty of folks on the road, people who had all brought a little something into his life while he'd been so lost. If it was anyone else but Barry, Lup would be a little jealous considering how alone she'd been for well over a decade, but because it's her husband, her heart swells at each story. She honestly hopes she'll get the chance to meet them all one day.

Lup's just about to make fun of the mercenary's name when Barry's soft admission slips out. She arches an eyebrow up at him from where she's curled at his shoulder, curious.] Handsome, huh? Should I be jealous?

Edited 2017-12-26 21:13 (UTC)

Nah, y'shouldn't. It wasn't anything.

[Barry tightens his hold on Lup then, pulling her body against his in a warm hug as he thinks back on his time with Sildar. He'd been so lonely back then. Achingly lonely. Even when he was with company, he was lonely. Every night he'd go to bed alone, somehow knowing deep in his bones it was wrong for the space next to him to be empty.

Few people had tempted him as much as the mercenary from Waterdeep, with the kind eyes and the firms hands and the stories of heroism and daring. But every night around the crackling campfire on their way to Neverwinter and later Phandalin, when Sildar would slip onto his bedroll and Barry would feel a near-visceral pull deep in his gut to join him, to feel someone's body pressed against his own, he'd thumb the strange little coin in his pocket. He'd remind himself of the words his own voice had spoken to him from the coin months prior. He'd feel the dull throbbing of his heart in his chest, heavy with loss, with a longing he couldn't even come close to understanding. A longing for someone he'd never met, who he didn't know, but that he knew he loved without question. Whoever they were, Barry knew they were out there somewhere, because he'd reassured himself as much. Their heart was also heavy with longing. They missed him like he missed them.

Even though he hadn't been with her for twelve long years, even when he couldn't remember her, Barry never once strayed.]

'Sides, never met anybody back then who even came close t'ya. [Barry smiles at her, tired and anxious but warm with love, running a big hand gently over her cheek, her ear.] No one in the whole world like you, Lup. And I mean, I looked, y'know? Looked fuckin' everywhere, and there's not a one. Only th'original.

[Barry's hand runs across her cheek and Lup's quick to press her own against it, cupping his palm to her face and holding him there against her, just reveling in the familiar warmth that was so distinctly Barry. It's been weeks now since his arrival, but she still can't get over the fact that he's really there with her. It feels like the very best kind of dream.

The elf leans into his touch, quiet and surprisingly calm, before she's peering up at Barry, the slightest of smiles curling at her mouth.] Duh, I coulda told you that, Bluejeans. I'm a real one of a kind gal. Not easily imitated.

[Lup wishes that she had more stories to tell Barry, about people she'd met and worked with or new places across the world she'd traveled to. But she'd been trapped, completely alone for years upon years, with nothing to look at but the same curtained walls. After a full century of running, it made sense to finally look forward to settling down and be disgustingly domestic once the Hunger was defeated, but Lup's aching to travel and see all of the places she'd only heard of, to finally meet all of the people who'd played such a role in the journeys her boys had taken. She wants it all.]

He's still kickin' it, right? You've gotta introduce me to this handsome guy. I'll put in a good word for you.

[Lup's hand covers his, and Barry gently runs his thumb along her finger, tiny caresses that come automatically, even after all this time. She looks calmer. More at ease. Beautiful. Barry smiles, voice soft when he speaks.] Y'sure are.

[That's a hard question to answer, especially since Barry kind of left Faerûn in the middle of a Hunger strike. Would anyone he made friends with still be alive when he returns? He decides not to dwell on that thought.]

He should be. Left him in Neverwinter right before I went t'work for that Gundren guy. [And promptly died like a week later when the Gauntlet went off. Barry grins down at Lup, relieved that they can have a quietly playful, jokey tone even as the city outside is ravaged by an invading force. If anyone's learned to have a sense of humor even when the world is ending, it's the Starblaster crew. Force of habit, perhaps.]

Yeah, you would? Think I have a shot with him? I mean, he's real good-lookin'... I dunno if someone like that would be into me at all.

[Ugh, Barry's tone of voice mixed with those gentle, affectionate touches alway ground Lup better than anything. She closes her eyes at his agreement, humming against his touch.] My guy has such a way with words.

[Ah yes. Gundren. Lup's not a very big fan of that particular dwarf family, alright. Keep the Rockseekers far, far away from her.] Well, if he's anywhere near as baller as your adorable blushing suggests he is, I'm sure he's fine. Probably wondering where the cute guy in denim's been. And don't even play, Bar! You know exactly how crazy your ass in those jeans makes everyone. I bet you were just slayin' all over Faerun without me there to share the limelight with.

[It's just silly nonsense, nothing really significant or meaningful, but the banter loosens the impossible weight against Lup's chest, making her heart feel just the slightest bit lighter than it had. Taako's going to be fine. They're all going to make it out of this alive.]

[Lup saying that just makes Barry blush harder, which he's pretty sure was her intention. She's always made a point of commenting on his blushing - which is honestly like 84% of the time he's around her anyway - just to see him get redder, the way the flush spreads up to his receding hairline, over the tips of his ears, down his neck. She'd make a game out of it, back on the ship. Some things thankfully never change.]

I know how crazy this ass in these jeans makes you. That's all I care about. [He grins, gently poking Lup in her side.] When we get outta here, I'll take ya t'meet everyone. You and Taako. Everybody.

[He presses a lingering kiss to her forehead, holding her close.] We're gonna make it, and we're gonna get outta here. All of us. Okay?

Edited (forgot one (1) sentence lol) 2018-01-04 10:21 (UTC)

[It's all that she's ever needed to hear.

Since arriving in Hadriel for a second time, thoughts of leaving hadn't necessarily been at the forefront of Lup's mind. Her friends had all seemed content to just stay as long as they were made to, seeing this world as a mini-vacation from the very immediate danger they'd all been in back home. Hadriel was a prison, sure, but at least it was one where Lup could be with her brother and her family, trapped but together.

But there's something that sets the woman on fire about Barry's words. He's so determined to get them home, to figure out how the door in this place works, to find out everything he can to save them all. It's inspiring. It makes Lup want to rise up with him and do better.

She leans into his kiss, humming happily, the images of Taako's mangled body far from her mind.] All of us. You're gonna have to make some magic happen to get me a body back once we leave. But if anyone can, it's you. I'm not too worried. We're also due for a very serious convo with Taako's guy, but we'll handle it when the time comes.

Y'know, I think I have a solution for that very thing. [It's a plan he'd formulated years and years ago, one of countless many, should he ever find Lup in her lich form back home. If they get out of here, if they survive the Hunger, Barry is about 98% sure he can grow Lup a brand new body before too long.] Taako's fella, well uh. We'll just have t'get creative.

[He's relieved to feel her relaxing against him, making jokes, finding some sort of peace in their own little bubble away from the chaos. Everyone around them are exhausted, hurting, scared. No one knows what tomorrow will bring. For some, there won't be a tomorrow. Barry tries not to think about that. For now, what matters is the moment, the respite they can find in each other's arms, no matter how temporary. He'll cling to this feeling for as long as he can.

They're gonna be okay.

He kisses the top of Lup's head.] Think you'll be able t'meditate a little while?

[Lup tips her chin to meet Barry's gaze briefly, eyebrows arched curiously up towards her hairline, but she settles back against him without asking for more details. True to her word, she trusts him absolutely. If he says he's already formulating a plan to get her body back, Lup's content to leave it all in his very capable hands.

Barry's always been resourceful and endlessly brilliant, two of the many qualities that had initially caught her interest all those years ago, but it's impossible to deny how much he's had to toughen himself up in her absence. From what she's heard so far, the man's been pushing boundaries all across Faerûn in his effort to find her. If anyone has the smarts and is willing to do whatever it takes to meet his goal, it's her husband. He'll find a way.]

Yeah, cha' girl's ready for a big, ol' nap. [Lup presses her head against him, a slender arm slipping around his back so she can cuddle up just perfectly at his side. They've survived worse than this. A dozen years ripped from each other and alone. A few stupid robots don't even come close.] Just stick with me, will ya? You're way more comfy.

[Reaching meditation in public spaces has always been difficult without the familiar presence of her brother watching over her, but with Barry there, his big body enveloping her in his comforting warmth, Lup's not too worried. She feels more at home than she's felt in a very long time.]

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Event Log: End of Arc 2

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