Event Log: Null Attack

[hadrielmods]

Who: Everyone!
What: The event log for the Null Attack event
Where: All over the city
When: May 29th- ?
Warnings: None

What starts as a normal day will begin to herald in the beginning of the end. On May 29th, you might see something in the sky out of the corner of your eye- blink and you miss it, but there's definitely something there, something that's not any kind of animal you've ever seen. Now that you know to look, you may be paying closer attention to the sky in order to catch the next one that flies past- a ship. A ship that that seems to be designed in a way that might remind you of the Null themselves.

As the days pass, it becomes unmistakable- the Null are here and are scouting out the area. It's time to prepare for an immediate attack and start putting all those contingency plans to good use. Will you gear up for a fight and fall into formation? Will you close and lock your doors and stay inside? Or perhaps there's some other plan that you want to enact?

You'll have time to discuss that on the network later, but now you need to start reacting to the Null's actions- which are apparently to start building smaller encampments around the city as they try to find the way inside. Confusion is holding them at bay for now but it might be time to start building some defensive measures and fortifications, because she won't be able to keep them at bay forever.

When they break in, they do so in a big way- with a massive explosion at Confusion's temple that rattles throughout the entire city. It's obvious that something has happened- and what exactly that something is reveals itself shortly when Null begin to flood the city, having broken through Confusion's protection.

This is when the fight escalates to an all-out war. Nobody is spared, and they're watching everyone from above. What will you do? How will you keep the ones you love safe? How can anyone survive this? All you can do is fight back, all we can do is wait. Good luck, Hadriel.

► This log covers the entirety of the Null attack
► 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 are killed by the Null, please let us know here.

Comments

taako | ota

[pocketspa]

[Mostly what Taako wanted out of this was the map. Not that he couldn't get away from basically anything that was being tossed at him, of course- or at least that's what he'd admit to out loud. The last time these guys came through, he only survived death from a lucky break, and Kravitz wasn't so lucky. He may not give half a shit about the city, but he does care about a few people in here that he won't see die, so here he is doing this dumb shit like he's some kind of hero.

Really, what he's doing isn't so much guerrilla warfare as it is appointing himself the head of the Nuisance Committee. He takes to the jungle as a bird, circling around and memorizing patterns and info, and then carefully leads them into wherever the hell he wants them. Which is how you get him swooping down next to you before transforming back into himself with a wicked little grin on his face.]

Hey there's like, a bunch of those fuckers coming this way. You wanna do somethin' fun for this one or can I just like, super dunk on 'em?

[He looks like he has some sort of plan-- if you can call anything Taako does a plan.]

[ooc: Feel free to PM me or reach out at cancerously for additional plotting!]

[theladyofhighever]

[Mariane doesn't even bat an eyelash when Taako lands next to her and transforms from a bird back into himself. she's seen such things before, though Morrigan tended to prefer giant spiders.

[she's armed and ready, each blade equipped with a Grandmaster Frost Rune, a Grandmaster Paralysis Rune, and a Grandmaster Slow Rune. they seem to be helping so far, but she knows that eventually these things will learn to adapt.

she feels--almost exhilarated, being back in the thick of battle, so she smiles--actually smiles at Taako and says]

Why not both? Surely there's enough for each of us.

[pocketspa]

[Eeh, who needs spiders, right? Spiders can't fly. Fight him Morrigan lets pvp.

He's a little caught up in it to see her so excited though, and the enjoyment is infectious, not that he wasn't already super satisfied before.]

Psssh, I dunno, you've seen how much I can cover right? Because it's a lot. But if you wanna help play bait, I can get 'em all lined up for you.

[A long ear quirks upwards as he seems to hear something, and he turns noiselessly to peer into the brush. Without waiting for her response, he climbs a branch over, grinning across his face.]

Here, you go stand in the road, chaboy's got an idea.

[theladyofhighever]

[she would be greatly curious to see who would prevail.

it's strange. she'd gone through her first fifteen years expecting nothing more than a match with a suitably high ranking gentleman. then Duncan came and Howe attacked and her life was changed forever.

she supposes she'd gotten so used to fighing for her life every day, she doesn't know quite what to do with herself when she's not]

I suppose I'd be amenable to that plan.

[she watches him curiously. he must be able to hear something she cannot as yet.

she nods at his instructions and does as she's bid, waiting]

[pocketspa]

[He snorts, imitating her voice as he talks back.]

I suppose I'd be amenable to that plan. Gods, you sound so formal. C'mon, let loose huh?

[In the meantime, she moves into the road and he stays in the trees, slipping between each of them until his ear picks up the sound of the footsteps. In a moment, a small message is passing into her mind, courtesy of Taako with his eyes in the sky.]

Okay, they're gonna be comin' around in a few seconds. Try to get them to shoot you. Promise you won't get hit, it's gonna be great.

(cw: gore)

[theladyofhighever]

[she arches an eyebrow slightly at his imitation of herself, although she's not offended. she knows that the one of the few times she's truly "let loose," she kept screaming as she stabbed Rendon Howe's corpse until there was little left of him but shattered bone and pulped flesh. Alistair had to pick her up and carry her away or she would have kept stabbing and she still struggled against his grasp and screamed for the better part of five minutes.

which of course, drew more guards.

there wasn't much left of them, either.

but she nods at his message and patiently waits for the Null to emerge.

when they do, she throws a soulrot bomb at them. she highly doubts it will do a thing to harm them, but it should be interpreted as enough of a threat for them to fire upon her.

and they do]

[pocketspa]

[Listen: big mood. The last time Taako went buck wild was during the last Null attack when he flattened two city blocks in a firestorm after he watched his boyfriend die in front of him. It was like, a lot. Just a whole bunch. He's better now.

At least, he's still pulling dumb shit. She instigates, the bomb going off and causing them to come right for her. A few shoot projectiles. Most charge forward. But as soon as it looks like it'll hit her--

A shimmering, white wall appears just before Mariane. And every one of their attacks reflects.

The bullets pierce backwards, sending foot soldiers reeling, the sword hands knocked unsteady, and a second wave of force comes as the invisible wall seems to topple, knocking the entire group of them prone onto their backs. Taako, meanwhile, lets out a truly howling laugh.]

Holy shit! Fuck that was good! Go on, stab 'em, they're all lined up for ya, holy shit--

[At least he's enjoying himself.]

[theladyofhighever]

[she'd consider his reaction entirely understandable. the few times someone had managed to best Alistair, she'd gone out of her way to make their last moments a misery.

despite the things she cannot name coming directly for her, she remains calm, certain in Taako and his plan.

and it certainly seems as though her trust was well-founded, given that his spell sends all of the Null's attacks back at them, leaving them knocked down in the dirt.

his laughter earns a small smile and she nods at his instructions, turning to carry them out.

the Null are flailing about, trying to right themselves, but she leaves them no time to recover, stabbing them deeply and repeatedly until she hits their cores and they cease their movements. she then moves on to the next one and the next and the next until they're all little more than scrap metal littering the ground.

she turns back to Taako with something approaching a smirk curving her lips]

Very good. Shall we do it again?

[pocketspa]

[It executes wonderfully, and she just goes. Taako doesn't need to lift a finger as she makes herself a maelstrom through them, leaving scraps of metal and circuitry in her wake. It's interesting to watch, in the same way that it would be terrifying if he wasn't so certain she wasn't going to turn around and stab him.

Once all is said and done, he swings down from the branch he was in, hitting the floor with a little hup as he starts walking towards her.]

Well you can't just repeat a show. Then they'll know what's coming. Gotta keep 'em on their toes. You have any ideas for a good ambush?

[theladyofhighever]

[she's a rogue, trained for speed and accuracy of attack rather than raw brute strength to overpower one's foes. once she got a general idea of where the Null tended to keep their cores, obliterating them was simplicity itself.

she straigtens up back into perfect posture as he approaches and doesn't sheath her blades just yet]

They do tend to learn from their mistakes. [she thinks a moment] I could take the bits of metal left over from these and fashion a few shrapnel traps. Then, you could use magic to herd them towards the traps.

[pocketspa]

[See, this is why he likes her. She has ideas. They're simple and not always flashy, but he needs that sometimes. Can't spend all his slots doing dumb shit and get cornered when it matters.

So he grins, shifting his weight between feet, obviously excited.]

Alright, hell yes, I can get behind this. Would they need to step in 'em or is this a divebomb sorta deal?? Gotta start formulating how to nail these suckers.

[theladyofhighever]

[creating a trap is simple; setting it up without getting caught is hard. that's where her ability to be sneaky comes in.

she smiles back a little shyly]

They would need to step in them to spring the traps. Preferably at a run. More of them to be hit with the shrapnel that way.

[storyseeker]

[Elena is doing the smart thing—scouting, hitting and fading. She's armed herself with as much weaponry as she can carry on her person, loaded with as many bullets as she could scrounge, but it's not infinite and they're a bunch of tough assholes.

Fortunately, she's also got magic on her side, (half-)courtesy of the bird-turned-elf that arrived just now. She grins, only a little of the anxiety showing on her face.]

I dunno, it'd be a shame if I didn't get to show you and Lup some of what I've learned. Like a practical exam, right?

[pocketspa]

[He knows she's worried. They all are. This isn't his first final stand, the it's-all-over point of no return where you win or don't, but these stakes still matter. He has to get his family home. He has to get back to the battle he already won. So the lines on their faces mirror each other in subtle ways, creases of weariness around the eyes, a tug in their smiles a little too forced. But that's what you've got. You win. There's no don't in times like this.]

Oh, you wanna cut right to the final huh? Bold, bold my gal. But if I can save a slot or two, you know I'm down.

[He pretends to stretch back in the tree, kicking up his feet and lacing his fingers behind his head.]

What's your plan, girlie? Or do you need me to set up the question first? So you know what's uh, expected or whatever.

[storyseeker]

[The casual, confident attitude is so very Taako and whether it's completely sincere or a front, it helps. This isn't her first time at this sort of rodeo, but there's still something to be said for putting on the attitude you want to have.]

Well, is this a quantity thing or do I earn extra points for style in taking them out? That's important to know.

[pocketspa]

C'mon babe, do you know me? Style is a necessary part of the score. If you're not clownin' on 'em in the right percent how can you even have learned from the most bomb-ass twins ever?

[Since when have they ever been quantity people. Quality, Elena, it's gotta be quality.]

Your stats are don't die, don't let 'em kill me, and put on a show. So raise the curtain, get on it!

[storyseeker]

You're right. I lose points just for asking.

[Conveniently, about now is when the first of the approaching Null appear through the trees, and she puts on her serious face. Much as she trusts in both their skill, Elena can't forget how dangerous this situation really is.]

Here we go...!

[She does, in fact, try to put a little verve into her casting of magic missile.]

[pocketspa]

I'll be nice and say the exam starts now, huh?

[It's dangerous, sure. Last time he showboated around the Null he came so close to dying he had to magic new organs back into him. It's not an experience he'd actually like to repeat. But not doing anything, being on his guard and militantly obeying to take them down sucks, and Taako is too stubborn to give them the satisfaction. They can make him fight, but he's gonna decide how, goddamnit. They can't take that from him.

He does grin as she casts though, the bullets darting from her into her target, leaving the Null dazed but still standing. He twirls his wrist with his eyebrow raised as he looks at her- what's the follow up?]

[storyseeker]

[Danger is Elena's middle name. Actually, it's Anne, but there's no official identification here to prove otherwise, so hey. Danger it is.

Elena follows his lead, sending three scorching rays directly at the Null—head, torso and lower limbs, or whatever qualifies for each when it's a robot. She likes to think she has good aim, even if that part might literally be magic, but either way, the rays hit their marks and drop the Null to the ground, dead.]

How's that?

[pocketspa]

[He can kinda believe its danger, tbh. She does that. Even though she's far smarter than her husband in that regard-- at least most of the time. If she looks though, she'll catch a genuine interest in his face when she fires off the bolts of scorching ray, and the Null collapses. He manages to collect his face into looking smug by the time he thinks she looks back, at least.]

Dang, my gal! A whole ass level 2 spell, and you broke it out for little ol' me? Now I feel damn honored.

[Taako shifts his feet to under him in the tree, half-standing on the branch to peer down at her handiwork.]

Alright, clean entry, good marksmanship... B plus. Surprised me with the execution but didn't make any of your projectiles glitter or do fun shapes like flipping them off before they died. But for a final, that's deffo a pass, huh?

[storyseeker]

[She knows the whole rating thing is more or less just banter, a way to pass the time and keep themselves from getting too stressed out over their very survival and all—at least for her—but it's also kind of real, and she can't hide a grin of pride.]

I'll take a pass. Besides, improving gives me something to live for. Can't die if I still need that 'A', right?

[It's a joke, but also It Isn't, At All.]

[pocketspa]

Dying is cancelled, my gal. You're like, doing the opposite of some desperate fantasy PhD student and basically threatening me if you do well.

[It's a joke insofar that everything Taako says is a joke. But also, don't even try him like this, he will fight her right here.]

Guess I gotta keep you in class forever huh? Graduation exam delayed indefinitely.

[storyseeker]

[Don't threaten her. She can still ditch the magic and throw the punch she knows he remembers.]

Oh, Taako. You don't need to feel insecure. Besides, if I turn out to be a really kickass wizard, you get to take all the credit in the end.

i am DOING shit

[knockthemdead]

[It's not as though Kravitz couldn't just hover up there and do the job himself, but Taako's disguise is a much smarter move- and more importantly, neither of them have forgotten last time. He's happy to lay a little lower, if it makes Taako happy.

He welcomes Taako's return with a kiss to his nose. A peck to the beak of his flighty bird.]

Oh, by all means, I'd love to see the dunking. I'm getting a little bored, though. Anything I could do to set you up?

[pocketspa]

[Damn right it makes Taako happy. He was arrogant before, careless when it came to fighting this force, and he refuses to make that mistake again. He has his transmuter's stone tucked in his pocket, feeling it press into his leg whenever he moves. He's got it on hand. And this time, it's on reserve for Kravitz.

But still, he's grinning, and he giggles just a little as he morphs back into himself, the little peck on his nose feeling a little tingly from sudden contact on previously hardened flesh.]

Oh damn, babe. This is some tag team shit. Uhhh, let's seeeee...

[What dd he even want to do to these chumps this time around? Truthfully, Taako didn't have a set idea, he was just going to make something up on the fly. He can be cautious, but that doesn't mean he'll stop being... well, you know.]

Hey, you can move stuff around with your mind, right? Can you make barriers and stuff like that, or is it just lifting things?