DRAFT - The Battle of Vaskoth

[lucetimods]

Who: Anyone on the draft
What: The Battle of Vaskoth! Zombie uprising!
When: 25th to 28th (a second log will follow)
Where: Vaskoth
Summary: Please read here for event information
Rating: Z for Zombies

On the 25th, Lucetians are ushered in to join an already growing army to repel the Cultists.

On the 26th, strange symptoms are reported. The first Runners appear and by nightfall, the hospital is lost.

On the 27th, the cultist horde is completely lost to the virus. They send no more reinforcements.

On the 28th, the situation is grim and an evacuation is called. But the battle is not over.

Notes: There will be two NPC threads. One for Specialist Davis and another for Carol.

If you like creating your own NPCs, then check out this spreadsheet and be sure to contribute! This was originally set up by Griff for the Kin'cora event. It's been revised as a semi-official tracking spreadsheet for characters created on the fly.

Comments

26th-28th, Mostly downtown area, probs.

[wildkotetsu]

26th-27th

[Kotetsu was without armor—and while he was capable of using guns, he wasn't much for them. And he'd never had to point it straight at a living, breathing person to shoot. Luckily, he'd managed his watch. Managed to keep himself one step ahead, away from the swell of terror just long enough to charge up and go back into the thick of it.

They don't stay down.

He's exhausted, but he can't stop. These people are sick. If he could just restrain them, get them somewhere safe... But even he's becoming more than aware that this is transmittable. More than aware. He hates this. He hates this. And when he rushes out to find more innocent citizens, he's blanched in horror of what's happening to this place.

There are bodies.

He hits the side of one of the downtown buildings in frustration, glowing blue; too little too late for the man lying at his feet. Can't stop now, though. Have to keep going. Have to help more and more people before it spirals out of his hands.]

28th

[Evacuation. His spirits only lift enough to keep him working; he's managed to get plenty of people out, but it doesn't feel like enough. It's so goddamn frustrating—and while he's been able to keep them safe, he fears maybe he'll have to keep them safe with more than his NEXT powers or distractions.

He never gets that far, luckily. And unluckily. There's a little girl in an empty home that'll take a chunk of flesh off him. He can be found later in the day with his arm wrapped up nice and tight. He'll still be ushering civilians out of there, but he's showing signs: shaking, pale, weaker and weaker.

He's keeping tabs on himself. Uses his NEXT powers, trying but gradually failing more and more to keep the illness at bay. If it gets bad... he'll have to do something.

But for now, people need him.]

late 26th

[halfnhalf]

[Teddy, in his Hulkling form, swoops from the sky to land a little behind Kotetsu. The man's just hit the building, and Teddy can see why. A man lying at his feet, head split open and bits of flesh ripped away and his expression frozen in terror.

He immediately feels his stomach flip-flop, but he swallows thickly to try to hold that sick feeling back. He can only imagine how Kotetsu feels; a lot like himself. None of these innocent people should have this happen to them, especially not so violently. And they're heroes. They're heroes and they're too late to save these people.

Teddy winces at the thought, then takes a step forward to clasp Kotetsu's shoulder.]

Kotetsu.

[wildkotetsu]

[He peels his fist from the wall, knuckles unscathed thanks to the aura all around him; he still has 3 minutes. He's got to make this work; wasting this energy right now when there are probably more people trapped isn't helpful at all. after the hand on his shoulder he turns, straightening up; his eyes have dark crescents underneath them, but they're vividly blue and bright and determined.]

There're still people who need us elsewhere.

[The aloof, smiling man from the village is buried right now. He wants to scream and kick something, wants to be overwhelmingly sad. Being upset and angry with himself... it has to wait.

Closing his eyes and blocking everything out, he can already hear people screaming with his amplified hearing. It aches his head, because there are just so many overlapping screams-

He'll channel his helpless anger into finding them and saving them, at the very least.]

I can hear more survivors; two minutes, 50 seconds left on my time.

Think you can you back me up?

[halfnhalf]

[Teddy hates this. He hates being so helpless, hates the fact that so many people have already died under their watch. He can hear the screams at a distance, and it seems like no matter how fast he flies, he usually gets there too late, only arriving in time to see the results of the attack.

It tears him apart. What good are his powers if he can't save these people?

But then Kotetsu's turning, talking to him, telling him there are more, that he needs back up. That uncertain, worried, and even the slightly afraid look of a teenager who feels helpless against all the blood and gore, it all fades into a frown as he too channels all of the emotion he feels, turning it into finding and saving whoever Kotetsu hears.]

I can. Just lead the way.

[Later, once the war is over, he'll wonder why Kotetsu had such little time. But right now, he flaps his wings to hover off of the ground and prepare to follow the hero.]

[wildkotetsu]

[He bolts and leaves a blue streak following him; he's not sure how fast the other is, but he'll make sure to adjust for the other's speed. For now, it's a matter of getting to the sounds he's hearing—like with Kaede and the rain, it's hard to exactly pinpoint, but he thinks he's got this one.

When he sees a small group of 4 or 5 people in a dead end, he knows he's right where he needs to be. Without a second thought he plows into the infected rushing for them, knocking them backward and into the wall. Not dead. He doesn't kill any of them. There's too many, and that's not what he does, that's not his job.

That's not his job.

There are more coming, and he's ready for them. If they could just piggyback them out of there...

Too many people to save, not enough power.

How pathetic... Dammit all.]

[halfnhalf]

[Teddy can keep up - he's not the fastest flyer, but the blue streak Kotetsu leaves is easy to follow, and he's going as fast as he can. Still, when he arrives, Kotetsu has already taken down a few zombies and facing more along the way.

He'd like to swoop down and fight by his side. A part of him screams at him to do so.

But he sees those people down there, scared and holding each other and staring at the zombies and the man in front of them, and he knows what to do.

Teddy lands between them and Kotetsu, increasing his size so that he can carry multiple people easily. They look even more frightened by his appearance, but seem to realize that he's there to help when he turns his head to give them a gentle, reassuring smile.

He then looks ahead, to tell Kotetsu what he's up to.]

I'll get these people to safety and come back for you! I won't take long!

[And then he turns to face them and, with some polite coaxing and a few apologies for the situation, Teddy manages to get two people in each crook of his arm, two people on his broad shoulders and one hanging onto his neck from behind. With a backward glance at Kotetsu, he flaps his wings to take off again.]

[wildkotetsu]

Keep 'em safe!

[It's all he offers before he dashes away from the infected. They move to follow after him down the alley, since hey, dead end. Unfortunately for them, Kotetsu is working overtime, throwing a fallen tree down in front of the path. They're cut off temporarily just enough for him to find more to throw down in front of the wall. Soon, there's a plenty tall enough pile to keep them trapped for a bit.

Good. The bad news is he's being rushed at by another horde, and then he hears screaming in more than one direction, and shit, shit, he can't even focus on which-

He darts for the right sound, gritting his teeth, jumping over one infected and pushing another several feet until he's able to leap over him. He almost apologizes to the small boy who makes a grab for him, eyes wild and unnaturally blank.

Don't think about it. Don't think about it.

Focus.

One minute, thirty seconds left. He's flipping a man onto his back just in time to look up and see a teenaged boy scrambling backward in panic. He fires the wire from his watch and yanks the boy himself away from a large group ready to encircle him. The kid's scraped up, but at least he's not infected. And considering his options, the teen doesn't complain when Kotetsu picks him up and jumps high, dropping him off on a roof.]

Stay--I'll send someone to take you back--!

[Off he goes again. The other voice. He's panting by the time he lands, pushing his power to the max as he lunges at the last second and knocks a man off an already bitten woman.

You can't keep them all safe. That's what a small voice is chiming in the back of his head. He just tries to ignore what his heart is bleeding over.]

early 27th

[heartisabattleground]

[This was horrid. Even for Sora, this was sick. This was up there with Organization like badness. But, who was causing all this? He'd read the guide enough to know these were some kind of foot soldiers and people from another organization but nothing more than that.

Still, looking at all these dead innocent people...it's not right.

When he see's that older man who he had helped with his armor a few weeks back, Sora approaches him slowly.]

Uh...hey...we should try and get moving. There's still more out there that need our help.

[wildkotetsu]

... Yeah.

[He looks back to the kid, recognizing him quickly enough. Couldn't remember his name though; he was always pretty bad with names. All he could safely say was it wasn't fair at all, for this kid to be out here. No one deserved to be, but... damn, some of these people were young. Kids to him.

He's still glowing blue when he turns.]

Can you, uh... defend yourself out here?

[heartisabattleground]

[Sora slings the sword he has been carrying over his shoulder, nodding to Kotetsu's question.]

I've taken out plenty of bad guys and monsters before, this won't be a problem.

[wildkotetsu]

Yeah... well. These aren't monsters or bad guys.

[There's some edge to it. He doesn't turn to look again, and can't bring himself to look at the corpse on the ground. His shoulders are rigid. Taut with pain and anger.]

These are people.

[heartisabattleground]

That's not what I-!

[Sora really should have thought of his words more carefully. But, it's true. These things they were fighting were people at one point...]

But, we have to stop them from hurting those who are left....

Besides, once we find a way to turn them back to normal the Malnosso guys can bring them back, can't they?

[wildkotetsu]

[He only hopes that's the case. The thought of all these people staying this way... it's too much to consider. So he doesn't. He blocks it from his thoughts as he turns around.] Think you can back me up? I'm gonna try to get more people outta' there, before they get bitten.

26th

[ledbythewind]

[Richard understands that sick feeling-- he's become all too familiar with it over the past few hours once the reality of what exactly is happening on this draft has set in. None of these people deserve this, not even the cultists.

They're helpless. That's the part that makes him the most upset. And from the looks of things, Kotetsu is even more upset about this whole thing than he is.]

... are you all right?

[wildkotetsu]

[Silence. He shakes his head, hot and angry and hurt by... hell, everything. He wants to let out his frustrations on his wall, but he's worried about attracting infected. Scaring people in the building. Causing something to fall. He's thinking ahead on these... He has to focus on being a hero.]

... Should I be?

[It's a miserably honest, sad question.

No one's alright, right now. If they are, they're sick in the head.]

[ledbythewind]

... no, you shouldn't be.

[It's a miserably honest, sad answer, because Richard feels the same way. Death is one thing. As much as he hates it, he can handle it. But this... this is something far worse than death, to the point where death actually seems like a small mercy for those who are suffering, as much as he hates to think of it like that.]

[wildkotetsu]

[His face drops in defeat.]

... People'll need help out there. We have to keep goin'. Y'know?

[ledbythewind]

[Richard nods, feeling just as tired and worn as Kotetsu looks right now.]

We have to find some way to help them, to stop this before it gets any worse.

[wildkotetsu]

Yeah. I still have a little power left—I can at least cover you and anyone we find out there in the next few minutes. How's that sound? [He's not planning on dragging Richard into his plans unless the guy really is willing, after all.]

28th

[concasse]

[Sanji's running - running fast and without reserve, lungs burning up in protest with every ounce of energy he throws into covering more ground. It's already been hours, so why the fuckin hell can't he find a shitty doctor in this place?

The diseased, of course. He knows the answer - just like he knows why he needs to find someone (Raine, Raine-chan, where are you?) to help.

Determination drives him forward. Lack of sympathy helps him cut down anyone in his path. Women are excused, but not cared for. Children ignored. He barely sees them as he whips past, checking buildings and homes alike. Maybe later he'll remember what feeling guilty is like, but for now, it's all being channeled into a curse and a prayer for the stupid bastard who got himself bit protecting one of their own.

Damn it.]

Re: 28th

[wildkotetsu]

[Kotetsu fell behind from the group he'd been with. When his ears picked up on soft crying—a soft 'dad... where are you...'—there was no stopping him from picking right on up with what little power he had and darting toward the complex. Inside, there's a girl (smaller and more fragile--it scares him, how small she is compared to the others) surrounded by what could very well be her own family. He shoves past them and easily scoops the frightened child up, leaping out the window just in time for his powers to flicker out entirely.

There are so many out here.

With renewed energy, he sprints, makes his way around the infected. The child hugs close to his body and shivers, sobbing into his shirt.]

Oi, oi—it's okay. I'll protect you. [He turns down an alleyway and it's quieter here. He appreciates the lull in insanity as he paces quickly along, back toward where others would hopefully be.] I have a little girl, too. I started working a lot when she was little, even littler than you—I was a superhero. D'you know what those are?

[She clings still, but she nods, eyes closed gently. Poor thing is hot and chilled with sweat. Brown hair, low pigtails—blue eyes? Yeah, he thinks he saw blue eyes. She can't be older than 7 or 8. He softens his voice, in the way Kaede hates so much. It's... just by habit, at this point.]

Means I gotta protect you, right? So I'm gonna get you outta here, but you have to be patient for me. Be really strong.

[Another silent nod, and a whimper. He looks back and sees a few infected have caught sight of them, and soon his pacing is returning back to a quick run as he holds her close. He crosses a deserted street and soon he's got way too many on his tail.

"Don't let them take me-!"]

I won't let them take you!

[They're not gonna touch a hair on your head, kid. Not while he's got you here.]

28th

[concasse]

[So focused and hellbent on his mission that all Sanji sees is the outline of a dozen figures, cloaked in faulty lighting and shadows as they dart down the abandoned street in his direction, and he's been through this shit enough times already. Without a thought, he tenses his right leg, ready to cock it back and let it fly. Now is not the fuckin time to play around.

But he sees the little girl first - or what looks like a child, huddled in someone's arms. And then that shrouded figure gains familiarity, and a name.

Clarity hits him. Sanji suddenly punches up his speed, mission momentarily set aside as he soars over the two and lands in the thick of the crowd. He's mindful of his attacks this time. No one dies, but they'll have one hell of a time moving very far with busted kneecaps, broken legs and dislocated hips.]

[wildkotetsu]

[At this point the little girl sobs in fear, and Kotetsu tries to calm her with a hushing tone. It's Sanji—no doubt about it, the man has his own way of moving that needs no identification. He skids to a stop and looks back at him, eyes wide, teeth gritting. He's exhausted, but they can't stop now; he's got to get this little girl to safety.

And it appears more and more are running out from the alleys and side streets to go after them. After all, they're clean, wholesome flesh, right? The shamblers are at least easier to avoid.]

Sanji, be careful—!

[He's almost cut off by a runner himself, but he slams his shoulder into the man with plenty of force, knocking him over. It's just luck that the man's leg is almost separated from some previous fight. All the while, the small child in his arms cries out in fear.

"Dad! I want my daddy-!"]

Maa, maa, I know—I know, I'm sorry—!!

[He's gotta move fast.

Dammit all, they're targets out here. He's got nothing to defend with. He's so caught up in his evading, he doesn't notice the child's cries die down slowly. She stares half-lidded at nothing, looking sickly, face wet with sweat and tears.]

[concasse]

[Yes, tell the superpowered chef with more than enough muscle to be careful. He'd howl back a reply if he weren't so busy kicking a path for himself to run through - and don't think he hasn't noticed the lack of Kotetsu's signature blue outline.

The guy's run dry. How dry, Sanji's unsure, but if he's got anything more than half an hour of waiting...

Out of the corner of his eye, Sanji spots another group of shamblers - thank god they're shamblers, he won't feel as bad if he accidentally kills a few - and he knows it's time to leave. He slams back some of the last runners trying to bite at his ankles and hooves it, doubling back in the direction he just came]

Oi! Kotetsu! [The fuck are you, sir? You're tired and defenseless and protecting a child; Sanji knows if he doesn't find him soon, the runners will]

[wildkotetsu]

[He doesn't even scream. He just leaps back, collapses on his haunches, staring in wide-eyed dismay at the child screaming at nothing in front of him in the alleyway. His hand cups over his arm, where blood pours down from the clump of flesh bitten right off the shuddering limb... but he's not focused on that. He can only stare as the young child screams, hits her own head, claws at the corpse laying a few feet from her disheveled figure. What was once the ragged screams of help me, make me better are now low, throaty sounds.

They shouldn't be so threatening, from someone her size. He's a deer in the headlights, watching her humanity drain from her as she shambles forward in such a sickly fashion; soon she'll be a full-blown runner, fueled by rage. When she looks at him with soft blue eyes, he sees the film of despair gloss over them. The same film of death that takes so many others.

The bandage around her torso is slowly unraveling from under her billowy shirt, blood-stained.]

No...

[He shakes his head, slow in his disbelief.]

No... Please...

[She's going to attack him soon. Even after telling her it'd be okay... she's going to attack him.]