Player Event - Chaos Plot

[folklorist]

Who: Helios and pretty much everyone who replied to this post
What: The demon god Apep which affixed itself to Helios’ soul has awoken.
When: August 6th-9th
Where: Starting around house 44 then mainly around town and the woods
Summary: Basically Helios gets possessed and causes all sorts of chaos and destruction that the evil god, Apep, is known for causing!
Rating: R for lots of violence



[ It’s strange how the twist of events of a simple evening walk could change much of everything. In an instant, that was Luceti’s way of things, changing things in an instant. And Helios never even saw it coming. There were still parts of that night and parts of his soul that he never truly understood. But there were always ways of finding out. They say hands on experience is one of the best ways of learning. And this is a lesson he and several others won't soon forget. ]

((ooc; Okay plot is a go! If anyone doesn’t have an out for their character to be saved please PM me or contact me on plurk at pathogenic~ Otherwise have fun!))

Comments

August 8th

[folklorist]

August 8th | Western Lake - Twilight [WARNING - graphic content]

[brokencharter]

[In an ironic twist of fate, the safe house Viral had built out by the western lake had been the very site she had been preparing for the ritual. Her tools and execution had been simple and efficient. Over the pool of clay and gathering blood Sabriel had left Viral kneeling over the pile, his body hunched over to let the blood from wounds forced open to flow freely out and down in a steady flow. By that point there had been nothing left but to wait for him to bleed out enough to the point where she could mould the body that would await his spirit once she wrenched the wings from his back, the only way she knew how to kill the beastman.

Sabriel was aiming to make the strongest Lesser Dead creature available to her in the enclosure; a Mordicant. Normally the ritual involved human blood and bog clay...but with an immortal beastman’s blood and spirit, who knows what could happen. Perhaps the mystery of his body’s make up would enhance the effectiveness of the ritual? Or even make a stronger beast than has ever been crafted by a necromancer? Only time would tell...and if it didn’t work then there was no real loss. Viral would be returned to Life in a week and Sabriel would have found herself a new playmate by then.

Aside from the necessary spells murmured under her breath and the odd command for Viral’s obedience Sabriel works in silence, barely giving the suffering beastman a passing glance while she works.]

[faithfulflame]

[Sailor Mars was running on empty now, she'd been preparing for this encounter since the moment Sabriel had stolen Viral from her house the evening before. She hadn't slept, had only eaten once, and hadn't even transformed back into her civilian form. She knew where her friend had taken the beastman, her spiritual senses screaming at her to seek out and cleanse the taint. At last, with Grune backing her up, the Senshi of Flame was ready.

Taking her time, she had prepared a special trap for Sabriel should she try and leave the vicinity. Throughout the forest, she had placed Shinto wards, an inward facing magical circle that would bind the tainted Abhorsen inside. She wouldn't escape. And this time the spiritual soldier had the tools required to perform the purification rituals that would undo whatever was done to Sabriel. Ofuda scrolls inscribed with words of power, a consecrated vessel for the corruption, and an iron will were the tools she needed.

And should that fail? Then Sabriel would die. In her corrupted form she was too dangerous to let live. With Ami kidnapped, and Usagi in the dark for now, it fell to Sailor Mars alone to be a guardian and protect the Princess. She cared for her new friend, but her duty to Sailor Moon transcended life itself, their souls bound forever by the magic of the Moon Kingdom.

At last it was time, the Senshi stoically heading into battle, arriving at her ritual site. The stench of blood and corruption assaulted her senses. Sabriel was here. Commandingly, the Senshi shouted]

Come out, Tainted One! I've come to stop you. In the name of Mars and the Moon, I will punish you!

[lostinmyway]

[By contrast, Grune is still and silent by Mars' side. After learning from her what had happened the previous evening, she had abandoned her search for Helios and joined her friend. She couldn't let Mars fight alone; she would help her save not only Viral, but Sabriel as well. And then she would find Helios and fulfill her promise to him.

Her urn rests on her shoulder and she stands tall but not with tension. Her wings, normally slightly spread to catch sunlight and breezes, are folded against her back.

They're going to save their friends. She and Mars won't let them be hurt anymore.]

[no_compromise]

[He had no control of his body--none--and no way to defend himself from the repeated thrusts of her blade into his prone form. Whatever magic she had worked had bound his body completely to her will--but not his mind. Through the pain and the haze of successive bloodloss, he kept his singular focus on what he would do once he was able to get loose. The dark seed of rage kept him from giving her any satisfaction in his discomfort as he bit back the strained cries of agony that threatened to escape his lips. Sabriel had earned his trust through extenuating circumstances over his short time here. It was trust enough that he had vowed to deliver her justice and carry her revenge.

But this, with barely a word spoken, had violated that. She had broken code that he held close to his core, corrupted or not. She had bound him fully, violated his home, and the intent to kill tainted her scent and her eyes.

This wasn't Sabriel. Not the one he knew.

The scent and taste of his own blood was maddening. He had faced defeat, but never in such circumstances. His immortal body, a gift from the Spiral King, was never meant to be used in this fashion. He still needed to breathe, still felt hunger of a sort.

...it was to keep him on the level of the humans he was to watch and warn, he realized in a deep part of his mind.

Whatever it was that Sabriel was making, it wasn't benign. The cold darkness in her eyes showed only malicious intent, and it disturbed him to the bone. This, he knew, was why the humans of his world needed to be contained.

Would that he could move. She wouldn't stand a chance against him.

He felt rather than heard the women enter, clued in solely by the subtle diviinty that Mars held about her person. She had company, he knew, but couldn't will his body to move--

A sneer curled his lips at the righteous threat, and can't bite back the commentary. His voice is low and hoarse, roughened by the time.]

I warned you before; now you're really going to be burned!

[thebellthatbinds]

[Like Rei, Sabriel is also running close to empty. She couldn't afford to let herself sleep and risk losing her command over the beastman but as the chill of the evening starts to set in the exhaustion is starting to sink into her bones.

Her shoulders stiffen as Rei calls out to her from nearby, a bead of sweat gathering on her brow as she inwardly curses the other young woman's persistance and tracking skills. She must really be tired if she couldn't have felt her coming. At Viral's quip she glares at him, eyes cold as she stands.]

We shall see.

[Gripping her sword in a tight grip she exits the hut, even more surprised to see the other woman accompanying the soldier. She tips her head to both in greeting, her voice cold as she watches them carefully.]

Hello Mars. Grune.

[faithfulflame]

[Sailor Mars raises her right hand, pointing her finger directly at the tainted sorceress. No games, no tricks, no fog. This was going to end here, and now. And it was going to end on her terms.]

Release Viral. Now. Its no use running.

[As she borrow's Mercury's words, Mars draws on her flames, and on Eferin, combining them into a powerful spell. If the other Senshi couldn't be here, that was fine. She would free the beastman herself. Her right hand raises high into the sky, and around the battleground a cage of flame formed, hemming them in from all sides, top to bottom]

Surrender now, and let us purify the taint within you.

[lostinmyway]

[Grune, once again by contrast, doesn't prepare to attack. Her gaze has been resting on Viral the entire time, distant and blank at the horrific sight of what has been done to her friend.

Despite the impression of innocence that she gives, in her time in Luceti, she's seen a surprising amount of violence and cruelty. She's been on two drafts, has fought alongside Chaos--not the god of chaos controlling Helios, but the monster within Vincent Valentine. She's seen Grell at her worst, her chainsaw ripping through the body of a vampire unable to die. She's even killed, not only monsters but soldiers in both this world and on the Legacy.

But that violence has been the exception for her, not the rule. This is very nearly beyond her understanding.

When Mars finishes speaking, only then does she look up from Viral. Her voice is soft and sad as she offers just one sentence:]

Please let him go, Sabriel.

[But...there's strength beneath her gentleness. She will fight, not only to save Viral, but to bring Sabriel back to herself.]

August 8th, Late Morning

[faithfulflame]

[Sailor Mars had spent the majority of the night preparing for a coming conflict with her closest friend from another world. Scrolls were written, magic wards prepared, and flames were consulted. She hadn't slept a wink, but her stoked fury kept her going. Sabriel had some nefarious purpose for taking Viral, and she could feel foul magic and dark spells being cast near the lake. Rather than risk letting the Abhorsen escaping again, she'd begun to place wards around the lake, setting out into the woods to create a ring to trap her.

It was in these very woods that she ran into someone she had not expected to see. Grune, the very strange, forgetful person she'd met a few times. Magical power positively bubbled around the older woman, but Mars had never put much stock in her memory. Still, Grune needed to be kept out of the woods]

Ah, Grune-san. Hello. I hope you are well this morning, but if you don't mind I think its best if you headed back to the village. There are dangerous things in the woods today.

[lostinmyway]

[There are a few things that are different about Grune today. For one, she's carrying her urn on her shoulder. It's large and made of stone, too solid to be decorative. Though she normally keeps flowers in it, there are none this morning. She intends to use it for its true purpose now: as a weapon.

Though her memory has not improved, today she seems more distant than scattered. She isn't flighty--she's determined.

When she sees Mars, for once, the smile she has for the other woman is small and brief. In response to her suggestion, Grune shakes her head.]

I can't leave. I need to find Helios.

[She had promised to save him from Apep, but before she could do so, he had fled. She's been searching for him ever since, as far as her memory allows, but he seems to be avoiding her.]

[faithfulflame]

[Mars gives Grune a bit of an odd look, the urn on her shoulder and the determined look in her eye changing the Senshi's opinion of the odd woman. What was she? She had no idea, other than an incredibly powerful individual who seemed lost most of the time.

It had bothered her at first, but something about how Grune stated that she needed to help Helios, her posture, and the way she carried that urn. It made her think that perhaps Grune could help fight for Viral, and not just be a nuisance]

Grune-san, did something happen to Helios-san too? I haven't seen him for a few days...

[Her voice is tinged with worry. If Sabriel had gotten to Helios...]

[lostinmyway]

[She nods.]

Apep has Helios and won't let him go. He's hurting him.

[And he won't stop, even when she told him to.]

[faithfulflame]

Apep?!

[Mars is very well versed in mythology and lore, that name immediately rings a bell. Egyptian god. Chaos. Oh...oh...no that's very bad. Was that what the blight on Helios' soul was? Apep?!]

Are you sure, Grune-san?

[lostinmyway]

[Normally, this is a very bad question to ask Grune--but there's nothing more important to her than her friends. When it comes to them, her memory is just a little more focused than usual.]

Hmm.... I think so.

August 8th | The Library

[redjacketthief]

[Lupin was smoking in the library, and no one was going to stop him.

After the debacle with the God in House 46 and everyone's subsequent retreat, they had used the opportunity for more than just licking their collective wounds. Shepard and Sabriel had been overpowered, something had happened to Adele, Saori was unable to finish her battle, and he had his arm wrenched out of place, but they needed to form a plan. The God possessing Helios was too much for any of them, but they had a clue and a name.

Apep..

They needed information. It was only natural then that the two relative noncombatants were sent off to do so, if only to keep them safe. With his injuries, Lupin knew full well that he was useless in a fight--and in general. He needed someone to be his right arm until this ended and they all could relax.

He barely slept more than a wink that night. Pain, adrenaline, and unease had kept him awake. After having his safehouse disturbed like that, he wasn't certain where he could go.

Just...research. This was a job, and it was something he could focus on.]

August 8th | The Library

[fleurdesel]

[After what happened the day before? Adele's smoking as well, a cigarette stolen from Lupin's pack. It's an old vice, a useless one considering the layers of fear, anxiety, and simmering rage beginning to perk up in the back of her mind. It won't be enough. But for now, it is something.

Better to get angry than to think about what she'd seen.

Better and more productive to be furious and focused than a sobbing mess in the corner. She can break later. Right now there was work.

A god. Apep. And Helios.

She doesn't understand the connection, but knows full well that this isn't out of nowhere. This is something Helios has to have lived with, possessions don't come from thin air. Apepe wasn't present in the Village through anything other than Helios.

She doesn't know if that makes it better or worse.

Adele sags against the table, cigarette dusting to ash between her lips. She hadn't slept. Couldn't. She'd curled up in a room full of light and white noise and tried, nothing came of it. One bullet, six throwing knives, a hair pin, and her rapier. That's all she has to keep herself and Lupin safe.]

Egyptian.

August 8th | The Library

[redjacketthief]

[He shifted uncomfortably in his sling and took a drag from his cig, fully aware but nonchalant about Adele's subtle theft. Pall Malls were plentiful in Luceti, unlike his Gitanes. Only one pack had been found in two years. They were a rare commodity.

Lupun glanced over at Adele and her tome, not bothering to try hide his weariness at this point. She knew. They all knew. He had allowance to let go.]

...What about Egyptian?

August 8th | The Library

[fleurdesel]

Apep. He's an Egyptian god.

[She takes a slow drag of the Pall Mall, exhales through her nose and turns the book she's flipping through around for Lupin to read.]

God of chaos and darkness.

August 8th | The Library

[redjacketthief]

...that explains a few things.

[tap tap. He drops ash on the table with nary a second thought as to the mess that the librarians would later face. Smoke could damage delicate books and manuscripts, ash could cause burns...

but this was Lupin not caring.]

I faced a Pharoh's curse a few years back, and somehow he knew. Not one of my friends has told me the details, but...

[He idly holds out a hand for her to get a better look at the faint scarring on his wrist.] it was intense enough that I ripped my way out of a pair of cuffs and left a bloody mess.

August 8th | The Library

[fleurdesel]

[Adele slid an index card with notes scribbled on it over under Lupin's cigarette, minimizing the ashy mess.]

The snakes, for one.

[That hiss. She shudders at the memory and comforts herself with her favorite reptile, reaching across the table to rub the top of Luminair's head. Fetching him from her home had been her first priority after getting Lupin's arm settled and the contents of her stomach expunged.]

...You know nothing at all?

August 8th | The Library || Voice Call to Saori

[redjacketthief]

Songbird--I got some intel, but it makes no sense to me. It might be useful to you if you can understand it.

[Filtered to Lupin]

[windandrain]

What is it, Little Fox?

[Saori has spent the day in meditation, preparing for hunting Apep that night. Her voice is a little distracted, but otherwise she sounds intent and prepared.]

[Filtered to Lupin]

[redjacketthief]

[Who isn't distracted or more at this point?]

Some ancient priests made a list of ways to defeat Apep--some of them sound kind of standard, like taking a knife or a lance to him or setting him on fire. Others just sound odd, like spitting on him or..and I quote: 'Defiling with the Left Foot.'

The only one that made any kind of sense was fettering, or binding him somehow. Don't know if that's physically holding him down with ropes or cuffs though.

[Filtered to Lupin]

[windandrain]

Defiling with the left foot? I wonder...does that mean I should kick him with my left foot? I would rather not use fire, or a lance. And a knife too. Helios is still there, I would not wish to break him more than is necessary.

[The other means, however, draw a faint smile]

Fettering you say? In the traditional sense, that would mean chains and ropes, not handcuffs. At least, that's my experience. And...I can certainly spit on him.

[Filtered to Lupin]

[redjacketthief]

I know I kicked him with mine--he dodged it. I also tripped him up with my left leg. But...yeah. I know. I didn't think they would be seriously used, unless you had another idea. I remember something about using effigies...

No matter. [He sighed heavily, his weariness catching up with him.]

I only thought about the cuffs because a friend of mine has a pair that's stronger than diamond, but if you think that chains and rope will be better than go for it. At least that will give you ample opportunity to spit on him.