- then put him back again -

[dissemble]

WHO: Lucifer, monsters, and you.
WHERE: Various places around the country, NOT in Heropa, Cape Canaveral, Nonah, De Chima or Maurtia Falls.
WHEN: Saturday 16th - Sunday 17th
WHAT: Lucifer tried to go home. It didn't work out as planned. Now there are monsters! Looks like America is in need of some heroes. See the ooc cut below for more information.
WARNINGS: Violence, monsters; things that happen when violence and monsters are in the same place. Please tag your threads if anything extra is needed.


Over the past month Lucifer had been systematically making his way through Northern America, stopping in specific locations and making sacrifices. Neither the people he had killed, nor the places he had chosen had been random- and the evidence of this was that he now stood in the center of a spell which spanned most of North America.

The center was, as luck would have it, a graveyard somewhere near Lawrence, Kansas.

There was something about this world that limited Lucifer- the encounters he had had with heroes so far had shown that he was neither as durable nor as powerful as he was used to. He had no desire to stay here any longer than necessary. He had been told that what he was trying was impossible- and honestly, that was probably true for humans. But if people were being brought here there had to be cracks in this world that he could tear open to escape.

Since the full moon had risen on Thursday he had been in place in the cemetery- summoning the spirits of the sacrifices he had made and one by one using them to power the spell. He took his time, confident that no one would interrupt him, and careful- doing this twice was not an option.

The eastern sky was turning grey as the final soul was put in place and Lucifer started on the words of the spell proper. It was complicated, designed to seek out weak spots in the fabric of the world and rip them open so that he could slip through. It probably wouldn't break this world- not that Lucifer cared much either way.

The spell almost immediately began to slip out of his control. The power contained in the souls of all the humans he had killed tried to pull the spell apart, fighting him as he attempted to unify them and force them to do his will. Slowly they came together, and anyone sensitive to such things would have felt him testing the limits of the world.

The world held together.

Lucifer was not the kind to explode with rage. His anger burned cold- and the knowledge that he had been wrong- that even this would not get him home- made him seethe. Very well. If he was to stay here, then he might as well put all that power to good use. Make his captors regret they had ever thought to bring him here.

He worked quickly, to avoid losing the power he had spent so long to build up. Resurrection was a simple spell, comparatively speaking. Transformation was a little harder- but turning humans into reflections of their true natures was a speciality of his. He spoke the words and the spells were cast.

The sun was just clearing the edge of the horizon when he was done. Across the country people would be waking up to a pleasant surprise- ghouls and ghosts raised, corpses resurrected and transformed into creatures who would seek out and kill any humans in their way.

Lucifer stayed in the cemetery, gathering his strength.


[ooc information]

Characters can:
- help wear Lucifer down (reply here)
- search for and destroy monsters either together or individually (make your own thread as a reply)
- get turned into monsters themselves! T'Challa can turn them back, or they can be killed (which will need mod approval)
- keep track of where monster sightings are and direct heroes to them (either here, or make a network post)
- stay at home and watch it all on tv!

Monsters are:
- Zombies: your standard walking dead, rotten, smelly, groan a lot.
- Vampires: blood-sucking, pale, sharp pointy teeth, able to go into sunlight, the boss vampires sparkle.
- Werewolves: not the nice kind, shapeshifting, eating/biting people, very hairy.
- Ghosts/Ghouls: typical ghost type creatures, cannot be hurt by physical attacks, can possess people, all of them jerks.
- Wendigos: monsters that specifically eat only people, creepy eyes, their spines shouldn't really bend that way. omnomnomnom
- Chupacabras: blood drinking, animal shaped, extremely creepy howling, keep your goats and children inside.

See the full plotting post here!

Have fun!!

Comments

a

[heralding]

[A battle like this isn't necessarily exhausting for someone like Lightning. With her god-like boosts, she's near tireless, but that's the thing—it's only near. While the monsters themselves are ones she can make quick work of, there are more things to consider. People need to be protected, people need to be helped, and from her viewpoint, it's hard to do both at once.

Most of the monsters were kept in line all over Cocoon and Nova Chrysalis. Everyone knew how to build their societies in areas where people could keep watch to keep some of the more dangerous creatures from getting in. But this world, this planet, isn't prepared for monsters.

Lightning is in the process of cutting down the—whatever they are when she notices Gil. Her instinct is to help him, but when his Raven erupts, she leaves him be. Whatever that is, whatever he's doing, it's new. But he seems to know what he's doing.

She keeps on with what she's doing until the area is clear (or clearer), moving in the direction she noticed him moving. The moment she's closer, she sees him hit one of the zombies easily with a head shot, and she follows up with a burst of fire toward another zombie, the fira spell swallowing it up (but not taking it down altogether—if only it was that simple).]

Let's work together! [It's important to call out to him, to make it clear that they could work in tandem to take these down.

Then he wouldn't have to waste all of his bullets.]

[corviform]

[ In all the commotion, he doesn't notice Lightning until a familiar voice calling to him registers. Gil turns his head after quickly reloading his gun (a miraculous feat with one unbroken arm) and then firing at a zombie that had gotten too close to him in the time it took to reload. Where the bullet strikes, its face collapses in on itself and it crumples to the ground. Gil holds his breath, trying not to breathe its stench.

Raven screeches from behind him as it lays waste to a row of zombies, beating them back down with its wings and setting fire to some while others have their bones ground by Raven stomping on them. ]

Miss Lightning! [ Gil is stunned to see her, but it's a major relief to have someone as competent as her by his side. He nods and dashes closer to her, ready to fire at any more approaching zombies. ] What the hell are they?

[heralding]

[In a way, their shambling reminds her of Cie'th. Their movement, their mindlessness, their everything—but the way they are rapidly decomposing, the way they respond to fire, tells a different story entirely. They aren't Cie'th, but lacking that knowledge, she doesn't know what the hell they are.]

Beats me. [It's casual language, lacking any stiffness or formality she might have had in their first meeting.] But I'm not thinking they're up for being asked, do you?

[Not that she thinks he would go there, but it seemed like a good enough exchange. It was a good way of saying "let's keep fighting them." She is worried about the condition of his arm, now that she's taking it in more, and she curses the fact that she no longer has any effective healing spells.]

[corviform]

Tch, doubtful.

[ They don't seem intelligent enough either. It's as if they all have been given one order: to attack whatever they see upon sight. There's no reasoning with them or slowing them down.

But their numbers are a problem. Gil saw on the news it wasn't just this place, it's everywhere around the country. Only this country, oddly enough. That's no coincidence. ]

Damn, I can't keep up with Raven's power for long...

[ A bead of sweat trickles down his temple. His shoulders are weakening, as are his knees. He'll have to recall Raven or he'll end up collapsing on the field and then Lightning will have to defend herself and him. ]

[heralding]

Then don't.

[It seems to be the soundest of conclusions. She can see the condition he's in, and while she can keep fighting—she looks nearly tireless in the face of all this—she can see his limitations. Some part of her feels bad that he can't keep going, but she's worried about him. And her worry means that he is the number one concern.

After all, most of the civilians have (thankfully) evacuated. If that's the case, then she can cut them down, but giving him a chance to rest is important.]

I'll cut a way through, and then bring you to safety. [There's a pause as she observes their surroundings.]

Got any ideas where that'd be best? [She's thinking high ...]

[corviform]

[ Always so blunt, isn't she? But not the faintest trace of irritation or embarrassment can be found on his features. Instead, Gil nods, swallowing hard and he glances back at Raven, the chain still laying waste to the zombies that attempt to enclose on Gil and Lightning.

Then he looks forward, eyes shifting left to right to find a clearing for them. The land is too open, too flat; they're too visible and the zombies will surely see them. ]

If we can put some distance... [ He clenches his left hand. ] I can use Raven's power to teleport us, but I might use up the last of my strength.

[heralding]

[Some part of that doesn't sit right with her. "The last of my strength" bodes badly, so she has to ask the most obvious of questions before she builds a plan around it.

Of course, most "plans" with Lightning are cutting straight ahead. She has her name for a reason.]

You'll live, right? [Because if he doesn't ... they'll find another way.

That's easy enough.]

[corviform]

What? Of course.

[ He doesn't realize how ominous his words are. However, he's already promised someone he's not dying in this world if he can help it. He will fight tooth and nail if he must. ]

Come closer.

[ He beckons her with his hand, moving to meet her halfway. ]

[heralding]

[There's a look of relief on her features after what he says. Lightning doesn't want him to sacrifice himself for her. After all, if she stood here alone, she would keep fighting. He is the factor. He is the one she wants to get away from all of this.

Without hesitation, she casts a trio of fira spells toward the monsters around them, catching them all in flames as she leaps over them to land closer to him.

Her sword remains extended, prepared to hit anything that decides it must attack while they're waiting to teleport.]

Let's go.

[corviform]

[ He's astounded by that display of power, but reins himself in so he can focus on the task at hand. When Lightning's close enough, he grabs a hold of her arm not roughly, but firmly enough so they don't lose each other in the case something disrupts Raven's power. It wouldn't be the first time he's wound up separated from the people he was taking with him.

Raven's form seems to disappear in thin air, black and shadowy feathers erupting at their feet and swirling like a darkened vortex around them. The wind picks up and soon enough they're engulfed by darkness for a few seconds, jerking in another direction.

When the shadows fall back, they're much further down the area, not too far from the city. The area's clear of zombies for now.

Gil's grip of Lightning's arm slackens and he falls to the ground. ]

[heralding]

Gil!

[The utterance of his name occurs not long after he collapses to the ground. Lightning moves quickly toward him, taking in the surroundings to ensure that it is as clear as it seems. The last thing she needs is more trouble, or to take this in a less than smart way.

When she comes to see that they are, in fact, alone at the moment, she moves to pick him up, slipping her arms underneath him and cradling him. They aren't far from the city, but it's far enough. She begins to walk, holding this larger man as if she should be weighed down by him. It's awkward enough, though, that she is looking for a car to steal, to take advantage of, so they can get to safety.

And more importantly, so he can get more help.]

[corviform]

[ He grunts, a weak apology slipping off his tongue as she hauls him away. His feet feel weighed down by shackle, but he exerts as much energy as he possibly can muster into them so he isn't complete dead weight. His gun is still in his hand, ready to fire if necessary. ]

Haven't... used Raven's power like this in so... so long.

[heralding]

[It doesn't come immediately, what she has to say, but the apology seems strange. What comes next makes her wonder what good that power is. A power that weakens him. Is that any good at all? Being a l'Cie left all of them slowly becoming slaves to their brands, well aware of the fact that the greater turmoil they faced, the closer they were to letting themselves become monsters.

But the power that came with being a l'Cie was necessary. It was one step in order to protecting humanity from its terrible face.

Gil's power doesn't look good at all, but she's not going to ask. Instead, she finally speaks:]

You did well.

[It seems like a definitive thing to say, and she shifts his weight in her arms slightly as she spots a car in the distance. Just a little longer.]

[corviform]

[ If he had known at all how to utilize Raven's power without losing his strength... things to come someday, perhaps.

The comment is too kind for someone who's nearly dead weight at this point, he thinks, but he doesn't protest. He merely continues to force himself forward until he notices they're getting closer to vehicles. He doesn't follow Lightning's train of thought, assuming they will use the cars to take cover instead. ]

Now what?

[heralding]

I'm taking you somewhere to rest.

[If it's not clear immediately, it is after a moment, as Lightning busts open the first door she sees and places him inside.

She's seen Hope and Sazh start up enough engines to have an idea of how to do this on her own, but it does take her a moment of staring at the panels inside of the driver's seat to figure out exactly what to do next.]

[corviform]

[ He jumps at the impact and noise, protesting quietly as he sinks back into the seat of the car. He's too exhausted to sit upright for the moment, but there's still some tension laced in his shoulders and expression as Lightning focuses on the panels before them and steering. ]

W-Wait... Are we...?

[ Stealing a car? ]

[heralding]

I'll bring it back.

[That seems to be the most important thing to address. Lightning doesn't think she'll land in the correct area, but it's close enough.

Though perhaps the most worrisome thing is that as she starts to get the car moving, it doesn't seem like she has ... any ... experience with a vehicle like this.

Well, she's trying.]

[corviform]

It's still stealing!

[ Killing humans turned monsters? No problem. Stealing a car? Apparently a problem.

He grips the side of the door, clearly not a fan of moving vehicles like this one. ]

Where are we going?

[heralding]

[It's almost uncharacteristic of her, but after the battle, his worries about her stealing a car are almost ... amusing. Lightning makes a sound that indicates that she feels that way, and she glances back toward him.]

I've done worse.

[It's not reassuring, but it's true. Half the stuff she did as a l'Cie doesn't even compare to this.]

And I'm taking you to get medical treatment.

[corviform]

[ And so has he, but Gil's priorities aren't always in the correct order. His jaw drops open at Lightning's amusement, but then he's flinching; even moving a few inches in his face hurts and wipes him.

He leans back into the chair, panting lightly. ]

I'll be okay soon; it's been a long time since I've had to invoke Raven, that's all.

[heralding]

How much of that is exhaustion, and how much of that is battle wounds?

[She saw the flinch that he made, and she's not certain what to believe. Medical treatment, even just fluids, seems like a good idea right now.

Besides, if he's registered, it's not like it's a problem.]

[corviform]

... Just a few scratches.

[ Quite luckily, even he knows that. Who knows if those minor wounds can get infected? ]

[heralding]

Very well ... then I'll take you back to my place so you can rest up. [It sounds better than the alternative. She does wish she could teleport still. Losing that ability seems to be the worst of what she's lost here.

Then again, it was thanks to Bhunivelze, so she'll take the loss.

As a result, though, she starts moving the vehicle forward toward their intended goal.]

[corviform]

Fine.

[ He hates when others fuss over him, hating to burden them. He manages to relax somewhat in his seat, lifting an arm to wipe his sweaty brow. ]

Any idea where those monsters came from?

[heralding]

According to our devices, it comes from a man named Lucifer. [She keeps her eyes on the road, but there's some agitation in her tone.] I intend to pay him a visit later.