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meadowlarkooc2020-07-13 03:57 pm
EVENT 010
A small group of Displaced set out on a trip to Antarctica for the purpose of studying some of the mutated animals that were supposedly present there. While there, a massive earthquake hit which caused sizable aftershocks to roll through most mega-cities, even those much further north. On top of all of this, a good number of the Displaced were visited by strange, vivid dreams. All of this is a sign that something is on the horizon, especially for those who have been around long enough to realize that certain patterns are repeating themselves.
Yet at first, nothing more seems to happen. The Displaced have a week to dwell over these events, allowing those who are down in Antarctica to recover from the earthquake and scramble together to create a makeshift gate using relics and their powers, and then return back home (without the horrible seasickness, this time). Those who went on the trip to Antarctica will return to New Amsterdam on May 23rd. Aftershocks continue to affect most mega-cities, New Amsterdam included, and the entire world feels as if it's holding its breath and waiting.
Then, they come.
Starting in the middle of the night on July 25th (May 28th in-game), monsters spill into every megacity the world over. Some of them seem to appear from deep underground, crawling out of sewers or emerging from train tracks to flood into the streets. Others come from the outside, managing to scale whatever barrier separates that particular city from the outside. They move erratically, but with drive, determined to surpass any obstacle in their way to reach their goal. What that goal is, it's hard to say. They seem to want little more than to sow destruction wherever they go, and will attack relentlessly in their wake. Worse than that, these monsters seem to know how to both locate and use the gates that are located in these cities, and will rely on them to instantly travel between cities and spread their area of attack. One of the Displaced's handy tools is now being used against them.
There are many different types of monsters, but the one thing that they all have in common is their glowing golden eyes.
The intention for this event was to have something a little bit more straightforward for players to sink their teeth into (ha, ha) while also giving lots of opportunity for action threads and power usage/development! It's also a callback to previous events and plot hints that have been discussed in the past, as these golden-eyed monsters have shown up a number of times before, but never quite like this. This is a worldwide disaster unlike anything that Meadowlark's citizenry or government has ever seen.
◉ This event will begin on May 28th in-game time and July 25th OOCly. We expect it to run for about two weeks with the aftermath going up on August 8th, though we're always willing to play things by ear and extend if need be.
◉ When it comes to an end point, we do have a built-in conclusion for the plot setup if character action doesn't bring it to a natural close. Depending on the Displaced's actions, ending the plot could be as simple as dispatching all of the monsters. On the other hand, they could trigger a retreat from the monsters as well through their own decisions.
◉ Overall, this event is meant to be a bit more open and shut compared to some of our previous ones (such as the simulation, etc.), but we still think it will be fun and make for some interesting character interactions, along with allowing the scope to extend beyond just New Amsterdam, now that gates are a valid method of transport for the Displaced.
When it comes to the types of monsters that are attacking, they take a number of different forms, more than could be detailed by us without this being longer than it needs to be! We're going to list a few descriptions here that we've come up with, but we've also got a thread down below where players can submit ideas for a monster design to add to an overall bestiary that people can pull from when doing their threads!
◉ BAT-LIKE CREATURES. They have huge, leathery wings and massive talons, but their faces seem to simply be skin stretched over flat, misshapen skulls, unsettlingly humanoid.
◈ Blind, but their hearing is incredible, and they track their targets through vibrations and echolocation.
◈ There’s no indication of how they eat, what they eat, or even if they do.
◈ They attack their prey with their razor sharp claws and are even strong enough to lift a fully grown adult into the air.
◉ RODENT-LIKE CREATURES: Like giant moles, these burrow through the ground.
◈ Their teeth and claws appear to be made of a strong, steel-like metal that can even tear through concrete.
◈ They will unexpectedly emerge from the ground, even if that means tearing up the middle of a street or sidewalk, and then leap at their target with surprising speed.
◈ What makes these difficult to kill is that they can slip back into the ground to get away and reposition, also making them difficult to track.
◈ They leave a lot of giant holes and tunnels in their wake.
◉ PLANT CREATURES: These emerge from the vegetation overtaking New Amsterdam.
◈ They vary in form and appearance—some look like loping canine creatures, some like large creeping snakes, and some are huge and shambling and harder to pin down.
◈ They use clouds of pollen to distract and disorient (almost like smoke bombs). They also have lashing vines to take down and immobilize their prey.
◈ These guys can be sneaky, as they can use the plants around the city to hide and blend in.
◉ GIANT BOARS: These have thick hides covered in thick, needle-like quills.
◈ Ever wanted a pig crossed with a porcupine? Here you go! These guys are massive, closer to the size of a horse, and tend to attack by charging and goring. They have more tusks than any boar should, growing grotesquely up through their skulls.
◈ Their thick hides make it so that they’re difficult to damage with normal blows and even sharp objects.
◉ SHAPESHIFTERS: Creatures that don’t seem to have a set form.
◈ They can be: quadrupedal, stand on two feet like a hunched humanoid figure, or have no limbs at all.
◈ These shift constantly in response to the character’s attacks (they grow armor plating in response to a bullet, they'll shift their organs to avoid fetal blows, etc.).
◈ They’ll also learn and mimic the character’s fighting styles to disable them. Attacking these guys in teams is probably the best strategy. (Don't forget about union attacks!)
◉ MIND CONTROL SLUGS: These slug-like creatures can slither into a person's ear and put them into a berserker state (and if you're thinking Yeerks—yes, you're right!).
◈ The slug still gives off a slight gold glow.
◈ The affected person's eyes will also turn gold and they'll attack anyone in their vicinity, regardless of whether or not that person is a loved one.
◈ It will be as if the force driving all of these monsters is now inside them, too. This infection can be reversed through the empathy bond. When enacted, the empathy bond forces the slug back out through the person's ear. They will need to hold on to their possessed friend long enough to complete the process. While using the empathy bond to cure others, their chest will glow blue and they will experience an increasingly painful burning sensation where the touch connects. Both parties will experience a strong sensation of peace, and then a melancholy which will dissolve not long after.
◈ They will remember everything under the influence of the slug—including the feeling of it crawling in and out of their ear.
◉ WINGED INSECTOID CREATURE: About as large as a medium-sized dog, these can change people into monsters.
◈ This is for those of you who enjoy a good ol' monster transformation with your mind control. The infection happens in one of two ways: via a bite that breaks the skin, or via secreting fluid into their mouth and forcing them to ingest it.
◈ This will cause a painful transformation into any type of monster (listed here or submitted below). The transformation will happen fairly quickly, with a full change occurring over the course of a very painful hour.
◈ Unlike those who are controlled via ear-parasite, those who go through a full transformation will be much harder to snap out of their berserk state. The only viable option may be tying them up until what they've been infected with can work its way through their system (this takes about 24 hours).
◈ The Displaced can try and utilize the empathy bond to return them to a sentient state of mind. It will still take 24 hours for them to transform back to their normal human form. While using the empathy bond to cure others, their chest will glow blue and they will experience an increasingly painful burning sensation where the touch connects. Both parties will experience a strong sensation of peace, and then a melancholy which will dissolve not long after.
Now that we've outlined the types of monsters the characters can see, here's some blanket things to keep in mind for the event!
◉ They are not targeting the Displaced in particular. These monsters don't seem to have a specific goal beyond constant violence and destruction, and want to hurt anything and anyone in their path.
◉ In some cases, the monsters might even be able to absorb or learn the Displaced's powers when they're used against them and then fight fire with fire, so to speak. This will naturally work better with some powers than others, but it is a possibility!
◉ While these monsters are not looking for the Displaced in particular, the monsters will become very interested in them specifically (particularly whenever the Displaced activate the blue glow in their chest). It would be enough to direct their attention away from a random person who they were previously attacking.
◉ These monsters will not enact any killing blows on any of the Displaced. This will be particularly strange because they will not hesitate to kill anyone else, but the Displaced will always be spared. The monsters will fight against the Displaced and won't even hesitate from doing so, but they will either aim to incapacitate them (or mind control them) when they engage. The Displaced, however, are completely capable of killing these monsters.
◉ Anyone who has a glowing relic from the Gates event will be resistant to the effects of the possessing/transforming monsters. Even if they end up transformed, their mind will be resistant to any influence. The level of resistance depends on player preference!
How does the rest of the world respond to this? After all, there won't be any UNA soldiers to call upon to put down the monsters. A lot of the response will be handled on an individual level. This is the first time Meadowlark's world has been without those soldiers since the end of the human/AI war.
◉ The UN lacks the resources to actually do much about this situation. While disarming the UNA was a victory for the Displaced, it does leave them without much in the way of official help in fighting the hordes of monsters. What they will do is issue worldwide PSAs and orders asking people to barricade themselves in their homes as much as possible, whereas PRESERVE and other local aid organizations in various cities will be doing their part to deliver supplies and food where they can. It's chaos, though, and no one is prepared or trained for disaster on this scale.
◉ There are other people looking to help, though. Some normal citizens who have been inspired by the Displaced, particularly those in New Amsterdam who learned more about them in the simulation, will want to help even when they lack the resources. They don't have any training or any weapons, but that won't stop some of them from finding makeshift solutions so they can do their part.
◉ Morningstar will also be doing what they can! Branches of the organization exist in pretty much every megacity, though some are better equipped than others. Some branches will have access to some weapons, stun guns, body armor, etc., and they will be stepping up to the plate to try and fight back and keep people safe.
◉ Corporations looking out for themselves will be deploying mercenaries to help fight. Concerned with protecting their property, these mercenaries will be available all over to help. They'll be less concerned with protecting people, and more concerned with protecting the company buildings.
So, what now?
FIGHT: Power usage will definitely be key here, as most Displaced powers will be effective in some way against the monsters. While there wouldn't be any insta-kills, and Displaced will likely need to team up to actually take a monster down, that glow in their chest will be their strongest weapon against the creatures. Again, this is a great opportunity to explore some of those fancy union attacks that the Displaced have access to, even if they discover it by accident. And if you have any big ideas for how to take out a bunch of these monsters all at once, let us know!
HELP YOUR BUDDIES: Snapping friends out of brainwashing or figuring out what to do with them if they're transformed. We figured this would be an element of the event that a lot of people would want to play around with, so go nuts! And feel free to ask questions on what would work for undoing the mind control, as well.
DISRUPT THE GATES: The monsters are using gates to travel around and invade more and more cities, so it might be a good strategy to shut down some of these gates and contain the spread as much as is feasible. This might be tantamount to slapping the palm of your hand on a gushing wound and hoping that's enough pressure, but it's probably better than just letting them run rampant.
GATHER ALLIES: With the UNA disarmed and its previous soldiers scattered to the wind, there won't be much of a concerted military response to this massive attack. In other words, it's about the worst possible timing. Local police departments will be doing what they can, but suffice to say they're not trained for something like this. (Who is?) That being said, those UNA soldiers are still out there somewhere. Maybe some of the Displaced will want to try to find some of them and appeal to them for their help during this invasion.
MORNINGSTAR: Morningstar will be stepping up worldwide to pitch in with where they can, which means that this is a great opportunity for the Displaced to work with them and earn their trust, if that's something they want to do! There's also the option of asking them to spare their resources, though mileage may vary on whether they're willing to part with their hard-earned weapons, armor, and tech.
EXPERIMENT WITH RELICS: It will be possible for the Displaced to realize that the relics that some of them have could be useful here. On top of the fact that they seem to prevent a person from being mind controlled if they have it on their person, these can also be used to both activate and deactivate gates. If there's a time to experiment with how they work and what use they have, it's now.
INVESTIGATE: The monsters seem to act strangely around the Displaced in particular. Is there a reason for that? And what caused them to come out of their nests and appear from over the walls in the first place? There are some unanswered questions here that the Displaced are free to try and explore.
BRAINSTORM: There are naturally aspects of this situation we haven't considered, so that's where you come in! If there's anything you have a question about or a potential plot idea that you want to suggest, see below.
As mentioned before, this event is meant to be more straightforward when compared to our last one, which had a whole lot of problem-solving that the Displaced had to work on from multiple angles. That being said, there are some chances here for the Displaced to dig into the "why" behind what's going on here and possibly uncover some metaplot in the process. We'll be here to answer your questions as always!
That being said, this is also an event that is taking place throughout the world rather than just in New Amsterdam, which gives both players and characters some freedom and options when moving around. This is part of our overall goal to grow the scope of Meadowlark, even if the "heart" of it remains New Amsterdam. There will be many different cities that will need help and we encourage you all to spread your wings with that, if you want! With that in mind, remember that we are open to players developing details regarding other megacities on our location page over here.
There is one power level up available for this event, granted for a thread of at least 5 log/action comments containing your character utilizing their power in some way during the event itself. They will need to reach the 5 comments required by SEPTEMBER 11, 2020 to be eligible. Submission will be handled on the wrap up post.
Final note: Monsterfuckers? I hope you're happy.
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