War with D.E.S.T.I.N.Y.

[spoofer]

Characters: Ensemble cast, any/all characters of Xistentia!
Summary: D.E.S.T.I.N.Y. comes to Xistentia for the first time, bringing with it violence and havoc. Combat against enemy agents, healing, emergency sanctuary, and "Drift Compatibility" happen here. Refer to the OOC plotting post and the mod announcement!
Date(s): November 4-18
Warnings/Notes: Violence, death, psychological themes, trauma. Please warn for anything else in your subject headers!

WAR WITH DESTINY

By headsman's blade or battle-axe

Fight For Your Life

Everything is, in short, super fucked. Era Ra's warning came at the right time, forewarning of some of the weapons and fighting styles that could be expected from D.E.S.T.I.N.Y.'s agents, but still, the people of Xistentia have not faced a force like this before. The ragtag combination of fighting styles and tactics promises both versatility and confusion.

For better or worse, D.E.S.T.I.N.Y. is in similar chaos.

The first to come are ships from the Western sea, bearing a mix of warriors in and monsters. Some wield old-fashioned steel swords and others bear laser blasters, and their armor is just as varied. Some creatures appear domesticated, while others are feral and snap at their own. However, one primary feature identifies the enemy: their war color is red, which adorns flags and uniforms. Interestingly, the sea and sky of Xistentia seem to be fighting back in their own way, massive waves and a storm, even animals pestering them as they attempt to land the beach. However, it's only a matter of time before the mainstay of their forces reach land, some two hundred fighters. It's then that sentient fires start to whirl into the forests, leaping from tree to tree.

You have the home court advantage. Even the foliage itself seems to cooperate with you, aiding in efforts for stealth by keeping you downwind, twigs failing to crack when you misstep. Soon, you're joined by Xistentia's other forces-- a handful of battered ships taking air, an odd assortment of elves and talking dogs, demons and aliens from outer-space, coordinating counter-attacks.

BATTLE MODE: ATTACK

You're locked in combat with a woman who seems oddly familiar, though you don't know her face and can't think of her name. You hit her in the head, and now a narrow slice of her face shows through her red-rimmed helm. She wields a rifle tipped with a heavy blade, though it crackles with electrical energy. She is a proficient swordswoman, deftly parrying and striking against you, her face eerily expressionless. Her blade has a switch that, when activated, will send out a net that numbs your limbs and drags you to the floor. Here's hoping you won't face this demon alone.

She's not your only problem. You may have noticed, that in every epic battle with evil wizards, there's always some kind of a problematically gigantic elephant. This is one of those days. At least, there's only one, its trunk as wide as a car, its feet moving slow, so that it might crush the trees rather than trip over them.

Fight one or both, or fight the hordes of nameless minions around them. Either way: there's plenty to do. Those of you who thought things were too quiet here? You'll be busy today.

SEEK SANCTUARY

Fighting isn't for you? Well, you'll want to get out of the way, then. The "wards" protecting the city are failing, and people are heading toward The Temple where the protections remain the strongest. Here, the injured need healing in the stone beds. The civilians do their best, comforting children, cooking food, trading intelligence, repairing weapons and armor where possible. Feel free to pitch in; they need all the help they can get.

BATTLE MODE: SUPPORT (PSYLINK)

And here, you've reached the Temple, you've laid yourself down on one of the many glass-and-stone beds within the safety of its stone walls. You know what the other Xistentia residents have told you about it— this is the next phase, after the memory share had raised shields against the psychotropic rain. This is the PsyLink. Through this bond, you are said to be able to activate special defenses. No one seems to know exactly what they are, but desperate times call for desperate measures. And beyond the Temple walls, times are desperate indeed.

Each drift requires at least two people. Your daemons will find and connect you, seemingly at random— and you may find yourself with the unlikeliest of partners.

Drift Compatible

The Kissing Booth participants find it easiest. Everyone else-- it's a wild jumble, finding yourself caught up in a firehose of not only your own memories, but that of someone else. Everything they think, everything they feel, is intertwined with your mind.

You can't get caught up in it. You have to let the memories of the past, your predictions for the future, and the terror of war flow in and out of you, without neither resistance or pursuit, gently tuning them out. And in this serenity, this psychic silence, this acceptance of not only yourself but the other other, you find perfect connectivity— harmony with your PsyLink partner.

In this space, you find yourself having strange conversations. You and your partner will share ghostly images, some of which seem to be images from the past— while others seem to be present-day moments from the battle outside, fighting the enemy, as if you are somehow in two places at once. You must find traction and stay in the now and stay calm, but it's harder than you think.

The instant you latch onto that memory or emotion, it's a mistake... but you forget.

Your shadow is here. Whether out-of-context, or right here where it was meant to be, it's trying to kill you.

But you're not trapped here alone. Someone is calling your name, a familiar voice in the pandemonium. That voice comes from your drift partner. It's up to them to pull you back, remind you of who you are, and balance you. Hold on to them - they're your anchor, but you'll have to do the same for them. A successful drift means helping each other. Do it well, and you'll help to power the temple's defences. Fail, and there'll be trouble for everyone seeking sanctuary here.

Comments

alec lightwood ( ota )

[helical]

A. FIGHT FOR YOUR LIFE
UNTIL YOUR LEGS GIVE OUT

( alec was glad, infinitely so, that he and jace had taken the time to test their new runes before this. the sea was reacting, and alec guided it, encouraged it in the right directions, the right places, to slow down the enemy, to buy the others in the city time to get organized or find refuge. the turmoil of the water matched the turmoil in his chest, but he kept his mind clear, his thoughts focused. one mistake and many could die.

his feet dug in the sand, water splashed at his feet. he stood his ground, barking orders to anyone who would listen, telling people to watch their backs, to get the soldier that washed ashore a few feet on the left. jace was next to him, the two of them using their prize powers together. magnus was nearby, so was clary — and the four of them watched each other's backs. it was too familiar a situation for alec to feel out of his depth, but the new powers and the lack of knowledge about their assailant were a toll.

he didn't realize how tired he was, until he closed his eyes for a second and opened them in the temple. he must have passed out and been taken there by the others. instantly he's sitting up, looking around for the exit. )

I'm not — tired. I'm fine, let me get back to — ( as he stands he knocks over his quiver, cursing under his breath in frustration with himself. he is in control of his body, he is not so tired that the edges of his vision is swimming. in fact, he just needs to reach for his stele and give himself a boost with a rune or two. he can't stand the thought of sitting here and resting while this is going on. he wants to break something, but he feels the tension in his hand as he curls it into a fist. he can feel the cuts and scrapes there, the cracked blood from too many arrows fired too fast. ) I've got to get back out there. ( he says, his voice a hoarse whisper, bringing a trembling hand to run it over his face. )

B. SEEKING SANCTUARY
LAY DOWN YOUR WEARY HEAD

( alec wants to get back on the field immediately, or at least get out there to the citadel, but he's been advised he should get something to eat before even thinking to step out into battle again. he knows it's wise, knows that a nutrition rune might help but that eating will help him remain focused just from whatever little pleasure he can get out of it right now.

so he's thanking one of the civilians who prepared food as he piles a ton onto a plate, making his way to sit off to the side so as not to be in the way. he looks in bad shape, covered in sand, dust, blood from already healed scratches and cuts. his hand no longer hurts, but still he flexes it idly as he chews on a piece of bread, staring off into space, lost in his thoughts. he's trying to think of a strategy, worrying about magnus, jace, clary, rafa, vex, janus, rosie — isabelle back home, max, his mother. it eats at him as he sits here, losing appetite rapidly, looking down at his plate with distaste.

without looking at the closest person, he holds it out. ) Here. You take this.

C. ANYTHING GOES

( prompt me with a starter or PM me to plot something out! )

b

[novelizes]

[ jughead is sitting nearby, his laptop having already been drained of battery, so he's contented himself with scrolling whatever makes for newsfeeds on his cellphone/daemon. he's already tried to make use of himself by offering a hand at wrapping injuries, but not being so good with that, he's settled down again to wait out the battle. because, frankly, he's not made for this kind of thing. he looks like an average teenager and pretty much is, if a bit broodier than most. he hasn't even been paying much attention to the guy next to him until the plate of food is shoved in front of him and he starts, turning towards the guy with a brow raised as he looks him over.

so apparently this guy has been out there in the fight. at least someone is. jughead feels a little guilty for not being out there himself, but he knows he'd end up a casualty or just in someone's way. this isn't riverdale, so he's not used to this all out war stuff. this guy, though, apparently is. ]

As much as I'm a stress eater in times of strife, no offense, dude. But you look like you could use it more than me.

[helical]

( dude? alec finally glances over at jughead, assesses a teenager that looks a little out of place, and jerks the plate toward him again. )

I'm fine. And not hungry. ( that's him being polite and not saying 'how would you know', as he's initially tempted to do. he's not in the mood, worried about literally everyone he loves and exhausted from fighting in a mental sense. his body might be rested, but he's tired of being trapped here and having to fight a new war while he is. also, it's not really jughead's business whether he needs it or not. in fact, he takes out his stele with his free hand, because once the plate is off of his, he'll be drawing up a nourishment rune. )

If you don't want it I'll give it to somebody else.

[novelizes]

Oh, no. I'll take it. I won't turn down free food, but-

[ he looks the guy over again. this time, he notes the plethora of tattoos, the marks that cover his skin, reminding jughead of the serpents. but the loops and swirls of dark ink(?) remind him more of something vaguely occult-ish rather than the kinds of tattoos he's used to seeing on his dad's gang members. and as he watches the guy, taking the plate off his hands, he's surprised to see him pull out something that looks vaguely like a crystal on a stick. a wand, perhaps? jughead isn't sure. but he continues watching as he begins shoveling food in his mouth, eyes narrowed with the kind of gaze one might expect from someone a lot more perceptive than an average teenager. ]

Are you one of those magic types, then?

[helical]

( 'magic types'. there was a time where alec would have harshly denied the association, but he doesn't attach such negativity with magic anymore. in fact, he associates none at all.

doesn't mean he's up for clarifying, thoguh. )

Something like that. ( he touches the stele to a rune on his arm, and it lights up as if from within, and he lets out a little sigh. some color returns to his face,
but his features are still drawn. )

[novelizes]

[ the acrid smell of burning skin fills the air as alec marks himself with the stele and jughead immediately wrinkles his nose, despite watching with keen interest. ]

Holy- [ he covers his mouth, but given the furrow of his brows and the widening of his eyes, he finds the display shocking. ] What the hell, man? Magical tattoos, but did you really have to burn your skin?

[helical]

( alec glances at jughead almost cluelessly. this is so normal to him, he hardly questions how the runes work. his stele disappears into his pocket. )

That's how they work. Now I'm now nourished.

a!!!

[jungianthing]

( it's strange, fighting like this. nothing like vietnam and nothing like his father's war, either. wars are never the same any more, he read that somewhere and it makes sense: things are changing too quickly. and this, the world around him being so untenably different, it doesn't help. it's throwing him. he doesn't feel himself, doesn't know himself any more. he's holding his rifle tight, too tight for comfort, grip hard enough that the skin of his knuckles is pale and strained, but there's a disconnect, an absence, and he can feel that stronger than he can access anything else.

he's sitting by the door when he sees the stumbling, unsteady figure heading closer, and unthinkingly he blocks the exit. his rifle is close by but not in his hand - this is my rifle there are many like it but this one is mine my rifle is my best friend it is my life - so he holds his hand open instead, palm up and out, stop. stop right there. ) You really wanna get yourself killed that bad, bro?

[helical]

( alec is a little desperate to get back, yes. he has people he loves out there, and he'd rather be fighting by their side and keeping them safe than sitting here doing nothing, would rather fight to keep every other refugee here safe than learn of how many died in the after math. )

There aren't enough of us to fight. We need everyone out there.

( he's never been one to put his own well being before his responsibility, and he's shouldered the safety of the city as part of those responsibilities. )

[jungianthing]

Yeah, maybe we do. ( joker's jaw clenches a little, briefly. he doesn't like we; he has no real kinship with any of these people. at least back home he knew where everyone came from. at least back there everyone was level, from the same roots. the way they fight out here is insane, it's cripplingly different, and he's never felt so unsafe even with a rifle in his grip. ) But you're not gonna be any use until you rest for real, man, I've seen it. Fatigue'll fuck you up.

[helical]

Get out of the way. ( it's not very threatening. he's asking. there's almost a quiet please tacked on at the end. a trace of desperation at the thought of his friends and family out there, and him in here. it's wrong.

he looks joker up and down. )

You ever fought alongside someone?

[jungianthing]

( he's not getting out of the way of anything, for anyone, and to make that implicit he firms his stance, shoulders square, feet planted heavy. there's something about being looked at like that that makes him nervous, under the skin, a feeling like tickling. )

Yeah, I have. And I've seen buddies die ( i can hack it, cowboy tells him, but he can't ) too, so I know.

[helical]

( he was assessing if this guy was a real soldier. if he knew battle in the sense alec does. it seems like it, but likely it's not monsters he's used to fighting.

joker may have strengthened his stance, but alec is stubborn. )

I'm not your buddy. My family's out there.

b

[mordacita]

[ Rafa gives Alec a look of utter distaste, and quickly pushes the plate away. He would have trouble getting that down even if he were human, and he's absolutely not attempting it now. No. That's not why he's here.

He's here because he saw Alec's laboured stance, and still sees him pushing himself too hard. Battle doesn't exhaust Rafa. Far from it; battle leads to him drinking the blood of his enemies, thus strengthening him with every kill. It's likely that his skin looks warmer and more healthy than Alec has ever seen it.

His eyes are harder. That's a thing. But it's also a problem for later, since there's a lot on his mind right now. Stubborn as ever, he stares up at his friend. ]

If you would let me heal you, every hurt would go away. Your strength would return. You could get back out there, at once.

[ This would of course require ingesting vampire blood. Rafa sincerely doubts Alec is about to agree to that, so he lifts his eyebrows, expectant. ]

Otherwise, sit down and rest. I will get food for you. You are in no condition to serve others right now.

[helical]

( he might have noticed the way rafa looked almost more vibrant than before, but he's not thinking about much but the fact that the people he loves aren't within eye sight. he has no idea how they're faring. they know what they're doing, he tells himself. if one was injured, they're return here to be treated.

right?

at least rafa is here and safe. that's one person accounted for. he even looks well. battle suits him. )

I don't want to rest. ( he swallows, shaking his head. ) I'll be fine. ( he wouldn't even let magnus heal him, right now. everyone needs their strength. this is hardly about drinking vampire blood, even if that remains unlikely for alec to ever be willing to do. )

[mordacita]

[ Rafa looks critical. So this will be a battle of wills, then? Alec is stubborn, Rafa doesn't doubt it. He's hoping logic might prevail if he can push it enough. He knows Alec to be stubborn, but not reckless. ]

You are injured, and tired. [ Which is not the typical definition of fine. Rafa lifts his eyebrows. ] You will do better work when you are strong. Even Shadowhunters need to rest.

Come, please? I would get in trouble with your Magnus if I let you go like this.

[helical]

( eyes rafa with pursed lips. )

You're just saying that because you know it'll work.

( it works. something deflates in him, his shoulders slump. it's not so much relaxed as exhausted. lifting his eyes to rafa again, he looks at him curiously. ) What about you? Staying here a bit?

( it's not directly spoken, but it's a request. a silent please stay with me a little while, not the kind of request he'd make out loud even now. )

[mordacita]

[ Rafa smiles. ]

You mean, I know you.

[ And he does, well enough to recognise those questions for what they are. He lifts a bottle of water for Alec before he can change his mind, and presses it to his hand. ]

It is light outside, sadly. I dare not take the risk. Besides, I wanted to regroup and consider their strategy. Perhaps you could help? My plans could use a second eye.

[ Which would not really be resting, per se, but at the very least Alec could sit down and eat something while he did it. That's got to be better for him than rushing around every other person in this place. ]

c

[estrayer]

[ Jace is by Alec's side, working with him in a way that's both familiar and new at the same time. The last time Jace had been on a mission, he'd died. That's a thing that rolls around in his head. He doesn't let it stop him, though, instead pushing it to the back of his mind while he focuses on the task at hand. Luckily, that requires more concentration than usual.

The swift moves with his seraph blade, the punches and kicks, the rolls and dodges that end with him slicing his blade upwards through a creature and then spinning to throw a knife into the back of another, all of that is instinctual. Jace's runes for speed, agility, strength and concentration are all active, making him a beat faster, stronger and better than the ones he's facing.

But then there's the other thing. The run that lets him move the ground. And there's a fresh horde coming at them. ]

Alec! [ He says, and turns to raise his hand. Between the two of them and the enemy, a sharp crack appears along the ground. Jace grits his teeth as the rune on his forearm glows. Then the crack pulls open, stretching a deep chasm in the ground where before there had been nothing. There's wild panic ahead of them as some fall in, and other flail to avoid the trap. Jace looks at his parabatai, waiting for step two. ]

[helical]

[ he hears jace's name just as he grasps what's happening. a ghost of a sensation, a plan being set in motion as if they'd discussed it at length ahead of time. it's like pure instinct, but as if that instinct was shared between two people.

he was already turning toward jace when his name is called, shouldering his bow and gritting his teeth as he dug his heels into the ground, calling forth the power of the new rune on his arm. it feels big, even if he's tested it before, like he's moving something grander than himself. it takes strength, but not more than he has. he can do this. with jace, they can make effective use of their runes.

a part of the sea rises and rolls toward them, toward the crack jace created. it comes crashing down, sweeping a number of the enemy into it, any of them in the area that had evaded it trapped into the wave as it drops into the chasm in the ground. alec hardly hears their screams over the sound of the water, like a great waterfall.

water splashes all over, but alec keeps tight control. it doesn't sweep any of theirs away.

he turns toward jace, finding his eyes. there's no point in talking; alec can hardly hear his own breathing over the rumble of the sea and the earth. ]

b

[hasitsthorns]

[ She's fine.

Although it depends on one's definition of 'fine,' maybe. As almost everyone knows, Rose's doesn't quite match up with most people's. She's not injured - not fatally, at least - though there is a definite tinge of exhaustion to just about every facet of her body language. There are no smiles or goofy one-liners today; instead, she almost looks downright apathetic compared to her usual happy-go-lucky self. She feels cold as the eternal she was born of, shaped by.

Worse than that, she still feels blood sticking to her hands. Can still see the light of other's eyes extinguished by her hand. It's her or them, it's everyone she cares about or them. Rose knows this but it's still a difficult thing to swallow. ]

Thanks, dude, [ she says, taking it from him. Her appetite is just as abysmal, however, and so it ends up getting passed further along to whoever else will have it. Someone that can put it better use than her. ] Look like you've seen better days.

[ Like she's one to talk right now. ]

[helical]

( alec huffs, almost an amused snort. he can't quite muster it. )

Should look at yourself in the mirror. ( a kind of hopeless attempt to lighten the mood with teasing. rosie looks tired too, drained, even. as alec must. he hasn't had a chance to get a look at himself. most of his cuts and bruises have been healed with an iratze, but he hasn't washed off any blood, nor changed his clothes.

he's covered in mud and sand and probably bits and pieces of the enemy too. )

How does it look out there, last you saw?

[hasitsthorns]

[ That's alright, neither can Rose. ]

That bad, huh? [ she asks, eyes drifting up to catch the tufts of wild, untamed hair she hasn't bothered to fix. Rose herself sports a bandage wound around her right forearm. There's only a few spots of blood on it, however, so it's healing nicely. She'll be back at it in no time. Vanyel had insisted though that she... stay back and rest so she was trying to respect that.

For now. ]

Like a whole bunch of fuckery. Can't believe we actually got an invasion to fight off. [ Xistentia's quite a far cry from cuddle city, after all. ]

[helical]

( it's easier to tease about it then fuss over their injuries. both of them heal better and faster than regular humans and both of them have significant others to tell them to rest when they would otherwise go right back out there to worsen them.

he wipes at his cheek, feeling dried blood caked there start to itch. )

It was only a matter of time. I'm surprised it didn't come sooner.

( he does miss cuddle city. that was the most peaceful he's ever felt in his life. )

[hasitsthorns]

I hope it's over sooner than it took to arrive, [ she can't help but answer.

Rose hasn't known war but she's known fighting for survival. That, as Alec knows, is something she's intimately familiar with so it's- Honestly, it's difficult to be in the middle of all this. She won't say as much and used to be she wouldn't even show it. Now, however, her somber mood is clear as is her exhaustion over the whole situation. ]

I'm sure it will be with everyone fighting the good fight like we have been. Kind of impressed, honestly, with how much people are still doing.