spoofer: (piano)
Xistentia: Mod ([personal profile] spoofer) wrote in [community profile] xistentia2017-11-04 03:08 pm

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

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.
remarkablymodest: <user name="alreadylost"> (Default)

[personal profile] remarkablymodest 2017-11-26 05:02 am (UTC)(link)
That's a sentiment that he certainly shares. In a way, he is almost afraid that this is something too beautiful to truly be reality. Part of him wonders if they aren't still in the drift, but no- He can hear clearly the sounds of battle, of mayhem and chaos. Much as he wants to indulge in this and discuss further, it is a rather inopportune time.

Time is a luxury though in Xistentia. He has no doubt that they'll come by more of it and better suited to their needs before long. For now, however, he gives a slight nod at her words. "Aye," he answers. "No doubt they'll be needing your expertise before long." He does actually believe that they're at a great disadvantage without the Warrior of Light by their side, even if he'll also be the first to try and get her to rest.

"I'd be happy to accompany you, too," he continues, pulling his arms back and allowing her to make the move to stand first, following suit.
astralera: (shy)

[personal profile] astralera 2017-11-27 01:32 am (UTC)(link)
"Then let us find a table," she smiles, withholding a sigh as Aymeric moves his arms. Responsibility comes first, always. Even when she would rather stay curled up in her friend's arms.

Era rises to her feet after a moment's pause, though before Aymeric can stand and while they're still close to eye level she gives him a kiss on his cheek. It's a quick, chaste thing, but a kiss all the same; slightly chapped lips to warm skin.

Immediately afterward she continues on as though she hadn't just done such a thing, yet her cheeks are the slightest bit flushed and the very tip of her tail curls up and down repeatedly. Era doesn't mind making small gestures of affection like that, but would rather not have any attention brought to it.
remarkablymodest: <user name="alreadylost"> (Default)

[personal profile] remarkablymodest 2017-11-30 11:23 am (UTC)(link)
That is a sentiment he agrees with wholly. Even if he would much rather throw responsibility to the wind in the moment (and might have, were he a younger man), he understands now more than ever the importance of fulfilling one's promises. They agreed to help F.A.T.E.S. fight off D.E.S.T.I.N.Y. and so they shall. Protecting this world was their priority, especially as it meant that the rest of theirs would also still be secured.

He isn't expecting the kiss so that's likely the reason it makes his heart jump. Ironic that he just felt like a man and a kiss from a beautiful woman whom he admires reverts him back to a teenage boy in what feels like a blink. He's too stunned at first to properly comment on it but the swiftness that she moves on keeps him from doing so even after he's recovered.

"Let's," he agrees, standing up and following suit. "Hopefully we will be able to find something suitable and get you back to the frontlines soon."