Nightmare on Index Street

[keeperoftales]

Nightmare on Index Street—

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After the final hours of Halloween are coming to an end and everyone is slowly beginning to gather their things and return to their homes to prepare for the clean-up to come in the later days, a strange, eerie silence falls throughout the Index along with a mysterious gray fog. It seeps over the ground like a veil dragged behind an invisible bride and soon engulfs the entire city. The sound of hooves clattering over the cobbled streets echo over every street like an army followed by a chorus of loud, high maniacal laughter. In the next instant everything turns pitch black, as if the light of the world had been shut off.

And then just as suddenly, the light returns. But the sight that greets those who bear witness sends chills down every spine. Pumpkins lay smashed along the streets, cobwebs cover almost every window and doorway, and scarecrows swing from nooses tied to various branches. A cold, black frost covers the ground, steam rising from the thin, icy sheet before a new sound echoes around.

Crunch. Crunch. Crunch. Crunch. Crunch.

Big, heavy footfalls and then—

VRRRRRMMMMMM WHEEEEEEENNNNN

An ear-splitting roar of motor and metal as sparks fly from a giant chainsaw. The thing wielding it? A giant skeleton several stories tall, its mouth open wide as another shrieking laugh erupts, its eyes glowing fire. As it laughs, those closest to the abomination scream in terror before it suddenly swings its weapon out, cleaving everything and everyone in its path.

YOU THINK YOU CAN DESTROY ME, OUTSIDERS? YOU THINK YOU CAN BECOME HEROES? I'VE EATEN THEM ALL, DEVOURED THEIR SOULS AND TAKEN THEIR POWER. NOW I WILL TAKE YOU AND YOUR WORLDS! I WILL CONSUME EVERYTHING!!

From its open mouth a black vortex appears, growing larger and larger until it hurls outward to smash onto the street in front of it. At first nothing happens—only a gaping, black hole exists. But then the first claw reaches out, the first tendril, wing, tail, head. Black, hellish creatures rise up and locals scream the words,

"Erasers! It's the Story Eater's minions run for your lives!!"

By now the journals of each Aspect will have begun to burn, a loud buzz drumming in their ears as the Storyteller reaches each and every one of them.

Aspects! The Story Eater has sensed of your arrival and has breached the barrier of this world. It must be repelled, but there are only so few of you and it has grown so strong. We fear you will not survive if you face it now. But with the aid of the one known as the Father of Christmas, you may be able to weaken it enough. Quickly, find his gifts, use your powers, and weaken him until I can write a new barrier to expel him. Please, hurry!

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§ prompts.

¶ I. Unwrap Those Presents! So what are our would be heroes to do? The Storyteller is utilizing the essence of—if you haven't guessed already—Santa Claus to create special presents that will help damage and delay the Story Eater. Again, it won't be enough to defeat it, but it will give the Aspects that extra oomph and time to chip away at that giant HP bar for the Storyteller to do its magic to reconstruct the shield and expel the Story Eater.

There are four types of presents:

1. Big Red. Big red presents will summon giant snowmen that will fall either on top of or around the Story Eater. They can't really attack, but they will create a lot of ice and snow in attempt to freeze the Story Eater place. It will also help make parts of the Story Eater a bit more brittle, so those who do try to do direct attacks can deal some damage and chip away some of that bone structure. Nothing massive, but at least some cuts and small bones can be hacked off.
   
   
2. Polka Dot Blue. Blue, polka dotted presents come in various shapes and sizes, but they all do the same thing when unwrapped and opened—create a lot of noise. Technically they're choirs singing various Christmas Carols, but doesn't really sound like it up close. Fortunately, they also come with special ear muffs and a small note saying, "Cover your ears before opening," but if disregarded then those who hear it will find themselves stunned and a little hard of hearing for a good while. Closing the flaps will silence the noise. What needs to be done is to direct the opening of the present towards the Story Eater. The "music" will amplify and stun it, giving a few precious seconds of vulnerability.
   
   
3. Orange Gift Bags. Large gift bags with black ribbons tying them close will unleash an explosion of pumpkins once opened. These pumpkins will rise into the air laughing before raining down in a wide area and explode on impact. So be careful! These will need to be brought over near the Story Eater to deal damage.
   
   
4. Black Envelopes in Black Stockings. These gifts are a bit harder to find, but it's also easy to notice a giant sock hanging from somewhere and a black envelope sticking out of it. They're up high, so some climbing or flying will be required. But once reached, opening the envelope will produce one of two cards. A card that is labeled "TRICK" can be used and thrown at the Story Eater. The card will expand in size and turn into steel to slice at the Story Eater, dealing a lot of damage. A card that is labeled "TREAT" can be used to help heal or boost those fighting, even allowing characters to immediately learn abilities that could help with the fight.

And around all these presents will be Erasers trying to reach and destroy them first. Some will be easy, but some may require a bit of fighting, so be prepared!

¶ II. Erase the Erasers. Erase the Erasers. The Erasers are pouring out of the black vortex and it seems as if there's an endless army of them. They are going after the citizens, so try to intercept them and defend the populace. They come in all shapes and forms, some even looking like creatures straight out of the lost stories themselves. Alternatively, try to see if you can plug up that massive hole. Perhaps a few well placed snowmen and pumpkin bombs? The gifts will also be effective against the Erasers, although it might be a little overkill.

¶ III. Help the Injured.The site where the Story Eater’s avatar landed has been reduced to rubble, and the monster is bent on more destruction as it plows through the city, any citizens caught in its wake bursting into torn pieces of ink and paper. Not everyone’s essence or heart is geared for offense, and there’s more than one way to help save the day. Those who still wish to help can try to save those who haven't been lost, or perhaps heal them if they have the knowledge or power at their disposal. Don't forget there are magical healing potions that everyone received on their first day, and it's not too difficult to find more, possibly buried underneath the rubble. Finally there are the "TREAT" cards that could also be used to help heal the injured.

¶ V. Wildcard. Make up your own prompt! Especially in regards to the festival, anything can really happen.

[Mod note: Refer to the accompanying Game Notes for more information!]

Comments

[hatesviolence]

[ ii. sending back the erasers ]
[No really. Shizuo had managed to make his way towards the Erasers are coming from and has uprooted one of the city's streetlamps to use to swing around and slam into the Erasers. Any that weren't immediately disintegrated from the sheer force were sent flying back into the black vortex.]

T'ch, there's no end to end! We need to cover that thing up!

[But...with what?



—Doesn't matter. Shizuo is about to display his monstrous strength with the added help of his Frankenstein essence and pick huge broken slabs of concrete to hurl towards the hole. Will they fall in or actually cover it, he has no idea. But he's also hitting a few Erasers in the process so it's not completely useless.

Just...hopefully he doesn't accidentally hit someone else.]


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[ iii. helping the helpless ]
[When not dealing with the Erasers, Shizuo will be quick to try and offer his aid to those trapped or being attacked. After clearing out a few Erasers, he'll hear some muffled cries for help under some rubble of a collapsed building and quickly jump in to try and get closer.]

Hey, I need a hand here!

[...Or...does he? He seems to be pulling out the heavy debris pretty well on his own, but really he would appreciate any help. Especially if he has to hold up a particularly heavy piece so that the trapped can crawl out.

And if he's not calling for help, he'll be quick to assist others who might, lifting up heavy pieces to help free anyone trapped underneath.]


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[ iv. wildcard ]
[Any other prompts here!]

ii

[chippedsoul]

[Was Shizuo also expecting the concrete to be sent back in his direction? Well he should.]

Watch where you're throwing, idiot. [The culprit appears to be just a person, who had a few Erasers around him that had been sliced through with his sword. He had this bored disinterest in his yellow eyes, as he runs a hand through his pulled back hair.]

[hatesviolence]

[Wow?? Rude???


Only except not because whoops. He did not realize there had been a guy there. He'll catch the concrete with his bare hands, sliding back a few feet from the weight—after all, it would kind of suck if it hit someone else since he apparently already almost made a casualty.]

Sorry, didn't see you there.

[Because of the Erasers...that were now dead around him.]

Just tryin' to fill up that damn hole so those things will quit showin' up.

[chippedsoul]

Well you've certainly made them angrier. [They don't seem to like things being thrown at them and are trying to break through all the concrete, or pulling them into the void to open up more space.]

Whatever is on the otherside of that hole seems endless.

[hatesviolence]

T'ch, damn pests...... [Just a very annoyed click of his tongue, a few bolts of electricity sparking off his shoulders.] You got a better idea, then?

[chippedsoul]

[Well he had something rather explosive in mind, but first.] You can create electricity?

[hatesviolence]

Huh? [He just stares at him dumbly for a moment before he hears the crackling around him.


Oh. Right. That.]

Apparently, yeah. Why?

[chippedsoul]

[He grins.] Think you can charge up enough electricity to send some into the hole?

[hatesviolence]

[Shizuo just looks at him like he's crazy before the idea slowly starts making some sense.]

...I could try. This is something that just seems to happen when I start getting pissed off. [And given how it just keeps crackling around him—fair bet to say he's been in this mood for a while. He's also never really saw it more than an annoying side effect.

But. If it could actually be useful...

He'll start walking over, anyway.]

[chippedsoul]

When angered, huh... [He turns, slicing at an Eraser that had tried to sneak up behind him.] I'll keep the path open.

[hatesviolence]

[Just a nod as he passes.]

Nah, you don't have to. You can keep a few off me, but I'm gonna need some to really get this going. Might wanna keep a distance, too.

[There's an audible crack as he rolls his neck before he glances and—ah yes this steel beam will do nicely. Don't mind him as he pauses just long enough to wrench it out of the nearby pile of debris and swings it over to rest on his shoulder as if it were a baseball bat.]

Don't wanna accidentally hit you.

[Already more Erasers are climbing out of the hole, and while Shizuo is already generating a fair bit of voltage, if he can just whack a few and get into a fight, that should really get it going. At least, he thinks. He's only figured out that that the electricity thing is linked to what was used to animated Frankenstein's monster, and that it only really "sparked up" whenever he was mad. So it's not an unreasonable assumption that fighting—something that quickly sends him in a rage—should give him the jumpstart he needs to try this crazy idea.]

[chippedsoul]

[He gets the message soon as he picked up that steel beam.] Right. [He'll give him the space, weeding out a few of the Erasers. This is boring,why do we have to restrain ourselves like this? He's barely tapped into these abilities that awoken within him and he wanted to see what else he could do.

He glances in Shizuo direction. He needed to get angry anyway, right? So stealing some kills in front of him will probably speed things along.]

[hatesviolence]

[With each swing of the beam, he can feel that rage building up. Stupid Erasers, messing with everyone's world and forcing them all here. Stupid Story Eater for destroying the lives of all these innocent stories. And now they're all coming in here and more lives were probably los—]

The hell—??

[Just as he was about smash down another Eraser, a certain RUDE PERSON up and decides that kill stealing is okay. He immediately turns at the other guy AND...]

Thanks, but I like I said, I got it.

[...Thanks him?? Well on the one hand it is nice to have someone have his back for once. On the other hand, he did say he could take care of it and he doesn't want the guy risking himself more than he needed to.

On the upside, there is a veritable electrical storm crackling around Shizuo now, so if Asougi isn't too careful, he might get accidentally zapped.]

iii

[sparrowrain]

[ With the Aspect of Princess, Aya doesn't quite have the strength she's used to having at home. But she can't help but be drawn toward the destruction, wanting to do anything she can for anyone impacted. Hearing Shizuo call for help pulls a string inside of her - even if she was how she was back at home, she probably wouldn't be able to do anything. It doesn't stop her from trying. ]

I'm here..!

[ Her fingers pull at the stone, the bearskin heavy in her satchel, like it's trying to tell her something. She just grimaces as she keeps trying to dig some of the debris away. ]

[hatesviolence]

[Ah, it's that girl from before.]

Hey, you'll hurt yourself going at it like that.

[He can lift this by himself, but it's still pretty damn heavy and he's been using his strength nonstop since this whole thing started. More importantly, he doesn't want someone hurting themselves trying to help others.]

[sparrowrain]

But I can't just stand by when there's something I can do.

[ Except... she can't. Her hands are entirely ineffectual at this... ]

[hatesviolence]

[Uuh....UUUH....... Oh!]

I know I heard people down under here, but it's hard for me to hear 'em when I'm moving all this stuff. If you can listen and tell me where they are, might be able to get 'em faster.

[sparrowrain]

[ it's nice of him, but she doesn't think she can do that either. At least, not the way she is. Her hands stop digging though, half curled around shattered stone. And she sighs, like she's giving up.

But. ]

I can do that. Just... look the other way for a moment, would you?

[hatesviolence]

[He cants his head quizzically before slowly turning.]

Okay?

[He has no idea what this is about, but he's not about to argue at a time like this. He just hopes she's not wasting their time doing whatever it is.]

[sparrowrain]

[ She may not have any problem with bears (see: Gustav) but she didn't want to be one. now that Shizuo has his back turned she sighs, but pulls out her bearskin, and shrugs it over her shoulders.

A bear, that can hear much better than she can, and one that can lift, too.

Her voice is much more growly when she talks again. ]

They're pretty deep into the house, I can hear them now.

[ And a furry paw will point in the direction it's coming from. As much as a bear can point. ]

[hatesviolence]

[He blinks when he hears the change in her voice, and when he turns...

????]

What the—you're a bear???

[sparrowrain]

[ she just looks at him. Can a bear look tired and embarrassed at the same time? Cause, yeah. ]

Shouldn't you just keep digging?

[hatesviolence]

[Just another moment of staring before her words sink in and he quickly shakes his head.]

Aah, right. Sorry.

[And with that he goes back to lifting up the heavy pieces of debris, tossing some of them as if they were made out of paper. With her help, they should be able to get through this faster and at some point there will be faint, muffled sounds from beneath.]

[sparrowrain]

[ Having bear hearing and bear paws makes her a much better asset in helping with this, as much as she doesn't want to admit it. It's not long before they're helping people out of the rubble... and fortunately they don't stare too much at the bear that's part of the workforce. ]

[hatesviolence]

[To be fair, they've probably seen all kinds of bear people around—and actual bears. They don't seem too shocked to see a lanky guy like Shizuo hefting huge rubble away with ease, either. A little surprised and awed at both of them, but not full on gawking.

Once the people are safely out and other locals arrive to help tend to them, Shizuo will turn to Aya.]

Huh. So you can turn into a bear. That's kind of cool.