realmofstories | Nightmare on Index Street

Entry tags:

Nightmare on Index Street

Nightmare on Index Street—

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!

§ 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:

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.
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.
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.
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!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Of all the things to do in a time of battle.... well, she's not going to complain as she rushes by him, quickly climbing up the stairs to the top of the building, and she rushes to the edge. Here the wind whips her hair about her face as she looks around the town, and it's obvious as to where most of the battles are taking place from where smoke rapidly rises into the air. The Story Eater has left a clear path of its destruction, and it's not stopping.

Ophilia brings a hand to her mouth to hide a gasp, but her horror is given away by the look in her eyes. All of this destruction, all of those homes lost, and the natives here, too... so many must be injured. Or worse.

She turns to Cyrus once he makes it to the roof, her expression desperate, but no less determined. ] We must stop them.

[Ophilia, you know by now that he can't help himself. He is, however, quick to follow, and once they reach the top and find an appropriate vantage point, they're offered a clear view of what the Story Eater has wrought— and it is dreadful.

His expression shifts to something more stern, and his grip on the gift bag tightens as he nears the edge, laying a hand on her shoulder for reassurance as he joins her at the edge.]

We will. Make no mistake about that.

[His hand falls away, then, only to offer her a second orange gift bag.]

Here— I found another. I have a feeling we'll be needing all the help we can get.

[ She appreciates the reassuring hand upon her shoulder, and it's fortunate that instead of all the ruin discouraging her, she's nothing but determined to see this to the end. Ophilia doesn't know where he picked up the second gift bag, but she's grateful he's found it. Now it should be just a simple matter of waiting for the precise moment to throw down those gift bags, activating them, and destroying the erasers below. Should be.

But nothing's all that simple in either their world or this one, and when Ophilia takes one of the bags to prepare it she feels a rush of wind coming up from alongside the edge of the roof. Out of the corner of her eye it looks like a shadow has launched itself into the air, but when she instinctively turns and looks up, she almost wishes she hadn't.

An Eraser screams at them through a beak decorated with jagged teeth, spitting acid from its tongue, and one beat of its leather-black wings creates a gale so forceful that she's knocked back a few meters, falling. She braces herself from the wind and spit, but in the process she drops the gift bag from her hand. ] --Aah!

[ It takes a moment to recover, the noise itself making her head spin and difficult to concentrate. But when she opens her eyes the monster has risen up with that one pump of its wings to a greater height as if preparing for something. Quickly she looks to Cyrus, partly in concern for how he's faring, and partly out of fear, worry clearly written into her expression. What do they do?? Or-- what can they do against this sort of monster?! ]

[Cyrus, too, is taken by surprise, having been too keenly focused on watching the street below for the right moment to strike. He's thrown back in a different direction, separating him from Ophilia, though he manages to keep his own gift back clenched tightly in one hand, unwilling to let it be lost for any reason— not when they need it so badly. It's a struggle to get back to his feet, and once he does, he has to quickly sidestep a splash of acid— but it's very clear that they're about to have much more to worry about as the Eraser prepares to strike once more.

What he wouldn't give to have his magic available to him here— and yet all he has is the ability to find things as well as a pipe that he's yet to figure out the nature of. He looks to the gift bag in his hand, then back to Ophilia across the way, glad that she seems to be unharmed for now. Well... they do have two of these now.

He grimaces, grabbing the ribbing that cinches the gift back closed and slipping his fingers through it, preparing to wind up and sling the bag itself towards the creature.]

Miss Ophilia, you may want to duck!

[He trusts her to take cover— this may not be pretty. Holding his breath and hoping that his aim will be true, he raises the bag above his head and lets the ribbon go slack, sending it flying towards the Eraser itself with the hopes that it will open mid-air.

This could be brilliant, or it could go very, very badly.]

[ And duck she does, because that's the only thing she can do before he lets fly the pumpkins.

Ophilia sees the flash of light cast her shadow upon the rooftop before hearing the multiple explosions, igniting like firecrackers at a festival. Only with their power ten-fold and the flames shooting out in all directions. The cleric covers her head and ears as she feel the heat wash over the top of the roof like a wave, the flames close enough that a few sparks singe her back.

But she also hears the pained cry of the Eraser. Cyrus has managed to toss it directly under the canopy of one of its wings, blasting it off from the shoulder joint entirely. Inky blood spews from what was once there, spilling onto the rooftop and stumbling haphazardly as a child who has tossed their milk onto the kitchen floor. Yet it still lives, and while it is now grounded, it's still as ferocious.

The Eraser opens its beak and snaps at the both of them, spinning to sweep its tail on the ground. She jumps and rolls over it, clutching onto her staff tightly and whipping her head towards the direction of the dropped gift bag-- and then back to Cyrus. Because that Eraser? It's pretty angry that he's just managed to explode one of its wings off, and it begins to approach him menacingly on its hinged legs. ]

--Professor!

[ She can't help him with physical attacks right now. The distance is too great and her staff is only wood. But what she can do is give him a buff-- one of speed, so that he might be able to evade and dodge whatever next attack the Eraser has in store for him. ]

[And here Cyrus is without a weapon, whatever good they might have done him overall. Naturally, the Eraser is furiousat having lost one of its wings, and the sight before them both is rather grisly as the creature advances on Cyrus, and yet the professor finds himself feeling accomplished rather than intimidated.

Really, that plan could have gone much worse.]

Not yet had enough, have you?

[Perhaps if he project confidence, the creature will give pause, although that doesn't seem to be the case so far. Cyrus quickly surveys the area as the Eraser draws closer, trying to see if there's anything nearby he might apply a bit of creative use to in order to help himself— and at last, his gaze falls on an abandoned gutter pole near the chimney.

Well. It's long and clumsy, but better than a book in this particular instance. He dives for it, though the Eraser lunges for him in the same moment, and he very narrowly misses getting his foot caught in its grotesque beak. A bit too close for his liking, but he seizes the pole and quickly turns on his heel to face the creature, his back to Ophilia now as some of the distance has been closed between them.]

You'll not be so lucky again!

[It's not so different from wielding a stave or a lance— they can do this.]

Miss Ophilia, are you alright?!

I am fine!

[ She is. Because she's not the one who angered the Eraser with that explosion. But with Cyrus now between her and the Eraser, any attack it makes may certainly have the chance of hitting her as well. She widens her stance-- To keep your balance centered and steady, Sister Clement, Olberic had once taught her-- and moves her staff to one hand beside her.

Neither of them are warriors, but surely they have learned enough from their traveling companions to take this beast out. With him being the one to hold an actual weapon, she raises her staff to lend him another buff, this time of strength and energy. ] For you! [ He might feel it ripple within him, like a wave that's threatening to snatch him along with its current. The power wants to be unleashed.

And if he uses it against the monster successfully, Ophilia will quickly glance from side to side. The other gift bag that she had dropped is not too far away from her! Snatching it up from the ground, she turns back to the battle just in time to duck underneath a swipe of the Eraser's long tail. ]

[The strength she lends him allows him to feel empowered, bold enough to lunge forward and swing, and while the Eraser attempts to attack him, Cyrus manages to interrupt it with a well-time swing at its legs, knocking it off course and sending it flying back, it's tail lashing and narrowly missing Ophilia as she ducks down below.]

My thanks! Any idea as to how we should proceed?!

[That was a lot of words to simply ask her 'What now.']

I have another gift bag here! [ She'll tell him, running up beside him. Now that he's knocked back the Eraser, they have a few more critical seconds to really hit it while it's down. It's a BREAK! ] Steady, now!

[ And it's her turn to rip off the gift bag's ribbon and let it fly. Pumpkins burst from its contents and begin to rain down fiery explosions upon the Eraser, and it screeches in pain. Ophilia takes cover from the onslaught herself by ducking and covering her head, and when the attack is over she peeks out, standing once more and holding her staff tightly to her. ] Is it over...?

[ There's smoke lingering from the explosions, but when it clears... will the beast finally be dead? Or will it make one last attack in an effort to win? ]

[ OOC: u decide! ]

[Cyrus also takes the opportunity to dive behind cover, and while it's a shame that they were unable to save these gift bags for the Story Eater itself, he thinks they'll both agree that this was their best option upon being attacked. He manages to avoid being hit by any of the pumpkins that rain down, but as the bright orange smoke begins to clear, he coughs as he rises to his feet, venturing a few steps forward to see what their efforts have wrought.]

Remain cautious.

[As the smoke dissipates, it will reveal the Eraser sprawled on the rooftop, slain— it no longer draws breath, and so they are safe. Cyrus exhales, relieved, and reaches out to lay a hand against Ophilia's shoulder.]

I believe it is— well done. You're as quick on your feet as I remember!

[ She brings a hand to her chest as if she could stop her heart from racing within from the adrenaline, leaning a bit into his supportive touch upon her shoulder as she catches her breath. ] Ah-- thank you. But it was your quick thinking that saved us, as always.

[ She'll recover soon enough, straightening and taking a few steps away from Cyrus towards the Eraser. They've faced a great many monsters in their world together, slowly taking on tougher enemies as they traveled. But this fight had felt as if she were only just starting out!

She tears her eyes from the fallen creature, looking back to him in concern. ] You are unharmed, yes? [ HE CAN BE SURE SHE IS LOOKING OVER HIM FOR ANY INJURIES. ]

[He nods firmly, confirming.]

Yes, yes— I'm fine, I assure you. A little shaken, nothing more.

[No cuts, no bruises— so far. Considering the size of that Eraser, he could have been much worse off.]

I fear we've exhausted our supply of pumpkin bombs, however.

[ Her concern for him quickly melts into relief when she learns that he is unharmed. ]

...Indeed. The way we are now-- [ Without many of their abilities. ] We are not at our strongest. Those exploding pumpkins, as silly as that sounds, is our best option.

[ She steps towards the edge of the rooftop, looking out. ] Our best option to find other Erasers would at... [ Hm. ] I suppose at all the different areas with smoke. [ Makes sense that that more destruction = more fire, more smoke = with the Erasers as its cause. ]

Those would be the places to start.

[Almost as if the smoke itself serves as a beacon to guide them to the Erasers' locations.]

Hopefully, we'll be able to find more bombs to use, as well— I confess, I don't much care for not having my magic.

[ There's a pause, and then her eyes widen for a moment. ] Have you... learned any of your new abilities yet? Or perhaps used them to stand-in for your normal magic?

Of course I have! For one, I've learned that I'm particularly good at finding things.

[Moreso than usual.]

My powers of observation have become something much more than that.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Nightmare on Index Street

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

BREAK!

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject