⇨ HELL

[ringleaders]

Who: Vampire prisoners and rescue squad.
When: Evening Day 67 - Day 68
Where: Vampire Hell
What: The rescuers go to hell. Top levels are in approximate chronological order.
Warnings: Violence, torture, tryhard demons who aren't very creative.

RESCUE MISSION: HELL↴ The air smolders as you travel through the star-shaped portal the Ringmaster has opened - the gateway to the hell dimension that has taken so many if you. Ahead, you can see the grand entrance to Morningstar's fortress, a single point of civilization in the center of a barren, lava drenched hellscape. Of course, you won't be entering from the front. That would be stupid. The Ringmaster's plan is simply in explanation but far more difficult in execution. Her instructions are that she will attack the fortress directly, and that the rescue team is to enter inconspicuously and rescue who they can while she engages Morningstar. She has provided you with silver weapons - daggers, swords, and some projectiles - which you may or may not choose to use. Shedding a trail of orange and green embers, the Ringmaster will sprout her dark, feathery wings and take to the air, leaving the rescuers to contemplate their instructions now that they've arrived. The fortress is large, and as such there are many potential side entrances to find. It will take some doing, but the group will be able to accomplish it. Meanwhile, many of the vampires within will be distracted by the Ringmaster's now very audible arrival, and don't seem to be expecting a secondary attack. The initiative is yours, and the captives are there to be found... but will you succeed? ► GATEKEEPING: For those who don't trust their mettle enough to travel all the way to hell, there is an important job to be done back at the carnival. The Ringmaster's obsidian daggers have opened a portal there, but while the rescuers enter that portal must be protected - both to keep it from collapsing and stranding everyone there, and to prevent anything demonic from escaping onto the carnival grounds and causing havoc. If you need to take it easy but still want to help, this is a good place to be. It's also a good place for nervous hand-wringing about whether any of your friends will make it back alive. ► PLAYPEN: The cavernous pits where the neonate vampires are dumped, in order to engage in a survival of the fittest style battle royale where only the strongest and most cunning will emerge. Those that were turned during the masquerade were dropped down here a couple days ago, and so someone needs to go collect them. Try not to get eaten by the hordes of other starving neonate vampires down there while you're at it. Maybe you could even try to save some of them, if any seem worth redemption. ► CAPTIVES: While the supervisors were initially all caged together in large cell surrounded with a moat of lava, it seems that most of them have now been moved elsewhere. Where they have ended up is a puzzle you'll have to solve quickly - there are plenty of vampire sentries about to try to get in your way, and some of the prisoners may already be significantly worse for wear. If anyone has any powers that help them find people, this would be the time to use them. ► MINIBOSSES: Unfortunately, the enemies here aren't only capable of damaging the body, but the mind, too. In these particular cases, that corruption of the mind has been used pointedly to Morningstar's advantage - two of the carnival's most dangerous members have now been turned against it. If you want to get out of here alive, you'll have to go through them. If you're really lucky, you'll get them out alive, too. ► BOSS FIGHT: Before the rescuers and the rescued can escape, Lord Morningstar will arrive to corner them, with an entourage of elders. Let's hope that she gloats long enough for something to turn the tables.

Comments

[dorkypantsuit]

It's nothing as dramatic as a burst of blue flames. The Psiioniic isn't ten feet tall, or made of bone. He's simply a troll, and though there's something off-putting about the blankness of his stare there isn't much about him that's intimidating. You may know him, you may know of him. He's the usually cheerful relatively lax supervisor who's always on the radios telling everyone to be safe. Explore new worlds in pairs, don't take anything for granted, that's always been his advice. How well have you listened?

Do you have back up as you approach him or have you come alone? Do you think he will recognize you? Do you have your weapons raised? One of his horns is broken, the top point absent and the edges ridged. He's dressed in rags that do little to sheild his skin. There's no recognition in his eyes when he see's you. It would be foolish to approach him as a friend. The only warning of an attack you'll even get is the flare of purple that immediately surrounds him. He floats into the air, his wings bent and broken, but he never needed them to fly. Do something stupid and he might just attack, can you even fight back if he keeps his distance in the sky?

He's waiting at an exit on the other side of a courtyard. It's open air above them, but the sky is so dark you may as well still be wandering through the dim corridors inside. Behind him is an archway, and through it is freedom and the red hot magma that surrounds this place. All you have to do is get past him and you've made it. Just remember, never take anything at face value in the worlds they visit, otherwise this world could very well be your last.

[kingsroads]

First the Celebration, now Hell, Strange has found that his magic's been pushed in all sorts of ways he never expected to experience...and honestly, never really wanted to experience in the first place. The blood splatters on Strange's clothes and silver dagger as well as the large dent in that dumb basin he insists on carrying around still shows that he's seen some more combat this round than he expected. Needless to say, he's ecstatic once they leave the fortress and are more in the open.

As he spots the archway, Strange is the first to make a break for it, before skidding to a stop partway into the courtyard as he sees something unexpected. "Wait," he calls out to the others, "that's Psi! Finally, I was wondering where you--what on Earth are you doing?"

It doesn't take an idiot to realize that Psionic taking to the sky and not saying anything is a bit worrying. Though what's wrong with him, Strange doesn't know. At least they're in a courtyard here. The open air, the magma not too far away, actual ground beneath his feet, it will be so much easier to do magic here than in the depths of the fortress. Tentatively, Strange takes a few steps closer towards Psi, though he's already muttering up a spell as if he expects the troll to attack him.

[insidescoop]

[Carly has come. Of course Carly has come, with her duel disk on her arm and cards already prepared to 'reveal'. They're face down right now-the result is being followed around by floating 'platforms' of some sort, but really it's better than adding multiple people to the crowd. Platforms that blend into the surroundings are better. She hovers-her fingers twitching for flame, her eyes searching the area, and at Strange's words she pauses and beams.

Only to freeze. Somehow something seems wrong, after all. She floats next to the other, and whispers-] ...I don't think he's 'himself'...

[She brings a hand near to her disk.] ...I don't think he's himself at all...

[It may be best to prepare a barrier of some sort, Strange, because otherwise they may well just end up splatter on the ground in a few seconds.]

[dorkypantsuit]

There's barely any warning before his attack. He doesn't move, doesn't blink, doesn't make a sound. He simply watches them, his red and blue eyes flash to their opposite's color and back so quickly they look purple. Color streams from them into the air. Their light grows brighter and brighter until a flood of light bursts forward from them, a beam of force aimed directly at where Strange and Carly stand.

[kingsroads]

As the light from Psi's eyes grow bigger, Strange gestures to the ground in front of him. As the beam of force shoots towards them, a wall of earth emerges from the ground: he's got that barrier, Carly. The two connect with an impact that sends chucks of dirt and rocks flying everywhere but thankfully prevents the two of them from getting zapped.

Of course, that doesn't do anything to change the fact that he's got absolutely zero idea of how to deal with Psi in the first place.

"Any ideas?" he asks, trying hard not to show the complete nervousness in his voice. Fighting a supervisor and someone who he actually likes is certainly different than fighting those vampires. Needless to say, the basin is getting set on the ground as Strange tentatively watches Psi, ready to call forth another barrier should the troll attack again. "I can attempt to ground him if you want."

Carly's the veteran, maybe she's dealt with brainwashing before.

[small_reservations]

After stumbling across this predicament, a man comes out of the darkness at the periphery of the yard. He's dressed in a long coat, under which a pair of small hooves are visible, his hood pulled up. Veterans, anyone who was here before the vampire war, may recognize him as he shakes said hood down. It's Axel, and his suave moment is ruined by his hood catching on one of his horns.

Once it's grabbed and yanked down, he speaks. "Wow, Psi, didn't realize you were that far gone!" He spins one of his chakrams loosely in one hand, ready to fling it. His eyes glow faintly in the dim light, and he turns his head to Carly and Strange, keeping Psi in his peripheral vision. "You two need a hand?"

[fortuneglass]

[It's good that one of them has a barrier, since she certainly doesn't have it. Carly grimaces behind it, but the sound of a familiar voice has her turning with a start. With how long it's been though, will Axel recognize her? She IS sort of all inky-glowy now...] Y-You! [Not using names never helped.] We need to stop him somehow, but with how his power is, we can't get near! [she protests, answering at least part of Strange's 'ideas' question.] Not close enough for me to get my fire on him, I don't think...

[She's not really tried to fire it at anyone, just yet. Just make 'lines'.]