oh you fool, there are rules, i am coming for you

[singmod]

THE DARKWALKER COMES

The Darkwalker makes its first real strike against the Interlopers, resulting in the death of La'an Noonien-Singh. In the wake of her death, her fellow Interlopers are left to deal with the fallout of this new part of the horror of the Northern Territories.

WHEN: January 25th, onwards.
WHERE: Milton.
CONTENT WARNINGS: death of playable character; supernatural death; mention of dead body; themes of death; supernatural beings; themes of terror; themes of peril.

OH, THE RECKONING BEGINS

On the night of January 25th, all is calm. It is a peaceful, if not cold evening. There are no clouds in the skies, the stars and moon hang high in the blanket of inky black. It would be just another night, until something strange happens: one by one, the stars begin to go out and the moon's light fades from view, as if swallowed whole.

Instead, there is nothing but the gloom. The sky is dark and green and terrible. Interlopers all over the Northern Territories will stop and stare — horrified by such a sight. And then, it washes over you like a cold wave: fear. Interlopers will find themselves over-come, and everything in their bodies and minds tells them to run. To flee. And so you run, heading for cover indoors. Curtains will be drawn, some may hide under beds, within closets or wardrobes. Some desperate attempt to conceal themselves, make themselves small, unseen. Some Interlopers, in that fear, may rush to friends or loved ones to hide with them, others may simply cowered alone — crawling and whimpering away from the night. The fear is irrational, unable to be overcome — even by the bravest or most stoic of Interlopers.

And then: noise. Coming from towards the east, the sounds of unnatural and almost-demonic roars, groans and moans — unable to be likened to or truly described. Drawing nearer and nearer — and you know it, even if you don't understand why: something is coming. It's coming here. You are powerless, unable to do anything. And it is an agony, awaiting its arrival. You cry, you whimper, you cower. Curling up for some shred of comfort, and finding none.

It seems to go on forever, building into a crescendo. Your heart beats so hard you fear it may burst from your chest, as if you might die of fright.

And then, a screaming wail — sharp as it cuts through the building dread. A woman. You know it, don't you? You're sure you've heard it before.

The silence that follows is deafening. The green gloom subsides, the fear slowly melts away within you. You wait, and wait. Finally, when it feels like you can breathe again, you decide to move.

Interlopers who dare to venture outside, who dare to look from behind curtains may see nothing at all. The skies have returned to normal, the moon is out once more. But those close to the center of town will see the small frame of a body curled in the snow. Some may not know her, but plenty will recognise her: Lieutenant La'an Noonien Singh.

It looks almost as if she'd collapsed. But those who decide to investigate will discover a gruesome scene. While there will appear to be no physical wounds, her body will appear contorted — expression frozen in absolute fear. It will be incredibly unnatural and violent to look at. La'an is dead. Around her, the footsteps that brought her to this spot. Strange 'waves' in the snow, too. Hard to define as to what exactly made them. And... faint glimmers of green, intangible. Almost like a residue — which will vanish by the time morning comes.

This is not the first time. La'an Noonien-Singh is the thirteenth Interloper to die since they first began to arrive in this place. But this is certainly the first time something like this has ever happened.

But preparations must be made, an Interloper must be mourned and laid to rest.

And the rest of Milton must come to terms with what has happened, if they can put a name to such a thing.

FAQs

1. Essentially, a 'party post' for reactions to the Darkwalker's Arrival, the immediate aftermath, and any funerary preparations following La'an's death. Have... fun?

2. Information on the Darkwalker's attack can be found here.

3. An OOC Rundown can be found here.

4. For those interested: Harry Goodsir is conducting a post-mortem on La'an, which can be found here.

Comments

[meadqueen]

“That's terrible.” It does serve to make fire seem a bit less unmanageable. At home, her thoughts could get her killed.

Randvi looks at the seam and nods, confident. “Yes.” The meditative work would help to keep the fire at bay. “A needle, please.”

[moralabsolutism]

"It is," he agreed. There was no good way he'd found to look at this 'gift' he'd been given. The others would have been practical. Aside from a moment or two that had allowed him to say something he was otherwise incapable of being able to say out loud to someone, the benefits of it were low.

He had no idea if Randvi was as capable as she claimed but he wasn't about to start asking questions. Time to get this was running low and he owed it to La'an if no one else to have her be properly buried. He took one out of his mouth and handed it over. Germs? What were those?

[meadqueen]

“Thank you.”

No need to worry, Randvi will have been dead for centuries by the time germ theory is discovered, and she hasn't learned about it here yet. She takes the needle without complaint and begins working on the indicated seam.

As a spoiled young princess she’d despised this work, but she’d done it well enough alongside the older women. Now it feels good to be doing something for La’an, even if it is coming too late.

[moralabsolutism]

Despite how abrasive his personality could sometimes be, it had to be said for Rorschach that he never half-assed anything. When it came time to put effort into something, he went all in or not at all. Kate had requested he make this for the funeral, so dammit, it was going to be done well or not at all.

He finished hemming the corner he was on and looked at his stitches with a critical air. He'd spent more than a few years working in the Garment District of NYC and he knew his stuff. There had been far more challenging things he'd taken on over the year, for example, the mask he wore as his face all the time. That had probably been the most challenging technical-wise. But even though this was simple, he wanted it to turn out well.

After satisfying himself that the work had turned out even and the way he wanted, Rorschach went to another corner and began there. He kept half an eye on Randvi, ready to tell her to do the work over again if she wasn't up to his standards. But of course she'd come from an era where people had no choice but to make their own clothes, so she was holding her own right now.

[meadqueen]

The needle is much smaller and more precise than the carved bone that Randvi is used to working with, but her stitches are tight and even. As she’d been hoping upon offering, the familiar, repetitive work calms her heart. The fire feels far enough away to permit her to ask a question.

“Is it typical for people here to fly flags at funerals?”

[moralabsolutism]

"Not always. But those in military have them." He remembered seeing one when he'd been at the Comedian's funeral. It had been rainy and cold that day. Rorschach, in his civilian persona, had been soaked to the skin and even when he went later on that night he'd still be freezing. Such a memory resonated strongly right now in this place and time.

He shivered for a moment remembering before he shook it off and focused back on the task at hand. It was coming along nicely. With Randvi's help, it would be ready in time for the funeral as it was needed.

[meadqueen]

“I see.” There isn't as firm a delineation between military and civilians at home for Randvi, but it makes sense to have special ways to honour a fallen warrior.

The work does move faster with another set of hands. As horrible as the task is, it's pleasing to see it come together.

“It's kind of you to do this for her.”

[moralabsolutism]

Rorschach just made a sounds somewhat like a growl or grunt as he took another pin out of his mouth and pushed it into what was going to become a seam. He started to weave the thread into the fabric. "Can't do anything else for her now." Did he sound bitter and angry? Just a little bit.

La'an had been in danger and where had he been? Hiding in his house like a coward. He was angry at himself for that, for not being able to be there when one of the Interlopers had really needed him.

[meadqueen]

Randvi doesn't look over at him, but she says, “I live here, at the hall. I was in the window, reading by the moon. She was just outside, I could have -”

She feels her fingers start to get too warm and forces herself to stop, to take a breath. “I do understand how you feel.”

[moralabsolutism]

Rorschach was glad that someone else could understand that need of feeling like they'd failed to do all that they could. It would have been one thing to try and still not be able to prevent La'an's death. But to not act at all? That was gnawing away at his insides.

"How is your side looking?" He asked, not wanting to dwell on the subject for too much longer. There was nothing to be done now in the present. Instead of changing the past, they could only help prepare for the future now.

[meadqueen]

Now that she knows, by virtue of it being rolled up, that what he's wearing is a mask, Randvi is a bit surprised that he can see well enough to check her work at all. Clearly he can, since he’d been reading at the library, but it's hard to imagine what the world must look like to him.

She slips the needle into a fold in the fabric and holds up the seam so that he can see it more clearly. She's confident that if necessary it will be able to withstand strong winds.

[moralabsolutism]

Rorschach examined it for a moment before nodding his approval. "Few more minutes and we'll be done." Then he could go give this to Kate for the funeral. He didn't do death well but keeping busy like this was the best way for him to cope. What he couldn't do for La'an in life he'd do in death.

We can probably wrap this here!

[meadqueen]

Randvi nods and returns to her work, happy to have helped lighten the load for the others at least a little bit.