The Start of the Storm

[shardofwinter]

The god hosted Yule party left the Nexus in the state of beautiful Winter Wonderland. With the snow falling softly and steadily, and the beautiful festive lights twinkling in the darkness, the Nexus is left with a sense of serene nostalgia hanging in the cold air. This peace and joy clings to the streets for several weeks, buoying everyone’s mood as they look back on the past year and forward to ringing in the new one. 

It starts in the Wilds, and the outskirts. The cold air suddenly feels like it freezes everything it touches in an instant. Light doesn’t quite pierce the gloom. Gentle snowfall becomes thick and falls hard. One or two people looking for shelter from their uninhabitable homes isn’t too noticeable. People can still enjoy their pretty Winter, blissfully unaware. Pipes freeze solid, paths become impassable, power cuts out, simple walks become baffling in the poor visibility. Soon it’s not one or two people, it’s many, it’s families. There are people coming in, bloody, bruised and scared, saying they were chased. Eventually the kindness of friends and strangers becomes strained. Spare rooms are packed to the brim and the storm that stays just shy of the bizarre torches somehow seems to have a slow, but unmistakable march closer towards a point where the Plaza, Industrial sector and Downtown meet. On top of that, people are complaining about PINpoints acting up or portals freezing over. 

Streets are becoming packed full of people with far more problems than solutions. Huddling together and whispering about ghosts and monsters moving about in the shadows. In a place with no government, no organisation, no collaborative emergency services, chaos and confusion reigns supreme. And with chaos, comes panic. With confusion, comes frustration and anger. The Nexus is a powder keg waiting to blow.

That’s certainly how one Durant sees it. As a manager, Isidor is keen on organisation and order. Both things that are lacking in the Nexus at the moment. Groups pop up to help, but struggle to communicate effectively, or work together. Some people get free food twice, some people are still waiting for some at all. It’s madness, and Isidor can’t stand it. Particularly because she, her brother and sister-in-law are stuck here. So, when nobody else takes the mantle, Isidor Durant takes it upon herself to inject some order into this scrum.

In her fur hat and long coat, leather gloves and thick boots, Isidor can be seen directing people this way and that. There’s something about a confident person taking charge that means people instinctively defer to them. She becomes the point of contact quite easily, with people soon taking her direction regardless of whether or not they know her. Under her instruction, people are directed to a building that has tables set up, queues in front of them, and volunteers behind them taking names and telling people where to go. It might still be chaos, but at least now it’s organised chaos.

The question is: Where will your character go?

❅-❅-❅-❅

((Below are comments for each desk. Tag any of them, threadhop, or post with your own character. I suggest putting your character’s name in the subject to help keep things clear. Comments marked with a snowflake ( ❅  ) have been coordinated with the mods and I as official event comments. The OOC Post is here! If you have any questions, feel free to message me or one of the mods!))

Threads of Note
Medicine/Illness | Shelter/Heat | Food | Security/Crime | Lost items/people | Misc resources/Donations | Volunteers | Expeditions | Planning Table/The woman in charge | Drulb's Deelz | A Ship in the Outskirts 

Comments

❅ Security - Crime

[staticandstock]

A few people might recognise the surly, greying man sitting behind the security desk. The frown creases in the Durant bodyguard’s brow are as deep as the few visible scars on the bare skin that peeks out from his dark, futuristic clothing. For those who can tell - Lyall has a concealed gun in a body holster. The ambiguous devices on his wrists and belt are a bit harder to discern the purpose of. He has the expression of a man who wants to say he’s not getting paid enough for this, but can’t because he most definitely is.

Lyall starts each conversation with each new person with the same gruff greeting. “Are you here to volunteer, or report a security issue?”

[coldsong]

"I think I am here to volunteer," Loki has wandered over in one of the quieter moments. Unlike most of the other people around the Nexus, he's dressed in the same clothing he'd wear on any other day in the place, indifferent to dropping temperatures. Although he does have a pair of sunglasses tucked into a pocket and just barely sticking out. That's a little bit novel.

Regardless, he also appears unarmed. Perhaps he is beating up the wrong bush here, but he has some questions and an angle, so he opts to try his luck.

"I have heard there are individuals coming in wounded and beaten, with talk of monsters having attacked or chased them. I'm interested in looking into that."

He's interested in looking into it on his own terms, is what he means, but if he has to trade a little bit of helpfulness for information, he may be willing.

[staticandstock]

Maybe he's been around the Durants too long, or he's met too many oily types in his day, but Lyall can't find it in himself to trust someone dressed too well with absolutely no weapon or guard. And definitely not when they go looking for monsters.

He puts down his pen as if it's an effort he's not happy about, and sits back into his flimsy plastic chair. "A detective in a snowstorm? I think people would prefer someone killing the things to investigating them."

[coldsong]

"Detective," Loki repeats, breaking into a grin that probably doesn't help with his attempt to project seriousness. "As amusing as that would be, no. But you can't kill a thing if you don't know what it is, what it wants, or where to find it. You might consider me a potential scout, instead."

"Are these predatory animals, do you think? The chasing seems to bear that out, but I have seen no one with bites yet." Although, all that really means, if it bears up, is that they're not creatures that eat flesh.

"I'm not opposed to killing them if I find them, whatever they are, and if it seems to be the appropriate action."

[staticandstock]

This man plays with word too, quite like his employer then. More suspicious though. Something about the way he almost seems more interested in killing them to learn about them than to eliminate a threat.

Lyall folds his hands on his stomach and watches Loki with narrowed eyes. "Not predatory. Predators don't rip off heads and leave the rest. Most of the victims we see aren't so much as nibbled on. Don't tend to have much on them either. More like very violent muggers."

[rekindledtitan]

"Don't think I need to tell you we've got issues." The Guardian he's addressing gives a synthetic snort, though she doesn't sound all that amused. She offers Lyall a brisk salute.

"Blaze-37, Guardian. My fireteam's heading back to the outskirts to round up civilians, but if anyone needs backup in my area just give us the word. In the meantime we've picked up reports of civilian brawling near the Downtown area - do you have anyone who can step in?"

[staticandstock]

He picks up his pen slowly, and carefully scrawls down Blaze's name and occupation. He assumes it's an occupation. A fancy name for bodyguard, he assumes.

Looking through his somewhat scant list, he asks, "What is the name of your fireteam? Do you have a reliable communication device?"

[rekindledtitan]

"Fireteam, uh..." This is an unexpected challenge. Faced with the need to come up with a sensible-yet-cool-sounding name on the fly, Blaze stares at the man for an uncomfortably long moment. Without blinking.

"Fireteam Sunrise," she says at last. He just needs something to write down, they can come up with a real name later. "My Ghost can give you a secure contact frequency. Our comms are probably more trustworthy than PINpoints now."

[staticandstock]

For a second there he thinks she might be broken, but then just as he's about to say something, she starts moving again. Did… Did she just make that up? It doesn't matter. It will do for the paperwork. He notes it down and then frowns at her.

"Your ghost?"

… She's not going to die on him right now, is she?

[sumarusfinest]

"Blaze...!"

For how densely populated the Nexus seems to be with humans Katsuya's always grateful that it never takes long to find his comrade whenever he needs the Exo. He's stepping away from his table momentarily to gesture for her to meet him.

"I know you're primarily going to be in the field but with the PINpoints and the like down I wanted to make sure you knew the Crossroads is being turned into a shelter. Even if it's just storing your gear for between missions, I'll have a place for you."

[rekindledtitan]

Her head swivels round at the sound of her name, and Blaze pushes through the crowd to join him. It's much easier to do that when you weigh a small ton and give everyone around you the sense they need to get out of the way or get run over.

"Suou! Good to see you here." Safe and in good health, adds something in her tone. Ghost floats over her shoulder and spins in greeting to the officer, Blaze herself leaning a little closer to listen to him. She nods in approval then. "I appreciate that. Not just for our sake. Our PINpoint's still working last we checked, but I..." She pauses, distant for a moment, then gives a smaller nod, as if reaffirming something to herself. "I'm not leaving. Can't take the chance of being locked out. People here need us."

She reaches up to clasp Katsuya's shoulder, the Exo's heavy touch warmer than ever. "Thanks for the offer. We'll swing your way and drop off some gear, maybe some refugees if we pick up any. You need any assistance, we'll be there sooner rather than later."

[sumarusfinest]

Honestly it eases many of the officer's fears to see so many capable fighters here, even if it's because they've all been stranded thanks to the worsening weather. Many of them are old, old comrades-in-arms too. People he knows he can put his back to and trust it to still be there in a fight.

These two in particular are some of his oldest.

"I was in that situation until this morning. Now I am also among those stranded here. But I have been preparing the Crossroads to be a shelter for some time now. I thought that if my friends ended up stranded here I would make sure there was a place to house them. Joshua's scouting for supply runs and knows most of the sources we got our food from directly so we've been trying to barter or buy as much as we can. I should be able to defend the building itself if worst comes to worst...."

He's had to kill people before but he hopes it won't come to that. But his face hardens all the same. Katsuya knows what could happen if they're not careful. How far people will fall when panic and desperation to survive overcomes the bonds of polite society.

[he_put_the_devil_in_me]

Matt had been exploring the place. Getting his bearings, mentally mapping the most significant landmarks by smell and sound. All that got cut short when the cold rolled in, like knives in his senses, turning uncomfortable chill toward deadlier cold.

He doesn't like the physical restriction that comes with winter outerclothes, but it's that or risk losing sensitive fingers to frostbite, or worse. But he also can't just sit idly by when he could be helping, so he folds up his cane and pockets it alongside his glasses, and pulls his knitted beanie down over his eyes.

Nobody here should know Daredevil, but it never hurts to evoke his more helpful alter ego, for himself if nothing else.

"I'm a volunteer," he says, stepping up to the table.

[staticandstock]

Oh, ok. It looks like someone a little too fond of TV decided they wanted to be a vigilante. Lyall hesitates as he looks the stranger up and down, wondering whether or not he should take the offer seriously. In the end he decides that if anyone here isn't serious about what they're offering, it's not his job to correct them.

So, sceptically, Lyall picks up his pen. "Please state your name and applicable skills"

[he_put_the_devil_in_me]

"Daredevil. I'm an independent law enforcer," Matt says, without even a hint of bluster. So, vigilante, right. This would probably be more convincing if he had his usual gear, but he doesn't use the devil suit anymore and he hadn't been expecting to need it. Too bad he doesn't have his escrima sticks though.

"I'm not sure what you're looking for, but I've got training in close quarters combat, with or without weapons. I'm skilled enough with first aid to put in sutures and set broken bones. Most of my senses are enhanced," he adds, ignoring the way that admitting that makes him feel exposed. "If something makes a sound within three blocks of me, I'll hear it."

[staticandstock]

Lyall stares at the other man, looking him up and down, before gesturing at his covered face. "You sure you can see anything through that, let alone put in sutures or hear things three blocks away?"

Hermione Granger -- Following a Plan

[mudblood_andproud]

After her conversation is Isidor, Hermione approaches the security table.

"Excuse me. Are you Lyall?" She steps forward. "Isidor Durant recommended that I report in with you."

"I'm Hermione Jean Granger. I can create a Protego Maxima, shield spell, around any areas of importance. Could you let me know where I should focus my work?"

[staticandstock]

Well that gets his attention. If his employer sends anyone his way, it's usually worth a pretty immediate response. He knows better than to keep her waiting.

After taking note of her name, he leans an elbow on the desk. "What does the spell require? How large can it be? And what does it do exactly?"

[mudblood_andproud]

"It requires me to cast the spell. And it can be large enough to cover an entire castle." Hermione explains. "The spell creates an impregnable magical protection barrier."

She makes some calculations in her head. "And if I combine the Protego Maxima with an Impervius charm, I could also keep our buildings waterproof."

"Isidor also noted that you might need other methods of communication. I am able to summon a Patronus, to send message to those outside of the building."

[juststeverogers]

"Lyall. We've got two more bodies. Same MO as the last three."

Steve tugs off his helmet as he approaches the desk. His gear looks like it's taken a beating already but it's still tactical gear. Slung across his back is the crystalline shield a certain Mobian magus fashioned for him. It's definitely already seen quite a lot of use getting him to this safehouse.

"No trace of the culprits but one of the fallen was one of our scouts. All the gear's gone, including her radio." Something about the reports isn't sitting well with Steve, either. The noises they're describing. It feels familiar somehow but he hasn't had the time or an epiphany as to what is putting him off about all of this. What he does know is that people are dying and that's taking priority right now.

[staticandstock]

The bad news is received with a growl. From what he's seen of Mr. Rogers, Lyall has long since decided he likes him. When he's on the clock he's perfectly professional, and can probably hold his own better than the guard himself. The fact that all of this seems to bother the other man equally isn't encouraging.

He lowers his voice to try and keep too many people from overhearing. "Did you manage to recover them?"

[juststeverogers]

"They're out back, where the others are."

You don't leave a man behind if you can help it, even once they're gone. They deserve a proper burial but that's not possible with the ground frozen solid like it is now. Most anyone can do now is try to get them identified. No simple task when they're missing their heads.

Steve's dropped his own voice, head bowed out of respect for the deceased. Milrayne wasn't someone he knew well, but the dark elf was quick on her feet and a consummate professional. They're going to have to keep a closer eye on their scouts if even they are being targeted now.

"She wouldn't have been getting close to any action. They must have gotten the drop on her. I don't know who the body was with her. Human, by the look of it but that's all I could tell you."

Indoraptor

[hybriddino]

Me? I'm here to volunteer.

A large black dinosaur with a bag tied around his side approaches, carrying a whiteboard and marker with him. The Indoraptor is a reptile, so he isn't very fond of the cold, but thankfully as a theropod dinosaur he's warm-blooded like a human. He could use clothes to protect him from the cold all the same.

You need security? He scribbles on a whiteboard, offering his services to Lyall. He has physical strength and tracking abilities to spare. I might be able to help you.

Lyall: Ohhh boy

[staticandstock]

This just gets weirder and weirder. Sure, dinosaurs. He can deal with that. Dinosaurs that can communicate? That's a bit harder to wrap his head around.

Lyall stares the dinosaur up and down as he figures out just what to do with… this. It's massive! Probably not stealthy. Probably not good at trekking through the snow. And it doesn't take a genius to realise that it's going to take a lot to feed. The sight of this creature patrolling the streets isn't going to raise any morale, either.

As conclusions begin to form, Lyall's shoulders slouch back over the desk. "I'm going to need your name, skills, where you're staying… and then ask you a few questions."

[hybriddino]

The Indoraptor gives a quiet trill as he shuffles in place, visibly anxious. He's used to people being skeptical, but he hopes he can make himself useful in this emergency situation.

He writes more on his whiteboard to introduce himself properly. I am the Indoraptor. I have tracking abilities, can move in total silence, can use echolocation, and can see in the dark. I usually live out in the Wilds, where I can track prey without getting in the way of people. I don't come out all that often, but this time is an exception.

He's not used to the winter climate, that much is true, and the weather isn't really that suited to a large dinosaur. However, he hopes he can learn and make himself more useful to Lyall and the others.