Creepers

[travelagency]

Who: Misc.
What: The creepers make their first public appearances.
When: After Dorian's post.
Where: Locations listed in starters.
Notes & Warnings: Relating to Creepers

Starters will be below. These are plot relevant. Mod-played NPCs might come in for some threads and players can assume their involvement throughout this. With Dorian's post, Jeffers will send an Emergency Broadcast on the public network telling everyone in the village to stay within the fence, but as usual with any broadcast in any universe not everyone listens.

Comments

Outside the fence...

[travelagency]

Immediately after Dorian's entry one can already be seen toddling around near the gates. They will appear like that through the day, just walking across the grass. They don't particularly look like they're planning a cunning attack. They're just walk around and look. They ignore animals, and spiders for the most part (the most part, if one is bitten accidentally it will turn and follow the spider off through the trees). But the moment it sees a village citizen, even through the slats of the fence, it will start in their direction and follow them through the fence.

It's a good idea not to let them get too close, or people will get hurt/there will be fence damage that has to be repaired before nightfall.

Out near the gates shootin' creepers

[most_feared]

You aren't afraid of nothin', are you...

[Kay is muttering it to himself as he stands near the now-closed gates, watching a green shape approach the fence. It's still a little dark, and he's blandly surprised at how little sound it makes. For someone that's seen almost everything it manages to be creepy to him, even, just a touch, because of the unchanging expression and just the way it moves.]

[He holds up his silvery-sleek techno-savvy shotgun in one hand, pumping it hard without even looking at it and sending a message to the main security office with that same hand.]

Yeah- [He's saying.] They're trying to Kamikaze it, but they don't seem to have the knack for knobs. Not a whole lot of 'em but they're pretty fuckin' persistent when they do show up. [He aims the gun with one hand and fires to knock it back. Quickly grabs the middle of the barrel to one-handed pump again as he's talking.] Yeah, I'll get rid of the one at this gate. It should clear 'em up out here and then I'll start on a lap, check in with patrol as I come across 'em.

[Another shot. He might have done this before. He is irritated that it's taking more than one hit to do it in, though.]

[una_persson]

[Una arrives, a guide-issue rifle in hand. She slips into position beside Kay, checking her weapon as she does so.]

They said you might be able to use a hand out here?

[most_feared]

Yeah... I'd appreciate it. [He sounds, understandably, kind of tired. It's that sort of irritation that comes from not being immediately able to solve a problem.]

You ever see anything like this before? Seems like the sun bein' out doesn't settle them down like the spiders.

[una_persson]

[She shakes her head, raising her rifle to her shoulder.]

Never seen anything like it in my life. Ugly little sods, aren't they?

[most_feared]

They ain't handsome.

It's with the third shot that it seems to go down. [If he weren't using something loud to shoot it with, the hiss it made every time it was hit would have been more obvious.]

Come on. I'm helpin' patrol the fence. They don't seem big on climbing like the spiders, thank god, or we'd be in a whole heap of shit.

[una_persson]

[She follows him, surveying the area as they go.]

Is there any bit on them that seems to be particularly vulnerable? Or is it just three shots every time?

[most_feared]

That's the weird part. It's been pretty consistantly three shots for me. Like they're mad out of one solid object. Whatever sensor organs they have in their face aren't turned off until they're all the way dead, and we're not permitted the sort of weapons to obliterate them- not even in security. Probably to protect the ruins.

[He gestures out towards the trees as he walks.] At least we know now that it wasn't the terrorists.

[una_persson]

At least we could have talked to terrorists?

[Bad joke, and she knows it.]

Have there been any corpses of these ... things to examine? Or has everyone been too busy making sure they don't explode?

[most_feared]

[He stops and gestures back at the fence where the body of the creeper should be.]

They degrade. Gone real quick. It's like they've got no other purpose.

I've seen some biological weapons along those lines, I guess. [He's still trying real damn hard to figure this out.]

[una_persson]

[She looks back to the spot. Nothing there—maybe a smudge? She shakes her head.]

None of this makes any sense.

[Movement out of the corner of her eye. She puts a hand on his arm to stop him and brings the rifle up to her shoulder, sighting along the barrel to the target.]

Totally forgot my tags wtf

[most_feared]

Best I can figure, they're not made to last too long. I guess like a lot of things that can do a whole lot of damage they're really fragile, too.

[He stands behind her as she's lining up her shot, and he watches and waits to see what she sees.]

Explorers...

[travelagency]

The various explorer teams that have gone out and lost teleporter contact need to be recovered. The ones that have mostly lost contact are in the tropical forest. There was a vague message from one right before their comm went dead. We found something- which might be the new hostiles, or it might be something different.

[usfuzzies]

Ben is going to want to see samples and observe the strange explosive entities in the wild.... after everyone is back safely. He's heading to the teleporter area with a rifle.

"Dogs seem able to detect them. Is anyone with a dog willing to come with me? Or-- where's that technician, Narvin?"

[timesbureaucrat]

"Are you calling me a dog?" Narvin bristled. Despite the fact that line of thinking was exactly why he'd come to where the Search and Rescue teams were gathering in the first place: to offer his help detecting those creatures. But to state the connection so baldly like that...he didn't like the reminders that he's just a messily evolved mammal like the rest of them.

[usfuzzies]

"Not at all. I don't know Gallifreyan anthropology, but I'd be surprised if you had anything but a coincidental convergent relation to canis familiaris terra. You have the same aversive response, though, and that's what we need."

He hasn't been lecturing in idleness; as he talks he's doing a last inventory of his gear.

[timesbureaucrat]

"Well." His metaphorical hackles lower. "I suppose that's all right then."

But he still felt faintly embarrassed by his uncontrollable desire to run away whenever one of those things was near. At least he could console himself with the thought that as far as loss of control goes, at least this was practical and conducive to survival.

[usfuzzies]

Ben might be going to keep on privately analogizing him with canines, at least for this, but he wouldn't say so. More practical matters at hand.

"I have the teleporter set for the last known coordinates of one of the teams we've lost contact with. Do you need any other gear before we-?" He was already halfway to the controls.

[timesbureaucrat]

"I have everything I need."

A weapon. Pill-like food. All the scanners he could muster. And not much else. Narvin isn't very experienced with the outdoors.

[usfuzzies]

"Then after you, and let's hope we don't need your ability to sense the local... uncategorized life. Hopefully, there was just a disruption in the team's comms."

[timesbureaucrat]

"If it comes up, you'll have to deal with it yourself, because I'll be running the other way. Whether I want to be or not."

He'd probably run the other way anyway, but he rather resents barely having a choice in the matter. At some point he might learn to grit his teeth through it and be able to stay when one of those things was near, but right now it was like trying to deliberately keep his hand held in a fire without drawing away.

[usfuzzies]

"Hell, so will I be. These things go off like little cataclysmite charges. I don't want to be anywhere near them. They're to be dealt with from a distance," Ben says, with a frown and a curt headshake. "Preferably with a high powered rifle... well, maybe we better had leave the ones be that aren't too close to the settlement. As long as it's safe to; the planet's ecosystem will survive another day if I have to shoot one that makes a run at us."

A scamper, more than a run; they have an uncanny, silent way of moving, repellant even on video. Fascinating. The way they degrade into the soil, have to remember to take some soil samples. Try to get any sense as to whether they're even animals. Isn't there a slug back on terra, one of the ocean-dwellers, that can adapt plant genetics into itself-?

He catches himself woolgathering and strictly gets his mind back on the job. Absentminded with a rifle is a good way to get yourself killed.

He chambers a round into said rifle, and cues the transporter.

Medics...

[travelagency]

There are some wounded. Not a lot. The creepers are far fewer in number than the spiders are, but they blend well and are silent and not everyone got the message in time. Whoever is competent at first aid and healing is asked to come in to the clinic and assist the current staff there.

No idea what I'm doing, yay?

[lindir]

[Having served the house of Elrond so long, and not being a fighter, Lindir often was called to be an extra hand when it was needed. While he did not consider healing to be his profession, he could still be of use. Just now he was looking through the supplies to see if he recognized anything. If he was lucky, perhaps there would even be athelas.]

It's all good! It's a very "make it up as you go" plot.

[frontier_doktor]

[Visscher is also no fighter, not in the slightest. But he is a healer, and while there aren't as many injuries as he's seen there are enough that all the doctors have been called in. He's checking on a man in the waiting room with burns up one side of his leg. He sees Lindir as he's getting the information from a computer.]

Are you one of the injured? [He checks quickly to see.]

[lindir]

[Lindir turns when he's spoken to.]

I am not. I came to be of some service. Though I am not called to heal the wounded often, I do have some skill.

[He looks back to the monitor.]

Do you know if there is a supply of athelas on hand?

[frontier_doktor]

There might be, they've been stocking up on items, but it's not one of the items I'm experienced in the use of. Ah... here- [He uses a hypo to give the gentleman a minor sedative, before he gets up to find a pair of rubber gloves for Lindir.]

I'll take you back with me to check the supply closet. What sort of medicine are you versed in?

[He checks to make sure Lindir is following him as he starts walking.]

[lindir]

Perhaps you might know it as kingsfoil?

[Lindir eyes the gloves as he follows, not sure what their purpose was. As for the question, he doesn't quite understand, so he answers to the best of his ability.]

The Eldar have various remedies, which I have studied while serving my Lord Elrond.

[frontier_doktor]

Kingsfoil, kingsfoil-

[He's repeating it to himself to remember what to look for as he takes him into the storage area. Another doctor would probably be more wary, but Visscher's been volunteering his own services for a long time when situations are dire. Whatever (alien?) sort of healer that Lindir is, he trusts him to try. Perhaps unwise trust were it placed in another but he doesn't have the time to worry about background checks.]

[He goes to a very heavily stocked herbal section and finds it not under Kingsfoil, but under Athelas. He looks over his shoulder at Lindir.] Are you not used to gloves? [It's a genuine question, not accusatory.]

[lindir]

[Lindir spots the athelas looking a touch relieved, and takes it off the shelf to take a look at it's quality. At the question, he looks at the floppy latex gloves in his hand then back up at the doctor.]

We do not wear such... gloves, in my own lands. Is it your custom to do so?

[frontier_doktor]

[Hoping that he's not at risk for creating a germaphobe, he nods towards the gloves.] They're a way to keep from spreading disease from person to person. You change gloves between them. We also have a UV sterilizer but this is safer and these are recyclable.

[lindir]

[Fortunetly, it doesn't look like Lindir is about to freak out. Instead he looks a bit curious, with a touch of pity.]

I see. I admit I do not know much of disease. The Eldar do not suffer sickness as Men do.

[frontier_doktor]

There are a lot of species that have very enviable immune systems. But for those that don't? These?

[He puts on a pair of his own to demonstrate, before getting what Lindir was asking for.] How do your people use this?

[lindir]

[Lindir follows suit and puts on his own gloves though it takes him a moment to get passed the rubbery texture.]

Athelas has many uses. It eases pain, encourages healing, gives energy and drives away corruption. It can be made into a poultice, boiled, or brewed into a tea. Even the mere vapors invigorate the body and soul.

[frontier_doktor]

[He wonders what he means by corruption. Infection? Poison? Easing pain would help, though.]

We have a mortar and pestle if you'd like to make a poultice I could apply. If there are actually effective natural remedies I'd prefer them over chemical dependencies. Though I know there's occasionally no avoiding it.

[He sounds as though it's a little regrettable. And he gives Lindir room to take however much he needs.]

We have about twelve patients with injuries from the- Creepers, I suppose, -right now and nine have already been treated and are resting.

He means evil poisons, but I headcanon it would work against infection too.

[lindir]

[Lindir nods once in affirmative.]

I agree a poultice would be the place to start in this case. I may also set some to a boil so that we might all benefit.

[He takes a good amount from the stores.]

There is not much, so I will have to take a cutting to grow more another day, perhaps. It grows quickly and takes to even the least favorable of soils, so I do not doubt we will ever run out entirely.

[Some called it a weed after all... strange mortals.]

I will begin work on the poultices, then offer what healing I am capable of for the three that remain.

[frontier_doktor]

Some people underestimate the value of weeds. The root of Queen Anne's Lace became frowned upon as a dish but was once widely used to sweeten other foods.

[Ramble, ramble. He closes up the stores and makes sure they're locked. But then he has to show Lindir where the equipment is, get him a mortar and pestle, fussing as he's setting things up.]

[The clinic was made for more "primitive" healers to work in as well when it became evident that some of their methods work here.]

Maybe some local plants could help us once we've done some testing. I've been told the apples here have signs of having healing properties, but I've not had a chance to look into it.

[lindir]

[Lindir busies himself with the athelas and mortar and pestle.]

Apples? I have not heard of such a thing before. Then again, there is much here that I have not seen or heard before.

[endsorrow]

[This is Braska, reporting for duty.

He already worries he's going to move too slowly, but he needs to remain firm in this. He must Scan before using any of the healing items or spells he's used to. He will not allow what happened with (to) Dorian happen again. Braska can't say he understands it, not yet, but he intends on approaching Dorian as soon as he is awake and well enough. But, whatever it is... If he Scans, then at least he's done what he can to keep it from happening again.

Maybe other people would be self-conscious showing up in White Mage's robes, a heavy headdress, and carrying a staff taller than he is, but, as ever, Braska doesn't seem to notice feeling out of place. He's even bringing with him a satchel of healing items he prepared in his shack beforehand. He might be taking direction from those who normally work in the clinic, but he's bringing everything he can provide to help.]

[folkscallmewander]

[Wander slowly follows Braska holding a small bag of medicine from the shop. He's being stressed ever since they found Dorian lying in the middle of the forest close to death, and now there's been more attacks from the mysterious creatures he never saw.]

Mister Braska? [He adds the title as his friend is the one who is most needed at the moment.] I brought some extra supplies from the store in case you'll be needin' 'em. I can run back for more if ya want.

[He's no doctor, but he swears that he will do whatever he can to help.]

[endsorrow]

[Braska turns his head when Wander says his name. He doesn't think to correct the title, not now; he's spent most of his life carrying titles, after all, and right now he's busy enough that he doesn't even notice.]

Thank you, my friend. [Braska smiles for him, grateful and warm and soothing; a summoner's smile, something he's used more recently than his entire time at the resort so far.] You've saved me another trip.

Would you do me another favor and set it over by that table?

[folkscallmewander]

[Wander nods, feeling better with Braska's assurance. He's trying his best not to panic, reminding himself that the summoner is a professional at healing people, but seeing all the injured hit him right in the heart.

He walks over to the table, steps onto a stool, and places the bag on the table, rearranging the other objects around it to keep the tabletop organized. ] Anythin' else I can do?