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Spike (chipswiththat) wrote in marinanova_ooc,
@ 2014-07-10 20:36:00

Entry tags:

plotting

Soul plot six: the ensoulening
Two years in the making and the day has finally come: on day 280 Spike is getting his ~~groove~~ soul back, exactly 100 days after his arrival in Marina.This post is for organising the endgame of this long-spanning plot, as well as summing up past events in case someone missed something or simply want to look back with pride on how it all went down. Needless to say there’ll be a lot of information in this post, but I'll try to keep it as neatly organised and clean as I possibly can.

The road so far

• Day 180 — also known as ages ago. Spike arrives and immediately learns about his future ensoulment, which proves that there are other ways than gypsy curses.

• Day 224 — Tyki Mikk, with assistance from nurse Piter de Vries, removes the chip that up until now has kept Spike from hurting humans.

• Day 231 — The first attack, aimed at Lacus Clyne. Payback is almost immediate in painful and torturous ways.

• Day 235 — Spike and Jack have an encounter, ending with Spike killing Jack for the first time.

• Day 236 — Spike succeeds with his second killing since his arrival, in the form of Matt Donovan. Another one who wouldn’t stay down.

• Day 243 — Jack waits for Spike outside a bar to make sure he doesn’t kill anyone who can’t come back.

• Day 245 — Jack addresses the Defence Force about Spike’s recent kills.

• Day 247 — In response to Jack’s threats, Spike escalates the tension by attacking Ianto

• Day 250 — During the fear event, Jack gets a glimpse of what a re-souling can do.

• Day 261 — Threats of re-ensoulment are made and dismissed as bollocks.

• Day 262 — Spike explains to Kitty how Angelus got his soul back.

• Day 265 Kitty directs the investigative team to begin researching souls.

• Day 266 — Kitty asks the Wardens about the price of a soul.

• Day 270 — The build-up culminates in a blood bath, with several more or less successful vampire attacks across the dome. This was followed by a general plotting post for the aftermath.

• Day 271 — Ton Phanan makes an official report about the vampire attacks from the night before.

• Day 271 — Retaliation strikes hard and fast in the form of a baseball bat. After a lengthy and painful fight Spike escapes, leaving Jack to die for a second time. After a change of clothes and a chance to inform Rose of what’s going on, he slinks off to Sector 6 to lay low.

• Day 274 — Jack Harkness makes an inquiry with the Wardens about how to buy a human soul.

• Day 274 — After a few days hoboing it up in the jungle, Spike seeks refuge with murderbro Tyki Mikk. The situation is explained and analysed.

• Day 275 — Kitty Pryde unintentionally crosses paths with Spike while in Sector 6. Idle threats are exchanged and she ends the conversation by phasing a branch into him

• Day 275 — Jack Harkness rallies the troops and brings the Defence Force up to date on what’s going on with the recent attacks.

• Day 275 — Jack Harkness tries to get through to Spike’s girlfriend Rose, with not great results.

• Day 276 — Spike is forced to return to civilisation in order to work off his punishments. Tyki makes it clear that he’s got Spike’s back, should the Defence Force actually go after him.

Day 277-279 — Spike has continuously been working off his punishment at the Devil’s compass and although he hasn't been seeking out company, it’s not unlikely that he’s been spotted throughout the dome during the afternoons and evenings.

What comes next?

A couple of things are happening over day 279 and 280. Based on the IC and OOC responses various plot posts have gotten, this is what we’re looking at.

• Day 279 — One final post from Kitty to the Defence Force, detailing the last stage of the operation. This includes organising existing volunteers and rallying whatever stragglers there are left to help make the re-souling run smoothly. Based on the response Jack got to his last rallying post, those currently involved are:

Surveillance/Containment team: Jack, Kitty (AoA) Data, M'Gann, Wally.
Spell casters: Zatanna, Piper, Bonnie and Anya
HQ/Spell Caster Defense team: Kitty (evo), Sam, others TBD
Coordinator/Dispatch: Rebecca
Guardian of the Library: Ianto, who will prepare a containment chamber in one of the library study rooms and keep non-DF inmates away from the action.
Advisor: Tieria
Research: The full investigative team has been researching souls

• Day 280 — The big one. This is when it’s all going down, folks. There will be a semi-structured, closed mingle for those involved in this final stage of the soul plot and will go up around the 17th/18th (Thursday/Friday of next week). This will be your opportunity to thread things out as you please — spell casters can get organised, the attack team can do their thing, other DF members still at the HQ can voice their approval/doubts/need for coffee or whatever else you think might be fun to get in before it’s all over and done with. Let us not forget that both Rose and Tyki are still on Spike’s side, which can invite more confrontational plot should you want it.

For ease of tagging, Jack will be the only one actually with Spike as the soul takes root but if anyone wants a non-disruptive confrontation before that happens that’s easy enough to arrange.

Questions? Comments? Concerns? This is the place to get all of that out, as well as plot out whatever it is you'd like to do with this final stage of the plot. I'm forever grateful that so many showed interest in playing this out with me — it’s gone way beyond my wildest fantasies and turned out so much better than the vague ideas I had when I first apped Spike two years ago. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

(Post a new comment)

	notbabymagic 2014-07-10 06:41 pm UTC (link)
	Spell Caster Zee, checking in. Ready and awaiting any last minute instructions, boss. So long as she has a basic idea of how the ritual is supposed to go, she'll be good to go. (Reply to this) (Thread)

	kitty_has_claws 2014-07-11 12:43 am UTC (link)
	I'm not sure if the spell they'll be using is BtVS canon to a tee or if it is going to bring in magics from all those involved, but this is an entry for the BtVS version. I haven't read all the threads so I'm not exactly sure what everyone contributed, but it should give you some base to work with. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	notbabymagic 2014-07-11 04:57 am UTC (link)
	I wasn't expecting a to-the-tee version of the spell, anyway, considering the vastly different canon magic rules that will be involved in this ritual. But thanks! I can assume that Zee got all this information from Anya and work from there? (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	foreverjack 2014-07-11 12:45 pm UTC (link)
	I was kind of assuming the spell would be a bit of a mish-mash (I don't see how they'd be able to get an Orb of Thesulah, for one thing) so my feeling is you should feel free to come up with pretty much whatever you want using the Buffy ritual as a jumping off point. :-) (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	notbabymagic 2014-07-11 05:22 pm UTC (link)
	will do. we don't even necessarily have to plan the details down to the last. Ritual happens. Ensouling happens. They did it. Outside of whatever actually does get threaded out, it would be safe to assume that much. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	trial_by_veda 2014-07-11 05:50 pm UTC (link)
	I have some Charmed-verse soul magic bookmarked on my laptop at home. I will link it here tonight. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

Sorry this is so late... I've been going a little crazy at home.

trytobenormal
2014-07-24 04:40 am UTC (link)

Soul-related information from Charmed-verse, if applicable

Novel: Voodoo Moon - contains a spell used to restore a soul... however, requires target to be holding some of the components needed... unlikely to be practical in this case

Gypsy Research - articles about Charmed-verse gypsies, which they are capable of doing soul magic, from what I've gleaned... Piper has limited Gypsy experience at her point in canon (in the books, mostly, not in the show, as that doesn't happen until after she's pregnant, which is after her canon point in game)

Main Gypsy article - This contains an excerpt from the Six Keys, which is based on the actual Six Keys used in Gypsy beliefs. The link for the Six Keys was the one used in the Wiki. There are spell components listed on the page, but nothing that says what they are for.

Spirit article - Information about Spirits, Souls, and Ghosts, all of which are marginally related in the Charmed-verse. The main differentiator is how they manifest, how they're summoned, and what happened to soul/spirit/ghost in question after the death of the body.

Soul article - There is a demon that can do something called "Soul Blasting", which is basically removing a soul from a body. It's considered an evil power, and has been reversed by White Lighters. This happened after Piper's canon point.

Basically, most of what Piper's researched will have to be through research if she was able to find books from her world in the library. There are actually a lot of books about magic without directly retrieving the Book of Shadows from the Halliwell family. In later seasons, it's revealed that there is a magic school, and it has a large and well-stocked library.

(Reply to this) (Parent)

	foreverjack 2014-07-10 08:37 pm UTC (link)
	Thread for Jack, if anyone has any questions or wants to plot with him/me. :-) Sorry I haven't been about the last few days - I think that's going to be a thing for now, mid-week, due to change in role at work - but am hoping to get caught up on my threads over the next few days. (Reply to this) (Thread)

	nico_di_angelo 2014-07-11 12:03 am UTC (link)
	Nico's going to be disappointed if he doesn't at least get to see the soul before it's stuck back in a body, jsyk. Don't forget to tell him when you've got it, Jack. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

foreverjack
2014-07-11 12:39 pm UTC (link)

Okay, I'll admit I had kind of forgotten about this in the midst of everything else (RL is being a bitch right now) but I've just spoken to Rica and while she doesn't feel (and I agree) that Spike's soul would have enough of a personality to actually *speak* to Nico, she's certainly fine with him trying and maybe getting a general sort of feeling about who Spike was before he was turned, i.e. William the Bloody Awful Poet. Which Jack would certainly find fascinating! And he's curious to give it a try, so even though Kitty doesn't seem too keen (we're still playing that out) I can make him curious enough to try it even if she says no. :-)

So if you want, I can set up a thread for that. I'm thinking they'd probably be keeping the soul at DF HQ for safekeeping so we could do something there?

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	nico_di_angelo 2014-07-12 10:14 pm UTC (link)
	That's fine. And if it turns out there's no time for it or it just doesn't fit, that's fine too. I would love to do a thread (Nico misses interacting with dead things - not of the vampire variety). (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	foreverjack 2014-07-12 10:31 pm UTC (link)
	I think there's time for it, if we just backdate it to earlier in the day. We won't be able to have anything in it that will change any outcomes anyway, so I don't see why we shouldn't let Nico have his chance to try! I'll get a thread up now. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	nico_di_angelo 2014-07-12 10:41 pm UTC (link)
	Schweet. (Reply to this) (Parent)

	foreverjack 2014-07-12 10:40 pm UTC (link)
	Here you go! (Reply to this) (Parent)

	readystopwatch 2014-07-11 12:06 am UTC (link)
	IMPORTANT IANTO JOB UPDATE FOR POST JACK HEROICS MAKE OUT CHECKING IN (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	foreverjack 2014-07-11 12:39 pm UTC (link)
	Very important job there, yes. Jack will be looking forward to it. :-) (Reply to this) (Parent)

	thirdcriterion 2014-07-11 12:05 am UTC (link)
	Data, checking in, and down for anything and everything. o7 (Reply to this)

	kitty_has_claws 2014-07-11 12:49 am UTC (link)
	Kitty Post to the Defense Force and Spellcasters! And I'll be checking in here too, but feel free to ask me questions under this thread if they are to me! (Reply to this)

noahism
2014-07-11 12:51 am UTC (link)

Okay, as said - Tyki's not going to let this go down easy. One part of it is defending his own murderbros, the other is just the fact Tyki's been restless far too long and this is as good excuse as any to put a little mayhem into the prison diet. And since it's in defense of Spike, Tyki's not really instigating anything (which I worried he does too much waffling back and forth) so I'm really happy with this! He has a reason to be concerned and involved, and I look forward to that.

That said, I'm totally cool with Tyki getting really roughed up if need be. Which may be tricky because his abilities include intangibility; meaning catching him is going to be a bitch. He may use it to his advantage, but after so long it'll start to be more and more difficult for him to keep it up due to the fatigue of powers. If anyone wants to get hurt, lemme know! (Also if anyone wants to put him down, also an option.)

(Reply to this) (Thread)

	kitty_has_claws 2014-07-11 01:13 am UTC (link)
	/chinhands, will he go toward Spike or toward the spellcasters? /wondering if Kitty will be up against him! (She'll be on guard near Spike.) (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	needmymp3 2014-07-11 03:13 am UTC (link)
	He'll probably go to try and find Spike, so whether he gets close is all up in the air - I'm totally open to whatever happens. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	kitty_has_claws 2014-07-11 03:17 am UTC (link)
	I like this plan. (Reply to this) (Parent)

	foreverjack 2014-07-11 12:57 pm UTC (link)
	I am really look forward to this because, thus far, Jack hasn't really had much to do with Tyki but this, I think, will definitely make them notice each other! (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	needmymp3 2014-07-13 09:04 am UTC (link)
	Hell yeah! I'd love it. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	foreverjack 2014-07-13 11:51 am UTC (link)
	Cool! I was just thinking about how we could get Jack/Tyki into this, and wondering if perhaps Tyki might spot Jack trailing Spike at some point before the spell begins and try and get him out of the way? Or tackle him afterwards in retaliation? (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	noahism 2014-07-13 11:20 pm UTC (link)
	Hmm. I'm not sure how it'll go down but - Tyki will try and seek Spike out, I'm not sure how close to the trail he'll get. He won't really do anything in retaliation immediately, he's more focused on stopping it/ getting exhausted that way. (Not to say he won't plot something later down the road, perhaps.) (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	foreverjack 2014-07-14 08:58 pm UTC (link)
	Okay, afterwards is fine - probably better, tbh, considering the restrictions on my time at the moment. :-) (Reply to this) (Parent)

	trial_by_veda 2014-07-11 07:35 pm UTC (link)
	I figure Rebecca, Sam, Tieria, and Evo!Kitty will be chillin' and plotting on how best to handle HQ defense and potential unrelated incoming calls on dispatch together? (Reply to this)

foreverjack
2014-07-12 01:21 pm UTC (link)

Okay, I had a thought: since we've got a team on surveillance of Spike for the several days leading up to the event, what are your thoughts, Rica, on how easy he'd be to find? Also, is he back in the same apartment now he's back from Sector Six, or has he gone for somewhere else in the hope that they won't find him? And is he likely to have noticed he's being watched, and managed to give them the slip at all?

Just thinking about the lead up, and where he and Jack would be when things kick off.

Also? I am toying with the idea of Jack finding a red or orange pearl and that making him extra aggressive/impulsive towards Spike...

(Reply to this) (Thread)

chipswiththat
2014-07-12 05:27 pm UTC (link)

He has gone back to the same apartment, partially because he actually feels about as safe as he can be over there but also because he's kind of given up on hiding. He doesn't know for sure, but magic is magic and for all he knows they won't even need to know his whereabouts to shove the soul back in him so why waste all that energy running?

I do believe he would've noticed that he's under surveillance tho, considering how small the dome is and how much of his life is spent noticing just that. As long as he doesn't think they're doing anything more than watching them he'd let them be (but still keeping a low profile, like he has since his return from the jungle) but the moment he senses that something is up chances are good he'd try and locate the spell casters and have himself a bloodbath part two.

I think that could be the assumed lead up, if everyone involved is on board with that — he'd try to shake his surveillance team but regardless of whether he's able to or not, he'd set sights for Sector 2 because where else would witches be but at the Sheriff's HQ. Getting him into the library could either be via force oooor deceit, because witches back home sure spend a lot of time in libraries. If he suspects that the action might be happening there, he'd change his path pretty much immediately. It wouldn't be that difficult to corner him for the final showdown from there.

I'm all for more aggression/impulsiveness. As long as he doesn't end up in hospital, you can mess him up as much as you like!

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foreverjack
2014-07-12 08:12 pm UTC (link)

That sounds about like what I'd suspected. :-)

I *do* like the idea of getting him into the library by pretending it's where the witches are. Especially since Jack could have got that information from Anya! Something to bear in mind, though I'm definitely inclined to just let our thread run free once we get it going and just see where it takes us. Obviously, there will be an ensouling, but that, really, will be mostly out of Jack and Spike's hands so what they do in the meantime - and whether anyone else gets involved - really is up to them!

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	chipswiththat 2014-07-12 08:24 pm UTC (link)
	Yeah, that's what I figured. It's nice to have a general idea of what could go down, but it's so much more fun to play it loose! (Reply to this) (Parent)