diff --git a/src/Anon.cc b/src/Anon.cc
index a2afc489ca..de225e95a8 100644
--- a/src/Anon.cc
+++ b/src/Anon.cc
@@ -415,10 +415,10 @@ void log_anonymization_mapping(ipaddr32_t input, ipaddr32_t output)
 	{
 	if ( anonymization_mapping )
 		{
-		val_list* vl = new val_list;
-		vl->append(new AddrVal(input));
-		vl->append(new AddrVal(output));
-		mgr.QueueEvent(anonymization_mapping, vl);
+		mgr.QueueEvent(anonymization_mapping, {
+			new AddrVal(input),
+			new AddrVal(output)
+		});
 		}
 	}
 
diff --git a/src/Attr.cc b/src/Attr.cc
index 47ea7d4f06..0e6db9c068 100644
--- a/src/Attr.cc
+++ b/src/Attr.cc
@@ -141,7 +141,7 @@ Attributes::~Attributes()
 void Attributes::AddAttr(Attr* attr)
 	{
 	if ( ! attrs )
-		attrs = new attr_list;
+		attrs = new attr_list(1);
 
 	if ( ! attr->RedundantAttrOkay() )
 		// We overwrite old attributes by deleting them first.
diff --git a/src/BroList.h b/src/BroList.h
index 6168bf7bda..0aa94d55ec 100644
--- a/src/BroList.h
+++ b/src/BroList.h
@@ -13,10 +13,6 @@ class ID;
 declare(PList,ID);
 typedef PList(ID) id_list;
 
-class HashKey;
-declare(PList,HashKey);
-typedef PList(HashKey) hash_key_list;
-
 class Val;
 declare(PList,Val);
 typedef PList(Val) val_list;
@@ -29,28 +25,12 @@ class BroType;
 declare(PList,BroType);
 typedef PList(BroType) type_list;
 
-class TypeDecl;
-declare(PList,TypeDecl);
-typedef PList(TypeDecl) type_decl_list;
-
-class Case;
-declare(PList,Case);
-typedef PList(Case) case_list;
-
 class Attr;
 declare(PList,Attr);
 typedef PList(Attr) attr_list;
 
-class Scope;
-declare(PList,Scope);
-typedef PList(Scope) scope_list;
-
 class Timer;
 declare(PList,Timer);
 typedef PList(Timer) timer_list;
 
-class DNS_Mgr_Request;
-declare(PList,DNS_Mgr_Request);
-typedef PList(DNS_Mgr_Request) DNS_mgr_request_list;
-
 #endif
diff --git a/src/Conn.cc b/src/Conn.cc
index 03ecf32703..494d2d21c4 100644
--- a/src/Conn.cc
+++ b/src/Conn.cc
@@ -325,12 +325,11 @@ void Connection::HistoryThresholdEvent(EventHandlerPtr e, bool is_orig,
 		// and at this stage it's not a *multiple* instance.
 		return;
 
-	val_list* vl = new val_list;
-	vl->append(BuildConnVal());
-	vl->append(val_mgr->GetBool(is_orig));
-	vl->append(val_mgr->GetCount(threshold));
-
-	ConnectionEvent(e, 0, vl);
+	ConnectionEvent(e, 0, {
+		BuildConnVal(),
+		val_mgr->GetBool(is_orig),
+		val_mgr->GetCount(threshold)
+	});
 	}
 
 void Connection::DeleteTimer(double /* t */)
@@ -390,9 +389,7 @@ void Connection::EnableStatusUpdateTimer()
 
 void Connection::StatusUpdateTimer(double t)
 	{
-	val_list* vl = new val_list(1);
-	vl->append(BuildConnVal());
-	ConnectionEvent(connection_status_update, 0, vl);
+	ConnectionEvent(connection_status_update, 0, { BuildConnVal() });
 	ADD_TIMER(&Connection::StatusUpdateTimer,
 			network_time + connection_status_update_interval, 0,
 			TIMER_CONN_STATUS_UPDATE);
@@ -630,23 +627,23 @@ int Connection::VersionFoundEvent(const IPAddr& addr, const char* s, int len,
 		{
 		if ( software_parse_error )
 			{
-			val_list* vl = new val_list;
-			vl->append(BuildConnVal());
-			vl->append(new AddrVal(addr));
-			vl->append(new StringVal(len, s));
-			ConnectionEvent(software_parse_error, analyzer, vl);
+			ConnectionEvent(software_parse_error, analyzer, {
+				BuildConnVal(),
+				new AddrVal(addr),
+				new StringVal(len, s),
+			});
 			}
 		return 0;
 		}
 
 	if ( software_version_found )
 		{
-		val_list* vl = new val_list;
-		vl->append(BuildConnVal());
-		vl->append(new AddrVal(addr));
-		vl->append(val);
-		vl->append(new StringVal(len, s));
-		ConnectionEvent(software_version_found, 0, vl);
+		ConnectionEvent(software_version_found, 0, {
+			BuildConnVal(),
+			new AddrVal(addr),
+			val,
+			new StringVal(len, s),
+		});
 		}
 	else
 		Unref(val);
@@ -669,11 +666,11 @@ int Connection::UnparsedVersionFoundEvent(const IPAddr& addr,
 
 	if ( software_unparsed_version_found )
 		{
-		val_list* vl = new val_list;
-		vl->append(BuildConnVal());
-		vl->append(new AddrVal(addr));
-		vl->append(new StringVal(len, full));
-		ConnectionEvent(software_unparsed_version_found, analyzer, vl);
+		ConnectionEvent(software_unparsed_version_found, analyzer, {
+			BuildConnVal(),
+			new AddrVal(addr),
+			new StringVal(len, full),
+		});
 		}
 
 	return 1;
@@ -684,12 +681,11 @@ void Connection::Event(EventHandlerPtr f, analyzer::Analyzer* analyzer, const ch
 	if ( ! f )
 		return;
 
-	val_list* vl = new val_list(2);
 	if ( name )
-		vl->append(new StringVal(name));
-	vl->append(BuildConnVal());
+		ConnectionEvent(f, analyzer, {new StringVal(name), BuildConnVal()});
+	else
+		ConnectionEvent(f, analyzer, {BuildConnVal()});
 
-	ConnectionEvent(f, analyzer, vl);
 	}
 
 void Connection::Event(EventHandlerPtr f, analyzer::Analyzer* analyzer, Val* v1, Val* v2)
@@ -701,33 +697,35 @@ void Connection::Event(EventHandlerPtr f, analyzer::Analyzer* analyzer, Val* v1,
 		return;
 		}
 
-	val_list* vl = new val_list(3);
-	vl->append(BuildConnVal());
-	vl->append(v1);
-
 	if ( v2 )
-		vl->append(v2);
-
-	ConnectionEvent(f, analyzer, vl);
+		ConnectionEvent(f, analyzer, {BuildConnVal(), v1, v2});
+	else
+		ConnectionEvent(f, analyzer, {BuildConnVal(), v1});
 	}
 
-void Connection::ConnectionEvent(EventHandlerPtr f, analyzer::Analyzer* a, val_list* vl)
+void Connection::ConnectionEvent(EventHandlerPtr f, analyzer::Analyzer* a, val_list vl)
 	{
 	if ( ! f )
 		{
 		// This may actually happen if there is no local handler
 		// and a previously existing remote handler went away.
-		loop_over_list(*vl, i)
-			Unref((*vl)[i]);
-		delete vl;
+		loop_over_list(vl, i)
+			Unref(vl[i]);
+
 		return;
 		}
 
 	// "this" is passed as a cookie for the event
-	mgr.QueueEvent(f, vl, SOURCE_LOCAL,
+	mgr.QueueEvent(f, std::move(vl), SOURCE_LOCAL,
 			a ? a->GetID() : 0, GetTimerMgr(), this);
 	}
 
+void Connection::ConnectionEvent(EventHandlerPtr f, analyzer::Analyzer* a, val_list* vl)
+	{
+	ConnectionEvent(f, a, std::move(*vl));
+	delete vl;
+	}
+
 void Connection::Weird(const char* name, const char* addl)
 	{
 	weird = 1;
@@ -1055,12 +1053,12 @@ void Connection::CheckFlowLabel(bool is_orig, uint32 flow_label)
 		if ( connection_flow_label_changed &&
 		     (is_orig ? saw_first_orig_packet : saw_first_resp_packet) )
 			{
-			val_list* vl = new val_list(4);
-			vl->append(BuildConnVal());
-			vl->append(val_mgr->GetBool(is_orig));
-			vl->append(val_mgr->GetCount(my_flow_label));
-			vl->append(val_mgr->GetCount(flow_label));
-			ConnectionEvent(connection_flow_label_changed, 0, vl);
+			ConnectionEvent(connection_flow_label_changed, 0, {
+				BuildConnVal(),
+				val_mgr->GetBool(is_orig),
+				val_mgr->GetCount(my_flow_label),
+				val_mgr->GetCount(flow_label),
+			});
 			}
 
 		my_flow_label = flow_label;
diff --git a/src/Conn.h b/src/Conn.h
index e49314968a..2622134f2a 100644
--- a/src/Conn.h
+++ b/src/Conn.h
@@ -176,8 +176,11 @@ public:
 
 	void Event(EventHandlerPtr f, analyzer::Analyzer* analyzer, const char* name = 0);
 	void Event(EventHandlerPtr f, analyzer::Analyzer* analyzer, Val* v1, Val* v2 = 0);
+
 	void ConnectionEvent(EventHandlerPtr f, analyzer::Analyzer* analyzer,
 				val_list* vl);
+	void ConnectionEvent(EventHandlerPtr f, analyzer::Analyzer* analyzer,
+				val_list vl);
 
 	void Weird(const char* name, const char* addl = "");
 	bool DidWeird() const	{ return weird != 0; }
diff --git a/src/DFA.h b/src/DFA.h
index 2f06f4e98f..1b58774da0 100644
--- a/src/DFA.h
+++ b/src/DFA.h
@@ -111,9 +111,6 @@ private:
 	PDict(CacheEntry) states;
 };
 
-declare(PList,DFA_State);
-typedef PList(DFA_State) DFA_state_list;
-
 class DFA_Machine : public BroObj {
 public:
 	DFA_Machine(NFA_Machine* n, EquivClass* ec);
diff --git a/src/DNS_Mgr.cc b/src/DNS_Mgr.cc
index 2fff6903b0..c72e66f0bf 100644
--- a/src/DNS_Mgr.cc
+++ b/src/DNS_Mgr.cc
@@ -699,25 +699,27 @@ int DNS_Mgr::Save()
 	return 1;
 	}
 
+void DNS_Mgr::Event(EventHandlerPtr e, DNS_Mapping* dm)
+	{
+	if ( ! e )
+		return;
+
+	mgr.QueueEvent(e, {BuildMappingVal(dm)});
+	}
+
 void DNS_Mgr::Event(EventHandlerPtr e, DNS_Mapping* dm, ListVal* l1, ListVal* l2)
 	{
 	if ( ! e )
 		return;
 
-	val_list* vl = new val_list;
-	vl->append(BuildMappingVal(dm));
+	Unref(l1);
+	Unref(l2);
 
-	if ( l1 )
-		{
-		vl->append(l1->ConvertToSet());
-		if ( l2 )
-			vl->append(l2->ConvertToSet());
-
-		Unref(l1);
-		Unref(l2);
-		}
-
-	mgr.QueueEvent(e, vl);
+	mgr.QueueEvent(e, {
+		BuildMappingVal(dm),
+		l1->ConvertToSet(),
+		l2->ConvertToSet(),
+	});
 	}
 
 void DNS_Mgr::Event(EventHandlerPtr e, DNS_Mapping* old_dm, DNS_Mapping* new_dm)
@@ -725,10 +727,10 @@ void DNS_Mgr::Event(EventHandlerPtr e, DNS_Mapping* old_dm, DNS_Mapping* new_dm)
 	if ( ! e )
 		return;
 
-	val_list* vl = new val_list;
-	vl->append(BuildMappingVal(old_dm));
-	vl->append(BuildMappingVal(new_dm));
-	mgr.QueueEvent(e, vl);
+	mgr.QueueEvent(e, {
+		BuildMappingVal(old_dm),
+		BuildMappingVal(new_dm),
+	});
 	}
 
 Val* DNS_Mgr::BuildMappingVal(DNS_Mapping* dm)
diff --git a/src/DNS_Mgr.h b/src/DNS_Mgr.h
index 0358ceba18..24d1e4c850 100644
--- a/src/DNS_Mgr.h
+++ b/src/DNS_Mgr.h
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 #include <utility>
 
 #include "util.h"
-#include "BroList.h"
+#include "List.h"
 #include "Dict.h"
 #include "EventHandler.h"
 #include "iosource/IOSource.h"
@@ -23,6 +23,9 @@ class EventHandler;
 class RecordType;
 class DNS_Mgr_Request;
 
+declare(PList,DNS_Mgr_Request);
+typedef PList(DNS_Mgr_Request) DNS_mgr_request_list;
+
 struct nb_dns_info;
 struct nb_dns_result;
 
@@ -96,8 +99,8 @@ protected:
 	friend class LookupCallback;
 	friend class DNS_Mgr_Request;
 
-	void Event(EventHandlerPtr e, DNS_Mapping* dm,
-			ListVal* l1 = 0, ListVal* l2 = 0);
+	void Event(EventHandlerPtr e, DNS_Mapping* dm);
+	void Event(EventHandlerPtr e, DNS_Mapping* dm, ListVal* l1, ListVal* l2);
 	void Event(EventHandlerPtr e, DNS_Mapping* old_dm, DNS_Mapping* new_dm);
 
 	Val* BuildMappingVal(DNS_Mapping* dm);
diff --git a/src/Discard.cc b/src/Discard.cc
index 2a20c897aa..d1acd80b4d 100644
--- a/src/Discard.cc
+++ b/src/Discard.cc
@@ -33,12 +33,11 @@ int Discarder::NextPacket(const IP_Hdr* ip, int len, int caplen)
 
 	if ( check_ip )
 		{
-		val_list* args = new val_list;
-		args->append(ip->BuildPktHdrVal());
+		val_list args{ip->BuildPktHdrVal()};
 
 		try
 			{
-			discard_packet = check_ip->Call(args)->AsBool();
+			discard_packet = check_ip->Call(&args)->AsBool();
 			}
 
 		catch ( InterpreterException& e )
@@ -46,8 +45,6 @@ int Discarder::NextPacket(const IP_Hdr* ip, int len, int caplen)
 			discard_packet = false;
 			}
 
-		delete args;
-
 		if ( discard_packet )
 			return discard_packet;
 		}
@@ -88,21 +85,20 @@ int Discarder::NextPacket(const IP_Hdr* ip, int len, int caplen)
 			const struct tcphdr* tp = (const struct tcphdr*) data;
 			int th_len = tp->th_off * 4;
 
-			val_list* args = new val_list;
-			args->append(ip->BuildPktHdrVal());
-			args->append(BuildData(data, th_len, len, caplen));
+			val_list args{
+				ip->BuildPktHdrVal(),
+				BuildData(data, th_len, len, caplen),
+			};
 
 			try
 				{
-				discard_packet = check_tcp->Call(args)->AsBool();
+				discard_packet = check_tcp->Call(&args)->AsBool();
 				}
 
 			catch ( InterpreterException& e )
 				{
 				discard_packet = false;
 				}
-
-			delete args;
 			}
 		}
 
@@ -113,21 +109,20 @@ int Discarder::NextPacket(const IP_Hdr* ip, int len, int caplen)
 			const struct udphdr* up = (const struct udphdr*) data;
 			int uh_len = sizeof (struct udphdr);
 
-			val_list* args = new val_list;
-			args->append(ip->BuildPktHdrVal());
-			args->append(BuildData(data, uh_len, len, caplen));
+			val_list args{
+				ip->BuildPktHdrVal(),
+				BuildData(data, uh_len, len, caplen),
+			};
 
 			try
 				{
-				discard_packet = check_udp->Call(args)->AsBool();
+				discard_packet = check_udp->Call(&args)->AsBool();
 				}
 
 			catch ( InterpreterException& e )
 				{
 				discard_packet = false;
 				}
-
-			delete args;
 			}
 		}
 
@@ -137,20 +132,17 @@ int Discarder::NextPacket(const IP_Hdr* ip, int len, int caplen)
 			{
 			const struct icmp* ih = (const struct icmp*) data;
 
-			val_list* args = new val_list;
-			args->append(ip->BuildPktHdrVal());
+			val_list args{ip->BuildPktHdrVal()};
 
 			try
 				{
-				discard_packet = check_icmp->Call(args)->AsBool();
+				discard_packet = check_icmp->Call(&args)->AsBool();
 				}
 
 			catch ( InterpreterException& e )
 				{
 				discard_packet = false;
 				}
-
-			delete args;
 			}
 		}
 
diff --git a/src/Event.cc b/src/Event.cc
index 36ba2dfc3c..26ca874c2a 100644
--- a/src/Event.cc
+++ b/src/Event.cc
@@ -13,28 +13,27 @@ EventMgr mgr;
 uint64 num_events_queued = 0;
 uint64 num_events_dispatched = 0;
 
+Event::Event(EventHandlerPtr arg_handler, val_list arg_args,
+		SourceID arg_src, analyzer::ID arg_aid, TimerMgr* arg_mgr,
+		BroObj* arg_obj)
+	: handler(arg_handler),
+	  args(std::move(arg_args)),
+	  src(arg_src),
+	  aid(arg_aid),
+	  mgr(arg_mgr ? arg_mgr : timer_mgr),
+	  obj(arg_obj),
+	  next_event(nullptr)
+	{
+	if ( obj )
+		Ref(obj);
+	}
+
 Event::Event(EventHandlerPtr arg_handler, val_list* arg_args,
 		SourceID arg_src, analyzer::ID arg_aid, TimerMgr* arg_mgr,
 		BroObj* arg_obj)
+	: Event(arg_handler, std::move(*arg_args), arg_src, arg_aid, arg_mgr, arg_obj)
 	{
-	handler = arg_handler;
-	args = arg_args;
-	src = arg_src;
-	mgr = arg_mgr ? arg_mgr : timer_mgr; // default is global
-	aid = arg_aid;
-	obj = arg_obj;
-
-	if ( obj )
-		Ref(obj);
-
-	next_event = 0;
-	}
-
-Event::~Event()
-	{
-	// We don't Unref() the individual arguments by using delete_vals()
-	// here, because Func::Call already did that.
-	delete args;
+	delete arg_args;
 	}
 
 void Event::Describe(ODesc* d) const
@@ -49,7 +48,7 @@ void Event::Describe(ODesc* d) const
 
 	if ( ! d->IsBinary() )
 		d->Add("(");
-	describe_vals(args, d);
+	describe_vals(&args, d);
 	if ( ! d->IsBinary() )
 		d->Add("(");
 	}
@@ -62,7 +61,7 @@ void Event::Dispatch(bool no_remote)
 	if ( event_serializer )
 		{
 		SerialInfo info(event_serializer);
-		event_serializer->Serialize(&info, handler->Name(), args);
+		event_serializer->Serialize(&info, handler->Name(), &args);
 		}
 
 	if ( handler->ErrorHandler() )
@@ -70,7 +69,7 @@ void Event::Dispatch(bool no_remote)
 
 	try
 		{
-		handler->Call(args, no_remote);
+		handler->Call(&args, no_remote);
 		}
 
 	catch ( InterpreterException& e )
@@ -129,7 +128,7 @@ void EventMgr::QueueEvent(Event* event)
 void EventMgr::Drain()
 	{
 	if ( event_queue_flush_point )
-		QueueEvent(event_queue_flush_point, new val_list());
+		QueueEvent(event_queue_flush_point, val_list{});
 
 	SegmentProfiler(segment_logger, "draining-events");
 
diff --git a/src/Event.h b/src/Event.h
index 69860daf50..9ee30ae674 100644
--- a/src/Event.h
+++ b/src/Event.h
@@ -11,12 +11,17 @@
 
 class EventMgr;
 
+// We don't Unref() the individual arguments by using delete_vals()
+// in a dtor because Func::Call already does that.
 class Event : public BroObj {
 public:
+	Event(EventHandlerPtr handler, val_list args,
+		SourceID src = SOURCE_LOCAL, analyzer::ID aid = 0,
+		TimerMgr* mgr = 0, BroObj* obj = 0);
+
 	Event(EventHandlerPtr handler, val_list* args,
 		SourceID src = SOURCE_LOCAL, analyzer::ID aid = 0,
 		TimerMgr* mgr = 0, BroObj* obj = 0);
-	~Event() override;
 
 	void SetNext(Event* n)		{ next_event = n; }
 	Event* NextEvent() const	{ return next_event; }
@@ -25,7 +30,7 @@ public:
 	analyzer::ID Analyzer() const	{ return aid; }
 	TimerMgr* Mgr() const		{ return mgr; }
 	EventHandlerPtr Handler() const	{ return handler; }
-	val_list* Args() const	{ return args; }
+	const val_list* Args() const	{ return &args; }
 
 	void Describe(ODesc* d) const override;
 
@@ -37,7 +42,7 @@ protected:
 	void Dispatch(bool no_remote = false);
 
 	EventHandlerPtr handler;
-	val_list* args;
+	val_list args;
 	SourceID src;
 	analyzer::ID aid;
 	TimerMgr* mgr;
@@ -53,14 +58,25 @@ public:
 	EventMgr();
 	~EventMgr() override;
 
-	void QueueEvent(const EventHandlerPtr &h, val_list* vl,
+	void QueueEvent(const EventHandlerPtr &h, val_list vl,
 			SourceID src = SOURCE_LOCAL, analyzer::ID aid = 0,
 			TimerMgr* mgr = 0, BroObj* obj = 0)
 		{
 		if ( h )
-			QueueEvent(new Event(h, vl, src, aid, mgr, obj));
+			QueueEvent(new Event(h, std::move(vl), src, aid, mgr, obj));
 		else
-			delete_vals(vl);
+			{
+			loop_over_list(vl, i)
+				Unref(vl[i]);
+			}
+		}
+
+	void QueueEvent(const EventHandlerPtr &h, val_list* vl,
+			SourceID src = SOURCE_LOCAL, analyzer::ID aid = 0,
+			TimerMgr* mgr = 0, BroObj* obj = 0)
+		{
+		QueueEvent(h, std::move(*vl), src, aid, mgr, obj);
+		delete vl;
 		}
 
 	void Dispatch(Event* event, bool no_remote = false)
diff --git a/src/EventHandler.cc b/src/EventHandler.cc
index 00b19f7832..08e8728d6f 100644
--- a/src/EventHandler.cc
+++ b/src/EventHandler.cc
@@ -172,11 +172,10 @@ void EventHandler::NewEvent(val_list* vl)
 		vargs->Assign(i, rec);
 		}
 
-	val_list* mvl = new val_list(2);
-	mvl->append(new StringVal(name));
-	mvl->append(vargs);
-
-	Event* ev = new Event(new_event, mvl);
+	Event* ev = new Event(new_event, {
+		new StringVal(name),
+		vargs,
+	});
 	mgr.Dispatch(ev);
 	}
 
diff --git a/src/EventRegistry.cc b/src/EventRegistry.cc
index 875d6d6b26..e28c7b4176 100644
--- a/src/EventRegistry.cc
+++ b/src/EventRegistry.cc
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ EventRegistry::string_list* EventRegistry::UsedHandlers()
 
 EventRegistry::string_list* EventRegistry::AllHandlers()
 	{
-	string_list* names = new string_list;
+	string_list* names = new string_list(handlers.Length());
 
 	IterCookie* c = handlers.InitForIteration();
 
diff --git a/src/Expr.cc b/src/Expr.cc
index 737a9455ca..ff039ece35 100644
--- a/src/Expr.cc
+++ b/src/Expr.cc
@@ -2565,7 +2565,7 @@ bool AssignExpr::TypeCheck(attr_list* attrs)
 
 		if ( attrs )
 			{
-			attr_copy = new attr_list;
+			attr_copy = new attr_list(attrs->length());
 			loop_over_list(*attrs, i)
 				attr_copy->append((*attrs)[i]);
 			}
@@ -2634,7 +2634,7 @@ bool AssignExpr::TypeCheck(attr_list* attrs)
 				if ( sce->Attrs() )
 					{
 					attr_list* a = sce->Attrs()->Attrs();
-					attrs = new attr_list;
+					attrs = new attr_list(a->length());
 					loop_over_list(*a, i)
 						attrs->append((*a)[i]);
 					}
@@ -3467,9 +3467,9 @@ RecordConstructorExpr::RecordConstructorExpr(ListExpr* constructor_list)
 	// Spin through the list, which should be comprised only of
 	// record-field-assign expressions, and build up a
 	// record type to associate with this constructor.
-	type_decl_list* record_types = new type_decl_list;
-
 	const expr_list& exprs = constructor_list->Exprs();
+	type_decl_list* record_types = new type_decl_list(exprs.length());
+
 	loop_over_list(exprs, i)
 		{
 		Expr* e = exprs[i];
@@ -4469,11 +4469,12 @@ bool FlattenExpr::DoUnserialize(UnserialInfo* info)
 
 ScheduleTimer::ScheduleTimer(EventHandlerPtr arg_event, val_list* arg_args,
 				double t, TimerMgr* arg_tmgr)
-: Timer(t, TIMER_SCHEDULE)
+	: Timer(t, TIMER_SCHEDULE),
+	  event(arg_event),
+	  args(std::move(*arg_args)),
+	  tmgr(arg_tmgr)
 	{
-	event = arg_event;
-	args = arg_args;
-	tmgr = arg_tmgr;
+	delete arg_args;
 	}
 
 ScheduleTimer::~ScheduleTimer()
@@ -4482,7 +4483,7 @@ ScheduleTimer::~ScheduleTimer()
 
 void ScheduleTimer::Dispatch(double /* t */, int /* is_expire */)
 	{
-	mgr.QueueEvent(event, args, SOURCE_LOCAL, 0, tmgr);
+	mgr.QueueEvent(event, std::move(args), SOURCE_LOCAL, 0, tmgr);
 	}
 
 ScheduleExpr::ScheduleExpr(Expr* arg_when, EventExpr* arg_event)
@@ -4998,7 +4999,8 @@ Val* EventExpr::Eval(Frame* f) const
 		return 0;
 
 	val_list* v = eval_list(f, args);
-	mgr.QueueEvent(handler, v);
+	mgr.QueueEvent(handler, std::move(*v));
+	delete v;
 
 	return 0;
 	}
@@ -5128,7 +5130,7 @@ BroType* ListExpr::InitType() const
 
 	if ( exprs[0]->IsRecordElement(0) )
 		{
-		type_decl_list* types = new type_decl_list;
+		type_decl_list* types = new type_decl_list(exprs.length());
 		loop_over_list(exprs, i)
 			{
 			TypeDecl* td = new TypeDecl(0, 0);
diff --git a/src/Expr.h b/src/Expr.h
index 820de2b876..e268f07648 100644
--- a/src/Expr.h
+++ b/src/Expr.h
@@ -937,7 +937,7 @@ public:
 
 protected:
 	EventHandlerPtr event;
-	val_list* args;
+	val_list args;
 	TimerMgr* tmgr;
 };
 
diff --git a/src/File.cc b/src/File.cc
index 609ea4f0ac..d7a213237f 100644
--- a/src/File.cc
+++ b/src/File.cc
@@ -65,10 +65,8 @@ void RotateTimer::Dispatch(double t, int is_expire)
 		{
 		if ( raise )
 			{
-			val_list* vl = new val_list;
 			Ref(file);
-			vl->append(new Val(file));
-			mgr.QueueEvent(rotate_interval, vl);
+			mgr.QueueEvent(rotate_interval, {new Val(file)});
 			}
 
 		file->InstallRotateTimer();
@@ -641,19 +639,15 @@ void BroFile::CloseCachedFiles()
 		// Send final rotate events (immediately).
 		if ( f->rotate_interval )
 			{
-			val_list* vl = new val_list;
 			Ref(f);
-			vl->append(new Val(f));
-			Event* event = new Event(::rotate_interval, vl);
+			Event* event = new Event(::rotate_interval, {new Val(f)});
 			mgr.Dispatch(event, true);
 			}
 
 		if ( f->rotate_size )
 			{
-			val_list* vl = new val_list;
 			Ref(f);
-			vl->append(new Val(f));
-			Event* event = new ::Event(::rotate_size, vl);
+			Event* event = new ::Event(::rotate_size, {new Val(f)});
 			mgr.Dispatch(event, true);
 			}
 
@@ -801,9 +795,7 @@ int BroFile::Write(const char* data, int len)
 
 	if ( rotate_size && current_size < rotate_size && current_size + len >= rotate_size )
 		{
-		val_list* vl = new val_list;
-		vl->append(new Val(this));
-		mgr.QueueEvent(::rotate_size, vl);
+		mgr.QueueEvent(::rotate_size, {new Val(this)});
 		}
 
 	// This does not work if we seek around. But none of the logs does that
@@ -818,10 +810,8 @@ void BroFile::RaiseOpenEvent()
 	if ( ! ::file_opened )
 		return;
 
-	val_list* vl = new val_list;
 	Ref(this);
-	vl->append(new Val(this));
-	Event* event = new ::Event(::file_opened, vl);
+	Event* event = new ::Event(::file_opened, {new Val(this)});
 	mgr.Dispatch(event, true);
 	}
 
diff --git a/src/ID.cc b/src/ID.cc
index fd99d7c937..faa11b3408 100644
--- a/src/ID.cc
+++ b/src/ID.cc
@@ -258,8 +258,7 @@ void ID::MakeDeprecated()
 	if ( IsDeprecated() )
 		return;
 
-	attr_list* attr = new attr_list;
-	attr->append(new Attr(ATTR_DEPRECATED));
+	attr_list* attr = new attr_list{new Attr(ATTR_DEPRECATED)};
 	AddAttrs(new Attributes(attr, Type(), false));
 	}
 
@@ -305,8 +304,7 @@ void ID::SetOption()
 	// option implied redefinable
 	if ( ! IsRedefinable() )
 		{
-		attr_list* attr = new attr_list;
-		attr->append(new Attr(ATTR_REDEF));
+		attr_list* attr = new attr_list{new Attr(ATTR_REDEF)};
 		AddAttrs(new Attributes(attr, Type(), false));
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/src/List.cc b/src/List.cc
index 0f7f706bcd..86129ccfa0 100644
--- a/src/List.cc
+++ b/src/List.cc
@@ -12,11 +12,13 @@
 BaseList::BaseList(int size)
 	{
 	num_entries = 0;
-	max_entries = 0;
-	entry = 0;
 
 	if ( size <= 0 )
+		{
+		max_entries = 0;
+		entry = 0;
 		return;
+		}
 
 	max_entries = size;
 
@@ -24,7 +26,7 @@ BaseList::BaseList(int size)
 	}
 
 
-BaseList::BaseList(BaseList& b)
+BaseList::BaseList(const BaseList& b)
 	{
 	max_entries = b.max_entries;
 	num_entries = b.num_entries;
@@ -38,18 +40,34 @@ BaseList::BaseList(BaseList& b)
 		entry[i] = b.entry[i];
 	}
 
+BaseList::BaseList(BaseList&& b)
+	{
+	entry = b.entry;
+	num_entries = b.num_entries;
+	max_entries = b.max_entries;
+
+	b.entry = 0;
+	b.num_entries = b.max_entries = 0;
+	}
+
+BaseList::BaseList(const ent* arr, int n)
+	{
+	num_entries = max_entries = n;
+	entry = (ent*) safe_malloc(max_entries * sizeof(ent));
+	memcpy(entry, arr, n * sizeof(ent));
+	}
+
 void BaseList::sort(list_cmp_func cmp_func)
 	{
 	qsort(entry, num_entries, sizeof(ent), cmp_func);
 	}
 
-void BaseList::operator=(BaseList& b)
+BaseList& BaseList::operator=(const BaseList& b)
 	{
 	if ( this == &b )
-		return;	// i.e., this already equals itself
+		return *this;
 
-	if ( entry )
-		free(entry);
+	free(entry);
 
 	max_entries = b.max_entries;
 	num_entries = b.num_entries;
@@ -61,6 +79,23 @@ void BaseList::operator=(BaseList& b)
 
 	for ( int i = 0; i < num_entries; ++i )
 		entry[i] = b.entry[i];
+
+	return *this;
+	}
+
+BaseList& BaseList::operator=(BaseList&& b)
+	{
+	if ( this == &b )
+		return *this;
+
+	free(entry);
+	entry = b.entry;
+	num_entries = b.num_entries;
+	max_entries = b.max_entries;
+
+	b.entry = 0;
+	b.num_entries = b.max_entries = 0;
+	return *this;
 	}
 
 void BaseList::insert(ent a)
@@ -145,12 +180,8 @@ ent BaseList::get()
 
 void BaseList::clear()
 	{
-	if ( entry )
-		{
-		free(entry);
-		entry = 0;
-		}
-
+	free(entry);
+	entry = 0;
 	num_entries = max_entries = 0;
 	}
 
diff --git a/src/List.h b/src/List.h
index 6fb2bbcec6..15e99eb0dd 100644
--- a/src/List.h
+++ b/src/List.h
@@ -20,6 +20,8 @@
 //	Entries must be either a pointer to the data or nonzero data with
 //	sizeof(data) <= sizeof(void*).
 
+#include <initializer_list>
+#include <utility>
 #include <stdarg.h>
 #include "util.h"
 
@@ -28,8 +30,6 @@ typedef int (*list_cmp_func)(const void* v1, const void* v2);
 
 class BaseList {
 public:
-	~BaseList()		{ clear(); }
-
 	void clear();		// remove all entries
 	int length() const	{ return num_entries; }
 	int max() const		{ return max_entries; }
@@ -41,8 +41,14 @@ public:
 		{ return padded_sizeof(*this) + pad_size(max_entries * sizeof(ent)); }
 
 protected:
+	~BaseList()		{ free(entry); }
 	explicit BaseList(int = 0);
-	BaseList(BaseList&);
+	BaseList(const BaseList&);
+	BaseList(BaseList&&);
+	BaseList(const ent* arr, int n);
+
+	BaseList& operator=(const BaseList&);
+	BaseList& operator=(BaseList&&);
 
 	void insert(ent);	// add at head of list
 
@@ -75,7 +81,29 @@ protected:
 			return entry[i];
 		}
 
-	void operator=(BaseList&);
+	// This could essentially be an std::vector if we wanted.  Some
+	// reasons to maybe not refactor to use std::vector ?
+	//
+	//  - Harder to use a custom growth factor.  Also, the growth
+	//    factor would be implementation-specific, taking some control over
+	//    performance out of our hands.
+	//
+	//  - It won't ever take advantage of realloc's occasional ability to
+	//    grow in-place.
+	//
+	//  - Combine above point this with lack of control of growth
+	//    factor means the common choice of 2x growth factor causes
+	//    a growth pattern that crawls forward in memory with no possible
+	//    re-use of previous chunks (the new capacity is always larger than
+	//    all previously allocated chunks combined).  This point and
+	//    whether 2x is empirically an issue still seems debated (at least
+	//    GCC seems to stand by 2x as empirically better).
+	//
+	//  - Sketchy shrinking behavior: standard says that requests to
+	//    shrink are non-binding (it's expected implementations heed, but
+	//    still not great to have no guarantee).  Also, it would not take
+	//    advantage of realloc's ability to contract in-place, it would
+	//    allocate-and-copy.
 
 	ent* entry;
 	int max_entries;
@@ -103,10 +131,13 @@ struct List(type) : BaseList						\
 	explicit List(type)(type ...);						\
 	List(type)() : BaseList(0) {}					\
 	explicit List(type)(int sz) : BaseList(sz) {}				\
-	List(type)(List(type)& l) : BaseList((BaseList&)l) {}		\
+	List(type)(const List(type)& l) : BaseList(l) {}		\
+	List(type)(List(type)&& l) : BaseList(std::move(l)) {}		\
 									\
-	void operator=(List(type)& l)					\
-		{ BaseList::operator=((BaseList&)l); }			\
+	List(type)& operator=(const List(type)& l)					\
+		{ return (List(type)&) BaseList::operator=(l); }			\
+	List(type)& operator=(List(type)&& l)					\
+		{ return (List(type)&) BaseList::operator=(std::move(l)); }			\
 	void insert(type a)	{ BaseList::insert(ent(a)); }		\
 	void sortedinsert(type a, list_cmp_func cmp_func)		\
 		{ BaseList::sortedinsert(ent(a), cmp_func); }		\
@@ -144,10 +175,14 @@ struct PList(type) : BaseList						\
 	explicit PList(type)(type* ...);						\
 	PList(type)() : BaseList(0) {}					\
 	explicit PList(type)(int sz) : BaseList(sz) {}				\
-	PList(type)(PList(type)& l) : BaseList((BaseList&)l) {}		\
+	PList(type)(const PList(type)& l) : BaseList(l) {}		\
+	PList(type)(PList(type)&& l) : BaseList(std::move(l)) {}		\
+	PList(type)(std::initializer_list<type*> il) : BaseList((const ent*)il.begin(), il.size()) {}		\
 									\
-	void operator=(PList(type)& l)					\
-		{ BaseList::operator=((BaseList&)l); }			\
+	PList(type)& operator=(const PList(type)& l)					\
+		{ return (PList(type)&) BaseList::operator=(l); }			\
+	PList(type)& operator=(PList(type)&& l)					\
+		{ return (PList(type)&) BaseList::operator=(std::move(l)); }			\
 	void insert(type* a)	{ BaseList::insert(ent(a)); }		\
 	void sortedinsert(type* a, list_cmp_func cmp_func)		\
 		{ BaseList::sortedinsert(ent(a), cmp_func); }		\
diff --git a/src/PersistenceSerializer.cc b/src/PersistenceSerializer.cc
index ae5c531aa7..6f4082314f 100644
--- a/src/PersistenceSerializer.cc
+++ b/src/PersistenceSerializer.cc
@@ -201,7 +201,8 @@ void PersistenceSerializer::RaiseFinishedSendState()
 void PersistenceSerializer::GotEvent(const char* name, double time,
 					EventHandlerPtr event, val_list* args)
 	{
-	mgr.QueueEvent(event, args);
+	mgr.QueueEvent(event, std::move(*args));
+	delete args;
 	}
 
 void PersistenceSerializer::GotFunctionCall(const char* name, double time,
diff --git a/src/RE.h b/src/RE.h
index 06b0699864..286eb1b44d 100644
--- a/src/RE.h
+++ b/src/RE.h
@@ -229,9 +229,6 @@ protected:
 	Specific_RE_Matcher* re_exact;
 };
 
-declare(PList, RE_Matcher);
-typedef PList(RE_Matcher) re_matcher_list;
-
 extern RE_Matcher* RE_Matcher_conjunction(const RE_Matcher* re1, const RE_Matcher* re2);
 extern RE_Matcher* RE_Matcher_disjunction(const RE_Matcher* re1, const RE_Matcher* re2);
 
diff --git a/src/RemoteSerializer.cc b/src/RemoteSerializer.cc
index f55fba167c..3abd8e6423 100644
--- a/src/RemoteSerializer.cc
+++ b/src/RemoteSerializer.cc
@@ -1435,7 +1435,9 @@ void RemoteSerializer::Process()
 			break;
 
 		BufferedEvent* be = events[0];
-		::Event* event = new ::Event(be->handler, be->args, be->src);
+		::Event* event = new ::Event(be->handler, std::move(*be->args), be->src);
+		delete be->args;
+		be->args = nullptr;
 
 		Peer* old_current_peer = current_peer;
 		// Prevent the source peer from getting the event back.
@@ -2260,14 +2262,14 @@ bool RemoteSerializer::ProcessPongMsg()
 
 	ping_args* args = (ping_args*) current_args->data;
 
-	val_list* vl = new val_list;
-	vl->append(current_peer->val->Ref());
-	vl->append(val_mgr->GetCount((unsigned int) ntohl(args->seq)));
-	vl->append(new Val(current_time(true) - ntohd(args->time1),
-				TYPE_INTERVAL));
-	vl->append(new Val(ntohd(args->time2), TYPE_INTERVAL));
-	vl->append(new Val(ntohd(args->time3), TYPE_INTERVAL));
-	mgr.QueueEvent(remote_pong, vl);
+	mgr.QueueEvent(remote_pong, {
+		current_peer->val->Ref(),
+		val_mgr->GetCount((unsigned int) ntohl(args->seq)),
+		new Val(current_time(true) - ntohd(args->time1),
+					TYPE_INTERVAL),
+		new Val(ntohd(args->time2), TYPE_INTERVAL),
+		new Val(ntohd(args->time3), TYPE_INTERVAL)
+	});
 	return true;
 	}
 
@@ -3006,20 +3008,20 @@ void RemoteSerializer::Log(LogLevel level, const char* msg, Peer* peer,
 	{
 	if ( peer )
 		{
-		val_list* vl = new val_list();
-		vl->append(peer->val->Ref());
-		vl->append(val_mgr->GetCount(level));
-		vl->append(val_mgr->GetCount(src));
-		vl->append(new StringVal(msg));
-		mgr.QueueEvent(remote_log_peer, vl);
+		mgr.QueueEvent(remote_log_peer, {
+			peer->val->Ref(),
+			val_mgr->GetCount(level),
+			val_mgr->GetCount(src),
+			new StringVal(msg)
+		});
 		}
 	else
 		{
-		val_list* vl = new val_list();
-		vl->append(val_mgr->GetCount(level));
-		vl->append(val_mgr->GetCount(src));
-		vl->append(new StringVal(msg));
-		mgr.QueueEvent(remote_log, vl);
+		mgr.QueueEvent(remote_log, {
+			val_mgr->GetCount(level),
+			val_mgr->GetCount(src),
+			new StringVal(msg)
+		});
 		}
 
 #ifdef DEBUG
@@ -3041,27 +3043,27 @@ void RemoteSerializer::Log(LogLevel level, const char* msg, Peer* peer,
 void RemoteSerializer::RaiseEvent(EventHandlerPtr event, Peer* peer,
 					const char* arg)
 	{
-	val_list* vl = new val_list;
+	val_list vl(1 + (bool)arg);
 
 	if ( peer )
 		{
 		Ref(peer->val);
-		vl->append(peer->val);
+		vl.append(peer->val);
 		}
 	else
 		{
 		Val* v = mgr.GetLocalPeerVal();
 		v->Ref();
-		vl->append(v);
+		vl.append(v);
 		}
 
 	if ( arg )
-		vl->append(new StringVal(arg));
+		vl.append(new StringVal(arg));
 
 	// If we only have remote sources, the network time
 	// will not increase as long as no peers are connected.
 	// Therefore, we send these events immediately.
-	mgr.Dispatch(new Event(event, vl, PEER_LOCAL));
+	mgr.Dispatch(new Event(event, std::move(vl), PEER_LOCAL));
 	}
 
 void RemoteSerializer::LogStats()
diff --git a/src/Reporter.cc b/src/Reporter.cc
index 413f89b9ea..9821911d17 100644
--- a/src/Reporter.cc
+++ b/src/Reporter.cc
@@ -216,36 +216,30 @@ void Reporter::Syslog(const char* fmt, ...)
 
 void Reporter::WeirdHelper(EventHandlerPtr event, Val* conn_val, file_analysis::File* f, const char* addl, const char* fmt_name, ...)
 	{
-	val_list* vl = new val_list(1);
+	val_list vl(2);
 
 	if ( conn_val )
-		vl->append(conn_val);
+		vl.append(conn_val);
 	else if ( f )
-		vl->append(f->GetVal()->Ref());
+		vl.append(f->GetVal()->Ref());
 
 	if ( addl )
-		vl->append(new StringVal(addl));
+		vl.append(new StringVal(addl));
 
 	va_list ap;
 	va_start(ap, fmt_name);
-	DoLog("weird", event, 0, 0, vl, false, false, 0, fmt_name, ap);
+	DoLog("weird", event, 0, 0, &vl, false, false, 0, fmt_name, ap);
 	va_end(ap);
-
-	delete vl;
 	}
 
 void Reporter::WeirdFlowHelper(const IPAddr& orig, const IPAddr& resp, const char* fmt_name, ...)
 	{
-	val_list* vl = new val_list(2);
-	vl->append(new AddrVal(orig));
-	vl->append(new AddrVal(resp));
+	val_list vl{new AddrVal(orig), new AddrVal(resp)};
 
 	va_list ap;
 	va_start(ap, fmt_name);
-	DoLog("weird", flow_weird, 0, 0, vl, false, false, 0, fmt_name, ap);
+	DoLog("weird", flow_weird, 0, 0, &vl, false, false, 0, fmt_name, ap);
 	va_end(ap);
-
-	delete vl;
 	}
 
 void Reporter::UpdateWeirdStats(const char* name)
@@ -489,29 +483,32 @@ void Reporter::DoLog(const char* prefix, EventHandlerPtr event, FILE* out,
 
 	if ( raise_event && event && via_events && ! in_error_handler )
 		{
-		val_list* vl = new val_list;
+		auto vl_size = 1 + (bool)time + (bool)location + (bool)conn +
+		               (addl ? addl->length() : 0);
+
+		val_list vl(vl_size);
 
 		if ( time )
-			vl->append(new Val((bro_start_network_time != 0.0) ? network_time : 0, TYPE_TIME));
+			vl.append(new Val((bro_start_network_time != 0.0) ? network_time : 0, TYPE_TIME));
 
-		vl->append(new StringVal(buffer));
+		vl.append(new StringVal(buffer));
 
 		if ( location )
-			vl->append(new StringVal(loc_str.c_str()));
+			vl.append(new StringVal(loc_str.c_str()));
 
 		if ( conn )
-			vl->append(conn->BuildConnVal());
+			vl.append(conn->BuildConnVal());
 
 		if ( addl )
 			{
 			loop_over_list(*addl, i)
-				vl->append((*addl)[i]);
+				vl.append((*addl)[i]);
 			}
 
 		if ( conn )
-			conn->ConnectionEvent(event, 0, vl);
+			conn->ConnectionEvent(event, 0, std::move(vl));
 		else
-			mgr.QueueEvent(event, vl);
+			mgr.QueueEvent(event, std::move(vl));
 		}
 	else
 		{
diff --git a/src/RuleAction.cc b/src/RuleAction.cc
index e67c51b514..ab9994bde2 100644
--- a/src/RuleAction.cc
+++ b/src/RuleAction.cc
@@ -17,16 +17,11 @@ void RuleActionEvent::DoAction(const Rule* parent, RuleEndpointState* state,
 	{
 	if ( signature_match )
 		{
-		val_list* vl = new val_list;
-		vl->append(rule_matcher->BuildRuleStateValue(parent, state));
-		vl->append(new StringVal(msg));
-
-		if ( data )
-			vl->append(new StringVal(len, (const char*)data));
-		else
-			vl->append(val_mgr->GetEmptyString());
-
-		mgr.QueueEvent(signature_match, vl);
+		mgr.QueueEvent(signature_match, {
+			rule_matcher->BuildRuleStateValue(parent, state),
+			new StringVal(msg),
+			data ? new StringVal(len, (const char*)data) : val_mgr->GetEmptyString(),
+		});
 		}
 	}
 
diff --git a/src/RuleCondition.cc b/src/RuleCondition.cc
index 0534570ed7..fdb35f5d06 100644
--- a/src/RuleCondition.cc
+++ b/src/RuleCondition.cc
@@ -162,7 +162,7 @@ bool RuleConditionEval::DoMatch(Rule* rule, RuleEndpointState* state,
 		return id->ID_Val()->AsBool();
 
 	// Call function with a signature_state value as argument.
-	val_list args;
+	val_list args(2);
 	args.append(rule_matcher->BuildRuleStateValue(rule, state));
 
 	if ( data )
diff --git a/src/Scope.cc b/src/Scope.cc
index a707336381..e260ea3ca7 100644
--- a/src/Scope.cc
+++ b/src/Scope.cc
@@ -7,6 +7,9 @@
 #include "Scope.h"
 #include "Reporter.h"
 
+declare(PList,Scope);
+typedef PList(Scope) scope_list;
+
 static scope_list scopes;
 static Scope* top_scope;
 
diff --git a/src/Serializer.cc b/src/Serializer.cc
index 0366c36c81..2c32283c56 100644
--- a/src/Serializer.cc
+++ b/src/Serializer.cc
@@ -365,7 +365,7 @@ bool Serializer::UnserializeCall(UnserialInfo* info)
 	d.SetIncludeStats(true);
 	d.SetShort();
 
-	val_list* args = new val_list;
+	val_list* args = new val_list(len);
 	for ( int i = 0; i < len; ++i )
 		{
 		Val* v = Val::Unserialize(info);
@@ -996,7 +996,8 @@ void EventPlayer::GotEvent(const char* name, double time,
 	{
 	ne_time = time;
 	ne_handler = event;
-	ne_args = args;
+	ne_args = std::move(*args);
+	delete args;
 	}
 
 void EventPlayer::GotFunctionCall(const char* name, double time,
@@ -1054,7 +1055,7 @@ void EventPlayer::Process()
 	if ( ! (io && ne_time) )
 		return;
 
-	Event* event = new Event(ne_handler, ne_args);
+	Event* event = new Event(ne_handler, std::move(ne_args));
 	mgr.Dispatch(event);
 
 	ne_time = 0;
diff --git a/src/Serializer.h b/src/Serializer.h
index 3b863a5b6e..2c30ef5443 100644
--- a/src/Serializer.h
+++ b/src/Serializer.h
@@ -353,7 +353,7 @@ protected:
 	// Next event waiting to be dispatched.
 	double ne_time;
 	EventHandlerPtr ne_handler;
-	val_list* ne_args;
+	val_list ne_args;
 
 };
 
diff --git a/src/Sessions.cc b/src/Sessions.cc
index edccb7e00c..db4e9e5d3a 100644
--- a/src/Sessions.cc
+++ b/src/Sessions.cc
@@ -171,11 +171,7 @@ void NetSessions::NextPacket(double t, const Packet* pkt)
 	SegmentProfiler(segment_logger, "dispatching-packet");
 
 	if ( raw_packet )
-		{
-		val_list* vl = new val_list();
-		vl->append(pkt->BuildPktHdrVal());
-		mgr.QueueEvent(raw_packet, vl);
-		}
+		mgr.QueueEvent(raw_packet, {pkt->BuildPktHdrVal()});
 
 	if ( pkt_profiler )
 		pkt_profiler->ProfilePkt(t, pkt->cap_len);
@@ -415,11 +411,7 @@ void NetSessions::DoNextPacket(double t, const Packet* pkt, const IP_Hdr* ip_hdr
 		{
 		dump_this_packet = 1;
 		if ( esp_packet )
-			{
-			val_list* vl = new val_list();
-			vl->append(ip_hdr->BuildPktHdrVal());
-			mgr.QueueEvent(esp_packet, vl);
-			}
+			mgr.QueueEvent(esp_packet, {ip_hdr->BuildPktHdrVal()});
 
 		// Can't do more since upper-layer payloads are going to be encrypted.
 		return;
@@ -439,11 +431,7 @@ void NetSessions::DoNextPacket(double t, const Packet* pkt, const IP_Hdr* ip_hdr
 			}
 
 		if ( mobile_ipv6_message )
-			{
-			val_list* vl = new val_list();
-			vl->append(ip_hdr->BuildPktHdrVal());
-			mgr.QueueEvent(mobile_ipv6_message, vl);
-			}
+			mgr.QueueEvent(mobile_ipv6_message, {ip_hdr->BuildPktHdrVal()});
 
 		if ( ip_hdr->NextProto() != IPPROTO_NONE )
 			Weird("mobility_piggyback", pkt, encapsulation);
@@ -1329,10 +1317,10 @@ Connection* NetSessions::NewConn(HashKey* k, double t, const ConnID* id,
 
 		if ( external )
 			{
-			val_list* vl = new val_list(2);
-			vl->append(conn->BuildConnVal());
-			vl->append(new StringVal(conn->GetTimerMgr()->GetTag().c_str()));
-			conn->ConnectionEvent(connection_external, 0, vl);
+			conn->ConnectionEvent(connection_external, 0, {
+				conn->BuildConnVal(),
+				new StringVal(conn->GetTimerMgr()->GetTag().c_str()),
+			});
 			}
 		}
 
diff --git a/src/StateAccess.cc b/src/StateAccess.cc
index 874ed9c5c2..b9f08a54cc 100644
--- a/src/StateAccess.cc
+++ b/src/StateAccess.cc
@@ -192,12 +192,12 @@ bool StateAccess::CheckOld(const char* op, ID* id, Val* index,
 	else
 		arg3 = new StringVal("<none>");
 
-	val_list* args = new val_list;
-	args->append(new StringVal(op));
-	args->append(arg1);
-	args->append(arg2);
-	args->append(arg3);
-	mgr.QueueEvent(remote_state_inconsistency, args);
+	mgr.QueueEvent(remote_state_inconsistency, {
+		new StringVal(op),
+		arg1,
+		arg2,
+		arg3,
+	});
 
 	return false;
 	}
@@ -219,12 +219,12 @@ bool StateAccess::CheckOldSet(const char* op, ID* id, Val* index,
 	Val* arg2 = new StringVal(should ? "set" : "not set");
 	Val* arg3 = new StringVal(is ? "set" : "not set");
 
-	val_list* args = new val_list;
-	args->append(new StringVal(op));
-	args->append(arg1);
-	args->append(arg2);
-	args->append(arg3);
-	mgr.QueueEvent(remote_state_inconsistency, args);
+	mgr.QueueEvent(remote_state_inconsistency, {
+		new StringVal(op),
+		arg1,
+		arg2,
+		arg3,
+	});
 
 	return false;
 	}
@@ -514,12 +514,12 @@ void StateAccess::Replay()
 					d.SetShort();
 					op1.val->Describe(&d);
 
-					val_list* args = new val_list;
-					args->append(new StringVal("read"));
-					args->append(new StringVal(fmt("%s[%s]", target.id->Name(), d.Description())));
-					args->append(new StringVal("existent"));
-					args->append(new StringVal("not existent"));
-					mgr.QueueEvent(remote_state_inconsistency, args);
+					mgr.QueueEvent(remote_state_inconsistency, {
+						new StringVal("read"),
+						new StringVal(fmt("%s[%s]", target.id->Name(), d.Description())),
+						new StringVal("existent"),
+						new StringVal("not existent"),
+					});
 					}
 				}
 			}
@@ -536,10 +536,10 @@ void StateAccess::Replay()
 
 	if ( remote_state_access_performed )
 		{
-		val_list* vl = new val_list;
-		vl->append(new StringVal(target.id->Name()));
-		vl->append(target.id->ID_Val()->Ref());
-		mgr.QueueEvent(remote_state_access_performed, vl);
+		mgr.QueueEvent(remote_state_access_performed, {
+			new StringVal(target.id->Name()),
+			target.id->ID_Val()->Ref(),
+		});
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -943,8 +943,7 @@ void NotifierRegistry::Register(ID* id, NotifierRegistry::Notifier* notifier)
 		}
 	else
 		{
-		attr_list* a = new attr_list;
-		a->append(attr);
+		attr_list* a = new attr_list{attr};
 		id->SetAttrs(new Attributes(a, id->Type(), false));
 		}
 
diff --git a/src/Stats.cc b/src/Stats.cc
index 780ffdc39b..7c232f7aa4 100644
--- a/src/Stats.cc
+++ b/src/Stats.cc
@@ -310,11 +310,11 @@ void ProfileLogger::Log()
 	// (and for consistency we dispatch it *now*)
 	if ( profiling_update )
 		{
-		val_list* vl = new val_list;
 		Ref(file);
-		vl->append(new Val(file));
-		vl->append(val_mgr->GetBool(expensive));
-		mgr.Dispatch(new Event(profiling_update, vl));
+		mgr.Dispatch(new Event(profiling_update, {
+			new Val(file),
+			val_mgr->GetBool(expensive),
+		}));
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -369,12 +369,11 @@ void SampleLogger::SegmentProfile(const char* /* name */,
 					const Location* /* loc */,
 					double dtime, int dmem)
 	{
-	val_list* vl = new val_list(2);
-	vl->append(load_samples->Ref());
-	vl->append(new IntervalVal(dtime, Seconds));
-	vl->append(val_mgr->GetInt(dmem));
-
-	mgr.QueueEvent(load_sample, vl);
+	mgr.QueueEvent(load_sample, {
+		load_samples->Ref(),
+		new IntervalVal(dtime, Seconds),
+		val_mgr->GetInt(dmem)
+	});
 	}
 
 void SegmentProfiler::Init()
diff --git a/src/Stmt.cc b/src/Stmt.cc
index 7e7ba23a18..6dba9eb251 100644
--- a/src/Stmt.cc
+++ b/src/Stmt.cc
@@ -292,13 +292,14 @@ Val* PrintStmt::DoExec(val_list* vals, stmt_flow_type& /* flow */) const
 
 		if ( print_hook )
 			{
-			val_list* vl = new val_list(2);
 			::Ref(f);
-			vl->append(new Val(f));
-			vl->append(new StringVal(d.Len(), d.Description()));
 
 			// Note, this doesn't do remote printing.
-			mgr.Dispatch(new Event(print_hook, vl), true);
+			mgr.Dispatch(
+			    new Event(
+			        print_hook,
+			        {new Val(f), new StringVal(d.Len(), d.Description())}),
+			    true);
 			}
 
 		if ( remote_serializer )
@@ -704,7 +705,7 @@ bool Case::DoUnserialize(UnserialInfo* info)
 	if ( ! UNSERIALIZE(&len) )
 		return false;
 
-	type_cases = new id_list;
+	type_cases = new id_list(len);
 
 	while ( len-- )
 		{
@@ -1198,7 +1199,10 @@ Val* EventStmt::Exec(Frame* f, stmt_flow_type& flow) const
 	val_list* args = eval_list(f, event_expr->Args());
 
 	if ( args )
-		mgr.QueueEvent(event_expr->Handler(), args);
+		{
+		mgr.QueueEvent(event_expr->Handler(), std::move(*args));
+		delete args;
+		}
 
 	flow = FLOW_NEXT;
 
@@ -1633,7 +1637,7 @@ bool ForStmt::DoUnserialize(UnserialInfo* info)
 	if ( ! UNSERIALIZE(&len) )
 		return false;
 
-	loop_vars = new id_list;
+	loop_vars = new id_list(len);
 
 	while ( len-- )
 		{
@@ -2149,7 +2153,7 @@ bool InitStmt::DoUnserialize(UnserialInfo* info)
 	if ( ! UNSERIALIZE(&len) )
 		return false;
 
-	inits = new id_list;
+	inits = new id_list(len);
 
 	while ( len-- )
 		{
diff --git a/src/Stmt.h b/src/Stmt.h
index a9bf7cddf8..c3ee6611fe 100644
--- a/src/Stmt.h
+++ b/src/Stmt.h
@@ -213,6 +213,9 @@ protected:
 	Stmt* s;
 };
 
+declare(PList,Case);
+typedef PList(Case) case_list;
+
 class SwitchStmt : public ExprStmt {
 public:
 	SwitchStmt(Expr* index, case_list* cases);
diff --git a/src/Type.cc b/src/Type.cc
index 77a5ac6d16..28f4a28492 100644
--- a/src/Type.cc
+++ b/src/Type.cc
@@ -2266,7 +2266,7 @@ BroType* merge_types(const BroType* t1, const BroType* t2)
 		if ( rt1->NumFields() != rt2->NumFields() )
 			return 0;
 
-		type_decl_list* tdl3 = new type_decl_list;
+		type_decl_list* tdl3 = new type_decl_list(rt1->NumFields());
 
 		for ( int i = 0; i < rt1->NumFields(); ++i )
 			{
diff --git a/src/Type.h b/src/Type.h
index bc13997461..c537bb6203 100644
--- a/src/Type.h
+++ b/src/Type.h
@@ -460,6 +460,9 @@ public:
 	const char* id;
 };
 
+declare(PList,TypeDecl);
+typedef PList(TypeDecl) type_decl_list;
+
 class RecordType : public BroType {
 public:
 	explicit RecordType(type_decl_list* types);
diff --git a/src/Val.cc b/src/Val.cc
index b55a9090d3..a7bb933524 100644
--- a/src/Val.cc
+++ b/src/Val.cc
@@ -1861,29 +1861,30 @@ Val* TableVal::Default(Val* index)
 		return def_attr->AttrExpr()->IsConst() ? def_val->Ref() : def_val->Clone();
 
 	const Func* f = def_val->AsFunc();
-	val_list* vl = new val_list();
+	val_list vl;
 
 	if ( index->Type()->Tag() == TYPE_LIST )
 		{
 		const val_list* vl0 = index->AsListVal()->Vals();
+		vl = val_list(vl0->length());
 		loop_over_list(*vl0, i)
-			vl->append((*vl0)[i]->Ref());
+			vl.append((*vl0)[i]->Ref());
 		}
 	else
-		vl->append(index->Ref());
+		{
+		vl = val_list{index->Ref()};
+		}
 
 	Val* result = 0;
 
 	try
 		{
-		result = f->Call(vl);
+		result = f->Call(&vl);
 		}
 
 	catch ( InterpreterException& e )
 		{ /* Already reported. */ }
 
-	delete vl;
-
 	if ( ! result )
 		{
 		Error("no value returned from &default function");
@@ -2423,21 +2424,6 @@ double TableVal::CallExpireFunc(Val* idx)
 		return 0;
 		}
 
-	val_list* vl = new val_list;
-	vl->append(Ref());
-
-	// Flatten lists of a single element.
-	if ( idx->Type()->Tag() == TYPE_LIST &&
-	     idx->AsListVal()->Length() == 1 )
-		{
-		Val* old = idx;
-		idx = idx->AsListVal()->Index(0);
-		idx->Ref();
-		Unref(old);
-		}
-
-	vl->append(idx);
-
 	double secs = 0;
 
 	try
@@ -2447,19 +2433,31 @@ double TableVal::CallExpireFunc(Val* idx)
 		if ( ! vf )
 			{
 			// Will have been reported already.
-			delete_vals(vl);
+			Unref(idx);
 			return 0;
 			}
 
 		if ( vf->Type()->Tag() != TYPE_FUNC )
 			{
-			Unref(vf);
-			delete_vals(vl);
 			vf->Error("not a function");
+			Unref(vf);
+			Unref(idx);
 			return 0;
 			}
 
-		Val* vs = vf->AsFunc()->Call(vl);
+
+		// Flatten lists of a single element.
+		if ( idx->Type()->Tag() == TYPE_LIST &&
+		     idx->AsListVal()->Length() == 1 )
+			{
+			Val* old = idx;
+			idx = idx->AsListVal()->Index(0);
+			idx->Ref();
+			Unref(old);
+			}
+
+		val_list vl{Ref(), idx};
+		Val* vs = vf->AsFunc()->Call(&vl);
 
 		if ( vs )
 			{
@@ -2468,7 +2466,6 @@ double TableVal::CallExpireFunc(Val* idx)
 			}
 
 		Unref(vf);
-		delete vl;
 		}
 
 	catch ( InterpreterException& e )
diff --git a/src/Var.cc b/src/Var.cc
index 8534fdd910..fb27b7261f 100644
--- a/src/Var.cc
+++ b/src/Var.cc
@@ -325,8 +325,7 @@ static void transfer_arg_defaults(RecordType* args, RecordType* recv)
 
 		if ( ! recv_i->attrs )
 			{
-			attr_list* a = new attr_list();
-			a->append(def);
+			attr_list* a = new attr_list{def};
 			recv_i->attrs = new Attributes(a, recv_i->type, true);
 			}
 
diff --git a/src/analyzer/Analyzer.cc b/src/analyzer/Analyzer.cc
index 818dd917e8..be2cfcf627 100644
--- a/src/analyzer/Analyzer.cc
+++ b/src/analyzer/Analyzer.cc
@@ -665,11 +665,11 @@ void Analyzer::ProtocolConfirmation(Tag arg_tag)
 	EnumVal* tval = arg_tag ? arg_tag.AsEnumVal() : tag.AsEnumVal();
 	Ref(tval);
 
-	val_list* vl = new val_list;
-	vl->append(BuildConnVal());
-	vl->append(tval);
-	vl->append(val_mgr->GetCount(id));
-	mgr.QueueEvent(protocol_confirmation, vl);
+	mgr.QueueEvent(protocol_confirmation, {
+		BuildConnVal(),
+		tval,
+		val_mgr->GetCount(id),
+	});
 
 	protocol_confirmed = true;
 	}
@@ -692,12 +692,12 @@ void Analyzer::ProtocolViolation(const char* reason, const char* data, int len)
 	EnumVal* tval = tag.AsEnumVal();
 	Ref(tval);
 
-	val_list* vl = new val_list;
-	vl->append(BuildConnVal());
-	vl->append(tval);
-	vl->append(val_mgr->GetCount(id));
-	vl->append(r);
-	mgr.QueueEvent(protocol_violation, vl);
+	mgr.QueueEvent(protocol_violation, {
+		BuildConnVal(),
+		tval,
+		val_mgr->GetCount(id),
+		r,
+	});
 	}
 
 void Analyzer::AddTimer(analyzer_timer_func timer, double t,
@@ -782,6 +782,11 @@ void Analyzer::ConnectionEvent(EventHandlerPtr f, val_list* vl)
 	conn->ConnectionEvent(f, this, vl);
 	}
 
+void Analyzer::ConnectionEvent(EventHandlerPtr f, val_list vl)
+	{
+	conn->ConnectionEvent(f, this, std::move(vl));
+	}
+
 void Analyzer::Weird(const char* name, const char* addl)
 	{
 	conn->Weird(name, addl);
diff --git a/src/analyzer/Analyzer.h b/src/analyzer/Analyzer.h
index a13df7e21e..ab09e63458 100644
--- a/src/analyzer/Analyzer.h
+++ b/src/analyzer/Analyzer.h
@@ -541,6 +541,12 @@ public:
 	 */
 	void ConnectionEvent(EventHandlerPtr f, val_list* vl);
 
+	/**
+	 * Convenience function that forwards directly to
+	 * Connection::ConnectionEvent().
+	 */
+	void ConnectionEvent(EventHandlerPtr f, val_list vl);
+
 	/**
 	 * Convenience function that forwards directly to the corresponding
 	 * Connection::Weird().
diff --git a/src/analyzer/protocol/arp/ARP.cc b/src/analyzer/protocol/arp/ARP.cc
index 83166bd149..e206303e9c 100644
--- a/src/analyzer/protocol/arp/ARP.cc
+++ b/src/analyzer/protocol/arp/ARP.cc
@@ -190,13 +190,13 @@ void ARP_Analyzer::BadARP(const struct arp_pkthdr* hdr, const char* msg)
 	if ( ! bad_arp )
 		return;
 
-	val_list* vl = new val_list;
-	vl->append(ConstructAddrVal(ar_spa(hdr)));
-	vl->append(EthAddrToStr((const u_char*) ar_sha(hdr)));
-	vl->append(ConstructAddrVal(ar_tpa(hdr)));
-	vl->append(EthAddrToStr((const u_char*) ar_tha(hdr)));
-	vl->append(new StringVal(msg));
-	mgr.QueueEvent(bad_arp, vl);
+	mgr.QueueEvent(bad_arp, {
+		ConstructAddrVal(ar_spa(hdr)),
+		EthAddrToStr((const u_char*) ar_sha(hdr)),
+		ConstructAddrVal(ar_tpa(hdr)),
+		EthAddrToStr((const u_char*) ar_tha(hdr)),
+		new StringVal(msg),
+	});
 	}
 
 void ARP_Analyzer::Corrupted(const char* msg)
@@ -212,18 +212,14 @@ void ARP_Analyzer::RREvent(EventHandlerPtr e,
 	if ( ! e )
 		return;
 
-	// init the val_list
-	val_list* vl = new val_list;
-
-	// prepare the event arguments
-	vl->append(EthAddrToStr(src));
-	vl->append(EthAddrToStr(dst));
-	vl->append(ConstructAddrVal(spa));
-	vl->append(EthAddrToStr((const u_char*) sha));
-	vl->append(ConstructAddrVal(tpa));
-	vl->append(EthAddrToStr((const u_char*) tha));
-
-	mgr.QueueEvent(e, vl);
+	mgr.QueueEvent(e, {
+		EthAddrToStr(src),
+		EthAddrToStr(dst),
+		ConstructAddrVal(spa),
+		EthAddrToStr((const u_char*) sha),
+		ConstructAddrVal(tpa),
+		EthAddrToStr((const u_char*) tha),
+	});
 	}
 
 AddrVal* ARP_Analyzer::ConstructAddrVal(const void* addr)
diff --git a/src/analyzer/protocol/backdoor/BackDoor.cc b/src/analyzer/protocol/backdoor/BackDoor.cc
index ecfb660b94..4cc8d5f703 100644
--- a/src/analyzer/protocol/backdoor/BackDoor.cc
+++ b/src/analyzer/protocol/backdoor/BackDoor.cc
@@ -246,13 +246,12 @@ void BackDoorEndpoint::RloginSignatureFound(int len)
 
 	rlogin_checking_done = 1;
 
-	val_list* vl = new val_list;
-	vl->append(endp->TCP()->BuildConnVal());
-	vl->append(val_mgr->GetBool(endp->IsOrig()));
-	vl->append(val_mgr->GetCount(rlogin_num_null));
-	vl->append(val_mgr->GetCount(len));
-
-	endp->TCP()->ConnectionEvent(rlogin_signature_found, vl);
+	endp->TCP()->ConnectionEvent(rlogin_signature_found, {
+		endp->TCP()->BuildConnVal(),
+		val_mgr->GetBool(endp->IsOrig()),
+		val_mgr->GetCount(rlogin_num_null),
+		val_mgr->GetCount(len),
+	});
 	}
 
 void BackDoorEndpoint::CheckForTelnet(uint64 /* seq */, int len, const u_char* data)
@@ -338,12 +337,11 @@ void BackDoorEndpoint::CheckForTelnet(uint64 /* seq */, int len, const u_char* d
 
 void BackDoorEndpoint::TelnetSignatureFound(int len)
 	{
-	val_list* vl = new val_list;
-	vl->append(endp->TCP()->BuildConnVal());
-	vl->append(val_mgr->GetBool(endp->IsOrig()));
-	vl->append(val_mgr->GetCount(len));
-
-	endp->TCP()->ConnectionEvent(telnet_signature_found, vl);
+	endp->TCP()->ConnectionEvent(telnet_signature_found, {
+		endp->TCP()->BuildConnVal(),
+		val_mgr->GetBool(endp->IsOrig()),
+		val_mgr->GetCount(len),
+	});
 	}
 
 void BackDoorEndpoint::CheckForSSH(uint64 seq, int len, const u_char* data)
@@ -643,13 +641,12 @@ void BackDoorEndpoint::CheckForHTTPProxy(uint64 /* seq */, int len,
 
 void BackDoorEndpoint::SignatureFound(EventHandlerPtr e, int do_orig)
 	{
-	val_list* vl = new val_list;
-	vl->append(endp->TCP()->BuildConnVal());
-
 	if ( do_orig )
-		vl->append(val_mgr->GetBool(endp->IsOrig()));
+		endp->TCP()->ConnectionEvent(e,
+		    {endp->TCP()->BuildConnVal(), val_mgr->GetBool(endp->IsOrig())});
 
-	endp->TCP()->ConnectionEvent(e, vl);
+	else
+		endp->TCP()->ConnectionEvent(e, {endp->TCP()->BuildConnVal()});
 	}
 
 
@@ -776,20 +773,16 @@ void BackDoor_Analyzer::StatTimer(double t, int is_expire)
 
 void BackDoor_Analyzer::StatEvent()
 	{
-	val_list* vl = new val_list;
-	vl->append(TCP()->BuildConnVal());
-	vl->append(orig_endp->BuildStats());
-	vl->append(resp_endp->BuildStats());
-
-	TCP()->ConnectionEvent(backdoor_stats, vl);
+	TCP()->ConnectionEvent(backdoor_stats, {
+		TCP()->BuildConnVal(),
+		orig_endp->BuildStats(),
+		resp_endp->BuildStats(),
+	});
 	}
 
 void BackDoor_Analyzer::RemoveEvent()
 	{
-	val_list* vl = new val_list;
-	vl->append(TCP()->BuildConnVal());
-
-	TCP()->ConnectionEvent(backdoor_remove_conn, vl);
+	TCP()->ConnectionEvent(backdoor_remove_conn, {TCP()->BuildConnVal()});
 	}
 
 BackDoorTimer::BackDoorTimer(double t, BackDoor_Analyzer* a)
diff --git a/src/analyzer/protocol/bittorrent/BitTorrent.cc b/src/analyzer/protocol/bittorrent/BitTorrent.cc
index 652d3d120c..989265623c 100644
--- a/src/analyzer/protocol/bittorrent/BitTorrent.cc
+++ b/src/analyzer/protocol/bittorrent/BitTorrent.cc
@@ -120,10 +120,10 @@ void BitTorrent_Analyzer::DeliverWeird(const char* msg, bool orig)
 	{
 	if ( bittorrent_peer_weird )
 		{
-		val_list* vl = new val_list;
-		vl->append(BuildConnVal());
-		vl->append(val_mgr->GetBool(orig));
-		vl->append(new StringVal(msg));
-		ConnectionEvent(bittorrent_peer_weird, vl);
+		ConnectionEvent(bittorrent_peer_weird, {
+			BuildConnVal(),
+			val_mgr->GetBool(orig),
+			new StringVal(msg),
+		});
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/src/analyzer/protocol/bittorrent/BitTorrentTracker.cc b/src/analyzer/protocol/bittorrent/BitTorrentTracker.cc
index 54cac790fb..411bbf0aff 100644
--- a/src/analyzer/protocol/bittorrent/BitTorrentTracker.cc
+++ b/src/analyzer/protocol/bittorrent/BitTorrentTracker.cc
@@ -247,11 +247,11 @@ void BitTorrentTracker_Analyzer::DeliverWeird(const char* msg, bool orig)
 	{
 	if ( bt_tracker_weird )
 		{
-		val_list* vl = new val_list;
-		vl->append(BuildConnVal());
-		vl->append(val_mgr->GetBool(orig));
-		vl->append(new StringVal(msg));
-		ConnectionEvent(bt_tracker_weird, vl);
+		ConnectionEvent(bt_tracker_weird, {
+			BuildConnVal(),
+			val_mgr->GetBool(orig),
+			new StringVal(msg),
+		});
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -346,19 +346,16 @@ void BitTorrentTracker_Analyzer::RequestGet(char* uri)
 
 void BitTorrentTracker_Analyzer::EmitRequest(void)
 	{
-	val_list* vl;
-
 	ProtocolConfirmation();
 
-	vl = new val_list;
-	vl->append(BuildConnVal());
-	vl->append(req_val_uri);
-	vl->append(req_val_headers);
+	ConnectionEvent(bt_tracker_request, {
+		BuildConnVal(),
+		req_val_uri,
+		req_val_headers,
+	});
 
 	req_val_uri = 0;
 	req_val_headers = 0;
-
-	ConnectionEvent(bt_tracker_request, vl);
 	}
 
 bool BitTorrentTracker_Analyzer::ParseResponse(char* line)
@@ -404,11 +401,11 @@ bool BitTorrentTracker_Analyzer::ParseResponse(char* line)
 			{
 			if ( res_status != 200 )
 				{
-				val_list* vl = new val_list;
-				vl->append(BuildConnVal());
-				vl->append(val_mgr->GetCount(res_status));
-				vl->append(res_val_headers);
-				ConnectionEvent(bt_tracker_response_not_ok, vl);
+				ConnectionEvent(bt_tracker_response_not_ok, {
+					BuildConnVal(),
+					val_mgr->GetCount(res_status),
+					res_val_headers,
+				});
 				res_val_headers = 0;
 				res_buf_pos = res_buf + res_buf_len;
 				res_state = BTT_RES_DONE;
@@ -790,16 +787,15 @@ void BitTorrentTracker_Analyzer::EmitResponse(void)
 	{
 	ProtocolConfirmation();
 
-	val_list* vl = new val_list;
-	vl->append(BuildConnVal());
-	vl->append(val_mgr->GetCount(res_status));
-	vl->append(res_val_headers);
-	vl->append(res_val_peers);
-	vl->append(res_val_benc);
+	ConnectionEvent(bt_tracker_response, {
+		BuildConnVal(),
+		val_mgr->GetCount(res_status),
+		res_val_headers,
+		res_val_peers,
+		res_val_benc,
+	});
 
 	res_val_headers = 0;
 	res_val_peers = 0;
 	res_val_benc = 0;
-
-	ConnectionEvent(bt_tracker_response, vl);
 	}
diff --git a/src/analyzer/protocol/conn-size/ConnSize.cc b/src/analyzer/protocol/conn-size/ConnSize.cc
index 52d81e3111..cf6521103c 100644
--- a/src/analyzer/protocol/conn-size/ConnSize.cc
+++ b/src/analyzer/protocol/conn-size/ConnSize.cc
@@ -47,11 +47,11 @@ void ConnSize_Analyzer::ThresholdEvent(EventHandlerPtr f, uint64 threshold, bool
 	if ( ! f )
 		return;
 
-	val_list* vl = new val_list;
-	vl->append(BuildConnVal());
-	vl->append(val_mgr->GetCount(threshold));
-	vl->append(val_mgr->GetBool(is_orig));
-	ConnectionEvent(f, vl);
+	ConnectionEvent(f, {
+		BuildConnVal(),
+		val_mgr->GetCount(threshold),
+		val_mgr->GetBool(is_orig),
+	});
 	}
 
 void ConnSize_Analyzer::CheckSizes(bool is_orig)
diff --git a/src/analyzer/protocol/dns/DNS.cc b/src/analyzer/protocol/dns/DNS.cc
index 944ce92731..a67b548fe9 100644
--- a/src/analyzer/protocol/dns/DNS.cc
+++ b/src/analyzer/protocol/dns/DNS.cc
@@ -46,13 +46,12 @@ int DNS_Interpreter::ParseMessage(const u_char* data, int len, int is_query)
 
 	if ( dns_message )
 		{
-		val_list* vl = new val_list();
-		vl->append(analyzer->BuildConnVal());
-		vl->append(val_mgr->GetBool(is_query));
-		vl->append(msg.BuildHdrVal());
-		vl->append(val_mgr->GetCount(len));
-
-		analyzer->ConnectionEvent(dns_message, vl);
+		analyzer->ConnectionEvent(dns_message, {
+			analyzer->BuildConnVal(),
+			val_mgr->GetBool(is_query),
+			msg.BuildHdrVal(),
+			val_mgr->GetCount(len),
+		});
 		}
 
 	// There is a great deal of non-DNS traffic that runs on port 53.
@@ -133,11 +132,10 @@ int DNS_Interpreter::ParseMessage(const u_char* data, int len, int is_query)
 
 int DNS_Interpreter::EndMessage(DNS_MsgInfo* msg)
 	{
-	val_list* vl = new val_list;
-
-	vl->append(analyzer->BuildConnVal());
-	vl->append(msg->BuildHdrVal());
-	analyzer->ConnectionEvent(dns_end, vl);
+	analyzer->ConnectionEvent(dns_end, {
+		analyzer->BuildConnVal(),
+		msg->BuildHdrVal(),
+	});
 
 	return 1;
 	}
@@ -336,11 +334,11 @@ int DNS_Interpreter::ParseAnswer(DNS_MsgInfo* msg,
 
 			if ( dns_unknown_reply && ! msg->skip_event )
 				{
-				val_list* vl = new val_list;
-				vl->append(analyzer->BuildConnVal());
-				vl->append(msg->BuildHdrVal());
-				vl->append(msg->BuildAnswerVal());
-				analyzer->ConnectionEvent(dns_unknown_reply, vl);
+				analyzer->ConnectionEvent(dns_unknown_reply, {
+					analyzer->BuildConnVal(),
+					msg->BuildHdrVal(),
+					msg->BuildAnswerVal(),
+				});
 				}
 
 			analyzer->Weird("DNS_RR_unknown_type", fmt("%d", msg->atype));
@@ -551,14 +549,12 @@ int DNS_Interpreter::ParseRR_Name(DNS_MsgInfo* msg,
 
 	if ( reply_event && ! msg->skip_event )
 		{
-		val_list* vl = new val_list;
-
-		vl->append(analyzer->BuildConnVal());
-		vl->append(msg->BuildHdrVal());
-		vl->append(msg->BuildAnswerVal());
-		vl->append(new StringVal(new BroString(name, name_end - name, 1)));
-
-		analyzer->ConnectionEvent(reply_event, vl);
+		analyzer->ConnectionEvent(reply_event, {
+			analyzer->BuildConnVal(),
+			msg->BuildHdrVal(),
+			msg->BuildAnswerVal(),
+			new StringVal(new BroString(name, name_end - name, 1)),
+		});
 		}
 
 	return 1;
@@ -598,14 +594,7 @@ int DNS_Interpreter::ParseRR_SOA(DNS_MsgInfo* msg,
 
 	if ( dns_SOA_reply && ! msg->skip_event )
 		{
-		val_list* vl = new val_list;
-
-		vl->append(analyzer->BuildConnVal());
-		vl->append(msg->BuildHdrVal());
-		vl->append(msg->BuildAnswerVal());
-
 		RecordVal* r = new RecordVal(dns_soa);
-
 		r->Assign(0, new StringVal(new BroString(mname, mname_end - mname, 1)));
 		r->Assign(1, new StringVal(new BroString(rname, rname_end - rname, 1)));
 		r->Assign(2, val_mgr->GetCount(serial));
@@ -614,9 +603,12 @@ int DNS_Interpreter::ParseRR_SOA(DNS_MsgInfo* msg,
 		r->Assign(5, new IntervalVal(double(expire), Seconds));
 		r->Assign(6, new IntervalVal(double(minimum), Seconds));
 
-		vl->append(r);
-
-		analyzer->ConnectionEvent(dns_SOA_reply, vl);
+		analyzer->ConnectionEvent(dns_SOA_reply, {
+			analyzer->BuildConnVal(),
+			msg->BuildHdrVal(),
+			msg->BuildAnswerVal(),
+			r
+		});
 		}
 
 	return 1;
@@ -642,15 +634,13 @@ int DNS_Interpreter::ParseRR_MX(DNS_MsgInfo* msg,
 
 	if ( dns_MX_reply && ! msg->skip_event )
 		{
-		val_list* vl = new val_list;
-
-		vl->append(analyzer->BuildConnVal());
-		vl->append(msg->BuildHdrVal());
-		vl->append(msg->BuildAnswerVal());
-		vl->append(new StringVal(new BroString(name, name_end - name, 1)));
-		vl->append(val_mgr->GetCount(preference));
-
-		analyzer->ConnectionEvent(dns_MX_reply, vl);
+		analyzer->ConnectionEvent(dns_MX_reply, {
+			analyzer->BuildConnVal(),
+			msg->BuildHdrVal(),
+			msg->BuildAnswerVal(),
+			new StringVal(new BroString(name, name_end - name, 1)),
+			val_mgr->GetCount(preference),
+		});
 		}
 
 	return 1;
@@ -687,16 +677,15 @@ int DNS_Interpreter::ParseRR_SRV(DNS_MsgInfo* msg,
 
 	if ( dns_SRV_reply && ! msg->skip_event )
 		{
-		val_list* vl = new val_list;
-		vl->append(analyzer->BuildConnVal());
-		vl->append(msg->BuildHdrVal());
-		vl->append(msg->BuildAnswerVal());
-		vl->append(new StringVal(new BroString(name, name_end - name, 1)));
-		vl->append(val_mgr->GetCount(priority));
-		vl->append(val_mgr->GetCount(weight));
-		vl->append(val_mgr->GetCount(port));
-
-		analyzer->ConnectionEvent(dns_SRV_reply, vl);
+		analyzer->ConnectionEvent(dns_SRV_reply, {
+			analyzer->BuildConnVal(),
+			msg->BuildHdrVal(),
+			msg->BuildAnswerVal(),
+			new StringVal(new BroString(name, name_end - name, 1)),
+			val_mgr->GetCount(priority),
+			val_mgr->GetCount(weight),
+			val_mgr->GetCount(port),
+		});
 		}
 
 	return 1;
@@ -711,12 +700,11 @@ int DNS_Interpreter::ParseRR_EDNS(DNS_MsgInfo* msg,
 
 	if ( dns_EDNS_addl && ! msg->skip_event )
 		{
-		val_list* vl = new val_list;
-
-		vl->append(analyzer->BuildConnVal());
-		vl->append(msg->BuildHdrVal());
-		vl->append(msg->BuildEDNS_Val());
-		analyzer->ConnectionEvent(dns_EDNS_addl, vl);
+		analyzer->ConnectionEvent(dns_EDNS_addl, {
+			analyzer->BuildConnVal(),
+			msg->BuildHdrVal(),
+			msg->BuildEDNS_Val(),
+		});
 		}
 
 	// Currently EDNS supports the movement of type:data pairs
@@ -789,13 +777,11 @@ int DNS_Interpreter::ParseRR_TSIG(DNS_MsgInfo* msg,
 	msg->tsig->orig_id = orig_id;
 	msg->tsig->rr_error = rr_error;
 
-	val_list* vl = new val_list;
-
-	vl->append(analyzer->BuildConnVal());
-	vl->append(msg->BuildHdrVal());
-	vl->append(msg->BuildTSIG_Val());
-
-	analyzer->ConnectionEvent(dns_TSIG_addl, vl);
+	analyzer->ConnectionEvent(dns_TSIG_addl, {
+		analyzer->BuildConnVal(),
+		msg->BuildHdrVal(),
+		msg->BuildTSIG_Val(),
+	});
 
 	return 1;
 	}
@@ -889,14 +875,12 @@ int DNS_Interpreter::ParseRR_RRSIG(DNS_MsgInfo* msg,
 	rrsig.signer_name = new BroString(name, name_end - name, 1);
 	rrsig.signature = sign;
 
-	val_list* vl = new val_list;
-
-	vl->append(analyzer->BuildConnVal());
-	vl->append(msg->BuildHdrVal());
-	vl->append(msg->BuildAnswerVal());
-	vl->append(msg->BuildRRSIG_Val(&rrsig));
-
-	analyzer->ConnectionEvent(dns_RRSIG, vl);
+	analyzer->ConnectionEvent(dns_RRSIG, {
+		analyzer->BuildConnVal(),
+		msg->BuildHdrVal(),
+		msg->BuildAnswerVal(),
+		msg->BuildRRSIG_Val(&rrsig),
+	});
 
 	return 1;
 	}
@@ -983,14 +967,12 @@ int DNS_Interpreter::ParseRR_DNSKEY(DNS_MsgInfo* msg,
 	dnskey.dprotocol = dprotocol;
 	dnskey.public_key = key;
 
-	val_list* vl = new val_list;
-
-	vl->append(analyzer->BuildConnVal());
-	vl->append(msg->BuildHdrVal());
-	vl->append(msg->BuildAnswerVal());
-	vl->append(msg->BuildDNSKEY_Val(&dnskey));
-
-	analyzer->ConnectionEvent(dns_DNSKEY, vl);
+	analyzer->ConnectionEvent(dns_DNSKEY, {
+		analyzer->BuildConnVal(),
+		msg->BuildHdrVal(),
+		msg->BuildAnswerVal(),
+		msg->BuildDNSKEY_Val(&dnskey),
+	});
 
 	return 1;
 	}
@@ -1035,15 +1017,13 @@ int DNS_Interpreter::ParseRR_NSEC(DNS_MsgInfo* msg,
 		typebitmaps_len = typebitmaps_len - (2 + bmlen);
 		}
 
-	val_list* vl = new val_list;
-
-	vl->append(analyzer->BuildConnVal());
-	vl->append(msg->BuildHdrVal());
-	vl->append(msg->BuildAnswerVal());
-	vl->append(new StringVal(new BroString(name, name_end - name, 1)));
-	vl->append(char_strings);
-
-	analyzer->ConnectionEvent(dns_NSEC, vl);
+	analyzer->ConnectionEvent(dns_NSEC, {
+		analyzer->BuildConnVal(),
+		msg->BuildHdrVal(),
+		msg->BuildAnswerVal(),
+		new StringVal(new BroString(name, name_end - name, 1)),
+		char_strings,
+	});
 
 	return 1;
 	}
@@ -1121,14 +1101,12 @@ int DNS_Interpreter::ParseRR_NSEC3(DNS_MsgInfo* msg,
 	nsec3.nsec_hash = hash_val;
 	nsec3.bitmaps = char_strings;
 
-	val_list* vl = new val_list;
-
-	vl->append(analyzer->BuildConnVal());
-	vl->append(msg->BuildHdrVal());
-	vl->append(msg->BuildAnswerVal());
-	vl->append(msg->BuildNSEC3_Val(&nsec3));
-
-	analyzer->ConnectionEvent(dns_NSEC3, vl);
+	analyzer->ConnectionEvent(dns_NSEC3, {
+		analyzer->BuildConnVal(),
+		msg->BuildHdrVal(),
+		msg->BuildAnswerVal(),
+		msg->BuildNSEC3_Val(&nsec3),
+	});
 
 	return 1;
 	}
@@ -1178,14 +1156,12 @@ int DNS_Interpreter::ParseRR_DS(DNS_MsgInfo* msg,
 	ds.digest_type = ds_dtype;
 	ds.digest_val = ds_digest;
 
-	val_list* vl = new val_list;
-
-	vl->append(analyzer->BuildConnVal());
-	vl->append(msg->BuildHdrVal());
-	vl->append(msg->BuildAnswerVal());
-	vl->append(msg->BuildDS_Val(&ds));
-
-	analyzer->ConnectionEvent(dns_DS, vl);
+	analyzer->ConnectionEvent(dns_DS, {
+		analyzer->BuildConnVal(),
+		msg->BuildHdrVal(),
+		msg->BuildAnswerVal(),
+		msg->BuildDS_Val(&ds),
+	});
 
 	return 1;
 	}
@@ -1203,14 +1179,12 @@ int DNS_Interpreter::ParseRR_A(DNS_MsgInfo* msg,
 
 	if ( dns_A_reply && ! msg->skip_event )
 		{
-		val_list* vl = new val_list;
-
-		vl->append(analyzer->BuildConnVal());
-		vl->append(msg->BuildHdrVal());
-		vl->append(msg->BuildAnswerVal());
-		vl->append(new AddrVal(htonl(addr)));
-
-		analyzer->ConnectionEvent(dns_A_reply, vl);
+		analyzer->ConnectionEvent(dns_A_reply, {
+			analyzer->BuildConnVal(),
+			msg->BuildHdrVal(),
+			msg->BuildAnswerVal(),
+			new AddrVal(htonl(addr)),
+		});
 		}
 
 	return 1;
@@ -1242,13 +1216,12 @@ int DNS_Interpreter::ParseRR_AAAA(DNS_MsgInfo* msg,
 		event = dns_A6_reply;
 	if ( event && ! msg->skip_event )
 		{
-		val_list* vl = new val_list;
-
-		vl->append(analyzer->BuildConnVal());
-		vl->append(msg->BuildHdrVal());
-		vl->append(msg->BuildAnswerVal());
-		vl->append(new AddrVal(addr));
-		analyzer->ConnectionEvent(event, vl);
+		analyzer->ConnectionEvent(event, {
+			analyzer->BuildConnVal(),
+			msg->BuildHdrVal(),
+			msg->BuildAnswerVal(),
+			new AddrVal(addr),
+		});
 		}
 
 	return 1;
@@ -1317,14 +1290,12 @@ int DNS_Interpreter::ParseRR_TXT(DNS_MsgInfo* msg,
 	while ( (char_string = extract_char_string(analyzer, data, len, rdlength)) )
 		char_strings->Assign(char_strings->Size(), char_string);
 
-	val_list* vl = new val_list;
-
-	vl->append(analyzer->BuildConnVal());
-	vl->append(msg->BuildHdrVal());
-	vl->append(msg->BuildAnswerVal());
-	vl->append(char_strings);
-
-	analyzer->ConnectionEvent(dns_TXT_reply, vl);
+	analyzer->ConnectionEvent(dns_TXT_reply, {
+		analyzer->BuildConnVal(),
+		msg->BuildHdrVal(),
+		msg->BuildAnswerVal(),
+		char_strings,
+	});
 
 	return rdlength == 0;
 	}
@@ -1359,16 +1330,14 @@ int DNS_Interpreter::ParseRR_CAA(DNS_MsgInfo* msg,
 	data += value->Len();
 	rdlength -= value->Len();
 
-	val_list* vl = new val_list;
-
-	vl->append(analyzer->BuildConnVal());
-	vl->append(msg->BuildHdrVal());
-	vl->append(msg->BuildAnswerVal());
-	vl->append(val_mgr->GetCount(flags));
-	vl->append(new StringVal(tag));
-	vl->append(new StringVal(value));
-
-	analyzer->ConnectionEvent(dns_CAA_reply, vl);
+	analyzer->ConnectionEvent(dns_CAA_reply, {
+		analyzer->BuildConnVal(),
+		msg->BuildHdrVal(),
+		msg->BuildAnswerVal(),
+		val_mgr->GetCount(flags),
+		new StringVal(tag),
+		new StringVal(value),
+	});
 
 	return rdlength == 0;
 	}
@@ -1382,14 +1351,13 @@ void DNS_Interpreter::SendReplyOrRejectEvent(DNS_MsgInfo* msg,
 	RR_Type qtype = RR_Type(ExtractShort(data, len));
 	int qclass = ExtractShort(data, len);
 
-	val_list* vl = new val_list;
-	vl->append(analyzer->BuildConnVal());
-	vl->append(msg->BuildHdrVal());
-	vl->append(new StringVal(question_name));
-	vl->append(val_mgr->GetCount(qtype));
-	vl->append(val_mgr->GetCount(qclass));
-
-	analyzer->ConnectionEvent(event, vl);
+	analyzer->ConnectionEvent(event, {
+		analyzer->BuildConnVal(),
+		msg->BuildHdrVal(),
+		new StringVal(question_name),
+		val_mgr->GetCount(qtype),
+		val_mgr->GetCount(qclass),
+	});
 	}
 
 
@@ -1737,10 +1705,10 @@ void DNS_Analyzer::DeliverPacket(int len, const u_char* data, bool orig,
 		{
 		if ( ! interp->ParseMessage(data, len, 1) && non_dns_request )
 			{
-			val_list* vl = new val_list;
-			vl->append(BuildConnVal());
-			vl->append(new StringVal(len, (const char*) data));
-			ConnectionEvent(non_dns_request, vl);
+			ConnectionEvent(non_dns_request, {
+				BuildConnVal(),
+				new StringVal(len, (const char*) data),
+			});
 			}
 		}
 
diff --git a/src/analyzer/protocol/file/File.cc b/src/analyzer/protocol/file/File.cc
index b7e00c7fa4..bb81eaa1fd 100644
--- a/src/analyzer/protocol/file/File.cc
+++ b/src/analyzer/protocol/file/File.cc
@@ -77,10 +77,11 @@ void File_Analyzer::Identify()
 	                     &matches);
 	string match = matches.empty() ? "<unknown>"
 	                               : *(matches.begin()->second.begin());
-	val_list* vl = new val_list;
-	vl->append(BuildConnVal());
-	vl->append(new StringVal(buffer_len, buffer));
-	vl->append(new StringVal("<unknown>"));
-	vl->append(new StringVal(match));
-	ConnectionEvent(file_transferred, vl);
+
+	ConnectionEvent(file_transferred, {
+		BuildConnVal(),
+		new StringVal(buffer_len, buffer),
+		new StringVal("<unknown>"),
+		new StringVal(match),
+	});
 	}
diff --git a/src/analyzer/protocol/finger/Finger.cc b/src/analyzer/protocol/finger/Finger.cc
index 6729c34448..0f7cec2677 100644
--- a/src/analyzer/protocol/finger/Finger.cc
+++ b/src/analyzer/protocol/finger/Finger.cc
@@ -66,14 +66,15 @@ void Finger_Analyzer::DeliverStream(int length, const u_char* data, bool is_orig
 		else
 			host = at + 1;
 
-		val_list* vl = new val_list;
-		vl->append(BuildConnVal());
-		vl->append(val_mgr->GetBool(long_cnt));
-		vl->append(new StringVal(at - line, line));
-		vl->append(new StringVal(end_of_line - host, host));
-
 		if ( finger_request )
-			ConnectionEvent(finger_request, vl);
+			{
+			ConnectionEvent(finger_request, {
+				BuildConnVal(),
+				val_mgr->GetBool(long_cnt),
+				new StringVal(at - line, line),
+				new StringVal(end_of_line - host, host),
+			});
+			}
 
 		Conn()->Match(Rule::FINGER, (const u_char *) line,
 			  end_of_line - line, true, true, 1, true);
@@ -86,10 +87,9 @@ void Finger_Analyzer::DeliverStream(int length, const u_char* data, bool is_orig
 		if ( ! finger_reply )
 			return;
 
-		val_list* vl = new val_list;
-		vl->append(BuildConnVal());
-		vl->append(new StringVal(end_of_line - line, line));
-
-		ConnectionEvent(finger_reply, vl);
+		ConnectionEvent(finger_reply, {
+			BuildConnVal(),
+			new StringVal(end_of_line - line, line),
+		});
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/src/analyzer/protocol/ftp/FTP.cc b/src/analyzer/protocol/ftp/FTP.cc
index f28dadf670..d4a659124e 100644
--- a/src/analyzer/protocol/ftp/FTP.cc
+++ b/src/analyzer/protocol/ftp/FTP.cc
@@ -73,8 +73,7 @@ void FTP_Analyzer::DeliverStream(int length, const u_char* data, bool orig)
 		// Could emit "ftp empty request/reply" weird, but maybe not worth it.
 		return;
 
-	val_list* vl = new val_list;
-	vl->append(BuildConnVal());
+	val_list vl;
 
 	EventHandlerPtr f;
 	if ( orig )
@@ -95,8 +94,11 @@ void FTP_Analyzer::DeliverStream(int length, const u_char* data, bool orig)
 		else
 			cmd_str = (new StringVal(cmd_len, cmd))->ToUpper();
 
-		vl->append(cmd_str);
-		vl->append(new StringVal(end_of_line - line, line));
+		vl = val_list{
+			BuildConnVal(),
+			cmd_str,
+			new StringVal(end_of_line - line, line),
+		};
 
 		f = ftp_request;
 		ProtocolConfirmation();
@@ -171,14 +173,17 @@ void FTP_Analyzer::DeliverStream(int length, const u_char* data, bool orig)
 				}
 			}
 
-		vl->append(val_mgr->GetCount(reply_code));
-		vl->append(new StringVal(end_of_line - line, line));
-		vl->append(val_mgr->GetBool(cont_resp));
+		vl = val_list{
+			BuildConnVal(),
+			val_mgr->GetCount(reply_code),
+			new StringVal(end_of_line - line, line),
+			val_mgr->GetBool(cont_resp),
+		};
 
 		f = ftp_reply;
 		}
 
-	ConnectionEvent(f, vl);
+	ConnectionEvent(f, std::move(vl));
 
 	ForwardStream(length, data, orig);
 	}
diff --git a/src/analyzer/protocol/gnutella/Gnutella.cc b/src/analyzer/protocol/gnutella/Gnutella.cc
index e7c11b40bb..dc6e14bf63 100644
--- a/src/analyzer/protocol/gnutella/Gnutella.cc
+++ b/src/analyzer/protocol/gnutella/Gnutella.cc
@@ -58,16 +58,10 @@ void Gnutella_Analyzer::Done()
 
 	if ( ! sent_establish && (gnutella_establish || gnutella_not_establish) )
 		{
-		val_list* vl = new val_list;
-
-		vl->append(BuildConnVal());
-
 		if ( Established() && gnutella_establish )
-			ConnectionEvent(gnutella_establish, vl);
+			ConnectionEvent(gnutella_establish, {BuildConnVal()});
 		else if ( ! Established () && gnutella_not_establish )
-			ConnectionEvent(gnutella_not_establish, vl);
-		else
-			delete_vals(vl);
+			ConnectionEvent(gnutella_not_establish, {BuildConnVal()});
 		}
 
 	if ( gnutella_partial_binary_msg )
@@ -78,14 +72,12 @@ void Gnutella_Analyzer::Done()
 			{
 			if ( ! p->msg_sent && p->msg_pos )
 				{
-				val_list* vl = new val_list;
-
-				vl->append(BuildConnVal());
-				vl->append(new StringVal(p->msg));
-				vl->append(val_mgr->GetBool((i == 0)));
-				vl->append(val_mgr->GetCount(p->msg_pos));
-
-				ConnectionEvent(gnutella_partial_binary_msg, vl);
+				ConnectionEvent(gnutella_partial_binary_msg, {
+					BuildConnVal(),
+					new StringVal(p->msg),
+					val_mgr->GetBool((i == 0)),
+					val_mgr->GetCount(p->msg_pos),
+				});
 				}
 
 			else if ( ! p->msg_sent && p->payload_left )
@@ -129,10 +121,7 @@ int Gnutella_Analyzer::IsHTTP(string header)
 
 	if ( gnutella_http_notify )
 		{
-		val_list* vl = new val_list;
-
-		vl->append(BuildConnVal());
-		ConnectionEvent(gnutella_http_notify, vl);
+		ConnectionEvent(gnutella_http_notify, {BuildConnVal()});
 		}
 
 	analyzer::Analyzer* a = analyzer_mgr->InstantiateAnalyzer("HTTP", Conn());
@@ -192,13 +181,11 @@ void Gnutella_Analyzer::DeliverLines(int len, const u_char* data, bool orig)
 			{
 			if ( gnutella_text_msg )
 				{
-				val_list* vl = new val_list;
-
-				vl->append(BuildConnVal());
-				vl->append(val_mgr->GetBool(orig));
-				vl->append(new StringVal(ms->headers.data()));
-
-				ConnectionEvent(gnutella_text_msg, vl);
+				ConnectionEvent(gnutella_text_msg, {
+					BuildConnVal(),
+					val_mgr->GetBool(orig),
+					new StringVal(ms->headers.data()),
+				});
 				}
 
 			ms->headers = "";
@@ -206,12 +193,9 @@ void Gnutella_Analyzer::DeliverLines(int len, const u_char* data, bool orig)
 
 			if ( Established () && gnutella_establish )
 				{
-				val_list* vl = new val_list;
-
 				sent_establish = 1;
-				vl->append(BuildConnVal());
 
-				ConnectionEvent(gnutella_establish, vl);
+				ConnectionEvent(gnutella_establish, {BuildConnVal()});
 				}
 			}
 		}
@@ -237,21 +221,18 @@ void Gnutella_Analyzer::SendEvents(GnutellaMsgState* p, bool is_orig)
 
 	if ( gnutella_binary_msg )
 		{
-		val_list* vl = new val_list;
-
-		vl->append(BuildConnVal());
-		vl->append(val_mgr->GetBool(is_orig));
-		vl->append(val_mgr->GetCount(p->msg_type));
-		vl->append(val_mgr->GetCount(p->msg_ttl));
-		vl->append(val_mgr->GetCount(p->msg_hops));
-		vl->append(val_mgr->GetCount(p->msg_len));
-		vl->append(new StringVal(p->payload));
-		vl->append(val_mgr->GetCount(p->payload_len));
-		vl->append(val_mgr->GetBool(
-		    (p->payload_len < min(p->msg_len, (unsigned int)GNUTELLA_MAX_PAYLOAD))));
-		vl->append(val_mgr->GetBool((p->payload_left == 0)));
-
-		ConnectionEvent(gnutella_binary_msg, vl);
+		ConnectionEvent(gnutella_binary_msg, {
+			BuildConnVal(),
+			val_mgr->GetBool(is_orig),
+			val_mgr->GetCount(p->msg_type),
+			val_mgr->GetCount(p->msg_ttl),
+			val_mgr->GetCount(p->msg_hops),
+			val_mgr->GetCount(p->msg_len),
+			new StringVal(p->payload),
+			val_mgr->GetCount(p->payload_len),
+			val_mgr->GetBool((p->payload_len < min(p->msg_len, (unsigned int)GNUTELLA_MAX_PAYLOAD))),
+			val_mgr->GetBool((p->payload_left == 0)),
+		});
 		}
 	}
 
diff --git a/src/analyzer/protocol/http/HTTP.cc b/src/analyzer/protocol/http/HTTP.cc
index 4706286914..6087f7b43d 100644
--- a/src/analyzer/protocol/http/HTTP.cc
+++ b/src/analyzer/protocol/http/HTTP.cc
@@ -646,11 +646,11 @@ void HTTP_Message::Done(const int interrupted, const char* detail)
 
 	if ( http_message_done )
 		{
-		val_list* vl = new val_list;
-		vl->append(analyzer->BuildConnVal());
-		vl->append(val_mgr->GetBool(is_orig));
-		vl->append(BuildMessageStat(interrupted, detail));
-		GetAnalyzer()->ConnectionEvent(http_message_done, vl);
+		GetAnalyzer()->ConnectionEvent(http_message_done, {
+			analyzer->BuildConnVal(),
+			val_mgr->GetBool(is_orig),
+			BuildMessageStat(interrupted, detail),
+		});
 		}
 
 	MyHTTP_Analyzer()->HTTP_MessageDone(is_orig, this);
@@ -679,10 +679,10 @@ void HTTP_Message::BeginEntity(mime::MIME_Entity* entity)
 
 	if ( http_begin_entity )
 		{
-		val_list* vl = new val_list();
-		vl->append(analyzer->BuildConnVal());
-		vl->append(val_mgr->GetBool(is_orig));
-		analyzer->ConnectionEvent(http_begin_entity, vl);
+		analyzer->ConnectionEvent(http_begin_entity, {
+			analyzer->BuildConnVal(),
+			val_mgr->GetBool(is_orig),
+		});
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -696,10 +696,10 @@ void HTTP_Message::EndEntity(mime::MIME_Entity* entity)
 
 	if ( http_end_entity )
 		{
-		val_list* vl = new val_list();
-		vl->append(analyzer->BuildConnVal());
-		vl->append(val_mgr->GetBool(is_orig));
-		analyzer->ConnectionEvent(http_end_entity, vl);
+		analyzer->ConnectionEvent(http_end_entity, {
+			analyzer->BuildConnVal(),
+			val_mgr->GetBool(is_orig),
+		});
 		}
 
 	current_entity = (HTTP_Entity*) entity->Parent();
@@ -737,11 +737,11 @@ void HTTP_Message::SubmitAllHeaders(mime::MIME_HeaderList& hlist)
 	{
 	if ( http_all_headers )
 		{
-		val_list* vl = new val_list();
-		vl->append(analyzer->BuildConnVal());
-		vl->append(val_mgr->GetBool(is_orig));
-		vl->append(BuildHeaderTable(hlist));
-		analyzer->ConnectionEvent(http_all_headers, vl);
+		analyzer->ConnectionEvent(http_all_headers, {
+			analyzer->BuildConnVal(),
+			val_mgr->GetBool(is_orig),
+			BuildHeaderTable(hlist),
+		});
 		}
 
 	if ( http_content_type )
@@ -751,12 +751,12 @@ void HTTP_Message::SubmitAllHeaders(mime::MIME_HeaderList& hlist)
 		ty->Ref();
 		subty->Ref();
 
-		val_list* vl = new val_list();
-		vl->append(analyzer->BuildConnVal());
-		vl->append(val_mgr->GetBool(is_orig));
-		vl->append(ty);
-		vl->append(subty);
-		analyzer->ConnectionEvent(http_content_type, vl);
+		analyzer->ConnectionEvent(http_content_type, {
+			analyzer->BuildConnVal(),
+			val_mgr->GetBool(is_orig),
+			ty,
+			subty,
+		});
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -1182,12 +1182,8 @@ void HTTP_Analyzer::GenStats()
 		r->Assign(2, new Val(request_version, TYPE_DOUBLE));
 		r->Assign(3, new Val(reply_version, TYPE_DOUBLE));
 
-		val_list* vl = new val_list;
-		vl->append(BuildConnVal());
-		vl->append(r);
-
 		// DEBUG_MSG("%.6f http_stats\n", network_time);
-		ConnectionEvent(http_stats, vl);
+		ConnectionEvent(http_stats, {BuildConnVal(), r});
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -1384,13 +1380,12 @@ void HTTP_Analyzer::HTTP_Event(const char* category, StringVal* detail)
 	{
 	if ( http_event )
 		{
-		val_list* vl = new val_list();
-		vl->append(BuildConnVal());
-		vl->append(new StringVal(category));
-		vl->append(detail);
-
 		// DEBUG_MSG("%.6f http_event\n", network_time);
-		ConnectionEvent(http_event, vl);
+		ConnectionEvent(http_event, {
+			BuildConnVal(),
+			new StringVal(category),
+			detail,
+		});
 		}
 	else
 		delete detail;
@@ -1426,17 +1421,16 @@ void HTTP_Analyzer::HTTP_Request()
 
 	if ( http_request )
 		{
-		val_list* vl = new val_list;
-		vl->append(BuildConnVal());
-
 		Ref(request_method);
-		vl->append(request_method);
-		vl->append(TruncateURI(request_URI->AsStringVal()));
-		vl->append(TruncateURI(unescaped_URI->AsStringVal()));
 
-		vl->append(new StringVal(fmt("%.1f", request_version)));
 		// DEBUG_MSG("%.6f http_request\n", network_time);
-		ConnectionEvent(http_request, vl);
+		ConnectionEvent(http_request, {
+			BuildConnVal(),
+			request_method,
+			TruncateURI(request_URI->AsStringVal()),
+			TruncateURI(unescaped_URI->AsStringVal()),
+			new StringVal(fmt("%.1f", request_version)),
+		});
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -1444,15 +1438,14 @@ void HTTP_Analyzer::HTTP_Reply()
 	{
 	if ( http_reply )
 		{
-		val_list* vl = new val_list;
-		vl->append(BuildConnVal());
-		vl->append(new StringVal(fmt("%.1f", reply_version)));
-		vl->append(val_mgr->GetCount(reply_code));
-		if ( reply_reason_phrase )
-			vl->append(reply_reason_phrase->Ref());
-		else
-			vl->append(new StringVal("<empty>"));
-		ConnectionEvent(http_reply, vl);
+		ConnectionEvent(http_reply, {
+			BuildConnVal(),
+			new StringVal(fmt("%.1f", reply_version)),
+			val_mgr->GetCount(reply_code),
+			reply_reason_phrase ?
+				reply_reason_phrase->Ref() :
+				new StringVal("<empty>"),
+		});
 		}
 	else
 		{
@@ -1524,10 +1517,10 @@ void HTTP_Analyzer::ReplyMade(const int interrupted, const char* msg)
 
 		if ( http_connection_upgrade )
 			{
-			val_list* vl = new val_list();
-			vl->append(BuildConnVal());
-			vl->append(new StringVal(upgrade_protocol));
-			ConnectionEvent(http_connection_upgrade, vl);
+			ConnectionEvent(http_connection_upgrade, {
+				BuildConnVal(),
+				new StringVal(upgrade_protocol),
+			});
 			}
 		}
 
@@ -1697,14 +1690,15 @@ void HTTP_Analyzer::HTTP_Header(int is_orig, mime::MIME_Header* h)
 		Conn()->Match(rule, (const u_char*) hd_value.data, hd_value.length,
 				is_orig, false, true, false);
 
-		val_list* vl = new val_list();
-		vl->append(BuildConnVal());
-		vl->append(val_mgr->GetBool(is_orig));
-		vl->append(mime::new_string_val(h->get_name())->ToUpper());
-		vl->append(mime::new_string_val(h->get_value()));
 		if ( DEBUG_http )
 			DEBUG_MSG("%.6f http_header\n", network_time);
-		ConnectionEvent(http_header, vl);
+
+		ConnectionEvent(http_header, {
+			BuildConnVal(),
+			val_mgr->GetBool(is_orig),
+			mime::new_string_val(h->get_name())->ToUpper(),
+			mime::new_string_val(h->get_value()),
+		});
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -1833,12 +1827,12 @@ void HTTP_Analyzer::HTTP_EntityData(int is_orig, BroString* entity_data)
 	{
 	if ( http_entity_data )
 		{
-		val_list* vl = new val_list();
-		vl->append(BuildConnVal());
-		vl->append(val_mgr->GetBool(is_orig));
-		vl->append(val_mgr->GetCount(entity_data->Len()));
-		vl->append(new StringVal(entity_data));
-		ConnectionEvent(http_entity_data, vl);
+		ConnectionEvent(http_entity_data, {
+			BuildConnVal(),
+			val_mgr->GetBool(is_orig),
+			val_mgr->GetCount(entity_data->Len()),
+			new StringVal(entity_data),
+		});
 		}
 	else
 		delete entity_data;
diff --git a/src/analyzer/protocol/icmp/ICMP.cc b/src/analyzer/protocol/icmp/ICMP.cc
index 1832b324b2..a740ac8848 100644
--- a/src/analyzer/protocol/icmp/ICMP.cc
+++ b/src/analyzer/protocol/icmp/ICMP.cc
@@ -199,20 +199,21 @@ void ICMP_Analyzer::ICMP_Sent(const struct icmp* icmpp, int len, int caplen,
     {
 	if ( icmp_sent )
 		{
-		val_list* vl = new val_list;
-		vl->append(BuildConnVal());
-		vl->append(BuildICMPVal(icmpp, len, icmpv6, ip_hdr));
-		ConnectionEvent(icmp_sent, vl);
+		ConnectionEvent(icmp_sent, {
+			BuildConnVal(),
+			BuildICMPVal(icmpp, len, icmpv6, ip_hdr),
+		});
 		}
 
 	if ( icmp_sent_payload )
 		{
-		val_list* vl = new val_list;
-		vl->append(BuildConnVal());
-		vl->append(BuildICMPVal(icmpp, len, icmpv6, ip_hdr));
 		BroString* payload = new BroString(data, min(len, caplen), 0);
-		vl->append(new StringVal(payload));
-		ConnectionEvent(icmp_sent_payload, vl);
+
+		ConnectionEvent(icmp_sent_payload, {
+			BuildConnVal(),
+			BuildICMPVal(icmpp, len, icmpv6, ip_hdr),
+			new StringVal(payload),
+		});
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -511,14 +512,13 @@ void ICMP_Analyzer::Echo(double t, const struct icmp* icmpp, int len,
 
 	BroString* payload = new BroString(data, caplen, 0);
 
-	val_list* vl = new val_list;
-	vl->append(BuildConnVal());
-	vl->append(BuildICMPVal(icmpp, len, ip_hdr->NextProto() != IPPROTO_ICMP, ip_hdr));
-	vl->append(val_mgr->GetCount(iid));
-	vl->append(val_mgr->GetCount(iseq));
-	vl->append(new StringVal(payload));
-
-	ConnectionEvent(f, vl);
+	ConnectionEvent(f, {
+		BuildConnVal(),
+		BuildICMPVal(icmpp, len, ip_hdr->NextProto() != IPPROTO_ICMP, ip_hdr),
+		val_mgr->GetCount(iid),
+		val_mgr->GetCount(iseq),
+		new StringVal(payload),
+	});
 	}
 
 
@@ -534,24 +534,23 @@ void ICMP_Analyzer::RouterAdvert(double t, const struct icmp* icmpp, int len,
 	if ( caplen >= (int)sizeof(reachable) + (int)sizeof(retrans) )
 		memcpy(&retrans, data + sizeof(reachable), sizeof(retrans));
 
-	val_list* vl = new val_list;
-	vl->append(BuildConnVal());
-	vl->append(BuildICMPVal(icmpp, len, 1, ip_hdr));
-	vl->append(val_mgr->GetCount(icmpp->icmp_num_addrs)); // Cur Hop Limit
-	vl->append(val_mgr->GetBool(icmpp->icmp_wpa & 0x80)); // Managed
-	vl->append(val_mgr->GetBool(icmpp->icmp_wpa & 0x40)); // Other
-	vl->append(val_mgr->GetBool(icmpp->icmp_wpa & 0x20)); // Home Agent
-	vl->append(val_mgr->GetCount((icmpp->icmp_wpa & 0x18)>>3)); // Pref
-	vl->append(val_mgr->GetBool(icmpp->icmp_wpa & 0x04)); // Proxy
-	vl->append(val_mgr->GetCount(icmpp->icmp_wpa & 0x02)); // Reserved
-	vl->append(new IntervalVal((double)ntohs(icmpp->icmp_lifetime), Seconds));
-	vl->append(new IntervalVal((double)ntohl(reachable), Milliseconds));
-	vl->append(new IntervalVal((double)ntohl(retrans), Milliseconds));
-
 	int opt_offset = sizeof(reachable) + sizeof(retrans);
-	vl->append(BuildNDOptionsVal(caplen - opt_offset, data + opt_offset));
 
-	ConnectionEvent(f, vl);
+	ConnectionEvent(f, {
+		BuildConnVal(),
+		BuildICMPVal(icmpp, len, 1, ip_hdr),
+		val_mgr->GetCount(icmpp->icmp_num_addrs), // Cur Hop Limit
+		val_mgr->GetBool(icmpp->icmp_wpa & 0x80), // Managed
+		val_mgr->GetBool(icmpp->icmp_wpa & 0x40), // Other
+		val_mgr->GetBool(icmpp->icmp_wpa & 0x20), // Home Agent
+		val_mgr->GetCount((icmpp->icmp_wpa & 0x18)>>3), // Pref
+		val_mgr->GetBool(icmpp->icmp_wpa & 0x04), // Proxy
+		val_mgr->GetCount(icmpp->icmp_wpa & 0x02), // Reserved
+		new IntervalVal((double)ntohs(icmpp->icmp_lifetime), Seconds),
+		new IntervalVal((double)ntohl(reachable), Milliseconds),
+		new IntervalVal((double)ntohl(retrans), Milliseconds),
+		BuildNDOptionsVal(caplen - opt_offset, data + opt_offset),
+	});
 	}
 
 
@@ -564,18 +563,17 @@ void ICMP_Analyzer::NeighborAdvert(double t, const struct icmp* icmpp, int len,
 	if ( caplen >= (int)sizeof(in6_addr) )
 		tgtaddr = IPAddr(*((const in6_addr*)data));
 
-	val_list* vl = new val_list;
-	vl->append(BuildConnVal());
-	vl->append(BuildICMPVal(icmpp, len, 1, ip_hdr));
-	vl->append(val_mgr->GetBool(icmpp->icmp_num_addrs & 0x80)); // Router
-	vl->append(val_mgr->GetBool(icmpp->icmp_num_addrs & 0x40)); // Solicited
-	vl->append(val_mgr->GetBool(icmpp->icmp_num_addrs & 0x20)); // Override
-	vl->append(new AddrVal(tgtaddr));
-
 	int opt_offset = sizeof(in6_addr);
-	vl->append(BuildNDOptionsVal(caplen - opt_offset, data + opt_offset));
 
-	ConnectionEvent(f, vl);
+	ConnectionEvent(f, {
+		BuildConnVal(),
+		BuildICMPVal(icmpp, len, 1, ip_hdr),
+		val_mgr->GetBool(icmpp->icmp_num_addrs & 0x80), // Router
+		val_mgr->GetBool(icmpp->icmp_num_addrs & 0x40), // Solicited
+		val_mgr->GetBool(icmpp->icmp_num_addrs & 0x20), // Override
+		new AddrVal(tgtaddr),
+		BuildNDOptionsVal(caplen - opt_offset, data + opt_offset),
+	});
 	}
 
 
@@ -588,15 +586,14 @@ void ICMP_Analyzer::NeighborSolicit(double t, const struct icmp* icmpp, int len,
 	if ( caplen >= (int)sizeof(in6_addr) )
 		tgtaddr = IPAddr(*((const in6_addr*)data));
 
-	val_list* vl = new val_list;
-	vl->append(BuildConnVal());
-	vl->append(BuildICMPVal(icmpp, len, 1, ip_hdr));
-	vl->append(new AddrVal(tgtaddr));
-
 	int opt_offset = sizeof(in6_addr);
-	vl->append(BuildNDOptionsVal(caplen - opt_offset, data + opt_offset));
 
-	ConnectionEvent(f, vl);
+	ConnectionEvent(f, {
+		BuildConnVal(),
+		BuildICMPVal(icmpp, len, 1, ip_hdr),
+		new AddrVal(tgtaddr),
+		BuildNDOptionsVal(caplen - opt_offset, data + opt_offset),
+	});
 	}
 
 
@@ -612,16 +609,15 @@ void ICMP_Analyzer::Redirect(double t, const struct icmp* icmpp, int len,
 	if ( caplen >= 2 * (int)sizeof(in6_addr) )
 		dstaddr = IPAddr(*((const in6_addr*)(data + sizeof(in6_addr))));
 
-	val_list* vl = new val_list;
-	vl->append(BuildConnVal());
-	vl->append(BuildICMPVal(icmpp, len, 1, ip_hdr));
-	vl->append(new AddrVal(tgtaddr));
-	vl->append(new AddrVal(dstaddr));
-
 	int opt_offset = 2 * sizeof(in6_addr);
-	vl->append(BuildNDOptionsVal(caplen - opt_offset, data + opt_offset));
 
-	ConnectionEvent(f, vl);
+	ConnectionEvent(f, {
+		BuildConnVal(),
+		BuildICMPVal(icmpp, len, 1, ip_hdr),
+		new AddrVal(tgtaddr),
+		new AddrVal(dstaddr),
+		BuildNDOptionsVal(caplen - opt_offset, data + opt_offset),
+	});
 	}
 
 
@@ -630,12 +626,11 @@ void ICMP_Analyzer::RouterSolicit(double t, const struct icmp* icmpp, int len,
 	{
 	EventHandlerPtr f = icmp_router_solicitation;
 
-	val_list* vl = new val_list;
-	vl->append(BuildConnVal());
-	vl->append(BuildICMPVal(icmpp, len, 1, ip_hdr));
-	vl->append(BuildNDOptionsVal(caplen, data));
-
-	ConnectionEvent(f, vl);
+	ConnectionEvent(f, {
+		BuildConnVal(),
+		BuildICMPVal(icmpp, len, 1, ip_hdr),
+		BuildNDOptionsVal(caplen, data),
+	});
 	}
 
 
@@ -657,12 +652,12 @@ void ICMP_Analyzer::Context4(double t, const struct icmp* icmpp,
 
 	if ( f )
 		{
-		val_list* vl = new val_list;
-		vl->append(BuildConnVal());
-		vl->append(BuildICMPVal(icmpp, len, 0, ip_hdr));
-		vl->append(val_mgr->GetCount(icmpp->icmp_code));
-		vl->append(ExtractICMP4Context(caplen, data));
-		ConnectionEvent(f, vl);
+		ConnectionEvent(f, {
+			BuildConnVal(),
+			BuildICMPVal(icmpp, len, 0, ip_hdr),
+			val_mgr->GetCount(icmpp->icmp_code),
+			ExtractICMP4Context(caplen, data),
+		});
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -697,12 +692,12 @@ void ICMP_Analyzer::Context6(double t, const struct icmp* icmpp,
 
 	if ( f )
 		{
-		val_list* vl = new val_list;
-		vl->append(BuildConnVal());
-		vl->append(BuildICMPVal(icmpp, len, 1, ip_hdr));
-		vl->append(val_mgr->GetCount(icmpp->icmp_code));
-		vl->append(ExtractICMP6Context(caplen, data));
-		ConnectionEvent(f, vl);
+		ConnectionEvent(f, {
+			BuildConnVal(),
+			BuildICMPVal(icmpp, len, 1, ip_hdr),
+			val_mgr->GetCount(icmpp->icmp_code),
+			ExtractICMP6Context(caplen, data),
+		});
 		}
 	}
 
diff --git a/src/analyzer/protocol/ident/Ident.cc b/src/analyzer/protocol/ident/Ident.cc
index 125f2d7f64..ba32968c3b 100644
--- a/src/analyzer/protocol/ident/Ident.cc
+++ b/src/analyzer/protocol/ident/Ident.cc
@@ -83,12 +83,11 @@ void Ident_Analyzer::DeliverStream(int length, const u_char* data, bool is_orig)
 			Weird("ident_request_addendum", s.CheckString());
 			}
 
-		val_list* vl = new val_list;
-		vl->append(BuildConnVal());
-		vl->append(val_mgr->GetPort(local_port, TRANSPORT_TCP));
-		vl->append(val_mgr->GetPort(remote_port, TRANSPORT_TCP));
-
-		ConnectionEvent(ident_request, vl);
+		ConnectionEvent(ident_request, {
+			BuildConnVal(),
+			val_mgr->GetPort(local_port, TRANSPORT_TCP),
+			val_mgr->GetPort(remote_port, TRANSPORT_TCP),
+		});
 
 		did_deliver = 1;
 		}
@@ -144,13 +143,12 @@ void Ident_Analyzer::DeliverStream(int length, const u_char* data, bool is_orig)
 
 		if ( is_error )
 			{
-			val_list* vl = new val_list;
-			vl->append(BuildConnVal());
-			vl->append(val_mgr->GetPort(local_port, TRANSPORT_TCP));
-			vl->append(val_mgr->GetPort(remote_port, TRANSPORT_TCP));
-			vl->append(new StringVal(end_of_line - line, line));
-
-			ConnectionEvent(ident_error, vl);
+			ConnectionEvent(ident_error, {
+				BuildConnVal(),
+				val_mgr->GetPort(local_port, TRANSPORT_TCP),
+				val_mgr->GetPort(remote_port, TRANSPORT_TCP),
+				new StringVal(end_of_line - line, line),
+			});
 			}
 
 		else
@@ -178,14 +176,13 @@ void Ident_Analyzer::DeliverStream(int length, const u_char* data, bool is_orig)
 
 			line = skip_whitespace(colon + 1, end_of_line);
 
-			val_list* vl = new val_list;
-			vl->append(BuildConnVal());
-			vl->append(val_mgr->GetPort(local_port, TRANSPORT_TCP));
-			vl->append(val_mgr->GetPort(remote_port, TRANSPORT_TCP));
-			vl->append(new StringVal(end_of_line - line, line));
-			vl->append(new StringVal(sys_type_s));
-
-			ConnectionEvent(ident_reply, vl);
+			ConnectionEvent(ident_reply, {
+				BuildConnVal(),
+				val_mgr->GetPort(local_port, TRANSPORT_TCP),
+				val_mgr->GetPort(remote_port, TRANSPORT_TCP),
+				new StringVal(end_of_line - line, line),
+				new StringVal(sys_type_s),
+			});
 			}
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/src/analyzer/protocol/interconn/InterConn.cc b/src/analyzer/protocol/interconn/InterConn.cc
index 8d9dd72774..39749a0deb 100644
--- a/src/analyzer/protocol/interconn/InterConn.cc
+++ b/src/analyzer/protocol/interconn/InterConn.cc
@@ -241,20 +241,16 @@ void InterConn_Analyzer::StatTimer(double t, int is_expire)
 
 void InterConn_Analyzer::StatEvent()
 	{
-	val_list* vl = new val_list;
-	vl->append(Conn()->BuildConnVal());
-	vl->append(orig_endp->BuildStats());
-	vl->append(resp_endp->BuildStats());
-
-	Conn()->ConnectionEvent(interconn_stats, this, vl);
+	Conn()->ConnectionEvent(interconn_stats, this, {
+		Conn()->BuildConnVal(),
+		orig_endp->BuildStats(),
+		resp_endp->BuildStats(),
+	});
 	}
 
 void InterConn_Analyzer::RemoveEvent()
 	{
-	val_list* vl = new val_list;
-	vl->append(Conn()->BuildConnVal());
-
-	Conn()->ConnectionEvent(interconn_remove_conn, this, vl);
+	Conn()->ConnectionEvent(interconn_remove_conn, this, {Conn()->BuildConnVal()});
 	}
 
 InterConnTimer::InterConnTimer(double t, InterConn_Analyzer* a)
diff --git a/src/analyzer/protocol/irc/IRC.cc b/src/analyzer/protocol/irc/IRC.cc
index 25d568d627..cd48d8469c 100644
--- a/src/analyzer/protocol/irc/IRC.cc
+++ b/src/analyzer/protocol/irc/IRC.cc
@@ -233,14 +233,13 @@ void IRC_Analyzer::DeliverStream(int length, const u_char* line, bool orig)
 				// else ###
 				}
 
-			val_list* vl = new val_list;
-			vl->append(BuildConnVal());
-			vl->append(val_mgr->GetBool(orig));
-			vl->append(val_mgr->GetInt(users));
-			vl->append(val_mgr->GetInt(services));
-			vl->append(val_mgr->GetInt(servers));
-
-			ConnectionEvent(irc_network_info, vl);
+			ConnectionEvent(irc_network_info, {
+				BuildConnVal(),
+				val_mgr->GetBool(orig),
+				val_mgr->GetInt(users),
+				val_mgr->GetInt(services),
+				val_mgr->GetInt(servers),
+			});
 			}
 			break;
 
@@ -271,13 +270,8 @@ void IRC_Analyzer::DeliverStream(int length, const u_char* line, bool orig)
 			if ( parts.size() > 0 && parts[0][0] == ':' )
 				parts[0] = parts[0].substr(1);
 
-			val_list* vl = new val_list;
-			vl->append(BuildConnVal());
-			vl->append(val_mgr->GetBool(orig));
-			vl->append(new StringVal(type.c_str()));
-			vl->append(new StringVal(channel.c_str()));
-
 			TableVal* set = new TableVal(string_set);
+
 			for ( unsigned int i = 0; i < parts.size(); ++i )
 				{
 				if ( parts[i][0] == '@' )
@@ -286,9 +280,14 @@ void IRC_Analyzer::DeliverStream(int length, const u_char* line, bool orig)
 				set->Assign(idx, 0);
 				Unref(idx);
 				}
-			vl->append(set);
 
-			ConnectionEvent(irc_names_info, vl);
+			ConnectionEvent(irc_names_info, {
+				BuildConnVal(),
+				val_mgr->GetBool(orig),
+				new StringVal(type.c_str()),
+				new StringVal(channel.c_str()),
+				set,
+			});
 			}
 			break;
 
@@ -316,14 +315,13 @@ void IRC_Analyzer::DeliverStream(int length, const u_char* line, bool orig)
 				// else ###
 				}
 
-			val_list* vl = new val_list;
-			vl->append(BuildConnVal());
-			vl->append(val_mgr->GetBool(orig));
-			vl->append(val_mgr->GetInt(users));
-			vl->append(val_mgr->GetInt(services));
-			vl->append(val_mgr->GetInt(servers));
-
-			ConnectionEvent(irc_server_info, vl);
+			ConnectionEvent(irc_server_info, {
+				BuildConnVal(),
+				val_mgr->GetBool(orig),
+				val_mgr->GetInt(users),
+				val_mgr->GetInt(services),
+				val_mgr->GetInt(servers),
+			});
 			}
 			break;
 
@@ -339,12 +337,11 @@ void IRC_Analyzer::DeliverStream(int length, const u_char* line, bool orig)
 				if ( parts[i] == ":channels" )
 					channels = atoi(parts[i - 1].c_str());
 
-			val_list* vl = new val_list;
-			vl->append(BuildConnVal());
-			vl->append(val_mgr->GetBool(orig));
-			vl->append(val_mgr->GetInt(channels));
-
-			ConnectionEvent(irc_channel_info, vl);
+			ConnectionEvent(irc_channel_info, {
+				BuildConnVal(),
+				val_mgr->GetBool(orig),
+				val_mgr->GetInt(channels),
+			});
 			}
 			break;
 
@@ -372,12 +369,12 @@ void IRC_Analyzer::DeliverStream(int length, const u_char* line, bool orig)
 				break;
 				}
 
-			val_list* vl = new val_list;
-			vl->append(BuildConnVal());
-			vl->append(val_mgr->GetBool(orig));
-			vl->append(new StringVal(eop - prefix, prefix));
-			vl->append(new StringVal(++msg));
-			ConnectionEvent(irc_global_users, vl);
+			ConnectionEvent(irc_global_users, {
+				BuildConnVal(),
+				val_mgr->GetBool(orig),
+				new StringVal(eop - prefix, prefix),
+				new StringVal(++msg),
+			});
 			break;
 			}
 
@@ -397,12 +394,12 @@ void IRC_Analyzer::DeliverStream(int length, const u_char* line, bool orig)
 				return;
 				}
 
-			val_list* vl = new val_list;
-			vl->append(BuildConnVal());
-			vl->append(val_mgr->GetBool(orig));
-			vl->append(new StringVal(parts[0].c_str()));
-			vl->append(new StringVal(parts[1].c_str()));
-			vl->append(new StringVal(parts[2].c_str()));
+			val_list vl(6);
+			vl.append(BuildConnVal());
+			vl.append(val_mgr->GetBool(orig));
+			vl.append(new StringVal(parts[0].c_str()));
+			vl.append(new StringVal(parts[1].c_str()));
+			vl.append(new StringVal(parts[2].c_str()));
 
 			parts.erase(parts.begin(), parts.begin() + 4);
 
@@ -413,9 +410,9 @@ void IRC_Analyzer::DeliverStream(int length, const u_char* line, bool orig)
 			if ( real_name[0] == ':' )
 				real_name = real_name.substr(1);
 
-			vl->append(new StringVal(real_name.c_str()));
+			vl.append(new StringVal(real_name.c_str()));
 
-			ConnectionEvent(irc_whois_user_line, vl);
+			ConnectionEvent(irc_whois_user_line, std::move(vl));
 			}
 			break;
 
@@ -436,12 +433,11 @@ void IRC_Analyzer::DeliverStream(int length, const u_char* line, bool orig)
 				return;
 				}
 
-			val_list* vl = new val_list;
-			vl->append(BuildConnVal());
-			vl->append(val_mgr->GetBool(orig));
-			vl->append(new StringVal(parts[0].c_str()));
-
-			ConnectionEvent(irc_whois_operator_line, vl);
+			ConnectionEvent(irc_whois_operator_line, {
+				BuildConnVal(),
+				val_mgr->GetBool(orig),
+				new StringVal(parts[0].c_str()),
+			});
 			}
 			break;
 
@@ -467,11 +463,8 @@ void IRC_Analyzer::DeliverStream(int length, const u_char* line, bool orig)
 			if ( parts.size() > 0 && parts[0][0] == ':' )
 				parts[0] = parts[0].substr(1);
 
-			val_list* vl = new val_list;
-			vl->append(BuildConnVal());
-			vl->append(val_mgr->GetBool(orig));
-			vl->append(new StringVal(nick.c_str()));
 			TableVal* set = new TableVal(string_set);
+
 			for ( unsigned int i = 0; i < parts.size(); ++i )
 				{
 				Val* idx = new StringVal(parts[i].c_str());
@@ -479,9 +472,12 @@ void IRC_Analyzer::DeliverStream(int length, const u_char* line, bool orig)
 				Unref(idx);
 				}
 
-			vl->append(set);
-
-			ConnectionEvent(irc_whois_channel_line, vl);
+			ConnectionEvent(irc_whois_channel_line, {
+				BuildConnVal(),
+				val_mgr->GetBool(orig),
+				new StringVal(nick.c_str()),
+				set,
+			});
 			}
 			break;
 
@@ -502,19 +498,17 @@ void IRC_Analyzer::DeliverStream(int length, const u_char* line, bool orig)
 			if ( pos < params.size() )
 				{
 				string topic = params.substr(pos + 1);
-				val_list* vl = new val_list;
-
-				vl->append(BuildConnVal());
-				vl->append(val_mgr->GetBool(orig));
-				vl->append(new StringVal(parts[1].c_str()));
-
 				const char* t = topic.c_str();
+
 				if ( *t == ':' )
 					++t;
 
-				vl->append(new StringVal(t));
-
-				ConnectionEvent(irc_channel_topic, vl);
+				ConnectionEvent(irc_channel_topic, {
+					BuildConnVal(),
+					val_mgr->GetBool(orig),
+					new StringVal(parts[1].c_str()),
+					new StringVal(t),
+				});
 				}
 			else
 				{
@@ -537,24 +531,25 @@ void IRC_Analyzer::DeliverStream(int length, const u_char* line, bool orig)
 				return;
 				}
 
-			val_list* vl = new val_list;
-			vl->append(BuildConnVal());
-			vl->append(val_mgr->GetBool(orig));
-			vl->append(new StringVal(parts[0].c_str()));
-			vl->append(new StringVal(parts[1].c_str()));
 			if ( parts[2][0] == '~' )
 				parts[2] = parts[2].substr(1);
-			vl->append(new StringVal(parts[2].c_str()));
-			vl->append(new StringVal(parts[3].c_str()));
-			vl->append(new StringVal(parts[4].c_str()));
-			vl->append(new StringVal(parts[5].c_str()));
-			vl->append(new StringVal(parts[6].c_str()));
+
 			if ( parts[7][0] == ':' )
 				parts[7] = parts[7].substr(1);
-			vl->append(val_mgr->GetInt(atoi(parts[7].c_str())));
-			vl->append(new StringVal(parts[8].c_str()));
 
-			ConnectionEvent(irc_who_line, vl);
+			ConnectionEvent(irc_who_line, {
+				BuildConnVal(),
+				val_mgr->GetBool(orig),
+				new StringVal(parts[0].c_str()),
+				new StringVal(parts[1].c_str()),
+				new StringVal(parts[2].c_str()),
+				new StringVal(parts[3].c_str()),
+				new StringVal(parts[4].c_str()),
+				new StringVal(parts[5].c_str()),
+				new StringVal(parts[6].c_str()),
+				val_mgr->GetInt(atoi(parts[7].c_str())),
+				new StringVal(parts[8].c_str()),
+			});
 			}
 			break;
 
@@ -565,10 +560,10 @@ void IRC_Analyzer::DeliverStream(int length, const u_char* line, bool orig)
 		case 436:
 			if ( irc_invalid_nick )
 				{
-				val_list* vl = new val_list;
-				vl->append(BuildConnVal());
-				vl->append(val_mgr->GetBool(orig));
-				ConnectionEvent(irc_invalid_nick, vl);
+				ConnectionEvent(irc_invalid_nick, {
+					BuildConnVal(),
+					val_mgr->GetBool(orig),
+				});
 				}
 			break;
 
@@ -577,11 +572,11 @@ void IRC_Analyzer::DeliverStream(int length, const u_char* line, bool orig)
 		case 491:  // user is not operator
 			if ( irc_oper_response )
 				{
-				val_list* vl = new val_list;
-				vl->append(BuildConnVal());
-				vl->append(val_mgr->GetBool(orig));
-				vl->append(val_mgr->GetBool(code == 381));
-				ConnectionEvent(irc_oper_response, vl);
+				ConnectionEvent(irc_oper_response, {
+					BuildConnVal(),
+					val_mgr->GetBool(orig),
+					val_mgr->GetBool(code == 381),
+				});
 				}
 			break;
 
@@ -592,14 +587,13 @@ void IRC_Analyzer::DeliverStream(int length, const u_char* line, bool orig)
 
 		// All other server replies.
 		default:
-			val_list* vl = new val_list;
-			vl->append(BuildConnVal());
-			vl->append(val_mgr->GetBool(orig));
-			vl->append(new StringVal(prefix.c_str()));
-			vl->append(val_mgr->GetCount(code));
-			vl->append(new StringVal(params.c_str()));
-
-			ConnectionEvent(irc_reply, vl);
+			ConnectionEvent(irc_reply, {
+				BuildConnVal(),
+				val_mgr->GetBool(orig),
+				new StringVal(prefix.c_str()),
+				val_mgr->GetCount(code),
+				new StringVal(params.c_str()),
+			});
 			break;
 		}
 		return;
@@ -662,33 +656,31 @@ void IRC_Analyzer::DeliverStream(int length, const u_char* line, bool orig)
 				raw_ip = (10 * raw_ip) + atoi(s.c_str());
 				}
 
-			val_list* vl = new val_list;
-			vl->append(BuildConnVal());
-			vl->append(val_mgr->GetBool(orig));
-			vl->append(new StringVal(prefix.c_str()));
-			vl->append(new StringVal(target.c_str()));
-			vl->append(new StringVal(parts[1].c_str()));
-			vl->append(new StringVal(parts[2].c_str()));
-			vl->append(new AddrVal(htonl(raw_ip)));
-			vl->append(val_mgr->GetCount(atoi(parts[4].c_str())));
-			if ( parts.size() >= 6 )
-				vl->append(val_mgr->GetCount(atoi(parts[5].c_str())));
-			else
-				vl->append(val_mgr->GetCount(0));
 
-			ConnectionEvent(irc_dcc_message, vl);
+			ConnectionEvent(irc_dcc_message, {
+				BuildConnVal(),
+				val_mgr->GetBool(orig),
+				new StringVal(prefix.c_str()),
+				new StringVal(target.c_str()),
+				new StringVal(parts[1].c_str()),
+				new StringVal(parts[2].c_str()),
+				new AddrVal(htonl(raw_ip)),
+				val_mgr->GetCount(atoi(parts[4].c_str())),
+				parts.size() >= 6 ?
+					val_mgr->GetCount(atoi(parts[5].c_str())) :
+					val_mgr->GetCount(0),
+			});
 			}
 
 		else
 			{
-			val_list* vl = new val_list;
-			vl->append(BuildConnVal());
-			vl->append(val_mgr->GetBool(orig));
-			vl->append(new StringVal(prefix.c_str()));
-			vl->append(new StringVal(target.c_str()));
-			vl->append(new StringVal(message.c_str()));
-
-			ConnectionEvent(irc_privmsg_message, vl);
+			ConnectionEvent(irc_privmsg_message, {
+				BuildConnVal(),
+				val_mgr->GetBool(orig),
+				new StringVal(prefix.c_str()),
+				new StringVal(target.c_str()),
+				new StringVal(message.c_str()),
+			});
 			}
 		}
 
@@ -707,14 +699,13 @@ void IRC_Analyzer::DeliverStream(int length, const u_char* line, bool orig)
 		if ( message[0] == ':' )
 			message = message.substr(1);
 
-		val_list* vl = new val_list;
-		vl->append(BuildConnVal());
-		vl->append(val_mgr->GetBool(orig));
-		vl->append(new StringVal(prefix.c_str()));
-		vl->append(new StringVal(target.c_str()));
-		vl->append(new StringVal(message.c_str()));
-
-		ConnectionEvent(irc_notice_message, vl);
+		ConnectionEvent(irc_notice_message, {
+			BuildConnVal(),
+			val_mgr->GetBool(orig),
+			new StringVal(prefix.c_str()),
+			new StringVal(target.c_str()),
+			new StringVal(message.c_str()),
+		});
 		}
 
 	else if ( irc_squery_message && command == "SQUERY" )
@@ -732,35 +723,34 @@ void IRC_Analyzer::DeliverStream(int length, const u_char* line, bool orig)
 		if ( message[0] == ':' )
 			message = message.substr(1);
 
-		val_list* vl = new val_list;
-		vl->append(BuildConnVal());
-		vl->append(val_mgr->GetBool(orig));
-		vl->append(new StringVal(prefix.c_str()));
-		vl->append(new StringVal(target.c_str()));
-		vl->append(new StringVal(message.c_str()));
-
-		ConnectionEvent(irc_squery_message, vl);
+		ConnectionEvent(irc_squery_message, {
+			BuildConnVal(),
+			val_mgr->GetBool(orig),
+			new StringVal(prefix.c_str()),
+			new StringVal(target.c_str()),
+			new StringVal(message.c_str()),
+		});
 		}
 
 	else if ( irc_user_message && command == "USER" )
 		{
 		// extract username and real name
 		vector<string> parts = SplitWords(params, ' ');
-		val_list* vl = new val_list;
-		vl->append(BuildConnVal());
-		vl->append(val_mgr->GetBool(orig));
+		val_list vl(6);
+		vl.append(BuildConnVal());
+		vl.append(val_mgr->GetBool(orig));
 
 		if ( parts.size() > 0 )
-			vl->append(new StringVal(parts[0].c_str()));
-		else vl->append(val_mgr->GetEmptyString());
+			vl.append(new StringVal(parts[0].c_str()));
+		else vl.append(val_mgr->GetEmptyString());
 
 		if ( parts.size() > 1 )
-			vl->append(new StringVal(parts[1].c_str()));
-		else vl->append(val_mgr->GetEmptyString());
+			vl.append(new StringVal(parts[1].c_str()));
+		else vl.append(val_mgr->GetEmptyString());
 
 		if ( parts.size() > 2 )
-			vl->append(new StringVal(parts[2].c_str()));
-		else vl->append(val_mgr->GetEmptyString());
+			vl.append(new StringVal(parts[2].c_str()));
+		else vl.append(val_mgr->GetEmptyString());
 
 		string realname;
 		for ( unsigned int i = 3; i < parts.size(); i++ )
@@ -771,9 +761,9 @@ void IRC_Analyzer::DeliverStream(int length, const u_char* line, bool orig)
 			}
 
 		const char* name = realname.c_str();
-		vl->append(new StringVal(*name == ':' ? name + 1 : name));
+		vl.append(new StringVal(*name == ':' ? name + 1 : name));
 
-		ConnectionEvent(irc_user_message, vl);
+		ConnectionEvent(irc_user_message, std::move(vl));
 		}
 
 	else if ( irc_oper_message && command == "OPER" )
@@ -782,13 +772,12 @@ void IRC_Analyzer::DeliverStream(int length, const u_char* line, bool orig)
 		vector<string> parts = SplitWords(params, ' ');
 		if ( parts.size() == 2 )
 			{
-			val_list* vl = new val_list;
-			vl->append(BuildConnVal());
-			vl->append(val_mgr->GetBool(orig));
-			vl->append(new StringVal(parts[0].c_str()));
-			vl->append(new StringVal(parts[1].c_str()));
-
-			ConnectionEvent(irc_oper_message, vl);
+			ConnectionEvent(irc_oper_message, {
+				BuildConnVal(),
+				val_mgr->GetBool(orig),
+				new StringVal(parts[0].c_str()),
+				new StringVal(parts[1].c_str()),
+			});
 			}
 
 		else
@@ -805,12 +794,12 @@ void IRC_Analyzer::DeliverStream(int length, const u_char* line, bool orig)
 			return;
 			}
 
-		val_list* vl = new val_list;
-		vl->append(BuildConnVal());
-		vl->append(val_mgr->GetBool(orig));
-		vl->append(new StringVal(prefix.c_str()));
-		vl->append(new StringVal(parts[0].c_str()));
-		vl->append(new StringVal(parts[1].c_str()));
+		val_list vl(6);
+		vl.append(BuildConnVal());
+		vl.append(val_mgr->GetBool(orig));
+		vl.append(new StringVal(prefix.c_str()));
+		vl.append(new StringVal(parts[0].c_str()));
+		vl.append(new StringVal(parts[1].c_str()));
 		if ( parts.size() > 2 )
 			{
 			string comment = parts[2];
@@ -820,12 +809,12 @@ void IRC_Analyzer::DeliverStream(int length, const u_char* line, bool orig)
 			if ( comment[0] == ':' )
 				comment = comment.substr(1);
 
-			vl->append(new StringVal(comment.c_str()));
+			vl.append(new StringVal(comment.c_str()));
 			}
 		else
-			vl->append(val_mgr->GetEmptyString());
+			vl.append(val_mgr->GetEmptyString());
 
-		ConnectionEvent(irc_kick_message, vl);
+		ConnectionEvent(irc_kick_message, std::move(vl));
 		}
 
 	else if ( irc_join_message && command == "JOIN" )
@@ -849,11 +838,8 @@ void IRC_Analyzer::DeliverStream(int length, const u_char* line, bool orig)
 				nickname = prefix.substr(0, pos);
 			}
 
-		val_list* vl = new val_list;
-		vl->append(BuildConnVal());
-		vl->append(val_mgr->GetBool(orig));
-
 		TableVal* list = new TableVal(irc_join_list);
+
 		vector<string> channels = SplitWords(parts[0], ',');
 		vector<string> passwords;
 
@@ -876,9 +862,11 @@ void IRC_Analyzer::DeliverStream(int length, const u_char* line, bool orig)
 			Unref(info);
 			}
 
-		vl->append(list);
-
-		ConnectionEvent(irc_join_message, vl);
+		ConnectionEvent(irc_join_message, {
+			BuildConnVal(),
+			val_mgr->GetBool(orig),
+			list,
+		});
 		}
 
 	else if ( irc_join_message && command == "NJOIN" )
@@ -895,12 +883,8 @@ void IRC_Analyzer::DeliverStream(int length, const u_char* line, bool orig)
 			parts[1] = parts[1].substr(1);
 
 		vector<string> users = SplitWords(parts[1], ',');
-
-		val_list* vl = new val_list;
-		vl->append(BuildConnVal());
-		vl->append(val_mgr->GetBool(orig));
-
 		TableVal* list = new TableVal(irc_join_list);
+
 		string empty_string = "";
 
 		for ( unsigned int i = 0; i < users.size(); ++i )
@@ -939,9 +923,11 @@ void IRC_Analyzer::DeliverStream(int length, const u_char* line, bool orig)
 			Unref(info);
 			}
 
-		vl->append(list);
-
-		ConnectionEvent(irc_join_message, vl);
+		ConnectionEvent(irc_join_message, {
+			BuildConnVal(),
+			val_mgr->GetBool(orig),
+			list,
+		});
 		}
 
 	else if ( irc_part_message && command == "PART" )
@@ -977,14 +963,13 @@ void IRC_Analyzer::DeliverStream(int length, const u_char* line, bool orig)
 			Unref(idx);
 			}
 
-		val_list* vl = new val_list;
-		vl->append(BuildConnVal());
-		vl->append(val_mgr->GetBool(orig));
-		vl->append(new StringVal(nick.c_str()));
-		vl->append(set);
-		vl->append(new StringVal(message.c_str()));
-
-		ConnectionEvent(irc_part_message, vl);
+		ConnectionEvent(irc_part_message, {
+			BuildConnVal(),
+			val_mgr->GetBool(orig),
+			new StringVal(nick.c_str()),
+			set,
+			new StringVal(message.c_str()),
+		});
 		}
 
 	else if ( irc_quit_message && command == "QUIT" )
@@ -1001,13 +986,12 @@ void IRC_Analyzer::DeliverStream(int length, const u_char* line, bool orig)
 				nickname = prefix.substr(0, pos);
 			}
 
-		val_list* vl = new val_list;
-		vl->append(BuildConnVal());
-		vl->append(val_mgr->GetBool(orig));
-		vl->append(new StringVal(nickname.c_str()));
-		vl->append(new StringVal(message.c_str()));
-
-		ConnectionEvent(irc_quit_message, vl);
+		ConnectionEvent(irc_quit_message, {
+			BuildConnVal(),
+			val_mgr->GetBool(orig),
+			new StringVal(nickname.c_str()),
+			new StringVal(message.c_str()),
+		});
 		}
 
 	else if ( irc_nick_message && command == "NICK" )
@@ -1016,13 +1000,12 @@ void IRC_Analyzer::DeliverStream(int length, const u_char* line, bool orig)
 		if ( nick[0] == ':' )
 			nick = nick.substr(1);
 
-		val_list* vl = new val_list;
-		vl->append(BuildConnVal());
-		vl->append(val_mgr->GetBool(orig));
-		vl->append(new StringVal(prefix.c_str()));
-		vl->append(new StringVal(nick.c_str()));
-
-		ConnectionEvent(irc_nick_message, vl);
+		ConnectionEvent(irc_nick_message, {
+			BuildConnVal(),
+			val_mgr->GetBool(orig),
+			new StringVal(prefix.c_str()),
+			new StringVal(nick.c_str())
+		});
 		}
 
 	else if ( irc_who_message && command == "WHO" )
@@ -1042,16 +1025,14 @@ void IRC_Analyzer::DeliverStream(int length, const u_char* line, bool orig)
 		if ( parts.size() > 0 && parts[0].size() > 0 && parts[0][0] == ':' )
 			parts[0] = parts[0].substr(1);
 
-		val_list* vl = new val_list;
-		vl->append(BuildConnVal());
-		vl->append(val_mgr->GetBool(orig));
-		if ( parts.size() > 0 )
-			vl->append(new StringVal(parts[0].c_str()));
-		else
-			vl->append(val_mgr->GetEmptyString());
-		vl->append(val_mgr->GetBool(oper));
-
-		ConnectionEvent(irc_who_message, vl);
+		ConnectionEvent(irc_who_message, {
+			BuildConnVal(),
+			val_mgr->GetBool(orig),
+			parts.size() > 0 ?
+				new StringVal(parts[0].c_str()) :
+				val_mgr->GetEmptyString(),
+			val_mgr->GetBool(oper),
+		});
 		}
 
 	else if ( irc_whois_message && command == "WHOIS" )
@@ -1074,26 +1055,25 @@ void IRC_Analyzer::DeliverStream(int length, const u_char* line, bool orig)
 		else
 			users = parts[0];
 
-		val_list* vl = new val_list;
-		vl->append(BuildConnVal());
-		vl->append(val_mgr->GetBool(orig));
-		vl->append(new StringVal(server.c_str()));
-		vl->append(new StringVal(users.c_str()));
-
-		ConnectionEvent(irc_whois_message, vl);
+		ConnectionEvent(irc_whois_message, {
+			BuildConnVal(),
+			val_mgr->GetBool(orig),
+			new StringVal(server.c_str()),
+			new StringVal(users.c_str()),
+		});
 		}
 
 	else if ( irc_error_message && command == "ERROR" )
 		{
-		val_list* vl = new val_list;
-		vl->append(BuildConnVal());
-		vl->append(val_mgr->GetBool(orig));
-		vl->append(new StringVal(prefix.c_str()));
 		if ( params[0] == ':' )
 			params = params.substr(1);
-		vl->append(new StringVal(params.c_str()));
 
-		ConnectionEvent(irc_error_message, vl);
+		ConnectionEvent(irc_error_message, {
+			BuildConnVal(),
+			val_mgr->GetBool(orig),
+			new StringVal(prefix.c_str()),
+			new StringVal(params.c_str()),
+		});
 		}
 
 	else if ( irc_invite_message && command == "INVITE" )
@@ -1104,14 +1084,13 @@ void IRC_Analyzer::DeliverStream(int length, const u_char* line, bool orig)
 			if ( parts[1].size() > 0 && parts[1][0] == ':' )
 				parts[1] = parts[1].substr(1);
 
-			val_list* vl = new val_list;
-			vl->append(BuildConnVal());
-			vl->append(val_mgr->GetBool(orig));
-			vl->append(new StringVal(prefix.c_str()));
-			vl->append(new StringVal(parts[0].c_str()));
-			vl->append(new StringVal(parts[1].c_str()));
-
-			ConnectionEvent(irc_invite_message, vl);
+			ConnectionEvent(irc_invite_message, {
+				BuildConnVal(),
+				val_mgr->GetBool(orig),
+				new StringVal(prefix.c_str()),
+				new StringVal(parts[0].c_str()),
+				new StringVal(parts[1].c_str()),
+			});
 			}
 		else
 			Weird("irc_invalid_invite_message_format");
@@ -1121,13 +1100,12 @@ void IRC_Analyzer::DeliverStream(int length, const u_char* line, bool orig)
 		{
 		if ( params.size() > 0 )
 			{
-			val_list* vl = new val_list;
-			vl->append(BuildConnVal());
-			vl->append(val_mgr->GetBool(orig));
-			vl->append(new StringVal(prefix.c_str()));
-			vl->append(new StringVal(params.c_str()));
-
-			ConnectionEvent(irc_mode_message, vl);
+			ConnectionEvent(irc_mode_message, {
+				BuildConnVal(),
+				val_mgr->GetBool(orig),
+				new StringVal(prefix.c_str()),
+				new StringVal(params.c_str()),
+			});
 			}
 
 		else
@@ -1136,11 +1114,11 @@ void IRC_Analyzer::DeliverStream(int length, const u_char* line, bool orig)
 
 	else if ( irc_password_message && command == "PASS" )
 		{
-		val_list* vl = new val_list;
-		vl->append(BuildConnVal());
-		vl->append(val_mgr->GetBool(orig));
-		vl->append(new StringVal(params.c_str()));
-		ConnectionEvent(irc_password_message, vl);
+		ConnectionEvent(irc_password_message, {
+			BuildConnVal(),
+			val_mgr->GetBool(orig),
+			new StringVal(params.c_str()),
+		});
 		}
 
 	else if ( irc_squit_message && command == "SQUIT" )
@@ -1158,14 +1136,13 @@ void IRC_Analyzer::DeliverStream(int length, const u_char* line, bool orig)
 				message = message.substr(1);
 			}
 
-		val_list* vl = new val_list;
-		vl->append(BuildConnVal());
-		vl->append(val_mgr->GetBool(orig));
-		vl->append(new StringVal(prefix.c_str()));
-		vl->append(new StringVal(server.c_str()));
-		vl->append(new StringVal(message.c_str()));
-
-		ConnectionEvent(irc_squit_message, vl);
+		ConnectionEvent(irc_squit_message, {
+			BuildConnVal(),
+			val_mgr->GetBool(orig),
+			new StringVal(prefix.c_str()),
+			new StringVal(server.c_str()),
+			new StringVal(message.c_str()),
+		});
 		}
 
 
@@ -1173,14 +1150,13 @@ void IRC_Analyzer::DeliverStream(int length, const u_char* line, bool orig)
 		{
 		if ( irc_request )
 			{
-			val_list* vl = new val_list;
-			vl->append(BuildConnVal());
-			vl->append(val_mgr->GetBool(orig));
-			vl->append(new StringVal(prefix.c_str()));
-			vl->append(new StringVal(command.c_str()));
-			vl->append(new StringVal(params.c_str()));
-
-			ConnectionEvent(irc_request, vl);
+			ConnectionEvent(irc_request, {
+				BuildConnVal(),
+				val_mgr->GetBool(orig),
+				new StringVal(prefix.c_str()),
+				new StringVal(command.c_str()),
+				new StringVal(params.c_str()),
+			});
 			}
 		}
 
@@ -1188,14 +1164,13 @@ void IRC_Analyzer::DeliverStream(int length, const u_char* line, bool orig)
 		{
 		if ( irc_message )
 			{
-			val_list* vl = new val_list;
-			vl->append(BuildConnVal());
-			vl->append(val_mgr->GetBool(orig));
-			vl->append(new StringVal(prefix.c_str()));
-			vl->append(new StringVal(command.c_str()));
-			vl->append(new StringVal(params.c_str()));
-
-			ConnectionEvent(irc_message, vl);
+			ConnectionEvent(irc_message, {
+				BuildConnVal(),
+				val_mgr->GetBool(orig),
+				new StringVal(prefix.c_str()),
+				new StringVal(command.c_str()),
+				new StringVal(params.c_str()),
+			});
 			}
 		}
 
@@ -1224,10 +1199,7 @@ void IRC_Analyzer::StartTLS()
 	if ( ssl )
 		AddChildAnalyzer(ssl);
 
-	val_list* vl = new val_list;
-	vl->append(BuildConnVal());
-
-	ConnectionEvent(irc_starttls, vl);
+	ConnectionEvent(irc_starttls, {BuildConnVal()});
 	}
 
 vector<string> IRC_Analyzer::SplitWords(const string input, const char split)
diff --git a/src/analyzer/protocol/login/Login.cc b/src/analyzer/protocol/login/Login.cc
index f8eb233a29..326c126ae9 100644
--- a/src/analyzer/protocol/login/Login.cc
+++ b/src/analyzer/protocol/login/Login.cc
@@ -289,9 +289,7 @@ void Login_Analyzer::AuthenticationDialog(bool orig, char* line)
 		{
 		if ( authentication_skipped )
 			{
-			val_list* vl = new val_list;
-			vl->append(BuildConnVal());
-			ConnectionEvent(authentication_skipped, vl);
+			ConnectionEvent(authentication_skipped, {BuildConnVal()});
 			}
 
 		state = LOGIN_STATE_SKIP;
@@ -334,32 +332,26 @@ void Login_Analyzer::SetEnv(bool orig, char* name, char* val)
 
 		else if ( login_terminal && streq(name, "TERM") )
 			{
-			val_list* vl = new val_list;
-
-			vl->append(BuildConnVal());
-			vl->append(new StringVal(val));
-
-			ConnectionEvent(login_terminal, vl);
+			ConnectionEvent(login_terminal, {
+				BuildConnVal(),
+				new StringVal(val),
+			});
 			}
 
 		else if ( login_display && streq(name, "DISPLAY") )
 			{
-			val_list* vl = new val_list;
-
-			vl->append(BuildConnVal());
-			vl->append(new StringVal(val));
-
-			ConnectionEvent(login_display, vl);
+			ConnectionEvent(login_display, {
+				BuildConnVal(),
+				new StringVal(val),
+			});
 			}
 
 		else if ( login_prompt && streq(name, "TTYPROMPT") )
 			{
-			val_list* vl = new val_list;
-
-			vl->append(BuildConnVal());
-			vl->append(new StringVal(val));
-
-			ConnectionEvent(login_prompt, vl);
+			ConnectionEvent(login_prompt, {
+				BuildConnVal(),
+				new StringVal(val),
+			});
 			}
 		}
 
@@ -433,15 +425,13 @@ void Login_Analyzer::LoginEvent(EventHandlerPtr f, const char* line,
 	Val* password = HaveTypeahead() ?
 				PopUserTextVal() : new StringVal("<none>");
 
-	val_list* vl = new val_list;
-
-	vl->append(BuildConnVal());
-	vl->append(username->Ref());
-	vl->append(client_name ? client_name->Ref() : val_mgr->GetEmptyString());
-	vl->append(password);
-	vl->append(new StringVal(line));
-
-	ConnectionEvent(f, vl);
+	ConnectionEvent(f, {
+		BuildConnVal(),
+		username->Ref(),
+		client_name ? client_name->Ref() : val_mgr->GetEmptyString(),
+		password,
+		new StringVal(line),
+	});
 	}
 
 const char* Login_Analyzer::GetUsername(const char* line) const
@@ -454,12 +444,10 @@ const char* Login_Analyzer::GetUsername(const char* line) const
 
 void Login_Analyzer::LineEvent(EventHandlerPtr f, const char* line)
 	{
-	val_list* vl = new val_list;
-
-	vl->append(BuildConnVal());
-	vl->append(new StringVal(line));
-
-	ConnectionEvent(f, vl);
+	ConnectionEvent(f, {
+		BuildConnVal(),
+		new StringVal(line),
+	});
 	}
 
 
@@ -469,12 +457,11 @@ void Login_Analyzer::Confused(const char* msg, const char* line)
 
 	if ( login_confused )
 		{
-		val_list* vl = new val_list;
-		vl->append(BuildConnVal());
-		vl->append(new StringVal(msg));
-		vl->append(new StringVal(line));
-
-		ConnectionEvent(login_confused, vl);
+		ConnectionEvent(login_confused, {
+			BuildConnVal(),
+			new StringVal(msg),
+			new StringVal(line),
+		});
 		}
 
 	if ( login_confused_text )
@@ -496,10 +483,10 @@ void Login_Analyzer::ConfusionText(const char* line)
 	{
 	if ( login_confused_text )
 		{
-		val_list* vl = new val_list;
-		vl->append(BuildConnVal());
-		vl->append(new StringVal(line));
-		ConnectionEvent(login_confused_text, vl);
+		ConnectionEvent(login_confused_text, {
+			BuildConnVal(),
+			new StringVal(line),
+		});
 		}
 	}
 
diff --git a/src/analyzer/protocol/login/NVT.cc b/src/analyzer/protocol/login/NVT.cc
index 11952103bf..53ad3c202d 100644
--- a/src/analyzer/protocol/login/NVT.cc
+++ b/src/analyzer/protocol/login/NVT.cc
@@ -461,11 +461,10 @@ void NVT_Analyzer::SetTerminal(const u_char* terminal, int len)
 	{
 	if ( login_terminal )
 		{
-		val_list* vl = new val_list;
-		vl->append(BuildConnVal());
-		vl->append(new StringVal(new BroString(terminal, len, 0)));
-
-		ConnectionEvent(login_terminal, vl);
+		ConnectionEvent(login_terminal, {
+			BuildConnVal(),
+			new StringVal(new BroString(terminal, len, 0)),
+		});
 		}
 	}
 
diff --git a/src/analyzer/protocol/login/RSH.cc b/src/analyzer/protocol/login/RSH.cc
index 0afacb2f2b..4688bf9280 100644
--- a/src/analyzer/protocol/login/RSH.cc
+++ b/src/analyzer/protocol/login/RSH.cc
@@ -156,31 +156,38 @@ void Rsh_Analyzer::DeliverStream(int len, const u_char* data, bool orig)
 	{
 	Login_Analyzer::DeliverStream(len, data, orig);
 
+	if ( orig )
+		{
+		if ( ! rsh_request )
+			return;
+		}
+	else
+		{
+		if ( ! rsh_reply )
+			return;
+		}
+
+	val_list vl(4 + orig);
 	const char* line = (const char*) data;
-	val_list* vl = new val_list;
-
 	line = skip_whitespace(line);
-	vl->append(BuildConnVal());
-	vl->append(client_name ? client_name->Ref() : new StringVal("<none>"));
-	vl->append(username ? username->Ref() : new StringVal("<none>"));
-	vl->append(new StringVal(line));
+	vl.append(BuildConnVal());
+	vl.append(client_name ? client_name->Ref() : new StringVal("<none>"));
+	vl.append(username ? username->Ref() : new StringVal("<none>"));
+	vl.append(new StringVal(line));
 
-	if ( orig && rsh_request )
+	if ( orig )
 		{
 		if ( contents_orig->RshSaveState() == RSH_SERVER_USER_NAME )
 			// First input
-			vl->append(val_mgr->GetTrue());
+			vl.append(val_mgr->GetTrue());
 		else
-			vl->append(val_mgr->GetFalse());
+			vl.append(val_mgr->GetFalse());
 
-		ConnectionEvent(rsh_request, vl);
+		ConnectionEvent(rsh_request, std::move(vl));
 		}
 
-	else if ( rsh_reply )
-		ConnectionEvent(rsh_reply, vl);
-
 	else
-		delete_vals(vl);
+		ConnectionEvent(rsh_reply, std::move(vl));
 	}
 
 void Rsh_Analyzer::ClientUserName(const char* s)
diff --git a/src/analyzer/protocol/login/Rlogin.cc b/src/analyzer/protocol/login/Rlogin.cc
index 6979148676..10d9e23e91 100644
--- a/src/analyzer/protocol/login/Rlogin.cc
+++ b/src/analyzer/protocol/login/Rlogin.cc
@@ -244,11 +244,9 @@ void Rlogin_Analyzer::TerminalType(const char* s)
 	{
 	if ( login_terminal )
 		{
-		val_list* vl = new val_list;
-
-		vl->append(BuildConnVal());
-		vl->append(new StringVal(s));
-
-		ConnectionEvent(login_terminal, vl);
+		ConnectionEvent(login_terminal, {
+			BuildConnVal(),
+			new StringVal(s),
+		});
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/src/analyzer/protocol/mime/MIME.cc b/src/analyzer/protocol/mime/MIME.cc
index 931e155fdf..edb5316bac 100644
--- a/src/analyzer/protocol/mime/MIME.cc
+++ b/src/analyzer/protocol/mime/MIME.cc
@@ -1358,11 +1358,11 @@ void MIME_Mail::Done()
 		hash_final(md5_hash, digest);
 		md5_hash = nullptr;
 
-		val_list* vl = new val_list;
-		vl->append(analyzer->BuildConnVal());
-		vl->append(val_mgr->GetCount(content_hash_length));
-		vl->append(new StringVal(new BroString(1, digest, 16)));
-		analyzer->ConnectionEvent(mime_content_hash, vl);
+		analyzer->ConnectionEvent(mime_content_hash, {
+			analyzer->BuildConnVal(),
+			val_mgr->GetCount(content_hash_length),
+			new StringVal(new BroString(1, digest, 16)),
+		});
 		}
 
 	MIME_Message::Done();
@@ -1386,11 +1386,7 @@ void MIME_Mail::BeginEntity(MIME_Entity* /* entity */)
 	cur_entity_id.clear();
 
 	if ( mime_begin_entity )
-		{
-		val_list* vl = new val_list;
-		vl->append(analyzer->BuildConnVal());
-		analyzer->ConnectionEvent(mime_begin_entity, vl);
-		}
+		analyzer->ConnectionEvent(mime_begin_entity, {analyzer->BuildConnVal()});
 
 	buffer_start = data_start = 0;
 	ASSERT(entity_content.size() == 0);
@@ -1402,12 +1398,12 @@ void MIME_Mail::EndEntity(MIME_Entity* /* entity */)
 		{
 		BroString* s = concatenate(entity_content);
 
-		val_list* vl = new val_list();
-		vl->append(analyzer->BuildConnVal());
-		vl->append(val_mgr->GetCount(s->Len()));
-		vl->append(new StringVal(s));
 
-		analyzer->ConnectionEvent(mime_entity_data, vl);
+		analyzer->ConnectionEvent(mime_entity_data, {
+			analyzer->BuildConnVal(),
+			val_mgr->GetCount(s->Len()),
+			new StringVal(s),
+		});
 
 		if ( ! mime_all_data )
 			delete_strings(entity_content);
@@ -1416,11 +1412,7 @@ void MIME_Mail::EndEntity(MIME_Entity* /* entity */)
 		}
 
 	if ( mime_end_entity )
-		{
-		val_list* vl = new val_list;
-		vl->append(analyzer->BuildConnVal());
-		analyzer->ConnectionEvent(mime_end_entity, vl);
-		}
+		analyzer->ConnectionEvent(mime_end_entity, {analyzer->BuildConnVal()});
 
 	file_mgr->EndOfFile(analyzer->GetAnalyzerTag(), analyzer->Conn());
 	cur_entity_id.clear();
@@ -1430,10 +1422,10 @@ void MIME_Mail::SubmitHeader(MIME_Header* h)
 	{
 	if ( mime_one_header )
 		{
-		val_list* vl = new val_list();
-		vl->append(analyzer->BuildConnVal());
-		vl->append(BuildHeaderVal(h));
-		analyzer->ConnectionEvent(mime_one_header, vl);
+		analyzer->ConnectionEvent(mime_one_header, {
+			analyzer->BuildConnVal(),
+			BuildHeaderVal(h),
+		});
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -1441,10 +1433,10 @@ void MIME_Mail::SubmitAllHeaders(MIME_HeaderList& hlist)
 	{
 	if ( mime_all_headers )
 		{
-		val_list* vl = new val_list();
-		vl->append(analyzer->BuildConnVal());
-		vl->append(BuildHeaderTable(hlist));
-		analyzer->ConnectionEvent(mime_all_headers, vl);
+		analyzer->ConnectionEvent(mime_all_headers, {
+			analyzer->BuildConnVal(),
+			BuildHeaderTable(hlist),
+		});
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -1478,11 +1470,11 @@ void MIME_Mail::SubmitData(int len, const char* buf)
 		const char* data = (char*) data_buffer->Bytes() + data_start;
 		int data_len = (buf + len) - data;
 
-		val_list* vl = new val_list();
-		vl->append(analyzer->BuildConnVal());
-		vl->append(val_mgr->GetCount(data_len));
-		vl->append(new StringVal(data_len, data));
-		analyzer->ConnectionEvent(mime_segment_data, vl);
+		analyzer->ConnectionEvent(mime_segment_data, {
+			analyzer->BuildConnVal(),
+			val_mgr->GetCount(data_len),
+			new StringVal(data_len, data),
+		});
 		}
 
 	cur_entity_id = file_mgr->DataIn(reinterpret_cast<const u_char*>(buf), len,
@@ -1525,12 +1517,11 @@ void MIME_Mail::SubmitAllData()
 		BroString* s = concatenate(all_content);
 		delete_strings(all_content);
 
-		val_list* vl = new val_list();
-		vl->append(analyzer->BuildConnVal());
-		vl->append(val_mgr->GetCount(s->Len()));
-		vl->append(new StringVal(s));
-
-		analyzer->ConnectionEvent(mime_all_data, vl);
+		analyzer->ConnectionEvent(mime_all_data, {
+			analyzer->BuildConnVal(),
+			val_mgr->GetCount(s->Len()),
+			new StringVal(s),
+		});
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -1555,10 +1546,10 @@ void MIME_Mail::SubmitEvent(int event_type, const char* detail)
 
 	if ( mime_event )
 		{
-		val_list* vl = new val_list();
-		vl->append(analyzer->BuildConnVal());
-		vl->append(new StringVal(category));
-		vl->append(new StringVal(detail));
-		analyzer->ConnectionEvent(mime_event, vl);
+		analyzer->ConnectionEvent(mime_event, {
+			analyzer->BuildConnVal(),
+			new StringVal(category),
+			new StringVal(detail),
+		});
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/src/analyzer/protocol/ncp/NCP.cc b/src/analyzer/protocol/ncp/NCP.cc
index b59358b703..ceb480292b 100644
--- a/src/analyzer/protocol/ncp/NCP.cc
+++ b/src/analyzer/protocol/ncp/NCP.cc
@@ -61,21 +61,27 @@ void NCP_Session::DeliverFrame(const binpac::NCP::ncp_frame* frame)
 	EventHandlerPtr f = frame->is_orig() ? ncp_request : ncp_reply;
 	if ( f )
 		{
-		val_list* vl = new val_list;
-		vl->append(analyzer->BuildConnVal());
-		vl->append(val_mgr->GetCount(frame->frame_type()));
-		vl->append(val_mgr->GetCount(frame->body_length()));
-
 		if ( frame->is_orig() )
-			vl->append(val_mgr->GetCount(req_func));
+			{
+			analyzer->ConnectionEvent(f, {
+				analyzer->BuildConnVal(),
+				val_mgr->GetCount(frame->frame_type()),
+				val_mgr->GetCount(frame->body_length()),
+				val_mgr->GetCount(req_func),
+			});
+			}
 		else
 			{
-			vl->append(val_mgr->GetCount(req_frame_type));
-			vl->append(val_mgr->GetCount(req_func));
-			vl->append(val_mgr->GetCount(frame->reply()->completion_code()));
+			analyzer->ConnectionEvent(f, {
+				analyzer->BuildConnVal(),
+				val_mgr->GetCount(frame->frame_type()),
+				val_mgr->GetCount(frame->body_length()),
+				val_mgr->GetCount(req_frame_type),
+				val_mgr->GetCount(req_func),
+				val_mgr->GetCount(frame->reply()->completion_code()),
+			});
 			}
 
-		analyzer->ConnectionEvent(f, vl);
 		}
 	}
 
diff --git a/src/analyzer/protocol/netbios/NetbiosSSN.cc b/src/analyzer/protocol/netbios/NetbiosSSN.cc
index 492375b7aa..5dc07f7d0d 100644
--- a/src/analyzer/protocol/netbios/NetbiosSSN.cc
+++ b/src/analyzer/protocol/netbios/NetbiosSSN.cc
@@ -58,12 +58,12 @@ int NetbiosSSN_Interpreter::ParseMessage(unsigned int type, unsigned int flags,
 	{
 	if ( netbios_session_message )
 		{
-		val_list* vl = new val_list;
-		vl->append(analyzer->BuildConnVal());
-		vl->append(val_mgr->GetBool(is_query));
-		vl->append(val_mgr->GetCount(type));
-		vl->append(val_mgr->GetCount(len));
-		analyzer->ConnectionEvent(netbios_session_message, vl);
+		analyzer->ConnectionEvent(netbios_session_message, {
+			analyzer->BuildConnVal(),
+			val_mgr->GetBool(is_query),
+			val_mgr->GetCount(type),
+			val_mgr->GetCount(len),
+		});
 		}
 
 	switch ( type ) {
@@ -328,13 +328,19 @@ void NetbiosSSN_Interpreter::Event(EventHandlerPtr event, const u_char* data,
 	if ( ! event )
 		return;
 
-	val_list* vl = new val_list;
-	vl->append(analyzer->BuildConnVal());
 	if ( is_orig >= 0 )
-		vl->append(val_mgr->GetBool(is_orig));
-	vl->append(new StringVal(new BroString(data, len, 0)));
-
-	analyzer->ConnectionEvent(event, vl);
+		{
+		analyzer->ConnectionEvent(event, {
+			analyzer->BuildConnVal(),
+			val_mgr->GetBool(is_orig),
+			new StringVal(new BroString(data, len, 0)),
+		});
+		}
+	else
+		analyzer->ConnectionEvent(event, {
+			analyzer->BuildConnVal(),
+			new StringVal(new BroString(data, len, 0)),
+		});
 	}
 
 
diff --git a/src/analyzer/protocol/ntp/NTP.cc b/src/analyzer/protocol/ntp/NTP.cc
index 631d5bc3e9..2e6988d13f 100644
--- a/src/analyzer/protocol/ntp/NTP.cc
+++ b/src/analyzer/protocol/ntp/NTP.cc
@@ -78,12 +78,11 @@ void NTP_Analyzer::Message(const u_char* data, int len)
 	msg->Assign(9, new Val(LongFloat(ntp_data->rec), TYPE_TIME));
 	msg->Assign(10, new Val(LongFloat(ntp_data->xmt), TYPE_TIME));
 
-	val_list* vl = new val_list;
-	vl->append(BuildConnVal());
-	vl->append(msg);
-	vl->append(new StringVal(new BroString(data, len, 0)));
-
-	ConnectionEvent(ntp_message, vl);
+	ConnectionEvent(ntp_message, {
+		BuildConnVal(),
+		msg,
+		new StringVal(new BroString(data, len, 0)),
+	});
 	}
 
 double NTP_Analyzer::ShortFloat(struct s_fixedpt fp)
diff --git a/src/analyzer/protocol/pop3/POP3.cc b/src/analyzer/protocol/pop3/POP3.cc
index 2cd5041a70..e7ccf3907c 100644
--- a/src/analyzer/protocol/pop3/POP3.cc
+++ b/src/analyzer/protocol/pop3/POP3.cc
@@ -833,10 +833,7 @@ void POP3_Analyzer::StartTLS()
 	if ( ssl )
 		AddChildAnalyzer(ssl);
 
-	val_list* vl = new val_list;
-	vl->append(BuildConnVal());
-
-	ConnectionEvent(pop3_starttls, vl);
+	ConnectionEvent(pop3_starttls, {BuildConnVal()});
 	}
 
 void POP3_Analyzer::AuthSuccessfull()
@@ -926,14 +923,14 @@ void POP3_Analyzer::POP3Event(EventHandlerPtr event, bool is_orig,
 	if ( ! event )
 		return;
 
-	val_list* vl = new val_list;
+	val_list vl(2 + (bool)arg1 + (bool)arg2);
 
-	vl->append(BuildConnVal());
-	vl->append(val_mgr->GetBool(is_orig));
+	vl.append(BuildConnVal());
+	vl.append(val_mgr->GetBool(is_orig));
 	if ( arg1 )
-		vl->append(new StringVal(arg1));
+		vl.append(new StringVal(arg1));
 	if ( arg2 )
-		vl->append(new StringVal(arg2));
+		vl.append(new StringVal(arg2));
 
-	ConnectionEvent(event, vl);
+	ConnectionEvent(event, std::move(vl));
 	}
diff --git a/src/analyzer/protocol/rpc/MOUNT.cc b/src/analyzer/protocol/rpc/MOUNT.cc
index 604d2e3ed1..1cea8e0211 100644
--- a/src/analyzer/protocol/rpc/MOUNT.cc
+++ b/src/analyzer/protocol/rpc/MOUNT.cc
@@ -93,9 +93,9 @@ int MOUNT_Interp::RPC_BuildReply(RPC_CallInfo* c, BifEnum::rpc_status rpc_status
 
 	if ( mount_reply_status )
 		{
-		val_list* vl = event_common_vl(c, rpc_status, mount_status,
-					   start_time, last_time, reply_len);
-		analyzer->ConnectionEvent(mount_reply_status, vl);
+		auto vl = event_common_vl(c, rpc_status, mount_status,
+					   start_time, last_time, reply_len, 0);
+		analyzer->ConnectionEvent(mount_reply_status, std::move(vl));
 		}
 
 	if ( ! rpc_success )
@@ -162,34 +162,34 @@ int MOUNT_Interp::RPC_BuildReply(RPC_CallInfo* c, BifEnum::rpc_status rpc_status
 	// optional and all are set to 0 ...
 	if ( event )
 		{
-		val_list* vl = event_common_vl(c, rpc_status, mount_status,
-					start_time, last_time, reply_len);
-
 		Val *request = c->TakeRequestVal();
 
+		auto vl = event_common_vl(c, rpc_status, mount_status,
+					start_time, last_time, reply_len, (bool)request + (bool)reply);
+
 		if ( request )
-			vl->append(request);
+			vl.append(request);
 
 		if ( reply )
-			vl->append(reply);
+			vl.append(reply);
 
-		analyzer->ConnectionEvent(event, vl);
+		analyzer->ConnectionEvent(event, std::move(vl));
 		}
 	else
 		Unref(reply);
 	return 1;
 	}
 
-val_list* MOUNT_Interp::event_common_vl(RPC_CallInfo *c, 
+val_list MOUNT_Interp::event_common_vl(RPC_CallInfo *c, 
 		      BifEnum::rpc_status rpc_status,
 				      BifEnum::MOUNT3::status_t mount_status,
 				      double rep_start_time,
-				      double rep_last_time, int reply_len)
+				      double rep_last_time, int reply_len, int extra_elements)
 	{
 	// Returns a new val_list that already has a conn_val, and mount3_info.
 	// These are the first parameters for each mount_* event ...
-	val_list *vl = new val_list;
-	vl->append(analyzer->BuildConnVal());
+	val_list vl(2 + extra_elements);
+	vl.append(analyzer->BuildConnVal());
 	VectorVal* auxgids = new VectorVal(internal_type("index_vec")->AsVectorType());
 
 	for (size_t i = 0; i < c->AuxGIDs().size(); ++i)
@@ -212,7 +212,7 @@ val_list* MOUNT_Interp::event_common_vl(RPC_CallInfo *c,
 	info->Assign(11, new StringVal(c->MachineName()));
 	info->Assign(12, auxgids);
 
-	vl->append(info);
+	vl.append(info);
 	return vl;
 	}
 
diff --git a/src/analyzer/protocol/rpc/MOUNT.h b/src/analyzer/protocol/rpc/MOUNT.h
index 42da4f61ed..7c243f96a0 100644
--- a/src/analyzer/protocol/rpc/MOUNT.h
+++ b/src/analyzer/protocol/rpc/MOUNT.h
@@ -22,10 +22,10 @@ protected:
 	// Returns a new val_list that already has a conn_val, rpc_status and
 	// mount_status. These are the first parameters for each mount_* event
 	// ...
-	val_list* event_common_vl(RPC_CallInfo *c, BifEnum::rpc_status rpc_status,
+	val_list event_common_vl(RPC_CallInfo *c, BifEnum::rpc_status rpc_status,
 				BifEnum::MOUNT3::status_t mount_status,
 				double rep_start_time, double rep_last_time,
-				int reply_len);
+				int reply_len, int extra_elements);
 
 	// These methods parse the appropriate MOUNTv3 "type" out of buf. If
 	// there are any errors (i.e., buffer to short, etc), buf will be set
diff --git a/src/analyzer/protocol/rpc/NFS.cc b/src/analyzer/protocol/rpc/NFS.cc
index ff16812d65..3453263dd0 100644
--- a/src/analyzer/protocol/rpc/NFS.cc
+++ b/src/analyzer/protocol/rpc/NFS.cc
@@ -147,9 +147,9 @@ int NFS_Interp::RPC_BuildReply(RPC_CallInfo* c, BifEnum::rpc_status rpc_status,
 
 	if ( nfs_reply_status )
 		{
-		val_list* vl = event_common_vl(c, rpc_status, nfs_status,
-					       start_time, last_time, reply_len);
-		analyzer->ConnectionEvent(nfs_reply_status, vl);
+		auto vl = event_common_vl(c, rpc_status, nfs_status,
+					       start_time, last_time, reply_len, 0);
+		analyzer->ConnectionEvent(nfs_reply_status, std::move(vl));
 		}
 
 	if ( ! rpc_success )
@@ -274,18 +274,18 @@ int NFS_Interp::RPC_BuildReply(RPC_CallInfo* c, BifEnum::rpc_status rpc_status,
 	// optional and all are set to 0 ...
 	if ( event )
 		{
-		val_list* vl = event_common_vl(c, rpc_status, nfs_status,
-					start_time, last_time, reply_len);
-
 		Val *request = c->TakeRequestVal();
 
+		auto vl = event_common_vl(c, rpc_status, nfs_status,
+					start_time, last_time, reply_len, (bool)request + (bool)reply);
+
 		if ( request )
-			vl->append(request);
+			vl.append(request);
 
 		if ( reply )
-			vl->append(reply);
+			vl.append(reply);
 
-		analyzer->ConnectionEvent(event, vl);
+		analyzer->ConnectionEvent(event, std::move(vl));
 		}
 	else
 		Unref(reply);
@@ -317,15 +317,15 @@ StringVal* NFS_Interp::nfs3_file_data(const u_char*& buf, int& n, uint64_t offse
 	return 0;
 	}
 
-val_list* NFS_Interp::event_common_vl(RPC_CallInfo *c, BifEnum::rpc_status rpc_status,
+val_list NFS_Interp::event_common_vl(RPC_CallInfo *c, BifEnum::rpc_status rpc_status,
 				      BifEnum::NFS3::status_t nfs_status,
 				      double rep_start_time,
-				      double rep_last_time, int reply_len)
+				      double rep_last_time, int reply_len, int extra_elements)
 	{
 	// Returns a new val_list that already has a conn_val, and nfs3_info.
 	// These are the first parameters for each nfs_* event ...
-	val_list *vl = new val_list;
-	vl->append(analyzer->BuildConnVal());
+	val_list vl(2 + extra_elements);
+	vl.append(analyzer->BuildConnVal());
 	VectorVal* auxgids = new VectorVal(internal_type("index_vec")->AsVectorType());
 
 	for ( size_t i = 0; i < c->AuxGIDs().size(); ++i )
@@ -346,7 +346,7 @@ val_list* NFS_Interp::event_common_vl(RPC_CallInfo *c, BifEnum::rpc_status rpc_s
 	info->Assign(11, new StringVal(c->MachineName()));
 	info->Assign(12, auxgids);
 
-	vl->append(info);
+	vl.append(info);
 	return vl;
 	}
 
diff --git a/src/analyzer/protocol/rpc/NFS.h b/src/analyzer/protocol/rpc/NFS.h
index 2ec4047946..56a368bfdc 100644
--- a/src/analyzer/protocol/rpc/NFS.h
+++ b/src/analyzer/protocol/rpc/NFS.h
@@ -22,10 +22,10 @@ protected:
 	// Returns a new val_list that already has a conn_val, rpc_status and
 	// nfs_status. These are the first parameters for each nfs_* event
 	// ...
-	val_list* event_common_vl(RPC_CallInfo *c, BifEnum::rpc_status rpc_status,
+	val_list event_common_vl(RPC_CallInfo *c, BifEnum::rpc_status rpc_status,
 				BifEnum::NFS3::status_t nfs_status,
 				double rep_start_time, double rep_last_time,
-				int reply_len);
+				int reply_len, int extra_elements);
 
 	// These methods parse the appropriate NFSv3 "type" out of buf. If
 	// there are any errors (i.e., buffer to short, etc), buf will be set
diff --git a/src/analyzer/protocol/rpc/Portmap.cc b/src/analyzer/protocol/rpc/Portmap.cc
index 95beab6b62..8333f615fa 100644
--- a/src/analyzer/protocol/rpc/Portmap.cc
+++ b/src/analyzer/protocol/rpc/Portmap.cc
@@ -261,10 +261,10 @@ uint32 PortmapperInterp::CheckPort(uint32 port)
 		{
 		if ( pm_bad_port )
 			{
-			val_list* vl = new val_list;
-			vl->append(analyzer->BuildConnVal());
-			vl->append(val_mgr->GetCount(port));
-			analyzer->ConnectionEvent(pm_bad_port, vl);
+			analyzer->ConnectionEvent(pm_bad_port, {
+				analyzer->BuildConnVal(),
+				val_mgr->GetCount(port),
+			});
 			}
 
 		port = 0;
@@ -282,25 +282,25 @@ void PortmapperInterp::Event(EventHandlerPtr f, Val* request, BifEnum::rpc_statu
 		return;
 		}
 
-	val_list* vl = new val_list;
+	val_list vl;
 
-	vl->append(analyzer->BuildConnVal());
+	vl.append(analyzer->BuildConnVal());
 
 	if ( status == BifEnum::RPC_SUCCESS )
 		{
 		if ( request )
-			vl->append(request);
+			vl.append(request);
 		if ( reply )
-			vl->append(reply);
+			vl.append(reply);
 		}
 	else
 		{
-		vl->append(BifType::Enum::rpc_status->GetVal(status));
+		vl.append(BifType::Enum::rpc_status->GetVal(status));
 		if ( request )
-			vl->append(request);
+			vl.append(request);
 		}
 
-	analyzer->ConnectionEvent(f, vl);
+	analyzer->ConnectionEvent(f, std::move(vl));
 	}
 
 Portmapper_Analyzer::Portmapper_Analyzer(Connection* conn)
diff --git a/src/analyzer/protocol/rpc/RPC.cc b/src/analyzer/protocol/rpc/RPC.cc
index 5bd748d1ea..781ba20681 100644
--- a/src/analyzer/protocol/rpc/RPC.cc
+++ b/src/analyzer/protocol/rpc/RPC.cc
@@ -330,16 +330,16 @@ void RPC_Interpreter::Event_RPC_Dialogue(RPC_CallInfo* c, BifEnum::rpc_status st
 	{
 	if ( rpc_dialogue )
 		{
-		val_list* vl = new val_list;
-		vl->append(analyzer->BuildConnVal());
-		vl->append(val_mgr->GetCount(c->Program()));
-		vl->append(val_mgr->GetCount(c->Version()));
-		vl->append(val_mgr->GetCount(c->Proc()));
-		vl->append(BifType::Enum::rpc_status->GetVal(status));
-		vl->append(new Val(c->StartTime(), TYPE_TIME));
-		vl->append(val_mgr->GetCount(c->CallLen()));
-		vl->append(val_mgr->GetCount(reply_len));
-		analyzer->ConnectionEvent(rpc_dialogue, vl);
+		analyzer->ConnectionEvent(rpc_dialogue, {
+			analyzer->BuildConnVal(),
+			val_mgr->GetCount(c->Program()),
+			val_mgr->GetCount(c->Version()),
+			val_mgr->GetCount(c->Proc()),
+			BifType::Enum::rpc_status->GetVal(status),
+			new Val(c->StartTime(), TYPE_TIME),
+			val_mgr->GetCount(c->CallLen()),
+			val_mgr->GetCount(reply_len),
+		});
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -347,14 +347,14 @@ void RPC_Interpreter::Event_RPC_Call(RPC_CallInfo* c)
 	{
 	if ( rpc_call )
 		{
-		val_list* vl = new val_list;
-		vl->append(analyzer->BuildConnVal());
-		vl->append(val_mgr->GetCount(c->XID()));
-		vl->append(val_mgr->GetCount(c->Program()));
-		vl->append(val_mgr->GetCount(c->Version()));
-		vl->append(val_mgr->GetCount(c->Proc()));
-		vl->append(val_mgr->GetCount(c->CallLen()));
-		analyzer->ConnectionEvent(rpc_call, vl);
+		analyzer->ConnectionEvent(rpc_call, {
+			analyzer->BuildConnVal(),
+			val_mgr->GetCount(c->XID()),
+			val_mgr->GetCount(c->Program()),
+			val_mgr->GetCount(c->Version()),
+			val_mgr->GetCount(c->Proc()),
+			val_mgr->GetCount(c->CallLen()),
+		});
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -362,12 +362,12 @@ void RPC_Interpreter::Event_RPC_Reply(uint32_t xid, BifEnum::rpc_status status,
 	{
 	if ( rpc_reply )
 		{
-		val_list* vl = new val_list;
-		vl->append(analyzer->BuildConnVal());
-		vl->append(val_mgr->GetCount(xid));
-		vl->append(BifType::Enum::rpc_status->GetVal(status));
-		vl->append(val_mgr->GetCount(reply_len));
-		analyzer->ConnectionEvent(rpc_reply, vl);
+		analyzer->ConnectionEvent(rpc_reply, {
+			analyzer->BuildConnVal(),
+			val_mgr->GetCount(xid),
+			BifType::Enum::rpc_status->GetVal(status),
+			val_mgr->GetCount(reply_len),
+		});
 		}
 	}
 
diff --git a/src/analyzer/protocol/smtp/SMTP.cc b/src/analyzer/protocol/smtp/SMTP.cc
index 6b92484431..dff1677fc3 100644
--- a/src/analyzer/protocol/smtp/SMTP.cc
+++ b/src/analyzer/protocol/smtp/SMTP.cc
@@ -220,11 +220,11 @@ void SMTP_Analyzer::ProcessLine(int length, const char* line, bool orig)
 
 			if ( smtp_data && ! skip_data )
 				{
-				val_list* vl = new val_list;
-				vl->append(BuildConnVal());
-				vl->append(val_mgr->GetBool(orig));
-				vl->append(new StringVal(data_len, line));
-				ConnectionEvent(smtp_data, vl);
+				ConnectionEvent(smtp_data, {
+					BuildConnVal(),
+					val_mgr->GetBool(orig),
+					new StringVal(data_len, line),
+				});
 				}
 			}
 
@@ -350,15 +350,14 @@ void SMTP_Analyzer::ProcessLine(int length, const char* line, bool orig)
 						break;
 				}
 
-				val_list* vl = new val_list;
-				vl->append(BuildConnVal());
-				vl->append(val_mgr->GetBool(orig));
-				vl->append(val_mgr->GetCount(reply_code));
-				vl->append(new StringVal(cmd));
-				vl->append(new StringVal(end_of_line - line, line));
-				vl->append(val_mgr->GetBool((pending_reply > 0)));
-
-				ConnectionEvent(smtp_reply, vl);
+				ConnectionEvent(smtp_reply, {
+					BuildConnVal(),
+					val_mgr->GetBool(orig),
+					val_mgr->GetCount(reply_code),
+					new StringVal(cmd),
+					new StringVal(end_of_line - line, line),
+					val_mgr->GetBool((pending_reply > 0)),
+				});
 				}
 			}
 
@@ -411,10 +410,7 @@ void SMTP_Analyzer::StartTLS()
 	if ( ssl )
 		AddChildAnalyzer(ssl);
 
-	val_list* vl = new val_list;
-	vl->append(BuildConnVal());
-
-	ConnectionEvent(smtp_starttls, vl);
+	ConnectionEvent(smtp_starttls, {BuildConnVal()});
 	}
 
 
@@ -856,14 +852,12 @@ void SMTP_Analyzer::RequestEvent(int cmd_len, const char* cmd,
 				int arg_len, const char* arg)
 	{
 	ProtocolConfirmation();
-	val_list* vl = new val_list;
-
-	vl->append(BuildConnVal());
-	vl->append(val_mgr->GetBool(orig_is_sender));
-	vl->append((new StringVal(cmd_len, cmd))->ToUpper());
-	vl->append(new StringVal(arg_len, arg));
-
-	ConnectionEvent(smtp_request, vl);
+	ConnectionEvent(smtp_request, {
+		BuildConnVal(),
+		val_mgr->GetBool(orig_is_sender),
+		(new StringVal(cmd_len, cmd))->ToUpper(),
+		new StringVal(arg_len, arg),
+	});
 	}
 
 void SMTP_Analyzer::Unexpected(const int is_sender, const char* msg,
@@ -874,17 +868,16 @@ void SMTP_Analyzer::Unexpected(const int is_sender, const char* msg,
 
 	if ( smtp_unexpected )
 		{
-		val_list* vl = new val_list;
 		int is_orig = is_sender;
 		if ( ! orig_is_sender )
 			is_orig = ! is_orig;
 
-		vl->append(BuildConnVal());
-		vl->append(val_mgr->GetBool(is_orig));
-		vl->append(new StringVal(msg));
-		vl->append(new StringVal(detail_len, detail));
-
-		ConnectionEvent(smtp_unexpected, vl);
+		ConnectionEvent(smtp_unexpected, {
+			BuildConnVal(),
+			val_mgr->GetBool(is_orig),
+			new StringVal(msg),
+			new StringVal(detail_len, detail),
+		});
 		}
 	}
 
diff --git a/src/analyzer/protocol/stepping-stone/SteppingStone.cc b/src/analyzer/protocol/stepping-stone/SteppingStone.cc
index 3035a0b1a5..f4b4f78c89 100644
--- a/src/analyzer/protocol/stepping-stone/SteppingStone.cc
+++ b/src/analyzer/protocol/stepping-stone/SteppingStone.cc
@@ -139,25 +139,20 @@ void SteppingStoneEndpoint::Event(EventHandlerPtr f, int id1, int id2)
 	if ( ! f )
 		return;
 
-	val_list* vl = new val_list;
-
-	vl->append(val_mgr->GetInt(id1));
-
 	if ( id2 >= 0 )
-		vl->append(val_mgr->GetInt(id2));
+		endp->TCP()->ConnectionEvent(f, {val_mgr->GetInt(id1), val_mgr->GetInt(id2)});
+	else
+		endp->TCP()->ConnectionEvent(f, {val_mgr->GetInt(id1)});
 
-	endp->TCP()->ConnectionEvent(f, vl);
 	}
 
 void SteppingStoneEndpoint::CreateEndpEvent(int is_orig)
 	{
-	val_list* vl = new val_list;
-
-	vl->append(endp->TCP()->BuildConnVal());
-	vl->append(val_mgr->GetInt(stp_id));
-	vl->append(val_mgr->GetBool(is_orig));
-
-	endp->TCP()->ConnectionEvent(stp_create_endp, vl);
+	endp->TCP()->ConnectionEvent(stp_create_endp, {
+		endp->TCP()->BuildConnVal(),
+		val_mgr->GetInt(stp_id),
+		val_mgr->GetBool(is_orig),
+	});
 	}
 
 SteppingStone_Analyzer::SteppingStone_Analyzer(Connection* c)
diff --git a/src/analyzer/protocol/tcp/TCP.cc b/src/analyzer/protocol/tcp/TCP.cc
index 9329b103ed..a90e0f32c4 100644
--- a/src/analyzer/protocol/tcp/TCP.cc
+++ b/src/analyzer/protocol/tcp/TCP.cc
@@ -299,11 +299,11 @@ static void passive_fingerprint(TCP_Analyzer* tcp, bool is_orig,
 
 			if ( OS_val )
 				{ // found new OS version
-				val_list* vl = new val_list;
-				vl->append(tcp->BuildConnVal());
-				vl->append(src_addr_val->Ref());
-				vl->append(OS_val);
-				tcp->ConnectionEvent(OS_version_found, vl);
+				tcp->ConnectionEvent(OS_version_found, {
+					tcp->BuildConnVal(),
+					src_addr_val->Ref(),
+					OS_val,
+				});
 				}
 			}
 
@@ -965,20 +965,17 @@ void TCP_Analyzer::GeneratePacketEvent(
 					const u_char* data, int len, int caplen,
 					int is_orig, TCP_Flags flags)
 	{
-	val_list* vl = new val_list();
-
-	vl->append(BuildConnVal());
-	vl->append(val_mgr->GetBool(is_orig));
-	vl->append(new StringVal(flags.AsString()));
-	vl->append(val_mgr->GetCount(rel_seq));
-	vl->append(val_mgr->GetCount(flags.ACK() ? rel_ack : 0));
-	vl->append(val_mgr->GetCount(len));
-
-	// We need the min() here because Ethernet padding can lead to
-	// caplen > len.
-	vl->append(new StringVal(min(caplen, len), (const char*) data));
-
-	ConnectionEvent(tcp_packet, vl);
+	ConnectionEvent(tcp_packet, {
+		BuildConnVal(),
+		val_mgr->GetBool(is_orig),
+		new StringVal(flags.AsString()),
+		val_mgr->GetCount(rel_seq),
+		val_mgr->GetCount(flags.ACK() ? rel_ack : 0),
+		val_mgr->GetCount(len),
+		// We need the min() here because Ethernet padding can lead to
+		// caplen > len.
+		new StringVal(min(caplen, len), (const char*) data),
+	});
 	}
 
 int TCP_Analyzer::DeliverData(double t, const u_char* data, int len, int caplen,
@@ -1283,10 +1280,10 @@ void TCP_Analyzer::DeliverPacket(int len, const u_char* data, bool is_orig,
 
 		if ( connection_SYN_packet )
 			{
-			val_list* vl = new val_list;
-			vl->append(BuildConnVal());
-			vl->append(SYN_vals->Ref());
-			ConnectionEvent(connection_SYN_packet, vl);
+			ConnectionEvent(connection_SYN_packet, {
+				BuildConnVal(),
+				SYN_vals->Ref(),
+			});
 			}
 
 		passive_fingerprint(this, is_orig, ip, tp, tcp_hdr_len);
@@ -1503,14 +1500,12 @@ int TCP_Analyzer::TCPOptionEvent(unsigned int opt,
 	{
 	if ( tcp_option )
 		{
-		val_list* vl = new val_list();
-
-		vl->append(analyzer->BuildConnVal());
-		vl->append(val_mgr->GetBool(is_orig));
-		vl->append(val_mgr->GetCount(opt));
-		vl->append(val_mgr->GetCount(optlen));
-
-		analyzer->ConnectionEvent(tcp_option, vl);
+		analyzer->ConnectionEvent(tcp_option, {
+			analyzer->BuildConnVal(),
+			val_mgr->GetBool(is_orig),
+			val_mgr->GetCount(opt),
+			val_mgr->GetCount(optlen),
+		});
 		}
 
 	return 0;
@@ -1826,10 +1821,10 @@ void TCP_Analyzer::EndpointEOF(TCP_Reassembler* endp)
 	{
 	if ( connection_EOF )
 		{
-		val_list* vl = new val_list();
-		vl->append(BuildConnVal());
-		vl->append(val_mgr->GetBool(endp->IsOrig()));
-		ConnectionEvent(connection_EOF, vl);
+		ConnectionEvent(connection_EOF, {
+			BuildConnVal(),
+			val_mgr->GetBool(endp->IsOrig()),
+		});
 		}
 
 	const analyzer_list& children(GetChildren());
@@ -2108,15 +2103,14 @@ int TCPStats_Endpoint::DataSent(double /* t */, uint64 seq, int len, int caplen,
 
 		if ( tcp_rexmit )
 			{
-			val_list* vl = new val_list();
-			vl->append(endp->TCP()->BuildConnVal());
-			vl->append(val_mgr->GetBool(endp->IsOrig()));
-			vl->append(val_mgr->GetCount(seq));
-			vl->append(val_mgr->GetCount(len));
-			vl->append(val_mgr->GetCount(data_in_flight));
-			vl->append(val_mgr->GetCount(endp->peer->window));
-
-			endp->TCP()->ConnectionEvent(tcp_rexmit, vl);
+			endp->TCP()->ConnectionEvent(tcp_rexmit, {
+				endp->TCP()->BuildConnVal(),
+				val_mgr->GetBool(endp->IsOrig()),
+				val_mgr->GetCount(seq),
+				val_mgr->GetCount(len),
+				val_mgr->GetCount(data_in_flight),
+				val_mgr->GetCount(endp->peer->window),
+			});
 			}
 		}
 	else
@@ -2164,11 +2158,11 @@ void TCPStats_Analyzer::Done()
 	{
 	TCP_ApplicationAnalyzer::Done();
 
-	val_list* vl = new val_list;
-	vl->append(BuildConnVal());
-	vl->append(orig_stats->BuildStats());
-	vl->append(resp_stats->BuildStats());
-	ConnectionEvent(conn_stats, vl);
+	ConnectionEvent(conn_stats, {
+		BuildConnVal(),
+		orig_stats->BuildStats(),
+		resp_stats->BuildStats(),
+	});
 	}
 
 void TCPStats_Analyzer::DeliverPacket(int len, const u_char* data, bool is_orig, uint64 seq, const IP_Hdr* ip, int caplen)
diff --git a/src/analyzer/protocol/tcp/TCP_Endpoint.cc b/src/analyzer/protocol/tcp/TCP_Endpoint.cc
index 7e7b316e10..ce58398f2d 100644
--- a/src/analyzer/protocol/tcp/TCP_Endpoint.cc
+++ b/src/analyzer/protocol/tcp/TCP_Endpoint.cc
@@ -237,11 +237,11 @@ int TCP_Endpoint::DataSent(double t, uint64 seq, int len, int caplen,
 
 			if ( contents_file_write_failure )
 				{
-				val_list* vl = new val_list();
-				vl->append(Conn()->BuildConnVal());
-				vl->append(val_mgr->GetBool(IsOrig()));
-				vl->append(new StringVal(buf));
-				tcp_analyzer->ConnectionEvent(contents_file_write_failure, vl);
+				tcp_analyzer->ConnectionEvent(contents_file_write_failure, {
+					Conn()->BuildConnVal(),
+					val_mgr->GetBool(IsOrig()),
+					new StringVal(buf),
+				});
 				}
 			}
 		}
diff --git a/src/analyzer/protocol/tcp/TCP_Reassembler.cc b/src/analyzer/protocol/tcp/TCP_Reassembler.cc
index ef68f621b5..5ad6d2e460 100644
--- a/src/analyzer/protocol/tcp/TCP_Reassembler.cc
+++ b/src/analyzer/protocol/tcp/TCP_Reassembler.cc
@@ -136,12 +136,12 @@ void TCP_Reassembler::Gap(uint64 seq, uint64 len)
 
 	if ( report_gap(endp, endp->peer) )
 		{
-		val_list* vl = new val_list;
-		vl->append(dst_analyzer->BuildConnVal());
-		vl->append(val_mgr->GetBool(IsOrig()));
-		vl->append(val_mgr->GetCount(seq));
-		vl->append(val_mgr->GetCount(len));
-		dst_analyzer->ConnectionEvent(content_gap, vl);
+		dst_analyzer->ConnectionEvent(content_gap, {
+			dst_analyzer->BuildConnVal(),
+			val_mgr->GetBool(IsOrig()),
+			val_mgr->GetCount(seq),
+			val_mgr->GetCount(len),
+		});
 		}
 
 	if ( type == Direct )
@@ -335,11 +335,11 @@ void TCP_Reassembler::RecordBlock(DataBlock* b, BroFile* f)
 
 	if ( contents_file_write_failure )
 		{
-		val_list* vl = new val_list();
-		vl->append(Endpoint()->Conn()->BuildConnVal());
-		vl->append(val_mgr->GetBool(IsOrig()));
-		vl->append(new StringVal("TCP reassembler content write failure"));
-		tcp_analyzer->ConnectionEvent(contents_file_write_failure, vl);
+		tcp_analyzer->ConnectionEvent(contents_file_write_failure, {
+			Endpoint()->Conn()->BuildConnVal(),
+			val_mgr->GetBool(IsOrig()),
+			new StringVal("TCP reassembler content write failure"),
+		});
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -352,11 +352,11 @@ void TCP_Reassembler::RecordGap(uint64 start_seq, uint64 upper_seq, BroFile* f)
 
 	if ( contents_file_write_failure )
 		{
-		val_list* vl = new val_list();
-		vl->append(Endpoint()->Conn()->BuildConnVal());
-		vl->append(val_mgr->GetBool(IsOrig()));
-		vl->append(new StringVal("TCP reassembler gap write failure"));
-		tcp_analyzer->ConnectionEvent(contents_file_write_failure, vl);
+		tcp_analyzer->ConnectionEvent(contents_file_write_failure, {
+			Endpoint()->Conn()->BuildConnVal(),
+			val_mgr->GetBool(IsOrig()),
+			new StringVal("TCP reassembler gap write failure"),
+		});
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -425,12 +425,12 @@ void TCP_Reassembler::Overlap(const u_char* b1, const u_char* b2, uint64 n)
 		BroString* b1_s = new BroString((const u_char*) b1, n, 0);
 		BroString* b2_s = new BroString((const u_char*) b2, n, 0);
 
-		val_list* vl = new val_list(3);
-		vl->append(tcp_analyzer->BuildConnVal());
-		vl->append(new StringVal(b1_s));
-		vl->append(new StringVal(b2_s));
-		vl->append(new StringVal(flags.AsString()));
-		tcp_analyzer->ConnectionEvent(rexmit_inconsistency, vl);
+		tcp_analyzer->ConnectionEvent(rexmit_inconsistency, {
+			tcp_analyzer->BuildConnVal(),
+			new StringVal(b1_s),
+			new StringVal(b2_s),
+			new StringVal(flags.AsString()),
+		});
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -596,13 +596,12 @@ void TCP_Reassembler::DeliverBlock(uint64 seq, int len, const u_char* data)
 
 	if ( deliver_tcp_contents )
 		{
-		val_list* vl = new val_list();
-		vl->append(tcp_analyzer->BuildConnVal());
-		vl->append(val_mgr->GetBool(IsOrig()));
-		vl->append(val_mgr->GetCount(seq));
-		vl->append(new StringVal(len, (const char*) data));
-
-		tcp_analyzer->ConnectionEvent(tcp_contents, vl);
+		tcp_analyzer->ConnectionEvent(tcp_contents, {
+			tcp_analyzer->BuildConnVal(),
+			val_mgr->GetBool(IsOrig()),
+			val_mgr->GetCount(seq),
+			new StringVal(len, (const char*) data),
+		});
 		}
 
 	// Q. Can we say this because it is already checked in DataSent()?
diff --git a/src/analyzer/protocol/udp/UDP.cc b/src/analyzer/protocol/udp/UDP.cc
index ca144941b6..6123c42e91 100644
--- a/src/analyzer/protocol/udp/UDP.cc
+++ b/src/analyzer/protocol/udp/UDP.cc
@@ -157,11 +157,11 @@ void UDP_Analyzer::DeliverPacket(int len, const u_char* data, bool is_orig,
 
 		if ( do_udp_contents )
 			{
-			val_list* vl = new val_list;
-			vl->append(BuildConnVal());
-			vl->append(val_mgr->GetBool(is_orig));
-			vl->append(new StringVal(len, (const char*) data));
-			ConnectionEvent(udp_contents, vl);
+			ConnectionEvent(udp_contents, {
+				BuildConnVal(),
+				val_mgr->GetBool(is_orig),
+				new StringVal(len, (const char*) data),
+			});
 			}
 
 		Unref(port_val);
diff --git a/src/broker/Manager.cc b/src/broker/Manager.cc
index d31198ced7..c9d1d7a1e3 100644
--- a/src/broker/Manager.cc
+++ b/src/broker/Manager.cc
@@ -540,9 +540,11 @@ bool Manager::PublishLogWrite(EnumVal* stream, EnumVal* writer, string path, int
 	std::string serial_data(data, len);
 	free(data);
 
-	val_list vl(2);
-	vl.append(stream->Ref());
-	vl.append(new StringVal(path));
+	val_list vl{
+		stream->Ref(),
+		new StringVal(path),
+	};
+
 	Val* v = log_topic_func->Call(&vl);
 
 	if ( ! v )
@@ -993,7 +995,7 @@ void Manager::ProcessEvent(const broker::topic& topic, broker::bro::Event ev)
 		return;
 		}
 
-	auto vl = new val_list;
+	val_list vl(args.size());
 
 	for ( auto i = 0u; i < args.size(); ++i )
 		{
@@ -1002,7 +1004,7 @@ void Manager::ProcessEvent(const broker::topic& topic, broker::bro::Event ev)
 		auto val = data_to_val(std::move(args[i]), expected_type);
 
 		if ( val )
-			vl->append(val);
+			vl.append(val);
 		else
 			{
 			reporter->Warning("failed to convert remote event '%s' arg #%d,"
@@ -1013,10 +1015,13 @@ void Manager::ProcessEvent(const broker::topic& topic, broker::bro::Event ev)
 			}
 		}
 
-	if ( static_cast<size_t>(vl->length()) == args.size() )
-		mgr.QueueEvent(handler, vl, SOURCE_BROKER);
+	if ( static_cast<size_t>(vl.length()) == args.size() )
+		mgr.QueueEvent(handler, std::move(vl), SOURCE_BROKER);
 	else
-		delete_vals(vl);
+		{
+		loop_over_list(vl, i)
+			Unref(vl[i]);
+		}
 	}
 
 bool bro_broker::Manager::ProcessLogCreate(broker::bro::LogCreate lc)
@@ -1270,11 +1275,7 @@ void Manager::ProcessStatus(broker::status stat)
 	auto str = stat.message();
 	auto msg = new StringVal(str ? *str : "");
 
-	auto vl = new val_list;
-	vl->append(endpoint_info);
-	vl->append(msg);
-
-	mgr.QueueEvent(event, vl);
+	mgr.QueueEvent(event, {endpoint_info, msg});
 	}
 
 void Manager::ProcessError(broker::error err)
@@ -1351,10 +1352,10 @@ void Manager::ProcessError(broker::error err)
 		msg = fmt("[%s] %s", caf::to_string(err.category()).c_str(), caf::to_string(err.context()).c_str());
 		}
 
-	auto vl = new val_list;
-	vl->append(BifType::Enum::Broker::ErrorCode->GetVal(ec));
-	vl->append(new StringVal(msg));
-	mgr.QueueEvent(Broker::error, vl);
+	mgr.QueueEvent(Broker::error, {
+		BifType::Enum::Broker::ErrorCode->GetVal(ec),
+		new StringVal(msg),
+	});
 	}
 
 void Manager::ProcessStoreResponse(StoreHandleVal* s, broker::store::response response)
diff --git a/src/broker/messaging.bif b/src/broker/messaging.bif
index ec7696c752..d80f3742b6 100644
--- a/src/broker/messaging.bif
+++ b/src/broker/messaging.bif
@@ -183,9 +183,7 @@ function Cluster::publish_rr%(pool: Pool, key: string, ...%): bool
 	if ( ! topic_func )
 		topic_func = global_scope()->Lookup("Cluster::rr_topic")->ID_Val()->AsFunc();
 
-	val_list vl(2);
-	vl.append(pool->Ref());
-	vl.append(key->Ref());
+	val_list vl{pool->Ref(), key->Ref()};
 	auto topic = topic_func->Call(&vl);
 
 	if ( ! topic->AsString()->Len() )
@@ -226,9 +224,7 @@ function Cluster::publish_hrw%(pool: Pool, key: any, ...%): bool
 	if ( ! topic_func )
 		topic_func = global_scope()->Lookup("Cluster::hrw_topic")->ID_Val()->AsFunc();
 
-	val_list vl(2);
-	vl.append(pool->Ref());
-	vl.append(key->Ref());
+	val_list vl{pool->Ref(), key->Ref()};
 	auto topic = topic_func->Call(&vl);
 
 	if ( ! topic->AsString()->Len() )
diff --git a/src/file_analysis/File.cc b/src/file_analysis/File.cc
index 641943909e..faa6b280b0 100644
--- a/src/file_analysis/File.cc
+++ b/src/file_analysis/File.cc
@@ -154,11 +154,11 @@ void File::RaiseFileOverNewConnection(Connection* conn, bool is_orig)
 	{
 	if ( conn && FileEventAvailable(file_over_new_connection) )
 		{
-		val_list* vl = new val_list();
-		vl->append(val->Ref());
-		vl->append(conn->BuildConnVal());
-		vl->append(val_mgr->GetBool(is_orig));
-		FileEvent(file_over_new_connection, vl);
+		FileEvent(file_over_new_connection, {
+			val->Ref(),
+			conn->BuildConnVal(),
+			val_mgr->GetBool(is_orig),
+		});
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -303,13 +303,11 @@ bool File::SetMime(const string& mime_type)
 	if ( ! FileEventAvailable(file_sniff) )
 		return false;
 
-	val_list* vl = new val_list();
-	vl->append(val->Ref());
 	RecordVal* meta = new RecordVal(fa_metadata_type);
-	vl->append(meta);
 	meta->Assign(meta_mime_type_idx, new StringVal(mime_type));
 	meta->Assign(meta_inferred_idx, val_mgr->GetBool(0));
-	FileEvent(file_sniff, vl);
+
+	FileEvent(file_sniff, {val->Ref(), meta});
 	return true;
 	}
 
@@ -338,10 +336,7 @@ void File::InferMetadata()
 	len = min(len, LookupFieldDefaultCount(bof_buffer_size_idx));
 	file_mgr->DetectMIME(data, len, &matches);
 
-	val_list* vl = new val_list();
-	vl->append(val->Ref());
 	RecordVal* meta = new RecordVal(fa_metadata_type);
-	vl->append(meta);
 
 	if ( ! matches.empty() )
 		{
@@ -351,7 +346,7 @@ void File::InferMetadata()
 		             file_analysis::GenMIMEMatchesVal(matches));
 		}
 
-	FileEvent(file_sniff, vl);
+	FileEvent(file_sniff, {val->Ref(), meta});
 	return;
 	}
 
@@ -463,11 +458,11 @@ void File::DeliverChunk(const u_char* data, uint64 len, uint64 offset)
 
 			if ( FileEventAvailable(file_reassembly_overflow) )
 				{
-				val_list* vl = new val_list();
-				vl->append(val->Ref());
-				vl->append(val_mgr->GetCount(current_offset));
-				vl->append(val_mgr->GetCount(gap_bytes));
-				FileEvent(file_reassembly_overflow, vl);
+				FileEvent(file_reassembly_overflow, {
+					val->Ref(),
+					val_mgr->GetCount(current_offset),
+					val_mgr->GetCount(gap_bytes),
+				});
 				}
 			}
 
@@ -608,11 +603,11 @@ void File::Gap(uint64 offset, uint64 len)
 
 	if ( FileEventAvailable(file_gap) )
 		{
-		val_list* vl = new val_list();
-		vl->append(val->Ref());
-		vl->append(val_mgr->GetCount(offset));
-		vl->append(val_mgr->GetCount(len));
-		FileEvent(file_gap, vl);
+		FileEvent(file_gap, {
+			val->Ref(),
+			val_mgr->GetCount(offset),
+			val_mgr->GetCount(len),
+		});
 		}
 
 	analyzers.DrainModifications();
@@ -631,14 +626,18 @@ void File::FileEvent(EventHandlerPtr h)
 	if ( ! FileEventAvailable(h) )
 		return;
 
-	val_list* vl = new val_list();
-	vl->append(val->Ref());
-	FileEvent(h, vl);
+	FileEvent(h, {val->Ref()});
 	}
 
 void File::FileEvent(EventHandlerPtr h, val_list* vl)
 	{
-	mgr.QueueEvent(h, vl);
+	FileEvent(h, std::move(*vl));
+	delete vl;
+	}
+
+void File::FileEvent(EventHandlerPtr h, val_list vl)
+	{
+	mgr.QueueEvent(h, std::move(vl));
 
 	if ( h == file_new || h == file_over_new_connection ||
 	     h == file_sniff ||
diff --git a/src/file_analysis/File.h b/src/file_analysis/File.h
index 0c4c313f06..54517b53ba 100644
--- a/src/file_analysis/File.h
+++ b/src/file_analysis/File.h
@@ -172,6 +172,12 @@ public:
 	 */
 	void FileEvent(EventHandlerPtr h, val_list* vl);
 
+	/**
+	 * Raises an event related to the file's life-cycle.
+	 * @param h pointer to an event handler.
+	 * @param vl list of argument values to pass to event call.
+	 */
+	void FileEvent(EventHandlerPtr h, val_list vl);
 
 	/**
 	 * Sets the MIME type for a file to a specific value.
diff --git a/src/file_analysis/Manager.cc b/src/file_analysis/Manager.cc
index ab4b1ed261..134418a476 100644
--- a/src/file_analysis/Manager.cc
+++ b/src/file_analysis/Manager.cc
@@ -443,12 +443,11 @@ string Manager::GetFileID(analyzer::Tag tag, Connection* c, bool is_orig)
 	EnumVal* tagval = tag.AsEnumVal();
 	Ref(tagval);
 
-	val_list* vl = new val_list();
-	vl->append(tagval);
-	vl->append(c->BuildConnVal());
-	vl->append(val_mgr->GetBool(is_orig));
-
-	mgr.QueueEvent(get_file_handle, vl);
+	mgr.QueueEvent(get_file_handle, {
+		tagval,
+		c->BuildConnVal(),
+		val_mgr->GetBool(is_orig),
+	});
 	mgr.Drain(); // need file handle immediately so we don't have to buffer data
 	return current_file_id;
 	}
diff --git a/src/file_analysis/analyzer/data_event/DataEvent.cc b/src/file_analysis/analyzer/data_event/DataEvent.cc
index 15462e8e92..8aa688b879 100644
--- a/src/file_analysis/analyzer/data_event/DataEvent.cc
+++ b/src/file_analysis/analyzer/data_event/DataEvent.cc
@@ -41,12 +41,11 @@ bool DataEvent::DeliverChunk(const u_char* data, uint64 len, uint64 offset)
 	{
 	if ( ! chunk_event ) return true;
 
-	val_list* args = new val_list;
-	args->append(GetFile()->GetVal()->Ref());
-	args->append(new StringVal(new BroString(data, len, 0)));
-	args->append(val_mgr->GetCount(offset));
-
-	mgr.QueueEvent(chunk_event, args);
+	mgr.QueueEvent(chunk_event, {
+		GetFile()->GetVal()->Ref(),
+		new StringVal(new BroString(data, len, 0)),
+		val_mgr->GetCount(offset),
+	});
 
 	return true;
 	}
@@ -55,11 +54,10 @@ bool DataEvent::DeliverStream(const u_char* data, uint64 len)
 	{
 	if ( ! stream_event ) return true;
 
-	val_list* args = new val_list;
-	args->append(GetFile()->GetVal()->Ref());
-	args->append(new StringVal(new BroString(data, len, 0)));
-
-	mgr.QueueEvent(stream_event, args);
+	mgr.QueueEvent(stream_event, {
+		GetFile()->GetVal()->Ref(),
+		new StringVal(new BroString(data, len, 0)),
+	});
 
 	return true;
 	}
diff --git a/src/file_analysis/analyzer/entropy/Entropy.cc b/src/file_analysis/analyzer/entropy/Entropy.cc
index 4802224950..873b8e2fcf 100644
--- a/src/file_analysis/analyzer/entropy/Entropy.cc
+++ b/src/file_analysis/analyzer/entropy/Entropy.cc
@@ -53,9 +53,6 @@ void Entropy::Finalize()
 	if ( ! fed )
 		return;
 
-	val_list* vl = new val_list();
-	vl->append(GetFile()->GetVal()->Ref());
-
 	double montepi, scc, ent, mean, chisq;
 	montepi = scc = ent = mean = chisq = 0.0;
 	entropy->Get(&ent, &chisq, &mean, &montepi, &scc);
@@ -67,6 +64,8 @@ void Entropy::Finalize()
 	ent_result->Assign(3, new Val(montepi, TYPE_DOUBLE));
 	ent_result->Assign(4, new Val(scc,     TYPE_DOUBLE));
 
-	vl->append(ent_result);
-	mgr.QueueEvent(file_entropy, vl);
+	mgr.QueueEvent(file_entropy, {
+		GetFile()->GetVal()->Ref(),
+		ent_result,
+	});
 	}
diff --git a/src/file_analysis/analyzer/extract/Extract.cc b/src/file_analysis/analyzer/extract/Extract.cc
index dc05fba367..e7aca5bcf3 100644
--- a/src/file_analysis/analyzer/extract/Extract.cc
+++ b/src/file_analysis/analyzer/extract/Extract.cc
@@ -90,12 +90,12 @@ bool Extract::DeliverStream(const u_char* data, uint64 len)
 	if ( limit_exceeded && file_extraction_limit )
 		{
 		File* f = GetFile();
-		val_list* vl = new val_list();
-		vl->append(f->GetVal()->Ref());
-		vl->append(Args()->Ref());
-		vl->append(val_mgr->GetCount(limit));
-		vl->append(val_mgr->GetCount(len));
-		f->FileEvent(file_extraction_limit, vl);
+		f->FileEvent(file_extraction_limit, {
+			f->GetVal()->Ref(),
+			Args()->Ref(),
+			val_mgr->GetCount(limit),
+			val_mgr->GetCount(len),
+		});
 
 		// Limit may have been modified by a BIF, re-check it.
 		limit_exceeded = check_limit_exceeded(limit, depth, len, &towrite);
diff --git a/src/file_analysis/analyzer/hash/Hash.cc b/src/file_analysis/analyzer/hash/Hash.cc
index 9829934301..07bcb0babd 100644
--- a/src/file_analysis/analyzer/hash/Hash.cc
+++ b/src/file_analysis/analyzer/hash/Hash.cc
@@ -48,10 +48,9 @@ void Hash::Finalize()
 	if ( ! hash->IsValid() || ! fed )
 		return;
 
-	val_list* vl = new val_list();
-	vl->append(GetFile()->GetVal()->Ref());
-	vl->append(new StringVal(kind));
-	vl->append(hash->Get());
-
-	mgr.QueueEvent(file_hash, vl);
+	mgr.QueueEvent(file_hash, {
+		GetFile()->GetVal()->Ref(),
+		new StringVal(kind),
+		hash->Get(),
+	});
 	}
diff --git a/src/file_analysis/analyzer/unified2/unified2-analyzer.pac b/src/file_analysis/analyzer/unified2/unified2-analyzer.pac
index 00229184a2..ee874c4d37 100644
--- a/src/file_analysis/analyzer/unified2/unified2-analyzer.pac
+++ b/src/file_analysis/analyzer/unified2/unified2-analyzer.pac
@@ -81,10 +81,11 @@ refine flow Flow += {
 			ids_event->Assign(11, to_port(${ev.dst_p}, ${ev.protocol}));
 			ids_event->Assign(17, val_mgr->GetCount(${ev.packet_action}));
 
-			val_list* vl = new val_list();
-			vl->append(connection()->bro_analyzer()->GetFile()->GetVal()->Ref());
-			vl->append(ids_event);
-			mgr.QueueEvent(::unified2_event, vl, SOURCE_LOCAL);
+			mgr.QueueEvent(::unified2_event, {
+					connection()->bro_analyzer()->GetFile()->GetVal()->Ref(),
+					ids_event,
+					},
+				SOURCE_LOCAL);
 			}
 		return true;
 		%}
@@ -112,10 +113,11 @@ refine flow Flow += {
 			ids_event->Assign(15, val_mgr->GetCount(${ev.mpls_label}));
 			ids_event->Assign(16, val_mgr->GetCount(${ev.vlan_id}));
 
-			val_list* vl = new val_list();
-			vl->append(connection()->bro_analyzer()->GetFile()->GetVal()->Ref());
-			vl->append(ids_event);
-			mgr.QueueEvent(::unified2_event, vl, SOURCE_LOCAL);
+			mgr.QueueEvent(::unified2_event, {
+					connection()->bro_analyzer()->GetFile()->GetVal()->Ref(),
+					ids_event,
+					},
+				SOURCE_LOCAL);
 			}
 
 		return true;
@@ -133,10 +135,11 @@ refine flow Flow += {
 			packet->Assign(4, val_mgr->GetCount(${pkt.link_type}));
 			packet->Assign(5, bytestring_to_val(${pkt.packet_data}));
 
-			val_list* vl = new val_list();
-			vl->append(connection()->bro_analyzer()->GetFile()->GetVal()->Ref());
-			vl->append(packet);
-			mgr.QueueEvent(::unified2_packet, vl, SOURCE_LOCAL);
+			mgr.QueueEvent(::unified2_packet, {
+					connection()->bro_analyzer()->GetFile()->GetVal()->Ref(),
+					packet,
+					},
+				SOURCE_LOCAL);
 			}
 
 		return true;
diff --git a/src/file_analysis/analyzer/x509/OCSP.cc b/src/file_analysis/analyzer/x509/OCSP.cc
index c49481c23a..3681c6fd44 100644
--- a/src/file_analysis/analyzer/x509/OCSP.cc
+++ b/src/file_analysis/analyzer/x509/OCSP.cc
@@ -417,10 +417,6 @@ void file_analysis::OCSP::ParseRequest(OCSP_REQUEST* req)
 	char buf[OCSP_STRING_BUF_SIZE]; // we need a buffer for some of the openssl functions
 	memset(buf, 0, sizeof(buf));
 
-	// build up our response as we go along...
-	val_list* vl = new val_list();
-	vl->append(GetFile()->GetVal()->Ref());
-
 	uint64 version = 0;
 
 #if ( OPENSSL_VERSION_NUMBER < 0x10100000L ) || defined(LIBRESSL_VERSION_NUMBER)
@@ -431,23 +427,24 @@ void file_analysis::OCSP::ParseRequest(OCSP_REQUEST* req)
 	// TODO: try to parse out general name ?
 #endif
 
-	vl->append(val_mgr->GetCount(version));
+	mgr.QueueEvent(ocsp_request, {
+		GetFile()->GetVal()->Ref(),
+		val_mgr->GetCount(version),
+	});
 
 	BIO *bio = BIO_new(BIO_s_mem());
 
-	mgr.QueueEvent(ocsp_request, vl);
-
 	int req_count = OCSP_request_onereq_count(req);
 	for ( int i=0; i<req_count; i++ )
 		{
-		val_list* rvl = new val_list();
-		rvl->append(GetFile()->GetVal()->Ref());
+		val_list rvl(5);
+		rvl.append(GetFile()->GetVal()->Ref());
 
 		OCSP_ONEREQ *one_req = OCSP_request_onereq_get0(req, i);
 		OCSP_CERTID *cert_id = OCSP_onereq_get0_id(one_req);
 
-		ocsp_add_cert_id(cert_id, rvl, bio);
-		mgr.QueueEvent(ocsp_request_certificate, rvl);
+		ocsp_add_cert_id(cert_id, &rvl, bio);
+		mgr.QueueEvent(ocsp_request_certificate, std::move(rvl));
 		}
 
 	BIO_free(bio);
@@ -470,14 +467,13 @@ void file_analysis::OCSP::ParseResponse(OCSP_RESPVal *resp_val)
  	char buf[OCSP_STRING_BUF_SIZE];
 	memset(buf, 0, sizeof(buf));
 
-	val_list* vl = new val_list();
-	vl->append(GetFile()->GetVal()->Ref());
-
 	const char *status_str = OCSP_response_status_str(OCSP_response_status(resp));
 	StringVal* status_val = new StringVal(strlen(status_str), status_str);
-	vl->append(status_val->Ref());
-	mgr.QueueEvent(ocsp_response_status, vl);
-	vl = nullptr;
+
+	mgr.QueueEvent(ocsp_response_status, {
+		GetFile()->GetVal()->Ref(),
+		status_val->Ref(),
+	});
 
 	//if (!resp_bytes)
 	//	{
@@ -490,6 +486,8 @@ void file_analysis::OCSP::ParseResponse(OCSP_RESPVal *resp_val)
 	//int len = BIO_read(bio, buf, sizeof(buf));
 	//BIO_reset(bio);
 
+	val_list vl(8);
+
 	// get the basic response
 	basic_resp = OCSP_response_get1_basic(resp);
 	if ( !basic_resp )
@@ -501,28 +499,27 @@ void file_analysis::OCSP::ParseResponse(OCSP_RESPVal *resp_val)
 		goto clean_up;
 #endif
 
-	vl = new val_list();
-	vl->append(GetFile()->GetVal()->Ref());
-	vl->append(resp_val->Ref());
-	vl->append(status_val);
+	vl.append(GetFile()->GetVal()->Ref());
+	vl.append(resp_val->Ref());
+	vl.append(status_val);
 
 #if ( OPENSSL_VERSION_NUMBER < 0x10100000L ) || defined(LIBRESSL_VERSION_NUMBER)
-	vl->append(val_mgr->GetCount((uint64)ASN1_INTEGER_get(resp_data->version)));
+	vl.append(val_mgr->GetCount((uint64)ASN1_INTEGER_get(resp_data->version)));
 #else
-	vl->append(parse_basic_resp_data_version(basic_resp));
+	vl.append(parse_basic_resp_data_version(basic_resp));
 #endif
 
 	// responderID
 	if ( OCSP_RESPID_bio(basic_resp, bio) )
 		{
 		len = BIO_read(bio, buf, sizeof(buf));
-		vl->append(new StringVal(len, buf));
+		vl.append(new StringVal(len, buf));
 		BIO_reset(bio);
 		}
 	else
 		{
 		reporter->Weird("OpenSSL failed to get OCSP responder id");
-		vl->append(val_mgr->GetEmptyString());
+		vl.append(val_mgr->GetEmptyString());
 		}
 
 	// producedAt
@@ -532,7 +529,7 @@ void file_analysis::OCSP::ParseResponse(OCSP_RESPVal *resp_val)
 	produced_at = OCSP_resp_get0_produced_at(basic_resp);
 #endif
 
-	vl->append(new Val(GetTimeFromAsn1(produced_at, GetFile(), reporter), TYPE_TIME));
+	vl.append(new Val(GetTimeFromAsn1(produced_at, GetFile(), reporter), TYPE_TIME));
 
 	// responses
 
@@ -545,8 +542,8 @@ void file_analysis::OCSP::ParseResponse(OCSP_RESPVal *resp_val)
 		if ( !single_resp )
 			continue;
 
-		val_list* rvl = new val_list();
-		rvl->append(GetFile()->GetVal()->Ref());
+		val_list rvl(10);
+		rvl.append(GetFile()->GetVal()->Ref());
 
 		// cert id
 		const OCSP_CERTID* cert_id = nullptr;
@@ -557,7 +554,7 @@ void file_analysis::OCSP::ParseResponse(OCSP_RESPVal *resp_val)
 		cert_id = OCSP_SINGLERESP_get0_id(single_resp);
 #endif
 
-		ocsp_add_cert_id(cert_id, rvl, bio);
+		ocsp_add_cert_id(cert_id, &rvl, bio);
 		BIO_reset(bio);
 
 		// certStatus
@@ -574,38 +571,38 @@ void file_analysis::OCSP::ParseResponse(OCSP_RESPVal *resp_val)
 			reporter->Weird("OpenSSL failed to find status of OCSP response");
 
 		const char* cert_status_str = OCSP_cert_status_str(status);
-		rvl->append(new StringVal(strlen(cert_status_str), cert_status_str));
+		rvl.append(new StringVal(strlen(cert_status_str), cert_status_str));
 
 		// revocation time and reason if revoked
 		if ( status == V_OCSP_CERTSTATUS_REVOKED )
 			{
-			rvl->append(new Val(GetTimeFromAsn1(revoke_time, GetFile(), reporter), TYPE_TIME));
+			rvl.append(new Val(GetTimeFromAsn1(revoke_time, GetFile(), reporter), TYPE_TIME));
 
 			if ( reason != OCSP_REVOKED_STATUS_NOSTATUS )
 				{
 				const char* revoke_reason = OCSP_crl_reason_str(reason);
-				rvl->append(new StringVal(strlen(revoke_reason), revoke_reason));
+				rvl.append(new StringVal(strlen(revoke_reason), revoke_reason));
 				}
 			else
-				rvl->append(new StringVal(0, ""));
+				rvl.append(new StringVal(0, ""));
 			}
 		else
 			{
-			rvl->append(new Val(0.0, TYPE_TIME));
-			rvl->append(new StringVal(0, ""));
+			rvl.append(new Val(0.0, TYPE_TIME));
+			rvl.append(new StringVal(0, ""));
 			}
 
 		if ( this_update )
-			rvl->append(new Val(GetTimeFromAsn1(this_update, GetFile(), reporter), TYPE_TIME));
+			rvl.append(new Val(GetTimeFromAsn1(this_update, GetFile(), reporter), TYPE_TIME));
 		else
-			rvl->append(new Val(0.0, TYPE_TIME));
+			rvl.append(new Val(0.0, TYPE_TIME));
 
 		if ( next_update )
-			rvl->append(new Val(GetTimeFromAsn1(next_update, GetFile(), reporter), TYPE_TIME));
+			rvl.append(new Val(GetTimeFromAsn1(next_update, GetFile(), reporter), TYPE_TIME));
 		else
-			rvl->append(new Val(0.0, TYPE_TIME));
+			rvl.append(new Val(0.0, TYPE_TIME));
 
-		mgr.QueueEvent(ocsp_response_certificate, rvl);
+		mgr.QueueEvent(ocsp_response_certificate, std::move(rvl));
 
 		num_ext = OCSP_SINGLERESP_get_ext_count(single_resp);
 		for ( int k = 0; k < num_ext; ++k )
@@ -621,10 +618,10 @@ void file_analysis::OCSP::ParseResponse(OCSP_RESPVal *resp_val)
 #if ( OPENSSL_VERSION_NUMBER < 0x10100000L ) || defined(LIBRESSL_VERSION_NUMBER)
 	i2a_ASN1_OBJECT(bio, basic_resp->signatureAlgorithm->algorithm);
 	len = BIO_read(bio, buf, sizeof(buf));
-	vl->append(new StringVal(len, buf));
+	vl.append(new StringVal(len, buf));
 	BIO_reset(bio);
 #else
-	vl->append(parse_basic_resp_sig_alg(basic_resp, bio, buf, sizeof(buf)));
+	vl.append(parse_basic_resp_sig_alg(basic_resp, bio, buf, sizeof(buf)));
 #endif
 
 	//i2a_ASN1_OBJECT(bio, basic_resp->signature);
@@ -633,7 +630,7 @@ void file_analysis::OCSP::ParseResponse(OCSP_RESPVal *resp_val)
 	//BIO_reset(bio);
 
 	certs_vector = new VectorVal(internal_type("x509_opaque_vector")->AsVectorType());
-	vl->append(certs_vector);
+	vl.append(certs_vector);
 
 #if ( OPENSSL_VERSION_NUMBER < 0x10100000L ) || defined(LIBRESSL_VERSION_NUMBER)
 	certs = basic_resp->certs;
@@ -654,7 +651,8 @@ void file_analysis::OCSP::ParseResponse(OCSP_RESPVal *resp_val)
 				reporter->Weird("OpenSSL returned null certificate");
 			}
 	  }
-	mgr.QueueEvent(ocsp_response_bytes, vl);
+
+	mgr.QueueEvent(ocsp_response_bytes, std::move(vl));
 
 	// ok, now that we are done with the actual certificate - let's parse extensions :)
 	num_ext = OCSP_BASICRESP_get_ext_count(basic_resp);
diff --git a/src/file_analysis/analyzer/x509/X509.cc b/src/file_analysis/analyzer/x509/X509.cc
index 38422897db..c33f20a800 100644
--- a/src/file_analysis/analyzer/x509/X509.cc
+++ b/src/file_analysis/analyzer/x509/X509.cc
@@ -57,11 +57,11 @@ bool file_analysis::X509::EndOfFile()
 	RecordVal* cert_record = ParseCertificate(cert_val, GetFile());
 
 	// and send the record on to scriptland
-	val_list* vl = new val_list();
-	vl->append(GetFile()->GetVal()->Ref());
-	vl->append(cert_val->Ref());
-	vl->append(cert_record->Ref()); // we Ref it here, because we want to keep a copy around for now...
-	mgr.QueueEvent(x509_certificate, vl);
+	mgr.QueueEvent(x509_certificate, {
+		GetFile()->GetVal()->Ref(),
+		cert_val->Ref(),
+		cert_record->Ref(), // we Ref it here, because we want to keep a copy around for now...
+	});
 
 	// after parsing the certificate - parse the extensions...
 
@@ -227,11 +227,10 @@ void file_analysis::X509::ParseBasicConstraints(X509_EXTENSION* ex)
 		if ( constr->pathlen )
 			pBasicConstraint->Assign(1, val_mgr->GetCount((int32_t) ASN1_INTEGER_get(constr->pathlen)));
 
-		val_list* vl = new val_list();
-		vl->append(GetFile()->GetVal()->Ref());
-		vl->append(pBasicConstraint);
-
-		mgr.QueueEvent(x509_ext_basic_constraints, vl);
+		mgr.QueueEvent(x509_ext_basic_constraints, {
+			GetFile()->GetVal()->Ref(),
+			pBasicConstraint,
+		});
 		BASIC_CONSTRAINTS_free(constr);
 		}
 
@@ -367,10 +366,10 @@ void file_analysis::X509::ParseSAN(X509_EXTENSION* ext)
 
 		sanExt->Assign(4, val_mgr->GetBool(otherfields));
 
-		val_list* vl = new val_list();
-		vl->append(GetFile()->GetVal()->Ref());
-		vl->append(sanExt);
-		mgr.QueueEvent(x509_ext_subject_alternative_name, vl);
+		mgr.QueueEvent(x509_ext_subject_alternative_name, {
+			GetFile()->GetVal()->Ref(),
+			sanExt,
+		});
 	GENERAL_NAMES_free(altname);
 	}
 
diff --git a/src/file_analysis/analyzer/x509/X509Common.cc b/src/file_analysis/analyzer/x509/X509Common.cc
index b6c16fc1dc..7fb3100e97 100644
--- a/src/file_analysis/analyzer/x509/X509Common.cc
+++ b/src/file_analysis/analyzer/x509/X509Common.cc
@@ -277,13 +277,18 @@ void file_analysis::X509Common::ParseExtension(X509_EXTENSION* ex, EventHandlerP
 	// parsed. And if we have it, we send the specialized event on top of the
 	// generic event that we just had. I know, that is... kind of not nice,
 	// but I am not sure if there is a better way to do it...
-	val_list* vl = new val_list();
-	vl->append(GetFile()->GetVal()->Ref());
-	vl->append(pX509Ext);
-	if ( h == ocsp_extension )
-		vl->append(val_mgr->GetBool(global ? 1 : 0));
 
-	mgr.QueueEvent(h, vl);
+	if ( h == ocsp_extension )
+		mgr.QueueEvent(h, {
+			GetFile()->GetVal()->Ref(),
+			pX509Ext,
+			val_mgr->GetBool(global ? 1 : 0),
+		});
+	else
+		mgr.QueueEvent(h, {
+			GetFile()->GetVal()->Ref(),
+			pX509Ext,
+		});
 
 	// let individual analyzers parse more.
 	ParseExtensionsSpecific(ex, global, ext_asn, oid);
diff --git a/src/input/Manager.cc b/src/input/Manager.cc
index aaf84a99b2..002e8cded9 100644
--- a/src/input/Manager.cc
+++ b/src/input/Manager.cc
@@ -1865,11 +1865,12 @@ bool Manager::SendEvent(ReaderFrontend* reader, const string& name, const int nu
 
 	bool convert_error = false;
 
-	val_list* vl = new val_list;
+	val_list vl(num_vals);
+
 	for ( int j = 0; j < num_vals; j++)
 		{
 		Val* v = ValueToVal(i, vals[j], convert_error);
-		vl->append(v);
+		vl.append(v);
 		if ( v && ! convert_error && ! same_type(type->FieldType(j), v->Type()) )
 			{
 			convert_error = true;
@@ -1881,18 +1882,20 @@ bool Manager::SendEvent(ReaderFrontend* reader, const string& name, const int nu
 
 	if ( convert_error )
 		{
-		delete_vals(vl);
+		loop_over_list(vl, i)
+			Unref(vl[i]);
+
 		return false;
 		}
 	else
-		mgr.QueueEvent(handler, vl, SOURCE_LOCAL);
+		mgr.QueueEvent(handler, std::move(vl), SOURCE_LOCAL);
 
 	return true;
 }
 
 void Manager::SendEvent(EventHandlerPtr ev, const int numvals, ...) const
 	{
-	val_list* vl = new val_list;
+	val_list vl(numvals);
 
 #ifdef DEBUG
 	DBG_LOG(DBG_INPUT, "SendEvent with %d vals",
@@ -1902,16 +1905,16 @@ void Manager::SendEvent(EventHandlerPtr ev, const int numvals, ...) const
 	va_list lP;
 	va_start(lP, numvals);
 	for ( int i = 0; i < numvals; i++ )
-		vl->append( va_arg(lP, Val*) );
+		vl.append( va_arg(lP, Val*) );
 
 	va_end(lP);
 
-	mgr.QueueEvent(ev, vl, SOURCE_LOCAL);
+	mgr.QueueEvent(ev, std::move(vl), SOURCE_LOCAL);
 	}
 
 void Manager::SendEvent(EventHandlerPtr ev, list<Val*> events) const
 	{
-	val_list* vl = new val_list;
+	val_list vl(events.size());
 
 #ifdef DEBUG
 	DBG_LOG(DBG_INPUT, "SendEvent with %" PRIuPTR " vals (list)",
@@ -1919,11 +1922,9 @@ void Manager::SendEvent(EventHandlerPtr ev, list<Val*> events) const
 #endif
 
 	for ( list<Val*>::iterator i = events.begin(); i != events.end(); i++ )
-		{
-		vl->append( *i );
-		}
+		vl.append( *i );
 
-	mgr.QueueEvent(ev, vl, SOURCE_LOCAL);
+	mgr.QueueEvent(ev, std::move(vl), SOURCE_LOCAL);
 	}
 
 // Convert a bro list value to a bro record value.
diff --git a/src/logging/Manager.cc b/src/logging/Manager.cc
index f1b459811f..108869be9f 100644
--- a/src/logging/Manager.cc
+++ b/src/logging/Manager.cc
@@ -715,11 +715,7 @@ bool Manager::Write(EnumVal* id, RecordVal* columns)
 
 	// Raise the log event.
 	if ( stream->event )
-		{
-		val_list* vl = new val_list(1);
-		vl->append(columns->Ref());
-		mgr.QueueEvent(stream->event, vl, SOURCE_LOCAL);
-		}
+		mgr.QueueEvent(stream->event, {columns->Ref()}, SOURCE_LOCAL);
 
 	// Send to each of our filters.
 	for ( list<Filter*>::iterator i = stream->filters.begin();
@@ -732,8 +728,7 @@ bool Manager::Write(EnumVal* id, RecordVal* columns)
 			{
 			// See whether the predicates indicates that we want
 			// to log this record.
-			val_list vl(1);
-			vl.append(columns->Ref());
+			val_list vl{columns->Ref()};
 
 			int result = 1;
 
@@ -750,17 +745,12 @@ bool Manager::Write(EnumVal* id, RecordVal* columns)
 
 		if ( filter->path_func )
 			{
-			val_list vl(3);
-			vl.append(id->Ref());
-
 			Val* path_arg;
 			if ( filter->path_val )
 				path_arg = filter->path_val->Ref();
 			else
 				path_arg = val_mgr->GetEmptyString();
 
-			vl.append(path_arg);
-
 			Val* rec_arg;
 			BroType* rt = filter->path_func->FType()->Args()->FieldType("rec");
 
@@ -770,7 +760,11 @@ bool Manager::Write(EnumVal* id, RecordVal* columns)
 				// Can be TYPE_ANY here.
 				rec_arg = columns->Ref();
 
-			vl.append(rec_arg);
+			val_list vl{
+				id->Ref(),
+				path_arg,
+				rec_arg,
+			};
 
 			Val* v = 0;
 
@@ -1087,8 +1081,7 @@ threading::Value** Manager::RecordToFilterVals(Stream* stream, Filter* filter,
 	RecordVal* ext_rec = nullptr;
 	if ( filter->num_ext_fields > 0 )
 		{
-		val_list vl(1);
-		vl.append(filter->path_val->Ref());
+		val_list vl{filter->path_val->Ref()};
 		Val* res = filter->ext_func->Call(&vl);
 		if ( res )
 			ext_rec = res->AsRecordVal();
@@ -1593,8 +1586,7 @@ bool Manager::FinishedRotation(WriterFrontend* writer, const char* new_name, con
 	assert(func);
 
 	// Call the postprocessor function.
-	val_list vl(1);
-	vl.append(info);
+	val_list vl{info};
 
 	int result = 0;
 
diff --git a/src/main.cc b/src/main.cc
index 1116b8c331..56300fc1a2 100644
--- a/src/main.cc
+++ b/src/main.cc
@@ -284,12 +284,11 @@ void done_with_network()
 
 	if ( net_done )
 		{
-		val_list* args = new val_list;
-		args->append(new Val(timer_mgr->Time(), TYPE_TIME));
 		mgr.Drain();
-
 		// Don't propagate this event to remote clients.
-		mgr.Dispatch(new Event(net_done, args), true);
+		mgr.Dispatch(new Event(net_done,
+		                       {new Val(timer_mgr->Time(), TYPE_TIME)}),
+		             true);
 		}
 
 	// Save state before expiring the remaining events/timers.
@@ -341,7 +340,7 @@ void terminate_bro()
 
 	EventHandlerPtr bro_done = internal_handler("bro_done");
 	if ( bro_done )
-		mgr.QueueEvent(bro_done, new val_list);
+		mgr.QueueEvent(bro_done, val_list{});
 
 	timer_mgr->Expire();
 	mgr.Drain();
@@ -1137,8 +1136,9 @@ int main(int argc, char** argv)
 		net_update_time(current_time());
 
 	EventHandlerPtr bro_init = internal_handler("bro_init");
-	if ( bro_init )	//### this should be a function
-		mgr.QueueEvent(bro_init, new val_list);
+
+	if ( bro_init )
+		mgr.QueueEvent(bro_init, val_list{});
 
 	EventRegistry::string_list* dead_handlers =
 		event_registry->UnusedHandlers();
@@ -1190,10 +1190,10 @@ int main(int argc, char** argv)
 		if ( i->skipped )
 			continue;
 
-		val_list* vl = new val_list;
-		vl->append(new StringVal(i->name.c_str()));
-		vl->append(val_mgr->GetCount(i->include_level));
-		mgr.QueueEvent(bro_script_loaded, vl);
+		mgr.QueueEvent(bro_script_loaded, {
+			new StringVal(i->name.c_str()),
+			val_mgr->GetCount(i->include_level),
+		});
 		}
 
 	reporter->ReportViaEvents(true);
diff --git a/src/option.bif b/src/option.bif
index 2156808763..04bc7f2b1b 100644
--- a/src/option.bif
+++ b/src/option.bif
@@ -15,10 +15,12 @@ static bool call_option_handlers_and_set_value(StringVal* name, ID* i, Val* val,
 		{
 		for ( auto handler_function : i->GetOptionHandlers() )
 			{
-			val_list vl(2);
+			bool add_loc = handler_function->FType()->AsFuncType()->ArgTypes()->Types()->length() == 3;
+			val_list vl(2 + add_loc);
 			vl.append(name->Ref());
 			vl.append(val);
-			if ( handler_function->FType()->AsFuncType()->ArgTypes()->Types()->length() == 3 )
+
+			if ( add_loc )
 				vl.append(location->Ref());
 
 			val = handler_function->Call(&vl); // consumed by next call.