EVENT #6: BY HEAVEN OR HELL

[aionmods]

By Heaven or Hell

THE BURNING

Achamoth, as it turns out, is no stranger to public killings... the burning of two Pleroma, however? That's special. Abel and Himeka's upcoming execution date seems to be regarded by the city's populace as something akin to a holiday, with the upper crust of the social stratum fighting for positions of prominence in the festivities, including the best possible seats. It's been decades since any Pleroma have been brought to heel in Achamoth, and it would only be prudent to place yourself at the forefront of this exciting new trend. There's a sense of pageantry to it: ritualized ceremonies, public sermons, and strange religious 'décor' are all part of the process.

The city is in the throes of these preparations when the two Pleroma captives are finally brought to a central square not far from the Citadel's front gates. Two burning pyres have been set up for them, about ten feet apart. While Abel and Himeka's bodies are chained to their stakes, their shards will be handed off to Silco, Ciel, and Makoto to be brought along separately. The set up of the execution is thus: while their bodies are ravaged by flames, their shards will be bound to an altar in advance of the pyre. Via a kind of alchemical 'fuse', the pyre being lit will trigger a reaction that will gradually result in a explosion on the altar just large enough to destroy the shard in turn. The shards will be bound in position with a series of jewelry-like metal prongs that could be pried away, but would take some time to do carefully.

As the Pleroma make it to the city, the sun will be setting on the 17th of Firaseri, with the execution about to be underway. The pyres will not yet have been lit, but are fully prepared. All Kenoma will be called upon to guard the city, with the warning that the Pleroma are mounting a raid to rescue their imprisoned comrades. For Kenoma both new and old, it's a time to test your mettle. Those that defend Achamoth valiantly can expect to be rewarded.

INNOCENCE ON FIRE

The city of Achamoth looms ahead, a seat of power in Horos in every fashion. It sprawls outwards, claiming the lands around it in a lazy confidence. The spires of the city grow up and up like a mountain, dragging the eye towards the Citadel. The walls that surround it are modest in height as if offering a challenge to any foolish enough to attempt to climb them. Who would? The Regent's eye is ever-present and the guard towers that line it like beaded pearls on a string are reminders that nothing goes in or out of the city without notice. Openings in the towers and the walls threaten the use of projectiles while dark, shimmering crystals float above with the quiet hum of protective magics. Only a fool would breach these borders.

Initially, getting into the city unmolested will be a considerable struggle for the Pleroma. It's military is robust, its fortifications solid, and even without the Kenoma's added resistance, the sheer numbers could be considered insurmountable. Stealth could get them some of the way, but its sentries are watchful, and immigration is strictly controlled. With faith alone driving the Pleroma towards their goal it's fortunate, then, that something is there to answer their call.

Estinien will feel the presence of the Innocence Entity rise up in him again, and this time it is offering him a choice. He may utilize its power to save the ones he loves, while risking both the brutality of the Regent's defenses and the threat to his own soul by channeling such power. It will stand with him against the darkness, it says, if it is truly his will. Emboldened by the power of the Firebrand and his love for his comrades, it is no surprise that he accepts.

Light will flood the sky above Achamoth, an ethereal aura combatting the encroach of the night. From a great miasma of wings and flame, a colossal dragon emerges, coiling above the city skyline. Its luminescence rains down upon the city, and all Achamites exposed to it will be enchanted into finding the idea of committing acts of violence unthinkable, at least so long as no violence is brought against them in turn. With much of Achamoth's defenses having lost the will to fight, only the Kenoma will stand in the Pleroma's way as they penetrate the city, making their way to Abel and Himeka's pyres.

As the Pleroma forge ahead, this draconic being that was once Estinien Wyrmblood will guard from the skies, drawing the attention of the Kenoma towards it and it threatens to bear its might against the Citadel itself. Fortunately for the Kenoma guarding the city, they will know that the Regent has a plan. All they must do is hold off the beast long enough for the Regent to wield their own strength in turn. The battle against this creature will take place here, with combat rules being explain in this OOC post.

As the power of the Innocent washes over Achamoth, those of its Legacy, or those marked by its Promise or Touch, will hear it speak on the winds in a chorus of voices:

Aions of this new dawn... I have honored your choice... fight... if you will... and I will follow...

FIREBRAND RISING

Beneath the moon of Firaseri, however, the Innocent isn't the only force at play. Firebrands of both sects will find themselves spurred on by a rush of Legacy-based power, as if inspired by the tumultuous environment of an anti-authoritarian raid. How precisely this manifests will depend on which side they are fighting for.

❖ PLEROMA
The Firebrands among the Pleroma raiders will feel a sense of vindication and rightness come over them, set as they are to challenge the Regent's rule. Their powers will be amplified during the battle, and those that witness them and are inspired may find their performance boosted. The nature of these enhancements is fairly flexible. For the Firebrands, the use of their regular skills and abilities may be amplified beyond normal boundaries, whereas those following in their wake may find themselves with usual endurance that allows them to push their their usual limits.

❖ KENOMA
The Firebrands of the Kenoma's inspiration is more complicated in nature, given their roll in defending Achamoth's status quo. However, they will find themselves bolstered while facing the pacifying might of the Innocence Entity. Firebrands will experience a natural resistance against any Innocence based attacks that would stop them from fighting, and will be able to use this blessing to rally NPCs that would otherwise be rendered useless to their cause, in defiance of the entity's command for peace. In general, they will see a boost in strength while fighting the raid boss in particular, unable to be deterred from their goals.

In general, all Firebrands will feel untethered by their regular inhibitions, fighting for their desires at all costs. Abilities intended to bind them or control their will, will be largely ineffective, and they will find shields both physical and magical particularly easy to break through.

QUESTIONS

Q: What is the best way for Pleroma to travel to Achamoth?
A: Akua and Estinien are both setting up portals from Godsblood to the outskirts of Achamoth from which to begin mounting the assault. Caitlyn will be providing a back-up in the case either of those portals go down.

Q: Can my character make use of the chaos and try to raid the Citadel?
A: They can try but there will be mod rolls involved for any attempts. NPCs inside the Citadel will not be affected the same way the NPCs outside in main area will be. We do not want it to seem like the Citadel is defenseless otherwise.

Q: If Kenoma cause damage to the city during the raid, how will the Regent feel? Will there be consequences?
A: It should try to be avoided, but the Regent will understand if there is collateral damage in battle as long as they aren't being careless about it.

Q: Is the "no-combat aura" completely incapacitating NPCs?
A: No, it is only stopping them from aggressing the Pleroma. If they or their property are attacked they will defend themselves, and are otherwise operating with a normal level of cognizance. Kenoma Aions can order them out of the area to avoid being hurt if necessary.

BOSS BATTLE:
Q: I would like my character to take part in the battle but want to limit the outcomes in a way that isn't too devastating. Is that possible?
A: We think in that case we would basically only be acknowledging the possibilities between the "The attack either misses, is ineffective, or it triggers a counter attack from the boss." and "The attack hits with moderate effectiveness, as determined by the nature of their action." range. So, you can't get taken out, but you also can only deal moderate hits at best. You could still trigger a counter attack from the boss, but the damage taken from that is more flexible and free form than the 1-5% zone. If you make an attack with this restriction just add a little OOC note to your initial attack tag.

Q: How can a support character engage in the combat?
A: If your character is providing support, you may team up with an attacker to submit a "group attack". This means that your character is putting their effort towards supporting that attacker character that round, and will not be able to submit their own separate action. In exchange, that attack will receive two mod rolls instead of one, and the attack itself will be based on the more favorable of the two rolls. (Sort of like rolling with an advantage in modern D&D.) We will make as many rolls as there there are character combining their effort and select the best of them.

If any character rolls in the 1-5% zone they will still be taken out, however. Click the link above for more information.

Q: Can my character take a hit for another character after a mod roll?
A: We would be willing to accept this in the case of the defender taking the hit for the attacker, which would mean that if it's a 1-5%, they would be taken out in the attacker's stead.

Comments

gray "think about your life choices"

[pyojeol]

[i wanted to do the spiderman meme but i realized it wouldn't work because Gray is not a THIEVING CRIMINAL,

The nice thing about all the rich being obsessed with Abel and Himeka turning into s'mores is this: that they've all left their nice, shiny mansions bereft of their owners and also ripe for The Looting. Well, not completely bereft. There are still guards and servants, but it turns out they're all expecting deliveries, and Sooyoung plays the role of "delivery girl" well enough to get inside, and then plays "lost servant" all the way into the master bedroom, which she immediately rifles through.

Unfortunately, this particular rich NPC does not have a hoard of weapons or juicy secrets tucked under their pillows, but they do have jewelry left carelessly on top of the bed and dressers, and other shiny decorative items embedded with jewels that Sooyoung takes her knife to in order to pry out. In other words, she just stuffs her pockets and also a bag that she stole from the servant's room earlier full of as much expensive shit as possible, then throws said bag out the window where she will make her escape.

Maybe Gray is passing by, maybe she knows the owner of this particular mansion? Either way, she'll see a giant bag just land right in front of her in the dirt, and if she looks up, she'll see Sooyoung freezing in place on the window sill right above her,]

Uh...

[UMMMMMMMmmMmmMM]

[gravings]

[ Gray startles and stops in her tracks when a giant bag lands right in front of her in the dirt, and when she looks up she sees a woman frozen in place on the window sill right above her.

There's a lot going on in the city right now — one might even say too much — but the law-abiding small town country girl in her immediately feels dismayed at this blatant crookery. She cups her hands around her mouth and calls out gently to the reprobate above. ]

Um... please don't steal!

[ That'll tell her. ]

[pyojeol]

[This is more shocking than if Gray whipped out a revolver and shot Sooyoung twice. Maybe it's because she's learned from past acquaintances (just kaeya and yjh) that the Kenomas are 'stab first, talk later if at all?'.

She thinks about it for a moment, then ends up jumping down from the admittedly high window, landing on her feet like the cat she's trying to rob in another thread,]

Is it really stealing if they let me in?

[which they.............. technically......... did! if you squint]

[gravings]

[ Gray grapples with that question for a brief moment before discarding it. She isn't nearly clever enough to argue semantics, so she decides not to try. ]

If you have to ask that, you probably know it's stealing.

[ She sidesteps closer to the loot bag in case this woman tries to grab it and run. ]

Um, shouldn't you be heading for the execution stage?

[pyojeol]

[Sooyoung watches Gray step a little closer to her (un)rightfully earned loot, but looks otherwise unbothered. Maybe she just believes in her ability to hightail it out of there, maybe she's more curious about Gray herself?

If she were just an ordinary Achamite, then she would have attacked Sooyoung already. Apparently, non-violence doesn't stop the citizens from being pissed off while you're trying to jack them of all their stuff. The mention of the burning gets her to tilt her head a little further,]

No thanks. I heard it's gonna be super crowded over there.

[for both well-meaning pleromas and determined kenomas, her tone is inappropriately light for the subject they're discussing]

This is my first time in the city, so I wanted to see the sights.

[by stealing]

[gravings]

[ This woman really just doesn't care, does she... Given how much is at stake, even Gray has to be a little exasperated at this lackadaisical attitude. ]

If there's anything in particular you want to see, I can take you there.

[ Gray is a mall cop now... Really though she's hoping she'll be able to flag down a more responsible and on-task Pleroma who will keep an eye on this lady. In the meantime, Gray will just have to police her. ]

[pyojeol]

[this is why a factory is gonna beat her ass]

Is that just your way of saying you'll take me to jail... Or to wherever you guys put people to be tortured and then set on fire?

[she can sense those mall cop vibes, gray?

But she still doesn't look that bothered by it. Instead, she starts inching towards her bag.]

Because if you are, then I want to at least bring all my souvenirs.

[gravings]

[ There's not much she can say to the barb about torture because gestures at Abel and Himeka, but also that's not what's happening in regards to this woman at all even a little, so Gray frowns mildly. And she steps in front of the loot bag. ]

I don't want to take you to jail if I can help it... [ Please?? She doesn't have time for this?? A bit more sternly, she adds, ] Please take this more seriously.

[pyojeol]

[To Sooyoung's credit, she finally looks like she's thinking about it? Perhaps Gray's words have some sway over her... Even if Gray IS stepping in front of her hard(?) earned bag of loot.]

You're Gray, right? I heard about you from the other Pleroma.

[namely a little bit about her abilities, so Sooyoung knows that it's not that Gray isn't a fighter or incapable of engaging her right this moment,]

You've got a lot of friends there.

[gravings]

[ Gray's sternness gives way to surprise when the woman turns out to know her name. Maybe it should be obvious that the Pleroma would have shared information among themselves in the same way the Kenoma did, but she still doesn't expect anyone to consider her timid self worthy of mention. ]

Um... yes, I'm Gray. What were they saying?

[ She isn't even sure she wants to know... ]

[pyojeol]

[HER TIMID SELF BEAT PLEROMA ASS??? Sooyoung ticks off her fingers as she thinks,]

Just stuff like how you're a good fighter and that we shouldn't underestimate you. Then a bunch of people immediately said that you were their friend and that we should try talking to you instead. It was pretty funny.

[seeing syrlya get jumped on in real time that is,]

Do you think they're your friends? Or is this like your master plan of deception?

[gravings]

[ ... Huh. She isn't sure what to think about that, especially since she hasn't exactly had the opportunity to spend quality friend time with the Pleroma for obvious reasons. ]

I'm not clever enough to come up with any master plans... I'm sorry.

[ It's very disappointing, she's sure. She bows her head a little apologetically, her hood dipping with the motion. ]

I don't know if I qualify to call any of them my friends, either. It's generous of them to say so... but I think they tend to have overly kind thoughts.

[ Though they were apparently right that it's easy to just talk to her instead of fighting?? ]

[pyojeol]

[Sooyoung ponders Gray's answer. Is Gray wrong? She's not, actually. Not about the Pleroma being overly kind, though maybe it's unfair to join the others based on Sooyoung's own admittedly cold standards. Still,]

Yeah, maybe. I haven't really hung out with anyone else on that side.

[Maybe it speaks to how new she is that she's still separating herself from the other Pleroma. That she still thinks she has the luxury of being on her own side, even during this raid.]

I think that whatever you said or did to them must have left some kind of impression though. They weren't that nice about the other Kenoma.

[gravings]

[ "On that side"... That really is peculiar phrasing, and for a moment Gray wonders if this woman is a fresh convert she just hasn't heard about. But surely not; no Kenoma would have a need to steal on account of their exorbitant allowance thanks to the Regent. ]

Excuse me, but.... who are you?

[ She's trying really hard not to sound rude......... ]