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Aion Mods ([personal profile] aionmods) wrote in [community profile] aionlogs2022-08-18 12:17 pm

EVENT #6: BY HEAVEN OR HELL

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.

wildrawr: (pic#15860076)

[personal profile] wildrawr 2022-08-23 02:14 am (UTC)(link)
Okay, this is really messed up, and Kotetsu doesn't know what to make of it. Still, those shards they all have are pretty important if he remembers right, and it's probably best he take all the help he can get when he doesn't know the ins and outs of how everything works. The last thing he wants is someone dead because of him (again.)

The question about whether he can defend himself has Kotetsu reflexively make a face, because, wow, he knows he's stupid a lot of times but he's not so stupid as to come here if he's defenseless.

"Of course I can! What gives, though? Does that boss guy of yours not pay you enough that you don't want to do your job anymore?"

Kotetsu pauses before quickly adding "—no complaints from me." He's totally fine with it, if the soldier doesn't want to answer, and he's just making sure it's known before he somehow accidentally gets the guy to magically change his mind.

Besides, whatever has compelled this act of heroism in this guard is beyond him, but... it's admittedly pretty cool (in his own little world, anyway) thinking he's seeing some average person deciding they can and want to make a difference by saving the two they came here for rather than be part of their deaths.
lachtara: (Warming)

[personal profile] lachtara 2022-08-23 04:34 pm (UTC)(link)
"Does it matter? You're here with the intention of freeing these people, that includes their shards." Emet-Selch makes his way to the nearby pedestals with the added implication that his new 'assistant' should follow.

The pedestals are elaborate contraptions given the average device that Horos has exhibited are so primitive. It would certainly take time to carefully free them. Luckily, he has some amount of experience with Magitek devices.

"What is your name?" He asks, in case he needs it to keep tabs after the fact.
Edited (forgot question mark) 2022-08-23 16:35 (UTC)
wildrawr: (pic#15860166)

[personal profile] wildrawr 2022-08-25 03:26 pm (UTC)(link)
Actually, yeah it kind of does matter.

—Not to Kotetsu, though!

"I guess not. Uhhh, it's Wi—Kotetsu." Yeah, giving his name to an enemy stranger is ok. Nothing could possible go wrong. Kotetsu does follow and he's now staring up at the pedestals, suddenly damn glad here not going to be the one going up there. Not because of the dangerous or anything, but because that looks really hard to mess with.

Really really hard.

Scratching his chin in uncertainty, he can't help but ask. "Sooo... are those normal things you guys use around here or something? This rest of this place looks like a Renaissance Fair, except those look more like alien tech devices, if you know what I mean."
lachtara: (Flair)

[personal profile] lachtara 2022-08-26 09:31 pm (UTC)(link)
A fair. Does this look like a fair?

It's a good thing that no one could see the disapproving frown that crosses his face with that remark. "It's unusual enough for the citizens to treat it as a special affair." He simply comments.

Emet-Selch begins the delicate process of trying to coax the device into freeing the shards. It's a little difficult to puppeteer something as precise as fingers with no time to become used to them. He doesn't have a choice, however.

"The people here dislike those like you." He mods briefly to the commotion around them. "Can't imagine why."
wildrawr: (pic#15860179)

[personal profile] wildrawr 2022-08-27 01:50 pm (UTC)(link)
It looks like one if he wants it to look like one, okay.

Kotetsu glances around at those surrounding them, wondering what the other means by the first one part. A special affair, huh? So can be taken as that this burning is something that's usually normal or abnormal?

He says Fair to be unassuming. What it really is like to him, though, is a cult— and he's plenty experienced to know how dangerous and serious that gets that even he can't play it off as something simple. He does hear the comment about everyone disliking people like him, and he sighs. "Yeah, well, no one likes what they see as a party crasher at an event they're treating as special." He pauses before he speaks seriously in context to the situation. "This looks religiously devout. That makes it even more a reason to dislike anyone sticking their nose in."

Yeah, Kotetsu actually knows the guys could just be being sarcastic, but he doesn't really care at this point. There's too much at stake here with the two aions without their shards to get his back up about anything.



lachtara: (Fleeting)

[personal profile] lachtara 2022-08-29 03:07 am (UTC)(link)
"Be that as it may," He says, not disputing either claim - Though 'party crashing' is a delightfully quaint way to describe it. "If you see these shards safely delivered, you will have my thanks."

He presses a device on the mechanism and it clicks open with a start. Emet-Selch flinches in surprise, but he wastes no time in plucking the shard from its place and turning to hand it off. One down, one to go.

"These are very fragile." He says sternly. "Treat them with as much care as you can."
wildrawr: (pic#15860143)

[personal profile] wildrawr 2022-08-29 12:53 pm (UTC)(link)
"I can promise you that, they'll get to their owners safe and sound."

Kotetsu takes the first shard, nodding at the information to be careful as he adjusts his hold to double make sure he's got not chance of having any harm come to it while in his possession.

"These things... hold our souls or something crazy like that?" That's pretty concerning to think a fragile... rock is the only defense against real death after body dispassion. It's really not that much of a second chance at all. He keep that in mind.
lachtara: (Pensive)

[personal profile] lachtara 2022-08-29 11:09 pm (UTC)(link)
"They contain our souls, yes. It's not so unfathomable; What are we in our mortal bodies but a vessel for our soul?" Emet-Selch heads back and continues his work with the other pedestal. This one goes much quicker considering he is more familiar with the mechanisms and it comes out of his hold with a few clicks.

He holds out the second shard to his Pleroma acquaintance. "Here. Take this and make your way out of the city."