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

[coerthantorment]

The Sanctifier is screeching in victory and fury. Its tail has just crushed an enemy, another bashed across its horns in the same surge. It will not be stopped. It will not surrender.

Yet, the sounds of a familiar voice pierce through its frenzy. A man who has come for him, again and again...

I would give this and more to see my comrades to safety.

Though the words are mingled with something else, Estinien is in there. He's resolute, despite everything.

[galdorleod]

The voice rings true. Howl hears it, shocking as it is. For a few seconds, the wizard stands on the rooftop in stunned silence, chunks of blood and feathers dropping from his damaged body.

It's all the confirmation one needed. That thing hasn't simply taken control of Estinien — it is Estinien. He's still in there, well aware of everything unfolding around and underneath him.

Deep inside, something in Howl wobbles. Maybe it's his soul, or the Kenoma wound around his soul, or something else entirely. A phantom pain from the heart he lost in his childhood. Whatever it is, it spurs him forward like nothing in Horos has.

No. No, that's insane, Howl starts, his mental voice injected with disquiet. If you keep at this, you're going to die. No — you'll be captured. It is only a matter of time until the Regent intervenes!

Is Howl pleading with him? Even the wizard seems to realize that he's doing exactly that. But why? Why is he compelled to talk to him at all? He doesn't understand. He doesn't understand this man — anything he does, it seems. Why hadn't someone so acquainted with tragedy fallen to the Kenoma from the start? Why is someone so battle weary, so familiar with the necessity of casualties in war, willing to go so far for these two people? Why?

Howl does not put this rush of confusion into concrete words, but they flood his mind so quickly that they flow into the communion space, like water naturally rushing from a high point to a low point.

[coerthantorment]

What Howls says begins to send a sense of ill-ease through the creature. Captured? The Sanctifier had considered the idea of death, one half accepting it and the other half refusing it, but it hadn't given as much thought being captured. Would the Regent really bother? Would they not prefer to kill them outright?

Nay... I must...

Its thoughts seem a bit shaken by the idea.

I cannot relent... not until the Pleroma have been brought to safety...

Its thoughts suddenly focus, as if responding to the disquiet in Howl's communion.

Howl... come with us... pray... you may still be free from this...

[galdorleod]

The storm in Howl's mind intensifies as he listens. It's almost as if the mental impression of Estinien's voice is adding to his inner conflict all on its own, regardless of what he even says. But he sensed that ill-ease too. Howl knows that he knows what getting captured would entail — but unlike Estinien, Howl knows that the Regent would seek to capture Estinien's Shard for the Kenoma. The lengths they would be willing to go.

The wizard's body begins to shiver under the mental pressure, and with the convulsions comes another horrible wave of pain. It's too intense to be the arrowheads embedded in his flesh. Howl doesn't know what's happening to him, but the storm inside is wracking both mind and matter.

You don't understand. Why don't you understand, he finally says, clutching his Shard in that one black hand as he hunches his shoulders in agony. This world... There's nothing for me... Nothing for you, for any of us. We'll never be free as long as we're trapped here...

Perhaps this is the way Howl really feels, or perhaps it's the Kenoma. It may be impossible to say. But Howl's words force a bleak memory from the recesses of his mind into their communion: a long dark tunnel, its walls littered with glittering toys and junk and books and scries, with a bird-like monster huddled at the end of it, bleeding and broken and wallowing in self-pity and self-loathing. A girl, following the path with nothing more than a candle to light the way, finding the monster but feeling no fear or disgust. Not only staying firm and strong in the face of its terrifying visage, but doing the unbelievable, the impossible, and telling the monster she loved him, in spite of what he was.

The memory is not accompanied by joy, but by intense sorrow. That girl is gone, of course. And her love could have never meant anything, no matter how desperate Howl was and still is for it. The wizard has been doomed from the start, and always has been, both in this world and in the last. There is no memory to accompany this thought, no explanation, only the sentiment itself. It's something Howl believes without question, the steel core of his unyielding despair, creating the perfect victim for the Kenoma.