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

[sterngaze]

[In truth, Liem hates leaving Abel and Himeka tied in that square to burn slowly to death. If he’d been more loyal to the Regent to begin with, if he hadn’t already earned their ire and been forcibly corrected toward obedience, he would have risked their wrath by sending his arrows into their hearts once the pyres were ablaze. He’s never had the luxury of granting mercy to his enemies, but at the very least he’s found consolation in perfecting his craft as much as possible, in order to grant a swift death to those whose names are on that list. It’s cruel to make a spectacle of their suffering.

But the Regent has ordained it, and he cannot go against their explicit wishes now—not after last month. Not after he swore, still aching and exhausted from his time in their dungeons, that he would redeem himself to them. If the Regent needs followers who are cruel when ordered to be—at least that’s something he has practice committing to.]

You can’t shame me into letting you go.

[That instinct was ground out of him years ago, long before he set foot in this world. He knows what must be done now, and he’s already accepted that he’ll do anything it takes in pursuit of that goal. So he reaches again for the arrows in his quiver, intent, this time, on finding a home in the man’s breast for at least one of them.

And his vision goes white as his entire body erupts with pain. For a moment he loses track of everything—the city around him, the man in his sights, even what his own body is doing—and simply flounders through the savage noise of his own screaming nerves. The hot white in his eyes cycles to black, then slowly fades back into a smarting impression of the street before him, wavering through sudden streaming tears that sting his eyelids as he staggers in place, reeling.

For a moment, all he can do is suck air into scorched-feeling lungs, every inch of him shuddering with the jangling aftershocks now rushing in to fill the absence following that shrieking pain.

Then he follows the sound of limping footfalls, sending an arrow after them and putting another to the string as he goes.]

[bythelight]

[ Another arrow hits Anduin, and he makes a low frustrated sound of pain as it embeds into his shoulder. That will restrict his movement, short term

This person won't firing wide for long, at some point they'll get a sound hit on him and slow him down enough that there will be no escape.

He ducks to press his back to a wall taking the chance to snap off the tail of the arrow. Once he's somewhere save, he can risk pulling them out and mending the damage as best he can. For now he just doesn't want to catch them on anything. ]

Perhaps I can at least encourage you to reconsider.

[ He casts a shield on himself quickly, and before it can get a chance to fade ducks back out and lets holy Light burst from his fingers again, this time in three strong pulses. Stunning the archer hasn't held him off, so perhaps this is the only way -- as much as he regrets it. ]

[sterngaze]

[Liem didn’t grow up in Taldor’s largest temple to Abadar without learning to recognize a cleric when he sees one. The spells this man uses are unfamiliar, but they have the same flavour as ones the priests back home would have learned: spells for protection, for incapacitation and command. He’s wary as he blinks away the stars lingering in his vision. The man is by himself, and seems poorly equipped for a fight, but he knows better than most that clerics can be capable of some nasty surprises.

He’s already moving when the man leans out from cover to throw one hand out his way. At the burst of light he flings himself to one side, his dark robes flapping around his legs, but he isn’t quick enough. The spell follows him with the graceful inevitability of a hail of falling stars, and when those stars lance into him he hisses at the bone-deep wrongness that scours his flesh. The sheer burn of it is enough to make his jaw lock, fangs snapping together with a sharp click, and although the initial shock of pain doesn’t stagger him as it had before, the residual ache is much worse. He backpedals, ducking around a corner and into an alley, breathing hard.

Liem won’t be able to weather much of that kind of treatment, but he isn’t quite ready to let his quarry escape. He peers back around the corner, listening for sounds of movement as he tries to formulate a plan.]

[bythelight]

[ He's ducked back into cover, breathing hard as he tries to see if he can ease one of the arrows out -- but no, they're barbed. Pulling them out will rip his flesh further, he needs to be careful he doesn't cause more damage and waste more energy healing himself. Anduin lets out a shaky breath, trying to think. ]

I told you, we don't have to do this. Only one of us wants this fight. You can walk away.

[ So far, the spells he has cast haven't been enough to discourage him. Would any of them be? He's not above killing someone in self defence, but these people -- if these people are like him, have lost their homes. Have been promised something by the Regent, well... He feels he has to try. He has to try and reach them, to dissuade them from this insanity. ]

[sterngaze]

[Walking away is beginning to look pretty appealing from where Liem’s standing, gently toasted and hiding in an alley. He’s not eager to go another round with this man’s blasts of holy light, and given how ready he seems to be with those shields, Liem is beginning to think that killing him might be more trouble than it’s worth. There are other Pleroma pushing their way into the city, and other Kenoma arrayed to stop them. He doesn’t have to spend his time throwing himself against this one in particular.]

You’d let me leave, knowing I’ll only go make trouble for your fellows?

[Not that he’s in any position to stop Liem from going, but the character of the offer still seems strange—unless this man is needed somewhere else, and is willing to accept releasing Liem at his allies as a consequence. Perhaps that’s all it is.

Either way, Liem isn’t ready to give up on his quarry just yet. He gathers the remains of his own magic to vanish from his hiding place and appear in another alley across the street, then begins circling around on quiet feet in order to come upon the other man’s position from behind.]

[bythelight]

I'd let you leave, hoping you would understand that none of us have to fight. Do you truly want this? Do you want the Regent to end everything?

[ Why would anyone want that?

Anduin huffs out a breath of frustration. ]

I know it can feel like the only way, that nothing else can be done, but that isn't true. Please.

[ He takes a breath, leans out to look the direction Liem was before.

No sign of him.

Anduin steels himself, casts another shield and braces as if he intends to burst back out that way. ]

[sterngaze]

[Indeed, no response comes in answer to his questions, his pleas. There is no answer Liem could convey in words that would make the other man understand his devotion to the end of everything, no answer that would impress its necessity upon him. Liem had to look deep within himself to find that answer—something that took him days of tormented contemplation to grasp, no matter how others tried to coax him toward it. The truth isn’t something that can be shouted across a war-torn street in a blaze of revelation.

It needs to be seen. It needs to be felt. Maybe Liem can’t show him the true meaning of despair here on this little side street, but if he can just get his shard, the man will have plenty of time to contemplate it from inside the Citadel. Liem slides around the building until he can see the rear of the alley in which the man is hiding. He draws a trio of arrows from his quiver, putting the first one gently to the string.

He steps around the corner, sights along the shaft, and looses his flurry of shots one after another.]