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Entry tags:
- !event,
- #dionys,
- #innocence,
- #xishen,
- abel nightroad: martyr,
- amos burton: lover,
- anduin wrynn: sovereign,
- barnaby brooks jr: lover,
- bruno madrigal: martyr,
- ciel: martyr,
- claude von riegan: seeker,
- dorothea arnault: celebrant,
- emet-selch: champion,
- estinien wyrmblood: firebrand,
- eustace: firebrand,
- father paul hill: martyr,
- han sooyoung: artisan,
- himeka sui: wanderer,
- howl: celebrant,
- jayce talis: visionary,
- jonathan crane: sovereign,
- kaeya alberich: lover,
- kim dokja: martyr,
- koriel xii (dextera): lover,
- kotetsu t. kaburagi: champion,
- liem talbott: champion,
- majorita: firebrand,
- makoto ("m"): firebrand,
- meteion: innocent,
- rand al'thor: martyr,
- ryunosuke naruhodo: champion,
- sebastian michaelis: celebrant,
- tartaglia (childe): firebrand,
- wrathion: seeker
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.
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.
no subject
And grab him he does, a clawed hand digging into Liem's leg as he loses his grip, as he aims to throw him back down to the ground of the alleyway, pounce on top of him after, pin him down and tear him apart—
He's suddenly forced to let go of Liem, his throw far less impactful than he'd been aiming for; blindsided by that, the kick really catches him off guard, sending him stumbling back into the alley wall, his fists leaving small dents in it as he collides with it.
But like this, he can recover quickly. He uses his collision with the wall to propel him forward, snarl on his lips and growl growing sharper and louder in his throat as he tries to round on Sebastian instead, grab him, tear him apart. He's closer than Liem now, technically, so he's now the better option. ]
no subject
Which makes the abrupt appearance of the tall, suited man too shocking for him to even process at first. The man lands like a cannonball and lays into Amos with just as much hesitation, leaving Liem to scramble in the alley cobwebs as he tries to regain his feet. His lungs seem to have forgotten temporarily how to suck in air, he's bleeding from both his arm and his leg, and he feels like one big bruise, but Amos is distracted for the moment, which means that Liem has the opportunity to reclaim his fallen bow. He does so, wheezing like an asthmatic and flinching as he gets up onto his punctured leg, and backpedals for distance as he tries to figure out whether he's been saved by an ally or an enemy.]
no subject
...Though the way Amos's attention had refocused so sharply and without pause on him at least gives him an idea. He'll just need more than a split second of opportunity to grasp it.
As Amos lunges forward, Sebastian bears down to meet him and catches both of his hands in his own as he pushes back with a similar strength despite the difference in their frames. Yet in that flash of movement, Sebastian's hands had shifted, now no longer human in the slightest. They're a bit harder for Amos's claws to dig into, since the carapace offers more resistance than human flesh, but they still dig in plenty enough for a near-black blood to drip out. Still, it's a gesture returned, since Sebastian's own claws dig into Amos's hands in kind, though he's taking more care than it may seem to avoid severing anything. Sebastian is managing to hold Amos in place, but he knows not for long, so he glances back as he speaks to Liem. ]
I have an idea, but give me a moment!
[ His shoes lose their grip by a hair, and Sebastian clicks his tongue lightly. Since even if their strength is matched well, he's also limited by a stamina he's simply not used to, so it won't hold. He relents just slightly, enough for Amos to definitely push forward, but Sebastian attempts to sweep Amos's legs and use that surge in momentum against him. ]
no subject
The sudden give Sebastian offers sends him stumbling forward, now using up too much strength for the moment and sending him off balance. Sebastian's sweep doesn't help, and it sends him crashing to the ground, snarling as he hits it. His eyes are wild, looking around every which way as he scrambles to get back up — and Sebastian is forgotten again as his gaze lands on Liem.
One or the other; whoever goes first really doesn't matter to him, so long as they both do. And Liem had offered less resistance, so that's who he goes for again, paying no mind to the way his hands continue to bleed freely as he lunges at him with intent to pierce him all the way through. ]
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When he speaks now, though, his voice is familiar, and he realizes that this is the same man he spoke with just this morning, after sending out his communion message. He's one of Kenoma's new members, and Liem should be helping him. The problem is that Amos is also (usually) an ally, and that almost all of Liem's current skillset is tailored towards killing opponents as efficiently as possible. He has no way of assisting Sebastian that wouldn't involve turning Amos into a giant pincushion.
It's during this perplexing moment that Amos comes tumbling at him, and he knows the moment their eyes meet that he isn't going to get the opportunity to turn anyone into a pincushion, even if he decides he wants to. Liem tenses like a coiled spring, grip tightening on his bow, and when the other man lunges for him, he flings himself out of the way with all the slippery desperation of a wet cat bouncing around a shower stall, twisting past him and back toward Sebastian.]
no subject
As Liem moves his way, Sebastian nods, since that makes this much easier than trying to dance around each other in the narrow alley. He moves towards Liem and lowers his center of gravity again, but it's to catch one arm behind Liem's knees while the other supports his back as he's very efficiently scooped into Sebastian's arms as if he weighed much less. It's a movement that's probably surprising in how smooth it is, as if this was something Sebastian was well-used to doing (it is). Since his momentum is moving forward and back towards Amos, Sebastian jumps with a nimble ease, using one of Amos's shoulders as a stepping stone to leap past him out towards the mouth of the alley. ]
Please pardon my rudeness—
[ The polite apology starts to be given immediately, literally as soon as they're in the arc to sail past Amos. Sebastian lands, but rather than continue running, he turns on his heel so that they're facing Amos instead. Now they can both be bait, and he'll lead the way to some other distraction. But as Amos clearly isn't in the most conversational mood, he just continues with the apology without missing a beat, like this is all totally normal. ]
But this seemed a tad more efficient with your injuries. If you would like to fire, I can adjust.
[ Not... that Sebastian really explains what that means, but such is the necessity of being brief in the current situation. ]
no subject
Sebastian jumping on and over him is infuriating, and he roars as it happens, spinning around in a bid to follow them, not a care in the world but the deep, instinctual, needy desire to tear the both of them apart limb from limb immediately.
So he advances on them immediately, breaking into a charge, claws once again outstretched to sink into any flesh between the two of them he can and not let go; teeth subconsciously snapping in the moment. He is going to fucking kill them, now, with them just about in reach, finally. ]
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He isn’t expecting Sebastian to intercept him and scoop him off his feet. This is the second time in Horos that Liem has been picked up in this manner, but at least the first occasion was while he was barely conscious. Now, the effortless lift is met with sudden and perfectly alert bewilderment, particularly as his rescuer continues his momentum and uses Amos as a springboard to sail back down the alley the way he’d come. Liem doesn’t even have to peer around him to look back at the berserker, since only a moment later Sebastian turns to face him directly.
Adrenaline kicks in to compensate for the startled lock of his brain, aborting his fruitless attempt to understand why he has been gathered into the demon’s arms like an invalid. Instead, as he almost always does when circumstances exceed his own experience, he falls back on his training. Tactics now; gormless wonderings later.]
If you need the speed advantage, I can target his legs. Otherwise, I’d prefer not to harm him. He isn’t in his right mind.
no subject
Then let us not. Hopefully it will not take long to find someone to redirect this towards.
[ Sebastian's eyes are very literally bright, since as they pass by each street, he looks down them with a sense that isn't quite visual, but is best expressed that way. It's not quite the Aions' True Sight, but he can see the very form of a soul if he chooses to, and luckily the Aions' souls stand out at the moment. The pacifying effect of the Sanctifier makes the Achamite population feel almost dull to Sebastian's sense, since the intensity of emotion from anyone engaged in this raid directly will stick out sharply.
It doesn't take long. It's just bad luck for him, honestly, nothing more than chance that Sebastian happened to run this way, and he can't even be certain that he's a Pleroma rather than another Kenoma, but Sebastian is taking that particular chance. As soon as Sebastian sees Ernesto, he makes a beeline down that road and straight towards him. And luckily, it works perfectly. Amos has a new target, and with only a glance back to make sure he stays there, Sebastian continues forward until he can duck into a side street that seems quiet (for now, at least) and set Liem back on his feet carefully. ]
...Again, my apologies.
[ Sebastian takes a moment to look at his hands that are still dripping blood, though they look quite human now, and the blood that drips out is red. He flexes his hand as he continues to speak, just making sure that nothing important was severed by Amos's claws. ]
Are you alright? Relatively speaking, at least.
no subject
He doesn't let Sebastian and Liem get too far away, but they always seem to be out of reach no matter what he does. He doesn't have enhanced speed, only endurance; it lets him keep pace, but doesn't give him that extra boost he needs. Any time he comes close, any time he reaches out to grab, it's an expended effort that only serves to add a little more distance between him and his targets. Claws swipe through air, he roars in anger and maintains his pursuit, rinse, repeat.
Until he's drawn towards a new figure — one much, much easier to catch — and his attention is focused on Ernesto, claw only just missing tearing his face off in one go.
And with Sebastian and Liem gone, he's already forgotten about them. He has a new target now, one his entire world has once again boiled down to.
He goes after Ernesto again. ]
no subject
The plan to pawn Amos off on someone who needs killing seems like as good as they’re going to get in their present circumstances, so given that he’s little more than dead weight in this present arrangement, Liem does his best to keep an eye on their surroundings, since his eyes at least still work just fine. Those eyes widen slightly when they catch sight of the familiar, dog-eared aion down an approaching street, but he’s a Pleroma and there’s no reason to waste time trying to find someone else. If Amos manages to kill him, Liem hopes it isn’t too painful.
Finally, they have a moment to breathe. Liem gratefully finds his feet again, testing his injured leg first before looking over his slashed arm. Both injuries are still damp with blood, black soaking into the equally-black fabric of his clothes, but there’s less of it than there rightly ought to be. He’s never been a profuse bleeder, and of late his wounds have started to recover especially quickly. Given a bit of hasty first-aid, he’s confident he can keep fighting without trouble.]
I’ll be fine. Thank you for the timely assistance.
[Despite the monstrous appearance of Sebastian’s hands in the alley earlier, they seem quite normal now. Even the scent of the blood dripping from them is quite ordinary, which unsettles Liem slightly. Still, as he slings his bow over one shoulder and digs into a pocket of his robes for bandages, he feels it’s only right to offer,]
Would you like help tending to your hands?
no subject
[ Sebastian gives a slight nod, though it turns to a light surprise as attention is brought to his hands. It's almost like he had forgotten about them with how he reacts, and indeed, he had, a bit. Liem was simply the higher priority to address, so an injury or two was nothing so bad. His sense of pain isn't quite so sharp, thanks to the fact that this face was just a facade for his real one. That, and he's still adjusting slightly to not being able to simply will them away, so after a small pause, he nods. ]
It it would not trouble you, I would appreciate it, actually. It is nothing too serious, at least, but best to keep them wrapped while continuing on.
[ At this rate, he may have to track down Ciel and ask for her assistance again, but he'd like to avoid that if possible. Like everyone else, she's a bit busy today. ]
no subject
It’s no trouble. I can be quick.
[They don’t have a lot of time to loiter around, after all, but there’s value in spending a few moments to take care of this now. Using his teeth to pull the glove from his hand, Liem stows it in a pocket as he leans in to inspect the puncture wounds in Sebastian’s hands, glancing inquiringly at him as he moves them gently closer. Satisfied with what he sees, he speaks a foreign word and makes a small, precise gesture. A tiny, concentrated shower of water douses Sebastian’s bloodied skin.]
You seem to have found your feet here, which I’m certainly grateful for.
[From the leather case, he unearths a roll of bandages and a small, folded cloth.]
Is this kind of scenario familiar to you?
no subject
Also of minor note since Liem is looking at his hands, there's a tiny detail about them that might stick out. His nails are black, which could be assumed to be a choice of fashion, but up close, it's clearer that they're naturally that color. ]
Well, I would say not at this particular scale—
[ At "this" he nods towards the Sanctifier above, and that's also why he's down here. He had made his attack with enough success to leave it to others a bit better equipped for such a beast. He's better suited to be down here. ]
...But in general, yes. My previous line of work involved such things with a rather startling frequency.
no subject
The nails are interesting. He’s heard that shapechangers always have some detail that hints at their true nature, even in other shapes; he wonders if this particular detail was a conscious choice, or unintentional. But what he asks, as he begins to unroll some of the bandages, is:]
Your previous line of work as a butler?
[He doesn’t look up, keeping his attention on the other man’s hands as he begins to wind the bandages around one of them, but a certain dry significance is evident in his tone, as though he suspects that Sebastian was a butler in much the same way that he himself used to be a priest: mostly as a cover for other work.]
no subject
[ So to Liem’s suspicions, he’s both correct and slightly off. It was a cover, but the duties of a butler were something Sebastian took extremely seriously anyways…
Yet even so, he’s watching Liem’s work with interest. Learned as he was, the gaps in his knowledge tended to come down to the mundane, such as properly treating wounds. He had learned some as a result of being Ciel’s caretaker, but it’s also something he expects to be more widely applicable here in Horos. He won’t interrupt Liem’s work with questions that could absolutely wait for later, but his attentiveness is probably unusual.
This, naturally, is not what he focuses on at all. ]
Though for what it is worth, that particular line of work was also unusual in every sense.
no subject
That surprises me not at all. What ordinary master would require the services of a demon?
[Yes, Liem was absolutely nosy enough to browse through the conversations of the new arrivals in the sect-wide communion earlier in the month. It goes along with his profession.]
Though admittedly, I have not known many demons.