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

[bythelight]

Anduin scrambles to his feet in the few seconds it takes Sebastian to recover, panting as he makes a quick survey of their surroundings. It's still just the two of them, for now, but at least this person is now on guard rather than on the offensive. Perhaps, then, there's a chance he'll listen? A chance Anduin can get through to him?

"Your duty?" he prompts. "To the Regent? You're an Aion too, aren't you? Awoke here in a crystal? What duty do you have to someone who wants to destroy everything?"

It doesn't make sense, to Anduin.. He's seen this kind of thing before, Titan's deciding it would be best to start over -- but it's hardly best for the people still left living there, is it?

[cutlery]

"And only recently," he confirms, even accompanying it with a too-casual shrug. He seems perfectly amenable to conversation, actually, even a bit unsettlingly at ease with it considering the chaos around them.

The question Anduin poses is one that he's been presented already, though. In fact, it had been presented near immediately, since it was a similar line of reasoning that Ryunosuke had used to try and convince him not to drink the Kenoma Kaeya had brought. It was a good attempt, if Sebastian was objective. It would work for anyone else, probably, but Sebastian was a rather large special case. Now knowing more about this world and the role he's expected to play in it, Sebastian changes his line of reasoning slightly. The core is the same as what he had told Ryunosuke, but the rationale to reach it differs.

"I may have awoken in the crystal, but I also awoke as less. Fate had deigned to bring me here, but not as a whole," he says smoothly like it were perfectly obvious, but there's a tiny note to his tone that conveys that this is something that bothers him, "The Kenoma gave it back to me, in part. So for that gift, I serve."

It's a truth deceptively delivered, but truth all the same. He had absolutely loathed the weakness that he felt when he had emerged from the crystal. Even if he hadn't been so naturally drawn to the Kenoma, he would have been more than tempted to down it all the same just for its power. It's not a convincing argument for the rest though, he knows, which is why he at least continues.

"But it is not simply destruction the Regent seeks, but a remaking entirely, I should note. If it were as simple as destruction for destruction's sake, that would be an issue, obviously."

[bythelight]

Awoke as less?

The Kenoma gave him something back?

Power, Anduin assumes. He knows his grasp on the Light is weaker here. It must be power, some gift this person could not use. He wants to argue -- he couldn't cast either, in the cave! After he left it, though, after he accepted Pleroma he could -- yet there's something else. Sebastian keeps talking, and Anduin lets out a huff of disbelief.

"Remaking?" he echoes, "and you believe, when the Regent gains the power to remake everything, you would be a part of that? That your home would be a priority, that you would be, that anything other than what the Regent wants would be?"

Anduin does not.

[cutlery]

"Oh, I've no interest in my home. In fact, I believe most would consider it a positive that it no longer exists."

The way he emphasizes "home" is probably strange, but it's because it wasn't simply one realm that was destroyed in his case, but two. His home is the pit that all demons come from, and so indeed the void swallowing it up had rid everything of a great wickedness. It had also simply come alongside a world of humanity falling with it.

It might seem like he's changing the subject abruptly as he continues, but it's very connected to the point he wants to make. "That power of yours, that light... What is it, exactly?"

It's also a useful question for him. He's never actually encountered anything like a power that opposes his kind so. It simply wasn't a tool that "his" humanity had at their disposal. So obviously, he has a quite vested interest in learning more about it.

[bythelight]

No interest in his home? How could that be? Was it a cruel place? A place, perhaps, where they were cruel to him? Where he suffered? It would make sense to not grieve for such a place, yet all the same Anduin struggles to accept it. Surely there are good people? Surely not all of them are bad?

"I'm a priest," he allows. "The Light answers me."

An answer without too much detail, because he's not certain he wants to go into specifics when this person may come at him with a knife again any moment.

[cutlery]

It's answer enough for Sebastian, since really, any further explanation likely wouldn't help him understand any further. It's also an answer that makes him laugh, since even in its simplicity, it feels both perfectly fitting and deeply ironic.

"How unexpected," he comments with the laugh still in his voice, "I have never met a priest whose god actually deigned to listen."

And in that, there's much he wants to tease at too. There's a special pleasure in taunting faith, because his very existence is opposed to it. He's met people who claimed to wield "light" before, and he had very much enjoyed watching their belief fade as it proved impotent against a very real force of the devil. However, tempting as it was, he wasn't quite so foolish as to play with fire in this case.

"You would certainly be glad for it as well. My home was that where wickedness came. A darkness to the light, naturally."

[bythelight]

"In the Void?" Anduin prompts, eyes narrowing in thought. The Twisting Nether? Someplace else? Darkness to the Light suggests it, but... well, Sebastian doesn't immediately look like a Void creature or a Demon. Yet Anduin is well aware they can trick you, take mortal shapes, hide in plain sight and enact their schemes.

Perhaps that is what this one is doing? Why would it be pleased its home world had gone, though? Surely its master was there, its purpose? What purpose has it now? Or does it have grand ambitions, to rewrite reality with the Regent, create a place where it rules instead? His fingers twitch, uneasy as he considers this. The more he considers what the Regent's power could do, the more dangerous still it feels.