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

[uproared]

I sure do. They'd have made great battlefield rations, too. We could've had stuff with actual taste, not just what was most efficient.

... You know, coming here is the first time I've been able to eat with other people. It's kind of... [ Nice. Normal. Not completely and utterly isolating, both physically and emotionally, but she doesn't know how to express that in a way that isn't hideously embarrassing, so she trails off awkwardly. After a pause: ]

Hey, mouse. Go ahead and eat. I'm just gonna talk out loud, so don't worry about responding. [ Maybe it's a weird thing to offer, but she feels like she should take the burden off of Gray having to react to what she's about to say. She's been waiting for the right time, but she's starting to doubt that even exists. Either (or both) of them could have died today, and despite the nihilism inherent in the Kenoma's vision, there are some things Gray deserves to hear from her before then. ]

I'm not gonna say I understand the shit you've been through. Mages are scummy, so if they were using you as part of some weird ritual, they were probably total freaks about it. Whether they cursed you or revered you, it doesn't matter, 'cause what they really wanted was my old man. Buncha idiots, all of 'em.

[ She grits her teeth, annoyed at the thought — but for once, she doesn't let her rage consume her. One more deep breath, and she continues. ]

... When I was first sent to Camelot, my mother knew her plans would come to naught if anyone saw my face — she was right, of course, even if I had my own goals by then. There wasn't any way to hide it with a spell, so I was forced to keep my helmet on. I couldn't eat with the other knights, or drink with them. Hell, I could barely speak with them.

[ Mordred the Silent. It might sound like a bad joke to anyone who's met her since, but that was the image she'd cultivated for herself, willingly and unwillingly. Who would want to talk to a wall of steel with a bad attitude? How could she ever reach out to anyone, even at the beginning, when she so desperately wanted to?

(And then, the one person she had—) ]

To the very end, none of them ever knew the truth. The only ones that found out were my father, and his harlot of a wife. I did everything alone... all because of this. [ She reaches up to touch her own face with one finger, then points at Gray's. ] So yeah, your face pisses me off. It pisses me off more than I know how to say. But it pisses me off for you, too, even if we aren't the same. I guess I just... wanted you to know that.

[gravings]

[ Even though she's not hungry and it hurts to work her jaw too much, Gray carefully and painfully takes a bite out of her sandwich as Mordred insists. And of course, she listens.

It's surprising, though it shouldn't be, to learn that Mrodred lived in much the same way that Gray had been living her own life. This face of theirs was the focal point of their lives whether they wanted it or not, dictating their destinies with far more power than their individual wills could accommodate for. No — it had to have been much more difficult for Mordred, who often saw King Arthur himself and knew many people familiar with the King's face.

Gray's life was carefree by comparison, free to show her face (if she wanted to) and live in anonymity in London. And yet she's still the closest to understanding Mordred's loneliness in truth and essence, beyond the description Mordred is able to verbalize. If Gray felt desperately lonely among the uncaring field of headstones in Blackmore Cemetery, she can only attempt to know the loneliness Mordred felt while within arm's reach of her fellow knights but unable to reach out.

It's embarrassing, and maybe she has no right to do so, but Gray feels a stinging in her eye before a tear breaks free from it, running pink as it runs down her bloodied cheek. She isn't sure how to reply to all of that, but Mordred gave her permission to stay silent, so in the end she sniffs and tears her sandwich in half so that she can offer the non-bitten side to Mordred. ]

[uproared]

[ She's looking directly at Gray, so the Single (Not) Manly Tear is obvious when it wouldn't otherwise be. Mordred double-takes, leaning in to check on the wound again. ]

Crap, I didn't hurt you before, did I? I should've paid more attention to... huh? [ When the sandwich enters her field of view, she blinks. ] Are you... trying to make me feel better?

[ Suddenly, she starts laughing. It's not a mean laugh, but it's uproarious; forcing her to step back so she can bend over and brace herself against her thighs. ]

Hahahaha! You're a goddamn idiot, you know that? But so am I, if you think I need it! All that stuff happened over a thousand years ago, mouse. It's not just old news — it's freakin' ancient. [ ... Depending on your perspective. With a grin, she finally reaches out to accept Gray's offering. ] Ah, whatever. Thanks. And... if there's any shit you ever wanna talk about, I'll at least listen. Can't promise more than that, though.

[gravings]

[ Gray shrinks a little with mortification when Mordred bursts into laughter, a redness unrelated to her injuries flooding her cheeks. She nearly withdraws her offering, feeling every bit the idiot Mordred calls her, but first it's plucked from her hand. Gray sighs a little, maybe with relief, maybe to release some pent-up embarrassment.

Mordred's raucous laughter combined with the name-calling reminds her of Add, and in turn Sir Kay. Maybe everyone in the Round Table was a little rough like this. She slowly lowers her hand so that it can join the other in cradling her half of sandwich. ]

... Thank you. It was hard to discuss this kind of thing before... because the people of my village would never have understood. And to everyone else, this is just "my" face.

[ It shouldn't be a big deal. Objectively this is a pleasant face; some might even be jealous enough to trade places with her. Only her mentor and Mordred have understood its horror at a glance, and it's difficult for Gray to convey the importance of that to her. ]

I'm still not sure why this happened to me. I can't imagine I'm anything like King Arthur.

[uproared]

You're not. Honestly, you're one of the least kingly people I've ever met. [ Blunt, immediate, as she bites into the sandwich with a shrug. Her next words are muffled by chewing, but still clearly audible. ] But who cares? Take it from me: one of my father is more than enough.

[ After she swallows, she pats Gray on the shoulder, not the head — a gesture of equals, rather than anything condescending. ]

Listen, mouse. One day, I'm going to surpass King Arthur. I'll become stronger than he was, wiser than he was, and greater than he was. But that's something I chose for myself. My mother's intentions, the reasons behind my birth... those are all utterly irrelevant to me, just like they should be to you.

You're not Arthur Pendragon — you're Gray. It's not your fault the fools in your village didn't realize that.

[gravings]

[ Gray could probably have shed another tear over that rousing message, but she isn't yet past the afterburn of her embarrassment over Mordred laughing at her. The talking-through-sandwich bit also detracts from the moment, just a little. But she finds comfort in it nevertheless, Mordred's hand steady on her shoulder.

Gray nibbles a little more on her sandwich, an outlet for her buzzing feelings. After another moment, she just says what's on her mind. ]

You can be pretty nice...

[ It's weird........ ]

[uproared]

W-what?

[ Good thing she already swallowed, because it means the choking sound that leaves her throat is purely one of embarrassment, not danger. Her face turns just as red as Gray's did a moment ago, and she doesn't have a big ol' wound to blame for it. ]

... You must be joking. I've been called a lot of things in my time, [ "in my time" shut the fuck up you're seven ] but nice isn't one of them. [ Quietly, to herself: ] I suppose it's not the worst feeling... wait, what the hell am I saying? I ain't nice! Stupid mouse!

[ She turns away, putting both hands behind her head in a gesture of forced casualness, and pretends to stretch a bit; desperately willing her face to go back to normal. ]

Anyway, hurry up. We don't have all damn day, and I still gotta put your bandages back on.

[gravings]

[ Gray is polite enough not to directly stare at Mordred's fidgeting, but it turns out a glance and even the most basic of peripheral visions is enough to parse Mordred's extreme embarrassment. It's a little cute, but Mordred might try to fight Gray completely if she said that out loud.

Anyway, Mordred has a point that they don't have all day (there is kind of an invasion still going on) so Gray forces herself to chow down on her sandwich half. It isn't anywhere near Mordred's pace, but for her it's still triple time. Once she's done she obediently looks to Mordred, waiting for her impending mummification. ]

[uproared]

[ It's a good thing that Gray, in the space of a month, has already learned how to handle Mordred. She's back to normal by the time she turns around, and will proceed to pretend the last five minutes never happened, thank you very much (and if Gray wants to keep her head on her shoulders, she'd be wise to do the same).

Picking up the bandages, she lifts them towards Gray's face; hesitating as she tries to work out how best to apply them. Much like the wound cleaning, this isn't something she's done before, or been on the receiving end of. Nobody was getting bandaged by her gauntlet-clad hands, or tying them around her helmet. Her armour protected her from ever getting too mangled, but injures were things she fought through, letting the pain fuel her until they healed — a punishment for her failure. ]

I'll start here, and then go around... that's not too tight, is it? [ Without waiting for an answer: ] Once more — no twice? — then tie it off at the back, like... this. Okay, I'm done.

[ ... After a pause, she leans in and tugs a part down, so the bandages aren't literally covering both of Gray's eyes. Nailed it. ]

[gravings]

[ Gray closes her eyes throughout the process. She may have been able to glean by feel alone that Mordred doesn't do this often, but just so she's extra sure, Mordred mumbles to herself about it in a way that others might find concerning. But Gray (incorrectly) assumes that Mordred can't do a worse job than was already done, so she lets it all happen without comment.

Once the deed is done (and Mordred makes her final adjustment), Gray opens her eyes to look at Mordred again. Lacking a mirror, she can only use a hand to feel curiously at the bandaging job. ]

Thank you.

[ Even if it may or may not be a botch job, Mordred tried... Gray gives her a small smile in gratitude before standing and raising her hood into place. ]

I think I'm well enough to be out again.

[ It's been a short break, but it was a good one. ]

[uproared]

'Course you are. I did a great job, right?

[ Keep telling yourself that, Mordred, because nobody else ever will. Once Gray stands up, Mordred pats her on the back, and half pushes her out the door. She wants the other girl out of sight before her own exhaustion catches up with her again. ]

I'll catch up later, so get going. And stay outta trouble.

[gravings]

[ Why does she feel like she's being ushered out to play by a parent... but she lets herself get pushed out the door, turning to give Mordred a quick dip of her head in farewell. ]

... Okay. You be careful too.

[ Mordred probably won't listen to the likes of her, but Gray still feels like she ought to say it. If Mordred firing off her Noble Phantasm is anything like Gray firing off Rhongomyniad, it must be exhausting. In any case, Gray turns and walks off without further ado to do......... something. ]