EVENT #6: BY HEAVEN OR HELL (WRAP-UP)

[aionmods]

By Heaven or Hell

THE SNARE (cw: gore)

Above Achamoth, blow after brutal blow is rained down upon the Sanctifier. It's fiery wings have been drowned by the abyssal waters of Childe's corrupted voyager, and its chest torn open by the Regent's power. Though it tries to flee, it is assailed from all sides, tearing away scales and burning flesh, its eyes blinded with blood and infection. Even its roar has been torn, the damage to its throat leaving its thundering voice strangled and broken. As Childe's lance drives through the top of its skull and out the bottom of its jaw, it seems that its demise must be imminent.

Yet, this is a creature of the Pleroma. Fueled by a force that fights for life at all costs, the Sanctifier is denied an easy rest. Fitting, perhaps, that its host refuse just as vehemently. Within this ravaged body, Estinien Wyrmblood still struggles, even as each breath is choked by blood and blinding pain. He refuses. He's not ready to be mourned. He's not ready for the fight to end. Himeka, Abel, Hayame... he'd told them... he'd told them he would stay by their side...

On faltering wings, the Sanctifier makes a final effort. The Pleroma responds to Estinien's resolve, and the fire within it ignites in a desperate burst, driving it to escape this city and defend its comrades. Estinien will feel his soul seared with the intensity of his wish, burning him up in the overwhelming light of this undying sun. All the while, the power of the Innocence holds his spirit close, as if hoping to shield him from what is to come. It pleads with him to relent, as it knows this course, and he will not return the same.

With that surge of light, it seem for a moment that the Sanctifier may actually accomplish it, that its wings might ferry it away from the shadows that bite at its heels. However, it's not to be. Not with the trap that's been set, but he Kenoma and their master.

Darkness swells at six points around the city. Six void-dark spears, deposited by the Regent's most trusted followers, activate as the Regent aims their final shot. Six rays of the abyss pierce Achamoth's sky, each one piercing through the Sanctifier's core, stopping its desperate effort before it can truly begin. Though the bolts of darkness seem to stretch for for miles at first, gradually the blur of shadow fades, resolving in the great dragon's body run through by spikes of purest Kenoma. The Sanctifier crumbles, the light of its form dissolving, one last broken cry of agony escaping.

The arrangement of spears holds true with the shift of its form, and as the light of the Pleroma leaves him, instead there is only Estinien. Instead of a colossal dragon, one man bears the wounds of the Sanctifier, his torso ravaged by the spears piercing it and the Regent's power, held in place despite the futile twitches of his battered wings. Just as the Sanctifier was missing a claw, he is missing a finger, and blood pours from his forehead where a lance just was, down through the bottom of his mouth. Ichor drains from one brutalized eye, the other opened wide with shock despite its visible pains.

Estinien tries to speak, but cannot. His hands struggle to pry a spear free from his chest, but he finds no purchase. His broken body hangs above the city for several seconds, as if on display, before an orb of void envelopes him and he disappears.

A FINAL BENISON

After the agonizing end of the Sanctifier, the presence of the Innocence will linger around the spirits of the Pleroma for a short time, as if allowed to disperse in the absence of the creature it was sustaining. There is a mournful weight to its essence, and softly, the Pleroma will hear it speak:

I failed... I have failed you... Again...

The presence is already beginning to fade, but those already touched by the Innocence will feel its power flare up within them, like a new candle lit from one almost burned to its end.

Please... do not despair... continue on... and find the peace I could not give you...

With that it goes silent, disappearing along with its host.

[OOC: Several characters will be receiving PMs regarding this.]

REGENT'S REPRISAL

The protective light of the Sanctifier fades, and the Pleroma will find themselves prematurely awash in a furious Achamoth, their enemies having multiplied from from a mere two dozen Aions to hundreds, if not thousands of Horosians. The military, having been rendered helpless for most of this struggle, are eager to pick up the slack, firing with what offensive magic they hold and alchemy enhanced weaponry. Even civilians, furious and humiliated by what they perceive as Pleroma tricks, will begin to lash out, throwing what improvised weapons they might have and shouting abuse; anything to help destroy these invaders.

The shadows of the city, having been swelling since the beginning of the Sanctifier's fall, will seem to chase the Pleroma through the streets. Like violent ghosts, specters of darkness pursue them, lashing out with intangible claws that feel like shocks of cold torment. Sometime, they may even land small physical blows, like claw marks and bruises left by unseen spirits. These malformed spirits shriek with suffering and discontent, but only Aions seem to perceive them. Those with Tier 2 attunements will have the clearest gaze of ethereal forms, like the wretched, half remembered remains of people and creatures long past.

FROM THE SKIES

As the void swallows Estinien, Seekers & Visionaries of both sects are hit with a series of images flashing through their mind; thick green forests, a tall mountain sitting apart, a golden eye barely concealed by smoke. Red scaled lids close once only to sharply pull back as the eye widens swallows all around it. The vision fades in an instant.

A chorus of unfamiliar roars and screeches echo across the Citadel. Where one dragon once stood, dozens now swarm the air above the gathered Aions. These dragons appear in all sizes and patterns, some with scales hardened like wood or stone while others appear feathered and nearly birdlike. Any Pleroma who have spent time in Greentruth may recognize the shapes as shadows that have passed in the canopy overhead even if they have not crossed the paths of these dragons before. Reinforcements.

A little too late.

The dragons descend upon the Citadel led by a familiar figure; Tehri of the Deep Mists rides atop one of the largest of the dragons as they all come to land on the stony ground at the Pleroma front. They will provide cover for those looking to leave the battlefield and a flight back to Greentruth. If there are Pleroma who are staying to fight longer, a few dragons will wait around the edges until all battles have ceased. They are only dragons, so they could come under fire by the Kenoma should attacks be made.

Tehri stays on the largest dragon as it rears its head above the siege of the ire of the dead. She stands tall atop it, extending her arms as a cool blow envelopes her hands. A rush of cold air pushes forth as a thick mist forms in the courtyard, obscuring vision for all but a few feet in front any person. The Regent's malformed spirits are left confused and without direction, but will attack any Pleroma they do manage to find. The mists linger for several hours after the last Pleroma has fled Achamoth.

WRAP-UP

Returned to their homes of choice, each Aion will be free to recover and carry on with their daily affairs. Word of the assault on Achamoth gradually spreads across Horos, prompting startled reactions its populace. Has the Pleroma truly been so brazen? Had the dragon in the sky truly been as grand as they say? Had the dragon of the wood truly answered in turn? The raid will eventually be a hot topic of discussion in every corner of the continent, though there were few non-Achamite eye witnesses. It can be expected that the details will be exaggerated, understated, and misunderstood wildly.

❖ IMPORTANT NOTES

◆ REGENT'S RESPONSE: After the Pleroma have left the city, the Kenoma will receive a communion from the Regent whether or not their shards are exposed. Their multi-toned voice will express contentment with the outcome of the struggle, explaining that they have successfully captured the Innocence and its host. With this link to its power claimed, they have what they need to end its threat. Kenoma will be welcomed to join them in their throne room to see this done a few days after the battle, but attendance is not mandatory. There will be a short NPC log posted to cover this, though we will warn that the Innocence's 'execution' will be fairly gruesome, so if you have a more uncertain Kenoma whom you don't want to scare off the path, it may be best to not have them attend.

◆ DRAGONS ENGAGED: As the majority of the PVP and PVE finishes up, there are dragon NPCs available to battle against at your discretion. We will not thread these battles, but if any Kenoma would like to try to take out one of the dragons, they can reply below and we will do a mod roll for their success. Any killed dragons may be dealt with as desired in Achamoth. There won't be a Kenoma knock out mechanic for this, unless players specifically want to be mangled by a dragon.

◆ STATE OF ACHAMOTH: Achamoth managed to avoid any irreparable mass destruction as a result of the raid, though there were some 'presumably Pleroma' assaults on civilian infrastructure that will be highly talked about in coming weeks, including the looting of a few houses, attempted arson of a church, and the attempted destruction of a factory. While the Sanctifier was not purposely attacking Achamite civilians, its battle with the Kenoma did result in some casualties among both the military and civilian population, while other soldiers were slain by the Pleroma on the ground. (Or, in one case, one of the Kenoma?) Multiple watchtowers were destroyed by the dragon's throes. In general, Achamoth is furious about this, and more hateful towards the Pleroma than ever.

◆ RECONVENING IN GREENTRUTH: Once back in Greentruth, Tehri will send a communion to all the Pleroma and ask them to attend, if they can, the first Aion Council meeting in early Sekiseri. She encourages all to take the time to heal both physically and mentally in the days to come. The council meeting Tehri is requesting will take place in September. This will be offered as part of a mini-event log where characters will be able to discuss with one another and speak with Tehri directly.

◆ VALLEY OF THE INNOCENT: Any Aions passing through the Innocent's Shrine will notice that, following the Innocence's 'execution', the once lush valley's plant-life is starting to die off in what is clearly a non-seasonal manner. Locals will say that the valley is generally in a state of eternal spring, and this is the first time they've seen it suffer like this. The death of the flora here is not complete or immediate, but it is devastating considering the valley's former state of perfection.

◆ SEKISERI: There will be no game-wide event in September, but there will be some NPC activity of various flavors. Players will be free to plot their own activities as they will.

Comments

this is SO RUDE

[subsist]

[ Really? This is what he gets for trying to walk this path with good intentions?

Sometimes it truly isn't worth the trouble, and if Kaeya hadn't already witnessed what can go wrong if you let a guy go on a rampage unimpeded, then he would have walked the other way as soon as Childe brushed him off, but that's not what happens. Instead, he makes use of his outstretched hand to grab the other by the shoulder, stopping him from going any further. If Childe isn't going to make this easy, then he isn't either.

When he speaks again, it isn't in the common tongue that would be familiar to everyone else. Words are spoken in the language of the abyss and the dead, the language that still haunts his dreams. Whether it's one that Childe will understand is something he's trying to find out, but considering the man looks like something that crawled out of the void — just like the Lectors, the Heralds, the lost Knights — then it's more than likely this will spark more recognition than anything else.

(He doesn't dream often. Whenever he does, it's always centered around a forgotten nation, its stolen legacy, and everything in between. Speaking like this is so difficult in ways he didn't expect, but maybe it's more than just the heartache to blame this time around.) ]

Where do you think you're going?

[ He keeps his hand on Childe's shoulder as long as it isn't shaken off, walking around to be in front of him once more. ]

A monster like you can't walk around so freely.

??? Name-calling is polite tho??

[vapour]

[ It does get Childe to stop again, this time apparently moreso than before. It's been a long time since he's heard a tongue like that. He can't say it's exactly a language he fully knows, but it's certainly close enough that he understands what is being conveyed. Skirk might have even used this exact tongue on him once upon a time, but it's hard to remember properly in terms of any full perspective of his time in the Abyss.

Why does this person... who is this person? Should he know them? As Kaeya moves in front of him, he immediately recognizes the visible Khaenri'ah eye of the individual. He doesn't know this person, though.

Does he...?

It takes Childe a moment, barely able to form words nevermind a sentence, but the words that come out from under his mask are not Khaenri'ahn, but Abyssal. Even so, if he got the gist, the other should be able to, too. There's no hint of recognition or familiarity. No sarcasm, no amusement, no anything. ]

You say that, and yet you continue to stand in my way. I don't think you know what a monster is at all.

[ His lance reforges itself midair and even as he reaches to grab it, he simply sneers. ]

I'll show you exactly what a real one is like, but it'll cost you.

[subsist]

[ The language spoken back to him isn't entirely unfamiliar, but there are some words that don't quite fit into the puzzle he already knows about. If he is surprised by this confirmation, it neither shows in his face nor does he let it falter his actions. If anything, it emboldens him even more so than he already is, refusing to step aside despite the imminent threat to his own well-being. Amos already put him through hell, so nothing Childe can do to him will be anything new. ]

I know of monsters far more terrifying than you.

[ Five hundred years ago, an alchemist by the name of Rhinedottir was corrupted by her own greed and sent abyssal monsters crawling across the world of Teyvat. The gods of Celestia saw this for the act of treason that it was, and the nation of Khaenri'ah was the one made to pay a terrible price. It takes everything in Kaeya not to scoff at Childe's words, because the man has no idea what he's talking about when he claims that he can show a Khaenri'ahn what a real monster is like.

Compared to the gods, compared to Rhinedottir, Childe barely counts as one, especially with the way he is. A boy who doesn't want to be left behind in the dark isn't someone who can make Kaeya feel fear. ]

So tell me— did you become one because you had no choice? [ A beat passes, and then Kaeya rests his other hand on the side of Childe's mask. What's hidden underneath? A real monster or a boy scared out of his mind? ] Were you afraid?

[ Are you still scared, even now? ]

[vapour]

[ Childe's mask is a savior more than ever, because no matter what he's feeling or expressing it can't be seen by anyone. Consider even he doesn't know how he feels right now, anymore, it keeps things simple.

This talk feels pointless, and it probably is. He's not even sure why this man is getting in his way. Still, instead of swing his lance at Kaeya in response, he does respond to his questions. ]

You are Khaenri'ahn. You should know better than most that why you became a monster doesn't matter to the rest of the world. Do you hear people in Teyvat preaching that the gods were wrong to punish an entire nation and wipe them off the map? Do you hear about a nation of good people that deserved better than the punishment for what the minority had done? Or is the repertoire always of a nation full of godless sinners?

[ Kaeya may not be afraid of him, but he's not afraid of Kaeya, either. It seems so obvious that of course a little boy would be scared—terrified to the point it doesn't even seem to need affirming. ] Fear is only what you make of it— and standing in my way benefits you none.

[subsist]

[ No, of course not. All anyone ever talks about is the gravity of Khaenri'ah's crimes, that the price they were made to pay was warranted. Justified. Kaeya knows that Childe is right when he says that it doesn't really matter why you chose to became a monster, not when all that matters are your actions but never the circumstances that may have led you to a dead end. Maybe he doesn't really need to hear why Childe is now a creature made from the abyss.

But that doesn't mean he's going to walk away. ]

If standing in your way means that the rest of them don't have to deal with a monster, then I'd say it's worth it.

[ He remembers what happened with Amos, how powerless he felt because he couldn't do a single thing to avoid his death. How much that hurt. How much that still hurts. He doesn't have the strength left to keep fighting, not like this, not anymore, but here he is anyway. Someone has to try. Someone has to pull Childe back before he's lost to the rest of them too.

So he leans in close, his forehead touching the jagged surface of the Harbinger's mask. His hand moves from where he's gripping the other on the shoulder, settling it right by the mask too, now framed in both hands. If who he's dealing with is truly just a boy who is petrified by his own fear, then maybe this will help. It's what Diluc used to do when they were younger, whenever he was trapped in a terrible nightmare, and it always brought him back. It never failed them.

Maybe it won't fail this time too. ]

You never answered my question. [ When he speaks this time, his words are quieter. ] Were you afraid?

[vapour]

[ 'the rest of them.'

Who? The enemy? Their allies? Childe doesn't quite understand. He also rapidly doesn't care because again it's about being a monster which just mean Kaeya's protecting others from him. Ridiculous, typical, foolish.

Childe says nothing, armored claws coming to sink down on the other's shoulder, the intention very clear even before he does it. He's going to physically remove him from being in his way.

—Or, so that was the intention. Before he can actually do such a thing, Kaeya is holding either side of his helm and touching his forehead against the surface of it. Normally Childe wouldn't feel anything, because it's all Abyssal armor despite his transformation beneath it, but with it staying stick to him despite leaving Abyss Form, Childe realizes the sensation feels almost the same as it would if it was against his bare forehead. It's unexpected, but further so is the other's question, this time about his fear.

Why does this individual care? Did he not just say he was protecting others from a monster? ...Did he hear it... wrong, somehow...?

Childe doesn't quite realize it in his conflicted state of mind, but his Armor flickers suddenly for several seconds like a stuttering roll of film being played. It's rapid enough, however, for his expression to be seen by the other, the confused and conflicted look, the uncertainty, the dried streaks from tears already wept, and the strange faint glow in his eyes before they seem to focus suddenly in recognition and stop staring through Kaeya.

... Right, he knows this person, afterall. Childe is still uncertain on why he's receiving such concern from the other aion, why he's focused on Childe's feelings, even, but it all seems to be enough to get the Harbinger back to his senses.

Ultimately, he doesn't answer and the Abyss Form's flickering stops, leaving it as it was without any changes. Nevertheless, instead of shoving at the other, his grip slowly loosens before he lets his hand fall to his side in silence. Kaeya may have not gotten an answer, but it seems he got a result for his efforts all the same. The confrontational aura seems to have dissipated, leaving him as truly nothing more than a tired knight still in full armor.

Fine... he'll... Just go back like Kaeya had suggested they do initially. It's not a big deal in the end, anyway. ]

[subsist]

[ The lack of an answer is one all the same.

There's something tragic about that, Kaeya thinks to himself, but there's nothing he can do to help with it. This is a monster that Childe has to fight on his own, and all he can really do is let him know that there will always be someone willing to bring him back, no matter how far he's gone. Nevermind that they're strangers, once enemies now turned into unwilling allies because of how strange and cruel fate can be sometimes, but you rarely get to pick who will stand by you when you don't really have anyone you can rely on.

When the Abyssal armour falls apart, for the briefest of seconds, it's enough for Kaeya to see what the other Aion was so desperate to hide. Then again, this goes both ways. There's no hiding his own sadness, the lack of light in his own starry eye, but he thinks it's a fair exchange when Childe is just as exposed as he is. He pulls away from him when it doesn't feel like those claws are going to forcibly push him aside— and he ignores the part of him that was almost disappointed to lose that chance, that one possibility that this could have ended much more differently.

He glances towards the Citadel, and then back at Childe. He's hoping he doesn't need to spell out what he wants to happen here. Fall back. Don't go after them anymore.

Speaking in a dead language isn't necessary anymore, but somehow, he sounds more tired than ever. ]

... I'll come find you later. [ He says that, his words with some kind of finality to them. ] Take care of yourself.

[ He leaves before Childe can respond to him, heading further into the city. Just because one knight is done fighting doesn't mean this battle is over. Far from it. ]

[vapour]

...Worry about yourself, you hypocrite.

[ Regardless, Childe turns to walk the opposite way of Kaeya back to the Citadel. ]