Heroica RPG - Quest #147: Judgment Day

[Flipz]

Arx butts into Lind's attempted huddle, quite defiantly. <"If you've something to say, speak it to all of us, I still don't trust your intentions one little bit!"> he insists, in draconian. Realizing as much, he asks, slightly abashed, <"Arthur, would you mind relaying that to the group for me..?">

Gabriel nods.

"I'm inclined to agree." he says, lighting up another cigar.

Arthur nods and relays Arx's words to the rest of the party.

"I'm alright, Karie.

Karie, Arthur, Masson - private huddle, please. Just for a moment..."

OoC: Check PMs.

Arthur pulls himself free from the huddle Lind had dragged him--literally--into. "Lind," he says, not bothering to keep his voice quiet. "This isn't a dream, nor a game, nor anything else. This is real life. With real consequences. Is it a test? Probably. But that doesn't mean it's isolated from reality. When Immortalis conducts his little trials to make his little judgments, he puts real people with real lives on the line. We shouldn't be trying to pass his tests because they're tests, we should be passing his tests because we're doing the right thing, test or no."

<We can try to convince him of how wrong his actions are. And to that end, beating him on his own level is most helpful. But ultimately, we must beat him, by word, by blade, or by both.>"

"Indeed. Immortalis is not a good person. I believe he can be. But if he refuses to be...well, there's not much I can do for him. As much as I'd like to see this night end with minimal bloodshed, his life is not worth that of all the innocents in Eubric. Now, can we please start investigating that alley? As I just said, I don't want to leave behind something that's going to bite us in the rear later down the line."

[Lind Whisperer]

Arx butts into Lind's attempted huddle, quite defiantly. <"If you've something to say, speak it to all of us, I still don't trust your intentions one little bit!"> he insists, in draconian. Realizing as much, he asks, slightly abashed, <"Arthur, would you mind relaying that to the group for me..?">

Gabriel nods.

"I'm inclined to agree." he says, lighting up another cigar.

Arthur nods and relays Arx's words to the rest of the party.

"I remembered Arthur's words about the Proggs being a test, and I suddenly remembered what Eschaton is notorious for - namely, dreams.

I connected the two, and shared the idea with the three people that had voted against flooding the Proggs out. That is all."

We shouldn't be trying to pass his tests because they're tests, we should be passing his tests because we're doing the right thing, test or no."

"Agreed."

<We can try to convince him of how wrong his actions are. And to that end, beating him on his own level is most helpful. But ultimately, we must beat him, by word, by blade, or by both.>"

"Indeed. Immortalis is not a good person. I believe he can be. But if he refuses to be...well, there's not much I can do for him. As much as I'd like to see this night end with minimal bloodshed, his life is not worth that of all the innocents in Eubric. Now, can we please start investigating that alley? As I just said, I don't want to leave behind something that's going to bite us in the rear later down the line."

"I'm all for that."

[Endgame]

Reaching a consensus, the party chooses to make way down the alley. Moving through the purple aura, they see two figures -one familiar, one not...

Vaermina holds a man's chin up with a gloved hand, whispering words coated in kindness and likely some sort of magic. The victim could only stand numbly, blank pupils staring into Vaermina's featureless visage.

"You've been powerless your whole life, haven't you, Victor...?"

"...Yesss." he murmurs, looking both asleep and enraptured.

"But I can fix that. I've been there too, Victor. I can give you power. And it won't take much... Just a few simple favors, and that is all I ask, okay?"

"A few... Simple favors. Yesss."

"Good! Good... Now..."

And before the party can intervene, an invisble force sends the angel and her thrall flying in opposite directions. The stranger collides with the wall, while Vaermina manages to stop herself just short of colliding with the side of the building. Both the angel and the party look around for the source of the disturbance... And he soon reveals himself, stepping out of a portal: Charon.

"Vaermina." He says, fists clenched tightly, voice barely managing to sound polite. "I am... I wish you didn't... A Nephilim. You were making a Nephilim. Yes?"

Vaermina doesn't respond.

"A Nephilim. Vaermina... I am trying. Very. Hard here to keep my composure, Vaermina, so if you could comply with me for just a few-"

The brainwashed man staggers up, and trying a makeshift knife from his pocket -cobbled from junk from alleys like these, no doubt - tries to take a swing at Charon. Charon doesn't flinch. With a flick of his wrist, Charon makes the poor soul stop in his tracks. The same invisble force that shoved him into a wall now had twisted his neck, snapping it. He fell, limp and lifeless.

"You seeing this, heroes?" says Charon, the politeness in his voice now replaced by pure disgust. "Immortalis tells me not to kill. But that was not killing. That was a mercy."

"Charon. You're upset, but you could never understand why-"

"No. I couldn't understand. Nor do I want to understand, Vaermina."

[Asphalt]

WE SEE CHARON!!

Vindsval calls, a feral gleam in he red eyes.

But there are others here who would have words with you. I have business with the Fallen Lady. Step aside.

[swils]

"We should have dropped that coward before she could flee," Thormanil grumbles.

[Asphalt]

I was trying, Vindsval growls.

[Lind Whisperer]

The brainwashed man staggers up, and trying a makeshift knife from his pocket -cobbled from junk from alleys like these, no doubt - tries to take a swing at Charon. Charon doesn't flinch. With a flick of his wrist, Charon makes the poor soul stop in his tracks. The same invisble force that shoved him into a wall now had twisted his neck, snapping it. He fell, limp and lifeless.

"You seeing this, heroes?" says Charon, the politeness in his voice now replaced by pure disgust. "Immortalis tells me not to kill. But that was not killing. That was a mercy."

"I'm seeing it, Charon. I'm seeing you killing a man.

That wasn't a mercy killing. Without knowing exactly what she did, I can't speculate further - but that was not a mercy killing."

"And before you start to rationalize it, I'd just like to point out that it happened because Immortalis is attacking Eubric.

No attack on Eubric, no need for a "mercy killing"."

[Siercon and Coral]

OOC: are we still lugging around Glaz and Corvis?

[Endgame]

QM Note: Yes.

[JimBee]

Jinnipher drew Beheader. "Nephilim?! You have the power to create those godforsaken bastards?!" She pointed the blade at Charon. "Tell me. Tell me everything you know about the Nephilim."

[Kintobor]

Karie eyes the situation, deciding to watch events unfold before commenting. She scratched at her neck, trying not to look at the corpse on the ground.

[Endgame]

WE SEE CHARON!!

Vindsval calls, a feral gleam in he red eyes.

But there are others here who would have words with you. I have business with the Fallen Lady. Step aside.

"No. I won't. I am disgusted right now. But I will not let you kill her."

"I'm seeing it, Charon. I'm seeing you killing a man.

That wasn't a mercy killing. Without knowing exactly what she did, I can't speculate further - but that was not a mercy killing."

"And before you start to rationalize it, I'd just like to point out that it happened because Immortalis is attacking Eubric.

No attack on Eubric, no need for a "mercy killing"."

"You don't know what a Nephilim is, do you, Lind?"

Jinnipher drew Beheader. "Nephilim?! You have the power to create those godforsaken bastards?!" She pointed the blade at Charon. "Tell me. Tell me everything you know about the Nephilim."

"Many angels do. They're puppets, pawns, tools - a mortal hexed into servitude by an angel. It is an unforgivable act, even among circles of fallen angels. And to think you would make one, Vaermina...?"

"...Don't put yourself above me, Charon. I am doing what I must."

"Robbing people of their free will so utterly? Hollowing them out and leaving them slaves? ...I don't know why you "must" do it, but it's not for Eschaton."

Vaermina looks at Charon defiantly.

"...You're wounded. Maybe you could take me. But could you take me, plus a group of heroes...?"

Vaermina looks down at the ground.

"Vaermina. I am sorry. I hate to say this, but... Run. Run, and run very far away, and don't come back. You are no longer welcome in Eschaton."

The angel clenches her fist in frustration, trembling a bit in the rain, before launching herself into the sky.'

"Now, heroes. With her sorted out... Let's talk about my two friends you have as prisoners, shall we?"

[Kintobor]

"That's something we're going to have an issue about." Karie remarks. "They're our prisoners. A deterrent chip, if you will. You and Immortalis understand what I'm talking about, surely?" Karie cautiously grinned. Stepping on the toes of Charon and sticking her point to him felt satisfying.

[Endgame]

"Aren't you confident? You think I didn't come here with a bargaining chip of my own, Mrs. Alderflask?"

[JimBee]

"Many angels do. They're puppets, pawns, tools - a mortal hexed into servitude by an angel. It is an unforgivable act, even among circles of fallen angels. And to think you would make one, Vaermina...?"

Jinnipher's voice seemed to shake slightly. "Since you seem to know everything about this, tell me. Where is Lucifuge, the angel who doomed Heroica five years ago with his Nephilim? And the entirety of Mercution before that."

She watched Vaermina fly off again with a look of frustration.

[Siercon and Coral]

"You seeing this, heroes?" says Charon, the politeness in his voice now replaced by pure disgust. "Immortalis tells me not to kill. But that was not killing. That was a mercy."

Siercon makes a show of pondering what Charon just said... "Noo.... I don't think so... when that guy goes on to the after life he's gonna say 'Charon killed me' there really isn't any way to see it other than that you directly disobeyed Immortalis. He said 'don't kill', and you killed that guy." Siercon wondered if pointing out disobedience was more important to charons self evaluation than a murder he saw as mercy.

"...You're wounded. Maybe you could take me. But could you take me, plus a group of heroes...?"

Depending if vaermina can hear Siercon, he says this:

Siercon started at this...

"Hey wait a second... Charon here says 'maybe you can take me' while wounded at that.. But then assumes we'll help HIM!? Other than Immortalis Charon will be our biggest obstacle. I say if she can maybe take him, then with our help she definitely can! Then I suppose we can deal with her... Depending on her helpfulness. I say we team up with the lady and kick Charons but." Siercon looks at Charon, "Sorry Charon, nothing personal, just logic and wariness of you as a given future and formittable foe."

OOC: Is there any way we can stop her leaving i.e. she heard me, or is it done... And we gotta move on?

Edited June 14, 2016 by Siercon and Coral

[Kintobor]

"Aren't you confident? You think I didn't come here with a bargaining chip of my own, Mrs. Alderflask?"

Karie's grin switches to a look of confusion, unsure of who Charon could be referring to. She thought for a second before responding.

"Who exactly do you have?"

[Flipz]

OOC: Still semi-inactive, I just wanted to get my say in. This took me way longer than it should have...

Arthur's gaze goes ice cold at the discovery of Vaermina's actions. He growls something unintelligible, though one word sounds suspiciously like 'Oculoids'. Miirym passes Glaz into Arthur's waiting grasp as she takes to the sky, presumably in an attempt to catch sight of the fallen angel, though she also keeps a wary eye on the events unfolding below. At first, it seems Arthur's mood can grow no more foul, but against all odds the next interaction manages to upset him even further.

"Now, heroes. With her sorted out... Let's talk about my two friends you have as prisoners, shall we?"

"That's something we're going to have an issue about." Karie remarks. "They're our prisoners. A deterrent chip, if you will. You and Immortalis understand what I'm talking about, surely?" Karie cautiously grinned. Stepping on the toes of Charon and sticking her point to him felt satisfying.

Arthur dips his head, just enough that the flashing thunderbolts cast the shadow of his brow over his eyes, like the face of a grim, shadowy skull. He didn't like where this conversation was headed, not one bit. "This wasn't why I rescued them..." the Dragoon mutters, more to himself than to anyone else, but neither did he try particularly hard to stay quiet.

"Aren't you confident? You think I didn't come here with a bargaining chip of my own, Mrs. Alderflask?"

Karie's grin switches to a look of confusion, unsure of who Charon could be referring to. She thought for a second before responding.

"Who exactly do you have?"

Arthur thinks for a moment, glances for a fraction of a second at Karie's back, then locks eyes with Corvis. "...no. Surely not."

The brief glance is not lost on Miirym. <He would, wouldn't he...the dragon put you up to this, didn't he? He surely can't operate on good faith, no, he has to take things to extremes.>

"Miirym and I have gone to great lengths to keep your friends safe. Not to be used as bargaining chips, but merely because it was the right thing to do. If you've harmed your hostage or those caring for them in any way...you must realize that it is your life that will be forfeit, not these two. Even an agent of Immortalis must recognize at some level how wrong it is to harm the innocent..."

<After that display just now? Do they even know the meaning of the word 'innocent'? Based on their behavior thus far, I must conclude not.>

He doesn't say it, but Miirym's analysis makes sense to Arthur. He grows even more worried, clutching the unconscious angels even more protectively as he draws his cloak tighter around them.

Edited June 14, 2016 by Flipz

[Asphalt]

More delay tactics, more games, more Condescension. Speak plainly angel. You condemn the Fallen Lady, yet you stay my hand. You profess you cannot kill, yet you ended that one in a most cowardly way, robbing him of any hope of glory in his next Path. Why are you here now?

[Endgame]

Jinnipher's voice seemed to shake slightly. "Since you seem to know everything about this, tell me. Where is Lucifuge, the angel who doomed Heroica five years ago with his Nephilim? And the entirety of Mercution before that."

She watched Vaermina fly off again with a look of frustration.

"Not my job to spoil all of the world's secrets, Jinnipher, especially not for one of your vendettas."

Charon sadly shakes his head as Siercon speaks.

"Sorry. She's gone. She's a fast one, Vaermina. i couldn't muster up the intent to kill that quickly. But ask Jinnipher if that man deserved to die. All is life was was to act in servitude for whatever goal she was working for. That's not an existence worth sparing."

Karie's grin switches to a look of confusion, unsure of who Charon could be referring to. She thought for a second before responding.

"Who exactly do you have?"

Arthur's gaze goes ice cold at the discovery of Vaermina's actions. He growls something unintelligible, though one word sounds suspiciously like 'Oculoids'. Miirym passes Glaz into Arthur's waiting grasp as she takes to the sky, presumably in an attempt to catch sight of the fallen angel, though she also keeps a wary eye on the events unfolding below. At first, it seems Arthur's mood can grow no more foul, but against all odds the next interaction manages to upset him even further.

Arthur dips his head, just enough that the flashing thunderbolts cast the shadow of his brow over his eyes, like the face of a grim, shadowy skull. He didn't like where this conversation was headed, not one bit. "This wasn't why I rescued them..." the Dragoon mutters, more to himself than to anyone else, but neither did he try particularly hard to stay quiet.

Arthur thinks for a moment, glances for a fraction of a second at Karie's back, then locks eyes with Corvis. "...no. Surely not."

The brief glance is not lost on Miirym. <He would, wouldn't he...the dragon put you up to this, didn't he? He surely can't operate on good faith, no, he has to take things to extremes.>

"Miirym and I have gone to great lengths to keep your friends safe. Not to be used as bargaining chips, but merely because it was the right thing to do. If you've harmed your hostage or those caring for them in any way...you must realize that it is your life that will be forfeit, not these two. Even an agent of Immortalis must recognize at some level how wrong it is to harm the innocent..."

<After that display just now? Do they even know the meaning of the word 'innocent'? Based on their behavior thus far, I must conclude not.>

He doesn't say it, but Miirym's analysis makes sense to Arthur. He grows even more worried, clutching the unconscious angels even more protectively as he draws his cloak tighter around them.

"And how safe are they, truly, with a group such as yours? Mr. and Mrs. Cross Species Romance could snap at any time. You could meander into any conflict in this city and get them killed. And I will not have you use them as leverage against me.

Listen. Here's the deal. I haven't kidnapped anyone. Not my style! But Immortalis is predicting a pretty big riot outside of Heroica Hall, and a few of your friends may end up in the crossfire. Not gonna say who. But the consequences of the riot could be... fatal. Normally, our angels use our energy sapping spell, and shovel all of the rioters back to their home while the judgment occurs. Disorder on the streets is not our thing. But I'm taking matters back into my own hands now. Give us back Glaz and Corvis, or else I'll call off my squad. The riot will go on, and whatever happens from there... Well, don't say I didn't warn you."

More delay tactics, more games, more Condescension. Speak plainly angel. You condemn the Fallen Lady, yet you stay my hand. You profess you cannot kill, yet you ended that one in a most cowardly way, robbing him of any hope of glory in his next Path. Why are you here now?

"I will not let anyone suffer that man's fate. No one deserves that."

Edited June 15, 2016 by Endgame

[Kintobor]

"You're not being specific!" Karie replied. She wanted to tear Charon's throat out, but she knew it'd have to wait. She spoke as diplomatically as she could, despite her current demeanour. "You're being relatively cheap here, Charon. This is as one sided a deal as they come. Something "might happen"? Someone "might die? If you want to even get me considering making a deal, I want to know who's potentially at risk. You give me the names of people you intend to be slaughtered, through circumstances you brought into this city Charon, then we can talk about a deal." Karie stubbornly crossed her arms.

[Endgame]

"I don't intend for anyone to be slaughtered, my dear. This deal prevents the most death. What reason could you possibly have for wanting to hang on to them as prisoners, if not to kill them or as leverage? Send them back home, and nobody gets hurt... Well, unless you choose to break into Eschaton, that is. So no. No names. You should be choosing the option that kills the least amount of people."

[Asphalt]

Vindsval snorts in disgust.

So you are giving us the option of return your creatures, or you will visit undetermined destruction and death upon our fellows. Do I hear you correctly?

[Flipz]

<And when you inevitably force your friends back into action to try and stop us, they'll only come to more harm--and worse, if together you somehow manage to stop us, all the rioters die anyway in the storm.>

Arthur tries his own hand at Diplomacy. "It would be best for everyone involved if we simply return them once we enter Eschaton, as we originally planned. If you want your friends returned there right this instant, you might as well take us with you--we're going there regardless, and I suspect you're planning to fight us anyway, so we might as well save all of us a lot of time and cut to the chase."

Edited June 16, 2016 by Flipz

[JimBee]

"Tch, just typical. I'm getting really tired of your threats, and the fact that you think your above Nephilim. Innocents will die no matter what if you succeed. A riot is no concern of mine."