Heroica RPG - Quest #147: Judgment Day

[Endgame]

"Mmhm. I'm guessing Arx is Dastanian? I think Dastanian dragons grow slower, if I'm recalling things correctly... I've seen Charisian dragons bigger than me when they're a week old. Scary stuff."

Karie snatched the shard out of midair, looking it over and admiring it's allure briefly before putting it away. "Thanks." She replies, following Glaz. She found it hard to take the angel seriously when her daughter's fate lay in the hands of the "kindly old dragon" who was contemplating blowing up Eubric.

"Lead the way, Glaz."

Glaz looks at Karie carefully. He seemed to have been perceiving something...

"Hey. Trust me on one thing. Immortalis understands what it's like. To lose a child.

...I watched him bury his."

Glaz seemed to have been downplaying his perceptive skills a bit. He and Karie head to the mess hall...

[swils]

"Charisian, actually. Or at least, that's where the eggs had come from. Arx?"

<"Didn't get to see much, what with the egg shell blocking my view, so you know about as well as I do.">

[Lind Whisperer]

"Second bell means..."

"...Dinner time!"

Charon tilts his head.

"What? I'm a portal user. I can go wherever I likeas quietly as I like. And on that note, since you're pretty far from the main building... why don't I warp you guys back? Better than walking."

"Sounds good." The Black Knight followed Charon through the portal.

[JimBee]

Jinnipher follows through the portal.

[Siercon and Coral]

-----

"You might want to speak with Charon. His wings got scorched right off when he fell... Practically snapped his legs, too. He needed to crawl to pick up all the bits, and stitched it back together later - you can still see burn and suture marks where his wings split, if you look closely.

You wish to see a Crystrow? Be my guest..."

Corvis leads Siercon to a clearing.

The azure winged creature -a Crystrow, it seemed, a rare relative of the Gryphon - carried itself across the plains in an elegant manner. It's vibrant fur set off its translucent wings.

"Say hello."

"Thank you so much, I will try not to be too long."

Sifting through his bag Siercon held loosely before him, a potion, a diamond, bones, mythil, and a phoenix essence. He seamed to be holding them in Corvis' view. "I'm not familiar with the Crystrow, I dont have much, but is there anything of these that he might like?" Siercon approached cautiously with a similar bow to one he had learned for hippogriffs. More out of respect than fear. "Hello, my name is Siercon, what is yours? Corvis had told me of your beauty, but I simply had to see it for myself." he added

[Endgame]

Four out of the five party members make it to the dining hall. Karie walks in to find Jinnipher, Swils, Arx, and Lind poof into existence. There's an empty table with five seats and one stool - likely for the heroes. An assortment of meat, fruit, vegetables, and drink was set up.Just a bit farther down the hall was a fully occupied table, where the ambassadors were seated.

Punii hops off of his stool and slithers over to the heroes.

"Oh, *wheeze* h-hey. I just got judged. That Shadeaux lady got judged too..."

Further down the hall, Charon and Telethia talk.

"Holding up okay, Tel?"

"Mmm, fine. Now that judgments are over for a bit, Immortalis relieved me of duty while they're eating. I'll have to go right back when all is done, though. Don't know how he does it twenty-four seven when he's not doing this whole judgment thing..."

"He's had practice. Don't worry about it, darling.

Hey, where's Vaer? Or Corvis? Or Siercon?"

"I don't know where Corvis or Siercon are. Vaer took your post at the Silent Hall."

"They'll show, eventually."

-------------------------------------------------------

"They don't require much."

<Your respectfulness is very pleasing. My name? Gralith, young one! Or... old one? You angels are impossible to tell the age of.

Ohh, my beauty is limited at best. I used to be every color imaginable... Time takes its toll. I do not need your gifts, for I am in your debt. After all, Immortalis saved me from the horrible, horrible place I was before. Would've died if he hadn't.... You know what? Here. You wanted to see my beauty? Take a shard of it?>

Gralith uses his golden beak to pluck a feather out of his wing.

Crystrow Feather: A feather from the rare and endangered Crystrow. An accessory suitable for everybody: the wearer takes half damage from Electric and Flying type enemies.

<Is that a suitable gift?>

"You seem to be a good addition to this garden after all... You clearly respect what's here.

Care to eat now, Siercon? The dining hall isn't too far."

Edited March 27, 2016 by Endgame

[swils]

Karie walks in to find Jinnipher, Swils, Arx, and Lind poof into existence.

That's it, folks, I'm officially a Heroican now!

"Judged, eh?" Thormanil asks Punii, "How was it?"

Arx wanders over to the Countess and asks the same.

[Endgame]

QM Note: Screw it, that slip is staying there. Welcome to the club.

"Well, uh... Scary? Like, he wasn't scary - in fact, nothing he was nothing but kind, encouraging me whenever I got nervous - but his presence... I'm not *cough* supposed to say much. He's watching. But I was standing his shadow in his massive Judgment Corridor, and his eyes never strayed away from me for a second. He only spoke to ask questions. He asked a lot of them. And he *wheeze* listened... I felt like every word, I was just digging my grave."

"Well... I have stood before many a dragon. None like zis Immortalis. None. Dragons... many have zis connection to the spirit pool. It allows them to perceive things that no one else could see. And I could tell Immortalis's connection ran deeper than any other dragon I have encountered. He was very... disarming.

Perhaps you should try learning a thing or two from him, little dragon. i doubt his claim to being "Father of Dragons" far less now."

Edited March 28, 2016 by Endgame

[Lind Whisperer]

QM Note: Screw it, that slip is staying there. Welcome to the club.

"Well, uh... Scary? Like, he wasn't scary - in fact, nothing he was nothing but kind, encouraging me whenever I got nervous - but his presence... I'm not *cough* supposed to say much. He's watching. But I was standing his shadow in his massive Judgment Corridor, and his eyes never strayed away from me for a second. He only spoke to ask questions. He asked a lot of them. And he *wheeze* listened... I felt like every word, I was just digging my grave."

"I know exactly what you mean, Punii..."

[JimBee]

Jinnipher crossed her arms and turned her nose up at the food as she took a seat next to Karie.

"Well, did he tell you what his judgement was?" She said to the ambassadors before leaning over to mutter to the minstrel.

"Well I don't trust anything here. These angels everywhere, too nice and welcoming for a doom-bringing army about to descend on Eubric. I fought with one of their pets. Dealt with it handily, too bad the same can't be said for the kid." She smirked over at Lind. "Did these godless servants give you much trouble?"

[Endgame]

Both ambassadors shake their head. Seems that the dragon's verdict remained unknown.

[Siercon and Coral]

<Your respectfulness is very pleasing. My name? Gralith, young one! Or... old one? You angels are impossible to tell the age of.

Ohh, my beauty is limited at best. I used to be every color imaginable... Time takes its toll. I do not need your gifts, for I am in your debt. After all, Immortalis saved me from the horrible, horrible place I was before. Would've died if he hadn't.... You know what? Here. You wanted to see my beauty? Take a shard of it?>

Gralith uses his golden beak to pluck a feather out of his wing.

Crystrow Feather: A feather from the rare and endangered Crystrow. An accessory suitable for everybody: the wearer takes half damage from Electric and Flying type enemies.

<Is that a suitable gift?>

"Gralith, Siercon. And, I suppose I would be young compared to the many here."

"You are very kind, and overly humble. Your 'limited' beauty, easily surpasses that of most. As for this feather," Siercon said accepting the gift. "As for this, I could hardly refuse, but It is hardly deserved, I am truly just grateful that these here (Motioning to Corvis) protected your kind. Sadly it seems as though I must go, hopefully we talk again sometime soon."

Siercon carefully pocketed the feather in a ceremonious way.

"You seem to be a good addition to this garden after all... You clearly respect what's here.

Care to eat now, Siercon? The dining hall isn't too far."

"Often I find myself respecting creatures like these more than people... I love the work you've done here, and I look forward tossing the lives which have been saved here grow into a beautiful future. Thank you for showing me around."

"Sure, eating sounds fine. Might I join you?" Siercon asked. If there were to be any awkward conversations with Corvis talking to someone who might know he was a Heroican Hero, Siercon preferred to be there... Besides, he really did like this place, and had an honest hope that he could sell a "I just felt like I belonged here more than anywhere else, and figured I should stay and put myself to work." story considering he could mostly and actually believe it himself.

[Endgame]

Siercon follows Corvis back to the Dining Hall. The party is reunited!

Corvis spots his coworkers, and waves.

"There they are."

"Siercon! Corvis! Glad you could join us!"

"Glad to be here. You fellows didn't tell me we had a new recruit. He fits in fine, though."

"...We don't."

"...What?"

Corvis turns to look at Siercon, dumbfounded.

"..."

"..."

". . ."

Karie's empath glass flares up a bright red. Charon claps his hands together, quickly exhales, and calms down.

"Siercon, my friend. I think you should follow me."

Edited March 28, 2016 by Endgame

[JimBee]

Jinnipher glanced at Siercon. "Look at the trouble you've gotten yourself into now. Are they going to judge you now?" She frowned and rolled her eyes. "Is there anyone else from Heroica that doesn't jeopardize quests? Nice knowing you, Shady."

[Endgame]

Oh yes. He will be brought before Immortalis. I can't imagine he'll actually harm him, but... We'll see. He has surprised me before. And it shouldn't influence his verdict... too much, anyway.

Allow me to put it his way, my shadowy friend. You are very, very lucky I don't call the shots here. Otherwise, it'd be my judgment you face."

[Lind Whisperer]

Corvis turns to look at Siercon, dumbfounded.

"..."

"Not to be overly critical, but I think y'all might need to up your vetting techniques."

". . ."

OoC: Is this a new character, or Charon angry?

[Endgame]

Angry Charon.

"The one angel whose powers of perception work on nothing but animals... Go figure. I'm sure even Glaz could pick him out.

But don't worry. I'll make sure this is rectified."

Edited March 28, 2016 by Endgame

[Lind Whisperer]

Angry Charon.

"The one angel whose powers of perception work on nothing but animals... Go figure. I'm sure even Glaz could pick him out.

But don't worry. I'll make sure this is rectified."

"Heh. I should apply for a job here...

So, when will he be Judged?"

[Kintobor]

It didn't take Karie to look at the Empath Glass to know Charon was clearly enraged. She moved herself behind a chair just incase. She uncorks a bottle of wine and pours herself a drink.

"I don't know what Siercon's done, Charon, but clearly if he's managed to fool you it's your fault for not having better security. Were your friends not told that we would be here? The fault lays on whoever's managing this event for allowing Siercon to trick your friend into believing he was one of you." Karie states. She raised an eyebrow to the angel, taking a sip of her wine.

"At least, that's how I see it."

[Endgame]

It didn't take Karie to look at the Empath Glass to know Charon was clearly enraged. She moved herself behind a chair just incase. She uncorks a bottle of wine and pours herself a drink.

"I don't know what Siercon's done, Charon, but clearly if he's managed to fool you it's your fault for not having better security. Were your friends not told that we would be here? The fault lays on whoever's managing this event for allowing Siercon to trick your friend into believing he was one of you." Karie states. She raised an eyebrow to the angel, taking a sip of her wine.

"At least, that's how I see it."

"You have a point. Perhaps we put a bit too much faith in Corvis."

Corvis shifts uncomfortably.

"But I know for a fact Corvis would've stopped him if he was going to commit an offense that could endanger this place. In other words, I believe your friend deceived one of us... for the sake of deceiving him?"

Charon shrugs.

"Hey. Sociopaths are a thing. And clearly visitors should no longer be allowed in the garden, seeing how the caretaker can't spot a liar. But we will not be taking responsibility for your friend's mistakes. It isn't our "fault." We didn't make him do it. One of my associate's failing simply... enabled it. Corvis will be dealt with. And as for Siercon? He will go before Immortalis. And hey, no need to hide! I was angry. I'll admit that. But now I'm not! So go back to what you were doing, and your friend will likely be returned to you unharmed."

[Kintobor]

"Hey. Sociopaths are a thing. And clearly visitors should no longer be allowed in the garden, seeing how the caretaker can't spot a liar. But we will not be taking responsibility for your friend's mistakes. It isn't our "fault." We didn't make him do it. One of my associate's failing simply... enabled it. Corvis will be dealt with. And as for Siercon? He will go before Immortalis. And hey, no need to hide! I was angry. I'll admit that. But now I'm not! So go back to what you were doing, and your friend will likely be returned to you unharmed."

"You know, for a guy as busy as Immortalis, you certainly make it seem like he has a lot of time on his hands to judge people. Shouldn't this wait until after he's judged the rest of the houses?" Karie inquires.

[Siercon and Coral]

"...What?"

Corvis turns to look at Siercon, dumbfounded.

". . ."

Karie's empath glass flares up a bright red. Charon claps his hands together, quickly exhales, and calms down.

"Siercon, my friend. I think you should follow me."

Siercon gives Corvis a wary calming gesture with his hands, in the "I can explain" motion. But is caught of guard by Charon's instantaneous rage, and says nothing.(Conversation then apparently rapidly continues) :P

Siercon really didn't like seeing Corvis feel betrayed, or derided as unobservant, and sought to think of how he could express any form of verbal defense in his behalf. Siercon didn't doubt that Corvis would likely remain his favorite angel of the bunch, and wanted to remedy as much as possible...

Jinnipher glanced at Siercon. "Look at the trouble you've gotten yourself into now. Are they going to judge you now?" She frowned and rolled her eyes. "Is there anyone else from Heroica that doesn't jeopardize quests? Nice knowing you, Shady."

Siercon accepts her comment but does not reply.

It didn't take Karie to look at the Empath Glass to know Charon was clearly enraged. She moved herself behind a chair just incase. She uncorks a bottle of wine and pours herself a drink.

"I don't know what Siercon's done, Charon, but clearly if he's managed to fool you it's your fault for not having better security. Were your friends not told that we would be here? The fault lays on whoever's managing this event for allowing Siercon to trick your friend into believing he was one of you." Karie states. She raised an eyebrow to the angel, taking a sip of her wine.

"At least, that's how I see it."

Siercon hears this, but makes a postural appearance of not quite agreeing. Still, for some reason he felt grateful for the words regardless of weather they were actually meant to help him much or not.

"The one angel whose powers of perception work on nothing but animals... Go figure. I'm sure even Glaz could pick him out.

But don't worry. I'll make sure this is rectified."

Oh yes. He will be brought before Immortalis. I can't imagine he'll actually harm him, but... We'll see. He has surprised me before. And it shouldn't influence his verdict... too much, anyway.

Allow me to put it his way, my shadowy friend. You are very, very lucky I don't call the shots here. Otherwise, it'd be my judgment you face."

"You have a point. Perhaps we put a bit too much faith in Corvis."

Corvis shifts uncomfortably.

"But I know for a fact Corvis would've stopped him if he was going to commit an offense that could endanger this place.

Siercon motions affirmatively at this particular comment, with a "thank you, finally" attitude, but stopped as the sentence continued.

In other words, I believe your friend deceived one of us... for the sake of deceiving him?"

Charon shrugs.

"Hey. Sociopaths are a thing. And clearly visitors should no longer be allowed in the garden, seeing how the caretaker can't spot a liar. But we will not be taking responsibility for your friend's mistakes. It isn't our "fault." We didn't make him do it. One of my associate's failing simply... enabled it. Corvis will be dealt with. And as for Siercon? He will go before Immortalis. And hey, no need to hide! I was angry. I'll admit that. But now I'm not! So go back to what you were doing, and your friend will likely be returned to you unharmed."

"Woah... Corvis and I have barely entered and spoken one sentence to all of you. Yet instantly in you start..." He said looking at Charon. He then thought better of pointing out Charon's weaknesses in front of a crowd, as Charon had just done to Corvis. He continued stepping back and standing somewhat in front of Corvis defensively against the others. "Your judgement, Immortalis' judgment; and whatever punishment it is you end up thinking Corvis deserves, I will take for him in double. There is easily far more cause to praise him than to punish him." Siercon said motioning.

"There were no lies left unspotted by the 'weak', but more accurately assumptions unchecked. And for what purpose? So a guest could become a servant, and a freeloader could become a hard worker. I will gladly stand before Immortalis as there was truly no ill will or premeditation. And as these are hardly the only sincere or even unconscious reasons, I would very much like to clear things up." Siercon said motioning to the Judgment Chamber.

"You know, for a guy as busy as Immortalis, you certainly make it seem like he has a lot of time on his hands to judge people. Shouldn't this wait until after he's judged the rest of the houses?" Karie inquires.

Siercon did not particularly like this idea, for some various random reasons.

Edited March 29, 2016 by Siercon and Coral

[JimBee]

Jinnipher closed her eyes and let out air through her nose, visibly annoyed. "So the shadowman gets judged too. Whatever. I'm still here to see the job through. So now what? This place is getting duller by the second." She tried to appear bored, but kept sneaking glances around her, increasingly aware that they were being watched. The truth was, she didn't like Eschaton one bit. Not because it was boring, but because of the threats within it.

"There were no lies left unspotted by the 'weak', but more accurately assumptions unchecked. And for what purpose? So a guest could become a servant, and a freeloader could become a hard worker. I will gladly stand before Immortalis as there was truly no ill will or premeditation. And as these are hardly the only sincere or even unconscious reasons, I would very much like to clear things up." Siercon said motioning to the Judgment Chamber

Jinnipher stares at Siercon in disbelief. "You too?! Gods, I knew you were incompetent but another traitor!?" She jerked a thumb at Lind. "The Hall really needs to keep better records of you people. This whole mission is going to be blown up by your treachery. Hey Charon, you might as well take the bookworm to be judged, too. Just because he worships you doesn't mean he's to be trusted, right?"

She gave Siercon another hard stare. "If the lizard doesn't eat you then I'll kill you myself. At the very least you'll be tossed from this dimension and out of Heroica. I'm tired of imbeciles like you compromising missions."

[Lind Whisperer]

Jinnipher stares at Siercon in disbelief. "You too?! Gods, I knew you were incompetent but another traitor!?" She jerked a thumb at Lind. "The Hall really needs to keep better records of you people. This whole mission is going to be blown up by your treachery. Hey Charon, you might as well take the bookworm to be judged, too. Just because he worships you doesn't mean he's to be trusted, right?"

"I have no secrets to hide from the Vater; if he wishes to judge me, he is welcome to do so."

She gave Siercon another hard stare. "If the lizard doesn't eat you then I'll kill you myself. At the very least you'll be tossed from this dimension and out of Heroica. I'm tired of imbeciles like you compromising missions."

"Only the Veterans can do that..."

[Endgame]

QM Note: Next update may be late tonight or tomorrow afternoon. Big workload today, sorry!