The_Customizer Posted May 4, 2014 Posted May 4, 2014 Erdathcath fires her handcannon at the wall, hoping to break them from their delirious spell. "Hey! Wake up, I have met the Oculoids, they are NOT who you think they are. Do you want us to save you, or would you rather we leave you to die?" Quote
LordoftheNoobs Posted May 4, 2014 Posted May 4, 2014 "I wouldn't be surprised if the fiends are talking through these poor people, not simply Hexing them." Quote
Flipz Posted May 4, 2014 Posted May 4, 2014 Surprised, Arthur falls to the floor, a smudge of black dripping from his nose. He quickly wipes it away before glaring at Erdathcath. "Erm, was I the one with glowing eyes? No..." "I wouldn't be surprised if the fiends are talking through these poor people, not simply Hexing them." "Neither would I--I think I recall Karie mentioning something like that, but it's hard for me to remember. She doesn't like talking about her experiences with these creatures, for obvious reasons." He thinks back to their last conversation. Could he really be behind the creation of these creatures? Was this all somehow a trap--a trap meant for him? It seemed a ludicrous thought, and yet he had challenged that dark being mere weeks earlier... "Whatever's causing their madness, I fear we'll have to fight them to cure them of it." Quote
LordoftheNoobs Posted May 4, 2014 Posted May 4, 2014 Shutting his eyes tightly, Grimwald concentrates intensely on attempting to heal the miners in an effort to snap them out of their euphoric stupor. Quote
Endgame Posted May 4, 2014 Author Posted May 4, 2014 (edited) Erdathcath fires her handcannon at the wall, hoping to break them from their delirious spell. "Hey! Wake up, I have met the Oculoids, they are NOT who you think they are. Do you want us to save you, or would you rather we leave you to die?" The cannonball crashes into the wall, obliterating the portrait of the Oculoid. It does next to nothing. "Our idol may be destroyed, but our worship - and by extent, our happiness - will continue!" It seems the picture was little more than a tool for them to "express" themselves. "I wouldn't be surprised if the fiends are talking through these poor people, not simply Hexing them." A voice speaks out from above... "A fair deduction, but in this case, incorrect." Three inky creatures emerge from the shadows. The ink blots soon take form, four razor sharp tentacles erupting through the mass of plasm. The black ink takes color and from, shaping into a rather grotesque creature. i twas the size of a human, its every appendage made to maul and kill. Even its eye carried a gruesome aura, and the creatures exerted a sinister feeling... Before the party's eyes, three Oculoids emerge. "How utterly heartless of you Heroicans." "We grant these people true happiness, and you seek to ruin the highlight of their lives?" "How utterly ironic. The heroes of Heroica, hellbent on ruining the lives of three human beings who have done them no wrong." The miners cry out in delight, and begin bowing before the three demons. "MASTERS!" The blonde flashes the entire party a dazzling smile, trying to implore them once more. "Please, accept our offers - join us, and bask in the Oucloid's ownership! It's true bliss! You'll do it won't you...? You especially, Skirmisher." Edited May 4, 2014 by Endgame Quote
LordoftheNoobs Posted May 4, 2014 Posted May 4, 2014 "You call messing with people's minds giving them happiness?" Quote
Flipz Posted May 4, 2014 Posted May 4, 2014 "The people before us who exist right now may be happy...but they're not the same people they were before you enslaved them. Of course, you've already heard this conversation--when you violated my friend's memories." "Besides, any being who demands respect and/or adulation from others is an automatic a**hat." OOC: Why yes, this is a Take That at certain real-world people and organizations, how ever did you guess? Quote
Endgame Posted May 4, 2014 Author Posted May 4, 2014 (edited) "We Oculoids are very good at adjusting the hearts, minds, and souls of humans." "With a single glance, we can reduce anyone to a puppet - a mere slave. Just from making eye contact, we can tear open your memories and read your darkest secrets like an open book." "In this case, we just happened to tinker with thh\e parts of their brain that made them happy. They are literally at the happiest they can possibly be for the rest of their lives. You would take that way from them? How monstrous!" "The people before us who exist right now may be happy...but they're not the same people they were before you enslaved them. Of course, you've already heard this conversation--when you violated my friend's memories." "Besides, any being who demands respect and/or adulation from others is an automatic a**hat." "Anyone whose mind is so easily molded and altered doesn't deserve free will!" "You're under a common delusion: that there is a consistent "you." There is not. You should know that literally, inky." "You say "friend", but you wish you could say something else, don't you? I've already looked. I know. But like anyone could ever love you. The only people did died, became murderers, or prostituted themselves. Everything you touch, everyone you meet, is doomed. What do you say you surrender your pitiful existence into our hands and we could put your touch of death to good use?" Edited May 4, 2014 by Endgame Quote
LordoftheNoobs Posted May 4, 2014 Posted May 4, 2014 "I think we've heard enough here. Minoid, would you scan these things please?" Quote
The_Customizer Posted May 4, 2014 Posted May 4, 2014 (edited) Erdathcath consumes a smelling salt, ready to challenge the Oculoids. "Now, you say with a 'single glance' but you have only one eye, so in theory an single glance is all you could have without looking completely away from your target, so stating that it is a 'single glance' seems a bit unnecessary. As for the state of free will, you imply that you yourselves do NOT have free will as you are 'so easily molded and formed' am I right? Because last I remember, your masters could create hundreds of you nasty buggers in a manner of hours, yet here you are thinking you are so amazing and powerful for 'freeing' these people and giving them happiness, when in reality you are equal, if not lesser than they are in mental and physical state, so what in this world could YOU possibly offer them that they don't already have?" Edited May 4, 2014 by The_Customizer Quote
Flipz Posted May 4, 2014 Posted May 4, 2014 "Anyone whose mind is so easily molded and altered doesn't deserve free will!" "You say "friend", but you wish you could say something else, don't you? I've already looked. I know. But like anyone could ever love you. The only people did died, became murderers, or prostituted themselves. Everything you touch, everyone you meet, is doomed. What do you say you surrender your pitiful existence into our hands and we could put your touch of death to good use?" "Anyone whose mind isn't has lost their free will already." "...you're absolutely terrible at diplomacy, you know that?" Arthur brandishes his trident, ready for the fight. Quote
Endgame Posted May 4, 2014 Author Posted May 4, 2014 "BEGINNING SCAN..." It seems the Minoid was struggling with these abominations. Erdathcath consumes a smelling salt, ready to challenge the Oculoids. "Now, you say with a 'single glance' but you have only one eye, so in theory an single glance is all you could have without looking completely away from your target, so stating that it is a 'single glance' seems a bit unnecessary. As for the state of free will, you imply that you yourselves do NOT have free will as you are 'so easily molded and formed' am I right? Because last I remember, your masters could create hundreds of you nasty buggers in a manner of hours, yet here you are thinking you are so amazing and powerful for 'freeing' these people and giving them happiness, when in reality you are equal, if not lesser than they are in mental and physical state, so what in this world could YOU possibly offer them that they don't already have?" "Semantics bore us. Do not try to use them on us." "You are correct! We are but means to an end. We have specific purposes in our lives, and we seek to do exactly like that. Suddenly we give your pathetic race purpose, and we're the villains. You're all going to be slaughtered anyway, so I suppose it is a moot point." "And by all, we mean every humanoid in existence. They will all feel our wrath! They will pay for ruining this good planet, and stomping over the lives of others. They will be exterminated, and Olegaia will be made great again!" "Anyone whose mind isn't has lost their free will already." "...you're absolutely terrible at diplomacy, you know that?" Arthur brandishes his trident, ready for the fight. "Hard to be diplomatic when you're not trying to be diplomatic, inky. But if you want to cut a deal, we'll be happy to oblige..." The Oculoids grab their human thralls, holding onto them with an iron grip. "Wow!" "I made contact with an Oculoid!" "This is the greatest day of my life!" "Lets talk something over for a second, shall we? That Shadeaux shipment? It's in this very room. Those padlocked boxes, right there." "Now, those are made to withstand military grade explosions and cave-ins. There is no busting them open - without the correct code for the lack, anyway. And we've taken the libery of burning all documentation of the boxes. The code only exists in these thralls' heads - and currently, they are our slaves. We will not hesitate to kill them and use them as meatshields if it comes to blows. If that happens, you're not breaking thse open! Sorry, nobody is going to accept a tightly locked box in place of their shipment of diamonds. Common sense, I hope. Now, here is the deal. We brainwash these three into your slaves, and you get the code no matter what. You're forced to own another human being, however, and are unable to release it from your command. If you say yes, when we're done with these people, they will know nothing but obedience. There is no freeing them, and they will do anything to remain in your servitude. Me, I like guarantees. How low are you willing to stoop for the Shadeaux's favor, and for these people's lives? You either save them, own them, and ot the priase of the Shadeaux... Or you fight us, and they will in all likelihood die. What is your choice? All three or bust, each of them assigned to one of you. We don't have a slave for the robot, sorry." The part ylooks at the demons in disgust. Could they bear to own anothe rhuman being to not only save their life, but also their chances with the Shadeaux? Or will they risk their lives, and risk their chance at reputation dying with the miners? "...SCAN COMPLETE. Results inconclusive. Their tactics seem to vary wildly depending on whether or not they have a human meatshield, preventing me from getting a solid scan until you make your choice. I have obtained general notes, however." Cryoloid, Ice Elemental Several ice based capaiblites. High endurance, but no defense - usually. Is capable of generating ice barrier to protect itself. Drops an Opal and 20 gold. Umbraloid, Dark Elemental Dark based capabilites. Medium endurance, and high level. Proficient at hexing among othe rdark magic techniques. Very little defense. Immune to Jinxing, among other things. Drops an Amethyst and 20 gold. Photoloid, Light Elemental Medium health, level, and defense. Specializes in incapictating its foes and healing its allies. Also proficient with hexing. Drops 20 gold and a Diamond. Quote
Flipz Posted May 5, 2014 Posted May 5, 2014 OOC: Super super sorry, I'm majorly swamped today and Monday (US time). I WILL respond to this, because it's a great roleplay moment, but it may not be until late tomorrow evening, or else early Tuesday morning. Again, sorry for the delay--this whole week's going to be bad, but Monday and Wednesday will probably be the worst. Quote
Endgame Posted May 5, 2014 Author Posted May 5, 2014 QM Note: No problem, it's the other questies I'm a bit concerned about... Quote
The_Customizer Posted May 5, 2014 Posted May 5, 2014 OOC: Sorry, school does tend to get in the way a bit over the week. Erdathcath turns to the Minoid, "Do you happen to know if anyone else can unlock those crates? Or if perhaps there is some way to open them, without these humans becoming our slaves? Perhaps we could break them open or something. I for one am not willing to take them as permanant slaves, I would not stoop to the low level of intelligence that these creatures have been cursed with, that makes them believe a lack of free will is allowable. Additionally, we have to stop the Oculoids one way or another." Quote
LordoftheNoobs Posted May 5, 2014 Posted May 5, 2014 "You're bluffing. I may be old, but I'm not an idiot. I can tell you'd find some way to doublecross us down the line. I mean, take another being as a slave? As if any of us would stoop to your level." Quote
Endgame Posted May 5, 2014 Author Posted May 5, 2014 OOC: Sorry, school does tend to get in the way a bit over the week. Erdathcath turns to the Minoid, "Do you happen to know if anyone else can unlock those crates? Or if perhaps there is some way to open them, without these humans becoming our slaves? Perhaps we could break them open or something. I for one am not willing to take them as permanant slaves, I would not stoop to the low level of intelligence that these creatures have been cursed with, that makes them believe a lack of free will is allowable. Additionally, we have to stop the Oculoids one way or another." "Negatory. Those crates are nigh-impenetrable. STATEMENT: If the Oculoids have even been half as thorough as they claim to be - which I estimate with a 99.43% chance they are - without the code from the miners, we will not be able to open the crates. Taking them as slaves yields a 100% chance of opening them; fighting them as meatshields as an exponentially more difficult chance. STATEMENT: Do not ask me for moral advice regarding enslaving these people. I am a machine built for efficiency. The most efficient choice would be to accept them as servants, but I can comprehend that it violates your moral code. Choose as you will." "You're bluffing. I may be old, but I'm not an idiot. I can tell you'd find some way to doublecross us down the line. I mean, take another being as a slave? As if any of us would stoop to your level." "This is something of a test - no double crossing. Just seeing how low can you go. Besides, having a slave can be massively helpful. They'll be happy, and you'll get more done. What is there not to like?" "This is an act of kindness." "See, Brittany here is absolutely ecstatic. Aren't you, Brittany?" "Of course, master!" Quote
The_Customizer Posted May 6, 2014 Posted May 6, 2014 "Well, what do you guys think? Personally, they seem ever so ecstatic to be slaves, even though it is just the mind-control that makes them so, at the same time they lose all free will. However, if we fight the Oculoids, we will end up killing them and having free will or not won't make a difference as they will be dead. Either way, they literally can't be any better off than they are right now, unless we got extremely lucky and killed the oculoids before the slaves were killed." Quote
LordoftheNoobs Posted May 6, 2014 Posted May 6, 2014 "How can these people still be under their spell? I mean, the Oculoids just said they're going to treat them as human shields! I have no idea what we should do, I really don't... Quote
Flipz Posted May 6, 2014 Posted May 6, 2014 "These miners are dead, whether we save their bodies or not. Even if we somehow manage to kill you Oculoids without harming the miners, it won't break them out of their trance, will it?" Arthur's tone is tired, resigned. There was no victory to be had here--there never was. OOC: I do need clarification here before I can make a choice. Also, apologies--I don't expect to be able to be active until Friday at the earliest, or Tuesday at the latest--I have two basically pre-written responses I can copy and paste in to make my choice depending on the answer I get, but after that my hands are tied. Quote
Endgame Posted May 6, 2014 Author Posted May 6, 2014 (edited) "Interesting question." "The best analogy we can provide that it is like tearing a plant out of soil, with our spell being the plant and their brain the dirt." "Rough, messy, and can lead to several other problems." QM Note: The condition of the miners after the battle, if saved, are entirely dependant on how much they are roughed up during the fight. If you do incredibly well, they'll escape with a headache. Leave them hanging by a thread, though... It won't be as pleasant of an outcome. There is also no guarantee you won't muder them mid-fight if you aren't careful. Edited May 6, 2014 by Endgame Quote
Endgame Posted May 7, 2014 Author Posted May 7, 2014 QM Note: I'll start the battle tomorrow, so please start making some concrete calls. Quote
LordoftheNoobs Posted May 7, 2014 Posted May 7, 2014 "The way I see it now, these people already are dead. They'll be forced to a life of servitude if we don't fight the Oculoids, and most likely die if we do. We might as well fight and get rid of these... things, once and for all." Quote
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