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Stitia, Plane of 13 Deaths (RPG Style Saga/My First Saga)
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-"In the fight I heard something about the true Grand Arbiter. Is he your leader?"
-"Who Is your leader?" (Only if above answer is no.)
-"Do you really think the Six are enslaving you?"
(That's most of my questions. I can't think of any more.)
>>
Rafael watched the nailed sword in silence, with a disapproval feeling that radiated from his very visage.
'What in the actual... this is not what I mean when I asked for a way out from this forsaken excuse of a world. And how in the name of... can us win in the fight against the gods with only those trinkets?'
Then he clutched his head and screamed in desperation and fell to his knees.
'Fine. Think I can no longer bear this... madness anymo- come on Rafael, wake up, for the sake of the future of those innocents... I'm still an angel after all, I'm still a warrior of the light, maybe the last line of hope of those people, I'm still the protector of this world against the tyranny of the...'
His heart beating faster, along with cold sweat that poured out from his forehead.
'Stand up and fight, damn it all, just stand up and fight, I have nothing more than this after all...'
Slowly, the fallen angel stood up again and took a deep breath.
"Alright then..."
And he finally went to pick up his given sword of destiny.
Spookoops/Derain2/MonkeyPirate2002 (Next arc of your adventure)
EnvyReaper/BudGetTheCam/sanjaya/Bowler *whoops* (Encountering Rafael)
KorandAngels (Answer)
Pepperoni (Next part of heist)
EpicBoss99 (Resolution)
ASubtleGhost (Next Arc)
"Well s***! I don't think that was part of the plan, was it?" Wosy shakes the rubble off of his body. "Looks like Arne's pretty p***ed! Nice friends you've made, Pathos."
"Can it." Pathos is infuriated. Everything he's worked so hard to get since his dissension has been taken away. His home. His job. His living... what remained was a crater in the ground. No ward in the world could of protected him from Arne's wrath, but in the end, he laughed. He lost everything in this moment... but he was alive, and so was Chertraum, reborn as the demon Onaeca. "So, Arne... is this your way of making a statement? Is this your idea of justice? To ravage my home?! To take everything I had, and everyone I know?!" Pathos's fists are clenched as he tries not to snap. "All you've done is prove that, with all the mistakes I thought I made, all the regrets I had, I had no reason to worry. When I did what I did, out of the kindness of my heart, you banished me. I should of know then and there that you were wrong!" Pathos raises a sword to the sky, as if he were pointing it at the Six. "You aren't saviors! You aren't keepers of justice! You're evil, and that's all you'll ever be! Tyrants posing as gods! You have done far worse things in a moment than I could ever dream of doing! Tens of thousands of people are dead because of you! Are you happy?! Are you proud?!"
Pathos collapses to his knees, weak and exerted. The battle has finally caught up to him. "But... alas... I guess I'm not really that different after all. But know this. Yesterday, all I wanted was a profit. But today... mere artifacts won't replace what you've taken from me! Coins in a coffer won't change a thing! Now, you'll pay with your lives!"
Thunder booms across the entire plane. A loud roar is heard in the distance. Suddenly, a flash breaks through the clouds. In the distance, a mighty dragon is descending into the plane. It's roars and bellows deafen the entire world.
The flash continues to break across the sky. Fast approaching, a much smaller dragon, nimble on its wings. Behind it is a flock of angels, but something seems different about them. Something about them has changed...
Joining them in the sky with a crash of thunder, another being appears, not as nimble, but swift as lightning
"What in the name of..." Wosy is at a loss for words. A massive influx of energy fills the plane. It doesn't take a genius to figure out at least part of what's going on. The beings carry a cloak of shimmering energy... K'Trinop is amazed. Otaimo smiles as his sword glows blue.
"Well, K'Trinop. It seems as if our call has been answered."
From the rain emerges light. Onaeca is startled as two beings begin to form from this blue light. A wolfkin and a leonin.
The group hears footsteps behind them, followed by crushing hooves. They turn around to see two men, joined by a pack of horned beings. Ones which only K'Trinop and Otaimo have seen before. They are joined by a blind woman with a third eye, and a four-armed demon who looks ready to fight.
Also, what can I do and what is going on around me?
"What's the gathering for?" Wosy jokes, nervously. "This doesn't look like the best place for a party."
"Who said anything about a party?" One of the men, handsomely dressed with dark hair, responds. "If there was one, I sure wasn't invited."
"Wishful thinking, Bebel, but we're here on business." The other man, a blonde haired warrior, scorns.
"I really think we should get on with things." The woman interjects. "This plane is plagued with disorder."
"Agreed, Bahhi. There are forces here that need to be put to rest." The wolfkin responds.
"K'Trinop. It has been a long time since we've spoken." The leader of the Minotaurs responds. "I was afraid you were dead."
"And he nearly was, Pnum." Otaimo cuts in. "I am... slightly ashamed it took all of your this long to come. What if it were you?"
"I was imprisoned!" The demon says angrily. "I'm with Otaimo on this. This situation could of been defused before it got this severe. But I was forced to watch every moment as K'Trinop suffered. He could of died just now. One of our own!"
"But he is not, is he Persephone?" A dragonborn lands beside the group, armor black and sword readied.
"Sorry for the delay, thank you. I was trying to keep Ravnica from collapsing." A red clothed sage comes down from above, carrying a lightning elemental in her hand.
"And me and Vel were trying to save our brethren on Lakas." The leonin seconds.
"So what about the big guy?" Onaeca inquires. "What's up with them?"
"Gladoise been peacekeeping on Tarkir." Bahhi responds. "There was a great imbalance of power there as well, but... that quickly changed."
"So who are you all anyways?" Wosy questions.
"Multiversal gods." Bahhi answers. "We look over the multiverse, ensuring all is well and in order. Many planes have been saved by our miracles, but this is the first time we've had to make ourselves known to the world. What you see of us is a projection, but our allies here, K'Trinop and Otaimo, aren't so lucky. The power of his confrontation with the Five severed his connection from the Blind Eternities-"
"Now back up for just a moment! First, it's the Six, and second... you're not saying he's fought the Six before, are you?!"
"He has, and there was never a Decider before Conse. There was only ever five gods, all even in power."
"What...?" Pathos is confused.
"Now that's a news flash..." Wosy seconds.
"K'Trinop came to this plane several hundred years ago, against the will of the Pantheon. He has been sheered away from the Pantheon by his battle, and when Otaimo rushed in to save him those weeks ago, it took all of his energy to keep him from dying completely... so now he is severed from the Eternities as well."
"So... you're gods... but what are you here for?" Pathos asks, still trembling.
"We each have our own motives," Vel begins, "but together... we plan on fixing this plane once and for all. We can't do it alone, as K'Trinop has shown us, but together, we can make a difference!"
Gladoise roars as they draw closer, wings beating through the sky.
"He's not a talker, is he?" Wosy jokes.
"He does speak Draconic, but nothing else," the dragonborn replies. "Have fun learning a new language."
"At least I studied culture. Unlike all of you," Otaimo jokes, "which makes only two of us other than Gladoise that can speak Draconic. Obviously, our friend Theirin here is one of them."
"And I take it the other is you..." The sage says sarcastically.
"Of course, Analacrium. I had to spend millennia studying language if I ever planned on pronouncing your name."
The group laughs, but Analacrium doesn't find it funny. She sends her elemental bird over to Otaimo, and it pecks his ear, delivering a nasty shock. She laughs.
"I may have a taste for many forms of fashion, Analacrium, but piercings do not suit me."
"While you are wasting time prattling like mortals, we'll be over here preparing to act like gods," Persephone scorns.
"I think we should try to find a new place to meet." Wosy says. "The middle of a nation the just got destroyed doesn't seem like a good place to be."
"You're right," Otaimo agrees. "If our presence becomes know, this disaster could be pinned on us. But where can we go without seeming suspicious?"
"Eh... I have an idea."
As Gladoise nears, he lets out a sharp set of booming words. This dragon is enormous, sending a dark shadow over the group as he approaches.
"Gladoise has come to aid you, K'Trinop."
"Um... what are we going to do with the dragon?" Pathos asks. "We can't exactly hide something that big."
"You are overthinking things." Fetr says. "We are gods, with powers. Let me show you one of mine."
A puddle lies in the crater, and must be at least several feet deep at this point from the sheer torrent of rain. Fetr makes a set of motions before touching the puddle, and it suddenly begins to glow, then fade back to normal.
"This is where we'll be staying." Fetr says.
"Um... in a puddle?" Wosy wonders. "I'm not exactly fond of water, especially since I can't transform back into the handsome devil I as."
"Watch..."
Once again, Fetr makes a set of motions, and suddenly, everyone begins to glow. A group of Wosy's devils panic as everyone begins to dissolve.
"Hey! What's going on?"
Everyone notices drops of water running from their bodies as they continue dissolving, running into the puddle. A shower rains down as Gladoise is pulled from the sky into the puddle, and soon, everyone is gone as they are brought through a tunnel. A light emerges, and soon, they make it to the other side, emerging in a vibrant woodland.
"Wha- what's going on? Who are you?" A vampire notices the group coming in.
"Calm down, child. I'm sorry to startle you, but we need this refuge."
"Child?"
"Summon my kin. Pirenin. We need to discuss something... major."
"What's the phrase?"
"To ypsiló prostateftikó eínai edó."
The vampire gasps. The high protector is here. An alert is sent through the entire woodland, and a small stream of water flows in. A vampire general and a leonin warleader appear in front of the group from the stream.
"The... the lion god..." The general is awestruck.
"So we haven't been betrayed after all?" The warleader looks Fetr in the eyes.
"I am sorry I couldn't reach you on Lakas, but I'm here. However, we have more urgent concerns."
"More urgent concerns?" The vampire is questionable of Fetr. "Lakas is collapsing. We could lose our home soon. What could be more urgent?"
"Lakas cannot be saved, Setra. But I know a plane that can, and we need your help."
"How?"
"This pocket dimension, Myria. It is no mere hideaway. It is a plane all its own. So far, it has only been connected to Lakas. Now, it has been connected to a plane in dire need. It is called Stitia."
"This is quite the surprise," the warleader replies. "We've been traveling between planes this entire time?"
"Correct. Anyways... where is Pirenin?"
"He's meditating."
"Summon him. Did he not hear the signal?"
"I suppose not."
A few minutes pass as the leonin and vampire transform back into streams of water to travel through the dimension. The gods and goddesses talk for a moment while Gladoise rests in a clearing. Finally, a larger stream pours towards them, and from it emerges the two figures from before, as well as a group of elite guards surrounding another leonin.
"F-father?"
"Yes son?"
"I thought we were hopeless..." Pirenin rushes in to hug Fetr, before Fetr gently pushes him away. "Thank you for coming. We may be able to save Lakas after all."
"I'm afraid not. The assistance of the Maviol is required elsewhere."
"What?"
"We need your manpower on another plane."
"So... we can't save Lakas?"
"Even with my aid, I'm sure Lakas is doomed. My power cannot aid it. I'm glad you hadn't commenced The Folding, or else you may have doomed two worlds."
"V-very well. So. We're saving a different world?"
"A plane known as Stitia. It is ruled through tyranny, and is collapsing under the weight of madness, treachery, and sin. I must ask you... to close the gates to Lakas."
"But our allies! The people of Beria!"
( @DrakeGladis This is your choice, since these characters exist outside the Saga.) "It is up to them if they want to come."
"Okay then father. People of Lakas... I'm sorry."
Puddles and ponds are disenchanted as they disappear, then form back into normal bodies of water. With this moment, the Maviol are severed from Lakas. They are saved, but helpless to save the rest of Lakas's denizens. Unless the Berians decide to come.
The group has gathered in a meeting area, guarded by at least fifty vampires and leonin, seemingly the only races that exist on the plane. Gladoise lies within earshot outside of the immediate area. Setra shows Pathos how to use their planning table, and he begins to go over the plan against the Six.
"So... here's what plans we remember," Pathos begins. "We were originally going to use a lockbox given to use by my friend Gyr to sneak into the Beyond through the Divine Armory. However... it was vaporized in the blast. So, we'll need a more direct approach. Along with that, our original plan was to steal relics from the Beyond and sell them. Now... I'd be lying if I said I didn't want to snap Conse's neck right now."
"I think most of us would be lying if we said that right now." Onaeca replies.
"A blade would be much more suiting." Otaimo mentions.
"Too swift," Wosy mentions. "He needs to suffer for all the hell he's put us through."
"Then a sawblade." Otaimo says morbidly.
"Sheesh. I didn't think that'd come to your mind."
"Are we really doing this?" Pathos asks.
"I could always use a hot iron pole instead." Otaimo says. At this point, he can't hide the fact that he's starting to grin a little.
"You sure you ain't a devil at heart, Otaimo?"
"Instruments of war are not far from instruments of torture, Wosy. Both are used to inflict pain and punishment, and both can be helpful or harmful. The difference is in the end."
"You are one screwed up god. But I like it."
"Ahem!" Pathos clears his throat, then continues. "As I was saying. As much as I want these guys dead, we can't blow the mission. So... since I didn't expect so many reinforcements, I guess we'll have two ends of the operation. The moment something suspicious happens, people will be looking for every suspicious person they can find. So... we'll come up with a signal. A couple of people will be causing a commotion while we hit the armory for everything they've got. When we're done, or if the heat gets to be too much, we'll give the signal. In that moment, everyone who isn't filling a sack with gear will charge the Chamber of the Six. You can figure out the rest from there."
"Vengeance..." K'Trinop says.
"Vengeance indeed." Otaimo seconds.
"If we only kill some of them, they can be replaced. Sure, a replacement won't be as good as a millennium old being of high power, but we don't want that. We need to completely overthrow the Six, and take the Chamber. Then... they'll have no choice but to stand down."
"Every single one of them?" Bebel says. "I don't know about you, but I don't look ready for a fight. Me and Brom can give you good luck though."
"And yet you came." Bahhi tells them.
"It'd be best if we all stick together." Theirin tells them. "Even if you can't fight." Gladoise speaks again. "Gladoise would appreciate your cooperation. And judging by the size of his mouth, it'd probably be better to not question him."
Otaimo chuckles a little before continuing. "The point is, if the Decider dies, the gods choose one of their most trusted allies, normally a fellow god, to become the new Decider. If another god dies, the Retributionists will be the first promoted to godhood. Judging by the severity of our last encounter, Arne achieving godhood will be one of the worst outcomes possible."
"And throughout the Pantheon, Arne has grown widely accepted and praised..." Pathos shudders. "Which means if Conse dies, Arne will likely become the new Decider. He has been the most devoted divine entity I've seen. No matter how much I convinced him what he was doing was wrong. Not matter how much he questioned his duty, he always did his job."
"So basically, if you want a promotion, just be an errand boy," Persephone comments.
"Basically." Wosy blurts out. "What?"
"Anyways, boxes like the one Gyr gave me take years to enchant," Pathos says. "Which means we probably won't be getting a replacement anytime soon."
"Who said you need special permission to fly to the Beyond?" Theirin says. "I went right through it."
"Then I guess you're our transportation." Otaimo assumes.
"Who said anything about that? Both I and Gladoise can grant the power of flight beyond normal barriers. If you want, Gladoise can even turn every mortal in this room into a dragon.
"Do what?!" Wosy spits out a shot of liquor he just began to drink. "He can just do that?! Count me in!"
"Be careful what you wish for," Theirin warns. "You don't want him to treat you like he treats his other children."
"You realize how much of an embarrassment it is to be an all powerful demon that can't even fly? Plus I can't go getting any girls when I can't transform back to normal."
Pathos covers his face and shakes his head. "To each their own."
Gladoise says something, and suddenly, Wosy begins to transform. Black smoke bellows from the open, fiery patches of his pitch black skin, and everyone in the room backs away. Thankfully the area is fairly open, or else Wosy would crash through the roof as he grows to great proportions. His demonic claws become draconic talons as his skin turns into smoky black scales. But his essence is all the same, and the hellfire within him now burns within his throat.
"Woah! I- I don't know what to say, other then hell yeah!"
"Did you really have to actually go through with it?" Theirin asks Gladoise. He just smiles back.
"So... Anywhere safe I can go to town at? Because my blood hasn't boiled like this in ages!"
"Preferably nowhere on this plane." Fetr harshly responds.
"And we thought hiding one dragon was a chore," Otaimo says.
I might as well ask all three of you now since I basically presented this opportunity. Does anyone else want to become a dragon?
Note - If you do, you will have to submit a card for it, and I'll rank it per usual. A score under 10 will be a failed transformation.
"All I want is answers as to what this rock is and does. And, where can I get more, if possible. I have spent the past day combating the Lord Arbiter and his angels, then get roped into a fight with demons, only to end up being challenged by Arne himself, which I handled quite well if I do say so myself."
"Now could somebody please give me some answers... And, where the hell are we, some sort of pocket dimension?"
Looking at the dragon, Gladoise, "I appreciate the offer of becoming a dragon, however I have done just fine battling the plague in my present form, and I think I will continue to do so..."
Also I don’t want to become a dragon
"That rock in your possession is a shard of starlight," Pathos replies. "From our conversation earlier, it's likely the same one I smuggled down to save Arnie. To say the least... you can't just find that stuff lying around. I would happen to be the main supplier, but... since the recent events, my entire stock got destroyed. The only way to get more is to steal it from the Beyond..."
That is what Byro was afraid of.
"As for where we are," Fetr begins, "we are on Myria. I have carried us to another plane for safekeeping. I will release all of you in good time, but for now, I am sure none of you want to be on the surface of Stitia with nowhere to go. After all, the nation of Yrntrn will likely be flooded by the surrounding sea, so we'll want to wait for that to happen. Unless you wish to drown."
You correct her. You were talking about Rafael. The old Lord Arbiter.
"He's a beacon of inspiration to our kind! Proof that not even the most devoted are blind to the corruption of the Six. Apparently, some of their other devotees can't see the light as he has." She looks at you with a disrespectful look on her face. "You have a problem with that?... that's what I thought. Anyways, he's not our leader, but we strive to be just like him. When he rebelled, our popularity soared!"
"Very well then. Who is your leader?"
"Why should I tell you? So you can brutally murder them?! I would never betray my allies in a million years!"
That's what you thought. "Now... about what your people have been saying." You make sure no one is around to hear this, before quietly asking. "Do you really think the Six are enslaving you?"
"Finally! You're asking the questions that matter! Yes! The Six are enslaving everyone from clerics to their Retributionsists! They're growing horns! They're being corrupted! They're making blood sacrifices and the like! Anyone that will not selflessly obey them has been forced into servitude! Have you, perchance, tried talking to the people of your temple, Ishka?" How does she know you? "They've been twisted! Warped! If you went back there today, you wouldn't recognize it!"
@EnvyReaper @BudGetTheCam @sanjaya666 @Blazin_Biscuit @Bowler218 @EmolgAn
(We're setting records! Shame ASubtleGhost isn't here to participate too!)
Rafael is lost in contemplation. Xataxji has eagerly left with his gift, and is already putting it to use. Gallagher is awestruck as Angela is resurrected right before his eyes.
Vryx, Arlin, Nsatar, and Alyssa are silent as they stare at the great demon before them. He smiles as he rises into the sky. However, all attention turns East as a group on the backs of manticores descend upon them.
"Wha?! What's going on?!" Gallagher collapses to the ground, weak and pale. "First, the temple collapsed, then this! Are we being attacked?!"
"It's okay! I don't bite!" Scarf says.
"Are you trying to get us killed?" Lilith wants to shut Scarf's mouth, but can't.
"What is this?" Rusty wonders why so many people are here. "Sum kinda magic gatherin'?! A demonic ritual?!"
"It's okay, Danny!" Danny looks like he's going to puke. "It's only a big... scary demon guy... with whirling chains... that's the size of a large building... and STARING RIGHT AT ME!" Danny instinctively jumps off his manticore, making a thud as he hits the ground.
"Ho! Ho!" Nsatar, a centaur, gallops towards Danny. "Good sir! Are you hurt?" Nsatar takes a moment to check Danny, but thankfully he's unharmed. However, he's unconscious.
"Explain yourselves." Alyssa aims a sword towards the group. "I came here on business. I won't have funny people interrupting."
fhpk = (30W)90°a² x 57 - r²
>>
And along with the sword came a vision about a certain individual named K'Trinop, who was seemingly a form of spirit of an unknown origin.
Rafael closed his eyes for a moment, and sat down cross-legged.
'Breathe in, let your worries out...'
And that Xataxji fellow was certainly an interesting, and undoubtedly powerful ally, at least he thought.
But it wasn't enough. Even if I can rally all the demons and angels in Stitia... no. No more doubts. For now I shall wait until the dawn while I have wings... then I shall find this K'Trinop and his fellows. To Yrntrn then.
And the fallen angel fell asleep with a haunting nightmare of a city that was set ablaze, along with dead bodies of humans of various ages that littered the street and their homes. Then he saw him, the titanic form of their supposed to be divine protector, Conse, in the horizon.
F̧͜o҉o̵l̀i͡͏s̵̕̕h̢ ͏͢li͏̴t͝͠t̵ĺ͜ȩ͜͡ ̸̛li͘͞gh̡҉͏t҉̶͜.̧͠.̛.̢
Then he woke up and realized that dawn had already broke the night.
You awaken pale, in a cold sweat. Nasita... how did you get here? You realize that you must have been sleepwalking again. Ceann is covered in your own blood, still glowing in your hand from where you activated its power. This is the exact point you were at when the vision ended.
The visions left you at a terrifying conclusion. To say it was a shock is an understatement, but no matter. You can't worry about something like this at this time. You need to gather allies. Right now, you think your best action would be to find K'Trinop, but as you attempt to leverage the Stargazium's knowledge, it replies.
"Unforeseen circumstances have swept the plane, and I must amend my pages once again. K'Trinop has left the plane..."
Left... the plane? Then perchance you may be coming across a powerful ally, but how will you reach them if they aren't on the plane?
"Perchance... I can aid you."
An angel walks up to you... A projection of Nohel. What is he doing here? What aid can he provide?
"I saw your vision last night... now you know. The Pantheon is being corrupted from within by a dark force. However, that is a fact you cannot state. While I was able to lift curse on the Stargazium, Conse controls... that curse. I may not be able to leave this plane, but I have contacted K'Trinop. Someone who can help you will be here momentarily."
Nohel's projection fades into a puddle of water on the ground. You wait for almost half an hour... how long is this going to take?
Suddenly, the puddle glows an ephemeral blue. Emerging from it in a rush of water is a leonin with glassy eyes, dressed in impressive uniform.
"Is your name Rafael?"
You ask who the man is. "I have been called here by K'Trinop to escort you. Right now we are meeting on Myria. If you wish to speak with him, this may be the best time. A pantheon of gods are meeting in our chambers."
You have never heard of Myria, but nonetheless, if this is your way to K'Trinop. then it is best you follow him.
"Hold my hand, Rafael, and walk with me back towards the water."
You abide, and as he walks into the puddle, he turns to water, and you quickly realize that you're doing the same. You disappear into the puddle, and begin to pass through a tunnel into darkness. Then, light appears at the end as the leonin begins to take a more humanoid form in the water. You reach the end, and emerge in a puddle next to a meeting area, surrounded by a gorgeous, untouched woodland.
"Welcome to Myria. You are safe here. Now, we were in the middle of a meeting..."
As the group of manticores land, everyone realizes something. Even Zanletesh is puzzled as they realize that Rafael is gone.
"Where the hell'd that angel go?" Rusty is looking around anxiously. "He was just here a sec ago."
"There's no angel around here, Kerial," Lilith tells her manticore. "Are you sure you aren't lying?"
"I am deeply sorry, but angels can fly too," Kerial mores sarcastically. "Don't fret. My master says... what in his name?" Kerial is lost in their thoughts. "He spoke to Nohel and was safeguarded in another plane!"
"Of course the Six would protect their own," Lilith figures. "He must be a high value target."
"No! You've got it all wrong! He betrayed the Six, and they are incapable of planar travel. So what in the hell is Nohel doing protecting him, and how did he leave?!"
"Damn it! Why a planeswalker of all people?!"
"Oh what fun," Scarf sneers. "You're telling me he's just able to up and leave the world?"
"Khantsievth is looking into it now." Kerial replies. "In the meantime, I don't think Conse will take direct disobedience by one of the gods very lightly."
"A planeswalker, you say?" Nsatar turns away from Danny to speak. "I'm a planeswalker myself, but pray tell! It sounds like you're running a demon's errand, hunting down an angel. What of this?"
"He killed these two's ally in cold blood." Kerial says, pointing to Draundr and Schoren. "Demons are demons, but the Coven is known among my kind as too good for their own good. They could probably make the Six look like chumps. Their means are sometimes underhanded, but everything they do is for the good of one another, and occasionally, the public."
"That's right," Scarf seconds. "If it weren't for them, we'd be dead! He brought us back to life!"
"Dear Solsta!" Nsatar recoils and points his sword at the group. "Necromancy! You are all evil-"
"Calm down!" Lilith raises her hands disarmingly as she approaches Nsatar. "I don't know what sort of creature you are, but we mean you no harm. We just want to avenge this Darna so we can get back home and rest."
The train is silent as it shakily rides along the tracks, going very fast. Many of them are holding strange symbols. Jagged scepters about two feet long, made of black ivory. They all have blood on their tips.
"Are you coming to the ceremony?"
A devil, sitting across from you. His stare is cold, his face emotionless.
"Will you partake in his rites?"
A viashino, staring at the tip of his scepter with glassy eyes.
"Will you welcome him as he saves us?"
A 5-year old child looks up at you, barely able to hold his scepter.
"Will you give your being to see him rise, brother?"
His mother looks at you, smiling as the child holds her hand.
This ceremony is apparently a lot more important to the people of Nasita than you expected. You peer into their minds. A great sacrifice, in the name of Khantsievth, hoping to bring his emergence.
"Your scepter, sir. You forgot your scepter." A demon looks at you discerningly. "Perhaps, you could borrow my spare." The man hands you a scepter, not by your will. You oblige... it appears as though you'll have to play along with this for now.
"Thank you." You say to the demon. "I really don't know what's with me today. I'm just really tired." You get a sense of deja vu holding this scepter.
"Shouldn't of indulged so much with the rum, eh?" The devil that came with you, Pokey, jokes.
"I see you drank well for the ceremony," the demon responds, smiling. "Full with the water of the demons, yes?"
"Your spirits should be right for this moment," the woman remarks. "Lift you head high, brother."
This is uncomfortable. Everyone is so eerie as you ride to the cathedral. Going on and on, droning about the word of Khantsievth. "The Archdemon shall rise, making himself known as mankind's only god." A cold chill runs down your spine. Are these people crazy? They plan on summoning the very being that will bring about mankind's destruction! Your motive may of just taken a turn; your mission may be more high stakes than before, and the cost of failure could be on a grander scale than just your pay.
You unpossess the man, and make your way into the cathedral with seemingly hundreds of people. A great, prosperous place, but full of sin. As you go through the cathedral, all of the guests are given cloaks, akin to the ones worn by the church members. You go up several flights of stairs, and you hear a hymn already being sung.
You search the entire church for any clerics that look vulnerable, when you come across an altar. It looks like it hasn't been used in months...
"When do you think he'll come back?"
"Who?"
You're getting a very bad case of deja vu. Looking at this slab, listening to this conversation.
"Him. The one guy we had to... bleed dry..."
It's all starting to come back to you. Perhaps Treyble wasn't wrong when he said you might be coming across your old friends.
"Tiel-"
"Quiet down! You don't want the others to find out what we did."
"Do you think it worked?"
"We can only hope, David. We can only hope."
Now is your opportunity. David is alone, watching over the altar. You have two choices here. You could take this chance to either possess him, or try to talk to him.
"We're sorry if there was a misunderstanding," one of the clerics announces. "Conse demands your death."
"You are a threat to our wellbeing..."
While the guards have been pacified, they still seem highly intent that you are their enemy. Why does Conse want you dead?
"But it is not too late to redeem yourselves." The cleric walks towards you and Uvras with a bloodstained ritual knife and a bronze chalice. "You need not lose your life here. Give your devotion to Conse, and promise him your allegiance. Otherwise... you will remain our enemy."
"A blood sacrifice?!" Uvras is appalled. "When... when did the gods demand blood?!"
"Every component of your being... you must be willing to give for Conse. Take this blade, and show him your devotion!"
Never... you've never been much for Hexism, but if this is what it means, you're definitely against it. It seems as though they will not be swayed this easily. Their eyes are like glass as they await your acceptance.
"Did he ask you if you felt like it?" Suddenly, a farmer with a rope walks into the cathedral. He has a few allies with him; a pirate, a Bloodwood battle shaman, and a wolfkin with a crossbow.
"Who are you?" The cleric holds up his triscepter towards the farmer.
"We're here to tell you that Hexism is a bunch of crap." The pirate is smoking a cigar, holding a gun in the other hand.
"But... we have seen the miracles of the Six."
"Our master knows their secret." The wolfkin stares him straight into the eyes. "They are evil."
"I won't stand here and let you speak so lowly of the Six!" A guard attempts to attack, but he falls weak. White mana snags his lance as he tumbles to the ground.
"No one comes out swinging except me," the shaman scorns. "Our ally here offers you peace. Accept it."
"We will only accept the fate which the gods have laid out for us."
This is getting nowhere. It's very apparent you'll need to do something more to get their allegiance.
"Not everyone is willing to listen to reason. Sometimes... it's better to tell them what to do, and if they won't obey, your options are as follows. Let them turn against you, or force them to comply."
It's him again. What are you going to do? Then, you realize something. Your inner pleas for peace and union turn to conformity, and the spell warps with blue mana. You feel a minor strain inside of you as the same chains of light from before bind everyone in the room except Uvras. Then, they rise to their feet.
"Very well. We'll come with you."
"Verth! I thought you were against magic!" Uvras is surprised. Even though he's a teacher of magic, you yourself have never used it before, and therefore, he never taught you how. "Such skill... how long have you trained?"
"Um... we were sent to help you," the farmer protests. "Can you let us go?"