Rebirth and Return [All are welcome!]

[Kasoria]

There was still so much to be done. Victory, winning, even surviving, had a note of completion to it. A task set and accomplished, no matter how many moving parts and factors. This seemed like... a moment cut short. Half the story ripped out the book, pages burned and reader gruffly told that was all they'd be getting. And they should be happy to have got so far.

Kasoria was not happy. Not with any of it. Not even with his High Marshal.

Peace and reconciliation was what echoed off stone and sand and bloodied corpses and panting survivors. Silence had been replaced by the booming words of the human leader of the city, now remembered after the mutant creature had vanished. Kasoria barely paid attention to her last hissed threats, about plagues of insects and the end of her children's aid. The Raggedy Man hadn't even the energy to shrug.

Fine. Fair trade. We lose a spider cunt and her brats, and have to deal with more flies and beetles. Good deal.

But then, came the calls to surrender. Lay down arms and submit, for only in that way could forgiveness be earned. Kasoria's ears pricked at that, black eyes flashing around him as the handful of Sintraists weighed their options. Even this fanatic crew could see there was nothing to be gained through further conflict... but there were always exceptions. Some whose loyalty or madness ran too deep, whose shame in failure would never permit them to surrender. Around him, weapons clattered to the ground. Shuffling knees followed. But one figure refused to. She looked around, this tall and lean-built woman, a spiked club in one of her hands. Her eyes were wide with horror that her friends, her fellow believers, were now throwing in the towel.

"What are you doing?! Get up! Rise! We can still-"

The sound of a sword punching through flesh, muscle, and bone was so singular it seemed to echo around the Arena. The woman looked down and saw the length of red steel punching out from her chest. Black arterial blood mingling with it. She tried to draw in a breath and knives tore at her throat, pain lanced through her breast. When the unseen figure yanked it free from her, she toppled forwards. Her weapon left her dead fingers; her eyes were swimming with confusion, with fear, with... loss.

"Mis... mis..." She reached out for the empty stage where once her deity had reigned and-

THUNK

Kasoria's second swipe took her head off at the neck. The blonde ball rolled half a way, and then came to a swaying stop. Kasoria looked around, and was satisfied his message had been sent. They all knew him. They knew which way he would prefer. His black, blazing eyes seemed to beg those few fanatics left to try something, fight back, go down swinging. For all the good it would do them. He saw eyes dart between him and Parhn. The two futures available to them. Submit and live (and, he was certain many though, rise again some treacherous day), or fight and... and...

Aye. Me.

No-one else did. Kasoria snorted in disgust, and turned back to Oberan.

“Kas.”

"Lookin' proper fucked there, boy."

The trickster, the conman, the rogue and... and the inhuman, gave him a dry laugh and a watery smile. His voice was as fuzzy as his gaze, each breath coming out ragged and low. He was in no mood for a chase, a hunt, a slog through miles of sewer. Looking down at himself, Kasoria knew he wasn't, either. Oberan's magic hadn't healed him, it had simply pushed his body past what it would normally be capable of... and for someone like Kasoria, that was something skirting human. More of his clothes were torn and bloody than whole; he could feel deep slices in his flesh that almost nicked muscles and tendon. More than that, he was leaving blood in dribs and drabs wherever he walked... and he had been fighting for quite a while.

"You can feel it, can’t you? Not much time left. Better find a spot to have a lie down, else you’ll collapse where you stand. My power’s got a price, and unfortunately the bill’s due right now. Nothing I can do about that, except postpone and make it worse.”

As he faded from waking, and commanding, so did Kasoria feel the inhuman vitality ebb away. The pain crept back by inches, patient, not hurrying. He allowed himself to sink to his knees, not taking his eyes off the Mortalborn. That made two of them, he realized. Two sons of abominations that he'd stayed his hand from ending. Shadow Slayer felt heavy in his grip for a moment. One slice. One stab. One thrust. With Oberan as languid and half-awake as he was, it would be no trouble, and his endless vendetta, it would-

Be what?

“You won’t be able to move for a while, I don’t think. I made your body push itself far past your limits, it’ll need time to recover. Not going to be … pleasant… Best to sleep … through it as much you can… Take advantage of the pain still being dulled… hard to fall asleep when… it returns… all at…. once…”

Kasoria sighed at the same time as Oberan did... only his next sucking of breath came through his teeth. Fucking freak wasn't kidding. Everything was hurting now; his body was a potato tossed into slowly boiling water, and only now was the rising temperature becoming apparent. His flesh started to itch and burn and ache and it went down, down into his bones and guts before he could shakily exhale. Every cut and slice and bruise crowded his nervous system at once. A lifetime of hard, savage, merciless living was all that stopped him from passing out as a battle's worth of agony ripped into him at once.

As gently as he could manage, Kasoria fell backwards. Sword still gripped. Teeth ground tight. Oberan's voice was vanishing and not... not just because he was passing out along with him. Fates, but he felt tired. No more energy or magic to stave off the feeling, either. His Sparks were as tired as he, and they curled up within his soul to slumber and not be awakened for quite a while. Soon it was just him, age and weakness and wounds and bitterness, laying there among the dead and dying and miraculously alive.

We did it. She's gone.

He snorted. Nothing had been accomplished. Her masque was ruined but she was not dead, and cunts like her held grudges longer than empires lasted.

Aye. But she won't be back for a while, and we're wise to her now. You did what you could.

He made a gurgling sound that should have been a growl, but there was too much blood to sound proper. So he settled for swallowing half and spitting the rest. He was sure he heard his name being muttered, then shouted, but the Arena... Fates, but it seemed so far away now. The sands were cooling and they felt so wonderful on his skin. They seemed to lull him to peace, to stillness, and when he closed his eyes...

Martyn won't fight for her.

The thought darted through his mind, quick as an eel through brackish water. But it made him smile.

She'll be no master of Etzos, grinding her people into dust.

Shadows fell over him. He could barely make it out but he knew they were there. His hand gripped his sword tighter. Something pulled at it... but he wouldn't let go.

You did what you could, old man. To the end.

A shadow grew within the shadow. Under his eyes and within his mind. Watching with a cocked head and a patient expression, though he could not see its face. Kasoria chuckled but no sound came from his lips. He was still, a quiet, and tired. He let the worries of the waking world slip away, and let the painless darkness cover him.

[Maltruism]

Rebirth and Return

Though the overt grumbling and muttering all but disappeared over the next few breaks, the symptom of it did not diminish over even the entirety of the cycle. the rest of Rebirth was tainted by reprisals and reactionary incidents. The Black Guard was bolstered by volunteers to try to keep some semblance of peace, though it would turn out that more than a few of the newcomers took up the badge only to have authority to pursue these same type of grudges.

But they were a minority, which grew even less numerous as Parhn made good on his promise to enact the same severe verdicts on any that took such courses at a time when togetherness, tolerance and forgiveness would be the only things that would save the city. A show of summary executions drove home the sincerity of his warning, and things calmed after that.

There were still eruptions of violence in bars and street corners from time to time, but after the display of punishments, they rarely turned more serious than bruises and lacerations. And it was becoming common knowledge on the streets that the Black Guard was showing remarkable equity in turning a blind eye to members of both loyalties when beatings would occur in the cells of troublemakers on both sides of the issue. It did not seem to matter to them who you'd sided with at the time. If you did not "get over it" now, they were slow to respond.

The Sanitarium was another site where virtual martial law held sway. Kasoria and Oberan would find themselves awakening there in recovery rooms that were virtual cells, with trios of elite guards, locks and bars on the doors to ensure what safety could possibly BE ensured. There was little middle ground where regard for them was concerned. To one side they were heroes on par with Etzos' greatest legends. To the other, they were marked for death.

Ulric had successfully eluded the notice that would have painted the same target of either hatred or admiration on his back as those two. It was noteworthy that members of the resistance were in the rotation of guards around Oberan and Kasoria. With Sintra gone, there was technically no need for them to stay intact, yet Parhn had made specific request that they do so.

There was, of course, a number of ex-Web Guards who insisted that they'd "seen the light" and now rejected Sintra and craved only that they be viewed as gullible fools, and not traitors. They played the part of embracing the restrictions and scorn that would be inflicted upon them while they served an indefinite term of atonement. Some were quite convincing in their repentant pleas; other less so.

Despite the blatant hostility, there was a grudging respect for those who did not back down on their loyalty to Sintra. Their tirades about Etzos' betrayal of the one Immortal who'd helped them eliminate Lisirra continued to disregard the public disclosure of the fact that Sintra had been behind it all. They clearly refused to accept this all-important detail.

Parhn surprised some by allowing them to be exiled rather than executed. He clearly respected that they stood their philosophical ground, though they must have known it would most likely lead to execution. They would, of course, be stripped of all armor and weaponry, save for the crudest of wilderness armament. They would be escorted to Highbend, where Vuda would now set up visible, recognized rule, and from there, pushed into the peril of the western lands.

Ne'haer supposedly allowed worship of all Immortals. Maybe they would find hearth and home there. Or perhaps they would push on to Argos and take to the seas; or push past the terror of Gauthrel to find the rumor of Melrath. In any case there would never again be a welcome for them in Etzos.


On the day of their exile, one woman among them, an exalted who had not yet achieved championship, stepped forth to spout a last tirade of vitriol. It was largely ignored, but a confident sneer on her last remarks drove the calm disregard from the faces of some among the escort.

"You fools have let your pride doom you. So sure you are that you've never needed the protection of an Immortal before that you do not realize you've been enjoying her protection for far longer than you know. Yes, yes, she had her eye on this city for many many arcs. Yes, yes to be her seat of power. And so she has safeguarded it from many things for longer than any of you have even been alive. It is only recently that her protection was out in the open. So what if it would have meant some level of subservience."

She rolled her eyes in sarcastic scorn as she mocked what she clearly viewed as stiff-necked foolishness, "Is the worthy recognition of an Immortal's superiority to such as us worse than the torments you will all now suffer for your pride? Ask yourselves this question over the next few arcs!"

Some demanded clarity on what they'd been protected from, but the woman only sneered, "What? You no longer have confidence in your stout hearts? Has uncertainty undermined that untouchable Etzori righteousness? Why worry, brave souls? Surely I am just a liar trying to manipulate you!" The laughter of her cohorts punctuated her mockery. She spent the trip to Highbend gagged. Yet she treated it like a badge of victory.

Parhn was overlooking from a great height and distance as she spoke, glad that these factors hid his look of anxiety from the crowd below.

[Maltruism]

Come and get your Loot!

(There's plenty more where that came from)

OBERAN:

XP Rewards: 20

These points can NOT be used for magic....sorry

Skill-Knowledges:

• Athletics +3
• Deception +2
• Detection +2
• Discipline +2
• Endurance +3
• Intimidation +1
• Resistance +1
• Ranged Combat (Sling) +2
• Unarmed Combat (Agudo) +3
• Tactics +1

Non-skill-Knowledges:

• Immortals can fall prey to their own domains
• Parhn blames himself enough to grant mercy to enemies
• Parhn out-manipulated Sintra
• Risen thralls are again shown to be very effective against Immortals
• Scores of elite soldiers vs one of the weaker Immortals is a stand-off
• Vuda is NOT dead
• Vuda is boss of Highbend
• Vuda saved Parhn but still owes a debt; the rumors must be true.
• When confusion is your enemy, fall back on instinct

Loot:

Nothing to speak of beyond recognition of heroism.

Loss/Injuries:

Still sore from your arrest a couple trials previous, and now a score of additional light wounds. And backlash from such heavy use of your Thrill. nothing deadly, but you are in sad shape.

Renown: 20

You were on the stage, clearly a prominent figure in the whole event right from the start. Many know of your arrest, as it was intended to be known, to put Sintra off her guard. I'm not that sure that a character such as Oberan wants to be well-known, but like it or not, you are a hero to those loyal to Etzos, and a hated enemy to those who are not.

KASORIA:

XP Rewards: 20

These points CAN be used for Magic

Skill-Knowledges:

• Abrogation: +1
• Acrobatics: +2
• Blades (Gladius, Karambit, Dagger): +2
• Bludgeons (War Hammer) +1
• Endurance: +3
• Leadership: +2
• Psychology: +1
• Tactics: +2
• Transmutation: +2
• Unarmed Combat: +2

Non-skill-Knowledges:

• Flaxxo saved your ass
• Immortals can fall prey to their own domains
• Oberan is a mortal-born of Audrae
• Parhn blames himself enough to grant mercy to enemies
• Parhn out-manipulated Sintra
• Risen thralls are again shown to be very effective against Immortals
• Scores of elite soldiers vs one of the weaker Immortals is a stand-off
• Vuda is NOT dead
• Vuda is boss of Highbend
• Vuda saved Parhn but still owes a debt; the rumors must be true.

Loot:

Nothing to speak of.

Loss/Injuries:

Unconscious, numerous wounds. Some serious Overstepping. Some serious Thrill-depletion as well, though there is nothing in the rules suggesting this "stacks" to make the Overstepping any worse. You are just suffering two different supernatural sources of backlash. Stay in bed, doctors' orders.

Renown: 20

Pretty much the same as Oberan, yet Kas is probably less concerned about an increase in recognition. He knows he's been well-known for quite some time. It may even appeal to him to have some admiration to add to the fear...lol

ULRIC:

XP Rewards: 20

These points can NOT be used for Magic...sorry
But they CAN be used for LIVING skills!!

Skill-Knowledges:

• Endurance: Surviving a prolonged battle
• Possession (Living): Possessing a wounded warrior
• Possession (Living): The battle of wills is the same when resurrected
• Materialization (Tendril): Manifesting multiple tendrils at once
• Materialization (Tendril): Fighting with tendrils
• Materialization (Flux): Becoming completely invisible
• Detection: Tracking multiple enemies in battle
• Discipline: Maintaining control of supernatural powers during battle
• Discipline: Ignoring your own negative opinions about allies
• Discipline: Ignoring your fears to focus on battle
• Axes and Bludgeons: Axes are swinging weapons, not stabbing weapons
• Tactics: Aim for joints to do more damage
• Blades (Longsword): Wide swings keep enemies at a distance
• Blades (Longsword): Don't stab into armor, stab around it
• Athletics: Avoiding multiple weapons during battle
• Athletics: Climbing onto and off of a stage in battle

Non-skill-Knowledges:

• Immortals can fall prey to their own domains
• Parhn blames himself enough to grant mercy to enemies
• Parhn out-manipulated Sintra
• Risen thralls are again shown to be very effective against Immortals
• Scores of elite soldiers vs one of the weaker Immortals is a stand-off
• Vuda is NOT dead
• Vuda is boss of Highbend
• Vuda saved Parhn but still owes a debt; the rumors must be true.

Loot:

You are alive and free!

Loss/Injuries:

Nothing to speak of, unless the loss of Alex' soul counts.

Renown: 20

Like the others, you were on the stage at the outset. And though you were not as actively brutal and aggressive as they were, it was still obvious to any that you were not on Sintra's side, which may have actually surprised some folks. Those who had previously assumed you to be one of Sintra's loyalists would probably now figure it to have a been a long, undercover deception from the start; a very dangerous game indeed. Fortunately, she believes that she reversed your restoration and that you are, once again, dead. Future renown could have mixed blessings if she realizes it is you.

Comments:

Well, it is all finally over.
Ulric, I had said that I might feel compelled to give you a little less, since your posts were usually smaller, but since you went to the trouble of defining each knowledge, I changed my mind. It also occurred to me, from a MMORPG group stance, that you were an outstanding "Crowd Control" contributor to the fight...lol
Kas, you had stated that I didn't need to worry about even giving you any skill-based Ks. But the thread that I copy/pasted to use as a template for this grade had such an appropriate list itself, it took very little change to feel right. I suppose that could be taken to mean your threads often feature you performing the same skills. I honestly doubt you would argue that point. So take the damn points and shut up about it!!
Oberan, I worried that I might have spoiled things for you with the confusion attack. But I love how you worked it into your defensive tactics. You are a classic Bard/Paladin, throwing buffs and de-buffs around with surgical precision. Though most paladins would be probably offended to be compared to such a cad...lol
My only regret is that it appears that none of you ever actually threaded with Neronin. And now you never will.