003

[forceofnature]

[pseudo-voice... or is it???]
Attention, peons!

[Viridi's voice echoes once again with its usual Message From the Divine manner.  Nothing out of the ordinary here.]

...OK, look, I'm not going to pretend I like you humans any more than I did before, but for what it's worth, I guess you're not all completely horrible.  I mean, you're still active participants in a culture that exploits nature, hastens the death of the planet, and imprisons livestock in horrifying conditions, but I'll give you a step up to 'Mostly Horrible' since it seems like some of you actually care about restoring this planet.

[This can be interpreted as a major concession for Viridi.  ...Some form of concession, anyway.]

Anyway.  I've talked about that stuff so much even I'm tired of hearing it.  Let's move on to the real topic.  Take a look at this.

[The COMPS will automatically activate their video feed as what appears to be a prerecorded message begins to play.  It displays Mt. Utsugi in Gemini District - and the time stamp in the bottom corner displays 23:59:45.  Those who have been in Gemini District during the 13th Hour will know what's coming.  At the stroke of midnight, without any fanfare whatsoever, the mountain will quietly and seamlessly raise itself from the ground, contort horribly, and mutate into a horrifying amalgation of stone and clockwork and steel.]

There!  I'm sure some of you have seen that in action.  The question is, why isn't anyone trying to investigate what's obviously the main dungeon of this RPG?  I mean, just look at it!  If we're here for any reason at all, it's to march into that abomination and stamp out the final boss!  There's no reason not to storm in there right now and shake the bull by the horns until it moos!

...I mean.  Aside from the part where some stupid apes think they know better than a goddess - not you guys this time.  I can get around them, but barring some form of mass destruction, I don't think they're letting you through.  ...But that doesn't mean you should sit around on your butts twiddling your thumbs waiting for permission!  As entertaining as it is watching you live your pedestrian, quotidian lives, you need to be prepared to do so some serious demon fighting when it comes up.  And it's going to come up.

So here's where I come in.  Call it... divine intervention.

[The feed flickers from the view of the Mictlan into a view of a petite, nine-year-old girl.  This would be the first time since she came here that Viridi has shown her face.]

Alright, the first person who says anything about how I'm a little girl is getting turned into a rat.  I'm serious.  Rats don't live happy lives; don't test me.

Now listen closely.  It's demeaning enough having to say it once, so I'd rather not repeat myself.  ...In my world, gods traditionally choose heroes and mediators to act and fight on their behalf, because if it isn't obvious, having gods throwing punches at each other generally doesn't work out for the longevity of the world.  As might be obvious, my generals aren't here.  That means I need someone to work through. 

You can see where this is going.  If you want to fight demons, but you're not sure you can handle it on your own, I'm willing to Support you. Criteria - Don't take this for granted.  Don't talk about the environment unless you agree with me.  For both of our sakes.  And don't be really annoying.  That's more on a person-to-person basis, but just as a general scale: Hades - really annoying, Dark Pit - pretty darn annoying, and Pit - more tolerable than annoying except when he sings.

The perks for you are the Power of Flight, teleportation, access to my sanctuary, hearing the melodious sound of my voice, and getting Supported by a goddess.  And yes, the Power of Flight means you can fly.  Five minutes maximum before you fall - don't yell at me if you go over because I didn't make the rules on this.  I can only really do one person at a time, so this is a first-come first-serve sort of deal.  ...Now see how selfless this all is?  I am nice.

[Viridi pauses at the end of her speech.]

What is with this stupid weather, anyway?  Is this the century where global warming begins?

((Basically, this translates to periodic fighting logs!  I've discovered that I'm rather fond of running those so I'd like to do it more often.  I'll just be throwing up a demon-fighting log every now and then with Viridi acting as Support for you.

Also Viridi is serious about the rat thing.  Don't respond ICly with that line if you don't want her casting Ani on you.  Or do so if you want that!)) 

Comments

[greyerrant]

I've slain my way to the gates several times. They aren't openable by any means presently at the disposal of myself, Meetra, or the strange Xenos-breed.

[forceofnature]

...............Hmph!

Obviously, none of you are gods. Step aside, lightweights, and make way for the power of divinity.

[Viridi will naturally fail miserably and conveniently forget to ever mention the subject again.]

[greyerrant]

[ Loken's scowl says all he ever has to say about THIS subject. The beauty of his helm is that it always disapproves of everyone forever. ]

[forceofnature]

So now is that why no one knows anything about the Mictlan? Because you failed and your massive ego precluded you from telling the rest of us about it?

[the pot calling the kettle black etc etc.]

[greyerrant]

No. To be honest, I thought everyone else would have the good sense not to try the ascent. I was made for this sort of battle. The mortals were not.

[forceofnature]

What are you talking about? We're all here for the same reason; if they're just going to sit around playing checkers, I wouldn't be making this offer.

[greyerrant]

Have you even seen the people sent to fight this war? They're children! And not aspirants, either. What sort of monster fights a war with children?

[ If only he knew the future of the Imperium. The Cadian Whiteshields. The commissar cadet platoons. The scratch platoons of the Vervunhive war. A thousand other wars beside. He would weep. And perhaps he has seen it, when the music of the spheres played in Istvaan III and drove him mad. But he doesn't remember, and he is lucky for that. ]

[forceofnature]

...




You're looking at my face right now, right?

Just because someone looks inexperienced doesn't mean they are inexperienced. By the same token, looking weak isn't the same as being weak. You just overcompensate.

[greyerrant]

They're still children.

[forceofnature]

You of all people really shouldn't judge books by their covers.

[greyerrant]

I don't. I just honestly cannot find it moral. And why me of all people?

[forceofnature]

Have you looked in a mirror lately?

[greyerrant]

No, I am not vain.

[ Which is funny, considering he actually takes time to smell nice by using scented oils and is considered rather handsome. ]

[forceofnature]

OK, well. You would terrorize small children. And large children. And mostly anything sentient, probably.

[greyerrant]

[ Loken removes his helmet, revealing a very handsome man. ]

I know, I am often called a monster.

[forceofnature]

See?

[Viridi looks smug as Garviel lifts off his helmet.]

So don't judge a book by its cover. Or by its armor.

[greyerrant]

I know what you are trying to say, but someone who is 14 is still 14, and not prepared for the horrors of war.

[forceofnature]

Oh, please. They recruit twelve year olds to be flag-bearers where I come from. Humans don't care a whit about morality as long as they get what I want.

And this is hardly horrifying. The demons here are pretty small-scale, honestly.

[greyerrant]

In your time, perhaps, we aspire to higher things by the thirtieth Millennium.

And yes, they are not as... impressive as the Daemons of my time.

[forceofnature]

Besides. They've got a goddess helping them out. What could there possibly be to fear?

[greyerrant]

I can think of quite a few things for mortals to fear.

[forceofnature]

Like their own destructive and evil nature?

[greyerrant]

I think it is rather the nature of humanity to be vulnerable to corruption and capable of destruction rather than being inherently oriented towards it. TThat is more the Orks, or the Primuls.

[forceofnature]

That's the lamest side-stepping I've ever heard. Try to remember that the only things that could possibly corrupt humans in my world is other humans.

And believe me, they love them some destruction.