Corso dives at Cronoa sword drawn. She assumes a fighting stance as her flock of Cro's circle the two.
[freeze frame]
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Alright man. You tell me how you want this campaign to end.
Your voice:
"Recognize that it is my duty to care for the Multiverse and maintain its ordered existence." The Cros begin to flap in circles overhead. The walls and floor being to shift like clockwork as well, or maybe that's just your imagination. "Will you prove a threat to the experiment Altaire?"
"and now the man. The Baron who acquiesces to the will of his former enemies in the face of a larger threat. Surely you understand your situation. Help me destroy a world in exchange for preserving the others." your voice rings out from the Cros overhead.
"They are not dead. Killing them would be a waste. but they chose to threaten the integrity of the experiment and have been ... removed for now. Unfortunate, because they were selected for their ability to sympathize with the need for the experiment. The gunman with his beast of burden. Mistreating a slave because his ends justified the means. I brought him here first. The Paladin allied with the undead. Forsaking her ideals in order to fulfill higher ideals. Too noble in the end. The wicked king defending the innocent. I was sure he would understand the value of order in the face of imposed moralities. And the mage who sold her soul to the devil to achieve the greater good. Unfortunately the metaphor was lost on her.
Also sorry for the word dump. In a real campaign the clues would have come with better pacing, but everyone left the game and I've found that I only mirror my players engagement. But I HAD to at least put an end on this so thanks for sticking around.
Oh man that took forever. I kept rewriting it over and over. plus the holidays/ work etc. I wasn't 100% sure of the details of her plan when the game started but I'm pretty satisfied with it. In retrospect I should have plotted the story beforehand, but I cared more about kaiju combat and testing out the 'distance zones' subsystem at the time. Fighting her is up to you.
She goes on into her monologue.
"These Kaiju could not be sustained by any known ecosystem. Their size and energy attacks alone would require them to metablolize whole worlds, which they do , in a sense. According to my research, they are fueled by what i have dubbed "Chaos Energy" It can take many forms and accounts for the kaijus varying appearences and attack patters. Just as energy must be expended to bring order out of chaos, the energy spent is regained when these kaiju bring their chaos to otherwise ordered systems." "An unfortunate side effect of this density of Chaos Energy is that when amassed in the quantities found within the kaiju, the borders between planes begin to erode. This happens wherever they are but is greatly exasperated upon their deaths as the Chaos energy within them dissipates. As the Planar Borders erode, other of their kind find their way to new planes and new sources of Chaos Energy repeating the cycle until nothing exists." "As a Lhaksharut Inevitable, my primary concern is maintaning the borders between planes. I directed the Kaiju toward this plane in order to save all others. While here I formed the Lastguard, you, to kill the kaiju as they came that I can study the effects of Chaos Energy on planar borders and one day find a solution." "One planes sacrifice to bring salvation to all others is an agreeable price, wouldn't you say? or have your Qadiran companions failed to teach you how to spot a bargain?"
"Yes" "This troubles you?"
"Not only you. All inhabitants of this plane. The kaiju needed a suitable receptacle." Cronoa brings up more images of kaiju destroying various locations around the globe. "The experiment has yielded much useful information. Your plane has performed its function admirably."
She pulls up a illusory image of your father with you as a child. You remember this. but the point of view isn't yours, its viewed from above, as if from the eyes of a cro. "I've been observing your plane for quite some time"
Cronoa remains with her back to you but grows still.
'today's enemies are tomorrow's allies.'
I think a larger party will be a benefit when we get to the Kingdom Management stage of the game. Fewer NPCs running important roles.
Snyk rubs at his minor wounds but says nothing.
He enters the dust covered room and inspects the center of the three stone doors.
"Old nationalities and hatreds don't really make much sense any more."
"Our understanding of this concept is incomplete. Will you elaborate?"
"Detestable allies are a suitable price for accomplishing your goals. Is that a correct statement?"
Not for long. .
"Is it not true that in your youth you fought a war against the Qadirans? And you now have no qualms with allying with them in an endeavor so.... mundane?"
As you make your way you pass scenes of destruction within the city. Buildings that have collapsed due to the endless march of kaiju. You pass makeshift memorials to loved ones lost in the wreckage. You pass more displaced survivors looking for refuge. Dirty children, desperate people, dire situations.
Cro takes you up the Bell Tower to see Cronoa. This is unusual as your team typically only sees her st the post-kaiju debriefings, when she is mostly focused on gathering information about the monster and your team. When you arrive you also notice one other irregularity. Typically Cronoas imaging devices are displaying kaiju battle images and footage. Today Cronoa seems to be studying citizens of Final City. "Welcome Corso Altaire" "What is your relationship to the Hakam corporation?"
"Ta-ha!" Cro nearby swoops down and flutters along side you."Well said Master Corso! I've come to inform you that Mistress Cronoa requests a meeting with you in the Bell Tower. Is now a good time?"
Meanwhile, the Taldan refugees are better than ever. The Housing units that are leased to them by the Hakam corporation are pretty sweet. They have a distictly Qadiran look to them but overall the accommodations are clean, well maintained and versatile enough to fit the needs of everyone being housed there. People don't have to worry about where they are going to sleep that night, so that gives them an opportunity to start rebuilding. everyone seems grateful, especially Henders. --- Your fellow Lastguard seem less than grateful. they've all stated their distaste for the fried lizards and you've overhead them talking candidly about you selling out. There are whispers of the other Lastguard squads calling you lizard-boy. One day, during training on the practice grounds you find yourself walking past the half-orc fighter from Alpha Squad "grmmm... Why do you do it? Why do you shill for those things?"
You and your teammates continue to take down Kaiju when your squad is called upon. You take down this fellow in a suprizingly complicated underground battle. This kaiju gives your party some trouble with its constant regenerating armor plating. this one comes down fairly easily, but THis guy manages to burrow its way past you and into the city. Though once there Ara quickly dispatches it with some Arcanist gobbledygook. --- Every time you go out to fight you are contractually obligated to bring a lizard-on-a-stick with you to eat during the fight. and when you return home, after your debriefing with Chronoa about the battle, a team of Hakams employees shows up to debreif you as well. Although they care much more about the image you are maintaining and tying your success to the Hakams brand of products.
What follows over the coming weeks is a string of unpleasant events for you Corso. One qadiran approaches you with a stack of stickers to adorn your armor. They bear the logo of Hakams Roasted Reptiles and are intended to literally use your body as advertising space. It falls under the apparel clause of the contract. You are scheduled to appear at several lizard-on-a-stick joints throughout Final City. and given painfully cheesey scripts to follow when interacting with vendors and fellow customers. 'Golly, this roasted reptile has roasted my appetite!'
At each of these events you are required to consume at least 51% of a unit of Hakams Roasted Reptile. The charred lizard on a stick is surprisingly stringy and pretty gross.
Guess its just me and you Corso. You up for one more encounter?
Your lawyer reviews the document. Its pretty innocuous. Basically the kind of contrat you would sign for an advertising deal. You agree to the use of your likeness in print advertisements and merchandise, you agree to do several live appearances at times and places dictated by the company, you agree to allow the company to tell you what to say and what to wear to these public appearances, you agree to be seen eating Hakams Roasted Reptiles in public on several occasions, you agree to continue your association with the Lastguard for at least one year. they agree to provide housing to the remaining Taldan refugees. Henders receives a small finders fee. You acknowledge that actions or words defaming Hakams or Hakams products can lead to renegotiation or terminations of the contract. ETC ETC ETC ETC
Henders continues to try and assure you that its the right call. "Any small sacrifices you can make will help you people tremendously! You'd be serving your people." yadda yadda
The man seems only slightly disappointed that you wouldn't sign without reading it, his eyes silently conveying 'ugh...fine." as he hands you the lengthy document. You sense that their motive is purely their own financial gain. "Fear not Corso m'boy I have read the document thoroughly and this is an offer we simply can't refuse. Think of the women and children suffering on the streets. They look to you." -Henders
"Nothing beyond you abilities I'm sure..." The tall one goes on to explain that the business they represent sells food products throughout Final City. You've heard of them and seen their shops/vendors. One of their signature dishes is a particularly pungent roasted lizard on a stick available throughout the city. They'd like you be the face of their new ad campaign. The short one unscrolls a lengthy business contract. Henders seems very pleased with himself.
"Bloody good service m'boy." Former Mayor Oscar Henders making his best attempt at sincerity. "Before you go, there are some gentlemen I'd like you to meet."
"Azar Karim Daryush Seyed" says the shorter of the two "...ah yes" says Henders, already forgotten. He pats you firmly on the back and addresses the Qadirans This is the man I was telling you about. Corso Altaire, the Hero of Taldor. and card-carrying Lastguard!" "Your exploits are impressive Mr. Altaire" says the taller of the two. "Corso I've been speaking to these men bout the living situation of our people. As representatives of a large corporation, they would be willing to offer living accommodations for every Taldan refugee for a year free of charge! isn't that wonderful! the two Qadirans nod respectfully, eyes thoroughly inspecting you.
Seems like we've lost some players. anyone still interested in continuing please check in.
"What would each of you like to do next?"
"How's about the front..."
"Final City was my assumption. Is there anywhere else on this world to return to? Ta-ha!"
"Ta-ha, The man you describe sounds like the Psymaster! That's the only name hes had since he arrived at Final City. We assumed he gave it to himself since he was quite the specialist in the magic of the mind. He and the Huntsman were the scouts to report this particular kaiju attack if you recall their warning earlier today. Its a shame to hear that we've lost him." Cro seems solemn in his own mechanical way. "I can't find a somber way to say 'ta-ha'. ta. ha?
think we're back for good?
It is for sure dead.
Site is back!
Akoriya peppers it with arrows yet agian. It teeters back and forth absorbing the fire into its scales. Ara misses with a cosmic ray and King Khar'tenet charges in for the kill and lands the felling blow! with a terrible thud the three headed spider-like kaiju crashes to the ground. "ta-HA! Good show old chaps! i say we've done it again!
"Ta-ha! I think we've got it now! shouts Cro as he Swoops by.
nope
Aras curse takes effect and the Kaiju is frozen in place and struggles againt the Chains of light entangling its legs
Corso:
Corsos Damage Rolls
Covered in gross stomach juices, Corso spills out of the kaiju. The wound he left already beginning to close.
Alara Lightborn (aka Kayri_Khaos) hasn't posted anywhere in a month. do you think we've lost her?
Did we lose anyone? |