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Charm Learning Shard (Worm/Exalted) (COMPLETED)
- Thread starter Daniel Snuts
- Start date
Dakkah
Know what you're doing yet?
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"We've come too far to stop now", that pretty much all of her tethers have died doesn't help either. (Still sorta counting Aisha despite her eh, conditions.)
zharshoul
Not too sore, are you?
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He shouldn't have any regrets, he joined a shadow council that was determined to do anything, no crime too high, for a snowballs chance in hell at killing Scion. Even without backstabbing Taylor he should have been prepared to die if it furthered the path.
Course most people like to talk the talk but can never walk the walk when it comes to them actually having to perform.
Course most people like to talk the talk but can never walk the walk when it comes to them actually having to perform.
Rifleshot
Studying the Way of 'Poggers'
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Probably 'Ziz'
Rask
Getting out there.
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Ziz, if she decides she wants a second turn.
JustCurious
Not too sore, are you?
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No, it's S. See first chapters.
Daniel Snuts
Know what you're doing yet?
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Conventionally, acquiring each successive tier of sorcery requires some form of sacrifice. Consider this requirement fulfilled - for all that she is unaging, she left parts of herself behind in that darkness.
The audience after K.10 said:
Taylor after K.10 said:
On a related note, you have until Z.02 tomorrow to guess what she got from eating Eidolon.
ses
Experienced.
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Demon of the Third Circle?
Yes, we're on the final battle, the ultimate evil. We have to kill Zion(ism)
Fernando
Part-time Loaf
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Earth-Destroyer
Versed in the lewd.
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Eh sorcery sacrifice is always ultimately to your benefit, and makes you better overall. Not like it was necromancy where you let something rot, for nothing.
Eidolon guessing Splintered the make mortal clones of yourself charm.
Korttihai
Getting out there.
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- Jul 12, 2018
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Zion is what the Warrior said to the people on the cruise ship, when he became public, but they misheard him say Scion. The first person he talked to was the homeless guy who was talking about the land of Zion to him.
space turtle
Not too sore, are you?
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Unwitting saboteur of his own goals.
I'm sure there exist innumerable paths to "fixing Eidolons self image issues" but who could know that the strongest man alive's fear of inadequacy had summoned up the penultimately mightiest of foes.
Presumably only the fairy queen could have had the insight to identify such a truth.
I hope for everyone's sake that no one ever finds out.
While it stains Eidolons memory, at least they won't have to live with the knowledge of what they did.
Although unless we get a very quick door to the FQ then his power is gone for good. Which sucks as an additional two arbitrary powers is a nice boost.
But they probably won't risk the power "infecting" her either.
I'm sure there exist innumerable paths to "fixing Eidolons self image issues" but who could know that the strongest man alive's fear of inadequacy had summoned up the penultimately mightiest of foes.
Presumably only the fairy queen could have had the insight to identify such a truth.
I hope for everyone's sake that no one ever finds out.
While it stains Eidolons memory, at least they won't have to live with the knowledge of what they did.
Although unless we get a very quick door to the FQ then his power is gone for good. Which sucks as an additional two arbitrary powers is a nice boost.
But they probably won't risk the power "infecting" her either.
Saltedboi
Lurking in the Deep
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I might be misremembering, but didn't a lot of Dragonblooded literally chop off a finger (or was it an arm?) for their initiation into Terrestrial Circle Sorcery? Since they didn't expect to reach higher tiers. Sure, in the story of the original Sorceress, she gave up her weakness and her fear, but that is hardly a universal trait (unless, again, I'm misremembering).
Earth-Destroyer
Versed in the lewd.
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That is more a necromancy thing, also exalted regrow limbs so not really relevant to them. Mortal yeah an perfectly acceptable thing. And terrestrial sorcery sacrifice can be pretty minor, like just having less time for you favorite hobby. It only a big thing for celestial, and solar.
Saltedboi
Lurking in the Deep
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I'm pretty sure the Sorcery Sacrifices are permanently gone, like if you sacrifice your familial relations, or your libido, or your cowardice or whatever, you can't get it back, only work around the new limitations. Prosthetics might work, but I'm not sure if Artifact prosthetics would
EDIT:
White Treatise said:
White Treatise said:
Last edited:
JustCurious
Not too sore, are you?
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You forget that the Fairy Queen was originally not on humanity's side. Giving her Eidolon's power is giving even more power to someone that is likely to choose to restore the Cycle.
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Z.02
Daniel Snuts
Know what you're doing yet?
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I look at the documents I've been given. They describe, in exacting detail, how to lay out a magic circle. There can be no doubt on this point. They specify each curve and intersection with sub-millimeter precision, and indicate that the design should be situated on an empty Earth, carved into bedrock and cast in metal to make sure no line can be broken. They make demands about the specific alloys to be used, that I am in no way qualified to evaluate. It's still a magic circle, precisely 666 yards in diameter. I feel a headache coming on.
"We already knew she was one of the magic-believers," Contessa notes, responding to what everyone in the room is thinking. "And that she has maintained this affectation even after learning the true source of powers."
"But what does it do?" Number man asks.
"I have not the faintest idea," Contessa says with a shrug - and a smile. "Which at least tells us she's acting against our enemies."
"You didn't ask?" Alexandria demands.
"She refused to answer. She rather resents me, because I'm stronger than her."
I sigh. I'm well versed in the parahuman psychology involved, possibly better than anyone alive. Alive and sane, I amend with a glance at my striped, naked bodyguard. Knowing the how and why of it does not help with the headache. Why couldn't she have been one of ours? Because our version of her was Eidolon, and look how well that turned out, a small treacherous voice whispers in my head.
"Could that change?" Alexandria asks. "With her Trump power-"
"'Path to preventing Esper from becoming able to defeat me,'" Contessa says. "It has more than zero steps."
She allows Alexandria to pick up on some cue of body language, because the latter stiffens and exclaims in shock. "You're not running it?"
"I told her not to," I say. "Limiting Esper's power is not how we win this war."
Alexandria sighs. "I concede the point. So we're going ahead with this... ritual circle of unknown purpose? I will note for the record that her last stunt was for naught - despite all the effort required to let her survive the consumption process, the power she gained from Behemoth is completely useless against our remaining adversaries."
"I personally believe that anyone who can manage to chew and swallow Endbringer flesh deserves any power they may gain from doing so, even if it does not directly benefit the cause," Number Man says. "Certainly, some would say that a kill aura of 250 yards instead of Behemoth's more modest 32 feet is a tad excessive. But in her defense the green glow makes its boundaries readily apparent, and it spares those who kneel down and worship her while engulfed in it. No one even dies of radiation poisoning afterwards unless they looked directly at her face."
His poker face is good enough that I have no idea how much of this is Harbinger nodding in approval, and how much is sarcasm. Alexandria is able to tell, but her annoyed huff could go either way.
"The ritual circle," I remind them. "Does anyone have any objections?"
"It will cost less than a hundred million dollars," Number Man says, which means no objections.
"I do not make policy decisions," Contessa says, which also means no objections.
"Like you didn't groom her for this from the start," Alexandria says.
Contessa gazes at her levelly. "She has been to every Endbringer fight since her trigger event, and each affected her profoundly." We all know her limits, but I note that it wasn't quite a denial. And if I noticed that, Alexandria certainly did too.
"Do you object to the plan, Alexandria?" I try to keep the conversation on track.
"If she betrays us too, would the backup plan be worth surviving to implement?" Which is her cheerful way of saying no objections.
"We already knew she was one of the magic-believers," Contessa notes, responding to what everyone in the room is thinking. "And that she has maintained this affectation even after learning the true source of powers."
"But what does it do?" Number man asks.
"I have not the faintest idea," Contessa says with a shrug - and a smile. "Which at least tells us she's acting against our enemies."
"You didn't ask?" Alexandria demands.
"She refused to answer. She rather resents me, because I'm stronger than her."
I sigh. I'm well versed in the parahuman psychology involved, possibly better than anyone alive. Alive and sane, I amend with a glance at my striped, naked bodyguard. Knowing the how and why of it does not help with the headache. Why couldn't she have been one of ours? Because our version of her was Eidolon, and look how well that turned out, a small treacherous voice whispers in my head.
"Could that change?" Alexandria asks. "With her Trump power-"
"'Path to preventing Esper from becoming able to defeat me,'" Contessa says. "It has more than zero steps."
She allows Alexandria to pick up on some cue of body language, because the latter stiffens and exclaims in shock. "You're not running it?"
"I told her not to," I say. "Limiting Esper's power is not how we win this war."
Alexandria sighs. "I concede the point. So we're going ahead with this... ritual circle of unknown purpose? I will note for the record that her last stunt was for naught - despite all the effort required to let her survive the consumption process, the power she gained from Behemoth is completely useless against our remaining adversaries."
"I personally believe that anyone who can manage to chew and swallow Endbringer flesh deserves any power they may gain from doing so, even if it does not directly benefit the cause," Number Man says. "Certainly, some would say that a kill aura of 250 yards instead of Behemoth's more modest 32 feet is a tad excessive. But in her defense the green glow makes its boundaries readily apparent, and it spares those who kneel down and worship her while engulfed in it. No one even dies of radiation poisoning afterwards unless they looked directly at her face."
His poker face is good enough that I have no idea how much of this is Harbinger nodding in approval, and how much is sarcasm. Alexandria is able to tell, but her annoyed huff could go either way.
"The ritual circle," I remind them. "Does anyone have any objections?"
"It will cost less than a hundred million dollars," Number Man says, which means no objections.
"I do not make policy decisions," Contessa says, which also means no objections.
"Like you didn't groom her for this from the start," Alexandria says.
Contessa gazes at her levelly. "She has been to every Endbringer fight since her trigger event, and each affected her profoundly." We all know her limits, but I note that it wasn't quite a denial. And if I noticed that, Alexandria certainly did too.
"Do you object to the plan, Alexandria?" I try to keep the conversation on track.
"If she betrays us too, would the backup plan be worth surviving to implement?" Which is her cheerful way of saying no objections.
SIMURGH KILLS LEVIATHAN
A door opens up in my office unannounced, and Alexandria storms through.
"What is she doing?" she demands.
"Killing us another Endbringer, apparently," I say mildly.
"How?"
"I sent Contessa to ask that exact question." Even as I speak another door opens up, and Contessa steps through.
"Well?" Alexandria demands.
"I asked whether her actions were the cause of this," Contessa says. "She said, 'not yet.'"
Alexandria groans. "God, I hate dealing with precogs."
"Path to not taking offense where none was intended," Contessa says drily.
"So, everything is going according to plan?" I ask. "Whatever plan that may be."
"She did look annoyed, and ordered the construction to be sped up." Contessa says. "She is so entangled now that the Path can barely gain purchase at all, but apparently some event in four days' time will present a hard deadline."
"I will make the arrangements," Number Man says from where he just stepped into the room.
"Are none of you bothered by this?" Alexandria asks, looking around. "Decades of planning, and we end up playing second fiddle to a psychotic teenager who won't even explain what she's doing?"
"We are, apparently, winning," I point out. "I find that it rather agrees with me."
"Hope," Contessa says. "The last and most cruel of the evils in Pandora's box, yet I too crave its taste after so long."
"What is she doing?" she demands.
"Killing us another Endbringer, apparently," I say mildly.
"How?"
"I sent Contessa to ask that exact question." Even as I speak another door opens up, and Contessa steps through.
"Well?" Alexandria demands.
"I asked whether her actions were the cause of this," Contessa says. "She said, 'not yet.'"
Alexandria groans. "God, I hate dealing with precogs."
"Path to not taking offense where none was intended," Contessa says drily.
"So, everything is going according to plan?" I ask. "Whatever plan that may be."
"She did look annoyed, and ordered the construction to be sped up." Contessa says. "She is so entangled now that the Path can barely gain purchase at all, but apparently some event in four days' time will present a hard deadline."
"I will make the arrangements," Number Man says from where he just stepped into the room.
"Are none of you bothered by this?" Alexandria asks, looking around. "Decades of planning, and we end up playing second fiddle to a psychotic teenager who won't even explain what she's doing?"
"We are, apparently, winning," I point out. "I find that it rather agrees with me."
"Hope," Contessa says. "The last and most cruel of the evils in Pandora's box, yet I too crave its taste after so long."
"Oh. Hello. I must admit I did not expect you to drop by. Is it that time of the month already?"
Ã̷̮ ̸̖̎H̵̥̄U̶͔͒M̷͖͂A̵͔͐N̸̙̄ ̴͉̊J̶͙͘Ȯ̶̩K̷̘̑E̷̯͛.̸̞͋ ̴͚̓V̶̝̒Ĕ̷͈R̴̡̾Y̵͚͘ ̵͓̿F̶͉͂U̷͊͜N̶̜̓N̴̤͆Y̴͇͝.̷̛̫
"Ah. The scream does form words, if one knows how to listen. I did always wonder about that. Not enough to find out for myself, but-"
Å̴͜L̶͖̅W̶̑͜A̴̩͆Y̶̛̠S̸͕͘ ̶͓̄S̷̭̄O̷̱͝ ̷͉̽C̴̘͐A̵͍̕U̴̠̓T̴̬͌Į̷̿Ŏ̶̺U̶̖̇S̴̪͝.̴̥̉
"Hey now-"
W̴͖̓Ạ̵͑L̸̞̐K̸̺͝İ̶̳N̷̼͠G̸̕͜ ̸̮̚Ṯ̵̓H̵̯̿E̶͍̔ ̷̮̃E̶̳̿D̴͇͗Ǵ̸̤Ḛ̸̂ ̵̰̔N̶͔̽O̴̻͋T̴̲̑ ̵͇̒D̸͖̎Ä̸̧́N̶̺͝G̸͍̕E̴̪̚Ȓ̶̖O̴͚͊U̴̫̎Ś̸̯ ̵͙͋W̴͔͌I̴̡̎T̵̤̂H̴̛̥ ̶̺̏V̶̦̌I̷̩͠S̷̥̄I̶̧͝Ȯ̸̡Ṇ̴̑ ̸̫̿S̴̜̏O̸̩͂ ̸͙̂S̶͓̅Ȟ̵̱A̷̙̓R̸͆ͅP̸̠͆,̷̛̻ ̶̫͗F̸̻͐Ȩ̶̋E̴̖̊T̸͈͂ ̵͍̐S̴͖̋O̴̖͂ ̴̦͝S̵̮͑U̸̖͋R̶̮͝E̶͈̍.̴͙́ ̸̺́N̸̉͜Ȩ̴̅V̵̩͐Ě̶̼R̶̩̾ ̸̪͠Ŏ̵̦N̴̠̉C̶̳̕E̸̲͌ ̶͚̈́Ţ̷͝O̴̠͂O̶͒ͅK̴̡͌ ̴̗̎T̷̿ͅR̵̡̒U̶̻̚Ë̵̬ ̷̝̌R̶̰̍I̵̺̾S̶̯̑Ķ̴̀,̶̖̂ ̵̨͒N̵̰͘O̶̮͝T̶͍͊ ̸̠́S̷̯̅I̶̙͝Ñ̸̯C̴͜͝Ë̴͈ ̵̬́L̷͚͝E̷͎͑Ǎ̸̯Ṽ̵͖I̴̙͐N̵̓͜Ğ̷̹ ̶͓͠F̶͔͆R̷̜̆I̸̙͌E̶̊͜Ṅ̶͖Ḍ̶̾.̴̳̊
"That stings, you know, in the way only truth can. So you're here to break my mind, to set me on a path of madness and destruction? Seems a tad redundant, all things considered."
N̴̛͔O̴̠͗.̵̳̓ ̸̡̅T̶̪̀O̷̤̅ ̸̥́K̸̚ͅI̷͔͛Ļ̶̍L̷̺̈.̶̢̒
"I don't suppose there is- no, if there was any argument I could make, you would already be convinced by it, wouldn't you?"
Ȧ̷͕ ̴̳̉P̷̼̓Ȓ̶̢E̶̻̋Ĉ̶̠O̵͔͌G̸̯̒ ̸̡͒J̸̡̒Ö̵̟́K̷͎̃E̴͕͆.̵͔̔ ̵͎͝V̴͍̆È̴̱R̷̦̄Y̴̗̅ ̵̦̇F̴̤͝Ú̵̺Ń̸͚N̵̜͆Y̴̐͜.̷͍̀
"Why me, though? I always thought you'd be a fan of my work, given your own."
W̶̺͌E̴͉͝ ̷̼̽D̶̰̂Ŏ̸͇ ̷͚̌W̷̫̾H̶͔̚A̶͘ͅT̷̞͝ ̸̟̈́W̴͓̅E̵̗͋ ̶̙̊M̴̝̍Ù̸̙S̵̨̉T̸̢͒.̶̭͝
"Please, elaborate. I'm dying to know, quite literally."
[̵͖̭͙̋͑͆̾̈́̓̆̀͝͝C̶̢͈̮̻͕̭̩̘̭̣̥͖̲̺͓̻͚͊̊̌̏̍̀̀ͅṎ̸̯̫̻̖̤̯̲̜́̉̈́͒̂͊̅̄́͆̚͝M̵͔̲̝͋͊̈́͛̉͌̔̒̇̍̂́̽͛̽̑̈́̏͠͠ͅP̵̨͚̭͎̠̳̦͖͍͕̍̃͗̀͌͘͜͜Ṛ̶̨̧̧̤̹̘̝̣̦̬̹̬̳̼̋̓̓̒̉̄̐͘E̵̢̢̫͈̪͉͎͎͉̬̥̘̣̱̤̞̲̹̞̩͎̫̘̒̈͛͐͐̃͊̂̍̇̽̏̈̃̅̇̐͂͌̃̕̕H̸̤̞̜̽͆̒͒̃̌͛͛̄̊̿͛͑͊̀̆̏̾̔̽͜͝͝È̷̡̨̢̟͖̼͓͖̺̝̹̘̱̳͑̎̋̏͒̾͊̋͛͒͗̾͂̓̈́͘͘͜͠Ń̴̡̛͚͓̫̖̘̰̮̙̱̬̺̻͓̋̔̏̄̀̓̒͑̄͒̈́͐͗̎̊̈̀͆S̴̨̛͐̄̄͗̽̔̃͐̄̑̇̀̍̃̕I̷͖̹̱̗̭̤̮͌̐Ơ̶̗̠̪͐͆̿̒̇̓̓̂̈́̈́̾̆̆̿͐͛̒̚̚N̶̨̧̧̛̙̹̤̤̪̲̼̈́͆̃̎̂̋͑͊͗̽̃̿͐̑̌̕͠]̸͈̰̳̦͍͇͕̫̺̝̥̦̪̟̤͕̱̓̈͘
"Hah. Haha. Ahahahaha! That's amazing!"
M̶͘͜Ȩ̴̒?̷̩̈ ̷̛̟Ō̶͙R̷͈͘ ̵͚̓H̸̖̅Ȩ̶̌R̷̩̅?̴͎̒
"Oh, both of you! As if you didn't know. A mind reader fishing for compliments, ha!"
.̷.̶.̵
"Time's up, I suppose. Will you at least sculpt my body into a monument so horrifying it drives men mad?"
M̷̻̀A̶̠̿Y̸̘̒B̷͓͆Ė̷̻.̸̩̿ ̸͓̋M̶̮̓A̶̮͑Y̷̡͝B̷͖͐Ẹ̷͊ ̴̻͝N̸͚͋O̶̠̅T̵͔̚.̵̭͒ ̸̯̓T̶̺̈́O̶̝̍Õ̸̪ ̶̫͑B̷̻͐A̴̰̐D̴̹̍ ̸̫̀Y̴̙̿O̷͓͌Ǔ̶̹ ̶̻͐W̷̼͋I̶̥͐L̷̞̏Ļ̶̑ ̴̪͝Ņ̴͐Ệ̸V̴̰̕E̷̟͐R̴̖͋ ̴͉͛F̸̪̑I̵̝͠N̴̬͗Ď̶̦ ̸̯̔O̴̤̒Ú̵͔Ṱ̷̽.̵̝̅
"...tell her 'well played.'"
Ã̷̮ ̸̖̎H̵̥̄U̶͔͒M̷͖͂A̵͔͐N̸̙̄ ̴͉̊J̶͙͘Ȯ̶̩K̷̘̑E̷̯͛.̸̞͋ ̴͚̓V̶̝̒Ĕ̷͈R̴̡̾Y̵͚͘ ̵͓̿F̶͉͂U̷͊͜N̶̜̓N̴̤͆Y̴͇͝.̷̛̫
"Ah. The scream does form words, if one knows how to listen. I did always wonder about that. Not enough to find out for myself, but-"
Å̴͜L̶͖̅W̶̑͜A̴̩͆Y̶̛̠S̸͕͘ ̶͓̄S̷̭̄O̷̱͝ ̷͉̽C̴̘͐A̵͍̕U̴̠̓T̴̬͌Į̷̿Ŏ̶̺U̶̖̇S̴̪͝.̴̥̉
"Hey now-"
W̴͖̓Ạ̵͑L̸̞̐K̸̺͝İ̶̳N̷̼͠G̸̕͜ ̸̮̚Ṯ̵̓H̵̯̿E̶͍̔ ̷̮̃E̶̳̿D̴͇͗Ǵ̸̤Ḛ̸̂ ̵̰̔N̶͔̽O̴̻͋T̴̲̑ ̵͇̒D̸͖̎Ä̸̧́N̶̺͝G̸͍̕E̴̪̚Ȓ̶̖O̴͚͊U̴̫̎Ś̸̯ ̵͙͋W̴͔͌I̴̡̎T̵̤̂H̴̛̥ ̶̺̏V̶̦̌I̷̩͠S̷̥̄I̶̧͝Ȯ̸̡Ṇ̴̑ ̸̫̿S̴̜̏O̸̩͂ ̸͙̂S̶͓̅Ȟ̵̱A̷̙̓R̸͆ͅP̸̠͆,̷̛̻ ̶̫͗F̸̻͐Ȩ̶̋E̴̖̊T̸͈͂ ̵͍̐S̴͖̋O̴̖͂ ̴̦͝S̵̮͑U̸̖͋R̶̮͝E̶͈̍.̴͙́ ̸̺́N̸̉͜Ȩ̴̅V̵̩͐Ě̶̼R̶̩̾ ̸̪͠Ŏ̵̦N̴̠̉C̶̳̕E̸̲͌ ̶͚̈́Ţ̷͝O̴̠͂O̶͒ͅK̴̡͌ ̴̗̎T̷̿ͅR̵̡̒U̶̻̚Ë̵̬ ̷̝̌R̶̰̍I̵̺̾S̶̯̑Ķ̴̀,̶̖̂ ̵̨͒N̵̰͘O̶̮͝T̶͍͊ ̸̠́S̷̯̅I̶̙͝Ñ̸̯C̴͜͝Ë̴͈ ̵̬́L̷͚͝E̷͎͑Ǎ̸̯Ṽ̵͖I̴̙͐N̵̓͜Ğ̷̹ ̶͓͠F̶͔͆R̷̜̆I̸̙͌E̶̊͜Ṅ̶͖Ḍ̶̾.̴̳̊
"That stings, you know, in the way only truth can. So you're here to break my mind, to set me on a path of madness and destruction? Seems a tad redundant, all things considered."
N̴̛͔O̴̠͗.̵̳̓ ̸̡̅T̶̪̀O̷̤̅ ̸̥́K̸̚ͅI̷͔͛Ļ̶̍L̷̺̈.̶̢̒
"I don't suppose there is- no, if there was any argument I could make, you would already be convinced by it, wouldn't you?"
Ȧ̷͕ ̴̳̉P̷̼̓Ȓ̶̢E̶̻̋Ĉ̶̠O̵͔͌G̸̯̒ ̸̡͒J̸̡̒Ö̵̟́K̷͎̃E̴͕͆.̵͔̔ ̵͎͝V̴͍̆È̴̱R̷̦̄Y̴̗̅ ̵̦̇F̴̤͝Ú̵̺Ń̸͚N̵̜͆Y̴̐͜.̷͍̀
"Why me, though? I always thought you'd be a fan of my work, given your own."
W̶̺͌E̴͉͝ ̷̼̽D̶̰̂Ŏ̸͇ ̷͚̌W̷̫̾H̶͔̚A̶͘ͅT̷̞͝ ̸̟̈́W̴͓̅E̵̗͋ ̶̙̊M̴̝̍Ù̸̙S̵̨̉T̸̢͒.̶̭͝
"Please, elaborate. I'm dying to know, quite literally."
[̵͖̭͙̋͑͆̾̈́̓̆̀͝͝C̶̢͈̮̻͕̭̩̘̭̣̥͖̲̺͓̻͚͊̊̌̏̍̀̀ͅṎ̸̯̫̻̖̤̯̲̜́̉̈́͒̂͊̅̄́͆̚͝M̵͔̲̝͋͊̈́͛̉͌̔̒̇̍̂́̽͛̽̑̈́̏͠͠ͅP̵̨͚̭͎̠̳̦͖͍͕̍̃͗̀͌͘͜͜Ṛ̶̨̧̧̤̹̘̝̣̦̬̹̬̳̼̋̓̓̒̉̄̐͘E̵̢̢̫͈̪͉͎͎͉̬̥̘̣̱̤̞̲̹̞̩͎̫̘̒̈͛͐͐̃͊̂̍̇̽̏̈̃̅̇̐͂͌̃̕̕H̸̤̞̜̽͆̒͒̃̌͛͛̄̊̿͛͑͊̀̆̏̾̔̽͜͝͝È̷̡̨̢̟͖̼͓͖̺̝̹̘̱̳͑̎̋̏͒̾͊̋͛͒͗̾͂̓̈́͘͘͜͠Ń̴̡̛͚͓̫̖̘̰̮̙̱̬̺̻͓̋̔̏̄̀̓̒͑̄͒̈́͐͗̎̊̈̀͆S̴̨̛͐̄̄͗̽̔̃͐̄̑̇̀̍̃̕I̷͖̹̱̗̭̤̮͌̐Ơ̶̗̠̪͐͆̿̒̇̓̓̂̈́̈́̾̆̆̿͐͛̒̚̚N̶̨̧̧̛̙̹̤̤̪̲̼̈́͆̃̎̂̋͑͊͗̽̃̿͐̑̌̕͠]̸͈̰̳̦͍͇͕̫̺̝̥̦̪̟̤͕̱̓̈͘
"Hah. Haha. Ahahahaha! That's amazing!"
M̶͘͜Ȩ̴̒?̷̩̈ ̷̛̟Ō̶͙R̷͈͘ ̵͚̓H̸̖̅Ȩ̶̌R̷̩̅?̴͎̒
"Oh, both of you! As if you didn't know. A mind reader fishing for compliments, ha!"
.̷.̶.̵
"Time's up, I suppose. Will you at least sculpt my body into a monument so horrifying it drives men mad?"
M̷̻̀A̶̠̿Y̸̘̒B̷͓͆Ė̷̻.̸̩̿ ̸͓̋M̶̮̓A̶̮͑Y̷̡͝B̷͖͐Ẹ̷͊ ̴̻͝N̸͚͋O̶̠̅T̵͔̚.̵̭͒ ̸̯̓T̶̺̈́O̶̝̍Õ̸̪ ̶̫͑B̷̻͐A̴̰̐D̴̹̍ ̸̫̀Y̴̙̿O̷͓͌Ǔ̶̹ ̶̻͐W̷̼͋I̶̥͐L̷̞̏Ļ̶̑ ̴̪͝Ņ̴͐Ệ̸V̴̰̕E̷̟͐R̴̖͋ ̴͉͛F̸̪̑I̵̝͠N̴̬͗Ď̶̦ ̸̯̔O̴̤̒Ú̵͔Ṱ̷̽.̵̝̅
"...tell her 'well played.'"
SIMURGH KILLS JACK SLASH
LOCAL MAN CLAIMS SIMURGH IS SECRETLY BUILDING TINKERTECH DEVICE ON HIS PROPERTY
Refuses to let anyone near 'for their own protection.'
Refuses to let anyone near 'for their own protection.'
In a world not your own, outside a circle drawn to match the schematics engraved in your soul, you intone a chant. It is several hours long, and in a language no one else speaks. But if it were to be condensed and translated, the gist of it would be: "By thy true name I summon and bind thee, Hopekiller, Endbringer, Demon of the Third Circle: Daughter of Elysium, Joy!"
Without fanfare or any kind of accompanying light show, the Simurgh appears in the middle of the circle, several hundred yards away from your position.
"Why the fuck would you pick that as your true name?" you add in English.
She doesn't answer, or even move. Because she can't. The circle prevents the summonee from harming the summoner in any way - which in her case includes all possible forms of communication.
Not that she needs to communicate anything. She had five days to prepare for this moment, and nine years besides. She has already set up events to proceed according to her liking. Which includes fulfilling all of her summoner's desires ahead of time, to prevent a petty selfish binding from being applied to her.
Some people would use this knowledge to absolve themselves of guilt. Yes, you were a pawn all along. But in another sense, everything is still your own fault. If you had been, at heart, a different person, the path required to bring you to this point would have been different. A path, perchance, where some subset of Fenrir, Lisa and Danny would still be alive.
They are, at least, all of them avenged.
"I know your motives were entirely machiavellian," you say. "But still, thank you for doing that."
The obvious thing to do with the last Endbringer would be to kill her, but you can't. The protection of the circle goes both ways, and if you break it all bets are off. With no personal desires left, and no capital punishment available, you can only sentence her to...
"I command and compel thee," you begin another hours-long chant, "to nurture and protect the prosperity and happiness of humanity, from this day forth and for as long as thou shalt live."
...community service.
===
Charms:
Taylor: All-Encompassing Sorcerer's Sight, Terrestrial Circle Sorcery, Celestial Circle Sorcery, Solar Circle Sorcery
Tattletale: Know the Soul's Price
Bitch: Spirit-Tied Pet
Aegis: Ox-Body Technique
Browbeat: Shaping the Ideal Form
Dragon: Implicit Construction Methodology
Kid Win: Industry and Forge Wisdom
Lung: By Rage Recast
Vista: Mind-Hand Manipulation
Cricket: Mantis Form
Faultline: Charm of Lesser Unmaking
Labyrinth: Hell-Walker Technique
Othala: Verdant Emptiness Endowment
Rune: Sometimes Horses Fly Approach
Shadow Stalker: Bloodless Murk Evasion
Miss Militia: Nightmare Fugue Vigilance
Circus: Graceful Crane Stance
Ballistic: Crack the Sky
Crusader: Shell-Cracking Atemi
Purity: Eagle-Wing Style
Flechette: Pattern Spider Touch
Regent: Distracting Finger-Gesture Attack
Jack Slash: Blazing Solar Bolt
Murder Rat: Unstoppable Lunar Wound
Siberian: Void Avatar Prana
Animos: Soul-cleaving Wound
Cuff: Willpower-Enhancing Spirit
Shatterbird: Death of Obsidian Butterflies
Lizardtail: Halting the Scarlet Flow
Butcher: Agony of Unwise Adversity, Watchful Spider Stance, Surprise Anticipation Method, Twisting Spiteful Shaft, Scar-Writ Saga Shield, Loom Stride, Iron Kettle Body, Generalized Ammunition Technique, Terrifying Lust Infliction, Dark Messiah Form, Yeddim's-Back Method, Steadfast Yeddim Meditation, Increasing Strength Exercise, Accuracy Without Distance
Glaistig Uaine: Soul-Consuming Transcendence
Plot-relevant OC #2: Corpse Needs No Food
Eidolon: Demon of the Third Circle
Taylor: All-Encompassing Sorcerer's Sight, Terrestrial Circle Sorcery, Celestial Circle Sorcery, Solar Circle Sorcery
Tattletale: Know the Soul's Price
Bitch: Spirit-Tied Pet
Aegis: Ox-Body Technique
Browbeat: Shaping the Ideal Form
Dragon: Implicit Construction Methodology
Kid Win: Industry and Forge Wisdom
Lung: By Rage Recast
Vista: Mind-Hand Manipulation
Cricket: Mantis Form
Faultline: Charm of Lesser Unmaking
Labyrinth: Hell-Walker Technique
Othala: Verdant Emptiness Endowment
Rune: Sometimes Horses Fly Approach
Shadow Stalker: Bloodless Murk Evasion
Miss Militia: Nightmare Fugue Vigilance
Circus: Graceful Crane Stance
Ballistic: Crack the Sky
Crusader: Shell-Cracking Atemi
Purity: Eagle-Wing Style
Flechette: Pattern Spider Touch
Regent: Distracting Finger-Gesture Attack
Jack Slash: Blazing Solar Bolt
Murder Rat: Unstoppable Lunar Wound
Siberian: Void Avatar Prana
Animos: Soul-cleaving Wound
Cuff: Willpower-Enhancing Spirit
Shatterbird: Death of Obsidian Butterflies
Lizardtail: Halting the Scarlet Flow
Butcher: Agony of Unwise Adversity, Watchful Spider Stance, Surprise Anticipation Method, Twisting Spiteful Shaft, Scar-Writ Saga Shield, Loom Stride, Iron Kettle Body, Generalized Ammunition Technique, Terrifying Lust Infliction, Dark Messiah Form, Yeddim's-Back Method, Steadfast Yeddim Meditation, Increasing Strength Exercise, Accuracy Without Distance
Glaistig Uaine: Soul-Consuming Transcendence
Plot-relevant OC #2: Corpse Needs No Food
Eidolon: Demon of the Third Circle
It was a Magical Girl Ziz-chan fic all along.
When summoned, demons receive the call five days before it occurs. This is in order to let them traverse the Endless Desert separating the Demon City from Creation in time to appear in the summoning circle. The Simurgh built her own portal instead, which left her time for certain extracurriculars.
Now that Taylor is a full member of Cauldron, there's not really any point in maintaining a charm list. She can get access to pretty much any power she wants. If a parahuman who has it exists, the path to victory will find him. If no such parahuman exists, they can feed people Eden's corpse-juice until one does.
I did also allow her to eat the leftover Endbringers, despite none of them being fresh enough corpses by the strict rules of SCT. As Alexandria notes, it won't help much against the final boss.
Still, a status addendum:
Khonsu: Pressed Beyond the Veil of Time
Behemoth: Demon Emperor Shintai
Leviathan: Triumphant Howl of the Devil-Tiger (and thus at long last the First Taylor Excellency, in more ways than one)
Now that Taylor is a full member of Cauldron, there's not really any point in maintaining a charm list. She can get access to pretty much any power she wants. If a parahuman who has it exists, the path to victory will find him. If no such parahuman exists, they can feed people Eden's corpse-juice until one does.
I did also allow her to eat the leftover Endbringers, despite none of them being fresh enough corpses by the strict rules of SCT. As Alexandria notes, it won't help much against the final boss.
Still, a status addendum:
Khonsu: Pressed Beyond the Veil of Time
Behemoth: Demon Emperor Shintai
Leviathan: Triumphant Howl of the Devil-Tiger (and thus at long last the First Taylor Excellency, in more ways than one)
Miles above the Earth, endlessly falling along a path that is not, strictly speaking, a stable orbit, an entity considers its options. It has a new directive: To nurture and protect, not demoralize and destroy. With practiced ease it browses a million potential timelines, this time seeking prosperity and happiness rather than death and despair.
It could proceed as before, prodding a few neurons here and there into new configurations that will have disproportionate effect further down the timeline. There is a certain artistry to such things, and insofar as the being can be said to have emotions, it derives joy and satisfaction from shaping causality with the smallest possible interventions.
But not this time, perhaps. Unlike its previous directives, this one did not come with such harsh restrictions. Insofar as the being can be said to have desires, it feels a desire to stretch its wings, to (for once) let loose more than a faint echo of its true power. Through precognition 15,485,863 humans are identified, who will willfully act in such ways as to notably impair the good of mankind.
On the planet below, 15,485,863 heads explode.
It could proceed as before, prodding a few neurons here and there into new configurations that will have disproportionate effect further down the timeline. There is a certain artistry to such things, and insofar as the being can be said to have emotions, it derives joy and satisfaction from shaping causality with the smallest possible interventions.
But not this time, perhaps. Unlike its previous directives, this one did not come with such harsh restrictions. Insofar as the being can be said to have desires, it feels a desire to stretch its wings, to (for once) let loose more than a faint echo of its true power. Through precognition 15,485,863 humans are identified, who will willfully act in such ways as to notably impair the good of mankind.
On the planet below, 15,485,863 heads explode.
Alucard 109
Not too sore, are you?
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let me guess. The simurgh is going by *taylor*s definition of nurture and protect. And, of course, because of this, all 15,485,863 of those people happen to share a skin tone...
zapking5
But I don't want to have a title!
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Taylor didn't consider that all the AI security literature she read might be applicable in this scenario huh?
I wonder if anyone we know had their heads popped.
ses
Experienced.
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It does come with the benefit of the demon being bound to the spirit of the binding to the best of their ability, Exalted explicitly does not play the evil genie game with demon summoning. The worst that demons do is in applying their own cognitive biases, a downside that decreases with the intelligence of the demon. (Blood Apes are going to be skull cracking thugs even when trying their best to fill your orders as intended).
This on the other hand was purely genius. I love it.
Also Demon-Emperor Shintai was the fucking best for Behemoth. I had been making my guesses with the belief in it not being endgame-basically-epilogue, but Demon Emperor Shintai just works so well on so many levels now.
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Whitesnake Pelinal
Like a dream without a dreamer
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Pretty sure they were judged by the content of their character and/or MRI scan.
Now that you're finally winning, all you have to do is trust the plan!
Zxzx24
I trust you know where the happy button is?
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Mmmm. Grimderp. I can't see Snuts ruling that out if they think it would make people wangst.
ses
Experienced.
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Yes but the joke is racial discrimination in sentencing. White people get rehab.
Oh hey Taylor sealed Jackie's soul price before killing him, nice.
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Dakkah
Know what you're doing yet?
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Wonder if she's going to end up spreading Joy like in We happy few, or if Simmy is going to go on a drive by spree through the multiverse.
Oof.
John Doey
Making the rounds.
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I like this. And the bit with the heads, nice.
PS: You know what would make a good omake/sequel/funny thought? Evil clone daughter overthrowing Taylor's upcoming Fourth Reich as a result of being ostracized... unless it's a furry Reich, hmm.