[b][u]Key Encounter[/b][/u] [spoiler]This is a [b][u]Key Encounter[/b][/u]. There will be at least one per part. Your actions during these sections will determine the outcome of the story. Key Encounters are shared by everyone, so in order to keep one person from hogging all the Key Choices, everyone will be assigned a d20 roll. Whoever gets the highest (or the first person to get 20) will be the one to make a choice as to what happens. On your part, just list what you want to do, and I'll take it from there. Due to the nature of Key Encounters, I will have to control some actions for you, but I will try to keep that to a minimum.[/spoiler] Your subspace portal opens up to the Grand Hall, and then closes behind you. Immediately you can tell something happened; the entire place looks like a warzone. Soon, you see a group of soldiers rounding up some of the cultists, and throwing them into a group of people. Most of the people were wearing the holy armor that Venus had given to them, but there were several that seemed to be dressed in regular clothing. The soldiers that were gathering them all up were wearing a familiar suit of armor, with the Greek letter Rho marked on its chest. And soon enough, you see Rho herself, standing at the end of the hall, giving the soldiers orders. Only a few seconds after you arrive, Aifos flies into the room, and immediately confronts Rho. "Rho, what are you doing!?" He yells. "What you and Kokonoe are too afraid to do! These people are all sympathizers with Venus--they're traitors, and spies! I'm doing what needs to be done, and taking care of them!" "You can't just go on a witch hunt, and get rid of anyone you think is working with Venus--and besides, most of these people don't know who she really is! She tricked them into joining her; we can't punish them just for being manipulated!" "What do you think is going to happen if we let them go!? You think they're just going to have a change of heart, and betray their [i]beloved goddess[/i]? We need to deal with this threat completely, and entirely, if we don't, then this city is going to fall apart!" She pointed her rifle at Aifos. "And if you're siding with them, then as far as I'm concerned, you're siding with Venus! I'm not going to stand by and let my sisters get killed, just so you can take some bullsh** arbitrary high ground!" Aifos activated his Murakumo in response, and eight floating swords appeared on his back. "I don't want to fight you, but I'm not going to stand by and let people get hurt! We're dealing with Venus--but this is just chaos!" A few of Rho's soldiers point their guns at Aifos as well, while a few others keep their guns trained on the cultists. Most of them seemed conflicted, however, not sure whether to actually take up arms against Aifos or not. For now, things seem to be at a standstill, perhaps this would be a good time to intervene.. [spoiler]A showdown! Rho has rounded up a group of Venus' followers and sympathizers, and threatens to "take care" of them! Whether she's going to kill them, or simply lock them up, isn't clear. She believes that action against Venus and her followers needs to be quick, and complete--taking down anyone who might even show a hint of sympathy for Venus before they can get a foothold. Aifos believes these people are being tricked by Venus into thinking her cause is just--as most of her followers are, and that they shouldn't be punished for being manipulated! He's making efforts to push back the threat of her more violent followers, but that going on a witch hunt to find them all is causing more harm than good. Tensions are too high to try and talk them down, you have to do something! Do you try to take one of them down? Stand between them before they come to blows? Try to come to a compromise? Just let it play out? Note: Just because Aifos is my "avatar character", don't take that to mean he's definitely right here. If you think Rho's doing what needs to be done, then feel free to side with her. The point of a Key Encounter is to give you a choice; there's no definitive "right answer".[/spoiler]