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originally posted in: Aria (Part 5) - A City in Chaos (RP)
10/23/2021 5:49:35 PM
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[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]
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  • "Whoa, there guys!" Jack steps forward, gesturing as if to get their attention and make them stop. "I think you both need to slow down so that my thinker can catch up. I think we should all pause to reflect upon our current circumstances and what is right and what is wrong."

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  • [spoiler]16! We can still play through it if you want, but Alignment got the winning roll with 17![/spoiler]

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  • [spoiler]Okay, sure![/spoiler]

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  • Aifos glanced back at you, and softened his stance but still keeping his weapon active. Rho's stance remained steady at first, but then her gun trembled in her hand for a moment, and she lowered it. "Damn it, Xi, why I can't I ever just tell you to shut up..?" She said under her breath. Being called Xi seemed to have made Aifos a little upset, as he turned his glance sadly to the ground, but whatever was bothering him, he didn't say. There was a silence between the three of you; you had a good chance to speak.

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  • "Aifos, you seem to advocate extreme mercy, while Rho advocates extreme justice. But, the problem is that there is no justice or mercy in either of these extremes in this situation. To simply release those who support Venus would be just as wrong as killing them all, since they are our prisoners."

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  • “You’re right as far as the cultists that have drawn weapons on us, but the people who haven’t done anything yet? They haven’t done anything wrong—Venus just tricked them with her propaganda!” “Yeah, they’re just waiting for you to turn around, then draw out their weapon while you’re back is turned!” Rho said.

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  • "Aifos, they were stupid enough to fall for that. They have been supporting an invasion force and allowing it to take root; they have endangered their fellows with their complacency; they have, in short, committed treason. They cannot and shall not go unpunished, but that being said, it must not be as severe as what we do to those who have taken up arms against us."

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  • "They are not traitors!" Aifos said. "A traitor would be someone actively working against us. It's easy for you--both of you--to villainize anyone who fell for Venus' lies, because you two have the means to defend yourself, but put yourself in their shoes for a second. There's a murderer running around in the city, you have no idea who they are, and then someone with actual divine powers appears and says they'll keep you safe. If you didn't know who she was--if you couldn't protect yourself on your own, then you might buy into it, too! The only people who should be getting punished are the ones who raised a weapon against us!"

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  • He folds his arns. "Aifos, your knowledge of me is anything but enough to draw your conclusions. Venus isn't divine, no matter how much she wishes she was, and I can see past illusions others can't. Myself, I've grown weary of your procrastination. You are unwilling to do what it takes to save your people who are your responsibility, you bury secrets out of their reach and hide behind guises of self-righteousness. I may have been disrespectful before, and I must offer my apologies for that, but this crosses the line. You have become an obstacle to the survival of the people down here, and you are too stubborn to see it." In a much lower tone he growls, "I will not risk the lives of the innocents to pander to your failure. "

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  • "Then tell me, what exactly are these people guilty of? Not the cultists you've been fighting on the field--these people. The ones Rho nabbed from their rooms just because they fell for Venus' broadcast? What have they actually done to aid her cause? Maybe, there's one or two actual cultists hiding among them, but this is just a witch hunt! Hunting down people based on loose accusations, and fear! And don't underestimate Venus. If she's telling the truth about who she is, then she [i]is[/i] divine, through and through. It could still be an act, but until we can confirm otherwise, we need to handle this situation as if we're dealing with an actual member of the Trinity, and the first thing to remember when you're dealing with the Trinity, is that they want you to give in to violence, and fear. And once you do, they'll prey upon you from the inside out. We start breaking down people's doors just because of accusations and whispers, and we'll be playing right into Venus' hands. And before you know it, you'll be consumed."

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  • He laughs. "Oh, Aifos, you people in your naivety think those flashing sparkles and doing magic tricks are gods or goddesses. There isn't a divine being among them. Divinity is unstoppable, unshakable, all powerful. Sound like the woman who is currently having trouble with a sarcastic boy wonder?" He starts pacing the floor. "And again, like I said, we must strive to be just and merciful. Rho, what evidence can be presented warranting holding the civilians here?"

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  • [spoiler]I’m not sure how well versed he is in the actual established pantheon, so it could just be his own beliefs, but in the case you do want Jack to actually know what he’s talking about, there is no “all powerful” being in the OTRP. Instead there are varying levels of divinity. Sort of like a spectrum. The lowest levels are only barely distinguishable from mortals. The strongest deities I believe are the Four Horseman, but even they aren’t all powerful. And, of course, there are lots of deities in the middle, with varying degrees of power. Polytheistic rules, yo. Of course, just because that’s how it actually works doesn’t mean Jack knows that. He could just not be studied up. :p[/spoiler] “Let’s hope for your sake that she’s either lying, or you don’t make her mad. If this really is Venus, then underestimating her is going to backfire on you the second she gets serious.” Rho sighed, and placed her hand on her hip. “We rounded up a few that attacked us, and then the rest admitted to it. One knock on their door, and half of them started crying about how Venus was going to save them from the killer.”

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  • "Do we know if any of them have been aiding her other followers in any way?" [spoiler]It's not that he doesn't know, it's just his own belief that anything less isn't divine.[/spoiler]

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  • [spoiler]Figured that could be the case, but I decided to explain anyway, because I'm a sucker for explaining background lore. :D[/spoiler] "Who cares? They cast their vote with the enemy. That's enough for me." Rho said, with a scoff.

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  • "Well, saying something is different than believing it. Wait, have any of you bothered to tell them that Venus is the killer?"

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  • “You kidding? I couldn’t get these idiots to listen to half a word I said. There wasn’t any point. Far as I’m concerned, they’re already too far gone.”

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  • "Maybe somebody else should try. It's not your strongest point, after all."

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  • Edited by The First Aifos: 11/1/2021 6:59:34 AM
    Rho scoffs. “Sure, go ahead and try it then. It’s not like Venus’ cultists are willing to lie their way out of trouble or anything!”

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  • "Some of them will, some of them won't. We must always be willing to extend a chance to our fellow beings, unless they're about to shoot you. But I think I've found an acceptable compromise." He looks between the two of them before continuing. "It would be my suggestion that we change our punishments depending upon the seriousness of the crime. Those who have merely fallen prey to that woman's lies can help us clean up, but if any of them have given up information to the enemy, such as whatever secrets we might have, or our movements, should they be able to, and it can be proven, they would have to be charged with treason. Of course there will be those who have not admitted to following that cult, but we can't waste time hunting them."

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  • “Everyone gets a fair trial in court.” Aifos said. “Even if someone is charged with treason, the worst punishment we’re giving them down here is imprisonment, until they can be tried back up on the surface. We aren’t playing executioners. As long as you two recognize that, then that’s fine with me.” Rho scoffed. “Please, the only thing that will come of this is everyone claiming innocent. This isn’t going to solve anything!”

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  • "Well, most of them have already admitted to it, so if you have reliable witnesses then you shouldn't have a problem. We will have to release anyone who hasn't confessed already if searching them and their quarters doesn't bring up anything."

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  • “Ugh, this is a waste of time!” Rho shouted. “They all admitted to think she would be the one to save them—that should be enough to consider them guilty! But fine, you want to waste all your time checking everybody’s room, then go ahead!” “This is so stupid..” She muttered under her breath.

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  • "Also, if you guys could search them for weapons or other things, that would be great."

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  • “You think we’re idiots? Obviously we searched them for weapons before rounding them up.” Rho said, rolling her eyes.

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  • "Never hurts to make sure. I mean, they could have something that's not obviously a weapon, like a stick that shoots golf balls, or explosive rabbit toys. Anyhow, best that I get moving. See you guys later!" He turns to leave for the living quarters.

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