godly dungeon - theta caverns

[sageofdawn]

[ zenos had offered them a game. either way, who knew who'd be the viceroy of dalmasca after this? celcus was awoken. celcus was unsafe. all that thancred knew is that he needed to save him from awakening inside garlemald - and y'shtola had come with him.

before the two could set off to rescue celcus, there was a semi-familar clicking. though gaius had begun to live in the shell of the primal alexander, he often used those fully under his will, those in the onemind, to communicate. after all, he couldn't just go out there. he was a monster, bug fused with garlean. he was less willing to be seen then even regula and his tiny sahagin, who could at least pass as au ra (like y'shtola) if he needed to go out there.

but the mechanical gnath let out a few clicks, and began to explain. there were mountains near to garlean territory, with many passages. a few of his men had gone to investigate, to see if he could see the state of the country he died for. a small bit of him wanted to see how he had been remembered. however, a strange machine had greeted them. it looked almost like the dormant omega, but... smaller. and redder. this small omega had destroyed those bugs - squashed them, and absorbed their very aether. if it was eliminated, the path would be a safer one then heading there from the doman side, where men were still fighting and alert. he still was curious about the burn, about areas where aether was drained from the land, but that was not the point of this mission.

they had a loyal soldier to save. primal or not, secret spy or not. though he was loathe to admit it, gaius was on their side now, and was acting as the leader he was. he would lead in that buggy form, hoping that the strange child omega hadn't altered the caverns too much... or that the ascian had not begun to move, playing their games with mortal men.

odder still, lahabrea had wished them luck as they left. it was becoming clear that he was disliked by most of the other ascian, and clearer still that he was slowly adapting to being mortal. adapting to being mateus, and their ally. he had even begun to garden again, though his fingers werent as apt as ascian ones. igeyorhm had also wished them luck, and given them some potions and other drinkable items she'd slipped from a client or two.

it had taken a week for y'shtola, thancred, and gaius to get to the entrance of the cavern. even with y'shtola having a second sense for navigation, and thancred being able to feel the mountains though his very essense, the territory was dangerous. thancred would still be able to sense the caverns, sense how things were - however, there were blind spots, full of queer aether.

(the fact that thancred and y'shtola had sex a few times on the trip also made gaius feel awkward, like he was taking care of teens. their curse still was not cured.) ]

Once you have found and eliminated the puer Omega, there will be nothing preventing us from retrieving and returning your Goe. As long as it patrols these caverns, it may attack when we are carrying the compromised soldier.

[ ah. so thats the rank that gaius thinks celcus is... or deserves? its not clear, as the gnath shakes a little, cutely. ]

Comments

[notcred]

I promised a fight, and I do not--

[ celcus lets out a scream, flames blasting out. the dagger hits zenos, though - right in his neck. again. the man coughs a little, his voice rough, but the tempering flames grow close...

...and zenos glows. a barrier appears, the kind that cordis could create to protect others from tempering. but not around zenos. no, behind zenos. trembling, coughing up more blood as the flames vanish. celcus is whimpering, but now zenos just. pulls out the knife. ]

None of you... none of you can be claimed...? [ Celcus asks, not as concerned about Zenos seeming barely hurt, blood dribbling down his neck. ]

[wordsinthesoul]

[Thancred stares, eyes narrowed. A good hit, but it doesn't seem to have affected Zenos- why? There's something wrong here, he knows it- even if the what isn't clear.]

We're our own- I don't know what he is, but- stay with me.

[a blast of wind, then- to test what other defences zenos might have. is he protecting someone…?]

[accidentalchaos]

[ Again, Zenos tries to block it. But he takes it, he lets it hit him, so it won't pass him. Zenos begins to step forward, voice even more raspy. ]

Is that all you have?! After your family is this shattered?!

[ Y'shtola is going to move to aid as restoration, keep Celcus okay - he's trembling and beginning to lose that Primal power. It's always a tiring time, their first transformation. ]

[wordsinthesoul]

[Either because he can, or there is someone- the lady Celcus mentioned?]

Was it a tempest you wanted?

[He's… he probably could. But he's going to try to call up the earth- trying to shift it enough to trap Zenos instead. He's worried about Celcus and- honestly, he's still not entirely sure what's going on with Zenos.]

[accidentalchaos]

[ The earth moves, and he is trapped. But Celcus is now resting. A newborn Primal dozing away... that's him accepting this, isn't it.

Zenos can't help but laugh. ] I promised my Queen a squall, and this is... disappointing.

[ Though he's trapped, Zenos grabs out a katana lazily. ]

[wordsinthesoul]

[Good enough for now, and he can focus on Celcus again- keeping a wary eye on Zenos this time, as he moves to take his brother's weight.]

Your Queen? I confess curiosity, but- I'd rather keep him safe.

[He's watching- but stepping back a little, too.]

[accidentalchaos]

...You'd not understand. [ He says, so quietly.

Before teleporting in that Ascian way behind Thancred. His voice dropping to a whisper. ] You'd not feel the same love as I do. That all-consuming desire to do anything for them, no matter the cost.

[wordsinthesoul]

What?

[He yelps in alarm, twisting to put himself between Celcus and Zenos.] That- and just what do you think I've been trying to do? [He slips out another dagger, raising it to defend the two of them.]

[accidentalchaos]

The love for a sibling - I'd not know it. Then again, I don't know the love of family, as you recall. [ His voice is monotone, barely showing the fear Elidibus felt.

What if he did not please Prishe? Though at least his neck has stopped bleeding... a bit... ] I promised blood would be shed - not simply my own.

[wordsinthesoul]

You said- your parents did not care for you.

[she's kind of disappointed these Gods didn't fight! Though she's kind of curious now, peering at them.]

You want to fight, still.

[accidentalchaos]

...None of them did.

[ none cared for him, not since he became this way. it's what the warrior of light says to keep himself stable.

there's a glance in that direction. his eyes catch prishe, and he gives a small smile. but y'shtola looks over and sees her for a moment, as well - the queen? ]

Of course. Step away from the Primal, and I may spare him my wrath.

[wordsinthesoul]

…I'm sorry.

[he is- again, because there should have been someone- because it shouldn't have come to this.

Prishe waves back! Sure, she had a warning, but- she's fine.

Thancred shakes his head, pulling Celcus closer.] I won't give him up.

[accidentalchaos]

...For you, my Queen. [ He whispers up towards her, quietly, giving a soft purr. Which hurts his throat.

He shrugs, and that's when he just slashes at them - a warning. A warning, as he grins, hoping that his target takes the hint. ]

[wordsinthesoul]

[she blows a small kiss! Still watching for now, but this looks exciting.

Thancred's less delighted, twisting to try to parry as much of the blow as he can. A decent amount of the damage gets through, though, and he hisses- trying to push through and strike with a little aid from the wind.]

[accidentalchaos]

[ Please her. Show her combat. Y'shtola is still going to aid and heal Thancred, but it seems Elidibus has chosen his target.

It's a quiet tsk he lets out as he's hit, not dodging the blade nor the wind. Why? Because it gives him a chance to grab for Thancred. Grab for his neck. ]

[wordsinthesoul]

[He's not expecting that, and he jerks back, trying to get away now. He brings his dagger up again, and is just trying to go for Elidibus's neck to make him let go.]

[accidentalchaos]

[ And once his neck is sliced again, he drops Thancred. His neck is cut open now, fully exposed...

...and it's clearly not the neck of a living person. There's rotten skin which was hidden by the bandages, and the bones have been exposed to the elements. Zenos staggers backwards, trying to swipe with his blade. ] Foolish deity...

[wordsinthesoul]

[He scrambles back a little once he's released, and only then gets a look at Elidibus' neck.]

What-!? [It's a lot more high-pitched than usual- what the fuck- and he just about gets out of the way of the swipe.] You- that body-

[Rotting. Then- that means-]. An Ascian-? […he. thinks he can guess.]

[accidentalchaos]

...How long did it take you to guess? [ he laughed, the voice still so hoarse. still struggling to speak, though his possessed body. ]

The only way you deity can die is by choice. Zenos chose. [ he said gently, he said carefully. ] But Garlemald had use of him, and of me.

[wordsinthesoul]

With all of us- you can't say the possibility for something else wasn't there. [He's just going to back up a little, uncomfortable.]

And so you came to possess his body- and started guiding Garlemald?

[accidentalchaos]

...That's true. [ But he closes his eyes. ] You think I rule this hellhole? No. I'm simply paraded around - a lot like Cordis would be for your people. Giving them foolish hope.

[wordsinthesoul]

… Like a puppet? You?. [he frowns.] But the Crown Prince's appearance has inspired the people- hasn't it? For what- or whose end?

[accidentalchaos]

...It's ironic, isn't it. [ He takes a step forward, blade still drawn. ] Me, the puppet. But I do not deign to understand my Lords end-goal. Simply that I must follow it, else lose Eorzea and my Queen both.

[wordsinthesoul]

[…oh, hells. He still means to fight? Thancred settles into a stance again, watching.] The young lady you've been protecting now, I presume. Does she know all this?

[accidentalchaos]

She does.

[ Another step forward, but there's a slight limp in it. Hells... how alive is this body? ] She knows what I must do - the price I paid. She's watching this.