Side Story The Goddess

[Jeremi]

Great Temple
Highest Council Chamber
"Despite his... quirks..." Luthor groaned. "Izana had his uses. He was a seer, and an accurate one at that. Whatever's coming our way, its dark and dangerous enough to send shivers down the spine of a God. You'll have to forgive me for looking for advantages, wherever they may lie..."

"We don't give orders, Maddie. We're not a military. You're not conscripts, and we're not the Coalition," Lex drifted across the chamber with his hands joined behind his back. His black eyes met Maddie's. "But I think part of you wants to see how this story ends. The Goddess gave you a second chance at life. That's something most beings would kill for. Why not use this chance to fight for something more. Why not use it to be something more. You have the chance to save the world. Better yet, you have the chance to change it. I won't force you to come with me... but I hope you'll change your mind." Lex turned away from the girl and made his way back across the hall. "Marching into Hell might not sound fun, but it beats a life of insignificance. Of that, I'm certain..."

"You don't have to worry about Mephisto…" The towering doors of the Council Chamber came swinging open and, from the blinding light of the waiting room, the silhouette of Eli White emerged. "There's a Civil War going on in Hell as we speak. Blackheart has gone to war his dear father, and Mephisto is responding accordingly. The war has freed a fair few souls, too. It's a mess down there. Quiet... hellish..."

"Ah, Captain White, you've arrived!" Lex directed Eli towards the rest of the Chosen. "I trust that you remember our Saviours?"

"I don't know about Saviours, Lex..." Eli offered his hand to the nearest soldier. "But some of these men saved my life... that gives them a pass in my book. It's good to see you all again. And that's something I don't say often..."

"It's strange to see you playing nice with a Secularist, Luthor..." Nox's brow grew tense. "I suppose we'll find Hell frozen over when we arrive..."

"You're willing to go back there, White?" Veranke scowled and thinned her eyes. "You're siding with Luthor?"

"Lex briefed me this morning. If his plan ends with Blackheart getting his just deserts, I'm in."

"Your team is starting to grow, Luthor..." Nox laughed. "You can count me in too."

"You'd turn your back on the Secularists? You'd throw away our fragile peace? We need to work with Mephisto. His world still holds some sway in Hell. Most of the Netherworld still sees him as the realms legitimate leader. If we work with him, we can free Izana without starting a war, or raising any alarms with the UN, or the Kanzukis, or the Coalition!"

"Sorry, your majesty, but Big Mother is right. A little 'war' could do the Fellowship some good. I never thought you'd be the one arguing against a plot of vengeance. Besides, Blackheart's head will fit nicely on my mantle..."


"Blackheart was never a part of this council. He lacked the influence. He lacked the prestige." Luthor rested his cheek on his fist. He smiled lackadaisically, and lowered himself back into his chair. "His authority was confined to the Wider Council.
"The Fellowship is organized like this:

"At the top of the hierarchy, sit the Highest Council. Upon it, 6 Goddessians and 6 Secularists sit. We debate the issues that matter, and then we pass our decisions on to the Wider Council. They're given the chance to overrule our decisions, but they rarely do. The Wider Council find themselves in disagreements more often than we do, if you can imagine that, and they can rarely secure enough votes over rule one of our decisions. If the Wider Council fails to overrule one of our decisions, our orders are passed on to our agents, and changes are made.

"Blackheart proved himself to be an... influential figure within the Wider Council. We was good at getting his fellow delegates riled up. He got them angry. Active. His manipulations almost pushed to Wider Council to overrule a decision or two. Almost. I believe Blackheart grew tired with all the bureaucracy that sat between him and a seat on the true council. It might have been one of the factors that pushed him to separate himself from the Fellowship.

"Well, that and his undying hatred of the Goddessians. But that's different story"

"I'd love to find the tomb," Luthor sighed. "But it's not that simple. We don't know where it is. The Ancient Goddessian Texts we discovered tell us so much, yet so little about the Goddess' first 'life'. The details surrounding her death are vague, to say the least. Her ancient followers weren't the best book keepers, and time has left wounds in their spoken histories. Without Izana's power, finding the Tomb of the Goddess in an infinitely large, ever expanding multiverse would be like trying find a specific atom in a hay stack. Like it or now, he's our best lead."

"As for the war effort, we have allies across the Multiverse." Eli added. "Last time we fought Blackheart, he caught us by surprise. He won't have that advantage this time. We will. The Demons won't know what hit them. Besides. I have some friends on the ground who can lend a hand when the fighting starts. Luthor's scholars will have plenty of times to study the Goddess' texts whilst we're on the ground. In the mean time, we need to focus on recovering the seer."


Nox leaned back in his chair and pressed his fingers together. For a moment, he fell uncharacteristically quite, and simple observed the Chosen from his throne.
"That's... troubling. If Blackheart believes that he has a claim to your souls, then, sooner or later, we're going to have a fight on our hands. Demons take what they're owed, without fail. I should know. I... dabbled in some soul-dealing in my youth..."

"It begs the question- what creature has promised your souls to the devil?" Veranke muttered, her lips pursed and light. "And how have they done so without your knowing?"

"We have more mysteries than leads, Your Majesty. It's time we changed that. Kolin's instincts match mine-- he could have spies within our midst. Blackheart's rabblerousing has left its impact on the wider council. They're using it as a rallying point. We could be witnessing the birth of a New Faction within the Fellowship." His eyes grew thinner. "A collection of faiths who've rejected the teachings of the Goddess and the Order of the Secularists. A cancer to bring the Fellowship to its knees. Radicals. Rabblerousers."

"Care to place a name to your pain, Luthor?"

"What would you call them? Seperatistis? Blackheartians? Blackheartists? No...To side with a man like him, to reject the Goddess, to take a knee before a demon... they're Godless. We need to nib this threat in the bud before their forces grow. We need to purge the Fellowship of Blackheart's followers and prepare for war!"

"I can't allow that, Luthor. We can't throw away all we've built! The Fellowship is our Birthright! It's the accumulation of decades of work. It's ours greatest hope of bringing honour to our Gods and making a difference in the cursed multiverse! And you're willing to burn it to the group in the name of revenge?"

"Don't go soft on us now, Skrull."

"There was a time when I would have been the one leading the charge, Darth," Veranke spat. "But my people have lost too much fighting for so little to throw their lives away in another pointless conflict. I won't bring shame to my people, my faith or my faction. I won't go to war with Blackheart!"

"It's not down to you, Veranke." A sinister smile crawled across Lex's cheeks. His eyes rose to meet the Chosen. "It's theirs..."

"You can't expect the Goddess 'Chosen' to vote impartially. We need to wait for the rest of the Highest Council. We Need to consult the Wider Council-- "

"Nobody votes impartially, Veranke." Luthor snapped. "The Chosen will vote on what they've always believe to be true. Every second we wait, another world is wiped of the map. Obliterated! We can't just 'wait' for the others. Consulting the Wider Council? We might as well send scream out plans into the nearest Hellmouth. He still has his loyalists within the Wider Council. Spies.

"The most democratic thing we can do now is gather a handful of delegates from a handful of worlds. Those who's loyalty we can confirm. Those who Blackheart has no love for... those he has already tried to kill once before..."

"The Fellowship's Texts allow for a temporary War Council to be formed in times of Crisis. Like it or not, we can only truly trust a handful of delegates. Most of them are inside this room. I vote we go forward with the formation of the a War Council, composed of the survivors of the Second Citadel Attack."

"That's two votes to one, Veranke. A temporary War Council is hereby formed from the Goddess' Chosen!" Luthor slapped the arm of his throne before the Skrull could object. "And we pass the choice of to them."

"Fine!" The Skrull hissed. "We pass the burden of this world changing decision onto the Chosen. We've both said our pieces. It's their call now."

"So what will it be?

"Do you vote 'Goddessian', and send the Fellowship off to war with Hell?

"Or do you vote 'Secularist', and prepare to work peacefully with Blackheart's foe and father, Mephisto?"

@Takumi @Raynar Saassin @Minerva @Lucky @Crunch @Nightwisher @Crow @Yun Lee @York @amwexia @everyone

"The choice is obvious." Big Mother responded. "To work "peacefully" with a being like Mephisto is idiotic. Any deals we will do with him will backfire and leave us at a disadvantage. Him potentially owing us for getting rid of his brat without asking, however...Goddessian is my vote and anyone who thinks that's a bad choice and finds my short explanation not enough," Big Mother turned to face the other chosen. "I will be happy to go into further detail on the matter."

@Takumi @Raynar Saassin @Minerva @Lucky @Crunch @Nightwisher @Crow @Yun Lee @York @amwexia @everyone

 

[Yun Lee]

Kolin remained quiet and listened to all these three had to say. War...to think it had to come to this. But unfortunately the greater Multiverse was not enlightened, did not care for peace, but for their own gains and no one else. She had no doubt this vile Blackheart was the same way.

"Goddessian...Secularist...I despise labels like these," she said finally, once it was time to vote. "To act as though it is either one way or another is the source of so much heartache, and turmoil, and...war. When there is so much gray area in everything, to use labels like these do more harm than good, lest we all give in to black or white. Right or wrong. This idea of us versus them within our own council! This idea that you must always agree with whoever has labeled themself the same as you, or you risk being shunned and shamed for it. We risk stalemates and cliques and an inability for anything to get done, when the option to set aside our differences and work in harmony has always been there!"

Kolin looked down. Her hands had unconsciously balled into fists. She released, and sighed. "We already gave Blackheart a chance to work peacefully," she continued, looking back up to the council. "His actions within the wider council should have told us all we needed to know about how that option will unfold. As much as I detest war...we must stop him before he does worse, and brutes like him only ever respond to power and displays of dominance. And that is where my vote lies." Though she refused to label it, Kolin had voted Goddessian.

@Sark @Jeremi @Raynar Saassin @amwexia @Lucky @Crunch @Takumi @Crow @York @Minerva​

 

[Crunch]

"Ah, what a rousing little discussion," mused the tantalizing voice in the corner. "But I'm afraid I must interject."

Eliphas the Inheritor's hulking frame made itself known the moment his lips parted beneath the crimson helm, as he lurched across the floor towards the forefront of the group, the sharp spikes on his armor warding away the other Chosen from getting too close to the Dark Apostle. His faceless helmet craned up to the assembled board as Eliphas gently planted his Crozius into the floor before him and rested his hands atop the hilt.

"Allow me to introduce myself."

"You will know me as Eliphas the Inheritor. I will admit that this 'fellowship' you have gathered is quite admirable. Yes, to see something resembling order despite the chaos of such a... predicament... it's impressive."

"But it's also pathetic."

"What I see before me is a pack of mewling kitten snapping at each other, as if their decision has any weight upon the situation. Better yet, I see a group of delusional fools operating under a false pretense of 'order' for the sake of order itself. Why do you work together? What has been done here that could not have been done by your own hands, with those who revel within your own beliefs?"

"All that has been accomplished is that you've thrown your authority to us, the so-called Chosen of the whore whom you call a Goddess," Eliphas chuckled, shrugging his pauldrons. "What a fellowship indeed. The Gods have rewarded me with entertainment, for all that I have done in the name of Chaos. You are all truly pathetic."

Eliphas raised a hand from the Crozius' hilt, holding it in front of himself as if the Fellowship was about to blast him. "I will entertain your game for as long as it takes me to do my business here, but I hope you take my complaints to heart. Blackheart is smarter than any person in this room, and it is unfortunate that I must kill him. I will take the option that does not leave me serving a whore."

Disregarding any interjections from the council, the Dark Apostle turned his back upon them and receded toward his designated 'area' of the room, the sharp implements of the Accursed Crozius dragging along the floor and leaving garish scratch marks. Without truly saying it, it is safe to assume that the Inheritor has chosen to become Secularist.

He stops midway, his helmet turning slightly to the side, looking back towards the council and his fellow Chosen.

"Perhaps you will all find a new deity to pledge yourselves to before the end of our time together. I always offer a gateway to freedom for those who want nothing to do with this business."

@Sark @Jeremi @Raynar Saassin @amwexia @Lucky @Crunch @Takumi @Crow @York @Minerva​

 

[Takumi]

Great Temple
Highest Council Chamber
"Despite his... quirks..." Luthor groaned. "Izana had his uses. He was a seer, and an accurate one at that. Whatever's coming our way, its dark and dangerous enough to send shivers down the spine of a God. You'll have to forgive me for looking for advantages, wherever they may lie..."

"We don't give orders, Maddie. We're not a military. You're not conscripts, and we're not the Coalition," Lex drifted across the chamber with his hands joined behind his back. His black eyes met Maddie's. "But I think part of you wants to see how this story ends. The Goddess gave you a second chance at life. That's something most beings would kill for. Why not use this chance to fight for something more. Why not use it to be something more. You have the chance to save the world. Better yet, you have the chance to change it. I won't force you to come with me... but I hope you'll change your mind." Lex turned away from the girl and made his way back across the hall. "Marching into Hell might not sound fun, but it beats a life of insignificance. Of that, I'm certain..."

"You don't have to worry about Mephisto…" The towering doors of the Council Chamber came swinging open and, from the blinding light of the waiting room, the silhouette of Eli White emerged. "There's a Civil War going on in Hell as we speak. Blackheart has gone to war his dear father, and Mephisto is responding accordingly. The war has freed a fair few souls, too. It's a mess down there. Quiet... hellish..."

"Ah, Captain White, you've arrived!" Lex directed Eli towards the rest of the Chosen. "I trust that you remember our Saviours?"

"I don't know about Saviours, Lex..." Eli offered his hand to the nearest soldier. "But some of these men saved my life... that gives them a pass in my book. It's good to see you all again. And that's something I don't say often..."

"It's strange to see you playing nice with a Secularist, Luthor..." Nox's brow grew tense. "I suppose we'll find Hell frozen over when we arrive..."

"You're willing to go back there, White?" Veranke scowled and thinned her eyes. "You're siding with Luthor?"

"Lex briefed me this morning. If his plan ends with Blackheart getting his just deserts, I'm in."

"Your team is starting to grow, Luthor..." Nox laughed. "You can count me in too."

"You'd turn your back on the Secularists? You'd throw away our fragile peace? We need to work with Mephisto. His world still holds some sway in Hell. Most of the Netherworld still sees him as the realms legitimate leader. If we work with him, we can free Izana without starting a war, or raising any alarms with the UN, or the Kanzukis, or the Coalition!"

"Sorry, your majesty, but Big Mother is right. A little 'war' could do the Fellowship some good. I never thought you'd be the one arguing against a plot of vengeance. Besides, Blackheart's head will fit nicely on my mantle..."


"Blackheart was never a part of this council. He lacked the influence. He lacked the prestige." Luthor rested his cheek on his fist. He smiled lackadaisically, and lowered himself back into his chair. "His authority was confined to the Wider Council.
"The Fellowship is organized like this:

"At the top of the hierarchy, sit the Highest Council. Upon it, 6 Goddessians and 6 Secularists sit. We debate the issues that matter, and then we pass our decisions on to the Wider Council. They're given the chance to overrule our decisions, but they rarely do. The Wider Council find themselves in disagreements more often than we do, if you can imagine that, and they can rarely secure enough votes over rule one of our decisions. If the Wider Council fails to overrule one of our decisions, our orders are passed on to our agents, and changes are made.

"Blackheart proved himself to be an... influential figure within the Wider Council. We was good at getting his fellow delegates riled up. He got them angry. Active. His manipulations almost pushed to Wider Council to overrule a decision or two. Almost. I believe Blackheart grew tired with all the bureaucracy that sat between him and a seat on the true council. It might have been one of the factors that pushed him to separate himself from the Fellowship.

"Well, that and his undying hatred of the Goddessians. But that's different story"

"I'd love to find the tomb," Luthor sighed. "But it's not that simple. We don't know where it is. The Ancient Goddessian Texts we discovered tell us so much, yet so little about the Goddess' first 'life'. The details surrounding her death are vague, to say the least. Her ancient followers weren't the best book keepers, and time has left wounds in their spoken histories. Without Izana's power, finding the Tomb of the Goddess in an infinitely large, ever expanding multiverse would be like trying find a specific atom in a hay stack. Like it or now, he's our best lead."

"As for the war effort, we have allies across the Multiverse." Eli added. "Last time we fought Blackheart, he caught us by surprise. He won't have that advantage this time. We will. The Demons won't know what hit them. Besides. I have some friends on the ground who can lend a hand when the fighting starts. Luthor's scholars will have plenty of times to study the Goddess' texts whilst we're on the ground. In the mean time, we need to focus on recovering the seer."


Nox leaned back in his chair and pressed his fingers together. For a moment, he fell uncharacteristically quite, and simple observed the Chosen from his throne.
"That's... troubling. If Blackheart believes that he has a claim to your souls, then, sooner or later, we're going to have a fight on our hands. Demons take what they're owed, without fail. I should know. I... dabbled in some soul-dealing in my youth..."

"It begs the question- what creature has promised your souls to the devil?" Veranke muttered, her lips pursed and light. "And how have they done so without your knowing?"

"We have more mysteries than leads, Your Majesty. It's time we changed that. Kolin's instincts match mine-- he could have spies within our midst. Blackheart's rabblerousing has left its impact on the wider council. They're using it as a rallying point. We could be witnessing the birth of a New Faction within the Fellowship." His eyes grew thinner. "A collection of faiths who've rejected the teachings of the Goddess and the Order of the Secularists. A cancer to bring the Fellowship to its knees. Radicals. Rabblerousers."

"Care to place a name to your pain, Luthor?"

"What would you call them? Seperatistis? Blackheartians? Blackheartists? No...To side with a man like him, to reject the Goddess, to take a knee before a demon... they're Godless. We need to nib this threat in the bud before their forces grow. We need to purge the Fellowship of Blackheart's followers and prepare for war!"

"I can't allow that, Luthor. We can't throw away all we've built! The Fellowship is our Birthright! It's the accumulation of decades of work. It's ours greatest hope of bringing honour to our Gods and making a difference in the cursed multiverse! And you're willing to burn it to the group in the name of revenge?"

"Don't go soft on us now, Skrull."

"There was a time when I would have been the one leading the charge, Darth," Veranke spat. "But my people have lost too much fighting for so little to throw their lives away in another pointless conflict. I won't bring shame to my people, my faith or my faction. I won't go to war with Blackheart!"

"It's not down to you, Veranke." A sinister smile crawled across Lex's cheeks. His eyes rose to meet the Chosen. "It's theirs..."

"You can't expect the Goddess 'Chosen' to vote impartially. We need to wait for the rest of the Highest Council. We Need to consult the Wider Council-- "

"Nobody votes impartially, Veranke." Luthor snapped. "The Chosen will vote on what they've always believe to be true. Every second we wait, another world is wiped of the map. Obliterated! We can't just 'wait' for the others. Consulting the Wider Council? We might as well send scream out plans into the nearest Hellmouth. He still has his loyalists within the Wider Council. Spies.

"The most democratic thing we can do now is gather a handful of delegates from a handful of worlds. Those who's loyalty we can confirm. Those who Blackheart has no love for... those he has already tried to kill once before..."

"The Fellowship's Texts allow for a temporary War Council to be formed in times of Crisis. Like it or not, we can only truly trust a handful of delegates. Most of them are inside this room. I vote we go forward with the formation of the a War Council, composed of the survivors of the Second Citadel Attack."

"That's two votes to one, Veranke. A temporary War Council is hereby formed from the Goddess' Chosen!" Luthor slapped the arm of his throne before the Skrull could object. "And we pass the choice of to them."

"Fine!" The Skrull hissed. "We pass the burden of this world changing decision onto the Chosen. We've both said our pieces. It's their call now."

"So what will it be?

"Do you vote 'Goddessian', and send the Fellowship off to war with Hell?

"Or do you vote 'Secularist', and prepare to work peacefully with Blackheart's foe and father, Mephisto?"

@Takumi @Raynar Saassin @Minerva @Lucky @Crunch @Nightwisher @Crow @Yun Lee @York @amwexia @everyone

Ashe didn't like this one bit. The information they had on this Mephisto fighting against Blackheart--father against son no less!--made made his stomach twist up inside. Looking to the floor, his brows furrowed. While the chance at trying to work peacefully was one he'd like to try, Big Mother's words made sense as well.

"I don't like any of this at all, really, but..." He knew, that sometimes, you couldn't save everyone. He couldn't save Lonato, he couldn't save the villagers willing to lay down their lives, he couldn't--

"I'll join the Secularists, I suppose. I don't have the same negative views towards the Goddess like some of the folks here, but I just can't..." He shook his head, unable to even put his thoughts to proper words. He missed the Professor and the rest of the Blue Lions.


Silque listened quietly, before sighing and speaking.

"Mother Mila put me on this path for a reason, while I do not want to be involved in another war, if I can keep more worlds from falling than I will join the Goddessians to represent Mother Mila in some way." She finished with a small nod.

"Ah, what a rousing little discussion," mused the tantalizing voice in the corner. "But I'm afraid I must interject."

Eliphas the Inheritor's hulking frame made itself known the moment his lips parted beneath the crimson helm, as he lurched across the floor towards the forefront of the group, the sharp spikes on his armor warding away the other Chosen from getting too close to the Dark Apostle. His faceless helmet craned up to the assembled board as Eliphas gently planted his Crozius into the floor before him and rested his hands atop the hilt.

"Allow me to introduce myself."

"You will know me as Eliphas the Inheritor. I will admit that this 'fellowship' you have gathered is quite admirable. Yes, to see something resembling order despite the chaos of such a... predicament... it's impressive."

"But it's also pathetic."

"What I see before me is a pack of mewling kitten snapping at each other, as if their decision has any weight upon the situation. Better yet, I see a group of delusional fools operating under a false pretense of 'order' for the sake of order itself. Why do you work together? What has been done here that could not have been done by your own hands, with those who revel within your own beliefs?"

"All that has been accomplished is that you've thrown your authority to us, the so-called Chosen of the whore whom you call a Goddess," Eliphas chuckled, shrugging his pauldrons. "What a fellowship indeed. The Gods have rewarded me with entertainment, for all that I have done in the name of Chaos. You are all truly pathetic."

Eliphas raised a hand from the Crozius' hilt, holding it in front of himself as if the Fellowship was about to blast him. "I will entertain your game for as long as it takes me to do my business here, but I hope you take my complaints to heart. Blackheart is smarter than any person in this room, and it is unfortunate that I must kill him. I will take the option that does not leave me serving a whore."

Disregarding any interjections from the council, the Dark Apostle turned his back upon them and receded toward his designated 'area' of the room, the sharp implements of the Accursed Crozius dragging along the floor and leaving garish scratch marks. Without truly saying it, it is safe to assume that the Inheritor has chosen to become Secularist.

He stops midway, his helmet turning slightly to the side, looking back towards the council and his fellow Chosen.

"Perhaps you will all find a new deity to pledge yourselves to before the end of our time together. I always offer a gateway to freedom for those who want nothing to do with this business."

@Sark @Jeremi @Raynar Saassin @amwexia @Lucky @Crunch @Takumi @Crow @York @Minerva​

"Perhaps you're right about giving others a new deity to follow. I'm not one of them, but good luck with that endeavor." Silque commented.

@Sark @Yun Lee @Jeremi @amwexia @Lucky @Crunch @Raynar Saassin @Everyone

 

[Jeremi]

"I think a lot of you seem to misunderstand the situation," Big Mother said to the chosen. "This is not about "Goddessians" and "Secularists". It is about once again the most pragmatic choice that will benefit all. A war on hell shows a message. It spreads Chaos." She looked at Eliphas when she said that.

"Bartering with Mephisto will in fact not spread any chaos but instead will be all too predictable." She now turned her focus to the counsel. "Our meeting with Mephisto will end with him sitting on a seat next to you all. Now, that does not matter to me in fact, you would all deserve it, but that shows a message of weakness. That we could not retaliate and have to squirm to his father to solve it for us. When instead, crushing Blackheart under our foot viscerally and definitely shows a message to all, as well as leaves open the opportunity of a debt to be paid from Mephisto. A debt we can use to our advantage when the time arrives."

"Did everyone understand that or do you wish for me to take it slower?" Big Mother especially looked at Maddie when she said her final bit.​

@Sark @Jeremi @Raynar Saassin @amwexia @Lucky @Crunch @Takumi @Crow @York @Minerva @Crunch

 

[Capri]

"I think a lot of you seem to misunderstand the situation," Big Mother said to the chosen. "This is not about "Goddessians" and "Secularists". It is about once again the most pragmatic choice that will benefit all. A war on hell shows a message. It spreads Chaos." She looked at Eliphas when she said that.

"Bartering with Mephisto will in fact not spread any chaos but instead will be all too predictable." She now turned her focus to the counsel. "Our meeting with Mephisto will end with him sitting on a seat next to you all. Now, that does not matter to me in fact, you would all deserve it, but that shows a message of weakness. That we could not retaliate and have to squirm to his father to solve it for us. When instead, crushing Blackheart under our foot viscerally and definitely shows a message to all, as well as leaves open the opportunity of a debt to be paid from Mephisto. A debt we can use to our advantage when the time arrives."

"Did everyone understand that or do you wish for me to take it slower?" Big Mother especially looked at Maddie when she said her final bit.

@Sark @Jeremi @Raynar Saassin @amwexia @Lucky @Crunch @Takumi @Crow @York @Minerva @Crunch

“Who the fuck cares?” Maddie says, “This is all just petty drama. That’s it!”

“‘Oh! You should care because someone wants to end the world and plunge it into nothingness!’” Maddie continues in a mocking tone, her tone of voice raises throughout her speech “Tough fucking luck, we’ll all die eventually. Why should I care? Why should I care? This doesn’t effect me, it shouldn’t effect me.”

She sucks on her pen and exhales slowly, “Fuck all of this. All I want is to sleep. I want to sleep and to browse Instagram. I shouldn’t care about your stupid fucking schism,”

@Jeremi @Sark @Yun Lee @Raynar Saassin @Minerva @Crunch @York @Crow @Takumi @EveryoneElse​

 

[Yun Lee]

"Big Mother is right," Kolin said, looking around with a disapproving frown. "Look at us! We are getting so caught up in our own beliefs that we're all failing to look at the bigger picture! Whether you support or reject the Goddess, the fact remains that Blackheart has declared our souls his own. Do you all wish to work peacefully with such a demon, who claims us as his property, just because the option was labeled as the Secularist one? Darth Nox and Eli declare themselves Secularists, and yet are in favor of the attack."

Looking at Ashe, Kolin sighed. He reminded her of himself, once upon a time. The girl she once was before war ruined everything. "I understand how dreadful this situation is," she said, tone growing gentler. "I lost my homeland to war, and it was only through the salvation of my emperor that I stand here today and not a fossil in the tundra. But Blackheart is not a being you can reason with. Remember that he once belonged to the wider council, and is still waging an attack on us. I suppose, if you must, you might think of it as a rescue mission. We were brought back to life after our deaths. Why not pay that miracle forward, and extend it to Izana?"

Though as Maddie ran her mouth again, Kolin couldn't stay quiet. "Just because you have a nihilistic outlook on life and the universe does not mean we all do. The Multiverse is vast and every world has its own rules and meanings to it. Even if we all do die...why not at least make life worth living for those still here?"

@Sark @Jeremi @amwexia @Takumi @Raynar Saassin @Crunch @Lucky @Crow @York @Minerva​

 

[Jeremi]

“Who the fuck cares?” Maddie says, “This is all just petty drama. That’s it!”

“‘Oh! You should care because someone wants to end the world and plunge it into nothingness!’” Maddie continues in a mocking tone, her tone of voice raises throughout her speech “Tough fucking luck, we’ll all die eventually. Why should I care? Why should I care? This doesn’t effect me, it shouldn’t effect me.”

She sucks on her pen and exhales slowly, “Fuck all of this. All I want is to sleep. I want to sleep and to browse Instagram. I shouldn’t care about your stupid fucking schism,”

@Jeremi @Sark @Yun Lee @Raynar Saassin @Minerva @Crunch @York @Crow @Takumi @EveryoneElse​

Maddie would receive a firm slap on her face courtesy of Big Mother. Firm enough for Maddie to feel it but not hard enough to cause any actual damage. "The only thing I care about, mortal. It is for you to shut up and listen. Or else I could find a place for you inside my stomach, because, if you wish to sleep, I can grant you that this very moment as you slowly slink through my gullet."

"If that is not what you want then I'll suggest you listen to what beings more capable than you have to offer."​

@Sark @Jeremi @Raynar Saassin @amwexia @Lucky @Crunch @Takumi @Crow @York @Minerva @Crunch

 

[Capri]

Maddie would receive a firm slap on her face courtesy of Big Mother. "The only thing I care about, mortal. It is for you to shut up and listen. Or else I could find a place for you inside my stomach, because, if you wish to sleep, I can grant you that this very moment as you slowly slink through my gullet."

"If that is not what you want then I'll suggest you listen to what beings more capable than you have to offer."

@Sark @Jeremi @Raynar Saassin @amwexia @Lucky @Crunch @Takumi @Crow @York @Minerva @Crunch

Maddie’s cheek was cut open by Big Mother’s slap, which she promptly healed using her light healing. She looked at Big Mother with an intense look before closing her eyes and blowing out another smoke.

“Breathe, Madison, don’t do anything stupid,” she spoke to herself. If she were to die it would be on her own terms”

She whipped her head to look over at Kolin.

“So, you’ve seen the horrors that life has to offer. You lost your family to war, and I can’t imagine what that’s like. But yet, you still have faith in humanity, in the greater good, after all that?”

@Jeremi @Yun Lee @Sark @Raynar Saassin @Crunch @Minerva @Crow @York @Lucky @EveryoneElse​

 

[Crunch]

"I think a lot of you seem to misunderstand the situation," Big Mother said to the chosen. "This is not about "Goddessians" and "Secularists". It is about once again the most pragmatic choice that will benefit all. A war on hell shows a message. It spreads Chaos." She looked at Eliphas when she said that.

"Bartering with Mephisto will in fact not spread any chaos but instead will be all too predictable." She now turned her focus to the counsel. "Our meeting with Mephisto will end with him sitting on a seat next to you all. Now, that does not matter to me in fact, you would all deserve it, but that shows a message of weakness. That we could not retaliate and have to squirm to his father to solve it for us. When instead, crushing Blackheart under our foot viscerally and definitely shows a message to all, as well as leaves open the opportunity of a debt to be paid from Mephisto. A debt we can use to our advantage when the time arrives."

"Did everyone understand that or do you wish for me to take it slower?" Big Mother especially looked at Maddie when she said her final bit.​

@Sark @Jeremi @Raynar Saassin @amwexia @Lucky @Crunch @Takumi @Crow @York @Minerva @Crunch

The Dark Apostle's gaze turned towards the hulking monstrosity that seemed to challenge his ideal directly, which elicited only a low and level laugh from behind the corroded plating of his helm. He would regard her with more 'hospitality' than he would the rest of the 'chosen' masses, as this Mother had demonstrated a certain degree of ruthless pragmatism that appealed to the Inheritor.

Let none say that Eliphas the Inheritor is without mercy or reason; a new servant of Chaos is always preferable to a corpse, which is why the hulking armored man approached the symbiote calmly.

"Aah, I admire your pragmatism, Mother. You and I are equals in this regard; seeing the game in ways the rest of these... worms could not fathom," Eliphas mused as he stopped just a few meters away from the abomination, his helmet craning up just so slightly to look at the human eyes glaring down at him. "But you are so far from understanding just what I intend to do here."

"I don't just want to spread chaos."

"I wish to spread Chaos."

The Dark Apostle's free hand moved to the skinbound tome fastened on his hip, drawing it forth with a rough tug and flipping open the flesh-encrusted pages to a random passage. If Big Mother were to inspect the page, she would notice that it looked to be incomprehensible scribbling. Yet, for all the ancient will the Klyntar had, one couldn't help but feel a pressure begin to take hold of their head when laying eyes on the tome's writing. The black marks seemed to jump off the page, twitching and writhing like worms on the crusty parchment.

The shuddering marks then twist inwards towards the center of the page, wrapping around each other and morphing outwards into a single symbol that seemed to imprint itself into the mind of whoever looked upon it; an eight-point star surrounded by four foreboding icons; the Bull, the Fly, the Serpent, and the Crow.

"The work of Chaos goes beyond pragmatism, alien. It calls to us in unexpected ways, leading us down the path of salvation through damnation. The uncertainty of this schism is the fertile field upon which I shall sow the seeds of the Gods. Truthfully... I don't fear Blackheart, nor do I fear Mephisto. I don't fear the whore Goddess, nor do I fear her council."

"The sides never mattered - the only thing that really matters, in the end, are powers that I know are real. I know exactly what you think of these Chosen, my Mother."

"So, that leaves the question," Eliphas leaned forward, his voice reaching up to Big Mother's ear as a tantalizing whisper. "Why compromise with your prey, Mother? Why lower yourself to the whims of mortals?"

The Dark Apostle stepped away from the symbiote, heaving his Crozius over his shoulder as he flipped through the chaotic tome once more.

"Food for thought."

@Sark @Jeremi @Raynar Saassin @amwexia @Lucky @Crunch @Takumi @Crow @York @Minerva

​

 

[Jeremi]

Maddie’s cheek was cut open by Big Mother’s slap, which she promptly healed using her light healing. She looked at Big Mother with an intense look before closing her eyes and blowing out another smoke.

“Breathe, Madison, don’t do anything stupid,” she spoke to herself. If she were to die it would be on her own terms”

She whipped her head to look over at Kolin.

“So, you’ve seen the horrors that life has to offer. You lost your family to war, and I can’t imagine what that’s like. But yet, you still have faith in humanity, in the greater good, after all that?”

@Jeremi @Yun Lee @Sark @Raynar Saassin @Crunch @Minerva @Crow @York @Lucky @EveryoneElse​

"I think you misunderstand the scope of it all, and what we're fighting for." Big Mother rolled her eyes, though she was content that this human was now considering other options. "Faith means nothing. Good or evil means nothing if anything that has happened to us has any truth in it. I will not sit idly by as I get destroyed just because of lessers who are too apathetic to care. "

The Dark Apostle's gaze turned towards the hulking monstrosity that seemed to challenge his ideal directly, which elicited only a low and level laugh from behind the corroded plating of his helm. He would regard her with more 'hospitality' than he would the rest of the 'chosen' masses, as this Mother had demonstrated a certain degree of ruthless pragmatism that appealed to the Inheritor.

Let none say that Eliphas the Inheritor is without mercy or reason; a new servant of Chaos is always preferable to a corpse, which is why the hulking armored man approached the symbiote calmly.

"Aah, I admire your pragmatism, Mother. You and I are equals in this regard; seeing the game in ways the rest of these... worms could not fathom," Eliphas mused as he stopped just a few meters away from the abomination, his helmet craning up just so slightly to look at the human eyes glaring down at him. "But you are so far from understanding just what I intend to do here."

"I don't just want to spread chaos."

"I wish to spread Chaos."

The Dark Apostle's free hand moved to the skinbound tome fastened on his hip, drawing it forth with a rough tug and flipping open the flesh-encrusted pages to a random passage. If Big Mother were to inspect the page, she would notice that it looked to be incomprehensible scribbling. Yet, for all the ancient will the Klyntar had, one couldn't help but feel a pressure begin to take hold of their head when laying eyes on the tome's writing. The black marks seemed to jump off the page, twitching and writhing like worms on the crusty parchment.

The shuddering marks then twist inwards towards the center of the page, wrapping around each other and morphing outwards into a single symbol that seemed to imprint itself into the mind of whoever looked upon it; an eight-point star surrounded by four foreboding icons; the Bull, the Fly, the Serpent, and the Crow.

"The work of Chaos goes beyond pragmatism, alien. It calls to us in unexpected ways, leading us down the path of salvation through damnation. The uncertainty of this schism is the fertile field upon which I shall sow the seeds of the Gods. Truthfully... I don't fear Blackheart, nor do I fear Mephisto. I don't fear the whore Goddess, nor do I fear her council."

"The sides never mattered - the only thing that really matters, in the end, are powers that I know are real. I know exactly what you think of these Chosen, my Mother."

"So, that leaves the question," Eliphas leaned forward, his voice reaching up to Big Mother's ear as a tantalizing whisper. "Why compromise with your prey, Mother? Why lower yourself to the whims of mortals?"

The Dark Apostle stepped away from the symbiote, heaving his Crozius over his shoulder as he flipped through the chaotic tome once more.

"Food for thought."

@Sark @Jeremi @Raynar Saassin @amwexia @Lucky @Crunch @Takumi @Crow @York @Minerva

​

Food for thought was exactly right. Big Mother was very tempted to devour all of these sweet morsels here and now and let the counsel administer any punishment they saw fit.

But this was not the time to eat. That would come later.

"My pragmatism also brings with it something that your Chaos does not bring. Unpredictability. A true unpredictability. My course sows a different kind of discontent. A pure kind. Your pedestrian chaos is obvious in its course. For your Chaos is predictable. I mean," She looks Eliphas up and down. "Have you ever seen yourself? Your discontent is in itself such an obvious thing that it is easily swayed. You are the naysayer, the rabble-rouser. You can't help yourself. I have read the pages of your life and I find them...

Boring." Her height grew enough so that she was able to look down on Eliphas.

"But, you are correct. All I see is prey around me, but even prey can be of use if they understand the position that they are. Sadly, you do not. Just another sheep doing what you do because you do not know better. So what, dear Eliphas, is at the end of the day true Chaos?"​

@Jeremi @Yun Lee @Sark @Raynar Saassin @Crunch @Minerva @Crow @York @Lucky @EveryoneElse

 

[Crunch]

"I think you misunderstand the scope of it all, and what we're fighting for." Big Mother rolled her eyes, though she was content that this human was now considering other options. "Faith means nothing. Good or evil means nothing if anything that has happened to us has any truth in it. I will not sit idly by as I get destroyed just because of lessers who are too apathetic to care. "

Food for thought was exactly right. Big Mother was very tempted to devour all of these sweet morsels here and now and let the counsel administer any punishment they saw fit.

But this was not the time to eat. That would come later.

"My pragmatism also brings with it something that your Chaos does not bring. Unpredictability. A true unpredictability. My course sows a different kind of discontent. A pure kind. Your pedestrian chaos is obvious in its course. For your Chaos is predictable. I mean," She looks Eliphas up and down. "Have you ever seen yourself? Your discontent is in itself such an obvious thing that it is easily swayed. You are the naysayer, the rabble-rouser. You can't help yourself. I have read the pages of your life and I find them...

Boring." Her height grew enough so that she was able to look down on Eliphas.

"But, you are correct. All I see is prey around me, but even prey can be of use if they understand the position that they are. Sadly, you do not. Just another sheep doing what you do because you do not know better. So what, dear Eliphas, is at the end of the day true Chaos?"​

@Jeremi @Yun Lee @Sark @Raynar Saassin @Crunch @Minerva @Crow @York @Lucky @EveryoneElse

A dark chuckle left the Apostle's lips as he made a mock expression of offense with his body. "Such scathing remarks. You wound me, Mother. I would put any lesser creature to the pike for speaking ill of the Gods, but I respect you. Though you fail to understand what I truly want from this ordeal, you are more enlightened than most others here, if you are so confident to call me sheep."

"Let none say that I am not humble," Eliphas graciously shut his flesh-bound tome with a flick of his palm, an unseen weight being lifted off of everyone's head. "We are all concerned with our own goals, and the means we take to reach those ends... are not as simple as they appear. That we may agree on, dear Mother."

"But I am an emissary of Chaos in all things, and my service lies in the Dark Gods alone. In due time, I will have exactly what I want. I need not the blessings of the whore-Goddess, nor the mongrels of Hell. I need only the rapturous blessings of the Warp."

@Jeremi @Yun Lee @Sark @Raynar Saassin @Minerva @Crow @York @Lucky @EveryoneElse

​

 

[Jeremi]

A dark chuckle left the Apostle's lips as he made a mock expression of offense with his body. "Such scathing remarks. You wound me, Mother. I would put any lesser creature to the pike for speaking ill of the Gods, but I respect you. Though you fail to understand what I truly want from this ordeal, you are more enlightened than most others here, if you are so confident to call me sheep."

"Let none say that I am not humble," Eliphas graciously shut his flesh-bound tome with a flick of his palm, an unseen weight being lifted off of everyone's head. "We are all concerned with our own goals, and the means we take to reach those ends... are not as simple as they appear. That we may agree on, dear Mother."

"But I am an emissary of Chaos in all things, and my service lies in the Dark Gods alone. In due time, I will have exactly what I want. I need not the blessings of the whore-Goddess, nor the mongrels of Hell. I need only the rapturous blessings of the Warp."

@Jeremi @Yun Lee @Sark @Raynar Saassin @Minerva @Crow @York @Lucky @EveryoneElse

​

"You would try," She remarked off-hand. "But I understand the futility in my words now, you are an agent of Chaos after all, and perhaps that shows weakness. As I said, predictability. Your need for attention, so perhaps, the best choice. Is to ignore you. The power you have is what others give you. So cling to that, my dear, and perhaps your masters will be happy with you at some point. And embrace you for your success."

She leaned in and spoke loud enough for only him to hear. "Scraps given from high are still just that. Scraps." Big Mother stepped back and turned back to the counsel, curious to see what the chosen's reaction would bring with them.

@Jeremi @Yun Lee @Sark @Raynar Saassin @Minerva @Crow @York @Lucky @EveryoneElse

 

[Takumi]

"Big Mother is right," Kolin said, looking around with a disapproving frown. "Look at us! We are getting so caught up in our own beliefs that we're all failing to look at the bigger picture! Whether you support or reject the Goddess, the fact remains that Blackheart has declared our souls his own. Do you all wish to work peacefully with such a demon, who claims us as his property, just because the option was labeled as the Secularist one? Darth Nox and Eli declare themselves Secularists, and yet are in favor of the attack."

Looking at Ashe, Kolin sighed. He reminded her of himself, once upon a time. The girl she once was before war ruined everything. "I understand how dreadful this situation is," she said, tone growing gentler. "I lost my homeland to war, and it was only through the salvation of my emperor that I stand here today and not a fossil in the tundra. But Blackheart is not a being you can reason with. Remember that he once belonged to the wider council, and is still waging an attack on us. I suppose, if you must, you might think of it as a rescue mission. We were brought back to life after our deaths. Why not pay that miracle forward, and extend it to Izana?"

Though as Maddie ran her mouth again, Kolin couldn't stay quiet. "Just because you have a nihilistic outlook on life and the universe does not mean we all do. The Multiverse is vast and every world has its own rules and meanings to it. Even if we all do die...why not at least make life worth living for those still here?"

@Sark @Jeremi @amwexia @Takumi @Raynar Saassin @Crunch @Lucky @Crow @York @Minerva​

Ashe took Kolin's words in quietly, before nodding in understanding.

"I know that sometimes in battle--in war, even, not everyone can be saved, but I can understand what you mean." He responded. Though grimaced lightly as Maddie was slapped by Big Mother, a glance full of concern landing on Maddie then for a moment before his gaze returned to Kolin as he sighed.

"I'm surprised any of us can even work together at all, instead of some here attempting to tear each other to shreds." He admitted with a shake of his head.

@Sark @Yun Lee @amwexia @Jeremi @Everyone

 

[Raynar Saassin]

While everyone bickered to each other; mainly Eliphas and Big Mother, CFW Magic listened to everything.

"All this talk about Chaos and nothing to show for it. All these fables of creating Chaos instead of following it. All of you are peons in a higher standing. As this Kolin described as a Multiverse, there are bigger powers at play then you all can hope to realize. While you all have stated your pieces, I have mine; to worship the great Arfoire with all my life, and to ensure her revival is successful. As much as you may believe that all of this is pointless, it has more depth than any of you can imagine. She is beautiful and divine, and this 'Goddess' that intends to play us all like fools is nothing in comparison."
"Arfoire will ensure all the kids can play Video Games without expensive launch prices, and guarantee the enjoyment everywhere. To think all of you can stop us in our righteous destiny just by bickering about Chaos is laughable. My Blade will ensure our mission is done."

@Jeremi @Crunch @Yun Lee
@amwexia @Takumi @Sark @Crow @Minerva @York​

 

[Lucky]

Beau and Jester

" If I am going to be honest with you all, I don't trust the Goddess who revived us. That being said, I don't think we should be asking favors from the father of our enemy. It shows weakness and beyond that, it also means we owe him in some form. If this is that demon's father, how do we know we could trust him not to turn? I would rather show that we can stand on our two fucking feet and fight than to go shriveling up and asking someone's daddy to help beat them up. I'm voting Goddessian."

Jester would pause for a moment. " I agree with Beau. I vote the same."

@Sark @Everyone

 

[Yun Lee]

It seemed Maddie was willing to listen now. Good. Kolin did wish it hadn't taken a slap for that to happen, but unfortunately some people only respond to violence in the end. "It is true," she said, nodding. "Though I admit, there was a time where I lost all hope and prepared for death. I had lost everything. My home. My family. Even my name...if I'd ever had one to begin with. But I was saved through nothing short of a miracle. My Emperor...he found me. Me! Out in the cold wasteland that was to be my grave...offering me a chance to join him and save our world from the evils of man. It is through him, and through his ideals, that I perservere, and live, and fight for the future of my world until my last breath."

She placed her hands on her heart, head tilting down. When she spoke of Gill, Helen and Kolin became one. How could they not, with her savior being worthy of such praise? "Everyone fights for their own cause. Some for selfish ambition. Some for greed. Some for self-preservation. But me? I fight for hope. Peace. Even if you are right, and nothing we do matters after the end...I still desire to make a world worth living in during the time we have. A world of peace...a utopia."

To Ashe, she smiled as warmly as a woman like Kolin was able. "Indeed. Even with opposing ideals, the fact that we are all able to come together and talk like this already proves us superior to our foe. Blackheart has made it clear peace is not an option for him. Such a shame it must come to this, but I am afraid mot everyone will accept mercy when it is extended to them."

@Sark @amwexia @Takumi @Jeremi @Crunch @Lucky @Raynar Saassin @Everyone​

 

[Capri]

Maddie scoffed at Kolin. She was saved... she was fucking saved.

“So you’re idealistic because... you were lucky and got saved...” Maddie says, a look of pure resentment formed on her face, “You won a lottery, and encountered someone who gave a rat’s ass about another human being. Congratu-fucking-lations. I haven’t gotten that luxury, I haven’t encountered a single person who had been caring enough to help another damn person out.”

Maddie’s voice started to crack and her face turned red.

“Humanity doesn’t deserve a utopia! You haven’t seen true humanity! You don’t know anything! You’re a fucking hoe!”

She turned away, but not before flashing Kolin a look of pure envy.

@Yun Lee @Sark @Takumi @Jeremi @Crunch @Lucky @Raynar Saassin @Everyone​

 

[Takumi]

It seemed Maddie was willing to listen now. Good. Kolin did wish it hadn't taken a slap for that to happen, but unfortunately some people only respond to violence in the end. "It is true," she said, nodding. "Though I admit, there was a time where I lost all hope and prepared for death. I had lost everything. My home. My family. Even my name...if I'd ever had one to begin with. But I was saved through nothing short of a miracle. My Emperor...he found me. Me! Out in the cold wasteland that was to be my grave...offering me a chance to join him and save our world from the evils of man. It is through him, and through his ideals, that I perservere, and live, and fight for the future of my world until my last breath."

She placed her hands on her heart, head tilting down. When she spoke of Gill, Helen and Kolin became one. How could they not, with her savior being worthy of such praise? "Everyone fights for their own cause. Some for selfish ambition. Some for greed. Some for self-preservation. But me? I fight for hope. Peace. Even if you are right, and nothing we do matters after the end...I still desire to make a world worth living in during the time we have. A world of peace...a utopia."

To Ashe, she smiled as warmly as a woman like Kolin was able. "Indeed. Even with opposing ideals, the fact that we are all able to come together and talk like this already proves us superior to our foe. Blackheart has made it clear peace is not an option for him. Such a shame it must come to this, but I am afraid mot everyone will accept mercy when it is extended to them."

@Sark @amwexia @Takumi @Jeremi @Crunch @Lucky @Raynar Saassin @Everyone​

"I once wanted to be just like the man who saved me, who took me and my siblings in even after I tried to steal from him. He even taught me to read, he raised me after we lost our parents; but in the end I couldn't save him from a grizzly downfall...peace can only last so long, but the moments that we have them are worth all of the heartache, right?" Ashe replied, hands on his hips and face downturned for a moment. Speaking of Lonato hurt still, but he could sympathize with Kolin in a way. Despite their different circumstances, he could see a slimmer of similarity.

Maddie scoffed at Kolin. She was saved... she was fucking saved.

“So you’re idealistic because... you were lucky and got saved...” Maddie says, a look of pure resentment formed on her face, “You won a lottery, and encountered someone who gave a rat’s ass about another human being. Congratu-fucking-lations. I haven’t gotten that luxury, I haven’t encountered a single person who had been caring enough to help another damn person out.”

Maddie’s voice started to crack and her face turned red.

“Humanity doesn’t deserve a utopia! You haven’t seen true humanity! You don’t know anything! You’re a fucking hoe!”

She turned away, but not before flashing Kolin a look of pure envy.

@Yun Lee @Sark @Takumi @Jeremi @Crunch @Lucky @Raynar Saassin @Everyone​

"There could be someone out there who's still willing to help another and wants to, it could be that you were just around the wrong types of people." Ashe tried to reason, a frown settling on his face as he looked up, brows furrowed.

"I won't try to say I understand or tell you you're wrong or anything like that, but I think that calling her a hoe is a bit much." He added. He didn't get why everyone threw the word around, unless they expected some kind of retaliation? Most of the people present seemed like big bullies towards either the Goddess or each other.

@Sark @Yun Lee @amwexia @Others

 

[York]

Spoiler: Replies

The Void
Time in the void seemed to work differently inside the void. Maybe the concept of 'time' didn't exist there. There were no clocks to count the seconds. No spinning stars to count the days. No creatures to live and die to mark the generations.

Maybe it had taken minutes for the first streams of colour to splash onto the white canvas of the Void. Or maybe it had taken hours. But as quickly as the Chosen had seen those first flashes of light, they felt a strange warmth wash over them. It felt like coming home.

Soon, these miniature threads of red, blue and green began to weave together, forming lively, dancing streams of light. They skated between the champions with the elegance of humming birds. They were like brushes slowly painting a picture.

As the streams of colour grew and grew, matter slowly returned to the void. It started with a few distant stars bursting to life in the distance. Then a nebula or two formed on the horizon. Black Space was painted in to fill the gaps between the starts. The universes that sat beside the Chosen had expanded to fill the space left behind by the Citadel.

The Chosen watched as reality was carved out in the nothingness before them.

"It's beautiful... but its dead... nothing's going to live her for millions of years... It's dead-space. Beautiful, dead space..."

[BOOM]

A shimmering silver ship appeared on the horizon, branded with the Golden Star-Crest of the Fellowship. Its engines roared as it soared closer with each passing moment.

"Come on... let's go home... the Council will be demanding on Hell of a report..."
_______________________________________________________
The Goddess
Act 1- Emerald Dawn
Episode I
The Fastest Path Between Today and Tomorrow
Turmoil has engulfed the Galaxy!
Hundreds of Worlds have fallen Victim to the mysterious
RED SKY CRISIS! Those lucky enough to escape their worlds
before their inevitable destruction have found themselves displaced
and alone.

Spared from the destruction of the Citadel by the might of the mysterious
and powerful GODDESS, the GODDESS' CHOSEN are escorted to the
Fellowship's new base of operations, the Great Temple.

The news they have surrendered to the HIGHEST COUNCIL has sent ripples
throughout both the SECULARIST and GODDESSIAN factions. This apparent
confirmation of the Goddess' strength has strengthened the divide within the
Temple.

The Spectre of Civil War has started to stalk the Council. As the Fellowship
is united once again to discuss the growing threat of the NetherWorld,
the Derogates fear its a matter of time before strong words are replaced
by stronger actions...

***

In the weeks following the Destruction of the Citadel, the Goddess' Chosen found their lives changed forever. The moment Eli's ship touched down on the Temple's landing pads and his report was submitted, the Chosen had their transportation rights revoked. They had been told by Temple officials that staying in the Temple was 'for the best', whilst the Council debated their next move.

The Goddess' grace proved to be both a blessing and a curse.

The attention they had received around the Temple was stressful enough. The Chosen had become celebrities overnight. To the Goddessians, they were Saints and Prophesised Heroes. They showered the Chosen with praise, prayers and adoration. To the Secularists, they were yet more false idols, spreading more lies surrounding a Goddess that could not possibly exist. Glares and curses were all they shared.

One could only image the attention they would receive on the outside. Reporters. Solicitors. Perhaps some worshipers on their own. Perhaps staying at home and wandering the Temple's endless, shimmering hallways was for the best.

Besides. Millions of faiths had passed through the Great Temple since its creation, and each had left its architectural footprint. Every wall had either a mural upon it or a mural leaning against it. The Church's tall, arching rooves were painting with the most amazing scenes and decorated with spectacular prism chandeliers. There were worse places to be trapped.

After a week of silent wandering, resting and boredom, you were called to the Highest Council's chamber. A private audience with the most significant religious figures in the Multiverse honour in itself. Eventually, you summoned the courage to enter the chamber and wait for the council to arrive.
__________________________________________
The Great Temple
The Highest Council's Chamber
View attachment 4465
The Highest Council's Chamber was cold, bright and intimidating. On either side of the room, 6 large thrones resided, each watched over by an even larger marble statue of the Council Member's chosen deity. Despite the room's size, only 4 of the 12 council members were present. The rest were no doubt deployed across the multiverse, spreading their respective messages.

The Goddessian representatives sat on the left.
The Secularist representatives sat on the right.
View attachment 4466
"Thank you for joining us, brothers..." Queen Veranke looked down at you from her elevated seat. "I assure you that the others will be arriving shortly. They wouldn't miss the chance to meet with you... We've all heard so much about you, after all. Your story is... unbelievable." Her tone was ambiguous. It to tell whether or not she was being genuine
View attachment 4467
"So unbelievable, in fact..." Darth Nox interjected from the seat beside her. "That some might call it a load of Bantha Poodoo. Bullshit. A stinking lie."

"Nox--" Veranke cut off her fellow Secularist. "Watch your tone. So long as your are a member of this council, you represent our creed. If you're not fitting face for your faith, I'm certain there are many among the Sith who would kill for you seat-of-power."

Beneath his helmet, Kallig Nox rolled his eyes.

"Well then. If their story is true, I'm sure they won't mind telling us all what the Hell happened planet-side. No hyperbole. Just the brutal facts."

"Azrael's report--"

"-- it bored me. I want to hear it again from al of you. Tell me about this... Goddess Luthor loves to rave about. Tell me about Blackheart the Bastard, and most importantly.... tell me the truth about how you got the Fellowship's only seer killed?"
__________________________________________
Council Members in session:

Spoiler: Expand

Secularists
Darth Nox
Queen Veranke
[Attendance Pending]
[On Deployment]
[On Deployment]
Goddessians
[Attendance Pending]
[Attendance Pending]
[On Deployment]
[On Deployment]
[On Deployment]
[On Deployment]

Cast List:
@Raynar Saassin as CFW Magic and CFW Brave/ Compa and IF
@amwexia as Roman Halliday and Madison Palmer
@Yun Lee as Kolin
@Crunch as Eliphas the Inheritor
@Lucky as Jester Lavorre and Beauregard Lionette
@Nightwisher as Dinasadhaka "Din" Vipatti
@Crow as Omnimon and Dukemon
@Jeremi as Big Mother
@Minerva as Johanna
@Takumi as Ashe and Silque
@York as Kuro Kyoka​

Great Temple
Highest Council Temple
View attachment 4470
"Oh, I'm capable of war worse that foul words, cur--"
Nox spat as indigo lighting danced across his fingers. Light surged forth from every crevice of his helmet. The room grew hotter, the colder, then hotter once again.

"How does ten thousand volts of lighting sound? Or would you prefer me to suck that spirit of yours right out of the husk you call a body? Your choice."
@Raynar Saassin​

"Now, I hate to say I told you so..." A voice clucked from down the fall. "Actually, no. I won't feign humility. You should have listened to me."
View attachment 4472
"You all should have listened to Alexander Luthor."

"Lex---"

"Don't 'Lex' me, your majesty." Lex snapped, his dark eyes piercing Veranke's spirit. "We had our chance to nip this threat in the bud. We could have shot Blackheart like the dog he was the moment he joined the wider council. But no. No. You made it clear to us all that the rights of the lesser faiths- 'faiths' like Blackhearts- mattered more than our right to a homeland. Than our right to security. You harboured a demon. And now, you're finally reaping what you've sown. How does it feel?"

"We couldn't have known--"

"Of course," Luthor groaned. "Of course, we couldn't have predicted Blackheart's attack on the Wider Citadel. But some of us knew he was up to something--"

"Your prejudices have blinded you, Predator!"

"And your 'tolerance' has blinded you, Skrull!"

The chamber went silent for a moment as the pair let their words fest. Straightening up his spine. Lex composed himself, and flashed his signature salesman's smile.

"I've gotten carried away again. And I've done it in front of guests. Forgive me!"

"Don't apologise, Luthor," Nox grimed beneath his helmet. "It was only a matter of time before the Kids caught Mommy and Daddy fighting. Who are we still missing?"

"Most of us are off-world. We'll work with what we have..."

"Excellent. Without further adieu…This council is now officially in session..."
@Raynar Saassin​

"So you're trying to tell me that The Goddess... an unimaginably powerful being who saved you from the jaws of death... a creature half the Fellowship would kill to have met... gave you one, simple command... and you just... ignored it?" Luthor stammered in disbelief. "I've studied the Goddess' texts. I know them like the back of my hand... but even I can't begin to imagine why on Earth she'd chose to save you..."

@amwexia
​

"The extent Big Mother's punishment is for the council to decide, Kolin." Veranke snapped. "For now, she is on probation. We'll be keeping a close eye on her until our investigation has concluded. Should she harm our own again, this council will call for her execution." She turned her glare back to Mother. "Have I made myself clear?"

@Jeremi @Yun Lee​

"The Council personally selected Azrael for infiltration of the Fallen Citadel. We acknowledge his skill, but we'll take your words into consideration the next time a promotion is on the table..."
"Yes, yes, Arzael can handle a sword. But that tomb.... now that's a mystery worthy of my attention." Nox's fingers drifted to his chin. "It could be anywhere. Korriban. Earth. It would be right under our feet and we would have no way of knowing... there has to be a missing piece... a single word, a clue we haven't noticed... if only you hadn't gotten our only source killed..."

@Raynar Saassin​

"You make it sound easy, Big Mother." Veranke sighed. "Ironic, considering that you were the one who made this whole situation far more complex that it needed to be..."
View attachment 4481
"Please, Veranke. Don't be so dramatic."

"Don't test me Luthor..."

"Please. I never thought I'd say these words, but here they are: Nox is on the right track. Izana is our missing piece... The Goddess called to him, just like he called to the rest of you. He knows something. He knew more than he was letting on..." Luthor slipped from his seat and began to pace the hall.

"Pity he's dead, then, isn't it?"

"Oh, of course. Death is always tragic..." Luthor tutted semi-sarcastically. "But we need to look at the larger picture. Izana didn't fall down the stairs. He didn't choke on a chicken bone. He was killed by a demon. Do you understand where I'm going with this?"

"No.."

"Go on..."

"Blackheart invaded out capital. That was an act of war!" Luthor howled passionately. "He's killed one of our allies. Were it not for the Goddess, he would have killed a dozen more!"

"Nobody here is defending Blackheart, Luthor!"

"Except you are, Veranke!" The Predator spat. "The Multiverse doesn't need moderates! The Goddess didn't call cowards to her side! You know the legends- 'he who dies by the hands of a demon is barred from heaven. He who dies at the hand of a demon--"

"--Burns for all eternity." Nox grinned, crossing his boot over his knee and leaning forward. "I like where this is going..."

"What are you implying, Luthor?"
View attachment 4480
"Blackheart has Izana's soul. We need Izana." A grin crawled across Luthor's cheeks. "It's been a long time coming. It's high time invaded Hell and took back what the Devil stole from us... Just like the Goddess prophesied..."

@Raynar Saassin @amwexia @Yun Lee @Crunch @Lucky @Nightwisher @Crow @Jeremi @Minerva @Takumi @York @amwexia​

Great Temple
Highest Council Chamber
"Despite his... quirks..." Luthor groaned. "Izana had his uses. He was a seer, and an accurate one at that. Whatever's coming our way, its dark and dangerous enough to send shivers down the spine of a God. You'll have to forgive me for looking for advantages, wherever they may lie..."

"We don't give orders, Maddie. We're not a military. You're not conscripts, and we're not the Coalition," Lex drifted across the chamber with his hands joined behind his back. His black eyes met Maddie's. "But I think part of you wants to see how this story ends. The Goddess gave you a second chance at life. That's something most beings would kill for. Why not use this chance to fight for something more. Why not use it to be something more. You have the chance to save the world. Better yet, you have the chance to change it. I won't force you to come with me... but I hope you'll change your mind." Lex turned away from the girl and made his way back across the hall. "Marching into Hell might not sound fun, but it beats a life of insignificance. Of that, I'm certain..."

"You don't have to worry about Mephisto…" The towering doors of the Council Chamber came swinging open and, from the blinding light of the waiting room, the silhouette of Eli White emerged. "There's a Civil War going on in Hell as we speak. Blackheart has gone to war his dear father, and Mephisto is responding accordingly. The war has freed a fair few souls, too. It's a mess down there. Quiet... hellish..."

"Ah, Captain White, you've arrived!" Lex directed Eli towards the rest of the Chosen. "I trust that you remember our Saviours?"

"I don't know about Saviours, Lex..." Eli offered his hand to the nearest soldier. "But some of these men saved my life... that gives them a pass in my book. It's good to see you all again. And that's something I don't say often..."

"It's strange to see you playing nice with a Secularist, Luthor..." Nox's brow grew tense. "I suppose we'll find Hell frozen over when we arrive..."

"You're willing to go back there, White?" Veranke scowled and thinned her eyes. "You're siding with Luthor?"

"Lex briefed me this morning. If his plan ends with Blackheart getting his just deserts, I'm in."

"Your team is starting to grow, Luthor..." Nox laughed. "You can count me in too."

"You'd turn your back on the Secularists? You'd throw away our fragile peace? We need to work with Mephisto. His world still holds some sway in Hell. Most of the Netherworld still sees him as the realms legitimate leader. If we work with him, we can free Izana without starting a war, or raising any alarms with the UN, or the Kanzukis, or the Coalition!"

"Sorry, your majesty, but Big Mother is right. A little 'war' could do the Fellowship some good. I never thought you'd be the one arguing against a plot of vengeance. Besides, Blackheart's head will fit nicely on my mantle..."


"Blackheart was never a part of this council. He lacked the influence. He lacked the prestige." Luthor rested his cheek on his fist. He smiled lackadaisically, and lowered himself back into his chair. "His authority was confined to the Wider Council.
"The Fellowship is organized like this:

"At the top of the hierarchy, sit the Highest Council. Upon it, 6 Goddessians and 6 Secularists sit. We debate the issues that matter, and then we pass our decisions on to the Wider Council. They're given the chance to overrule our decisions, but they rarely do. The Wider Council find themselves in disagreements more often than we do, if you can imagine that, and they can rarely secure enough votes over rule one of our decisions. If the Wider Council fails to overrule one of our decisions, our orders are passed on to our agents, and changes are made.

"Blackheart proved himself to be an... influential figure within the Wider Council. We was good at getting his fellow delegates riled up. He got them angry. Active. His manipulations almost pushed to Wider Council to overrule a decision or two. Almost. I believe Blackheart grew tired with all the bureaucracy that sat between him and a seat on the true council. It might have been one of the factors that pushed him to separate himself from the Fellowship.

"Well, that and his undying hatred of the Goddessians. But that's different story"

"I'd love to find the tomb," Luthor sighed. "But it's not that simple. We don't know where it is. The Ancient Goddessian Texts we discovered tell us so much, yet so little about the Goddess' first 'life'. The details surrounding her death are vague, to say the least. Her ancient followers weren't the best book keepers, and time has left wounds in their spoken histories. Without Izana's power, finding the Tomb of the Goddess in an infinitely large, ever expanding multiverse would be like trying find a specific atom in a hay stack. Like it or now, he's our best lead."

"As for the war effort, we have allies across the Multiverse." Eli added. "Last time we fought Blackheart, he caught us by surprise. He won't have that advantage this time. We will. The Demons won't know what hit them. Besides. I have some friends on the ground who can lend a hand when the fighting starts. Luthor's scholars will have plenty of times to study the Goddess' texts whilst we're on the ground. In the mean time, we need to focus on recovering the seer."


Nox leaned back in his chair and pressed his fingers together. For a moment, he fell uncharacteristically quite, and simple observed the Chosen from his throne.
"That's... troubling. If Blackheart believes that he has a claim to your souls, then, sooner or later, we're going to have a fight on our hands. Demons take what they're owed, without fail. I should know. I... dabbled in some soul-dealing in my youth..."

"It begs the question- what creature has promised your souls to the devil?" Veranke muttered, her lips pursed and light. "And how have they done so without your knowing?"

"We have more mysteries than leads, Your Majesty. It's time we changed that. Kolin's instincts match mine-- he could have spies within our midst. Blackheart's rabblerousing has left its impact on the wider council. They're using it as a rallying point. We could be witnessing the birth of a New Faction within the Fellowship." His eyes grew thinner. "A collection of faiths who've rejected the teachings of the Goddess and the Order of the Secularists. A cancer to bring the Fellowship to its knees. Radicals. Rabblerousers."

"Care to place a name to your pain, Luthor?"

"What would you call them? Seperatistis? Blackheartians? Blackheartists? No...To side with a man like him, to reject the Goddess, to take a knee before a demon... they're Godless. We need to nib this threat in the bud before their forces grow. We need to purge the Fellowship of Blackheart's followers and prepare for war!"

"I can't allow that, Luthor. We can't throw away all we've built! The Fellowship is our Birthright! It's the accumulation of decades of work. It's ours greatest hope of bringing honour to our Gods and making a difference in the cursed multiverse! And you're willing to burn it to the group in the name of revenge?"

"Don't go soft on us now, Skrull."

"There was a time when I would have been the one leading the charge, Darth," Veranke spat. "But my people have lost too much fighting for so little to throw their lives away in another pointless conflict. I won't bring shame to my people, my faith or my faction. I won't go to war with Blackheart!"

"It's not down to you, Veranke." A sinister smile crawled across Lex's cheeks. His eyes rose to meet the Chosen. "It's theirs..."

"You can't expect the Goddess 'Chosen' to vote impartially. We need to wait for the rest of the Highest Council. We Need to consult the Wider Council-- "

"Nobody votes impartially, Veranke." Luthor snapped. "The Chosen will vote on what they've always believe to be true. Every second we wait, another world is wiped of the map. Obliterated! We can't just 'wait' for the others. Consulting the Wider Council? We might as well send scream out plans into the nearest Hellmouth. He still has his loyalists within the Wider Council. Spies.

"The most democratic thing we can do now is gather a handful of delegates from a handful of worlds. Those who's loyalty we can confirm. Those who Blackheart has no love for... those he has already tried to kill once before..."

"The Fellowship's Texts allow for a temporary War Council to be formed in times of Crisis. Like it or not, we can only truly trust a handful of delegates. Most of them are inside this room. I vote we go forward with the formation of the a War Council, composed of the survivors of the Second Citadel Attack."

"That's two votes to one, Veranke. A temporary War Council is hereby formed from the Goddess' Chosen!" Luthor slapped the arm of his throne before the Skrull could object. "And we pass the choice of to them."

"Fine!" The Skrull hissed. "We pass the burden of this world changing decision onto the Chosen. We've both said our pieces. It's their call now."

"So what will it be?

"Do you vote 'Goddessian', and send the Fellowship off to war with Hell?

"Or do you vote 'Secularist', and prepare to work peacefully with Blackheart's foe and father, Mephisto?"

@Takumi @Raynar Saassin @Minerva @Lucky @Crunch @Nightwisher @Crow @Yun Lee @York @amwexia @everyone

​

Kuro Kyoka

It all happened so fast... One moment, she was desperately trying to grasp the situation, questioning if she did the right thing. The next, she was in the void.

Was it her fault? Did she do all of this?

She wasn't sure, but as she watched with the others, she wanted to scream out, she wanted to cry...

But in the end, all she could do was reach out a desperate hand, as if to touch the emptiness that awaited her.

"Mastemon... Is... Is this what you wanted? Did I... Was it wrong... To save them...?"

She whispered.

"I told you we should have listened to her! That Goddess was onto something, wasn't she?!"

Lopmon was furious, lightly beating on Chloe's head with her paws as she lamented with anguish the situation they were in.

"Hey! Stop that! Don't you see she's had enough! What's done is done... Don't you see?"

Salamon responded, headbutting Lopmon in return, causing them both to fall over dazed.

"Whooooaa!!! Hey! Why you little..."

With that, the two began to fight, turning into a whirlwind of paws and teeth. Though interestingly enough the two never truly hurt each other, each blow they managed to land being glancing at best.

It didn't take long for Chloe to notice this, unable to hold herself back from laughing, quietly at first, clasping her hands over her mouth, until she at last was unable to hold herself back from the full force of her own giggles.

There was a blink from both Salamon and Lopmon, as they turned they tilted their heads in unison, looking back at their tamer as if they couldn't even recognize her, at least until Chloe calmed herself, strangely still smiling as she grasped one of their paws in each hand, placing them ontop one another.

"There. That wasn't so hard, was it? I know you aren't really fighting. Deep down, you're still good friends, aren't you?"

Salamon tilted her head, nuzzling Lopmon lightly, who puffed its cheeks at first, turning its head away.

"Hey! What's the big idea! Don't you know I'm gonna be a virus type! We... We're not supposed to get along!" Lopmon protested, turning her head away as she puffed up her cheeks.

"Lopmon. I'll always... Be your friend." Salamon said quietly.

Lopmon, though hesitant as she was, eventually nuzzled Salamon back, a somewhat wry smile on her face.

"No matter what?"

"No matter what."

Looking out at the void, even if they were in a somewhat dire situation, Chloe couldn't help but smile.

It was as if a dark cloud had been lifted from her mind, just before an all too familiar ship came into view. It bore the symbol of the fellowship, it was going to take them home.

... There was hope after all...

...

Though things back 'home' would hardly be easy to contend with. While Chloe hadn't realized it at the time, one of their own had been killed, an important one at that.

Perhaps it had something to do with the calamity that befell them?

In either case, she was met with a decision; should she wage war on the forces of Hell, as per the instructions of the Goddess? Or should she try to make peace.

Eyeing Salamon first, then Lopmon, she winced, then eventually nodded towards Lopmon.

"Maybe you're right. Maybe I should... Listen to the Goddess, for once." She said quietly.

"I choose to fight for the goddess!" She shouted.

Lopmon eagerly smiled, grinning from ear to ear.

"Yeah! I'm glad you're listening to me for once!"

She shouted eagerly.

Salamon on the other hand seemed more hesitant, but eventually smiled, somewhat uneasily.

"I... Don't agree with you, Chloe, but I won't leave your side. No matter what you choose." She said.

There was a frown from Chloe, a moment of hesitation as she put a hand to her chin, before she petted Salamon reassuringly, leaning down to whisper towards her.

"Don't worry. If I'm wrong... I'll make it right! I promise!"

Though how she might follow through with that promise is uncertain. All that was certain, was that she had made up her mind, for now.​