Player Plot: Downopolis

[umslay]

Who: Everyone that signed up for the Downopolis pot
Where: City of Downopolis, Cult Base
When: October 1st-7th
What: With the threat of the Cult of Narayana looming in the distance, a band of Heroes travel to Downopolis to infiltrate their base and discover the truth
Warnings: Violence, more to be added

They had been preparing for today. They had Biggs' approval, half a month to prepare, and much to lose if they were to sit back and hope that the Cult would disappear from relevance. Ales was not going to allow himself to sink into complacency. He spent late nights going over maps and intelligence gathered from Ellie's mission and the most recent one, formulating plans to present to the others. They had assassins and warriors, they were going to succeed.

Heroes, whether they had visited the Sage a few days earlier or waited in Mysidia for the mission day, gathered just outside Downopolis on the early morning of the first day of October. The air was chilly, but Ales hoped that the underground hideaway would rectify that.

With their lives on the line, they would find the leaders of the cult. The fate of the world rested on this mission

Comments

[gorgeous_sin]

I don't know if that's deserving of an apology. Surely you must know that my feelings aren't quite so tender.

[And there's that usual smirk of hers, a curve of dark lips that holds no true warmth. She waits for his answer, then chuckles when none emerges.]

I take it no one has decided on a goal, then. I suppose I can't be blamed for acting as I see fit.

[What those actions are, she doesn't say. It might be rampant murder. It might be torture. It might be gifts of fruit baskets and a hearty handshake.]

Really, it's no wonder everyone squabbles so often.

[shinrasfinest]

[There is no answer to her first, indeed. Sephiroth's just being his usual polite self and hadn't quite expected to be left almost feeling offended where he'd meant to avoid offending her. He doesn't quite allow his expression to close off and fall into frowning again, but it's easy enough to tell it wouldn't take a lot to cause it to drop again-]

Humph. [Another huff of a noise at the comment about acting as she sees fit. The frown does return then, though; did this woman think that there should be more of a leadership here in this mission? Was she implying that he should decide on a goal when others hadn't really pinned down the exact objectives yet?]

You think that the Heroes lack a sound leadership-?

[Mostly an assumption based on the signals she's given, but not totally. Sephiroth agrees at least in some way with that notion.]

[gorgeous_sin]

Don't you?

[She'd probably chuckle condescendingly at anyone who claimed that the heroes were organized and led in any degree.]

It's a little short-sighted to storm an enemy's fortress if we don't even know what we want to do with that enemy. Even just a basic outline of what to do in certain circumstances would be more prudent than charging in blindly. Otherwise we're all going to threaten and scream at each other again.

[Her voice remains a soft purr. She doesn't seem to bear any ill will, but she also doesn't seem like she's interested in walking on eggshells for anyone's sake.]

But maybe people secretly enjoy a little conflict and drama.

[shinrasfinest]

Some situations don't call for leadership.

[The fact is, they aren't and the closest they had ever been was when Zelda and Ashelia had first founded the Heroes Guild at the Observatory. Even then, he's one of those that had always kept a polite distance from getting himself too involved and had even strongly opposed some 'collective' actions back then too. So many different people, different outlooks, lifestyles and moral compasses' for it to ever work as one cohesive unit.

All having a leader would accomplish would be for those displeased to have a scapegoat to vent their rage at. Not helpful at all.]

I for one wouldn't pass up the opportunity to learn at least something of their motivations, first. Their goals are, at least superficially, in direct contradiction to the savior-role which many have taken up as the desired end to this game. I wouldn't be so surprised if it's not all that clear-cut.

[Not to mention the big 'huh?' that had been squared over the whole circumstance with them being able to somehow sneak into the Mysidian Tower and activate a Sapphire crystal around Downopolis...

Sephiroth's not about to answer on the question of human nature and conflict going hand in hand, but by the small curl to his mouth into something just shy of a grimace he's not too fond of the fact.]

[gorgeous_sin]

Hmmmm, this is true~ Perhaps 'organization' would better describe the resource we're woefully lacking.

[She tips her head back, regarding the moon idly from beneath her long fringe of thick lashes. At least he's not stupid or bloodthirsty about this, and that does give her some reassurance. And Deadpool isn't here yet so that does seem to be a plus in their favor as far as handling the matter rationally.]

I see you recognize the value of information. That's good to know.

[She gives a single quiet chuckle before dropping her gaze back to Sephiroth.]

I admit, I'm rather curious to know what they'll do upon seeing your face. They were so keen on preserving your stained glass window, after all, while recklessly destroying all the others. ...Oh my, you weren't there, were you? Perhaps you weren't aware, then.

[shinrasfinest]

Perhaps. But organization needs to have structure and we're still painfully feeling around in the dark for the various ways and means that we might be able to find a way to end this damned eternal cycle.

Nothing is concrete enough.

[He's not about to say it out loud in front of Lust, but it's obvious to him at least that the ending to the cycle will ultimately lead to the end of Crystallis anyway. It had been a dying world when the ancients had sought to make it immortal, what would happen if that were all undone?

Certainly wouldn't be saving the innocents that he's pledged to protect as a part of his military duty.

In the meantime, Sephiroth's eyes have turned back to the fire after the latest sip from his flask. The golden flames nearly wash out the ethereal gleam to his green slitted eyes, but at the same time seems to draw a greater definition to his own thick frame of eyelashes. Dark in comparison to his hair which for the most part is pulled forwards over one shoulder, almost touching the floor considering how he's sat a little leaned forwards.

A blink dismisses wherever his thoughts were as Lust brings a certain window to their discussion. He's only ever seen it once, when they had all been called for that first audience with the Sage, and if he can help it he'll never go back there to see it again. He had been otherwise engaged with work when Moglin had invited them all back but-]

You mean the temple in Mysidia- [Not a statement, but not a question either. AS far as he knows anyway there couldn't be anywhere else that she means, though. So the cult hadn't only moved against them at the Tower, in their absence, then...or so it seemed.]

-it's not my stained glass window.

[Abrupt; yes. Defensive; maybe a little.]

[gorgeous_sin]

Are we going to argue semantics now?

[She smiles slowly, then turns her attention back to the fire.]

Judging by your reaction, you weren't aware until just now. You must have been curious about what the sage had to say to the rest of us, did you fail to ask anyone? Or did someone tell you, and decide you didn't need to know that little detail?

[Whatever his answer, it'll definitely prove to be interesting either way.]

[shinrasfinest]

[If Lust hadn't been such amicable company up until this point, Sephiroth mostly likely would have rolled his eyes at her follow up question. As it was he just kept his gaze mostly in the campfire, curling leather clad fingers around the warmth of the flask as it starts to cool.

But what Lust says next ends up with him looking directly at her again. Once more pulling his gaze all over her to attempt to get those body language cues that might feed him something of her intentions in trying at...baiting him?]

I could think of a thousand better uses for my time than traveling all the way there to ascend that staircase and speak to an avatar who clearly is on the wrong side of our interests.

[Not to mention he had been working. The information, or whatever use the Sage had proven himself in the latest meeting, Sephiroth would hear of eventually if it was important enough.]

So what is the reason for the attack there?

[gorgeous_sin]

Who knows?

[She sighs, lifting her hands and shrugging her shoulders.]

Neither the sage nor his Moogle pet told us, but given that they seem to have run off with Kalki's statue while destroying the others, the signs point to the cultists simply attempting to wreak havoc while we weren't around to do anything about it. Your guess is as good as mine.

[Still, she does think it's interesting that they spared his window and not the others.]

If they're fond of you, however, that puts you in a unique position. Will they listen to you if you direct them? Or will you be put in greater harm should they manage to capture you? Cultists do seem to have a habit of sacrificing what is most dear to them, after all.

[She picks up a broken stick and flicks it into the fire.]

You should be on your guard, moreso than the others.

[shinrasfinest]

[Thanks for giving him yet another thing to ponder on entirely-too-much, Lust. As if he doesn't have enough what with the coordination of the three military squads, the scouting party and planning the advance into Downopolis when the time came!

She has sparked a concern, that without her innocent slip of the tongue, he wouldn't have known about at all. Lust might even have adjusted how Sephiroth would play this out, depending on what the reception is like should they eventually come face to face with the Cultists. Yet it's easy for him to understand why no one thought to inform him when the group, that had met with the Sage recently, had returned. Certain personal connections of his probably felt it would be ill-advised.

After a few silent moments, trying to level what could be different about his stained-glass window compared to all others starts to make his brain fizzle. Sephiroth shakes his head slowly, but his expression betrays the fact that her words are considered very seriously indeed.]

Perhaps. Though I say it again, that depiction isn't me. Or rather it was, just...from before.

[gorgeous_sin]

I wasn't implying otherwise.

[She knows alllll about looking like a previous version of one's self, but having a completely different personality. In this, Sephiroth is the fortunate one who still has a conscience. Lust does not.]

In any case, I'd like to get some rest. Would it be reasonable to assume that the illusion can be dropped for the time being?

[shinrasfinest]

Hm.

[This personality has its humanity at least mostly intact, along with the morals that often get called into question. Though that previous version is technically a later version of himself, in which he'd given up everything about being human, to pursue a higher goal.

As it is he'll forever hope that he never wakes up as that man. Just the thought that he might one day have to face that Shadow, is daunting as hell]

I'll get a night watch organized, just to be safe. I daresay we'll need everyone at their best, come morning.

[It seems he's finished his hot drink anyway, so in the next moment Sephiroth stands, nods his head politely to Lust and then marches off back to the larger military tent.]