victory_road | Open log!

Entry tags:

Open log!

Who: Sion/Shrike/Geddoe and YOU
Where: Hisui!
When: Throughout the event
Summary: Catch-all for assorted event threads
Rating: PG (probably)
Log:
Sion
I. New Arrivals

To say that Sion in any way expected to find himself somehow transported to the past (of another region, to boot!) would be a lie. However, he's been in Johto long enough now that very little succeeds in surprising him, and he'd always been fairly adaptable to begin with.

Which is why in short order he's already acquired a new outfit and is approaching anyone who looks a little lost... Or a little upset.

"Is anything the matter?"

II. Around Camp

Are you sitting around camp with nothing to do and looking bored? Are you staring at the quest board wondering what you should do next? Fear not! Sion will gladly step in to help you out.

"If you're looking for something to do, I'd recommend..." Well, whatever seems most prudent or in need of doing at the moment, really. ~~Something something you can take the gym leader out of his gym...~~

III. Gathering Missions/Exploring

Of course, Sion's not spending all his time hanging around the base camp. There's those supplies to be gathered, after all, and who wouldn't want to go out exploring a bit? So, you may happen to run into him and his Hisuian Sneasel either setting out from camp, or out and about beyond it. If so, he'll certainly stop to chat and trade information as to what he's found so far.

Or, perhaps, suggest teaming up, if it looks like there's particularly high-level wild Pokémon in the area.

Shrike
I. Not the hood!

Broadly speaking, Shrike isn't very particular about his clothes. He'll just take what he can get without complaint. On the other hand, he still treasures being able to have nice clothes (or, what he considers nice)... and more importantly, still steadfastly refuses to go out in public without a hood that obscures much of his face.

Which might explain why he's currently clutching a very definitely worse for the wear hooded cloak around his head while looking at the outfits offer by the Ginkgo Guild.

"Isn't there something with a hood...?"

He frankly sounds more concerned or upset about that than anything else at the moment, really.

II. Hanging Around

For better or worse, Shrike is still very shy around people, and being thrust into yet another strange land isn't helping matters. So, while he's definitely doing what he can to pitch in and help, he's also... Well, keeping to himself as much as possible.

Except when someone approaches him (or he runs into them) anyway, in which case there's an awkward "um, hi?"

Geddoe

I. New Friends

While not, perhaps, as deeply attached to his Pokémon partners as many, Geddoe still found it more than a little annoying to suddenly be without them in a place that still required them. All that time and effort, only to be handed the ball of some brand new, unfamiliar 'mon. Not that he had any intention of turning the offer down, of course, he's still pragmatic about these things, and once he's stepped aside to let everyone else in need of a new partner have some room, he promptly checks to see what he's got to work with.

Cue a tiny bundle of yellow and black, crackling with barely-contained electricity, appearing with an inquisitive pichu? on the grass before him.

"..."

Geddoe has no words for this, but the look on his face pretty clearly and eloquently says you have GOT to be kidding me...

II. Out and About

Regardless of what Geddoe may think about this world's apparent sense of humor when it relates to him, he is perfectly willing to help out. In fact, being a mercenary, picking up tasks for a payout is exactly up his alley, so you can regularly find him checking out the board for any new and interesting (or lucrative) postings.

That said, he's not big on the socializing thing, either, so you're just as likely to spot him off away from camp, taking advantage of missions that require him to go further afield if he can. His new partner, probably to te surprise of no one who's come to know him in Johto, can often be spotted riding on his shoulder, or sometimes even his head, a fact which Geddoe seems to just stoically endure.

Care to approach the grouchy old man?

III. Matters of Importance

Still, there's one thing the camp is lacking, as far as Geddoe's aware. And given that the locals apparently don't want the newcomers traipsing about the nearby village, that severely limits one's options.

So, he'll just have to ask around, instead, meaning early on you might find yourself approached by the stoic mercenary (with an electric mouse on his shoulder) and asked a simple question:

"Know anywhere to get a drink around here?"

OOC note: This is a catch-all for all three of mine! I may add prompts or top levels as needed as the event progresses. Feel free to tag using an existing prompt (make sure to specify which character you're tagging!) or wildcard me. I can also be reached for plotting via PM or Discord (AC#7235).

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"A terribly embarrassing fate, that, though it could certainly have been worse."

Arceus could reasonably be trusted to not transport anyone naked, but that machine? Who knows what it can do!

It apparently cannot give Cecil extra arms, however, which is why-

"It'd be much appreciated. Prishe is very enthusiastic, be it because of the food or because she wishes to help, but I'm not exactly equipped to keep up."

"It could, but probably not by much."

Considering that Sion has reason to be... less than fond of the person in question, it's an image he can remember and cherish.

Cecil's response does earn a chuckle, though.

"In that case, should I take some of those off of your hands, or simply take any new ones?"

"Perhaps you could-"

Whatever Sion could do will be forever lost to time, as Prishe chooses that moment to bring another half-dozen mushrooms, which are promptly presented to Sion. Here you go, mister, food for you! She can even bring some for your Sneasel friend! :D

Cecil's subsequent laughter is barely suppressed.

"...She intends to give you her next catches, it seems."

Okay then, apparently he's now being presented with mushrooms!

"Well, I suppose that answers the question well enough!"

Hopefully between them they'll be able to manage. And hopefully the Ginkgo Guild is prepared to be deluged with mushrooms...

Mushrooms are great! Mushrooms are tasty! Mushrooms can be-

Luckily, when Cecil manages to pat her head with his elbow, she stops her rant to enjoy the affection.

"We may have only met each other a short time ago, but I can already tell she's very... direct. Is your own as lively?"

"Maybe not as... energetic, but he certainly seems opinionated."

That's right, bud, or so his partner's posture seems to say.

"How lovely. I've no doubt you'll get along swimmingly."

It is very likely that those words are, in fact, entirely sincere and genuine, despite Cecil's wide grin.

"Should we find enough mushrooms, I may set a few aside for a salad later. Would you both also like some?"

"I should certainly hope so."

He's managed to deal with worse, at least.

"Well, I wouldn't refuse, if you don't mind sharing."

"It'd be my pleasure! Since our options are limited at the moment, I've been trying new ways to use the ingredients we gather. This may as well be a learning experience."

And then, because there isn't anyone around to overhear-

"...Even if I am terribly sick of this world's learning experiences, in general."

"You mean you haven't already tried all possible combinations in your various cooking experiments?" Sion teases lightly, then his expression sobers just a little at that second remark.

"I take it you're thinking of something in particular?"

"I could easily be speaking in general, but the last year has been rather harrowing, and that does not seem about to stop."

They're stuck in the past without their Pokémon. It is very much not stopping.

"Speaking of which, you've not had any troubles after that last mad weekend, have you?"

"Not in particular, no." Sion shakes his head. Things had been mostly business as usual. "Have you been having problems?"

"Not problems, exactly... But I was visited by a man who resembled you most alarmingly, as far as I could tell. It was not a particularly pleasant meeting."

Obviously Sion hasn't died of starvation or exposure, so that's one potential worry dispelled, but still.

"A man who--"

For a moment, Sion looks mildly puzzled... Until he suddenly recalls a rather unusually cryptic remark Ryner had made (and refused to elaborate on) not long after the last weird weekend. At which point his expression becomes quite unreadable.

"What happened, exactly?"

He's pretty sure he has a good idea of who Cecil is talking about, but 'not particularly pleasant' could mean any number of things.

"Not much, relatively speaking."

No one died or came close to it! Thus, the incident was minor, as far as he's concerned.

"Your look-alike refused all offers of assistance and resources, while displaying great disdain for the needs and limitations of humans. A terribly unpleasant man, truly. His armor would have kept him safe from weaker Pokémon, certainly, but not from starvation."

Well, Sion's relieved to hear that it sounds like there was no real trouble. A good thing, considering what could have happened. Still, he probably ought to clear up some things...

"I rather doubt a god would need to worry about starving."

Which, well, that statement probably also explains why Sion's lookalike had such disdain.

"That would have been Aslude Roland, also known as the Mad Hero. A fallen god, and the ancestor of the royal family of the Roland Empire."

Who also serve as his vessels, but one thing at a time, here.

"Ancestor...? You'd think he'd show more respect for the mortality of his descendants, mad and fallen or not."

That is, as far as Cecil's concerned, the most important point. Gods not understanding humans? Very common. Gods disdaining humans? Unpleasant, but he can deal. Gods disdaining humans, despite having human relatives? Absolute assholes.

"Still, there was always a chance for him to remain in this world even after the weekend ended. Starvation would have become a problem at that point."

Considering that the god in question considers his human descendants nothing more than a sort of tool, well, asshole probably sums it up, actually.

"I believe the only thing he cares for is the suitability of any of them to serve as his vessel in the human world." There's a brief pause before he continues; the topic is... personal enough that even Sion needs a moment to decide how to compose his explanation. "You recall, in that memory, the pain and power you felt? That my father also possessed? That was--is--the Mad Hero."

And now Cecil might be able to guess just why Sion was so sensitive to the issue of possession, after what happened at prom. But even so, there's still more to explain here.

"His goal is to free himself by destroying the human world, but he must be incarnated as a human to do it. Ordinarily, all scions of the royal family would be forced to succumb to his influence, with the brunt of his power and focus with whoever happens to be most suitable at the time. As it happens, circumstances allowed me to both obtain that power while still fighting back, which in turn makes it possible that we might still have a chance of saving the world, instead. But I cannot say I'm surprised that he would have such an attitude, finding himself here."

It's probably for the best his and Sion's paths hadn't crossed. That doubtless would have even very poorly. For that matter, there's quite a bit Sion's not saying, given the brevity of his summary of everything. The fact that while he does have the upper hand, he is still technically possessed by the mad god. That by implication, he has little reason to hope for anything but a merciful death even if he succeeds in saving the world. That the fact that this, well, one could call it a curse, is passed on by bloodline, rendering him unwilling to sire children of his own no matter how he may have dreamed of having a family when he was younger.

And that, despite all that, he still believes in and doesn't allow himself to regret his choice.

But surely Cecil doesn't want to try to unpack all that right now stuck in some random place in the past, right?

Right?

But in any case...

"In that case, then I imagine he'd learn his lesson soon enough."

Sion doesn't sound very concerned about the consequences of that at all.

Well. That is a lot. A lot that explains plenty of the more... alarming details about that memory. To think that generations upon generations endured such pain for that reason... Cecil cannot fully suppress his shudder.

What a shame it is that he did not know that information a few months earlier! There are worse ways to die than attempting to punch a worthless, dangerous god in the face.

"...I know plenty of people who've some experience with deicide, but the need to keep a host alive is a less common situation. My apologies for the lack of practical advice. Thankfully, none of that is necessary here, at the moment."

Not much of a relief, considering that their stays, long though they may be, are temporary. Yet that must be far, far better than nothing.

"If he has been taking over members of your family, how has he not yet managed to achieve his goal? A king easily has the power to start a conflict terrible enough to destroy humanity."

It's probably a good thing he didn't know all that a few months ago: Sion would have been quite upset indeed if Cecil had come to harm for something so reckless and ill-advised. And there's already enough Sion blames himself for now, isn't there?

"You saw how my father was. A madman, not the incarnation of a god. Not all those of royal blood have the same... compatibility, and usually they are broken and driven mad well before receiving the Mad Hero's full power."

It's quite likely that Sion himself was probably intended to be that proper, fully compatible vessel at last. Certainly it can't be coincidence that they look basically identical.

"And besides that, I don't believe merely killing all humans alone would suffice to break his bonds. He draws power from converting them to his purpose, becoming stronger through conquest rather than slaughtering." Sion shrugs. He doesn't exactly have the full picture, himself, but he does know that much, at least. After all, he's been doing precisely that himself, to gain that power to use for his own purposes.

"That's... something of a blessing for your world in general, then, though one that has extremely horrifying implications for your ancestors. I can only hope that madness is dispelled by death."

Having seen plenty of souls linger after death back home and knowing that such powerful forces exist in Sion's, he can only assume that those dead don't simply disappear. Yet if they must endure such suffering even then, perhaps non-existence would be a kinder fate.

"So it's not merely the destruction of the world that he seeks, but also its... perversion, in a way? It must be molded to suit his purpose before he rids himself of it?"

That sounds more like the Emperor than Kefka, and not in a manner that he likes.

"All of Menoris is a prison designed by the goddesses to contain the Mad Hero and the Lonesome Demon. Naturally, the prisoners cannot break free without first altering the nature of their confinement in a way to allow it. Though I doubt it matters much to any of them what becomes of humans after that."

It's pretty terrible for everyone in the end, really. And has been going on like that for countless thousand-year cycles. There's a good reason why Sion tends to have such a bleak outlook at times.

Which, speaking of, that first remark of Cecil's definitely hit on something.

"And perhaps if with death the soul is freed from its torment, then I suppose it's possible clarity of mind would return, for all it matters at that point," he says, though it's not really something he's thought on much. Mostly because he's never thought it truly mattered. Back in Roland, he hadn't expected to live to see his thirtieth birthday, and was quite fine with that notion.

"However... mad or not, simply being released from those burdens would doubtless be a relief unto itself."

That is terrible indeed, enough for Cecil to almost feel sorry for the man he met. Remembering the pain he felt in Sion's memories keeps that at 'almost', however.

"Somehow, I... get the impression that being called the Mad Hero and the Lonesome Demon are not the sort to repent so sincerely that any goddess would choose to free them willingly, which would otherwise be the simplest option."

Nor does he get the impression that they were imprisoned unfairly, if one of the two feels that destroying the human world is an appropriate escape plan.

"What a shame it is that so many must await death to know true release. Still, I think it does matter. I know of multiple lands where the dead can have a second chance, and you could even count this one among them. What would happen, should one of your ancestors be brought here?"

"I cannot speak for the Lonesome Demon," though Ryner possibly could, "but the Mad Hero's intent and goal is to slay the goddesses. I doubt it has occurred to him to wish to do anything else, besides whatever it takes to achieve that goal."

Sion might be selling the fallen god a bit short; some of his prior mortal incarnations had certainly seen his will waver on that point, otherwise the world would have ended long ago. But Sion isn't exactly inclined to give him any more credit or benefit of the doubt than strictly necessary.

And while Sion certainly has a few thoughts of his own about death and the release it grants, that last question is unexpected enough to take him by surprise.

"I... do not know." The idea has never occurred to him, and what's more, now that it's been suggested, he's not sure he likes that idea. Ancestors he never knew are one thing, but even if his father...

No, he probably shouldn't think about that right now.

"However... If you had done countless terrible things, whether in your right mind or not, that ended only with your death--or perhaps that only death could begin to absolve you of them--would you truly be happy to be given both life and clarity of mind again?"

It's possible some of that may be somewhat less hypothetical musings. There's a reason Sion struggles with living in such a pleasant, peaceful world, after all.

"Ah, a proactive would-be god-slayer. They always have very... intense personalities."

It's not that Cecil has an issue will killing gods by itself. He's not that much of a hypocrite. But he's also spent months stuck in a world with plenty of people who shared that goal, and frankly having something in common with Kefka is no endorsement.

Goodness, he truly hopes Arceus knows better than to ever bring someone like Kefka over here, even if it someday decides to summon the dead vessels of a mad god.

"Happy? No, certainly not. But I'd certainly not feel absolved in the first place, if I'd simply died without attempting to make amends. Thus, I'd appreciate the opportunity to help others, even if I could only offer a single drop of kindness against the ocean of pain I'd caused."

No matter how much of a relief it is, death is no absolution. That much he's certain of. It may end a threat, become a necessity, but it does not bring back the dead, nor does it rebuild what has been destroyed. Allowing the people of Mysidia to kill wouldn't have helped them.

Playing along with Golbez's suicidal wish wouldn't have helped him, either.

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