No sooner than Amias stood to accept this invitation did the splintering and crashing of wood disrupt the meeting. The woman responsible was someone he'd never met before, yet she undeniably shared the mark of Raphael. He grinned ever so slightly listening to her speak; she was exceedingly confident that 'she' had been the one sent to carry out Raphael's missive. She was young yet; one day she'd learn that no god puts all their eggs in one basket. Regardless, the demon took the situation in stride and said his own piece after Charlie was finished speaking. "You may have misinterpreted his instructions a bit, if that's what you got from it. Neither of us was sent to 'collect' anyone. We're here to 'collect' the pieces of Nocturne and put them back together." He was a bit pointed when speaking to Sophia, given that she'd somehow managed to do an even better job of stirring things up in the theater, and not for the better. "What is your name? And after that...what is your plan to contribute to Nocturne's restoration?"
He hoped she'd come with an idea of some kind, otherwise her aura likely wouldn't be tolerated for long. It was one thing to support fellow marked, but for them to come so dubiously under-prepared was another problem in itself. "If you haven't taken the time to observe Nocturne as it is now, then I would recommend doing so before we speak further. There's a lot of work to be done here, and not a whole lot of people left to do it." Giving her another look over, he was actually a bit surprised to see someone such as herself here. Types like her would ordinarily be out killing Vangelists.
Posted: Thu Jun 20, 2019 3:50 am
Her new found counterparts seemed to be a little hostile, it seemed to Sophia. One of them seemed to already be gathering a group of his own followers, all vagabonds and pickpockets it seemed. Sophia looked around the building at the bodies pinned to walls and pile of carcasses still smoldering. It was likely that the group that was leaving had been the ones to carry out the atrocity. Sophia's fist clenched for a moment before she relaxed. There would be a time to deal with later.
Instead, her attention turned to Charlie's comment regarding nobles. He gestured to the bodies as if to threaten her for a moment. "You shouldn't jump to conclusions so quickly. You see my armor and believe me a noble right away. Already you are incorrect. Everything I have, I fought for and claimed as my own. I was born into a world no better than any of those that carried out this... massacre. The difference is that I did not blame others for my own misfortunes in this world."
It seemed that Amias had decided to ignore Sophia's gesture. It was as if it never happened. He too was full of questions and doubt over her intentions for being there. At least he had the good manners to not use a pile of bodies to threaten her. Sophia relaxed her posture and shifted her weight, sinking into one of the many displaced seats in the theatre. "My name is Sophia and I am here to do one thing: bring order to the chaos that is Nocturne. Crime and discord are rampant in not only this city, but the country as a whole. It cannot be allowed to continue to fester in its current state when there are far greater problems to be dealt with. My first goal is to do as I have already done in Fraxon City and that is to unite the Mazdaks and Vangelists within Nocturne, no matter how small their number. This is an order from both Raphael and Uriel. My second goal is the establishment of a functioning government, in whatever form that takes. Preferrably, both of these will be achieved without sparking a civil war within the city. There has already been enough killing in this room." Sophia's eyes narrowed as she glared at Charlie while delivering the last line. She wasn't certain that he had a part to play, but his band of miscreants were likely not free from blame.
Sophia | Warden | Vanguard
Aura of BraveryPassive Sophia is such a dominant figure on the battlefield, she radiates an Aura of Bravery, inspiring all allies around her. This does not give them any stat boost but instead makes them want to be as brave as Sophia. Enemies meanwhile will seem to want to run in fear. Sophia will appear to shine and her injuries will appear less noticeable, like attacks aren't phasing her.
Raphael sure picked a random assortment of individuals to carry around his mark. The three were all contrasts to each other and the world around them. So far none had agreed on anything and didn't seem to approach any compromise. Grabbing what was left of a chair Charlie seated himself while tying his hair back into a bun. He listened to Amias talk and thought about Raphael and why it had taken so long to intervene in Nocturne. Why let so much blood spill? Charlie still had no actual reason to want to help the nation other than pure curiosity and a chance to see order for once. He was just a shade watching living beings play out their parts. He'd outlive them all in the end. Maybe it was all bullshit and deep down he felt some sort of regret and was trying to atone for past sins.
In the corner of his eye, Charlie spotted the noble girl from before. She hadn't left with everyone else and looked unharmed. Like a feral child, she eyed Charlie from behind some broken and undiscernable objects. While Amias and the woman talked he extended his hand out for the girl to grab. She swiftly darted over to Charlie to hold his hand and hide behind him. "What's your name?" He whispered in Demonica but once again would get no answer from the girl. Her eyes completely focused on the other two talking. "Curious little child."
The woman had decided to address his words and seemed offended that he called her a noble. He smirked at her defense but wouldn't go any further. Charlie gained nothing from calling her names. "Blame huh," Charlie mumbled while the woman spoke. "You think these people are lashing out because they don't know how to cope with their own misfortune? I killed most of the citizens here. The ones that were too far gone to be helped. They were burning nobles alive in here and if I hadn't done something they would've killed this innocent little girl. I gave them a chance at redemption. A chance to throw away their madness for order but never tell me that their indignation isn't justified. We are citizens of Nocturne and blood is paid with blood at the end of the day. He listened to her quietly as she went on about crime and held a chuckle. Would she react negatively if she knew what he was? She'd probably argue that this was all just an elaborate plan for him to gain more control over the crime in the city. Maybe Amias already knew if he kept tabs on Charlie. But the shade was an absolute ghost when it came to his business. The business that no longer existed due to circumstances. It was frustrating being Charlie for sure. His true motivations a mystery even to himself. Perks of living for so long. Your mind acts on its own.
Charlie looked over at Amias with a worried expression when he heard the woman's game plan. It was like the man had said she didn't have a clear grasp on what she was fighting for or better yet the people she was fighting for. She wanted to use the same template that had worked in Fraxon in Nocturne. "Are you mad?" Charlie asked from his seat. "You want to just- and cut me off if I'm wrong here- unite two warring religious groups. One of which is basically hunted down like wild game and all of this without a civil war? Are you sure Raphael told you this? Have you seen societies collapse and rise? I and this gentleman over here have seen kingdoms rise and fall like sand castles. They are frail and in the end just as meaningless as the last. But not this nation. Nocturne survives through blood and war and now you're telling me you want to make it all go away through God? Because you managed to unite the people of Fraxon? We are not Fraxon. I want order just as much as anyone but I'm not going to lie to myself or anyone else about the bleak future. We will have blood. There will be chaos and countless will die. This nation's culture does not allow change without discord and it DEFINITELY won't allow Vangelists to be a part of it. I definitely won't." With that said he stood up to approach the woman. "So full of good intentions Madam Sophia. I don't think you realize the hell hole you've thrown yourself into. Things around here aren't as black and white as they were in Fraxon. This place will test your resolve and I can't wait to see how you end up."
War Keeps Me Entertained Enough.
Posted: Thu Jun 20, 2019 5:42 pm
Somnus Aeternam
malavaes
""
Listening not only to Sophia's explanation, but the back and forth between the two of them was vexing to say the least. Even more vexing was the way she explained what exactly she was going to do with Nocturne, or at least the way she planned to do things in Nocturne. Charlie's look of worry was returned with one of bemusement, given that their friend was seemingly quite eccentric about her work. Again, it seemed quite telling that Sophia had done no actual looking into the civilization she was claiming to want to help. Given that they were still on the same side, Amias responded with courtesy, keeping in mind that the air was still quite tense. "On this matter, I would have to agree with Charlie. Nocturne isn't so cut-and-dry as Fraxon or any of the other kingdoms. Simply because one or two of the gods ordered it, the people of this territory will not lay down their weapons and immediately cease fire." He would take a brief pause before continuing, making sure to gauge the response in the room should things turn sour. "That's not to say that your intentions aren't good; as I stated before, it's definitely something where you'll need to get a better understanding of Nocturne before you can try to help." This was something of an open invitation, but he'd get there shortly. For now, one thing she said was really sticking with him. "You said...that you want to unite the Vangelists with the Mazdakists? In order to do that, you would need a shovel...and a necromancer."
Before continuing to speak, Amias would stand up. "As I said, your understanding of Nocturne is very limited, and I recommend taht you fix that before this discussion continues any further. If you'd like, I can show you around for a while. I believe our compatriot--" Amias would then motion to Charlie, knowing full well that his first meeting had just been horridly interrupted, "Likely has some important business to tend to with rallying the local population to a cause. We'll work to supplement that effort for now in our own ways." He motioned to the now broken doorway and began walking out. As if by a work of magic, the wood and debris seemed to clear out of his way on its own, leaving the completely cleared doorway easily accessible. He would step out to the great silver dragon waiting, the two having a brief chat before Sophia would join them.
"What is there to understand about Nocturne that I am not already painfully aware? I have no allegiance to the rest of this city, only to the Mazdaks. Why should I wish to save those that would burn their own country men alive and pin them to the walls of this gaudy theatre? But if there is something you wish to show me, then lead on, anything that takes us from this place." Sophia rose and began to follow Amias out of the broken doorway. To most, the sight of the large silver dragon that was now waiting outside for the pair of them would come as a shock and carry an air of mysticism about it. Instead, Sophia quietly admired the creature from afar for a moment before following right behind Amias. As she reached Amias, Sophia slowly began to hover a few inches off the ground. "Shall we be off? I assume you have some grand plan already at work."
Sophia | Warden | Vanguard
Aura of BraveryPassive Sophia is such a dominant figure on the battlefield, she radiates an Aura of Bravery, inspiring all allies around her. This does not give them any stat boost but instead makes them want to be as brave as Sophia. Enemies meanwhile will seem to want to run in fear. Sophia will appear to shine and her injuries will appear less noticeable, like attacks aren't phasing her.
Posted: Sat Jun 22, 2019 4:02 pm
Somnus Aeternam
""
Amias ignored Sophia's remarks for the most part; there was so painfully much she had to learn about Nocturne before she was able to help anyone in the kingdom. Even the Mazdaks. "A grand plan? You misunderstand my intentions, Sophia." It was at this moment that the demon remembered to introduce himself. That would come when it was a bit more convenient. "Mazdaks, supporters of Vaet Nocturnum...the two or three fringe vangelists you're looking for are all the same. When you come to Nocturne, it becomes part of you. That's the major reason why this region has never truly prospered. The spell cast over it all those hundreds of years ago does not allow for anyone to escape it's reaches quite the same as they were before. The people you're trying to save here will not be the same as the ones you've dealt with before. That's what I mean to show you." An unspoken gesture between Amias and Omnath would have the dragon taking off into the skies, leaving the pair for now until he was needed.
"Forgive me, by the way; I never introduced myself. My name is Amias." Taking a moment to shift his balance before taking off, he would turn to Sophia once more and gesture to the skies. "Shall we be off?"
"I suppose, let us be off then." With nothing more to be said, Sophia would rapidly rise into the air. [exit]
Sophia | Warden | Vanguard
Aura of BraveryPassive Sophia is such a dominant figure on the battlefield, she radiates an Aura of Bravery, inspiring all allies around her. This does not give them any stat boost but instead makes them want to be as brave as Sophia. Enemies meanwhile will seem to want to run in fear. Sophia will appear to shine and her injuries will appear less noticeable, like attacks aren't phasing her.
