Horizon Walkers (Game Thread) Dead

[Josh123914]

Nettil watched the display and shivered despite being clothed in more layers than an onion, and listened to the others- who had clearly ignored her last question.

Zuria continued to debate the Leviathan, while the quiet bookish one named Alex declared to side with Janice in the matter.

Apparently they had been ignoring Kes as well, ignoring her personal qualms with the discussion;
"Will one or both of you just say what's going on! I at least don't know anything about your conflict; much less what a "mother of the sea" is.

"From what I can gather, Zuria used to defend her people from Janice, who used her **** to flood this place" she said, kicking away some ice from her feet at the thought. "Zuria has a gauntlet that maybe isn't supposed to be hers, and was using it to keep evil at bay."

She then gestured at the ocean and then the group. "Now, obviously that has failed, since Zuria was part of your group when I met you all, meaning she couldn't possibly be guarding this ice heap, but the S'tharn engage in slaving, which makes me question what kind of people Zuria considers worth defending. Or do you not consider slaves "people"?"

Nettil then moved her posture and looked up to face Janice. "Supposing we do free you," she asked, quickly darting an eye to Alex and Lucia, then back to the beast. "What will you do? And don't lie. Honestly, there's no benefit, considering I have a less than emaculate opinion of the S'tharn way of life as is."

Nettil would apologize to Zuria, but that time would come later, and honestly doing so now may undermine her entire interpretation so far.

 

[DarkRawen]

Too much was going on at once for Des to speak up. He knew better than to get into a discussion between two ladies who hated each other as much as Janice and Zuria seemed. However, from what he could gather, the Stharn were bad people, very bad people, and Janice, wanting to free slaves, was the lesser of two evils.

So, we should help Janice.

At least, Des thought that was how it worked? He himself knew how cruel mortals could be, how they could wage wars for eternities for profit. Sure, they would claim it was in order to protect themselves, but if neither had attacked, there would be no reason to defend. For all the sins he was fond of, lust being the main one, he didn't find pride to be commendable, or even pleasurable. Pride and wrath were only used to harm others, he thought. When he heard that Alex stood with Janice, he found himself stepping next to the demon hunter.

"I do as well," he said, though he took distance from the fighting between Zuria and Janice, he still wasn't sure which of them they would end up helping. It depended on what the others chose. Still, this made him angry, the way they were bickering, throwing insults like small children, and the way it became clear how horrible this Horizon actually was. And most of it was mortals' doing. It reminded him of the first Horizon he had visited, and though he had tried to ignore it there, simply remembering the cheering made him narrow his eyes.

"These Stharn seem despicable, and if they can't play nice, then I have no issue with the whole lot drowning. The wicked will be punished and the innocent will get their reward. I may not know what happens to the mortal soul afterwards, but I do know for a fact that hell exist."

For those who had travelled with Des for a while, his anger was surprising and unfamiliar.

 

[hiei82]

"SAY THAT AGAIN WHEN YOU'RE FREE! If you're freeing her do it already, these head games accomplish nothing and I'm getting sick of the snake speak." Zuria said; summarizing Kes's feelings on the matter. While she couldn't be sure, it sounded like Zuria was defending some kind of slave-trade empire and the only way to stop them was freeing some kind of sea monster who freely admitted to eating people and genocide.

While Kes could see Janice's point - there were many times she'd have favored death over continued enslavement - she didn't agree with her on making that decision for them. Denying them the choice was another form of enslavement. Further, while she could sort of understand Alex and Des standing with the Mother of the Sea - they both had beliefs in gods and afterlives after all - she couldn't agree with the decision herself.

By the same note, she couldn't agree with Zuria. She defended these Stharn who were clearly the worst offenders. Overwhelming military power, slave taking and training, rule by fear... as far as Kes was concerned, they were of the same breed as the Liem - just monsters that made play at being human.

And yet, where the others seemed to be dividing up between Zuria and Janice's camps, Kes didn't see why they needed to. The solution seemed obvious to her. "Zuria. I owe you for helping free those slaves. However, if you stand with these "Stharn" then you're of my enemy. The Stharn have built their empire on the backs of slaves and should pay for it in blood." Kes said, her voice holding no mercy for them.

From there she turned to Janice. "I agree that the Stharn should pay, but you're a monster by your own right. If you plan to eat people and destroy this world you're just as evil as the Stharn. You took us to this island under lies and so I don't see any reason to help you. You don't need your full power and you don't deserve it."

"All we need to do is destroy the Stharn city-ship ourselves; no more slave empire and no giant monster on the loose." Kes finished. As far as she was concerned, it was the best path. From there, she began making her way to the canoe and eventually the Stharn ship. If Janice or Zuria tried to get in her way... well then she'd just have to deal with it.

 

[DarkRawen]

"All we need to do is destroy the S'tharn city-ship ourselves; no more slave empire and no giant monster on the loose."

Des looked towards Kes, trying to bite his tongue so that he didn't look as angry as he felt. Kes deserved none of his scorn. She had a point, though, if they could do both, that definitely would be preferable. However, he was given no chance to voice his agreement, as Zuria then tried to appear as if she was the one who was thinking about the innocent.

"Des you bastard, you think whatever comes next makes up for what happens in this world? You think there's some sort of justice, have you not seen what this world is like? Would you gods really settle for this is the were capable of better? You'd kill children and babies, of both sides. If that's really what you want then I'll say the same to you I did to the mother of the sea, do you understand what I intend to do?"

Des shook his head, and closed his eyes for the briefest moment, feeling more anger building up. "Don't you mortals dare push this over on me! I am a peaceful demon, I've always been a peaceful demon. However, if these people keep slaves, then those mortal children might as well grow up to be as rotten as their parents, and do as much harm. For now they remain innocent, yes, but that would likely change. A human life is short, but for those captured it will be pain. If it would stop the suffering, then how can you question me? Why are these mortal children more important than those of animals, who you so gleefully slaughter, or those mortals who get forced into slavery because of your people? Are the only children not allowed to be sacrificed those you consider your kin?" he said with disdain, bright orange eyes making his inhuman nature clear.

"So don't use your flawed, selfish mortal morality to judge me! I have interacted with more mortals, woman and men, than you've ever seen, and I've given them relief during these wasteful wars of yours! I know that there are innocent people, better than a little girl like you. So don't call me a bastard," he continued. While he wanted to further challenge Zuria on what she had said, Des didn't want to get into a discussion. Being angry felt bad, after all, an unpleasant burning in his chest.

"I change my mind, however, I'm not going to try talk to you. You're not worth it, none of your people are worth it." With that, he turned to follow Kes. He could help her, or the very least get away from the stupid humans. Wearily, looking at the ground, he took her hand, trying to get some sort of comfort. If nothing else, it kept him from getting more enraged.

 

[Lunar Templar]

Lucia just smirked a little at Des's outburst, took talent to piss of some one like him, he was right though. "He's right you know, 'society' dictates a lot in how some one will end up being, if you grow up around people who think slavery is ok then, as Des said, the children will grow to be as rotten as the parents." Lucia said. "Trust me, I know ALL about 'social programing', the country on my world that I had the poor fortune of being born in uses religion to keep a pointless war going, and the people ignorant of the true nature of their 'enemy'."

Lucia paused moment."Besides, your people are now every one else's problem, right? Going to other worlds to take and sell slaves. Let them burn before they destroy any more lives I say. Whats more." Lucia pointed to Janice's bonds. "The people your so keen on protecting, don't seem to really need you stop her if they already have the 'big bad monster' shackled, do they."

 

[hiei82]

Kes was happy to see Des - and possibly Lucia - supported her plan. It was always good to know you weren't alone. However, she wasn't quite sure what to make of Des taking her hand. She certainly didn't mind it - if anything she liked it for reasons she didn't understand - but it was an odd action. Was it some kind of demonic way of showing solidarity? Some kind of comfort? It honestly just confused her.

Fortunately, she didn't need to dwell on the confusion for long as, a moment later, Janice apparently broke her shackles. Zuria acted as expected which caused Janice to act as expected. Kes briefly wondered what Janice had even needed them for if the shackles were so flimsy. Large parts of this entire Horizon didn't make sense to her; though she couldn't deny that her bias against the sea may have played a part in it.

In any event, apparently the children needed to be separated before they killed each other. Kes could have jumped into the fray immediately and likely stopped Janice's counterstrike but she'd hesitated. Not because of her plan or anything - stopping the idiots from killing each other supported her plan after all (since a free Mother of the Sea would be bad for it and a dead Zuria would be less than ideal). What stopped her was Des's hand. She'd forgotten he was holding it.She probably could have broken out of the grip easily, but she didn't want to hurt Des in the process. Thus, she let go of it more carefully than she normally would have before dashing into the melee.

Halfway to the battleground, she let loose her thunderous roar. What followed was a running, enraged punch aimed directly for Janice's face. If it connected, she'd quickly turn it into a clothesline to swing up upon the monster's back where she'd hopefully have free range to beat the idiot into unconsciousness. She took a second to shoot Zuria a glare just to inform her she'd be next.

 

[Josh123914]

Nettil sat back at the display, as people took sides and declared their motivations. Des shouted some things about being a demon and Lucia sai- "hang on." Nettil began to think to herself. Des being a demon? What kind? He appeared to be normal, but that may just have been some magic. His attachment to Kes may indicate some connection and-

Suddenly her thought process was interrupted by utter madness. Janine was apparently lying about the chains and decided to be a little ***** about the situation and pinned Zuria down. Then Kes sprang forth, yelling right in Nettil's ear, before clipping Janice in the face.

Now, Janice was wielding a spear in her upper arms and a curved sword in the lower set. Nettil glanced around and then stepped forward, dropping her staff. She then raised her arms slowly, erecting a large vertical soil wall between Janice and the others. She then stomped her feet in unison and pointed at the ground as a pillar a few metres high propelled her above the others. She then grabbed her spear and pointed the jewelled end at Janice.
Nettil then cleared her throat and put on her *leader* voice.
"Is this the part where you try to kill us? Because if you were never properly chained then why are we here?"

 

[DarkRawen]

Ignore

 

[Lunar Templar]

Lucia could only sigh as things slid the way the where going. Apparently the chains had been a lie, and this Janice was really only after one of them, all things considered, she was inclined to let the beast have what it wanted. She also looked on Janice with disappointment, for a 'seagoddes' she was remarkably lack luster in that regard, Leviathan would have wiped them out by now, but this Janice seemed more interested in toying with them.

 

[IFS]

Talks broke down rapidly, with Kes claiming that they should destroy a city themselves, Zuria claiming that Janice was a monster, and Janice not doing herself any favors diplomatically. Combat was suddenly joined, Janice's chains proving to be false (something Alex had suspected) as they rapidly reforged into weapons and shields to fend off attacks. Nettill threw up a wall and pillar, raising herself above the group and speaking as if for them. Janice laughed and brought down the wall with her body, now shown to be a monstrous snake in size.

"Enough," he said, half tiredly half cheerily "This gets us nowhere."

First he turned to Kes "You speak of ending the city ourselves but how do you plan such a feat? We are not an army, or I suppose navy, nor do I wish to hang around this horizon long enough to raise one," he said, "If you wish the city destroyed then Janice seems to be the simplest and best course for that, if you disagree with her intentions on the matter then you would be better served using your words rather than your fists."

Then he turned to Janice, he had no real desire to end an entire city, even one populated by as aggressive of a people as the Stharn, yet he did not wish to battle the will of a goddess.

"I do not wish to see you dead, nor would I personally wish the destruction of a people," he said "but surely there must be more lenient terms, something more agreeable, that we could reach. If you are a goddess of this world then it is your place to bring a reckoning on these Stharn, but this place does not seem wholly diseased to me, it would seem foolish to kill the patient to remove a tumor after all."

 

[hiei82]

Alex and Janice used their words to suggest a course of action which might have been effective against some people. The words were fairly well reasoned and - while not addressing any of Kes's concerns - had some level of persuasion behind them. Unfortunately, Kes wasn't the kind to listen to such arguments; particularly while enraged. It was sweet but meaningless words that made her people slaves.

So, while Janice spoke, Kes continued her assault; now with a new plan. As Janice parried her strikes with various weapons, Kes kept up the strikes waiting for the perfect moment. It came when Janice finally blocked again with a shield. Where before Kes had all but bounced off the shield, this time she shot her other arm forward, opened her fists, and grasped the shield. She continued through with the forward motion of the initial attack, but twisted herself - and therefore Janice's arm - as she did. When she regained her foothold, Kes unleashed her plan. She pulled.

In one fell swoop, she pulled with all her might, holding onto the shield - or anything else it transformed into - regardless of the danger. Either the gauntlet or Janice's arm would have to give way. With the way they'd been speaking about the gauntlets earlier, Kes suspected - and hoped - it would be the arm.

 

[DarkRawen]

When Kes ran ahead, Des couldn't help but stand and watch. He wouldn't want to get in her way, after all, and he still hesitated to get involved. However, then Janice turned the situation around, and seemed to have the upper hand. As much as he didn't want to help Zuria, the rest -Kes more so than anyone else- was a different thing.

Why do I always have to get involved?

He asked himself. He wished he could just find a horizon that was all about relaxing and courting beautiful ladies, and having fun. Des had imagined orgies with exotic ladies and new, tasty food. Soft pillows and no war. Not... not this.

Of course, it was unavoidable now, Alex had tried to talk -such a wise mortal- but everything had gone to hell right after again. He understood why Kes was tired, but killing Janice was likely not a solution.

Unarmed, but not helpless, Des reached out for Janice in the moment Zuria had managed to distract her. The moment he got close enough to him to touch her, he paralized the being, hoping that it would solve whatever issue the others had in making a decision, or at least calm the situation down long enough.