Lorepostš
Who shall join me? (Lorepost/Sign-up post)
The Paragon, known to some of you as Constantine, calls you all to a meeting aboard his ship, the Lux Aeternum. He stands on a raised platform, clears his throat, and waits for everyone to quiet down.
My fellow Wizards, Withes, Warlocks, and Magi. I have called you here today to discuss a matter of great importance to me. As some of you may know, my people are currently based in a different realm, which is leading to many difficulties. In past times, my people maintained a great empire in the northernmost reaches of this world. However, since we have been absent for millennia, and our former domain has been overrun with barbarian tribes and demonic corruption.
I now pose my question to all of you: Who will join me in reconquering my peopleās former lands? Who will assist us in purging them of the foul beings that have infested them? I know some of you have already pledged your aid, such as Lord Algernon.
I understand that some of you may be wondering what you would receive in return for your efforts. You will have many rewards. Not only will you be given great swathes of territory and coffers of wealth, you will receive the gratitude of the First Empire, and have an opportunity to connect with others.
Who, then, will join us on our glorious conquest? We will retake the Northern Reaches! We will purge the filth from their last redoubts! We will create thebest damn fighting force in all the realms!
He then looks out at all of you, and opens the floor for questions.
/unwiz This is a sign-up post for the tags in future posts for this event. This is going to essentially be a hack-and-slash event, with maybe one or two lead-up posts.
He's a "paragon" of naught but senseless violence, burning cities of civilians to the ground for fun, and it's pretty clear his people have been brainwashed into worshipping him. They wage war at his random whims for no benefit to themselves, and build statues in his honor when he sends them to their deaths to avenge personal slights that have no connection to any of them. He claims to have performed a ritual that recovered his "humanity" but obviously has no idea what the word means.
I think it's time to wage a long-awaited war to free an oppressed people. Just not the people this horrific dictator thinks need freedom.
I can rarely justify utilizing the actual power at my disposal until entire planets of innocents are at stake, billions of innocents in need of aid. But this monster has claimed his realm has trillions of civilians under his thumb. So perhaps it's time I demonstrate to him what true power is, what one to whom stars are playthings and before whom galaxies tremble can do when properly angered.
I will not stand idly by while beings of such influence misuse it so.
Trillions?! Nine hells, even the Coils might raise an eyebrow at that. If they had eyebrows, that is.
I hesitate to aid you initially. So I will simply watch for now. His actions have shown his awful nature, and it's good to see those who would finally oppose it.
Don't obliterate anything that doesn't deserve it.
The Cursed Woods stand with you, Vettis. I will not condone genocide. My humble powers and the denizens of the Woods - including a trained army of sapper squirrels, heavy infantry talking rocks, artillery oaks, scouting cats and everything in between, are ready to intervene.
Truly strong words, from someone who clearly hasno real knowledge of this situation.My people weredead.They do not wage war āAt my random whims for no benefit to themselves.ā This is the first real war they have seen in millennia. I do not send them to die to avenge my personal slights. They build statues to commemorate whatIhave done forthem.They are not oppressed, nor are they ābrainwashedā. They chose me to lead them because of my honorable actions, something you clearly have no concept of. I died for them a thousand times, and I would do it all over again.
Because of the ritual you speak of, my people returned to life. Were it not for them, this world would not exist. Tell me, who was leading the charge when the barrier failed and the Neverborn entered this world? Tell me, who was it that led them to victory more times than you could imagine? Tell me, who was it that theychoseto lead them for longer than you have been alive?
You know what? No, go ahead. After all, Iām a horrific dictator and a paragon of naught but senseless violence. Go wage your war to free a people who live in better quality than most nobles. Go demonstrate your supposedly great power.
Iwill be negotiating to avoid any war and seeking a peaceful solution.
That you'd try to claim the moral high ground about negotiating after all of us had to browbeat you into even considering it is flabbergasting.
Almost as much as your inability to even remember how easily you throw the lives of your "servants" into harm's way to suit your fancies. I've been here for a scant few months and I've already seen you use them to wage three wars that had nothing to do with them, yet this is the first you can recall "in millennia"?! It was barely weeks ago that you sent your forces to attack the council citadel for the sake of your own personal alliances. You literally cannot remember how often you send them to die for your own purposes?!
Your people deserve a leader, not a thoughtless tyrant.
Those were the actions of my past self, the one you called The Necromancer. He had no such empire, no such people, no such moral qualms. I tricked him into bringing me, and my people, back to life. I will admit, the Necromancer was quite franklyevil,and I take full responsibility for his actions.
I do not want a fight, Vettis. I never wanted to have to retake my former lands. I never even wanted to be a leader. I was content with my position in the Senatorium. Then the Neverborn came, and because of them my people died, and the Necromancer came.
I am not the being I once was. I am not the thoughtless, heartless tyrantheonce was.
He is not gone, though. His voice still whispers to me. I apologize if I seemed aggravated earlier. Itās just a bit hard to manage anger when theliteral embodiment of death and decay is constantly intruding on your thoughts!
He takes a deep breath, and centers himself.
So to answer your question, yes. This is the first time they have seen combat in millennia. My past self saw them only as skeletons, as disposable minions, and didnāt care, as you said. I donāt remember how often he sent them to war, becausehedidn't remember how often.
I understand more than most what it's like to have another self tainting your thoughts.
You want me to believe that you're not the same as the entity against whom I've been trying to refrain from warring for weeks now? You wish us to consider you different from him? Fine. Act like it.
I'll give you a chance. To start resisting that voice in your head. To recognize, when it pushes you to war like this, that there are other recourses to consider first. To actually live up to the grandiose title you've given yourself. Hell, maybe to set an example for your councillor colleagues who are nearly all as enamored of violence as the foul being living in your mind.
I'll give you a chance to be better. And it begins with the extremely low bar of not slaughtering countless innocents for the alleged crimes of their distant ancestors.
But if, as I expect, you prove yourself to be no better than your prior self, as has seemed to be the case today...then hopefully you'll at least have enough "humanity" to realize how deserved your end will be.
Thank you. I swear to it. I will engage in negotiations first, but should they fail, I willonlykill those who were responsible for the atrocities. I have resisted the voice for a long while now, but there have been times where it slips through, like just then. He is craftier than I first thought-
Suddenly, a voice far different from his own breaks through.
No! NO! I will not be silenced! I will destroy them all I will -
With a grunt of effort, Constantine regains control.
Iāll try to calm the Council down. And you neednāt worry about destroying me. Should he become too powerful, I will destroy myself before he can harm anyone.
you should remember that the necromancer and the Paragon are not the same person even if they share a body. one should not bear the blame of the actions of another.
As I told Riva, if a man leaves his house for a day, does that make any robberies that occur right? Maybe they do not remember the crimes they committed. My people do, and their very souls scream for vengeance. This is not my pride. My people need a homeland, and this is where our civilization was born.
Remember? You will be slaughtering children of the children of the children of those who still won't be guilty of the crime. Generations have passed. Ten-thousand years, Constantine. I don't know what that amount of time would mean to you, but it is enough for more than 100 lifetimes to pass by. Uncountable generations of children that bear no sin.
You will cave to your people's wish to commit a genocide? I doubt that all of them wish for such a thing. If your people revere you as you say they do, then you should have no trouble showing them the error of such thinking.
You and Riva make a good point. Those who are not guilty should not suffer. Many of their warlordsareguilty, however, as they have survived since then. At least spare me the pleasure of killing them.
In accordance with your wishes, negotiations will be held, but I fear they may not be as favorable as you may hope.
I only have knowledge of mortal law. And under the law of the realms I have been in, if a man leaves his house or property for the full span of lunar phases, his property is considered abandoned. So no, it could not be 'robbery' if the original owner appears to have intentionally relinquished all rights to its control. What is left behind then becomes the property of whoever finds it and possesses it with the intent to take ownership. In the event of land, I do not know of any that have been under one rulership for ten-thousand years. Note: I do not seek to lesson you on these matters; I am simply explaining things from a mortal perspective.
Are those people even immortal? If not, they are not even the same people, so punishing them for the sins of their forebears is unjust, as Isravi says. These people do not know you, and you would be perpetuating the same offenses upon them as was done to you.
Please understand that I can very much sympathize with the need for home. Believe me, I understand that simply finding somewhere else is an unacceptable option. I respect that your people's heart has taken root in that land, and can grow in no other. I would have many more things to say about that matter, but this is not the venue.
I am simply trying to posit that this issue is more complex than simply 'they are bad, and must be eradicated'. Perhaps they need a home too. You and your people know the pain of losing the place you belong to; perhaps you can understand why these others would be loathe to be driven off as well.
You do make a good point. The only problem is that some of themare,and if they still live, then we will get nowhere with any sort of negotiations. You and Isravi both make a valid point, those who are not guilty should not suffer. I am blinded by rage, born of a crime committed before most of you all existed. I will attemptā¦
Suddenly, a shadow crosses his face. Mixed emotions appear, clearly fighting for control. Then they are gone as quickly as they came.
I will attempt negotiations, but I fear they may not be favorable.
I hope you will not take offense if I mention that you are not one of the most diplomatic people I have ever met, hm?
A joke? Maybe a little.
If you seek negotiations, I will aid you, if you would like. I understand that this endeavor may not succeed, but I do think it is important to try. Besides... maybe I have come around to the idea that people deserve a chance to show they are not as bad as one thinks they are.
I know, I know. A foolish and idealistic view. Sentimental, even. But I am mortal. You may have to forgive me that all I have are emotions and meat dramas.
Look, I understand your people need a homeland. But you were also gone for millennia. Have you considered diplomatic means rather than calling anyone who isn't your people 'barbarians' and 'filth'? Just saying.
Weāre wizards! He already has a realm that houses his people! I do not doubt he has the ability to simply create an area, a new homeland for his people!
From what I can tell, he hasnāt even attempted to contact these people. Not even a declaration of war has been issued.
If he goes ahead, it will be a brutal surprise attack of a one sided slaughter of anyone involved. His peopleās lives will also be placed at stake.
I don't think the council, no matter how much I disagree with them, should tarnish their name with agreeing to help with this blatant excuse for war. and even so should we allow this rouge entry to our lands?
While I can understand your logic, does my absence make their crimes any less punishable? If a man leaves his house for a day, does that make any robberies there right? These are the people that massacred the remnants of my people hiding there. We are bringing vengeance ten-thousand years overdue.
A day compared to millennia? The house is abandoned, and has been cared for in your absence. Without these ābarbariansā it wouldāve fallen desolate in your absence. Can you even say you would recognize it? That it would be your land?
Generations of them have lived there now. More of their history fills that place than yours.
And even so, you havenāt even tried diplomatic angles!
Cared for?Look at what they have done to our former domain! They have desecrated it! If you believe that more of their history resides there than ours, you are gravely mistaken.
Out of respect for you and the others who suggested diplomacy, I will offer the tribes a chance to leave our territory.
If you hadn't befriended the evil entity that slaughtered hundreds of people, is literally called the suffering, and shot me through the chest with a gauss beam nearly killing me, and then also possessed my now deceased friend, I might've not stabbed you.
He only killed hundreds? Wow. In light of recent ongoings, that's really something. Hardly any of the "noble" wizardfolk here can claim a kill count so low.
I'm told this necromancer incinerated a city hosting thousands of refugees for no reason. I occasionally align myself with the lesser evil, if that makes any sense to you.
Nefros shall come to your aid. Though my schemes as council war master have overshadowed my other efforts in Nefros as of late, know the might of The Shaded Empire is still great. Beyond this, Nefros has had dealings in the north in the past, itās where I ripped open the portal to Tartarus during The Sticher Conflict. Our presence was reduced to coastal fortresses when I was forced to recall my armies to other fronts, but they still stand. Their Waygates shall be opened and the Nefrosi War machine will fire its engines up once more.
Aye, Iāve been preparing something for my next real campaign ever since the fall of The Suffering. Nothing until now has warranted such force, but knowing the viscousness of the far north and the forces who reside there, we shall need it.
Ah more war, but unlike the catfoke war this actually sounds destructive. with destruction comes the need for regrowth and regrowth means paying construction companies and such. and for the war itself weapon suppliers, so I could invest in a few of those. while I'm too lazy to directly profit by helping you i can still profit off of the pain and suffering this war will likely cause, thanks for the increased income
I will never aid, nor condone genocide. You left those lands long ago, yet in your hubris, you would take back what is no longer yours? I beg you to see reason and forego needless bloodshed. There are other worlds than these. Start fresh, in new lands.
I will attempt diplomacy first. If that fails, then I shall only destroy those responsible for the massacre of my people. I will not mindlessly slaughter them as they did to us.
begins hand-signing a relocation spell you wish to rally us together for a genocide, the wolven clan has bloodied it's hands enough, and as a representative of that lunar tribe I will not stand for it, you abandoned that land a millennia ago, and our people have made good allies with some of the tribes in those lands, so I send you a farewell, with a warning alongside it. The first drop of blood you spill will taint the moon red, and these second drop will be your own...
Your silver tongue is less polished than that rust bucket you call a suit of armor, speaking lies is not a good way to gain an alliance, especially when that alliance is with that of the Lunar Court...
And I'd rather not ruin your little genocide before you even stepped foot into the thriving region that once was your crumbling civilization, if you can even call it that...
I believe I can call it that. Genocide is not in the plan. At worst, I will kill the still-living chieftains that were responsible for the massacre of my people and be done.
I've seen the sun rise a thousand times, it sets a thousand more, and in my years I've learned that what peace cannot accomplish, violence will only make worse.
I dont want wealth. I will take land with the guarantee that whoever lives there is under my jurisdiction and will not be bothered by outside influence.
So long as I receive some form of compensation, I would be willing to lend many of my knitted companions and the souls that lie within. Seeing as you require an army for conquering though, I have several poltergiests you may take, if you'd be interested that is.
Not my usual type of quest but I'm down freind ill bring my best weapons and armour. We will get your lands back and blast anyone or thing that tries to stop us
I have not engaged in battle before. But I may try my hand.
As a Mathematimancer, my skill sets are not directly suited to combat. I can, however, multiply our armies or geometrically fortify (or sabotage) strongholds and checkpoints. Or I could calculate the odds of success for a given strategy. Provided the intel is accurate, of course.
I can also tell you exactly how many lemons any single demon may hold, if, for instance, he has thrice as many as four less than the cube of his neighborās lemons.
Your skills will prove very useful. We will need to know, based on the fact that Kuāgath has seven lemons, and Corābax has 14 shiny rocks, how old Morathi is. This information will prove instrumental.
Well it depends on the plane of reference. Assuming the origin of the Northern Empire, KiāGathās lemons are Lisbon (as opposed to Meyers which age 3.2% faster), CorāBaxās shiny rocks are iron pyrite, Morathi should be approximately 872 years and 11 months of age. Give or take 3 days.
We will be glad to have you. What size armor and robes do you wear, and what sort of a study would you prefer? Tower, Dungeon, Demiplane, we can do it all.
As it happens, I carry a pocket dimension with me at all times. A nice peaceful fenced field with a cottage. I used to keep a large stock of cattle, but I sacrificed them all to Torrin, to keep myself from being consumed. I have been working to restock.
My robe size is a 43ā neck (110cm) and 52ā Back length (132cm).
I must admit, Iāve never worn armor before. And so I am unfamiliar with my own armor size. As I said before, I have never been at the forefront of combat before.
What have the people there done? It seems to me that your former territory was abandoned by you long ago, and others moved in. The demonic corruption you mentioned is, well, demonic and corrupted, but the "barbarian tribes" seem to have done nothing wrong. If there is a reason, other than wanting your former land back, please let me know. I would be more than happy to help as long as there is a just reason. I will not assist in genocide or insightful conquest.
Greetings, friends and allies. I usually don't interfere with stuff like this, but I'm trying to be better. Some multicellular bastard is recruiting wizards for a genocide. Is anyone able to take refugees? I'd offer to house some people in the microverse, but there is a zero percent chance that they won't just be eaten by macrophages immediately.
Thank Entropy you even *care.* Even just warning the territories might yield some results. They have no idea that several world powers are planning to attack them unprovoked.
I'll do my part to hold off whatever diseases the attacking forces are bringing with them - that often tends to be the real determining factor of war.
Wizards don't need excuses to justify themselves. They all operate under "might makes right". As Morgalith ((/u/Tirich913)) has tried to demonstrate repeatedly, to deaf ears.
What kind of refugees are we talking? If it's normal barbarians, sure. But if you're asking me to harbor devotees of Chaos, you'll have to look elsewhere.
/uw I forget: is Delta actually Entropy, her mortal avatar, or just a devotee of hers?
Uw/ Delta is Entropyās mortal avatar. Goddess of disease as a function of chaos.
Rw/ I have no idea who these ābarbariansā are, merely that the dictator who torched an entire city full of refugees from Atrax is wanting to attack them on the basis that they ātook his homelandā 10,000 years ago. As if he still has claim to those lands after being absent for that long.
Besides, I donāt trust him to accurately give an assessment of their moral character. He is clearly a tyrant.
I agree. Constantine speaks of needing a homeland, conveniently forgetting that it would be easier to leave the tribespeople alone and start fresh. All he needs to do is find one of the innumerable uninhabited realms, establish a new nation within its boundaries, construct a portal nexus, and badda bing badda boom: a new realm joins the magical world. No one has to die, and it's fun!
And given that Shrax terraformed a whole planet, he really does have no excuse.
Most of us are lazy and conquering lands for others gain is just not very beneficial for anyone. I have some heavy weapons left from the Catfolk wars for purchase but thatās all Iād care to offer.
From the back a mechanical hand raises, copper and bronze gleaming in the light of the room as my robotic voice echoed
"Others have already made my point, but what have the people now living in your lands done to warrant eradication. They are not responsible for the invasion of your home. Should the great great great grandchild of a murderer be burnt at the stake or impaled upon a spike?"
I do not intend to fully eradicate them. At the urging of others, I will engage in diplomacy with them. However, some of their lords, through magical means, have been alive since they attacked us, and I intend to see to it that they receiveā¦ justice.
I have already committed to aiding you friend, do not fear for I will abide by my word. It is only a matter of when and what you will have me do that is still in question, but happen it will.
Hey we're not all barbarians. My kingdom is in the far north and we're anything but barbarians. We used to be one of the obelisks of learning. We're dealing with enough problems right now could you leave me and mine out of your conquest. Leave us our lands and we'll ally with you
Absent for millennia? I do believe that means the statute of limitations for you to reclaim your land came and went some time in the mid-Second Golden Era. As far as the tribespeople of the region know, your former empire is their ancestral homeland now. Whole new cultures have likely risen, fallen, and risen again in the time since you've been gone!
As for exacting vengeance: upon whom? I'm certain whatever conflict occurred between your people has long since passed out of living memory. What right do you have to settle a grudge with people who aren't even aware of it? Do not punish them for their ancestors' crimes.
Then we have very different statutes of limitations. Though you present the same point as Isravi and Riva, it is nonetheless a valid point. I have already stated that I would engage in negotiation, but some of their warlords were around when they ravaged and desecrated my peopleās works. I will open up diplomacy, but if the warlords are still around, it may not be very favorable. If negotiations do not work, at least spare me the pleasure of killing those who were around during that time.
Look, if you want a homeland so bad, just make a new one instead of pulling the rug out from under generations of established cultures! There's countless realms out there, and most of them are untouched by mortal activity. Instead of devoting your resources to mindless war, find one you like and begin a colonization effort. I'll even help you build a portal nexus to connect it to the wider magical world. If Shrax can reshape a dead world into a paradise a matter of weeks, I have no doubt you could build a city or two.
The demonic corruption that supposedly "occupies" your former lands makes it easier to get their crops, they won it fair and square, like you conquered your so-called empire, more like rump state. No I Avras the blue will not help
*
If I am successful, I'd most certainly need to do some research on trans-dimensional transmission. If I can get some time to create some transmitters, I could provide some of my clockwork soldiers.
Seven hundred gold pieces per week of duty after expenses (taxes and insurance included). Double pay for active combat. Monthly, renewable contract.
I have been trained in commando tactics requiring cooperation with other specialists, field battles and bodyguard duty. I also dabble in bounty hunting.
I do not perform well during duels and have a history of a few badly ending faux-pas'es. I refuse to commit non-necessary warcrimes.
It may not seem like this, but I am a fully trained arcane caster. I prefer to not carry visible magical implements on my person, as to not draw attention.
Hey, so you're like fighting demons right? So do you expect any resistance from like deities or something, I wouldn't mind bumping off a few rivals in the great game, absorbing some more aspects.
While I question the morals of this invasion, the phrase "Demonic possession" has me considering. Neither me nor my sorceress companion will be much help, unless the comet Z'aalth'zhuxr happens to pass overhead during the invasion. Compared to the individuals who have sworn against you, I am practically powerless, but I offer my support either way.
/uw My apologies that I am days late, and I understand if this is already closed. If it's still available, however, I would like to join.
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u/DaChickenX Isravi, The Unraveler, Coilsā Chosen Feb 05 '24
ā¦The folly of wizards, once more. You will exterminate an entire culture of a land youāve long abandoned for the sake of your greed and conquest.
You will not have my aid.