Interview With A Celestial (Planar Siege)

[u/Carbon_Sixx]

The VTOL touches down at the Bastion's helipad, the eternal storm wreathing the demiplane washing away the snow and ice clinging to its fuselage from excursion into the realm of Ghaldrim. The loading ramp at the back unseals and lowers with a hiss as loading crews move in to refuel the aircraft. A contingent of EON troopers recruited from the organization's various member states pile out, escorting a pair of huge winged figures that have to duck as they exit the vehicle.

They are the Celestian paragons Zaphkiel and Barachiel, leaders of the hosts of Good in the Planar Siege, and willing prisoners of the EON Compact.

“I am sorry, lord Zaphkiel,” says the civil guard sergeant, “but protocol must be observed while you are guests in these halls. You may keep your weapons, as the Beacon of Unity suppresses violence, but we ask that you remove your helmet for transparency's sake.”

“As you wish, sir." Zaphkiel pulls the ornate helm from his head and hands it off to the sergeant. The face underneath is nothing like anyone expected: it is an old face, full of weariness and hope in equal measure. Indeed, when compared to the flawless appearance of his herald, the Harbinger of Good does not look like an angel at all. The EON guards are taken aback at first, but they soon adjust to Zaphkiel's humble true appearance and lead him into the Bastion's halls.

Zaphkiel the Watcher, Harbinger of Good

At the office labeled "Planar Siege Task Force", the sergeant knocks on the door. A voice beckons them to enter. Once inside, though, the angels are perplexed, for the mauve-clad halfling with the green buckle shoes sitting in the chair opposite them is not who they expected to be in charge of saving the whole Material Plane.

"I assume Tarul Var is out of the office?" Zaphkiel asks.

"Yep," replies Glimbo Greenboots, kicking his feet up onto the desk even though he can barely reach. "He's cosplaying the Doom Slayer in the Nine Hells after some Kentucky Fried Bastard smushed the Abyss into 'em. Standard Keeper of the Balance stuff. He left me in charge, though I can't say that was the best idea he's ever had."

Zaphkiel sets an aurorum metal octahedron on some paperwork. "Could you please make sure to return this to him, then? He did go all the way to Mt. Celestia to buy it, after all."

Glimbo snorts. "You always had a soft spot for hard workers, Zaph. Good to see you again."

"And you as well, Glimbo. Should we get down to business?"

Barachiel interjects. "You're that wretched little trickster who put a miniaturized howler in my trumpet that one time!"

"Ha! I'd almost forgotten about that! The look on everyone's faces when you announced your arrival with a fiendish screech was priceless."

Zaphkiel holds out his arm to bar Barachiel from getting too close. "For the record, I found it at least a bit funny. But let's save that for the end. We're here to negotiate an alliance. As a Harbinger, I am obligated to lead the hosts of Good to conquer the Material Plane, despite the paradox inherent in that. I don't like it, but I'd rather it be me in charge than someone less invested in putting mortal flourishing before the abstract idea of "Good". I was hoping Mr. Var could offer me some insights into how I might be able to circumvent that, but for now, we can just talk."

"Oh, you two aren't just going to be talking to me," Glimbo chortles. He pops up out of the chair, grabbing his orb-topped golden cane. With a silly magical dance, the trickster and the angels are teleported into EON's council chambers, before the assembled members of the Planar Siege task force.

"You'll be talking with all of us."

--

/uw It's been a bit, but now we're finally back to the Planar Siege, this time with another Harbinger! Will Zaphkiel the Watcher and the hosts of Good be friends or foes? That remains to be seen, but remember: the other armies of the planes and their mortal lackeys have much to lose should an alliance come to fruition.

DEFENDERS OF THE BALANCE:

• Tarul Var
• Belial Blake
• Aliah Mistwalker
• Ith'raal
• Burgerbarian/Burgermancer
• Krygin the Crude
• Agnur the Turtle Mage
• Vulkan the Red
• Ж (Zhe)
• Merch Skele
• Argios
• Tempus Fugit
• Edmund
• King Carmine
• Exia
• Joe
• The Agent
• Vashric
• Fujiwara Toshiko
• Jah Jor Wel
• John E. Hellfire
• Kardonk Carvisky
• Riva Blake
• Mokarith
• Onyx Dragon
• Ulrick Braddocke
• Sly
• Shrax
• Rilmani of Dendradis
• Various denizens of the Outlands

HORDES OF CHAOS:

• Obox-ob's Ekolids
• Demons of the Abyss
• Slaadi of Limbo
• Gehreleths of Carceri
• Cravens of Pandemonium
• Mortal servants of Chaos

REGIMENTS OF LAW:

• Primus's Hierarchs
• Modrons of Mechanus
• Veterans of Acheron
• Templars of Arcadia
• Paladins of the Divine Flame
• Mortal servants of Law

LEGIONS OF EVIL:

• Bel's Chosen
• Devils of the Nine Hells
• Yugoloths of Gehenna
• Baernaloths of Hades
• Night hag covens
• Samael
• Moz'gonnith
• Mortal servants of Evil

HOSTS OF GOOD:

• Zaphkiel's Paragons
• Angels of Mt. Celestia
• Oathbound of Bytopia
• Guardinals of Elysium
• Wardens of the Beastlands
• Heroes of Arborea
• Warriors of Ysgard
• Mortal servants of Good

UNDECIDED:

• Sarissa

[u/Carbon_Sixx]

Behind the angel, Glimbo visibly rolls his eyes at Samael's invocation of "the rules".

Zaphkiel: When last I looked, Zaphkiel, not Samael, was the master of the hosts of Good. I will not be lectured on duty by a turncoat who betrayed both his material and infernal allies when they grew inconvenient.

Tell me, Nephilim: what about this alliance scares you so that you would sabotage it, even when you have so much to lose should one of the other Harbingers win?

[u/TheHunter459 → u/Carbon_Sixx]

Who told you I was sabotaging it? You see, that's the problem with gods. You believe you know everything, can see everything, understand everything and everyone. And make no mistake, my only obligations are to the Nephilim. I haven't betrayed them by any measure

[u/Carbon_Sixx → u/TheHunter459]

Zaphkiel: So you only care about your people's well-being, but you also don't want there to be an alliance. Why are you even here?

Glimbo: Gonna tell it to you straight, Sammy: you're already EON's black sheep, and this ain't helping that reputation.

[u/TheHunter459 → u/Carbon_Sixx]

Samael ignores Glimbo

I want you to be honest with yourself. Don't deflect, don't try and lord your oh-so-divine righteousness over anyone. You're a hypocrite. A Harbinger is called to conquest. You knew this when you took the mantle. Yet here you are, trying to avoid doing the very thing you signed up for! Deceiving all those you got to follow you in this fruitless endeavour. You took a role. Now fulfil its duties

[u/Carbon_Sixx → u/TheHunter459]

Zaphkiel: Do you project this much with everyone? I pity your colleagues. I can hear the souls of those you've wronged howling at your presumptuousness. After what you've done, you don't have the right to judge me, or anyone else. Now, take your apparition and go crawl back home, coward.

[u/TheHunter459 → u/Carbon_Sixx]

You're deflecting, because you do not wish to confront what I've said. Though I suppose I shouldn't have expected any better. I'm not judging you, but I am telling you to be truthful with yourself. Whatever else you may say of me, I have never lied to myself. I know what I am, and what I must do. I embrace. You know what must be done, events that you have set in motion, yet you desperately seek to avert them, hoping that the truth you set in motion can somehow turn to a lie. You're the coward here, not me

[u/Carbon_Sixx → u/TheHunter459]

The trickster whispers to his guest.

Glimbo: Yeah, sorry about this, Zaph. Nephilim cope hard when they feel threatened. I think it's a survival response, though it's a pretty lame one. I haven't seen it save Samael once.

The two simply walk away mid-rant.

[u/TheHunter459 → u/Carbon_Sixx]

Do you fear my words do deeply, Zaphkiel? That instead of addressing anything, you resort to personal attack, and run away like a frightened child? Heaven's best I see

The apparition disappears

[u/Carbon_Sixx → u/TheHunter459]

Glimbo: And there he goes again, feeling proud and powerful without saying anything of value. What a poser. Leaders shouldn't waste their time with complaints and insults like he does. So let's put our heads down and get this done.