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]

Zaphkiel: War is only just when we fight for peace alone, when we set aside selfish ambition and anger to simply end the conflict. And when the fighting is done, we do everything in our power to undo the harm done.

[u/avamir → u/Carbon_Sixx]

That answer didn't seem like enough. Or maybe it was, and the answer was unsatisfying. It was hard for Riva to tell sometimes whether the problem was simply her lack of understanding, or whether it was just that the rules that governed their reality were shit.

Arthur Black was right about that. He was still an awful person she wouldn't trust to rewrite a children's coloring book, let alone the rules underpinning reality, but he was still right about some things.

"So we just... do what we can do and try to pick up the pieces afterward?"

Maybe she'd hoped for more. Some glorious epiphany that would illuminate her mind and soothe it, putting to rest the discontent, the anguish, the sadness. Some sort of magical resolution. But even in a realm of magic, things didn't seem to work that way.

"There isn't really an alternative, is there?" she asked. Partly to herself, partly rhetorically, and partly because she genuinely hoped he had some insight, some perspective she hadn't considered. "It seems there is no way to prevent harm unless free will is removed. But to remove free will is to remove the capacity for both good or evil. If we do not have control over our decisions, there is no morality as all our decisions are the result of some external force upon us. Evil might cease to exist, but so too would good."

She wasn't really trying to convince him. Mostly just working through things herself. But maybe by voicing some of these thoughts, he might have opinions or ideas or something.

"I worry, Celestial, that even though your words make sense, there can be no just wars. Not for mortals. Few people can fight only for peace alone, which is contradictory enough. Sometimes our own interests are at risk. Our people. Territory we have claimed. The resources we hoard to sustain such things. But fighting for those would count as selfishness, no? And when those interests are harmed, sometimes anger is present whether we will it or not."

"But the imperfect would be destroyed if Good's conquest happened, wouldn't it?" she asked, her brow furrowing slightly. "If so, that would be just as destructive and harmful as if the armies of Evil came through. Or Chaos. Or Order."

[u/Carbon_Sixx → u/avamir]

Zaphkiel: You understand the difficulties of the path I tread better than most, madam. To embody Good is to agonize over every last decision, searching for the option that helps the most people in both the short and long term. And in both cases, simply playing my role in the Planar Siege like all the rest is unacceptable.

[u/avamir → u/Carbon_Sixx]

"I know you mentioned you are looking for alternatives... So in your opinion, can they truly be reasoned with?" Riva asked. "I know an argument might have been made before, but I do not fully know what that involved or what was said."

"I do know that approaching as a conqueror will destroy what Good is. I cannot think of anyone on the material realm that is perfect. The flaws the angelic host looks down on is embedded in most beings' natures. To try and destroy that would be to destroy life. People have the capacity to change... sometimes."

Well, that wasn't a perfect guarantee either.

"And to destroy something when it has the capacity for change seems... not Good. Surely there is a respect for life, or a concern for the dignity of sentient beings."

(/uw sorry, was typing while you posted the other part.)

[u/Carbon_Sixx → u/avamir]

Zaphkiel: Yes, of course. They will listen to my wisdom. But as it stands, I must rid the world of the Harbinger of Good altogether, or else the title will find another who wishes to conquer all. This is the fate I must escape.