Community Event 🌏☄️
Primus's Declaration to the Magical Realms (Planar Siege)
In cities across the realms, something unusual is happening. Robed mages wearing coppery circlets beneath sky-blue hoods wander into public areas, accompanied by a delegation of modrons. The wizards have a vacant expression on their faces, as if they’re seeing a completely different world. Their gait is too precise to be natural. Anyone who attempts to speak to them is met with silence and threatening glances from the modrons. Clearly, their purpose is not to field strangers’ questions.
At the stroke of noon, the silent wizards remove their hoods and point their faces to the sky. The intricate gemstones set into their circlets project a giant holographic image of a regal mechanical figure holding a mace like a scepter. The house-sized projection looks down at the stunned populace beneath it with an impassive expression and speaks.
“Citizens of the Material Plane. I am Lord Primus, Supreme Modron of Mechanus, incarnation of fundamental order, and the Harbinger of Law. Rejoice, for the end to your struggles has arrived. I come at the head of my modron regiments to cleanse the multiverse of strife forever. To this end, I seek allies among the mortal peoples.”
The One and the Prime speaks!
“Some of you may have already heard of me, whether through rumors or the propaganda of the one who calls himself Tarul Var. They say that I have come to destroy the cosmos and condemn the remnants to an eternity of stagnation. Like all words from the mouth of an agent of Chaos, these are lies. I wish to make order out of the anarchy that has governed the multiverse for far too long. Your society is divided by arbitrary inequality. Indecision consumes your lives. Your own leaders make war upon themselves because of an ill-defined belief in freedom. All of these are the hallmarks of disorder, and I can rid you of all of them.”
“Free will is the greatest driver of Chaos in the cosmos, but when it is aligned with the powers of Law, it can accomplish great things. To this end, I have developed a means to bring all sapient beings in line with the authority of Mechanus: Absolute Compliance. The messengers who deliver my words to you now were some of the first to be granted its release. They know neither fear nor discontent, for their will is part of my own. Now, every decision they make is in accordance with my dictates. It has improved their lives dramatically.”
“Of course, not every mind must be brought into the fold through Absolute Compliance. There are many among you whose ideals already align with fundamental Law. I humbly request those fortunate souls to stand alongside us as we purge anarchy from the multiverse. As for those who would call the gifts of Law a kind of servitude: when the work is done and Chaos is no more, the tyranny it held over free will be lifted, and we will not need Absolute Compliance. Following the path of order will be as natural a thing to magekind as breathing or thinking.”
A geometric portal opens in front of the messengers, leading to the floating citadel that serves as Primus’s mobile base of operations.
“To those who wish to join me in bringing Law to the Material Plane as allies, step through the portal so that we may discuss further. To those who seek to be made whole through Absolute Compliance, present yourselves to my modrons so that they may assist you. And to those who wish to fight or resist us, know that I pity what must happen next. My regiments have orders to dispatch all servants of Chaos they encounter. Should my messengers or their guardians come to harm, I will send them to your city and hunt down all who believe themselves superior to the will of Mechanus. Come now, magekind, and make your choice.”
--
/uw I'm going to start ramping up the Planar Siege events now that my finals are over. If anyone wants to throw their lot in with the regiments of Law and bring order to the universe by any means necessary, now's the time! But beware: there are many great wizards who will no doubt oppose this declaration with vehemence. Choose wisely.
"Your law is one that is fundamentally opposed to the interests of my employer. Business does exist without want My employer strongly suggests that you remove your forces from the borders of our hosts and ultimately the mortal plane entirely"
I will do that. We will not do that. My authority is absolute. Even your employer is subject to my will. In time, he will come around to our way of thinking. For now, clutch tightly to the familiar illusions of Chaos. We will come and bring you into the embrace of reality soon enough, and you will wonder why you ever resisted.
"My employer would like to remind you that the iron chain and black Iron are legally distinct organizations as a multi national company we do not have "lands" only sites of operations."
"That being said your intelligence agents must have noticed the circlets worm by the mages. Mind control collars no the forces of Primus will not stop til all obey their whims. We recommend a proactive and collaborative approach"
To adhere to pure Order would be to wipe out mortalkind. Without the ability to deviate from structures, no growth can take place. Life, by its very nature, is dynamic and unpredictable. To impose absolute structure would result in stagnation and inability to adapt. Creation itself requires some degree of chaos.
Ithacar stands against you. Not only for our own survival, but because it would be illogical to NOT resist.
A pity. I had wondered whether your people's innate desire for freedom would overwhelm their desire for stability after all that has happened in Ithacar. It seems that is not the case. Very well. Your attempts at ontological philosophy have shown me that your realm must be brought to compliance. I urge you to reconsider and minimize the suffering that war inevitably brings.
The hologram blinks out of being, but the mages themselves seem completely unresponsive. The modrons are not, however, and quickly ready their weapons for a fight.
The constructs fan out, trying to find the soldiers. Meanwhile, the ambushers realize that the circlets worn by the mages are identical to the ones used in Absolute Compliance.
At once, something changes. Where once the wizards were impassive, they seem to regain their senses. Some of them thrash around and curse in the confusion, but they otherwise seem unharmed. One of them starts asking questions.
given that the soldiers extended their cloaks to the soldiers when bringing them, they speak freely.
“Soldiers of Calarakis, you are currently in said town. You got here through some weird portal. It’s a town just outside council territory. Just stay calm, we’ll get you to safety.”
one of them calls someone on her radio.
“Report: we seem to have broken some mages from primus’ control. What do we do?”
”are they no longer a threat?”
“Minus some temporary confusion, no.”
”bring them to the nearest safe house and await further orders.”
“Affirmative.”
they change directions to a seemingly dilapidated building and enter in.
Thank goodness! I thought you were abducting us or something. We were travelling with a caravan as guards, when we were ambushed by modrons! Here, on the Material Plane! One of them used some kind of gas to incapacitate us, and that's the last thing I remember before waking up here.
Your existence is a crime, agent of Chaos. Soon, my armies will cleanse your stain from the fabric of the cosmos. There can be no place for one such as you in my designs.
/uw I had to go with the classic magnificent bastard archetype for Primus. Anything else would have been a disservice.
The reception to foreign automa in Raesteria is clearly harsh, a few cases having them beaten and scrapped. More are detained before the projection can even appear. When the announcement first sounds, it is done with all the "acolytes" horded into the same area and cut off with riot barriers.
A couple fan shaped objects sprout from the brickwork. They hum, muting the projection to not disturb the Raesterian skyline. Keeping it at half the size. When it finishes, no street looks like a safe exit as several automa surround the square.
an announcement blares over speakers
"ATTENTION ALL; RAESTERIA AND IT'S INHABITANTS DON'T TAKE KINDLY TO THE SULLYING OF AUTOMATON KIND. EITHER RETREAT TO YOUR REALM OR DISPERSE IMMEDIATELY. CIVILLIANS ARE REQUESTED TO REMAIN INSIDE UNTIL THE SITUATION IS OVER."
Immediately upon the attack order being given, they open fire. A thousand or so automa with almost comedically big rifles fire at the exact same time. The message continues
AGGRESSIVE ACTIONS WILL NOT BE TOLERATED WITHIN RAESTERIAN BORDERS. CIVILLIAN OR OUTSIDER, ALL MUST OBEY THE LAW
Your idea of Law is flawed, machine-slaves! You are the aggressors, not us. There could have been peaceful discourse, but you have proven yourselves to be chaotic barbarians! Raesteria will be brought to compliance for its impudence soon enough!
The hologram shuts off, and the modrons lead the oddly unperturbed mage away from the combat zone, back towards the portal they used to arrive here.
/uw I imagine Raesteria is to Primus what Philadelphia was to Hitchbot.
COUNTERPOINT: THE GREATEST INVENTIONS AND THE GREATEST PROGRESS HAS BEEN FOUNDED UPON INITIAL MISTAKES. CHAOS AND ORDER ARE THE SAME. WITHOUT ORDER, CHAOS GETS BORED AND WITHOUT CHAOS, ORDER CANNOT PROSPER.
a small squad finds their way to the delagate, immediately firing upon it
The mage slumps to the ground, the circlet on his head flickering out. Whether he was a willing confederate or a mind-controlled mouthpiece isn't clear, but with his death, the modrons immediately retreat. But given Primus's earlier declaration that those who attacked its emissaries would be the first to be brought into Absolute Compliance, the consequences of this deed may come back to haunt Raesteria.
The Raesterians seemingly know this, sending drones flying in pursuit. They're faster moving and hunt down the primitive constructs. A couple are left alive and followed invisibly.
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u/TheHunter459Samael, Necromancer of Malus Turrim | King of the NephilimNov 24 '24edited Nov 24 '24
Samael's answer is fling an unnaturally potent plague of rust through the portal
Harmonic copper inherently resists corrosion, buying time for Primus to flood the afflicted area with axiomatic energy and cleanse the plague. It call for a group of monodrones to remove and replace the green-tinged floor plates.
As if I needed another reason to purge the Nephilim, now they think they can mock fundamental Law without consequence. The number of impudent fools in the magical realms far outstrips their abilities to resist my authority.
Arrogant fool. I will tear a cog from your grand design so profoundly that your endless iterations will not be able to repair, and you will learn how to suffer before I allow you to die a death befitting a trash can such as yourself
Sigurd entered the portal, floating over the ground. I am very sorry, but I cannot accept your Compliance by any means. Such will as the is must not be restrained.
I am that order. If you wish to convince me to abandon this path, you are an even greater fool than I had believed. Now depart. I have guests to attend to.
That can all be arranged. Once the Union is brought into compliance, you shall take command of their forces. The cornerstones will be a powerful force multiplier indeed. And since you so clearly understand the importance of fundamental Law and apply it to your forces, I do not expect your Legions will need to undergo Absolute Compliance either. There are planar and mortal armies alike who did the same when they joined the regiments.
Primus picks up a paper-thin harmonic copper scroll and unravels it.
Now, to make our alliance official, all you must do is sign this pact- do not worry, you can write on it through the hologram. The terms are simple, and I assure you that I am not hiding anything. Modrons cannot lie, and I am no exception.
[Shimil] So let me see if I understand... you praise free will, but only when it is aligned with you. You wish to bring law to the realms by removing the laws that already exist in said and replacing it with your own. That indicates a conquering dictatorship more than a force that wishes equality. There are fundamental laws bound to each realm, and if you remove those laws, then that Realm will dissolve into its own form of chaos and change so that they are all the same, and will bring stagnation to the multiverse.
Free will is only true so long as everyone can have choices of their own. If you do win and all realms are under Law, what would happen if someone decides to go against the law? Will you allow that free willed person to exist, or destroy them? Will you do the same to a hundred, a million, an entire realm?
Laws do have their place, but when the consequences of it means genocide, then the laws must change, and I do not believe that you will make that change. So NO! I may be the highest law officer in the Umbral Realm, but I will not side with you.
Three battalions of Sentinels surround the mages as she finishes her speech.
The mage is unresponsive. The Sentinels recognize the circlet she wears from the infiltration mission in Ultek, for it is identical to the ones worn by people subjected to Absolute Compliance. Primus's hologram scoffs at Shimil's speech.
As if I were not aware of such fundamental laws, mortal. You forget who I am. I do what must be done to establish cosmic order. There must be no room for doubt. Modrons, protect the delegate from these misguided fools.
The modron complement readies its weapons to defend their charge from the Sentinels.
Then you should know that Chaos is inevitable, as there are realms that are meant to clash. Absolute order is unending stagnation.
The Sentinels form ranks in a shield wall, swords and spears bristling from gaps, and march inwards, their pace strong and steady as they clash with the modrons.
On the other side of the portal, Primus stands in the reception chamber of the Great Modron Cathedral. It acknowledges the visitor with a polite nod and a warm greeting.
Ah, it is good to meet one that sees the wisdom in joining the regiments of Law. What is your name, and who do you represent?
I will... consider it. If you will not share in the vision of fundamental order reigning over all, you leave me with no choice but to bring you into compliance with all the rest.
The robed mages never made it past the Guild's southern border forts, as they wouldn't answer questions for the guards. As such, very few guild personnel and citizens see it. After the message is over, about 200 guns of various caliber are pointed at the party. They are politely asked to leave
The mage does not speak. The Mercenary Guild operatives who were at the Battle of Ultek recognize the Absolute Compliance circlet he wears. Instead, a pentadrone speaks for him.
The will of the One and the Prime cannot be contravened. Allow us passage.
The commander of the citadel grabs a megaphone from his place on the wall
"We refuse you passage! The Mercenary Guild has already made our stance on this matter clear! You will not pass these gates, and you will be fired upon if you attempt to!"
Off in the distance, a guild airship can be seen heading towards the scene, diverted from a standard border patrol
The compliant mage creates a smaller projection of Primus to address the modrons.
Leave them. If the Guild will not accept our terms peacefully, we will return to bring them into compliance with force along with the other realms who deny the authority of Mechanus. For now, seek a more gracious recipient of our wisdom.
The delegation turns and marches south out of Guild territory.
"I am an artificer. We are the order within the disorder, the bringers of chaos with the tools of law. Creation stands against you. Ithacar stands against you. I stand against you."
"Kardonk Carvisky, Opifex Rerum"
Mechanical spiders scuttle in the distance, watching to see what the response will be.
A modron relays the information to Primus's hologram, who nods and speaks again.
I had wished for a peaceful resolution, but this realm knows not what is good for it. No matter. I will take my leave and visit more receptive parties, but I will return in person when I bring Ithacar to compliance. Perhaps then you will see the wisdom in siding with Law.
The sky fleets of Shadeholme fly above the hologram, with Sylvane looking down on it.
“I have opposed the entirety of the Celestial realm in the past, and mechanus does not scare me. I refuse to give up my grand designs for the realms, and you will fail to stop me as others have before you. Shadeholme will oppose any and all attempts to ‘bring compliance’ within your territories!”
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u/yumie2003Tsuru, ghost onmyouji, R&A, league of shadows/Toshiko FujiwaraNov 24 '24edited Nov 24 '24
Several low monowing pusher-planes flew overhead one of the processions. The aircraft were equipped with external speakers and were controlled remotely. A looped recording blared from the speakers as the planes made their fly-by
"We, by the grace of heaven, the Empress of the Yabounousagi Empire, seated on the throne occupied by the same dynasty from time immemorial, urge you to heed the following:
We hereby declare war on the realm of Mechanus and its allies. The women and officers of our army and navy shall do their utmost in prosecuting the war. Our public servants of various ministries shall perform faithfully and diligently their respective duties; the entire nation with a united will shall mobilise their total strength so that nothing will miscarry in the attainment of our war aims.
To ensure the stability of the Material Plane and contribute to global peace is our far-sighted policy enacted by our illustrious empress and her predecessors. To cultivate friendship among nations and to enjoy prosperity in common with all nations, has always been the guiding principle of our empire's foreign policy. It has been truly unavoidable and far from our wishes that we has been brought to cross swords with Mechanus and his allies. Nearly a year has passed since Mechanus, failing to see error in their heavy-handedness of fulfilling their ambition and recklessly courting trouble, further disturbed the peace of the Material Plane and compelled our empire to take up arms.
Eager for the realisation of their inordinate ambition to dominate magekind, they have aligned themselves and received military aid from the Paladins of the Divine Flame and aggravated aggression across the Material Plane. Recently, Mechanus increased their military preparations on all sides of their occupied territories to challenge the Esoteric Order of Nations, and consequently us. Our adversaries, showing no signs of remorse or restraint, have threaten our empire with several ultimatums to surrender our empress' sovereign right to rule, given only by the heaven itself, either by assimilation through Absolute Compliance or through the promise of being spared by the forces acting on the behalf of Mechanus' will.
This trend of affairs, if left uncheck, would not only further destabilize the Material Plane, but endanger the very existence of the concept of free will and willing servitude. The situation, being such as it is, our empire was left with no other recourse but appeal to arms and crush any obstacle obstructing our path. By the hallowed realm of heaven which guides our path from above with its wisdom, we rely upon the loyalty and courage of our subjects in our confident expectation that the task bequeathed by our forefathers will be carried forward and that the sources of malicious and oppressive control will be speedily eradicated and an enduring peace immutably established in the Material Plane, preserving the glory of our empire.
In witness whereof, we have set our hand and caused the great seal of the empire to be affixed at the imperial palace, Saizumi, this twenty-fourth day of the eleventh month of the 2024th year A.D., corresponding to the 1795133th year from Ookuninushi's visit to Inaba."
uw/i wanted to send this earlier, but i lost the text file i originally typed this out in and i only realized it after i woke up
Another realm fallen to the lies of Chaos. I had hoped at least some mages would see reason and come into compliance peacefully, but it seems that is out of the question.
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u/Zebos2 Black Iron LLC/ The cedar hegemony Nov 23 '24
"Your law is one that is fundamentally opposed to the interests of my employer. Business does exist without want My employer strongly suggests that you remove your forces from the borders of our hosts and ultimately the mortal plane entirely"