Free for All (RP test drive)

[timeless_king]

[Bathed in a brilliant aura, an imposing figure of neither man nor elf rests upon a regal throne of red and black centered in a spacious, yet dark, chamber. His blue eyes were the only ones visible, yet the feeling of thousands more felt heavy on you, an uninvited guest that is only being spared by the Demon King's own graciousness.

He remains quiet, his regal gaze and stoic expression waiting for you to speak. You did, after all, enter his castle, probably defeated some of his clay demons, and are standing right there before him in his own throne room. You might as well introduce and explain yourself.

If it has anything to do with his declaration of war upon a technologically advanced city, feel free to say so. Otherwise, maybe you have another reason to approach Dhaos, the Demon King.]

Comments

[blackrose_born]

[The being before Dhaos looks... oddly like an elven child, actually. She's short, has the pointy ears, and quite clearly has magical talent, if the summoned creature at her side is any indication. But those eyes... those eyes belong to no child.]

Dhaos, I presume? Your declaration was... quite brazen, I must say. I'd cheer you on, were I not afraid your ambition would then turn toward Eorzea. What is your intent in declaring war upon Garlemald?

[timeless_king]

[Indeed, Dhaos can feel the small creature's aptitude and he studies her for a moment before he speaks with tone befitting a prince so sure of his beliefs.]

Can you not feel it? The amount of mana consumed by the magitech they developed?

It must be stopped.

[blackrose_born]

Hydaelyn is blessed with a surfeit of mana. I fear the insurgence of Primals more than their fiddling with magitech, and it is the defeat of those godlings to which I am sworn. You remind me rather more of the Primals - or at least, of those who would summon them.

[Yes, she is in fact comparing you to Thordan, Dhaos.]

[timeless_king]

You would compare me to lesser beings?

[Dhaos rose from his throne, and in doing so, steadily faded and disappeared. Though, in an instant, he was back and very close to Aeslyn. He carefully scooped up the carbuncle into his arms like a cherished pet.]

I agree, these Primals devour vast quantities of mana as well. However, I was under the impression that Eorzea had this "Primal" threat under control. With heroes rising up and driving them away almost as soon as they are summoned.

[After carefully giving the carbuncle a few friendly pets, he carefully set it back down. He turned and started to walk back towards his throne.]

And yet... How effective has Eorzea been at ending the threat from Garlemald? I would think I am doing you a favour.

[By setting the empire under siege, ready to raze it all the ground just to stop them from using magitech.

He certainly did his homework, if anything. With a minion spying for Dhaos in every corner of the world.]

[blackrose_born]

The similarity is in your disregard for the lives you will end in your conquest.

[If she's discomfited by the teleportation trick, or him handling her Carbuncle, she doesn't show it. She knew coming in here that Dhaos was weird.]

Destroy their bastions of technology if you must. But harm one innocent soul, and you will face those heroes you speak of - and I will be at the forefront. Not everyone in Garlemald deserves to die for their masters' sins. I've slain enough of their soldiers to make a small mountain, so I won't tell you not to fight against their armies; I'm not that kind of hypocrite.

[timeless_king]

[An amusing speech, one that draws a chuckle from Dhaos as he rests once more on his throne.]

Just like all the others, you would take up arms and strike against that you do not understand, out of a fear of this "Demon King" that the human kingdoms propergate.

Those who would continue the destructive development of magitech deverve no mercy. Any of which who leave and seek refuge are free to do so.

[Though nevermind places like Totus and other villages before it.

Dhaos casually rests his head on his knuckle.]

Tell me, little one. Would you really stand in defense of your own enemy who would sooner subjugate you than anything I would do?

[blackrose_born]

Perhaps you misunderstood. I don't care what you or others call you. If you threaten innocents, you are my enemy, as much so as any Primal or Ascian. It's as simple as that. Tell me, Dhaos. What gives you the right to decide who should live and who should perish? I've heard of your deeds before now. How you sought to subjugate your entire home world, razed entire villages to the ground, and not a moment's thought spared for those who could no more defend themselves from your onslaught than a babe in arms. I am an instrument of Hydaelyn's will - and it is not her will that you continue your conquest of terror here.

[She folds her arms, staring him in the eye.]

What the seven hells kind of question is that? Do you not know that Garlemald is made up of all the peoples she has conquered, many of them little more than slave states forced to work themselves to death to fuel the armies? Garlemald herself I could live without - but the people, those I will fight to protect.

[timeless_king]

[The only reaction from Dhaos was that he is clearly no longer amused. He remained quiet for a long moment before he again rises to his feet.]

Why do I wage these wars? Why do I feel it necessary to do what must be done? I struggle against those who would sooner drive away those they deem a monster at a swords' tip than try to understand their own actions. Spoiled children who play with toys they cannot hope to control wisely! These toys, the magitech, consumes mana, the very source of life and magic in the world.

[With a wave of his hand, torches around the throne room burst to life, illuminating the room and the ornate archs that decorate it. As well as the thousands of clay demons, beholders, golems are more of Dhaos's monstrous legion that remain perched high like gargoyles keeping watch. Furthermore, higher above, was a huge planetary mass hovering in orbit out in space.

Was it an actual sight? Or merely a projection.]

I war with Garlemald so that I may protect my world and my people. Had they listened to me and abandoned magitech, this war wouldn't be necessary.
If you really are a hero protecting innocent lives, what would you do to save your world?

[blackrose_born]

[When she speaks again, it's in a voice gone quiet, almost... cold.]

Mayhap you forgot what I said about mountains of corpses. I am Hydaelyn's blade of light - I strike where she cannot, destroy that which threatens Her life. Whether god, or man, or demon incarnate. I do not pretend to the title of hero - that was given to me by those whose lives I have saved. You ask what I would do to save my world? Anything. I start wars. I fight wars. I end wars. Your legions are but an obstacle to be overcome. Tell me, Dhaos. What animates your golems? What feeds your demons? How much of the planet's precious aether have YOU sucked up to fuel your crusade?

[timeless_king]

Then how are you any different from me? The wars I start will burn where magitech exists and will end when magitech ends.

The magic I use is my own, a mere drop in a vast ocean compared to the amount used by Garlemald's magitech. Human you are not, but you are very much like them.

If you wish to try to kill Derris-Kharlan, a world full of innocent people, just to protect one nation and its magitech, so be it. I will kill you to save my people.

[blackrose_born]

I don't care what you do to the magitech of Garlemald. Burn it all, seriously, I'll bring marshmallows. It's the civilians, and ONLY the civilians, I'm concerned with. If you'll agree to spare the innocent, hells, I'd probably help you.

If you truly believe in preserving mana - what we call aether - then you know that it is not only the source of life, but that life is the source of aether. Every life lost diminishes the life of the planet.

[timeless_king]

I will acknowledge your concerns. Mine is the destruction of magitech and nothing more. So long as civilians heed my warnings and evacuate from the research facilities, they will not be harmed.

I cannot promise their safety otherwise.

[blackrose_born]

They're not going to listen to a stranger, especially one who's in the process of making a show of overwhelming force. Let the Scions go in first, to spread the word. We've done the insurrection thing for a long time now; no sense in letting talents we've spent decades cultivating go to waste when they could be used to save lives.

[timeless_king]

And I should trust you?

[Can you blame him? For all he knows, she could instead direct the Garleans to a more advantageous battle position.

If he can have something as collateral, he will agree this alliance.]