The Twin Cages

[Asigai]

As requested by the Harmonium, Katani proceed to the barracks to give her testimony... verbally. She'd find it too much fuzz to actually write anything, sign sure, but not write.

"Alright, so... this gith - I didn't ask which kind - came to the Bazaar and started going on about how the Bazaar was the safest place to be in. Because "they", as he put it just prior to the attacks, had nothing against the Bazaar. Before that he was speaking about crows, particularly ones around the Lady's Ward. And they were kind of roundabout of the whole endeavor... like telling me that I should head home for safety. Took all sorta prying to get him to say that it was an explicit danger, with his "friends friend" - his words, warning him about it.

So, over all. I don't think he knew that much. But clearly his "friends friend" were in the know about the attack. Mayhaps ties with the Anarchists? I dunno. All I'm saying is... this particular gith isn't awful person, not super forthcoming, but that's a Cager for you. So I don't think he deserves anything bad coming to his way. It'd be ideal if he'd just say where he got the information, so mayhaps more lives could maybe be saved, if something like this happens again. A lot of good people got hurt unnecessarily.

And... that's sorta all I've got to say about that. Oh right - Katani La Calliwell, namer of the Transcendent Order, owner of the Hideout, champion of the raincov-ah you're good? Okay."

________________________________________________

The attack in Sigil had been sudden for most others. Anarchists wearing bleaker caps coming across several positions simultaneously, setting fires, if not directly at, then at least close to prominent structures. Including Civic Festhall. It was awful timing for Katani... she didn't have her armor at all ready, and wearing civilian clothes to combat, even with her extensive protective magics did only so much. Her clothes becoming torn, and her new favorite hat ruined - oh the humanity! As such she largely resolved to spend her efforts into fire fighting, when her magic was exhausted she shifted tactics and brought a sword to fire-fight. A cold enchanted one, which she used to cut flames and put them down from the roots of the flames. It must've been the most ridiculous idea anyone had got, but then it kind of worked.

[Quiverling]

Toko would proceed to deliver a entry from her journal to the Harmonium, together with the 7 other pages that she felt was required to properly carry out such important information. The paperwork should be in place, after all. The most noticeable would be a extract of the conversation from the bazaar for where she seemingly had been written down word-for-word of the things the berk had said. There would be a full version of the conversation attached to the report as well in case it would be needed.

Oi, you lot.
Comment: - A long pause were made here. Drinking, perhaps.-

What's the chant? Other than. . . animated objects.

Eh. Well, I haven't heard much, other than this is the safest place in town today. Right here. And so here I am.

Its my afternoon off. I'd rather not become crow food.

Figured it was the same for you lot.

There's those big black birds that fly around the Lady's Ward.

Well, luck y you to have a good kip. Maybe you should go there.

Aye, the kobold has it right.

I'd just rather not chance it, y'know? Not with times as they are.
Comment: -Another pause here. Hypothesis: Tendencies for alcoholic indulgences.-

Sure I think its tangible.

Or at least, I'm not betting against it.

Friend of a friend's warning.

"Just stay in the 'Cup today, unless you want to be collateral damage" or some such. So I reckon we're fine. They don't have a quarrel with the 'Cup.
Comment: -Yet another drink. Studying his nervous habits in the future?-

Couldn't say. Friends of friends can be very vague.

Good enough to have my back today, I guess.

Eh? What does it matter? Are you Triad?

Pff, so you'll just report to the Triad?
Comment: -It would become obvious around this time that something happened in the Clerks Ward with an Harmonium squad running there.-

Oi! I'm not getting involved.

I told you, I'm here because its safe.

You go charging into danger if you like.

. . might do that. .

-Signed
Toko
Fraternity of Order

[newdevilofpromise]

viewtopic.php?f=32&p=70069#p70069
After the Scruffle in the Clerks Ward, The Tall Fire Opal eyed Sinker would return to the Armoury after the small Skirmish at the Clerks Ward, they would inquire about the damages the Armoury got, as well as what was apperently stolen, they wanted a list as well as an Inventory Count As fast as possible, they did not seem far too pleased

[Urbancat]

The Erynies finish to write the report, passing an hand over her face, she feel spent, it was a long long long interrogation, and she felt drained, the following report is sent to all the leads of the branches that are taking part in the fight against the Crimson Dawn

This is the final report after the interrogation of the prisoners taken during the defense of the main camp in the outlands, every single prisoner have been checked thoroughly and his or her soul examined, all, and I repeat, ALL the prisoners showed to be marked in a pact with an entity of the enemy, this pact is marked to a very powerful being, of unkown origin not of this multiverse.

Their ceremony of induction into the crimson dawn is marked by signing their name into "The Book" all the prisoners stated they signed the Book, as their parents, grandparents and all their line before them, is the supposition of the interrogator that signing this book may as well be their signing into the contract that mark their souls.

The Chosens of the Seer are reported by the prisioners as being winged entities, the prisoners talked of rumors of ones called Darkborn, winged warriors who do not show their faces, but seem foot soldiers rarely or even never interact with such creatures.

All the Chosen also are reported by the prisoners to be winged but some Chosen have leathery wings, others have feathery wings, the soldiers believe that the ones with feathery wings are "more blessed" because the first apparation of the Seer as recorded in the Book of the Crimson Dawn had feathery wings, but those are suppositions of the prisoners, we don't know if there is any difference between those with leathery wings and those with feathery ones.

Some reports from different sources of this interrogation says not all the chosen may be winged, but all seem to be in accord that there is an higher caste that is closer to the seer and do not interact much with the common soldiers and at least most of the seem to be with wings.

Also, if every soldier that is of mortal nature is pacted with an entity of unknow origin it is possible that with every single death, the soul is sent back to the owner of the pact, or to the plane of existance of the owner of the pact.

If is that is the case, every single death of a pacted soldier do release energy that is given to the pact owner, making it more powerful.

A line in their "Books of Deeds" says "In the Sign will be the key and the door, and from death shall come life once again"

Seem to be in line with a soul being used to bring back something to the owner of the pact


The report is signed simply

Klo-thort

[Sarin]

A wayward devil, dressed in travelers armor, smelling of Fae magicks and bloody boots, steps through the portal too the warcamp. Her eyes are red, and her posture rigid and cold. She radiates an aura of calm, assured dominance. She looks around.

After a few steps, she pulls a folding stool out of a bag of holding, and sits down. Slowly she takes off sabbatons, worn through enough battle that she needs to tear bloody chunks of dirt from them. She places bare feet on the grass, and spreads out her toes. Bit by bit, she does the same to the rest of her armor. Whats left is somebody wrapped in bloody cloth, smelling of sulfur, mead, and the blood war. She quickly casts a spell of invisibility to hide herself from randomly roving eyes, and changes. It doesn't remove the smell, but her preferred dress is clean, and much more comfortable. She takes off her helmet, takes out a book, and for the rest of the spell she reads.


One chapter, one spell, and one much more blood-filled set of horns later, She packs everything into her bags, and heads off. up the camp, still bare foot, She passes by the gates, and the guards. She had recovered some intelligence for the campaign in the past, so she is hardly stopped. Only at the two gates, and when she says she has come looking for Mover Tonat Shar on advise from Sharon, she is let past. Upon arrival at the camp proper, she asks one of the nameless nobodies where Shar is. She picks her way through the organized chaos of movement, planning, strategy, counter strategy. War was not a new concept to her. Upon finding who she seeks, she speaks.

She explains that she heard about the ‘deals’ from Klo’Thort, a soldier in the blood war. As a devil experienced in deals, and the seduction of powerful creatures into deals, she offers her services to do a more through and well informed investigation of the prisoners souls, and even said that if the campaign had the stomach for it, she could capture certain creatures in soul prisms, and tear them apart to get a more intimate understanding of their workings. She doubted the mortals would allow such an ‘evil’ act. They all care so much about the soul. As if it means much more than their body. Or as if one should not use any weapon at their disposal during a war. She doesn't say this, but by the condescending tone in her voice, it wouldn't be hard to assume such thoughts were running through her head.

As a side note, after making her offer, she says she might have an interest in joining the diplomatic team of Sigil. She is nearing the end of her penance, and she is managing more time in the cage. Perhaps she might be able to help, if time allows.

[mimifearthegn]

She explains that she heard about the ‘deals’ from Klo’Thort, a soldier in the blood war. As a devil experienced in deals, and the seduction of powerful creatures into deals, she offers her services to do a more through and well informed investigation of the prisoners souls, and even said that if the campaign had the stomach for it, she could capture certain creatures in soul prisms, and tear them apart to get a more intimate understanding of their workings. She doubted the mortals would allow such an ‘evil’ act. They all care so much about the soul. As if it means much more than their body. Or as if one should not use any weapon at their disposal during a war. She doesn't say this, but by the condescending tone in her voice, it wouldn't be hard to assume such thoughts were running through her head.

As a side note, after making her offer, she says she might have an interest in joining the diplomatic team of Sigil. She is nearing the end of her penance, and she is managing more time in the cage. Perhaps she might be able to help, if time allows.

Mover Tonat Shar listens to the Brachina's proposal with the same neutral expression to which he listens to everything, though his expression turns to a frown when she mentions capturing souls and tearing them apart.

When she is done explaining, he informs her that he has no objections to her visiting the prisoners as Klo Thort did (though technically that his not his jurisdiction, she will need to apply to the Prison). However he cannot condone. . . tearing apart souls.

Furthermore, if she wishes to join the diplomat team, she should speak with Mistress of the Heart Zahra, at the Great Gymnasium.

[mimifearthegn]

Word quickly spreads through the city that Factol Sarin of the Harmonium has been assassinated - struck down by anarchist infiltrators on his way back from the Outlands to give a report to the faction Council. Needless to say, the news came as a shock to the Faction council, and there's more than a little distress and concern through the city - Factol Sarin had distinguished himself as a leader in the Outlands, and had personally been a force for good and justice in the Cage.

No one knows who the new Factol of the Harmonium will be, though most bets are on Mover Tonat Shar (currently still with the forces in the Outlands) or mover Killeen Caine (currently stationed in Arcadia, but expected to arrive in the Cage soon).

There's a bit of quiet rejoicing in some parts of the city too - sure, Sarin was "just", but he was still a Hardhead. That said, there's quite a few cutters who are concerned that the Harmonium will be far more difficult to work with under Shar or Caine; Sarin was, after all, one of the more caring Hardheads.

As for the fate of the Harmonium efforts in the Outlands, and the push to take the fight to enemy territory . . .Mover Tonat Shar is supreme commander of the Sigilian forces, for the moment.

[mimifearthegn]

The following bits of news are shared between all the teams:

- The attack on the Other Glorium was a success, and paved the way for Sigil's invasion of the Other Outlands.

- The Research Team had located the 4th Blink in the city, and it was now under the watchful eye of the Harmonium. The Team was likely to be sent to the Outlands next to close any remaining portals to the other side through with the enemy might flank the invading force. An report was also shared among the teams involved in the war effort: here.

- Direct diplomacy with the Crimson Dawn (aside from a small agreement about the treatment of the dead) fell apart, in part due to an unwillingness in the Triad to deal with the Crimson Dawn after a certain point, and in part due to stalling by the Dawn itself once real numbers came up. Nevertheless, the Diplomacy Team had made contact with sympathetic people from the Other Sigil, who were willing to rebel against the Crimson Dawn. A working relationship was forming with the resistance, and intel was being exchanged. There was even hope that the populace might be induced to rise up against the Dawn. Berks in the know could read the full report here.

- Members of the Gatecrasher team were involved in a secret project, which was dark for the time being.

Meanwhile, things had quieted slightly in the Cage since the closing of the 4th Blink. It seemed that many of the Anarchists responsible for organizing the attacks through the city lost their nerve (or were killed) when they lost the promise of resources from the Other Side. Nevertheless, the Triad (and many other Factions) were eager to go on a purge of Anarchists through the city. . as soon as they finished the war.

OOC FYI: We are almost at the end of the campaign! We have 2 more upcoming public events:

Sunday, July 26th, @2pm US Central Time (Outlands Defense Team)

Saturday, August 1st, @2pm US Central Time (Everyone who has been involved in the campaign up until now welcome)

[Slayer of Love]

Beneath a maw so dreadful even fiends tremble before it; ingurgitated by a menacing darkness; at the very heart of... something... so abhorrent, twisted and derogatory to existence itself that mere thought of so much as speaking a name for it sickens the tongue; negotiations are not going as planned.

Armies that stood in the way of the glorious Baatezu Legion oft found themselves at peril despite a significant number advantage, partly due to natural rapid regeneration of the infernal troops. So difficult was dealing with endless returns of the slain soldiers, the Tanar'ri in the Blood War had to resort to a wicked practice of eating the remains of the slain devils before they managed enough time to recover into sufficient battles prowess.

So it happens that some strengths are also weaknesses, and such is the case with the infernal regeneration. For the resilience of the army comes at the cost of their forms' capacity to endure a virtually unending torment, a fate many would consider far worse than mere death.

"Hapless wretches! You will all pay for that!" - an eerie voice that sounds like many combined in unison echoes in the twisted corridors. It is spewed barely between agonised yelling. Defiance of her uncounted, abominable enemies that ravage her form senselessly is all she has right now. She will not scowl like a cowering whelp. Though that form is humiliated in ways unspeakable she endures it with pride, refusing to have her spirit broken for as long as she can muster a coherent thought.

The golden, winged woman is a picture of heavenly beauty, one maybe only nymphs are of compare to - but not wild like theirs. Statesque, sculpted to perfection unattainable, and by all standards one can fathom, divine. In normal circumstances a sight of awe, as enchanting as it is horrifying. Yet right now the picture is twisted to gut-wrentching grotesque. Her once magnificent, celestial body disfigured soaks of blood and nauseating slime, as it grows into the foul wall of the abysmal realm that drains her desecrated essence.



How long has it been? Months, turns, decades? It doesn't matter. Time, matter, form - these are illusions, artifacts of the physical world. Even if she got used to them treading between mortals, the ancient spirit's consciousness was no stranger to Time beyond time. And now, with time and form shredded away and cast into meaninglessness, with pain so overwhelming it defies senses, she finds herself closest to her true, spiritual self.

"Will they never stop"
"Resist!"
"Could this be avoided"
"Those were the orders"
"Weak!"
"This is my fault"
"Snap out of it!"
"Foolish!"
"Those WERE the orders!"
"It was a mistake"
"It had to be done"
"Unworthy"
"RESIST"
"Was it a mistake?"
"Fight it"
"What of my companions?"

Maraphiel sees the two devils next to her. And so is there another herself... that's she from a few .. minutes? hours? days before? And also another herself, only she doesn't remember herself like that. Is that what will happen? Wait, what are they ... ?!

A myriad of doubts cast shade on the spirit's conviction. Guilt, shame, pain.

Pain. Pain is good. Even eons before when her heart was not blackened by the corruption of Baator, her very existence revolved around pain. Pain one takes willingly for others. Pain one throws oneself into for those they love. Pain that is endured because it has to be.

Since, the meaning's been perverted. Yet the very concept is still at the core of the belief she is an incarnation of.

Yes. Guilt. Punishment. Tryumph of the stronger. Pain. Perversion. Desecration of that once holy. Though suffering unbearably, te spirit also revels in its symbolic meaning.

"Are you getting started yet?!"
She goads the repugnant demons of this place, and the barbed spiked of the realm itself into morel To lift off some of the suffering from her companions, and other souls here - even if for a moment. She feels responsible. She deserves it. In the conviction that it is all with a purpose she finds the faintest remains of what strength she still has. Once or twice maybe managing to convey a fading, echoing thought to her companions.
"::: Fight it ! :::"
"::: Fight it :::"
"::: ..ight't ... :::"

Yet still it is but pitiful, temporary shimmer in the overwhelming dark of this place. If only its elusive mistress would be distracted from control over this dominion, maybe, maybe the deviless could call onto other still lawful souls trapped like the devils in this hideous domain. Inspire strong enough belief in them. Though weak on their own, maybe, just maybe, the combined wills of Order would be enough to break the restraints. If only they believed...

But that is wishful thinking, far off from the deep trance of torment the spirit finds herself in - both in terms of physical possibility just as her own belief. There isn't hope. Only calculation. An opportunity will present itself, so she keeps telling herself.

[Red the Rogue]

The war was over.

Tavia returned to the warcamp, covered in blood from all the fighting she had participated in. The fighting, helping hold the portal, all of it took a toll on the elf, but seeing her comrades made it back brought a smile to her face. The Seer, a Marilith of all things, was dead, they weren't, and the Crimson Dawn had failed. Her gaze drifted to her messy hands, the elf still processing all that has happened. Did she hear that right, that a barter with Aoskar himself was done and that he was used by the Crimson Dawn? He still lives? There were a lot of details she'll want to learn from the group that entered the citadel, even encouraging Katani to donate a sensory stone.

There was one thing she needed to do, and that was inform Factol Montgomery about what happened. There will undoubtedly be many questions she may not be able to answer herself, or consequences to consider. But first, a soak in the bath, then a word with Factotum Da'nanin to make her report.