At The Price of Oblivion
"What are your intentions with them?" You question instead of directly answering the question, and Emma nods, as if she expected this.
"Insurance. This planet...you made a vow to protect it--but there are horrors in the Void. Pirates. Infection. Armies and empires untold that wish to ravage and steal and take. We are safe by your presence alone -- but your death hangs like a sword above our heads." Emma begins, breathing in and out as she takes a step away from you. "You'll never be free if you fear for this world and its people. I wanted to create shepards to protect the beasts of burden. But...besides that--"
Emma breathes out a shaky breath, looking you right in the eye. "You're broken. An Abomination."
"Oh?" Your willpower suddenly coils tight around you like a beast ready to pounce -- William shifts forward in response, but doesn't say anything. Emma's willpower coils and knots in on itself, shifting and breaking apart like grains of sand in the wind. She doesn't meet your gaze. "Alphira figured it out?" You question, quietly.
"I figured it out. And I don't blame you...but...but..." Emma sighs, tears pricking at her eyes. "Tell me Pheobe -- where do you find the most joy? Where do you feel alive?" When you open your mouth to speak, she cuts you off, "And don't
lie to me. I've earned that much."
You stay silent. The elevator door opens, but you simply stare at Emma
"You were born to war. Raised to war. Alphira and you...you were both made for it. And you're doomed to it. Do you know what I've seen, Pheobe? Patches of peace between storms of war. Fire. Death. Blood-- broken only by the oblivion of pain relievers and coma." Emma shifts, twisting at her coat. "And I don't know if you can chang--"
"[You cannot.]" Cephie emerges from the elevator, clad in a towel. William and Emma both do double-takes, surprised. "I came to borrow some clothes!" She exclaims with a small smile that twists into a rictus grin as she strides towards the collection. "[But your Oracle has a point. You're cursed, Pretty Pheonix. We all are. But you've got it bad. Too many issues not to have a problem in that ]fucked up[ brain of your's. Despite the paths we might choose to follow, despite our wants and our willpower. There's a price for Ascendence--one we must all pay.]"
"[The Deathwish.]" They say it as one, quietly, coldly.
"[We cannot kill ourselves. Not directly. Never once have I thought of suicide. It used to be on my mind allllll the time.]" Cephie explains, passing you by to enter your room and steal your clothing. Calling out in High Empyreal, "[But what do we do when we're a thousand-- two thousand years old? And the Empyre has passed us by? What do we do when all that we've loved has crumbled to death around us? When our battles have been for nothing, when time loses meaning besides a way to count all that we've lost? ]"
She emerges in a sloppy SEED uniform, adjusting the buttons and tightening the belts. "[The eldest of our kind begin to seek an honorable death. They begin to fight battles with worse and worse odds. They throw themselves into the fray without regard for their health.]" Cephie turns to look at you, eyes moist as she looks through you. "[When they are bleeding, wounded, and broken -- they lift themselves up by willpower alone to return to the fray. A bright candle burning at both ends to throw away their remaining time.]"
"[Our kind does not die comfortably in bed, surrounded by loved ones. That is the price for Ascendence. Comfort.
I saw Conquest depicted in her power...There was a sharpened sword above her head...That hung there by the thinnest simple thread..]" Cephie takes a seat, yawning and stretching out. "So what got us on to the morbid topic?"
Your anger boiled over at some point. That much you know -- but William and Cephie were ready. Nothing was damaged, but you've left them behind to soar through the cold winter air, into the ruins of the city-state. Your blood pounds in your ears. Lucille is still adjusting herself to your frame, but you pay her no mind.
What powers should I experiment with?
You are Pheobe Gainer and Pheonix
Local Time: [1320] 12/26/2011
Personal Time: 6 months
Empyreal Time: NO NETWORK CONNECTION.
You are missing an arm
You have a patched hole in your chest. [||||.]
Cohesion: 80%
You are full.
You are furious.
On Body: Mark 15 Battle Armor (Active, Incompatible:Override)
On Body, Beneath Armor:A black and gold armored gambeson.
In backpack: Five nutrient cubes.
Max Willpower Linear Distance: [20 meters]
Max Willpower Diameter: [20 meters]Overload: Trained
Bird of Sol's Reign: Great
Conquerer's Aura: Initiated
-
Voice of the Queen: Initiated
Inferno : Great
-
Slayer's Blade : Initiated
-
Controlled Fusion Reaction : Initiated
-
Uncontrolled Fusion Reaction : Initiated
Healing Factor: Initiated
-
Endurance Boost: Amateur.
-
Strength Boost: Amateur.
Matter Manipulation: Silicon:: Adept
-
Silicon Sunder: Novice
Skill:
Charisma: Apprentice
Skill:
Attrition Warfare: Apprentice
Skill:
Marksmanship: Proficient
Cephie Lavoisier's Verbal Oath Grandmother(adopted): Mother Nicole Gainer
--Contactable in Person
--High Influence with Scholars, Crusaders, the Thornton Family
Ruled Nation: Pheonix's Holy Fortress-State
A dominant power on McCreary's Planet, despite its recent foundation. Currently pursuing a policy of aggressive reclamation.
-Ruled by a council, headed by yourself.
-Theocratic Dictatorship
-The citizens revere you as their new God.
Organization: The Children of SEED
Ten individuals, with the minds of automata and the bodies of men and women. Their very presence grates on your nerves.
--Contactable in person, or by radio.
Organization: The Thornton Family
--Contactable through Emma, radio.
--High Influence within Steelworks 9 Region
--Subservient to you
Organization: Thornton Warmachine
--A complement of hulking Thornton soldiers turned into cybernetically augmented heavy-duty infantry. Equipped with fusion reactor based las-gun assault rifles, Inferno Shotguns, super thick armor, and technicians standing by. They are also equipped with inter and intra-squad radio communicators.
--Lead by William Thornton
Servant, Friend?: Cephie Laviosier.
--An Ascended under contract to you for the next twelve years. She manipulates carbon and carbon based structures.
--Contactable in person, or by radio.
Ally, Subservient: William Thornton
Leader of the Thornton Family of Businessmen.
--Contactable in person, or by radio.
--High influence within the Thornton Mercenaries
--High influence within The Thornton Family
--Feared within Steelworks 9 Region
*Coordinating Thornton Family Evacuation*
Personal Scientist, Ally: Silas Thornton
--High influence within The Thornton Family
Consort: Emma Thornton
--Contactable in person, or by radio.
--High influence within The Thornton Family
*Coordinating Thornton Family Evacuation*
Pet, Threat: Mitch, the Barker
A bristly furred, stubby faced hellion of a canine that will possibly mutate in the future. His fur is a rusty red, mixed with brownish gray. His eyes are starting to be tinged with bright, electric blue.
-10/50 Obedience
-?/50 Affection
-5/50 Respect
Pheonix's Fortress-State (McCreary's Planet)
Theocractic Dictactorship
Capital: Fortress City of Stormmont
Population: 1.2*10^6
Military: One (1) Corps of Active Duty Hover Craft Deployed Crusaders (Baseline, Mark 1, Hardened){Stationed in Stormmont, Fortified}
Three (3) Corps of Active Duty Defense Militias (Baseline, Mark .5){Stationed in Steelworks 4, 5, 6, 7. Farmland 1, Fortified}
One (1) Corps of Active Duty Hover Craft Deployed Crusaders (Baseline, Mark 1, Hardened){Stationed in Steelworks Region 4-7, Fortified}
One (1) Corps Reserve Crusaders (Baseline, Mark 1, Underequipped){Stationed in Stormmont, Fortified}
One (1) Company of Thornton Warmachines (Baseline, Mark ~1, Hardened Veterans){Currently Fighting in Steelworks Number Nine}
Commodities of Note: Nutrient Bar Rations [Food Stuffs] (equilibrium), Hydrogen Fuel Supplies (deficit), Medical Supplies (equilibrium), Consumer Goods (deficit), Electronics (deficit), Steel (equilibrium), Bioplastics (deficit), Chemicals (surplus), Luxury goods (low deficit), Alchoholic Beverages (surplus)
Quality of life: Food, clean water, lighting, sanitation, universal literacy, universal healthcare, universal higher education, lack of culture, lack of luxury, religious restrictions, and lack of universal rights
Population Morale: Medium
Government Legitimacy: Moderate.
Economy: Non-existant, survival focus
Territories: Steelworks 4, 5, 6, 7. Farmland 1
Ethnic Groups of Note: Thornton Family Group (Unified, Loyal, Criminal), Sandsper Family Group (Unified, ? ? ?), Hoganson Family Group (Unified, Remnants), Western Outlanders (Remnants, ? ? ?), Eastern Outlanders (Fifteen Clans, ? ? ?)