208.7 Alicia, Demedais and the Blasphemy of Torm

[Corwin]

[15:56] <Kotono> ----------
[16:00] <Kotono> The next morning at dawn several people gather at Helm's Temple. As the first rays of dawn blossom outside, Eudard, Alicia, Demedais and Father Ceiar meet. Father Ceiar is solemn, while Eudard is silent, thoughtful. "Now then," Father Ceiar vocalises, "Everyone is here."
06[16:01] * Demedais raises one eyebrow, having gotten a summarization of the summarization.
[16:02] <Alicia> Alicia respectfully left her familiar at home so she wouldn't cause a fuss. After the usual greetings but precious little time to catch up, otherwise, she turns her attention fully to the priest and waits for him to perform his divination.
[16:08] <Kotono> "Would you pray with me now, Demedais? This is a difficult question, I feel that any favor we can curry would be invaluable." Ceiar says. Meanwhile, Eudard looks at Demedais with guarded, conflicted expressions.
[16:10] <Demedais> "Certainly." Demedais nods once, looking to Eudard normally. "Would you lead in this, Father Ceiar?"
[16:15] <Kotono> "Naturally," Father Ceiar kneels before the altar, "Great Watcher, who guides us from beyond, guide your faithful watchmen with relevation and knowledge..."
[16:16] <Demedais> "Help us to discern the truth in the situation set forth before us here and now..." Demedais follows, kneeling beside Father Ceiar.
[16:18] <Demedais> roll 1d20+2 righty-o, here we go
06[16:18] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 1d20+2 righty-o, here we go and gets 21."12 [1d20=19]
03[16:21] * RobertDowneyJr_IS_TonyStark is now known as Sierra_SemiLife
[16:22] <Kotono> "Your vigliance is what protects us and guides us. Oh Helm, deliver us into safety under your eternal gaze!" Ceiar's prayer is strong as he begins to cast, demanding supplication with overwhelming faith. (More)
[16:28] <Demedais> After a long moment, Demedais raises his head and looks to Father Ceiar, his face a mask.
[16:30] <Kotono> "Oh Watcher, now bless this effort!" Ceiar is deep in prayer, lost in it. But after a few moments of silence, he stops and looks to Demedais. He doesn't say anything, seeing his face instead and waiting solemnly.
06[16:31] * Alicia looks between the pair curiously, wondering what's going on.
[16:32] <Kotono> Eudard waits a well, "What?" He even asks.
06[16:35] * Demedais stands and looks to Eudard slowly, before to Father Ceiar. "I... am not surprised, now. That explains much. Thank you, Father Ceiar; I think it was due to your assistance that I was able to see that." Looking back to Eudard, "Shall I put this bluntly or explain what I know of the situation before I state it, Eudard?"
[16:38] <Kotono> "Explain." Eudard is crisp and to the point. "Has Helm shown you relevant information? Has he?" Those last words come off strongly, his voice rising.
[16:43] <Demedais> "Helm did, assuming I interpret the vision correctly. You were possessed by... a fallen avatar, formerly of Torm and now bitterly against him. This is why he was able to deceive you for so long; he understood your faith almost completely, even as he used it against you." Demedais says, turning to face him fully. "This occured back at the time the God-King was making his bid to overthrow the Gods." (more)
03[16:45] * Sierra_SemiLife is now known as Sierra_Deadish
[16:47] <Demedais> "Torm led his armies, including his greatest warrior, Zariel, against the God-King in an attempt to end this. ...I do not believe any of the Gods anticipated fully the strength he had available to him... From the recounting, thousands of angels died at a wave of this being's hands. And when Zariel approached to try and strike him down... the God-King said but one word, apparently, and it turned Zariel completely." (more)
[16:50] <Demedais> "Torm, enraged like no other by this betrayal, sent Zariel downward. This is what I saw directly in my vision; the turning, and Torm's rage... smashing down Zariel into this world, through the entirety of existence. ...By implication, either Zariel, or some being in support of him, is the one that possessed you. It explains the situation perhaps all too well.": Demedais shakes his head at this.
[16:53] <Alicia> "But wasn't Zariel the former Lord of Avernus?" Alicia asks, confused. "The being possessing Eudard, we could all feel its tangible hatred for Devilkind. That doesn't seem to fit, to me."
06[16:54] * Demedais doesn't respond initially to this, waiting for Eudard to react.
[16:58] <Kotono> Eudard's face flinches at all of that, before slipping into a solemn mask. However, this doesn't last, as it crumbles instead to open pain and confusion. "I..." He shakes his head, "What are you saying? It's Torm or his former servant or..." He says foggily.
[16:59] <Kotono> Father Ceiar purses his lips, "Tell me of exactly what you saw in this vision, Demedais? Such a matter sounds dreadfully important and that Helm has blessed you with a great insight."
[17:02] <Demedais> "I do not believe it was Torm." Demedais says. "The former servant, far more likely." A pause, before nodding to Father Ceiar. "I saw a forest of crystallized trees; the same one Seira and I passed through on our way to Irenes, and I heard a... force, speaking. Spiritual, telling of this event; of the battle between the God-King and the forces of the heavens. I saw Zariel turn against Torm, and Torm casting him downwards into the hells, even more angered by
[17:03] <Demedais> "...and Torm casting him downwards into the hells, even more angered by this than the God-King's impetus had angered him." (more)
[17:05] <Demedais> "...it was almost as if I could feel the rage - staring into the sun, almost. I heard Zariel's screams, felt his impact into the earth, and then... the very stuff of reality, twisting, as he plummeted." A pause, before looking to Alicia. "What, all fallen angels automatically like devils now?"
[17:07] <Alicia> "They do if they become second only to Asmodeus in Hell's hierarchy," Alicia returns. "I don't think you truly appreciate what being Lord of Avernus entails - it means Zariel was Hell's greatest champion in the war against the Abyss."
06[17:08] * Demedais waits for Eudard's reaction again, not wanting the actual issue to get drowned out in semantics.
[17:09] <Kotono> Eudard manages to look completely lost and stunned.  He tries to speak a few times, before rubbing at his forehead. "On that point...Alicia's right. The hatred I felt...it was directed at the devils."
[17:09] <Kotono> Stopping a moment, "It was overwhelming. I twas all pervasive. The devils are worthy of nothing but judgment and destruction." He says, voice going into slightly dazed, drifty words.
06[17:13] * Demedais muses on this for a moment. "While I understand the issue here, my only conclusion I can draw is that it was Zariel, in some form. ...you said Zariel was the former lord of Avernus? Could that have something to do with it?"
[17:16] <Alicia> "Perhaps Zariel survived being replaced by Bel and is bitter about it," Alicia shrugs, "Antenora did not know if the former Lord of the First still lived, but the feelings Eudard speaks of - judgement seems wrong for someone who fought alongside millions of baatezu over the centuries. Betrayal, perhaps, but it felt too... sanctimonious, for someone who had led devils and obeyed Asmodeus' will."
[17:16] <Alicia> She shakes her head slowly, "Unfortunately it seems we didn't get a clear answer, after all."
[17:18] <Demedais> "At the same time, remember; he did not go down to the Hells of his own choosing, according to this. In his position, he may very well hate everything, devils included. Especially if they seemed to not be appreciating his talens, it'd make sense." Demedais shrugs.
[17:24] <Alicia> "We just don't know," Alicia concludes. "It's all open to interpretation. I will posit this, though - Eudard's affliction occured at the exact moment we broke the seals, allowing the Gods to draw closer. Would Torm, the Loyal Fury - or indeed *any* deity, allow one of their important servants to be so completely deceived by an imposter? That just doesn't sit right, with me."
[17:25] <Demedais> "The Hells also started influencing things far more directly once the seals went boom, I'd like to note." Demedais says calmly. "It is entirely possible Zariel, too, was bound until those seals were broken."
[17:32] <Alicia> "Yes, but Torm would have been in a position to *do* something about it when the seals broke, that's what I'm getting at," Alicia protests. "There is no surer way to draw a God's wrath than to mock them by committing blasphemy in their name." She turns to the third paladin, "Eudard, did you ever feel any doubts? Any weakening of the force pervading you?"
06[17:34] * Demedais stays silent for a moment, before shrugging. "I cannot honestly say, from there."
[17:37] <Kotono> "No. There was never any doubt...until the end." Eudard does stop there. "I remember a few flickers when you laid into me particularly hard."
[17:40] <Alicia> "I don't think Torm was working through me, though," Alicia mutters, before trying another angle. "Have you prayed since yesterday? Felt anything that way?"
[17:41] <Kotono> "Not yet. I've been...I've been too shaken," Eudard admits.
[17:42] <Demedais> "That would be worth it, I think, to do." Demedais says once, nodding
[17:45] <Kotono> "...Yes. In the meantime..." Eudard is long and thoughtful, "Ask the Erinyes about this. If she knows anything..."
[17:46] <Alicia> "I will," Alicia agrees, standing up and nodding to the two Helmites. "Thank you both for your efforts, Demedais, Father Ceiar. You've been very accomodating."
06[17:47] * Demedais nods once to this, seemingly distracted with thoughts.
[17:54] <Kotono> OOC: AR eyou staying here to think, Deme?
[17:56] <Demedais> OOC: Unless Eudard has anything more, yes.
[17:56] <Kotono> OOC: Okay. You'll hop into #terror, Alicia'll stay in here.