Relief

[Nephrite]

Moore continues to sit there.

The Archangels have not come to stop it, he has not been told to intervene. Because there is always hope.

That is because this is how things must go. There was only one way for this to ever work. Because there is always hope.

The Hecatoncheires must come to Elysium. Because there is always hope.

Thus, Moore continues to sit and watch from the distance - he must wait. Because there is always hope.

He prays with all his strength for hope for the Hecatoncheires.

[Anastasia]

There is a horrible noise.

A rip that expands a hundred times over. From earth to sky a massive rend in reality has been torn. The Hecatoncheires looms now, fully visible. A roar of the deepest, most furious rage fills the air, clearly heard by you.

[Nephrite]

He can't stop now.

He would activate Sylvie's stone, but... maybe he needs to go first.

Thus, he speaks the command word for his own stone.

He hopes his words can reach it.

I figure this is my time to shine, so just let me know if anything stops that from happening.

[Anastasia]

Go for it, I'll adjudicate.

[Nephrite]

The words come from the stone - Moore's words. He knew he had to put into this his heart and soul and the truth.

'Hecatoncheires, my name is Moore. You hate me because of my divinity - as is your right as a creature of Creation.

Please, I implore you to listen for just a moment. Listen to me as someone who has betrayed others, and who was cast out of Creation as an abomination myself.

I know the pain of being betrayed - I know the rage you feel towards everything around you. I know it because I betrayed others and know the pain I brought upon them.

I know the pain of being betrayed, because I betrayed myself. I was betrayed by myself. I know only hatred, sorrow and loss.

I know the pain of being an abomination, because I became one - I know what it is like to see the world as W R O N G. I saw that misery. I saw that loneliness.

I know the pain you suffer.

I beg you, please, see through your rage. See through your hatred.

I know the pain of not believing in hope.

You can find it too. If you let me help you, you will find true happiness - that which you've been denied for so long.

I found true happiness in the moment I saw the hope Creation has. I found true happiness when I was able to finally see clearly what I had missed. When I finally saw the light of hope in my soul.

Because there is always hope.
Because there is always hope.
Because there is always hope.

You have already taken a step. You stand in the place where you belong. For yourself and for your own hope.

Let today be the day you rise.'

Moore only prays the message gets through to it.

[Anastasia]

Give me a Diplomacy check here.

[Nephrite]

I admit I'm surprised there's no -100 penalty.

[13:46] <Nephrite> roll 1d20+147 let's go for a big 20
[13:46] <Rei-chan> Nephrite rolled : 1d20+147 let's go for a big 20 --> [ 1d20=14 ]{161}

[Anastasia]

It's factored in the DC in this case.

The stone is shattered faster than you can react. The roar of anger, of fury, of hate is enough to shake horizon to horizon.

With 100 blades ready to shed blood and a cry of defiance, the Hecatocheires steps through the portal.

[Nephrite]

It either worked or it didn't.

There's one last stone - Sylvie's.

He speaks the command word for it.

There is always hope, even today. Sylvie is the exemplar of that.

[Anastasia]

Give me an Initiative check.

[Nephrite]

[14:53] <Nephrite> roll 1d20+70
[14:53] <Rei-chan> Nephrite rolled : 1d20+70 --> [ 1d20=8 ]{78}

[Anastasia]

Fast enough.

Before the Hecatoncheires can act, Sylvie's stone activates. It's message is simple, a story you've heard before. But this third one seems to give it a moment's pause, or simply a moment before it can act properly.

[Nephrite]

It must make the decision on its own.

Right?

He prays.

Lord Zaphkiel - it must make this decision without me, but... I want to hold my hand out to it, even if it puts me at a risk. Is this how you felt with your son?

[Anastasia]

Yes.

[Nephrite]

What would you do, if you were me?