Scene #6847: The Fame of Tabor: Staren Declares not to believe in Slanesh's lies

Owner	Pose
Raziel	Staren tries many things to uncover the Cult of Slaanesh. Asking around on the streets. Literally, just randomly asking people on the streets. Most people don't even know what a Slaanesh IS. Others in the know that overhear this, kinda just give Staren a side-eye and walk away. Video games aren't a starter, most people (at least openly) don't want to trust the Xeno, though some who are better and sensing which way the wind goes and probably have some interest in these things buy. However, nothing exactly CONCRETE that screams 'I'm a hedonist of Slaanesh' screams at him. However, the particular drone that was selling Video Games does find something odd at the end of the day. A simple letter wrapped in a strange envelope. It smells of just a hint of perfume, the kind that is intoxicating should you smell it up close. On the seal, there is an orb, attached to a crescent moon pointing out, as well as a larger crescent moon facing the orb. The letter opened, simply lists an address. This is a place in the upper portion of the hive city. Someplace VERY high up. High enough that it would be impractical for an ambush to be set up here. Not IMPOSSIBLE, but not practical either. Back up would come far too quickly, and escaping would be terribly difficult unless you could fly. It was also a private club. If you decide to go, and after any preparations you make...it's a very high class and ultra-modern affair. The entire building seems to be made entirely out of glass, but more than that you can't see /IN/. It's crafted in such a way that it appears to be crystal on the surface, but also easily IDed as glass. Apparently one can see out, but not in. The man at the door is a large man and asks for either a pass or a letter of introduction. Providing the letter to the man gets you entry. As he opens the door he speaks again, the voice oddly soothing, "She will be on the third floor. Meet here at your leisure. We are instructed to allow you to enjoy this place tonight, but try not to keep her waiting /too/ long," he says with a smirk. The first floor is...well it's a bar. There is a show on stage, two dancers seemingly going /at/ it in amazing choreography. It's something between sensual, combative, and high energy at the same time. The crowd is watching, enthralled. There is a very well-stocked bar, and the area appears to be an open lounge beside the stage. The walls are in fact crystal on this side as well, allowing you to easily see out of the building. The elevator is in the center of the room, a cylinder thing, once more glass like the rest of the building. This one is see-through, but as you pass through floors you can see down, but others can't see up anymore. It appears that the floors above can see those below.
Staren	The search is disappointing. Staren's almost resigned to actually having to get someone who can do clever people plans to handle this, when he gets a mysterious letter. Well, okay. Staren will walk in with those who can APPEAR not heavily armed and armored. He himself has his bag full of weapons, of course, but it's less armor than he'd like to have going someplace dangerous. Those who want to be fully geared up of course have tacnet access to see what he sees, and have been equipped with jetpacks or flight potions to reach the venue quickly. For this appearance, Staren's trying out new formal wear for the first time -- The labcoat is replaced with a gold-trimmed affair with a symbol on the back combining circuits, a medical cross, and gears, there's no bandana/scarf, and he has black pants and boots on that hopefully look a LITTLE more formal. "They're with me." He vouches for Kotone and anyone else. He glances around the first floor. He doesn't drink. He watches the dancers for a few seconds, impressed that it IS good dancing, but it's not what he's here for. He heads to the stairs if there are some, to get a clearer view of the second floor as well, but will ultimately take the elevator if necessary. No point in waiting.
Kotone Yamakawa	Kotone Yamakawa had been contacted by Staren for help in this venture, the cult did sound like bad news and was a problem. It needed to go, they just needed to find them and deal with it. Kotone had chosen to make some extra preparations fitting herself with an arm that had a hidden shotgun in it, for if things got dicey in there. She would also be hunting down suitable fashions for the club given what they were hunting? Something suitable to clubbing on her world might at least pass the basic muster. She's wearing what seems to be a black undersuit with an interesting looking dark blue dress over top of it. She'll not drink either but she will linger for a moment on the dancers. She shakes her head a little bit and will pause as she goes shifting to thermal vision to see if she can spot any odd heat sources as she tails after Staren. She's feeling on edge however as she goes there's just something about this place. She can almost hear her Ghost whispering to her, to use an expression form her world. Still she will be keeping close to Staren, and will follow him up in short order.
Solty Revant	Solty was also called! The sunny android was all too happy to help someone who helped her dad, and Kotone being here just makes it better! When told they are going to a high class night club, Solty was almost forbidden from going. But, with Staren and Kotone there to chaperone she was allowed. The green-haired android girl has been dressed in a nice but rather immature fashion. A green dress with a big green bow in the back that matches her hair color, and some classy long gloves and stockings of the same color. Simple polished leather flats cover her feet. And she looks both overwhelmed and awed by the place. So much to see that she hasn't seen! And that an over-protective parent might not want her to see. She sticks close to Staren and Kotone, but her extremely sensitive ears are always working. She understands at the least that there could be bad people here, and she wants to catch any bad people details that someone might accidentally be sharing.
Kirito	In terms of not appearing heavily armed and armored, Kirito is pretty high on the list. His black coat could be covering anything to be sure, but he's so darned lean and on the shorter side that he just isn't intimidating. Unfortunately he feels pretty naked having un-equipped his weapons, but they're on his shortcut bar for quick-equip. Kirito is nothing if not prepared for contingencies. Being ready to deal with losing his weapon in the middle of a fight? Critical to survival. Quick-Equip was one of the first Skill mods he picked for One-Handed Swords, long ago... Anywhere high-up in this hellhole of a planet means luxury, Kiirito knows, and so he's taken a few measures to clean up and appear at his best - just... minus weapons. Still, he's not one for any kind of stuffy affairs... In he goes though, trying to keep his nerves down and seem casual. Truth be told, he IS rather curious about a supposed 'demon cult' that isn't going to aggro him on sight like most quests boil down to. But what awaits him looks... pretty normal. He ends up taken in by the dancers for a good fifteen seconds before his focus returns though. The boy shakes his head quickly to clear it... "Not what I was expecting." He murmurs quietly to Staren. "... Maybe the upper floors are where it gets weird."
Mortimer Balman	Yeah, Mort'll be there. Beforehand and all, following Staren's lead. Watching from under that great hood. "Staren.." He'll put a hand on the science cat's shoulder. It should be obvious to him who the hooded and cloaked figure is, all things considered. "...One hour. I'm going to let you try this your way for one hour, once we find what we're looking for. If you can't, it's all coming down in ashes. I'm not going to risk a spread." Mort is using his 'this is not a request, this is me telling you what I'm going to do and no you can't really change my mind' voice. He doesn't want to be that kind of an asshole about this, but if the God of Excess is involved.. Well. Mort's dreams are still haunted by those wicked and forbidden gardens, ever tempting him with the things he can never again taste in this life. And that brings out the bastard in him. And then he'll be waiting out in the proverbial wings, watching through fancy goggles to see what the inside team sees. Fingers gently dancing around the rim of the flight potion that the boy had given him to fly in at the first sign of trouble.
Raziel	Something about this place..? Perhaps, but something more like unbridled /joy/. Everyone on this level is enjoying themselves, relaxing...it was apparently a very 'hard' day for some people, others just pretend. Poor Solty, though...some of these conversations break the rating. Others are more benign, most are just talking about either their day, the dancing, or anything to avoid talking about anything serious. These people are just talking about their day in various offices. Nobody here probably has ever had a REAL hard day at work. There are no stairs. This is the ~Future~. The second floor is very similar to the first floor. The dance is a little bit more daring, and the people here are not from the upper levels, but rather the mid-levels. Overworked clerks, people who deal with the public. Those who are tired and hate their jobs, but have to do them...and they play harder. This floor is FAR rowdier, and the conversations far less appropriate. The third floor is, oddly, empty. A large dining hall with a crystal table sits in the middle of the room. Below you can still see the other floors, but they can not see you. Sitting at the head of the table is a very beautiful woman, in a beautiful red dress that flows over her long legs with a slit on one side. Her eyes are a brilliant silver, and her hair is dark, with velvet strands seemingly falling behind her. She is adorned with jewels, to match her fine clothing. Everything about this woman screams sensuality, the way she holds herself, the way she acts...every motion seems to be measured. "Welcome to my domain. I am Giulia Albina, mistress of this tower. I have come to hear you are interested in the cult...or perhaps you are here to strike a deal outworlder? Tell me, what can I do for you..?" "What pleasures do you seek? Hmm? What do you seek to drown yourself in to cast away the pain that is this horrid world? Come, sit, relax...let us talk."
Staren	Staren doesn't think about the life of these people. He knows nothing about the cult -- maybe the clothes are provided, the hedonist cult equivalent of the hooded robe. But that doesn't matter, soon he's face to face with... presumably the leader? "I am Staren Wiremu, Hand of the Concord and Governor of Amistel Majoris. Your 'cult', I am given to understand, is blocking the progress the Concord seeks to make here. I have heard stories about Chaos cults. I've seen Plague ships. So I wanted to see what THIS cult was like, to determine what to do with you. A lot of people say that anyone with any connection to Chaos should be purged with fire. But..." Staren starts to pace. "I see no demons here, or summoning rituals, or warp oddities, or voices in my head." He turns back towards her. "And unlike plague, hedonism isn't opposed to moral values. I'm a bit of a hedonist myself, really. I want to raise people's quality of life. The Concord wants to improve the lives of people here. So why are you opposed to us... and what do you seek to achieve for the people of this planet? I, uh..." Staren tilts his head slightly. "Given the kinds of things I've seen, everyone here with me today is probably expecting that any moment now, a door is going to open to the back room where you're sacrificing babies to demons, and then we'll call in backup and burn everything here to cinders." He holds up his hands in a shrug. "That's the future we're expecting. But if there's no such back room, we can make a deal. Perhaps our goals align, but even if they don't, I can offer you otherworldly delights. Digital paradise where the impossible is possible, if you'll get out of the Concord's way without hurting anyone." Staren takes a deep breath. "Those are the futures I see. What future do YOU see?"
Solty Revant	Solty learns a few things that...Roy will not be happy she has learned. Solty is too naive to even know what many of the things mean, or that they are of the more than R rated variety. She has never been given an education, be it in school or in the streets. She just follows Staren and Kotone, though stops when she sees Mortimer and offers an enthusiastic wave. "Hello Uncle Morty!" she calls out before they disappear into the club. When they reach the third floor, the little android looks around curiously before smiling to their hostess. "Hello, Mistress Giulia! I am Solty Revant!" she says cheerfully, clearly not grasping just what is being offered. She gives a polite bow at the waist before approaching and taking a seat at the table. She feels over its surface, then lets out an awed 'ooooh'. "This is so pretty! I wish we had a table like this at home! Oh...I'd probably break it though..." With that thought she pulls her hands off the table and folds them in her lap. She keeps quiet as Staren talks, but offers a wave to Kotone when she reaches them and motions for Kotone to sit beside her.
Kotone Yamakawa	Kotone Yamakawa is keeping her wits about her as she goes up with the rest of the group she's keeping by Staren for the moment as she looks at the various people here as she goes. They seem happy but she's got to wonder given the nature of this universe. In what she has experienced helping Karian in the past? She's on edge, she's already had some doubts about her own actions here. Afterall it leads to a rogue tech-priest taking her apart to study her. She banishes though thought as she keeps going and the nature of the second floor doesn't surprise her too much she's very glad she can just keep almost a doll-like appearance when her face is at a rest and she keeps going. The third floor, however, is different there is one woman here she looks at the woman over for a moment at her. They are disturbingly pretty when you get down to it. Kotone is concerned about. She is not idle while she sits she'll start scanning for anything akin to wireless though she suspects given Imperial tech it might require hard connections. It's good tech when you get to it but they have their design choices. "I too have seen the effects of the plague cults, and I can also say he does not lie about what he offers you. As for you offer? Thank you but I am good for the moment." She moves to guard Solty a bit more...
Kirito	Kirito... can't help but stare for a few brief moments... and nervously gulp. Any young man would, faced with this. Biology at work! But sharpening his will like a sword, his composure is quickly restored. For now. Thankfully, he's not the spokesman. UNFORTUNATELY, he's fairly sure that Staren IS. Between the two of them, they're no doubt going to flub this up - he's pretty sure of that much... And right off the bat, Staren goes straight to business in a way that leaves Kirito... trying not to sweatdrop. "... thanks for the offer to chill here, but I'm on business. Kirito the swordsman. I'm amazed a place like this even exists, after seeing the... awful, grinding drudgery and misery of the rest of this planet. Life in general in this culture... it's not exactly what I'd want an empire to aspire to."
Raziel	"Ah, sweet child," She says, looking towards Solty, who is just /adorable/. She makes a motion, and a back door opens, almost in synch with Staren's comment about baby horrors. The back is just a kitchen, apparently, this floor is just a high-class restaurant. Outcomes a pastry, it is filled with RED BABBY INSIDES. No, it's just strawberries. Very tasty, delicious, and decadent, but just a pastry. It is set in front of Solty. Her eyes fall on Kirito, listening to Staren, but letting her eyes wonder. She gives the boy a wink, motioning to the seat near her. There is no reason why she can't have fun while she's here. "Hand Wiremu, I am aware of who you are. I thank you for at least telling me why you are here. We are not so much opposed to the Concord, as we are doing what we were doing as before. Provide hope to those who work themselves to death, who can not escape the sunless horrors of the underhive..." "Those who want to feel joy, instead of being exploited by their so-called betters. Yes, we exonerate the Prince of Pleasure, but we do not worship the other gods of Chaos." "If you crave to indulge in knowledge, that too can be provided. If you wish to indulge in other things..." She gives a glance towards Kirito. "But no, I do not care for who runs this planet. We simply seek escape from the harsh reality, and to enjoy the pleasures that only being flesh can give.." "While intriguing, I do not quite trust this experience. Placing my will into someone else's hands is something I only do if I trust the other person..." "You'll have to take me out a few more times to get that pleasure," She chuckles. "Yes, we have infiltrated various organizations, but those were set up long before the Concord. They seek out the downtrodden, the broken, the weak...those who want an escape from the Imperium's heavy-handed policies." "If you are expecting horrors...well, those only come for a price that the person willing to experience is willing to pay. Nothing happens here without the consent of the other party. We all here wish to experience the freedom of the joys of the flesh." "The future I see is the same one I experience now. Again, you wish to lead? Then allow the people freedom of expression. Allow them to seek their own paths, their own freedoms...they're own joys. Stop the horrors of the Imperium's influence here."
Mortimer Balman	There it is. That's all Mort needed to hear. He'll send a message to Staren. 'You are now on the clock. Good luck, boy.' And then he'll wait with the rest of the back up team.. Sharpening his knife.
Staren	Staren's waiting for the other shoe to drop. It doesn't, quite. The leader still holding onto the shoelace, or something. Staren sighs as he hears Mort's words and holds some fingers to his forehead. "That's... somewhat reasonable. I mean, we're gonna do that anyway, I dunno why you thought we wouldn't." He starts pacing again. "Assuming, at least, that I don't have to explain that there is SOME price for the services performed by a government. You can't play ALL day every day. The planet must meet its tithe, and if you're not okay with that you're free to leave." "However..." "The practice of anything you'd describe as 'horrors' is worrisome, even if you say the price is paid by the willing. That's going to require some explanation." Staren pauses, as another realization hits. "Wait a minute." He stops pacing and turns back to face her. "Where's the money for all this coming from? Rent, maintenance, food, clothing. Even if I assume the entertainment is volunteers... You say you value their freedom, but the people down below continue to live in squalor while you use your wealth like this, providing a lot of freedom only for a chosen few. What's the deal with that?"
Kirito	A shiver runs through Kirito, but... he just sheepishly grins and shakes his head a little. 'nah, no thanks' is clear in his gaze. He does stroll over and sit down, but he picks a chair a little further away. The black swordsman might just be the most relaxed of this bunch, it seems? Maybe. "You're probably the first person I've run into who's actually researched things happening in the Multiverse as a whole." He comments with a mixture of surprise and admiration for the apparent 'cult leader.' It is rather sincere. But his face uterly blanches when Staren demands an explanation of the horrors that Staren's... inquiring about. And a moment later he bursts out, "D-... dude. Can we NOT go there?! ... you have the internet same as me..." He's all but spluttering. No, he doesn't wanna explore that avenue.
Staren	Staren sighs and looks at Kirito. <You heard Mort.> He sends by cybercomm. "I need to be sure this isn't some sort of 'Oh don't worry, we only summon demons with the sacrifice of willingly donated slaves' type deal. It's gonna be SUPER embarassing if I make a deal and leave and then it comes out I left some sort of... chaos infestation festering." <Do you feel they should all burn, Kirito? Or do you plan to fight Mort?>
Kirito	Kirito gives Staren a long stare. He rapidly types a private message to him. This, thankfully, is pretty hard to decipher because his menu is visible only to himself. <We've seen what she wants us to see. They knew we were coming. Gonna act just on that? I say we check them out when they aren't waiting for us.>
Kotone Yamakawa	Kotone Yamakawa as the woman looks towards Solty Kottone just moves to try and shield her for all the good it will do, that's the best. Kotone eyes the pastry that Solty has in front of her with suspicion she just waiting for it to sprout tentacles or something. It doe snot happen it just seems to be a regular old pastry which Kotone is rather surprised about it being just a tart. She's uneasy for a moment and listens to the name she looks at them for a moment. She pauses she looks at Kirito as the comment is made. "Are you not married?" She notes to Kirito and she listens as the talk of pleasure and information about it was put on the table. She was not expecting a seeming responsible response here. That utterly throws her and this situation is likely far more dangerous than she even can guess here. "All right so what is it you want with the change in management here?" She asks the woman while keeping an eye on her for now. <<I have rarely seen Mort like this over something there has to be something to his reaction here. I think the cult shouldn't be allowed to spread and your offer of a digital world option is the only peaceful outcome in the end. They are also messing up things for the new management and I for one don't want to see it get to the point where Gil takes a hand in it directly.>>
Raziel	The woman raises a hand, sighing. "That was a joke, it seems I misjudged the audience on that," She says, calmly, "While there are those here with certain...tastes, they only get to perform those with willing participants who enjoy being on the receiving end. More than this vagueness is the only thing I will say here in present company.." hand motioning towards Solty. "We get donations, people pay for services, for things they want to make the pain go away. We are a business just as we are a religion. Some of this was built with my own skill in the arts. The rich, the powerful...they pay for many things, and those on the upper rungs get to enjoy from it." "I also can not help every person, Hand Staren. I can only show people the path, to have them help others see the way. Some simply are unwilling, some are simply too far gone. It is a large world, and we are not a disease or a curse...we are the cure." "We also held no expectations of the Concord's government. If it is as you say, then we would be willing to coordinate and assist where we can. The cost of doing business and all..." "The Real horrors was the dogmatic religious-esc slave shop that was the Imperium's Factorums. Have you seen how they work, Hand? People work long, unfulfilling days. They work until they are unable to work and collapse. They rest and then are forced to work again. Then, when they can work no longer they are thrown out, and replaced." "We offer an escape from that wretched life. We offer the joy of living, the joy of excess...and the joy of freedom from such a life." She pauses, observing the communications, but pretending not to. She takes a sip of something delivered to her table. "I am not a worshiper of Nurgle. I do not know or care how he operates, especially if he does not come here. Should he do so, I would very much like to make sure he left in a hurry. Suffering and enjoying the suffering is not how I wish to live my life. Nor are we bloodthirsty backers of Khorne, or of the mutation god. If you wish to trade information for aid on Nurgle...well, I can not promise much but what we have is yours."
Staren	Staren rolls his eyes at the claim of a joke, but remains on edge. <Well. Are you still going to burn it all down, Mort? I admit, this is too unsure of a thing for me to desire to fight you. And if there turns out to be anything truly horrible here and we find out later, you know I'll stand behind eliminating it 100%.>
Solty Revant	Solty headtilts in curiousity as she is addressed, then blinks at the talk of babies and demons. The door opens, and she turns to look toward it slowly, and finds...a pastry? Headed for her! A very tasty looking pastry! Her eyes widen the closer it gets, and are practically sparkling as it reaches her. "Is this really for me, Miss Giulia?" she asks, and once given the affirmative she scoops it up and takes a bite without hesitation despite all the talk. She doesn't have much else to do but listen after that, at least until Staren implies that this could be getting paid for by shady means! This makes her put the pastry down. She's curious when Kirito reacts how he does and gives him a look that says so before she swallows her bite and looks toward Staren. "It sounds like Miss Giulia and those here are just trying to make the best out of a bad situation. We aren't going to burn them up because of that, are we? Plus, this pastry is really good!" She holds it up to let the others see it, as if that will convince them of its taste.
Mortimer Balman	Mort calmly and quietly exhales a plume of smoke. He's not smoking, he's just starting to heat up. <I don't want to step on your toes here, Staren. I really don't. But I know what happens if we leave it alone. ...I'll give you a few more minutes if you want it. But not much longer.>
Staren	Staren sighs. "I'm sorry. The situation has now changed." He taps his ear to indicate the idea of a radio. "Your joke was in too poor of taste, and when it comes down to it, I trust my friend of many years over people I just met in a situation where they've had complete control over what I see. You now have a few minutes left to absolutely convince me that I should save your lives rather than let you be purged. Bonus points if you can convince my friends not to purge you in the first place." Staren sighs, and then scratches his chin. "Man. What you're doing here SOUNDS so good... and you do it, allegedly, without the help of any chaos gods. So why the hell did you choose to be associated with Slaanesh? That bit still doesn't add up..."
Kirito	Of all the weird things to bring up, Kotone comments on... that? Kirito gives her a brief, disbelieving stare. Out of context much? He's just... sitting at the table. Not even where she asked... because that would've been a bit inappropriate for him. "... It's complicated." Is all he can mutter out. Because, really, it IS quite complicated. The fact he chose to sit Not So Close is telling, though. But after all of the situation's becoming apparent to Kirito.. he starts grimacing to himself. It's pretty freaking obvious he'd sitrubed about what's happening. "I have to very strongly suggest you ditch any connection to this Prince of Pleasure. There's nothing wrong with enjoying yourself after some hard work. The culture on this planet needs to change. There's no balance here. No middle point between having your own life and being a cog in society's machine - what you basically described. Bad things eventually come from associating with these forces. We all know that, or you wouldn't be so hard to find. Are you absolutely sure you don't want to just... vamoose? Take whoever frequents the place to a whole different world, far from the Imperium? You'd rather stay here and deal with this mess? It's not like Staren's virtual utopia is the only option."
Kotone Yamakawa	Kotone Yamakawa had honestly expected thing to break into a fight at some point and they handed she also looks at them for a moment. She listens and gets an idea this cult does go very deep here her concern about the King of Heroes personally going to root thing out rises. "The new government is offering a far better life as he works on rebuilding the planet. From what I have seen for the work he's done so far." That was rather painful to say with Lezard being in charge here. Given the man scared the freaking hell out of Kotone. "The imperium no longer holds control of this world." She looks to Staren for a moment. If Mort comes in she's going to have to try to keep Solty from getting hurt and the girl might not forgive her. Kotone could get the pastry was legit. Maybe her time aiding the imperium her clouded her thoughts about this. Still, she's on edge here she's here to help Staren with his plan, after all, whatever that might be. Yet Rage badger is about to deploy soon and she knows it. Then again if Lezard has to personally step in on things here? She doesn't want to think about the collateral damage from that. Staren then makes his call and she now makes ready to act she knows it will be time to act soon, one way or another. She'll check for any wireless signals or signs of hidden weapons in the room they are in, it wouldn't do to fall prety to some sort of security system here.
Staren	Staren adds, <So... I guess I should have asked before. But I figured it'd be OBVIOUS, like the plague marine ship was. What am I actually looking for, here? What form does Slaanesh's corruption actually take? I was like, expecting slaves forced to be playthings and sacrifices for people who take pleasure in the suffering of others. Is that about on the ball, or am I looking for demons jumping out of the ceiling or what?>
Mortimer Balman	Mortimer hm's a bit and continues to quietly wait, messaging Staren back. <Depends on how much they think they can operate in the open, really. They're very secretive until they don't need to. All the really grody things will be kept well hidden behind specially locked doors. Do me a favor Staren. When the hammer falls, capture that woman alive for me? I have a few friends who will want to talk to her.>
Solty Revant	Solty finally speaks up on the comm. <There are all kinds of people here! They are doing weird things, but I haven't seen any evidence that they are hurting anybody! We can't just kill them just because the owner of the club follows this Slaanesh person! We should at the very least give people a chance to leave the building. If there really are bad things in here we find them, -then- we can destroy it. But if you try to come in right now, I'll have to stop you Uncle Morty. Killing a bunch of people just because one person is bad is something badguys do!>
Raziel	"Oh, I see we've hit the portion where you reveal you are the same as the old boss. Oh yes, let me sit here and beg to you to not kill us all. You're going to do it anyway, why bother wasting my last few moments like that." She says and takes another long drink. "No, I'm not begging for our lives. There is no point, and nothing to gain from it. Instead, I will sit here and enjoy the last bits of it here. I knew this was a gamble, I knew it was risky. Instead, you lead that Multiversal here who wants to whip himself for his Imperial masters." "If you want anything from me, you will pay for it. You can start by making him go away and making a contract to guarantee our lives, one that you and yours will abide by. If not, I am not going to tell you anything...not about the plague ship, or about the strange earthquakes." "If we die, then so be it...but this planet will follow soon after. Before you ask, or before you decide to 'righteously' decide that you have to kill us all because we're 'The chaos', no me nor mine are RESPONSIBLE for it. We have found information on it, but such things are no longer free." There are no hidden weapons, save a blade she has on her person. There are no hidden Chaos Space Marines in the wall. Nothing like that. She has come willing, putting her cards on the table. It appears, however, the deck was stacked from the beginning. "Besides...you damn me, but is not the person you are here for a /necromancer/? I wonder how he got such power...and all I want is for people to be able to live lives without suffering and enjoyment in what they do..." Another long sip, "So go on now. Or will you at least do me the courtesy of finishing this fine drink?"
Mortimer Balman	Mortimer smiles a bit at Solty's upset tone. <You're a good girl, Revant. The evil that I am about to ruin is a cancer. A cancer that does not wish to be removed. It must be cut out, otherwise all the tissues around it will metastatize as well. So please stay out of my way.. Okay?> He looks up at the building, then at the backup team. "Come. Seal every door. Anyone who tries to run out that isn't part of our group- kill them." He begins to walk toward it..
Kirito	Kirito's face darkens. "I'm not here to kill anyone. I'm here to keep things from getting that far if I at all can." He explains grimly from his spot on the table. His fists are clenched tightly, going white from the strain. "... and I'm stuck in the position of trying to protect people I'm not sure about from someone who's sure your pleasure palace here is going to ruin everything." He stands up now, whole hbody shaking as he tries to figure out what he ought to be doing. "The deal to just LEAVE this place completely - this planet, and this galaxy - was the best thing I could think of where nobody loses anything irreplaceable." This utterly sucks now. What should he do? What should he do that he can live with afterwards?
Staren	Staren sighs. "We don't always get what we want, despite my best efforts. I have to work with others. Including, yes, a necromancer, who also has to work with others. And an old friend who was /trapped in the warp/ for months. And there's no way to tell that you're not just saying exactly the right things to try and manipulate me. Enjoy your drink. I will try to save as many people as I can." He reaches into his bag and withdraws a pair of goggles, a mix of safety and welder's goggles, black as night. Staren slips the SIGHT OF THE INSPIRED over his head and his video feed goes dark, as he starts circling the leader and 'hmmm'ing thoughtfully at whatever it is he sees. "Finish your drink, quickly." He starts pulling supplies from his bag -- a tablet and cables and electronic bits, which he keeps looking down at. Finally he selects a cable, plugs it into the tablet, and approaches. "I will save as many as I can from the fire. Do you want to be the first?"
Raziel	"And go where? How long until the outlander comes for us? How much suffering would we endure on that trip? How long until that turns into tears?" She continues to sip, calmly facing the end with dignity. "It's not saving, it's a long, slow, painful death."
Solty Revant	<"So give them a chance to...stop following Slaanesh!"> Solty pleads into the radio. <"They can do that, right? Just agree to stop honoring Slaanesh! And then no one has to get turned into ashes and we don't have to fight!"> She looks toward Giulia. "You can do that, right? Just stop following Slaanesh! And get everyone else to stop, too! And...and then you don't have to get burned up so things don't meta...meta-stat-ize!"
Staren	"He wants YOU alive. Let me try to upload you, and I'll have control over his access to you. ...If you die, I'll just do it anyway." Although, with as much as she knows about them she might know how to prevent that. Damn. And looking through the goggles is already giving him a headache.
Kotone Yamakawa	Kotone Yamakawa listens to the woman for it more after all this may be final words. She'll give them that at least. She finds there are no weapons, no traps nothing they were on the level here at leas tin wanting to talk not what she'd have expected of the ruinous power here but she knows the hammer is about to drop and it's about to get damn messy. She will thin on what she has to say for a moment. Is the woman just lying? No what does she have to gain by lying about it as she's about to have the end come fo her? She will get up and moves alongside Solty who is an innocent and she'd like to see her lose as little of that today as she can help with. She looks to see what Staren intends to do he intends to digitize them? All right then she'll leave him to that if she accepts it. "O do not think they want to forsake Slaanesh no matter what, Solty." She looking left and right knowing the purge badger is coming.
Raziel	"Of course he does. He likely will turn me over to the Inquisitor here. The one actively trying to oppose your rightful rule here," She says, with the same calm as she takes another drink. She looks at the earnest pleading of Solty. She leans over and places a hand on her head. "You're a sweet child. I am sorry you have to see what you are about to see," She says, nodding towards Kotone. "Do you know why I follow him?" "Because my husband was one of those Factorum workers. He died, but not there. He did everything for me and our children. The touch of Nurgle came home with him...and only I survived. A voice called to me, told me of the joys that I could have...and what I could spread." "So I do. I am not some corruption seeking to bleed the land, I am willing to work with the Concord...however, I will not give up my beliefs to you or anyone," She says, and looks towards Solty, "That is what it means to be alive...to decide your own fate, even if it goes bad. Joy is one side of the coin...and I suppose it is now time for the other."
Staren	Staren's demeanor changes. His ears splay, his hands drop to his sides. "...If you are lying... Well. I guess I can't promise any fates worse than death. But maybe Mort can come up with something appropriate." He takes the goggles off, stuffs them and the tablet back in his bag, pulls his matter manipulator off his belt, and cuts a hole in the floor to jump down, then another. "Stop this, Mortimer."
Mortimer Balman	Hunched to make himself look shorter, Mortimer approaches the bouncers at the door. When they inevitably stop him, both of them will be shot in the chest with his bolt pistol. And as they slump to the ground, he will stand up to his proper height again, and march through the doors, which will be sealed behind him by the rest of the combat team. They will, ideally, stay well the hell out of his way. Flames begin to lick at the floor as the tired old badger walks forward, his temperature steadily rising higher and higher as he makes his way for the center of the first floor's grand little party room. He will take a deep breath and exhale a great cloud of black, oily smoke, and take off his hood. His face will twitch a bit as he sniffs about the place. No immediate daemonic presence, he thinks. Good. Maybe this is a newer cult that hasn't had time to get all the good shit going yet. That'd be ideal. He will hold up a hand, and in that hand is a symbol of the the Imperium. The golden double-headed eagle. The symbol of the Space Wolves hangs from it. "...With the blessing of those who serve the God-Emperor of Mankind, with the trust invested in me by the Vyka Fenryka Chapter of the Adeptus Astartes, as well as the Inquisition.. I sentence all within this establishment to death." His mane explodes outwards, and the flames that had been trailing him beforehand rapidly begin to eat at the floors, the walls, and the ceiling. "Fear not the fire, it will deliver you unto your god. Fear only that your faith may be found wanting." And the conflagration begins.
Kirito	This whole situation sucks. Kirito, now standing, can only listen. He's not usually one for speeches. He always prefers action. And right now... he can only give a tense and hard to really interpret look over his shoulder at their hostess... and, seeing that Staren's already made his decision, he dives down through the hole he made after him. Kirito lands near the entrance, trying to head Mortimer off with a dramatic landing. His hands are already flying across an invisible menu... and blueish-white energies flash across his back as his blades materialize. Elucidator is drawn in one hand... but Holy Sword Excaliber shines in the other. The blade he only draws when he's fighting for something other than himself. Slowly, as if the blades weigh a great deal and are fighting him constantly, he raises the latter to point threateningly at Mortimer. "Don't you see just what you're doing...?! Who's the monster here...?!"
Staren	Staren takes a deep breath, and roars, "THE IMPERIUM HAS NO AUTHORITY HERE!" The fancy clothes revert to his usual labcoat, closed. He switches the matter manipulator for a laser pistol, but hesitates. His hand dives into that bag and he pulls out vials, which he throws ahead of the flames. Green vines grow in abundance. No true challenge for Mort's supernatural fire, but harder for fire to spread through. "Listen to yourself. Talk of fire delivering people to god. You sound like a goddamn stereotype! You're better than this, Mortimer!" To everyone but Mort, he radios: <Guys I need you to get him out of here and stop the fire. I can't do it all by myself.>
Solty Revant	Solty looks like she might cry as Giulia pats her on the head. "No..." Her fists clench, and her scared expression turns to a determined frown. "Nooooooo!" She hops upward, then a yellow-orange aura that flows over her like light shimmering in water. "NOOOO!" And...she crashes straight down through the floor, super strength and flight powers combining to make her a living (albeit small) wrecking ball. Straight through the floor. Straight at Mortimer. And if her aim is true she will slam into him and carry him out of the building with her. "I can't let you! We don't even know they are doing bad things! Or going to do bad things!"
Raziel	Several holes get put into her floor. Giulia looks a little distressed, sniffs the drink once, and shrugs. She finishes the cup before standing up and walking slowly towards the elevator. She's going to be right with you, Mort. Meanwhile, the bottom floor turns into a fire pit. Nobles scream and start running, trying to get through the flames to the front, others try and get the elevator to work but to no avail. It's chaos, but not THAT CHAOS, no capital c there.
Mortimer Balman	Solty tackles Mort pretty hard. But Mort is not so easily budged, even as strong as she is. "I'm sorry, dear.. I really am.. But you're not going to stop me. Not today." The heat coming off of Mortimer is horrific, if Solty has any kind of sensory equipment she could pretty readily tell that there's probably no saving these people- not at the thousand plus degrees Mort's burning at. And yet, Solty herself? Not on fire. Not being melted or anything else. The heat is being actively kept away from her. It's also being kept from Staren, from Kotone, Kirito, and even Giula. The others, though.. The others will be dead in moments. And as heat rises, and the second floor is already ablaze. He's not going to give any of these poor people a chance to escape. He's not going to give them a chance to get out. He is going full heat and turning this place into a pile of ashes. Everything must be destroyed, lest the cancer risk spreading. "Solty.. Stop, please." Mort's muscles are tensed as he tries to hold her back, it's taking literally everything he has to keep her from shoving him out, and she is steadily winning. "Solty.. I am trying.. Very hard.. Not to hurt you.." His mane bursts out even higher, melting through the ceiling and up into the second floor entirely. "Solty.."
Kotone Yamakawa	Kotone Yamakawa looks to Staren for a moment then Mort enter as he talks to burning this place down. <<All right...friends don't let friends commit mass murder>> Kotone notes back as she gets up from the table. "This needs to stop." Kotone will pause for a moment as she gets up. How to deal with mort before everything burns down. With Solty going right through the floor? She'll move for the hold and jump down right after her making a three-point landing in the process as she does. "Mort! You need to stop this insanity!" What does Kotone know? She's an outsider to this world for the most part and while she has some experience it's very little with this chaos god and their followers. She land and rises up to face Mort she doesn't go for a weapon yet but she will join Solty in trying to tackle Mort.
Solty Revant	<"Nnng...! H-he's...r-really strong..!"> Solty says both outloud and in the comm. She hangs on to Mortimer for all she is worth, pushing as hard as she can. Amidst the flames there is a stream of almost comet-looking energy flowing out behind Solty. "N-no! I won't stop! You have to stop! What if no everyone in here is with Slaanesh! What if they weren't going to hurt anyone! W-what if they really just wanted to help people! Now they can't just because other people have done bad things for Slaanesh!" It doesn't really occur to her that she isn't getting burned. She is to busy trying not to hear all the screams that are steadily dying out. Screams of people she couldn't save from someone she thought was a goodguy! The world is still pretty black and white to her, but even if she understood what was at stake she would still be trying to stop Mortimer. "J-just...let me push you outside already!"
Staren	Staren made this problem. He invited Mort, because he was suspicious of the cult, but figured even Mort could tell the difference between people too far gone, and not. And now other people are having to solve it. Staren came in the flesh to show some trust; also to avoid faux pas over having to pass over offered food because this seemed like the kinda thing where, if they WERE on the level, there'd probably be a feast or something. And because of that, he doesn't have a half-ton of metal and high-G thrusters to push Mort out. He has an arsenal, but he doesn't want to kill MORT, and using most of it would just kill everyone around them anyway. (His mind keeps jumping to 'use a fuel-air bomb to deprive him of oxygen' and then another part of his mind has to remind it that would kill everyone) And so he stands here, the one supposedly in charge, the mighty Hand of the Concord, and all he can do is yell while OTHER people fight to clean up HIS mess. There has to be SOMEthing. He walks forward. But not right towards Mort. To the first to die. Their brains have already been cooked. They are too late to save. He kneels by one. A glove forms over his hand as he concentrates for a few seconds, then touches his hand to its chest. PUSH HIM AWAY One corpse rises. Even if it is burned to bone, the skeleton -- risen as a temporary bone golem to follow a single command -- continues to push against Mortimer. It is joined by a second. A third. How many will be needed? Mortimer has surely provided enough corpses.
Raziel	The elevator continues down, she seems to be waiting, a bit anxious, but she's trying her best to hold her composure. Taking a few calming breaths. However, the scene is one of fire and ash. The fire itself would find it hard to actually take HOLD of the second floor itself. Fire suppression would be having a hard time keeping up, however. The strange glass doesn't melt as it should... It was actually more like crystal than anything, but it is STILL being charred black, and the fire is still spreading to parts that are flammable. This does make the heat in this room start to become unbearable. People who were not on fire are already starting to drop from acute heat exhaustion. That or smoke inhalation. Finally, the door to the elevator opens, and out walks the lady. She sucks in a breath... << "Solty, right? When you hear a scream, stand away from him." >> This is followed by a piercing sonic scream aimed at the crystal right above Mort's head. Aiming to bring the now shattering crystal right on him. Hopefully, Solty stepped back.
Kirito	The good news is that Staren IS NOT ALONE. Because Kirito needs only what he's already brought to do what needs to be done. The Black Swordsman's breath is unsteady as he tries to steel himself up for what's obviously going to be an emotionally trying fight. Sure, Mortimer isn't exactly top of his friends list, but their relations have always been good. But now... now the golden sword he holds begins to shine with a cerulean light. Bubbles drift from the weapon as he raises it like a viper ready to strike... and kicks off the ground with a roar. Propelled at inhuman speeds, he tears across the distance in almost no time and aims to smash Mortimer with a diagonal strike that'll rapidly shift into a few quick thrusts. The young man's doing all he can to avoid striking at vitals, but that's not so easy to do without breaking the Sword Skill! But yes, Water. Kirito knows how Elemental Rock Paper Scissors works, and he's willing to exploit it. The slashes are FRIGID to the touch and explode with high pressure bursts to enhance the blade's passage.
Solty Revant	Solty blinks in surprise at the voice she hears. She isn't entirely sure where it came from, but it sounded like...Giulia? Solty almost doesn't move, torn for a moment between protecting someone and stopping someone who is doing something bad (at least in her mind). The stopping the bad guy will help more people, and so in a blink she has let go of Mortimer and retreated into the flames when that sonic scream pierces the air. Flames she realizes haven't been burning her this entire time. And when she realizes that she reaches toward Mortimer! But, she can't move back in quickly enough to provide any kind of defense for him. Not so soon after using her Overclock to get clear of the falling crystal. "Uhn...M-Mortimer..." It might be hard to notice in the flames, but a bolt of electrical energy flows over her and there is a popping sound before she falls forward, apparently unconscious.
Mortimer Balman	Mortimer looks up as the woman appears, and then begins to use her own brand of dark powers. His ears twitch a bit and then he's positively filled with countless shards of razor sharp, blackened, slowly melting crystal. However.. Despite what hideous wounds that looks to make, the old man is still very much standing. The heat of his own flame is cauterizing his wounds, and while this is painful- almost beyond imagination, really- he's not gone down from it. Indeed, he's still very much standing. He does not look pleased.. If anything he looks sad. With the most unpleasant crunching sounds coming from his back, arms, and part of his skull, as the crystal bits shatter and melt in some places, Mortimer begins walking toward Giula, casting Staren's burnt skeletons aside where they crumble apart into ashes. They were never really going to do much. "You're coming with me. I trust you're aware of that." And then Kirito slams into him, with all that frigid shit. "Nngh! Right, you're here too.. It's already over, Kirito. Stop it please. I'm in enough pain as is, if you don't mind, and it's starting to make me angry." His eyes briefly flash blood red at the young swordsman. He's holding onto Excalibur now. By the blade. Blood is coursing down that hand, but he's got a grip on it.
Kirito	"You're angry?" Kirito isn't at all surprised that Mortimer proved strong enough to stop the tail end of his Sword Skill. The energy disperses in a burst of weird speciial effects, but Excaliber's golden blade still almost seems to glow freakishly. Is this strange weapon truly a holy sword? It's certainly freakishly heavy for something Kirito's swinging around with such ease... Anyone who normally looked at Kirito wouldn't expect much of him, probably... but the thing young man - who comes up to Mortimer's chest at best. His own gaze, though... is something else. In this very moment, there's no trace at all of the upbeat, adventurous battle-loving swordsman. Instead, Kirito's dark grey eyes are haunted and filled with a frantic, frigid, desperate fury. Something that very few people have seen from him in a great long time. "I'm livid. How many millenia of this 'go kill Chaos for the Emperor' approach need to pass before people realize it's NOT WORKING?! When have you ever, -EVER-, seen a violent slaughter solve more problems than it causes?!" His voice is harsh, almost raspy as he struggles against Mortimer's sheer muscle and the heat. "I don't go on these jaunts with the Concord because I like what they're doing... I go to prevent them from being bloodbaths! And of all the people who are making it into one, it's a friend. How angry do you think I am?!" Although he certainly COULD attempt a strike with his other sword, Kirito seems to be hoping to get Mortimer to back down...
Kotone Yamakawa	Kotone Yamakawa is trying to get to Mort but Mort doesn't seem intend ingo be stopped here. As Mort move to hold Solty back, the fires are going everywhere things are burning. Kotone from Mort's view just doesn't understand. Even as the flames come down she's trying to restrain Mort. This is not going well the building is coming down it's going to come down there's a scream she doesn't get the warning like Solty does. She may get caught in it and the heat, while Mort isn't directly trying to kill her with the fire? The temperature is getting to her. Staren goes full necromancer making bone golems from the dead. This is just going to hell in a handbasket harder and harder. She wasn't enough to stop Mort, even with the mass of her body and the speed she put behind it. As the place burns. "Staren get Solty out of here!" She turns about as Mort is locked with Kirito and she moves into just trying to deck the man. "MORT YOU ARE GOING AFTER THE SYMPTOM NOT THE CAUSE!"
Raziel	"Funny, that they have somehow managed to brainwash you too. Tell me, do you really hate yourself so much that you'd willingly set in with people who hate you to your core?" She says, perhaps a bit sad, but not meekly. She does not back down from Mort. "You can try to make me come with you, but I will not go quietly. You are in my house...and you know what they say about being in a Sorcerer's house..." Then Kirito slams into him, thankful for the room. "Who has hurt you so, lost sheep? Or is it that you just hate yourself so much? Then what has caused this self-loathing that runs so deep that you, of all people, would run willingly into the Imperium's hands?" She walks, right towards Mort as she sees Solty go down. Not sure why, she places a hand on Mort's hand, attempting to take it slowly off Excaliber. "That you are willing to hurt your friends? You act as if every order of Slaanesh is the same. That Chaos is the same force...that, by its very definition is a fallacy. A god is a single being with many MANY different reflections. While the Prince was an horror in some, it is a beacon of hope in others." "Slaanesh is a reflection of the ways people experience joy...experience emotion, and the experience itself."
Staren	Tears start to run down Staren's cheeks at seeing Mortimer in this state. "...The power of hate is really something. Is this really worth giving your all for, Mortimer? ...Even if it turns out you're right. Sometimes you have to cut and run, and wait for your chance. Because I waited in the Union instead of self-destructing, I'm helping people today." Kirito gives his own rant. "Uhh, actually? Violent slaughter solves plenty of problems. I just think this wasn't the time for it." Staren observes. Get Solty, Kotone asks. Is it... is it time to give up and leave? Staren starts to pick her up... ...and then suddenly wings appear on his back and he's dropped Solty and flown straight to Mort, smacking the cult leader's hand away, angrily. "No. No no no no NO no NO. You're only going to make it worse. Make him convinced you're using words to control minds or something. He will NEVER accept Slaanesh. Don't even TRY." He sounds angry at the cult leader now, of all things. This feels off. What if Mort was right? There's no way THAT could be the thing that calms Mort, and the cult leader knows it. So if she's going for it... What's going on that he doesn't know? Staren's not sure what, but SOMETHING is very wrong here, besides Mort.
Mortimer Balman	And then.. Mort begins to laugh. Almost madly! "Pfft.. Bwahaha.. Gwahaa.. GWAHAHAHAHAHAA!" That coarse laugh of his, hollow and bitter now. "Do you really believe that?? By all Gods, I hope you're just trying to trick me! I have SEEN-" and his voice BOOMS and rattles several shards from his flesh, which begins to bleed fresh, boiling hot blood. Don't touch that it will cause burns instantly, "the faces and palatial playgrounds of your filthy, self-indulgent little whore of a deity!" His eyes burn with a fire borne of hatred and misery. "Every time I close my eyes, every time I try to find solace in slumber, I see the gardens of Slaanesh, little sorceror.. Have you seen them?" He leans down, flames licking the corners of his mouth. "...Would you like to see them? ...All you need to do, is look into my mind.. Go ahead, I invite you freely." He does not release Excalibur. No matter how much it bites his hand. He's actually ignoring Staren, Kotone- even as she punches him! Even as she smashes him, his body twists a bit but he doesn't budge, he just takes the hit and lets it do whatever damage it will. He's ignoring all of them now, focusing solely on Giula. A death's head grin on his face as he dares her to look into his thoughts.
Raziel	The cultist' hand was smacked away, she looks towards Staren with a slightly annoyed expression. "Oh, and instead, should I have tried to kill him? You were doing a good enough job for me, so I decided to try and calm him down and soothe his aching soul. I see things work quite differently in the multiverse, so forgive my ignorance," she says towards Staren. "I have seen the garden of Slaanesh, Multiversal. Do you think my powers do not grant me visions of what things are like in the Warp? I can see the problems that exist. I can see the corruption that this era has taken on the gods...or do you not know what the warp REALLY is?" "I think that might be the greatest irony of all."
Staren	"Sometimes, you're just not the right person for the job." Staren backs away, towards Solty again. "This whole thing is going to end soon one way or the other, so if you have any actual knowledge about something wrong with the world that needs fixing, get the words out fast and quit with the cryptic bullshit. If you really care about helping people over all else... then take the action that will save the most people!"
Kirito	This is really not the time to correct Staren's idea of what 'slaughter' actually means. Kirito is way too busy staring down Mortimer with everything he has. But the Black Swordsman is not backing down. Not exactly. He does, however, gracefully withdraw a hop backwards, ripping his weapon free of Mortimer's grasp with a powerful YANK - one through which holding on despite it will only mean more injury. Yet Kirito is clearly unsettled by there being blood on his weapon. He slashes the weapon to his side and smoothly casts it all off onto the ground before rising it again in a guard. "Have you thought about finding some help with that...?"
Solty Revant	It is about this time that Solty shakily gets back to her feet. She sees that Mortimer and Giulia and everyone else are alive, and a relieved smile graces her features. She makes her way toward them slowly, holding her head like she has a serious headache and staggering side to side a bit. When Staren starts toward her comes to a stop and hangs on to him for support. "N-no...no one needs to be killed...not when so many just were..." she says weakly. "C-can we just leave now? Miss Giulia is good. We're all supposed to be good. A-and...I don't feel so good."
Mortimer Balman	Mortimer's hand is flayed open. He cauterizes it with a thought, the hand bursting into flame and immolating until the wound has closed. "Oh.. Don't worry, Staren. She's going to help us a great deal." He's still grinning at her. "Her and all the little wretches that may have survived this day. Do I need to take you by force, little sorceress? I assure you, I can withstand much more punishment than this. But you don't have nearly enough power to stop me. So I'll be polite, like a gentleman, and let you choose- easy way, hard way." He briefly glances at Solty. "No, dear. She isn't good. But she puts on a delightful show. That's why you aren't seeing the rampant debauchery. That's why you aren't seeing the writhing, living sacrifices that slit their own throats as part of the great orgy of blood and lunatic depravity as an offering to the daemonic forces that eagerly await new flesh." More crystals shatter off of Mortimer's back. How much more damage CAN he really take? It's hard to tell with that old man, stubborn as he is about dying and staying dead. "You've all done a very good job of trying to be good people. Staren, Solty, Kirito, Kotone. If this was any other place.. Almost any other place.. Maybe it would have mattered. But this is a house of the Lost, and the Damned, and their little cult will need a fair bit of time to rebuild once I've finished cleaning it up."
Raziel	"I see, you truly are lost to your slavery to a god who does not love you, to a people who treat you like a mutant and a non-person. To a people who are forced to throw their lives away for no reason..." "Yet you throw these on my feet. We did not raise a hand against you, these people are not warriors, they are not psychers. I have tried to reason with you, to soothe your soul...but it apparently is far too broken to listen." "You could not even do it for this sweet child. This child, who was brought here despite all of these things you have claimed. Why would you do that? What kind of friend does that to a child, were your words true?" "If you had asked, I would allow you free access to this place. Assuming you were over the age of eighteen. Some places are a bit...well, carnal to say the lease. We are not monsters, we are not saints...we are people who want to live and enjoy life and the freedom that brings." "So I will not give myself to you, and in fact, you are no longer welcome here. Go, leave...because if you don't you will only hurt your friends more. That...is not what I am about. I harm only to defend myself, nor would I wish to see people come to harm."
Staren	'the writhing, living sacrifices that slit their own throats as part of the great orgy of blood and lunatic depravity as an offering to the daemonic forces that eagerly await new flesh.' That's a claim of fact. Staren's pretty sure there are diviners and psychometers who can be hired to CHECK that, and whichever way this ends he intends to.
Kirito	"I've seen NONE of that sort of stuff here. And you haven't even given us a chance to REALLY LOOK!" Kirito shouts angrily Mortimer's way. He's already realized this is more or less a lost cause, as the fire's spreading. "You did /this/ without even INVESTIGATING. And of course, coming when expected isn't that."
Kotone Yamakawa	In the madness human suffering and madness Kotone stops before launching another punch at Mort, what the hell was going on she would turn and look to the cult leader. She looks at mort note she looks back to the cult leader and she lowered her fists even as this place burns. Mort's word gives her pause now but she also echos Kirito. "Mort you just came in here and started burning! What the hell I thought you were better than all of that."
Mortimer Balman	Mort nods a bit at Giula. "Right. Well.. No." He'll look at the others. "I'm not going to explain it to you. Because I'm not going to inflict my nightmares on any of you. If you want to think less of me, by all means- think less of me. But I would think most of you know by now- I would not do this, if I was not certain that I needed to do this. And I'm sorry that upsets you, I'm sorry that spits in the face of all your heroic ideals.. But as I've told you all before. I'm not a hero. I'm a soldier. Soldiers do what is necessary.." A brief look back to Giula. "I apologize to you as well. Because I wasn't asking you to come with me. I was telling you that you are." And without warning, his (non-mauled) fist flies out right for the center of her face, looking to punch her dead in the nose and knock her right the hell out. So he can carry her away.
Raziel	There is a heavy sigh... With a burst of speed, the psycher is out of harm's way. She acted with amazing precognition as if she knew the blow was coming. The speed was swift enough to obviously be supernatural...it appears she was not simply waiting for Mortimer to try and strike her, but preparing for it. She was now far out of arm's length. "Then I too am sorry, for what I must do," She says and releases a terrible PSYCHIC scream...unfortunately the only person who can actually hear it is Mort this time, as she attempts to overload his senses and his very brain with the powers of the warp.
Staren	Staren shrugs, tiredly. "I guess I can't fault that. Time will tell if you are right..."
Kirito	"I don't care whether you call it hero, or soldier... I've never once considered myself a hero." Kirito spits out in what's increasingly becoming useless protest. "You're wrong. Some things SHOULDN'T be done. A full scale assault over just SOME WORDS... no, you're not even a soldier. A military acts on INFORMATION and you didn't even gather that."
Mortimer Balman	Mort suddenly grabs at his head, letting out a loud and anguished cry. Even falling to his knees. "GRRRGgh..!!" His ears and eyes begin to bleed, and smoke pours out of his mouth and his nostrils, saliva that burns through the floor dripping from his ragged mouth as he stares up at her. His mouth opens wide, but there's.. No sound coming out of it. He rises to his feet and begins slowly walking toward her, body shaking and twitching. But something's wrong. The sorceress will feel it, the others won't. The bestial mutant, reduced to a near-frenzied state, is- somehow- trying to.. Feed on her, in some way. On instincts borne of his half-Ghost nature, he's trying to leech her emotions and thoughts from her- which if it works will leave her drained and possibly catatonic. Someone with enough psychic or magic power might notice this, otherwise this encounter most likely just hella weird.
Raziel	She did not want to do that...while there are some in the order of Slaanesh who get off on causing as much pain as pleasure...there are those who simply want to remove the pain. Perhaps this woman was honest about everything she said, she seemed that way at least. Mort attempts to drain her of her emotional persistence, despite literally being battered to all hell, and then having his mind torn by the warp. The heavily wounded badger pushes forward with that self-righteous and determination he has brought this entire time. She falls to her knees. She is a sorceress, she is powerful, but she was just not on the same level as a more established elite. She can't fall here, she thinks to herself as the vitality drains from her. She can't fall here...she won't go back...she won't let the Imperium hurt her. "I won't..." she says, tears down her face. She taps into something else, some part of her emotions that Mort just can't take from her. Something so deep and so ingrained to her psyche that has allowed her to master her gift, to become a sorceress of Slaanesh in the first place. The pain of loss... For a moment, an OTHERWORLDLY presence seems to watch the room. As the eye of /something/ is turned on this woman, in her most desperate time. Soaking in the blood and ashes of her allies, watching a child having to witness this. "Not again...not AGAIN! I won't let the Imperium take everything from me /again/." The voice twists just enough. There is a pulse similar to a heartbeat that resonates from her as something seems to take hold. A mark forms on her head. A circle with a crescent facing it, connected to another crescent facing away. Go forth, my champion. With new purpose, strength, and majesty she rises from her spot on the floor before Mort could place his hands on her. "We will speak later, Hand Wiremu, I do not hold this man's actions against your group," There is POWER in that voice. "GATE OF INFINITY!" she says, without screwing it up, suck it Kaldor Draco. And with a displacement, she is gone.
Mortimer Balman	And Mortimer just kinda collapses into a heap and lays there twitching, coughing up blood and smoke and boy he really does not look like he's in very good shape right now. People probably shouldn't be bleeding that much. Or vomiting acrid smoke.
Staren	"Way to go, you may have just PUSHED someone to become what you were afraid of." Staren stands up straight and points, getting a second wind. "Now GET OUT before I have you arrested! I am going to have this investigated and..." He sees Mortimer kind of collapsed on the floor. "Good fucking grief, Mortimer." He turns around. "You guys drag him off. I need to see who can still be saved." And he begins searching for bodies that don't look like they got hot enough to denature the brain -- and bodies that aren't dead yet that can be pulled from critical condition with nanobandages and healing potions.
Solty Revant	Solty seems to have recovered enough to stand on her own now, and she smiles tiredly as Giulia gets away, though that strange transformation at the end is a bit concerning. Her smile fades as she looks around, then she slowly makes her way upstairs to see if the pastry is still there where she left it. Whether it is still okay or a scorched mess, she takes it with her. Then she makes her way back down and helps the others get Mortimer out of here. She looks a bit broken though, and not in the damaged hardware kind of way. "Are you guys okay?" she asks Kotone, Kirito, and Staren.
Staren	"No." replies Staren, voice dripping with anger. He continues his grisly work.
Kotone Yamakawa	Kotone Yamakawa watches as things just go insanely to hell she watches in a mix of awe and horror as things end likely horribly so. She has no idea how badly this is going to end or go. What has Mort done? What has happened here? Kotone "No, I'll never be unable to unsee this..." There is likely more work to do...a lot more work to do.