[Fred] Chapter 2: Civil War

[Linwelin]

There's a +2 on that Diplomacy check

[Throndir]

Sense Motive: 18
You could not get any hunches on Lai Ju's thoughts.

Diplomacy: 15
The request for the guard's life succeeds.

"Bad one? That's one the capital labels us... Fine. The guard lives. He has you to thank for that." But she continued to hold up her blade.

There was the sound of yelling in the backrooms, along with a scuffle.

"But the rest of the royal family? It's only fair the same is done to them as the previous one. That's my answer, Fred. They all deserve death."

The one named Lai Ju stood on standby near Lai Fen, though her gaze was impassive, she remained silent however, but you noticed that she watched the interaction between you and Lai Fen carefully. The rest of the Dark Ravens had already begun rounding up the others. There were some who had begun tying up the emperor's guards as well.

[Linwelin]

Fred shrugs, somewhat throwing his arms in the air. "I said that I wouldn't stop you, right? I don't even know why I'm here, so I know better than to think I have an opinion in how this kind of stuff is handled. And from what I can tell, as no one ELSE has stepped up," Fred gives a side long glance to the rest of the Ravens, "this kind of thing must be a normal method in this world. I just don't like pointless killing and death."

After all, I've been on the receiving end... Fred thinks to himself a bit helplessly.

Fred then turns to the guards behind him, "Congratulations on surviving. She's pretty vicious, huh? Remind me to try to stay on her good side." After making a subtly fearful face to them, Fred turns around to address Lai Fen once more. "I'll be over here if you need me, and I have some questions when you're all done." Fred points to one of the pillars in the hall, walks up to it, then leans against it.

Once comfortable, Fred pops open his status menu again, picking his next discovery target. Now let's see...huh, what are those cross symbols (+)? Without even skipping a beat, Fred swipes his finger through the '+' sign next to 'DEX'.

I press the '+' sign next to DEX in the status window.

[Throndir]

The moment you hit the '+' icon, the DEX number went up to 21, while the 'Unspent ability points' went down to 2.

Fred Pragtige
Summoned Hero
Level 15

Condition: Healthy

HP: 28/28
MP: 18/28
STR: 16 +
DEX: 21 +
CON: 18 +
INT: 12 +
WIS: 15 +
CHA: 10 +
MAG: 18 +

Blessings: Quick Learner, Mana Sensitivity, Translate All, Personal Status, Status, Destroy

You have 2 unspent ability points.

Soon enough the rest of the royal family was put in front of the Dark Ravens. Some of them began crying. Altogether there were 4 women, and 5 children.

Gathering the rest of them would have taken another few rounds, so feel free to state any other actions before then.

"Lai Fen, you don't have to do this." The lieutenant said. She was being relatively quiet, but you were still able to hear her.

[Linwelin]

Fred quickly presses the button on DEX twice more, before stepping up next to Lai Ju. "You're correct, she doesn't. And I can't stop her; I'm new here, after all. You, though, may be able to. I'm not going to force you, but please, speak up. I'm pretty sure no one, not even Lai Fen herself, wants to see this much death. And she needs to hear it from friends, especially close ones." Fred gives Lai Ju a couple pats on the shoulder, goading her forward. Then, Fred unceremoniously puts his arms behind his head before heading back to his pillar. Huh, I see why humans always did this pose. It doesn't look it, but this is a pretty comfortable way to hold oneself!

Once back at the pillar, Fred looks at the next word, the one that's most interesting. Destroy.

I put my last two points in DEX, then tap Destroy for more info.

Preemptively rolling diplomacy

Diplomacy:  1d20+2 : 8 + 2, total 10

[Throndir]

Fred Pragtige
Summoned Hero
Level 15

Condition: Healthy

HP: 28/28
MP: 18/28
STR: 16 +
DEX: 23 +
CON: 18 +
INT: 12 +
WIS: 15 +
CHA: 10 +
MAG: 18 +

Blessings: Quick Learner, Mana Sensitivity, Translate All, Personal Status, Status, Destroy

『Destroy』
Ability to destroy anything worn on the target.

Lai Ju nodded once you patted her.

"Lai Fen..." She started again, though she trouble finding the right words to calm her leader.

"Don't you try to stop me!" She was almost yelling. Some of the Dark Ravens weren't quite sure what to do, and many of them had confused looks on their faces. There were a couple who goaded on what was going to happen next, yet there were others who looked away.

Lai Ju paused, her lips quivered, and you noticed she had glanced at you briefly.

[Linwelin]

Fred sighed at the scene, a look of helplessness on his face upon seeing Lai Ju's begging face. "Fine..." It was all Fred could say. He would have to try one more time. He stepped forward quickly.

"LAI FEN!" Fred shouted, hoping to startle the woman enough to cause her to halt.

"I understand telling me to rudely step aside, but if you do it to your own company, I don't know how you've remained a leader here. What sort of leader disregards the pleas of their own subordinates?"

Why am I doing this...? This is such a dangerous game. Lai Ju, you owe me for this. It was all Fred could think. He was slowly moving the anger from the royalty to himself by provoking her. But since he couldn't easily stop her with brute force, this was the only way he could think of.

"That's your vice-leader, isn't it? Or at least someone special to you. Their whole job is to keep you in check when you start to lose yourself. That's just how it works. I they have a complaint, you need to at least hear them out." Fred meaningfully glances at Lai Ju.

"Also, two questions for those assembled here." Fred continued, gesturing to the room. "Who wanted the emperor dead, or at least believed he deserved it? Ok, now who believes that anyone else in this courtroom deserves to die?"

My last ditch effort before blowing more clothing up was to show Lai Fen that her opinion is the minority. Please, Dark Ravens, be smart about this.

Diplomacy:  1d20+2 : 9 + 2, total 11

[Throndir]

"We went this far for this moment! To overthrow that cowardly emperor!" She gripped her sword tight as if to accentuate the point.

When you had asked who wanted the emperor dead, there were many murmurs of agreement. Some of them too, had anger in their eyes as well. However, once you asked if anyone else should die, the agreement was less clear. It looked like only the roughest-looking ones had wanted to continue the bloodshed, but at least half of them weren't willing to agree at all. One of them even whispered that it wasn't right.

"We are to kill every last one of them! No one here is stranger to death and bloodshed... We've been through a lot... All of us! His family is as guilty as he is! Never once did they try to even stop him."

"Lai Fen, you've done a lot for us. Made sure we all got equal share when it came to handing out food... When our older leader passed, you took it upon yourself to guide us all... You were there for us. You comforted us when a loved one was mercilessly killed. But..." Lai Ju pointed at one of the children who had tears in her eyes.

"Is that not... familiar?" She asked.

http://www.youtube.com/v/QfOWJooSFOs&end=220

Lai Fen however, continued to stare at the royal family. Her eyes were a mix of emotion. Shock, worry, regret, confusion, anger, sadness... But one thing seemed to pop out much more vividly than rest: hatred.

Her eyes were cold and dark. It seemed to be full of vengeance, and anyone looking at her would have felt a chill right down their spine. Her breathing came slow and seemingly calm. Externally she seemed fine. But inside her heart was a torrent of emotion.

She seemed to sway at first, but then she steeled her resolve.

"Fred. You have no idea... You can't understand. How could you? You were never here. People you love, taken from you. Ashamed and violated, then killed for all to see. Your homes broken into, your mother, wife, sister, father, or brother dragged out... Swords pointed at them. Killed before your very eyes. Those less in power at the whims and mercy to those above us... Even with all the external threats of this world, it was they who continued to press us. It's as if they're using as a scapegoat, they blame us for their misfortune. They care nothing for the people, and nothing for anything that won't line their purses with gold." She then looked towards Lai Ju.

"And you, my lieutenant and adopted sister, would stop our vengeance now? After all we've been through? Everything we've done... Removing and killing each of those in power that used it for no good. And now... when we're here to decide everything, you are telling me to stop? You know how this sick country works Lai Ju! You know it well the most! As much as I do!" She was yelling.

"You know what scum rules this nation! No one. Absolutely no one does anything to stop it. Except us Lai Ju! That was our goal all along wasn't it? To make the scum royalty of this country pay for what they've done! You know this as well as I do! Do not forget our old master... Do NOT forget what they've done to him. You dishonor his memory!"

"I told you... Lai Ju." She said turning her icy glare towards her lieutenant.

"Don't you damn dare try to stop me!" With that Lai Fen moved forward, weapon in front of her flashing in the blood-stained room, as she aimed for the closest royal family member. Her eyes were dark, her words full of vengeance; her heart, black.

[Linwelin]

"You're right, I wasn't here. And I know nothing of the situation." Fred said bluntly, "All I do know is you killed an obviously disliked man, which I consider succeeding in your mission. But now you're killing women and children. Why is it that they look more like victims than anything?" Fred paused, seeing that nothing had changed with his actions.

Well that's as far as I'll go. I can't stop her by force without causing outrage from her friends. Not about to lose my life a second time! If I ever want to force my opinion like this, I'll need more strength...

Fred then wordlessly steps aside, giving a helpless look back to Lai Ju. At least we tried. He thought toward her own poor expression. But adopted sister, huh? I guess that explains the shared name. He walked up and stood beside the red haired woman, silently watching what Lai Fen would do now.

She's likely to lose herself in her rage. But I hope at least some words got through to her.

[Throndir]

http://www.youtube.com/v/YfrSI2aiBJ8

"Lai Fen, no!"

But it was too late.

At that same moment, one of the children started sobbing more, as she clambered over to the now-decapitated body of her mother; her tears mixing in with the blood of her parent. The child's clothes too was soaked with the blood, as her once jade-colored dress was dyed crimson.

The girl's crying was loud, and the rest of the hostages began quivering in fear.

"Be quiet!" Lai Fen yelled. Her eyes looked empty, as if she was in shock. The crying reminded her of something then. Something she chose to forget.

"I said be quiet!" Lai Fen's eyes started to water, her knuckles white as she gripped her blade tighter and stared menacingly at the child.

[Linwelin]

Fred begins muttering under his breath, "This...this is wrong. This is too far." Fred clenched his fist. "I don't understand why, but this makes me angry. I...can't let this happen."

He looks to Lai Ju. "Please follow me, we need to stop this. It isn't simple vengeance; it's something far worse. I'm no good with weapons, so please block her if she tries to lash out."

Without another word, Fred sprints toward Lai Fen. "Lai Fen!" Once he draws close, Fred shouts to her, forcing her to turn his way. And without any other words, in one swift motion...

He slaps her.

Hard across the cheek. Fred had seen this act before, maybe not in this situation, but something minorly comparable. It brought the person back to their senses. Fred was scared to death, but at this point he was more afraid of inaction. So what if he got stabbed, so what if he was killed? He should already be dead. Now all he needed to do was make a difference for the humans he appreciated so much.

"Wake. The Hell. UP!" He shouts in her face.

Please be behind me, Lai Ju. Pleasepleasepleasepleasepleeeeeease! I'm probably gonna die for this! She's lost her mind! Fred needed to do this, but in his mind he was very unhappy with this decision.

[Throndir]

Heroic Action Point gained

http://www.youtube.com/v/GoCs6L4pYwg

Tears in her eyes, Lai Fen's face was one of complete shock. She stared almost blankly at you, registering the fact she had been hit in the first place. Too far gone was she in her rage that she didn't realize that you had even stepped up.

Her face stung, but she didn't feel that. Instead she felt something else: an intense feeling of loss.

Her eyes moved to the girl who was crying over her dead mother. The girl's clothing was completely soaked with blood, and the child covered her face in her mother's bosom. The young girl's jade dress was completely ruined.

It reminded her of something as well. Something she had been trying to forget for the last 13 years.

"Ahahaha! Look at you groveling! That's right, cousin, you're at my mercy now. You know... no one's going to save you. You're a pathetic ruler for our country. Weak. The country has turned it's back towards you... The nobles, the merchants, the people..."

"Even your own family."

There was a woman's shriek.

"Empress Song Feiyan... It's a pity you chose my cousin over me."

"P-please... d-don't." A woman's voice, cracked in fear.

"M-mother! Y-you... you will pay for thi-"

"Pay? Pay for what?" The man start laughing maniacally. "And the young princess! Perhaps I shall make you my concubine!"

A sound of spit.

"You'll have to kill me first!"

"Is that so? You damn bitch!"

Sounds of a child's crying.

"Father... Mother... Brother... Sister..." A child murmured in shock in between her tears, her jade-colored dress soaked in the blood of her family.

"The youngest daughter, the sole remaining heir of the Song family." The man started to laugh again.

"Sire! We shouldn't kill them all... They are still the royal family..."

"Silence! I will do as I please! But... You're right. I'm sure she will blossom into a beautiful lady."



It was then that Lai Fen could no longer hold back her tears. Her hands trembled, her eyes finally realizing what she had just done. There was blood everywhere. Her memories stained with death and pain, so too was what she had just caught herself causing.

Her blade dropped from her shaking hands.

Spoiler

[close]

Lai Fen's eyes moved to you, she stepped forward on shaky legs. Stumbling forward she reached out.

You can catch her if you like, no roll required.

[Linwelin]

YES! I'M NOT GETTING STABBED! It was all Fred could think as the blade dropped to the ground. This 'slap' thing really works!

"Whoa-!" Fred quickly moved forward, catching her in a loose embrace to steady her, obviously having not been prepared for her collapse entirely. "...Welcome back. Take your time..." Fred carefully patted her back, gazing over her shoulder to her sister, nodding his head.

She's alright...mostly. Fred thought to himself, his thoughts expressing themselves on his face for the rest of the ravens. He also motioned for someone to care for the royal remnants, especially the girl that'd just lost her mother.

Fred was certain he'd never experienced chaos of this level in his past life. He was slowly beginning to realize that humans were far from simple beings. And he had a long road ahead of him to become one as well. I wonder if they're ALL this maddening? Fred stayed lost in his thoughts while the girl in his

[Throndir]

Lai Fen continued to sob however, and when you reached out to pat her, she instead clutched your shirt and brought herself closer.

The rest of the Dark Ravens looked at the scene, but the moment you motioned a few to take care of the royal family, a crew of them began to take action. Both the royal family and the royal guards were handcuffed with ropes, and were lead out the room. The child who had lost her mother however, refused to move from her spot, so one of the Dark Raven members decided to take it upon themselves to sit by the child.

Lai Ju noticed your nod, and she smiled back in thanks. She then placed a hand on her adopted sister's shoulder.

"Lai Fen... We did it."

The girl didn't respond, but then Lai Ju turned towards you, dropped to a knee and bowed her head.

"Thank you, hero Fred. The situation probably would have become worse if not for your arrival... The emperor had been telling everyone that our country did not have the means to summon a hero... But it looks like that too was yet another lie. At the very least the Dark Ravens are glad that you have taken our side."

[Linwelin]

Fred doesn't resist at all, though he is a little surprised and slightly uncomfortable with the sudden clinging by the same girl that had been threatening to end him if he crossed her in any way. 'Confusion' didn't even begin to describe his mental state. All he could do was continue to pat the back of the girl and stand there immobile.

With Lai Ju's approach, Fred could finally get some questions hopefully answered. "Right, about that." Fred says back with curiosity, "What is all this 'summoned hero' business? You've all been treating me like this, but I have NO idea what's going on. And, uh..." Fred blinks a few times, looking over Lai Fen's shoulder to the kneeling Lai Ju. "Why are you doing that? The kneeling thing."