The Bal'met event

Sabiru

It is (hopefully) too early to comment on whether or not the various temples should have died with the gods - that will surely be handled appropriately in time. For instance, when Mhaldor gets a genuinely active and invested god (lol ) maybe he or she will open up the ivory temple and apples temple proper, or just restore the libraries or something.

Or the loss of all that lore and e-history could be seen as being a fair trade for getting rid of a few of the more poisonous god roles. Too early to tell, I guess.

Arlanda

Looks like now with the shrine cleansing available most of the Bal'met shrines are wiped out along with quite a handful of Lord Shaitan shrines. Hope the event concludes soon... Been dragging a little way too long

Ruth

Really? Guess I should not slack off so much then!

Jurixe

I doubt any Mhaldorian was expecting us not to come out with some form of loss where our Divines were concerned, and of the two it would really make sense for it to be Apollyon. Still sad though. Apollyon was a cool Divine, a really deep realm and had some of the most interesting characters in the game. It allowed for a lot of creativity in Evil characters and how they played their roles.

I'm really, really crossing my fingers that Shaitan doesn't die now though. People seem to think so, but I would be legitimately sad. original god of Evil and all that.

Really hoping though, that whatever comes out of this, Mhaldor gets a proper, active, long term god again that is Shaitan-level of badass. These recent months seeing Apollyon (rip ) and Shaitan shouting and doing stuff have done so much for morale that simply cannot be replicated on an adventurer level, no matter how hard we try. It's been amazing, and I really hope that stays.

Also the Dala'myrr, please let us keep the Dala'myrr. :X

Vaehl

You can get bal'met or bal'met fused with shaitan for your new divine depending on whether shaitan dies. But there's also the chance bal bal will die and you'll be stuck with one god.

the former sounds cooler.

Shahai

Jurixe said:

Also the Dala'myrr, please let us keep the Dala'myrr. :X

Arlanda

Ruth said:

Really? Guess I should not slack off so much then!

Well earlier on every city had people with embers but no shrine to cleanse... Afterall Hashan, Ashtan, Cyrene, Shallam and Eleusis would logically cleanse shrines faster together as compared to Mhaldor corrupting alone. 

I doubt the Dala'myrr will stay since the only way it stays is if Bal'met stays. That might mean corruption and cleansing stays for a long time. Also the Flame problem isn't solved yet

Nizaris

@Jurixe: I don't really want a new Shaitan. We've got him and his realm, and it makes sense for the combat-types. What I really want is another God similar to Apollyon that allows more creativity so that we can have more Lodi's, Cypra's, etc. I want a subtly Evil god to replace Apollyon, rather than another overtly Evil one to go alongside Shaitan. It just caters to the RP needs of Mhaldorian characters more fully.

Delphinus

Xith said:

Can't kill Pandora. She's like the honorary jester patron and we're supposed to be good at getting out of sticky situations.

My money's on She saves the day with some formidable mischief.

You know, Pandora could be something great. She could be this complex trickster goddess on par with Coyote, Anansi, or Loki. She could be the catalyst for legitimate wars and schemes, playing as much into a greater goal as into her own caprice. Her true nature could be completely alien to us. There could be subtle trickery and not slapstick.

Instead, we get the goddess of silly jokes -- a role that basically elevates every gripe we have about the Pranks skill. It's unfortunate.

(This is not a dig at the current Pandora, just the role she inherited.)

Salindera said:

HOW CAN YOU PLAN TO ESCAPE HIM WHEN HE'S ALREADY THERE?

Generally? By a single, yellow yard.

Nim

@Delphinus: I'm kind of terrible at mythology, but didn't Loki essentially start out silly (I dunno if he was slapstick, but he seemed pretty comic relief in the older stories, at least to me) too, and evolved into basically what you're describing as time went on? Hopefully Pandora takes the same route, and while she's at it, drags Jesters along with her, or something.

Chryenth

IIRC, in the origional stories Loki was a friend to mostly everyone, then he started to irritate people and it all went downhill from there.

Not sure I want Pandora to be the catalyst for the end of the world, but more seriousness would be fine.

Tvistor

I'm interested to see a pure Oppression Mhaldor. A strangely huge amount of Mhaldorians have been able to get to a high CR without any notable combat skill. Strength of the mind is all well and fine, but one of the Truths says combat is vital. I'd hardly excuse myself from the ranks of those who don't know much about combat, but I am doing my best to learn at the moment.

I also understand perfectly well that not everyone wants to learn combat and it'd be silly to force everyone into it. The hypocrisy is just very confusing to observe in game. Take for example, Daeven. He's ranked a slave, but could probably cut through the vast majority of Mhaldorians, meaning many of his superiors are only superior in the sense they have a larger number on CWHO.

Learning about Evil also isn't precisely something you need a degree in. The Seven Truths are spectacularly simple to understand, and while it is possible to debate endlessly about how X does Y, and why Shaitan said Z, as far as actually taking action goes, the path forwards is generally extremely clear. Because of that, a slave can sometimes speak just as eloquently as a superior, fight more fiercely in some cases, but still be an inferior by convention. (assuming they don't RP by getting things wrong deliberately)

DIE AODFIONN, DIE.

Aodfionn

As a slightly off-topic note, does anyone else think the pictures of the Dala'myrr look like the sandworms from the Dune books had a steampunk baby?

Delphinus

@Aodfionn: It's not off-topic if you put it in the right thread!

Aodfionn

Oh crap. Sorry. Just getting back, new forums are confusing...

Mystara

Cahin said:

Mystara said:

Still tempted to just walk up to a Mhaldorian and say "something something something dark side, something something something Bal'met, we get it you're evil shut up already." From an RP standpoint that's pretty lame though. Funny though.

Why did you actually do this?  You said yourself how stupid of an idea it was.

I know. I guess after a while I just couldn't take all the banter and lost my cool. -.- shoulda just turned off the board notifications. Hopefully it'll get buried. I'm not posting anything else. Landed me in enough trouble as is. So yeah, if you guys could just pretend I was having a bad moment and not mention it again, i'd appreciate it...

Vayne

Concerning the pruning of the Garden, if we look at the major axes of conflict I think I can make some predictions

Pentharian        VS Shaitan/Apollyon/Bal'met or Shaitan/Apollyon/Bal'met or Shaitan/Apollyon/Bal'met/Sartan
Miramar            VS Keresis
Mithrea             VS Twilight
Babel               VS Blind Fools who cannot accept their fate
Lupus/Artemis  VS Anyone who steps on a flower

Vasool

To this day I can't think of Lupus without thinking of autoimmune diseases.

Oceana

Vasool said:

To this day I can't think of Lupus without thinking of autoimmune diseases.

Do NOT Google Image this....

Lucine

Vasool said:

To this day I can't think of Lupus without thinking of autoimmune diseases.

It's never lupus!  Why must you keep bothering us with diagnoses of lupus?!  I play a text game just so I can get away from this stupid diagnoses and yet here it comes as a god. /Horrible House impression

ETA: I really would love to have a very trickster Pandora.  I think it could be a lot of fun.  I am curious to see who will end up surviving this, though. 

While I understand the wanting the event to be over, I'm enjoying the fact that we've gotten a bit of pacing.  Also, there is just some part of me that feels like there is going to be more coming.  I expect a really big plot twist to make this continue on.

Alynna

Vayne said:

Concerning the pruning of the Garden, if we look at the major axes of conflict I think I can make some predictions

Pentharian        VS Shaitan/Apollyon/Bal'met or Shaitan/Apollyon/Bal'met or Shaitan/Apollyon/Bal'met/Sartan
Miramar            VS Keresis
Mithrea             VS Twilight
Babel               VS Blind Fools who cannot accept their fate
Lupus/Artemis  VS Anyone who steps on a flower

Why does everyone think Justice and Vengeance are opposites?

Tagg

Good for Mhaldor to (hopefully) get an active and imposing god.

But now I just lost all RP reason to exist anymore, wtf do I do

Sohl

Oh Sartan

Delphinus

Ermygaw, it happened. You said it might happen and then IT DID.

---

Booming thunder echoes from the western isle where Mhaldor reigns, and the blood-red fog surrounding the city of Evil rises in clouds that ascend higher and higher into the heavens.

Sinuous coils of foul black vapour twist and whip through the fog, fermenting into a wild storm that scourges the God of Oppression and flays the crimson of His skin like flesh from bone.

Daemons howl from the depths of the Inferno as Shaitan gives a terrible bellow.

Relentlessly the fog itself tears at Shaitan, who roars across the skies with unhindered fury. The preternatural storm above the western isle reaches a frenzied climax, and tortuous thunder shakes the firmament.

With a sudden cry, Shaitan clasps His hands to His horns, wrenching downward and doubling over, all colour draining from His form.

Trembling clouds flee the sky, and the world holds its breath as the figure above the western horizon crouches, unmoving.

Slowly the ashen figure rises, raising His head to gaze across the world with a cruel scowl.

Rumbling through the firmament, a low voice utters, "So have We endured. And so have We been made stronger."

Thousands of daemons howl and shriek as Sartan, the Malevolent roars above the cacophony, "Hide while you can, Pentharian, for you and the cowards you indulge will be crushed under My heel like the worms you are."

Mishgul

Good days. So many good days.

Ephram

I was really hoping Sartan was on his way back. Good times.

Lodi

Delphinus said:

Ermygaw, it happened. You said it might happen and then IT DID.

---

Booming thunder echoes from the western isle where Mhaldor reigns, and the blood-red fog surrounding the city of Evil rises in clouds that ascend higher and higher into the heavens.

Sinuous coils of foul black vapour twist and whip through the fog, fermenting into a wild storm that scourges the God of Oppression and flays the crimson of His skin like flesh from bone.

Daemons howl from the depths of the Inferno as Shaitan gives a terrible bellow.

Relentlessly the fog itself tears at Shaitan, who roars across the skies with unhindered fury. The preternatural storm above the western isle reaches a frenzied climax, and tortuous thunder shakes the firmament.

With a sudden cry, Shaitan clasps His hands to His horns, wrenching downward and doubling over, all colour draining from His form.

Trembling clouds flee the sky, and the world holds its breath as the figure above the western horizon crouches, unmoving.

Slowly the ashen figure rises, raising His head to gaze across the world with a cruel scowl.

Rumbling through the firmament, a low voice utters, "So have We endured. And so have We been made stronger."

Thousands of daemons howl and shriek as Sartan, the Malevolent roars above the cacophony, "Hide while you can, Pentharian, for you and the cowards you indulge will be crushed under My heel like the worms you are."

That actually made me shout and scream with joy for about five minuets sold. I hope my neighbors don't think there's something wrong and call the cops.

Alyssea

I knew it would happen.

This is the first part of the event I'm actually glad about.

Tanris

That is an absolutely badass shout prefix.

Lodi

Things are moving so fast. I'm trying to get an art exhibition finished that reflects whats going on, but each time I get it done something changes and I have to create new work. Need to re-think everything again, but oh well! A small price to pay for having Lord Sartan back with us.

How do people think this is going to work out in regards to the ideological merger between Suffering and Oppression (which is apparently whats going to happen between the Orders)? I really hope the two theologies are going to continue, but just as a dual subdivision within Sartan's Order.

Edit: I also hope I keep my Order rank. :-bd