shadowbringers

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shadowbringers

beneath the stars It's been a week since our newest expansion officially launched! And, I know, I know... some of you already have a lot of feelings that you need to air out. But canon updating in your games is a struggle! And so is finding PSL partners! Luckily, that's what we're here for. This is a post for you to play out all the Shadowbringers-related content you might be dying to write. Behind-the-scenes nonsense? Between-the-scenes angst? It's all welcome here! 1. Toplevel your character. Include any details you might think are relevant. Or don't. As always, we're not the cops. 2. Reply to other people's top levels! 3. Have fun! ⚔ Please clearly mark all spoilers in your thread subject lines. Clearly indicate whatever spoiler preferences you may have. We're only a week into the expansion, officially, and there's no shame if you're not far in it or haven't started it yet. ⚔ You are welcome to play characters who are new to Shadowbringers. However, please try to avoid topleveling with icons and descriptions that convey major plot-related spoilers. If you aren't certain about a character's playability, feel free to PM parser.

TEMPLATE CODED BY valoirs

Comments

[poisontippedcure]

I'm not going to pretend that you haven't suffered, but don't act like you're innocent in this situation.

You aren't the only one who's lost people. Our ongoing battle with your Empire has cost the lives of many, not to mention those who the Ascians have directly killed.

[She pauses. Should she stop here? Probably. Is she going to stop here? There's not a chance in hell.]

Of course, I'm sure you wouldn't understand any of that. Death only counts when it's one of your "perfect beings," doesn't it?

[angeloftruth]

[He was so hoping they were past all this nonsense.]

When you've lost half as many people as I have, then you can speak to me of death. Oh you may grieve and mourn and hate the gods for taking your loved ones away from you, but you were never going to last longer than a few decades. Death for your people is a mercy.

[poisontippedcure]

A mercy!? A mercy from what, pray tell.

[Probably from this conversation.]

And do go on. I’ve walked in on my entire guild slaughtered, and I’ve seen a rebel camp burned to the ground. By your benevolent Empire, no less. I’ve lost the person closest to me, because you and your lot decided to tempt Thordan with power.

Having your civilization taken from you doesn’t give you the right to burn others’ to the ground.

[angeloftruth]

From your miserable, half-lived lives full of pain and suffering and grief unlike anything that was seen before your precious Mother Crystal had her way.

[Why is he even arguing with her? He should just walk away.]

You saw but a fraction of Amaurot's glory. You cannot tell me the so-called cities your kind now builds could even come close. And you cannot tell me you wouldn't do anything it took to save them.

[poisontippedcure]

That pain and grief may hurt, yes, but it is also what makes life worth living. We treasure the things closest to us because they will one day disappear. Not that you would be able to understand.

[All things being equal, she should walk away. But she isn’t because 1) she’s sure she could pummel his ass if it came to it, and 2) because after all he’s put her through, he’s going to get a piece of her mind.]

It’s true I would do nearly anything to save the ones I care for, but I like to think I’d draw the line at genocide.

[angeloftruth]

Oh, we'd all like to think that we would. Genocide is a horrible thing, after all. But what we'd like never really becomes what we'd do, dear hero. Were our roles reversed and your precious shards and Crystal at risk, you would do no different than I have.

[poisontippedcure]

Are you quite sure about that? Because I’m not sure that you’ve met the Scions.

Were our roles reversed and I tasked with sacrificing people to bring them back, they would never forgive me. They would never forgive themselves for being the catalyst for such an atrocity.

You’re welcome to keep deluding yourself, but we’re not the same. Not even close.

[angeloftruth]

I've met them and been completely unimpressed by all save that Miqo'te woman, and then only for second. Recklessly using Flow twice would get anyone's attention.

[Just saying.]

But you honestly mean to tell me that if I gave you away to save that Elezen man you're so smitten with at the cost of, say, three other lives you wouldn't hesitate to turn me down?

I love this

[poisontippedcure]

[Rose frowns, and grows strangely quiet. Of all the things to say—Did he really have to go so far? She’s not surprised he was able to found an Empire; become good enough at twisting your words, and anything is possible.]

Hesitation isn’t the same as agreement. And even if I did, even if you could, I would never be able to face him again.

[angeloftruth]

But the fact that even for a moment you might consider it gives lie to your claims that we're not even close to being the same, hero.

[poisontippedcure]

[Rose has to stop herself from going for his throat. Ascians. It’s always Ascians.]

Does it, though? Because I haven’t used the deaths of your loved ones to taunt you. Unless you’d like me to start, of course.

[angeloftruth]

You haven't?

[He just laughs.]

You stand there, the fractured soul of one of our finest and you have the gall to tell me you haven't used the death of my loved ones to taunt me. You and your Scions mocked my grief and told me it was pointless. To my face. And you have the gall to tell me you haven't used their deaths to taunt me. You're lucky I can't seem to muster the power I had before, else you would not be standing there.

[poisontippedcure]

And you’re lucky that we’re in a place not meant for fighting, else I might cut you down again.

[She wouldn’t, unless pushed to the absolute brink. Emet is coming close.]

I’m sorry that I have the gall to exist, but I plan on living. On continuing to live.

I’m not sure what coincidence gave me the soul of ‘one of your finest,’ but I won’t allow them to have it back until I’m done with it.

[angeloftruth]

Eight times your soul has been repaired. If after all that, it's still yours I'm sure you'll be allowed to keep it. Thief.

[poisontippedcure]

Glad am I to hear it. You can call me whatever name you want, but I’m the one standing in front of you, and that’s not going to change.

[Perhaps she is being mean now, but it feels warranted.]

I’ll see to it that your games stop at 8. I’m not looking for anyone else to die in front of me.

[angeloftruth]

Oh, they're hardly my games anymore. I know full well when I've been beaten. Elidibus, however, is not so wise.

[poisontippedcure]

Elidibus is not long for this shard. I still have a debt to repay him.

[That debt is called ‘almost murder.’ To be repaid by ‘actual murder.’]

[angeloftruth]

Oh, I bet you do. Good luck getting him to come down off his place on the moon, however. You've killed two of us now. He won't be so quick to meet with you anymore.

[poisontippedcure]

I’m sure he’ll come for me eventually. Even with two Ascians down, I doubt Elidibus has given up on your plan.

[angeloftruth]

Not likely, but seeing how he deemed my great-grandson an useful tool there's no telling what he's doing now. Word of warning, and I mean this genuinely: do not make the mistake of assuming you know what he will do next. You don't.

[poisontippedcure]

Oh? And I suppose that you don’t know what he’s going to do next, either.

[angeloftruth]

He brought Zenos into it. Not even Zodiark Himself knows.

[poisontippedcure]

[She sighs.]

And now that’s a problem I’m going to have to deal with, too. Lovely.

You don’t seem too fond of your sire.

[angeloftruth]

Sire?

[Blink.]

What, you think Elidibus is older than I am? Or do you mean my great-grandson, because no. I'm not especially fond of him. I had hoped he'd be a wonderful tool for us, but he's too obsessed with hunting and killing to be any good.

this is why you don't tag at 2 am folks

[poisontippedcure]

Really? I thought his obsession with hunting and killing would serve your people well. He is quite good at causing chaos.