Sixth Trial

[letsplayamod]

That will be enough. Enter the arena, now.

[Typhon sounds almost reserved now. His tone no less commanding, he knows you'll need to enter the arena eventually. And, when you do arrive, he's already waiting. Emerged halfway out of the rift to watch you're approach

The wounds accrued in last week's shitshow have been healing, but marks remain. What you did - what Omega did - ate away at parts of him that Typhon is still growing back. At first, he's silent, tentacles of teeth gnashing over his shoulders, bellying a rage.]

Look at you all, a pantheon that shrinks day by day. This is the godly burden Athena has forced upon you. And if she were here, able to...

[He catches himself.]

This... is certain to be an exciting trial, I'm sure. Begin, if you can. I shall be watching intently.

[TRIAL START]

[Evidence]

Comments

[pariunt]

Oh, my death was far from painless.

[He dodges the burst easily. He is a rogue, after all. He throws an Ice Knife at Anima.]

I was left for dead. When Cazador found me, he turned me. Buried me alive, forced me to dig myself out from my own grave. And in that moment, I became his slave.

[His shadows billow out from him like a shield. Darkness; his shield.]

I told you why I cannot die. Why I cannot fall here. I must return, for Sebastian's sake.

[taintedfayth]

You think he will forgive you? Accept your apologies, no matter how heartfelt?

There are things that cannot be undone, and you of all people should understand this.

[He will never forgive the people of Spira for being the reason behind his mother's sacrifice, even if she has forgiven them herself.

The knife embeds itself in Anima for a brief moment before melting away in a hiss of steam, but it's enough to draw a pained sound from her before she attacks again.]

[pariunt]

[Astarion's smile doesn't meet his eyes.]

I know.

I remember the faces and names of the people I brought to Cazador. All one thousand of them.

I do not deserve forgiveness. That is why I must atone. If I fall here, I never will.

[His shadows rise for him, blocking the attack as Astarion quickly counterattacks again with the Ice Knife.]

[taintedfayth]

[The kind of smile Seymour knows all too well. His own smile in return is just as empty.]

I admire your dedication.

[And, strangely enough, it sounds like he actually does.]

... a shame it will amount to nothing.

[But there's far less conviction in his voice than there was a mere moment ago... instead, he seems tired, almost resigned, and when Anima strikes again, the blow seems to have less strength to it.]

[pariunt]

It will amount to something. Because I'm not alone.

[He dodges once more, but he doesn't counterattack this time.]

Seymour... isn't it wonderful? To find your home in a lover's arms?

[taintedfayth]

[Astarion doesn't counterattack physically, but those words strike deeper than any weapon ever could. Seymour recoils as though he's been wounded, his eyes involuntarily going wide for the briefest moment before he fights to get his expression back under control, school it back into being something neutral and unfeeling.]

... I would not know. I have never felt that way about anyone.

[The way he's trembling makes very clear that's a lie, however.]

[pariunt]

No hero came for us.

[His words aren't gentle so much as they're hollow.]

We were so, so alone.

So many are obsessed with their notions of good and evil that they ignore suffering right under their noses.

[taintedfayth]

[Seymour's breath catches for a brief moment, shudders into something quiet and pained.]

Enough...

[He knows. He knows this all too well. He knows how horrible and ironic and cruel it is that the God of Salvation was never granted the same thing for himself.]

[pariunt]

[He eases up, at that. Saying nothing else.]