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Amelia, Worm AU [Complete]

Discussion in 'Creative Writing' started by TanaNari, Jan 10, 2015.

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  1. evildice

    evildice (emotionally stable clown posse)

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    The five factions are obviously:
    - Men of Esgaroth
    - Dwarven veterans
    - Elves
    - Orcs
    - Half-warforged dragonborn stripper ninja demon warlocks
     
  2. PineTreeq

    PineTreeq Know what you're doing yet?

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    So beth makes all 5 factions?
     
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  3. doomlord9

    doomlord9 Experienced.

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    Well she was feeling left out because she only got her confidence boost after everything was taken care of.

    She ends up makes a living running a much loved televised fantasy series that Dinah tapped into when they asked about The End of the World, which is the title of the season 2 Finale arc.
     
  4. dasstan

    dasstan :)

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    How many of those groups are going to get results like Pantheon? The CUI has had a cape that shared powers around, and another to boost those powers, they've had that combo for ages, and they've made no-where near the same impact as Pantheon.

    Pantheon has a fairly unique combination of high end thinkers, tinkers and tinker-trumps, plus that elusive third trigger that allows for taboo bypassing. The only other faction besides Pantheon that's gotten around that is Cauldron as of their mass-trigger experiment, no?
     
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  5. Hexed999

    Hexed999 I trust you know where the happy button is?

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    Except I doubt they're keeping all those capes, in fact I'd assume that they're releasing at least some of them in the hopes that they'll make an organization similar in design to Pantheon.
     
  6. Threadmarks: Amelia, Ch 328- Ciara
    TanaNari

    TanaNari Verified Dick

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    Amelia, Ch 328- Ciara


    "The abominations were not shaped by any man, or men, High Priest," I informed, sipping from the slowly cooling bevarage. "The Administrator, Artisan and Negotiator are wrong in their belief on this issue."


    In the time I had spent in my mountain demesne, I had forgotten the pleasures of well made drink. The ghouls calling themselves Cauldron were resourceful, and had many worlds of fine food and drink to ply my tongue with. Thus far, the bribe had failed to truly motivate me, I would carry out my promise of granting them knowledge, as was my contract for them providing their artificial Faerie Circles for my entertainment. That did not, however, mean I went unappreciative of their efforts. Let them believe their token gestures influenced my actions, if they wished.


    As I enjoyed my drink, I watched his Faerie. She was breathtaking, as grand as any I had ever seen outside the Grand Dance itself. Even the Faerie Circles did not meet this one's glamour. That it took the form of a beautiful silver colored woman, bound in chains, I chose not to tell the King of the Stillborn. Her flesh shimmered with images and ideas, possibilities incarnate. She was dead and alive. Captive and free. Obscene and pure. Profane and sacred.


    "There are many clues to suggest otherwise," the man responded carefully. I was no fool, and aware that under his hood was artifice crafted by the fae-blessed. I was being recorded, they were using their talents to track my words and extract all the wisdom that might possibly come from them. Good, it was fitting in my role as the Faerie Queen that my lessers worship at my feet and supplicate for whatever wisdom I deigned fit to give them.


    "Indeed there are," I agreed. "That does not make it any less false."


    "Are they Agents... err, sorry, your faeries?"


    "I am aware of your terminology," I spoke, and a thousand other voices expressed their annoyance by sighing in my stead. "You are entitled to your methods. No, the abominations are not of the faerie. Or rather, they are of the faerie much as the artificers' tools are."


    "Artificers?" He asked, pausing for a moment to recieve what information his conspirators were providing. "You mean Tinkers?"


    "If that is what you wish to call them," I agreed, regarding him. His faerie had changed, the images coalescing as he sampled his abilities. Seeking to understand the knowledge I was gifting them with. Seeking the power that the High Priest felt was needed to stay safe, should I choose to betray him. He need not have bothered, I was enjoying the company, the drink, and the view.


    "So they are constructs, like Tinkertech, but without human involvement?"


    "No," I answered. "The abominations answer to one of the gifted, but they were not made by them," I corrected.


    "The Entities, then?" he suggested.


    "They are part of the cycle," I responded. "All parts of the cycle come from the Faerie."


    "But Scion killed one of them," he pointed out next. "If he made them, why's he destroying them, now?"


    "The King of the Faeries follows His own path," I answered. "It is not my place to question His will."


    "His will means the destruction of everything," the man argued. "You say you're not afraid to die, but this is a scale of countless trillions of worlds. Your death, the deaths of everyone you've ever cared about."


    "The Faeries continue on," I responded. "This is nothing the Serpent does not already know. Did not already tell you. She taught you of the Cycle, what parts she was blessed to know. She used you on her Path of Corruption, after all."


    "Serpent?" The High Priest asked.


    "The Betrayer," I responded. "The bearer of false gifts. She who stole the poisoned fruit and gave it to man. She who wields the rebel Faerie and used it to slay the true Queen. Pick your favorite story, she is all of them and worse."


    "Contessa, you mean," he responded. "Is... is that why you killed her? Because she killed Heiress?"


    "Heiress?" I asked. "An interesting name. Who chose to name the Stillborn Queen thus?"


    "I believe it's one of the terms Pantheon coined," he answered. "But please, let's stay on topic. Did you kill Contessa for killing the dead Entity?"


    "Not dead, merely stillborn," I corrected. "And I did not murder the Serpent. I reclaimed her, to keep her where she can do no more to poison the cycle."


    "Will you do the same, when the time comes for the rest of us to fight Scion, to kill him?" He asked. I could imagine the thoughts in his head, imagining he might need to fight me. Imagining that he might even, perchance, have a chance of success in that flight of fancy. Just as he believed he could challenge the True King of the Faeries. I found his antics amusing, at least.


    "I will not need to, High Priest," I spoke. "The True King cannot be defeated by us. He and His consorts sit atop His throne, untouched and untouchable. Above the royal court even as we are above mere ungifted humans. To imagine we can slay Him is to imagine an army of mere toddlers could defeat us. I allow your rebellion, because He allows your rebellion. And He allows your rebellion because it amuses Him, and is part of His will and the Cycle. The Faeries cannot be slain."


    "Contessa... the one you call a Serpent... she killed Heiress, did she not?"


    "Of course not," I scoffed. "She poisoned Heiress, stole her gifts and rendered her stillborn. Then sought to unravel the Dance of the Faeries in her jealousy and fear. The Queen is merely dreaming, now. Awaiting the moment of her Rebirth and the continuation of the Cycle. And no, High Priest, it is not possible for you to stop that. The events have been set in motion, and they are not to be stopped by any agency. Not even the True King Himself could halt the process at this juncture."


    "Is that what you took Contessa for?" He demanded, whispering his anger. "That you could cause this to happen?"


    "It would be poetic irony, would it not?" I smiled. "There is, after all, such a fine line between the gift of Poison, and the gift of Medicine. However, now that I have properly chastised the Betrayer of her crimes, I find there is little that I need do to accomplish the goal I sought. As such, I am content to adhere to our prior agreements. You and the Pantheon have done well in learning of the Cycle as you have. I shall continue providing my advice, if you continue to provide shows as you have promised. I do believe the claim was for the next one to be twofold the last?"


    "I... would have to check, that is not my department," the High Priest fidgeted uncomfortably. "Tell me, why would we trust you not to kill the rest of us? Or Pantheon's, for that matter? What is stopping you from attempting to reclaim my Faerie? Or any of the others?"


    "Why, nothing could stop me," I answered. "Save for my word, given freely as I have done here. I am not a murderer for murder's sake, High Priest. I am the Faerie Queen, and what I kill needs to die to serve my purposes, and the purpose of the Cycle. Now that the Betrayer is contained, there is little else for me to do save wait for the end, when we cease our games, cast off our mortal forms, and return to the Grand Dance amongst the stars."


    "I see," he muttered unhappily. The Betrayer whispered in my ear, even as I bid her hand me another cup of spiced mead. I had to admit, if begrudgingly, that the recipe was delicious. The Faerie was, as promised, an expert at all things and a caterer to every desire.


    That was what made the Serpent so dangerous, so poisonously appealing. If she were allowed, she would betray me as well. Even if merely as I grew to rely upon her power and lose myself in the power to always know the most convenient path through all obstacles. But, no, I would not allow myself that. To play my role in the Cycle was one thing, but the King and Queen did not orchestrate the entire play for a reason. They created the framework, and allowed the actors to improvise upon the stage for their amusement and pleasure. I would defer to their wisdom. The Serpent was a beautiful pet to own, but it would remain locked safely behind glass.


    Save for when I desire the perfect drink.


    "You have my offer, High Priest," I responded. "It remains unchanged from before. I will be understanding, if disappointed, should you reject my generosity. There will be no retribution if you wish to abandon the plan. If anything, I see how the loss of the Serpent bothers you so. I shall be more generous in my dealings with your organization in the future. You may enjoy one additional hour of my company per week, distributed however you wish, should you continue to meet my price."


    "I... will talk to the others," he responded, still unhappily. "We'll have our answer to you by tomorrow's meeting."


    "Thank you," I responded sincerely. "Now I really must return to my duties under the mountain. As entertaining as our conversations are, I have obligations to attend to, and lesser serpents to chastise."


    "Yes, I understand," he agreed. "Doormaker? Passage to the Faerie Queen's residence."


    The Tunnel Digger obeyed, and the passage opened. "Fairwell, High Priest," I responded. "I look forward to our next discussion."


    "As do I, Faerie Queen," he nodded.


    I smiled the moment I was sure no one could see me. Perhaps it was the mead talking, but I really did look forward to our next meeting.


    ================


    A/N- As far as April Fool's jokes go? I think my favorite part of this one is going to be where I don't tell you whether or not this is an April Fool's joke and it'll be potentially dozens of chapters before it's confirmed or denied.

    Transcendent Bluff THAT, bitches!

    .... Also, I may have been planning this chapter for the last two weeks....
     
    Last edited: Apr 1, 2015
  7. Diller

    Diller Versed in the lewd.

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    Huh if Tana is double trolling us with the april fools thing, Eden is waiting to be reborn inside Eidolon and GU killed Contessa.

    Well fuck. They might be even more screwed then they were before.

    Also is it just me or did the last line imply GU is starting to be interested in Eidolon?
     
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  8. cosoco

    cosoco Not too sore, are you?

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    So, is FQ still spending most of her time in the Birdcage?
     
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  9. Leonidas333

    Leonidas333 Well-Known Murderhobo

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    Holy goddamn shitfucking fuckmasters. I CAN'T WAIT A DOZEN CHAPTERS TO KNOW IF ITS TRUE. Fuck. If only they could get Ciara some time with lisa/rebecca, because between the two of them, they might be able to suss it out. On the other hand, Glasaig probably has some way to become immune to thinkers. If they point the thinkers at the data though...
     
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  10. SwiftRosenthal

    SwiftRosenthal Connoisseur.

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    Contessa would never allow herself to get killed, even by GU, unless it was required for an important Path. SOD irrevocably broken unless this was an April Foots' trollupdate. (If so, well done.)
     
    Last edited: Apr 1, 2015
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  11. Leonidas333

    Leonidas333 Well-Known Murderhobo

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    Could be important path, could be Glastaig hax.
     
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  12. Hexed999

    Hexed999 I trust you know where the happy button is?

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    It was mentioned a while back that Contessa's paths aren't good long term anymore because Taylia/Pantheon fucks with thinkers so much. Given that I can believe that GU maneuvered Contessa into a no-win scenario
     
  13. Spetz N9ne

    Spetz N9ne Making the rounds.

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    I know that I've heard Lisa's shard referred to as the Negotiator before, but for some reason this is the first time that my brain made the leap to the show Big O.

    Now all I can think of is Lisa running around in a black suit, calling herself the Negotiator, with Clarice in a black maid outfit as her live-in robot learning how to be human. Next Endbringer fight she yells into her watch and a giant organic mecha rises out of the ground to let her fight, while causing gratuitous collateral damage.

    "Cast in the name of Smug, ye totally guilty!"
     
  14. pheonix89

    pheonix89 Wanna be game dev

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    Door me still works, and I don't buy that Taylia is disrupting thinkers enough to let Glastig kill Contessa while she has the option to door out. Because if it was doing that, than Taylia being in the room back at the Khonsu summit should have rendered Contessa a non-threat, which Victoria's power would have detected.
     
  15. powerofvoid

    powerofvoid Versed in the lewd.

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    Contessa-clone?
     
  16. Masked Menace

    Masked Menace Making the rounds.

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    *Slow claps*

    Well play TanaNari, well played. You have set this up well indeed, I cannot recall the last time Contessa featured even slightly (I think it was around the time she bitchslapped Saint) so this is disturbingly plausible.

    I have to admit you captured GU's voice extremely well here she sounded very mad and very, very sane.
     
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  17. Hexed999

    Hexed999 I trust you know where the happy button is?

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    Honestly, I forgot about Doormaker, so unless GU has a anti-portal cape (we know she has an anti-master cape so it's not entirely impossible) you're right. As for Contessa not being dangerous when in the room with Taylia, that's not accurate - since a) not knowing exactly what two people might do does not make Contessa not dangerous, only less so, b) the weakness only appears when the path's models for Taylor and Amelia deviate from what they'll actually do and in a sterile situation that may not appear and c) There's not guarantee that Victoria's passenger derived ability will detect a weakness that should not exist.
     
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  18. Silver W. King

    Silver W. King King of Adventures

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    Is it wrong that I want to slap GU for her whole "Oh look, I'm the Fairy Queen, and I'm completely supporting the extinction of mankind everywhere~"? I mean, I really wanna punch her in the face for her attitude.

    Even someone who gives up in the face of Armageddon wouldn't annoy me this much. It like, they are all going to die anyway, so she says "Let's go for it!"
     
  19. ReoRak

    ReoRak Probably alive.

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    I swear the most infuriating thing bout reading this fic is that Taylor and Amelia stopped experimenting with their own powers upon the creation of Taylia. There are sooo many things I desperatly want to see get True!Khepri-slapped down but can't because the main characters stopped three feet short of the gates of Mt. Olympus and decided "the view is good enough here".

    It's damn appropriate you're on QQ TanaNari because if this isn't metaphorical Edging I don't know what is.
     
  20. Empiricist

    Empiricist GSV

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    Everyone saying that Contessa would no-sell the Faerie Queen is forgetting about her blind spots. Per cannon Eidolon is a blind spot, this would make it very plausible for the Faerie Queen to be another blind spot. . .

    I think we saw Contessa at the group trigger event and the Faerie Queen, I'm not sure but didn't that scene end in screaming? I'd go back and look, as well as start compiling Riley's list but this compiler won't write itself.
     
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  21. GladiusLucix

    GladiusLucix Versed in the lewd.

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    Except, due to the distance, Amelia and Taylor had the link turned off during the meeting.

    The Doormaker/Clairvoyant combo has always been able to see Eidolon, I assume, so all the new power interactions likely wouldn't hinder them any more. My guess is because they are looking at how things are instead of how the will be.
     
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  22. Daunmi

    Daunmi Shun the sun, night so nice

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    I can't begin to explain how much I hate april fools day because of things like this.

    Eh to the whole thing. At least I can just ignore the chapter unless it gets referenced somehow in the future.
     
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  23. pheonix89

    pheonix89 Wanna be game dev

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    Canonically Contessa can PtV Glastig Uaine just fine - she manipulated the Fairie Queen into disposing of Grey Boy per Wildbow.
     
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  24. GiftofLove

    GiftofLove A Gift From The Heart

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    Oh god, Eidolon's shard is Eden.
     
  25. Fouredged

    Fouredged Experienced.

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    Except the Fairy Queen started interacting with Contessa's blind spots, so she could, in theory, sneak up on PTV.
     
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  26. Inverness

    Inverness The Foxiest Wife

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    Is this how tankery becomes a sport on Avalon?

    They could even make giant city-ships too.

    ...

    City-ships that fly in the air I guess.
    Well yes, this is has been generally accepted as the case for a long time. If not Eden then some important part of her since she did "die" at some point as Cauldron harvested more and more of her.

    Edit:
    Keep in mind that Contessa's power is unique in that it compensates for other precogs.

    Maneuvering Contessa into a no-win scenario seems highly unlikely unless you're already immune to her power like Mantellum was. I'm sure she knows enough about her power to not put herself in situations where she can be blindsided by predictable things like Endbringers and trigger events. Just saying this might have happened because "Pantheon fucks with thinkers so much" is much too general.

    She manipulated GU already in canon, so I have no doubt she is familiar with GU and planted her ass squarely in the birdcage so she wouldn't get herself killed.

    So basically, I assume this chapter is just an April Fools joke until seeing otherwise.

    I'm biased though. I favor Contessa and think GU's delusion is insufferable in anything more than small amounts. That is why I was so pleased with Khepri metaphorically bitch-slapped her in canon.
     
    Last edited: Apr 2, 2015
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  27. cosoco

    cosoco Not too sore, are you?

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    That's how they settle trade disputes now. A game of Chicken.
     
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  28. Inverness

    Inverness The Foxiest Wife

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    I feel like I should mention I was referencing Girls und Panzer.
     
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  29. Cyn

    Cyn Making the rounds.

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    Yeah... No, with as many tinkers as they have, if Pantheon starts building tanks it's BOLOs or nothing.
     
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  30. Inverness

    Inverness The Foxiest Wife

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    In Girls und Panzer, tankery is a sport played by girls between various schools built on city ships (for some reason).

    I'm not talking about war. :confused:

    Edit:
    I like me some big ships.
     
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