Post by Zeich Yajuu on Aug 25, 2015 15:36:03 GMT -5
The three of them acted, trying to keep the Guardians off so that Red could open the gate to their next destination. They didn't know what circle of Hell they'd end up in next, yet did it matter? Without their vision, many of them were disabled to an extent. Senses were a useful thing, and vision was one that people relied on so heavily that it was completely crippling when it just vanished. Sure, those who had reasonably sharp senses could start to lean on their hearing, but the difference in input was so different that the mind had to adjust to tracking distance and location in a completely different way. As a result, input from hearing, touch, or smell would be less useful than vision. They could function, but it definitely would not be at full capability.
Zack's Power Ring, unfortunately, did not seem to work at all. Everyone around him was displayed fully, their stats becoming completely visible to the assassin, but that was it; he couldn't detect any Guardians around him, at least not with his ring. It lent credibility to the idea that the creatures were illusions, but Red himself had said that allowing them to make contact would be a dangerous mistake; were they really illusions, or did they defy the logic that the party expected of them? Either way, they had to figure out a way to pinpoint their targets, or at least some way to affect them. But how? These were Guardians that were appointed to keep Sinners within Hell; they weren't pushovers, even for the mightiest of mortal beings. What were they to do?
Suddenly Zack would feel something wrap around his shoulders, almost like tendrils; they twisted around his body, and then... one of them stabbed into his chest. There was no pain, no numbness, and a hand questing about would feel no wound. But even as he did so, the assassin would feel something overtake him, something cold. Hatred, anger, despair; all of them boiled up to an exceptional degree despite how he normally felt. Paranoia multiplied a hundred times over, and voices in his mind whispered, asking him if he could truly trust the others. For a moment, he realized he could see; not visually, but mentally; Zack would feel as though he could see everyone's intentions. When he “looked” at Red, the assassin would feel that the man was going to double-cross them, that he was leading powerful threats directly to Discord to be destroyed. This wouldn't be his last trip through Hell guiding victims to their deaths, either.
Alexander, he could see would intend to kill them all after this threat was done. He would be the lone hero, returning from Hell with a tragic story of their losses, and his narrow defeat of Discord that saved the world. The Captain couldn't be trusted to do anything but serve himself. Anarchy was no better, looking out for only his Bounts; if the others could die, he would leave them to it in favor of his own people. After all, he had already released his doll to overheat the area, and didn't exclude anyone but his own Bounts; clearly he was going to look for an opportunity to wipe the others out. No, none of them could be trusted, and in fact, Zack could just see so clearly now that they were all his enemies. He had to act, and to kill them all, before they could do so to him. The voices in his head, the words of his inner thoughts, demanded it.
Jin would sense something unusual from Otto as well. Perhaps it was his connection as a True Bount that allowed him to feel the difference, to sense that strangeness surrounding his companion, but Jin would definitely tell that something was up. The issue was made far more clear when Bluthund was suddenly directed mentally, lunging forward and clamping its teeth around Alexander's leg. It wasn't strong, but it was definitely an aggressive action made from Otto. What was he thinking? Surely Otto didn't think that attacking one of their companions was a good idea. But if Jin tried to reason with his companion, Otto would act with hostility, stepping back and claiming that everyone was out to get him. Everyone without exception, no matter how close their bonds, was suddenly an enemy in his eyes. What had caused this change? Why was he acting like this?
And of course, Alexander had to deal with the Doll attacking his legs. Sure, the creature's Strength was nothing impressive to him, but it was an aggressive action from one of the Bounts that he probably couldn't trust to begin with. He would have to react, and how he did so was up to him.
Zack's Power Ring, unfortunately, did not seem to work at all. Everyone around him was displayed fully, their stats becoming completely visible to the assassin, but that was it; he couldn't detect any Guardians around him, at least not with his ring. It lent credibility to the idea that the creatures were illusions, but Red himself had said that allowing them to make contact would be a dangerous mistake; were they really illusions, or did they defy the logic that the party expected of them? Either way, they had to figure out a way to pinpoint their targets, or at least some way to affect them. But how? These were Guardians that were appointed to keep Sinners within Hell; they weren't pushovers, even for the mightiest of mortal beings. What were they to do?
Suddenly Zack would feel something wrap around his shoulders, almost like tendrils; they twisted around his body, and then... one of them stabbed into his chest. There was no pain, no numbness, and a hand questing about would feel no wound. But even as he did so, the assassin would feel something overtake him, something cold. Hatred, anger, despair; all of them boiled up to an exceptional degree despite how he normally felt. Paranoia multiplied a hundred times over, and voices in his mind whispered, asking him if he could truly trust the others. For a moment, he realized he could see; not visually, but mentally; Zack would feel as though he could see everyone's intentions. When he “looked” at Red, the assassin would feel that the man was going to double-cross them, that he was leading powerful threats directly to Discord to be destroyed. This wouldn't be his last trip through Hell guiding victims to their deaths, either.
Alexander, he could see would intend to kill them all after this threat was done. He would be the lone hero, returning from Hell with a tragic story of their losses, and his narrow defeat of Discord that saved the world. The Captain couldn't be trusted to do anything but serve himself. Anarchy was no better, looking out for only his Bounts; if the others could die, he would leave them to it in favor of his own people. After all, he had already released his doll to overheat the area, and didn't exclude anyone but his own Bounts; clearly he was going to look for an opportunity to wipe the others out. No, none of them could be trusted, and in fact, Zack could just see so clearly now that they were all his enemies. He had to act, and to kill them all, before they could do so to him. The voices in his head, the words of his inner thoughts, demanded it.
Jin would sense something unusual from Otto as well. Perhaps it was his connection as a True Bount that allowed him to feel the difference, to sense that strangeness surrounding his companion, but Jin would definitely tell that something was up. The issue was made far more clear when Bluthund was suddenly directed mentally, lunging forward and clamping its teeth around Alexander's leg. It wasn't strong, but it was definitely an aggressive action made from Otto. What was he thinking? Surely Otto didn't think that attacking one of their companions was a good idea. But if Jin tried to reason with his companion, Otto would act with hostility, stepping back and claiming that everyone was out to get him. Everyone without exception, no matter how close their bonds, was suddenly an enemy in his eyes. What had caused this change? Why was he acting like this?
And of course, Alexander had to deal with the Doll attacking his legs. Sure, the creature's Strength was nothing impressive to him, but it was an aggressive action from one of the Bounts that he probably couldn't trust to begin with. He would have to react, and how he did so was up to him.