audience: asa

[mygod]

Comments

[mygod]

[Spooky AI bullshit!]

This cult is atypical, and not fixated on one greater being.

The way I see it, it's more like... [They tilt their head in thought, trying to put a rational explanation to something insane.] They are opening the doors up wide, and leaving a sacrifice there. They're hoping this 'gift' is enough to attract a powerful deity's attention. What you found is probably just miscellaneous magic.

[halved]

... What the hell.

So they're putting all their hopes and wishes on summoning a god. But they don't know which god will answer their call, or even if this god will be interested in giving them what they want in exchange for our lives?

[mygod]

What they're summoning depends on the ritual, which we don't have the details of. We'd have to get that from the leaders, somehow. But given that they don't worship any one deity in particular, it seems that way.

They want their wishes granted, at any cost. They believe they will summon a god capable of doing this. Whether or not it's true, when your lives mean nothing to them, it's an easy cost to pay.

[They say this all in a generally staid voice, polite but not warm.]

[halved]

Maybe we should find the leaders and sacrifice them to their god. See how they like it.

[this is not a serious suggestion. maybe.]

[mygod]

[A very, very brief laugh, mirthless.]

No less than they deserve.

But it isn't that easy to tear down the head of an organization. We haven't gotten close enough to even peek over their shoulder yet.

[halved]

Have you seen anyone work their way up their ranks before? If they depend on their followers blindly believing whatever they say, then I doubt there's a lot of mobility in the first place...

[mygod]

The four of us are somewhat new to the cult business. We haven't seen the full structure of it. But I am intimately familiar with what it takes to climb up to the top ranks of a group like this. It would cost much more than its worth.

[halved]

I imagine you have to be a complete degenerate to make it that far. [gross. she frowns...] Were you in a similar organization before? Like, not a cult I guess, but...

[mygod]

Pretty much. It's rotten all the way down through the roots, but you don't make your way up in the world by being decent.

[Looks at rich people]

I was in the mafia. If you don't know what that is... it gets compared to a Thieves' Guild. Or a gang. I left, but it seems like once you start getting into trouble, it doesn't leave you alone.

[halved]

Oh... Yeah, I'm familiar with the mafia. [she is relatively normal modern earth... despite all the monsters.] They tried to chase you down even after you quit?

[mygod]

[They laugh at that, though it's like one of those very tired, wry huffs.]

Some people retire. But you don't really quit. Especially when you leave like I do.

Guess we'll see if cults are the same way.

[halved]

You said they were already willing to kill you for disagreeing with them too much, so...

[yes? probably?]

What are you going to do when you finally decide to leave?

[mygod]

[ cults, gangs... there's a decent overlap in this venn diagram, oops. they shrug, one-shouldered. ]

Getting tracked down last time was how... [ they tap their cane against their bad leg ] this happened. One option could be to dismantle the cult as completely as possible while we're still in it, I think. Less to worry about after.

Unless you're asking what I'd do when this is all through. If somehow everyone survives this.

[halved]

[YOU REALLY DID THIS TO YOUR NPC NUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU]

Well... Mostly I was wondering how it would be possible for you to return to your normal life after this. If the cult isn't taken care of completely, wouldn't any survivors try to come after the people you know? Or, in the worst case scenario, I guess they could do it now if they found out you plan to betray them.

[mygod]

[ these things happen..... ]

That implies I have anyone to target. I've cut ties with everyone I know, or they're dead already.

[ this is all said rather stoically, though there's a note of tiredness in his voice. he's just very exhausted. ]

I don't plan on going back home. Your concern is better spent on yourself anyway.

[halved]

[shakes you anyway]

Huh? Wait, hang on, don't tell me you plan to stay in this creepy town.

[mygod]

[ :) ]

You don't like the ambiance? It's quaint.

[ no ]

...I don't. But I haven't thought on where to go next. Doesn't really matter to me.

[halved]

[:/]

... I see. Well, good luck finding a new world. Just stay away from mine if you want to live.

[mygod]

[ with a sort of subdued curiosity: ]

I wouldn't say living is a priority, but why?

[halved]

It's overrun by devils. And when you aren't trying to escape a sudden devil attack, you still have to be wary of other humans. Even if living isn't a priority for you... I'm sure you wouldn't want to die like that, either.

[mygod]

I'm not really opinionated on how I die, either, but... I'll keep that in mind.

What is a 'devil,' by your definition?

[halved]

A monster. They're manifestations of human fear. So the scarier their name... the stronger the devil.