I crafted this Holy War Lore Ch. 2 draft proposal in building off the narrative and themes put forth in Chapter 1, which has already been put up for a vote on Snapshot. This Ch. 2 proposal offers tentative follow-ups for both the “Destroy the Crown” and “Put on the Crown” lore options possible in the Ch. 1 vote. What do you think?
If “Destroy the Crown” selected by Loot community, then:
“I mustn’t,” the enrobed man said.
Wasting no time the hero then gathered the finest spellcasters the mortal realm could spare amid the worsening Great Holy War, and with a terrific midnight ritual returned the captured demon crown to nothingness. Yet hundreds of darkly crowns remained, and the Demon King’s brutal forces were currently making deep advances into the realm’s Outer Districts. Seeded by the enemy’s spies, panic and whispers of defeat began to spread through the ranks of the good-hearted.
Doom was nigh, but not assured yet. Facing the beginnings of an all-out rout and an age of unimaginable darkness, the divinely-clad hero and other great leaders of the Free World convened an emergency council in the Capital Zone. The gathered captains and sages debated the mortal’s war plan for a half a fortnight; all agreed that field commanders should tactically target demon-crown holders as force multipliers, but what of the war’s greater strategy?
Toward that question two factions quickly broke out. The first faction rallied around calling back all available mortal forces to the Capital Zone, which was vastly more defensible than the Outer and Middle Districts and could reasonably support many refugees for an extended period of time. The second camp argued that the Demon King’s forces should be delayed in the Outer Districts for as long as possible while a small adventurer party was sent to consort with the last living and extremely reclusive Blue Oracle for guidance.
At points the discussions became so heated that fighting almost broke out among the heroes, their hearts all in the right yet their minds at odds. With no overwhelming consensus in sight, the mortals decided to discreetly elect via colored pebbles one from among themselves to make the final call. In this way, the Man in the Divine Robe was chosen to lead.
He learned of this election and in that moment the man felt like all the gods and all mankind were watching what his lips would do next.
“Should we retreat to the Capital,” he thought, “Or does the Blue Oracle know that path to save the World?”
If “Put on the Crown” selected by Loot community, then:
“I will do what I must,” the enrobed man said.
Wasting no time the hero placed the Demon Crown upon his head and felt an immediate surge of energy, sensations, and thoughts. It granted him access to the mind-meld of the enemy commanders! It was a terrible and incredible feeling all at once, and for a moment, overwhelmed, he started to laugh. The hero then centered his thoughts and looked out, realizing he was looking through many awful eyes at once.
This was a tremendous power that could be used against the forces of evil and help win the ongoing Great Holy War, which was turning desperate as the Demon King’s brutal forces were advancing deeper into the realm’s Outer Districts. In the very least, wielding these monsters’ own dark magic against them could return morale to the mortals’ ranks, which were beginning to fill with panic and whispers of impending defeat thanks to enemy spies.
Doom was nigh, but not assured yet. The divinely-clad hero returned to the Capital Zone and convened other great leaders of the Free World for an emergency war council. The Man with the Robe and the Crown told the gathered captains and sages of his experiences with the Demon Crown and how these dark weapons could be used capably against the Demon King for the greater good.
His plea? The armies of the Free World should target Demon Crown holders and attempt to capture and commandeer the crowns for elite mortal commanders. This suggestion sent the assembled leaders into an uproar. Some sided with the hero’s plea, while others argued that the darkness of the Demon Crowns would ultimately consume the souls of any mortals who wore them.
Those against the daring idea suggested instead that all available mortal forces should fall back to the Capital Zone, which was vastly more defensible than the Outer and Middle Districts and could reasonably support many refugees for an extended period of time. This faction also said that a small adventurer party should be dispatched to consort with the last living and extremely reclusive Blue Oracle for further guidance.
The ensuing discussions lasted for half a fortnight and at points became so heated that fighting almost broke out among the heroes, their hearts all in the right yet their minds at odds. With no overwhelming consensus in sight, the mortals decided to discreetly elect via colored pebbles whether to call a retreat to the Capital or to instead hunt for Demon Crowns.
“Do we have the numbers?” the Man with the Robe and the Crown wondered.