Worthy Sacrifice

Raid Event: Scars of the Syndicate

Episode 2

Worthy Sacrifice

Previous Quest

Hour of Retribution

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Light Manticore Assault: Beginner

Summary

The Doctor's plan is to summon forth a fiend called Aspidochelone from the space between worlds and let it run roughshod across the entire world. So the prince and his friends set out to slay a manticore, which possesses the power to create tears in space.

Dialogue

Stop right there, Doctor! You're not getting away! Getting away? My dear Prince, I have been waiting for you. After all, it would be most efficient if you would cooperate with my experiment. You must not have heard my first answer. I won't be party to a heartless experiment that brings suffering to people! And what if I told you we could reduce that suffering if you but lent your aid? What are you talking about? Did the rubbish not inform you of my area of expertise? Hey, are you talking about ME?! My field involves the fusion of human and fiend. More specifically, I conduct research into their particular powers. My research has produced fine results— the fact that rubbish can still control a dragon's power is proof of such. You sure talk a lot for a guy who doesn't actually say much of anything. Then let me speak plain, my friend: Through the fusion of human and fiend, we can control the power of said fiends. Aspidochelone is a more powerful fiend, but the theory is essentially the same. By fusing it with a person, it becomes possible to control its power. Wait, hold the hell up. So when ya say ya want the boss's help, what yer ACTUALLY sayin' is that ya want him to... Exactly. I want to fuse the prince with Aspidochelone. If we succeed, people will no longer have need to fear the fiend. ARE YOU FREAKIN' NUTS?! We would never let you carry out such a profane act upon His Highness! Just so. He is our leader and friend, and we will not allow him to fall prey to your unhinged whims. Then what WILL you do? Aspidochelone is like a natural disaster—dialogue and persuasion will be of no avail on it. If it is not brought to heel somehow, it will simply overrun the world. I have one question, Doctor: Why me? I am no mad scientist who seeks only to sow chaos and dread. If there is a way to minimize suffering, I am for it. What I wish from Aspidochelone is not destruction, but to harness its capacity to serve as a body of stored knowledge. In order to do that, it must be controlled by a central figure—a task which is far beyond the ken of a normal human. But you, Prince! You have potential! Your dragonblood and shapeshifting abilities are beyond any normal man! I see. You can become an eternal tome—a record of our world's very existence. Surely you see this for the honor it is! Dude, we are NOT letting you turn the prince into a book! No matter how vast the knowledge to be gained, it is not worth the sacrifice. And may I take the thoughts of your companions to be your own will in this matter, Prince? You can. I would never help a group that willingly calls itself evil and seems to think nothing of causing pain while paying lip service to its prevention. Ah, you fail to understand me after all. "Evil" is the very thing that will progress the world to its next evolution. Alas, I see I am left with no other option. If you are not willing to help me in this, I will have to compel your cooperation. ...Come forth, manticore! Roooooargh! It tore a hole in space! Does that hole lead to the space between worlds?! Behold the technological power of the Syndicate, my new friends! This manticore is a specialized fiend created by our group that has the power to warp space itself! By Ilia... We will widen the tear and beckon Aspidochelone forth, at which point it will run rampant across the world. You seem to think yourself a good man, Prince. Would a good man not offer himself up at this point to prevent the inevitable carnage to come? We already told you no, man! Like, a BUNCH of times! But if Aspidochelone arrives... What should I do? If you're seriously considering this, you're a bigger idiot than I thought. There's a real simple option here: Kill the manticore. Hey, yeah! That IS simple! What an appallingly jejune method. I always hope to see intelligence in people—including my enemies. Yeah, we're more of the "hit the big thing till it stops movin'" sorta crowd. Please do not paint all of us with that same brush, Ranzal. That being said, there ARE times when a simplistic methodology is actually the most effective. A fair point. But the question remains: CAN you defeat my manticore? We can and will! And then we're coming for you, Doctor. So if you got any big plans coming up, I suggest you cancel 'em!