[] Perhaps this place has a Host establishment of some kind? Might cheer Pidmon up at least.
===
You eye the sullen Pidmon with a worried gaze, taking note of his entirely forced smile, slightly drooping shoulders and docile pace as, one foot practically drags along the paved ground. It's a far cry from his usual go-lucky energetic self, and you can't help but feel a tinge of concern for the lesser angel.
"Pidmon, are you... alright?"
"Hyuk. Hyuk." Pidmon lets out a forced semi-nervous laugh at your question, half-heartedly thrusting his first into the air. "Of course. I am ready to fight evil and defeat the Gloaming at any time..." However, despite his statement, the normal emotional weight between his words, along with his usual *accursed* line, are entirely missing. Unfortunately, you're not the only mon who notices this.
"Heh, does thine heart pine for sultry performer so deeply?" this mockery does at least get a genuine reaction out of your friend. You turn your head to give Sparks a reproving glare before focusing back on Pidmon.
"What?! By the Lord no! it's not like that!" The angel protests a note of panic entering his voice. "She's pretty but-no! I can't think a member of the Gloaming is pretty! What would Angemon say!? I mean-" the young champion continues to sputter on for another score of seconds, much to the one-armed wizard's clear amusement. You throw Sparks another exasperated glare, and he quite exaggeratedly rolls his eyes. You're glad it's late evening, otherwise there might be even more townsmon around to stare. Pidmon let's out a cough, finally getting off his tangent. "-I'm sorry friends, I don't know why but... every time I see that digimon, I- I want,
need to protect her." The conviction in his words is utterly absolute, and also more than a little scary given the anger that dips on every syllable.
...protect her? That-it. Well it reminds me a bit of how I view Lunamon but... there's no way they can have that sort of relationship. I mean it's not like he's ever met either Sistermon before, so that should be impossible.
You leave it at that, suddenly not really feeling comfortable in discussing the subject. Instead you move on towards the subject of cheering Pidmon up.
"Uh guys, maybe we could find like... some sort of Blessed Host establishment in the city?"
"That is a great idea, friend Verge!" Pidmon exclaims, thrusting his rod into the air. "Onwards comrades! We shall cleanse our minds in church!" You feel a sense of relief at the genuine reaction, only to be immediate stiffen as Sparks throws a half-hearted glare your way. He grumbles something under his breath, then breaks off into a jog after the running angel. You scamper after the two a moment later, not wanting to be left alone.
Finding the *church*, as Pidmon put, turns out to be easier than you presumed. Mostly because Pidmon just starts happily asking random passerby about the subject and after a few cases where the rookies glare at your friend then brush him off, a Candlemon grudgingly points the way for him. Once the Pidmon finishes thanking the smaller mon, your trio moves a few city blocks south, to where a small stone structure juts haphazardly out between two much more modern metallic buildings.
The smooth, worn stone of the church proves to be impeccably clean and maintained, if still a little degraded due to age. The entrance in the center is clearly built for mon on the smaller side* i.e. rookies and champions below, being only twelve feet tall and seven feet wide. It bears a particularly strange roof appearing to be triangular in shape with two separate slabs meeting in the middle of the building instead of the *normal* flat top. A strange symbol is plastered on the dark brown wood of the door, right below a large, studded metal loop which looks to be the primary method of knocking.
While Pidmon knocks, you take a second to examine the picture. In a way it's actually simple, one pink and one light green triangle side by side with a third darker green triangle stacked on top between them. A fourth golden triangle rests in the center between them all as if framed by the trio. Sparks gives a sigh, crosses his remaining arm across his chest and starts to impatiently tap his foot as no one answers. After a second, Pidmon notices you examining the multitude of triangles and smiles.
"Ah friend Verge! That's the Blessed Host's original symbol!"
Original symbol?... The Host has a symbol? Since when!?
Either not seeing, or not caring about your confusion the winged champion continues on.
"The colors are meant to represent the three great angels! Pink for Cherubimon! Emerald for Ophanimon! and... pine for Seraphimon." He stares hard at the topmost triangle for a few seconds before nodding to himself.
"One day, I will represent it." Sparks steps up to say something, but you poke the small champion with a claw before he can say anything to piss the angel off.
"That would be a most interesting thing to see my child," a somewhat muffled, hoarse voice calls out from behind the door. You feel a brief sense of panic, familiarity and the sudden urge to
run. "And forgive me for finishing the question young one, but the last shade represents our holy creator, praise be to him in all things" You're a bit too distracted to fully register that last comment, and instead step back, then raise up your paws.
The portal swings open to reveal an armored,
vaguely equine digimon with an armored lower limbs and head. Golden wings lay folded down across its back, but you'd guess that if fully spread they'd easily be twice the width of Pidmon's own. Even on four legs he stands just a little taller than your angelic friend, reared up. Despite his helmet the holy digimon's eyes are filled with a strange and calming warmth, one that washes away the anxious fear his prior words had stirred.
"Please come inside, my chapel is always open to warriors of the Host."
"Hrm, and pray tell how exactly did you come upon such knowledge?" Sparks questions, gripping his focus a little tighter.
"I know naught of us mentioning our allegiance"
"Sparks!" the rather horrified Pidmon shouts. "We-
"We know nothing of this fellow" Your friend cuts in. "Twould be foolish to simply assume good intention on his behalf"
"It's fine, young angel." The champion(?) replies. "Excuse me for my rudeness, but the three of you knocked upon my door late in the evening. One of your number is a Pidmon, so I believed you either to be soldiers or converts. The former was more likely considering that neither of you seem upset at your companion"
... That uh. Makes sense I guess? Huh, then he's good at reading situations then!
"Hrmph. Thine words were just a guess." Sparks scoffs in annoyance, but nonetheless follows Pidmon as your group joins Pegasmon inside. The champion's abode is small compared to most of the other structures you've been inside, but has a strange sense of comfort. Thick rugs cover the floor, making stepping inside a comfortable change when compared to outside's cold pavement. Chairs of every size and shape line the walls, leaving little space for traversing the rest of the place, but on the plus side one's actually built in a way that allows you to sit comfortably. Pidmon settles into one beside you, while Sparks stays standing. Your host vanishes off behind a back door, coming back a score of seconds later carrying a tray of refreshments with his tail.
Still being a bit hungry, you're more than happy to shovel down a few dozen of the small crunchy pieces of food, then wash it all down with a cup filled to the brim with golden liquid. The latter tastes surprisingly fruity; a lot like some of the stuff you'd eaten back when Sorcerymon had still been amongst the living. Pidmon and Sparks also spend a couple minutes supping on the snacks, though the latter is careful to clinically examine both the food and drink first. If Pegasmon is offended by his attitude, the armor digimon doesn't show it. He only speaks up again once the three of you are finished.
"While my chapel is not large, you're all welcome to stay the night if you lack other lodgings."
"So sorry, to say this, but we can't." Sparks grumbles, his brow furrowed.
"Mine party must depart elsewhere for nightfall." Pegasusmon nods at that pauses for a second, then turns his head to Pidmon.
"Forgive me for asking this my child, but since you're here, how is the war progressing? It's been ages since I stepped down."
Stepped down? Like... is he not a part of the Host? But the Candlemon said...
"It's going great!" Pidmon replies. "We just managed to help cut off the Gloaming's supply line to up north! Now we're here on a mission to help get Hub-City's assistance in wiping the Accursed Gloaming forces free from this-"
"By The Spirits, hold thine tongue!" Sparks cuts in, glaring daggers a the angel.
"Don't give away information to some random mon we've just met! 'tis the height of foolishness to assume we can blindly trust him!"
"Oho! Well said," Pegasusmon chuckles. "It is best to keep such vital information guarded. After all, who knows what could be watching us this very instant?" You feel a chill of uncertainty flow down your spine at his words and can't help but look nervously around for potential watchers. "However, I thank you for letting me know, it is good to know this world's force for good is still achieving victories."
"Hrmph, if the Host is so illustrious why must it depend upon outside help? Surely the forces of a single city shalt not amount to much?"
Pegasusmon unleashes a weary sigh at that before shaking his head.
"Young one, it is folly to underestimate the city states. While the Host and Gloaming are powerful factions if their own right, they lack enough real influence to be considered true center pieces of this world."
"But Pegasusmon-" Pidmon starts, leaping up out of his char, but is cut off as the armor digimon gives him a hard look.
"-I did not give you leave to interrupt me."
"... sorry sir," Pidmon mumbles, sitting back down.
"Worry not my child, I've not stepped foot on the battlefield for many cycles. The days in which I could be called that are long gone. Now where was I?"
"Umm, you said the Host and Gloaming weren't center-pieces of the… world?"
"Ah, yes. Thank you Drimogemon. Perhaps we could have been considered that back when the Three Great Angels were out in force, but without their power and influence things have changed. The Host under SlashAngemon is a shadow of its former self. Without Seraphimon and Cherubimon, the old alliances between Alt City and the others have waned." Pegasmon glares towards the door, "Astamon has seen to splitting up our once grand army across the world, all the while building his own power."
"... The Host cannot concentrate their true power upon any one area," Sparks concludes.
"Not without abandoning others."
"That is correct. SlashAngemon is a great warrior. I saw him strike the final blow upon Daemon himself." Pidmon's face ruptures into the largest grin you've ever seen from the digimon... before it falls at the older digimon's next words. "Sadly, he is no great thinker. The Scion has always been one step ahead of him, and I fear that will continue."
...Scion? Why does that sounds familiar? Wait... the dream! I-that figure called me that!
"You know SlashAngemon!?" Pidmon exclaims.
"No my child, I was a mere witness." Pegasusmon explains. "Long ago I was a Throne, but time and injuries saw that title stripped from me."
Throne? Is that a rank?
"It is," he responds, sending a spark of panic exploding out from your digicore.
Crudcrudcrudcrud! Did he just read my thoughts?!
"No, young one, I read your face." Pegasusmon snorts.
O-oh.
"I do believe thine previous words mentioned the city States?" Sparks questions.
"Forgive me for changing subjects young one, I rarely get to speak of this to others." Pegasmon bows his head. "To answer your question Wizardmon, the city states hold the largest concentrations of civilized mon in this world. Hub City alone is home to hundreds of thousands of digimon."
Hundreds of thousands?! No, that- that can't be. Really? So many...
"Individually they can field hundreds of champions to fight on very short notice, and much more in time." Pegasusmon continues. "Indeed, any any such force will field enough ultimates to tip the balance in all but the heaviest of conflicts. I have seen the like time and time again; in proper war footing the numbers only swell further." You try to wrap your head around the sheer quantity of digimon he's suggesting all fighting at once, but all that does is leave you with a headache. "If all the city states were ever to join together they could crush both the Gloaming and The Host without any trouble."
That is… wow.
"Sir, you can't be serious! Th-the Host can't be that weak!" Pidmon's voice cracks a bit in a mixture of fear and disbelief. You can't help but feel the same way; in all your admittedly limited time working for the faction, you'd never heard any of this. Sparks, in contrast, stays decidedly neutral, merely nodding along.
"This world is larger than you give it credit for," The holy-beast digimon replies. "But the cities are for the most part neutral and independent. At most they only give token assistance, but If what you say about the north is true, then your mission could be the deciding difference between narrow victory and an eternal stalemate like so many conflicts in other regions." The sound of tortured metal reverberates through the air, as Pidmon tries to strangle his weapon.
"...I Will going change that." The low-ranking angel growls.
"The Host will be brought back its former power! And I shall lead it in carrying out the Lord's will in wiping the accursed Gloaming out once and for all!" Once again a strange power reverberates with the angels words, and for a second it's all you can do to believe that what he's saying is true.
"Oho, I wish you luck with that my child. Whatever it means from a retired old soldier like myself anyways."
"Pegasmon, why not come with us? Help us being true change to this world in God's name!"
"I'm sorry Pidmon, but my days of fighting are long behind. I'm afraid nowadays I'd only be a hindrance." The armor digimon sadly shakes his head. "I'm content with living out my final days spreading the good word. I do more good here than if I was out there." Pidmon stares at the beast digimon, who returns the look with a bittersweet smile. After a few seconds of silence, the two nod to each other a final time.
"I understand, sir."
"Thank you." Pegasusmon sighs before turning towards you and Sparks. "Wizardmon, Drimogemon, please humour an old veteran's question. Do know the basic tenants of the Blessed Host? There are so many are conscripts nowadays that I fear the reason why we even fight has been lost amongst certain circles."
...Wow, I don't think any of that was ever explained to me…
"Heh, simple enough, isn't it? 'tis the Host's purpose to exterminate The Gloaming."
"Oh…" Pegasusmon lowers his head in sadness. "That is worse than I believed."
It is! Why? Why is it worse! Is there something bad?! Are the cities going to team up against us!?
"But sir?" Pidmon questions nervously. "Isn't that why we're righting? To cleanse this world of their corruption?"
"The Host existed before Daemon ever rose to power." Pegasusmon sighs. "I can explain everything, but I fear it might take time you do not have."
"'Tis as you say, darkness is closing in. We are to leave and soon."
"Sparks, don't you want to learn more about the Host? Pegasusmon is willing to tell us about its history! Surely it must be the Lord's will that brought us here to inform us."
You have to admit that you are very curious about the topic as well. After all, the Pidmon back in town had only gone about how great the host was, not about why it was made, what it's supposed to do or how it started.
In the end you:
===
[] Support Sparks. He's right, you can't afford to be late for the meetup. It's been made very clear that this mission is important and you don't want to anger Sergeant Scratch.
[] Support Pidmon. Surely what Pegasmon wants to say won't be too long? Learning about The Host would be interesting. Then there's what he called Astamon. The Scion...
=== Stat Changes:
- Strength: 262.00
- Fortitude: 244.25
- Endurance: 222.50
- Agility: 205.50->206.00
- Special: 231.00
- Spirit: 188.75->190.50
===
Authors Note: I have no fraking idea how this one got so long. Grumble, grumble, grumble, anyway this was only partially beta'd. New version is probably going to be up tomorrow.
