- Pronouns
- He/Him
Coming of Age of Chaos and Turmoil! All hail Dread Empress Escalation I!
An Impractical Guide to Ascension (Worm / Practical Guide to Evil)
- Thread starter Alivaril
- Start date
- Crossover
- Location
- Russia
She'll do it in the name if Humanity, while holding DoomSlayer' Crucible in her hand. Obviously, she is on the side of angels
What to do if such approval fill me with genuine pride?I have the perfect image.
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That just means that you have the same alignment that her
Roth963
If I become inactive with this massage, I died
Taylor's sacrifice in the end is pretty damm heroic, after seeing the fight against Scion was futile, she had one last plan, sacrificing everything for a power up that might be enough to upset the scale, with it she pulls into the fight everyone that wasn't willing to fight to save everyone, and make them work together to bring down Scion even as her new state rips the personhood out of her, in the end even this isn't enough.
But suprise twist! The friends she made along the way cracked the puzzle, and gave her the final piece she needs to beat, him, but oh no, she is losing power, Doormaker run out of energy, but she is using Canary to inspire the people to not run away and to fight while revealing her final ace, finally using the weak point she discovered during the fight.
Even QA has a chance to shine by having constructed the gun needed to kill Scion before Taylor even knew what will happen when she hit him with Foil.
It is a very heroic ending by guide perspective.
Kemayo
A Certain Cheerful Tone Of Voice
- Location
- Missouri
There is a reason that Cat and Taylor have been compared a lot in the past, after all.
LostArchivist
Sane, unfortunately.
- Location
- The State of Confusion
So, another tie-in to the source material.
You're right. Really, it's hard to express just HOW perfect that is!I have the perfect image.
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I'm loving this story. Taylor trying to make Heiress heroic reminds of me of The Good Place where they try and teach a demon to be good. It goes about just as well.
The Trolley Solution.
Youtube Video of The Trolley Problem
The Trolley Solution.
Youtube Video of The Trolley Problem
Honorguard Ra
(Verified Lizard Dude)
Any odds on Taylor accidentally taking over the Dock Worker's Union/ Coil's Mercenaries? This is entirely too much fun to read.
Roth963
If I become inactive with this massage, I died
The dockworkers don't really do much, they aren't a gang or a powerful group or something, just a bunch of people who worked at the docks before Leviathan destroyed the shipping industry.Any odds on Taylor accidentally taking over the Dock Worker's Union/ Coil's Mercenaries? This is entirely too much fun to read.
Honorguard Ra
(Verified Lizard Dude)
I'm likely wrong, but last I knew there was something like 300 or so of them left, most of them being burly dudes. I don't remember if it's fanon or canon that most of the Gangs leave the DWU/DWA alone because a lot of their normals would get wrecked and it wasn't worth the effort. I doubt they've allowed themselves to go soft, considering how bad Brockton Bay is.
So, possibly 300 dudes who look like they could fold your clothes while you're still wearing them... If the daughter of their Hiring Manager is able to start bringing money back into the Union, I doubt they'd turn down work as long as it doesn't go too far past a grey point. Don't take my words as gospel, I'm not the author. Just throwing out a strong maybe.
Fingers crossed though.
Chapter VI: Ma'am, this is the alleys
- Location
- A single human dimension
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Special thanks to @saganatsu, @DB_Explorer, @fictionfan, @Adephagia, @DaGeek247, @Wordsmith, @Taut_Templar, Jamie Wahls, @Elfalpha, @BunnyLord, @Drcatspaw, @Conspiracy, @tinkerware, @Lonelywolf999, D'awwctor, and my 17 other patrons not mentioned here. An extremely enthusiastic "Thank you" to @Torgamous for her patronage as well. Also, if you're not on here, you fit the tier, and you want to be added, please tell me. >.>
Beta-read by @curiosity and @Nachtigall.
Beta-read by @curiosity and @Nachtigall.
CW: Blood, references to kidnapping, murder, and mistreatment of captives. Further chapters with those will probably be unmarked.
"Sixty-seven: putting an arrow in a villain during their monologue is a perfectly acceptable method of victory. Heroes believing otherwise do not get to retire."
—"Two Hundred Heroic Axioms", author unknown
I never thought that I would seriously weigh the ethical and moral issues inherent in kidnapping and killing my former best friend, but magical sacrifice-based superpowers apparently come with that kind of moral dilemma. Or maybe I should blame the unethical advisor who came with said powers. I could theoretically listen to an audiobook or podcast or something similar while draining my blood into a funnel and clear bottle, but I'm sure that Villain would become even worse if I started ignoring her in such a way. Best to just try to tune her out.
Is it not worse to let others die through inaction than to perform an act which would, under other circumstances, be considered reprehensible to you? Villain argued, clearly enjoying herself now that she'd found a marginally acceptable way to discuss killing people. There are frequent deaths within your city due to the ongoing conflict between factions. By sacrificing that traitor, you would have the power to eliminate one or more factions and save a significant number of lives within weeks. All it would cost would be the miserable life of a wretched human who regularly attacks you.
It was like the trolley problem, only instead of—actually, no. It was literally the trolley problem. If I did terrible things to Emma, then I would have the power to save other lives. If I didn't, then I would be too weak to do so and they would die while Emma lived. Except this wasn't a binary situation, was it? I wouldn't be guaranteed to save those lives, and I was already growing stronger as time passed. I didn't need the kind of shortcut which would not only be just plain wrong, but also exceptionally illegal and liable to make me an enemy of the Protectorate. I couldn't save anyone from inside prison—and that was in addition to not wanting to go to prison, obviously.
There would only be consequences if you get caught, and killing her would be but the first step of your climb to power. The first step of a villain's plan never fails—otherwise, what would be the point of having a plan at all?
I took a deep breath, shook my head, and absentmindedly added another cut to my bleeding arm. I would acknowledge that Villain might know what she was talking about when it came to such story-based strangeness, but I still didn't want to think too hard about clichés right now. I was still grappling with the idea that I might be operating under narrative conventions for the rest of my life.
Wouldn't you like to have the traitor at your mercy and begging you to take her back? Villain coaxed, clearly fixated on the idea of abducting Emma for one reason or another. What was it with villains and abducting young women? I know some rituals which would force her to feel much of the hurt and betrayal that she inflicted upon you, but the shortened timescale would ensure the experience was appropriately excruciating.
I wouldn't even remotely trust such claims to be sincere as soon as she escaped, but forcing her to feel what she'd inflicted did sound—nope. No. Nuh-uh, absolutely not. That wasn't going to happen. Ever. Really, it was an incredibly disturbing glance at the most unethical side of my brain. I was never thinking about that ever again, especially since Villain talked about how my powers were shaped by my preferences. If I displayed a predisposition toward hurting others for my own personal gain or enjoyment, then my powers might fixate on that. It wasn't a tendency I wanted my superpowers to encourage.
"Or–" I began, then remembered that I could just think at Villain. I bet I could find some sick people who don't mind the side effects of my powers. They're scary, sure, but I'm willing to bet that many people would prefer personality shifts over some painful and chronic disease, assuming it works on diseases at all.
It might be arrogant of me to think so, but I couldn't imagine Rise not purging such intrusions. The mind control aspect felt like a side effect of having too much power rather than not enough.
Really, the side effects weren't too awful once the initial panic and horror wore off—well, okay, they were still really bad and I likely wouldn't be able to charge money for my healing. But I could at least lighten Panacea's workload. I would just need to be sure that everyone knew what they were agreeing to. Would I prefer that Rise lacked the mind control? Most definitely. But if that was the cost of healing people, then it wasn't too bad.
Indeed they would! Villain cheerfully agreed, accepting the change in subject with a suspicious lack of protest. I think that's enough blood, Heiress.
I hesitated and wondered if I should keep going after a quick Rise.
Your blood retains such power specifically because this is a sacrifice, Villain chided. Do not devalue it by trying to escape the price in such a way.
I was selfishly, shamefully glad that I had an excuse not to repeatedly bleed myself after all. I swallowed and pointed out an obvious logical extension of the argument despite my discomfort.
By that logic, I shouldn't be using Rise to heal myself at all.
Not if your sole concern is power, Villain half-agreed. However, we still want you to be functional. One bloodletting per day is an acceptable compromise. You are playing at being a hero, at least for the time being; there are several rules for which they are permitted more leeway, especially while you're new and inexperienced.
"Rise," I invoked in otherwise wordless agreement, and held up my arm to stare at the rapidly-shrinking wounds with distant fascination. I more than halfway expected to see some faint scarring, but it seemed as though that particular price was one I wouldn't need to pay even after I kept cutting the same area. I suspected that I probably shouldn't think of how light the price was lest it weaken my blood, but—focus on the benefits, not the price. Bleeding myself for power was well worth the reward. The blood wouldn't directly empower me, but I could use it to enchant equipment that effectively provided the same benefits. I would keep growing stronger with every passing day. No matter what Villain argued, no matter how much Emma hurt me, I didn't need to kill her to rise above and leave her behind. I was better than that; I wouldn't fall to her level.
...Huh. That motivation might actually explain why I ended up with Rise, or at least a power with that name. Although, trying to leave Emma behind felt like more of a long-term goal. In the present, I'm not sure why I didn't end up with something like Endure.
Rising is a matter of perspective.
That thought felt weirdly important, somehow, but I didn't know...
My eyes shot wide open. I might have a plan. Or the start of one, at least.
This is a terrible plan, I lamented at five in the afternoon, hurrying down the street with a bag containing the enchanted dress currently acting as my costume. A light-based glamour tweaked my hair and otherwise bare face to imitate the first model I'd seen upon opening a magazine. Or, well, the first model who hadn't been edited to an appearance bordering on plastic. Identity protection was more effective when nobody realized you were using it.
Oh, do slow down. Running in a dress is utterly undignified.
I glanced down at my jeans and wrinkled my nose.
I'm not even wearing it yet! Do you seriously want me to take hours getting there?
You should be practicing proper posture and movement as you travel, Villain replied primly.
Don't you think someone changing her method of walking every few steps would attract unnecessary attention?
You would have plenty of motivation to improve quickly, would you not?
I shuddered and shook my head. I'd already overdosed on negative attention just by going to school in shorts and a tank top, something I was absolutely not doing again. Villain's startled laugh came as a total surprise.
My dear Heiress, I assure you that the majority of those stares were not disdain. They were envy.
You could at least pretend to keep your lies realistic.
I held no illusions regarding my own appearance; I might have a tiny bit of muscle now, but it really was minimal. I had to look pretty hard just to notice, and that was looking at myself, something I did regularly. Anyone else would take much longer to notice.
I am not required to do any such thing. However, I am quite serious. You observe yourself on a daily basis and therefore have a harder time seeing changes. Others only see you sporadically and can more easily notice changes over a large period of time. The traitor noticed that you had been exercising, had she not?
Because I was in obvious exercise clothes!
Villain sighed.
Oh, well. At least I'll be able to take credit for gradual improvements in your self-image.
I bristled at the idea that she might be able to take credit for something I would be doing, blinked rapidly, and couldn't decide if I wanted to smile or scowl. On the one hand, trying to trick me into what she wanted was a little demeaning. On the other hand, it was nice that someone cared about me even if she only wanted to "unleash me upon the world."
You really are so much more delightful than my own children. The only times they mustered the courage to oppose me were when they thought that they had won and were indulging in gloating.
The idea of Villain having children sent an unpleasant jolt through me, and it definitely wasn't because of jealousy or anything similar. It was just that I really didn't know anything about Villain, did I? She'd mentioned attaching herself to possibly corruptive demonic ships or something, but that told me nothing about her life; for all I knew, that might just be from trying to escape the consequences of selling her soul.
Oh, it was long after my death, Villain agreed. Decapitation, you know. The White Knight didn't even have the common decency to let me progress past the second sentence of my last monologue. I mean, really. He had already won and we all knew it; the least he could do was allow a doomed woman her last bit of fun.
Bewilderment and disgust shoved disquiet to the side. They seriously killed her without so much as a trial? I could understand if—
Actually, I should really ask about that. You weren't attacking them? I confirmed.
Of course not. Do you really think I would jeopardize my last speech by doing it in the midst of combat? I assure you, I would have lasted at least half an hour and taken at least one of them with me if that was my goal. No, I just wanted to finish my swan song. I had props prepared and everything, although they stabbed the musician on their way in.
Villain did sound genuinely grumpy about the circumstances of her demise, and I couldn't help but feel a little bad for her. Was she a murderous probably-a-sociopath with beliefs frequently at odds with my own? Yes. But she sounded as though she would have been happier as an actress or a director, and instead the world conspired to give her superpowers that rewarded clichéd behavior. But no, I shouldn't act like an apologist for the villain inside my head. She didn't just advocate for my superiority, but for me to kill people and rejoice in their suffering. Or, well, the Trio's suffering, specifically. She was objectively a terrible person.
…Probably. It was definitely stupid to search for reasons that she might have been at least somewhat blameless for her actions. Possible questions about her background and age were just starting to form in my head when Villain's offended indignation slammed into me with the force of a flick to the forehead—not very hard at all in the grand scheme of things, but still enough to make my head sting a little. I hadn't even known she could do that.
Excuse me? Villain demanded, uncharacteristically and inexplicably furious. You—does not your own culture value 'free will'? I may have begun climbing the tower when I was but a child, but I went into it knowing full well that my actions fed a pyre that would ultimately consume me. I am not one of Above's champions to be imbued with power because it is convenient. I do not ascribe to the belief that mankind can, should, be brought to greatness under the unyielding rule of uncaring monsters. You view me as the immaterial shade I am, but I am not a shade of myself and I will thank you not to dismiss my choices or actions as something caused by my upbringing.
I stopped in an empty alley with a convenient, partially concealed bricked doorway and wondered if I should start changing. I had the feeling that Villain might become even more upset with me if she thought I wasn't paying attention, though—and this was actually proving to be quite interesting. I'd idly considered the idea of Villain being from a fantasy world with weirder Capes, but the picture she painted was much more disturbing than that. Oh, I didn't believe there had actually been any gods, but Earth was a prime example of the many issues that organized religions and cultures could cause.
Villain's rant also made me feel really, really guilty, uncertain, confused—and increasingly vindicated, but I was going to brush past those thoughts as quickly as possible so she didn't grow even angrier. At least much of the anger gradually gave way to the passion of someone discussing their life's work?
I killed the heroes who came for me, Villain continued, and all the interlopers who tried to take my throne—when their attempts were worth acknowledging and weren't just an embarrassment to everyone involved, at least. I built wonders which shattered forts and routed armies. I gathered allies, undercut foes, and anticipated betrayal. I revolutionized the animation of non-artifact objects within the Dread Empire and turned the stone streets of an entire city against its defenders. And, if it was not obvious, I very much enjoyed it. I was a Villain, child, and I did not obey!
Villain lapsed into silence, and I was left shifting uncomfortably with only the ambient sounds of the city to keep me company. The constant sounds of vehicles and discussion were joined by the wailing of distant police sirens, but that was Brockton Bay for you.
The vindication had passed and left only discomfort and uncertainty. There was an entire story hidden behind her words and I was only getting the cliffnotes, but even those raised far more questions than they answered. What she was talking about wasn't the war between criminals and law enforcement seen in Brockton Bay; it sounded like a war between nations. It even involved a place supposedly called the Dread Empire! Villain hadn't bragged about forming or renaming this empire, only of greatly advancing the magical knowledge of a specific field. That hinted toward an entire dynasty of villains, and all that talk of obedience made me wonder if all of Villain's appalling behavior was still the better of two options.
This probably wasn't a good mindset to be visiting the PRT in; I should appear confident and well-adjusted, not as off-balance as I currently felt. Maybe another day.
Well! Villain said brightly, startling a flinch from me. We really must do something about your tendency to cringe away from confrontations, my dear Heiress. This will not be the last time that you have an angry woman ranting at you, and you must be able to stand your ground when they do. There's a certain song that—well, perhaps I can sing a few lines for you another day. Not yet.
Villain's cryptic bullshit dragged me back to familiar ground and I crossed my arms with a small scowl. It was too bad that she didn't have a ghostly form for me to glare at.
I'm not going to give you the satisfaction of asking after it, since I assume that you won't be answering questions about literally anything you just said.
You assume correctly! Villain agreed, sounding entirely too cheerful for someone who had started a heated rant not two minutes before. Truthfully, I just gifted you with far more information than I would normally have provided without the fulfillment of multiple tasks. It would be horribly unfair for me to demand payment when you did not solicit the information, however. Remember: never pay for that which you are given for free.
An idea stuck to me like shredded meat stuck between teeth. It was stupid. Really, really stupid. It wouldn't gain me anything except some personal satisfaction and I would be opening myself up to something potentially unpleasant in the process. But I felt strangely compelled to do it, if only to prove a point.
Requiring payment would be unfair in exchange for unsolicited information, but I would rather not take advantage of you when I still learned something; I think I'll pay in this case. Two dresses and the fulfillment of another favor? So long as it's reasonable, anyway.
Villain's silent, shocked bewilderment wasn't the main source of satisfaction that I had expected, but it was enjoyable nonetheless. Perhaps I would curse my choices in another hour, but for now, Villain's reaction alone reinforced my certainty that it had been the right choice.
That's—you– she spluttered, and I bit my lip to avoid laughing. You hated my requirements! What on earth is possessing you to volunteer? I can assure you that I will not do you more favors in the future simply because you're–
Villain produced a gargled sound of disgust despite lacking a mouth or throat to gargle with.
We really must break this idealistic streak of yours, Villain declared in a tone dripping with disgust. She felt pleased, though, so I was definitely taking it as a win. Of course I'm pleased! You're offering me something that I don't need to pay for. Did I not just say that free benefits are something you should be exploiting, too?
You did, and I don't agree with that at all. I guess that works for consolidating power, but you don't make any reliable friends or allies—and you might earn some resentment, too.
...Very well, then, but don't try to claim that you were not warned. Here is my second favor that you so recklessly offered without first negotiating terms–
I did specify that it needed to be reasonable.
Yes, yes. Now, you will need to include some manner of high-heeled shoes as part of your costume going forward.
My breath escaped me in a flabbergasted huff. Seriously? In what universe is that reasonable? How, exactly, do you expect me to fight in something that will make my feet hurt from prolonged wear and impair my balance?
You're a caster, dear, not a front-line brute; you won't be tripping or feeling a thing unless you're in the role of comic relief.
Villain paused for all of two seconds.
On second thought, perhaps I should pick a different favor.
"Well, screw you too," I hissed. And it's still a liability.
Oh, no. Humorous japes aside, allow me to properly answer your earlier question: magic. I expect you to use magic to provide better balance and support than you could get from those horribly ugly 'sneakers' you enjoy so much. Quite reasonable, wouldn't you agree?
...I hate you so much.
I truly don't believe I am asking for anything undesirable. Have you seen some of the available options? Several locally fashionable styles of heeled boots could turn a knife aside and are perfectly sized to crush your foes underfoot.
I'm going to look ridiculous.
If not for your delicate self-image, I would question how–
I knew exactly where she was going with that and refused to let her finish.
I'm actually tempted to pick out something really, really ugly out of sheer spite.
Ah, but then you would endure people seeing you wearing them, would you not? You would only be hurting yourself.
...How would one go about using necromancy to hurt an irritating shade, exactly?
Well, you would start by finding a source other than the shade herself, who is obviously not going to be providing any accurate information on how she might be harmed. That much should have been obvious.
My gargled growl of frustration was disturbingly similar to the sounds of disbelief that Villain produced earlier. Her prompt applause didn't help. Where was an acceptable target when you needed one?
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Just according to Keikaku
Roth963
If I become inactive with this massage, I died
Isn't it what the below are about? They wanted to control and rule the races while the above wanted to guide them.
If the below win, the gods will likely rule humanity, at least if the entities didn't mess with creation.
- Location
- A single human dimension
- Pronouns
- She/Her
That's what most readers of PGTE initially expect based on how these things usually go, but while avoiding spoilers: No, it's quickly revealed to be the other way around. Above bestows powers and believes that (specifically, their own) rules are necessary, whereas Below is all about clawing your way to greatness.
EDIT 2: Relevant blurb from the first paragraphs of the story:
The Gods Above are the rulers in this scenario.First page of the Book of All Things said:
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Over the corner in the next street is a perfectly punchable Nazi
Obviously, I mean, it's Brockton Bay ... throw a random rock in a random direction and you are 90% certain to hit a Nazi (that saying: probably best not to, given that you might actually hit someone who's not a Nazi)
- Location
- A single human dimension
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Roma (Villain) Internally: "Should I curry favor by warning her of the consequences of tempting fate in such a way? ...No, doing so wouldn't be as entertaining."
Echo
Stop Me If You've Heard This One Before
- Location
- "echolocation" dur hur hur
So more like SMT's Law vs. Chaos than standard Good vs. Evil? i.e., choosing between rigid conformity in a peaceful society or personal freedom in a survival of the fittest environment, with the two factions wearing the superficial trappings of "angels" and "devils" despite both being pretty awful.
Kemayo
A Certain Cheerful Tone Of Voice
- Location
- Missouri
To quote the author of Guide:
Not that there aren't some awful things from Above, mostly in the form of the angels (each choir of which is entirely devoted to one virtue -- meaning that, say, Judgement doesn't have any Mercy or Compassion...), or heroes who're on the "good doesn't mean nice" end.ErrantErratica said:
It's a bit skewed in our perspective, because Catherine is our viewpoint character, and she's one of the extremely few people who're actually using Below's belief in power-for-whatever-you-want to pursue good ends, and so the more moderate heroic types take longer to show up. It really does, in general, result in mad monsters.
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- Location
- Far from where I was
There's also the secondary layer of social interpretation over those fundamental principles for the factions - Above's better propaganda and centuries of storytelling (and also genuine commitment to prosocial decision-making over personal desire for power) means that Heroes are in fact heroes and Villains are in fact villains - Above's own agents have been shaped by the love of good men and women, and Below's by the hatred of evil ones. I think there's a quote somewhere in the later arcs to the tune of "once upon a time, the servants of above kept slaves, and now no hero would dream or dare". So they're not fundamentally or universally forces of good and evil, but you can actually trust above to mostly be good and below to mostly be evil. (Also, both sides are fundamentally limited by the set of social paradigms and cultures they're embedded in, obviously. If nothing else, this should breed complexity as you try and define what "good" even means.)