Private Lyrwick Birthing a Chimera: Aggressive Recruitment

[Matilda]

The warm summer night had begun to settle in on a modest-sized bandit camp.

"And then I knocked 'em over after I took his shite! Said the gold was fer is family tah buy food ah what have yas. Well my familys gotta eat too I says tah him and give me knife a dive into his poor little gullet!"

The bandit group howled with laughter. It quickly became clear that these people were the lowest of the low. Persons that would kill just because someone had a little more than they did. Unfortunately with the Bloodstar catastrophe groups like this taking advantage of refugees were everywhere, in other words, prime recruitment material...

"My, my, you are quite a ruthless one aren't you?"

The party quickly turned around to see two individuals approaching them, shadows at first their visages became clear in the light of the campfire.

"And who in the hells are you, besides two people who are about tah be corpses? From the looks of it boys we got a human and one scummy piece of Faerin trash."

The bandits grinned, their yellowed teeth glistening in the firelight.

"Ah, apologies I suppose I haven't introduced myself yet. As such, I'll ignore your Faerin comment for the time being."

A slight snarl escaped Alecto's visage as she continued.

"I am Alecto, Leader of Chimera."

Alecto gave a small but courteous bow as she grinned.

"And what, pray tell, is Chimera? Some kind of children's club?"

The bandits began laughing.

"Oh, you've got the right of it. At least in part. You see we of Chimera have decided that this world needs new leadership."

Grinning, Alecto began her speech, her words honeyed with tinges of harmonic magic.

"This world is corrupt, filled with pigs at the top of shouting down orders to the rest of us as we live and die to keep their troughs filled. Kings, aristocrats, leaders, who gave them power? Who decided they should be the ones to lead? Not I, did any of you agree to this? I doubt it."

Beginning to pace back and forth Alecto continued.

"So then why should we have to listen to them? What's the point? Why should I care for the decrees of someone who doesn't have my best interests in mind? Someone who CAN'T have my best interests in mine because they don't know what it's like to live with nothing, to have to survive with NOTHING as we do."

Turning, Alecto nodded and smiled at the person accompanying her.

"With this in mind, Chimera was created. An organization created to liberate us all from a corrupt society, to tear down the ineffectual, the stagnant, and the gilded rot that has become our reality. Once torn down we'll rebuild this world in our own image. A world for the people. A world where we are free to do as we please. A world where people like us will have no need to hide in forest camps, but will have the ability to be who we truly are. A world where one's worth has nothing to do with where or to whom they were born, but instead will be based on the power and skill of the individual."

Alecto pointed to the bandit leader as the other bandits turned to meet his face.

"Want to be a king? Then become one. Want to be rich? Then take your riches. You see my dear comrades it's all very simple. Through Chimera, we will create a world for the deserving, a world where strength and skill, where ability will let one rise through the ranks."

Standing on top of a log for effect, Alecto looked down on the bandit group.

"Who among us will float to the top when the vestiges of inhumane decadence have been burned to the ground? Well, that's anyone's guess. But whoever rises will lead the rest of us into a glorious age of freedom the likes of which this world has never seen! Won't you join Chimera and take back this world that is so rightfully yours?

It seems like I'm beginning to break through to some of them. Of course, why wouldn't I? I'm promising them all they've ever wanted.

"The Lion Arms: enforcers of privilege, the Guild: born corrupt since its inception, and MIT: ignorant to the true plights of man, all shall be displaced by Chimera. All Kingdoms, all factions, and all people will find peace under our unbiased and equitable banner. My brothers and sisters, won't you join me in this endeavor? For without you, without the people, we are nothing.

Not that any of you have any real choice...

Alecto waited for the bandit's response.

@Cynna

 

[Cynna]

When Alecto turned to Cynna in the middle of her speech, Cynna gave a lazy salute.

Ah~ I should probably save any mentions of my history for later...

And continued to listen. It was a good speech, or at least Cynna thought so. And, as resident self-designated mad scientist of Chimera, it was her job to make those deep and pretty sentiments tangible. Cynna was excited to get to work, unfortunately, if things went right... or maybe if they went wrong... depending on the perspective... Cynna knew she wouldn't have anything to do.

Now, which will it be...?

Cynna shifted her weight and put her hands in her coat pockets. The speech continued as Cynna wondered and later dismissed the idea that her life might have been easier if she had simply tried to talk to people.

***
The bandits at this point were growing uneasy, tense, they were beginning to think, or at least, Cynna thought they might as she continued to observe them. It was pindrop quiet, the speech was over, and the crackling of the bandit camp fires filled the air. All eyes turned to the bandit leader, probably in confusion, as their bewildered expressions asked what they should do.

Cynna's eyebrows rose at this network of command. Why hadn't any of her team ever looked at her like that? With a derisive smile, she couldn't help but feel a little jealous.

Yep, that's the one.

Then, the bandit leader spoke: "Kill 'em"

"Woah, woah, look at 'em go, Alecto~ I might be in real trouble here, hey hey~ you remember what you said right? You remember the briefing?"

Cynna tossed Alecto a crystal.

"So it's my pick of the litter right~? I want the boss man, as for the rest... could you, I dunno~ capture them for me, It'd be better for the experiment if we had more specimens to work with. Sorry for the trouble, next time lunch is on me kay~? If we clear this hurdle I think I can expedite the process from here on out."

Hopping back, Cynna watched as everyone seemed to move in slow motion.

Cynna had been wrong, not matter what happened, she really wouldn't have much to do.

"Oh yeah I brought rope, it's a little annoying, but since it's my request I'll tie up in the in-tact ones."

Cynna held up a very large bundle of the stuff and sighed.

@Alecto

 

[Matilda]

Alecto sighed, obviously disappointed in the bandit leader's decision.

"Well, that's quite disappointing, isn't it? I thought that speech was quite magnificent if I do say so myself. The logos was perfect, the pathos on point, and the ethos exquisite, yet even after that... oh well. I guess the eloquence and majesty of my words was simply wasted on a brain as inferior as his, quite disappointing indeed."

Suddenly, Alecto swept her hand. From her skin, several spheres of inky liquid hovered in the air, then fired off like bullets towards the bandit leader blowing through him like shotgun pellets. The leader was knocked off his feet and hit the ground hard. Laughing heartily, Alecto held up Cynna's crystal.

"Well he didn't put up much of a fight did he?"

Alecto looked to the other bandits.

"Anyone else? I assure you anyone who steps forward will meet a similarly sudden demise."

The bandits stood frozen and tense.

"No? So maybe you lot are more of the actions speak louder than words types?"

Alecto giggled. As she did, a glowing blue orb began to float out of the bandit leader's body as though it were being slowly and forcefully dragged towards the crystal. Noticing, Alecto called out to Cynna.

"I think it's working. It's definitely fished up something."

Holding the crystal out, the blue orb was forcefully dragged, then captured in the crystal.

"...and got it."

Alecto tossed the crystal back to Cynna.

"Here you go, have fun."

Alecto smiled then turned back to the bandits.

"Now then, let's see what we're going to do with the rest of you..."

A vicious grin crept over Alecto's face.

@Cynna

 

[Cynna]

Cynna caught the crystal and shook it.

"Ahhh good. Very good. I was sure it'd work, the principles are sound and I've seen something similar in action... but still, confirmation is a good thing. Looks like I'll get to do something after all. Good, my hands get antsy when I'm bored."

Cynna looked up.

"Right, I'll leave the rest of the resources to you, Alecto. Like I said before, more's the better, but if they're being a pain you can just dispose of them as well. There's always more where the rest came from, right? I've heard this area's crawling with subjects~"

With that, Cynna turned away and began to do----something----with the crystal.

Right one soul. And, without the body to protect it, its defenses are weak. Within expectations. Let's begin the modification. Hmmm... so if we reduce traits to values... yes, that should be fine, it's not very different from 'stats' then. So let's push some buttons, label them, and begin...



***



"..."

"Oh good, you're awake Mr. Bandit Leader."

"...huh? The hell did you----"

"Sorry we're not done with the diagnostic just yet, so I'll be disabling your speech. I can't afford to miss any of this report, number one."

"...!"

Looking down, The Bandit Leader found that he was no longer in his body. He was in a body however, not matter how he failed to recognize it. From Cynna's perspective she saw a moving doll. It looked like a penguin.

"Subject appears stable. Looks like I chose well."

The bandit leader was beginning to experience shock as his mind began to unravel. He possessed a mouth, of sorts, but could not scream.

"Stability decreasing... woah there now. Let's restore speech, maybe you have the urge to communicate? I had taken you for a man of few words but maybe you were the chatty type? Well scratch the man part at this point. There we go speech restored."

"What the hell did you to do me?!"

"You see, you died and I thought that was a waste so I brought you back. Now you work for me."

"The fu----"

"Speech disabled. Yes, you do. You don't have a choice in the matter. The weak obey the strong, isn't that you guys' philosophy. Nobody will take an out in the open hypocrite seriously. So~ take a few breaths and nod when you're done and we can continue. Death has been denied to you. You've been spared from death. Congratulations~"

"..."

".."

"."

The doll nodded.

"Good. Speech restored. Congratulations on your recruitment. Isn't it grand? No matter how many times you die, I can bring you back. Your bodies are disposable and your mind is safe and sound in my little collection. Like a Traveler, only better. There's no limits. Now then... Since you've been... mostly... cooperative and as the first of your kind, I think you deserve a few perks. You were chosen because of your ability to command, you lacked judgement and you lost, but still, people were willing to follow you. I'll make use of that. So, congratulations on your promotion of field command. You see, people really aren't my thing so alls I have to do is ask you instead. Isn't that neat? But right now, there's only you, and that isn't very useful for me. That's hardly enough personnel, so, I'll let you choose. You knew them best, so as their reborn commander take your pick. Who gets to come?"

Cynna dropped numerous, numerous, soul crystals on the ground in front of the doll----the poppet as she would come to call them.

"I'm getting kind of tired so let's get started quickly. Consider this a test of your quick decision making skills. Don't drop the ball this time, now~ because while you are lacking in many aspects, and your success isn't expected, your performance is still, in some ways, indicative of my talents and judgement. Get to it number one."

"..."

"Wait, did I forget to restore your speech? Oh, no there it is... it should be functioning... huh, maybe you were a man of few words after all."

More and more dolls appeared thanks to Cynna's magic. But they were inanimate, lifeless. The bandit leader said nothing as he saw the bodies in his own image replicated like nothing. They were like toys for children. The bandit leader, was nothing more than that himself. A toy.

"So Alecto, how'd you do. Oh~ that's a lot. Huh, ALL OF THEM?!"

@Alecto

 

[Matilda]

"Well of course. Why wouldn't we take all of them? We came for recruitment and I don't know how many times my poor heart can take repeating my beautiful speech, only to have it lost on this rabble. Besides, the more we get here the better off we'll be in the end. The more the merrier as they say."

Alecto looked over the bandits.

"Tryouts indeed. Well, as I said before none of you really had any choice in the matter. But since your leader over here elected to be obstinate, I believe a bit of punishment is in order."

Reaching into her pouch, Alecto pulled out a knife and tossed it down in front of the former bandit leader, now toy-ish creature.

"Here you go, bandit leader. Go use it against your men. Don't worry, they'll just end up the same as you. Then you and all of your friends will be together forever? Won't that be nice? You'll be comrades forever more and you'll never have to worry about truly dying ever again. Wonderful isn't it? Now go on, get to it. We don't have all day."

The former bandit leader looked down at the knife.

"Well, come on. Hurry up now. Pick up the knife. It's not hard. Oh? Maybe you don't know how to use a knife? It's very simple really, the pointy end goes into the other person. That's really all there is to it in the end."

Picking up the knife the former bandit leader looked toward the gang.

"Go on then! Hurry up! Put your moral quandary aside, it's not as though you're actually killing them. Even so, you've done worse in your life anyway, haven't you? In fact, that story was quite horrendous you were telling before, wasn't it? Isn't this much more ethical? You're doing them a favor, aren't you? Giving them immortality... eternal camaraderie... a true purpose in life. There's so much to gain, and all you need to do is free them from these horribly delicate mortal coils which we of Chimera will of course replace with these fine and superior bodies."

Alecto began to tap her foot on the ground impatiently.

"Now do as I said and GET. TO. IT. Or else I'll do something much, much worse to all of them than you could ever imagine..."

@Cynna

 

[Cynna]

"Good thing I came prepared."

Cynna was looking down at the pile of filled soul crystals at her feet. She had what she needed; the human bodies which were strewn about the center of the camp were no interest to her. She hardly even saw them. Cynna was currently scratching her head.

"Alecto. This won't do. I have the resources but this is a big job to do 'in natura' if you catch my drift. Long story short, I think it's time we put down some roots, at least, temporarily."

Cynna gathered up the crystals and added them to her inventory.

"Hey number one, look alive, because you are. I'm reviewing your status now."

"..."

"Haaah~ number one, if you aren't going to be responsive to orders you're just going to make me have to take the trouble to edit the bugs in your personality~ are you coming up or what~?"

"Just give me a minute, okay? I heard you."

"Alecto would call it a weakness but I can be rather doting on my things. You have sixty seconds number one. No more, no less."

Cynna began to walk away.

"And don't do anything silly or I'll have to patch it out of you. See you soon number one~"


The bandit leader poppet stood quietly in the remains of his camp. The bloody knife was still in his hand. He had always knew that what they were doing couldn't last. They would be wiped out eventually----whether by like minds, heroes, or the wilderness. But this was a living nightmare. The bandit leader poppet stood wondering why it was that he couldn't remember his name. Cynna had taken it of course, along with so much else.