Yeah, all right. Looks like an actual consensus is going to take forever since you guys are getting more and more creative the longer I wait.
Guess I'll just have to mix and match a bit, and keep this update to regular CYOA so that we can up the speed a bit. Sorry to
ScubaV, but I'm going to try to convey the idea of your speech combined with the latest plan rather than cribbing the words wholesale.
***
Chapter 5.18: Peak
You put a hand on Iltani’s head, feeling a slight tremor go through her short frame as you did so. You look up at the mountain path, where the sounds of battle were beginning to recede. It looks like Marduk’s men were making quick progress.
“Ares will be coming here soon, and I have plans for him when he does. I’ll need to know when he’s coming. Can you do that for me?”
She nods. She had been silent ever since you began your trek up the mountain, and the bodies began piling up. Although she was familiar with death, it seemed that she was not familiar with death on this scale.
“Hide somewhere safe and prepare a fire. Ares’s passage should be unmistakeable, and he will not bother with anyone but me right now. Once you see him, light it up. I’ll keep an eye out for your signal.”
She nods again. You ruffle her straw-blonde hair and try to grin, despite the worries you have about the upcoming battle. “You’re the only one I have to do this. Don’t mess up and this should settle your debt to me many times over.”
“
It’s not about the debt.”
“Hm?”
“I won’t mess up. Don’t be an idiot.”
“Ha, there’s the Iltani I know.”
She starts turning red, and begins to move away, but you keep your grip on her head firmly. “Wait.”
“Could you stop holding on to my head? What is it now?” she mutters indignantly. You turn her around to face you, and before she can react, you lean in and place your lips gently and quickly against her forehead.
“For luck. I’ll see you in while.”
Her face turns utterly red, but you don’t stay to wait for a reaction. In a blink of an eye, you are already gone, running towards the peak.
***
On your way up, you put on the helmet and breastplate of a fallen Sumerian. The pulsing Vajra piece was made part of Anbar-Shi. You could feel power coursing through the sword as you did so. A faint blue glow appears sporadically from the blade, as tiny sparks of electricity leap from it. You wrap up Anbar-Shi with strips of cloth from the fallen soldiers, and pick up a spear to wield. On your left arm – its form had almost returned but still lacked fingers, and did not move as you would like it – you strapped a shield to protect your flank. Something was better than nothing.
The very first person you met at the rear at the battle turned out,by a lucky twist of fate, to be Edem, commanding the last remaining tower from the rear. He does not notice your arrival, and you stand right below the tower before projecting a human presence. You feel his puzzlement, and then recognition.
I thought you were supposed to be in Egypt.
I was, then I pissed Ares enough to come after me.
Good show, I don’t think I’d like to be here when he reaches us.
I was thinking of letting Marduk deal with him, actually. How’s the fight going?
Pretty good, if you consider having most of our own men killed off as long as you win good. Marduk and Shamash are up front. The Greeks have somehow found it in themselves to fight fanatically for Zeus, but they will be slaughtered to the last man pretty soon. Speaking of Zeus – DUCK!
You see Edem leap from the top of the tower. A large streak of lightning strikes the place where he was moments before, and the tower instantly bursts into flames.
Edem lands besides you with a thud and sighs loudly. You look at up the dark skies, which appeared to be clearing up.
That’s our last one. It’s too late to make a difference, though. Looks like Zeus is all out of bolts too… and shush, he comes. If you’re going to make a move, I’m with you.
Edem’s presence melts away from your mind quickly.
“Edem!”
A tall, broad-shouldered man comes crashing through the ranks. Despite wearing common armour and clothing, you recognize his bearded face from the numerous statues back in Babylon.
Marduk.
Edem bowed, and spoke carefully and politely, “It looks like your gambit was correct, sire. Zeus was too distracted by the power of our towers and wasted his bolts against them. Now he has nothing to defend himself with.”
“No, Zeus is wily and cautious. There is always one last bolt.” Marduk pointed upwards, where the skies remained grey. “He is just waiting for the right time to fry me with it. Pity, he is going to miss. Shamash is acting as my decoy, wearing my armour at the front. The disguise is almost perfect. One more push and he will be forced to play his hand.” At this, Marduk grinned viciously. Turning about, he notices you standing besides Edem. He stares at you for a long, uncomfortable while, and you make a quick bow, keeping your head down.
“You look like you can fight. What is your name?” Marduk asks.
“Naram, Lord Marduk. I used to be a shepherd, Lord Marduk.”
“Those must be some very vicious sheep you have there, Naram. Were they what mauled your arm? Well, the battle’s end is close at hand. When I am god over the Greeks too, you will all be blessed with untold riches and glory.”
He chuckles for a while, and adds, “If you survive.”
Thunder booms across the sky and it darkens yet again. This time, rain begins to fall. Strong winds begin to blow about and you are forced to steady yourself to maintain your balance. It looks like Zeus had saved his best shot for last. Looking at Marduk, you see that he stands unaffected, his cloak and hair unmoving despite the forceful winds. You could just about notice a slight movement in the air around him, a protective cocoon of wind that negated the gale brought about by Zeus’s storm. An expression of almost gleeful confidence has set upon his face.
“Shamash is charging, my lord?”
“Yes. Zeus is falling for it!”
Anbar-Shi thrums as it senses the gathering storm…
***
A. You await Zeus to strike Shamash. Once Marduk prepares to go back to the front, you and Edem will attack him from behind, trying to cut him down right where he stands.
B. Ares is not yet here. You will follow Marduk back to the front and battle towards Zeus until Ares reaches the rear of the Sumerians and Egyptians. You will then exploit the havoc caused by his arrival to try and stab Marduk in the back.
C. You attack Marduk before Zeus unleashes his bolt. With any luck, you can force Marduk to reveal his power, attracting Zeus’s attention – and thus his lightning bolt.
D. Having brought a piece of Vajra with you, you can sense the immense power gathered in the storm over you. You realize that if you time it right, you can add the power of your Vajra fragment to Zeus’s strike and hijack it to hit Marduk. FRY THE MOTHERFUCKER!
