The Chaos Insurgency acquires an artifact from a raid on a Serpent's Hand cell in Eastern Europe. It is a scroll that, upon further research, appears to be part of a set dedicated to creating what is implied to be a terrifyingly effective eigenweapon. One that can deconceptualize concepts without relying on exposure to the Outside, or expensive investments in meta-physical terrorism outside of the Insurgency.
Or the concept of certain organizations.
Delta Command's restraint is slowly slipping. Caution gives way to excitement. Excitement fed into the thought of wanting after a weapon that they could use to intimidate the Foundation.
The Thought of Victory is a drug. It dripped once in their minds and is slowly poisoning them from within. The grip of addiction is merely the covering of hands over the eyes of Judgement.
Then their minds turned towards the Engine of Chaos. A machine that has lived up to it's name, yet has provided so much for them. Transcripts of past Delta Command meetings imply that casualty rates are rising, and that the Engine is proscribing Steps of Plans that are growing detrimental to the growth of the Insurgency.
For once in it's existence, the Engine is quiet. The Engineer has yet to transcribe anything of worth. But the Plans transcribed beforehand are of no concern, involving only the acquisition of minor artifacts and the corruption of local politicians in areas of interest.
Delta Command perceives fear. The Engine waits patiently. The Chaos Insurgency moves as a wave across the globe in their hunt for the rest of the scrolls.
They have provoked an ancient, dying order into action. Where the Insurgents see naught but Hand members, the Hand sees the Scarlet King's scions. The Children of the Scarlet King mobilize not for the want of war, or protection, but for the conspiracy that poisons the Chaos Insurgency from within.
Simply put, the Children of the Scarlet King desires sacrifice. Yet, they do not hunt for it as the Insurgents do. Instead, they wait patiently.
As the Engine does.
They wait as Hand members are getting captured and tossed into cells, their minds putty playthings in the hand of Gamma-Class researchers. The Children withhold their right hand from striking as their fellow adherents are caught in the sweeps. They say nothing as Sigma-3 pokes around, dropping implications of shelter whilst taking in the few who are weak of will, heart and mind.
But the Children know their time will come.
In the mean time, the facade of scattered, backwards zealots is upheld. The Children sacrifice the chaff, dressed up as wheat, whilst they keep the wheat for themselves. The Foundation and the Insurgency continue to feast on a bounty.
At least, they believe it to be so.
The Engine is not idle. It has chosen two individuals, two personal champions in this matter. One is the operative, a Gamma-Class now turned Sigma-Class, who had lead the very operation that set everything off.
The other is a sickly priest in a town in La Rue Macabre. A man of the Scarlet belief who continuously blasts doomsday prophecies from his pulpit in a rundown church. The citizens deride him.
His followers die for him. Artifacts of seemingly high-value are stolen from their hands by both the Insurgency and the Foundation. They do not know of the poison they bring to their households.
Per the greenlighting policy, first-time authors must get concepts reviewed in the Ideas Critique Forum or IRC chatrooms before creating a feedback thread in the Drafts and Critique forum. Draft critique can still be sought via IRC and PM without greenlights.
