#lethal ether redemption

[infinitcnexus]

Pulchra would receive a message from Burnice on Knock Knock:

[text] Remember when you told us about your ex who saved you from the Hollow?

[text] I think she just came by my bar today!

Pulchra coughed harshly a few times, hastily pulling a cool bottle of water away from her lips and setting it down somewhere as she stared at Burnice's messages on her phone. While it still bothered her that she would continue to call Liv her ex despite correcting her numerous times, it was more important to her that the lemur had been spotted recently.

The Feline Thiren hastily sent a message back.

[text] Where is she now?

[redemptioninchaos]

There was no fanfare, no last rites, no final words before the Rogue Angel pulled the trigger, her latest victim becoming unrecognizable as she sent him to oblivion.

Art by @rukikookie

[redemptioninchaos]

That One Lethal Ether Redemption Edit You're Looking For

Old Man Joseph: "She's not on the market, if that's what you're wondering. She's a—"

PRAETORIAN

Old Man Joseph: "...one of Staxx's finest. Some say she's—"

RUTHLESS

Old Man Joseph: "...She's really a—"

SURVIVALIST

Motor League member, watching Liv ride on a red motorcycle: "No way, can that really be—"

LIVID LIV

Wise: "On the Inter-Knot, they're calling you the—"

ROGUE ANGEL

Lucy: "What a barbarian! Not even Billy was so—"

LETHAL

Eyewitness: "She was like a ghost, coming out from the—"

ETHER

Liv: "Fuck my conscience. I'm not looking for—"

REDEMPTION

[redemptioninchaos]

Liv's Signature W-Engine: Engage the End Times

"Hope. Trust. Honor. None of these will improve your aim."

A custom W-Engine formulated for the legendary Rogue Angel from the Outer Ring. The base's grey color matches her fur, and it features a trumpet bell in the front and a mouthpiece in the back. It also has two white and purple wings on the sides, as well as a tail with black rings throughout it.

Legend has it that the Rogue Angel blowing this trumpet will signify the end of the world. The Outer Ring first glimpsed this apocalyptic power during a terrible battle between the angels of Conquest and War.

Burnice: "Wow! You play the trumpet? Maybe you were born to be a jazz musician!"

Liv: "Hell no...but I used to play the guitar."

Burnice: "Why'd you stop?"

Liv: "Guitars are useless in a fight."

Burnice: "You're not fighting all the time, you know. I hope you can feel safe enough to realize that."

Liv: "Don't think that'll happen. But don't stop trying."

[redemptioninchaos]

The following is a transmission found in Liv's final Milestone Trust Event. Liv, alongside the Proxy, will head to her old childhood home trapped within Hollow Zero. Though the house is thoroughly corrupted, there is a container that has resisted 11 years of corruption. Inside the container is a voice recorder along with a written note that reads, "For my two little troopers."

Gloria: "Roman, Olivia, I hope to God you two hear this in time. If you're hearing this, then they finally got me. Probably got your father, too. The Ether we use for our technology is more unstable than what the tech corporations tell us. I've been telling people for years not to rely too much on it, that something terrible would happen. Nobody listened. I chose to be in the reserves to have more time to raise you two, but they kept me in the reserves because they didn't want me influencing other soldiers with my 'radical ideas.' What the tech corporations won't tell you is the amount of times R&D workers have died or gotten extremely sick trying to contain Ether just to make sure we can charge our phones and drive to work.

"I joined the Defense Force to keep you two and your father safe, keep everyone else's families safe. I can't stand by while the corporations are playing havoc with nuclear technology like this. A lot of people are going to die if nobody does something.

"I hope you're hearing this not long after they killed me. If you are...find Uncle Rai, both of you. He'll take you to a place called the Outer Ring. It's gonna be dangerous, but it should keep you safe from what's about to happen. If they kill me, it's because I tried to expose them all so more people could be safe. Best-case scenario, enough people learn about this and stop funding the companies trying to destroy our city. But even I know that's a long shot.

"Your father and I love you more than you could ever know. Roman, I hope you can find a way to increase your Ether Aptitude. Olivia, you are so much stronger than you realize." voice cracks ever so slightly "We have the best two kids in Eridu."

transmission ends

[redemptioninchaos]

Trust Event: Stick to Your Guns

Liv: "You expect me to trust you to keep me safe? You're not even PubSec."

Guard: "New Eridu and company policy, ma'am. I can't let you in with those weapons."

Liv: "The world's already ended. Shit's not gonna get any safer. That's the problem with you city folk. Give enough people clean water and warm beds, and suddenly the world's peaceful enough for everyone to drop their guard."

Wise (or Belle): approaches

"Liv? Are you keeping out of trouble?"

"Mister, is there a problem?"

Liv: "The only problem here is that some baton-wielding buffoon thinks he's got the balls to stop a real threat for my sake."

Guard: "I can't have you disturbing the peace inside. People won't feel safe seeing you carry all those guns around."

Liv: "Why wouldn't they feel safe? I don't draw it unless someone threatens my life."

Wise: "Liv, this isn't the Outer Ring. You don't have to worry so much."

Liv: "There's evil bastards everywhere, Wise. I figured you'd know that."

Wise: "Sure, but do you want to deal with PubSec? They probably won't take too kindly to an Outer Ringer carrying unregistered firearms..."

Liv: "They don't say shit to the Sons of Calydon. Why would they say shit to me?"

Guard: "Ma'am, if you don't leave the premises, I will have to call Public Security."

Wise: "There's no need for that, sir. Liv, please come with me..."

She squints at you, and you get the familiar feeling that you're brushing with death for a split second. However, you realize that you're not in danger since she doesn't even reach for any of her weapons. Finally, she sighs in resignation.

Liv: "Suppose I made enough trouble for you." *to the guard* "As for you, try not to die too fast when shit hits the fan."

You escort Liv away from the guard to prevent an incident from happening...

Liv: *crosses her arms* "I can't stand the city, Wise. I don't remember Eridu ever being this bad."

Wise: "Eridu? You mean the city before the fall?"

Liv: "That's right. I never saw the city fall. I just heard of it two years after I left home."

Wise: "Why did you leave home?"

Liv: *ears droop, looking away* "I had no other choice. Uncle Rai said my mom probably knew something about Hollow Zero before it erupted. Any time you know too much, they kill you."

Wise: "Oh...I'm so sorry to hear that..."

Liv: "My mom was an EDF soldier. She was armed in her own home and still got murdered. I'm damn sure that wasn't the first time something like that happened, either. The city's doing something wrong if they won't let their people protect themselves and kill their own soldiers for knowing the truth."

Wise: "...Hate to say that not much has changed. Before I met you, I helped Obol Squad of the Defense Force deal with an Exaltist conspiracy. You think your Uncle Rai knew about the Exaltists?"

Liv: "If he did, he never told me. Since you have contacts in the Defense Force, is there any chance you can help me investigate who was behind my parents' murder?"

Wise: "Well, I can't guarantee I'll find anything; a lot of Eridu family records were lost after Hollow Zero. But, I can have Fairy look into it in the background."

Liv: *shoulders drop as if a weight was lifted off of her* "...Weston and Gloria Bernard. Dad worked on Bangboo for a living. I...also have a brother, named Roman. He wasn't there when my parents were killed, but I haven't seen him since."

Fairy: "Searching...I have found surviving death records for Weston and Gloria Bernard from 13 years prior, but I have found none for Roman. The Eridan government ruled the deaths of Agent Liv's parents as a robbery homicide. Six intruders were found dead at the scene, though there were no records found about them. There is no death record of a Roman Bernard from this time. Past Weston and Gloria's deaths, Roman Bernard was reported missing."

Liv: *has a hopeful look in her eyes, ears perk up* "Then maybe he's still around. Have no idea where to even start, but it's the first good news about my family in 13 years."

Wise: "Belle and I have been looking for answers about the Fall for a long time. We've found a lot of information in Hollow Zero. If you want, I can poke around, see if any of my Defense Force contacts can give us any leads."

Liv: "Don't put a target on your back for my sake. But...if you can do it anonymously, I'd appreciate it more than you know."

[redemptioninchaos]

🫂 (Liv…with Pulchra and/or Mortym)

Bad news is, I can't decide between the two.

Good news is, I'm gonna do both.

Liv will be dependent on Pulchra in terms of city life. Liv hasn't ever been to New Eridu, having gone to the Outer Ring before the fall of the Old Capital. Even though Liv will do her best to hide it, Pulchra will notice how nervous she is as they go through places like Sixth Street and Lumina Square.

Liv will insist that she doesn't need anything fancy such as a fur care day or mani-pedi. She'll say it's impractical and a waste of money, but at that point Pulchra will know what Liv really means: She doesn't think she'll live long enough to need one. That sentiment will become more apparent as time goes on, and Pulchra's desire to make up for lost time will push her to insist on treating Liv. Because it's Pulchra, Liv will give it a shot. This will in turn lead to Liv...living a little more. One spa day will change her life.

Liv will say she doesn't care for gossip, but her ears perk up every time Pulchra shares anything about Wise, Belle, the Sons of Calydon, or anything else. Liv, in her near deadpan voice, will ask for juicy details, and unlike Wise, she doesn't have to pay for Pulchra's info.

Now, onto Mortym:

Mortym is insecure about his state as a sphynx, being hairless. I don't know if Pulchra will outwardly say she's not interested in him partly because of that, but it will be in his mind regardless. Little does he know that Liv thinks his pink, hairless skin is really hot, wrinkles notwithstanding.

Mortym fears even touching Liv accidentally, thinking he'll lose a hand or worse if that were to happen. However, when that does happen, Liv just goes silent, and her mask hides how red her face gets. She realizes just how attracted she is to him and goes into an almost tsundere-like internal panic. Fortunately, she doesn't act aggressively towards those she likes.

Mortym sees Liv's alcoholism, aggressive survivalism, and harshness and thinks, "I can fix her." Liv sees Mortym's attempts at humor to mask his insecurities and harsh luck in the city and thinks, "I can fix him." Their mutual desire to improve the other's life makes for a surprisingly wholesome relationship.

[redemptioninchaos]

Liv's Skills

Basic Attack: Cut You Down

Unleash six close range knife attacks, the final hit propelling Liv backwards with a backflip, dealing Physical damage. Each successful hit regains 1 Big Iron shot, with a maximum of 6.

Dodge: Eleventh Hour

A quick dash dodge. Character is invulnerable while using this skill.

Dodge: Celestial Celerity

While tilting the joystick, hold Dodge to activate: Summons Ethereal wings in a high-speed movement state. Steer with the joystick, and release the joystick to stop.

Dash Attack: All In

Press Attack during a dodge to activate: Shoots enemies in front with a revolver, dealing Physical damage. Does not consume Big Iron shots.

Dodge Counter: Ringtailed Retribution

Press Attack during a Perfect Dodge to activate: Shoots enemies in front with a revolver, dealing Physical damage. If there's at least 1 Big Iron shot left, attack is upgraded to a frontal shotgun attack, dealing Ether damage. Character is invulnerable during this skill.

Quick Assist: Halo Effect

When the active character is launched, press Assist to activate: Swoops down and shoots enemies, dealing Physical damage at 0 Big Iron shots or Ether damage with at least 1 Big Iron shot. Character is invulnerable during this skill.

Evasive Assist: Wide is the Gate

When the on-field character is about to be attacked, press Assist to activate: Flies backwards to dodge an enemy attack and activates Vital View. Character is invulnerable during this skill.

Assist Follow-Up: Broad is the Road

Press Attack after an Evasive Assist to activate: Fires two revolver shots, dealing Ether damage. Skill does not consume Big Iron shots.

Special Attack: Four Coffins

Press Special Attack to activate: Fires revolver shots forward, consuming Big Iron shots to deal Ether damage. If there are no Big Iron shots left, Four Coffins instead deals Physical damage. Press and hold Special Attack to sacrifice a portion of HP to refill all Big Iron shots.

EX Special Attack: Divine Decree

Press Special Attack to activate: Fires shotgun blasts forward, dealing massive Ether damage. Enemies hit with this skill receive Anathema status, suffering a debuff in Defense for 15s. Skill does not consume Big Iron shots. Character is invulnerable during this skill.

Chain Attack: Golden Ladder

When a Chain Attack is triggered, select the character to activate: Unleashes a dual-trigger shotgun blast, dealing massive Ether damage. Applies the Anathema status. Character is invulnerable during this skill.

Ultimate: Kingdom Come

When Decibel Rating is at Maximum, press Ultimate to Activate: Fires a quick barrage of shots forward with both revolvers and a double shotgun blast, dealing massive Ether damage. Applies the Anathema status. Character is invulnerable during this skill.

Core Passive: A Hundred Highways

Liv sacrifices X% of her health to refill her Big Iron shots. Anathema decreases enemy Defense by X%. ATK, CRIT Rate, and Ether DMG increase by X%.

Additional Ability: Battle Hymn

When another character in your squad is an Attack agent, has the Physical attribute, or can perform an Aftershock attack: Squad ATK and CRIT Rate increase by 25 percent for 10s when triggering an Aftershock. The squad ignores 25 percent of Physical resistance. When any squad member triggers an Ultimate, all squad members receive a 20 percent bonus to ATK for 12s.