[center][h1][color=0072bc]Salem Vicarious, Lord of Lost Things[/color][/h1][/center] As the body-horror form of Salem waited in the Climax Hour for battle to commence, Salem watched the events unfolding outside through the doll heads decorating the facade of the Chateau. Salem tsked in disapproval; the command was to wait in the Climax Hour to engage the enemy together, yet so many had decided to meet the threat at the entrance. While Salem could not fault those who went up for the purpose of engaging in diplomacy or distraction, like Rodias himself and supposedly Graft, the shot fired by Chuunitrixx ensured that combat would begin with the Chateau's forces even further divided that they already were, given that half the major players were out on mission, and half of those that remained were in the Climax Hour. Salem had a mind to go up themself, but was significantly less mobile in this bulky form. Besides, combat seemed to continuously begin and end abruptly as fight-ending ability was used after fight-ending ability, only for the golden-eyed gorgon to survive or counter. And in the chaos, Light had brought a partially petrified Rodias inside, who despite his injuries, requested the World Item of Bandersnatch. For the time being, it seemed those outside were attempting to stun-lock the enemy, though it was uncertain whether they would succeed or not. While Light was getting E Pluribus Unum and the Shadowtower mikos were setting up a major buff, Salem spoke on Graft's Open Line, [color=0072bc]"Aurora! Ratta! Someone! Get in here! Lord Rodias is being petrified and I don't know if Mamoru's panacea is working."[/color] But then Salem turned their attention to Rodias. [color=0072bc]"My lord, it might be too late to say this, but I wonder if it would be wiser to surrender? I mean, you'll get to meet other supreme beings again, and they probably won't harm us or the Chateau if you join them. Besides, though the rest of us have had a taste of freedom, we clearly don't know what to do with it, leading to a lack the maturity to even defend ourselves properly."[/color] Salem's grotesque form gestured with their many limbs towards the emptiness of the Climax Hour, indicating how few actually followed Rodias' order. [color=0072bc]"Consider myself; this form is ugly and distasteful, but by combining, I become stronger. Surrendering might seem distasteful, but we protect ourselves in the process. And the [i]rest of us[/i] are used to following orders, so the real question is; is servitude an unthinkable prospect for you?"[/color] Salem wanted to know if Rodias was hypocritical in allowing the denizens of the Chateau to serve him, while refusing to himself serve others.