The Seven Virtues - "Humanity can be more than it is now. Make it so." The Seven Virtues claim to be ascended Humans, Arms Masters who had transcended their mortal form and become something more. Now they seek to guide Humanity to a similar 'Ascension' by controlling the ‘reincarnation’ of the Noble Arms held by Arms Masters who had died in the line of duty, or very rarely, creating new ones which had not been held by an Arms Master before. However, the Seven Virtues grant power on two conditions: One, that you give up one of your worldly attachments, one that has harmed your life, and two, that you vow not to kill a sapient being, ever.
Mechanical Effects: Your Potential Stat (see below) is raised to A for the purpose of gaining powers that provide non-fatal, or in some cases, even non-violent options for resolving problems, but capped at D for powers that are fatal in nature. Healing and defensive abilities ignore your NA's Persistence Stat (see below) and have functionally unlimited stamina. Violating the vow of no-killing removes these benefits but not your Noble Arm.
The Paragons of Science - "Humanity is the only concept worth worshipping." The Paragons of Science are a cabal of scientists who have mixed together actual scientific principles with the Occult to decipher part of what makes Noble Arms 'tick', enough to manufacture Artificial Noble Arms which can compete with the best of existing ones. However, they give these Artificial Arms only to those who can 1.) pay through the nose for them, or 2.) people who are willing to renounce the “Throne and altar” to promote a future where Humanity rules over all of nature and worships only itself.
Mechanical Effects: You can also circumvent cosmetic restrictions on Noble Arms, making them look like modern or (more commonly) futuristic sci-fi weapons, as the Paragons frown on using modern guns as templates. In exchange, you sign a contract with the Paragons that amounts to, 'you cannot make them or their ideals look bad, even though you disagree with them', and if you violate it, your Noble Arm's Power Stat (see below) is lowered to C-Rank; you can circumvent this by having the Power Stat be C by default - They can't do anything about that if it is.
The Downward Descent - "Freedom from Morality." The Downward Descent does not claim to be Human, but rather something more; the darkness of people's thoughts and inner desires made manifest, whispering the fulfillment of their darkest wishes. The Downward Descent wants nothing more than Humanity to descend to a level lower than animals, to pull civilization down into ruins so that people would give up on being something more than what they were, to regard their hopes and dreams and aspirations as only so many lies and self-deception. And in exchange for indulging their wishes, the entities of the Downward Descent can give Noble Arms to anyone, not just the unpowered but also those who already have a Noble Arm; they are the only source of a Second Noble Arm, ever.
And all it takes is for you to renounce not just your soul but actively endorse the very things you find most abominable in your heart and mind.
Mechanical Effects: Spoilers below.
The one spark of conscience remaining in the Downward Descent compels you to unite others against you; this does not necessarily mean being a monstrous villain, although the leadership themselves are those. Being a jerkface who makes everyone dislike you even as they work with you, making them ignore or get over how much they hate each other, also works to allow you to keep your second Noble Arm. Of course, if everyone is a jerkface to each other, this fails; same for if you get booted off the team and have to do solo adventures from now on. Thus, the mechanical effects are: You have to Roleplay your best and keep a balance, or lose your second Noble Arm or more.
Mission Five: La Naval de Manila - Segundo Veces/Segundo Beses/Second Time
The US, Japanese, and ASEAN fleets have merged into one, while a rejuvenated PLA Navy is sailing towards the Philippines to meet their foes just off Scarborough Shoal, a coral reef and sandbanks that have become a battleground in the ASEAN War. This is the battle that will decide the fate of the region, and you are center stage.
Task Force Obsidian has just one job: bring down the enemy's flagship, the Type-004 Nuclear Aircraft Carrier known as the Guangdong. The remaining members of the Chinese 'Zodiac', their formidable team of Arms Masters, are out for your blood. But you are their equals, are you not?
But that is not enough; Cao Bao, the chief asset of the PLA in their war of conquest, has been reported present in the Guangdong. It is imperative that he be killed or otherwise neutralized, as his death would utterly destroy China's advantages in this war...
