PLEROMA | VOICE, ALSO FORWARD DATED TO AROUND THEN

[coerthantorment]

[Estinien still isn't sure how he feels about this method of communication, but now that it seems like something may be on the horizon, he'll sacrifice his mental well-being to get it done. He pushes inexpertly into the psychic realm, reaching out to all of those touched by the Pleroma.

It comes through roughly like his voice, but with a persistent sense of wary anticipation tinging it.]

Hail. This is Estinien Wyrmblood... with any luck, I have been able to reach you.

My dreams have been plagued by queer echoes of the selfsame vision we all had upon our arrival. It feels as if the shrines are once again stirring, and that more lost souls have fallen within their hold. If so, we can be sure that the Regent and their new thralls will one more move to claim the victims as prisoners.

We cannot allow this to happen. This time, I plan to meet the Kenoma's forces head-on, challenging them for the strategic positions around the shrines they took for granted last time. I know that not all of us have the training or abilities required to fight against such odds, but for those that do, I implore you to join me. 'Tis possible that we can spare these new arrivals the same dire fate.

Regardless of whether you join me on the field, I would find great value in knowing everything you can offer concerning the nature of the Kenoma's Aion forces. I fought a handful of them in the caverns, but many more escaped my focus.

For those that will lend their strength, but who have gone to the city... it is now within our power to guide you to our more secure location. There are those we can confer here that will help us plan our best way forward.

[At this point, he will let his message drift. Compiling information and threadjacking are very much welcomed! We are shamelessly ripping off the Kenoma here.]

Comments

KENOMA INFO CONSOLIDATING

[coerthantorment]

"BLUE HAIRED WOMAN"

[coerthantorment]

[Estinien angrily projects thoughts about BLUE HAIRED WOMAN.]

She may have perished from her wounds but I have my doubts... there was life in her still when we left the cavern, and I did not issue a killing blow.

She took Hiccup captive and intended to bind me as well when the opportunity presented itself. She was more eager than most to hand us back to our would-be torturers.

She showed skill with lightning aether and advanced martial arts. She was also wielding one of those damnable whips.

"SWORD MAN WITH INFERNAL ENERGIES"

[coerthantorment]

[This descriptive thought is even less coherent, barely even words, but the mental image is of Binghe.]

This man has a chip on his shoulder and seems to feel great spite for the rest of the world. He came at me in combat as if he hungered for it.

He has some manner of infernal power within him, but I was able to stave it off. He lost his sword and I was able to force his surrender. However, I expect this will not stop him from trying again in the future. The man craves vengeance... I recognize it in his eyes.

"MIQO'TE MAN WITH DAGGERS"

[coerthantorment]

[Estinien is thinking about Eustace here, and apparently he remembers him being a cat boy rather than a wolf boy.]

Nothing exceptional, but dogged in his pursuit. Why he feels such loyalty to the cause I do not know. He was wielding daggers at the time.

EMET-SELCH

[coerthantorment]

[It's this asshole, though when Estinien thinks of him he's wearing plain black robes.]

A dictator and sorcerer from my star. He has destroyed multiple worlds in pursuit of his plans, and sees mortals as innately inferior. Unknowable magicks... though apparently he did not see fit to use them in the cavern. Himeka could tell us more.

He is driven by the desire to recreate his lost homeland, but is willing to cause untold suffering to do so. He has killed and tortured more innocent souls than you can possibly imagine. He has the capacity for humanity... but I would not rely on it.

METEION

[coerthantorment]

[With mixed feelings, Estinien projects his memory of a dark bird girl.]

In the realm I hail from, she had ascended to a place of all-consuming power by her manipulation of a force called 'dynamis'... the energy of emotion. Seeing life as the unnecessary perpetuation of suffering, she attempted to destroy my world and all worlds like it.

She... lacks the power she did when I fought her, but there is no way of knowing whether that will change. Himeka had convinced her to step down, to once again believe in life and hope, but... it seems she has forgotten.

[He finds himself uncomfortably emotional, and decides to be practical.]

...At the very least, she can manipulate and read emotions.

CHILDE

[traversal]

[ she's been listening to all the conversations all this time and also debating if she should say something. they want to survive, don't they? in any case, she projects an image of childe. ]

Childe or Tartaglia has extensive combat experience, can use Hydro and Electro magic and summon a whale, and is proficient with any weapon you can think of. Even if he can't aim a bow to save his life and would rather throw the arrow instead ...

[ shots fired, pew pew.

should she say about his foul legacy form? ... no, she'll keep that to herself, for now. loyalties, etc. ]

I understand everyone owes him a beating, but can I have the first punch?

Silco, the Industrialist

[superbshot]

[Caitlyn can at least offer information about this smug guy. She knows him quite well at this point.]

This man is named Silco, a man from my homeworld. I should note for transparency's sake that he is a personal enemy of mine due to my status as law enforcement at home and his operations as a crime boss.

He is on the aged side of things, getting closer to fifty, and he is in relatively poor health due to a lifetime of smoking and what I believe is exposure to toxic chemicals. Silco is a drug-dealer by trade, distributing a drug known as Shimmer throughout the city of Zaun, and it's quite possible that he can reproduce Shimmer here in this world.

Personally, I would not consider him a major threat to anyone possessing supernatural abilities due to his advanced age, but he is an incredibly vicious man who favors knives. He may be dangerous in other ways. He is also highly intelligent and will attempt to distract you to gain the upper-hand. It should be noted that he prefers skullduggery and backstabbing if forced to fight, and he is faster than he looks. He is an experienced streetbrawler, presumably from his youth.

If Silco manages to recreate Shimmer here, then that may be an issue, as it bestows supernatural speed and strength on anyone that ingests it for a time, but it wracks the body in the aftermath of a high. Shimmer is an iridescent purple and causes the eyes to glow the same way, so if you see an opponent exhibiting such, use caution.

If you are forced to deal with him, don't let him sway you with words. He's got a black heart, and he really only cares for power and profit, outside of a limited circle of associates he regards as family. I do not have evidence of the presence of his associates at this time.

BUDDY SYSTEM?

[goldendeceiver]

All things considered, even those who can't fight might help us if they're willing to tag along. If we stick to small groups, then we can always put some distance between us and the others if things get dicey, and eventually teleport ourselves out of there.

[coerthantorment]

I will fight alone unless otherwise required... we can cover more ground that way. I trust in my abilities.

[inutilis]

Then-- where are you heading, Mr. Tequila?

[aquaveiled]

Ah, Lefty! You know I can keep you close to my chest in case anything happens.

[ But in all seriousness... ]

Though in general if people stay within thirty yalms they should be within range of my healing spells.

[bearshermark]

[Oh no, this is sooner than he'd hoped for.

Eleven's voice comes through tentative, unused to this communication and in honesty, not overfond of removing his shard]

I don't have a good sword yet, but I have magic. If there are new souls, I will help defend them.

[coerthantorment]

I expected as much. You can create warding, can you not?

[inutilis]

It's good to hear your voice, my friend...! Are you doing well?

[ ah, it's reassuring to hear those that had gone into the woods had found good fortune. it had been a bit worrisome, parting as they did - but it seemed to have borne fruit. ]

Mm, how long does it take you to put up your warding? Um-- like the sort you managed in the cavern? Is it very taxing?

[aquaveiled]

I could sense a fellow mage.

[ Her voice is warm with no small amount of excitement. ]

You were hearing the trees too, weren't you?

[inutilis]

[ there are some quiet, general feelings of unease and something akin to a tangible sense of sorrow before Abel manages to get something coherent out and into their shared dreamscape. his voice is hesitant at first, but he eventually manages to find some equilibrium once he begins "talking," ]

Please remember that those who left us to return with the Regent have done so under duress. I know some of them have been-- ah. Disturbingly... enthusiastic in their efforts, to put it diplomatically. But none of them asked for their minds and hearts to be turned against them, and we all know what it felt like to relive that dream of losing everything-- never mind what came after.

[ the black sludge, and a ritual none of them want to see any others repeat. they were able to resist, but how many of them had come close to succumbing...? an uncomfortably high number, he's willing to wager. ]

...I know confrontation might not be avoidable, but please remember they are not our enemies. The Regent - or whoever is truly behind our arrival here - is. We aren't just working to save those waking from the shrines, but our wayward friends, too.

That being said...

[ can you hear the 'but,' here, ]

If it is to stop them from misguiding others, I'm with you. All I ask is you please do what you can to restrain and stall rather than drawing blood. --And please... come back safely, alright?

[coerthantorment]

Father Abel...

[There's something pained and frustrated in his mental tone, like he recognizes what Abel is talking about but can't simply accept it.]

This is a war of extermination, and we are presently on the losing side. I would sooner see those taken by the Kenoma brought over to our side than harmed as well... but we cannot put our own comrades at undue risk for their benefit.

We have no advantages to our name. We are scattered and unorganized. We do not have the luxury of such indulgence.

[salvageable]

[ He can't say that he shares in these sentiments, and their connection over this communion channels that, but his concern for Abel is prompt and present. Dokja's own unease is currently centered on one person, flashes of before from when he'd seen the man beaten badly flickering to life in his mind. ]

The one who needs to be worried about returning safely is you.

[ Abel's a pain in the ass but damn it all, that's their pain in the ass!!

Hm. Ernesto's buddy system idea comes to mind. ]

Take someone with you this time. Shit, I'll do it if it'll stop you from getting your face beaten in.

[hippocarnival]

I haven't given up on them. Whatever that ritual did... there has to be a way help them through it too.

[So, Yuya doesn't need any convincing. But it's still nice to know there are others who haven't given up hope.]

The people here in the forest might know more. And maybe they have something to help us get anyone just waking up in the shrines out of there before they're caught?

[aquaveiled]

I think it's telling that the kenoma was able to tap into the fears we already had. None of us are above darker thoughts or actions, but...they do have consequences.

[ She would not hesitate to fight again if or when it comes down to it. ]

That being said, if we were able to resist in the end, maybe there's still a chance they can too? We just need to give them a reason to.

[dragon_rider]

[ Hiccup received the message loud and clear. A younger him wouldn't have responded — The current him doesn't want to for many of the same reasons. Even if he knows what a warrior would be expected to say or do — he's far from proclaiming himself as such.

When he does finally take the time to respond, having gathered his thoughts the best way he can, the feelings that come with it aren't sadness, but mild frustration: ]

I agree. We need to do what we can to ensure the same thing doesn't happen again. But how will we do that? Going in fighting is going to add confusion. Why would they believe us over the others? Can't count out the fact there are a dozen different locations to go to and the Regent has dozens of more men at the ready on top of the ones we just left.

It's going to be messy; If we don't do it right, it's just as likely we'll get captured too.

[ This coming from the guy that was captured, but then... He knows better than trying to reason with Ciel now, maybe. It doesn't mean he's given up on everyone, even her. He adds minutely: ]

If anyone can help gather the materials they want; Wood, ore, or anything else... You name it, I can make it. Anything too elaborate might need some tinkering, but it's nothing I can't handle.

[coerthantorment]

Hmph. I hadn't fully considered how difficult this may be, even just to convince the new arrivals of our intentions. Circumstances were obvious when we were captured, but it may be less so this time... I can fight, but I'm less certain how to convince anyone of my goodwill.

[passio]

[ since his conversation with howl, he’s been thinking about all of this in his darker, more unpleasant moments. he doesn’t declare the worst of his nihilistic inclinations in this public forum, but he can’t sign himself up with enthusiasm as all these other pure-hearted allies seem to be.

his ‘voice’ is dreamlike and light, a projection of the shard’s power rather than the physical conveyance of spoken word into the empathic bond. if nothing else, he’s grateful for the ability to communicate. ]

I don’t want to fight. I don’t think many of them want to, either. But if I can spare anyone’s suffering, I’ll… I’ll lend my strength.

[ he squeezes his shard, which causes a brief headache until he lets it go. ]

…what do we do about the people who want to go? Shouldn’t we just let them?

[coerthantorment]

It seems that if someone is inclined to join the Kenoma, they will regardless of our intervention. Bringing them with us would only cause us further difficulties and put our allies at risk.

...

One could make the argument that the most efficient method would be to simply eliminate the ones who willfully choose the Kenoma, but I think this would only damage our cause in the long run. As counterproductive as it seems to feed the Regent with more soldiers...

[aquaveiled]

[ She's been listening, but really...there's one thing she wants to say. ]

Alphinaud would be proud.

[coerthantorment]

[Don't do this to him right now, Himeka!! Estinien's emotional patterns flutter uncertainly, though he manages to be level enough when he says:]

Hmph. Did you forget? I did lead the Knights Dragoon, during the Dragonsong War.

[superbshot]

Hello, Estinien. And to anyone else who may be listening to this.

My name is Caitlyn Kiramman, and I will happily help anyone who needs it in this endeavor. I'm a marksman, and a strange power has manifested in myself. I can create a gun out of thin air, so I may be of use in that regard...and I have a fairly analytical mind, if that may be of use.

[coerthantorment]

Well, that's convenient. I wish I could do the same with a proper lance.

Ammunition included, I assume?

[He sounds genuinely amused by this.]