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

[goldendeceiver]

I don't have the interest or personality to make for a good leader.

[ He's an ideas guy who works for the leader instead. ]

If someone wants to take it on, I'm wishing them a lot of luck. This won't be an easy one to deal with.

[goldendeceiver]

Bolívar. Don't suppose you've heard of it?

[ He doesn't particularly mind sharing at least. ]

The kind of low that we could make a dent in by stocking up in the city here? Or worse than that...?

[inutilis]

So~! What you're saying is this intrepid soul has two cheerleaders to help them along, whoever they might be?

[ yeah that person is probably going to need all the help they can get. rip that one. ]

[salvageable]

I never get hurt.

[ LMAO

But the connection between them will abruptly end after that. ]

[goldendeceiver]

If nothing else, though I hope they have more than just us supporting them.

[goldendeceiver]

[ This lying idiot... ]

[inutilis]

Well, I certainly hope they will! Goodness, it would say far more about us as a whole if you and I were the only ones playing backup...

[ the Pleroma might be a bit scattered, but. Abel likes to think they have quite a few good-hearted and generous souls among them. ]

...I wonder, though. What some sort of formal organizing between us might look like? Especially considering, ah. You know, we have quite a strange menagerie of folks from all walks of life among us.

[goldendeceiver]

[ Some of them seem decent enough.

Others seem like they're kind of a mess, but who is Ernesto to judge? ]

It might depend. I'm not sure if people here really want one leader or not, but a fully democratic group might be a little hard to pull off as well.

[inutilis]

...Hm.

[ it's a good point, and one that gets Abel thinking for a moment. there are so few of them, and to further fracture into in-factions seems... unwise. all the same... ]

And what do you want? If it were up to you, I mean. Would you like us to have some kind of formal, democratic leadership? Or do you think we should function on our own, somehow?

[aquaveiled]

No, I haven't. Is that the name of your star?

[ So many places she hasn't travelled to...yet! ]

I think it would help. I get the impression that things have been rather secluded in the forest of late... You haven't found any other Aions than the ones you arrived with, have you?

[aquaveiled]

[ Amos and Misa ring bells--the latter she connected with not long after they were deposited in that cave, and the former...well, she'd seen things of Amos' past that makes her heart clench in on itself. Abel will certainly feel that pang when she thinks on it. ]

I know Amos and Misa, yes.

[ Misa seemed a perfectly nice person, only wanting to be treated with kindness by the soldiers, but upbeat despite the circumstances. Knowing that she had fallen to the Kenoma was...puzzling.

The face of Gen, she can't connect it to anything, but by his face alone she wonders what pain he was carrying to give in as well. ]

I think...in some ways, it may have seemed easier to do it. To go with it, at least so the pain would stop, you know? I don't think we can hold that against them. Especially Amos.

[inutilis]

[ the pang of feelings not his own resonate through the Communion; it takes him a bit by surprise - he's not used to this way of conversing yet, and feeling Feelings that aren't HIS feelings is a bit--

well. unnerving.

...but also reassuring in this particular case, because Abel is already growing Fond of Himeka-- and while feeling this pain of a worry and concern isn't pleasant, it just furthers what he believes himself to know about her. she is kind, and she feels deeply for others-- potentially even more for others than she does for herself. that compassion is a gift... but it can also be turned into a tool used by the enemy.

he will watch over her, if he can. ]

I've said it before, but... I can't help but feel as though this were all carefully orchestrated. Like a set of dominoes stacked up in a very particular way to make sure that when they fell-- they fell together, and hard.

[ that some of their now-Kenoma brethren had never stood a chance from the beginning. a soul that is barely hanging on, barely making ends meet, lost in a torrential downpour of pain cannot weather the storm of what they endured in the cavern. to ask that of them... it would be unreasonable. cruel. callous. ]

...I don't think they had a choice. And the fact they didn't...? That they were manipulated in this way-- I can't pretend that this sits right with me at all. I don't blame them in the least... but I do blame the Regent.

[goldendeceiver]

[ A small laugh as Ernesto doesn't even seriously consider that one. ]

Splitting up seems like the worst solution to our problems.

I'm not sure what kind of leadership would actually be best for all of us, but if others want to rally behind one person, I'll toss my hat in with them too.

[ A pause where a fluttering of hesitancy might be perceptible. ]

Whether I fully agree with everything they're after or not.

[goldendeceiver]

My star? You're going really macro with this, huh? No, it's the name of my country. I came from a world called Terra, but I'm guessing it's not the same one you're from.

[ He's fairly certainly he's the only one from his world that ended up on this one. ]

I haven't, but I haven't exactly been asking around for them either. I'm largely trying to keep a low profile here, and not draw attention to myself.

[inutilis]

...

[ that is an audible pause, a hesitation on Abel's end before he comes back, gently: ]

Do you mean... you'd follow someone's guidance, even if you didn't agree with them? Or that you'd offer your support, even if you didn't see eye-to-eye?

[aquaveiled]

[ Though he cannot see her nod, he can likely feel her agreement echoed in the sound of her words if not the meaning themselves. ]

I think you may be right about that.

[ They, the Pleroma, are just the fortunate few who were able to escape that fate in the end. She doesn't think it's a reflection on those that didn't, however...that someone may not have had the strength of capability at the time is not their fault.

(There is, of course, the possibility that people may agree wholly with the Regent's plans, but...much like the destruction of her star, she will wait to judge that until she sees proof otherwise.)

Able is clearly a kind-hearted man, from his countenance to how he continues to search for the possibility that there is yet hope. Himeka may not be able to ensure that for him, but she will do her best to make it a reality. ]

Maybe if we were to find out the reasons they gave in we may able to help them turn that around?

[aquaveiled]

...I would love to see this tree someday. I've neve heard of anything quite like it!

[bearshermark]

It's strange. Until I found myself here, I would have thought every world would have an Yggdrasil.

[That is, if he'd ever thought about other worlds]

How does the cycle of rebirth work where you're from?

[goldendeceiver]

[ Considering their situation... it's a fair bit of hesitation. ]

Those two things sound pretty similar to me, but I mostly meant the second. I might be naive in thinking this, but those of us who stuck it out and made a break for it in the cave don't strike me as the kind of people that would support a leader that I'd find morally objectionable.

[ Certainly no mass murderers looking to end all universes and worlds. ]

It doesn't mean I'm going to agree with every one of their beliefs, but better whatever they come up with than trying to strike out on my own right now.

[aquaveiled]

So Bolívar on Terra, then. No, it isn't, but I would like to keep a list of places I'd like to visit when all of this is over.

[ Is there any clear way to save their worlds? Nope. Not at all. It may even be a pipe dream, but she does like to have a goal--or at least something to keep spirits up. ]

Hmm...I guess that is something to keep in mind when we eventually reconvene. As Aions here we are definitely a point of interest.

[inutilis]

Even if it takes more than that to unravel them from the Kenoma... I think-- understanding them and where they come from is important.

[ there is no way they'll be able to make headway if they're closed off, if they refuse to listen, even if they don't like what they hear. ]

Whatever drove them to make their choices, no matter how easy or hard that decision was for them... there's a reason for everything, right? And knowing their reasons might help us decide how to help them.

[ some might be easier than others. some - like Mr. Matt, for example - seem far more on the fence than others regarding where their loyalties lie. if they're given enough reasons... with time, some of the Kenoma might come to the Pleroma of their own accord.

if they could escape the Regent, first... ]

[inutilis]

[ well, that answer is pretty similar to his own; maybe Abel was just looking for a little affirmation. he's gotten it if that's what this was. ]

Mm, I think that most of us see pretty closely together on the important matters... [ aside from Choosing Violence, of course. ] But I can't imagine it's going to get much easier from here. Having some kind of guidance sooner than later would be ideal, but--

[ you know.

...he isn't volunteering, and Ernesto isn't either. if wishes were fishes, right?? ]

I suppose we'll need to see how things go for a while, mm? Maybe that woman-- ah. The Aion in Greentruth the others mentioned? Maybe she'll have some insight for us considering how long she must have been here.

[dragon_rider]

[ Hiccup's quiet for a long time — almost like he's decided not to return to the conversation it's been so long. But eventually, after a good amount of thought, after an uncertain amount of wavering his response is quiet: ]

And what if they can't be reasoned with? What if they don't want to be?

[ He thinks of the cave, of those who fought so hard against it (themselves) and those who fell to the depths (the others). How maybe if he hadn't been so stubborn and determined to cling on the situation would be different; But fundamentally, he wanted to believe life could be lived without fighting. It's what he fought for, after all. ]

My father once said something. You cannot reason with a man who doesn't want to be reasoned with, a man who wants war. These guys chose that path and the person behind them, they seem even crazier. If they want us... I'm not sure there's any other path.

[inutilis]

[ Hiccup...

there's a pulse, pang of a distinct feeling of dejection that travels through the Communion. while there is part of Abel that can absolutely understand these words, there is another part of him that is sincerely conflicted to hear them. it strikes a particular chord; cuts deep. ]

...And, what do you believe, sir?

Do you believe there's no other way?

[goldendeceiver]

[ Ah... just like Abel then in that regard, huh? ]

If you manage to make your way to my planet, then I'll be sure to show you around, Miss Himeka.

[ As if he's seen the whole world himself, but details. ]

And we are that, but sometimes it's better not to draw in too much interest.