[ 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?