KENOMA // voice+memory

[devilmancrybaby]

[ This takes place the evening after the first event described in the Event Wrap Up post, the entity having withdrawn its influence from Venera.

Binghe is in a bit of a bad mood, having had to haul Makoto's unconscious body out of the street when he would have preferred to drop him in the ocean, and as things are currently he can't really be bothered to pretend that he's not. There's some attempt to be polite, but mostly he sounds kind of tired and cranky. ]

My apologies for the interruption. I am Luo Binghe. No doubt many of you have heard at least a little of what has happened lately in Venera. I was there for the event at the heart of it, so I thought perhaps it would be of some use to share a few of the details.

I am sure it will not come as any great shock to learn it seems to have been the fault of that dog Estinien Wyrmblood. The spirit that seems to have been responsible for what has been happening was so angered by his death that it appeared to smite anyone who tried to keep it from... I don't know, I think it wanted his shard. I don't know what it would have done with it. Kept him as a pet, perhaps, in one of its illusions.

If I am honest, whatever this thing was it seemed rather simple, like the ghost of a child, but it clearly possessed immense power. The Aions of Pleroma who were there, their unconvincing promises about—taking care of him in its stead, that kind of thing. That was enough to convince it to retreat.

I think it did something to them, though. I'll show you.

[ He shares his memory of this moment, when the mass of wings demanded that those gathered keep their promise, grasping onto those closest to it with its ethereal hands.

The image fades and Binghe's voice resumes: ]

So the problem has been solved, but only temporarily. The spirit was not destroyed, and it seems if these Aions fail to fulfil its whims it may return with something worse. It might not be so easy to persuade next time.

Comments

[vapour]

[ hm. ]

Do you think it'll be our problem if they screw up or just theirs?

[galdorleod]

...what? A spirit? [ That's what all those ghostly wings were in the sky yesterday??

And — ]

Estinien's Shard?

[ Why does he feel like Binghe is burying the lede here. Burying TEN THOUSAND ledes. ]

What happened??

[hundredpower]

For the benefit of those of us who haven't met him, who is Estinien Wyrmblood? What's his significance to have that... [being called a 'dog'] ...particular reputation?

general psa.

[subsist]

[ just because he doesn't want to see any more reckless attempts... ]

A fair warning, if I may. Should you happen to encounter this entity, do not aggravate it unnecessarily. We're not entirely certain of the full scope of its abilities but it has proven to be quite resourceful. It's impervious to bullets for example.

So do try to be smart about it.

[affal]

( he really, and for a variety of reasons, hadn't wanted to say anything.

but it really looks like his "saviors" from this whole predicament are determined to be obtuse here, so...

preempted by a derisive mental sigh: ) I killed him.

( and if I hear a single challenging or accusatory word from any of you, I will fucking lose it. )

additional report

[gravings]

[ Gray's voice as it quietly pipes up is audibly pained as a result of the memory shared. On the upside, it distracts her from her normal terror of public speaking. ]

That spirit... was the manifestation of the Legacy of the Innocent. It said the disease that's befallen Venera is its "gift."

Actually, I've felt its presence since the beginning of the month. I didn't know what it was... until it spoke to us Innocents when we were together.

+1 additional report

[hikikosaurus]

[There's just so much happening in this communion that Alphys has some real regrets about gripping her shard to listen in. Estinien died? It was all some angel-like legacy, threatening to take over if they don't prove themselves to it? It's a little overwhelming. But there's a sense of responsibility and guilt about the details, that urges her to speak up.]

Ummm... I also, that last day... I mean.

[Bracing herself. Like a public speech, except without any prepared notes, which really doesn't help much...]

Lover, here! Alphys. I w-was also hearing something whispering, the last couple days. After I got i-infected. About... how it wanted to protect us, from suffering. And offering to help. It felt... I mean, while I was infected, it felt, um. Nice.

better late than never i hope ....

[semicharmed]

[ Well.

This mental missive is ... it's a rich text, that's for sure. Especially with the additional perspective the others bring to the story. Matt spends a little while digesting all the new information before he attempts a reply. ]

Thank you for sharing all this, [ he begins.

He's going to have to ask Abel if Estinien's okay. Not that Matt knows anything about him apart from his violent reputation, and he knows intellectually that Estinien should be okay if his shard remained intact. ]

Pardon me if this has already been like, brought up--maybe I'm osmosing it from someone else--but if this entity was an aspect of the Innocent Legacy, or identified itself as such ... does that mean there might be more like it?