PLEROMA | A HELPFUL PSA

[coerthantorment]

[Estinien's presence will finally surface in the Pleroma's communion space, a few days after the time of his death. There is a sense of deep sullenness and seething anger in the message he imparts, like a storm on the horizon.]

For those concerned, the reports were true. If our Shards are spared, our bodies can be resurrected... just as mine has been.

[There's still a weariness to his spirit after the fact, but his anger is driving him forward regardless. While he had initially planned to leave it at that, a courtesy to those that may wonder, a disturbing conversation with one of the Kenoma has gifted him with some more forceful words to impart.]

As it stands, I can see little virtue in leaving the bodies of the Kenoma unscathed. If they can be defeated, if their Shards can be claimed... you would do well to take the opportunity while you can. They will not show you the same mercy in return, and the fate you face at their hands is far worse than anything we could offer them.

The time for hesitation has passed.

Comments

[youngprodigy]

Good to know your resurrection was successful.

[Though he's glad to hear Estinien's voice, it's the second half of that that catches Cid's attention the most.]

I've no doubt such a situation would lead to something far worse than death.

[By "death" in this case, he means their shards being destroyed, of course.]

It's entirely possible reasonable people were tricked into joining with the Kenoma, but I'm not one to take chances on that. Loath as I am to say such a thing, they are our enemies.

[coerthantorment]

[Estinien was actually approaching this expecting that everyone would argue with him about it, so to hear Cid chime in with his agreement is validating enough that he relaxes ever so slightly in his presence. It shouldn't be surprising, he realizes. Cid knows how it is with these things.]

Aye... and as cruel as they are to their own that would resist... we can assume what we would face would be far worse. If the others had not reclaimed my Shard, 'tis a fate that would assuredly be mine.

[youngprodigy]

Whatever force they have at their disposal, it sounds far too close to dynamis for comfort.

[It's not a perfect 1:1, of course, but considering that the Kenoma appeared to be a physical force that had to be expelled from their bodies in the cave, it's the closest he can come to comprehending it.]

I'd only get in the way when it comes to combat, but I'll provide what support I can.

[locumstudentesquire]

[Goddamn dragoon sending him on a goddamn emotional roller coaster over here.

After what he'd witnessed, Ryunosuke is relieved beyond words to hear the Elezen's distinctly gruff voice again. The grim latter half of the message, on the other hand...

You know what, no matter how the last half makes him feel, he's really not in the mood to examine it closely right now!! Estinien is alive, and he just wants to bask in that joy for a moment.]

I can't even begin to tell you how relieved I am to hear your voice again.

[Luckily this mind talking shit has an empathic component, so, you know. He can probably at least FEEL it.]

[coerthantorment]

...

[Estinien had gotten himself so worked up about all of this, his message as much an act of lashing out as it was practical advice, that Ryunosuke's response also catches him off guard. His uncertainty can be felt, despite himself. If this were in person, his reaction likely would have been locked between a blank face and silence, but as it is, it's much easier to guess at the fact that he has actually been thrown off by something.]

...I was fortunate to be found by you and the others... before it was too late.

[locumstudentesquire]

[The genuine excitement and relief from Ryunosuke's side stutters for a hot second; not because of Estinien's silence, but because of what he says. And in that brief moment something more negative is able to be glimpsed, or felt, through the cracks. Something... Very much like guilt.

Ryunosuke doesn't comment on it though. He smooths right over it like it isn't there.]

Ha... That's kind of you to say, but I assure you, I had little to do with it. Miss Himeka, Mr. Abel and Alphinaud were the real heroes of the hour.

[And because he doesn't want to leave room for follow up commentary on that:]

Have you made it back to Greentruth yet?

[dragonmount]

[ someone's quietly jotting down some notes about shards and resurrection, but that isn't something he's here to ask estinien about right now.

slowly, ]

What do you know about what they would do to us?

[ the fate you face at their hands, etc. he's too new here to know more than some dire tales about the first round of aions' imprisonment and the kenoma sludge. ]

[coerthantorment]

[Estinien is surprised to hear Rand doesn't know, as he'd been telling every new arrival he'd met all the lurid details of their torture and imprisonment at the first opportunity. Clear, Rand was overlooked.]

The first of us to arrive were captured and tortured with arcane poison for at least a week. Some potion devised of the Kenoma itself, intended to break down the mind by relentlessly subjecting it to its worst pains and fears, all while we were starved and exposed to the elements.

[While that part is said trivially as if it's old news, his tone becomes more intense.]

...And I've reason to believe that worse would be in store, were we taken to their stronghold... to be torn down completely and rebuilt to their satisfaction.

[dragonmount]

[ truthfully, rand's spent so much time lately with only a piecemeal understanding of the situations he's landed in, with other people making calls about how much he's allowed to know, that he's hungry for information here in horos. can't stop himself from asking, and even re-asking, questions so he can not only get a straight answer but a fuller picture.

and he's glad he has now, because he only knew parts of what estinien tells him. a shiver of horror, reflexive, passes through the communion before he can help it. what had happened to them; what came close to happening to rand on his arrival; and the awful story of what estinien went through in venera. the punishment he describes now.

he both does and doesn't want to ask for the details of being rebuilt, or whatever it is that has estinien believing that. in his indecision, he pivots to a simpler point. ]

I'm sorry. That shouldn't be the first thing I asked you about.

[ they may not be, like, friends, but it'd only be decent to have asked after his well-being first. ]

It's good that you're back.

[ here; alive; safe. rand caught a glimpse of the aftermath of the Everything, had heard about parts of it from ryunosuke while bearing him to safety. it's no small thing to be alive after all that. ]

[goldendeceiver]

[ Ernesto's a little slow to respond. As useful as shard communication can be, it comes with some major drawbacks, and one is the very faint impression of guilt that comes leaking across their connection, despite his best effort to tamp it down. ]

It's a relief to have you back with us, Ser Estinien.

[ That seems prudent to say before anything else.

And now comes for the even less fun part of the conversation, accompanied by an audible intake of air. ]

I guess we'll have to start brainstorming ideas of what to do with those shards once we get them. If their bodies are going to be rebuilt eventually, we probably need a plan for how to deal with that.

[coerthantorment]

[Estinien has similar issues - despite being an honest man, he is far more reserved in person, and communion gives details of his reactions away that he wouldn't have made a show of otherwise. Case and point: he feels Ernesto faint impression of guilt, and his own confusion and uncertainty comes through.

He appreciates the greeting, all the same. It's more of a relief than he might have expected. Especially when Ernesto is apparently willing to hear him out.]

...Aye. I know not how long a Shard would take to rebuild without the aid of a shrine, but there needs to be a way to keep them guarded. Either to keep them at bay indefinitely, or to find some other means of containment that would be more amenable to communication.

The trouble is that, with their Shards, and in their bodies, they would simply be able to teleport away if not stopped.

[He started this discussion with a lot more brimstone in his heart, but as people are genuinely listening to him... he's finding himself much more capable of discussing the concepts reasonably.

[sageguidance]

[ ... ]

Do you say these words because of what happened to you?

[coerthantorment]

[Most of his discussions so far have been fairly agreeable, so Estinien is less on edge than he could be. This question does seem to make him a bit defensive regardless.]

I say these words because they are true... I have been shown two different paths, both leading from my choice to leave my work unfinished. Both have caused naught but suffering.

[passio]

[ now that estinien is back, dextera belatedly feels quite guilty for his concern over makoto. estinien had been so kind to him, after all—but he’ll live with that remorse.

at the very least, although he disagrees with estinien’s righteously violent approach, he also doesn’t find it necessary to voice that disagreement. he’s had the philosophical conversation with ryunosuke, but it’s different to up and tell someone that their fury is out of place when they were the first casualty of war. ]

Welcome back.

[ the words come through as small and faint as dextera’s actual voice might. ]

You shouldn’t strain yourself.

[coerthantorment]

[At least, at this moment, Estinien is entirely unaware of Dextera's conflicted feelings on the issue. It means his response is softer than it might have been otherwise, seeing it as uncomplicated well-wishing.]

I am resting as needed... but I would prefer to be battle-ready as soon as I am able. I cannot make the mistake of allowing myself to be vulnerable anywhere the Kenoma might find me.

[wolof]

[ A thoughtful note, as if thinking it over. ] Our shards serve as something akin to a phylactery, then. It's reassuring, that you weren't wholly defeated, then. Was returning from the dead unpleasant?

[ A Beat. ] I suppose war is war. We were bound to be forced to take their lives sooner, rather than later.

[coerthantorment]

...

[He seems a bit uncertain, but ends up explaining regardless.]

It was much the same as when we were first born in this world. Hatched from some manner of chrysalis. I was told my form regrew around the shard itself, gradually forming into another crystal I could emerge from.

And aye. I think it a mercy that it's possible to slay them without fully ending their existence. 'Twould be arrogant to expect additional convenience.

[comelately]

[ he was out of commission for this whole thing, but he heard about it afterwards. Johnny hardly blames Estinien for sounding pissed. He also doesn't blame him for telling them not to hesitate to kill the Kenoma. It's advice he'd probably also give, himself.

Still, he's a bit troubled. This seems entirely out of character when he thinks about the handful of Kenoma he'd spoken to in Venera. Obviously, all of them are their own people, but he can't really imagine any of them initiating an attack. Even Eustace, who he'd seen fully armed, had chosen not to attack Dokja at their first meeting, and had left Johnny alone when he was entirely vulnerable, too. ]

Hey. I saw you at Greentruth before, but I didn't say anything back then... Name's Johnny. Uh, it's good you're... back to life. [ what a wild fucking thing to say. ] You mind talking about it, or...?

[coerthantorment]

Estinien.

[He introduces himself as he isn't certain he actually did in his initial message. As for Johnny's question, it's hard to read the tone of his response.]

What is it you want to know?

[hippocarnival]

You're back! [Yuya is not aware of the details but he did notice Estinien's conspicuous absence.

That's the only thing that comes through for... a while, Yuya's emotions muting as what all he says sinks in. He really had wanted to avoid getting in fights with the Kenoma and make it harder to appeal to them. Even if this is a way to incapacitate them without murder...

But he knows better than to bring it up with Estinien, especially so fresh after he's ressurected.] Um... are you in Greentruth? Do you need anything?

[coerthantorment]

I'm presently staying in one of the more distant encampments.

[Truthfully, it's the next one over, closest to the portal itself, but he isn't trying to invite anyone to pursue him.]

I must needs recover before returning to the field.

[Or to public life, apparently.]

[chronosynthesis]

Glad to hear you're... [Alive? Did he really technically die?] Among us again.

[A pause. He doesn't feel the need to reinforce that the Kenoma--and the Regent--needs to be stopped by any means necessary. But impermanent death adds a complication to it all.] Would it trouble you to talk more about the experience of being just a shard?

[coerthantorment]

[Estinien hesitates for a moment, but ultimately he understands that it's valuable information. He does his best to recall.]

I was... aware of my circumstances, in a way. Unable to act or defend myself, but aware that there was a world outside of my reach, and able to feel the touch of those that held my shard. The presence of that creature was blinding, exposed as I was. It felt certain 'twould wash me away.

action;

[aquaveiled]

When Estinien disappeared into the canopy, she figured that he needed a moment a lone, but once she is tuned into the communion it all makes sense. Himeka doesn't comment on it, instead listening idly to what others are saying while entertaining the little dragons that seem very concerned for their Big Brother, as it were.

The rustling of branches above her gets her attention once again. Waiting patiently usually pays off when it comes to Estinien and she offers him a smile once he comes into view.

"Aymeric would love to see how well you rally the forces."

[coerthantorment]

Estinien emerges from the foliage, bits of snow white skin and shimmering hair peeking from beneath the cloak he's been hiding behind. Though he lifts his head as she greets him, he doesn't seem startled by her appearance. As he arrives, hopping down from the branches above, one of the dragon flutters over and lands on his hood without a word.

"...I don't know that I'd call it 'rallying'," he says, after a moment. The discussion he's just finished having ended up being much more level than he anticipated. This is generally a good thing, but it also means he had nothing to lash out against, which leaves his disposition a bit gloomy.

"They mostly seemed interested in asking questions about my murder."