KENOMA | VOICE

[vivificantem]

[There's something different tonight in Paul's baseline, something strange and energized in a way that he usually is not; perhaps it's evident, in the way his emotions are coming across, that it isn't necessarily a good sort of energized - they're strange and scattershot, almost crackling with a sort of manic feel behind them, though his words are steady enough as he goes.]

As I've made known to several of you, I've never been a combatant; I don't fight, and I've never had reason to become proficient with a weapon. And yet I don't disagree with those of you that have made it clear that we need to play to our strengths, if this is going to be a war we're going to win.

My own strengths have always lay with people - providing guidance, providing leadership. Knowing what they need to hear in order to press on, and knowing what they need to see to carry through whatever needs to be carried through. Finding those willing to serve, and willing to spare nothing in their service.

I've found that there are those here that are more than willing to accept my guidance - in the service of the Regent, and the service of the Kenoma. After all, who better than an Aion to give them what they're after? Those I refer to are more than willing to give up their lives in the interest of that service; it's just a matter of directing them to use that willingness in a more productive way.

I've taken up a position in the sect of Our Dark Regent's Church of the Precious Blood. Decently respected in Achamoth, despite their harsher proclivities. They seem a prudent investment to make - if we're to be at war, we'll need resources of one sort or another, and people are an acceptable resource to have.

After all, that's how the gospel spreads.

Comments

[lachtara]

[ Well, that one is certainly something of note. Nothing he has heard from this man before. ]

What kind of "resources" would you expect them to provide?

[vivificantem]

[It's kind of a mess overall. Just this whole situation.]

They want their lives to have meaning. If needs be, we can provide one for them. I'm sure that won't be difficult to discern if it becomes a necessity.

What matters is their usefulness to the Regent.

[lachtara]

I assume you have an idea of how their loyalties can be "directed in a more productive way"? Or should I expect their contributions to be the singing of church hymns.

[ This is just fishing over what can be expected of these people, of course. ]

[vivificantem]

Expect whatever you like at this point. Your lack of comprehension is really not my problem.

[Like, just saying?]

[lachtara]

[ The eyeroll is audible. ]

So you offer the services of a group and would rather chastise those who ask for clarification on your vision for it. Novel.

[vivificantem]

Have you looked into the churches here? At all. Or have you decided that that's beneath you?

You'd know what I'm offering if you had.

[lachtara]

One has to wonder if I should bother answering the question given you seem to have arrived at an answer all on your own.

[ He sounds more exasperated than anything. But his tone shifts to reasonably sincere as if he's honestly trying to engage this question in a reasonable way. Perhaps help this become less antagonistic and more informative. So, regardless of his grumblings, he answers that seemingly "rhetorical" question. ]

The presence of the devout is inescapable in the city. I know of their unyielding devotion and I know of the importance that devotion holds for many both in political and social structures. Though I have gleaned some of their traditions and customs, the particulars have not been my area of focus as it would be with the devout. That is not demonstrated disinterest - it is a matter of allocation of time. If you've any first-hand accounts of your experience I am willing to listen to them.

Ergo, I am asking for your vision for this as one who is intimately familiar.

[vapour]

Can they fight? Or is it more like they're willing to do just about anything and learn if needed? Obviously fighters are only one part of a war puzzle, and the majority are useless without the right "resources."

I'm more just curious if the church has anything it practices that you are considering in particular that wouldn't normally be thought of. Those that refuse to pick up traditional weapons can see resourcefulness and benefits in things many warriors would normally scoff at.

[vivificantem]

More the latter - willing to do anything, which is an asset in and of itself. The military tends to have boundaries by its very nature. Those boundaries tend to be less present in those that find their meaning through belief.

I'll know, the longer I work with them, what they're capable of and what they're willing to do. For the time being, my main focus is to get them to direct this desire to sacrifice oneself for meaningful purposes somewhere more useful. "Willing to do anything" is a good start; "blinding oneself" is kind of aimless.

I've... Well, I've gotten a group of parishioners to follow me where I needed them to go before. This isn't new territory for me.

[vapour]

Got'cha. Is "sacrifice themselves" a non-negotiable of the equation for them? Or can they accept just doing meaningful things? I'm not familiar with the religious sect at all.

Oh? That's great, then. You know the ropes!

[vivificantem]

[That's great - there's something good in the validation, in not getting yelled at by someone like Riley but rather being reaffirmed by someone who actually gets what he's trying to do.]

It's the best way they know of to find connection to the Kenoma, to bring themselves closer to the divine. They aren't doing it constantly, it's sustainable, but it's a part of them regardless.

[vapour]

Actually... How does that work for non-aions? How close can a non-aion get to the divine through their faith? [ he's remembering that ritual from their arrival and that person that sacrificed themselves... is this the same sect or something completely different? Or is that a universal practice... goal that the devoted strive for? ]

[vivificantem]

I'll be the first to admit that I have no idea. Especially since...well, given what we saw with Xishen and the other faithful in the cave. I'll ask her about it, next chance I get to do that.

Otherwise, I don't know how close they can get; what's important to them is their beliefs. The way they feel about it, whether or not they feel like it calls to them personally... Matters of the spirit are powerful motivators.

[sterngaze]

[Messages like this make Liem glad that dismantling cult operations isn't his job anymore. The disturbing character of this idea is also one of the reasons he hasn't actually disclosed much information about his previous line of work. He doesn't want the Kenoma to expect more of the same from him for its own purposes.]

You found a church here that's to your liking? [He keeps the tone of his question deliberately neutral.] I didn't think the Regent's faith was to your taste.

[vivificantem]

[Unfortunately for everyone here, this isn't the first time Paul has gone all culty on everyone, and it probably won't be the last.]

It is and it isn't. [God, he's wired today. Uncomfortably so.] The point for the time being is less about my personal beliefs, and more about how the current beliefs can be honed into something beneficial. For the Regent, and for the Kenoma as a whole.

[sterngaze]

[The admission that Paul doesn't necessarily believe in the faith he's become involved with doesn't exactly inspire confidence in Liem. The jittery vibes he's getting through their communion aren't reassuring either.]

What drew you to that particular sect? I assume you had other doors open to you, given your position.

[vivificantem]

I did, yes.

[The churches here are all extremely open to being endorsed by one of the Aions; this one already had fairly high standing within Achamoth, granted, but this has...well, it's done them quite the favor, put it that way.]

They seemed to have the greatest potential, with regards to aiding our cause. They're also devoted to a point that's...deeply admirable, if nothing else. I'm more than willing to profess to that much.

[sterngaze]

[At this point, Liem is reserving judgment on whether religious zealotry is admirable when taken in this particular context. It's not that he doesn't believe in the Kenoma's mission, but that mission can be interpreted in any number of different ways. The faith's association with the Regent is the main source of his misgivings.]

You don't find joining the Regent's church to conflict with your service to God?

[vivificantem]

The Regent isn't personally involved in the church; they do as they see fit, in the service of what they believe will bring them spiritually closer to the Kenoma.

I remain in the service of the Lord, my God, and I don't find aiding them in their desire for spiritual fulfillment to be conflicting with that service.

voice voice voice

[semicharmed]

[ Matt can't define the exact quality that's different in Paul right now. But he can tell that something is different; a little jitter runs down his spine, a thrum of adrenaline. Not strictly a bad thing.

(Is this a "war"? Matt guesses he's been strategizing like it is one. Maybe Paul means a war in a more metaphorical sense. They are all engaged in a fairly existential struggle, and occasional combat has been involved.) ]

Congratulations.

[ That part is easy enough. It comes naturally to be happy for Paul, especially since it sounds like he's finding his feet in something he used to love: organized religion. ]

"The Precious Blood" is a pretty evocative moniker.

[vivificantem]

It is. They're about as fervent as you'd think.

[Probably moreso. Surely Matt knows about the...rougher services by now; he's not sure that Matt is quite prepared for the ritual blindings and amputations happening at Precious Blood regularly.]

I appreciate it, though. It's intense, but it's been going well so far.

[Which is surely why he's going into this wired as fuck.]

[semicharmed]

Well, you know. [ A tinge of ruefulness comes through. ] I've been around services for a few weeks now, and I think if I've learned one thing ... it's that everybody here is on another level of fervent.

[ Matt's seen plenty of people destroy their cherished possessions, and it's impressive, don't get him wrong. He admires that kind of commitment. But it's also a little sad? If nothing they have now can remain, why do they have to make a show of jettisoning things early?

Then again, he's never really grokked asceticism. The hedonistic end of things is more his bag. ]

Do you like it? The intensity?

I mean, I can imagine it could be ... pretty profound.

[vivificantem]

...Profound is a good word for it. I'll be the first to admit that I find it admirable. Their level of devotion to the whole thing.

[Which isn't an answer, but it's close enough to one.]

[semicharmed]

[ Matt interprets this as an answer, at least. Partly because he's animated by his own questions: framing them, weighing whether to ask.

But Paul is safe, isn't he? He's only ever been gentle to Matt. ]

Is it for the Kenoma in general? Or is it all, like ... mainly Regent centric.

[vivificantem]

It's pretty fair to say it's both. They're some of the most aggressive adherents to the Regent's teachings, and that sort of wraps around into the whole thing. It definitely affects their understanding of things.

[It's kind of hard to describe what they're doing, honestly. They're all kind of doing so, so much and they're doing it very zealously.]