KENOMA | voice, forward-dated to the onset of tdm dreams

[lockedon]

[ Hello resident Kenomies, guess who???

Actually if you have no idea who this asshole is, that's okay, because rest assured he doesn't want to get to know most of you either. Unfortunately, business calls, and for the sake of not looking like an absolute gaggle of buffoons in front of the Regent a second time, everyone's neighborhood-(un)friendly furry is here to begrudgingly use Mind Twitter™ to make a public briefing.

It's largely voice only, because Eustace prefers to keep things impersonal, and shot through with an undercurrent of business-like terseness. ]

I'll make this quick. Many of us here don't have the experience to engage in a fistfight, let alone any sort of actual war. [ Or whatever the hell is going on here with the Regent and their plan for world destruction. ] For those of you with no combat experience but wanting to learn, Ciel and I are willing to teach you. Both of us are skilled in hand-to-hand combat, battlefield strategy, as well as various weapons. Emet-Selch has also volunteered his services, if you're looking for something outside the usual sphere.

[ Like magic, maybe.

But wait, there's more! From a different person no less. Still voice, and maybe some may recognize this one as part of a very exclusive club of Kenomas who not only did NOT get chewed out by the Regent, but also seemed to have gained their approval?? She’s sounding just as serious, but oddly also gives off the vibes of a science teacher of some sort, hm…]

I am not well placed to teach it, but I do have experience and understanding of magic. The possibilities in Horos are far greater too, the Regent themselves have said that anyone can develop powerful abilities regardless of their beginnings. According to Xishen, Aion powers don't adhere to any particular ruleset, they are mainly reflective of the person developing them: their wants, their needs, their expectations, towards themselves and the world around them. Those of us who already have supernatural powers merely retain traits we used to have in our previous lives.

Knowing that, we can help each other form ideas for personalized abilities you may wish to develop. They do not necessarily have to be combat oriented either, having combat oriented application is enough. For example, conjuring light: such a power would be most practical in navigating across low visibility spaces, but can be used to blind someone else in a pinch. Ways to harness it inwards instead of trying to influence your environment outwards can also be effective, such as reinforcing your own body to become stronger and more durable if you were mainly used to physical brawls before. Don’t be restricted by ideas of magic if you only knew it as fiction before, there’s much that can be done.

[ Eustace is happy to let Ciel explain this particular bit, because he sure as hell has no practical experience in this department. He's already moving on to cover something else anyway. ]

Additionally, preparation includes researching the opposition. If you know anything about the Pleroma, especially about any skills or powers they have, let the rest of us know.

We’ll start things off and group them by individual, prioritizing the strongest ones in combat. Please feel free to add names or faces, it’s fine if they’re a stranger as long as you remember what they look like and the powers they exhibited. I’ll be making a physical copy of notes for what we compile, it will be available to reference on demand.

[ Thanks for being the minutes keeper, Ciel. To close everything out, there's one last switch back to Eustace. ]

If you have any questions, ask.

[ There are indeed such things as stupid questions here, but at least the Regent won't be the one judging you for them. Maybe.

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OOC NOTES—

TL;DR: IC training offer/regain ideas power brainstorming/Pleroma shittalking powers notes comparing 3-for-1! We can handwave the training montages, for the two other points threadjacking is highly encouraged! Pleroma info compiling will happen under its separate TL, feel free to add new TLs under that with a name or url to someone’s icon (because why bother learning what the enemy is called, right) in the subject line if it’s someone your character would ICly want to draw attention to, it’s what Ciel and Eustace are doing based after their own PVP experiences. As per mod clarification to communion, this transmission will “float” around for about a day, which should give characters the opportunity to pitch in on whatever topic they want. We hope this all made sense! Feel free to ping us in the Discord/shoot us a PM with any OOC questions.

Also just in case: black = Eustace, blue = Ciel. ]

Comments

[galdorleod]

Leave him to me. I'll deal with him.

[ That's not really sharing information, but. That's all Howl seems to want to offer for now. ]

[expiera]

How do you plan to do that? We will be better prepared next time, but so will he.

[Sent with an undertone of concern, not for herself but towards him. She just doesn't want people to get hurt if it can be helped, Estinien is not an encounter one could easily walk away from with just a few light scratches.]

[galdorleod]

With magic, of course.

I don't believe we've met yet, so it's understandable you wouldn't know. But, I am a wizard.

[expiera]

Ciel. I do apologize that we haven't had the opportunity to speak properly prior.

[She's courteous in that regard at least, however.]

Please, do elaborate.

[Magi in her world generally tend to be stuck up traditionalist who would easily get BTFO'd by guerrilla warfare tactics, so while she's no Emet-Selch, she's not sold on "magic" alone either. He can go on, right...?]

[galdorleod]

[ Howl scoffs to himself. Elaborate? And ruin the air of mystique around himself that he cultivates so carefully? On a more serious note, he doesn't see why he has to explain himself to her or anyone else. She told everyone else to keep away from Estinien and that's good enough for him. He is a dangerous man and Howl does not expect anyone else to want to fight him. But if someone else wants to face the dragoon, and feels as confident in their ability to do so as Howl does, Howl wouldn't care. Let them. ]

As you said, only those with extensive combat experience and powers to match should take the man on. I would not be volunteering if I did not consider myself appropriate for the job.

He and I clashed briefly in the days prior to the escape, but I didn't use even a fraction of my power. He has no idea what I'm capable of.

[ Neither does anyone else here. And he'd like to keep it that way as long as possible, especially with regard to the Regent's pets. ]

[expiera]

[Wizards. This is why no one likes dealing with the Mages' Association, and she'd never consider going to the British Museum in any timeline no matter how many offers they pellet her with.

Still, while she can't say she likes how he's ignored what she's really asking, she knows better than to try pushing again. Not the same way, at least.]

It is not something we should treat lightly regardless, he would be best avoided entirely if possible. If you are confident in your abilities in live combat, then please prove it to me. Would you object to a sparring bout, before we are given our next directive?

[No babyfighting here, just man to... woman, because she asked first! At least the general feeling and tone coming from her way is stern and professional, she is very much not doing this for fun either but out of responsibility and obligation.]

[galdorleod]

[ The proposal is surprising, but Howl has to give her credit for this hubris. Maybe there's a good reason for her to be organizing the Kenoma as easily as she is.

That being said, Howl is not quick to accept the invitation. They have every reason to want to conserve their strength right know, and Howl has been given no reason to want or need to prove himself to Ciel.

But, nevertheless, he finds himself considering it. ]

Do I win if I tear your throat out?

[ because, speaking of which, he has not heard any explanation of that or its aftermath. Sort of important when talking about Estinien, now that he's thinking about it. ]

Name the place and time. I will at least show up.

[lockedon]

[ Ciel may be unwilling to push Howl on the subject (again) but Eustace has no such qualms. ]

And what, exactly, is the extensive experience and power you speak of?

[ He's not taking your bullshit, Howl. ]

[galdorleod]

[ But he's got so much bullshit to hand out to everyone!!

Howl smiles to himself when he hears this voice a second time — ah, so this one is back. He knew he'd be listening, but it's bothersome for him to be repeating a question that Howl has refused to answer twice already. ]

Magic. The training required to learn said magic. The quibbles common between wizards, and the war in my own homeland.

[lockedon]

[ Like Ciel, Eustace is Dubious about how Howl plans to go about this. ]

What skills do you have that make you a match for him?

[galdorleod]

[ This being essentially the same question Ciel asked, Howl does not answer, but he knows this man is listening when he answers her. ]

[vapour]

Chickens don't usually eat giraffes.

Get me a front row seat, though.

[galdorleod]

If I can stop you, I can stop him.

[vapour]

... You know, I'll just take that as a compliment coming from you.

[galdorleod]

Why, that's exactly how it was meant. Whatever would make you think otherwise?

[ babyfight.gif ]

[vapour]

Oh my! You're so kind to me, you know?

People are going to start to think things if we keep this up.

[ babyfight.gif x2 ]

[lachtara]

If you intend to face Estinien on your own, I will show you the courtesy of telling you about who you face.

Estinien "Wyrmblood", formerly known as the Azure Dragoon, is a warrior who played a pivotal role in seeing the Dragonsong War to its end. He is famed the world over for his strength which is capable of seeing dragons felled and rending warmachina useless in a single blow. 

Dragoons are customarily offensive-minded and are trained as such. Your greatest chance at surviving as a disciple of magic is to keep him at a distance. Or pray he's feeling merciful if you do not.

He considers himself part of a band of heroes who would presumably not attack unless provoked. Your Kenoma title may be provocation enough to warrant little clemency.

1/2

[galdorleod]

[ this is certainly an interesting infodump. ]

...Emet-Selch, does this mean you and Estinien are from the same world?

[ There's no way that 'friend' who appeared in Estinien's mind back when they confronted each other in the chamber could be Emet. That seems impossible. But would that then mean there are three Aions from the same world? If not more...? ]

2/2

[galdorleod]

In either case, I thank you for the information, and I'm sure the others do as well. This description does fit with what I was able to know of him myself.

I do not anticipate having much difficulty keeping him at bay, at any rate.

[lachtara]

[ Not an assessment he can make without seeing the skills, but that better be the case... ]

We are from the same world, yes. As are Himeka Sui and Cid Garlond. This also means that they are familiar with my skills and what I am capable of doing.

Although I had not met the Dragoon prior to my arrival here. I only know his deeds, reputation, and who he keeps in close company - which should speak on its own.

[galdorleod]

"Himeka Sui and Cid Garlond"?

[ so, four people? The revulsion of jealousy towards Estinien hits Howl all over again. It's so strong that it seeps into this communion message. ]

I see. If you have more information to share, you'd best share with everyone.

[expiera]

Thank you, Emet-Selch. [For all the information, about Estinien and the others. Will the Regent consider it if she leaves grandpa a 5/5 review on Yelp...

...But more importantly:]

You're from the same overarching world. [Apparently Emet's not the only one, as Silco would later also prove, but this fact is still only coming to light to her now thanks to this transmission.] Were you able to confirm other commonalities, such as the time period?

[lachtara]

[ That information makes him narrow his eyes. Time period? ]

I cannot say. They did not share any information which would allow me to draw a conclusion. Although, I did notice some... noteworthy oddities.

Last I met the Warrior of Light, she stood on the precipice of turning into a monster. It does not take much observation to see that she does not bear any such burden here.

Similarly, I had never met the Dragoon in person. It stands to reason that he and the hero would have spoken to one another concerning my ...presence. Still, he approached me and sought to share words rather than fight.

I have always tried to cooperate with them but they have always rebuffed my offerings to do so. Now we arrive here and they both extend the proverbial olive branch. [ ...Shrug. ] If they had any suspicion that my powers had not returned it would have been more reasonable to try and kill me while they had the opportunity.

The Dragoon certainly did not seem so inclined to spare you. Or any other Kenoma he came across.

[expiera]

Time and space are intertwined. If we can be called here from any world and seemingly at any point in our lives, it may be possible that those who share a plane of origin may be from different points in time. That you say you remember them differently here from how they presented themselves to you last seems to support that theory, it may be something worth confirming.

[Create more questions they have no answers for, really, but it could be noteworthy.]

Our confrontation was unusual. I pushed him beyond a boundary he normally doesn't cross, I could feel that much myself. [She really doesn't seem to think much of what happened at all.]

[lachtara]

Do you have any inclination on what that "boundary" might be?