aionpcs: (regent)
Aion Teleos NPCs ([personal profile] aionpcs) wrote in [community profile] aionchat2022-07-10 02:52 pm
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THE REGENT'S ADDRESS [OPEN TO ALL]

[It comes on fast, once the Regent has your spirit in their hold. Around you, you may see other Aions stumble in the same moment, as if shaken by the same tectonic motion. An inexorable darkness claws at your senses, and you have only a few moments, hard fought, to reposition yourself so that you don't simply drop to the ground when it overtakes you. It has similarities to Communion, to the way another entity's thoughts and words reach out to your mind, but by the same token it's entirely foreign.

This presence is not like another person, it is like a raging, screaming cacophony that drowns out everything else in its path. Whether you be Kenoma or Pleroma, the Regent's presence in this metaphysical realm is staggering. To the Pleroma, though, it also feels caustic, as if the movement of their aura is enough to erode your own, with time.

Gradually, a new world forms. Unlike other Communions, where you are ultimately grounded in reality, here you can been dragged to what seems to be its own distinct psychic realm. A vast, void-filled courtroom, where only the throne at its front has a defined form. Around you, you see shadows of other people, other Aions, that have summoned along with you... but for the moment they seem spectral and unclear, their identities obscured by the realm's aggressive focus on its master.

The Regent sits at their throne, their body swathed in dark fabrics that drift and flutter like smoke. They have no face to be seen, only a faceted silver mask, without any markings or the barest indication of what might be beneath it. Their size is indistinct, maybe a bit taller than you are. They at first sit reclined, but straight up as their 'guests' arrive.]


It's been a long time coming, my subjects.

[At first, they are the only one that can be heard. Though you feel as if you have some physical presence here, a shadowy body of your own, if you attempt to speak no sound emerges.]

To the Pleroma: well done surviving thus far. Granted, I feel as if my Kenoma have made things easy for you. How strange, that most of you were allowed to wander a city within my empire without recourse. Able to summon that wretched creature to your side, even.

I hope you've enjoyed yourself, in the time you've had, because this will be no more. You've spread your infection in Venera, in Godsblood, and it is only necessary that these wounds be cleansed by the touch of the Kenoma. Your presence gives the people ideas... ideas that would disrupt the fragile peace they've come to enjoy, after so many years of suffering. As a kindness, I will only trim the vine, rather than burn the vineyard. What Venerans have taken up your cause, I will see shorn from my empire. And in Godsblood... an example will be made, as of the Sovereign's moon.

My Kenoma will do this for me. Fight them, if you want. But know that I am no longer asking for your fealty. I am demanding it.

[As if opening their court for questions, you will find yourself more able to act. Those that speak or take action will find their physical forms taking shape, standing in the court as people rather than shadows. If you want to question the Regent, now is the time to do so.

OOC: This post is a free for all! We will try to response as the Regent to people who directly engage with them, but you are also allowed to threadjack and interact with each other if you like. Please note that we will not be responding to tag ins done later than the 12th.]
aquaveiled: (himeka-417)

[personal profile] aquaveiled 2022-07-10 08:27 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Watching Estinien jump up into the air--Himeka knew exactly what was coming. That the attempt isn't successful must be expected if this is some sort of...secondary space that is under the Regent's control. But holding her friend hostage up there? That's something she cannot simply stand by and watch.

Himeka steps forward, defiant in her stance with her fists a her sides and her tail thrashing out behind her. ]


Let him go!
vapour: (pic#15074388)

[personal profile] vapour 2022-07-10 08:28 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Aw Toge :c

Childe just watching, a little concerned. Looks like they can't get hurt by the Regent no matter what at the moment if what's going on with Estinien is anything to go by, but...
]
vivificantem: (074. goodness and mercy all my days)

i'm so sorry about him

[personal profile] vivificantem 2022-07-10 08:31 pm (UTC)(link)
[Paul says something eventually, the words passionate but not cruel; there's no true vitriol behind them, it just is what it is, and what it is happens to be something he has a lot of feelings about.]

You of the Pleroma act as though your presence isn't the reason that we're doing this to begin with. As though your existence and your influence aren't rendering this necessary.

The more you resist the pull of the Kenoma, the longer your suffering will be prolonged. The longer the suffering of these people you claim to care for will be prolonged. We wish to quell their suffering. I don't find this concept difficult. The peace that you've found here is only temporary compared to the eternal solace that awaits you at the end of days.

You're short-sighted. I do not fault you for this, and I do not hate you for this. But your suffering, and the suffering of all those here, will only cease once you understand, fully.

[And then to the Regent:]

May it be done according to your will.
recursive: (92)

[personal profile] recursive 2022-07-10 08:31 pm (UTC)(link)
( a thrill of trepidation lances up yuuta's spine, intrinsic and instinctual. the greatest evil he'd ever personally faced was getou suguru, a curse user bent on excising the "mundane" mass of humanity from the world so sorcerers could rule. but in the end, he had just been a man โ€” finally seeing them, the Regent...

feels like something else entirely.

one thing in their address stands out to him, causing his brow to crease in confusion. the young man's voice rises when he finds a time to do so: )


...What do you mean, "summon?"

( it had seemed to him like they had known even less of what was going on by the time they arrived in venera as the Kenoma had. and he had talked with toge about the entity that those of the Innocent legacy had spoken to... as well as learned what he could about what had happened when it had manifested again, toward the end of their time there. he isn't under the impression that it has been at their beck and call for any of these instances... )

We were just as in the dark about what was happening as everyone else seemed to be.
aquaveiled: (himeka-538)

[personal profile] aquaveiled 2022-07-10 08:35 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Being swatted at like a fly doesn't instill much confidence, but luckily Himeka is used to not being taken seriously. She glowers from where she stands, though she doesn't make the same mistake and try to summon up any sort of spell at her hands in protest. (Lest she end up the same as her friend.) ]

This was to issue a challenge and a threat...and he responded to it. Isn't that what you were hoping for?
recursive: (93)

[personal profile] recursive 2022-07-10 08:36 pm (UTC)(link)
( in arriving to the courtroom, yuuta had naturally oriented himself so that he landed near toge so he could stand at his friend's side.

he feels the same instinctual, aggressive bristling at the Regent's presence that toge does, going rigid โ€” but as soon as he sees his friend reach for his collar and hears the first few syllables of the curse, his hand shoots out to wrap none-too-gently around his forearm in warning.

warning not just because of the other people around them, but also because he was concerned for what the feedback might do to him, attacking an unknown entity.

yuuta releases a held breath as the moment passes, and his grip on his arm slackens, though he doesn't entirely release him. )
snakeandfangs: (pic#15435844)

[personal profile] snakeandfangs 2022-07-10 08:38 pm (UTC)(link)
[ glaring daggers, toge simply folds his arms across his chest as he tries to cool down. his voice is barely a whisper when he speaks next but he makes sure to pull down that collar again so that the regent can see. ]

You're lucky. If it was just the two of us...

[ his cheeks are still pretty red though. ]

action...ish (???)

[personal profile] expiera 2022-07-10 08:38 pm (UTC)(link)
Not too long after Emet-Selch's interjection, within the next half an hour or so, there will be a knock at his door.

Shall he answer it, he will find a citadel servant delivering to him a tray of peppermint tea, known to potentially improve energy but more importantly also relieve tension, headaches, and migraines. There is no note attached and the servant has no message for him, if questioned they will simply tell him they were ordered to make this delivery. Have some tea, grandpa? ๐Ÿต
Edited (i know how format matching works rly) 2022-07-10 20:46 (UTC)
coerthantorment: (29)

[personal profile] coerthantorment 2022-07-10 08:41 pm (UTC)(link)
[Estinien can't really do anything but squirm and watch at this point, but his gaze does follow Himeka urgently as she confronts the Regent. He wants to break free, but the Regent's psychic presence is even more unforgiving than Nidhogg's had been.

He does think Himeka is right, though. He feels that his answer was as good as any, to what is plainly a threat.]
goldendeceiver: (one perfect partner)

[personal profile] goldendeceiver 2022-07-10 08:44 pm (UTC)(link)
[ How is it that even traveling to another world, this kind of nonsense still happens? No matter where you go megalomaniacs with a thirst for power will gladly stomp across innocent civilians with reckless abandon as long as it gets them what they want.

Damn... and here he thought he'd left the ideology of the True Bolรญvarian army behind him.

His face is blank throughout the Regent's tirade of threats, and it's only when the Regent is done speaking that his lips twist up in an ironic, agitated looking smile.
]

Demanding it, huh? Even after working so hard to ensure we'll want to do the opposite of joining up with you?

[ The smile drops off his face, and his usually breezy tone disappears as his voice lowers. ]

Which you had to know when you called us here to tell us this plan in advance. So what's the real one? To lure us out in the open by using your own citizens as targets, and take us out for good?
lachtara: (Kneeling)

[personal profile] lachtara 2022-07-10 08:44 pm (UTC)(link)
[ You wound him. ]

Indeed. Then I should look forward to further details of this assignment. I'm sure it will prove most eventful now that we have so many eager participants.

[ He'll have to ask questions outside of that. For now, it seems as though his options are limited to not divulging more than they have. Whatever point there is to that. Emet-Selch gives a good-natured shrug. Gods. ]

And just how are you finding the Pleroma's company? They certainly seem eager to speak with you.
snakeandfangs: (pic#15630244)

[personal profile] snakeandfangs 2022-07-10 08:44 pm (UTC)(link)
[ he's trying his best, why is the regent so mean...

but he does spot childe as one of those familiar faces. he's not disappointed. if anything, toge has known the dangers of kindness and friendliness for a while. doesn't matter how much someone smiles or how much charity they show to others!

it's okay. he doesn't feel betrayed. all toge can do is flash an expression hidden by that collar: sadness. ]
locumstudentesquire: (HE WANTS TO TAKE DOWN HIS PREY)

[personal profile] locumstudentesquire 2022-07-10 08:44 pm (UTC)(link)
[The fact that they know his name is... DEEPLY unsettling. It visibly throws him off his stride, for just a moment... But then he redoubles his attack.]

I will concede on one point: no reason you could possibly provide would justify your despicable actions.

[Really too bad he doesn't have a desk in front of him, that he could punch for emphasis before launching into this next point:]

But! You ARE an outlier. That you HAVE as much power as you say is proof of that! And a ruling power should use its influence to PROTECT its people, not subjugate them and keep them living in fear! Do the people of Horos even know!? That your miserable, cruel attempts at keeping them under your control now, are only meant to keep them in line long enough that you can slaughter them all later, when you end everything anyway!?
hundredpower: (144)

[personal profile] hundredpower 2022-07-10 08:45 pm (UTC)(link)
Ah, of course. My apologies for lingering on trivial details, Your Excellency.

[And unless anyone has anything further to say to him, Barnaby will settle for rejoining the rest of the shadowy figures in the room.]
hikikosaurus: (okay out here...?)

[personal profile] hikikosaurus 2022-07-10 08:46 pm (UTC)(link)
[The whole address is a series of ups and downs, overwhelming to take in all the details. That shadowy figure leaping and taking form, the previously concerned and alarmed Estinien now as quick to attack as several of the others had cautioned... the ease with which the Regent brushes it off, exactly as Undyne hadn't. Alphys bites her lip for at that, biting back tears.

It sounds like the Regent doesn't distinguish between the Aions sworn to the Pleroma, and the entity of stagnation itself, which... She has to, because they really do sound so concerned and well-intentioned in their ignorance, it's hard to see them as enemies. At least Father Paul says it clearly enough that maybe some of them will stop... Except, well.]


D-Do we really have to... invite them to fight us? [She can barely make eye contact, such as it is with the Regent's mask, and wrings her hands together.] I mean, it's already, um, hard enough? If they'd just surrender, we could make things better, so much faster...!

[Not to whine, she's trying to take this announcement of upcoming difficult missions seriously. But she's whining a bit here.]
aquaveiled: (himeka-575)

[personal profile] aquaveiled 2022-07-10 08:51 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Don't mind one (1) lizard sending big sad eyes over to you. ]
locumstudentesquire: (FIERCE)

Re: i'm so sorry about him

[personal profile] locumstudentesquire 2022-07-10 08:53 pm (UTC)(link)
[Ryu's not normally quite this confrontational, but the whole situation has him just, SO aggro.]

THAT-- [he points, dramatically,] is complete and absolute poppycock!
lachtara: (Kneeling)

[personal profile] lachtara 2022-07-10 08:54 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Oh, if Kaeya only knew that Emet-Selch's approval of him ever so slightly grows with this comment. ]
dragonmount: (๐Ÿ”† 099.)

[personal profile] dragonmount 2022-07-10 08:56 pm (UTC)(link)
[ the first chance he gets, he opens himself to the One Power.

it isn't easy. the regent's assault on his soul, just by existing, the summons like hooks dragging his consciousness into this place, makes concentration hard. but as he solidifies in this space, he remembers instructions from a man โ€” a creature โ€” he's compared to the regent once, twice, a thousand times; he empties himself of emotion, and he fills himself with the Light.

not to do anything. not yet. but he draws on as much as he can, because the simple act of holding onto the Power makes him feel better protected from the howling darkness radiating off the regent. he feels safer, whether or not he really is. it'll be a problem when they're returned (if they're returned) (no, he can't think that), because safely releasing the Power without channeling isn't a skill he's very good at yet, but โ€” that's for the future. ]


Do you really think getting rid of us will stop people from getting ideas? Wasn't it you who brought us here, or was that another one of your lies? [ now's as good a time as any to ask, but the question is pitched skeptically. ] Loyalty is earned. You can demand nothing, from them or from us.

[ his voice is deceptively steady, for how much his heart is hammering. ]

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