PLEROMA | FRIENDS LOST (END OF SOVISERI)

[coerthantorment]

[Estinien can be felt in the communion space, after having essentially gone missing during the final days of the mission. He's only just now returning to Greentruth in the company of friends. The tone of his psychic transmission is fraught with sorrow and anger in kind.]

Himeka and Abel have been taken by the Kenoma. They... are the Regent's prisoners.

[His presence becomes distant for a few beats after, like he has to steady himself.]

The creature of Innocence we found in Venera... its hold on me is far greater than I ever realized. I was drawn into a battle with the Kenoma, in the defense of other Pleroma, and when I found myself outnumbered and trapped... it came to my aid. Yet, 'twas at a cost I would not have willingly paid.

Angered by their broken "promise", it lashed out at those that bore its mark. 'Twas this moment of weakness that allowed them to be captured. It struck Ryunosuke and Alphinaud as well... Ryunosuke is safe. Alphinaud... has vanished somewhere I cannot reach.

[He's doing his best to give an objective account, something he became skilled in doing as a soldier. It's clear how much this is weighing on him, though.]

The... creature has been attempting to enthrall me. To change my body and steal my memories... it told me that Alphinaud was 'among the light', and that he had no further need for me. That Himeka and Abel had chosen to suffer in this world. I...

[And finally, the anger takes precedent, a fire wrought with misery.]

I will take them back. No matter what it demands of me. I... will bring them home.

Comments

[hippocarnival]

[No.

It's hard to overstate how obvious Himeka and Abel's absence has been. And it's been harder and hard tp not worry about what could have happened that resulted in them being so silent and unseen after... whatever happened in Godsblood. But he isn't prepared to have the worst confirmed by Estinien.

It's too hard to find words in the start of his response, fumbling to even get his thoughts straight as fear and alarm crowd his head and filter through the connection.] Abel and Himeka are...

Where were they taken? Achamoth?

[dragonmount]

[ the reverb of anger in this particular connection.

living with ernesto means that he isn't hearing this information for the first time. but it's still new, and it's still dreadful. ]

You won't be alone in bringing them back.

[ it's as much a promise in the general sense as the personal. of course, abel and himeka are so loved by so many people. hard to imagine many, any, would be willing to let this be. but also: he, himself is ready to do what it takes to have them brought to safety, to settle this score. ]

[youngprodigy]

[Gods dammit. He hadn't been sure what to make of the fact that Himeka hadn't returned, and the dread coming from him is obvious.

At Innocence, at the fact that one of his dearest friends was captured, at the fact that Alphinaud is gone, at his own helplessness...]

....If we destroy it, are we handing this world to the Regent? Must we slay both of them...? It seems no matter what the star, Primals drain the land and its peoples.

[He'll not bother trying to talk Estinien out of it, but his uncertainty is obvious.]

How will you get there?

[wolof]

[ A ripple of something... violent. The losses seemed to keep stacking up. They may have been victorious in some ways, but Akua was aware that there was a price to be had for that. ]

Do you have a plan yet?

[ No personal anecdotes here. Of course, Akua was...close to the both of them, hence the thread of violence, hotter than a flame and quick to lash out, but no, she wouldn't do so yet. They were friends, but that only meant they had to prioritize getting them out of there -- but not without a plan. ]

[salvageable]

[ Well, this is some shitty, awful news. Dokja's normally not one to deal with Communions if he can help it, but in this case, he can't help it. ]

I'll go with you.

[ He owes both Abel and Himeka a great deal. They reached out to him and showed him a kindness that was more than what he deserved, and to hear that both of them were captured is making him sick to his stomach.

But there's just one more thing. If the plan is to step foot into Achamoth in a rescue attempt, then... ]

About this creature. What if it shows up again? If you can't control it, there's no telling what might happen the next time you're cornered.

[chronosynthesis]

[...

He and Abel had impressed upon each other the need to be careful. They should have kept closer tabs on each other. Perhaps someone else would have gotten there sooner, had they known a little sooner than asking for rumors around docks.

Quietly, almost to himself:] So that's the nature of the promise they made.

[Great, so they really have two of these mad, godly powers to contend with.] Their lives are not only on your shoulders, Estinien.

[So, he hopes he isn't planning to go without the rest of them.] That entity... does it speak to you now?

[passio]

[ dextera had been so absorbed in his own problems. it’s not the first time his selfishness had completely blot out the world around him, and he’s horribly guilty with the realization.

the sickness tinges even his response, despite his best attempt to keep it to himself to avoid rattling estinien further. ]

…I’ll help. I’ll fight.

[ he hasn’t been the most proactive about the inevitable violence of the divide between their sects and surely estinien knows that, but this is one of the few things that will bring him to the necessary battle. ]

[locumstudentesquire]

[Ryunosuke isn't chiming in, but he is listening. Even if he doesn't speak, his presence can still be felt. A soft murmur in the background.

It speaks only of an immense sense guilt; a sensation which he's trying and failing to rein in entirely.]

[superbshot]

Bloody hell. Out of the frying pan and into the fire.

[Caitlyn's voice takes on a resigned sort of resolve, her entire being at once feeling energized and drained.]

You're certainly not doing this alone, Estinien. When you've got a plan, keep me informed.

[And...]

...You need to be careful with the entity. Surely I don't need to tell you that, but it sounds like you're playing with fire.

[emblazer]

I don't think you're in the best state to help them. What if you wind up captured while enthralled or lash out again?

[ It's too much of a risk, even when he knows Estinien wants to help. ]

There has to be a way to seal it or get it to reject you as a host.

[ This is far from his area of expertise, so he's a little at a loss about what to do. ]

[comelately]

Himeka and Abel? Shit...

[ he can only imagine what's being done to them there. No, he doesn't even want to imagine it. ]

There's no sense in charging over there without a plan, especially if you got that creepy Innocence thing trying to hold your soul hostage. You'll just end up a prisoner, too. [ a beat. ] We need some inside knowledge.

[dragon_rider]

[ That's not good. The initial reaction is an obvious one, one met with anger, irritation, a touch of despair. That's not good is an understatement - Has been one since they've arrived and only getting hauntingly worse and worse as time went on.

What comes through isn't anger or frustration from Hiccup, but understanding. He knows how desperately Estinein wants to go for it. At heart, Hiccup is a Viking. He understands that even if it doesn't make logical sense - even if it's dangerous - that's just an occupational hazard. Bringing home their own is the thing that matters most. He thinks of Alphinaud, and their planning, and closes his heart around it.

'Home,' it's to each other first. But still, even as easily as his heart races forward Hiccup is still Hiccup - They need some kind of plan. ]

So we gather what we can and leave. Soon. But we still - [ Still need something more tangible than reacting emotionally. For a moment, he thinks that the only rational answer is to have Estinein stay behind. It's a fleeting thought, one passed on and dismissed in the same thought: Estinein is a warrior, he has that spirit. He's loyal. There's no way he'd be willing to go for that: ] - We'll have to hope that all of us, together, can keep you protected enough it doesn't feel like you're in danger.

[ Which is asking a lot and he's dubious that's possible - Estinein is who he is. And yet, it's the best thing he can think of. ]

[warmare]

[Hayame does at least manage a cursory attempt at trying to lurk in the communion space that Estinien fills with information, the call to action… but she had barely managed her own request to the ether, and this one is far more charged than hers had been.

She retreats all too soon from the flares of anger and despair and hope and dedication and worry and strife.

But Estinien remains because… of course he does. And it is not her place to say a thing, he is a man grown, a warrior, but eventually… seeing what she perceives to be strain on his features, above the shard in his hand beside her.]

Estinien.

[She raises her head from the robotic movement of waxing her bowstring to try and call his attention back.]

[deushexmachina]

What are you looking for? In terms of auxiliary. [He clears his throat, the ache of loss familiar and dreadful,] I'd like to help in whatever way possible.