[Kenoma] Discussion

[lachtara]

( 🟣 - Emet, 🔵 - Ciel )

Good Evening.

There are some within our ranks who we have not had the pleasure of meeting. I am Emet-Selch. Ciel and I serve as tacticians and teachers to the Kenoma.

I function as acting counsel for devising strategies. Additionally, some of you may find yourself in possession of new magical abilities that you did not have before. I am available to assist you with honing your newfound magical skills. To those of you who find yourself injured, I can provide my magic to heal your wounds so that you may be hale and whole once more.

[ He sighs. My, is this a mouthful. ]

My name is Ciel. I am versed in martial arts and am proficient with most types of weaponry. There are various means of developing melee combat prowess across Achamoth, but if you would like personalized instructions at any level, please contact me and we’ll arrange for a schedule. I can also perform magical healing along with Father Paul.

Unfortunately, We do not have much time for pleasantries. The Pleroma will soon be at our doorstep. Their goal is to retrieve their allies who remain captive inside our walls, and our goal is to lure them deep within the Citadel where we may enact our own plans. You will be provided assignments once it is closer to the promised hour. Prepare in your own way meanwhile; The Citadel is host to all manners of weaponry and the army's training grounds.

[ It’s kept a little vague and unspecific. Though they do intend to give adequate information, there is also no question that they have had traitors in their midst as of late. Everything will be doled out with due caution. Although, there will be a silent message sent to each person asking them to respond with some information of their abilities. ]

We are at war, bloodshed is inevitable. We will be attacked soon, and we must defend our keep. Consider this communion address a formal hub for discussion and organization of the battle to come. We will begin with information sharing of the Pleroma: knowing their names, appearances, and capabilities will better prepare us in dealing with them in combat. Aions may develop new abilities at any time, however; intel from the mission in Venera and Godsblood may very well be outdated by now, so do not assume anything we go over in this address as the extent of what they can do. Anything you may have witnessed at the shrines can be helpful, including other newcomers you may have met that did not return to Achamoth..

To the third wave of newly awoken Aions, it is regrettable that we cannot welcome you better, you’ve unfortunately arrived at a tumultuous time on Horos. If this is all too much for any reason, that’s fine. Contact me privately, and we can at least arrange for you to be somewhere safe during this. To those used to wielding great power, please get some practice in and verify your new limits. Becoming an Aion may have weakened you, do not let that catch you off-guard on the battlefield.

To those who are new, introduce yourselves and ask any questions you have. We will answer your questions as best we can, and I encourage our fellow Kenoma to chime in where they may. Do try to keep your questions interesting enough to be worth reading.

Comments

[cutlery]

[ me, sad for ciel,,, ]

[ But truly, Ciel does know how to explain things well to Sebastian, since there's a small ah of acknowledgement, though it's followed before long with a sigh once she finishes. ]

How fair... [ A disappointing prospect, clearly. ] But understood. In all important respects, I was invulnerable, so that is quite the change, but I shall adjust. I am at least well-used to not using much of my actual ability, so it should not take much to prepare, at least.

[cutlery]

So I saw. I can count myself lucky in that respect that things went smoothly.

[ Or, you know, just already Bad, but. ]

Ah, but that would be delightful, yes. It will help my secondary goal of learning my new limits, in fact! I am quite glad that I did not promise you a stronghold after all, since sadly, I do not believe I could create such a thing... [ There's a playfully disappointed note in his voice that's clearly joking, but it's gone quickly as he continues. ] So, please, tell me where we may meet.

[cutlery]

Hm... It does, but I do not know how to describe it. It felt far stranger shortly after I had emerged from the crystal, since that level of weakness is one I had never known. If you will pardon me for saying so, since I do not mean anything by it, it is what I imagine mortals must feel like, a bit.

[regressor]

Oh, no... I'm not offended.

Mortals... humans? Are very weak. I think that's just... part of the package.

[cutlery]

Duly noted. For what it is worth, I am at least not planning to restrain myself against other Aions, really. It is more tactics that may cause collateral damage to "civilians", as it were...?

[ aka silco no we don't want black plague 2 (?) ]

Though those may take more planning that we have time for, besides. If there is interest, I would be happy to share what I know. I have a few thousand years of such tactics to share, though as a result, most of them do tend towards the old-fashioned.

[galdorleod]

Yes. I can assure you that the Pleroma have some rather... inflexible perspectives. If you want to help them understand the necessity of the Regent's mission, you could ask around about the efforts others have already made.

...or, you could simply find out for yourself. In my experience, there are a few key points they always fall back on.

[sterngaze]

[Put those silent quotes away, Emet... What is he meant to do, discuss the treachery and subsequent torture in front of God and everyone? In front of the volleyball teen?]

Thank you. I know I missed some activity about the Citadel during my absence.

[He heard that the prisoners were on public display for a while? Truthfully, he's kind of glad to have missed that.]

If there's anything important that I might need to be caught up on, please don't hesitate to let me know. I've been trying to fill in the gaps from the servants, but they only know so much.

[cutlery]

[ well... he was definitely stuffy, that's for sure ]

[ He's... not surprised that she's surprised, at least. Considering Ciel gently bullied him into calling himself out immediately, he's quite aware that his affect doesn't quite match a hedonist. It's part of why he smoothly moves past it, but also because the mischievous tone in his voice to match makes it clear that the latter is more a more fun topic anyways. ]

Well, for others, it is not so bad. I can even see it being quite useful! But for myself... I suppose I am a bit private is what it amounts to? It is not quite as relevant here, but I am so used to keeping a great many secrets that it is a bit odd to suddenly be so open!

[sterngaze]

Thank you, Miss Gray.

[Sect members like Gray are a significant part of the reason for his attempts to downplay his absence as much as possible. He would very much like for his fellows to believe that his re-education was not a big deal, or at least for them to be able to pretend without too much effort, and this goes doubly for those who are younger. So he's doing his best to put on a pleasant face.]

Please be assured that I've not simply been working. I have been resting as well—and baking, on occasion. You may have seen the results if you ever visit the kitchens early in the morning, before the crowds descend.

I hope you've been well?

[sterngaze]

Certainly. This is Miss Carmine, yes?

[He recalls seeing her introduction. She'd seemed a little lost, much as it seemed some of the other new arrivals did, and must as he'd felt when he first arrived as well. If he can do anything to dispel some of her confusion, he certainly will.]

I'd be happy to speak with you and help you get settled in. We could meet in the dining hall, if you would like? Perhaps mid-morning, when it isn't so busy.

[cutlery]

I am not surprised. I would say that our position is the one that is stranger, at least for any creature that was born into the light... So, yes, I shall have to see what efforts have been made already.

[ He does have some thoughts about how to accomplish this in what he would call a brute force method, but he keeps those to himself. While possible, they're not the sort he prefers in the slightest. He'd genuinely much rather simply talk and have them convince themselves of their position, since it would stick much more than something more, well. Demonic, to put it simply. ]

So, to that note, what would those points be?

[cutlery]

Very much so. It is what makes them quite interesting and unique, though.

[ It's why he likes them, in his way. If their lives weren't so fragile, they wouldn't be capable of their marvels, in his opinion. ]

It is why I enjoy- [ He catches his tense and with a small sigh, corrects it ] Well, enjoyed now, I suppose, but it is why I enjoyed visiting the human realm. My own was quite boring by comparison, I assure you.

[sterngaze]

I look forward to being of more assistance.

[Although this might sound like a platitude, he means this remark sincerely. Liem knows he hasn't contributed much to the Kenoma's efforts in the last few months that he's been here, even setting aside his time spent actively sabotaging them. He wants to make up for his lack now that he's committed himself to the sect in a more concrete way.]

Thank you for sharing your perspective with me, before.

[regressor]

That's correct, yes.

[She makes an effort to make it seem like she's smiling. That was something people could pick on through this... medium, yes?]

The dining hall? Ah, that would be good for me... I heard we could just- just eat whatever we wanted to, right? So I'll be there.

[regressor]

Mmmm. I think a lot of philosophers say that being mortal is what makes life worth living. At least, I've heard it.

[A whole other realm, though... ?]

You lived somewhere totally different... ?

[uproared]

Tsk. Why are ranged fighters always so damn annoying? Buncha cowards...

[uproared]

[ Too bad Mordred is, for all her stupidity, very aware of when she's being watched... or whatever the communion equivalent is.

Grumpily: ] What the hell do you want?

some Innocence lore in here! (limb loss in the link)

[semicharmed]

[ So the thing Estinien tried to impale him to death with is called a lance? How is that different than a spear? Matt's glad he didn't know this when he tangled with the guy before, he would've totally choked. ]

On the Estinien and Innocence topic, I have some information.

I did a scry with Xishen trying to find her, [ he won't mention losing his hand in the process, it's beside the point, ] and it turns out ... I was thinking of her as an entity, like a god even, but Xishen described the Innocence more like an astrological sign: a collection of traits and aspects. So I think it's possible that she's more like what my world would call a tulpa, which is broadly defined as a creature born out of psychic energy and shaped by mental focus, but detached from its creator and capable of acting independently.

When we did the scry, I saw--well, wings, and bright white light, which I'm sure some of you remember--and a countervailing darkness and rot. But most pertinently, I saw two bright lights connecting her to this world. Aions. One of them I'm a hundred percent sure is Estinien, but the other ... I don't know. There were a few more lights that weren't as bright, and ... sorry to say this, but at least one seemed like they were Kenoma.

So my theory is, we made this incarnation of the Innocence. And it won't be easy to get rid of her without destabilizing our own cause.

[gravings]

I would say... that you might sound more professional now.

[ As opposed to unprofessional at all times that aren't now... and "now" is even pushing it. ]

[semicharmed]

Huh.

[ This psychic message is mild, mild, mild. Like an unassuming breeze. Silco may or may not recognize the passive-aggression. ]

I thought she was pretty nice. But then again, she did say she was a cop.

[cutlery]

At its core, yes. There is quite a bit I would add on top of that with my own quite distant viewpoint... But I can admit it becomes bloviating at a certain point.

[ which he loves to do, but, ]

Indeed I did. Normally, it would be quite secret, but as it seemingly does not exist anymore, there is little point, is there? It is a realm that humans have called by many names, and it has many stories associated with it, but I can also say most of them are little more than imagination... But calling it Hell is the simplest way to put it.

for Havoc

[sterngaze]

[Liem is nothing if not punctual, so he arrives in the dining hall towards the end of the breakfast rush and fetches himself some tea to keep himself caffeinated while he waits for the new face to arrive. Considering his own absence during the entirety of the shrines’ activity, he hasn’t seen the face of even a single new arrival yet, but he’s confident in his ability to recognize Carmine based just off of his familiarity with the Citadel’s other inhabitants. If he sees someone new, there’ll be a good chance that it’s her.

He finds a seat near the middle of the room but with a view of the exits, perching with his back to the table and sipping his drink as he surveys people’s comings and goings. The noise in the space lessens as most of the breakfast crowd filters out, and it’s easier to keep tabs on the individuals that remain, for which his overstressed nerves are grateful. He waits until he sees what he’s looking for—a woman he doesn’t recognize—and raises his free hand in a small wave.]

[epiprocta]

[ Oh Atsumu, he'd sock you right in the nose if he knew that's what you thought of him. But for now, he only feels that low simmer of grudging acceptance on the other side, so he'll move on. ]

... that chick, Ciel, the model student girl -- she's strong. Get her to teach you a few tricks. [ Even if he personally doesn't like her, he can't deny her capability. And ... the other physical combat instructor is gone, so. There's a brief pang of something bitter in those words, though it's squelched quickly enough as Gen continues. ] A lot of folks train regularly, too, and the off-duty guards are good for sparring against. They'll do whatever you ask'em to. Get in some practice when you can before you go into hiding, just in case.

[sterngaze]

[Most of Liem's effort is expended in disguising his restlessness and exhaustion, so he doesn't present much of a friendly face over their communion. Hopefully the businesslike tone he provides even in response to her attempt at friendliness isn't off-putting.]

In that case, I will await you there. If you need help finding your way, you can ask any of the servants. They will be more than happy to assist you.

[Continued here!]

[epiprocta]

[ Oh, so this is the one that shot Misa. Noted. ]

... fucking cops. [ ACAB, right. But also -- ] Is she the type to move with a spotter? If she's using a rifle.