[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 Aions may develop new abilities at any time, however; intel from the mission in Venera and Godsblood may very well be outdated by now, so do not assume anything we go over in this address as the extent of what they can do.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

[uproared]

Saber.

[ Clearly fake, and she doesn't bother trying to make it sound convincing. But she at least offers an explanation. ]

For someone of my nature, true names are revealing, and we may yet have traitors in our midst. I'm certain you understand.

[lachtara]

Then 'Saber' it shall be.

[ Who is he to argue the importance of names? ]

Inopportune of an introduction though it may be, allow me to welcome you to the Kenoma.

[uproared]

Thanks.

[ It's clipped, but at least it's not disrespectful. ]

You seem important. Are things always this... [ does she even need to say it? ] loud around here?

[lachtara]

Mercifully, no.

We are never wanting for assignments, but there has not been this kind of commotion in the Citadel since I arrived.

[uproared]

[ Honestly, as much as she's grousing... she doesn't actually hate it. Camelot was a rowdy place, even if she kept silent a lot of the time, and the noise is familiar in a way she didn't expect. ]

... Well, it's fine. War is hardly a quiet affair. Once the fighting starts, this will seem tranquil by comparison.

[lachtara]

[ He makes a 'Mmm' sound. ]

Confidence bolstered by experience on the battlefield, is it?

[uproared]

My country was far from a peaceful one. Those who could fight, fought, while the weak perished at the hands of the strong. I spent more time on the battlefield than away from it.

[lachtara]

What brought about this perpetual unrest?

[uproared]

[ She snorts. ]

What else? Selfish nobles, unhappy with their station. Invaders, seeking more lands to conquer. Those who opposed the rule of our great king, even as he fought to unite our country. Fools, the lot of them.

[lachtara]

Ah, [ He sighs. ]

Kingdoms undone by man's own selfish desire and ambition. So the age-old story goes.

[uproared]

Yeah. As far as I'm concerned, humans are worthless. They'll sacrifice others to avoid their own suffering, and ignore great evil if it means getting ahead. They forget their debts, but never their grudges... and even perfection isn't good enough for them.

I bet it's the same here. Most of these people worship the Regent because they think it advantages them, not out of any true loyalty. The Pleroma only need to appeal to their greed and sense of self preservation.

[lachtara]

The Pleroma appeal to a great many things. Greed, Self-preservation, stagnation, fear, and false hope, among so much else. They think that if they conquer just one lone figurehead that their woes will be a thing of the past, all while forgetting that their problems wait for them no matter who they put to the helm thereafter.

[....]

Are you, yourself, not human?

[uproared]

In other words, they're a bunch of sanctimonious idiots. Sounds about right.

[ She's quiet for a minute, though the communion link holds. ]

... Yeah. I'm far superior to the rabble called humanity. That's why I have the right to speak with such authority on them. [ Even if her hatred of humans is built almost entirely on envy. ] Got a problem with that?

[lachtara]

No, you may do as you will. [ There's something like a verbal shrug in his words. He has no reason to correct this. Hatred can be very motivating, after all. ]

I am far from human just the same. So I would be most interested to know what those like you are called?

[uproared]

[ Somewhat reluctantly (because deep down, it's a source of shame for her, even if she pretends otherwise): ]

... I'm a homunculus. A kind of artificial life form. But not the pathetic sort, that exists as no more than a mindless servant, or as a mere shadow of their creator. From the moment I was born, I carved my own path, with my own strength... which meant cutting down anyone foolish enough to get in my way.

[lachtara]

[ And not with a hint of thinking such a thing unusual or strange: ] Then let us see to it that you do the same with those who stand in your way now.