[PLEROMA] | I heard a rumor...

[wolof]

[ The communion is clear, practiced, and clipped. Business-like. ]

We have quite a few new arrivals, so... Welcome to the Pleroma. I am sure we will all have the opportunity to introduce ourselves to you, but it's often polite to introduce oneself, isn't it? My name is Akua Sahelian, and I speak to you now of what I wish were a warm welcome, but instead, of serious tidings.

I do not know how many of you have been introduced to the wider group, or how much information you've been presented, so allow me to give you all a basics, hm?

If you can hear this, you have accepted the Pleroma. You may have already met one, or many of them, but regardless if you met them before -- we oppose the Kenoma -- perhaps not the individuals, but the... force of kenoma itself. Pleroma and Kenoma are no mere forces of Good and Evil -- The Kenoma would destroy this world -- and all worlds -- to rebirth a world of their own making from the ashes. If you have joined with us, then you have found perhaps something to save here -- or perhaps you believe that your world is still out there. Some do, but I will not promise that which I cannot see with my own eyes. Whatever has brought you to us, I'm afraid that I cannot promise an easy fight -- or an easy existence here. Even now, the Kenoma have captured two of our own, and I have no doubt that they will come out with an experience that only a True Villain by the name of the Regent could craft. [ In communion, it sounds like a Title, a Name. ]

We will have to rescue them, and though I wish I could say that only those that are willing to fight should come, the truth of it is that we must collectively join together. There is no choice, and we will need every willing person to join in, to save our allies. If you have experienced combat before -- of any sort -- your experience will be more than welcome. If you do not, please reach out to one us, and we will find a place for you. We all have...grand and great talents, and we'll need every single one, to find victory when our allies are eventually retrieved. You will be needed, no matter what your experience was before you arrived, you will be able to find some use of your unique talents. Please, if you are new, speak up, tell us about yourselves, and ask your questions. I'm sure someone will answer it. Even the smallest of talents, can mean the difference between losing more of our allies an assets, or victory.

I cannot provide details at this time -- no plans have been set -- but I will tell you to be ready.

Speaking of being ready, however... I must turn a part of our discussion to something just as serious, but in a different vein. I think it clear, that we will have to continue to fight those who have signed on to the Kenoma, and while it's an inevitability, particularly in these times -- we need to assess our enemies. We will want to share the names, the abilities, and the demeanors of our enemies, those in the Kenoma who may be a threat, those who would be weak to physical threat, or...

[ A pause, then. ]

I was...dissipated recently. As I regrew, I... knew something. [ Her voice now almost sounds...authoritative. Like she is Speaking something of great import, the communion gives her words an emphasis that she can only imagine, as it would not work in person. ]

While no Sovereign, they are sovereign in this land, and though their plans have been thwarted in some small ways, they have been given a gift. The gift of knowing the true hearts of their followers, one way or the other. They have no use for the frail and the convictionless, after all. Venera and Godsblood are not the only ones that face culling, as the light of the Sovereign fades.

I believe... there may be individuals within the kenoma that have less conviction than others. They may be willing to help, or even defect, although we will be racing against the Regent's own touch. We may wish to seek them out, and free them from the Kenoma, they may come willingly, but they may also come by force. If you have spoken to those who lack conviction for their Sect, please, share that as well. It may be invaluable. If we know who lacks the resolve to stay with them, we can then pursue them, convince them, or bring them to our bases, to be convinced. I know some may find that unpleasant work -- but... Well, let's just say occasionally, capturing your enemy and teaching them of your perspective works.

I'd know.

[ A pause, before: ] Well, now. Please chime in, I shouldn't do all of the talking.

Comments

[wavetrain]

My name is Tsunami. I'm a SeaWing, and, uh... I guess the Dragonets of Destiny doesn't mean anything here...

[ Wow! That's weird! She's just going to kind of uhhhh not dwell on her emotional reaction to that ha ha ]

... But I can definitely fight, and if our worlds are still out there... I'll do whatever it takes.

[ A pause... uncertainty? ]

Apart from that, um, I guess I wanted to ask... is everybody else here, you know... [ 'Scavenger' feels kind of rude when you're talking about people! ] ...little, fuzzy, two legs...?

[pyojeol]

[Sooyoung's been listening to the proceedings closely, and probably a little balefully, but her attention is piqued when Tsunami speaks,]

Does that mean you're not?

[wavetrain]

Yeah. I'm a dragon. [ It feels weird, to have to clarify this. ] I haven't seen any other dragons here so far, though... Just the little two-legged guys. Where I come from we call 'em scavengers.

[pyojeol]

Huh.

[huh!!!]

Scavengers... huh? I guess that's not totally inaccurate... Back in my world, we call dragons by the same name, but we're called humans.

Dragons aren't exactly common though. They've only ever been in stories, except for a few.

[wavetrain]

Really...? [ She hums thoughtfully. ] I've read that there used to be way fewer dragons in my world. But then they, er...

[ Hmm. Maybe actually she shouldn't bring up the Scorching on here. ]

Well, now we have queens and kingdoms and there are a lot more of us.

[pyojeol]

Hm, that guy would probably like that. [soft... there's a little surge of fondness] He's always wanted to take over a kingdom.

[that's not as soft but it's just as fond]

It's probably not that much of a challenge fighting humans when we're so small... Is it the same for you? Bet you could squish us just like that.

[why is this so violent]

[wavetrain]

[ That's cute, but a guy could never take over a kingdom :T sorry ]

Well... probably, yeah, but I swear I've never eaten one of you guys.

[chronosynthesis]

There are dragons native to Horos within the forest, though they are not exactly allied to our cause.

[A pause.] I believe there is one other Aion with more legs?

[Comparatively though, still fuzzy, possibly still small.

He gets it, though, being an anomaly. No one else has the experience of being a plant instead of flesh, either.]

[wavetrain]

Only one... [ She sounds a little overwhelmed, but she rallies quickly. ]

—Wait, there are dragons who live here? What kind?

[chronosynthesis]

You'll see the small ones most common around the settlement. The... Kislepke. The Tamfa are larger and wood-like but I don't know if they're talkers. Estinien would know more.

[wavetrain]

You don't know if... Huh. Okay. I'll ask him, then.

[ She supposes it does make a kind of sense, that if scavengers can talk here, dragons can't... Very offputting, though! ]

Thanks.

[chronosynthesis]

Mm, he was looking for an audience and possible alliance with them, as they keep their distance otherwise.

[But that's not very reassuring, is it... he has sympathy for her, though, even if he can't offer a better outcome.]

[wavetrain]

Right. Whew... this place is so weird...

[undertheweight]

No. And you mean "humans". That is what most of them call themselves, that I have seen, here.

However, I do take a human form. It is natural for one of my kind to do so--it is not so for you? [Curious. But it is heartening, at least to Wrathion, that there are more dragons out there. Or...were.]

Well met, Tsunami. I am Wrathion.

[wavetrain]

Right. "Humans". We call them "scavengers" in my world, but you can't exactly talk to them to ask what they think about it...

Wait, wait. A human form? You mean, like, you change into... a human?

[ BRO THAT IS EXTREMELY WEIRD ]

[undertheweight]

I freely assume our fallen worlds were not...terribly alike, so. Yes. Not so strange to me.

[Because he did pick up on the "WEIRD, BRO" vibes. He's fairly certain that there are things she might do he'd find odd...he's just not going to call her out before an audience, as it were.]

Since they aren't glorified apes, if we choose to walk among them, it's easier to...camouflage, shall we say?

[wavetrain]

I... guess that would be easier, if you were spending a ton of time with them.

... Whiiich I guess I'm gonna be doing too, now, so... sure. It's practical. Just not exactly the kind of thing I've ever seen anyone do before. It's magic, right?

[undertheweight]

Actually, that part of it...I'm not certain it's magic. I've never heard of any of our dragonflights being unable to choose a Visage, a humanoid form, at the very least.

We are capable of magic, however, yes. Is that uncommon, where you hail from?

[wavetrain]

Extremely. And no one I've ever met can change into a... human, either.

[ Dragonflights, huh... ]

So you are a dragon, too, then?

[ She sounds pretty relieved at the prospect, even if whatever it is that dragons have going on in his world sounds a long way from what she's used to. ]

[wolof]

[ She does not know what a Dragonet is or Sea Wing, and yet... she can kind of guess. ]

Most of us are, yes. I would not suggest using the word "fuzzy" to describe most of us, though.

What manner of being are you?

[wavetrain]

I'm a dragon.

... What's wrong with calling you "fuzzy"? Don't you all have that fluffy fur on top of your heads?

[wolof]

Ah, of course. A dragon. Well then, it's a pleasure, Tsunami. I will admit I have only limited experience with dragons. There are not many where I'm from, although one of the few is a general in the army.

[ A pause ] Now, it is true we have hair on our heads, but we also have skin everywhere else for the most part.

[wavetrain]

Whoah, seriously? Like, in a... human army?

[wolof]

Not entirely human. The Legions of Terror of Praes normally hold plenty of humans, yes. Along with Orcs, Ogres, and Goblins in their mix.

[wavetrain]

[ Tsunami has never heard of any of those, but she's imagining them a lot more dragon-y than they probably actually are. ]

That's... an interesting name for an army.