[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

[warmare]

When have I ever agreed to let a man disgrace me for information that might help save two people who might still be alive?

I am not an animal and I will not let it be said that I am! Not by anyone, no matter how useful or kind or not bad everyone else thinks that they are! Do you hear me, Ernesto?

[... Remember that accidental bleed of very dark emotions from her last communion attempt? It's back. Thankfully, the jumble of images is probably too chaotic to make out much beyond stables, saddles, and riders. Not of horses.]

[goldendeceiver]

[ Damn...

He can't really tell what's going on here, but he hit on a nerve big time with this one.

Okay, okay... he'll try to be as calm as possible, and changes his tone to something quieter. Not really attempting to pacify, but trying to make it clear he's done playing coy, and he's taking this conversation seriously. ]

I don't know what your history with Mr. Eustace is, so it'd be wrong of me to expect you to forgive him.

[ That said... ]

But if there's even a chance he can help the rest of us save them, can you at least ignore his existence long enough to let him?

[warmare]

[Or did Eustace hit a big nerve and now everyone's just poking it? Debatable. (Equally debatable... Is she also at fault for allowing that nerve to exist in the first place? She thinks no.)

The dark pit of rage doesn't fade now that it's begun to leak, however. She's tried so hard to keep this communion cold and business-like, but she should have known this was inevitable, this is why she hates this form of communication-]

I will not forgive him until I have my apologize. He called me an animal, and I will not stand for it, I do not care how important he is to you Pleroma people.

[Ernesto, at least, knew how to apologize. For that, she offers him courtesy.]

If you want to use his information and keep hoping, so be it. I already swore my bow to Estinien, and I will be there in Achamoth to die along the rest of you.

But I will get my apology before you being this Eustace in front of me.

[goldendeceiver]

[ There's an irony there given how she's talked to Ernesto before, but he's good at biting his tongue and not saying anything. It helps that having animal features is more of a default in his world, rather than something uncommon. No one uses that kind of thing as an insult for a fellow human, so maybe he just doesn't understand that...

Not that it matters if he gets the full picture or not, because he realizes regardless that keeping these two apart is important if he wants to avoid things getting nasty. ]

I can't really control what he says or does, but I can promise that I'll do my best to make sure the two of you don't run into each other.

[warmare]

[If pressed, she would argue the difference between specifying an animal with which... one had to admit someone shared physical traits with... and "animal". But she doesn't want to. Her world and how it treated her kind is not something she enjoys sharing with others. Her grudge runs deep.]

See to it, if he refuses to apologize and you care for his well-being.

There is nothing more to say.

[goldendeceiver]

[ She won't be pressed on it, at least not by Ernesto. The two of them started off on a pretty bad foot (hoof... paw...), and he's not looking to make things worse between them. Besides, that doesn't seem like the kind of person information you want to share with someone you don't particularly like, and Ernesto gets the strong sense she doesn't particularly like him. ]

Got it... I'll see what I can do.