[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

"Sebastian" (Kaeya)

[locumstudentesquire]

....

Before I go any further, I wonder if any of you would verify something for me.

[An image. It's this smug looking guy with blue hair and an eyepatch.]

...What. Is the name of this Kenoma. I... I need to know for certain.

[perfectlygoodbird]

[She did say ask...]

His name is Kaeya. That much, I know. I've never seen him fight, so I do not know where his powers, if powers he has, lie. I am sorry I cannot help you more, Ryu.

OK this is the real Kaeya dossier

[locumstudentesquire]

[Ryunosuke gives off a spike of annoyance, but it's not directed at her. Not in the least.]

...That's... What I thought. Thank you, Miss Meteion.

[Sigh.]

He seems to have some kind of mastery over ice... No, not even just ice; he can lower the temperature in the surrounding area as well. It's... Abrupt, and unpleasant. It can make it difficult to breathe...

The ice is the more immediate threat, though. He can make weapons from it, projectiles, obstacles...

That said, I'm... Not entirely sure of his commitment to the Kenoma. He puts on a bold show, but with my, um... Power, [boy that feels weird to say,] I could... See certain things. I don't think he's completely confident of the path he walks.

[salvageable]

What did you see?

[ Ran into this jerk, fought this jerk, and got similar Vibes, but he wants to double check. ]

[locumstudentesquire]

Much of it was gleaned during a rather fraught fight, but... He does have doubts. If I had to guess, I'd say he was displeased with the orders to attack the Venerans, primarily. But... There were other tells as well.

[salvageable]

He did a great job attacking me and the Veneran woman I was protecting.

[ BUT..... ]

But he never went for a vital spot despite having openings. And I thought I saw the smallest change in his expression when I tried to reason with him.

[pyojeol]

Yeah? That should make it easy to kill him then, if he wasn't trying to stab you to death.

[EASY! PEASY!]

[locumstudentesquire]

Sorry?! I, I think the hope is that he might be swayed without resorting to killing, if at all possible?

[salvageable]

I had my hands full at the time, but I'll see what I can do the next time I run into him.

[ Killing people is fine, yes. ]

[locumstudentesquire]

I was also protecting one of the Veneran targets when we fought. He seemed...

[There's a little waver of uncertainty before he continues; he's worried he might be taking his speculation too far, but...]

...It seemed like he was trying to provoke me into putting up a better fight. Like, like he was hoping that I would be able to prevent him from going through with the deed. I know that probably sounds quite ludicrous, but...

[emblazer]

What name did he even give you?

[ And why did Kaeya think he'd get away with it when Thoma could have easily blown his cover or any of the other Pleromas Kaeya has run into. ]

1/2

[locumstudentesquire]

........................

[locumstudentesquire]

[He knew this was going to come up one way or another... Even if he was always kind of suspicious of the sincerity of EVERYTHING Kaeya had said when they'd met, it's still... Ugh.]

.....Sebastian.

[emblazer]

[ ...hmm. ]

I wouldn't say he looks like a Sebastian. Maybe Ser Ferdinand or Ser Bertram... I know it's hard to tell without the uniform, but he's actually a big-time knight from my hometown back in Mondstadt.

[locumstudentesquire]

[He had managed to piece together that Thoma probably knew Kaeya, given their mutual connection through Lumine, so that part's not a shock at least. He just hadn't gotten around to asking about it yet. BUT.

Incredulously:]

...He's a knight?! Like... Like the sort that wear big suits of metal armor and ride horses into battle??!!

[emblazer]

Yeah! Only without the armor, unless they changed things up since last I was there.

[ It's been well over a decade by now... ]

I didn't know him too well since I wasn't nobility or a knight myself. Just one of the townspeople, but I guess if you need more specific info on him, he dual wields cryomancy and hydromancy powers now from what I saw.

[ He wonders if Kaeya learned the latter so he wouldn't have to rely on Childe as a combat partner. ]

[locumstudentesquire]

[This is useful info for someone who's actually more inclined towards combat.

Ryunosuke's hung up on a different point, though.]

I... I'm hardly an expert on the matter, so you'll have to forgive me, but... Aren't knights meant to be... [awkward pause.] Chivalrous, or something?

[stellium]

Kaeya? ( hi ryu, surprise! ) Did he give you a different one? I wouldn't take it personally, he's just like that.

( wait hang on a second. )

He's Kenoma?

[locumstudentesquire]

[Oh jeez. This is hitting him like a bolt out of the blue, in the best/worst way. There's a long, confused silence while he tries to assess and make sure he's not just hearing things, before he finally manages to stammer the most predictable reply:]

...M... MISS LUMINE??????!!!

[Sorry she has to get used to Communion all over again, because she's getting a crash course in the emotional aspect via the explosion of Ryunosuke's abject shock/joy/disbelief now.]

You... You're here... You came back...? I-- I...

[Get it together now, Ryunosuke.]

It's. It's so good to hear from you again!

[stellium]

"And you!" Or that's what I would say if I could remember. ( SORRY. oh there's so many emotions, what is she supposed to do with these. ) I did come back, but I don't remember anything from before. Or that I was here at all.

[locumstudentesquire]

[Ah. Just like that, the cascade of emotions comes to an abrupt halt, and then there is only confusion. And even blessed silence! Until....]

W.... WHAAAT!??

S-sorry! Sorry, I don't... I don't mean to shout, I just... None of it? Truly?

[Not that he thinks she's lying he's just... That's so difficult to grapple with? And it hurts a little to be forgotten, truthfully, though he can hardly blame take it personally if she'd forgotten EVERYTHING about Horos...]

I... Well I suppose we can catch up more later. More to the point... Yes. Kaeya, he's... With the Kenoma, I'm afraid.

[stellium]

I see. Thank you for letting me know.

( the DISAPPOINTMENT is radiating from her. )

None of it. Don't worry, though, I'm not going to avoid you or anything. Just the opposite -- maybe by spending time with the people I knew I can start to remember!

[locumstudentesquire]

That's true... If you make your way to Greentruth, please don't hesitate to reach out. It'll be wonderful to have you back, memories or not.

[He's warm at that first bit, but for the next he's much more serious:]

Regarding Kaeya... You seem awfully surprised about his alignment with the Kenoma. I take it that's fairly far outside his usual pattern of behavior, then? Associating himself with that sort of... Ideology?

[not here]

[inutilis]

[ lol lmao sebastian ]

Re: [not here]

[locumstudentesquire]

[IS IT EVEN POSSIBLE NOT TO??? THEY'RE JUST OUT THERE!!!]