kenoma [backdated to firaseri 17th]

[sterngaze]

[Around dawn on the day of the prisoners’ scheduled burning, a Kenoma-wide ping goes out to both the early risers and to those who might still be in bed. To those who are light sleepers and might be woken up by a communion notification, well… sorry about that. At least the information is pertinent to the day’s activities. Liem’s crisp, businesslike voice can be heard once the message is accessed.]

Good morning, everyone. I have news relating to the conflict we’re expecting to see today:

As we’re expecting to contest the Pleroma’s efforts to traverse the city, I’ve been organizing the distribution of supplies throughout Achamoth, in support of our efforts. Should you need replacement weapons or ammunition, medical supplies, or even just drinkable water, you can visit any of these locations rather than needing to fall back to the Citadel itself.

[An image of a map appears vividly over the communion, marked with numbered points throughout the city. Accompanying this image is a list that associates every number with a more detailed location, such as “Our Dark Regent’s Church of the Exalted Dissolution: side entrance” or “7th Street Guard Station: main entrance.” A large number of the entries on the list appear to be churches.

There is also a short list of items outlining what can be found at each supply point, including quivers of both arrows and crossbow bolts, various smaller handheld weapons, spare bowstrings, bottled water, and bandages and salves to stop bleeding.]

If you would benefit from access to items that are not already on this list, please alert me right away. I will be overseeing the distribution of supplies throughout the morning, so I will do my best to ensure that any last-minute additions are included.

Comments

[cutlery]

[ Liem, you might just be Sebastian’s new favorite Kenoma. The organization is something he appreciates, naturally, but the map. That is definitely something he’ll be drawing out as soon as this Communion is done! ]

Most excellent. Thank you very much for your hard work, as this will be a valuable asset. Though ironically, it is one that is best when they are unused, yes?

[ More for being unnecessary than forgotten, naturally. ]

If you need any assistance in distributing them, I would be glad to lend my aid as well.

[sterngaze]

Well, I hope they see at least some use. A great deal of preparation would be wasted if the Pleroma never showed up at all.

[That is the point of all the pageantry, isn't it? Aside from inspiring fervour in the local populace, he supposes. The Pleroma wouldn't ordinarily risk an assault like this on Achamoth itself, but the bait is (hopefully) too valuable to resist. Ideally, their attack will be bought at a dear cost.]

Fortunately I have assistance from the Citadel itself, but if any unexpected roadblocks arise, I won't hesitate to seek your aid.

[cutlery]

Well, if nothing else, I do doubt that they would not visit at all... Considering what brings them, I would be surprised for it to go ignored.

[ Wiser, certainly. If it were his tactical decision, then Abel and Himeka would simply have to die. It was a tactical sacrifice, since the alternative was far riskier. But that kind of cold logic was exactly that sort that attuned you to the Kenoma rather than the opposite. ]

But good, I am glad to hear it. Also if nothing else, it is at least the mildest of comforts that with the prospect of invasion, we are decently equipped. I must say, it would be a dire circumstance to find myself suddenly arriving to were that not the case.

[sterngaze]

This is a tumultuous time for you to have arrived, yes. However, you can also take comfort in the knowledge that if the Pleroma do fight their way to the very heart of the Regent's city and reach their brethren, we will make them pay dearly for their progress. We should have plenty of peace after today, given the time they'll need to lick their wounds.

[cutlery]

It is quite a bold strategy. The two prisoners must be quite exceptional for such a trouble!

[ or just like, their mom and dad, but he doesn't know that ]

Hopefully we will give them quite the show, in that case.

[sterngaze]

I suspect, given the nature of the sect, that its members would feel compelled to come regardless of which of their number we had.

[After all, this is the sect of people prepared to fight against almost an entire country in a futile effort to save the dregs of a dying universe.]

Regardless, we shall make the most of the opportunity.

[cutlery]

So I have heard about them, at least. There is a portion of it I understand, since it is not as if the number of Aions is great, but I also imagine in turn that this is not quite their concern. I at least hope that if they manage to capture one of our own that if we retrieve them, it is at least more sensibly.

[ (eventually) looking at you, makoto ]

[sterngaze]

If that does ever come to pass, [and it seems like an unfortunate likelihood, sooner or later,] I am sure we will proceed with all due consideration.

[cutlery]

And caution, I hope! There are simpler ways to solve the core issue, after all.

[ For example, what comes to his mind is just killing the prisoner for convenience of being able to carry their shard and not have to deal with the actual body. They'll come back, so it's fine! ]

...But at the very least, it has not been my impression that the Kenoma would take such a reckless tactic.

[regressor]

[what she needs the most can’t really be placed in a supply drop, not without anticoagulant agents the likes of which don’t seem to exist in this world…

so she responds just for the sake of her reputation and the “relationship”, attempting to project what gratitude had felt like.]

Thank you, Mister Talbott. That’s a really good idea… and hopefully good hiding places. Not that I know if the Pleroma respect sanctity…

[sterngaze]

I very much doubt most in the Pleroma have any respect for the Regent's churches. Fortunately, they will have better things to do during their incursion than to vandalize the local chapels.

[That doesn't mean that none of the invaders might get it into their heads to trash a temple or two, but that raises the other reason Liem chose churches for most of his hiding spots: the Regent's faithful are the ones most likely to zealously guard their supplies from interlopers.]

[regressor]

Oh… that sounds like a very bad idea, actually.

[It’s been difficult to replicate the laugh… but she tries for amusement. It actually would be ironic.]

One of the other seniors took me to a couple of the churches looking for one that fit me well…

I’m not sure the Pleroma would have a very good time with some of those constituents at all.

[sterngaze]

It would be more trouble than it'd be worth, certainly.

[Some of the Achamite congregations are downright ruthless. Even if that doesn't necessarily translate to military training, numbers and enthusiasm can go a long way.]

Also, it's bad press to go attacking churches. That kind of activity is more likely to inflame the local populace than garner any kind of sympathy from the less devout.

[regressor]

It seemed so. I mean, I prefer a quiet service myself with… not so much actual sacrifice involved, but…

[It was a passing thought- how many people might come from worlds that considered that sort of religious demonstration “normal”]

How much do you think they’re going to try and protect that. “Sympathy”. Some of what people shared before about their numbers was… colorful.

[sterngaze]

[He couldn't have said it better himself. Most of the Achamite churches he's visited haven't really suited him, personally, but they're useful in their own ways.]

Well, their members are admittedly diverse. [Aka some of them are very violent, yes.] But if they paint themselves as violent radicals, the general populace will be even less likely to support them. They can ill afford to lose what support they have.

[regressor]

And I’m right in understanding that… they don’t have anyone quite like our Regent, do they? Uniting them?

[a hum]

That will be difficult for them… Choosing between the support of the people when even the people are divided.

[Godsblood, Venera, a variety of other cities with varying cultures and levels of obedience to Achamoth…

A pause, before she seems to realize it might be important to say-]

I’ve been doing my reading.

[Since he showed her the library.]

[sterngaze]

I wouldn't be surprised if they had a leader of some kind; an organized group needs some form of leadership in order to be effective. But the Regent has no equal in this world, nor in any other as far as I know.

[He's not trying to hype them up; these are just the facts as he sees them.]

That's good. I hope you've been able to find answers to some of your questions. I know I had many when I first arrived.

[regressor]

Well, you have a point. If they had someone comparable, we surely would have heard of them by now.

[Contractors were the only "type" of people she knew who had power and were fully, perfectly content with staying out of the spotlight.]

A lot of answers, mmm... Maybe less about aions from aions, admittedly, but. I suppose I can ask the Kenoma about those.

[sterngaze]

Yes, the books found in Achamoth's libraries do skew toward a certain kind of information. Nevertheless, they can provide a good amount of knowledge in specific areas.

And you can certainly ask the other aions in our sect any questions that you still have.

[regressor]

... Well, that's an understatement, I think but. Mmm. Maybe to be expected.

[This city seemed to worship the ground not only the aions, but especially the Regent walked on. Propaganda should be a given.]

Most everyone's been really helpful so far, it's true.

[semicharmed]

You're so smart.

[sterngaze]

You flatter me. I am simply being thorough.

[As any good and dutiful Kenoma would.]

[semicharmed]

Oh, sorry, I'll reword that.

You're so thorough.

[sterngaze]

[Damn it, Matt, don't say it like that.]

We all do what we can, yes? Hopefully it's of use.

[Please stop flirting on his very important information post?]

[semicharmed]

[ HE SAID WHAT YOU SAID. ]

I can't imagine how it wouldn't be useful. At the very least, it's important to stay hydrated.

And it seems smart in general to push our terrain advantage.

[sterngaze]

[Yes! Hydration, yes.]

That was my thought as well. Any advantage we can take to streamline our defences will make advancing through them more costly—and in the long run, that will make what we must do easier.

[Easier, quicker, and over with less of a struggle. It's better for everyone that way, even if the Pleroma don't agree.]

[galdorleod]

Thank you for this, Liem. It will surely save lives.

[ As Howl is tucking the various locations displayed into the back of his mind for near-future reference, the bigger issue of Liem himself comes to the forefront. He's heard by now about what he did in Venera, and what happened after. Nothing but vague rumors, but seeing as how those same rumors mentioned Barnaby in the same breath and then turned out to be true... No, even worse, as Howl has learned for himself... ]

Please take care, Liem. [ in more ways than one. ] Tell me we'll go out for a drink after this, hm?

[sterngaze]

That is my hope. A more organized defence will better-serve everyone, both today and in the long run.

[Though it might be difficult to recall the locations of the supplies in the heat of the assault, hopefully the communion map combined with the relatively identifiable nature of Achamoth's churches will enable the Kenoma's aions to get use out of them.]

But when we have time, I would gladly agree to an outing. Let's watch each other's backs when we can, yes?

[galdorleod]

[ He... seems fine, but Howl knows he did not get out of traitorous actions unscathed. The Regent always finds out, Howl tells himself, and they would never leave such treachery unaddressed. Justified as a punishment might be, Howl nevertheless finds himself worrying. It's just so easy for him to sympathize with those who've suffered punishment from overbearing overseers. ]

Yes, of course. It's a date, then. Remember, you mustn't leave me waiting for your Shard to regenerate.

[ and don't get captured or shattered, either. ]

[sterngaze]

Of course. That would be terribly rude of me.

[It is tragically not an exaggeration to say that a desire not to inconvenience others comprises a significant part of Liem's determination to stay all in one piece. He's doing great.]

I'll be holding you to that as well.

[No standing him up, Howl.]