open | an alenroux press release

[sterngaze]

[A couple weeks after the conclusion of the Exalt Oracle trial, a communion message goes out to all Kenos’s shard-bearers — at a brisk mid-morning hour for Springstar residents, and evening for those night owls in Highstorm. Surely an agreeable enough time for all, yes? The voice will be familiar enough to anyone who listened in on the ambassador talk a Kenos month ago; it’s Liem, mayor of Alenroux Meridian’s resident straight man.]

Greetings, everyone. I have some updates to share regarding efforts to make Alenroux fully and safely inhabitable, which I hope you will be pleased to hear.

Last month, prior to the events surrounding the Oracle, a contingent of Springstar military overseen by several shard-bearers launched a multi-pronged expedition north into Alenroux’s forests, in order to locate the source of the monsters that continue to infest the woods. While I’m sure those of you who frequent Alenroux will have noticed that the flow of especially dangerous, augmented creatures mostly died off after the dismantling of Aetós’s underground facility, we have not been able to expunge the general monster population from the forest despite ongoing efforts, so this was an attempt to remedy that.

These expeditionary forces succeeded in locating three separate cornerstones and portals that were previously disgorging monsters. At this time we think it likely that they were connected to the timestream in some way that allowed creatures from other worlds to come through, but the portals themselves proved extremely hazardous to life attempting to breach from this side. All three have now been destroyed, and while we cannot say with certainty that there are no further portals out there, we are optimistic that this will allow the danger to those living in Alenroux to be further reduced by the joint forces still stationed there.

If you have further questions, you may direct them to me, or to Hayame, Akua Sahelian, Keitaro Miura, Gray, Byleth Eisner, Link, Kim Dokja, or Dee. [He means D.]

Comments

[wolof]

Hm, perhaps there are those whom I know who could... inform me, if I get too close then, hm?

[ She's sure Set would tell her, if she asked. Though, she doesn't know it, perhaps with the additional caveat that she not touch Sebastian's... meal, as it were -- and she had no clue about the god's interest in said meal, either. To be fair, given who Silco was... that should not be surprising at all. ]

As it is, if I do... stumble over such a line, merely say the word, and I will adhere to our agreement.

[ She is certainly one for demonic deals, as it is. She did not make such promises lightly, and in this, she made it explicit -- even if she in her foolishness did tread, she would back off with merely a word.

Though there's a shift in communion, as she thinks to point out the other -- and frankly more exciting to her part of this conversation than Silco's identity ]

It occurs to me... I wonder how many have thought to ask for such delights here? Or rather -- how busy such a schedule would leave you?

[ Truly, curious, but also -- maybe she'll ask herself!! ]

[cutlery]

I believe so, and I will of course inform you if you get too close. I cannot say my master will understand the necessity… But they also do not quite understand the rigidity of such agreements.

[ Maybe later, once Akua knows, he’d tease his master just a little bit for it. He wants to when he has a receptive ear that will understand the delight of entrapping someone who was very much an average man, comparatively speaking. He only understood what he’d involved himself in abstractly, but that was no different than any other Covenant Sebastian had struck up in the past. His strategy had always been centered around preying on people that thought they knew better. Not a single one had. ]

Regardless, for more fun matters indeed—

[ they have the same mindset here, unfortunate, ]

I do not kiss and tell, of course… But the Kenosians have been bolder in requesting my attentions than Shard-Bearers, I will say. I am never lacking for work to do. [ And though Communion doesn’t share expressions, you can just hear the sly, near lascivious smile in his voice alone ] In one way or another.

[wolof]

[ She laughed. Ah, the foolishness of mortals, who thought that they knew better than the creatures that they made deals with. Devils (and Demons like Sebastian) were unique in that they had time, experience, and power in droves. No Diabolist worth their weight and power in blood would be foolish enough to enter a contract without something to give them the upper hand.

It seems this master of his likely didn't.

Well. More the fool him, then.

lol. lmao, ]

Ah, I am sure for the Kenosians here, you must be quite the oddity, though there is merit in being so... useful to those who reside here, hm? They must look to you rather positively, which I'm sure merits in plenty of gifts, and boons. [ Oh, she understands. More than that, it meant that Sebastian likely had the luxury of grace. Something she knows people like Hayame don't have. ]

Perhaps I'll find need to call on you, for... some need, or another, hm? [ Their "game", perhaps? ]

[cutlery]

Very much so. There are demons to be found here, but we are certainly not as common as some of the other sorts of people that have been pulled to Kenos... And it is at least my impression that I am one of the more sociable ones.

[ He laughs, since it’s a bit of a joke when you know what demons are like. He has his own personal theory that they’re a rarity because if there’s any will behind who (or what, in this case) gets picked, demons are more often than not a poor choice. The majority really are just chaotic brutes, and even a demon of considerable power would be crushed here in Kenos if they refused to play along. Some would have too much pride to do so. But Sebastian’s pride just worked differently. ]

Actually, the funniest case is that I have happened to become acquainted with the vampiric population of Highstorm, and quite a few very much enjoy my blood! It is a good little arrangement, since mine is purely for show, so they are able to indulge more than they may often be able… So, yes, I would say I have a little contingent of fans.

[ He’s underselling it, of course. He doesn’t think he’d truly fool Akua with it, but it is best to at least keep the extent of his influence at least hard to gauge. Even his fellow Zenites didn’t know, because that soft power was the sort of thing that Sebastian only called upon when necessary. It’s more powerful that way. ]

Regardless. You are of course welcome to call upon me at any time. It goes without saying, I should hope, but I do enjoy providing excellent service in all things.

[wolof]

My, an endless supply? You must be popular.

[ She understands what he is saying, of course. That sort of popularity did not come without perks, after all. That he was popular with them, as well, was just as unsurprising. Sebastian, after all, was a charming sort. Every bit the sort of powerful devil that her family would have tried to contract for Generations, if possible, or perhaps close enough to the immortal Tikoloshe who was only in a contract because he wanted to be.

She could see Sebastian doing just that, after all. Lesser devils were like beasts, but ones of Sebastian's caliber? They required careful negotiation.

It was one reason that she was so careful with Sebastian, despite being rather confident that she could handle him. (Perhaps... too confident? No, she was a Sahelian, she could handle anything.) ]

As it is, I'll make a habit of calling more often, then. Particularly with our...arrangement? I'll have a lot of catching up to do, if Set has a head-start on me, don't you think?

[ That, at least, is only mildly teasing. ]

[cutlery]

[ While technically not truly endless, it was difficult enough to exsanguinate him that it might as well be. No one that had been feeding off of him had gotten close to that, though, so it’s of no concern. It’s why it goes without comment, and instead, he laughs with delight at the idea of Akua playing catch-up. ]

Perhaps! But I shall say that you will be much better company. Lord Set has a terrible habit of vexing me just for the sake of it…

[ It’s also probably something that he’d bragged to Akua about because, well. Annoying Sebastian in such petty ways is funny. Calling his cats the wrong names, picking the stuffing out of his cushions, sawing off the legs of his furniture… Set is a menace. Akua… may also be a menace. But he finds it difficult to imagine her version of it leaning the same way at all. ]

Well, if the two of you team up, do go easy on me. [ Teasing, of course. If they did, he knows they wouldn’t…… ]

[wolof]

[ She laughed. ]

Set? He's been a perfect houseguest for me.

[ Not...entirely. Her home — affectionately called the Pavillion now — was overrun in places from Set's wild plant growth, though Akua thought it only made her home feel more like... a wild and free home. Like the more lush patches of her Wolof.

Set maybe didn't feel the need to pester Akua like he did Sebastian, and she hoped that would continue. ]

I will promise you this — We will go as easy on you as you deserve.

[ Which... really said it all, didn't it? ]

[cutlery]

[ Oh, it does. He knows precisely what that means, and he should feel a pang of fear or trepidation at the Deluxe Bullying that he’s going to be subject to. But, no. He doesn’t. ]

My, my, such a declaration almost makes me shudder in fear!

[ Teasing, of course. When he gets stuck as a bird for a week, he’s going to look back on this conversation and curse his hubris… ]

But, regardless… This has been a fun conversation, Ms. Sahelian! As always, I should note. So, until next we speak?

[ Which will be soon, since he’ll come calling for contracts, but. Waves hands at our multiple threads ]

[wolof]

[ A laugh that's just a touch too sharp. Too knowing. ]

Yes, until next time. It was a pleasure, as always.