communion (ota)

[cyfaredd]

[ Howl's Communion opens in mid-afternoon, entering your brain like a blast of cold air scented with several heavily-applied perfumes. The sensation is so strong that you may actually smell it for real, like an olfactory hallucination, dominated by the scent of hyacinths but tinged with something smoky and earthy, reminiscent of a wood-burning fireplace.

The presence of the person himself is just as loud as the smell. He hasn't opened a connection with everyone so much as he's thrown the door open and allowed his own self-manufactured radiance to command everyone's attention. The mental voice that follows is youthful, confident and flows with a strong Welsh accent. ]

Good afternoon. My name is Howl. Wizard Howl.

I already know what some of you are thinking when you hear that, and no — whoever it was that was once in this world with the same name, I am not him returned. And I don't know anything about that man either, so please, don't hold anything he did against me.

Anyway, now that it's been a few weeks, I've an important matter that I wish to raise with you all. That being: how many of you actually believe what we've been told about how we got here and what we're meant to do with ourselves?

[ The question is punctuated by the impression of Howl leaning back in a plush armchair, crossing his legs and folding his hands together in his lap. ]

If you ask me, we're quite obviously being lied to. None of it adds up, and half of the "proof" is in the form of dreams, which are easily manipulated by someone with the right knowledge, skill and power. I could do it myself if I wanted.

But I already know what I think. I want to know how the rest of you are taking it.

[ He throws up one hand in a shrug. ]

And for the more indoctrinated among you... well, if there's something I'm missing, please! Inform me. I'm all ears.

Comments

ok it's not hostility bc this is funnier

[redsoil]

Oh, gee! Really, Mister Wizard Howl? The last version of you was so much more genteel and charming and handsome, but I really like the way you condescend to us all about something we NEVERRRRR considered before!

[ The massive presence of a Certain God slams down before him, bright eyed and mocking and pretending to have a valley girl accent. He even twirls his hair between his fingers, ]

Like! I'm so glad you came here, gosh! Without your brains and ability to state the obvious, we all would still be stumbling around like silly idiots! You're such a herooooo ~!

[cyfaredd]

[ There's something like a squint in response to this, like Howl is just barely maintaining his calm and collected affect. And also because you kinda need to metaphorically squint when Communing with Set. ]

Oh? So you've considered this very obvious problem, and have chosen to participate anyway? In that case, you must have figured out something I haven't, or know something you've chosen not to share. Won't you educate me?

[redsoil]

Well, ch'yeah!

[ it's the mullet

down with mullets ]

Come on, Mister Wizard Howl. You are waaaay smarter than the rest of us, ob-vo. You gotta' be able to puzzle out a good answer, if you came up with that genius original take to begin with!

[ what the hELL books has he been reading in his spare time, lmfao ]

I mean, my answer for me is that would rather fight for what I believe in, while simultaneously questioning my surroundings and situation. After all, we can do both. On the off chance this is real... do you really want to risk not having the opportunity to be the deciding factor in how the story goes?

[ SMILE ]

[youngprodigy]

You certainly have opinions, don't you?

[cyfaredd]

Of course. Do you have no opinions on the war you've been drafted into fighting? The pitch you were given when you arrived is the same one I received, wasn't it?

[youngprodigy]

More or less, aye.

The Oracles are very real. What powers they possess isn't so clear, but I have no reason to believe they aren't powerful entities.

[cutlery]

[ As soon as Sebastian hears Howl’s familiar voice, he stops what he’s doing (watering his plants, thank you) with a mildly pained expression. He’s encountered much worse in the way of the shared Communion since Howl in terms of the bleed of emotions, but still. Howl does stand out for being very uniquely the first, and it’s what sends a little ripple of dread across Communion.

…And, yet. While Sebastian had essentially flinched in anticipation, nothing comes.

It’s explained as Sebastian listens, naturally. This is Howl, but also is not Howl, so apparently, his Aspect had changed too…? Whatever deity there is to be thanked, Sebastian feels a bit of that sentiment for the moment. For a lack of options, he just goes with Set. ]

…Do pardon me. [ He at least starts off polite, but he has to make 100%, absolutely sure, ] This is a bit off-topic from your questions, which I shall return to, but I hope you will permit me one of my own first, Mr. Howl. What is your Aspect, if I may?

[cyfaredd]

[ The question is polite enough, but considering how different of a response this was to the two he's received so far... it feels weirdly suspicious. ]

From what I understand, I fall under "Iconoclast." Quite a poor fit, judging by the name alone, but I never did see myself as much of an Aquarius, either. [ mental shrug. ] Why do you ask?

[cutlery]

[ thank you set or whatever

By which I mean, the relief is truly palpable, and there's a little sigh to match it. Again, it's not as if Howl was that bad compared to, say, Ruby, but still... ]

Oh, just a bit of personal confirmation, really. When you were last here, we shared an Aspect, and for some other circumstances, we were the only ones to do so. I mean no offense by saying so, but it was... A bit noisy, so to speak.

[ He laughs a little sheepishly ]

Though I am sure that seemed an odd question out of the blue, so thank you for indulging me. The shared Aspects are simply something I find rather personally troubling.

[redsoil]

[ "he just goes with set"

thanks boo, your prayer has been logged ]

[escardos]

Wow, talk about trolling!

[ flat has nothing helpful to say, as per usual. ]

That won’t make you very popular, I think. Unpopular wizards tend to end up getting locked in towers, you know.

[cyfaredd]

Popular wizards tend to have people knocking on their doors asking for important favors, too.

[ No, thank you! What a bother! Also he has no idea what "trolling" is, ]

You've got to know what you're worth! And I'm worth a proper explanation.

[escardos]

I think popular wizards would have friends, but I guess that would happen too.

[ howl, do you have friends? ]

But I guess someone should write some sort of guide to this. You know, like they do in video games. They could call it the "Zenith-Meridian War Official Strategy Guide" or something like that.

[eightfoldfiend]

[There is a sense of something vast, ancient, and grotesque turning an impossible gaze upon the Communion. A human-like twinge of annoyance quickly follows this.

Somehow, Howl's message had felt...intrusive. Like having someone throw open the blinds to let sunlight shine on a once comfortably dark room.]

What purpose would anyone have to lie to us?

[cyfaredd]

[ Oh, yikes. This guy's vibes are dreadful. When they said that this Communion thing can be sent out to everyone, they really meant everyone, didn't they. ]

That's precisely what I want to know. Since the lie is obviously, at least in my opinion, the question becomes why.

[eightfoldfiend]

To convince us to capture the Oracles for them, don't you think? Then they can use all that power for whatever they want.

[A thoughtful pause.]

It doesn't matter anyway.

If they are lying then we'll find out soon enough. Nobody can't keep lies that big a secret for long.

Then we'll kill them all.

[appeale]

[ tiredly: ]

Does it really matter if I believe it or not...? I mean—what else would I do?

[cyfaredd]

[ She doesn't sound good, whoever she is...? Howl can't help but immediately feel a bit concerned for her. ]

That's a rather sad question, isn't it? Have these people made you feel so powerless?

[appeale]

Yes.

[ she means it, vehement. there's a twinge of bitterness, though her voice remains soft and placid; something about her mental presence feels submissive in the manner of a beaten dog. ]

Someone like me doesn't have much in the way of choices here.

[kaientai]

[ ryouma brings a sudden gust of wind with him, too, although it's more like salt air blowing in off the sea rather than the cloying perfume howl's carries.

perhaps more notable is the sense of something monstrous and draconic wrapped around him despite his otherwise bright and friendly presence. two Shards means he brings oryou into the Communion as well, but things manifest strangely in this space. ]

Well, sure, it's all pretty sketchy.

[ the mental equivalent of a shrug. ]

But it's also pretty obvious that it can't be helped, so you try and make the best choices with what you have. That's how most things are in life.

[cyfaredd]

[ Howl doesn't yet know what to make of that odd, unnerving feeling he gets when this man responds to him, being so new to Communion still. But, ugh, the vibes of some of these people... If they're not creepy, they're just outright strange. He isn't just imagining it, right? ]

Making the best choices with the information you've got is all we can expect ourselves to do. I'm just interested in hearing the reasons why. What about you, sir?

[alliterating]

Wow, we're being lied to? How could you even think that?

[ Heavy on the sarcasm there. ]

I was just saying to myself the other day, "Wow, Herrscher of Sentience, it's a good thing everyone here is so trustworthy!" But you've completely changed my outlook! Congratulations!

[cyfaredd]

[ Ah, more sarcasm. How tiresome. Not that Howl wasn't expecting some negative responses, but he'd thought people might have something more to say about it than just deflecting. ]

So you agree with me? You can just say that.

[tresemme]

[ it’s less satisfying than tony expected to feel/hear everyone else beating up on someone besides him in the mental space. although howl’s presence makes his metaphorical fur stand on end, he just doesn’t have it in him to be as sarcastic as everyone else is. ]

I don’t know if they’re lying, or they’re just telling us what they think is true. It kind of feels like no one has tried anything different in all the time they’ve been here.

[cyfaredd]

Even if the story we've been given is believed to be the truth, that knowledge had to come from somewhere. So when you ask for the source and don't receive it, the natural conclusion to reach is that it's being kept from you on purpose.

[ But if the intention is to mislead then, then surely, they'd have an answer prepared for when new arrivals ask those questions, right? It's all very strange. ]

I happened to be mixed up in a complicated situation before I arrived in this world, so as far as I'm concerned, I'm on vacation.