THE HORRORS OF OBLIVION | [@]MERIDIAN

[damnpire]

[D's communion into Meridian aligned minds is like a very polite knock at the door, except when the door is finally opened, a rush of icy wind blows in. No warmth or mirth can be found in the space of his mind, though it's a surprisingly gentle, dark void despite the chill. It's familiar for anyone who has had a communion with him, but probably kind of eerie for those who haven't.

It's also pretty quiet now actually.]

I made an attempt to Reincarnate the late Tribune. [He delivers this all very clinically, very factual.] It failed, but not because he hadn't been willing.

Something else had been inside him. [Can Nothing be something?] It had cleaned his soul out, if he had one at all, and left him as a husk. There was no soul to shift into another body.

It spoke through him. It said, "We never would have been able to Enter without the Choices that have been made."

[:wooper:]

Comments

[gravings]

[ There's a faint impression of Gray stewing in the background. Talk about souls and husks is weirdly relevant to her, but not because of anything that's happened to her in this world or even the last. She isn't certain she should say anything lest she just confuse things, but if there's even a chance it will be helpful... ]

In magecraft, there's the principle of the mind, body, and soul being distinct components in a human body. Under the right circumstances, they can be interchangeable, or exist independently. In my homeland, there was even a dagger that could precisely separate the three of them.

[damnpire]

[Thank god this is business and there is no time to spew out a wad of soft feelings in the mindspace to 2948928 people. He is glad Gray is speaking up, though.]

Claude suggests we continue testing the Reincarnation. Should I be looking for something in particular?

[gravings]

[ This is territory she isn't so versed in — trying to keep someone alive who really should be dead. But if this is something D really wants to do, she will rack her brain for him. She can only speak from her own area of expertise. ]

Well... his missing soul is the key to everything, isn't it? Reincarnate won't work without it.

[ A beat, and then she continues more slowly. ]

Assuming his soul hasn't been destroyed already... It isn't impossible that it's already residing somewhere else. In a different body, I mean.

[damnpire]

It might be.

[Which is a more optimistic outcome than most of them here are spiraling against.]

The people from your world who could be separated, or function independently. What were they like afterward? Zombies? Was it hard to tell that had happened to them? Would doing so make the pieces more fragile?

[gravings]

It wasn't so common that I can tell you definitively. There are only a couple examples I've seen. [ A tiny blip of something, not quite guilt. ] But generally... a loose soul is naturally drawn to a suitable vessel. It must, or the soul will disperse.

If a vessel is perfect enough, the soul can even be drawn into it against its will. And because the soul contains the "genetic blueprint" of an individual, it can reform its new vessel into its original image. Once that happens, you might never be able to tell that the soul has taken over a new body... unless you can tell somehow that the "mind" is missing.

[damnpire]

[GUILT? GUILT?! He doesn't like that............ Oh no, they are both Advocates and now in communion, guess she can feel the curious reassurance on his end. It's fine.]

I understand. From what I've learned, Reincarnate acts in a similar way. Shard-bearers will return to their previous form. But natives will take on a new one. I don't know if they will have any memories. Perhaps the Shard-bearers would.

[He wonders if she is worried about Cyrus's soul. So, gently:]

I didn't find Cyrus's soul inside of his body, but that doesn't mean it was destroyed if it existed before.

[gravings]

[ Thanks Advobro... Always so concerned and supportive. What a friend. ]

Then maybe... his soul was already stored elsewhere before? For safekeeping?

[ Like just in case someone tried to ASSASSINATE him? ]

I suppose it's possible, but I'm not sure what would make anyone go to such lengths. They do say that some people sell their souls to the devil, but...

[damnpire]

[There are so many Advocates in this post alone doing the pingy-pong.]

I'll keep your expertise in mind. If you'd like to look around, too, let me know.

[D is... offering comradery...? Who has he become? Who is this man? (It's because it's Gray.)]

[gravings]

[ Now that he mentions it, it would probably be a good idea. If there's even a small chance of it, then Gray should contribute as much as she can. (And she doesn't think it's weird for him to offer because they are housemates and pals? Why wouldn't he offer his company and her hers!!) ]

I will. I don't know how much help I'll be, but I think it's worth trying.

[ Just in case... You never know... ]

[damnpire]

[He is so thankful he is never perceived a single time. This is the only time God smiles on him favorably.]

You might be surprised. If I'm able to get to any bodies before funerary rites, I'll let you know.