locked to meridian + ota

[warmare]

[Hayame had plenty to say about this disgraceful farce the moment she had regained consciousness... But she waited. She waited, so that her emotions would be as locked down and as under control as she could manage. Until only harsh anger and the burn of judgement come through- at least, for now.

First, she addresses only Meridian.]

I hope you are proud of yourself.

Those of you who have been too weak to commit properly to this cause, content to let those with drive and will do the winning of Oracles on your and your world's behalf.

Those of you who claim allegiance to Meridian but have been content to play "neutral" and hide like a weak little bug in the shadow of those more powerful than you.

Those of you who could not draw a single line in the sand and loved playing friend or whore too much to break off relations with people working to ensure that the lives of everyone in your world are snuffed out permanently.

Those of you who have refused to shatter the shards of our enemies, whining about the sanctity of a soul, even though that is the only way to kill someone properly in this twisted world.

Mourn that sun goddess for the power she possessed that our faction has lost. Mourn the kindness she showed you, if you so wish. But I will impart a lesson unto you- If someone is kind to everyone, then their kindness means absolutely nothing. That empty-headed fool of a woman had her shard shattered by the very man whose shard she protected, after I and another killed him in the labyrinth of the Harbinger Oracle trial. If she had given that foul thing back to us so that I might crush it beneath my hoof, then she would be alive today.

That is what kindness of that nature will reap you. A disgraceful public execution at the hands of a wizened, corpse-gnawing gaki barely managing the veneer of a man.

If you wish to dedicate yourself further to the actual cause you claim to serve, or if you wish to train and empower yourself, I will gladly help you. It would be my honor.

But if your plan is to continue living the sort of shameful existence that helped allow for the assassination of Springstar's Tribune at his own godsdamned home, then either purge yourself of that treacherous weakness... or I will try to find the time in my days to do it for you.

[Maybe this is where she could stop, take a breath... But she does not. The rest, cold and hateful and roiling with anger, is said to everyone, Zenite and Unharmonized alike.]

To all those who still claim allegiance to Zenith... I will not waste breath trying to convince you of anything at all, let alone now, after what your faction has wrought upon countless innocents. Whether you are a poor thing who would abandon every life in your world simply because you were treated badly, whether you are a pathetic thing who cannot muster the will to hope for anything but that sacred bitch on high and a committee of degenerates making a new world for you to exist in, or whether you are a sick thing who delights in watching worlds burn and people die... I, Hayame of Echigo, do not care, and I will not show mercy to one any more than the other.

Unlike, it seems, the many dishonorable among you, I say this to you plainly and clearly.

I will disable you if I see you step foot in Springstar.

I will hunt down your cornerstones and smash them to pieces.

And I will kill you if you put yourself between me and the possibility of returning to my world and my duty.




... Ah, yes. To those of you who have still not chosen a side, even after seeing what has occurred this moon... My advice to you is to stay Unharmonized, to pick up a hoe, and to go tend crops in Alenroux. You obviously lack the determination required for this conflict... and the people require food. Go on.

If you need a recommendation for a farmer looking for labor, I know plenty. Do you fancy turnips, or buckwheat?

Comments

[hauntedking]

No matter what your birth was, you're here now and you're one of the best of us, Hayame. Your input is appreciated - you are also one of the more experienced warriors we have. Even at home, I would rely on the words of those who were not perhaps "born" to rule. But I have found breeding makes little difference to character.

[ He's got a lot of thoughts on that. Anyway- ]

We may need to consult and see if there's some sort of magic that might be used. I know it is not your strong suit, but some sort of seal or barrier might be of use. Otherwise we'll certainly need a military force to maintain an occupation and keep constant patrols.

[warmare]

[His phrasing... reminds her, of what she might have said. Ah.]

... I simply meant. That though I would gladly put myself forward to lead our soldiers in battle, and while I believe myself far more experienced than many of our number when it comes to battle, and a willingness to do what is required...

I do not wish to make the false assertion that I consider myself one of our foremost strategists.

[Claude, or Set, she would put forward before herself. Liem, too. Even if... has she learned enough? Is she smart enough, in that field? Perhaps smarter...]

... I do not mind magic if it is used in such a way as that.

If magic can be made... I would wonder if one of ours might consider spells to cripple Cornerstones over large areas. Akua, perhaps, or Fane? They are wise in such things.

[hauntedking]

We do all have our strengths, but I think the variety of perspectives helps.

[ He's really just the type to try and buck people up. He likes seeing people thrive, after all. ]

I don't know Fane, but I think I've met Akua once or twice - I'll see what I can learn from them. If there's any possibility of using it effectively, I think we should pursue it - we'll need every advantage we can.

[warmare]

[... Tch!!!! Fine.]

The both of them should be... free. Now that the weapon they were working on has apparently been put to use.

[hauntedking]

I can take some solace in knowing that Yima, at least, was not around very long to savor her supposed triumph.

[warmare]

Was she not?

Have they found her corpse?

[hauntedking]

I don't believe so, but... the weapon worked.

[warmare]

That it did.

But I want to see that woman's head.

[She's heard things. About her manor in that one "future".]

[hauntedking]

...I admit it would be more satisfying that way. But I will be content with knowing she's gone.

[ He's angry, even if it's controlled. ]

[warmare]

And yet, if we do not get that, then how do you propose we know?

[hauntedking]

I suppose absence of evidence isn't evidence of absence... but if her body were destroyed, we'd have no real way of confirming it.

[warmare]

... It makes me uneasy.

If only because of what was reportedly seen by those who went to that manor before the Iconoclast Oracle began.

[hauntedking]

Ah. Yes. I know what you mean. She... seems to have the ability to last.

[warmare]

I know there is naught I can do, I am no mage who can sniff her out via those means, but.

It leaves me uneasy.

[hauntedking]

All we can do is move forward and try our best. And rest assured we shall overcome.

[warmare]

Well.

I have no intent to go backwards.

[hauntedking]

Nor do I. We have a future to win.