locked to zenith

[bakedapple]

[ Link's mental space feels like being outside, so depending on where you are, you might not realize that someone has started Communion with you. Since joining the Zenith, the landscape of Link's mind has gone from idyllic, sunny forests to icy, overcast mountains. A frigid wind blows against your face, carrying the scent of firewood and meat roasting over an open flame. The diminutive Hylian is not sitting by the fire, but standing at the edge of a rocky ledge, his back turned. ]

There's going to be another Oracle soon. I can feel it. The rest of you can feel it too, right? That... pulling feeling.

[ He sighs. ]

If we lose this one, it's over. The Meridian isn't going to go easy on us. I know them... I know how badly they want to win. To them, the stakes couldn't be higher.

So let's talk. About what we're going to be up against, and... well, planning ahead isn't really something we can do, but at least we can warn each other of the dangers that individual Meri pose.

And I... I want to say something, too.

[ He sits down where he stands, his feet hanging off the cliff. There's a sense that he knows this isn't going to go over well, but it's important enough to him to say it anyway. ]

Killing the other guy before they kill you is what war is. That's normal. But Kenos is different. Death doesn't work the way it should here. We don't die permanently. You can neutralize someone threatening you by just dissipating them. There's nothing to gain by destroying their soul after you're no longer in danger.

So, I don't think any of us should shatter anyone ever again.

If you claim someone's Shard, you should protect it. If you feel that you can't do that, give it to someone else.

...I'm not stupid. I know a lot of you aren't gonna agree to this. And the Meris probably won't either. I'm sure they want revenge for what happened to Quetzalcoatl, and those of you who lost the Shards Yima gave you probably aren't feeling very merciful right now either...

But if we don't come to some kinda agreement now, that's going to become normal. Things are gonna get really bad. I don't want that. So... can we talk about it, at least?

Comments

[baltimores]

[ Is it sad? Amos isn't quite sure what to do with that notion, so after a pause he leaves it be. ]

Sure, she's prideful. [ It's not something he's ever felt for himself, but it sounds right for her. He can agree to that readily enough. ] I didn't think she was as good as dead, but as long as she thought she was I guess it didn't matter.

Go for her legs like you said, I guess. If she figures that's what's going to kill her then might as well make it happen.

[ Local city-turned-space dweller does not know enough about horse anatomy, turns out. He's plenty versed in not having any scruples, though. ]

[bakedapple]

[ Link shakes his head. ]

When a horse has a serious leg injury and can't walk anymore, they're as good as dead. Not simply because they can't flee from danger anymore, but even in the long term, too. Their bodies are too heavy to allow the leg to recover. And if Hayame is like the similar creatures that I've fought in the past, she'd be just as vulnerable to leg injuries.

[ Spoken like someone with a lot of experience with horses and centaurs alike. ]

But even if we immobilize her, I don't think she'll just give up on the spot. I've seen how good she is with a bow. She's certain to keep fighting until the end.

[baltimores]

[ A chill comes over Amos at Link's explanation. Because he'd thought that Hayame had been exaggerating when she'd requested to keep his dagger, but. If her leg being busted was going to mean sure death for her...

Well. It hadn't, because he'd run into her again after. So that chill dissipates, the sensation of Amos thinking filling that area instead. ]

Maybe. She might've found more of a gear to her now. [ Which is... not great for them, but he'd liked her, once. Maybe still does. He doesn't know, so he elects to not think about it, but he had wanted that for her. ] Still, you get a leg first and you can afford to wait her out, yeah? It's still the best target we got with her. Best to increase your odds that way regardless.

[bakedapple]

Yeah. Aim for her legs, and she'll be easier to deal with no matter what the situation is.

[ Being that big and powerful comes with a lot of advantages, but it has its own weaknesses too. ]

Aside from that one time, have you ever fought her before, Amos? It sounds more like you were helping each other back then than fighting.

[baltimores]

... Yeah, kinda. [ There'd been that time in the Iconoclast Oracle v1 where they'd actually teamed up to take out his doppelganger, so it wasn't technically him fighting her, but... he did see another technique that'd be effective for dealing with her. ] I can make people turn weightless. She couldn't do shit when she was floating in the air, so I guess any way to take her legs out from under her works.

I had her a different time in the Exalt Oracle, too... used a Fear spell on her. But that went to shit when Liem ambushed me and started drinking my blood, so, [ shrug. ] Guess you should also keep an eye out for any allies she's got around too.