leicesters: (112)
Claude von Riegan ([personal profile] leicesters) wrote in [community profile] kenoscomm2024-03-08 01:40 pm

LOCKED TO MERIDIAN

[Claude's communion prescence has always been like a summer breeze; warm, easygoing, albeit difficult to read before it moves on. Now it has more of a brittle, bitter quality, like a looming dust-cloud he has to hold at a distance. There's no going back from this point when he knows things will only escalate from here, and so now seems like an important time to address his fellow Meri.]

The fight for the next Oracle will be on us soon. The Tribune may have been slain, but he entrusted the future of the worlds to us. Though he won't be able to help us see this through, we can still fight for him, and all the others we've lost along the way. We can fight for Springstar... and we can fight for Quetzalcoatl.

[There's a brief pause on this point. Her death deserves respect and acknowledgement, and she may not be the last to meet such a fate before the fighting is over.]

...We'll fight for your homes, too. After all, our worlds aren't that different, right? They might be flawed in their own ways, and there might even be some of you who would rather stay here when this is done. But every world and the life on it is precious, and it beats whatever phony world Yima and her followers come up with.

Speaking of Yima: I've discussed this with a few people already, but I suspect she's still alive. When the Blight almost destroyed Kenos, somehow she was still around. When I asked her about it, she said she wasn't bound by time like a normal person is. She can exist in different times and different places simultaneously; I don't know how it works, but maybe she even foresaw this attempt on her life before it even happened.

That said, it's just speculation, so we might as well play dumb and behave towards Zenith as if we're convinced she's dead for now. It'll be easier for us that way.

[Others have probably arrived at a similar conclusion, perhaps people among Zenith's ranks too, but it bears saying, particularly for those newly arrived to the conflict.]

Anyway, enough about her -- how about we use this opportunity for a little strategy get-together? We have a few new faces around, so feel free to introduce yourself and your capabilities.

For those of us who have been around longer, feel free to toss in an introduction too. More importantly, share what you know about Zenith and its current capabilities, in combat or otherwise. Any insight into their current thinking would be useful right now, too. What's their morale like? We know by now that some of them really hate our guts, and I wonder how much their desire for revenge is going to play into the next battle...

[He sounds casual, almost flippant, but there's a serious point in there he's sure he doesn't need to overstate: the more loyal Zenites are going to have some serious motivation in the next battle to get back at them, whether they believe Yima is gone or not.]

Let's not let our own judgement be clouded by revenge, even if we've sustained losses. We need to go into this with a clear head, looking toward the future.

Oh-- on that note, Hayame wants to speak with some of you about some further strategising either before or after the Oracle. Sorry that's a little vague, but I'm sure she'll talk to you about it properly when the time comes. For now, let's just focus on one thing at a time.
warmare: (恨み)

[personal profile] warmare 2024-03-09 10:57 pm (UTC)(link)
[What is important... She wishes she could think of it charitably. She truly does.]

I am not solely focused on him. But if you wish to be the one to handle it so badly, then you be my guest. Perhaps that demon will change tactics if it is not me, and unpack a little lunch for you all instead.
warmare: (寒い)

[personal profile] warmare 2024-03-09 10:59 pm (UTC)(link)
And was that Tikoloshe good-natured? Trustworthy? Kind, to anyone but his adopted daughter and her dear friends?

[Or was he Praesi-approved (negative)?]
warmare: (武士)

[personal profile] warmare 2024-03-09 11:01 pm (UTC)(link)
... A fair point.

If True Sight alone cannot work... I searched out an amulet that is purported to detect the demonic. Perhaps more can be [bought with AC tokens] found.
warmare: (恨み)

[personal profile] warmare 2024-03-09 11:05 pm (UTC)(link)
She was deathly lax. But she was also powerful, and Zenites risked it anyway. For that shriveled gaki.

[Literally ignoring this caution bullshit bye]
warmare: (髪)

[personal profile] warmare 2024-03-09 11:06 pm (UTC)(link)
That is what you heard.

Every person who stands in my way.

But I am not everywhere.

And just like in Meridian, not all the Zenites bother to stand.
damnpire: (pic#12042624)

[personal profile] damnpire 2024-03-09 11:06 pm (UTC)(link)
I was a vampire hunter on the Frontier, the world where I'm from.

[He just kept the profession. Imagine your whole identity being based on your profession.]
warmare: (沈黙)

[personal profile] warmare 2024-03-09 11:11 pm (UTC)(link)
[Because those two dhamphirs were born that way and she didn't know that vampire as a human before?????]

No, you are right- that madman had to have chosen it, with that demon at his side.

[But also, yes, get your judgy on!!!! Because she definitely says it in a "what a fucking freak" tone.]

So what? Just that easily, he is now immortal?
warmare: (人馬型)

[personal profile] warmare 2024-03-09 11:13 pm (UTC)(link)
If you know what I am about to say, then I need not say it.

I leave you to handle that, if it comes to some sort of fruition.
damnpire: (pic#15946969)

[personal profile] damnpire 2024-03-09 11:15 pm (UTC)(link)
[NO BULLY.]

Hunting vampires requires great skill in combat, tracking, and an understanding of their mythos. My preference is a sword.

I'm familiar with advanced technology; the vampires on the Frontier made their civilization with it.
damnpire: (pic#15946975)

[personal profile] damnpire 2024-03-09 11:21 pm (UTC)(link)
Hm.

[Amos, hello? You good, buddy?]

I can't be sure how much, but I believe he is Harmonized with Zenith very extensively. Maybe the questioning was addling him, but the hold wouldn't let go.
warmare: (微笑む)

[personal profile] warmare 2024-03-09 11:24 pm (UTC)(link)
[THIS IS GENTLE FOR HAYAME gosh]

See? That was not so difficult, now, was it?

[... There's even the slightest, tiniest sensation of a curve in the corner of lips that might possibly be identified as a smile.]
damnpire: (pic#12040373)

[personal profile] damnpire 2024-03-09 11:24 pm (UTC)(link)
[Hm. That's eerie. He waits patiently, not rushing.]

Yes, I have heard them say as much. [Actually, as someone who shockingly knows what a computer is, he understands this reference. HE GETS IT!! AMAZING.] I understand.

Something happened to allow it to worm its way inside. A crack, somewhere. It will get worse. It was hungry. I don't think it will be satiated.
dreamflowers: if there's something to be gained (i won't lie)

[personal profile] dreamflowers 2024-03-09 11:32 pm (UTC)(link)
[She snorts.]

Guess there's that, yes. You don't need to eat or sleep or anything, either, do you?

[Can't imagine he would, without the organs necessary that would require those things.]

Yeah? To be honest, I hadn't really thought of what it might be like to "empower" one of my spells using someone else's, but it's worth a shot.

And, ah, I'm usually solo, save for when I've been able to summon some backup. So most of my skills tend to be on the more aggressive side, with a few exceptions. I specialize in Elementalism, Sinistra, and Phasmalism -- though the latter two aren't very... legal in my world.
damnpire: (pic#15956286)

[personal profile] damnpire 2024-03-09 11:39 pm (UTC)(link)
[DON'T SMILE ABOUT BULLYING HIM INTO TALKING MORE!!! She gets a gentle, but disgruntled sort of sway from his mind.]

If someone is in need of me, they may ask.
dreamflowers: (16859921)

[personal profile] dreamflowers 2024-03-09 11:40 pm (UTC)(link)
[Well then. Jade was going to respond to the whole graveskeeper bit, but that's more interesting.]

Is destroying ghosts your main thing, or can you do anything else with it?

[Asking because of reasons.]
redsoil: (pic#16220564)

[personal profile] redsoil 2024-03-09 11:47 pm (UTC)(link)
Yes.

[ WASSAP LIL SAVANT, welcome to the most insane aspect ]

It did not feel like a dream, or a nebulous vision. I truly lived those memories, as though I returned to my world and experienced them: the time that passed, the knowledge I gained, the people I interacted with. It was all very real.
hauntedking: (08)

[personal profile] hauntedking 2024-03-09 11:48 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Yeah, OK, they can disagree on that (there is no agreeing to disagree, it's just disagreement). ]

Why? He seems mad. What does he offer them that warrants so much loyalty? I certainly wouldn't protect him... even if he were Meridian.
redsoil: (pic#16220562)

[personal profile] redsoil 2024-03-09 11:48 pm (UTC)(link)
When are you coming to visit, Raphael?

[ lol ] Akua and I would love to have you for dinner and get to know you properly.
hauntedking: (06)

[personal profile] hauntedking 2024-03-09 11:49 pm (UTC)(link)
...if you can get glimpses of possible futures, that could be useful. Although I hesitate to ask you to strain yourself if it's not strictly needed.
fishfearme: (gentle neutral)

[personal profile] fishfearme 2024-03-09 11:49 pm (UTC)(link)
You never know. The trials have been different each time...

[It's best to be prepared for anything. Writing competitions, Kenos's Strongest (Wo)Man, Extreme Karaoke...]
cutlery: (that's just a sundial with extra steps)

still not here

[personal profile] cutlery 2024-03-09 11:49 pm (UTC)(link)
[ but he is TIRED imagining it ]
redsoil: (pic#16427630)

[personal profile] redsoil 2024-03-09 11:50 pm (UTC)(link)
Small. It was a concentrated mote of weight and pull — the likes of which I have no dominion over, even with all my physical strength.

[ As for the rest, how the FUCK does he explain it?? ]

Like he matured. That is not to say he will spurn Yima, but... we spoke, he and I. We genuinely spoke to one another for the first time.
warmare: (分かった)

Very Private

[personal profile] warmare 2024-03-09 11:51 pm (UTC)(link)
[SHE DEFINITELY DID NOT SMILE. You're crazy if you think she smiled.

But also.]


... I am in need.
damnpire: (pic#12094812)

A Private Return

[personal profile] damnpire 2024-03-09 11:53 pm (UTC)(link)
[HAYAME... He's surprised a bit, even if he probably shouldn't be.]

What do you need?
warmare: (見張る)

[personal profile] warmare 2024-03-10 12:03 am (UTC)(link)
Small... as in we need not worry if we are at long-range, or small but capable of pulling even from a distance?

[One of these sounds worse than the other...]

...

You spoke.

[Unsaid, but implied, "about?" Just the smallest bit of wriggle room not to say, if it was... Something. After all. She had spoken with Amos about things they swore then not to share with others unless the other broke the pact.

... Not that she knows if he's bothering to honor that vow. Not anymore.]

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