LOCKED TO MERIDIAN

[leicesters]

[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.

Comments

[narsinssist]

Now, now, do not tease me too much with such an enjoyable evening, Set!

You will have me at your door within the hour if I feel invited.

[ Ask Sebastian. ]

Shall I bring wine for the host? Or merely myself for a proper introduction?

[ Raphael honey akua and Set would have you for breakfast. ]

[redsoil]

Of course you are invited! Perhaps Akua and I ought to find the time to make a party of it, even. A social gathering for Shard-Bearers.

[ Maybe after the Oracle, win or lose. He's sure that Sebastian caters, that freak. Maybe he'd have fun helping plan it, too. ]

You must know that your company is more than enough, though a bottle of wine would never be turned down.

[wolfish]

In that case, I'll be by shortly.

[ Since Howl said anytime, no time like the present... ]

[leicesters]

He's isolated, no doubt about it. He told me he was living by himself, and he seemed lonely. Offered to smuggle some stuff out of Highstorm for me, so my guess is his loyalty is still very shaky.

Maybe he's doubled down on his beliefs since then, though. I can't say whether he held either Cyrus or Yima in particularly high regard to be affected by either of their losses.

[narsinssist]

Parties sound delightful, of course! Though I will admit I have a fondness for a more intimate setting as well.

[ SIGHS LOUDLY. ]

Therefore, why not perhaps both?

I will have to pen in a personal visit, post haste. I believe I even know just where to go, hm?

[ Considering........how often he visits Sebastian............ ╯︿╰ ]

[leicesters]

All I'm saying is that if he thinks one of us did it, we need to watch our backs.

[wolof]

I disagree. If he had, would he not have sought revenge already? Tore his way through us? I think Sebastian is a careful creature, and would not extend himself if he does not know whom it is.

There are far too many amongst us, and he is not foolish, nor is he mindlessly revenge-driven.

He will not take that step until he is certain, he is too careful.

If one of us did, of course, I would offer them the advice that I offer most foolish Praesi whom have over-extended themselves, and made a grave enemy: Do not give him any indication of whom or what you have done, lest he is set upon that path.

[ Looking Liem directly in the eyes tbh 💖 ]

[wolof]

[ He will 💖 ]

Perhaps he shall. Though I think during the Oracles he is quite careful. He would fight myself or Set, or any others if he thought there was merit.

But I think I could handle him just fine, and prioritize any that need to get away.

[ in a fight, right? ]

[wolof]

[ A laugh. ]

Good-natured is relative. He was well known amongst the High Council, and attended many functions with the Warlock. He did not extend himself to destroy the Warlock's enemies, and nor had he been interested in it.

He was a devil, and simply followed his whims. His whims were what they were.

The issue that you would take with that, is that we had no qualms with what he did.

[ Praesi approved (negative) ]

[wolof]

Precisely. And searching for a creature that has a small shred of Zenith's power... may allow us to find him sooner.

Were he to be caught spying. It is something to keep in mind, I think, for those whom have strengthened their resolve to Meridian, at least.

[redsoil]

Unfortunate that even on the beach, he wore such an unflattering ensemble.

[ not everyone has the will to bang "the enemy" to discern such information, after all

( and not everyone is as nearly-nude as set 8( ) ]

Anyone else who left particular articles of clothing on during that time might allow us to make an estimated guess.

[dreamflowers]

Well, that's pretty useful when you've got hostile spirits to deal with as well. I know of a potion that makes fighting them easier, since, y'know... Can't bind every one of them.

[She probably would if she could.]

[dreamflowers]

Excavating probably won't be necessary at this point, if I can just be there and see something.

Of course, Kowloon doesn't seem so hospitable towards Meridian, but I've ways around that.

[hauntedking]

Yes... at least for now. We may have to try to fix that.

[sterngaze]

I would suspect that only sunlight would suffice. From my own experience, and from my knowledge of vampires in my world, even powerful magical light does not have the same effect as light from the sun.

This is, I would assume, one of the reasons why Kenos's vampires move around Kowloon and Highstorm with such impunity.

[sterngaze]

He will, yes. There are some among Meridian's people who have proven willing enough to learn his scripture, even if they don't know of his world.

[This was the main task Liem had to take on over the winter months, when the physical construction of the church was halted. After all, a church was not simply a building. It needed people to give it life.]

I mean for it to be a refuge from the darkness, as well. I've hallowed the building, so it cannot be infiltrated by magical means, and so no shadows can be found within it. Whatever strangeness is cloaking Alenroux at night, it should be a safe place.

[warmare]

Then I am glad for you. And for your faith.

[She knew how important it was to him. She had seen how worn and read the pages of that book were. She had seen what happened to him, when he lost his belief in the god called Abadar. He fell to Pleroma. He fell to Zenith.

And she did not want that. Not again.]

If it can protect the people of Alenroux from the shadows, then it is even better. Is it possible to hallow even more space, or is it very taxing for you?

[dreamflowers]

Easier said than done, depending on how you intend to "fix" a situation like that.

[escardos]

If it won't get full, then we have to find a way to destroy it. I don't know if it's possible to befriend it.

[ maybe it's misunderstood? or maybe it's just acting on its needs, the same way any other human or non-human might. ]

But if you're saying there's a crack, then where is it? Maybe if we close it, it'll shrivel away.

not here anymore

[warmare]

[IN A FIGHT.]

[hauntedking]

Yes... but we can't just leave it, either. Difficult or not it must be handled.

[warmare]

I will.

I know what he is capable of.

[escardos]

Something like that.

[ it's nothing like that. but because she seems to get it, flat's not going to wrack his brain further in trying to work out the minutiae of it all.

with her answer, the mage falls back deep into thought, trying to form some sort of a strategy that he can give her. ]

How far away from him were you? Maybe if you do something like a sneak attack or have someone act as a decoy, you could probably land a hit from farther away. And I wonder if he's impervious to his own spell or if there's a small area around him where it doesn't take effect... but that sounds too risky, doesn't it? Maybe jumping from above...

[ there's so many variables! flat could come up with scenarios all day long and probably not run out of possibilities.

and, most importantly, there's the fact that flat has failed self-defense for 10 years in a row. ]

But again, I haven't seen him use these [ really cool sounding ] moves, so these are nothing but tips and suggestions!

regretfully yours, public

[gravings]

In short, yes. Their motivations... the fixations they had in life. The stronger the spirit is, the clearer the visions seem to be. It isn't something I've tried to develop on purpose... but it isn't something I can prevent, either.

[warmare]

[... She will simply have to deal with it. Sympathy. If he does not say it out loud, she does not have to say it out loud. Even if she maybe should. ... Perhaps after.]

If Gray trusts him, and you are confident, then I will make that enough for me.

I will.