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

SHADOWS

[annmorous]

Everyone's seen how creepy the shadows are in Springstar by now, right? One tried grabbing me, but when I tried fighting it off, nothing worked!

[what good is a persona without being able to fight shadows, smh...]

I managed to run away, but what should we do? I'm worried the problem will get way worse if we ignore it.

[hauntedking]

This might be related to whatever it is that's... out there. But I don't currently have a solution. Matt was floating some ideas when I spoke to him... unfortunately, he's chosen to align himself with Zenith.

[annmorous]

How about we shine a reeeally big light on the streets while we walk around? At least until we get rid of them for good.

[shes... shes not an ideas person, sorry]

[hauntedking]

...while that might work, I'm not sure it would be a viable solution. Especially if they're magical in nature.

[annmorous]

Yeah... I guess trying couldn't hurt? At least until we come up with something better.

[a_noble_flame]

Matt spoke at length on the shadow problems earlier this month. If you wish to learn more about them I would recommend speaking to him

[That said she adds:]

I haven't experienced them quite as much as you have so far. I did see the face of one of my colleagues that disappeared shortly after I noticed him and that seems to be connected to them as well.

Matt did mention the Church in Heliopolis might have more information that could be helpful in understanding what might have led to these Shadows but would need a high-ranking Meridian to be able to access them.

[annmorous]

[Ann's not at all surprised a shadow might take on a familiar face; that's at least one similarity they have with the Shadows of her world, even if the similarities end there.]

I just got here, so I'm definitely not high-ranking. I'll look out for this Matt person, though.

[a_noble_flame]

He is unfortunately on the Zenith side so ...

[Alice has no compulsions about talking to a Zenite. Others might think differently of course.]

I just arrived myself as well. I'm sorry you've been pulled into something like this.

[annmorous]

[It does make her more cautious, and something in the communion wavers; Ann was already guarded around adults she doesn't trust, and adding this war into the mix only makes that so much worse. Maybe she'll consider giving him a chance if he seems helpful, but that's a consideration for another time.]

I'm sorry you're in this mess, too. You sound like you're used to fighting, but that can't make losing your home any easier.

[hauntedking]

Well... we do have several high ranking Meridian available, don't we?

[ Haha, gotta laugh sometimes. ]

[a_noble_flame]

I assume so, yes. Many of you have certainly been here far longer than myself at least.

[There is a faint laugh over Alice's communion.]

I was interested in more documentation of the history of this world, from the past Zenith-Meridian conflicts to Oracles' origins and so on. At home I knew the lay of the land and the countries so I could better understand those I came up again. Here of course I have none of that and I am realizing the weight of that loss of knowledge.

[warmare]

No high-ranking Meridian should access them to give that information to a Zenite.

[a_noble_flame]

Perhaps not but it is a good bit of information for us, isn't it?

[redsoil]

[ raising his hand

he is both high ranking AND a known member of the Church! ]

I cannot promise I will not protect important intel from those who could flinch and flee, but I could be convinced to assist such an endeavor.

[a_noble_flame]

That would be very kind of you. For myself I simply wish to understand this world and the two factions better if possible.

[escardos]

Is there any way that we could capture a shadow? I’d love to analyze one.

[annmorous]

Huh? [why's he so enthusiastic... whatever floats your boat buddy] I guess you'd need to use magic, because I couldn't touch it at all.

1/2

[escardos]

A container to trap a shadow… an illusion…

Or if we…

…like a camera…

…Long exposure…

[ sorry ann and everyone trying to tune into him, he’s just mumbling to himself in a deadpan, robitic tone for like a good minute. ]

2/2

[escardos]

[ but then he suddenly bounces back with his usual energy! ]

Alright! I think I can work on something for it! Heheh, I really would like to know where they come from!

[wolfish]

We started seeing something like that during the last Oracle's challenge. Byleth and I had success burning them away when we tested it, but that poses a challenge in an urban area.

Not to mention, they went from stationary to actively hunting people in that short period... They may have grown more resilient since.

[annmorous]

'Burning them away' like, setting them on fire?

[Or just using the light of a flame to scare them away...? Either way, she uses fire magic, so she wants to take note.]

[wolfish]

Got it in one. Fire's a strong suit of his, wind's one of mine, so I could fan his flames and concentrate them on our target.

[ It sounds tidy, but they were in tunnels, so it was a smoky endeavor. ]

Took a couple rounds, but we turned it to ash. At the time, he thought it was a "mimic", which is apparently some predatory creature. It was taking the guise of supplies... Now whatever it is, it's topside. I agree with you that it's a problem.

[ex_fend346]

I don't know enough to offer a solution right now, but if you're ever unable to get away, please call for help.

[ His kind can simply sense and avoid threats, much of the time, but shadows... How very strange. ]

[annmorous]

Aww, thanks, Subaru! You're always such a gentleman.

[And communion does make calling for help from a long distance a lot easier...!]

[ex_fend346]

That's kind of you to say, but I'm sure others would offer the same.

[ Still, the words come with the air of a soft smile.

There follows a considered pause, before he thinks to add: ]

If you don't mind my asking, have you found your friend?