kenoscomm | LOCKED TO MERIDIAN

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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.

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Well, I commend you on your spirit, but I can't help but disagree with a few points.

[ And by the sound of things, as usual, he's going to be the unpopular opinion, but Ryouma has never shied away from that. ]

First, shattering souls is not like killing. When you kill someone, their soul still goes through the cycle of rebirth. That soul and everything it was isn't lost forever and wholly wiped from existence. We aren't doing Oblivion's job for it when we kill.

When someone is shattered, they're just gone. Quetzalcoatl came from my world. She meant something to the people there, and that is a loss that can never be repaired. What has changed as a result, I wonder? You all felt it. What happens when something that vast just stops existing?

This brings me to my second point — we don't know the true consequences. We have several more Oracles ahead of us, yes? As I said to Hayame when we had this discussion, what if one of the Oracles judged our worthiness by how willing we were to welcome Oblivion by tearing more holes in what's left of reality? Have you felt particularly hunted lately? What could potentially slide into the vacancies left behind by those souls in their desire to consume us?

[ He might be laying it on a little thick, but he figures the only way to get people to listen is to make them ask themselves what they're personally willing to risk by opening that particular door. ]

Do I have to remind you what happened when they tried to revive the Tribune? How "We never would have been able to Enter without the Choices that have been made"? Something is trying to get in.

No one even shattered the Tribune, but something is clearly not right. We shouldn't be taking more significant risks out of fear.

[ And he's sure that's all this is. It's not a strategy; it's because people are afraid. ]

Right now, Zenith is leading in irrevocable sins against the natural order thanks to Silco, so why not let them lie in the bed they've made for themselves? I've met Gen, if only briefly. If we can't win this war without destroying the soul of a sad teenager, we should be ashamed of ourselves.

Dissipate every Zenite on sight and make the Tree revive them a hundred times if you must. Destruction is in Zenith's nature. That can't be Meridian's way, too.

[ Hmm. Dimitri has to pause and listen to this for a long few moments. It... makes sense to him. And while he's used to violence, war, killing, there's something there about souls that does give him pause. ]

...you do make a compelling point in that regard. We don't quite know what this oblivion is or what it is that lurks outside of our circle of light here. If destroying shards does open the way for more such creatures or the creature then it probably should be avoided. The only issue is that we still know so little about it or even about why things are the way they are.

[ There's a soft sound or sensation of a finger tapping against a desk or table. ]

Dissipation, then. And keeping their shards somewhere where they cannot reform, possibly.

...I'd rather that, myself. Ryouma's not wrong about how little we understand of all this.

[ Taking pieces off the board would be ideal.

He'd still endorse Hayame getting her revenge but look he's not perfect. ]

That is the problem, isn't it? We don't know enough about anything to say for certain.

It's a frustration, to say the least... I might have something to work with soon, but not soon enough.

[ He has to settle up with Coalbrand, and all that. ]

I see. What is it you're tracking down?

A bit of research regarding this world. The researcher was killed before they could share their findings, so it stands to reason it must be interesting.

[ No harm in mentioning it among Meridians. Whatever they find, it'll surely be shared soon enough. ]

Just waiting on a little agreement to be honored.

An agreement...? Of what nature?

Needed to win a couple of games. I went with others, so as long as any of us came out on top, one of us would get what we were after.

[ They'd done rather well at undermining other competitors, all things considered. ]

Since we were successful, just a matter of waiting for a meeting with the guy currently holding that research. We jumped through his hoops, but I imagine he's a busy man.

What exactly will you be getting out of this? And how useful do you think it will prove to be?

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[ Ryouma can't help the relief he feels when he hears Dimitri say that. He'd clearly been prepared to keep at it. ]

Oh, good. I thought that would be harder, to be honest.

[ He laughs a little. ]

Anyway, I agree we should take a firmer stance. Assuming the rules of the Oracle trials allow us to kill each other without a penalty, we probably should — sometimes, the only way to survive is to club your enemies over the head before they can do it to you.

[ Accepting reality as it is means acknowledging that sometimes things can't be reasoned with, and diplomacy and kindness ain't gonna cut it. There is a secondary presence in Communion, something large that evokes the image of scales coiled all around him. It gives off a sense of approval at his willingness to act so decisively about this for once. ]

Otherwise, it's probably best not to completely drive a wedge between us and the Zenites. Like the shadows in Springstar, dangerous light plagues Highstorm. We may need each other to keep this world intact long enough to finish the ritual.

Personally, I would rather there not be a war at all, so... I won't argue in favor of total annihilation unless it's necessary.

Generally we haven't been penalized for dissipating one another... but that doesn't mean it might not happen in the future.

[ Hmmm. ]

There are Zenith I still trust, to an extent. Or even call friends. So I am reluctant to completely divide us - both for personal reasons and because this outside threat may be something we have to come together to defeat.

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[ There's a bit of quiet gratitude over Communion, yet no words to accompany. Even so, since they're both Harbingers, Ryouma might know who it is just the same.

This isn't an argument he felt equipped to make, so he appreciates that Ryouma did. ]

[ Ryouma has a good idea of who this might be and he appreciates the support, even if he's distinctly unused to receiving gratitude from anyone, let alone multiple people.

It's encouraging, which is nice after everything lately. ]

[ He's very new here, but considering what turned him away from Zenith— ]

...Thank you.

[ It's oddly heartfelt. ]

Ah, well—...

[ He's not used to people thanking him, so he's a little awkward all of a sudden. ]

No need to thank me, honestly! The Zenites believe their worlds are dead and gone, but when Meridian restores what was lost, I want to see every single one of them go home again — or find a new one.

That's all any of us wants, right? There are more worlds out there than we can imagine. I'm sure everyone can find a place where they can be happy.

You were the one who spoke in favor of a less violent course. Sometimes one voice makes all the difference, so I appreciate that you did.

[ Sorry Ryouma, there is no escape. ]

I traveled dimensions, so I can attest that there are many worlds out there. I'm not certain what power could affect them all, but I would rather help others than harm them.

“Something that vast”?

Good thing for us, then, that the names on this list now are not wonderful, loving, almighty gods whose presences would surely be missed in the future of their worlds.

We’d be doing the inhabitants of that demon and that rat’s world, in particular, a charitable favor.

[Unfortunately, Ryoma about to learn that Hayame doesn’t like her name being dropped in conversations she’s not in. You drop it, you get her.]

And the Tribune was but a man, and they ate him and used his empty husk like a puppet.

[ That's just fine, Hayame. This is a position he's willing to defend. ]

The point is to consider the extent of the damage already done.

This isn't idealism or sentimentality. It's the very real threat of doing more damage than we realise. We can't afford to be so shortsighted. Zenith is not our only enemy, and it's one of the few things about any of this we know for a fact.

And the Tribune wasn't a bearer whose shard was crushed!

[If she sounds particularly vicious biting back against the comment on the Tribune, well.]

We will not win a single victory if we are sitting around cowering over damage we might do!

Yes, that means no one — non-Bearers, Bearers, or gods — is safe.

[ They could probably argue this as long as either of them is willing to fight back, but Ryouma knows that's not very productive, and worse, it only breeds resentment. ]

What have you been fighting for all this time, Hayame? Is it for the satisfaction of crushing the Zenites, or is it to restore your world and go home?

Zenith didn't take your world; Oblivion did. We don't know what it is, but we know something out there is coming. You've felt it, too, haven't you? Didn't your Shard jump out of your body like everyone else's?

Zenith is an obstacle; it's not the real enemy.

[ He knows there is a good chance he will never change her mind, but at least he'll have tried. If he could look her in the eye right now to impress upon her how serious he's taking this, he would. Communion is good for that, at least when he's willing to be open. ]

What I'm trying to tell you is that you may accomplish one and lose the other forever. I acknowledge that I could be wrong. Maybe you're right, and shattering Shards is perfectly harmless in the great scheme of things and an easy win for us.

I, personally, would prefer to err on the side of caution when the stakes are this high.

I suppose it comes down to whether or not it's a gamble you're willing to take and if your victory is worth what you — and everyone — stand to lose if you're wrong.

We don't even know that!

[At least, she did not. Did others?]

We have vague dreams of darkness and reports of shadows, but what the hell even is "Oblivion"?! What even could exist that is somehow so powerful that it swallows countless worlds and cannot be defeated by gods?

Nothing! There should be nothing!

[If it sounds like she's snapping because she's desperate and genuinely struggles to comprehend that scale of thing...]

Go find me evidence that is real if you expect me to stop doing everything that I can to assure Meridian claims the Oracles. That, now, is the only thing I can do to try and get back to my world.

[And if she can't do that...

Then what use is she at all?]

While I'd be hard-pressed to say that all souls are worth going through some "cycle of rebirth" or whatever garbage theologists like to think... I do believe that destroying a soul has more fucked up implications than simply killing a living being. Killing I can do, easily and without equivocation. Destroying a soul, unless provoked, is another.

[Spoken like someone who knows quite a few things about souls.

[Jade is quiet for a moment, thinking about something else he just said -- "Something is trying to get in" -- and sets it aside for later.]

Either way, I agree. It isn't the kinda thing that should be taken lightly when dealing with our problems. Not all of them, at any rate.

Well, I acknowledge that all worlds work differently, and what's true in some may only be theory in others.

Even if you only think of souls as the energy that powers our magic and abilities in this world, this world will only move closer to nothingness if it keeps losing it.

[ Ryouma doesn't really care how anyone defines a soul because he doesn't consider it a moral or philosophical issue. Idealism will not win people over in this situation — which is fine because he's not an idealist anyway — so he's content to drive home the point that every lost soul potentially makes the world a little less stable. Why risk it? ]

It's interesting that the Zenites are willing to take that step, considering they believe our worlds are already gone, and this is all that's left.

[ Clearly, they don't seem to be concerned about preservation. ]

In any case, I'm grateful that you're willing to take the sensible approach.

[Jade just hums in agreement at first. She gets it.]

Of course. Souls are... kinda my specialty, I guess you could say. I've experience in how to handle them and what they're capable of.

[And how they can probably be used for more destructive means, but that's not a practice she's very fond of.]

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