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

[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?

[sterngaze]

Casting it causes a significant degree of discord buildup... but, perhaps more significantly [for a man who is a little careless with his own well-being,] the spell takes a full day and night of focus to complete. It is not something I could do in great quantity.

But for significant locations, I can make the time, as long as the space is safe from interference.

[warmare]

I understand. The ability I have... found myself capable of is also. I think it will cost greatly. I must be mindful.

[And who can cleanse her if she goes too far, too fast?]

For now, Alenroux is fortunate to have just the church.

[sterngaze]

I've done something similar with my own home.

[Minus the permanent light effect, obviously.]

If you ever have somewhere specifically you wish to have protected, I can make the time.

[warmare]

[It is tempting to say her own home, because the threat of shadows snatching when she is vulnerable or has her guard half-down is a large one, but... No, that sounds too selfish. The church will be close enough if things should escalate.]

I will defer to your judgement for now.

Let us hope that issue does not become more pressing. We already have enough chaos to deal with in Springstar and Alenroux as is.