wakey wakey [ @all ]

[kenosnpcs]

This is a post where you'll find a header in the comments for Aetós, Agapitos Voreen, and Florence Deshayes respectively.

As a reminder from our course correction, your OOC understanding of their places in their factions should not influence IC reactions, especially to Agapitos and Florence. Aggressive threats and demands are likely to be ignored, because this would be very out of the blue to them! ( You can be mean to Aetós, though. They're a dick, and they just won't respond. )

Timewise, Agapitos and Florence's posts are shortly after Shard-Bearers awake after the repose (roughly a day to give people a chance to get their bearings/go get a haircut/etc), and Aetós's portion is later in the month.


Please note, new tag-ins will not be responded to after April 23rd. However, tagging each other throughout this post is welcome. Threadjack to your heart's content!

Comments

[bakedapple]

Then — where are they?

[ As neutral and reserved as Link is trying to be — and to his credit, is mostly succeeding in being, despite his beef with Aetós — his voice raises slightly with tension. ]

You once told us that the previous generations got "purged." What does that mean? Can they be saved?

[kenosnpcs]

"Saved" is a complicated concept. That depends on what you believe the right thing to do is. I have no opinion on that.

[ shocking, I know ]

As is "where". That is an incorrect way to think about it. The previous inhabitants are an amalgam. It is why they are difficult to talk to. Not worth it, in my opinion. Too noisy.

[bakedapple]

What amalgam?

[ Even if poor Link was sure of what the word "amalgam" means, he'd still find all of this so frustrating. Everything Aetós chooses to share with them only creates more questions.

Do they mean the Timestream? Do they return to the Timestream? ...No, that can't be it. But they must at least be right about them still being somewhere, unless they were shattered. How else would Link have been able to glimpse them, when the many alternate realities and past eons were reflected back at him through his Shard? ]

The — the Tree? Do they return to the Tree?

[kenosnpcs]

Of course. It's been speaking to all of you. On occasion, at least. It was easier to understand. But with all of the previous Generations, it's too many voices trying to speak at once. Essentially.

[bakedapple]

[ Again, Link goes quiet, but his silence is much more absolute. There is no sense of shock, no doubt, no regret, no anger. If Aetós were anyone else, Link would thank them for finally divulging all of this. But it is Aetós. ]

When the war is over... regardless of who wins... will they move on with the rest of us?

[kenosnpcs]

I don't know.

[ There's a coolness in the answer that makes it hard to tell whether that's honest or not, though. ]

It is a different consideration for each. Sifting through the souls to find "home" if you are Meridian. Populating a world with copies, if you are Zenith.

[bakedapple]

Copies —

[ No. That can't be. It's Meridian who'd be making copies, not Zenith. Right?

Link's blood runs cold. ]

What does that mean? The Shards Yima gave us — those would... When those people come back, are they just going to be copies, then?

How do you know all this?

[kenosnpcs]

A misunderstanding. The Shards Yima gave you... Hm. It is not impossible that this would be the case. But it depends on the soul. I meant that if you drew the souls from the tree to Zenith's world, there would be five additional copies of you. As an example, but also theoretically.

As for your question, simple. I have had the time and the skillset needed to survive. The first generation is when I arrived. The time since is difficult to count. But over a thousand years, surely. Perhaps a few. Irrelevant, in a way.

[spellcollect]

I've lived a thousand years myself.

[ She interjects, her thoughts sliding into the space with Link and Aetos. ]

It's difficult to hold onto that.

[ She has heard he is a mage, a wizard, a torturer. So she listens and judges for herself. She wonders if he holds fond thoughts of any people in his background or if he has ground himself down to nothing in his efforts. ]

[bakedapple]

[ Whoever this is, Link doesn't recognize her. Another new arrival? ]

A thousand years...? [ It's so long, it feels hard to imagine. ]

[spellcollect]

Yes.

[ Her mind feels calm; an undisturbed pool of deep water. ]

It's been a very long time.

[kenosnpcs]

Indeed. My species was not meant to live so long, either. Adjustments had to be made. Improvements.

It's not ideal. But the work is mine to complete, so it matters little.

[spellcollect]

And your ultimate goal is pushing back this oblivion; this end.

[ She has to consider that. Besides, she's garnered that much from listening in on the other conversations. ]

Would you call what you do magic? Or something else?

[kenosnpcs]

One of them. That one is necessary. There will be no point to other goals without doing so.

But, yes. It is magic, primarily. It has always been my talent and my study.

[spellcollect]

I see. What other goals do you have? If I can ask. And what sort of magic do you utilize? I've been practitioner for a long time myself.

[bakedapple]

[ jfc i'm dumb :playdead:

The sense of alarm that had risen in Link softens, but it's still there. The thought of the new world's Zelda not really being Zelda is horrifying. He wants to see her again, to save her, but if that person isn't even really Zelda, then what's the point?

But the prospect of those other Links also being there... that doesn't bother him quite so much. In the recesses of time, thousands of years ago, one of his past selves was mentored by the previous one. Clearly, they're able to coexist. ]

I see. [ with a sense of finality. ] We have to save them, then. We can't leave the past generations behind. If I'd come during a past generation in their place, it'd be me inside the Tree.

[ He directs his attention back at Aetós, for one last time. ]

...You're a terrible person, but we need your help. I know it doesn't make any difference to you, but... if I see you again, I won't kill you. There's no point.

[kenosnpcs]

I am glad that you have come to the understanding. I am terrible. I would not deny it. But it makes me uniquely able to push forward. Progress. Kenos could not be without my works.

[ There's no particular pride in the statement. It simply Is. ]

Our goals are aligned, so it is beneficial to allow me my work.