open | a merry meri mingle

[sterngaze]

Who: Meridians new & old!
What: Cookout mingle
Where: Alenroux
When: Mid-March, after Vander's rescue
Warnings: Potentially alcohol consumption and violence, for the rowdy

After the initiation of Springstar's invasion plans for Alenroux, tensions among the Meridian-aligned might be a bit strained. The move comes as a surprise even for many of the shard-bearers within the faction itself, to say nothing of those whose livelihoods depend on the farms here. It's not yet clear what Highstorm's response will be, but one will certainly be coming; when that happens, someone is going to come out on the bottom, and their blood will be at least partially on Meridian's hands.

At times like this, the importance of maintaining morale can't be understated. A call goes out to the newest generation of those harmonized with Meridian's light: it's time to have a party!

PREPARATION:

Those who can are invited to help with the set-up. There are drinks to procure, foodstuffs to acquire and prepare, canopies to erect for shade, entertainments to organize. It's not meant to be a grand affair — the gathering is private, intended to foster camaraderie among the shard-bearers after long days and nights of work — but it will be a comfortable one, with edibles and enjoyments to offer to those taking solace in the company of their fellows.

It takes one of Alenroux's long days to make all the necessary arrangements — and then, late the following morning, after the night's monsters have slunk back into the woods, things are made ready. All that's left is for the guests to arrive.

THE EVENT:

Spring is still in the midst of taking hold over Alenroux, so a tall bonfire at the centre of the gathering place offers a toasty place to linger and chat throughout the day. Hot drinks and a variety of fire-roasted foods are on offer, including an entire deer helpfully supplied and prepared by Liem. Logs and stumps provide simple seating, and nearby canopies provide shade around the tables of food and drink. A little further away, sturdy tents provide more private gathering places for those wishing for a break from the hubbub.

And there will be hubbub. To break the ice between unfamiliar faces, a variety of contests have been set up over the course of the gathering. These range from simple arm-wrestling competitions, to three-legged races, to friendly sparring matches for those so-inclined. Gathered Meris are encouraged to spectate and bet amongst themselves on contest outcomes — and better yet, to volunteer to participate themselves during the next round.

For those who have already had a chance to relax and let off some steam, the gathering is a perfect opportunity to get to know one's fellow sect-mates a little better, and to reaffirm why Meridian called to them in the first place. Those gathered are encouraged to take the chance to tell a few tales about the place they came from, and to share the visions inside their Sunbeam with those from other worlds. A favourite place, a cherished person, an unkept promise, even an old enemy: all could be worth revisiting for a moment with new comrades in arms.

Comments

ii.

[hyperpotamous]

[ john has helped build plenty of barrier walls out of perpetual bone by this point, but there are other things to be done elsewhere. he's joined in to move supplies, enjoying the opportunity to do a little physical labour even though he's flanked by a couple of skeletons hauling more. everyone has their shortcuts.

it's the helm he notices at first, iconic as it is to someone as fond of mythology as john is. the skeletons with the pinpoints of red light in their eyes move things by themselves even though their master finds himself wholly distracted. it's impossible not to be when he barely has to focus to know he's looking at the real deal. divinity is a complex concept to define, so john perceives it as a density of the soul. for this reason, he knows he's looking at a god at once, and this knowledge has him immediately on edge. it's not his first time crossing paths with a god in kenos, but it's the first time the god in question has been recognisable, which has all sorts of uncomfortable implications when you've built everything for the past myriad around proclaiming yourself the one and only God.

well. he certainly isn't going to run. in fact, he's going to do the opposite. he's going to introduce himself. besides, he's a big fan! this doesn't have to be weird. ]

Couldn't help but notice your—... [ he points above his head to indicate the helm. his hat. his set hat. his sat. ] I recognise something like it from back in my world. In books, mostly.

HIS SAT (SET HAT)??? MIN

[redsoil]

[ The distinct ( satisfaction / relief ) he feels when someone demonstrates familiarity with the shape of his mask thrums, warm and sweet, inside of his chest. This. This is what he had essentially asked the Tribune for, asked Meridian to provide to him: identity. Immediately recognizable, absolute. With the divine mask in his possession, he was tethered deeply to his world via Meridian's light, he had that thread of connection to his godhood that he could reinforce via action, via belief and acknowledgement.

John Gaius might not realize it, but he has immediately put a most tempestuous god into a great mood! Even if he is known to him from books, it means he is real. A real thing to someone, who knows him in his theriocephalic presentation. ]

It is a mask. The sign of divinity among the Ennead.

[ He rarely would greet anyone without it on, back home.

It hides his eyes, so that all one might have to go on to gauge his mood is the fullness of his mouth, drawn into a stern line - studious? not displeased, perhaps scrutinizing this man. ]

You know who I am, then. You have me at an advantage, since I do not know you. I could always go to the libraries and find something of you in a book, mayhaps?

[ The curl in the corner of his mouth? He is teasing. ]

THATS WHAT I SAID

[hyperpotamous]

Oh, doubtful.

[ he chuckles, even knowing that somewhere that's not entirely true. he plays well at humble, every bit the Kindly Prince he's fabled to be in his world. that's just smart, though; set has a formidable reputation, and he has no idea how divinity to set translates to power in a way john can understand. ]

I know something like your story, but humans wrote it down a few different ways in antiquity. There's enough overlap to know I prefer you on our team than with the other guys, though.

[ because when you want to win you team up with the fucking chaotic war god obviously. ]

[redsoil]

There have been a few of you who have arrived from places that know of me in recent days. Finally, I am relieved from the ignorance of those that preceded you.

[ It means his 'likely to explode into a murderous rage' meter has been gently turned down to a low-middling degree, thankfully. Still murderous! Not as driven by the immediate need to introduce himself via mass-slaughter of his fellow Shard-bearers and carve his existence into the annals of Kenosian history. Small victories, you know?

That he is given no introduction of self in return does cause him to lift his chin, fingers tapping impatiently on the cut of his hip as he stands, akimbo. ]

Oh, is that how you see it? That I am on 'your team'? Meridian currently offers me the best way to reach my goals, so do not mistake my presence as supportive. Provided it continues to, I am not liable to deviate.

[ This, from the mouth of a man who reached T2 Harmonization... Meridian's light lives at odds within him, and hopefully, it will continue to. ]

[hyperpotamous]

[ it's an enviable position to be in, getting to be that open. john likes his secrets too much to indulge without a good reason, though. ]

I'm John, by the way.

[ he splays his hands and shrugs. what're you gonna do? he's not here to make friends either, so he can't object to set's position at all. ]

Your goal is to find a way back to your world, right? I just want to win this war and get it over with; I don't care for the camaraderie when the whole idea is never to see other again. I do like to know what I'm dealing with in the meantime, however.

[redsoil]

Bahaha! Yes, yes! Of course that is the point! Certainly, we must be allies and companions for now, but we knew nothing of one another before this. In victory, we will become but fleeting memories of a time that was briefly inconvenient for us all.

[ John's response earns an immediate, bold laugh from him. The sudden eruption of sound and delight that has him doubling over, reaching a hand out to steady himself on the other man's shoulder. It's so good! It's too good! He is a relief, a sensible sort of man! ]

You do already seem to know quite a bit about me. Enough to have made up your mind about my affiliation being of benefit to Meridian. Naturally, it is. While I am diminished by Kenos's unique metaphysical properties — Shards, souls, Aspects, power — I will not be forever.

[ WARNING WARNING ]

[hyperpotamous]

[ set continues to be uninhibited, and john continues to keep a pleasant face, disguising the rising unease of his imposter syndrome.

he had thought of himself as the shaman who had claimed the sun once, which is a world away from the guy who has several sun gods as immediate family. he really feels the weight of that hand on his shoulder. ]

Have you found a way around the local interference then? I figured the connection to our worlds is the bottleneck we all have to contend with.

[redsoil]

Of course. I spoke directly with the Tribune, about my intentions to reclaim what was sealed from me by Ma'at — my divinity itself. Meridian's own were the ones who reached through whatever veil separates us from the world, and restore my connection with it.

[ And honestly, while he does not go around yelling about it, that is one of the reasons that he remains Meridian's war god. It is proof, that even if his world does not exist, he does — and he, above all else, has the power to restore and remake.

Without Ra, he believes he could become the beginning and the end. ]

It took effort. It took further Harmonization, but here I stand — proof, that we will triumph.

[hyperpotamous]

[ john listens to this explanation and closes his eyes with a quiet sigh. of course, that would be the answer. he might feel like an imposter as a proper god, but he is confident in his ability to be deeply distrustful of others. ]

So, just to clarify, Meridian hooked you up with what you needed in exchange for—.. loyalty? Getting deeper in the sauce? I suppose that's a fair trade.

[ he thinks it's a little too convenient, personally. ]

But if they can do it, so can the rest of us, right? I agree; you've proven that.

[redsoil]

Loyalty? I did not think this world could inspire such naivety!

[ The word is half-snarled, half-sneered; Set bares his teeth at the audacity of John's query, for who in their right mind would assign a traitor-god such as Set a character trait such as 'loyalty'? Dark pupils thin into angry slits, his eyebrows knitting and peaking at the center of his brow - incredulous and verging upon insulted psychosis. It's truly amazing, how a careless question can pique his ire. ]

My goals are best supported by Meridian at this time. If that is all it takes to be considered 'loyal', perhaps we ought to devise a way call upon the memory of my dear, beloved brother and ask him how well my 'loyalty' served him.

[ Somewhere near the ends of his hair, something smokes and smolders. Bright, burning like a flameless fire -- as if his hair itself is a ray of rosy-gold sunlight. The implication in his tone and words is clear: if he were to find that Zenith were the faction better-aligned with his goals, he'd be there instead. ]

I only received what is mine, by right of my existence itself. Such a thing could be restored to you, as well - and if you want to trade your loyalty to Meridian, instead of something else... that is for you to decide.

[hyperpotamous]

Ah—... [ oops. ] A poor choice of words, clearly.

[ john holds his hands up in what's meant to be a soothing gesture. he's surprisingly calm despite the misstep, but with that sort of reaction, now is not the time to show fear. he has ten thousand years of experience tweaking his own biology to thank for that; you can take the edge off of anything. ]

Of course, forgive me; I didn't mean to imply true loyalty, but you did have to Harmonise, as you mentioned. That isn't meaningless.

[ all that extra Meridian in someone's soul has to count for something, right..? ]

I'm trying to understand what it means for me as much as anyone else. I crawled out of the earth here and couldn't do a damned thing until I picked a side. It's a curious thing, don't you think?

If our worlds and connections to them are there, why should we need anyone to restore what's rightfully ours?