THE SOOT OF IGNORANCE: RISING ACTION

[beleos]

BETWEEN UNCONTROLLED ESCALATION & UNENDING PASSIVITY

The moonlit city of Highstorm has always been a tranquil location.

Its people, passionate about the steady leadership of Zenith's leader — Lady Yima — begin their movements slowly and deliberately. Following the lead of their most trusted Shard-Bearers and the word of their Lady, activity in Highstorm begins to increase in the vicinity of Yima's Manor. The Court, the town square outside of it, becomes a hotbed of bustle and voices. Personnel and attendants rush around with documentation, stirring others to action. A select few figures gather the full force of their long-standing houses, calling on family bonds and their own castellans to assist the efforts that build over the course of a few days.

For the tranquility of Highstorm is only ever punctuated by its decisiveness, its faith that their path is the correct one — and now, they will prove it.

In a trickle-down effort, from the most loyal Zenites to the newest, the news unfolds for them: Amos Burton has been tasked by Lady Yima herself to turn the tides back in Zenith's favor. He is to end the life of the 34th Tribune, Cyrus Marcius Germanus Kokkinos, alongside the fortune who have found their way into Zenith's graces. In the earliest hours of the invasion, the figure of Yima herself steps out onto the balcony of her quarters — the highest point of the Manor — with her robes soft around her body and hands extended to her people. Her silence is punctuated by glowing feelings of pride that flow through the hearts and minds of every last sworn Zenite, bolstering their resolve and encouraging them with the cool, ever-flowing might of the people who look to Zenith's Shard-Bearers for their victory.

She sees them off with unspoken sentiments of love, confidence in them — the whispered promises that she knows they are ready to see the war through. And perhaps none of them will know that it is the last time they see her.

For in the sun-dappled sprawl of Springstar, their target awaits them.

The bustle of the city has always been without reservation; the bright and airy attitudes of militant citizenry look on with confidence and celebratory warmth as their Shard-Bearers have brought them to a marginal advancement over their enemies. While Tribune Cyrus's popularity has waned, there are alternative avenues they have begun to explore — the figure of Agapitos Voreen has become deeply popular, with savvy statements, an easy confidence and a willingness to deny Zenith any room to breathe, he is a shoe-in for future Tribune, whenever the next elections are held.

Which is why, in between one moment and the next, the city is rocked by the efforts of their opposition. Zenite-aligned Shard-Bearers and the small house armies of Yima's most loyal core families fill the streets with chaotic distractions, ranging from duels with the Helios Legionnaire to direct attacks on civilians. ( Where does your character draw the line, if they care to? Will it matter in the long run, do they believe? ) Appearing from several Cornerstones hidden within the city's confines from missions long past, tracking the movements of Legionnaires and Shard-Bearers alike from the placement of listening gems and tracking spells, even rising from the bowels of Kowloon to trap the city in a pincer movement — Highstorm goes on the offensive.

Springstar puts up a valiant resistance in return; however, within twenty-four hours, Zenite Shard-Bearers will have hunted down, cornered and slain the Tribune. In that moment, Meridian-aligned Shard-Bearers will feel a splitting pain: the suddenness of having an integral element of their power ripped from them, the sensation akin to being crushed, gasping under the weight of Zenith's swell. The last trickle of emotion from Cyrus for them is a gentle warmth, fondness and forgiveness and the purity of his confidence in them. He believes in them, he always has, and he prays and hopes for their victory even though he will not be around to see it become reality, now.

His death is announced the following day by his assistant Cetina, the deer-morph girl choking back angry tears as she — with a furious and tearful General Ayo Zaman and the somber, mournful figure of Hieropoios Natalia at her side — lambasts Highstorm for the act of aggression, attempts to rouse the city and Meridian's hope, and pledges that she will not let her best friend's murderers escape her vengeance.

Hours after Cetina's message, in the far corner of Highstorm — following the people's celebrations and rejoicing in their strike, the delight in the might of their Shard-Bearers and the renewed passions of their people in pursuit of their victory — a brilliant, golden beam of sunlight pierces the eternal night of the city.

In an instant, the balcony upon which Yima had stood and the rooms beyond it — in fact, the entirety of the Manor, is engulfed in fire and light. The Manor falls, crumbling in upon itself as debris cascades into the living quarters of Shard-bearers and partially topples into the Court beyond. While the Tree of Life, the Reflecting Pools and many businesses around the Court escape extensive damage, the Manor itself is in shambles. And in the wake, many Zenite Shard-Bearers will feel the suddenness of having an integral element of their power ripped from them, the sensation akin to being crushed, gasping under the weight of Meridian's swell. In the wake of the strike, there is a deep silence within them.

Any attempts to contact Yima are met with the same silence a Shard-Bearer feels when reaching out to another who has left the world entirely. And with that, both sides are left to pick up the pieces and weigh the consequences of their actions.

ADDITIONAL MATTERS

During ( and in the wake of both assaults ), there is plenty for any Unharmonized Shard-Bearers and more moderate Meris/Zenites to partake in. Damage has been wrought to both cities at differing times, and there is a degree of life lost no matter the best efforts of those who value innocents over the price enacted by acts of war.

In Springstar, the citizenry has been ravaged by attacks stemming from the depths of Kowloon: as monsters in the form of both individuals with unusual appetites (cannibals and vampires, for example) and heavily-drugged, superpowered addicts have been finding their way into the city, slaughtering civilians indiscreetly, picking fights with the Legionary, and engaging in general criminal mischief and violence. Following Zenith's assault and subsequent assassination, the city will be on high alert and be deeply hostile toward Zenith-aligned Shard-Bearers, as well as mistrustful towards any Unharmonized ( for good reason: they might still Harmonize with Zenith! ). After the day of the attack, the attacks drop off significantly, but do not vanish entirely, for now that some have gotten a taste, it will take time for Yura to reign them in once more.

The people of the city turn to their Shard-Bearers in the wake of their Tribune's murder; even though his popularity had waned, it isn't as though his death doesn't affect them! Deeply concerned and frightened for their future, they demand information about what will be done to protect the city from another assault like this? Some civilians will turn to the church, or perhaps community leaders, but it seems very few turn to the legionary, after they were so focused on the attacks that they missed the forest for the trees. Their trust in their military leaders is waning, and they’re looking for answer. Some community leaders have tried to soften the hurt and anger of Springstar’s people, but they look toward those whom were not a part of the current establishment to answers.

In Highstorm, Yima's Manor lays in shambles, but the rest of the city is unharmed. Shard-Bearers who were living in the Manor will find that their living quarters suffered from the collapse and subsequent fires, but any precious items/belongings they had in their rooms can be recovered after sifting through the rubble. One of Yima’s most trusted, Florence, seems to be taking the reigns of control, and while there are still pockets of the manor that remain on the outskirts of the building itself, she encourages any Zenites who had not moved out to move on quickly, since what is left should be used by any newcomers who need shelter, and not those whom have had the opportunity to make bonds, and have allies that they can rely on.

The main issue now plaguing Zenites is the sudden, overwhelming crowd that begins to gather in the Court, demanding information from them about Yima's safety — they are frantic, and rightfully concerned about further assaults of that incendiary degree from Meridian. The city will be on high alert and be deeply hostile toward Meridian-aligned Shard-Bearers, as well as mistrustful towards any Unharmonized ( for good reason: they might still Harmonize with Meridian! ). The Manor itself is almost entirely destroyed, with only a shell of the outskirts left, and though those who are left are already trying to sift through the rubble, they are often overcome by their sorrow, and it is not uncommon in the wake of Meridian’s destruction to find some of Yima’s most loyal in distress, for the loss of their leader.

A LIGHTHOUSE AGAINST THE ENCROACHING STORM

A few months ago, all current Shard-Bearers experienced a mass dreaming event, full of teeming darkness and a pervasive sense of terror. Following the death of Cyrus and the "presumed loss" of Yima, all Shard-Bearers will receive yet another dream.

This one is a simple, direct thing: rife with a haunting sense of being watched, observed as if from the reeds and brush by a hunter. Whatever your power level, however skilled you are and confident you are in your place, your decisions, your heart will quake before the severe impression of something prowling at your heels. Just out of sight, but never out of mind. Every Shard-Bearer's shard will wrench free of their body upon waking, falling from their physical form as if to flee this sensation of something waiting, patient, for the right moment to pounce.

Echoing in the back of their mind, a wordless, shapeless promise lingers: Forward, or back. Back, or forward. Dart and weave, flit and flutter, scamper and scurry. We are here, now. In the back of every mind, what was in the process of coming before is — it is here, now. Looming right above, waiting for the outcome, watching for which way the last lives at the end of existence will flee.

Upon awakening from the mass dream-become-nightmare, Shard-bearers will slowly become aware of the exacerbation of previous events that have been persisting since October. These events are no longer subtle, and will impact everyone regardless of faction allegiance, with purposefully targeted strikes:

— Darkness has spread within Springstar. Wherever there is shadow cast by person, object or building, it has deepened, darkened, and grown in size. Walking through any shadowed area or touching a darkened shadow will fill a Shard-bearer who enters that area with feelings of dread, of something lingering just out of sight, of danger prickling along their spine, and entice them to run and flee. If they are not quick enough, an unseen entity savages them — aiming directly for wherever their Shard is hidden and held. They are being hunted.

— Light has spread within Highstorm. Starlight and moonlight seem to sear what they touch, leaving patches of bleached-white scars upon person, object or building. Being touched by the light or coming into contact with a white-scarred entity will fill a Shard-bearer with feelings of malaise, like they should simply lay down and accept what comes next. Suffocating hands waiting to pin them down. Even in the safety of the shadows, the scourging glow of any light reaches for them and rakes across their bodies, seeking the place where their Shard is hidden or held. Ravaging them with hot-and-cold burns. They are being sacrificed.

— Shard-bearers readily become lost in familiar places, as if their homes and bastions of safety and security have become strange ( estranged? ) from their minds. The route to that favorite haunt ( perhaps even their own place of business ) eludes them, and searching for it alone becomes an impossibility. It takes another Shard-bearer, at times, to aid them in breaking free of the mild befuddlement. You're just tired. It's just the strain getting to you.

— Citizens of both Springstar and Highstorm continue to speak about neighbors who have 'suddenly moved away', or the disappearance of a favored shop or cafe. Some mention favorite, useful landmarks vanishing, causing them to forget where they are coming from, or where they are going. When directly asked about this circumstance, they shrug and declare that it happens all the time these days. In fact, there's nothing to really be done about it. And if pressed, the citizenry's eyes go glassy and expressions become confused as they ask who, what, where, and why their Shard-Bearer has begun asking them such strange questions. None seem bothered by this strange occurrence, as if all is well and normal.

— Shard-bearers will begin to see familiar faces in crowds, standing on street corners, peering through their private windows, waving them down at their familiar haunts. People from their own worlds, loved and hated alike rush for them — adoring and hostile alike. Family members and friends who seem to attempt to meet their eyes before the crowd swallows them up; loved ones who should be captured in Shards try to flag them down, calling their names and asking them where have you been? what's going on?; enemies and abusers seem to advance upon them, pushing their way forth hungrily. And then they are gone, but not before leaving behind the impression, the strange sensation that, they are real. Really there. If only for a moment.

OOC & (IMMEDIATE) WORLD CHANGES

The full document for this event can be found here!

So, what does the world look like now that this has all gone down?

The world of Kenos ripples from the effects of our players!

Springstar is (mostly) physically unharmed, though the population has been reduced thanks to the number of murders and criminal mischief that has taken place during the attack. Damage seems constrained to things like broken doors and windows, looted property, and murdered civilians, though the severity is up to how many defend Springstar from the concentrated might of Ryad’s regulars, and a practical army of addicts rising from the depths below the city.

The leadership of Springstar is also shaken, though there are procedures in place for this – if one is particularly studious, they will recall that this is not the first Tribune that has been assassinated, though it is the first in a long while – and the Church and the Legionary have stepped in to maintain the peace while elections begin to be arranged.

Cyrus’s body is interred publically at the Church in Heliopolis for a week after his passing, before his body is immolated during a service, his soul returned to the Tree of Life. Those who attend will feel the light of Meridian fill them, and their Discord may be reduced by one level thanks to the warm hope that fills them, even as they despair at the loss of their leadership. Meridian calls to its most loyal, and asks them to do what they do best, show hope and unending resolve, when things look to be their most hopeless.

Highstorm is another story. The destruction wrought is more property, but the number of people who were within the manor is difficult to count until a week or two after the destruction has been evaluated, and cleanup has begun. The loss of life is not devastating compared to what was leveled upon Springstar, but perhaps the most distressing is that Yima is not present. Florence reassures those in Highstorm with her calming, but firm presence.

With few of Yima’s softer adorations to be found, Florence instead pushes the faithful to muster their will and begin the recovery efforts. After all, they have long proven to have faith in Yima’s guidance, and they should believe in it now when it is difficult. It is not the first time their fortitude has been tested, after all.

Her words fill those in Zenith with a sense of calm resolve, and they may feel their distress and discord from this destruction alleviating slightly. Highstorm’s government works smoothly without Yima, and those who are interested in history will be able to see Florence’s name throughout the annals, as one that would guide Yima’s faithful when the matron was in convalescence, or respite. What Zenith does best, after all, is build something new when faced with destruction. Consider this a primer for your new world, to help bring the faithful back from the brink of their despair.

The unharmonized have a choice, as they so often do. This time, however, the stakes appear even higher than before. The cities are not as welcoming as they once were, and those that have not chosen are beseeched by the civilians of both Highstorm and Springstar. ‘Do you not understand what they’ve taken from us, and what they will in days to come? You cannot let this continue, standing on the sidelines. Imagine the ways in which you could help us,’ they beg, and it feels as though your neutrality will become increasingly inconvenient, as time goes on.

What can we expect next?

As the month of Pelu ( aka March ) dawns, you will begin to feel it. Something tugs at you.

Those who have lived through more than one will feel that anticipatory anxiety rise, as the next oracle is coming. Are you ready to fight to claim it, even when it feels so dark, and even when everything feels different, and harder? Do you look to the stars, and dream of your home? Or do you gaze outward, into nothing, and dream of what you will make from the ashes?

Anticipate the oracle in the coming month of Pelu, and to learn more about those that will step into the voids left by Cyrus and Yima.

And as always!

Questions can be directed here!

Individuals less-inclined to busy themselves with either effort, or looking for a way to gain a foothold/explore the world can report here for exploration attempts. We recommend examining the Kenos Wiki's Locations for ideas, if you don't know where to start. Or! Ask someone in the Discord Server for a recommendation, we have long-time players eager to help.

Lastly, remember that Cyrus and Yima will be a little occupied this time around, but anyone who might ICly have reason to contact them regarding the brewing troubles can do so here!

CODING

Comments

for gavial

[bakedapple]

[ For the fourth time, Link emerges from the soft earth beneath the Tree. But this time, there is a trio of angry, burly Legionaries waiting for him. They stomp over to him with spears raised as his head erupts from the ground, and before he can even finish gasping for breath, they are dragging up up from what remains of his cocoon and barking at the Tree's attendants to drape the usual cloth robe around his body.

The trip from the Tree to the Springstar jail is a blur. Link remembers hearing loud but distant screams among the occasional slur and insult thrown at him from a passing civilian. It seems that there are enough people in Springstar who remember his actions during the last Oracle to still recognize him — and something has reignited their contempt.

When he's finally thrown into a cell, the bottom of his feet feel raw from being half-dragged, half-rushed through the bricklaid streets of the city. Although he has been revived, the flu-like symptoms that follow are only just beginning. A faint sheen of sweat glistens on his forehead, while a pounding heading mounts inside his skull.

Groaning, he tumbles to the damp floor... and stays there.

Is it even worth it to stand? He remembers everything, of course. How he died. What he was doing when he died. What he failed to do when he died. The question of where his belongings are, including Zelda's Shard, have not yet crossed his mind. It's only thanks to that delay that when he opens his eyes, he's able to focus on the silhouette sitting against the wall nearby in the same cell, instead of exploding into a panic. ]

[kinaesthesia]

[Gavial’s not entirely sure how she wound up here. Fighting and rescuing, anger and disappointment spread over hours into a blur—one punctuated with a cacophony in the midst of battle and the toppling of walls around her. And then she’d woken up in a cold and hard cell. Hadn’t had much of a desire to bother fighting her way out. Not even when hours ago (or days?—she’d lost so much track of time in here) she’d felt that striking painful sensation telling her that, without a doubt, Yima had gotten a taste of her own medicine.

She knew she couldn’t sit in here stewing forever, but at the same time, she felt that her frustrations and the guilt underlying them would lead her to doing something stupid if given half the chance. So fine, she’d sit in here feeling sorry for herself, avoiding the livid gazes of the occasional guards and putting out of mind their jeers, until she felt reasonably sure that she could step out of here into the light of day and not immediately want to throw a punch.

Until someone else is unceremoniously thrown into this cell along with her—someone whose presence brings to mind with sudden clarity the last thing she’d heard—and felt—from him.]

Link?!

[She meets his gaze and sees the rough state he’s in, realizing immediately that he must have only just barely been pulled away from the Tree after whatever had happened to him. She pushes away from her seated position alongside the wall, hurrying to crouch at his side and put a steadying hand on his shoulder to help him sit up. She’s a little banged up herself, but it’s nothing as striking as the tell-tale signs of Discord blackening the sclera around her golden eyes.]

Damn it, they couldn’t even give you a moment to get cleaned up, huh?

[bakedapple]

[ It takes a considerable amount of effort for Link to sit up, even with Gavial's help. His limbs ache with stiff discomfort, similar to fever pains, and the dark cell spins around him while he moves. But as he sits up, he reaches across his chest with his opposite hand to grip Gavial's shoulder tightly. He knows her. She's a friend, someone he can trust. This is the first good bit of luck he's had in weeks. ]

Gavial — what are you... you're here...?

[ If she's sitting here in jail, it must mean that she got arrested by the city's forces. And in order to get arrested, she must have come to Springstar... and if she came to Springstar, then...?

He squeezes his eyes tight. This is all too much. ]

...I'm glad you're okay. [ Let's start with that. ]

[kinaesthesia]

[She keeps a hold on him for the moment—not quite with her usual unthinking roughness, but still firm enough to provide some steadiness he may need—and frowns as she looks him over. Yeah, she knows what it feels like to crawl back up from the dead here herself, and a jail cell isn’t exactly what she’d call a very restful environment.

His obvious confusion makes her realize just how long it’s been since she last felt his frantic presence, and just how much had gone down in what felt to her like so little time. There’s a lot to catch him up on, and none of it pleasant. Well, maybe it’s mutual catching up that’s in order; how he ended up in this mess is just as much a mystery to her as her presence here is to him.]

Yeah, I… I guess I am. [Physically? For the most part. Mentally, she’s still fielding far more tension and irritation than is really advisable. At least his arrival here (as unfortunate as it is for him) gives her something more pressing to focus on.]

And I’m glad to see you back on your feet. I felt it, how freaked out you were about something before you… disappeared. [Her mouth sets into a grim line.] What happened?

[bakedapple]

[ Now that he's upright and settled, the vertigo subsides, and Link can get a proper look at Gavial. While he might still be green as a Zenite, he knows what Zenith Discord looks like — and he can see it on Gavial's face, in her eyes, in the way his skin tingles ever so slightly when she touches him. He hasn't had a chance to look into a mirror yet, but it's affecting him, too. His pupils look enormous, far too dilated even for the low light of the jail cell, and his body feels cool to the touch. Despite his meager clothing, he doesn't feel cold at all. In fact, it feels better being in here than being out in Springstar's oppressive sunshine.

But Discord isn't permanent. Their Aspects make it impossible to address right now, but it's fine. It's something they can both deal with later. ]

I died. [ He says flatly. But where to start with explaining how he died? He doesn't even know how long Gavial has been here or how much she knows about what's going on. ] Is it... Is it true? Are both Cyrus and Yima dead?

[kinaesthesia]

[It’s not the explanation she’s seeking, but it’s a confirmation nonetheless that whatever had resulted in his urgently offered warning days ago had ended in his death. However much the word really means, with him alive and breathing and in one piece again.

Her expression hardens at the question and she lets out a breath that is just shy of turning into an agitated sigh.]

Yeah. I think so. We got Cyrus first—it happened when I was still out fighting in the city here.

[Gavial slowly relinquishes her hold on him, leaning back to give him a little bit of breathing room.]

Whatever happened to Yima got her the next day. I was stuck in here, but I felt it. [Just as the Meridian she’d been tussling with when Cyrus went down had clearly felt that too.] So I’m not really clear on what happened there…

[And if she doesn’t sound that broken up about Yima, it might be because she’s still feeling sour about how everything in Springstar shook out. It had to have been her orders all around. Part of why she hadn’t reached out for much detail from the other Zenites just yet. Not a feeling she’s gonna have any luck hiding in the space of communion.]

It felt like you knew some danger was headed our way, before you got taken out. Figure you might have a better idea of it than me.

[bakedapple]

[ This news elicits little reaction from Link. He'd already heard about it, after all. He didn't even really need a confirmation — nothing else about what's happened to him after he revived makes sense unless it was all true — but he'd needed to ask her anyway, to be sure.

With a blank, empty expression, Link looks up at the stone ceiling of their cell. ]

The Meris built some kind of weapon out in the Beyond. They'd been talking about it for months, to be honest with you, but I... I didn't know if they were really going to do it, or use it even if they did, but I was still worried. So Drizzt and I went out to try to find it...

[ His voice trails off. None of it had made any difference. Another failure. More people he couldn't save. More names to etch into his heart, more weight on the scale. ]

...I got caught. That's what you felt.

[kinaesthesia]

[Gavial listens quietly, expression hard as he explains that the search for this mysterious weapon had gotten him caught—and particularly about the news that this had been in the works for months. It figures Meridian would be plotting their own moves in the shadows even as they had, but all it really means to her is that this whole situation was bound to get messy whether Zenith made the first move or not.]

That must be what got Yima, then.

[She clenches a fist, lets the knuckles of it tap against the stone floor as she thinks through all the implications that came with that.]

Damn it. You gave us enough of a warning that something was coming, I shouldn’t have just let myself waste time sitting around in here. If they used it to get back at her, then who knows how many other people got hurt? If more fighting broke out in Highstorm…

[No, she can’t just let herself sit her sidelined if things are still falling apart everywhere.]

[bakedapple]

[ An uncomfortable silence descends within their cell, as Gavial looks down at the floor and Link stares up at the ceiling.

He's tired. Physically, mentally, emotionally. He is so exhausted.

But he can hear the frustration and determination in Gavial's voice. He might feel broken and hopeless, but maybe she isn't yet. While it isn't much, it's something. A ledge that he can grab onto to keep from tumbling into the abyss... and maybe, pull himself up.

Link's gaze lowers back to her, and he locks his black eyes with hers. ]

We have to get out of here. They need us.

[kinaesthesia]

[Gavial’s always been more than glad to offer a hand to someone in need of help finding their footing, both literally and in the more figurative sense. She’s also quite prone to having enough determination to drag someone along until they see the sense in seizing the will to get things done themselves. So she’s more than happy to provide some stability to her companion for as long as he needs it.

Her gaze snaps to him as he speaks up. He says what she’s thinking, and there’s a fire in her eyes now that’s more than just all the pent up frustration she’s solely had as company in here until now.]

Yeah, you’re damn right.

[She pushes herself to her feet and moves to stand at the door of their cell, crossing her arms as she stares out into that blocked off path to freedom.]

They sure as hell aren’t going to make it easy, though.

[Does she sound a little excited at that prospect? Maybe. She may be pissed off at everything that led them to being stuck in here, but Gavial is still Gavial; the prospect of a scuffle always gets her blood pumping.]

[bakedapple]

[ While she suddenly springs into action with renewed vigor, Link does not do the same. He stays at his spot on the floor, too weak and tired to hop to his feet in the same way. But that doesn't mean he isn't engaged. It'll be very easy for him to escape — he could be out of here in a matter of minutes if he wanted — but he isn't about to leave Gavial here alone. ]

How long have you been here? [ he asks, looking past her now into the hallway outside the cell bars. ] How often do they come to check on us? Are they armed?

[kinaesthesia]

[Similarly, Gavial is trying to consider how best to bust their way out of here while Link’s got that revival hangover of his. It is, unsurprisingly, only the most straightforward of ways to tackle it that come to mind for her, so of course she expects this to end in a fight.]

Been in here since after the attack. [A vague shrug as she turns to glance back his way, because she doesn’t really have an exact answer on that one—partially due to the fact that she’d been out cold when she got tossed in here.] They’re armed, but it’s nothing as fancy as the soldiers out on the street. They come by every once in a while… mostly to toss some crappy food in here, which I think we might be due for soon…

[In her mind: an opportunity. But maybe not so much if they want to do this quiet-like.]

[bakedapple]

[ Bringing his blackened hand to his chin thoughtfully, he gazes past the cell bars into the hallway he had just been dragged through. Unlike Gavial, he was wide away when they brought him here, and he got a good look at the place on the way in. ]

We're underground, I think. We came down two flights of stairs to get here.

[ Holding out his other hand, he gestures weakly, asking Gavial to help him to his feet. ]

Most of the building above is empty... probably because the soldiers who're usually in this place are out fighting. If we can get past the jail guards, I think we have a good shot of getting out of here.

[kinaesthesia]

[It would make sense to be underground, with as cool as it’s been in the cell even with Springstar’s summer in full blaze outside. Or maybe it’s just the discord getting to her. Who could say?

She reaches down to clasp his outstretched hand in a sturdy grip to pull him up. Once she’s sure she’s got him up and balanced well enough, she’ll cast another glance back over her shoulder toward the gloomy hallway and then up toward the ceiling as she considers what he’s told her.]

Normally I wouldn’t worry too much about fighting my way out, but… [A pause, her attention returning to him.] You gonna be okay if it comes down to that? I know bouncing back after reviving sucks a lot.

[If what he’s said is true, they’re lucky in that it shouldn’t be too big of a fight if things end up that way. It’ll just be on them to be quick about it.]

[bakedapple]

Don't worry about me. [ looking Gavial in the eyes with confidence and the faintest hint of a smile on his face. ] I could escape from here right now, to be honest, but I'm not going to leave with you still in here.

[ The only explanation he seems to give about how exactly he's able to escape "right now" is holding up his black-colored right arm, adorned with copperish bangles and bindings. It might look like his arm is covered in jewelry down to his fingertips, but considering that all of it returned with him when he revived under the Tree, they're much more a part of his arm than regular jewelry.

Now that he's up again, he takes a few uneasy, still painful steps to the cell bars and grabs onto one in each hand. ]

...I'm guessing you probably already tested whether any of these were loose... [ these two definitely feel pretty solidly embedded into the floor and ceiling. ] And the door... the hinges are on the outside, huh...

[kinaesthesia]

[There’s a little bit of skepticism clear in her eyes for just a moment, but when he continues with that confidence in his eyes and the bold claim of a quick escape, she dismisses it with a sure smile of her own. Now for what exactly he’s got in mind, she hasn’t got a clue; evidently it’s got to do with that strange arm of his, so she’s a bit eager to see what he’s got up his sleeve. Her gaze lingers on him for a moment, following as he tests a couple of the bars.]

Yeah, they’re all pretty sturdy.

[A pause as she moves over to the left of the door, letting her fingers trail over each of the bars until she comes to the one she’s looking for. She wraps her hand around it and gives it a steady shake, prompting the faintest of rattles to be heard.]

This is probably the loosest. I’m willing to bet if I put some muscle into it, I could bend it back pretty good. [Ancients are pretty damn strong after all, and Gavial had a reputation amongst them for a reason. She looks back toward Link.] That’s pretty much guaranteed to get us some attention, though.

[bakedapple]

[ The faint rattle prompts Link to walk over to the bar in question and test it for himself. He can feel the way it gives, ever so slightly, as if the holes it was fitted into were perhaps a millimeter too wide.

...it isn't much. But it's something. He puzzles over their options for a moment. ]

If we start making noise, they'll come running. We'd need to fight our way past them, but... I don't know if I can even do that right now. But maybe, if they're distracted with me, you can get past them and run.

[ What he's proposing is, essentially, Gavial leaving him behind. But he looks up at her with determination in his tired eyes. He's serious. ]

[kinaesthesia]

[There’s no way he can really be serious about plan like that, right?? From the way Gavial’s brows crease and her lips tug at the edges of a frown, it’s clear she’s not liking what she’s hearing. Mostly, it’s that last part; as confident in her strength as she is, she doesn’t give a damn about getting into more fights even if they’d come with the distraction of trying to keep him out of trouble, but turning tail and fleeing just for her own sake is out of the question.]

I’m sure as hell not going to leave you back here.

[She turns to face him a little more fully, crossing her arms as she leans against the bars. He’d brought up the idea of a jailbreak here on his own, so she can’t imagine that getting stuck—with what would almost certainly turn into an uptick in guard presence—is the end of this plan of his.]

If you got an idea up your sleeves, I want to hear it. Because I can’t be down with a plan that doesn’t get us both out of here. Even if it means things have to come down to me fighting them off for the both of us.

[bakedapple]

[ A reaction like that was to be expected. And it's fair for her to put her foot down and refuse to agree to anything unless and until he explains what he really has in mind. So nods silently at her, agreeing to her demand, and takes a step back from the bars. ]

...Don't be alarmed, okay?

[ Link raises that black hand of his again, this time bringing it high above his head. Spreading his palm out towards the ceiling, a vibrant green light begins to glow from underneath the black skin, turning it in a murky, ethereal emerald green. Suddenly, a thick tendril of blue-green energy shoots from Link's fingertips, hits the ceiling of their jail cell, and catapults Link upwards — he quite literally dives into the stone above, head first, leaving only the lower half of his body embedded in the solid surface. After a few kicks of his legs, like he's trying to squeeze through a tight spot, the rest of him disappears too, leaving a glowing black imprint of where his body merged into the ceiling.

A few seconds later, Link reaches out to Gavial in Communion. ]

...I can see outside. My head and arms are sticking out of the roof. [ And maybe she can feel it, too — the sensation of Springstar's blazing summer sun warming Link's face. ]

I'm going to coming back now. Stand clear.

[kinaesthesia]

[Oh yeah, she can definitely feel it, and that sudden brush of mental warmth against her senses just serves as another reminder of how much she wants to get out of here. A shame she can’t stick around Springstar to enjoy it when they break their way out…]

Well, damn. I guess that really does solve that problem, huh?

[Is she still not entirely happy about the idea of having to split and run when the time comes? Of course not. But this at least gives her some confidence that hinging things on this might be the safer bet than dragging him into a fight.

She takes a couple steps back when prompted, eyes still glued to the mark on the ceiling where he’d gone and just slipped right through. If there’s one thing to be said about being stuck in Kenos, it’s that there’s no shortage of new and interesting sights to run into here. Stone diving sure is a neat one—kinda reminds her of what she’d seen that Gen kid get up to—and she’s half-tempted to pick his brain about it once they’re both in the clear and not in the middle of trying to orchestrate a jailbreak.]

All clear. As long as this isn’t pushing you too hard, I’d say a skill like that’ll make this a lot easier.