beleos: (Default)
beleos ([personal profile] beleos) wrote in [community profile] kenoslogs2024-03-15 01:39 pm

THE ADVOCATE ORACLE - A RIP VAN WINKLE IN TIME


Sweet dreams are made of Bliss
As the twilight falls, and bearers begin to tuck in for their evenings on the night of the 15th of March (OOC time) and whether they tuck themselves into bed fully, or simply drift away in the middle of their dinner, work, indulgences, or what have you; bearers will fall into a deep, deep sleep. Perhaps you slump in your chair, or you wrap your arms around a teddy bear, or partner, or cup a precious shard in your sleep, it doesn’t matter, because as you drift away, into a sleep that seems to tug you under like the undertow itself, a question will echo in bearer’s minds: “If given the choice, would you show compassion in the face of adversity?”

It sticks with you, even as you fall into a dreamless sleep. As if it rotates in your mind, over and over, letting you worm over that. You know for certain what it is, that it is the calming, soothing voice of the Oracle, reaching out to you across the ether, telling you – promise you – that if you accept its promise, you will find that the Oracle could be in your hands. That thought leads you to dream of something else – of home, or your loved ones – of what you are fighting this war for. Even as you dream, you feel a presence next to you, and unlike the Harbinger’s winding, rough digging, this is more akin to a friend, who is asking you soft, coaxing questions. Things like: what was your childhood like? What were your friends like? What did you do? You cannot help but think of them, think of your home and your loved ones. Of where you came from, and how it made you what you are.

The advocate seeks to understand you, and where you come from. You can feel it, that overwhelming Acceptance and love from it, even as you reminisce, compelled to answer the multitude of questions, you can feel something building behind you, around you. “Don’t you want them all to understand this?” the impression is given through communion, and you cannot help but answer: yes.

Click your Heels together, Dorothy!
As you awake for the first time, it’s alien, the world that meets you. New smells fill your nostrils, new sights, the gravity is perhaps different than you’ve gotten used to on Kenos, even those slight shifts enough to make the world feel wholly different. You remember the advocate’s words, and it wants you to feel what it feels. Understanding. Compassion, and perhaps there is a sense that doing so would hurt yourself in turn, if you understood too much. That is the advocate’s way, after all, isn’t it?

You feel an inexorable, slight tug in your chest. Something subtle and gentle, the slightest of sensations, that gives you a direction. You know it, your mind only just now comprehending the advocate’s confusing impressions via communion, that there is something of this world’s… Soul/center/heart or whatever word you want to use for it. Something about this world that will help you along your path, and help you with the results you so desire. You know it will not guarantee a victory, but surely it will help. Especially as your numbers dwindle from world to world. You are left with an impression from the Advocate -- if you die, they cannot bring you back. There is apology in this, but alone, one oracle is limited. Only united, can they truly change your fate.

The lingering presence of the advocate starts to fade. You know this is a bearer’s world, if not your own. You look around, to see perhaps a familiar face nearby? Or perhaps you are alone. Does it matter? You know that this place belongs to a bearer, but whether they are a friend or an enemy, one has to begin to determine that. You’ll need your wits, you’ll need your strength and resolve to make it to the end of this, won’t you?

After all, as bearers were recently reminded: this is War. This is not simply the fate of this world, but perhaps all, as it will require you to find the answer to this question. So you start to move, you start to look around, explore, and search. For the soul of each world, for the bearers that lie dreaming within, and your foes that will seek you out. Stay steadfast, for the way out will come, if you make it to the end. The longer you spend in each world, however, the more the shadows look darker, and deeper. Hungrier. The more the spaces seem smaller or compressed. As if there is something gnawing away at the sides, making their way to the heart.

Around the world in 60 seconds 12 hours
When you find yourself at the end, when you close your eyes – only a blink, but it hangs, as if the momentary motion is enough to suspend you into a suspended space before. You can see the two options stretched out before you – metaphysically – the impression of it. A long, long shadow cast over one. As if there is a presence hovering over and above, like waiting jaws, ready to strike. In the other, there remains…nothing. It is not pleasant, it is not comforting, it simply… is. A sense that there is now a lack of anything, almost like it had never existed before.

Does this world have value? You can feel the Advocate ask. Do you want to give them a chance to live? Or does should this world cease, is there nothing here to save?

And though you are compelled, required to answer, you know this question for what it is. Short-sighted. Both, in the end, will lead to its destruction, but which will you choose? Will you allow the world to continue, even with that long shadow cast, like a hungry beast with snapping jaws; or will you erase it from existence and spare it that oncoming apocalypse?

Catch [???] Winks
The last world’s fate decided, bearers float in an endless sea of stars. You can see them all, spread before you. Intermittently, they wink out, swallowed into the darkness, consumed as the shadows, that inky-black nothingness grows ever-larger. It looks upon you, bearers. It is nothing, but you have its attention, and your blood runs cold, your limbs frozen. You cannot move, you cannot speak, you cannot breathe. You feel it, the power of being drawn into it, like it wants to consume you. Like it knows you.

T̸̢̼̯͓̬̘́̀̋̆͊h̷͔̣̱̝͍̬̣͕̄̂͗̆͒͌͜ͅẹ̶̱̩̅͒̿̇͠ ̵̭̹͇͖̔̀ṃ̸̢̧͙̟̼̜͌͆̍͝͝ͅo̴̟̞̓̆̇̐̆͊̽͆̂̀r̶͈̺̮̠͙̗͌ę̸̤̻̈́͐͂̓̊͐̂͆ ̵̡̛͎̩̳̤͔͚̱̼̆̒̓y̴̺̞̹̺̝̤͂ǫ̷̡̣̱̥͊̈́̓͑̕͘ű̵̼͜͜ ̶̨̨̝̟̘̱͇̲̻̪̊͂̽̈̒͊f̴̱̐͌̌̓̋̔́̀͝i̶͖̤͎̬̝̦͒̂g̸̳̰̟̀̓̽̈́̐h̸̼͍̮͎̊̅͗͊̈͋̽̀͘t̴͔͚́̓,̷̨̧̱̠̙̠̙̱̒̍̽̾ ̷̖̰̼̬̟͐̊̂t̶̖̄͂̅̃̍͐̊̑̅͜͝h̴̢̛͙̪̞̫̝̺̋̅̿͛̇̚͝͝ͅͅȩ̶͉̤͍̠́̈͑̏͋̚͘͝ ̸̢̨̧͚̖̤̪̬̪̀̉̐͗̂͆͑̚̕̚c̴̠̩̳͎̲̪͔̟̈́͂̉͑́l̶̡̲̻̣̘̏́ͅo̶̢̧͔͈̬̳̰͈̝̻͌̋̆̃͒͗̏͘ş̴̪̺̣̥̎̽̿͗̒́͛̕̚̚e̴̺͍̤͖͂̇͑͂̋͂̆̾r̴̨̩̈́͋͠ ̷̧͚̲̩̖̋͒̉́͗y̶̘̖̝̑̈͊ǒ̵͚̽u̵͎͍̇̀̏̊̕͝ŕ̷͎̜̘͙̀̋ ̶͇̲̝̞̖̝̣̘̝̬͋d̷͔͈͔̀̿õ̴̝̯͇̹̘̏͗͜ö̵͚͓͆m̵͉̦̫̥̦̞̫͐̆͐̿͊͒͌͋͜.̷̼͈̻̥̜̾̏͐̾̐͆͘͜

You gasp, as you startle awake, and open your eyes for the first time in a long time.

CODING
wolfish: (Default)

[personal profile] wolfish 2024-03-22 02:56 am (UTC)(link)
[ The reaction's cause for a quirk of his painted lips before Yuri lifts and spreads his arms, his cape sweeping out behind him. ]

Welcome to my world...or some version of my corner of it.

[ He would agree his homeland has a certain beauty about it. Faerghus can be a harsh place, between its poor soil and difficult winters, buts its people are strong. Compared to the cities of Kenos, Rowe County is also fairly peaceful — certainly far less urban.

Yuri allows his arms to drop, planting his hand on his hip. ]


This'd be why I prefer Alenroux.
alliterating: (002)

[personal profile] alliterating 2024-03-22 03:21 am (UTC)(link)
Yeah? Makes sense. You're a country kinda guy.

[ She settles her hands on her hips as she walks over to him, examining the terrain, the buildings, everything. It's like something out of a book, honestly. ]

You're one of the people I actually wanted to talk to...

[ She roll a shoulder. ]

...I got something to ask.
wolfish: (lean)

[personal profile] wolfish 2024-03-22 03:41 am (UTC)(link)
[ When even what gets called a city here is a strategically essential fortress, Yuri can't fight her assessment. Not that he would, anyway. As she approaches he tips his head, curious and birdlike.

Sentience has ways been direct with him, and he expects the same will hold true now. ]


Oh yeah? [ At a time like this, he can't be entirely too sure what she might ask of him, but he thinks well of her. Of course he'll listen. ] What's your question?
alliterating: (004)

[personal profile] alliterating 2024-03-22 03:45 pm (UTC)(link)
[ She clears her throat. Ahem. Ahem hem. ]

...uh, I kinda want to get outta Highstorm. It shouldn't be that hard, but you got any tips?
wolfish: (stun)

1/2

[personal profile] wolfish 2024-03-23 12:12 am (UTC)(link)
[ His first reaction is to gawk. Openly. ]
wolfish: (regard)

2/2

[personal profile] wolfish 2024-03-23 12:13 am (UTC)(link)
...You mean like Howl? Leave it for good?

[ He can't just assume, of course, but that's what it sounds like. ]
alliterating: (020)

[personal profile] alliterating 2024-03-23 12:33 am (UTC)(link)
Well. Yeah.

[ She sighs. ]

I guess I could just... bail... but I don't wanna get whacked on the head coming into Springstar, you know?
wolfish: (lean)

[personal profile] wolfish 2024-03-23 01:20 am (UTC)(link)
I'll come escort you.

[ He did it for Howl, he can do it for Sentience. ]

Why don't we meet in Alenroux after all this is done with? Just...steer clear of Hayame's house until we've got you squared.
alliterating: (019)

[personal profile] alliterating 2024-03-23 01:42 am (UTC)(link)
Uh. Oh yeah. Her. The horse-woman, right?

[ She's heard of her. ]

I can definitely make it out that way when we get back. It's just... awkward, you know? I don't know if I wanna deal with that. Or the people there who might get kinda up in my face about it.
wolfish: (setback)

[personal profile] wolfish 2024-03-23 01:46 am (UTC)(link)
At least you've got the cover of darkness going for you... Though I've no idea what that does to their sleep hours.

[ He knows Byleth's have been erratic, what with the forever unsetting sun, but he can't say for certainty whether that's wholly owed to Springstar's conditions. ]

In any case, I'll be sure no one in Meridian harries you.
alliterating: (021)

[personal profile] alliterating 2024-03-23 01:58 am (UTC)(link)
You're a pal.

[ She tucks her hands behind her head. ]

Just keep 'em from picking a fight I don't want and we'll be fine. How're things over there, anyway? That laser you guys had did a number on Yima's place.
wolfish: (setback)

[personal profile] wolfish 2024-03-23 02:16 am (UTC)(link)
Shame I bet that witch survived.

[ Yuri doesn't mince words, but his tone is more tired than resentful. He's seen more than enough slaughter of civilians for A Cause back home. ]

Lot more orphans than there used to be, no surprise. They really did a number on the populace... Those people aren't even fighters.
alliterating: (009)

[personal profile] alliterating 2024-03-23 02:25 am (UTC)(link)
Dunno if she did or not but her second in command sure is takin' over.

[ Senti grumbles. ]

A fight is a fight, but no point in involving other people in it, right? I understand that much! Maybe some people need killing, but...

[ She has opinions. ]

I don't like it.
wolfish: (sigh)

[personal profile] wolfish 2024-03-23 02:32 am (UTC)(link)
Might be a ploy... Wouldn't surprise me, anyway.

[ He shrugs. No doubt the truth will come in due time. ]

I draw the line at innocents, personally. An assassination could've been a covert affair, easily. It would have been advantageous, for that matter. Instead, she chose...that.
alliterating: (002)

[personal profile] alliterating 2024-03-23 03:21 am (UTC)(link)
If you're gonna fight, fight. Don't drag other people into it.

[ Especially if they're not really prepared to fight for themselves. That's just logic! ]

Part of why I wanna swap. And I keep thinking about Kiana...
wolfish: (regard)

[personal profile] wolfish 2024-03-23 03:32 am (UTC)(link)
Agreed. There was no reason for how it happened.

[ He's understand strategically taking out an enemy commander, had it not been like this. ]

Guessing Kiana's someone from back home?
alliterating: (010)

[personal profile] alliterating 2024-03-23 02:42 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh-

[ She clears her throat. ]

Yeah. She's... a friend. And sort of a goddess? But she'd definitely be kicking my ass for sticking with Zenith at this point.
wolfish: (Default)

[personal profile] wolfish 2024-03-23 09:35 pm (UTC)(link)
Had I been in that camp, I know a guy who'd do the same.

[ Ashe would be all the way on his back, without a doubt. ]

A goddess though... You've got friends in high places.
alliterating: (013)

[personal profile] alliterating 2024-03-23 10:36 pm (UTC)(link)
Well, she didn't start out as a goddess, but that's a whole damn story...

[ She waves a hand with a sheepish laugh. ]

I'll tell ya sometime. It's a little nuts.
wolfish: (lean)

[personal profile] wolfish 2024-03-24 12:09 am (UTC)(link)
I'll look forward to it, once we've got you safe.

[ Because that part is of paramount importance. ]

Till then, I'll not say a word...unless we cross paths with Hayame in Alenroux anyway. I think she'd hear me out. Probably monitor us. But if anything that's added safety.
alliterating: (Default)

[personal profile] alliterating 2024-03-24 02:29 am (UTC)(link)
I'll take it. Just don't let her shatter me, right?

[ She winks; she's not that worried about it, confident as she is in her own fighting ability. ]

Thanks, though. Means a lot to me.
wolfish: (say)

[personal profile] wolfish 2024-03-24 03:11 am (UTC)(link)
Hey, I'll be pleased to not have people expecting me to fight you.

[ He knows Sentience is decent, just as he knows she's no fan of how all this has been going and the lack of information they're faced with. ]

...Besides, that weapon trick of yours isn't easy to contend with.
alliterating: (012)

[personal profile] alliterating 2024-03-24 03:31 am (UTC)(link)
Heh, of course not. And that's not the only trick I have!

[ But enough about her. Even if she could preen for a while longer. ]

How's this whole dreamscape kinda thing finding you?
wolfish: (lean)

[personal profile] wolfish 2024-03-24 03:44 am (UTC)(link)
Can't say I'm a fan of being thrown about. Suppose it's a chance to see what people come from, or some semblance of it, but I could do without the sudden relocation.

[ He shrugs, fully aware that it can't be helped. ]

How're you faring, our business aside?
alliterating: (021)

[personal profile] alliterating 2024-03-24 03:47 am (UTC)(link)
...little unsure, honestly. I haven't heard from Midna since right before everything went sour. But... knowing her, she's probably fine.

[ She's worried and trying not to let it show. ]

(no subject)

[personal profile] wolfish - 2024-03-24 03:56 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] alliterating - 2024-03-24 16:47 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] wolfish - 2024-03-24 21:05 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] alliterating - 2024-03-24 23:20 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] wolfish - 2024-03-25 00:27 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] alliterating - 2024-03-25 01:02 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] wolfish - 2024-03-25 05:02 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] alliterating - 2024-03-26 02:14 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] wolfish - 2024-03-26 03:08 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] alliterating - 2024-03-26 03:14 (UTC) - Expand