kenoslogs | THE ADVOCATE ORACLE - A RIP VAN WINKLE IN TIME

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

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...they seem a little out of place, yes. Sturdy enough, though.

[ He cocks his head as he spots wooden walls through the trees - and then a cleared space. Little gardens for growing crops. It's... like a rural village he might expect to see anywhere, except it's practically on top of a mountain. ]

Do you hear voices?

[ There is something - high pitched chatter. Arguments, maybe laughter. ]

[Voices, yes. They sound excited, almost like children playing. Way up here though? Par usual for her she breaks out in front without waiting for Dimitri, taking off at a trot. If there's children she's not about to just sneak up on them and would rather announce her presence off the bat.

She stops mid-trot though once she does round one of the building and finds the source of all that high pitched chatter.]

... Oh. It is children.

[Orphans. She knows that immediately simply because she's seen so many of them. The aftermath of war tended to produce many of them after all and she finds herself realizing the depths of what must be happening here in Hayame's world.]

[ Dimitri takes off after her with a slightly startled cry. ]

Alice, wait a moment-

[ But then he trails off as he starts to catch up to her and realizes what it is they're looking at. Children, a whole gaggle of them - but not an adult in sight, not even lurking to keep an eye on them and let them get into trouble. He's silent for a long moment and he's about to say something when suddenly there's silence and he realizes that the children have spotted them and for a long moment they're just staring. And then there's a barrage of questions and yelling and there's a small tidal wave running at them as fast as their four legs can carry them. ]

[A small tidal wave indeed! Alice's eyes jump wide open when the children begin to descend upon them with those bright little voices pitched up high and keen. They're curious and eager and as they bunch up around her legs Alice begins to fluster.]

I .. I, um -- that --

[One of them clings to her right foreleg, peering up at her with round dark eyes and she just --]

H-Hello ...

[She has a baby brother at home and he's no stranger to running up to her when he sees her. She's had a vastly different experience with most orphans though -- for good reason, of course -- and it has her a little overwhelmed at the moment.]

Hello there...

[ Dimitri is also a little overwhelmed but he at least seems to take to it with a bit more speed than Alice does. He offers the children a smile and reaches down to ruffle some hair and try to offer a bit of contact and comfort. ]

We're certainly surprised to find you here.

[ "I didn't think there were any adults left!"

Well, that's ominous. ]

We're certainly alive. Aren't we, Alice? [ That implies something. Hmm. ]

[The question is quick to snap her out of her moment here. She blinks a few times but the weight of what that must mean settles over her in an instant.]

Of course.

[She pauses a moment, looking back to the kids around her and then carefully takes the bag off of her back to set aside.]

Careful, there's something sharp in there so don't play with it.

[That said she settles more into the war relief worker she is. She leans down, still short enough despite her new form to be able to gently touch the head of the child clinging onto her leg. It's somehow a surprise that he doesn't flinch and she wonders what that says about her own world. He can't be much older than Arren -- six, seven maybe?

He looks well. He's not skinny and no more dirty than a child would likely be after rough play. She casts her gaze quietly around the area, noting the rest of the children look much the same. Her expression is quietly serious like she's running this all through her mind for a moment.]

I've seen groups like this before. There are probably a few older children watching them -- teenagers maybe, if not younger.

[They must have stumbled on a group of the smaller children who couldn't work.]

Edited 2024-03-23 01:21 (UTC)

Yes, I've seen groups of them before... but I've never really been quite this up close and personal. It's always been - well. Something I've been trying to deal with after the end of the war.

[ He frowns, murmuring softly as he ruffles someone's hair and then tries to answer a question thrown his way - "How'd you get so big"? ]

Well, that took a lot of time-

[ Then another aside to Alice. ]

They might be out hunting or doing some other chores. Should we look for them?

[She flicks an understanding look his way before she looks back to the children themselves. Someone must have told them to stick together because they're a tightly packed little crowd, aren't they. She considers the boy a moment, untangles him from her leg and gently shoos him Dimitri's way.]

I'll go look for them.

[She smirks just a little once she straightens up, hands on her ... well, not hips anymore but waist.]

You're better with children than I am.

[That said she starts picking her way through the kids, thinking to ask at least one of the oldest of the bunch if there are any teenagers. Or anyone in charge? The name Mikuni is floated about but there's the impression they might not be here at the moment. There's something about 'foraging' though and she nods her head at that. They couldn't be very far away then, so she thought. Hadn't she noted some gardens when they first arrived.]

[ Dimitri scoops up the little guy and holds him up, pressed against his chest. The extra limbs and bulk of a Jinba child isn't all that unmanageable, fortunately - and that sort of handling seems to be just fine with the kid in question! He gives Alice a quick look and then nods. ]

Alright. I'll... take this lot back into the village and I'll wait for you there.

[ There's still questions and chatter but at least they seem more than willing to follow Dimitri! So it isn't long before he's settled on his side surrounded by kids, some of them clambering over him, others keeping their distance, almost all of them still asking questions or commenting.

Still he seems at peace with it. ]

[The arrangement works out more than fine because by the time Alice does return she looks like she must have been inadvertently put to work. Not that she minds the basket over her withers stuffed with the plunder of the gardens, she'll happily haul whatever is asked of her. The other basket strapped over her shoulders and laid against her back is fine too.

What she doesn't look so assured about is the baby. A few of the teenagers that she returns with all similarly laden down with baskets do have little bundles too but one of the teenagers seeing Alice was a woman had just up and handed her this jinba foal. She had offered to help forage and carry but apparently carrying meant 'here, babysit this child'.

One teenager makes a cheeky comment as they pass her by that, "You don't have to be so careful, you know." and Alice flusters mightily.]

Of course not, infants are very sturdy ... I think ...

[Oh god, are they? The last baby she held had been abandoned at the gates of the military headquarters and Randel was the one who shoved it in her arms. The baby -- a boy -- she had easily given over to Stecchin after. Her time handling him was minimal. Thus Alice Malvin, ever ready to charge into a fight or tackle everything on her own, ends up picking her way back into the village with the delicacy of someone holding a Very Important glass statue.

The teenagers themselves seem just as ready to flock around Dimitri as the children. There's a lot of bustle in them taking off their baskets and beginning to sort out what they've brought back of course but there's equally plenty of questions from them too. Most of them aren't really that much older than the children he's already surrounded in.]

[ Dimitri stares for a moment as Alice returns with a few of the older jinba (apparently) and another infant. That's a bit more than he was expecting, especially with the barrage of questions the older ones have. Stuff like where the two of them are from, whether there are more jinba there, whether they escaped from the lowlands - if they've seen someone, if they know of any others - it's a barrage and Dimitri has to try and field some of them while he juggles with the younger ones. To their credit, the younger ones seem to chip in to help unload everything.

They've got something going here. Even if the responsibility shouldn't have been thrust onto them in the first place.

It's only about ten minutes later when Dimitri finally has a chance to breath and he's not being clambered on anymore that he can flag Alice down for a brief word. ]

...I think we know why they're all out here now.

[ They'd had a guess before, but... ]

I don't know how much we can do for them while we're here, though.

[They've got a very nice system going on here for sure. Alice offers to help but since she's got one infant in her arms it seems like the teens take this to mean she'll take the others. In the end she's left with several babies and has given up, just plopping down much like Dimitri had done and allowing herself to become a pillow more or less. Or at least that's all the infants want to do is sleep against her while she sort of awkwardly cradles them in either arm.

At least by the time Dimitri finds her again she both gotten far more used to babies than she ever thought she would until nobility necessitated she have her own and likewise passed them off to grateful older kids. That does make her feel like something of a heel of course.

The answer on what they can do is easy enough for Alice though.]

Help them mostly.

[She sighs out then, straightening out her back for the first time in a bit now. That includes her equine half too, done as she stretches her arms over her head.]

This is what war relief is all about. We may not be able to solve all of their problems for now but we can offer them the aid so they can replenish their will to fight and continue forward.

Edited 2024-03-24 00:02 (UTC)

Yes... if us being here fora few hours gives them a little bit of hope, I'll take it.

[ He smiles a little sadly. ]

I worry that we can't actually stay to make sure they get on their feet. But we can't fix everything. And it's not our choice. Still... I feel badly that we'll eventually just be gone.

[ He shrugs. ]

...I suppose that's something I think about too much.

[She tilts her head a touch, considering the man. In some ways he really does remind her of the Corporal; she's thought as much before but does so again now.]

I wouldn't say it's something you think on too much. It's true that we'll eventually be gone and won't be here to be of constant help. It would be good if we could be, just like it would be if we could do the same in every world touched by things like this -- war and loss, that is. We both know that's impossible though.

[However!]

While we are here you and I can help these children all we can. Then later we can help others in another world. Or perhaps in Kenos. You continue helping on and on because you can't always be in every place -- but you can help a little in every place that you go, yes?

[ Dimitri's smile grows a little, soft and warm, as he listens to Alice. There's something there he deeply appreciates. A philosophy close to his own. It makes him feel better about their limited time here and about what he (and they) can do in their brief hours on these worlds. Even if they have to leave in the end, even if they can stay to support the fight. ]

Exactly. And... there are places where I have the power to change a great deal. Just... not here. But even the little things - chores, simple labor, playing with children, helping with small tasks - all of it is worthwhile. If it makes someone's life easier, if it takes the weight off of their shoulders... it's worth doing. No matter how brief.

[She figured he would get it. How does the saying go again? "Birds of a feather flock together." That's it. Alice considers a moment and then claps Dimitri on the shoulder much like she had seen Oreldo do with Machs and Randel both. It had struck her as a nicely affectionate gesture but she had never had the courage to do so with any of them.]

There you go! Let's do what we can with the time we have, hm?

Absolutely.

[ The smack on the shoulder is actually kinda bracing. He shoots her a smile. ]

Giving them some time to play is worth doing. Children deserve to have their minds eased; to not carry the burdens of the world. That's our job, isn't it? To carry those as far as we can.

[Her own smile grows firmer with that.]

That is certainly one of our duties as nobles. We are servants of the people in the end. To lift their burdens and in turn give them hope is an honor.

[She huffs out a little laugh.]

And a chance to play, of course. Merriment and pleasure are good for the spirit.

They're essential, I think.

[ Dimitri agrees, lips quirking into a smile. ]

So providing that... even if for only a little while is worth doing. Every little bit of hope and joy... that's something we can do.

[At least it's not taking the kids long to get into playing. With the older children back and everything unloaded the little ones have set off to playing again. It's rather like watching foals play honestly with all the dashing and kicking and whatnot. Then again --]

They're certainly not that different from the children I've seen at home.

[All the dashing and whatnot. Chasing each other? Alice hums in thought, expression gently curious.]

I wonder what the games they play are like? I've heard the children at home do that.

Probably the same kind as children everywhere. Although you could ask them if you're curious. They might even invite you to play with them!

[ Dimitri flashes her a little grin. ]

It might be educational.

[For a moment Alice flusters.]

I-it wouldn't be right to play children's games at my age.

[The again she is curious. She gives Dimitri a swift side glance, a hint sheepish. Then she ends up trotting over to where the children are gathered.

At least Dimitri can be amused from afar as Alice leans down a little to talk to one of the groups of children. The child she's speaking to is a filly of maybe six or seven, her head already up to Alice's withers. She gives Alice a surprised look but then readily taps Alice on her equine half around the shoulder and takes off after.

Alice just stands for a moment, looking bewildered. All the children scatter, shouting and laughing as Alice tries to glean what the hell is happening.

Thankfully one child is kind enough to shout the instruction, "TRY TO CATCH US!" and that seems to perk Alice up.]

Ah, a battle of stamina then!

[Thank goodness she knows how to use those legs now. Off she goes, moving surprisingly quick for being a stubby little draft type.]

[ Dimitri, for his part, stands back to watch. It's incredibly entertaining to see her catch on and start playing with the young ones - it's also incredibly endearing at that. The children seem to be relishing in the chance to have someone older they can harass a little and to let off some steam.

It's nice, he thinks, to be able to provide that sort of thing. After a moment he cups his hands over his mouth. ]

Give it your best, Alice!

[ Children, being children, are wily little things and are soon scattering all over the place trying to avoid her. The laughter feels a bit like a balm - at least to Dimitri. ]

[She pauses long enough to shoot a look his way that's equal parts pleased and thoroughly flustered. She'll admit it's quite fun and there's nothing to be the least ashamed of but it's still somewhat ... mmmh. Once again it's a feeling she can't put her finger on.

Still Alice isn't a quitter. The children scatter and it's a fuss of noise and the like. At times she reappears only to be chased off again. At least all the noise is good noise.

By the time some of the teenagers return with talk of hotpots and dinner Alice breathing heavily but not quite out of breath. She's also got at least one of the smaller children balanced over her equine half, forelegs over one side and backlegs over the other and draped like a sack of potatoes. The rest of the children are all flooding in in a wave, clearly now more interested in dinner than anything.

She twists a bit to pluck the child off of her and huffs a little laugh.]

I did successfully manage to wear at least one of them out.

[Does she look at least a little proud? Yes, okay. It was a lot of work!]

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