aionlogs | [closed] cross-faction talks

Who: Emet-Selch, Liem, Howl, Misa, Abel, Ernesto, Alphinaud, Hiccup
What: Cross-faction ~~therapy~~ talks
Where: Sovereign Shrine
When: July 6th(ish), mid-afternoon
Warnings: None anticipated? Will update if necessary!

It is an unremarkable afternoon in Horos; the sun is shining, the breeze is breezing, and among the quiet reverie of the Sovereign’s Shrine… a slow trickle of Aion begin to congregate.

Emet-Selch and Abel bid you welcome to the day’s endeavors, laying out the only rules of the land: this is a place for discussion, and violence is absolutely not permitted. Everyone here has agreed to be on their best behavior and if talks are getting heated - there’s plenty of room to cool one’s head beyond the Shrine’s entranceway beneath the calming sunlight where one might take in the sight of the surrounding mountains’ peaks.

After the events in Venera, tensions may be running high between certain parties and the escalation between sects seems inevitable. Whether you’ve come here to discuss the possibility of diffusing those tensions or are looking to stoke the flames all the hotter… speak your piece. No one knows if you’ll get a second chance in such a setting, after all. Who’s to say what the future holds…?

[ ooc notes: please use the OPEN DISCUSSION thread as a network-style free for all! We’re expecting dialogue-heavy, introspection lite boomeranging here to keep the conversation moving since there are a lot of parties involved. Threadjacking is encouraged! If there’s anything you’d like to take to a 1 on 1 or smaller group, hit up the CLOSED DISCUSSION thread for a deeper dive in a quieter setting. OPEN MIC is the spot for you to bring up whatever you’ve been dying to ask everyone. Or to stir the pot. You do you. ]

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[ He's been contemplating this one for awhile, but it seems worth asking. He's careful with his tone to make sure he sounds curious, not skeptical, and keeps his expression mostly pleasantly neutral, with a small, bland smile in place. ]

What is it that sold everyone here on the idea that the Regent's plan for the future is going to work out the way it was pitched?

Howl cocks his head, considering the question with an air of surprised curiosity. Then he asks:

"What, in your opinion, was the 'pitch'?"

There's a wide sweep of Ernesto's tail as Howl asks that question, but...

"Answer my question first based on your idea of it, and I'll answer yours."

Howl smirks and raises one shoulder in a half-shrug. In his experience, the Pleroma have had quite a different idea of what the Regent wants to do versus what they actually want to do, which is why he met Ernesto's question with his own question... but, he'll humor him.

"The Regent is far more powerful than any of you Pleroma can understand. You have not met them yet, but I know you will, at some point or another. When you do, their power will be unmistakable. Undeniable.

"Aside from that... well, we listened to the truths the Kenoma told us. You did not. If you're asking me for 'proof,' or somesuch, I could ask the same of you."

Nothing in that sounds very convincing to Ernesto, just a lot of propaganda spouted off by someone who has bought into the doctrine. He's still smiling in his usual relaxed and friendly way even as he shakes his head.

"I guess I don't really have any solid proof, but I did hear the Kenoma too."

He taps on the side of his head. He'd been in that cave with the first batch of them, and he'd been fed the Kenoma the same as everyone else.

"And I'll be honest, none of it really sounded like truth to me, so I find it hard to really accept the Regent's plan to restart things when it doesn't seem like it needs a restart at all. Power makes a person capable of knocking aside the people who are standing in a plan maker's path, but it doesn't actually mean their plan is going to turn out the way they want it to in the end, right?"

"Sure."

Howl shrugs, unmoved. Isn't all of that a given? Anything and everything can always turn out differently than one expects it to. But, if that's all Ernesto has got, it's pretty weak.

This sure is some kind of impasse, isn't it? Someone who has bought hook, line, and sinker into the Kenoma's whispering probably wouldn't be swayed by Ernesto suggesting that the Kenoma just might possibly not be right after all. They're coming from two different staring points to this conversation, and while it would probably be easier to just let this one go...

He glances over at Abel, and sighs. He came because he was asked, and he's got to give this a go to at least make it appear like a productive meeting, right?

Sitting up straighter, Ernesto makes a go at looking open and receptive, even if he's not feeling that way at all.

"Try selling it to me better then. Tell me what I missed that made it so clear the Kenoma was telling the truth."

"No." With a cool smile, Howl puts his hands on his hips and stares at Ernesto for a few quiet moments. It might seem, briefly, that he's making fun of him at this point, or not engaging in this discussion in good faith — but once the moment has passed, he continues.

"It's your turn to answer my question. Remember? And I assure you, I did ask for a reason. For someone who's never met the Regent, you are unusually confident in your evaluation of them and their plan."

Fair enough, he was asked to give his take on the Regent's pitch, wasn't he? His laugh at Howl's 'friendly' reminder trails off into a soft sigh as he realizes that no matter what answer he gives, it's not going to be well received.

"Did I make myself sound confident about that? I don't remember claiming anything that bold."

Though he did admit to not finding the Kenoma particularly compelling a moment ago, and lumped the Regent into that.

He crosses his arms and he reflects back on his feelings in that nightmarish cavern all those months back.

"I've got more experience with the Kenoma itself than the person trying to control it, but I still remember the feeling of despair, disgust, and hopelessness. I understand well enough that the Kenoma is looking to end everything, and the Regent plans to use that to their own means, right?"

There's a pause before Ernesto uncrosses his arms now, trying to look more receptive and open to whatever Howl has to say through his body language, even if he's already made up his mind here.

"You all made it earlier sound like the Regent is going to carefully guide that ebb and flow of existence to a better end, but I'll be honest, it's hard to find myself trusting the guidance of someone that's been pretty brutal in their subjugation of the people of Horos."

Howl tips his head. Now we're getting somewhere — or, even if that somewhere is actually nowhere, at least this is starting to feel more like a real conversation.

"So that is your concept of their 'pitch', then? Using the same methods they use to rule over this world when it comes time to guide the rebirth of the universe?"

He can certainly see how one might be against the Regent if that's the case. Brainwashed as Howl is, he's still capable of seeing how... harsh, let's say, the Regent's methods of governance are. But that simply isn't the full story. With a soft sigh, he shakes his head.

"There lies your blind spot, although I'll admit, it's an understandable one. But, consider the fact that governing a chaotic, doomed world and reshaping the new world are two entirely separate things. Almost completely unrelated, I'd guess. And you mustn't forget that we are to assist with the creation of that new world. We are going to help make it right."

If Ernesto was the type of person to have a really high and mighty opinion of himself, then that point that Howl makes might have some appeal to it, but as it is, he doesn't... He knows that he's clever enough, and he knows he's good at scheming up the nitty gritty details of plans going forward, but he certainly doesn't have the skills or knowledge to help reshape all of existence.

And no offense to anyone else here, but...

"I'm not sure that's a very comforting thought. I've met a lot of interesting people on both sides of this conflict, and I can't say I really want to leave that kind of burden on any of them."

His laugh is friendly though, even as he shakes his head. If this was just a thought experiment it might actually be funny, but it being a reality makes it kind of chilling.

[closed] cross-faction talks

The Regent's Promise

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