The Plot Strikes Back

[confined]

Who: Coren & Everyone.
When: Day 107, Early Evening.
Where: Shrine Room.
What: Plot & Mingle.

[ Despite the memory shenanigans that have been happening the last few days, today has been exceedingly quiet. Perhaps some were nearby to witness the events that took place and returned the memories to those who had yet to find them. Some items with memories in them still might remain behind to be dealt with on another day, but there are more important matters to attend to.

Tonight there's certainly a rustling in the hallways, a flapping of wings. You have never seen so many birds in Thusia before, and they seem completely benign. In every inhabited hallway of the headquarters, there are large and small birds flying to the nearest door, tapping on it with their beaks, and leaving notes to meet on the fourth floor at the shrine room. Where the birds won't or can't go, there are illusions of signs requesting your presence for an urgent matter regarding your home and your memories, trails of light that lead you like an illuminated map from where you are toward the shrine room. If you shut your door on them or tell them to go away, neither will invade further. Aside from the birds roaming the headquarters and the commotion in the shrine room, life goes on. ]

[ Waiting | The Meeting: 2, 3 + 3.1 + 4, Final Questions. ]

( ooc: For those who didn't get to participate in the memory event end, we had to cut things a bit short, but we promise a more open end next time. We didn't get to do nearly as much as we had planned. )

Comments

Meeting ( Part 4 )

[confined]

[ Coren has moved out of the center of attention, but it seems like he's still taking questions after returning to his spot near the windows, petting an owl in his lap. It's getting dark, but with an illusion up, his features do not glow. He's sent a group of birds off. How they escape the building to leave - who knows? ]

Re: Meeting ( Part 4 )

[besomeothername]

[Lavi watches Coren send the birds on their way before leaning up against the wall beside him]

With this many birds, you must have eyes and ears all over Thusia, yeah?

Re: Meeting ( Part 4 )

[confined]

[ jiiii. That eyepatch. :I ]

Only as far as I'm willing to risk them. I've let them go as far as the desert, mountains, and floating isles. No further.

Your eye..?

Re: Meeting ( Part 4 )

[besomeothername]

[Your birds were staring at it, too, godbro. S'vx, too. What gives?]

My eye? [Waves a hand dismissively. Change subject change subject] Ah, nothing to worry about. It's been like this as long as I can remember.

But yes. Deserts, mountains and--- floating isles. Is there some place that you would recommend we move to?

Re: Meeting ( Part 4 )

[confined]

[ EW S'VX CAN DIAF. Well, he'll let his guard down just a little for someone like you. Lavi might detect a little hint of light from Coren's skin. ]

That's said normally when it is something to worry about.

That's probably a discussion saved for when more people can put some input toward it. The birds like the mountains and isles, but they don't really favor the lack of water in the desert. I have not been out there in a long time.

Re: Meeting ( Part 4 )

[scienceoficecream]

[She's mostly hovering nearby. Out of the way, but watching Coren.]

[K-knows these meetings can be kind of rough.]

Re: Meeting ( Part 4 )

[confined]

[ Next time we're just leaving a note on a message board somewhere.


Coren's just going to sit there for awhile. It seems one or two people will talk to him without making pissed off or sarcastic faces, but he doesn't really seem all that relieved. He does a once around the room looking, but no birds must be looking her way, because it passes right over her. Funny how he'll still remember those little motions out of habit to hide it. Many of the other gods probably haven't even noticed. ]

Re: Meeting ( Part 4 )

[scienceoficecream]

[She wouldn't be Albinia if she hadn't though. Paying attention to little things are important.]

[And yes, that...is about the reaction she expected.]

[Moving over to him, putting a hand on his shoulder.]

Re: Meeting ( Part 4 )

[confined]

[ OK JERKING YES. That is a thing, but .. that's a very cold hand, isn't it? -- One bird with glowing eyes is rather abruptly turning toward her and only then does he relax a little. ]

The Matriarch is coming back around. I had to tell them...

Re: Meeting ( Part 4 )

[cloak_and_sniper]

[ It can probably be noted that Jane has been incredibly quiet throughout the meeting. Quite unusual for the former Commander, she sat and watched the whole thing from the seat she'd chosen to perch on. ]

That was... interesting.

[ A pause as she slides her back down the wall beside him, crouching now with her head tipped back. Watching him from the corner of her eyes; ]

Unfortunate time to have it, though.

Re: Meeting ( Part 4 )

[confined]

[ Rather candidly for Coren:]

It was terrible.

But if I waited longer, then there would be less time to do something about it.

[ He doesn't have to turn to regard her, and he's staring off anyway. Thinking about the risks this one has taken before for things she considers worthwhile. ]

Do you have ideas how to save the people here?

Re: Meeting ( Part 4 )

[cloak_and_sniper]

Other than going after the Matriarch? No.

[ sighs, slumping slightly ]

People need to be moved and they need to be moved fast. But I can understand why they're frustrated. It was... a bad idea to relocate us here.

It's unfair that they're directing their anger at you, but I doubt it's personal. I think a lot of them are still under the illusion you Gods are omnipresent and all-knowing.

Re: Meeting ( Part 4 )

[confined]

[huffing:] She is too large.

[ Coren quiets down. crossing his arms over his uniform from where he's perched. He's giving off intense waves of displeasure. ]

They won't listen to someone if they don't trust them, and they won't listen if they're a god regardless.

If I give you the information I know, can you lead people?

Re: Meeting ( Part 4 )

[melonlord]

Can we at least go somewhere with some solid ground? I don't see why everyone is so upset about moving. If I had a flying house -- and right now, I do -- I'd move it all over the place.

Maybe we can go somewhere with more rock, so we can finish fixing all the holes.

Re: Meeting ( Part 4 )

[confined]

[ He nods a little. ]

The mountains or isles have more rock. There are other places, but they're too far for my birds to see.

You navigate very well for your... for your eyes. Is it rude to ask how?

Re: Meeting ( Part 4 )

[melonlord]

No, because it's awesome. I'm an earthbender. I can feel all the stone and metal that I'm touching, and what's touching that.

[supraliminally]

[And here is a youkai girl taking a seat next to you. She looks to be somewhere between amused and thoughtful.]

Don't take it too personally. It's been the same reaction for every god, really.

[confined]

[ His head dips in her direction, but he resumes petting the owl looking more directly at her after a moment. ]

I'll try, not that I blame them. I just would like not to be lumped in with every other god here.

[supraliminally]

They have their reasons, as you have yours. But it doesn't matter, really. Their justifications, their motivations. There isn't any point in getting caught up in such subjective things.

This is how it is: every being that lives must pay for that life. In effort, blood, pain, humiliation. Or all of the above. The world is demanding you pay with injury, with offense, with suspicion cast upon you. And with regret, I think. [A sidelong glance here, to watch his reaction, since she isn't sure what his deal is.] But if you refuse to pay, you can only die.

Re: Meeting ( Part 4 )

[nolongerslate]

I know you just got here, but maybe next time someone can mention something like 'this jungle is more dangerous than the surrounding country so you'll want to leave as soon as you can get the engines you found working' before we get swamped by lizagons.

From what I've heard, we were brought here because these buildings can move and are pretty strong once repaired and working, and they're only found in the jungle, but it seems like the gods here have made it their practice to not tell us anything until we have no choice to do what we said. If we knew other areas were safer, we could have planned better. Maybe found a way to scout them before we moved.

Re: Meeting ( Part 4 )

[confined]

[ Considering... ]

Understood.

You want to have the choice of where you go and the things you do. I've advised to move because I think it will be safer for you in the end, but I don't want you to choose blindly either. It takes a lot of energy to move these buildings, a lot of fuel.

If there isn't enough, you don't move far enough to be in a safer region. I can answer any question I know, and that's my offer. I'm not asking for payment for what you need to know.

If there's something... just ask with the knowledge that I can only answer if I know it, and the other gods have been in the world as it is now for longer than I have.

Re: Meeting ( Part 4 )

[nolongerslate]

Can your birds make us a map?

Is there any way to travel to those areas ourselves -- even a small party could survey the area and report back about the conditions.

Re: Meeting ( Part 4 )

[devotedtothecore]

[ when it looks like coren's less occupied with speaking to others, Chrys-- from his corner of the Shrine Room, watching the proceedings-- turns to the owl on his wrist, meeting her eyes gravely. ]

...you're free. Go to him, then.

Re: Meeting ( Part 4 )

[confined]

[ Seems you've made a decent friend. Calenia roots around in your hair for a moment with her beak, chatters something in reply. It's a shame you can't understand it, before she takes to her wings and flies over to land on Coren's knee.

A moment before another bird turns toward you and then Coren's gaze follow and he sighs in relief, nodding in your direction thankfully.

After everything the last few days and this meeting, the girl coming down with a fever and snappy comments...This is one good thing. He's watching you for a moment, wondering if you're coming over, before turning back to the bird. Coren rubs the back of his knuckle up the chest feathers, cooing:] Calenia~

Re: Meeting ( Part 4 )

[devotedtothecore]

[ It's enough to stir a few long-buried pangs in him regardless, to do with a man (a hidden god) he hasn't known the presence of at all in some time. He endures Calenia's mussing patiently, and watches her leave, meeting Coren's eyes when they turn his way. Even if in all likelihood it's useless.

...

He gives Coren a few moments of privacy, before making his own approach. ]