text | daemon: emeraldd

[astralera]

In the next few days we will have the opportunity to visit a world called Panultima. It is apparently not a 'true' world, but is connected loosely to the multiverse; it is an outpost, where people escaped D.E.S.T.I.N.Y. but have not sought to participate in the war against it.

It is not a kind world. It is cruel. There are two castes that I am aware of - an upper class and a lower class. The lower class is treated horrifically; abused in innumerable ways, with many even being forced to slay one another in what seems to be a gladitorial arena of sorts. Somehow this system is meant to protect the world from D.E.S.T.I.N.Y.

There will be implants of some kind used to return to Xistentia in addition to being able to free those enslaved by Panultima. I know where to look to find these implants and will distribute them to those who wish for it.

I have also seen countless dead piled together, and a rotted being holding something glowing and indistinct. A great, humanoid being of uncertain allegiance. It was perhaps twenty-five fulms tall. Silver colouring. Its joints seemed almost mechanical and would likely be a point of weakness to exploit.

It will be a dangerous world to infiltrate, but I believe there is something important to be found. At the very least we will have the opportunity to free those enslaved if we are careful.

Do not trust this information to be entirely truthful, just as you should not trust F.A.T.E.S without question. This is merely what I have been shown by F.A.T.E.S in my vision. There are undoubtedly things of importance I was not shown, so we must be cautious.

Comments

backdated to earlier; closed to Loki

[astralera]

Arms full of books, it takes Era some careful maneuvering to reach into her inventory for the mysterious bell she was gifted many moons ago. She has never heard it ring in all of that time, and for it to do so now seems strange.

She is immediately staggered by the force of a vision the moment her fingertips brush against the cool metal of the ringing bell. The books fall to the floor as Era clutches her head, a futile attempt to ease the (familiar) pulsating ache that bursts to life in her skull alongside what Era assumes is vital knowledge.

It is the most unpleasant vision Era has ever had, without doubt. Even visions of her own death have never twisted her stomach so. She swallows thickly as she regains her bearings, exhaling a shaky breath and straightening her spine.

[dothelokimotion]

[ The sudden movement catches his attention and he immediately heads in her direction. He's careful not to touch her though. ]

Era?

[astralera]

[ Loki's voice reminds her of where she is and what she was doing - carrying numerous tomes that are now scattered at her feet. Era chokes on a gasp, falling roughly to her knees to begin scooping them up again carefully. ]

My apologies, Loki.

[dothelokimotion]

[ He lets out a hiss. ]

Enough of that. What happened?

[astralera]

[ His question gives her pause, for Era is so accustomed to people ignoring, overlooking, or not caring about her visions. She holds the books against her chest, relieved to note that despite the rough handling they aren't irreparably damaged. ]

A vision.

[dothelokimotion]

[ Ah. His expression clears up immediately. He's familiar with sooth sayers, even if Loki does not possess that gift. ]

You had best take a seat. Do you need anything?

text; daemon: apollod

[hasitsthorns]

[ The way that Era describes the 'lower class' hits too close to home for Rose. She remembers the ring immediately, the visceral reaction to the memories a tensing of her muscles seen all the way through her body. She's glad this is text though, that no one but Vanyel or Farraige might be able to see how uneasy she is staring at the text displayed on the screen. ]

I'm in for helping get people out of there if it ends up being as bad as you saw.

Thanks for the heads up.

[astralera]

I am inclined to believe it is worse than I saw, but cannot be certain.

We will save as many as we can.

[hasitsthorns]

Yeah, probably.
I always expect the worst though, so...

[astralera]

It does not hurt to have hope for the best, as long as you are prepared to deal with the worst outcome.

I believe that despite the awful circumstances things will turn out alright in the end.

[hasitsthorns]

Yeah, those are the words I basically try to live by these days.

But that's pretty optimistic of you.
I like it.

[astralera]

There are worse words to live by.

I have learnt over time that being pessimistic benefits no one. It is difficult yet incredibly rewarding to try and stay positive.

text; daemon: AstraD

[iisupergirlii]

[Kara grows increasingly horrified as she reads the message AstraD was very intent on showing her. The little Lumir's eyes are wide and black, her green coloring a little paler, and she probably understands better than Kara why this is bad.

But this sounds bad. Invasion-of-Daxamites bad, CADMUS-bad.]

I'll help. Whatever you need, I'll do it. We'll get everyone home safe.

[it's big words, but hey... she's Supergirl. Inspiring Words is what she does.]

[astralera]

We will not be able to save everyone. Not everyone will want to leave, whether from complacency or fear. Not everyone will be safe to save, for not all people are good and this world will be no exception.

Save as many as you can without making our presence there known. If word of a way for freedom is widely spread we risk dooming more than we save.

As much as we would like to change things for the better, do not go with unrealistic expectations or goals.

We will save as many as we can, and never forget those we must leave behind. When D.E.S.T.I.N.Y. is destroyed we will find a way back to them and be able to free them all.

[iisupergirlii]

[ what kind of outlook was that? Era and Alex would certainly get along, but Kara is way too optimistic to go along with that. ]

But leaving people to suffer isn't RIGHT.

[astralera]

No, it is not.

But we have none of the resources required to liberate an entire world. Especially not without great risk to many innocents.

There is not an unlimited amount of implants, nor time, nor information to formulate a plan.

There is no possible way to commit to a political coup, restabilize the governing power, give adequate aid to all in need of it, as well as many other things all in a fortnight.

Panultima's structure is a symptom of D.E.S.T.I.N.Y. Eventually all will be liberated, but until then we can only save those within our ability.

[iisupergirlii]

[ Kara takes a deep breath when she's done reading all that. Era sounds like J'onn at the DEO, pragmatic to a fault. ]

Well then what can I do?

[astralera]

Save who you can without arousing suspicion. If any of the governing bodies were to catch on I fear it would create great danger to those we wish to help.

daemon: muerted

[outshiny]

[ That's a lot of text.

Marcos isn't really a fan of text, but he'll deal. At least it's somewhat anonymous. ]

How do you know this vision came from F.A.T.E.S?

For the record I want to help. I don't like the thought of enslaved people forced to kill each other any more than you do
That doesn't mean I'm wild about letting some alien computer implant me
How do we know we can trust what you saw?

[astralera]

[ meanwhile Era has a lot of trouble with audio/video, as her voice will often give out after speaking too much at once. and she wants to make sure she has her voice in Panultima, definitely. ]

What was presumably F.A.T.E.S. told me itself, and as it was not a vision caused wholly by my natural gift I am inclined to believe it. At the very least I trust that the information about Panultima is accurate, if not complete.

I would not put my full trust into the implants, but the technology we have been forced to use so far has proven safe and so I trust it enough to use it. The alternative would be to play it safe and leave countless people to suffer which I cannot abide by.

If all of the information is accurate we still would not be able to save everyone from that world, but we will save as many as we can without risking lives.

[outshiny]

[ All of that's true. Could he live with himself if he knew people were being enslaved, and did nothing? Marcos already knows the answer to that. ]

There's always gonna be a risk
We can't leave them, though. That's not an option

I just want to know we're actually helping them. How long have you been here? Has F.A.T.E.S proved trustworthy so far?

[astralera]

Nine months.

So far it has proven that it doesn't wish to see us harmed, though I believe that is more out of its own interests. As of yet has not proven to be untrustworthy, but I have always heeded whatever information it has given me with due caution.

[outshiny]

Good. You should

I don't want to get involved in their war but I do want to help those people
So I'm in, I guess, but I'm doing this my own way
Not theirs.

[shadowmarshalllucask]

[ Once again, Lucas is around ]

"This vision, what is this world like besides death and hurt? Those people... I can't let them suffer like this."

[astralera]

I have said all that I saw.

We will save as many as we can.