[Video]

[seventhsong]

[It's Lorelei. For those who haven't encountered him yet, he looks remarkably (one could say exactly!!) like an older, adult Asch or Luke. Right now he looks fairly sober.]

It might be easy, with how things have gone recently, to give into despair and believe none of us are ever getting out of this place. I have chosen to believe that we will, and that our recent efforts against one of our captors proves that where there is a will, there is a way.

We simply weren't prepared enough this time.

[He frowns faintly.]

But aside from that. There is very little I can offer anyone here as consolation. We made our effort, and we failed. ... But I can offer this. Should we ever escape this Tower, should we lose these collars and regain the power that belongs to us.. ... I can't save your worlds. I can't repair the loss of life that's happened there.

But I can repair mine.

[There's no sense of bragging here at all.]

If ... we can't find a way to restore all worlds lost, but find a way to escape, then Auldrant will be open to any and all survivors of the Tower. You don't have to take up the offer, I will not force you. There will be those who would prefer to have their native homes or nothing at all. But for those of you who feel otherwise ... I offer what I can. And I can offer my world. It won't be your first homes, but it will be a home, somewhere to return to that won't ask who you are or what you are or even what you did. Everyone deserves a home. Everyone.

We just have to survive long enough to get there. Don't give up.

Comments

[Video]

[seventhsong]

There might just be one way to find out. It seems 'wait and see' is the only thing to be done about it for the time being.

[seventhsong]

Hope for the best, plan for the worst. As the worst is, we all cease to exist outright, planning for that end seems to be something that will see to itself.

[He doesn't much like the idea. Something would have to survive, surely.. somewhere.]

Ah, helping hands are always good! For the time being, assuming we pull anything at all off, I think your presence alone would suffice for me.

[Video]

[heavenscorpse]

I don't think anybody needs to make a decision now. But it's good to give them time to think.

What's your name?

[video]

[fionnuisce]

Assuming the more rational of us can hold back the bloodthirsty and stupid.

[Which was not likely in Waver's opinion. He knew how badly most of the population wanted Jason's blood, and that kind of revenge-based mindset tended to make people stupid.]

On the other obvious subject, how is it you think you'd be able to restore your world?

[Video]

[seventhsong]

Most call me Lorelei. You may as well, if you'd like. What are you called?

[It's not quite his name, but it works perfectly well. Most people don't speak fonic vibration.]

[bloodyashes]

[He waves off Lorelei's comment about holes - thinking out loud here, fondad.]

That's true, and it would be mostly protected from the Malkuth side for at least a few generations - there's not really a good port on that side of Rugnica, although I suppose we could dredge one up...

[He realizes, abruptly, that he's literally discussing changing the shape of the planet's landmass. That's certainly an idea worthy of stopping for a moment.]

And the closest port would be Nam Cobanda, which is an independent and would probably grow up similarly to Chesedonia if there was any significant trade...

[Aaaaaaand right back to city planning.]

[seventhsong]

You never know until you try.

[Ever the optimist, it seems. The question that follows draws an owlish blink.]

It's a little complicated, but mostly it renders down to my purview as the aggregate sentience of the seventh fonon. I can rebuild anything I can remember, and I haven't forgotten anything yet.

[There's a pause.]

That I know of. I suppose if I did forget something I wouldn't know it since if I did then I'd remember it.

[Video]

[heavenscorpse]

People call me lots of things, but I don't like most of them. I like V/V the best, so you can call me that.

[She feels your 'not really having a name' thing bro, except in her case it's plant alien thing that humans just made up names for.]

Video;

[wegotlucky]

Five months.

We still have five months.

Don't give up hope, not yet.

[seventhsong]

I won't suggest going into too much indepth city planning for either nation. They may wish to have a say in it. Of course you do have particular sway with the Kimlasca-Lanvaldear alliance but Malkuth has its own way of doing things. Are you friends with the Emperor?

[It's innocently asked. Lorelei went immediately for Jade for a very, very good reason. He wants them cooperating. A unified effort from independent cities and the nations alike.]

Though as a note once Hod's hole is plugged back up the currents through the area are going to suddenly shift. Again. I suspect the fishing is going to pick up quite nicely along the interior seas, you may wish to when the time comes recommend your people do something about that.

[Fish are okay. He didn't mind them.]

[seventhsong]

Five? You--

[Pause.]

Oh yes, your calendars only have thirty days per month, my apologies. Still, there's no harm in thinking about it now.

Re: [Video]

[seventhsong]

Very well then! If you like V/V, then we'll go with that! It's nice to meet you! I don't think we've crossed paths before now.

[fionnuisce]

Well, that's convenient. [At this point, there wasn't a whole lot that really shocked him.] I have to admit, it's the 'restoration' bit that I think we have the least information on. If all else fails, I might just accept that offer and drag along a friend or two.

...Wait a minute, where have I heard this before. [Waver frowned, squinting at the video as though suddenly making a connection. That phrase sounded incredibly familiar, as though he'd been told it in a condescending know-it-all voice--oh, of course.] Do you...know someone named Jade, by any chance?

[Video]

[heavenscorpse]

I don't think so either! I've been here for a while now, though. Over a year.

[seventhsong]

Feel free to. It's what the offer's for, after all.

[The more the merrier. Auldrant was a big dirtball and had a total population of less than ten million until recently, there was lots of space for other people.

Mention of Jade draws another blink. Well!]

Ah. Uhm, yes. We've crossed paths once or twice. Is he a friend of yours?

[seventhsong]

...Oh goodness, that's quite a long time to endure this place. I'm glad you seem to be weathering it fairly well, as far as I can tell.

[She doesn't seem insane!]

[heavenscorpse]

It's because of the people here. I wouldn't be able to last this long if I didn't have kind people to talk to.

[fionnuisce]

I wouldn't quite go that far. We had a fascinating discussion comparing our respective worlds and their system of magic a little while ago. And thinking on it I don't believe sentience was ever implied. In fact I'm almost certain, that sounds like something I might just recall.

[Never mind that last part, now he's surprised.]

Although that seems just ludicrous enough for me to believe.

[seventhsong]

Ahh.. I've found some truly amazing, kindhearted people here as well. It's good to know that even in a place like this, friendship can help overcome.

[Pause. Well if she liked kind people..]

Have you spoken to a boy named Ion yet? Small, green, a little shy? You might like him.

[heavenscorpse]

I don't think so! But I'll look out for him now. Is he one of your friends?

[seventhsong]

Oh. He's quite clever, I imagine any such discussion would have had to be very enlightening.

[Unfortunate that it came along with Jade's usual ... Jadeness. Not everyone could handle it.]

There's only seven of us total, I imagine it just didn't come up. When there's enough of a single fonon collected in a single spot it tends to spontaneously become self-aware.

[That seems remarkably cut and dry.]

It's not as interesting as artes and how they work and such, I'm sure. Far less complicated.

[There's no trace of sarcasm. He means it. Aggregates just happen, you have to work to get an arte!]

[seventhsong]

I like to think he is. He's always been very kind, if I remember right he's never been anything but kind to everyone he's met. A little stern sometimes, but ...

[But not mean. Not petty, not cruel. The boy was a walking miracle.]

[heavenscorpse]

That's wonderful. I'm glad people like that are around, though it's sad that they're here.

[bloodyashes]

[Shhhh Lorelei don't bust his bubble. He doesn't have them near frequently enough.]

We haven't met, but that would have to change for obvious reasons... Daath is going to be its own headache to sort out.

[He can't imagine the church will take Lorelei running amok well, even aside from all the loss of leadership they've suffered. Ugh, he's one of their highest ranked officials, too, he'll be inevitably dragged into that...]

I imagine commerce is going to change a great deal anyway, if airships become commonplace. Which they no doubt will within a few decades, especially if we bring the scientists from here...

[seventhsong]

Better here than gone, I thought. Where there's life, there's hope.