[Open] There's a Point Where It Tips, There's a Point Where It Breaks

[zerotohiro]

Who: Everyone in Cerealia who figured out the code words for this meeting
When: Evening of IC 5/31, after Hawke's network post
Where: Sanctuary
What: "A pizza party" aka a meeting about the new masked figure that appeared.
Warnings: N/A, maybe some talks about what Alien-kun had to say, etc.


[It's evening by the time Hiro gets to the Sanctuary. Anyone who had seen him this morning will have spotted him with Baymax, both of them sans their normal armor and Baymax carrying what looks like a giant box. They had preparations to make, after all. He makes his way in and out of the building a few times but by the time the first of their guests arrive, everything's set up.

Upon entering the Sanctuary, Baymax moves to stand guard and collect your CereVice in a box at the door. Please don't cheat, he doesn't like when people aren't playing fair. In exchange for the CereVice, you will receive a form and a pencil before Baymax cheerfully waves you away.

Hiro's sitting on a table at the head of the lounge watching people come in. Hawke had promised these people pizza and cake (Hawke why) and he's delivering on that promise. The stack is about as tall as he is, more than enough to feed everyone who's shown up. He waits until a majority of the people show up before he clears his throat to gather attention.]

...uh, hey! [Well. That's a great, confident start.] I know this was sort of last minute and everything, but I really appreciate all of you coming by and actually listening to Hawke. [Sorry Hawke. But there's a grin which says he's more than appreciative.] I know you're probably here for free food, but there's a couple of things you should know. [Sliding off of the table, he moves to stand in front of what looks like a small mechanical box.]

When we all got back a few days ago, I started thinking about the fact that CERES can watch us from...pretty much anywhere. So I took some plans for something else I've been working on, improvised a little bit and created this thing. It'll deflect the signal from our implants and block them out completely as long as we're in this room. I've tested it out a couple of time already, the whole thing gets thrown off. It's...why I wanted to meet here! Because that sort of leads right to my next point.

[There's a small sigh as he paces the room, Baymax waddling after him. He moves back to the table he'd been sitting on to pull up the mask he'd been given a while ago.]

All of you probably received one of these either from that fortune teller, Aria, or it just showed up. And while we were out there? Some of you probably found the terminal like I did and spoke with a masked figure. [A beat.] I'm starting to realize that it told all of us something different, but the most important part is that it's with the Flamine Federation. You know. The guys who supposedly destroyed our planets. Baymax gave all of you a form--um. [And here he pauses, unsure if it's really appropriate to be ordering people to share information but then again that's what they all need. He's always believed everybody needs to be aware of what's happening.] Basically I guess just...answer what you can and tack it up on the board--[A gesture to a large bulletin board he pulled from who knows where.]--and talk amongst yourselves about what happened out there? Alien...the monsters, that weird altar? A bunch of you saw that, right? What was that about?

[Dear god somebody help him.] ...look, I tried. There's free food. This is about all I could throw together so fast before something else happens here. So...yeah. Let's just start figuring out what's really happening here, okay?

[Vague hand gestures? Vague hand gestures. He shuts up after that and sort of shrinks back into his hoodie, jumping back up on the table to hand out food and keep an eye on the room. All right, colonists. You know what to do.]

[ooc: Welcome to the info-sharing mingle! The idea behind this is for characters to ICly fill out this form (coded by the wonderful Fidgey/Katsura-mun) and have it displayed for everyone to view that information. You can post your sheet in your comment or link it to a post elsewhere in your journal, or even post it in the post I made that the form's posted into. HOWEVER this is open to everyone even if your character didn't speak to the alien and just wants to check stuff out! As a note: characters will start to feel sick after about two hours in the Sanctuary due to the frequency deflector. Sorry about that! Any questions hit me up via PM or plurk at alternatively]

Master List of Forms

Comments

[pure_havoc]

[given his life experiences in Wei and Orochi's world, there is little that shocks Cao Pi.

But that? That does it.

His face is all business when he approaches, though he does manage some sympathy for England, first]

It seems trite to say so, but your sacrifice will not be in vain. I cannot even begin to know what it must be like to suffer and then live with it afterward.

[to both of them, then, in case it's something Arthur can't respond to] This changes things. Whatever CERES is doing must be stopped, one way or another. Do you know...how long ago his experience was, if there is any chance it has continued to happen since?

[manolia]

[Chibi wants to reach over to England, to pat his shoulder and say 'this man's right, we won't let this be in vain.' Instead, he just looks to England and nods when Cao Pi says it, letting a meaningful smile slip.]

[He also wants to say more regarding stopping CERES. (Goddess knows he's had a few fantasies about clocking CERES' higher-ups in the face personally in the past... Hour or so.) But he does know one thing that might comfort this guy...] Another refugee has destroyed the altar, so I hear; who knows if they will rebuild it, but that much has been done. Believe me, I want to find out how to do more to stop this, as well.

And, ah... It was the third of May, he said, so a few weeks ago? [It feels like sooner.] There is a chance it has happened since; what I would do is ask to find out if anyone found personal effects of someone who disappeared later than that date.

[pure_havoc]

[Third of May...not that long ago. Hmm.

Cao Pi nods his understanding in general.]

So I heard someone say, earlier. Yet, in my experience, those determined to perform some function to the gods will not let that stop them. Whether a shrine, altar, or otherwise.

Yet, it isn't merely the sacrifices I want to stop. The truth will not come out and a solution will not be found unless we work to end CERES' meddling once and for all. It seems a near-insurmountable task, but I have faced worse.

[he breaks off there to press the back of his hand to his mouth; seems he's been in here long enough to start feeling the ill effects of the deflector. Good thing he didn't have any pizza.]

[unionjackoff]

[is he talking about a revolution? rise against CERES!] I fear that if we remove CERES from the equation completely, we may lose our ability to live on Tellus. They have a lot of information and technology, and I believe their reach is vast. There could be hundreds of employees, or thousands...

[manolia]

You are suggesting revolution. [It's not a word very familiar to Chibi, admittedly, only one he's heard here; revolution against the crown wasn't really something Eliatropes thought about. Except one, and that was more starting a war to get them off their home planet than anything. Now, though, it seems to hold a bit of appeal, if only to get them out of stasis and moving again.]

[Chibi, unlike England, is actually giving it some thought.] I would not think so much of dismantling CERES as, ah... What is the word? I am thinking of this as a machine, so reconfiguring them. Using their parts to build something cleaner, better. We may have to work against them at first, and carefully, but to work to build something better...

[pure_havoc]

It wouldn't be prudent to remove them completely, no. [ooh, he likes you both already] Especially since some of these reports from people seem to indicate that the ones hired to destroy would just as soon as destroy us again if we got in their way. I would not remove one warlord to set up another in its place, so to speak.

I would think by now CERES itself has enough enemies that if we do nothing, and let them continue to torture us, one of those enemies will take us out along with them sooner or later. It's too soon to say which is the best path, but there are several laying open to us: alliance with one of these enemies, playing the ends against the middle, even offering to assist CERES in exchange for an end to their torment. [his voice is cool and practiced, but there's a definite note of distaste toward that last suggestion] I have worked from within to bring down a tyrant, before, so it is as valid an idea as simply rising up against whoever is closest.

[unionjackoff]

[oooh, tactics. England is pleased to hear such ideas. that's what he had been trying to do, after all, get information from within CERES. and maybe he didn't get a lot, but he helped with a piece of the puzzle]

I wonder just how many enemies CERES has, though. The Flamine Federation made a deal with them, certainly, and are only angry now because it sounds like CERES hasn't paid up.

[pure_havoc]

There is also the matter of these spirits I've heard about. I haven't been here long enough to experience them for myself, but Lady Athena's information described a flood and subsequent kidnapping. It sounds as if they would be counted against CERES if their demands are not met.

Let's not forget the vengeful ghosts. [not that they were more than an annoyance, but...]

And ourselves, should we finally become fed up with being used and abused.

[manolia]

Ah, yes, the flood. [The one that wiped out all his notes and blueprints, causing him to have to start from scratch... But also the one that brought him to the true love of his Cerealian life, his roomba. There are blessings in all things!]

Then, one option is to play these parties against the middle... And there are a few people who seem to be trying to do that with the Flamines. But I worry that it will result in our deaths, as well, with how trigger-happy they seem to be.

[He clicks his tongue.] So, the spirits. In my experience, it is simple enough to charm them, or at least Maris; just be respectful and look like you know something about the spiritual. But I have not spoken with him since the flood; his stance may have changed.

[unionjackoff]

Someone else asked if we had spoken to the gods regarding this matter. [the matter of the sacrifice] It might be a good idea, though I don't know how charmed Maris would be if I went into his shrine and could only hand him written questions.

[this whole needing to write about the sacrifice is a hassle. England is just thankful that he has someone willing to be his mouthpiece]

I wonder if anyone else is planning on visiting their elemental spirit.

[pure_havoc]

[Chibi's advice is sound, he tucks it away for now] ...I suppose it's a good thing I've relaxed my stance on spiritual matters in recent years.

How does one know what their elemental spirit is? I would assist, but I haven't the faintest clue what element I would be.

[unionjackoff]

That's a good question. [hmm] I'd suggest going to each of the shrines and seeing if you can get one of the gods to actually talk to you. Or you can just wait for them all to do their kidnapping thing again. [that second suggestion was a joke]

[pure_havoc]

[smirking right back at him. Riiiiiiight.]

I suppose there is little choice. You say Maris is the god of water, perhaps I'll start there since I already know the name.

[a pause, and then a small bow of his head]

I do intend to make good on my words, and put them to action. I'm not here to speculate and then return home to sit around and sigh melodramatically. I wish to see something done. To that end, you have the alliance of Lord Cao Pi of Wei.

[manolia]

[Chibi just chuckles wryly at the kidnapping suggestion; hey, maybe it will happen again, now that someone has wrecked the altar. Who knows, with them?]

And this is a step in the right direction, this meeting. As we are trading names, ah... [He looks a little awkward for a second; introducing himself sans title has become second nature to him, and trying to pick the title up again takes a moment.] I am Prophet Chibi the First-born, of the Eliatrope people. It is a pleasure to meet you, despite circumstances.

[And more a pleasure when they systematically wreck CERES' shit!]

[pure_havoc]

[yes please let's wreck some shit I mean...

At least he got Arthur's name from the speech earlier, and while he nods in acceptance, his eyes narrow for a moment.]

Chi...bi?

[you'll have to excuse him if his pronunciation suffers a tad, it's not every day he hears someone with the same name as the cliffside battlefield where his father got his ass whupped by Wu. Chi'bi is far different, though.]

A prophet, hm? Well met, both of you.

[unionjackoff]

[an alliance! how cool! England feels excited when Cao Pi says that. it's like things are really happening, a wheel is turning, plans are being set in motion. it's thrilling his conqueror senses]

Yes, well met. If you have anymore questions, please don't hesitate to ask. I have been in Cerealia for a little over six months.

[pure_havoc]

I will consider it, yet for now I think I've bothered you enough. I need to read the rest of the forms that have been put up to make sure I understand everything.

[unionjackoff]

[a soft smile, and he nods] It wasn't a bother. But, yes. We will stay in touch.