Regarding Sanctions (Shortly after the Glatisant fight of the Rise Era)

[youandyoualone]

Although I know that clean-up from the battle with the Glatisant and the message gleaned from its remains is likely of the utmost importance as of now--as well as the matter of the unintelligible Familiars and Spirit Companions--I do have some news that I hope will aid in improving the lot of the Adversaries of the earliest era.

Before her vocabulary became limited to a single word, the vixen who attached herself to me instructed me on how I might use Oracular knowledge to glean further knowledge on Sanctions. What I have learned is this:

These Sanctions use the power of existing bonds between people, either the ones doing the Sanctioning or those bonded with the person Sanctioned. As these bonds are real in the Realm of Dreams, they can prevent action just as well as rope or shackles might--although 'tis only acts with intention they can prevent, not accidental acts, for it is the dream of action that they prevent.

They can be entered into willingly and with consent, but unless that consent was explicitly and deliberately part of that Sanction, rescinding consent would not break the Sanction.

After learning this, I wished to know more of how one would break the Sanctions and Fidelite, who was then still in possession of her full vocabulary, advised me to build a Dreamcatcher and have it gather energy in the Questing Country of the earliest era for roughly a week. Fortunately, I was already there after the bridge broke.

Shortly before the battle started, my Dreamcatcher was deemed sufficiently filled by my still-coherent Familiar, and now that the fighting has concluded, I have had time to look within to see what might break the Sanctions. That information was granted to me in a series of three visions:

The first, of bitter and acrimonious arguments between Champions and Oracles, leading to the severing of a bond group, also severing all Sanctions they created.

The second, of a cabal of Adversaries furtively meeting, banding together, forming a fresh bond--overwriting the Sanction with the energy of their alliance.

And the third and most intriguing, of a heavy, metal-hafted mace, light wavering around its head like one reads in reports of desert mirages.

Comments

should we keep the thread here or should i find him in the log?

[youandyoualone]

About that, yes. I look forward to it.

Action~

[triggerhappytraitor]

Good to his word, Tachibana is at the bridge when he said he would be, his expression distant and pensive, thoughts running deep under the surface as he looked out a nothing.

Garren had stayed back at the restaurant, clinging to Ryo (who could still understand him), leaving Tachibana alone with his thoughts.

He glanced up at Delaunay's approach, giving the man a small nod as he pulled himself back to the present, posture shifting slightly.

Re: Action~

[youandyoualone]

Delaunay gives him a nod in return. He bears the sword that Kinji gave to him. It is not quite the same as his own blade back home, but he has practiced with it and feels that he will be able to wield it well, provided he is not overwhelmed by the sheer number of the Nightmares.

"Tachibana," he says. "It is good to meet you in person finally. I think my infiltration from Yensid inadvertently ended up at your wedding to Helena."

[triggerhappytraitor]

There is a bit of an over dramatic reaction at the mention of that wedding, Tachibana swiftly looking away, lips pressed together as he started fidgeting with his watch, entire posture awkward and uncomfortable.

"Wouldn't be surprising. I think Gavin invited the entire world to his father's wedding."

Not his wedding. Nope nope, not at all. The actions of his overlay in that world... He still didn't know what to think about.

...and this was not the time for that.

"...Shall we get started?"

[youandyoualone]

Interesting. Delaunay files that bit of information away too.

"Yes," Delaunay says. "I would very much like to see this... 'Rouzing process' of yours."

And since you've seen the show I don't have to link the transform, yay

[triggerhappytraitor]

Tachibana nodded, reaching into his pocket for his Buckle. "Transforming is always the first step in any of it," he explained, sliding the Ace into the slot. "Make sure you stay out of the way of the field, it can cause considerable injury to someone who isn't in sync with it," he warned.

Warning given, he held the belt up to his waist, the buckle activating and forming the belt around him. With some overdramatic motions and yelling (that was 100% in line with Questing Country standards) the blue-grey field of almost staticy energy projected outwards a few feet in front of him, and he stepped through, armor forming around him.

nope!

[youandyoualone]

"Were those playing cards your belt formed out of?" Delaunay asks, intrigued. "'Tis a convenient process regardless, given how long that it takes to don armor normally--and that armor does not cover quite so fully as yours."

(Delaunay was just a little too early for full plate armor.)

[garrenshotfirst]

"Not quite playing cards. Representations of the cards used for sealing Undead," Tachibana corrected, pulling out his Rouzer. Opening the fan, he pulled one out, holding it up to demonstrate before replacing it and closing the fan once more.

"The armor is also self repairing. When it's dissipated back into energy, as long as enough time is given for it to recharge, the next time it's activated, it'll be undamaged."

[youandyoualone]

Delaunay peers at the card. "Bullet Armadillo," he reads. "The beast on it seems to have plate mail of its own. Is it a bullet or an armadillo? And that is very convenient in my mind. It can be difficult to repair armor during a campaign, unless you are given the time for it." After a moment he adds, "Does the belt always talk?"

[garrenshotfirst]

"Talk?" Tachibana repeated. "The sound when it's activated, you mean? No, that's the only sound there. The Rouzer reads the card functions, however, and announces recognized combinations as part of the audio feedback system," he explained.

[youandyoualone]

"It does not seem very useful for stealthy maneuvers, 'tis all," Delaunay says.

[triggerhappytraitor]

That got a small puff of amusement from behind the mask. "Stealth wasn't at all taken into consideration for the Rider System," he confirmed. "The Ace activating would alert any Undead that something to fight was there anyway."

[youandyoualone]

"Ah," Delaunay says. "Yes. They can sense each other. What are the other cards besides the bullet and this Ace of yours? And what do they do?"

[garrenshotfirst]

"Each has a unique function, except for the high-level ones that are the same across suits. They're best seen in action, rather than academically," Tachibana pointed out with a small nod.

[youandyoualone]

Delaunay nods. "Then let us find a Nightmare so that you may show me."

[triggerhappytraitor]

A short fight and demonstration later, Tachibana flips the buckle back over, releasing the transformation, field washing over him to leave him back in the Questing Country version of his armor. His serious, focused expression lingers until his buckle is safely back in his hammerspace and he turns, giving Delaunay a very faint smile.

"Enough of a demonstration?"

[youandyoualone]

"I think so," Delaunay replies. "'Tis a more flashy style of combat than I prefer, but your armor seems useful indeed, even if your belt makes noises. And all these cards were Undead?"

[triggerhappytraitor]

"Wait until you see Kenzaki's attacks," Tachibana chuckled. "His are lightening based." And it didn't get much flashier than that...

He nodded. "They are. When merged with the Ace, the energy of the lesser Undead become usable in ways that they aren't when you're just human."

[youandyoualone]

"Ah!" Delaunay says. "Is that how it works? You said before you borrowed their power. I do not think you said that you were something other than human when armored so." After a moment he adds, "Do not worry. I think no less of you if you are not always human. I have a friend who is a CAST, which is a sort of mechanism that is also a person, and Alcuin's consort has been a vampire. And in any case, I myself have ancestors who are not human, as does any person of d'Angeline heritage."

[triggerhappytraitor]

Tachibana paused, blinking, as if only just realizing how he had phrased it. He had meant to say "untransformed," why had he...?

"It's not quite the same," he attempted to correct. "It's more just a temporary altered state. There can be a risk of becoming Undead for someone with too high of a compatibility, but my sync level has never been even close to that level."

"You've met Dakki, then?" he asked, almost by way of changing the subject.

[youandyoualone]

Delaunay lets him change the subject for now. He can always guide the conversation back to this latter if he needs to.

"Yes," he says with a small smile. "I have. In Harrogate, we were agents of the Alban--that is to say, the British--Queen together. I was the senior agent and Dakki was my partner and protege. We kept up the acquaintance after the Jaunt."

[triggerhappytraitor]

"Our overlays were family, the first jaunt I had one in," There's definite fond note in Tachibana's voice as he explained. "Almast considered her his little sister, and was very quick to give anyone trouble if they looked down on her for being an automaton. And she in turn gave him trouble for not taking proper care of himself," he added with a faint chuckle.

"Always interesting, how that sort of thing lingers."

[youandyoualone]

"It's quite fascinating," Delaunay agrees. "I've only done it twice so far--but then, this is but my third Jaunt. I was pulled here during the event that I believe is called When Jules Broke Liminal Space, but I never did make it to the Jaunt directly after. Instead, I spent a year in a dungeon before returning in time for the 'ice cream barbecue.'"

[triggerhappytraitor]

Tachibana blinked once before covering a small laugh. "Hadn't heard it called that before," he smiled, shaking his head in amusement. "But that's when I arrived as well."

He paused a moment. "Hopefully not everyone who arrived just for that time didn't wind up in a dungeon." Because the thought of Mutsuki being lost in one for that long...

...no. No, Mutsuki likely had returned back home, written it off as an odd dream and never spoken of it.

[youandyoualone]

"One young lady of my acquaintance refers to it as nothing else," Delaunay says wryly. "I don't know if I am the only one who fell into a dungeon at the close of that period. I think, considering the blackness of my mood at that time, I might have fell in regardless."