[Week 2] Early morning day 320

[desperate_times_right]

[Chloe’s mental voice sounds weak and disoriented, as if she’s in shock]

Can someone come to the caves? I need help.

I think Hana’s dead.

Comments

[capital_asset]

I can see where it would be.

[youandyoualone]

Indeed.

I suppose, since Anaf cannot access the network unless I let him, that I should note for the record--and so that we have all the pertinent information at our disposal--that Cabalists, in fact, universally dreampush when they sleep--however, they also kythe when they sleep. They trust each other implicitly. And they can completely separate their psychic form from their physical body.

And because they are all dreampushing for each other, their powers of mind have no range or strength limits.

There is one other secret to their faction: for one who can separate psychic form completely from the physical, death is nothing to fear. Cabal only has enough power, even with its dreampushing, to maintain a dozen or so of the most useful spirits of the dead, but they do and have been doing so for a long time. Among Cabalists, flesh is considered temporary and unreal.

Anaf and Faris do not host one such, although the practice has allowed Anaf to quickly adjust to my presence. However, Qabil does. One, in fact, who was alive during the first visit the Travelers made. It is Qabil's spirit who has been urging him not to trust us in the least.

[Private]

[helborn]

[There's a pause, and then a protection layer thrown up. Casper's 'voice' is very quiet.]

They can separate spirit and body. Do... do they know how to put it back?

private on this side too!

[youandyoualone]

Hypothetically, yes. But except for Cabalists, a soul outside the body does not remain present after death: it dissipates. One would have to support it before they removed it.

Why?

[helborn]

... My soul's been shoved inside of my raven companion. If it were possible to pull it out without hurting him and give it back to me, I... I...

[He's not even sure what words to use, only that there wouldn't really be an end to his gratitude.]

[youandyoualone]

I will ask him if this is something he might do.

[helborn]

Please. I... I'm not afraid of dying, but I don't want my mistakes to hurt Bob if I do. He didn't ask for this... he doesn't deserve this...

[Fuck, now he's crying.]

[youandyoualone]

Casper...

[There's the psychic sensation of something very like a hand extended. If Casper takes it, he'll be drawn into a mind palace the resembles nothing so much as Anafiel Delaunay's own study--and because Delaunay has enough practice with mind palaces, they will both be conscious of their true surroundings as well.

Care for a psychic hug, Casper?

(He might be trying to awkwardly ignore the tears in the process. But that's his damage, not yours.)]

[leftbehindagain]

I figured we'd learn something useful from waking you up.

I'm sorry you came back to this. [But not for de-infiltrating him in the first place.]

[youandyoualone]

You thought rightly. It has been a long time since I have been given the chance to Investigate even halfways--I intend not to let this opportunity to go to waste by holding back in any way.

[ENJOY RUTHLESS BASTARD DELAUNAY EVERYONE. He's the one you've always had, he's just been taken advantage of no one knowing him to be his own Bruce Wayne.]

[leftbehindagain]

I probably don't have to tell you to keep your shields up. [They've given up on subtlety for the most part, but it still probably wouldn't be great if all of Cabal knew what was up immediately.]

[youandyoualone]

Of course not. Anaf and I may be tentative allies, but it would still spoil things completely were he to know how many of his secrets I have revealed.

However, I like to think that if our positions were reversed, he would do the same. And indeed he may likely reveal what he does know, when he goes to inform Qabil of his new Portori shade.

[leftbehindagain]

I'd say it's pretty likely, all things considered.

[youandyoualone]

At least I have the advantage here, being able to read his memories while he cannot mine.

[desperate_times_right]

... Do you think we’re going to have a problem if Qabil runs into the people who were here last time?

[youandyoualone]

It is possible. I am hoping that Anaf can persuade him otherwise.

[desperate_times_right]

He could be someone our people killed last time.

[youandyoualone]

Quite possibly.

[desperate_times_right]

Or someone’s old overlay... if it’s someone who went out of ambit no one would remember.

[youandyoualone]

Mm. Even so. Give me a moment. I will show you the message he conveyed through Qabil to Anaf.

[And he'll just stream this little speech.]

[capital_asset]

Do you know why?

For that matter, where did the Cabalists in general stand on the rebellion? Or on the subsequent withdrawal of the Travelers during the strike?

[youandyoualone]

They believe that Malion's assassination had made martyrs of the Portori.

The Cabalists were largely neutral during the Rebellion. When Malion called upon them for aid, they adopted an isolationist policy, disquieted as they were by his many excesses. They did not seek the fall of the Protectorate--believing then, as they do now, that only a united Vale is capable of surviving in the long term--but thought they would be in the best position to take power after Malion and the Rebels took care of each other.

They did not expect the Rebels to outright win--but they do see the advantage of free minds and free choices.

[capital_asset]

...And now the 'Portori' are back to do who-knows-what.

[youandyoualone]

Oh yes. I am afraid we are highly suspicious.

[capital_asset]

That's familiar, at least.