synopsychic | (no subject)

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[The "voice" that broadcasts now is one that is a new one, deep and clinical, with little emotion. Its timbre suggests that it belongs to a man in his mid-thirties at least. Otherwise, it's probably unfamiliar, considering the owner's tendency so far to keep his beak out of what's been happening.

Until now.]

I have come across some information about the Illuminants that may or may not be relevant to the current situation. While I obtained it some time ago, I was not certain it would be of use. Now, of course, I think otherwise.

This information comes from a conversation I had with the Indigo Illuminant. He claimed that his duty was to ensure that no lies or illusions existed within his library, where I met him, so presumably what information he shared is at least partially true.

The key points of the conversation that I wish to share are as follows:

All the Illuminants were once human.

The Illuminants are drawn to magic. It was Dolorosa's rich reserves of this that drew the Illuminants to the kingdom in the first place. Now the kingdom is "sick" and the magic "wild and unpredictable."

The source of the Illuminants' power is otherworldly. The Indigo Illuminant, at least, believes that the source of his power, his library, may have a sentience of its own. I would consider this to be simply personal speculation rather than fact.

The power of the Illuminated may be similar in some way to the power of the "foreigners" -- us. Or rather, similar to the power of the Trumps that I have heard so much about. They are the ones who create the portals, are they not?

This is all I know. If anyone has information to add or wishes to speculate upon what I have shared, do feel free. I have nothing more to add.

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[The nice thing about the psychic network was the fact that you didn't actually have to talk to use it, which was something of a relief, at the moment]

I don't have any further info on the Illuminants, but one of the new Baroness of Westguard's men has told me he suspects she might not be exactly what she appears to be. Having watched her fight, and negotiated with her, I have to agree that she seems to be more than just the head of a group of bandits. What that means, however, I don't know.

Interesting...

On that topic, I have nothing to add myself, but it is certainly intriguing.

Edited 2014-06-27 01:48 (UTC)

I thought so. Apparently, there's no information about her before she appeared eight years ago. Although, she is a bandit, so I don't know how important that is.

Given the technology level of Dolorosa, I would not be surprised that it is easy for someone to change identities without leaving a trail. C

The trouble Flamegard's having with dragons used to be nowhere this bad. Something happened twenty years ago that caused their ratio of successfully hatched eggs to skyrocket.

Side effect of the magic getting unpredictable, maybe?

If magic is involved in the hatching process, then I would think it is quite possible.

Didn't hear much about that part, either way, but it doesn't sound improbable.

Then it would seem that finding some way to reverse the effects of the "wild" magic would be desirable.

That sounds like motive enough for the Trumps to oppose them.

Oh? Which part?

The similarity. The soulless and power-hungry don't deal well with rivals.

[His thoughts take on a thoughtful tone.]

A very reasonable conjecture. It implies that the Trumps expect us to break the power of the Illuminants, somehow. By attacking their sources of power, perhaps? Or driving them from Dolorosa? Most intriguing.

Now, that's interesting. Very interesting.

The question is, does anyone have a way to turn all that knowledge into a plan? Or are we playing this one by ear?

It would depend on what we wish to do about the Illuminants' presence in Dolorosa, I suppose.

I've always been the go along to get along type, mon ami. What do you think?

I think I will be keeping myself well out of the fray. I am not of a...martial bent, shall we say.

But if their power is similar to the beings that pulled all of us into this to begin with, then.. aren't the Illuminated incredibly powerful? It almost seems like they could do just about anything in that case..

Not necessarily. A similarity in nature does not necessarily imply a similarity in magnitude. The Illuminated, for all their abilities, seem unable to see through the...illusions...created by the Trumps around us.

So.. instead of it being the same power, it's just the same kind of power, but weaker..? [ That's still sort of hard to imagine with the kind of things she saw from the Illuminated. One made a flower for her - or did he pull that from somewhere else too? ]

I guess that really must have to do something with why we're here then. The Trumps could probably sense the similar power.

I have heard some veteran Travelers suggest that, yes. Perhaps this Jaunt is a case of the Trumps trying to stamp out potential competitors.

What do you think that means for us..?

[ Their purpose, the reason they're here - she's already discussed that with plenty of people, even during the last Jaunt. The objective is always so hard to find. ]

I mean, I talked to some of the Illuminated, and they didn't seem mean.. they were all pretty nice, actually. I don't think the Trumps should have to worry about them at all, isn't there a way we can convey that to them so they'll get us out of the Jaunt?

[He chuckles. It's not a very nice chuckle.]

Ho ho ho... Somehow I do not believe the Trumps are overly concerned with how nice the Illuminated may be as individuals. The Trumps may not always have the upper hand when it comes to power, after all.

.. So.. what do you think, then?

[ She already has a vague idea it's not really something good, judging by the sound of that chuckle and the content of his words. Are they all just stuck in a bad situation once more? ]

Given what I have heard so far, it seems to me that the Trumps would be most pleased if the power of the Illuminants was to be broken somehow, before they stand any chance of posing a threat to the Trumps.

[ It makes sense. In a way. Even if she doesn't like the wording of that, it betrays something omnious. It's not like you can just erase magic, right..? ]

But I'm sure they wouldn't be a threat..! T-the Trumps should understand that too, right? They're just in this world, trying to look for their queen.. they're not doing anything like we're doing at all.

How generous you are regarding the Illuminants' ambitions... It would seem, however, that the Trumps are much less charitable.

.. That's the kind of people you think the Trumps are..?

[ Not that she sounds like she'd deny it necessarily. She really doesn't know what to think of them so far, but out of sheer instinct Chizuru likes to think the best of people before assuming otherwise. ]

It seems quite plausible, even likely, if the Trumps' aim is truly to use us to stamp out potential competitors.

But.. we can't know that for sure, right? I mean.. they never talk to us, so there's no way we can know what their true intentions are without them telling us that.

[ For a moment she quietly contemplates it to herself before she goes on. ]

I just don't want to assume anything bad if we don't know for sure.. that's all. Anyone would be hurt if someone thought badly of them without them deserving it, right..?

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