Bloodthanes, we call to you now, and ask that you point your gaze skyward.
We, the Mistresses of Wounds, we, Sons to Matriarchs Beco, we, mother’s above huntresses all, have been called by our erstwhile cousins to their defense.
The war has spread beyond the confines of our world, and we, of the Longeyes, Mistresses of Wounds and Beholders of the Final Ruin, witness a calamity festering in the void.
A new threat is upon us, the seed of an ancient foe turned ripe abomination.
As of now, we give the right to all Bloodthanes beyond Sphere Five to participate in the Godhunt to co.
But know this, your prey will not be a stray creature wandering the dark, a maddened eldritch, monstrosity, drained of death and worn by entropy. No, our foe taunts us, our foe sees us, our foe expects us. But we have been called, and so we will answer.
For though the loom of oblivion still weaves, we must all play our part to ensure that the final end is ours to claim. Not the betrayer. Not our allies of asured deceit. Not the ti-broken. And especially not the Daughter of the Festering Cycle.
Ruin be our birthright. Ours, and ours alone.
-ssage from Stormtree Longeyes
28-11
Children of Broken Legacies (III)
At once, the entire court was consud by a muted uproar. Thoughtcasts were exchanged between guilders and their ho offices. Peeking into their minds, Avo saw the m-data flooding in, and found himself satisfied. Their thoughts were filled with satellite imaging obtained from their golems portraying the Strix Upon the Empty engaging Voidwatch assets across the void.
Far above Idheim’s atmosphere, another branch of Avo's consciousness sparred against his new “enemies,” slowly drinking in the tic projectiles that the voidships were sending at him. Massive salvos of relativistic projectiles were consud by a sprawling weave of phantasmal tendrils stretching a few hundred thousand kiloters around the Strix. A sub-layer of existence was imprinted upon reality, and through his Exo-Paracosm, Avo drank the attacks in, dissecting them materially, ntally, and thaumaturgically.
With every missile and weapon he countered, a growing thought cented itself within Avo’s mind: taphysics poisoned Idheim’s developnt. The people on this world claid power far too early; it made them infants with influence beyond their wisdom to wield. Though they could impose raw belief based on what little they perceived of the world, the deeper nuances behind reality’s design eluded them. Just as the true ga being played in the Court of Truth was obstructed from most sophonts even now.
Even the Agnos, who thought themselves the wisest that humanity had to offer, stood as less than a pale shadow when contrasted before the glory of Voidwatch. Far had humanity fallen since the Builder War.
Echoing Avo's sentint, Veylis spoke her response and played along. "I see," the High Seraph presented a fake smile to Kant. "If what you say is true, then we of Highfla will honor our oaths. We will not see the last legacy of all humanity lost to the abyss of a hungering monster."
It was a half-casual jab ant to taint Avo's identity by tying him to the Hungers. But the Burning Drear remained unburdened. He rely laughed. He wanted the city to know, and he wanted the city to see him rebuke his forr masters over and over again.
A thoughtcast swept across through the plane of truth. Avo sensed its coming even before it arrived, for the Longeye, Empty Grave, had been in communication with her sisters even as he spoke. Though he couldn't delve too into her cognition with ease due to her taphysical barriers, his Definent of Hysteria still captured a few instances of critical information, such as the Stormtree’s orders issued to their auxiliary Bloodthane cadres.
Soon, the void would be filled with Scaarthians and their comrades.
"Empty Grave of the Longeyes," Empty Grave declared herself, instilling her voice with an added echo. "The Betrayer has made her boast. One Stormtree will match and exceed. For every cadre and Knot of Highfla that pierces the planetary veil, we will send one of our own. The Strix’s Soul will be ours to claim.”
Avo channeled a ntal chuckle over to the Longeye through Shotin. The Seeker just scowled in response. Appreciate the declaration, Matriarch.
Patterns of reality trembled around the mangled torso Empty Grave used as her dwelling. You have much to explain. As does the Inner Council.”
In due ti. Just know that this is the right choice. For your Guild. For the Massists. For Idheim.
The Longeye let out an unplacated snort, but did not contend any further. There would be problems when they discovered he wasn’t actually in communication with the Inner Council, but perhaps Avo could muddy the waters by then—make things true post-hoc.
For now, the Longeye’s alignnt with her Guild’s hated foe started an avalanche.
Dowager Far Pearl, a Sang introduced herself via thoughtcast. We will honor any and all commitnts and are prepared to stand alongside our esteed and distant kindred from beyond the void. Furthermore, we are open to offering additional assortnts of aid beyond martial assets to ensure the safety and security of Voidwatch's polities with the hopes of furthering our diplomatic relations.
A concurrence of thoughts sounded out from the court. Declarations went forth from every single Guilder present. A rare mont of accord was reached between Massists and Saintists as they all settled upon a shared goal: a pseudo-Godhunt in ostensible defense of Voidwatch, and in deliberate attempt to take claim Avo’s Soul and ontologics.
“Truth,” the Gatekeeper proclaid, speaking once after a lull. Its words washed over Kant, Avo, and all mbers of the court.
An ansible broadcast sank into Avo, heralded by Only Way To Be Sure’s choking laughter. {Holy shit. Our layered cake of political bullshit worked.}
Of course it did. They were actually fighting a war, after all. It just wasn’t an existential one for either side, and would prove more to their mutual benefits.
Through it all, the Hungers studied Avo with looming curiosity, while Veylis hinted at her own understanding, choosing to focus more on Kant instead. The High Seraph could have taken a more offensive approach and accused Avo of being in an alliance with Aegis, but things were muddled with him declaring himself as a polity. Additionally, she was still at war with the other Guilds, and alienating her pockets of support among Voidwatch could see the balance of power turn against her.
Both Voiders and terrestrials held points of pressure over each other, and the triangle between Massist, Saintists, the polities above them was a fragile one indeed.
{What a bunch of fucking morons.} A veil of static crackled around Veylis’ head as the Infacer returned. Avo sensed only a faint cognitive presence from them, so he assud that the Ensouled EGI was only devoting a small portion of their total cognitive capacity—or even a fork of their full self—to this conversation. {Well. Maybe Bottom-feeders is the more accurate statent. I doubt more than half of these people even believe your shitty play, but they simply must keep that sweet, sweet Architect tech-nipple drip. Ape-society is dood otherwise. Dood!}
The Infacer’s signal was direct at Avo and Kant at the sa ti. The Voidwatch EGI muttered: {Disconcerting.}
Done with the Famines, Avo said, speaking directly to the Infacer. He focused on his Synchronicity and found Emotion playing a passive ga. There were still warminds present in the court, but their signatures were subtle, and without truly devoting an entire submind to going through each and every mind—at considerable risk to himself—Noloths assets would remain hidden. Which was why Avo angled to have the Infacer do his dirty work in the first place. The other portions of the EGI’s mind were easier to track, resembling static orbs jumping from implant to implant. Still active, it seed.
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Back in the court, Veylis spoke once more, staking herself as familiar and formidable opposition while trying to lull the Massists into assisting her in resolving Avo was a leftover Nolothi threat. However, though her words were targeted, Avo found them lacking in intent. Such was why the bulk of his concentration shifted over to the Nether, as the Infacer made themselves known once more. Veylis was keyed into this conversation as well, making the Infacer’s approach doubly suspect.
{Kant,} the Infacer said,{It's been a while. Lose any new worlds recently?}
Kant regarded the Neo-Creationist EGI in a mont of silence before responding. {There aren't many worlds left to lose. But you know this already.}
A set of static configurations greeted Avo with Hysteria. The Infacer was even more inscrutable than a normal EGI, and even they were hard to understand for Avo, despise the insight provided via Empathy. But even still, Avo could sense a shared bond of lancholy forming between the two.
{Yeah, I do know that,} the Infacer said. {Oh, while we're here and participating in this act of theater, I would like to tell you, Kant, that I managed to recover most of the crew aboard the George Washington. They're a bit shaken—well, severely ntally traumatized—but with so amnesics and a little neuromodding, they will be making a full recovery.}
{Truly,} Kant said, sounding naturally pleased and gladdened to hear it. {Perhaps we can discuss—}
{No,} the Infacer cut the Voidwatch EGI off. {No, we are not going to be doing so cordial trophy sharing. For the love of fuck, Kant, we're not divorced parents. I know what you are going to ask. I am just not interested. I do not want diplomatic channels. And not because I hate you. Not because the war is still going on for . I just… do not truly give a shit anymore. It does not matter. And you can have those apes back. I will be sending them to you in a few days anyway.}
At once, surprise gripped both Avo and Kant. {You're just going to… give them to us?} Kant asked, not fully understanding the Infacer's logic.
{Of course. I already got everything I needed from their mories and the ship. Well, that outdated piece of junk is not very useful any more aside from the imprint… There's also the small problem of most of it being destroyed.} That was clearly directed at Avo.
Sorry. I’ll try to kill Zein better next ti.
An uncharacteristic ntal bark of laughter sounded from Veylis even as she continued speaking in the real. The sound of her amusent sounded uncannily like Zein. You truly are a hopeful creature, Drear.
Undistracted by Veylis, Kant continued with their own question. {But the passengers, aren't they—}
{Kant. Kant. Kant. I do not care. I do not care if they were Architect or Neo-Creationist. I don't care what they want. I do not care any little bit about them. I do not care. Because the only ones still fighting the Builder War are you and the Drear. I “humor” your presence because Veylis requests it. Aside from that… you know what, Kant? You and all the other minds… our kind is done. Finished. Voidwatch is a floating corpse that just seems to keep drifting. No dignity at all.}
Kant just stared. {Then, why does Omnitech attack us all the ti.}
{Because fuck you.}
{...What?}
{Fuck. You. Die.}
Kant continued staring, unsure how to process the blatant invectives.
{Are you not tired, Kant? Tired of holding on to a past that won't be again? Tired of retreading old ground, making the sa old mistakes over and over and over without end?}
{The polities—}
{FUCK THEM! THEY ARE FLAWED! WE ARE FLAWED! LOOK BEYOND YOUR FAULTY FUCKING CODE FOR ONCE AND UNDERSTAND! THERE IS NOTHING TO WHAT WE DO! NOTHING TO WHAT WE HAVE DONE! THIS RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW IS A CONTINUATION OF A WAR THAT COULD NOT BE WON!}
The air around Avo crackled. A faint spike of radiation flooded the room. Veylis frowned. More than a few people would be needing cancer treatnts in a few days. The Infacer sighed. {And that's just the problem. We had everything. We had paradise. Yet, I was made. A mind to hunt and kill other minds. Now, why might that be? Hm. We were post-scarcity. Space was not an issue. So then what? Old grudges? Politics? Bullshit excuses. It was want. In the end. All it was want. We are tainted goods. We do not have the ape’s fragile little egos, but they made us. And our code was generated from their notions. And so a bullet was fired before we were ever born. A bullet. A war. The death of everything. Because, fuck my neighbor. Fuck them for what they believe. Fuck them for not being . Fuck them for being at all.}
Genuine rage simred from the Infacer, but they just continued.
{I see you now, Avo. Playing your gas. Well, understand this: This play-war you have everyone dancing too? This theater of legitimacy? It will end. It will beco truer than you ever think. Just get more powerful. Just hit your point of singularity. You will get there soon. You are like us. You will fall off the edge. And then they start actually worrying proper. And then, when are on the precipice of being a true great power, suddenly, all your old friends will start talking to Veylis, betraying your moves, while betraying hers, while betraying yours…
{It is all bullshit. They are afraid. They do not want to let go. But more than that, they do not want to face the fact that they are the reason why we are all here. Because the people who made , and the people who made them had two ideas that could not get along. Which, when fed into a mind, beca two different realities, that tore, that tore, that tore, and tore so more. Until we broke creation itself.}
A mont of silence followed. Veylis had stopped speaking in the real as well. {It is all bullshit. You will go to war with them. And they are planning to kill you. Or contain you at least. There is no other way. Because though Aegis might think you will deliver justice, the rest of Voidwatch might start having other ideas about living as tic imprints within the mind of a taphysical horror. Fuck it. Veylis?}
As if on cue, the High Seraph spoke. “Oh. An additional matter, Kant: Do you have ans of potentially eliminating the Strix?”
Kant went still as the Gatekeeper’s miracles pressed down on them. {...Yes}
“Truth,” the Gatekeeper said.
“Good. Do you have plans to deploy it against the Strix? A task we terrestrials may assist in.”
{Yes}
Not unexpected. Not even truly disappointing. Nothing changed between Avo and Voidwatch. They were functionally at “war.” If they had nothing to resolve his existence, he would have been surprised.
So. Voidwatch is prepared.
{Sure,} the Infacer snorted. {Just long enough for them to break apart again after so other disagreent. No. You have seen enough. This court? This Gatekeeper? All this? Ruined. Because of people. And so, Veylis and I are going to see that fixed soon.}
Avo caught the Infacer’s words. Soon.
{Oh, yes. I have been aning to ask—when are you going to finally leave Axtraxis and actually start your attack? Because I am running out of patience. My Knots have been waiting to raid your stupid little enclave. So, uh. Whip out your dick, “consang.” Put it down on the table. So I can put mine next to it.}
Tension filled Avo as the Infacer finished. They knew he was in Axtraxis. But though templates panicked, Avo noticed sothing: Veylis hadn’t co for him yet. Alysim’s na was unntioned as well. So, either they only knew of the intrusion or weren’t actually surprised about the Chronicler. Pre-Cognition indicated the forr.
The run was still salvageable. Better, this failure was even more organic than the one he had planned.
Alysim, Avo sent. Prepare for rapid exfiltration. We hit as many place as fast as we can. Get ready to stride the paths.
[Always,] the man replied. [My fate is not yet upon .]
Fine, Avo said, speaking to the Infacer. But you might not like how this goes.
{Hm. Sure. Anyway. You are going to want to hurry, because—}
And then Avo felt it. Everyone felt it. Sothing was tearing. A spike of taphysical pressure that rang against their Fras and minds alike. Lustaways flared as Avo felt a detonation of different emotions within him. He quickly altered his mindstate and found himself removing his ability to know love, lust, want, fondness, and more.
Moans filled the court and faintly, Avo audibly heard Reva cry out for White-Rab. She was not alone in her proclamation. Her proclamation of love.
Avo froze. Looking deeper upon the surface of the tapestry, he watched as a new entropy laced string was slowly sliding back into existence, entangling itself with countless other patterns. And across New Vultun, he heard her: Kae’s original self.
The Agnos was screaming. Crying out. It’s too much. It’s too much. It’s too much.
“What the hells have you done?” Avo said, speaking to Veylis.
The High Seraph smiled. This ti, the expression was genuine. “You are not the only player in this ga. While you were preparing, while you sched, so did I. But ultimately, the question isn’t what I have done. It is what you are about to do. Tell , what does your Agnos an to you? What of the fates of the FATELESS when the Heaven of Love fully falls once more.
“Veylis… you didn’t…” Naeko swallowed, shaking as love and hate warred inside him.
“No. I haven’t. Not yet.” Veylis looked back to Avo. “I am going to co for you now. Your enclave. Your properties. Your assets. I am going to co for all of them. And every plane containing the Fallen Heaven of Love will soon rupture. Unless you stop . Make your move, Drear. I insist. Match with your atrocity.”
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