Text; username: JustD

[distant_one]

My name is D, for those of you who aren't familiar with me, I organized and designed the Outpost.

For several months Snow White and I have been speaking with the beast commonly called Deerlona, the first Sleeper to arrive in Trench, named Ramona.

She says that when she was released from the nightmare world the waking world was already soaked in blood pollution but beasts were just beginning to emerge, but she could tell they would be permanent. Most things were in chaos, but that as corruption and beasts became more common the world became more balanced.

When we asked, Ramona also said she believes Pthumerians are part of maintaining that balance.

She hated Riteor as well. She called him a power hungry hack and she's glad that we chose to get rid of him.

I have sent further questions to her on the possibility of Hali's offer, but Ramona doesn't always respond quickly.

Anyone who wishes to ask her anything should seek Deer to act as messengers; She is very protective of Sleepy Town and also feels a compulsion to attack people.

There are more construction projects this month at the Outpost, but I also wanted to announce that Manabu will be leading a project to construct a road between Trench and Riteor's city.

And on that subject, I am going to ask Hali to take over or prevent Pthumerian influence on that city.

Comments

[hachitaro]

Uh huh. 'Learning opportunity'.

So we get a city that's under someone else's control - either keeping in or keeping out, doesn't matter.

Unless they decide to claim more than what they've got. Apparently we have 'patrons' - who's to say this one's not going to start trying to claim us too?

[distant_one]

Following your winding logic... You'd be more content to allow Riteor's city to remain open without something to displace him, and to let someone you think might want to control you to walk free where you have no idea where they are or what they're doing?

[hachitaro]

I don't want any of them walking free.

[But the idea of binding someone is also uncomfortable.]

Why do we even need something to replace him?

[distant_one]

Riteor is a threat capable of taking on all the patrons, something that makes him so far the most widespread threat. A goal like yours is one that will take a very long time and require a lot of patience.

Exterminating immortals isn't easy.

For now, keeping Riteor from harming the patrons and us by extension is worth the risks.

[hachitaro]

I've got longer to wait than you might expect. And I'm aware that it's not.

[Media tells him so, and also he's seen plenty of yokai that don't seem to be easy to kill at all either. It's not the same, but...]

If he's out, why put something in though?

[distant_one]

But you don't seem to have the patience for that kind of long game just yet.

Placing something where we uprooted him is important because we won't stay gone. Because he was sealed before, and came back. This will at least give us an earlier warning and take away his base of power when he does come back.

[hachitaro]

[Who the hell is this guy to tell him he doesn't have patience? He'll patience a foot up his ass -]

[He won't, but he feels like it.]

I thought the whole thing was killing him, not sealing him? Maybe I heard wrong.

[He did.]

But either way wouldn't it be pretty obvious if someone like him came back?

[distant_one]

He's sealed, the same way he was before, and it took months to notice his return and for us to find a way to stop him.

If he takes as long to come back next time, he might be forgotten entirely by Sleepers by the time it happens and he might get his way.

[hachitaro]

Then seal it away from the Pthumerians. If we can even trust that this Hali will do what they say they will.

Keep it out of his hands. I just want a place free from where they're going to yank us around.

[distant_one]

Yes. That's the plan, whichever ends up happening, it should happen there.

The choice of whether or not it's sealed isn't mine alone.

[hachitaro]

As long as there's no 'gods' to bother me, I'll be happy.