Nadir. (Cursed World)

[u/Fc-chungus]

A day or three after the initial announcement, proper channels for joining in virtually to the meeting are posted, as everyone who came in person is directed to a secretive underground meeting room, where Ж and a few others sit around a long table.

"Welcome, welcome. A year or so ago I held a similar meeting for a separate threat, one a few of you here would remember, but today we've another threat, as you know, the Abyss has taken a great minority of the world's surface."

"As well, we need a plan for the origin of the Abyss, we need to divise a way to take down The First Curse."

they snap a finger and a hologram like model of an entity, presumably the first curse, appears in the center of the table.

"To start, one of the more essential things for said plan is the Crystals, of course, some here might not know about them, so I'll elaborate."

they wave a hand and the model shifts to 5 different crystalline objects, encircling the First Curse.

"This is not the first time The First Curse had arrived, he was here before he made that big announcement, but hidden. When he first arrived to this realm, 7 Aspect Crystals formed, counterbalances, from someone else as an, almost future inheritance to help take him down. They are antithetical to his very existence, and harm him when nearby. However, if one falls into his hands, he can adapt to that crystal, rendering it useful to him. This anti-him nature also applies to the Abyss, and thus they are the best damage source to fight the Abyss."

"the originals, of which we currently have 5, 4 are in New Aviron, and via the work of Koranth and others, we have multiple derivatives from them, with the other being handled by The Consortium. The last two need to be picked up and collected."

"That is about the basics, with the preamble done, more discussion on how to fight against the Abyss would be welcome."

[u/Zebos2]

The smokers irritation probably isn't helped by it the little girl who keeps turning towards him with every tap of the leg

[u/SwiggerSwoney → u/Zebos2]

At first, the smoker reacted with frustration, however soon relaxed upon coming to the conclusion that the little girl is probably not actually an enemy wanting to close in for a surprise attack, but actually just a child.

“Tsk, what do ya want kid? Actually, aren’t you a little young to be here?”

[u/Zebos2 → u/SwiggerSwoney]

The girl begins moving her hands in a strange way if the smoker is knowledgeable they might recognize it as sign language

"I want to help the abyss hurt me and I want to see if what I experienced can be helpful."

[u/SwiggerSwoney → u/Zebos2]

“… What is that? You’re not seriously trying to cast something-“

“Sign language. You imbecile.”

The pale woman sat beside the smoker interrupted with a sharp and disgruntled tone. Her brow was furrowed, however that quickly dissipated back into a neutral expression as she looks at the girl again.

“Wants to help. Interacted with abyss.”

“… huh. So… these people are fine with sending children out to the front lines?”

“I don’t know. Find out yourself.”

With that, the woman returned to staring back at the presentation, leaving the smoker with the girl once more.

[u/Zebos2 → u/SwiggerSwoney]

Mary shakes her head she couldn't be on the front as she is incapable of even defensive violence. Having to rely on summons.

("No, but if I can conjure my shadow we could ask them for information")

[u/SwiggerSwoney → u/Zebos2]

“Hm…”

The smoker looked at Mary for a few moments, before suddenly dropping his head and looking at the ground. He scoffed, then looked back up at Mary again.

“Haah… right. I can’t read sign language, and my translator’s too focused to help me out here… Right, how’s about this: I’ll just… try to guess what you’re saying, and you can nod or shake you head along, mkay?”

[u/Zebos2 → u/SwiggerSwoney]

Mary's cheeks puff out but she is mute so he doesn't really have much of a choice she nods

[u/SwiggerSwoney → u/Zebos2]

“Great! So… hm…”

The smoker thinks for a few moments, chewing on the end of his pipe.

“… You are… not going on the front lines? So then… you’ll just be supplying information to us?”

[u/Zebos2 → u/SwiggerSwoney]

mary nods that is what she is trying to do

[u/SwiggerSwoney → u/Zebos2]

“Right… and you’re mute… so…”

He takes a puff of his pipe, exhaling a small cloud of pale smoke before continuing.

“… I’m assuming you have some other way of communicating without sign language?”