#aloy your logic is sounding a lot like Helis' divine predestination shit. girl no

[one-of-many-journeys]

Day 73

Shattered Kiln

Changed out of my kestrel armour and set out from the camp at sunrise.

Past the distant Shadow Carja forts and back south east to Meridian to deliver my intel to Marad.

Rested on the way; keeping out of sight of the Snapmaws.

A pack of Scrappers chased me down. They would have hounded me all the way to the city gates if I hadn't speared them through. Then through the mountain pass into Cut Cliffs, where for the second time I was ambushed by a group of bandits lurking inside. They went the same way as the Scrappers. How are there still so many of them in these lands?

Through Cut Cliffs and to the city gates. Still not on fire.

I headed for the palace to speak to Marad. I couldn't tell him much more than what he already knew, but could at least confirm the singular angle of attack, and that the Eclipse were bolstering their ranks with every Shadow Carja man they could. In the unlikely event that we survive long enough for an opportunity to counterattack, taking back Sunfall will be easy. It might even be necessary; I doubt anyone that Helis would leave in charge would ever stoop to surrender, no matter how hopeless the stand.

Marad will send his own agents to watch the ravine for signs of the Eclipse assembling their invasion force. He also told me I was free to stay in Olin's old apartment. Seems a bit...callous.

Marad told me that some Nora warriors had arrived in my absence, though they refused the invitation to enter the city and receive a royal welcome from Avad. Cursed earth is one thing, but a cursed city...I guess that's taking things too far. The important thing is that they came. Marad had also stationed the Vanguard on the Alight, and Erend was there making defensive preparations. He was already hearing word back from his agents sent afield as well; many outlanders were willing to come to Meridian's aid, some for loyalty or decency, others for shards alone. Avad certainly has plenty to go around. Others, he said, came for me. My name was enough for them to pledge themselves to a cause that wasn't theirs against an enemy they didn't understand. Well, rumours about me have spread far, I guess I shouldn't be surprised.

I've done things too, I suppose. I've done a lot. Free of charge too, for the most part. That goes a long way in a dangerous world. It'll only grow more hostile unless I stop it. I didn't know it then, but everything I was doing...it's exactly what I was made for. Downing murderous machines, patching up the consequences of the Derangement—all a direct result of the destruction that was my creation. A nice thought, but only if I succeed.

One of Elisabet's journal files repaired itself as I made the trek to the Alight. She wrote of the Odyssey, the space station belonging to Far Zenith.

When I first heard about it I was excited by the possibility, though from the data I found at ZD, their escape from the planet failed. Elisabet seemed...less optimistic. Despite the doubled chances for humanity's survival, she worried about the world Far Zenith would create, and their underdeveloped version of the Apollo database. 'What's to stop them from playing god?' No less than what was stopping Elisabet and her team, surely. They were in the process of building god, but I can infer her meaning. Elisabet was a good person surrounded by like-minded colleagues. She cared about others and about life, all life, while the members of Far Zenith kept their identities secret to avoid a public outraged by their exorbitant wealth and technology. The way I've heard them described, it's like they controlled everything. I can't imagine that people like that wanted a better world for life to come, just for themselves.

I met Talanah on the Alight, helping the others prepare the defences. She'd left the management of the lodge to Ligan and roped in as many hunters as she could to join her in battle. Where else would she be, she said, than by her Thrush's side. After Tarkas, she wasn't willing to let her own fight alone again. Of all the people in this city, she just might be the one I'll miss most when I leave these lands behind. If I get the chance, that is. She never once doubted me, even when all I was in her eyes was a stubborn outlander sticking it to Ahsis. It's refreshing having someone who can keep up with me in a fight too.

True to his word, Varl stood on the Alight with a group of Braves, well away from the locals. The others with him went to bow at my approach, but he hastened them to stand. Still called me the Anointed though, if not to my face. I get it, the only reason the Nora are here are because they think I'm on a holy mission from their goddess, that I'm her mortal vessel, my words are her dreams, etc. As for Varl, he would've come anyway, he said. He came for me.

I asked for his honest opinion on all this. I could tell he was uncomfortable, beyond the sweat soaking his furs. His woes were those of a typical Nora: foreign lands, accursed structures, a Metal Devil of myth come to life, and a woman chosen by the goddess. He felt like he should worship me, after everything—after the battle in Devil's Grief, the cleansed corruption, the broken siege, and then the mountain...and here I was insisting he do nothing of the sort. How very tragic. I couldn't help but show a little of the distaste I felt at his words. I thought we were friends...I thought that maybe, given time to reflect and recover, he might arrive here eager to learn all I've discovered. I know he means well. Better than most, but again, I expected too much.

Sona was standing a little further off with the more seasoned warriors, gazing with distrust at the towers on the mesa. To build so high was to invoke the fate of the ancients, she said. Yes, lets all live in huts and hovels, ignorant of all that came before just because knowledge was denied to our caged ancestors. The Nora would have thanked Faro for his great sacrifice, purging Apollo and the Alphas with them.

To be fair, it was Sylen's hunger for knowledge that caused this mess in the first place, but I wasn't about to further fuel the Nora's convictions.

Still, Sona pledged her loyalty, eager to fight for my cause, even though the Nora's numbers were dangerously thinned in the recent attack. She spoke as if she was ready for death too. They always are, these old soldiers.

At the foot of the Spire I met Naman, who was casting his blessings on the soon-to-be battlefield. He'd been speaking to the Nora, learning of my new place among their mythology. Between that and the deeds I'd already performed for him and in service of his people, Naman said he believes I'm a blessing of the sun. So I'm the Carja god's will incarnate as well now. That's more than enough divine pressure, thanks, but again, I know it comes from a place of kindness. I just hope it doesn't catch on with his red-robed brothers.

Over to Erend and his Vanguard next. The soldiers were very...enthusiastic. They had battle chants and everything. Erend had a few kind words for me, and I for him. He wanted to know what we were really up against; I suppose all he got was a second-hand account from Avad, who didn't seem to grasp most of what I told him anyway. But I knew the technicalities didn't matter to Erend, only that if we lost, the whole world would too. Pretty big for his first battle as Vanguard captain. He seems to be doing a lot better now than he was before he set out for the Claim. I guess he saw to it that Dervahl got what he deserved once they arrived.

He's got preparations under control, and from what Marad said, many are soon to join him in his efforts. Confident, or confident enough, that the Eclipse wouldn't be attacking that very night after what I saw of their own preparations, I picked up a Charger back on the jungle floor and rode hard into the east.

When I descended from Gaia Prime, in my panic to reach Meridian I forgot all about the two power cells I've now acquired, which will unlock the Old World armour I found back in the Sacred Lands. Extraordinary tech, and still functional after all this time. If I'm going to face an army of Faro bots, I could really use it, just as the Old Ones did when facing them the first time around.

Up into the Gatelands, heading for Daytower. Lone Light was bustling with life for the first time since I first crossed the border from the east. With the impending invasion, many of those in Meridian and the Maizelands have evacuated further east. It would have been nice to stop by, but I don't know how long I have to retrieve this armour.

Rested a while outside Morning's Watch as the sun set. My body wanted to sleep there and then, but I pressed on.

There's no taking the road to Daytower without invoking the wrath of its guardian Stormbird. Made it out of the blast zone this time, but it was a close thing.

I stopped in Daytower for a meal, sitting amongst rumours exchanged about the Shadow Carja's demon overlord and its army of rabid machines. Some at the fort were fleeing the conflict, while many hunters were passing back from the Sacred Lands to join the effort. I wish I could have quelled the wild rumours. On their face they seem overblown, as many of the hunters attested. Not so.

I took a spot out in the open under light snows. No sign of Balan. The remaining soldiers said he'd headed west with most of his men. It was already late when I arrived, but I set my Focus to wake me in just a few hours. I should try to be back in Meridian by tomorrow night if I can. Who knows how fast the Eclipse are moving, despite Marad's assurances.