My friend Wanda is an endless source of assistance in Solvunn, and she is close to one of the gods herself. As is Himeka who lives there. They may have more personal experiences with the gods to draw on and discuss. The gods, much like we were in that fantasy, seem to come when they are called mostly. Including the most recent experience with the clown, he was called by the thief. What he did next however was all his own choice.
I can't tell if they have their own motivations or goals, but I think they are as complex as the rest of us. I don't trust any of them. My first experience with them was when the three heralds showed up and burst into all of our minds and lives, bringing destruction and twisted minds with them. They were officially 'called' by a blood sacrifice in Solvunn, however.
They remain, but I couldn't convince them to leave even if given the chance. They wanted to stay and fight. I gave them information, hoping it would help them, but they used it the wrong way. I suppose that is a running theme for my existence.
-Istredd
[ Meaning as Cid knows from the AU, Istredd has a tendency to give information without thinking consequences through. He regrets now what he told them about Cirilla but at the time he meant well. ]
In my experience, gods rarely have our best interests at heart — even in the dream, when we may have had the best of intentions, that distance from humanity made it so that the scale of our involvement and our limited understanding of peoples' lives often led to as much harm as it did good.
The things that are done to Bearers as a matter of course are monstrous, but I can't tell you the number of them who have refused my aid over the years, and remained within the familiar confines of their chains instead. You can't force people to be saved, as much as you might like to. For many, even terrible familiarity is preferable to the unknown.
Don't mistake my meaning, you're right in thinking that it would be wise to have care about what information you choose to share... after you've done it, there are few ways to control it. As gods, we lived to repeat our mistakes. As men, perhaps we will do better.
I may not trust them but I don't rush to assume the worst out of them either. They've done what we didn't, which is on the whole stayed out of people's lives in this sphere. They only show up when called and mostly in Solvunn. In that fake future we witnessed, we were the ones who more aggressively intruded into the lives of the people.
I do think Thorne and the Free Cities ignore the gods at their own peril though. They are capable of doing a lot of damage if they want to. Lack of belief isn't going to save anyone.
It was wrong, ultimately, for me to think as an outsider I had any say in where they should go. It made sense to me to escape to another sphere, but the one we were on, it was theirs first. They have a right to stay there, even if it felt like folly. As an archaeologist, I should have been more cognizant of cultural needs over survival instincts.
Belief isn't going to save anyone either. Perhaps it's different for you, but I've only seen it bring out the worst in people. [ He's letting his emotions get the better of him, rather than looking at this particular thing more objectively. The crystals, despite all the terrible things they've been used for, are only objects. Ultima was the one who used them, and and perhaps countless others before Barnabas, before Clive had been able to save the rest of humanity. And that's to say nothing of Great Greagor and her ardent followers. ] Ignoring them is a mistake, aye, but only because it means that the Free Cities and Thorne both lack information.
My friend, I mean this with all the affection in my heart, you can't compare everything you've been through to the situation here. If you do, you'll act irrationally at the smallest of provocations, and that won't help anyone. I know you will always be the sum of your experiences, but this sphere is not ours. You must take it as it is to get anywhere.
I was raised in a toxic organization of mages, so I too have projected at times my negative experiences onto Thorne. It's best to judge them on their own merits and mistakes. Which are many. I can bitch with the best of them about this place, believe me, but it is its own mess.
Look... You're not wrong about why I feel the way that I do. My concern is — I forgot my past in that dream. What it led me to was happy enough, but it was... complacent. I'm not yet convinced that it was the right choice, even if the lens I look through now is colored by my past.
I'll not act without a firm understanding of what's at stake. I mean that. I'll do my best to see things as they are. Perhaps we will come to agree on all things, or perhaps it will make us bitter enemies in the end... but you have my respect. I'll not try anything without seeking your council, at the least. With equal affection — that's all I can promise.
I'm not saying we have to forget everything we experienced or what made us who we are. It's just not always helpful to the situation at hand. There may be times when what you've gone through will directly solve situations here and be for the best. It's mostly about pinpointing when it is us being reasonable or being reactive.
And I'm not saying this is a you only problem. I've had this conversation with myself, with everyone I know, probably with the next group of Summoned when they arrive. We are stuck in this world for now and it is imperative to me not to make it worse intentionally.
It makes sense to be unnerved at how much we lost in that strange future, but if anything, it has been a warning we can learn from.
But please don't indicate we could be enemies, I am already too tired and stressed to worry about that!
[ Unlike his usual messages, this is a more instinctive response, so Cid doesn't frame it up like a letter as he's accustomed to: ] Istredd... When was the last time you got some sleep?
All the more reason to not wear yourself into the ground. At the very least, get away from the books for a spell and go for a walk — you might just manage to take your mind off it all long enough to rest.
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no subject
Date: 2024-07-01 06:56 pm (UTC)My friend Wanda is an endless source of assistance in Solvunn, and she is close to one of the gods herself. As is Himeka who lives there. They may have more personal experiences with the gods to draw on and discuss. The gods, much like we were in that fantasy, seem to come when they are called mostly. Including the most recent experience with the clown, he was called by the thief. What he did next however was all his own choice.
I can't tell if they have their own motivations or goals, but I think they are as complex as the rest of us. I don't trust any of them. My first experience with them was when the three heralds showed up and burst into all of our minds and lives, bringing destruction and twisted minds with them. They were officially 'called' by a blood sacrifice in Solvunn, however.
They remain, but I couldn't convince them to leave even if given the chance. They wanted to stay and fight. I gave them information, hoping it would help them, but they used it the wrong way. I suppose that is a running theme for my existence.
-Istredd
[ Meaning as Cid knows from the AU, Istredd has a tendency to give information without thinking consequences through. He regrets now what he told them about Cirilla but at the time he meant well. ]
no subject
Date: 2024-07-04 02:13 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-07-06 01:52 am (UTC)I may not trust them but I don't rush to assume the worst out of them either. They've done what we didn't, which is on the whole stayed out of people's lives in this sphere. They only show up when called and mostly in Solvunn. In that fake future we witnessed, we were the ones who more aggressively intruded into the lives of the people.
I do think Thorne and the Free Cities ignore the gods at their own peril though. They are capable of doing a lot of damage if they want to. Lack of belief isn't going to save anyone.
It was wrong, ultimately, for me to think as an outsider I had any say in where they should go. It made sense to me to escape to another sphere, but the one we were on, it was theirs first. They have a right to stay there, even if it felt like folly. As an archaeologist, I should have been more cognizant of cultural needs over survival instincts.
A mistake I won't make again, and strive not to.
-Istredd
no subject
Date: 2024-07-09 02:00 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-07-09 04:26 pm (UTC)My friend, I mean this with all the affection in my heart, you can't compare everything you've been through to the situation here. If you do, you'll act irrationally at the smallest of provocations, and that won't help anyone. I know you will always be the sum of your experiences, but this sphere is not ours. You must take it as it is to get anywhere.
I was raised in a toxic organization of mages, so I too have projected at times my negative experiences onto Thorne. It's best to judge them on their own merits and mistakes. Which are many. I can bitch with the best of them about this place, believe me, but it is its own mess.
-Istredd
no subject
Date: 2024-07-13 04:47 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-07-13 07:55 pm (UTC)I'm not saying we have to forget everything we experienced or what made us who we are. It's just not always helpful to the situation at hand. There may be times when what you've gone through will directly solve situations here and be for the best. It's mostly about pinpointing when it is us being reasonable or being reactive.
And I'm not saying this is a you only problem. I've had this conversation with myself, with everyone I know, probably with the next group of Summoned when they arrive. We are stuck in this world for now and it is imperative to me not to make it worse intentionally.
It makes sense to be unnerved at how much we lost in that strange future, but if anything, it has been a warning we can learn from.
But please don't indicate we could be enemies, I am already too tired and stressed to worry about that!
-Istredd
no subject
Date: 2024-07-15 02:46 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-07-16 03:28 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-07-20 05:21 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-07-20 08:49 pm (UTC)wrapping? 🎁
Date: 2024-07-22 02:40 pm (UTC)Just look after yourself, is all.
BOW
Date: 2024-07-22 06:02 pm (UTC)