10 - [Video/Action]

[winds_voice]

[Video]

[It's late afternoon and Eley appears to be sitting outside somewhere on an incline just outside the village, with a full view of the sky. It's at this time that he decides to address his journal. It's been a while and a lot has happened recently that he feels he should mention...]

I would like to say a general 'welcome back' to those who have returned from the draft. To those who were injured... I hope for a swift recovery. To those who lost friends and loved ones, I hope that they will find you well when they return. They will need your aid again.

[He pauses a moment, shifting tone slightly to something more serious, slightly sad.]

While I understand the necessity of this conflict, the threat of violence still makes me uneasy. I... must ask, is war something that is common across all worlds? Have you too seen great battles and the destruction they can cause? I would like to hear your stories, if they are not too painful for you to share. I would especially like to know if you believe it possible to live in a world free from conflict.

[Action]

[Eley won't be moving much from his spot today. He's in a thoughtful, almost melancholy kind of mood and finds himself watching the sky as it succumbs to darkness, the stars his only company. At least unless someone finds him sitting out here at night on their travels.

Or hears him. Because sometime during the night he'll start playing on the harmonica Rudy gave him. He's been trying to practice as best he can and while he can at least make a sound on the thing, he hasn't quite managed to string together a melody. You won't hear a particularly beautiful song then, just a series of notes that seem to be played to fit his mood. Whether or not you find it annoying or endearing is entirely up to you!]

Comments

[elongatedsmile]

[Xzana is out and about after the draft. She's failed twice now to fend off the droids and it's left her feeling uneasy.

Unable to stay inside to avoid the possibility of becoming slow in the cold she's on the move today. Luckily the weather is getting warmer anyway, so it's not as dangerous for her to be out anyway.

She pauses when she comes up on Eley, unsure of what move she wants to make next. This creature that is a dragon, but is not.]

[winds_voice]

[Eley doesn't notice her at first, but soon he has the unsettling sensation that he's being watched... and considered. It isn't long before he notices Xzana paused and seemingly uncertain of his presence.]

Hello again. Is everything all right?

[elongatedsmile]

Everything is fine. [A pause.] Is this the form that you normally choose? [She has no problem with it. She knows full well that the full form of a dragon can be troublesome at times. Just merely curious.

[video]

[first_darkness]

A world can't remain peaceful forever as long as there are those with the strength to fight each other.

[video]

[winds_voice]

Hm. Then in this case the only way a world would be eternally peaceful would be when the people have exhausted themselves? Or destroyed themselves... That is not a thought I would like to dwell on too much.

I would not want to deny humans of their determination and courage, however I do not believe going to war is the best way to flaunt it.

[video]

[first_darkness]

Or when one side possesses all the strength. The other won't act out unless they don't fear being suppressed entirely.

When two sides decide they would rather lose their lives than compromise on their ideals. That's what gives birth to war.

[Video]

[de_bel_survivor]

War and battles are normal in any worlds. As long people have their differences and they're greedy or desperate for something, they would clash.

[Video]

[winds_voice]

Ah, of course... those who are greedy or even just naturally cruel will always want to provoke conflict. I wonder then if it is possible to... change these people. Either that or contain them.

[He sighs. This was a futile thing to argue after all, he feels.]

The only way to create a peaceful world would be to destroy the ones who are causing the problems, yes?

[Video]

[de_bel_survivor]

It would be difficult and troublesome to change or contain them without a lot of power. If you try to contain them, it would naturally build up resentment against their captors.

[Humans value their freedom and basic rights. He remembers how the lockdown made people act.]

If you don't mind possibly causing a lot of bloodshed and destruction along the way. Whether it's worth it is another thing.

[video]

[seleniahymn]

I'm not sure if it's an inevitability in all worlds, but for the majority of them it is common. Sometimes the people decide their ideals can't coexist, and it leads to fighting.

[video]

[winds_voice]

Yes... people with strong beliefs will always want to impose them on others. I would hope that there is a world out there that has learned the secret of peace. Perhaps then the people there could share it with all of us.

As it is, it seems that conflict is something found throughout worlds. Perhaps it is just part of human nature after all.

video;

[lastsmoke]

War and fighting is something common where I'm from, and I've seen a lot of violence in my time. As far as peace goes...I'd like to think it's possible, it's just something that'll take a lot of work to get to.

video;

[winds_voice]

Hmm... may I ask what you are usually fighting for?

My people in Agkelos also thought it possible before, however things are becoming more and more dangerous since I left them. I have to wonder if any amount of effort will change things for the better. Can you really control the thoughts of an entire planet of people?

[voice]

[blackteriques]

[He's heard questions about wars and conflicts on other worlds before. Sometimes they've drawn bad memories out of him, and other times they've brought him to conclusions that he would rather not have thought of. So, when he finds the question asked...]

Why do you want to know? Don't you already know the most likely answer?

[He sounds better than he has in days, but he's still tired from his injuries during the draft.]

[voice]

[winds_voice]

[He wasn't expecting a question like that, but it certainly makes him think. Why was he asking? It's true, he likely already knows the answer.]

You are right, I have an answer in mind already. One that will likely be true. However, I... wish to ask regardless of that fact. If there is any chance that a world exists out there that has found a way to live in peace, I wish to hear from them. It is important to me and something I wish for my own world.

I do not want past mistakes to happen again...

[Video]

[mountain_sage]

It is good to be back, Eleytheria.

As for your question...it would be extremely difficult. It may be possible for humans to achieve peace, but...there will be conflict amongst animals and things. Until recently, my world had been generally peaceful, except for the occasional bandit attack. But now things are getting worse.

[Video]

[winds_voice]

Saleh. It is good to see you again. Are you well?

Hmm, I had not thought about the non-human creatures of the world. It is true that wild animals will sometimes attack for their own survival. The dragons of my world are also another problem. If humans were to achieve peace amongst themselves however, I believe I would be... satisfied.

May I ask what has happened in your world to begin such a decline?

[audio]

[justicereigns]

It's inescapable in my world. I'm a soldier with the marines, so I've seen my fair share of worlds and battles, including Marineford, the Summit of the Best.

[audio]

[winds_voice]

Marines? Then is it simply a way of life on your world or is the conflict so deep-rooted that you have no choice but to fight?

I... hope that is not the case. It is said the old world we left behind fell in the same manner. It is why Aether was created in the first place.

[4starsavior]

I dunno - I'm sure it could happen in some places, but where I come from, when the bad guys on our planet were beaten, people showed up from other planets to try an' take it over or blow it up. [Not that he minds, of course.]

[winds_voice]

...your conflict came from other worlds? I suppose it is possible. Before I came here, I was not aware of other worlds at all. Knowing it now, perhaps we should all try to safeguard our planets from outsiders.

May I ask what reason they had to invade your planet? What did they want? Why did they want to destroy it?

[Voice]

[fourthgenerationprincess]

No. Not like this.

[ She thinks. ]

There's a lot that's different here.

[Voice]

[winds_voice]

Then you would say your world is generally peaceful?

You are right... Even without people from many different worlds mingling together, there is still much to learn about this planet.

[voice]

[ofwesternwinds]

... I think conflict is something that's unavoidable no matter where you are.

[He frowns, continuing.]

It isn't easy, but that doesn't mean peace is impossible. But in order to bring peace, sometimes we have to fight for it too.

[voice]

[winds_voice]

[Eley considers that.]

Then do you believe that some must die to bring about this peace? That there must be a sacrifice for the right outcome to come about?

I had hoped there would be some way to solve the problem without having to resort to killing...