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.]

[video]

[first_darkness]

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

[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]

[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;

[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.

[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?

[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]

[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]

[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;

[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?

[video]

[seleniahymn]

It might just be, though I don't know if it's a nature exclusive to humanity. Did others such as yourself not have these conflicts?

[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.]

[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]

[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]

[winds_voice]

You are right... to hold someone against their wishes would likely only make the problem worse. In my ideal world I would promote freedom among all creatures, however... I am not sure if this could ever be a reality without the threat of war.

I would prefer to avoid bloodshed. I despise violence and killing especially if it can be avoided. [He sighs, rubbing his forehead a little.] But if it would change things, if it was the only way... I am not sure. Would you not say that eternal peace is a good enough consequence?

[video]

[winds_voice]

Not as far as I am aware. We Spirits were born with one purpose in mind and carried this out without much regard to other goings-on in the world. At least not until we began to come closer to humans. Even then we did not fight amongst ourselves. In fact we left each other alone for much of the time, only crossing paths when our goals happened to be the same. Wind and water can work together for example. We did not really have our own minds or values but followed the path set out for us from the beginning.

There are new Spirits being born throughout the world all the time however. Perhaps one of them may... change things.

[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]

[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?

[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.

[winds_voice]

[He nods almost instinctively. Then... seems to hesitate and change his mind.]

Actually... I often have no form in my world. I take the shape of the dragon when communicating with humans to give them something physical to interact with, to try to reinforce my presence and bolster their belief in me. However, it seems that upon coming to Luceti I have been given this human form as well.

I have grown so used to it that it is beginning to feel... normal to me.

[elongatedsmile]

[Now that is interesting.] You have never before used that form at home? I did not receive a new form upon waking here.

[Video]

[mountain_sage]

I'm fine. It was rough out there, but we managed to survive.

I see...humans often fight amongst themselves for very different reasons from animals. Some hearts are not so quick to change, and that is what makes things so difficult.

As for my world, it began when the Great Dragon sensed an evil energy flowing from the southern part of Magvel. Shortly after, Grado, the empire in the south, began to invade the neighboring countries. I had heard that the emperor of Grado was a man of peace, so I don't believe that this was a mere coincidence. The soldiers have been so busy fighting Grado that bandits have been running rampant with little or no opposition.

[video]

[seleniahymn]

Perhaps, but... [It may have worked for them but it sounded not only restrictive, but terribly lonely. Yet who was she to comment on it when she knew so little about it?]

I imagine the lifestyle here must be very different from what you have been used to, then.

[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.

[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.