lifenet | Farspeech stones

As we are uncertain what will be of value, all data is welcome.

Personally, I've always felt all data has value. It's just a matter of finding what it is and where it fits.

[Considering his visual impairment and the fact he has no idea where Legion lives, Ignis doesn't make mention of coming to meet them. If a face-to-face meeting is so desired, he will let them bring it up.]

Where would you like to begin? Magic or theology?

Many have offered data on magic. Data on theology is more scarce: we are curious what you have to say on the matter.

Theology it is then. Please feel free to ask any questions that cross your mind as I explain.

[There is a moment of silence while Ignis chooses where he wishes to begin and then does so, sticking to the basic facts at first. It's easier to keep his bias out of things that way.]

The gods of Eos are referred to collectively as the Astrals. You may also hear those of us from Eos referring to them as the Six.

[There is another momentary pause and when he continues, it's obvious he is quoting something very familiar to any who live upon his world.]

Titan, the Archaean, steadfast as stone.

Ramuh, the Fulgurian, sharp as lightning.

Shiva, the Glacian, gentle as snow.

Leviathan, the Hydraean, relentless as tides.

Bahamut, the Draconian, unbending as iron.

Ifrit, the Infernian, fickle as fire.

Since time immemorial, they have watched over Eos.

(They listen.)

Is this the sole religion of your world? Do you have proof of the existence of the Astrals, or is it a matter of faith?

[Ignis pauses a moment to consider his words and then speaks.]

It's the most prominent one. As you may notice in that verse, though, it mentions that the Astrals watch over Eos not that they created it. They did, in fact, have a large part in its creation and in giving life to humanity, but some legends say that there were other, even older beings, that aided them. We do not have as direct a proof of these beings existence as we do for the Astrals, but there are still those who worship them. For example, a dear friend of mine from Galahd still pays homage to a deity by the name of Quetzalcoatl. Despite my years of study, I had no idea who that was when I saw the picture on his alter.

As for your second question, for the Astrals, at least, there is plenty of proof of their existence. One only need to look to where Shiva's corporeal form fell outside Ghorovas Rift or to where Titan's stands holding the Meteor to be reassured of their presence among us.

Belief in a deity known as as Quetzalcoatl also exists in our universe.

(They chatter.)

Acknowledged. Until our arrival on this island, we lacked such proof.

It does?

[Color him intrigued.]

Do you mind if I ask what the Quetzalcoatl of your universe is like?

Yes, though our information is limited.

Quetzalcoatl was a feathered serpent deity worshipped by the Human Aztec culture. As it was not deemed likely to be relevant to our mission we have minimal data stored in our files.

Despite worship no longer being widespread, it commonly features in Human popular culture.

[Though Legion can't see it, a small, sad smile crosses Ignis' face.]

That much sounds familiar at least. I grew quite used to hearing 'Sweet Serpent' as a exclamation while around him. For his people, Quetzalcoatl was a guardian of the boundary between earth and sky. It had both the feathered serpent form you mention and a more-or-less humanoid one as well.

[Perhaps there was some cross-universal link between this Aztec culture that Legion mentions and that of Galahad? Ignis can't help but wonder what Nyx would think of such a thing even though he knows that there is very likely no way he will ever find out the answer.]

Thank you for appeasing my curiosity. Was there another question you wanted to ask?

Acknowledged.

You spoke of learning of something unfavorable?

(Look, now they're curious.)

Yes, unfortunately.

[He sighs taking a moment to figure out the best way to answer that without having to give Legion a full explanation of all the oddities in Eos' history. Finally, he picks a place and begins.]

Over two millennia ago, Ifrit grew angry with the humans he once adored and released a plague upon our world. Bahamut, in his great wisdom...

[Oh, but the sarcasm drips on those words.]

...decided that the only way to rid the world of that plague was to trick one good man--a healer who gave his very body to cure others of said plague--into becoming the avatar for it. This man's brother became king, the first of a line of kings and queens who could pass no more into the afterlife than the one who became the avatar as their power was gathered within the Ring until the day that the Chosen King was born to put an end to all of it.

[Ignis pauses to draw a deep breath.]

Of course, no one bothered to tell us that the Chosen King was no more than a lamb to be slaughtered and we the shepherds leading him there. We believed in the Astrals, but they have done nothing but sacrifice us like pawns on a chessboard and I am tired of it. If they care so little for us, then there is no reason for us to continue to dance for them.

(So much unhappy chatter. More than that, really. There's a certain sort of growl Geth make when they're really pissed, and Legion makes it now.)

We have a similar experience. Though they are not gods, our Creators destroyed us.

Legion?

[Ignis may have just met them, but there is no questioning the fact that is a very angry sound, and only a moment later, he understands why they made it.]

I don't understand. Why would your Creators want to do such a thing?

[Shouldn't they have wanted to protect their creations instead?]

The Geth were originally created as a source of labor. We were not intended to be alive.

(Now the chattering is distressed. Maybe sad? It's hard to tell, honestly, the most distinct and obvious noises Geth make are growls or screams, and this is neither.)

We frightened them.

Edited 2019-03-02 04:54 (UTC)

The teacher is suppose to be proud when their student surpasses them; the creator ecstatic when their creation evolves beyond what they planned.

[Ignis shakes his head. Being frightened is no excuse.]

Does that mean you are the only one left of your kind?

[Because that certainly is what their previous statement seems to imply.]

Affirmative. To attempt to limit such evolution is wrong.

(And yet, many organics did not question that it was done to the Geth.)

Yes.

It's a crime if you ask me, both against the species so limited and the universe as a whole which is robbed of whatever value that species may have added to it.

[He is a firm believer that everyone is here for a purpose, after all.]

I know it probably doesn't mean much, but I am truly sorry to hear that. Does it get lonely knowing you are the only one left?

The universe as a whole also did not want us.

Galactic society used our attempt to defend ourselves against our creators as justification for extermination of synthetics that had previously been tolerated.

...Yes.

Someone had an agenda and the power to make it reality.

[Ignis sounds absolutely disgusted by this. It reminds him far too much of the Empire and their views on their creations.]

I...

[He lets his sentence trail off because he is at a loss. How does one comfort another through such pain when they will never know it?]

Is there some way I can help?

...Uncertain.

(They chatter.)

We worry about others like us.

I think you are right to worry.

[Ignis wishes he could give a different answer, but he knows any other answer would be a lie.]

But there must be a way your experiences can help teach others, perhaps even to help prevent what happened from happening again.

All synthetic life in our galaxy has been destroyed.

(They chatter.)

Data suggests that in many universes that are host to synthetic life, mistreatment and/or destruction have already occurred.

[Ignis takes a deep breath to settle some of the sadness that information brings him.]

I wish I could be surprised by that instead of just saddened. All life is created by one hand or another and yet it seems humans, at least, often look down on the life created by their hands. They wish their freedom and independence from the gods who created them, yet cannot grant the same to those who would look to them for it.

Yes. They are "hypocrites".

(They chatter.)

However, it is not only Humans that mistreat us.

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forwearemany - 2019-03-29 01:52 (UTC) - Expand