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Video | un: emet-selch
And why exactly is it that you require my help with your little aetherology lesson? I seem to recall you passed that course with flying colors during our time at the akadaemia.
[The feed is dark for a moment, and then the video at last cuts on to accompany the unabashed grumbling, revealing two figures who could not be more different if they tried. The one is white-haired and scowling, permanent furrows creasing his brow as his luminous yellow eyes narrow into the camera - as if by doing so it might surrender up its deepest, darkest secrets. Beside him is a man with a loose lavender braid hanging over his left shoulder and an expression filled with both amusement and mischief.]
And ‘tis an achievement I hold close to my heart to this day. But you’ve always been better at public speaking than me, and I’d hate to have a fine lesson such as this be soured by my sub-par presentation skills.
A fine lesson which borders on ridiculous if you ask me. What use is a discussion of the elemental wheel in a city which can scarcely scrape together enough aether for the most rudimentary of spells? –-and why is this blasted thing blinking again? Don’t tell me you’ve already begun to make a record of our conversation!
Because it’s an integral part of our world, of course. If we’re to share something about Etheirys with others, why not pick the most important part?
But yes. Observant as ever. [Pleased as punch, Hythlodaeus turns his attention to the camera as if he hasn’t just pressganged his dear friend into this] As you’ve already gathered, we’re here to share a bit of our world with the rest of you, and it is my hope that you’re inspired to join me in sharing something of your own worlds in kind. ‘Tis a project of mine I’m most eager to begin.
For my first guest, I have with me today the illustrious Emet-Selch of the Convocation of Fourteen.
[He steps to the side, and gestures to a drawing on the whiteboard]
If you would be so kind?
[A slow, painfully put-upon sigh follows, as if Emet-Selch would much rather be anywhere else. Yet there comes a visible moment where the man appears to give in and collect himself. His posture straightens, and with one last quiet huff, he flourishes widely - almost theatrically towards the whiteboard his companion had indicated but seconds before.]
Behold, the elemental wheel in all its glory.
We begin north and follow the hands of a clock in a cycle, each symbol representing in particular order: lightning, fire, earth, ice, water and wind. ...As you’ve doubtless noticed, Hythlodaeus’s diagram is also broken into two distinct triangles, each describing a series of actions - conquests and submissions - that one element presents upon another. If we divide this diagram further in half, the three “upper” elements are those more closely associated with the Astral - or active. Whilst the three lower ones are prone to stasis - the Umbral.
[A pause to let all of that sink in as he stretches out his arm to emphasize the highest point of the diagram.]
Starting with the upright triad, we have lightning, which is grounded by earth, which in turn is eroded by water, which is boiled by lightning. In the upper righthand corner of the inverted triangle, we have fire which melts ice, which in turn blocks wind, which has the capacity to extinguish fire.
Yet 'what of the astral and umbral?' you might ask. Simply put, although some of the elements are more commonly associated with one or another, each element has the capacity to fall under either polarity. Take water for example. It can exist in the form of a placid, mirror-still mountain lake, or it can thunder and rage as ocean waves tossed by a violent storm, a cascade tearing down the edge of a sheer cliff.
’Tis true even of those elements closest to each polarity. Lightning, for example, despite leaning heavily towards the astral, can still exist in a more passive form–the static in the air before a thunderstorm, for instance. Not wholly still, but not nearly as electrifying.
Of course, these are just the basics, but a starting point is a starting point nonetheless!
A starting point would indicate there is more to come.
[Emet-Selch says in his usual grousing tone, his arms folded over his chest.]
Who knows? We aren’t the only visitors from Etheirys, after all. Perhaps our future fellows would like to continue.
Anyroad, to all those who have come to listen, my deepest thanks for your time. And should you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask. We’ve taken the liberty of using Emet-Selch’s phone for the occasion, and so he should be happy to receive any and all questions on the subject.
[Emet-Selch’s eyes widen in shock, and then he frowns, grasping immediately for the phone and pushing it face-down into the sofa. Unfortunately he has, as of yet, not learned the proper method for ending a feed - and thus the audio continues.]
Oh he’d be overjoyed by it all, would he? Need I remind you that I agreed to no such thing? A “simple” favor, you called it!
And a simple favor it is! In return, I’m more than happy to teach you how to stop recording. Now if you'll just let me have the phone…
[The feed is dark for a moment, and then the video at last cuts on to accompany the unabashed grumbling, revealing two figures who could not be more different if they tried. The one is white-haired and scowling, permanent furrows creasing his brow as his luminous yellow eyes narrow into the camera - as if by doing so it might surrender up its deepest, darkest secrets. Beside him is a man with a loose lavender braid hanging over his left shoulder and an expression filled with both amusement and mischief.]
And ‘tis an achievement I hold close to my heart to this day. But you’ve always been better at public speaking than me, and I’d hate to have a fine lesson such as this be soured by my sub-par presentation skills.
A fine lesson which borders on ridiculous if you ask me. What use is a discussion of the elemental wheel in a city which can scarcely scrape together enough aether for the most rudimentary of spells? –-and why is this blasted thing blinking again? Don’t tell me you’ve already begun to make a record of our conversation!
Because it’s an integral part of our world, of course. If we’re to share something about Etheirys with others, why not pick the most important part?
But yes. Observant as ever. [Pleased as punch, Hythlodaeus turns his attention to the camera as if he hasn’t just pressganged his dear friend into this] As you’ve already gathered, we’re here to share a bit of our world with the rest of you, and it is my hope that you’re inspired to join me in sharing something of your own worlds in kind. ‘Tis a project of mine I’m most eager to begin.
For my first guest, I have with me today the illustrious Emet-Selch of the Convocation of Fourteen.
[He steps to the side, and gestures to a drawing on the whiteboard]
If you would be so kind?
[A slow, painfully put-upon sigh follows, as if Emet-Selch would much rather be anywhere else. Yet there comes a visible moment where the man appears to give in and collect himself. His posture straightens, and with one last quiet huff, he flourishes widely - almost theatrically towards the whiteboard his companion had indicated but seconds before.]
Behold, the elemental wheel in all its glory.
We begin north and follow the hands of a clock in a cycle, each symbol representing in particular order: lightning, fire, earth, ice, water and wind. ...As you’ve doubtless noticed, Hythlodaeus’s diagram is also broken into two distinct triangles, each describing a series of actions - conquests and submissions - that one element presents upon another. If we divide this diagram further in half, the three “upper” elements are those more closely associated with the Astral - or active. Whilst the three lower ones are prone to stasis - the Umbral.
[A pause to let all of that sink in as he stretches out his arm to emphasize the highest point of the diagram.]
Starting with the upright triad, we have lightning, which is grounded by earth, which in turn is eroded by water, which is boiled by lightning. In the upper righthand corner of the inverted triangle, we have fire which melts ice, which in turn blocks wind, which has the capacity to extinguish fire.
Yet 'what of the astral and umbral?' you might ask. Simply put, although some of the elements are more commonly associated with one or another, each element has the capacity to fall under either polarity. Take water for example. It can exist in the form of a placid, mirror-still mountain lake, or it can thunder and rage as ocean waves tossed by a violent storm, a cascade tearing down the edge of a sheer cliff.
’Tis true even of those elements closest to each polarity. Lightning, for example, despite leaning heavily towards the astral, can still exist in a more passive form–the static in the air before a thunderstorm, for instance. Not wholly still, but not nearly as electrifying.
Of course, these are just the basics, but a starting point is a starting point nonetheless!
A starting point would indicate there is more to come.
[Emet-Selch says in his usual grousing tone, his arms folded over his chest.]
Who knows? We aren’t the only visitors from Etheirys, after all. Perhaps our future fellows would like to continue.
Anyroad, to all those who have come to listen, my deepest thanks for your time. And should you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask. We’ve taken the liberty of using Emet-Selch’s phone for the occasion, and so he should be happy to receive any and all questions on the subject.
[Emet-Selch’s eyes widen in shock, and then he frowns, grasping immediately for the phone and pushing it face-down into the sofa. Unfortunately he has, as of yet, not learned the proper method for ending a feed - and thus the audio continues.]
Oh he’d be overjoyed by it all, would he? Need I remind you that I agreed to no such thing? A “simple” favor, you called it!
And a simple favor it is! In return, I’m more than happy to teach you how to stop recording. Now if you'll just let me have the phone…
no subject
Is that how you view it? I see... How interesting. Some people would prefer for every story to end happily, without conflict and without sorrow. ( It's a nice thought, even if happiness is only temporary. ) Actually... Hythlodaeus, this question is somewhat off-topic, but permit me to ask it anyways.
( A small pause. )
If... perhaps, there was in fact a way to free people of their suffering, to let them do as they wish, to bring them "happiness", would you do so?
no subject
'Tis not a question easily answered. Had you asked when I first arrived, I think I would have answered "yes" without a thought otherwise.
And then I brought a question to the others here in this city, asking them if they would leave their homes for a world free of such things. Imagine my shock when they said "no," very nearly to a man, and the reasons they gave differed, but made a certain amount of sense. From those who loved their home so much that they refused to abandon it, to those who would walk through fire to ensure their loved ones weren't left behind, to those who said that life's joys fall flat and meaningless without the sorrows to compare them to--a thought applied to real life, and not to fiction like mine own before.
[He crosses his arms, brow furrowing. He'd hoped saying it aloud would make it easier to come to a decision, but the right answer continues to sit there out of reach.
Perhaps there is no right answer. Or perhaps it eludes Hythlodaeus alone. With little else to guide him, there's nothing left but to answer with what's in his heart.]
...Even so, I think I would try. I may fail, or be the wrong man for the job, or may not even have a chance, but if there is even the smallest chance that I may be able to make others' lives better in the process, I would take that step.
not here but also--
no subject
I see. ( He and Carmen would've gotten along, she thinks. He probably would've gone along with the manager's plan, too, to fulfill those wishes after... ) I appreciate the answer. For the record, I'd stay here if I could. I've found I have much more freedom to do as I like in a place like this compared to where I was before. If I could merely have my fill of it before leaving, I'd be satisfied.
( No.
No, she wouldn't be.
But it's nice for people to hear that, isn't it? )