❧ Of Gods & Magic [video]

[leveilleur]

[ It takes a moment for Alphinaud to set up everything just right but once he does, the video feed goes live revealing the faces of elven twins solemnly gazing into the camera. Alphinaud Leveilleur towards the right dressed in blues and whites with his sister Alisaie, dressed in red and khaki, towards the left. They look identical in every way but there are subtle differences that only a keen eye would notice. Nevertheless, Alphinaud takes a moment to clear his throat before finally introducing himself. ]

Greetings & Salutations to All,

I am Alphinaud Leveilleur and this ---[ He gestures to the girl standing at his left. ]-- is my sister Alisaie.

[ Alisaie raises a hand in greeting. She seems to be regarding the device with some skepticism, and so she's a bit more subdued than normal. ]

Greetings to you all.

[ The boy doesn't feel the need to address that they're identical twins since he's certain the audience has eyes. However, if anyone makes any rude comments about their appearance, they'll be promptly blocked. Alphinaud doesn't have much patience for those who make fun of his allegedly girlish looks. ]

We hail from the realm of Hydaelyn, a wondrous world plagued by both strife and great unrest. We are members of a faction known as the Scions of the Seventh Dawn, peacekeepers if you will, who strive in earnest to bring an end to the bloodshed that plagues our world.

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Due to great circumstances, we've been summoned to Prismatica along with all of you, by unknown powers. It has come to my attention that this fantastical realm is chock full of wonders, many of which we Moonblessed fail to comprehend. With that said, I wish to hold a forum regarding these wonders in hopes that we can further understand more about this world.

[ Alisaie leans in a bit more, cutting off Alphinaud from view for the moment. ]

-- We're interested in talking about where the Moonblessings supposedly come from. These beast gods, Sanguis, Iris, and Cordis. It's not the first time we've heard of such things.

[ She glances knowingly over to her brother.]

Not the first time-- [He states looking somewhat remorseful now.] Nor will it be the last, I fear.

[ Alphinaud comes into view again looking rather grim now. This not a light topic meant for the faint of heart. ]

In the region of Eorzea and even beyond her, false deities called “primals” offer succor in the form of blind fanatical servitude promising the moon and stars to all who worship them. Their promises are nothing more than lies told to bewitch their followers into supplying them endless aether in the form of great sacrifice.

The payment---one’s own life.

[ His gaze narrows some as he ponders about the deities of this realm. The more he thinks about these foreign gods, the more they truly sound lime “primals” to him. ]

We know naught if this payment would be the same in regards to the deities here within Prismatica but servitude certainly seems to be one of them.

[ Alisaie speaks up now. ]

Think about it. We are 'blessed' by these gods and they ask that we generate energy in return. Sound similar? The energy itself is benign so far, but then they twist and change our bodies and call it a gift.

[ She shakes her head. ]

I realize the people of this star depend on Chroma, and that it changed their way of life. I also know this life is better for some of you. But we deserve to know why we have been brought here and changed, not just be given some blind venerated explanation.

[ Her voice gets more earnest as she speaks, ending with her slamming her fist down on the surface the video device is propped on. She has to right it after it tilts, and then stills, taking a deep breath. Alphinaud takes over. ]

This is all we ask.

[ He chimes in after a moment of thought. It seems there’s something else on his mind but the boy hesitates to state it. Instead, he directs this introduction to a swift end. ]

We ask to know and understand the meaning behind our arrival here so that in turn, we could perhaps undo what has been done.

[ Alphinaud takes a breath. This is quite the intro and it will surely gain them some scorn. Nevertheless, he’s content. ]

I open up the forum for others to speak.

Comments

[swordfighting]

[ alisaie has guts in spades; it's just the thinking things through part of stuff that she struggles with, sometimes. ]

From my experience with those in power? They'll hardly be receptive. But outside of a lack of information, they have been quite accommodating. Surely they'd rather have those that want to stay than people like my brother and I, rustling the crowds.

[ she's almost making fun of them, except her brother was branded a traitor of a city state at one point, even if no one believed he honestly was. ]

At risk of being a cliche, though, nothing ventures means nothing gained.

[darkduplication]

You might disappear, and not in the way you want.

[ He approaches this with a very unique and specific history. The Organization wasn't known for things like mercy and generosity, rumors abounded within the ranks about what happened to detractors. And a replica? Thrown out with the trash if he had to guess. ]

Is it really worth the risk?

[swordfighting]

Deciding if it's worth the risk is the choice of the individual. [ oh boy now she sounds like her brother ] If it isn't, that's not for me to judge.

However, I've faced down plenty of men and governments and lived to tell the tale... And, honestly, I don't think the people here are in the habit of disappearing us.

[darkduplication]

Oh? Sounds like we've got ourselves an accomplished rabble-rouser.

[ She established that she has an aim here that isn't so easy to dismiss as causing trouble for its own sake. The replica recognizes that, even if he can't help needling a little.

It might even be safe to say he does it because she doesn't shy away from any challenges to her motives or logic. There's a lot to like about someone who stands their ground. ]

[swordfighting]

[ alisaie is about as stubborn as they come, although her gaze narrows a bit when he calls her a rabble rouser. it's not a term she's used to hearing about kindly.

but she, like her brother, is not without her vice of pride either. ]

I suppose you could say I'm starting to make a habit of it, at this point. Whether it be an empire or a so-called god.

[darkduplication]

Gods? Empires?

[There's enough strangeness in his own life experience to buy that, actually.]

This story of yours is sounding better and better. All that stuff about false deities... in the end, they're not much different from everyone else, consuming whatever they can overpower.

Tell you the truth, I'm too new to answer your questions. I'd be interested in what you dig up.