The First Land Herald/450-01-26
| Article Number: 95 |
| Dateline: 450-01-26 |
| ASILDU ATTENDS APPROACH AT DIPLOMACY WITH THE HERALDS Asildu, last seen visiting the vigil for our missing friends, and attending several Overhealers Anonymous meetings, has appeared once again. This time he attended an approach for diplomacy with the Heralds, invited by Ezerak, and co-hosted by Ruea and Saragos at Arhat's Tower. Arhat's Tower is now notoriously known as the site of disappearance regarding Dantia, Mazrian, Navesi, Miskton, and Ayrell. Asildu's presence had previously been met with some degree of skepticism, hostility even, and some suspect him to be a heretic. Within the workshop stood the following attendees barring any late arrivals: Ruea, Medir, Aerilia, Leayne, Crobin, Eyst, Ezathiel, Sclerotia, Tirost, Sofina, Allye, Lexxa, Ysilda, Sir Madigan, Anuril, Kethrai, Casari, Vaerek, Kerennya, Mountain Lord Ezerak, Rileos, Siendra, Gragnel, Saragos, Maraisel, Waydren, Sukidesu, Rileos, Waydren, Elurora, Gragnel, Kamisama Avrenka, Aerilia, Brisknite, Briaen, Miraeven, and Parkons. Asildu arrived shortly after and looked around the room, appearing somewhat discomfited. Ruea and Asildu exchanged what can only be described as pleasantries, with Asildu admitting his curiosity piqued by the premise of the gathering. Saragos asserted to Asildu, "You're safe, so long as you don't attempt to mess with the planar state in this area. It looks like you're trying to muddy things up, I'll burn you down. Long as that doesn't happen, we're good to talk." Asildu answered Saragos, "I don't fiddle with planar anything," then inquired of Ruea, "Some information, if I would be permitted to speak?" Ruea stepped aside and gave him the floor. Asildu's speech went peacefully uninterrupted and as follows: "My understanding is that you've gathered to speak with the Heralds. Is that correct? Before we begin, there are some things I feel I must explain in order to... perhaps curb some potential... expectations? Yes, I think that's the right word." Asildu nodded to himself and admitted, "I'm terrible at public speaking. If you'll all bear with me." He cleared his throat and went on. "When I first embarked on this mission, I was under the impression the world understood what the Heralds are. An error, on my part, likely due to the fact that I've immersed myself so completely in them that it feels common knowledge. The more I engage in discussion with you all, the more I realize that's... not the case. And the more I think about it, the more I realize that... makes perfect sense. No one else here has seen the things that I've seen. You haven't felt the things that I've felt. You have doubts. You have... feelings about people and things that I imagine I felt at one point in my life as well, but am somewhat disconnected from now. As if I've traded my connection to mortals for a connection with something far greater." Asildu continued, "No insult intended, of course. I speak entirely of the power of the Heralds. So, let's address the reason I'm here. You want to speak with the Heralds. To utilize my connection to them in hopes of attaining contact. To be clear, I fully intend to try and assist, in any way I can, but I want to make sure we're all looking at this with a realistic view. The Heralds are not..." Asildu said, "As a mortal man, I'm familiar with these concepts. I understand that you've lost loved ones and that their safety is important to every last one of you, but the Heralds - don't. Not because of any intention of malice, but because they just aren't built that way. Love isn't something they feel. It's foreign. Unknown. This is something that comes from being an entity of such immense capability. The Heralds are the pinnacle of power. So far above your Immortals that the mortals I've spoken to seem unable - and to some degree unwilling - to fathom. And why would you? Common knowledge of the Heralds is sparse. I had to dedicate my life to study them, traveling the world, forgoing the luxury of love and friendships in search of information." Asildu added, "In comparison, the Immortals are... easy to trust and believe in. They are... more accessible. Unlike the Heralds, who have no use of mortal prayers, the Immortals thrive on it. Mortals are the playthings of the Immortals. Prayers and sacrifices empower them, just as the lack of such can anger them. They are fickle creatures, but they enjoy you. And you enjoy them, because they offer you gifts in the form of favors, guidance - magic. Things you can see with your own eyes, feel with your hands, experience when you die and revive." Asildu insisted, "But, the thing is... the Heralds are also here. Always present, yet unseen. Watching. Working. Focused only on the maintenance of balance, without care of whether or not the constancy of their labor is noticed. They have a job, and that job is to keep this world in a state of balance. To protect you all from the destruction imbalance can cause. The destruction this current instability HAS caused and continues to cause every day that it's allowed to go on." Asildu concluded with, "That being said, with regard to your efforts tonight, I want to make it clear that I don't speak to the Heralds. They don't speak to me. I have a connection to them. I feel things through that connection, and I have reason to believe they occasionally feel things through it as well, but I make no promises that they'll grant us their attention. The best I can offer is my promise to try. Because if answers are what you need in order to take action, then I view it as my duty to do what I can to help." Rua thanked Asildu for his explanation and expressed our hope to keep things rational and logical, more focused on negotiation than emotional outbursts. Saragos looked like he wanted to say something, but glanced at Ruea and instead grimaced, his lips pressed tightly together. Ruea glanced at Saragos and mouthed "Thank you" silently. Asildu asked Ruea, "Is there anything specific you would like me to do?" Ruea replied to Asildu, "Our intention is to harness mana in a few waves as a means of getting their attention and then I will attempt to reach them by speaking, if you feel anything that would help guide us or give us a better interpretation of things that would be wonderful." Asildu affirmed to Ruea, "I will attempt to meditate and see if... I might be able to catch their attention?" Asildu took a few steps away from the group, standing rigidly, his eyes closed. Quietly, he murmured something under his breath, focused. A feeling washed over the room, prickling the back of my neck with the sensation of being watched. Asildu continued to meditate, his breathing deep and even, while the rest of the group joined hands aside Ruea. Ruea asked everyone to focus their intentions and thoughts on the peaceful return of our friends, and remove any hostility that may be felt from their minds at this time. Asildu quietly spoke to Ruea, saying "I make no promises they will respond. But they may hear you if you speak." Ruea chanted the words: "We seek to speak with the Heralds to see what terms must be met for the safe return of our five friends. We are willing to peacefully negotiate in whatever arena you deem appropriate. There are those among us who believe you seek that sorcery be banned, if this is your desire please let us know. We wish to assist in your efforts to achieve balance but require guidance and perspective if you will share it." Empaths present cast Circle of Sympathy and Embrace the Vela'tohr. Nearly everyone touched and linked to the magical trees in response. As people started harnessing mana together Asildu quietly said, "Through my connection, I can confirm their agreement that sorcery be ceased." Ruea questioned, "Do they feel this would achieve the requirements for the return of our companions?" Asildu replied to Ruea, "They believe it will achieve the requirements to achieve balance. As I said, they don't understand companionship. I can speak of my own personal view on that, but my connection doesn't allow me to hear their thoughts or words directly. The Heralds are not like us. They don't think like us. They don't function like us. They don't understand mortal concepts like friends or... wives." Ruea once again guided the ritual for connection with a few words, "In the interest of open communication, would you please confirm that you have our companions in some way? Grant us a glimpse of them or allow us to hear their voices in some way? We ask with respect, though these five are merely part of a whole to you, they are a significant matter to us. If there is any way to grant us knowledge of their whereabouts or of with whom they are now, we would be grateful and cooperative. Those present are willing to trade a period without our magical abilities in exchange for just a glimpse of our compatriots, if you would be willing." Active spells and harnessed mana were released and all took a moment without magic, harness released. After a few moments, Asildu quietly said, "I sense nothing from the connection at that. As all I can do is interpret, I would translate that to mean they can't show what they don't have." At this moment an uncomfortable thrum of energy charged the air briefly, and dissipated almost as quickly as it arose. The feeling of being watched subsided. Asildu apologized to Ruea, "I'm sorry I'm unable to do more. I want more than anything to prove to you all that I mean what I say." Ruea expressed some comfort in knowing the Heralds may not have taken our friends, in part because they wouldn't care enough to do so. Saragos chimed in that they should be made to care, and Ruea's final concern alluded to a possibility that some larger force is working against the Heralds and we've all just been caught in the middle. Asildu's parting thoughts had a heavy lean toward demons from the start. Why or how, he couldn't begin to guess. Far from a demonologist but if considering entities that would have a desire to stir up trouble, imbalance, instability, and all other matters of trouble, he inferred it's them. This meeting left us with few answers, but a little more input on Asildu's views than we previously had before. We can only hope speculations about him are false and his words are true, if they are to aid us in solving this wild mystery. Surely more to come, Shaylynne Kendialahle |
| Real Date: Unknown Date |
| Subject(s): Wild Magic |
| Author(s): Shaylynne |