Aurilias
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Post by Aurilias on Feb 4, 2021 20:34:11 GMT
Drusinicus continues his musings as he sees Aethyl. "Aethyl, I have come to admire your fighting skills and have seen them develop since we first met! You have very impressive moves - enough to make some of the best trained gladiators envious! Alas, neither that captain, nor those giants, were a match for us!"
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Nobody
Alexios Group
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Post by Nobody on Feb 4, 2021 22:34:24 GMT
"The compliment of a gladiator is high praise indeed. I am honored, and likewise."
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Aurilias
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Post by Aurilias on Feb 5, 2021 18:24:36 GMT
Drusinicus, the ever curious and introspective gladiator, looks to Aethyl with a sense of perplexity about a question that has long simmered in his mind. "Tell me Aethyl, what did your cousin share with you about his god, Chaos and why do you and Mairwyn seem so opposed to his beliefs when it promoted the restoration of balance in all things? Is this balance Chaos brings so unjust? If so, why?
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Nobody
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Post by Nobody on Feb 5, 2021 23:58:31 GMT
Aethyl frowns at the mention of his cousin, though it is a look of sadness. "Cian made little mention to me of his deity. Perhaps it is because he knows that I am not much interested in the workings of the gods. But perhaps too it may be because he knew that my mind would be closed to his ways. You must understand, Drusinicus, that I was able to see Cian. Not merely as he presented himself to others, but as he was, in himself.
"I know that you formed a strong bond with him, and that you spoke many times on this subject, and that you were drawn strongly to the path of his god. And I know it is usually uncouth to speak ill of the dead. But it is precisely because of your attraction to his path that I must speak the truth to you.
"Cian was always a rascal, and given to chaos and mischief in his own way. But in our youth it was always good-natured and friendly. And ever he was loyal to his own blood. But when he took hold of the horn, and I warned him against it, he began to change. His aspect became darker, and more sinister, and more secretive, and more guarded.
"And when he at last went against my deepest misgivings and pleadings, and blew the horn, something happened to him, far worse than I ever imagined. He became different.
"As much as it grieves me to say it, Cian became evil. And I do not mean in any shallow or human sense. I mean that he became a wellspring of evil. He became evil incarnate, whatever his outward appearance and manner were. Before I gave up my power I had the ability to see. And though I did not want to look at him with that sight, it became necessary on one occasion.
"And what I saw in him was a pit of evil, without light or bottom. A void. It was the kind of evil from which even ordinary evil might flee. I believe he was channeling his deity, who is not merely a god of chaos, but evil itself. And if he spoke of balance, then it was not the balance of an athlete, or a dancer, or even a fighter. Rather, it was the balance of evil with good, as much as anything else. And his weight was the weight of evil, to balance all good in the world.
"I cannot say more, as I can only speak to what I have seen, and felt. But I know that I loved my cousin, and that in his own way he loved me and our cousin Mairwyn. But she felt, even more deeply than I, that Cian was no longer our dear Cousin, as he had been from our youth, but had been taken hold of, and beyond that, had willingly given himself over to that hold.
"I hate to bear bad news, especially regarding one whom we both loved, but I do you no favors if I allow your memory of him, and his continued influence on you, remained governed by the image of himself that he presented to you.
"No one loved him more than I. And I would rather die than speak ill of him whom my heart loved, Cian my own blood. But you must understand that he was not what he seemed to be, and his influence in the world wrought suffering, and upon you has continued to cause suffering.
"If you have any bond of friendship with me, and any care for Mairwyn (and even Rajit, who is good), I pray that you will honor his memory, and let what he taught you fade away, knowing its true source, intent, and affects."
Aethyl looks earnestly at his friend, gauging his reaction.
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Aurilias
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Post by Aurilias on Feb 7, 2021 21:57:33 GMT
Drusinicus is shaken and confused back by the knowledge just revealed to him. "Aethyl, are you sure that Cian became evil? Why could I not see this in him and yet you and Mairwyn did? I'll admit that you were related by blood but I was also close to him. Perhaps I am a fool for following his god." Drusinicus begins to doubt his ability to judge one's character. He pauses, and says, "You know, gladiators are not only trained to fight, but also how to judge the character and motivation of their opponents. So strange that I didn't see Cian's change. Perhaps I should be more cautious when putting trust in others. I will always remember the kinder side of Cian before he blew that horn, before he would change. I will still honor his memory with my sword and offer my protection and life for you and Mairwyn. These words and deeds should sustain my honor of Cian." Drusinicus again looks at Aethyl with another question, "Which of the gods do you follow and why?"
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Nobody
Alexios Group
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Post by Nobody on Feb 8, 2021 16:50:53 GMT
"I understand these things are troubling for you to hear. Rest assured, they are far more troubling to me, as Cian was my beloved Cousin. And you are right to say that he was different before blowing the horn. He was kind and loyal, and his mischief made no difference to that.
"But despite my grave warnings, he chose to blow the horn, and after that permanently changed. I believe that Mairwyn and I saw this most readily because we knew him so well before, and you did not. And evil can be deceitful, especially when armed with divine power, as I believe he was. And he was charismatic and masterful in the ways of persuasion. In our youth he convinced me to partake in many a silly boyish adventure. So you are no fool for following him. And he was not wholly evil, for I am convinced that to the end he remained loyal to his friends, of whom you were one, and to his blood. But evil reigned in him nevertheless, and he acted with art to convince others to his way, and to the way of his deity.
As for me, I do not follow any of the gods, though I give honor to Galadrin for the sake of my Cousin.
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Post by Storyteller on Feb 8, 2021 23:36:00 GMT
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Aurilias
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Post by Aurilias on Feb 9, 2021 0:34:30 GMT
Drusinicus never followed a specific religion and did little to appease the gods while in Nirrion. However, he had become more interested in the gods due to his connection with Cian and his close brushes with death. "Tell me more of Galadrin, Aethly, or of any of the gods that seems most believable to you."
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Nobody
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Post by Nobody on Feb 9, 2021 2:36:36 GMT
"Alas, my knowledge of the gods is not great. I would trust to Mairwyn to speak of Galadrin, for Galadrin spared her Iritari against all hope, and her own devotion to Galadrin spared her from being taken by the water god in Tir Na Og. For those reasons alone I am moved almost to give my own devotion, again for the sake of my most beloved Cousin."
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