TO: EVERYONE [mid-event #20]

[aquaveiled]

[ This message is sent for all Summoned to see about a week after the dreams and Heralds made their presence known. ]

Hello everyone. I know we're all dealing with a lot right now, but I thought this was worth the surprise eyeball-script.

The Heralds of War likely need no introduction at this point, but some of us still remember when they first arrived a few years ago after a poorly performed ritual in Solvunn. During that time, I'd managed to make contact with Koth and have tried to maintain some communication.

[ Not necessarily advised--Himeka did this of her own accord and curiosity. Those who are aware of her tree-form may have noticed that some of the limbs have been wilting and rotting the more time she's spent reaching out to Koth. But that's neither here nor there. ]

She's not always easy to understand, but when we spoke when they first appeared, one word came through:

"Mission"

For years my friends and I have been wondering what this meant. Now that she's back, I sought clarity. Or...I guess confirmation.

I understand her more easily these days so I reached out to her earlier today and she did confirm that this is that mission. What's happening right now in all of our communities. I'm not sure if war itself is inevitable...but she seems to believe that what she's doing will help there to be peace afterwards.

I know many here have seen war in their own lives and on their own stars before this place. If you'd like to share your stories, I would welcome them. I don't think peace is ever as simple as we want it to be, but as for if this is the only path forward...

I'm rambling a bit. This may not be a grand revelation, but I thought it important to share that what is happening now may have been building for the last few years and mayhaps some time before that as well. Only now, we may have a part to play.

Please take care,

水


[ ooc; This is Himeka's interpretation! So it may not be 100% accurate. Based on the mod response here. ]

Comments

[cointosser]

I am dead serious about Geralt's pectorals.

Are they, though? I mean the question truthfully. If we are to believe that the gods are what we can, or will, become, that would mean they have not always been here. They were people, once, even if it is a time so long ago we cannot comprehend it. They were people that were turned into ideas by a life that doesn't end. It is impossible to say whether this world thrived without them or not... yet I am inclined to think so. We are more like invaders to this world than anything essential to its existence.

I speak of no other's experience beyond my own, but I truly mean it when I say that nearly every moment of my existence was a struggle to remember my humanity. Time makes one so easily detached from things, from people, from the world itself. I had whims, and I had all the power to indulge them. Often, I did. Sometimes, I regret them. And as much as I tried, my whims were not always for the good of the people.

Who is there to tell you you are wrong when you are a god? You are a force, separate from both derision and criticism. There is nothing to curtail you but the pressure from another equal force. It's why the gods squabble. It's why we squabbled.

1/2

[aquaveiled]

That's very true and very possible. I won't disagree. But I've also seen god-like beings who have imbued themselves so deeply into...something, that it may not exist the same without them. So...I'm not sure which they would be? Or if either or neither.

I don't think you're alone in that, Jaskier. And your experience is very important. I'm sorry that it was so troubling for you.

[ Himeka, mayhaps, so fond of humanity as she had been had spent a decent amount of time amongst mortals to keep more of a semblance of some of her former self. But even in that, there had been much she forgot. There were times when she lost herself...when she was nothing more than a will enacting itself on the world to the detriment of others.

She didn't like that very much either. ]

But in the end... mayhaps I've met too many gods before that I became rather fond of. They who only wanted good for the living and existed because of love and belief. They fought for mortals' successes rather than to their ruin.

This isn't Etheirys.

[aquaveiled]

Well...I don't think we need to be gods ourselves to make a difference.

[cointosser]

Then that means they have lost everything that made them themselves.

Don't worry, Himeka. I had far more fun than I had unfun. I like to think we were good gods, as gods go, it's only the bar feels quite low sometimes. Like a "growing some flowers" versus "not ending thousands of lives through forced war" sort of thing. Did you know I had a cult? Can you imagine? People are nuts.

I can't speak for all gods, of course, only what their existence presses upon our current world. I had no evidence any existed in my own, only beings so powerful they may as well have been gods. And they were all bastards. You can see my experiences are coated in a certain way.

However, to your final point... I emphatically agree. I'd be a very poor bard if I thought I couldn't make a difference simply by being human. Or. Dragon, in your case.

[aquaveiled]

I do feel that if anyone were able to garner a cult following, it would have been you. So yes, I absolutely believe it.

Of course, but that makes them valuable to here. I'm biased by my own, clearly. And you've never led me astray.

[ She will never forget that first wheel of cheese. ]

Dragon?

[ He must have heard about her new ability! Having seen it in practice in the Horizon so early on. ]

I suppose I could use my dragon form, but I don't know if they would respect it much. If only it were more like the First Brood...or if I had Hraesvelgr's brand of old man grumpiness.

[cointosser]

I'm taking that as a compliment, as you clearly meant it to be one. Thank you! I think. I probably shouldn't mention I had to... you know what? Nevermind. It hasn't happened, anyway.

You're sweet, Himeka. Perhaps far too much so.

What do you mean, they wouldn't respect it? You're a beautiful dragon, my sweet! Any man in his right man should tremble in your presence. And while my experience with dragons is somewhat limited, you're absolutely my favorite one.

[aquaveiled]

It was! But you had to you know what?

[ You opened the door Jaskier, don't leave her in the dark now. ]

Well, thank you. I worked hard on my scales. But it's hard to command respect when you're barely two fulms long.

[cointosser]

It's nothing important, really.

[Just eliminating a place for that cult to thrive once they got a little too, one might say, excited about things.]

I find you plenty mighty, even if you're not very large. It's never been about size, Himeka. It's about how you use your size for... good. For dragon good.

[aquaveiled]

[ She's curious, but she won't push it. Jaskier is usually eager to share tales, so this clearly hits differently. ]

For dragon good! Yes, that's an excellent way to put it. I do wish to do dragon good, and dragons good.

[ Because she isn't technically one of them, of course. ]

Hopefully I can do man good as well. I get the feeling this time is different.

[cointosser]

Then we are operating under the same desires, my beloved friend/wife.

[That's a joke, haha, they're definitely not still married, right???]

Himeka, there is not a man who you wouldn't do good if you tried. And if they disagree, then they don't deserve you or any good you may give.

We can only do our best with what we're given, and I've long enough to know you've never done less than your best.

[aquaveiled]

[ Hold up. ]

Wife?

[ Did he forget who he's talking to? For a split second? Her handwriting doesn't look too much like Nadine's, but she supposes... ]

I would say there are several families missing loved ones that would disagree with you.

[ Coming to terms with that, especially when entering Garlemald, was harrowing. ]

Thank you, though. Your support means the world, as you have ever given it. Hopefully we will have something nice for you to write songs about soon.

[cointosser]

Hah -- that's only a joke!

Being good doesn't always mean you're right. And it doesn't always mean you always win, either.

Well, you and me both. I would enjoy a few songs that are not necessarily about heartbreak. Or death. Or dying dragons.

[aquaveiled]

Oh, I see. Well, thank you beloved friend/husband.

No, no it does not. Unfortunately.

Why not about happy living dragons? We can always use a few more of those.

Or dragons that make soup?

[ Okay, no, that's just her. Literally. ]

[cointosser]

[Whew. Dodged that one.]

Well, for happy living dragons, I suppose I'd need some inspiration. Some beautiful little dragon, full of good and light and a never-ending stomach, especially for wine grapes. Don't suppose you've met one of those, have you?

[aquaveiled]

Hmmm, that does sound familiar. You've met before, haven't you?