Duplicity Inbox

[alwayskayaking]

Duplicity Inbox

You've reached Tim Stoker. I'm out at the moment. Leave me a message and I'll return your call soon.

Comments

[alwayskayaking]

[Oh. He's one of those types of people. Happy to turn a blind eye towards the awful things monsters do until it will likely one day kill him.]

You really expect me to believe that your world is full of peace? That humans and monsters hold hands and sing kumbaya every night together?

[massrez]

Not at all. As you said. Humans can't even get along with one another at times. The problems are vast, and many issues remain to be resolved. My world is at war, and has been for some time.

But humanity does not stand alone in the struggle. We've had allies for thousands of years in the other races. Elves, dwarves, gnomes, and others. Without their aid and support, we would not have survived this long.

[alwayskayaking]

[That does give Tim a little bit of a pause. He's not really given creatures like dwarves and gnomes much thought. Wouldn't they basically just be shorter people?] Yeah? And they really ask for nothing in return? An uneasy truce can be kept so long as both sides are benefiting for a time.

[massrez]

[ Anduin simply shrugs. ]

There's the usual business of trade deals, academic exchange, the support of our forces when needed, things of that nature. Sometimes things become strained, but most in matters that were able to be resolved through diplomacy. No different from any other nation.

[alwayskayaking]

[Tim stretches his legs and stands up. Suddenly finding it difficult to sit still.] Sounds like you've gotten lucky then. [That they haven't decided to kill you yet. He leaves unspoken.]

[massrez]

[ Still, from 'could not possibly happen' to 'well maybe you got lucky' is progress. He'll take it for what that's worth, and nods with a wry smile. ]

Perhaps so. Though it doesn't always feel that way.

[ It does beg the question. ]

What of magic? Is this an evil as well?

[alwayskayaking]

[Tim frowns at that question. It was a good question as he couldn't decide and is something he's been thinking about on his own lately.]

I don't know. [He goes for the honest answer.] I don't like it, but I know there is healing magic in this city and that's good. So long as it's not a monkey paw with a catch kind of magic. Back home anything magical in nature always came with a price to pay."

[massrez]

From my experience, that's normally the domain of demonic magic. We call it the Fel...and it poisons everything it touches. My father fell in battle defending our world from such evil.

But there is magic in the world back home that has no such foul origin. Shamans who speak to the elements of the world. Druids who commune with nature and its spirits.

[ As Tim starts to shift on his feet, Anduin rises as well, a hand placed to his own chest. ]

...and priests, like me, who commune with the Light. Healing magic, as you say.

[alwayskayaking]

Yeah, and by healing someone does someone else get hurt? Do you use up your own or someone else's life? Because that's how healing magic would work where I'm from.

[massrez]

It takes will, focus, and energy. Nothing more.

As I said, the magic you speak of sounds more akin to the deals of demons and other such creatures. A means to toy with mortal lives with the promise of power.

[alwayskayaking]

[Tim doesn't feel convinced that the energy used isn't either Anduin's life energy or someone he doesn't know he's stealing from.]

Well, you're not wrong about that. Pretty much spot on really.

[massrez]

It is that manner of evil I intend to stand against. But there are smaller evils as well.

[ He sighs quietly, clasping his hands. ]

The Light teaches us perseverance, respect, and compassion. Not all abide by those teachings...but strength can be found in standing by them regardless. Even so, I've known doubt. I've questioned whether or not all were worthy of such things. There are some evils in the world that will not be moved or swayed from their destructive paths. Not because they cannot, but because that is the choice they have made.

[alwayskayaking]

They're not all worthy because there are things that are nothing but pure evil out there.

[massrez]

You're right. There are some entities out there that can only do as their nature dictates.

And priority should always lie with protecting the innocent.

[alwayskayaking]

Mhmm. [Tim makes another noncommittal sound. Not really finding fault in what is being said, but not able to completely agreeing to it either.] In a perfect world I suppose.

[massrez]

The world doesn't become perfect by itself. We make it so, as much as we can, day by day.

What does a perfect world look like to you?

[alwayskayaking]

I don't know, because I don't think it could ever exist. There is too much evil in the world to ever win against.

[massrez]

You should have something you hope to see one day. Something to fight for.

Try. Tell me what you see.

[alwayskayaking]

Killing the creature that took my brother from me.

[massrez]

[ Suddenly, it all makes a great deal more sense, now.

Anduin nods quietly. ]

Alright. It's dead. What comes next?

[alwayskayaking]

What comes next doesn't matter. That ending has been spoiled for me and so I don't need to worry about what comes next.

[massrez]

[ That prompts a small frown. ]

'Spoiled'?

[alwayskayaking]

Yeah, like you're reading a book or watching a movie for the first time so you don't know how it ends. Then someone tells you the ending before you can read it, or in my case, live it for yourself.

[massrez]

...and how does it end?

[alwayskayaking]

Explosively.