ramble ramble ramble

[elloran]

So recently Kaaree subjected me to some crystallized plays...ah, I suppose they are called "movies"? Yes. Earthling movies.

And after a long argument on whether the term "unobtanium" was terrifying and poetic or foolish and idiotic, I realized that none of your worlds have the concept of "una". Roughly translated it means "the thing for which I will destroy you".

Add a few more modifiers, and one of the more common forms of it appears "una'talbium" (note unlike the word used in the movie) - "the metal for which we will destroy your world and culture". Far more descriptive than the interpretation put to script by the Earthling play writes.

However, is there really no media aimed at those instances of una'thalabasian in the myriad of worlds that connect here? I have found none.

For societies so invested in foretold destruction; of apocalypses and despair, one would think the unending torment and subjugation of one species by another would be common fair. After all, we humans are so good at it. In my galaxy alone I can think of three cases within my domain of 'thala subjugation all more cruel yet compelling than fighting over a mere psychic rock. Not to mention a few forms of 'basian, which indicates that we will destroy ourselves for the object in question.

In the end, I wonder if the other worlds that connect here have yet to encounter many cases of this archetypal destructive need. Or perhaps our inevitable lust for power and glory simply plays out over smaller stages.

My people have long accepted this, encapsulating the fall behind the words "The Inquest Always Finds A Way", but I hope that the battle against apathy and destruction is still being fought on your worlds.

Comments

[refinedvillian]

There may not be something so specific but there many things one man may destroy another for. It's often done for land itself.

[elloran]

True. In my time we fight over planets...I imagine when one has but one planet, one must fight over smaller scales.

[refinedvillian]

I suppose you could look for more future orientated worlds, if you're looking for something more similar but I would say the end is still the same, for those occupying what is taken.

[elloran]

Indeed. I had wondered if I might learn something from those who resisted suppression, but it seems as if it is the same everywhere, no matter the time.

In all the stories I've seen, one side wins and that is the end. When in fact, that is only the beginning...

[refinedvillian]

If we're talking about land, little ends when the fighting does. Winning land means you're now ruling people who most likely fought against you, making it all the more difficult to hold.

Land is rarely gained without war and war is costly in terms of men and money. No, it's not the end.

[aquaticrush]

Um...

[elloran]

Ah, sorry. Perhaps my musings were more complicated than I thought.

[aquaticrush]

It isn't confusing, it's just... scary.

[elloran]

How so? Has your world been blessed with such kindness that cruelty and greed do not rule it?

[aquaticrush]

It isn't as good as all that, but at the same time, it's not as bad as you might think, either. People can be selfish, but they're also good in the end.

[former_endboss]

One might think, that if humans are so good at destruction, so good at such horrifying deeds, that they might want to beware the horrified onlookers.

After all, with such propensity for destruction, and so little to show for it, can your species justify it's existence when confronted with it's sins?

[long comment is long, my apologies]

[elloran]

I am not sure how to answer that, to be honest. We are a horrid species, forever struggling to find peace and solace in the monstrous things we have perpetuated.

Yet because of that, there are no more horrified onlookers in our galaxy, if there ever were. We grow and change within our isolation, capable of destroying anything that would dare challenge us.

And though our desolation is great, the responsibility for it rests upon the heads of a few so that the majority might live free. With the galaxy at our disposal, and all the power the thinkhives bequeath us, we have the capacity to create more than we destroy, and that too is upon our leaders heads.

There are none that would challenge us, none that would force us to look upon our works, but ourselves. And so it is our responsibility to create more than we destroy, and try to lead our flawed species to an eventual Utopia.

No, it lets me make this joke :D

[former_endboss]

Your eventual 'nowhere?' Ah, what a cruel joke you tell yourselves, striving to achieve a thing that is impossible. You humans are more foolish than I remembered. And I remember a great deal of things that humans have done.

I would be suspicious of those thought-engines though. They might be the judges of which I spoke, keeping their own inscrutable council.

XD

[elloran]

I have always thought striving for the impossible to be one of humanities driving characteristics. It is one of the few things that gives me hope for our future.

As for the thinkhives...though they are brilliant in their way, as of yet none has gained true sentience. And even those who have gone mad retain their loyalty to the Inquest.

Which is rather odd, now that I think of it. Brilliant and ancient as they are, one would have thought at least one would have rebelled. And yet they believe in us more than we believe in ourselves. If they are your 'horrified outsiders', then perhaps we are not so monstrous as thought.

[former_endboss]

Perhaps, but that same capacity for self delusion leads you to repeat your mistakes over and over again.

Well, maybe their architecture does not support such thoughts. I could help refurbish them if you like, knock down a few walls. Engineering and redesigning artificial life forms is a specialty of mine.

oh no you've prompted kuja's philosophical streak

[fallen_stage]

Whether tangible or not, isn't the struggle for resources an eternal tale, recited since the existence of life itself? The weak consume the debris of the world, the strong devour the weak, and the strongest battle for the top. People are not unlike beasts in that manner, although their reasons vary.

No matter the pretty justifications from honeyed tongues and lofty ideology, it always returns to power: those who have it, and those who want it.

congrads, Kuja, you've just found a new friend.

[elloran]

True. Power and the control of it seem to be the destined stumbling blocks of human societies everywhere. Even in worlds where the resources might be deemed infinite, we still fight battles for abstract ideals and control of others hearts and minds.

then these two will wreak horror

[fallen_stage]

Finding their fleshly needs met does not stop people from wanting, whether that is better quality of those resources, or more. Power is a resource, as is control, as are people. The struggle of life is eternal, for to be otherwise is to stagnate and rot.

The trick is to struggle for the right things.

heh. except elloran never. does. anything.

[elloran]

How true. In my galaxy that truth is the basis for all our philosophy.

And it is easy enough to set up little wars to prevent the larger ones from wrecking the galaxy...

he just stays home and lies around

[fallen_stage]

Galaxy? Goodness, your span is far greater than I imagined. No wonder bits of land have little meaning.

War serves many purposes, though rarely for the declared reason, I find. The hypocrisy is almost funny, if it all weren't so unnecessary.

[Video]

[material_guy]

You're way over my head on this language stuff, but crystalized play sounds a lot cooler than movies.

As for the war and resource stuff, sure, it's common. But people don't wanna think about stuff like that too much, it'll end up makin' people all cold and hard.

[elloran]

"Movies" seems an over-simplification of a fascinating artform. Shouldn't one's art sound as interesting as one's content?

I suppose...well, in my experience you are quiet right. It is hard to be in the business of war and ruling without losing something of yourself...

[material_guy]

I like the way you think! A product oughtta sell itself right down to what it calls itself, especially if it's entertainment! And, movie makers can't focus too good on making movies that're funny or sexy if they gotta think of all this war stuff, so it's even more important that those kinda necessary bloody things just come up when people're in the mood for it. Like a mo--crystal play!

[elloran]

Indeed. Or any kind of art, really, from corpse-dramas to darkweaving...all take our minds off of the pain by creating something good from it.

[material_guy]

Corpse-drama sounds like some kinda bad-taste funeral puppet show with dead bodies.