text | un: Sasaki

[ex_adept136]

Like a few others here, I'm among those who met the goddess Nalanni. And like others there are things I learned from having a conversation with her. First and foremost, I'd like to request some help in conveying a message she intended for her people.

She wanted them to know that she loves them, and that she knows they can go on without her.

At the time, I was struck with the thought that she'd considered her own passing a possibility. And now that I've seen mentions of slaying gods here, it seems she wasn't wrong. Maybe some of you know more than me, but I'm not convinced it's the only way. Having said that, I'm not blind to the reality that those are our orders, and that there are those who will follow them.

I'm more interested in helping the Nalawi. I gave my word that I would do whatever I could, and so... To those who are already making efforts to ensure the Nalawi are able to sustain themselves, whatever may come, I'd like to volunteer any help I can provide.

If anyone wants further information on the conversation I had with Nalanni, please let me know. I'm unsure how much would be redundant, since admittedly, I've picked up on recent developments here and there.

Comments

[grunehexe]

Perhaps to others... but not to me. Not in a way I trust.

[She's sort of used to being lied to.]

[ex_adept136]

[That introduction to their circumstances is something of a blur now, but, thinking back in it...]

It's true they haven't offered us proof, though I'd hope our contributions would be valued enough when we were pressed in to service this way.

[grunehexe]

Providing they prove to be magnanimous in nature, yes. I hope so as well.

[Being only able to hope, though-]

[1300yen]

There was that message from ALASTAIR that killing the goddesses was necessary to prevent this world from dying out "prematurely." It makes me wonder how they decided that it would be a "premature" death in the first place. How do they know and decide if a world is stable or unstable, whether history has gone off course or if it's simply going as it should?

For an organization that is so powerful, my time with them thus far has only led me to believe that they're not particularly reliable.

[ex_adept136]

Being faced with uncertainty is like looking into a void, I know...

[Those words aren't a simple platitude, either. They're borne of raw experience, though he wouldn't admit to just what that experience is.

He's spoken so little of it, back home]

[ex_adept136]

I'd heard that this was somehow determined by calculation, but... It begs the question of what sort of system is capable of this, and what factors it weighs. How accurate and precise it is, whether certain variables aren't considered...

I've been gathering that you're not alone in that thinking, as brief as my involvement has been thus far.

[1300yen]

It would be reassuring, if that's the case... Although this makes me realize just how little information we have, and how we act on it. In regards to both the situation here on this world and our situation with ALASTAIR as a whole, I feel there's just so little we understand and know. It's frustrating.

[grunehexe]

We survive until then, teetering on the void. I apologize to greet you with such darkness, but I am afraid that is all there is to it.

[As much as she hates it... she has to accept it. They all do- maybe. She can lose herself in her studies, in the joy she can take from others... but it all returns to this.]

[ex_adept136]

Do you think there's any way to bring these concerns to someone higher up in the ranks? I've been wondering if there's some issue of communication somewhere that accounts for this, but I lack the experience to know whether it would be a worthwhile venture.

I'd like to hope the lack of information is some kind of oversight.

[ex_adept136]

[He shakes his head.

A void's been looking back at him for as long as he can recall - this void is simply of a different nature]

No, if anything, I appreciate your frankness on these matters. I'd rather know the reality than otherwise. And, if nothing else, none of us are alone.

[1300yen]

At the end of the previous mission, we were given a "grade," so to speak, by senior members of ALASTAIR. I can't say I know how much power they have in the organization as a whole, but it may be worth speaking with them about this.

That would likely be at the end of this mission though. Unfortunately, I'm not sure of how to contact them before that happens.

[ex_adept136]

They may at least have more of an idea of how and why things work this way. Senior members suggest some level of infrastructure, at least. Or rather the fact that they were evaluating does.

Are they unavailable during missions then?

[grunehexe]

That is true- there are those worth making into comrades here among our number.

[Some... not as much, but.]

It is for the best to speak frankly, I find.

[dishearten]

I have plenty of faith in her. she has taught me much.

a new arrival, I take it. you'll find the way of things soon enough. my name is Graham. if you have questions about missions, let me know. in the meantime I'll organize a class for you.

[ex_adept136]

Agreed. I'd rather difficult truths over pretty lies.

[Those truths tend to surface, no matter how one might bury them]

Better to understand things for what they are.

[ex_adept136]

Hopefully I can be of help to someone that capable. Admittedly, it sounds like my skills would be rudimentary next to hers.

Thank you for the information, and for your help. Call me Haise if you like.

[grunehexe]

[Once you find out your whole life is a lie, you tend to start hating lies in general.]

Well, it is good to see another recruit with a decent head on their shoulders. We could use that in all this turmoil.

[ex_adept136]

[Sounds about right. Replace hate with manpain at and he can +1]

I'll hope not to disappoint. Honestly...I think if my associates were here, they'd have similar sentiments about the lack of disclosure, among other things.

[grunehexe]

[Let's get some +1'ing up in here]

What sort of work do you do, you and your associates?

[ex_adept136]

[+1 for more fun]

Investigation and enforcement, if I were to use the most succinct terms.

[ofobedience]

I'm not certain, though I have heard some mention of attempting to recruit her to ALISTAIR. It seems a waste of energy to me, but who am I to argue with the majority?

And those are my sentiments, exactly. Don't get me wrong, now. I have no qualms about killing whoever it is we're expected to kill, and I'm no stranger to following orders, but one has to wonder whether the natives of each world we invade can really be expected to stand by and let us alter their fates without their input or acquiescence.

[He has few morals to speak of, doesn't really give a damn one way or another what happens to a bunch of aliens on some planet that has nothing to do with him, but its interesting to consider, isn't it? The feelings of those they have supposedly been sent here to help.]

[grunehexe]

Like some kind of... peacekeeping force?

[She... hasn't had the most pleasant experience with those, not after the last mission in Chantes, but... people had told her that such things weren't supposed to be like that. Apparently police were supposed to help people.]

[ex_adept136]

I wonder... if we consider how our interference might be perceived, would she even want to side with us? It begs the question of what the appeal or gain would be, considering the apparent drive behind her actions.

Meeting resistance would, if anything, make a great deal of sense. If not in this world, in another - as you've said, we could be regarded as an invading force. Were we to be sent to a world where the inhabitants are far more powerful than ourselves, it could be very dangerous.

It makes me wonder how previous worlds treated the intrusion.

[Not that he's unaccustomed to being thrown into dangerous situations and expected to succeed regardless of difficulty. But the point remains, it's actually surprising they've been received as well as they have been so far]

[ex_adept136]

In a manner of speaking. We're similar to law enforcement, but...

[He trails off, debating how to phrase this. Certain details are best not discussed over a public network, though he's yet unsure how much to tell people who seem to know nothing about ghouls.

Perhaps it's better not to make it number among their concerns]

We have influence only under particular circumstances.

[Only when it involves ghouls really]

[ofobedience]

[All Giovanni knows for certain is that, were some outside force sent to his world with the intention of killing the object of his unwavering devotion, of the destruction of Mother, he'd tear them apart with teeth and nails or be killed in the process of trying. That the Nalawi, so far at least, seem so placid in regards to their presence here, leaves him feeling mild revulsion towards them.]

It's something to consider, isn't it? As you say, even if we meet little resistance here, that won't necessarily be the case in the future. who's to say ALISTAIR is 'right' to tamper with something that, in many ways, is not their business? I'm sure a little resistance would make things more exciting for us, but there must be at least a few people here obsessed with the difference between right and wrong. It could make things interesting, sooner or later. Having to decide where they stand.

If we want to know how it has gone in other worlds prior to our arrival, I suppose we'd have to ask the veterans, assuming there are any.

As for Pomarr, I can't really see what we stand to gain from trying to recruit her. Assistance in the destruction of both goddesses, perhaps? But it'd be a strange thing, in my opinion, for her to turn her back on her original goal at the insistence of some outside force who have little idea of the subtleties they're dealing with.