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[heartofthestar]

Hear.
Feel.
Think.
Call.
Message.

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[heartofthestar]

That is quite all right. I shall ask questions where I may, and if you've no answer, we shall proceed.

[purrsonality]

If you're sure.

It's not a big deal to me. And it's not like I keep secrets.

[heartofthestar]

You are fortunate to have no cause to. [A faint shift of expression, difficult to read, crosses Venat's face.] Do you know, all members of the Convocation were taught how to discern lies from truth, but it has been so long and the people here different enough that what little I remember of the technique is useless.

[purrsonality]

I mean.

Why do you even need to know something like that?

[heartofthestar]

We oversaw the world. Doing so would be difficult if we were perpetually misled, deceived, or misinformed. Considering the scope and depth of the Convocation's duties and accomplishments... well, would you really want the keeper of the very underworld itself to make a poor choice because someone elected to oh-so-slightly fib about their responsibility in a given crisis?

[purrsonality]

I guess.

But it feels like . . . overkill.

[heartofthestar]

It appeared to be the path of wisdom for us for many long millennia. Whether or not it truly was, I cannot say. I certainly know of little harm that came of it directly, but it must be admitted our civilization ultimately did not survive.

[purrsonality]

Yeah, it just seems like you guys were really extreme about everything. Living long, planning, not having lies and so on.

But maybe it's a good thing to be . . . flawed.

[heartofthestar]

What some people consider flaws, other people consider strengths. Our society would have considered a dramatic lack of restraint in garb and appearance a flaw, whereas many others would say that our desire to emphasize the community over the individual was one. Everyone lives to the best of their ability, after all. No one seeks deliberately to be flawed.

[purrsonality]

[ oh boy. ]

Yeah, but like no lies ever? Living forever? All that stuff with no end and no . . . bending feels a bit much.

[ that's why the dungeon collapsed. thistle. in a way, she feels venat's people mirror the demon. limitless, unyielding in nature. what world is meant for that? ]

[heartofthestar]

It is not that we lived forever. Rather, we lived as long as we wished. But you are indeed correct that such circumstances led to, or at least contributed greatly, to our civilization's downfall. For so long, we had so little suffering in our lives that as a people we lost the means to cope when it returned.

[purrsonality]

Yeah, like I said.

It's extreme. You have to have a little of everything. To live.

[heartofthestar]

Indeed so. If you cannot develop your strength, it will fail you when you need it most.

[purrsonality]

Yeah.

That's what the demon wanted to do. He wanted to give everyone the feeling of being happy. Forever. You would live forever and be happy. That's all.

[heartofthestar]

Small wonder the tale of my people resonates with you, then. Save that our civilization did not have such a state granted to it, but instead created by it -- making it possible to lose that happiness.

[purrsonality]

It doesn't matter how it happens.

As long as you recognize what it's doing.

[heartofthestar]

Ah, well. As to that, I did, and some others did as well. Which led to history falling out as it did.

[purrsonality]

[ izutsumi pauses, ears flicking. ]

I'm not trying to make you feel bad. It's not a mistake that's unique to you.

It happens a lot.

[heartofthestar]

[Venat's smile returns, bright and sincere.] You needn't worry. I am well aware you've no intention of bringing me any pain or grief. But I believe, mayhap, you have noticed the presence of more than one other Ancient here, some from a time before that terrible day came to pass. It is something I was not prepared for, and thus am still coming to terms with, as I may be for months or years to come.

[purrsonality]

That's fine.

It doesn't matter how long it is. As long as you do it, right?

[heartofthestar]

To never make the attempt would be to live in the past -- a poor place to live indeed.

[purrsonality]

Never stops anyone from doing it anyway.

[ like thistle. and many others here. ]

[heartofthestar]

True enough. I believe at times, most everyone must come to learn that lesson -- even if it seems that day will never come.

[purrsonality]

It's okay.

They can keep trying.

[heartofthestar]

[The obvious point, that they can only keep trying so long as they survive, is understood.]

It can be terribly difficult, though. I am grateful for the presence of someone else who so clearly recognizes the problem.