| |
| Antipode |
| Dark Mirrors |
I wonder what Noreil would say about the philosophical implications of the past two days. Given our proximity to Celembril, I could very easily go and ask him. But it would not be the stern, wry yet humorous old fellow that I could not but respect. He would not be the man I know, here. Nor would Celembril be the city I remember.
Not here.
This world is a strange reflection of our own; it mirrors ours in so many ways. Yet, the most important things are completely antipodal to our own world. Those who are kind in our world are cruel, here; those who were sadistic in our world are compassionate here. We are no exceptions, it seems.
Seeing myself, in this world, gives me pause. Is that what I was like when I still hated humans? Were there no redeeming features? Would I have become like this in my own world, if I had made different choices? I remember study at the Temple Of Whispering Air that posited that there were other worlds, identical to our own, where other decisions were explored. According to this theory, anything that could have happened, any choice that could have been made, was, in one of these alternate worlds. And now I have seen the proof.
The shift was certainly more dramatic between the two Arilyns. Arilyn as a sorceress? Devious and cunning? Obviously some things exhibit more differences here than others. But I digress.
There are more fundamental questions that one needs to consider. Aranor seems to have taken an interest in us, for he stopped to converse with us briefly when we arrived in Thoronor. It seems that, in this world, Aranor had no need to sacrifice himself; thus, Jerick never ascended, if that is what one chooses to call it, to godhood. In his most confusing ramblings, he mentioned that we were not fated to be here, that our presence in this world is an accident of monumental proportions. I will assume for a moment that he is correct, and that our own patron deity of fate, Jerick, did not foresee us here. It would seem obvious then that we are upsetting the proper order of things in this world by our actions. Certainly this world's Islan and Arilyn would still be alive and in power, had we not slain them. The...queen, Aesia, would not now have the hope of staving of the arrival of Naresh, who is here a stern force of rebirth, and cleansing. The Purifier, I think it was named. What I thus am forced to wonder is how much tampering from us, from these external, completely unexpected forces can this world, can any world, tolerate? What if we were to, for instance, throw down the queen? What then? Surely there must be a limit to what changes we can effect while in a world that is not ours, that we were never meant to be a part of.
What of other worlds, other mirrors, where other choices have been made? Will our actions here affect them? Surely our absence must have some effect on our own world. If I were a deity, I should indubitably be most concerned at the utter disappearance of three shards (I hope Horus is back in our world) of the Tear of Creation.
Finally, the universe must find it appalling, if one can apply such a concept to the Ourgos, that a being from one existence can kill another version of itself in a second existence. It is akin to a form of suicide, except one stays alive. I do have to admit, though, it was a strangely satisfying experience. Hmm.
I have pored over these questions since we left Thoronor, and have as yet come to no satisfactory answer. I shall have to spend more time when we are in a place of safety. |
|
|
| Associated Regions: Tel-Ithilien, Tel-Tenauril, Dark Mirror |
|
|
| From the journal of Islan Diemyn |
|
Contributor: Chris Schuettpelz |
|
|
