[ENSŌ] - THE TEMPEST NEVER DIES

[thankgods]

Who: Everyone!
What: The final player enters the field
When: April 30th and onward
Where: On the coast of Ensō
Warnings: Nothing of note!

For the past several months, you've seen it on the horizon. A dark shape, at first, like a distant landmass getting closer and closer. It's continued to draw close, until it becomes apparent that for all it might look like a fragmented chunk of land, overgrown with moss and decaying vegetation, it is far from it.

It's a living being.

And by April 30th, it will have made landfall. A rush of seawater surges up over the beaches of Ensō as the beast settles along the northwestern shore, hulking and massive and rivaling even the great dragon Ahidalgo in sheer size.

When they nestle down against the edge of Ensō, they will lift their heavy head, rocky and streaming water, and open a set of six small, glowing eyes. They do not appear hostile. They regard any who might come near them with a seeming impassivity, though given how much they dwarf all of you, it might be awfully hard to read this creature's demeanor.

At least until they speak aloud.

"SO. THIS IS WHAT YOUR HISTORY HAS WROUGHT."
They're not going away anytime soon, either. It's only a matter of time before the other two gods in the area realize what's happening and reach out.

If you want answers, better talk to them now.

Comments

[thankgods]

THAT IS IRRELEVANT.
ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, IT WILL DIE FOR GOOD.
THAT IS THE WAY OF THINGS.

[forwearemany]

Yes.

(All things do eventually die, or are transformed into something unrecognizeable.

But, they think, it is likely that this entity wishes for it to end much sooner than it would otherwise.)

Do you intend to kill it?

[thankgods]

ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, THIS WORLD WILL BE UNMADE.

[forwearemany]

(They chatter, take a step forward.)

Do you intend to unmake it?

[thankgods]

YES.
IT WILL DISSOLVE REGARDLESS OF MY INTERVENTION, IN SHORT ORDER.
I INTEND TO MAKE THE END A CLEANER ONE THAN CURRENT AFFAIRS WOULD ALLOW.

[forwearemany]

...Why?

(Why will it dissolve, or why do they intend to make it "cleaner"?

Perhaps they inquire about both.)

[thankgods]

BECAUSE IT IS A DYING FRAGMENT OF A DEAD WORLD.
IT IS LIVING OFF BORROWED TIME.
EITHER THE END WILL BE SLOW AND PAINFUL, OR IT WILL BE SWIFT AND ABSOLUTE.

[forwearemany]

You will not attempt to save it?

[thankgods]

THERE IS NOTHING LEFT TO SAVE.
HOW MUCH CLEARER MUST THINGS BE MADE?

[forwearemany]

There is life on these islands.

(This is not nothing.)

[thankgods]

AND THAT IS IRRELEVANT.
I AM NOT THE GOD OF LIFE OR DEATH.

[forwearemany]

It is relevant if you are choosing to end it.

(The deliberate taking of life, in Legion's opinion, is not something that should be done so lightly.)

[thankgods]

IT WILL END REGARDLESS.
IT WAS MEANT TO HAVE ENDED A LONG TIME AGO.

[forwearemany]

That is irrelevant: all life ends, this does not grant the right to needlessly take it.

Has harm come from its continued existence?

[thankgods]

JUST BECAUSE YOU PERCEIVE IT AS NEEDLESS DOES NOT MAKE IT SO.

[forwearemany]

You have not explained why it is necessary.

(Because it is dying is not a reason to destroy the world, and because they will die anyway is not a reason to kill anyone.

In their home universe there was Thane, dying of Kepral's Syndrome. Here there is the Drifter, dying of unfamiliar illness.

Both have had a massive impact on the lives of others. Those others are unlikely to see them as nothing.)

[thankgods]

BECAUSE THIS WORLD IS COMING TO AN END.
BECAUSE THIS WORLD WAS NEVER MEANT TO EXIST.
IT IS AN ABERRATION. A LIFE RAFT, FORMED TO KEEP THINGS ALIVE A LITTLE LONGER.
THAT TIME WILL ALWAYS RUN OUT.
IT HAS RUN OUT NOW.

[forwearemany]

Elaborate.

(And what will happen, they think, if it's allowed to keep going? Would that really be so bad?

They don't know the truth yet.)

[thankgods]

I JUST HAVE.
TIME WILL RUN OUT, AS IT HAS BEFORE.

[forwearemany]

You are referring to the loss of the original world?

(They headtilt. Still not grasping it, apparently.)

[thankgods]

AS I HAVE SAID. THIS WORLD IS BUT A FADING REMNANT OF A WORLD LONG-DEAD.
ITS TIME IS RUNNING OUT.

[forwearemany]

If it will cease on its own, then your actions are unnecessary.

[thankgods]

I INTEND TO ENSURE IT DOES NOT BEGIN AGAIN.

[forwearemany]

...Clarify.

[thankgods]

ONCE THE END IS ACHIEVED, THE ARCHIPELAGO IS RESET TO ITS INCEPTION.
AGAIN AND AGAIN THIS OCCURS.
AGAIN AND AGAIN YOU HAVE ALL WITHSTOOD THIS.
YOU HAVE NO MEMORY OF IT.

EVERY TIME IT HAPPENS, THE WORLD GETS A LITTLE WEAKER.
EVENTUALLY, THERE WILL BE NOTHING LEFT.