[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

[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.

[forwearemany]

(Their headflaps flare, and they chatter.)

The duration of this phenomenon?

[thankgods]

SO MANY TIMES THAT EVEN I HAVE LOST COUNT.
ALL HAVE ENDED POORLY.

[forwearemany]

(They chatter.)

Can these memories be regained?

(They headtilt.)

How will you ensure cessation of the loop?

[thankgods]

I AM NO GOD OF MEMORY. THOSE MEMORIES ARE NOT MINE TO RECALL.
AS I SAID, BY ENDING THIS WORLD FOR GOOD. THERE CAN BE NO RECURRENCES WITH NO WORLD TO CONTAIN THEM.

[forwearemany]

There is no other way?

[thankgods]

THIS IS THE ONLY WAY IN WHICH I SEE IT ALL ENDING AS IT MUST.
NOT CASTING US ALL BACK INTO A SELFISH, PERPETUAL LOOP.

[forwearemany]

If another method is found, would you accept it?

[thankgods]

NO.
I HAVE HAD AN UNTOLD AGE TO DWELL ON POINTLESS POSSIBILITIES.
NONE OF THEM WILL ACHIEVE WHAT MUST BE DONE.

[forwearemany]

Acknowledged.

If you are unwilling to diverge from your current path, further discussion is unlikely to be of benefit.

(Perhaps they might be able to satisfy curiosity about some things, but that is all.

They know this entities goals: they can either join them or oppose them. Given the disregard for others, and the lack of interest in alternative solutions, it seems likely they will be in opposition.)

[thankgods]

THAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU HAVE SAID THAT IS REMOTELY WORTHWHILE.

[forwearemany]

(They chatter.

It is a pity, they think, that they do not have sufficient fingers for human sign language. There is a sign that they believe would be appropriate.

For now though, they will simply turn and leave.)

Goodbye.