[video]

[bird_brain]

[Aubri's bored.

It's also right around dusk and, in the background, is the sound of rain and thunder rumbling lowly and the occasional flash of lightning. He's grounded and traveling alone, so he's poking at the locket.]

This world has lovely weather.

[He's also grumpy.]

Comments

[bird_brain]

Urtho was a gifted mage. He is the father of many, though we gryphons tend to think ourselves the pinnacle of his work.

[bythewaves]

[ Head. tilt ]

How strange - such magics are a dark art, in my world [ But Aubri is no orc or creature of shadow ]

Life has always been the proviso of the One to grant, all else is but mockery.

[bird_brain]

Some are given the talent, but grant life to nothing worth living. There is no dark or light magic, as I have heard some speak of; there are good people and there are bad people and some of each might have talent.

[bythewaves]

Perhaps in your world this is so - but then, I begin to think that what you call 'magic' is not... quite the same thing, as what we do. Such power as you describe has always been the province of those far beyond us Eruhini

[bird_brain]

Eruhini? [He stumbles over it.]

[bythewaves]

Your pardon, it means Children of the One - we mortal races are accounted so, for we are those born of His thought and will, and no creation of the Valar.

[bird_brain]

Ah. [Still not quite getting it, but closer.] The One is quite revered, then?

/resorts to bible imagery

[bythewaves]

Revered? [ Maglor says slowly, looking for the right words ] Aye, He is but... He is more than the Powers, more than we. The One who was, and is and will be, who stands above and beyond us all, who was first and will be last - He is the Creator, who was before Time began, the Singer who sang the Valar into existance that they might do His work.

[ a small helpless shrug ] He Is.

[bird_brain]

[Aubri's head tilts to the side as he considers this. There's a simple sort of beauty -- and, therefore, understanding -- in the last statement.

He is. Aubri isn't sure that he actually understands, but he can begin to.]

And because He simply is, He is in all things. [There's a subtle lilt of question in his tone. He's not sure he's quite getting it.]

[bythewaves]

[ Maglor nods, slowly feeling his way through words to explain something that is for them, as innate as breathing ]

Aye, that is a good way of putting it. He Is in all things, and yet He Is more than them, as well - within and without - sometimes I have heard Him called "The One Who Stands Alone" for He Is beyond us all. We revere Him, and yet... we do not? The Eldar have no ceremonies, no great halls dedicated to Him. We may invoke His name in Oath, or Blessing, or even in desperate prayer, but... our reverence of Him, I suppose, is to live the lives given us.

[bird_brain]

What better reverence is there than to take that which is given you and live it fully?

[bythewaves]

Even so! [ Maglor nods ] My cousin Finrod might have been able to explain it better, but so it is. Although I fear my life must seem a poor gift, in its struggle.

[bird_brain]

But your life is not over yet. There is still time to make a gift of it.

[bythewaves]

Perhaps. [ Maglor shrugs a little ] I suppose only time will tell.

[ But quietly he thinks that none would want this life, so stained and broken ]