001 | video | open to both courts

[extramural]

[ The locket is floating.

It’s the only explanation for the view that the item gives – a young man, out on the walls of one of the castles, the moon curved behind him. His arms are crossed in front of him, not touching the device as it records. Black eyes (all black, like the depths of the sea) regard it for a moment and then one hand moves, gestures at the locket. ]

Well, well.

[ His head tilts, and while his lips don’t turn up, one may get the feeling that he’s smirking. ]

I must say, this is an interesting turn of events. One that even I did not see coming.

[ His voice is almost monotonous, but there is something like music in it – like whale song. ]

To be pulled away to the Drabwurld, asked to take part in this war. I wonder if they truly know what they are doing. [ His hand returns, head moving back so that he can look straight at the camera. ]

I hear there was a battle. One should expect such things, in war. I suppose I should ask about it. [ He doesn’t. Instead- ]

Tell me, Shardholders, something... interesting.

Comments

[tawarwaith]

Was it not your choice as well? You should not sit idly by as the world changes around you. Instead you seek to influence the changes you want.

[extramural]

It is not in my nature to interfere.

[tawarwaith]

Then you do not care about the fate of your world?

[extramural]

Civilizations rise and fall. In the end, the Void will devour everything.

[tawarwaith]

Now you sound like my king... only even more jaded. He at least has faith in our realm surviving.

[extramural]

Is it jaded if it is true?

[tawarwaith]

Yes. Given that in every end there is always a new beginning.

[extramural]

I do not know what will happen after the Void devours all. Perhaps it will birth another world.

[ A concession -- she may be correct. ]

But in most things... yes, there is always something that comes after.

[tawarwaith]

That is what my people believe at least. That when our world ends, it will be remade perfect without the marring of Morgoth.

[extramural]

Morgoth?

[tawarwaith]

He was an evil ainur... a spirit who caused discord and strife and great harm to the world of Arda. For his crimes he was bound in chains and flung into the void.

[At least she knows this part of her history lessons.]

[extramural]

Tell me of this void.

[ Different than his, it has to be, but... ]

[tawarwaith]

I cannot say I know much of it... But the way to it is through the Door of Night. We call it the Timeless Void or the Outer Dark.

[extramural]

It sounds somewhat similar to the Void that I know of -- though it is rather difficult to trap people there without magic.

[tawarwaith]

It does?

[That was a scary thought-- no, correction, that was a cascading series of scary thoughts. The three loudest being: Was it the same void as Morgoth? and Did they hang out? Or even worse: Was he the Enemy of old?]

I know there tale of a chain and collar that binds him, but I do not know if there are also powerul magics as well.

[This after all was starting to delve into her least favorite subject-- history.]

[extramural]

The Void in my world is another dimension -- a place of magic and dreams. It created all and it will take all back. But I would know if someone were trapped there.

[ Mostly because he'd either have done it himself or have been the one to give someone else the power to do it in the first place. ]

Perhaps magic was worked into his bindings.

[tawarwaith]

My knowledge of the Outer Dark is scant at best. I know not what powers or secrets it may yet hold.

[It's like a super fairy tale to her.]

That again I could not say. Perhaps my peers who were alive then might better be able to tell you of his downfall.

[extramural]

You are young, for your kind?

[tawarwaith]

Yes, I am. I might well be the youngest of my people here.

[extramural]

Your people live for a long time, as I understand it.

[tawarwaith]

Barring lethal injury or the loss of the will to live, we can live as long as we wish.

[extramural]

Do your people get sick?

[tawarwaith]

Not easily. There was talk of an illness created by Morgoth long that effected distant kin of mine. Again this is something that happened long ago, so I cannot tell you the nature of the illness. The end result was the corruption of that peoples into a race of monsters we call orcs.

[extramural]

Perhaps a magic illness.

[ But that's just conjecture based on transforming people. ]

[tawarwaith]

That is a given. I just do not know what was done or how it came to be.