warforged | Now collapsing like the rain (Open)

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Now collapsing like the rain (Open)

Who: Valamia and open
What: Trying to shaman, now with rain showers
Where: All around the forest
When: A week around the beginning of August
Warnings: None

The Elements didn't respond to her the same in this time. Valamia had the same trouble when they first crashed into Azeroth. What little she knew at that time regarding shamanism felt like it was thrown out the window. Since arriving to this time on Azeroth she felt she same as she had then. It made her decision on what to do feel all the more strange. She was not the first person who wanted to jump up and make herself useful but she did need a distraction. That distraction was ultimately going to come in the form of attempting to keep the land and elements a pure and untainted from the Legion as possible. It may not be the boldest choice. It wasn't running headlong into the army or even removing a few imps. The task was however, was one that she truly believed she could manage. That was all that mattered to her.

And so she wondered the forest to a spot she felt or believed a pack of lowly demons had been slain. In each spot she set down two totems and sat between them. She would whisper briefly in Eredun and call upon a rain to cleanse the land. To answer her, the elements granted her that cleansing rain. It didn't encompass the forest, no it only stretched out around her for a couple yards at a time. Isolated showers weren't ideal but it did work. In time black smoke would rise up from the earth and begin to dissipate. Once the smoke stopped rising it was a sign to her that it was as close to pure was she could get it. The rain would come to a stop and she stayed seated. Considering that she was both wet and frustrated, she wasn't in any rush to get up. Her distraction wasn't leaving her to feel any better. Maybe the feeling of accomplishment for doing something for the greater good would kick in...eventually.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"Not the slightest. All it would do is take our grave disadvantage and make it worse." With her being ever the optimist, she wouldn't be surprised if that concern were to turn to reality. She was but one shaman and she had no idea how many people could and would help.

"This is insanity."

~~"THIS! IS! AZEROTH!" followed by Mar kicking her down a pit~~

"Well, it does historically end up with the Well of Eternity exploding and sundering the continent," Mar said. "I wouldn't be surprised if we have to duplicate that feat in the end."

To think some of her people liked this planet! Such a questionable history for a planet that still have its people on it. "I take that back. This is far beyond insanity. This is beyond words." What were these Aspects thinking by dragging them into this mess? "If that's the case there might as well be no point to what I'm doing."

Hey, Azeroth had a lot of things going for it if you could look past the fact that it was a nexus point for battle between some of the greatest evils the cosmos had ever conceived of. Or if, like Mar, you felt that its winning history against those evils was something to be proud of.

"Sure there's a point. Trying to make things better. I know how it ended in MY timeline, but this one is different already, and we have no guarantee it'll end the same. If Sargeras starts poking his head through the Well, then yes, we'll probably have to blow the place up if someone else doesn't, but if things go differently, every little bit counts."

Unfortunately Valamia didn't share the same kind of drive or motivations. Old age and the desire to go down the noble path or take pride in a victory was more of a youthful persons belief. She would have been content to sit by and tell people when they're being foolish.

"You are annoyingly optimistic." ...Oh wait. She could have sworn she only thought that. "The Legion is involved and they will take top priority, we both know this. That means any of my efforts to aid the elements will come second. With that in mind we have no idea who, if anyone, is also working to aid them. If there isn't then this pointless. If there is then ...this may not be the worst project for me to work on."

"Of course I'm optimistic! The alternative is despair, and I'm not one for that." Which wasn't a criticism of her, just a statement of his own options.

"Historically, again, the only ones on the side of the Legion were the Highborne directly serving Queen Azshara -- which, given the power of the Legion and the Well of Eternity, was all they needed. In fact, I would be surprised if the shamans of the troll empires weren't working on the elements in their own way, which means far from being futile, this will actually be quite helpful to us." He couldn't help but smile in an effort to be reassuring.

It was a good moment considering she had no desire to argue against it. She knew it was what some young people believe. At least people who were far, far younger then she was.

She shakes her head. His efforts to be reassuring were going to waste. "That doesn't accomplish much. I don't speak any troll language and I doubt you do. How do we know what I am for and what they aim for is the same?" Not to mention the various other problems. Her being a Draenei, Eredar if one wanted to go by what a person is when they were born. Language barriers. There were a lot of problems.

Mar had also had the good fortune to live on a world where a confluence of factors and sheer grit had made some of his extreme optimism pay off in spades.

"I think 'elements, please don't go crazy from anger and start causing us untold misery' is a goal we can safely ascribe to them. So at least you're not trying to wrangle the elements of the entire continent of Kalimdor by yourself. That's something, right?"

It was a pity that spending a lifetime, or a couple depending on race, running between worlds does ruin the idea of optimism. Were she only a few thousand years younger...and not a shaman. All of this would be easier.

"I don't think a plea without promise of aid to elements will do much good." At this point she's not even trying to shoot him down. He's useful to bounce ideas off...to a degree. "And again, is there anyone we know who can communicate with trolls? If we don't it's ultimately the same as being out here by myself."

"They're not accepting communications right now." As in, 'lucky I was prepared to flee at speed'. "Though in time that will change, I hope, when they catch on to just what a mess the Legion is causing. Definitely better if we can think of some way to promise aid... thoughts?"

"The Legion is a greater threat, that is not up for debate. It will demand out focus. It also means that at some point you and Vastania will be around and try to guilt me into getting into this fight. It'll consist of the plea of needing help, calling me a coward or saying that I'm simply a cynical old woman. Maybe all three." She expected Vastania to do any of the later as she was one of the few who knew she's spent a life fighting. It was almost as if all people were expected to be willing to jump into the face of danger regardless of life, age or job.

"At the point the trolls realize that the threat the Legion and the threat of deranged elements, it may be too late to establish a connection. Even if they do who knows if it's possible to win their favor anymore. That is also under the assumption there's enough of us alive for whatever we're doing to count."

"I prefer the assumption that our actions matter, because it's better than everything having been dictated by a merciless fate already." Which was the essence of Mar's convictions, and one that had played out well for him so far!

He had several arguments prepared to encourage her onto the battlefield, and although they had different nuances than what she was saying, he figured she'd break them all down into one of those three categories. So he didn't even bother to dispute that point.

"I do look at getting the elements' help as just one part of fighting the Legion, though. I mean, definitely in favor of it in general, but also in the specific."

"You want to think you're in charge of what happens to you. You and half of Azeroth." It's a bitter, snide remark that shouldn't come as surprising. She never made any effort to hide her frustrations with that belief or with him in general. His belief of actions taking place over fate was one way to irritate her. After all, if actions were the source of everything why did they still have no home world and why did they have to forsake their own name as a species? It was foolish.

"How many people do you think would agree to that? I don't think there's a single person in the flight who has any idea how shamanism works besides us...to a degree Vastania. Beyond our flight? I am from the race that was once Eredar, on our home world. They would have reason to distrust me and my motives."

"Anyone who judges you by your race and the actions of some of your former kin," the Sin'dorei said to the draenei, with no sign of his usual good cheer or any hint that he might be joking, "will answer to me. And the same to those who claim shamanism is unimportant. There's acceptable disagreements of opinion, and then there's just plain being wrong."

He hadn't raised his voice, but a proclamation like that carried its own weight. Not like his epic speeches, but similar; he meant his words with a force and conviction that made the air vibrate for a long moment after the sound faded.

"But no one has judged either of you for the whole Eredar thing that I've seen, and I hope we stay the course there," he continued as if he hadn't just thundered out that decree. "I think everyone can see that you two aren't about to jump ship to their side."

She stares at him, puzzled by his words. She heard far stronger, far more important oaths from people who meant more to her then he does. They didn't stand by their word. A blood elf, one who was as questionably sane as him, making such a proclamation made no sense. She has to take a minute to try and figure out why exactly he would bother with a little speech like that. She wondered if he can so such words so confidently because he didn't understand how the Draenei society works...or doesn't work at times.

"Perhaps. We have words to combat disbelief. A belief that is spread among a wide enough group, even if wrong, will be accepted. I am also far too old to start trying to educate people on these matters or waste my breath defending myself."

"Well, lucky I'm not," he said, right back to cheerful. He'd already stepped in to make sure the Flight knew not to judge Vas for her distant relations; he would do the same for Vala if need be. Both of them, in his opinion, carried much more shame by association in their own hearts than anyone else viewed them with.

"Besides, three of us call shamanism important, and I'm certain we can convince enough others to make a difference."

That was one major difference between her and others in the Flight. She was old, tired and didn't share in the hope or whatever it was that drove these people. Faith, perhaps. "You believe three people is enough to convince a mass in the middle of the Legion's attack?" She shuts her eyes and shakes her head. Hopeful youth.

She opens her eyes and looks at him for a moment then turns her attention upwards. She was fairly sure she's surrounded by insanity. At least now she had her distraction. "You realize people would want me to explain it. It would be a belief of it's my duty to do so. A person could grow suspicious of someone else explaining in my place."

Mar nodded. "Actually, yes, I do believe it. I'm willing to bet that at least one of us could sell Kaneis on its value, and Nepeta will listen without any trouble. Then we tell Rose, who's always been quite reasonable and sensible, and she can bring the Green Flight along. Mass convinced."

Hopeful youth he might have been, but he was pretty certain they could do this one particular thing for more reasons than simple optimism.

"I think you're worrying too much about the suspicions of others, though." Or their opinions, which was very strange -- since when did Vala particularly care what other people thought? "I may not be a shaman, but I've worked with them, for them, and against them, so I've picked up a few things along the way. Enough to answer a question or three, and I don't think the people we'll be talking to will dismiss it all just because I don't use it personally."

"A part of the mass. That's not including natives or other flights." She would feel much better trying to get a druid to work with her then the three of them trying to get flights to work together on anything. Not that many personal feelings mattered in a war with the Legion.

Cultural differences, racial differences, were all good reason to be suspicious. In her mind, if her own people could hold their own with indifference for shamanism then why not others? Not that she wanted to tell him that. That would be too personal. "Do you believe people will act on the faith of your words? Do you believe there is something in this world that would not only give that idea form but force others to follow it?"

Mar shrugged. "Words are weapons the same as swords and maces. Sometimes they scar, sometimes they kill what needs to die, and sometimes they win you the battle if you use them properly."

Even though the Flight itself, at large, had rejected any faith in his words, he had not. Mar had faith in himself, at least... and, 'Where faith dwells, hope is never lost.'

He didn't particularly think either of the draenei would appreciate him quoting Velen, though. For vastly different reasons, but still.

"And it's a battle that we need to and should fight, regardless of whether or not we'll win. So let's assume we'll win."

She lets out a long, bitter laugh. If she was laughing at him, his words or something else entirely she wasn't sure. What she did know is that sentiment didn't work with her. Not with her life, not with the countless failed battles against the Legion and not with all the dead Draenei scattered across countless worlds. Not with how they lost Argus. "It must be nice to be young, to have such faith and embrace such ideas time and time again." The comment is almost nonchalant, as if she was stating a simple fact.

But them again she figured he'd dismiss that idea or counter it with some idea of how they must do so. The belief in the Light or something else that was repeated by every person who wielded it. Hm, she might as well test that. "Elf, let me ask a question. How long must a person be thrown into battle and how long are they to carry the hope for victory?"

Edited (derped on writing) 2014-09-04 04:21 (UTC)

Mar spread both his hands -- well aware that she probably wouldn't like the answer he intended to give, but also well aware that she wouldn't like any answer that wasn't, 'not as long as you have, here's your free ticket home'.

"As long as they care about the outcome."

She wasn't surprised by his answer. It was what she figured someone like him would give. Someone who didn't care about all they'd given up to fight years after year. Once she might have understood that but not anymore.

"You dismiss the hope of countless people with a statement like that. Is only the hope of those who carry a sword important?"

"Oh no, not at all! Everyone has a role to play in the fight. Not just the warriors and the mages on the front line. Where would we be without the guards, back home, protecting our cities? The scholars who study the histories, the tutors who educate our next generations, the farmers who grow crops... They're all necessary, they're all needed." He shrugged, adding, "Though I'm sure not all of them think in such grand terms, but -- at least in Azeroth, we act as peoples, and as alliances. And if necessary, forge our own."

"What of the civilians? The retired? Those who live with their family and share no desire to chase after glory or continue to shed blood? Not everyone wants the same outcome in life and not everyone wants to think so boldly." She lets out a small, weary sigh. "Remember. I am not from Azeroth nor is it my home. It is one of many worlds I've walked on, that's all."

Now collapsing like the rain (Open)

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