Arc 1, Thread 3: An Easy Day Off (Daniel)
Daniel nods in understanding.
"It is understandable to feel left out, insignificant and lost. We are - all of us, Human, God and Demon - thrust into something unfamiliar and terrifying, torn from our roots and into a life of constant struggle. The difficult truth is that there are no easy answers, no solutions I can give you that will make that looming bleakness disappear. Not completely."
He wears a sympathetic frown as he regards the people gathered.
"It is true that most Gods, Demons and Exalts are stronger and more powerful than you on an individual level. It's hard not to feel discouraged when most things you can do can be done better with little effort by someone else. However!"
He holds a finger in the air.
"The power of mortals is threefold. One: versatility. While Gods and Demons may be better at whatever they're made for, it is often at the cost of most everything else. Sure, a Blood Ape is superior physically, but the ones who aren't complete idiots can be counted with two hands. A god may have miraculous powers and stamina in their purview, but their focus often comes with lack of vision for anything else. A human may not possess the raw talent or magical power that magical creatures do, but neither do we possess their limitations or weaknesses."
A second finger is raised.
"Two: potential. A god or demon's path is set from the moment of their creation, but a human can choose their path. This is the reason only humans are capable of Exaltation, but it benefits each individual. While this is a double-edged sword in that it allows us to get lost like you, it is also a source of strength. We get to define our meaning, we get to decide what to do with the life we're given."
The complete version would include the Loom of Fate and how it would normally govern the lives of mortals - but now most everyone was affected by Abyssal interference to some degree, so the point remained.
Three fingers.
"Three: humans are the backbone of the Living. Without mortals, the gods would wither with no one to worship them. Demons would have no one to tempt, feed on, or possess and would quickly devolve into stagnant infighting and be forgotten. Us Exalts may be mighty, but we are a mere handful; while none of you may fight me and win, without the Living Fleet us Exalts would end up overwhelmed. Without you, our cause is hollow and meaningless."
He heaves a sigh, casting a solemn gaze among the crowd.
"The truth is, all of us are scraping by. Each and every one, myself included. I won't deny my extraordinary privilege, but know that for all my strength I still feel daunted by the enormity of the Neverborn and their thralls that I'm bound to fight tooth and nail until my dying breath. And I wouldn't have it any other way. But all told, my burden is easy compared to yours. You are the ones everything ultimately depends on. Individually you may feel powerless, but as groups - as one - you are the only ones that matter in the end. So while I understand your despair, I implore you - don't give up. All this hardship is a grueling test, and if against all odds you endure, one day it will pass. One day all this suffering will have meaning as we settle the New World. But only if, on that day, we remain human. So scrape together. Endure. Wrest the light from these dark depths. I can't give you any surefire way to success, but what I do know is the only way you stand a chance of finding it is if you come together. Surely there's something you as a community have that you can work on. Pool your resources, find common ground, find what you have that sets you apart from your neighbors and capitalize on it."
((Inspire: 33+20+10+5 = 68
Pale Flower in a Putrid Marsh: Major Water Inspiration (Hyperactivity, Action Bonus).
The people of <whatsthisplace> are inspired to move beyond their petty squabbles and despair toward compassion and thriving together. They gain an Action Bonus when acting in the interest of the community rather than just themselves, organizing business ventures and working together, finding something to both fill their empty days and profit together from it - only to spend those profits for the good of the community. They will find that sharing not only brings greater profits, but light into their previous lives of despair!))
This message was last edited by the player at 22:29, Mon 26 Nov 2018.