1st Mantra - Honesty to Oneself and Others

[nobold]

Greetings, everyone. I am Cecil Mortimer Winterscales V of unit B. Please, just call me Cecil.

I confess part of the reason I'm writing to you all is to test the Liber Nuntiorum's capabilities myself, but I wish to posit a theory on the goings-on of this world. In my world, my companions and I learned of a cataclysmic scheme put together by the prince of demons, Demogorgon. This demon god has two heads and both hate the other. So strongly, we learned, that he sought to destroy his other half through powerful Shadow Pearls that could very well end existence as we know it.

I do not know if this scheme has reached so far as to effect others, but on my arrival, this was one of my first thoughts. I do not fully understand the destructive capabilities of the Shadow Pearls, but do not deny the possibility that they could distort and fragment a world like this in high enough concentration. I'm afraid I don't know how far along his plan is, but if this is an isolated incident, I will take solace in the existence of worlds beyond Demogorgon's reach.

And for the rest...I admit is more of a personal inquiry than anything else. To determine what commonalities, if any, lead to our arrival here. Any close brushes with death, perhaps. Especially before descending from the stars.

Comments

[lizardtits]

That sounds a bit similar to my world. There are two... well, they're beyond gods. We call them "boogedys" thanks to one of our group but they're mostly cosmic entites. Two halves of the same whole that are seperated by a wall of souls. One half can't pass through that wall, but the other, if left unchecked, can eat the wall. If the two rejoin, our world is obliterated. ...Worse, actually. Anything consumed by the entity becomes totally forgotten, as if it never existed. Even texts and pictures of it become unreadable.

It's an interesting thought. If a lot of us were brought here due to our worlds being in danger, and this one has already suffered an ending... There's a possible thread to follow, there. Cadeuceus was telling me he was trying to save his world from destruction, too.

If nothing else, this may be part of the reason we specifically were chosen to come here.

-Velo

[nobold]

I see. It only makes sense to choose those experienced with such cataclysmic events. Tragic that there are multiple happening across the multiverse, but at least they're not as widespread as I feared.

I almost wonder if the current state of the world signifies our arrival may be too late. Instead, I'm convinced this is a desperate move before it ultimately is too late. Desperate not necessarily out of a lack of trust, but because they must leave the fate of their world to others.

[lizardtits]

A wild, desperate move, leaving things up to chance because the current state of things is too bleak...

If that's their angle, then they may have pulled the right person. Sending everything into chaos and picking up the pieces before anyone else can is something of a specialty of mine.

And throwing wildly different people from wildly different worlds into a city-sized chunk of dirt will, if nothing else, create chaos. My gut says things are about to get weirder before any real difference is made, either way.

[nobold]

The old "fight fire with fire" routine, yes. Ours may be the brand of chaos to make a difference, but it may involve things getting worse before they get better. It's only natural, as rogue elements begin sorting things out through unfamiliar territory. I'm no rogue, but my chosen attire doesn't mean I always play by the rules. Perhaps I may join you in stirring up trouble.

Or at least cleaning up the inevitable mess afterward.

[lizardtits]

It's always the clean ones that can cause the most trouble, both good and bad.

At this point, though, we have nothing but speculation. Better to lay low, play along, and get a feel for the situation first before starting a revolution. Hard to tell who to trust right now.

[nobold]

Agreed. Too many unknowns, so a bit of reconnaissance is in order. Fortunate, then, that our interests takes us to every corner of the city and a bit beyond. The various guilds are sure to have their own insights and takes on matters.

It's just a matter of waiting and compiling our findings.

[lowercase_dragon]

Honestly? Not a clue. I mean, I've died before, but I was fine when I woke up eating pavement here. And to top it off, we'd just finished saving the world when it happened. Giant dragon trying to become an all-powerful tyrant. Never heard of the Demogorgon before, though. We must be from different planes.

I suppose it's possible something else was going on we didn't know about, but... two huge threats like that happening at the same time? Anything's possible, but it still feels like my god would've tried to point me towards the other one after we'd finished with the first. Or, something at least...?

[nobold]

If that is true, then perhaps our worlds aren't as interlinked as I believed. It saves us from having to juggle so many threats at once, if nothing else.

Frankly, I welcome the chance that I'm wrong and Demogorgon's schemes haven't touched this world. I do worry about the state of my own, but trust my allies can handle it. We have our own threat to handle here, whatever it may be. The only downside is the lack of familiarity; an investigation must begin anew.

[lowercase_dragon]

I dunno if there's going to be any huge threats, but it certainly pays to be prepared! Count me in, I was planning on trying to find out how this world works anyway.

Also, I'd recommend getting some combat practice in. I at least am woefully dependent on powers that aren't there anymore, so it seems like a good idea to take advantage of the training available here.

Remember that conversation we had about gods testing us? This seems like how to do it right to me.

[nobold]

Rely on your other strengths besides power from your oath. That does sound like an appropriate test from your god. Still, we have our own training, if nothing else, and knowledge of how to defend ourselves and pull through difficult situations will stay with us.

But beyond that, we will need the power of classes. Even my monastic training isn't as keen as it would be otherwise. I'm currently finding promise as a Steward; much of it appeals to me and not just the highbrow fashion sense. It seems Paladins get their start here as Stewards, if you'd like to retread familiar territory.

[lowercase_dragon]

I'm glad that you mentioned the fashion first, because my immediate thought when I saw that place was that you were going to be there. And, to be honest? I dunno! Obviously it's the most appropriate, but there's a lot of different kinds of paladins, and this type is significantly different from me!

It's a bit weird, but I'm looking at that nature-loving guy too. I didn't really find anything else that captured certain aspects of my old powers and fighting style.

Still though, it is the recommended procedure. Find a god in a new world, preferably one that knows about your main one, and do a paladin-swap until things are normal again. So I'll probably just do that, I suppose.

[mech_and_mutt]

Now that you mention it the last thing I did before I came here was stop the destruction of my own world

But that couldn't have reached all the way here, could I? Besides, I stopped it

[Not to brag or anything.]

[nobold]

It's possible it can't, but there's little information to work with. The one comfort to this world approaching its own form of destruction is that the one's we're familiar with aren't so widespread.

And if yours is truly stopped, then it won't be a problem here. The experience may be why you were chosen to be a Starfallen.

[mech_and_mutt]

Approaching? From what everyone around here says it already happened and we're just living on one of the pieces

I may be able to stop a world from getting destroyed but I have no clue how to put one back together again

wonder if any of us actually DO

[nobold]

Right now, probably not. Too many unknowns and likely not enough consistency between this world and others. If we are meant to help repair it, then we will steadily learn how. Opportunity will play its hand before long.

And yes, I stand by my earlier use of the word "approaching". This world is fragmented and broken, sure, but not destroyed. There is still hope to rebuild and reform and we Starfallen have been entrusted with it.

[mech_and_mutt]

I guess you're right, if it still works then it's not destroyed yet

but it'd be nice if everyone here wasn't just as blind as we are. What do they think we know that they don't?

[dead_people_tea]

I can't say the deities are the same where I'm from.

As for how I got here, our party was teleporting to a specific location, but I ended up here instead. Because none of them are here, I assume they got to where they needed to be safely.

[nobold]

Then I pray for their successful travel. Perhaps in time, you will be reunited with them.

Though I am pleased to hear our pantheons don't match as well as I thought. There's quite a lot going on in mine and I wouldn't wish it on anyone. Granted, much of it is Demogorgon's fault, but the weight fell on mine and my companions' shoulders.

[dead_people_tea]

A prince of demons sounds terrifying. We had to fight a demon entity who enslaved one of our friends. I hope it's nothing like that here. Everyone seems really nice and I wouldn't want them hurt like that.

[nobold]

Perhaps our enemy here may try such tactics, but we will see when the time comes. If I'm wrong about my world's issues, then perhaps you will be, too.

A rare instance when one will welcome the chance to be wrong.

[dead_people_tea]

It sounds like both instances are bad and we can hope they don't get replicated here.

Have you been able to find any commonality among the Starfallen so far, Cecil?

[kobard]

Demogorgon... a terrible name. I dislike even writing it. I have no doubts to such capabilities.

In my time with my party we encountered rumors of another kobold named Rikki--no relation--who was lost to the Underdark, only to discover there the Demogorgon was freed. I have not heard of her or her companions since... I can only imagine it would take the power of another demon lord to destroy a demon lord. It terrifies me.

I am unsure if this is concurrent to what you experienced. If so, such a small world.

[nobold]

If it brings you any comfort, there aren't too many similarities. Demogorgon is already freed in my world, but my companions and I were chosen by our respective gods as champions to fend off this threat. One or two of them had decent gods by their side, but for all of my mixed opinions towards Tiamat, she chose me.

And I failed her

(The last part is scratched out, but perhaps not fast enough for Rakka to miss it.)

My companions, at least, have the potential to get rid of Demogorgon. Perhaps one day, I can share news of his defeat with you.

[kobard]

[He didn't fail his spot check there, but he will keep it to his chest, already having a sense of how that burdens Cecil.]

Using avatars sounds much more controllable of a battle, though a heavy burden on the chosen ones. Once we fix this sundered land of Concord then surely you have collected more powerful allies, and his defeat will come swiftly. As some whelplings say, fight with the power of gods and friendship on your side.

[nobold]

If my new friends here are so willing to aid in another world's problems, then perhaps. The help would be appreciated, but there's already so much risk and if Demogorgon truly can't influence other worlds, then theirs would be safe.

(Yes, it could help his friends back home and Cecil doesn't want to turn away at a chance to help them, but the instant he goes back there...

...he doesn't want to think about it.)

I understand how hypocritical I'll sound, but I would be quite interested in see other worlds and what they have to offer.