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

[nobold]

It's entirely possible. The urge to return home would be natural, but with such tasks out of the way, it's one less thought to distract you in solving this world's problems. The gods here need heroes, but cherry pick the ones that didn't have much better to do.

I admit the very thought is amusing.

[dead_people_tea]

Well, to be fair, this was also a part of concluding a lengthy quest our family had with our Goddess, the Wildmother. Our home will finally be saved. Perhaps because this has been completed, then she saw fit to send me here.

[He'd talked about having a goddess to a few people, but he hadn't talked about there being a quest. He just had a sense that Cecil would understand these things.]

[nobold]

Ah, then you have the trust of your goddess. Perhaps she will look after your family while sending you to complete your next task. A sort of reassurance that you may move on without unfinished business holding you back.

(Unfinished business before moving on...there's a while before Cecil responds after looking over the very words he wrote with a wince.)

Even so, I hope you are not kept from them for long.

[dead_people_tea]

Not forever, I hope. Not to mention the friends I was with. I want to be able to return to them to help them where they need to be.

But that does make sense that if I had to come here, it was after I knew my family was safe.

[nobold]

From how you describe your goddess, I don't believe she would keep you here longer than necessary, especially to aid your allies in another quest.

This is quite the busy life you lead, Caduceus. One might even say you're in demand.

[dead_people_tea]

In demand? Hunh, hadn't thought about it that way, but you could be on to something.

I wonder if it means that I have to help people here to get to where they need to be?

[nobold]

You mean in general? And not just the reason we were all summoned here?

[dead_people_tea]

Yeah, in general. Everyone has a destiny, even if it's a small one. I always feel you should strive to find it and aim toward it.

[nobold]

Destiny. One's cosmic reason for existence. Everyone searches for their purpose, but I find that sometimes, preordained purpose doesn't align with one's wishes. Is fate to blame, for forcing so much on an individual? Is the person to blame for disagreeing with this greater purpose meant for them?

And all of that assumes the person meets the expectations of their task.

[dead_people_tea]

The way I see it, everyone is being pushed toward something that will make them be the best version of themselves. I guess it can be a little hard if you dislike that, but maybe it's worth thinking about what that person is balking at so hard.

Of course, I don't have all the answers. This is just how I feel.

[nobold]

The parts of change that are so repulsive rather than changing overall. That's rational. It's not an unwelcome process, but I suppose I'm outing myself in being so firmly against things back home.

But much of that doesn't apply here, I've learned, so perhaps this world provides a better environment for such change.