One Thing

[shosen]

One thing at a time. I never learn.

"I think I'd rather know than imagine."

"Well, why imagine such things?"

"It can be hard not to."

" In the end, dwelling on negative memories and negative imaginings solves nothing."

"A person's imagination fills in for what they do not--"

It's hard enough, sometimes, even doing that. Facing that one thing.

"If you cannot make amends to the individuals, you can still change the world a little, and that is redemption enough for anyone."

"Hmph."

But conversations flow, and people enter and leave as they will.

"Dears, that's very impolite."

"I concur."

"We were talking about the Light and forgiveness."

" ... Oh. So... No beatdown?"

And some topics, are just naturally related.

"And I hardly need to discuss anything with you."

"Tell me ah gotta look at my sister's face like dat an' you don' owe nobody an' explanation at de bare minimum, Olm."

"Obviously it has been explained to EVERYONE'S satisfaction already."

"Nah from you."

Some of them are tied up so tight, that no matter what you do, you can't just deal with one of them.

"I was Scourge. And Lady Glorianna, and Koani, yes?"

" ... Was it hell? Was it the worst kind of hell?"

"OF COURSE! It was a hell I was FREED from!"

"Olm, there was almost nothing left. Do you think she would want to come back to that?"

So you let it go, and you think, just one more, and we can do that.

"I fall, and rise again, and fall again. My body continues and I repair my armor so I can fall AGAIN. I have found no afterlife, and I have seen too many spirits--"

"Perhaps you are not ready to be released."

It's never just one more though, is it?

"Do you think I am not worried, Koani?"

"I honestly don't know, Olm."

Because one leads to another, and then another.

"For those horrible few minutes, Koani ... I struggled to see Tabaqui."

What did you see instead?

"What do you think?"

"How can we know?"

"I saw someone who took my Casdoe from me forever."

"So you would have rather had Casdoe kill Tabaqui?"

"Of course not."

"In a fight like that, there are rarely other options."

"Other than total annihiliation?"

"One opponent falling. Or are you mad that she burned the body without you?"

"Do you think my fury was reasonable, damn it?"

And then if you're lucky, you get to hit the one you were looking for in the first place.

"I fear that if it has happened once, it may happen again. Tabaqui..."

"Cannot be without you."

"Not just that."

But even that, well, it can shift you, throw you.

"Tabaqui has faith that I would never truly harm her unless I were thrall to him once more, and then... she would blame it on herself. And she told me all this without a tear, a quail... as matter-of-factly, or more, than I am telling you."

"What do you think?"

"When did she tell you, Koani?"

And you just follow, as best as you can.

"Do you want me to LIST, one by one, EVERYTHING I would do for her?!"

"I want to know if you'll forgive yourself for her."

"... hrm. I fail to see how that is relevant."

"You're trapped, and you're sinking. She'll go under trying to push you up. The only way you can stop that is try and pull yourself out."

"What do you mean, sinking?"

"You think you fury, or eat people, or strike down everything in Un'goro because you're stable?"

"I -- I... do not... I -- I do not see what there is to be done."

And you hope, that you made an impact, on at least that one.

"... I am having this conversation with you because YOU may be able to help her when SHE will not."

" The only one who can help her is you. By helping yourself. And if you can't do that, one of these days you'll kill her, and she'll let you hoping that will work when nothing else did."

But you should probably try and stop, because if you don't you'll move again.

"Will that be for Sir Dalson's wife then?"

" ... er."

"... maybe. Unless he'd prefer someone else."

"... I have been thinking on that. I think I do not -- er, have a decision yet."

"You should have one though, no matter who leads it."

And find something else.

"Were you and your wife devotees of the Light, Sir Dalson?"

"Yes."

"Then surely that is where she now resides. Are you still a believer?"

"I find myself doubting the Light believes in me, milady."

From one to another, and another.

"You say that you are healed every time you fall."

"The Light has NOTHING to do with that."

"Are you sure?"

And then, everyone's talking, and no one's listening.

"Are you the Prince's tool, Sir?"

"I did not say it was a purpose I served, but it is not the Light's grand plan that keeps the Forsaken animate. It is the Scourge."

"How can you say so? We are no longer Scourge. The Light clearly has blessed us with this freedom."

"Do you not credit the Dark Lady with your liberation, then?"

Nothing can really happen then. You can't even deal with one thing that way.

"She does not imprison us. She does not force her will on us."

"Perhaps you should revisit Deathkneel. And remember what we are told there from the moment we wake up, confused and fightened and utterly alone. Hmm. I think I do see your problem. Sir Dalson."

"Loyalty?"

You just talk back and forth at each other instead of with each other.

"When you are thinking, ask yourself what sort of leader wishes her people to label themselves as such. As yourself what kind of leader sets herself up as a dark goddess for her people to worship. Who teaches them that their first life was hateful and weak, and their second was only ended due to her intervention. Who makes her name a prayer on the lips of everyone near her and surrounds her people with death, ruination, and fel waters. Who keeps captive coteries of humans in Deathknell to teach her people to murder and hate what they once were. Who lets the Scourge wander freely in her realm to frighten the weak into believing she is the only salvation."

"... are you referring-- SILENCE."

Even if something of value is said, or questions are answered, or some point or change should be made, it's missed.

"Lordaeron never fell to assault."

"It did not crumble on its own."

"Its conquerors were let in our front gates and welcomed as heroes. The city could have been rebuilt. It was left to rot while she dug into the earth like a grub who fears the light of day."

"We DO fear the light of day!"

"Why?"

"Because we are weak. We are hated."

"Who has told you that? And why do you believe it?"

And in the end, you're no further than where you started.

"I have been humoring you people all the damn night. I have answered MANY questions, and yet you keep asking -- 'What have I learned?' I have answered that to the best of my ability."

In fact, you're further back.

"... the sun's coming up."

"I suppose that is my cue to crawl back into my grave."

"Have you a grave, Sir Dalson?"

"My city, Lady Glorianna. If you will excuse me, I will find some company with the other deluded corpses."

You're sinking.