Gather around

[warriorscribe]

*It's a recorded video. Enoch stands before the terminal. He eyes the screen before taking a breath and beginning to speak.*

Shall I tell you a tale, Animus?

In another world, there was a dark and foreboding tower with no name, ruled by seven Fallen Angels. Heaven sent a man to capture these rulers, but in the three hundred years this man searched for them, the Tower built its own story. Inside the Tower, people thrived, and enjoyed a life of luxury and abundance in beautiful, otherworldly lands. Each level was as its own world, and had beauty all its own. Even the land of cold steel and eternal lights was breathtaking in an eerie way. But all was not as wonderful as it seemed. The people lived luxurious lives surrounded by beauty and wonders, yes, but when they died, their souls did not ascend to Heaven. They were taken from their rightful course and sent to The Darkness, to sate the gluttony of the demon prince Belial. No one seemed to know this but Belial himself and a resident of the Tower named Ishtar. Ishtar heard the voice of God, and knew that the Fallen Angels were not to be trusted - she gathered followers. It meant severing their connection to the safe and the familiar, to spurn the luxury of trust and plenty and ease of life. It meant turning their rulers against them. But...

*Enoch pulls something from his pocket - something small. Those who look hard enough might be able to catch a faint green glow before he closes his fingers around it, and a strong female voice speaks.*

They became the Freemen. The Fallen Angels became angry and rebuked us. I knew then that God's Word was true.

*Enoch's fist lowers, and he continues.*

But the Freemen knew the truth. Ishtar died in battle against the children of the Fallen Angels, who were in such misery they ate one another to end their brothers' pain. But she left behind prophecies. Messages that outlived her, to aid the Freemen that had sworn to follow her. The prophecies promised Ishtar would return to save them, but until then, they had to work hard to survive when those who were as gods in the realm were against them. And then, when the time came, they surely would not stand by while the resurrected Ishtar fought alone.

That is the story of the Freemen, a story that I did not know of until my own intersected it. Do not forget, Animus, that there are always stories other than your own. Thank you for hearing me.

*The recording ends, showing Enoch sitting at the terminal, feed live to hear responses.*

Comments

[video]

[fionnuisce]

So the moral of the story is that every tower ever built is cursed?

[The sarcasm is at 150% after all this shit.]

[video]

[warriorscribe]

There does seem to be a disturbing pattern to towers, doesn't there?

[Filtered | Private]

[mysterical]

[Tear looks at the stranger, a complicated expression on her face.]

I have a story that I would like to share with you, if you are willing to listen to it.

[She doesn't know him, but she can guess from his actions that he is one of Zelda's allies. And if that's true, he is someone she can trust.]

[Filtered | Private]

[warriorscribe]

It would only be fair, after I shared mine - but are you all right?

[Anonymous Text]

[bloodyashes]

[Sorry if that message was supposed to be inspirational, bro. Consigned-to-death-by-prophecy here has a few problems with it.]

Do you really think there's a value in putting faith in prophecy?

They only happen if people make them so. The only prophecy worth following is the one you make with your own will.

If you're going to pick something to inspire with, then chose a story where fate is defied, not followed to its ending.

[Text]

[warriorscribe]

The prophecy wasn't the focus of the story at all, and while there are many morals to it, following every prophecy blindly is not one of them.

*Sorry if you focused on a minor point, bro. Enoch's patience needs a little recharge after so much has happened.*

[Video]

[scentofmakai]

Eh, Belial? Kind of annoying, short temper and all, but he's pretty easy to push around actually.

Should I tell a story?

[Video]

[warriorscribe]

If you'd like to.

audio;

[holyswordwielder]

You're right. Unfortunately, a few of us seem to have forgotten that everyone should have control of how their own stories end rather than having that decided for them.

video

[warriorscribe]

Indeed. Even with the Prophecies of Ishtar, if the Freemen did not work to help it come to pass - one even escaped the Tower to find me and direct me to it - they would destroy their own chance at true freedom.

video

[puppy_lancer]

Nice story. Are we all sharing them right now?

[He knows this might not be the time for it, but if they did, it might be a little like his home. How people would sit around the hearth and tell stories to each other after a meal.]

video

[warriorscribe]

If you'd like to share yours, go ahead.

*What better way to rebel in this situation than...do something totally normal.*

[video]

[tsunderebunny]

I'd rather not share any stories right now, but thanks for telling your own. [He leveled his gaze on the screen, recognizing the voice if nothing else. about the man.] It's hard to see another's truth when various complications make it hard to see your own.

[video]

[warriorscribe]

I know. I've seen such complications in unexpected places in other people. I've lost sight of my own now and then...but when you can see it, you can improve things for everyone. Empathy is more valuable than many know.

[Video]

[tohko_amano]

[Well..while this was unexpected, it was nice to hear another little piece of Enoch's story, even if he didn't know it was tied to him at the time. She would probably record it in a notebook later, but for now, smiling, Tohko would just respond.]

Thank you for telling us. So, even if we fail, those who come after us or those who stand beside us will hear of our struggle and carry on our work. That's..rather hopeful. I like it.

[Video]

[warriorscribe]

*Enoch looks at Tohko awkwardly. And he thought the focus on the prophecy was the worst misunderstanding he's heard.*

...N-no. There's no room for failure here, Tohko. The people here and the people that come are the only ones that can act, and if we fail, there is no carrying on to be done.

[Video]

[mostremaining]

[Though Gilbert's glad that the power and glamour is back on, he's still feeling a little... twisted. Not even his roommate's inspirational words can really cheer him up.]

Nice story. Did this really happen, or is this one of those allegory things where the Freemen are us or something?

[Video]

[warriorscribe]

*And someone has pointed out the actual moral. But Gilbert's not looking so good, so Enoch gives him a sympathetic smile.*

Both, only so far as we make of it.

anon text;

[witchoftheweek]

I don't know that it means death, necessarily. In the Tarot, the Tower card has always symbolized an obstacle that must be destroyed in order to move forward. It's something that must be destroyed for the Fool to continue his journey; he rebuilds his road from the rubble of his destroyed tower.

Some things really are that open to interpretation.

text

[warriorscribe]

What is Tarot?

I rather like what you've said. Be assured I will be among those who do everything possible to ensure that it is not, indeed, death that awaits us.

One must admit it is strange, however, that actual towers seem to be so ominous in nature across multiple worlds.

*Is he trying to joke to refocus after that patience-trying behavior of Ruana's, or is he serious about that? Who knows.*

[voice]

[bowandblade]

If that story is meant to inspire open-mindedness, it is not doing its job, warrior of god.

[Your nostalgia-buddy is not impressed.]

[video]

[warriorscribe]

Open-mindedness need not be the sole intent. I meant a few things by it, actually, but I couldn't tell you what it best inspires in you.

video;

[chainsawn]

[ Urotsuki here is clapping a little.. clearly that's the appropriate response, right? ]

That's a nice story.. I like it.

video;

[warriorscribe]

*At this point, whatever. Simply having brought entertainment to someone is good enough. Enoch manages a smile for her.*

I'm glad you did.

[Video]

[blackestomen]

[The feed opens, and Zeal says nothing for the first few moments.]

Ha.

[Bitter, half-broken laughter is something, right? It's a start.]

Always, dark towers. Always, those bright and shining few who come and throw the towers down. So this one will fall, too, you say?

[There's more of that laughter.]

Do you want to hear a story, too?

[Video]

[warriorscribe]

I wasn't aware until now that it was more than this world and mine who had such similarities...

*No, really. Symbols, as in the Tarot example Patchouli gave, those were one thing. But what was it with actual towers having this pattern across disparate worlds? If she's sounding so weary because of her own experience, that would make this the fourth such tower referenced here.

Enoch didn't understand.*

...But that doesn't matter. What sort of man would I be if I told my story and then didn't let anyone else tell theirs?