Dawn of the Third Age/IC Logs/Nomoe Hideaki and Inkwell
Nomoe_Hideaki: The day before the group of Celestials leaves for the Blessed Isle there is a knock at the door to Inkwell's rooms.
Inkwell: The door opens itself.
Viridian Inkwell is hovering in the center of a delicate pile of floating parts, the components of some incomprehensible machine.
Nomoe_Hideaki takes this as an invitation to enter and does so. When he sees the Infernal he bows slightly. "Ambassador Viridian Inkwell. Might I have a few words with you?"
Inkwell: "Certainly. What can I do for you?"
Nomoe_Hideaki closes the door behind him. "It is a somewhat delicate matter and I hope I will no offend you, Ambassador. If I do, please say so." He pauses for a moment, then continues. "Now, if I am informed correctly you hold both a diplomatic position with the Celestial Deliberative and one within the Reclamation, or the 'Thing Infernal', is that correct?"
Inkwell: "That is correct, although I no longer formally attend meetings of the Althing."
Nomoe_Hideaki: "I was wondering ... why? Why as an Infernal bind yourself to the Deliberative? Why assist us in working against a Reclamation plot, when the Yozis mean for you to be part of the Reclamation?"
Nomoe_Hideaki: "And for the reverse, if you work against the Reclamation in this, why not cut all ties to Malfeas and the defeated Primordials?"
Inkwell: "The Yozis have their own ideas of how the Reclamation will go, and I have mine. I intend to set the creators free, but not until I have found a way to heal their madness. For now, that means working against their plans, for their own good."
Nomoe_Hideaki: "Heal their madness?" Nomoe Hideaki doesn't hide his skepticism. "What is there to heal?"
Inkwell: "What isn't there? The Primordials see things only through the lens of their cosmic obsession. Malfeas knows only force; the Principle of Hierarchy knows only obedience. The Exalted broke them even further than that to assist in their imprisonment."
Inkwell: "But what was once broken may yet be mended."
Nomoe_Hideaki: "Their malignancy is rooted deeply in their natures. Yes, we broke them, crippled them to render them less dangerous, but they were a menace long before that. The Primordial War was fought for a reason."
Nomoe_Hideaki: "How, short of breaking them down entirely and rebuilding them, do you plan to turn them into something that might coexist with humanity?"
Inkwell: "Power without understanding is always menacing. But perhaps we could give them that understanding- broaden their natures to make them something with which we could live."
Nomoe_Hideaki: "Again, how?"
Inkwell technobabbles.
Nomoe_Hideaki listens attentively and at length, planning to get a second opinion later.
Nomoe_Hideaki: "Alright, we can discuss the specifics more some other time," he interjects at some fortuitous time.
Inkwell: "I think it could be done. After all, their natures have been altered before. And I understand Primordial soul structure better than anyone could who isn't a Primordial himself."
Nomoe_Hideaki: "So, if I understand you correctly, you maintain your ties to the Reclamation since you foresee that at some point in the future your goals will intersect, right? And until then you want to prevent the other agents of the Reclamation from succeeding in a way that is not according to your vision. Hence your alliance of sorts with the Deliberative?"
Inkwell: "Indeed. Ultimately the Reclamation as planned is doomed to failure - the bonds the Primordials were placed in cannot be broken. But in their spite they may yet doom Creation."
Nomoe_Hideaki nods. "I see. Since that is the case, I hope you will not mind swearing an oath to set our minds at ease?"
Inkwell: "Being an ambassador is about making deals," says Inkwell, looking up from his tinkering for the first time.
Nomoe_Hideaki: "To the effect, that for the duration of our cooperation you will not knowingly act against the interests of the Deliberative or through inaction allow harm to come to its interests, that you will not knowingly by action or inaction, directly or indirectly, allow information about the current case or other intelligence that could be used against the Deliberative to fall into Reclamation hands, nor knowingly allow situations to come to pass where such might happen without your knowledge. And that said cooperation would have to be formally ended with one week's notice."
Nomoe_Hideaki spreads his hands "Very simple, really."
Inkwell: "The interests of the Deliberative" is a delightfully nebulous term.
Nomoe_Hideaki: "I was thinking of the general policies, as stated by the Celestial Deliberative's founding declaration."
Nomoe_Hideaki: "Id est, the maintenance and defense of Creation against all its declared enemies and the harmonious governance of Creation in the interest of its people."
Nomoe_Hideaki: (( * Do not attempt to destroy, conquer, or subvert Creation in the service of the Neverborn, Fair Folk, or Yozis. * Provide for the well-being of mortals under your responsibility. * Do not worship the Neverborn or the Yozis. ))
Inkwell: "Very well, then. Agreed."
Nomoe_Hideaki nods and offers one hand for Viridian Inkwell to shake on that.
Inkwell shakes.
Nomoe_Hideaki: A white-golden corona springs to life, filled with ten thousand Old Realm characters, and the mark of the Eclipse on Nomoe Hideaki's brow shines as he sanctifies the agreement.
Nomoe_Hideaki: "Thank you, Ambassador Viridian Inkwell. I hope that while this agreement lasts we can do good work together."
Inkwell: "There's much still to do. Yes."
Nomoe_Hideaki: He smiles slightly. "And once I have broadened my insight into the relevant foundations, maybe we can revisit your explanation of your vision."
Nomoe_Hideaki: "Perhaps you could recommend a few books to study toward that end?"
Inkwell: "The //Book of Essence Runes// is a good place to start, if you can find a copy. Mine is no longer accessible."
Nomoe_Hideaki nods. "I will see if I can." He bows. "With your permission, I'll leave you to your own work then."
Inkwell: "Always glad to talk, Deliberator." Inkwell gives his closed-eye smile.
Nomoe_Hideaki: "Ambassador." And the Eclipse takes his leave.
