Video| un: xl

[theunluckiest]

Greetings sleepers!

[A soft warm voice belonging to a youthful face with a gentle smile appears on the network. With two fingers lightly placed on his temple, sitting on a tree stump looking just off center. His long white robes flow off camera, hiding the dirty bottom edges from sight. ] My name is Xie Lian. I've been here for the greater part of the winter season, and it's been quite [tilting his head and raising a single brow] the experience. [Managing a small wry smile at the loaded statement. ] But I'm afraid I'm still at a loss about a few things, and could use some clarification on two matters.

[With his free hand, he raises one finger up.] First off, how does one know who their patron is exactly? And what purpose do these patrons serve, or rather what purpose do we serve the patrons? [Quiet for a moment, mulling the thought over in his own mind before continuing. Another finger pops up. ]

And the second question is more general. [Honey brown eyes flash directly forward with an inquisitive gleam.] What do you all make of the pthumerians? Honestly I'm still trying to figure out my own thoughts, but getting different perspectives seems like a good place to start.

[OOC: I can adjust to prose or brackets!]

Comments

[Audio][UN:A_Wesker013]

[subject_013]

[A throaty baritone voice speaks.]

It seems they generally manifest their presence by granting you a gift during the month of their patronage, otherwise, they may show themselves to you when they are most needed - or when they are least needed, if you've the misfortune to be under the patronage of some of the more trickster-like.

I've been fortunate that my patron has manifested themself to me - and that I am under the patronage of likely the kindest of the Pthumerians, Bausphomette. Some view their patrons as gods or guardians, but others like myself consider them as holding more of an advisory position.

[A slow, thoughtful inbreath through his nostrils as if gathering the air for a likely long response.]

I'm likely in the minority here, but from my observations, the Pthumerians are a part of the local ecology, for better or for worse. Some may view them as gods, and those Sleepers and Trench-dwellers are welcome to that position if it helps them to better grasp their place in this world. They are neither good nor evil, but rather something outside the confines of black and white morality, if such a moral code even exists. This world would lack much of its weird wonders if we did not have them.

Voice

[theunluckiest]

[ People never really change, do they.]
Back in my world we have something that sounds similar to how you describe pthumerians. With enough cultivation or strength of spirit, one can either ascend to a position of godhood or fall descending into a powerful ghost. In these states, we are often granted extraordinary graces and immense responsibilities, but at our core we remain human, and I don't think anyone ever completely loses that.

[A small tired sigh accidentally escapes his lips. ]

Well, what I guess I'm trying to say here is that you describe pthumerians in a way that gives them a lot of... humanity. [There's a brief pause.] That's not a perspective I was expecting to hear, but I'm glad to know someone thinks that way. I know how easy it can be for people to jump to conclusions and idolize or demonize those whose actions and motives aren't inherently intuitive or simple for them to understand.
[A beat.]

Ah, sorry I can go on about this sort of thing for a while without restraint. [There's an apologetic smile to his tone.]

But it sounds like Bausphomette has been good to you. I want to assume you were lucky enough to receive a gift?