[info post 01]

[elloran]

I asked the starship if he felt pain.
He said:
You, O High Inquestor, you
ask me this, you
whose blood is distilled from the tears
of dying planets?
- The Dawning Shadow

o dhandas! o dhandas!
tam'planzho. tam'planzho.
o dhandas! o dhandas!

You are dead. You are dead.
I weep for you. I weep for you.
You are dead. You are dead.
- Lament for a wasted planet - from the Dawning Shadow

A million young boys dreamed of the stars.
Nine hundred thousand grew up and forgot.
One hundred thousand became childsoldiers;
ninety-nine thousand died.
Nine hundred came home; they tilled the soil, danced, sang, and forgot.
Ninety grew rich and renowned.
Nine sought out and discovered new worlds.
One became and Inquestor:
and lo! He gave the command.
He yawned the stars from his lips
for a million young boys to dream of.
- Gallendaran children's song; from the Dawning Shadow

eih! asheverain
am-planzhet ka dhand-eruden;
eih! skrikam, skrikam:
pu eyah chitarans hyemadh?

Ai! after the Dispersal of Man
we wept for the dead earth;
Ai! we cried, we cried:
"Where is the homeworld of the heart?"
- p. 2, Utopia Hunters

hokhte inchitras eih Enguester
merans peraiueuris shtenda eluktiera?
neyah: luktain ke atheramyrah
nukt' eyah eniing vas;
kat lukti chitra tembara makhash.

Did you think, O high Inquestor
You had reached the day's brightest moment?
Ah no. In the light of a million suns
It was night that you saw;
For the heart of light is a mighty darkness.
- p. 56, Utopia Hunters
(note: you know what they say about shadows and light... "The shadow of a shadow is light." but what does that say of the shadow of a shadow's shadow, Loreh?)

chom vizhvila anthan
et ashevraih z dhendaih eka;
nikin shtah peranthanda z perdhandanda
et tashas za ekdeaih.

xa, hokte Enguester, xa
vain ishpran es-detun,
kat k'nam jivyten dhanat' ney'vio:
em-shtendut imnezna.

As a flower blooms but to scatter its seeds and die, so must a planet ripen and perish, that it may yield its Rememberers:
It is thus, O Inquestor, that you have given us hope. No longer is death the purpose of life. Rememberance has become its purpose.

suvitek Enguester pelai ke shehtraot' varung
ekeiry; ea ke talor' keravishen.
eih kreisnevyureke Enguestrek hokhte:
feravah; ng'eka zyh seres? es kat
nan leluktuaremmyrein kechaikaiske,
krudhans vyrein ekbreindaiske, dhanati
shelynein keklaiskais, veveraipaiske
pa' braxein zi, es-dende ke
ney'vio et sha zhaksho kalokas?

We two will soon be gone, the ancient Inquestor and the demented singer; so come, Inquestrix of the cloud-crystal eyes, to the throne of tragedy. They are all asking: Will you be the one? Is it you who will cause to be blinded the million laser eyes, and the fires of rage to be doused, who will shut down the death-moons and lay down your arms and say: No more will I hunt utopias?
- Utopia Hunters p. 191
(note: Perhaps she took this a bit too far to heart, poor child.)

xa, xa hokhte Enguester
sha tihssis shirenzhen in darein?
sha tihssis on' makhashas greuras,
ura in urein?

Ah, ah, O High Inquestor:
Do you yearn to touch the silence between the stars?
Do you long to touch the great gray spaces
In the space between spaces?
- P. 234 Utopia Hunters

shenom na chitarans hyemadha
u athera tinjeh eruden
z irsai yver tembaraxein kreshpah
z purreh y'Enguestren tinjeh

We yearn for the heart's homeworld
where the sun touches the earth
and rainbows encircle the mountains of darkness
and the Inquestor bends down to touch the beggar child.
- final page of Utopia Hunters

Comments

[summons-aeons.livejournal.com]

[Yuna was waiting with relative excitement as well; she had yet to actually meet anyone from the strange community she had found (the exception, of course being the ones who were on her world – though even then, Jecht was from her past). As she stood on the shores of her small island, she shifted her weight from one foot to the other, a broad smile on her face. This was a good day. No Sin, no worries, just…a new friend. It was nice, she thought, to be able to put aside her prayers for even just a little while.]

[ton-elloran.livejournal.com]

[The Inquestor was putting aside more than prayers - he was escaping seminary for at least an afternoon, and that was going to be well worth the irate response from his instructor. But exploring new cultures was one of the most important tenants of his duty - though he told himself he was here for a 'vacation'.

The young man stepped out from the whirl of color that was his transport. The breeze caught his shimmercloak and flung it over his shoulder, playfully turning the cloth sky blue. He scanned the area, and smiled when he saw Yuna. When he spoke, his translation program gave him a slight Indian accent.]

Miss Yuna, I presume? [He bowed] It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance.

[summons-aeons.livejournal.com]

[She watched the newcomer in awe, what a wonderful thing, to be able to transport ones self in such a way! Yuna imagined it must be amazing to be able to do something like that.]

Yes! [She smiled brightly at him as he approached, and lifted her arms to form the prayer of Yevon, then bowed.] It is wonderful to meet you in person! [It was a lovely day at the beach (http://www.grrlgamer.com/images/ffx2_prologue.jpg); the waters were a perfect blue, and the breeze was just enough to keep the sun from being too hot.]

[ton-elloran.livejournal.com]

[That awed expression - even after a mere hundred years, Elloran had to force himself not to recoil. Even though it was prompted by the method for his arrival, not his mere presence...it still bothered him, and he relaxed when the look faded from her face.]

[He nodded enthusiastically to her statement.] You will be the first community member I have visited. I am honored by your offer.[He glances around the beach with obvious appreciation.] Your world is as beautiful as you say.

[summons-aeons.livejournal.com]

And you are the first I have physically met as well. [She gestured around her, a blush rising to her cheeks.] Besaid is just a small island in the world of Spira. I have to admit, I think it is one of the most beautiful. Kilika is lovely too, but there is just something about Besaid...

[She lifted her shoulders into a tiny shrug and smiled.] It's my home, maybe I'm biased.

[ton-elloran.livejournal.com]

One always remembers one's home fondly. It is hardly a fault. [His smile becomes slightly strained, as he remembers the way his own homeworld burned. But he masks it well.]

Is all of the land on Spira islands?

[summons-aeons.livejournal.com]

[She's looking curiously at him; Yuna is a fairly perceptive individual, and she can be rather good at reading expressions. But her new friends seems just as good at masking emotions, so she doesn't pry. Maybe she was imagining things.]

Oh, no. Spira consists of a large continent, and several islands, Besaid being one of them.

[ton-elloran.livejournal.com]

[He laughs, pleasantly, not trying to hurt her feelings.] Your world is a bit smaller than mine. It must be nice knowing what your world holds, rather than always running into adventure each time you step out the door.

[summons-aeons.livejournal.com]

[Yuna just smiles softly.] Judging from what I have seen from the community, my world is very small indeed. [It doesn't bother her, really. It's just...difficult to accept sometimes.]

Adventure...[Her voice trails off and she smiles at him again.] I do think I'll be starting my own in the next few months.

[ton-elloran.livejournal.com]

That is hardly a bad thing. [Again with the laugh] And yours is hardly the smallest 'world' I have been on. At least you have horizons.

Oh? [The Inquestor looks interested.] What kind of Adventure?

[summons-aeons.livejournal.com]

You've been to lots of worlds, then? [She brightens, Yuna always liked a good story.]

Oh, well...[She smiles and her demeanor changes slightly. Prior to this she was calm, casual, and relaxed, now she is much more animated, exited, though there is always an ever present hint of worry.]

As soon as I complete my prayers and trials, I will be going on a pilgrimage, as a Summoner. [She looks proud.] My father, Lord Braska, was the last High Summoner. It is every Summoners greated wish to become a High Summoner.

[ton-elloran.livejournal.com]

Of course! It is part of my job to travel worlds and find if any are ready to be declared a Utopia. [This is not completely accurate. His true job it to travel worlds and destroy any False Utopias...but he is still innocent enough to believe that there might be a true Utopia out there.]

Really? And what is it that High Summoners do? Is it a hard journey to become one?

[Elloran looks interested, but a part of him cruelly wonders if this is her worlds flaw. He's learned to take note when a person speaks excitedly about their religion, especially when there is slight doubt or worry in their voice.]

[summons-aeons.livejournal.com]

A Utopia? [She knows the meaning, really, but she isn’t exactly sure she understands what he means.]

High Summoners are the ones who make it through the pilgrimage and ultimately defeat Sin to bring the Calm. [She hesitates, and shifts her weight.] Not all Summoners succeed in this. Only five in the last...thousand years have succeeded.

[ton-elloran.livejournal.com]

Yes. A world whose society has managed to evade all human suffering, while still managing to progress. A perfect world. [He is not a zelot - instead of a fanatical smile at the key tenant of his beliefs he merely looks a bit sad. As of yet, in the nearly twenty millennium and several billion planets the Inquest has spanned there has not been a single Utopia found.]

Sin? [Just as with her question as to his Utopia, he looks slightly confused.] It must be difficult journey if so few have succeeded in it. Is the Calm so desired?

slap me next time I fail this hard

[summons-aeons.livejournal.com]

Oh…is perfection possible? [Yuna had never thought her world perfect; in fact, it was far from it. She found the idea interesting, though she didn’t really think that such a thing was even possible.]

Yes…Sin. It is…our punishment for the Machina Wars of so long ago. [She looked at her hands, then back at him.] Sin is a giant monstrosity that has plagued Spira for a thousand years. Any chance of peace we can get is worth the cost. That’s why we keep fighting, why the Summoners all try to achieve the title of High Summoner…the title is awarded posthumously.

No slappings. Hugs instead?

[ton-elloran.livejournal.com]

I - [he pauses, and answers honestly.] I do not know. Perhaps, eventually, humanity will have progressed far enough to achieve it. But it is equally likely that it is impossible for us, no matter how hard we try. I like to think that we have a chance at it, though.

Interesting. So you are willing to sacrifice your lives for a merely temporary reprieve from this 'Sin'?

You are perhaps luckier than other worlds. Many others of your technology level are plagued by wars amongst their own people - perhaps similar to the Machina Wars. Having a faceless enemy that you all can unite against often helps a world rather than hindering it. Not that I would wish any such suffering on a world and people.

/sob

[summons-aeons.livejournal.com]

I'm...not sure...[Her voice trails off, she isn't sure she would want to be perfect.] It sounds like it would be...boring.

Yes. [This is easy to admit.] It's worth it, any length of peace that we can bring to Spira is worth it.

Yes...that is probably true...without Sin, we may still be fighting the Machina Wars. The use of Machina has been...forbidden by Yevon, b ut the Al-Bhed still use it.

*huggle*

[ton-elloran.livejournal.com]

Indeed. Yet it is quite easy to make a boring world - and much harder to make one that still progresses yet has little to no strife.

I see. I must admit, though I have only known you briefly, it would sadden me to see you throw your life away. Even on so necessary a purpose.

But it is not the Machina who caused the wars, was it? [He glances at her perceptively.]

<33

[summons-aeons.livejournal.com]

I would think...that all of our flaws and quirks make us unique. [She smiles shyly.] I think I rather like being imperfect.

[She pauses, and winces when he says she would 'throw her life away'.] Oh its...it's not like that at all. It isn't a waste, it's...it's the only way to defeat Sin, and bring the Calm. [She pauses at his next question, then shakes her head.]

We don't know what caused the war to begin, only that it did begin and end, and it ended with the creation of Sin which has caused so much death and sorrow for the past 1000 years.

<3 <3 <3

[ton-elloran.livejournal.com]

[He smiles] I believe I agree with you. A life with out flaws would seem...empty.

That is unfortunate. How long is this 'Calm' that you so desperately need?

[He sighs, looking away.] In my universe, we say that 'man is a fallen being' so we can believe that we somehow deserve the way we live. Perhaps we do deserve it. Yet it seems sometimes that my people seem intent on continuing that suffering, rather than attempting to overcome it. We destroy false Utopias without knowing what a true one would be like, and never strive to find it for ourselves. It is not the same in your world yet...
[He lapses off, shaking his head slightly, as if trying to forget his train of thought. Elloran is not here to be a Utopia Hunter, no matter how much his training prompts him to do so. It is unfair of him to attempt to make her doubt her calling.]

[summons-aeons.livejournal.com]

The time the Calm lasts can fluctuate…this past Calm was perhaps…ten years? Give or take a few. I was very young when my father defeated Sin.

[Her face falls at his words; though she catches the lapse. She did not invite him here to be sad, or to think and talk about something that he does not wish to think about. She calmly reaches out to take his hand, and then pulls him in the direction of the village.]

Come this way. I’ll show you the rest of the village. It’s very pretty. Small, but pretty.

[ton-elloran.livejournal.com]

I see.

[He forces a smile.] Yes. Your world may be small, but it is beautiful.

[The physical contact surprises him. In his own universe it is rare that anyone would touch him without his express permission. There is one, maybe two people he can think of who would have acted as she did, and it the touch that switches his smile from a convincing fake to a genuine grin.]

[summons-aeons.livejournal.com]

[She doesn’t comment further on Sin or her dream of becoming a High Summoner, the thoughts were sad ones and it did no good to dwell on things that could not be changed.]

Come on, then! [She smiles again, and pulls him towards the village (http://tinypic.com/r/52jrcj/3).] I’ll show you my home, and then the temple (http://tinypic.com/r/314bgpw/3). [Even if he thought religion was silly, the temple itself was beautiful.]

[ton-elloran.livejournal.com]

[It was not that he thought that religion was silly - it merely infuriated him when he saw people he cared for hurt by it. Just as any other, he could marvel at the beauty a people could create through their worship. Perhaps he could appreciate it more, having seen so many different forms of worship.

[He tags along behind her, observing the people, the scenery, the feel of the peaceful world.]

Have - ah excuse me, sir - Have you lived here your whole life, Yuna?

[summons-aeons.livejournal.com]

No, actually. I grew up in Bevelle but...[She gestures around with her free hand.] Besaid is my home. Bevelle does not hold many happy memories for me.

[She directs them towards one of the small huts, waving at the people as she moves. Yuna seems to be getting quite a bit of attention, children following her and people making the sign of Yevon in her direction.]

This one is mine.