hadriel | 001 [Video]

[For those who frequent the tops of the various climbable buildings in Hadriel, they might recognize that this broadcast is from the roof of one of them due to the angle; otherwise it's just a rapidly darkening cloudy sky for a backdrop, sun setting and rain clearly threatening to roll in at any time.

It's pretty, and that may or may not be the reason why Connor is out on a roof in the first place, but it's definitely not the point of this impromptu broadcast. He's just been wondering some things, and it's in his nature to actively search out answers rather than waiting for them to come to him, so he's decided to just go for it.]

Hello everyone; my name is Connor, and I just arrived a few days ago.

[Always good to start with introductions, and also to avoid saying exactly how many days or hours it's been since a given time when pretending to be human. He's getting a little better at this.]

I've been catching up on the situation at hand, and although the context is somewhat different, there are parallels to current events in my world that are difficult to ignore. Before I arrived, we were dealing with what might be the beginning of a civil war between humans and machines.

[He's trying to tread carefully, projecting enough genuine interest without sounding over-invested. He's just asking, after all, nothing more; there's definitely no personal reason why he wants to know.]

So I'm curious; I'm aware that what the Null have done is enough reason to be against them, but does what they are play any role in your feelings toward them?

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[Connor won't mention that it isn't always the case that machines are harder to kill than other beings, but perhaps it really is here since he's heard it more than once. Or maybe the people here just don't know how to do it.]

Why were you fighting balrogs and dragons?

[He knows what they are from his cultural information database, although who knows if they're actually the same things as what Maglor is referring to.]

[ It is less a smile than a baring of teeth ]

Why would I not?

[ Maglor says almost alarmingly cheerfully, with a cold fire burning in his eyes ]

They are servants of the Enemy, true, but no less dangerous for being lesser.

Why are they serving this Enemy of yours? Are all of them doing so?

[Something isn't adding up here for him, so he'd like to know a bit more.]

They chose that road long ago. [ Maglor answers, cold flame burning and gaze distant ]

Morgoth seduced many to his side, spirits of flame, mostly, but also those of shadow and ice. Even Osse of the Storms, briefly. But those who swore themselves to him came to echo him in all things, shadows of dread beneath his greater shadow.

So their species does play a role in how you regard them?

[He's not quite following the logic of this conversation, possibly because a whole lot of it is world-specific.]

Their allegiance. [ Maglor corrects ]

Lord Osse renounced Morgoth and his ilk and although his storms still bring trouble, he has ever been a friend to those of like mind. [ Also, has not drowned Maglor despite Maglor wandering by the coastlines for the last several thousand years and Osse having reasons to be mad at him ] But the Balrogs and the Dragons - they are Morgoth's entirely, and like their master, delight in destruction.

Not a single one of their entire species disagrees with the actions of the others?

[He finds that hard to believe, in addition to the issue he isn't even going to try going into about wondering why they would align themselves with some sort of great evil. It isn't always a simple reason, after all.]

They all swore themselves to him. [ Maglor shakes his head ] By the time they were bound into their final shapes, there was no returning - they certainly had time before, as Lord Osse did!

[As far as Connor is concerned that answer is pretty much confirmation that their species matters; whether or not it was an issue of allegiance before, they were then made into beings that couldn't change their minds, at least as far as he's getting from this story.

So he doesn't see much point in continuing the discussion, and decides to politely disengage.]

I see. Thank you for the information.

[ It was their choice, in the end, as it was not for the orcs, and none of the elves forget that, that those who should have been friends and guardians chose to become terrors instead ]

Little joy may you have in the knowing! But it is yours to do with as you will.

001 [Video]

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