A Speech of Covert Repercussions (Open, Site Plot)

(I do apologize for my lengthy absence. Let us see where these events carry us, shall we? All are welcome to join the activity. This is a plot that anyone can participate in.)

It is singularly strange, how simple things can sometimes be the most challenging. The opening of the gateways between the worlds had created opportunities for those residing within them, opportunities both for travel, for learning, and for development that would not be otherwise possible.

Worlds that had never known the power of the Summoners were suddenly made aware that such things existed, people who had the ability to harness and command great beasts to defend them in battle… or to play gently with the children as a somewhat intelligent nursemaid of sorts.

Some of these creatures had more friendly demeanors than others, but the ability to catch and to tame them was causing changes… and not everyone found such changes to be beneficial for all involved.

This particular afternoon, a crowd gathers in the town square, watching in interest as several of these tamed creatures work with a group of chainmail wearing knights to build a platform. When they are done, the creatures dissolve into energy and are encapsulated within strange boxes which the knights carry from loops on their swordbelts.

A man steps forward to mount the stairs to the top of the platform. He is of, perhaps, early middle age, with pale lavender colored hair and matching eyes, and wearing a singularly ornate garment that resembles the robes that scholars tend to wear, though with much more decoration than any mere scholar would think to have.

Scholars, after all, usually have things on their minds other than the impressiveness of their adornments.

The man turns to the crowd and holds his hands out for their attention, and when he has it, then he speaks.

"Good citizens, I come to you today to plead the cause of those who have no voices! We call them Beasts, Monsters; we take them from their natural environments and drive them into battle at our command, but can we truly say that we do not wrong them in this? These creatures we presume to command are wondrous and amazing and we do not understand them or their ways. To think that we can make servants of them is a cruelty that cannot be endured!"

A murmuring rises up from the crowd and he lifts his hands again for silence. "I do not claim that all who partner with these creatures mistreat them, or even intend to do so, but the temptation is there. We cannot allow our own hubris to cause harm or damage to these creatures, who have no true voice with which to argue their case!"

He stands with his hands outstretched in a pleading manner. "Please, all I ask is that you carefully consider your relationship with these creatures and I am confident that you will come to the correct, the inescapable, conclusion and do what is right."

The man descends from the platform, which is quickly disassembled as the knights call back their creature assistants and then they depart from the square in formation around him.

Once they are gone, voices rise up again as the crowd disperses, discussing the strange speech.

A Moomba stands off to the side, garbed in a scholar's coat with spectacles perched on his nose as he scratches his head in confusion, trying to decipher just what it was that happened here.

Mystic was just in the World of Three. Loving to explore new places, the boy looked around, and found none other than a new town. The boy explored his surroundings, attempting to steal once or twice, only suceeding once, and he only got a few gil out of it. But the boy didn't care. He soon saw a crowd form in the town square, which caught the attention of the boy. Mystic followed the crowd and soon stopped where the crowd was. The boy tried to peek over the people, but alas, he was just a little runt, unable to see above them The boy quieted down as he heard voices. Something about creatures and habitats? Mystic didn't understand it that much. As the man at the platform silenced, and the crowd disperses, the boy could only tilt his head, trying to figure this out himself. The boy just aimlessly stood in the square still, thinking about what he just heard.

The Shaman stood amongst the crowd listening intently to the speech the man in the metal armor gave, taking in the words and rolling them over in his mind. A speech about how the animals were being treated? Not the usual speech he had heard before in small town squares, but very unique one indeed. It was the kind of speech meant to provoke thought and change hearts, a well-placed arrow set to stir a debate.

John started to think and sometimes that was a good thing. What brought this man and his ‘band’ to the town? What brought him here to ‘plead’ for these creatures? There were domesticated beast all around, some trained to do the arduous labor a regular citizen couldn’t and others to provide essential needs like eggs and milk. Were these creatures the ones he spoke of, or was he mentioning another animal all together. He was most certainly talking about those wild beasts caged and broken so as to be commanded by another, animals used by warriors to ride into battle. Yet, what about the ones farmers had around to do work? Did the man consider it the same?

There was a sudden shriek overhead causing John to look up and see his friend Ohitika soaring high on the thermals above the town in the sun on this afternoon. The Shaman started to think about his animal friends, his ‘pets’ as Wahkan called them. All his life he had an affinity with the animal world, probably from his Shamanism, and yet so much more seemed to be this bond he forged with his animal companions. John couldn’t remember a time when he did not have an animal friend and he could not remember a time of ever having to search for a companion. Take his friend Ohitika the Golden Eagle. The great bird sought him out personally, flying alongside the Siang Tien Tang as the air ship travelled the skies. It was only after several appearances did the Eagle finally come close enough to speak.

And there was that too…John talked with his pets. No one could understand the connection between him and Ohitika or Ishta his ferret friend. It wasn’t talking as you would think of a conversation between two beings, but something on a whole new level. . He never had to cage or break the spirits of his friends. It was a choice each made to stay at his side.

As the crowd dispersed John looked around and wondered what effect the speech would have on the people. He also wondered if they would come to this ‘inescapable’ conclusion the man was so sure they would after careful consideration.

John decided to stay around and see what would come of this ‘decision’.