A Gift

The following letter appears in locations all around the globe

To the [strike]peoples[/strike] nations of Arawyn:

Your situation regarding Necrophitus Arcane has not gone unnoticed. After some due diligence, I find it incumbent upon myself to become involved. Unable to ignore the current distractions at play, I attempted to meet with the individual in question. While I did appreciate his constructive comments, overall, his response left me nonplussed, though I suppose I shouldn't be surprised by one who began life as one of you mortals. I come now to you all with a gift. I suggest, for your sakes, that you choose to accept it.

Enclosed in this letter is the recipe for the flawed members of my race. These notes were meticulously transcribed. If correctly implemented, you may well be able to conjure armies enough to remove Necrophitus' advantage from his undead hordes. Do understand I am taking what you might term as a leap of faith, as the recipe is far from simple. I've done my best to outline the necessary steps and components in as basic terms as possible, and aligned them with the standards accepted by scientific, peer-reviewed journals in Londwyn so you'll have a paradigm by which to proceed. If you are not successful, which remains a potential outcome, I will take it as a reflection of your inability to grasp rudimentary instructions, and you will enjoy the consequences of such a failure. Good luck. You'll need it.

~Eden

Ms. Eden,

As a Lonwynian academic, I cannot help but thank you for the choice in formatting, as it greatly assists in comprehension.
The recipe you have included is interesting as it is more complete than the notations from the ramblings of the gentleman known as Heimdall.
I should like to tender my thanks in your generosity in this matter and would hope that the temporary truce it seems you have called has a chance of lasting.

In Science and Progress,
Dr. Nigel Whitworth

I didn't know you were capable of feeling emotions....how does it feel to be afraid?

Anyone else curious about the "constructive" comments old dead bones gave Eden?

Probably somethin' like 'join me or I'll turn all your hum...hom...Bloody 'ell Almost-men inta undead mwahahahaha!'

Eden probably didna like it bein' as she wants to take o'er Arawyn fra herself.

Eden,

If you're reading, because I think ye cannae help but read, Surrender now. I was one of those that helped stop Yo-Yo, and saw to it she was fixed. I'll be 'round to see you fall. It will be humiliating. It will be infuriating. It is inevitable. But there is one way to avoid it: Surrender, or get given a kicking by this town, helped by this Hibernian.

Thank you Eden. I hope this truce and this help last long. I appreciate you reaching out, and giving us this gift.

Travance,
Be careful with this “gift” we do not know if Eden can some how use this new “army” against us once dealing with Necrophitus.

On the other hand, it could in fact truly be a gesture to aid us and not turn against us.

Just weigh your options and be careful. This is all of Arawyn in both scenarios after all.


-March Warden Caelvan Renaith McKraegar

Eden,

The worst kind of falsehood is the one that bears some truth. The omission of your reasons does not make your motives any less transparent. Let the credulous and naive fall for your tactics, but not us.

For our sakes it would be better not to treat with you as you would do no less than pounce on the weakened victor of the conflict between Necrophitus and us. Having an army of imperfects would in the short term aid us in our fight against him who would seek to destroy and subjugate. However, having an army of imperfects that you could subsequently control would not be to our advantage as we have seen your desire to destroy and subjugate.
The best that you could do is repent for your sins, redress the harm that you have done to others, and turn yourself over to the just authority to pay for your crimes.

Father Ephrem

Good luck to the Alchemists, who are probably very giddy about their chance to understand what it is like to create a construct.

Advice from someone who has succumbed to their own creations before:

Do not create anything you are not willing and able to put down.

Dear Eden,

You can't hear it, but I am laughing at both you and this ludicrous proposal. Your perception of mortals is so adorably short-sighted. Ever consider that your quest for power is because you feel incomplete? There's another word for that isn't there. I'm sure of it. Oh. Right. Imperfect. Please, by all means, continue to underestimate us. It will work in our favor.

"Do not create anything you are not willing and able to put down."
Travance should have listened to your advice long ago, Leliana. When they first met Eden.

Eden,
Not all of us can be scared into accepting a dagger veiled as aid. You know what I want and whose help we would accept. Besides, I made a promise to Lazarus almost 2 years ago now. I intend to keep it.

We need all the help we can get, and we need to take offers and gifts like this seriously. This will be a big fight and I would personally like to say thank you to Eden for giving us the recipe to aid us in this war.

I'm fighting for Andorra here, and my family. And for the world. So we must do whatever we can to win.

Are you willing to pay the price for this "help"? Eden plays the long game and offers nothing for free. This isn't a gift, this is exploiting a weak point to lay groundwork for a future step in her plan.

I'm sure Andorra would love to see lives manufactured in mass for the sole purpose of being sent to a brutal end in her name. When they are slaughtered - and they will be - are you willing to carry the weight of their deaths on your head? Ask allies to fight beside you, don't create beings you view as lesser just to order them to die for you.

I'm fighting for the world too, and have been repeatedly risking my life to prevent Necrophitus from gaining more power sources. I know the stakes. But I realize we are facing two threats, not just one. Taking your eye off the enemy that is circling in order to fight the one squaring up before you is how you get stabbed in the back. I'm also fighting for my family and friends. Several of whom she has murdered and sent their forms/ undead bodies to taunt and attack me to her own great amusement. Assuming there is an ounce of altruism or compassion for our plight in Eden is naïveté we cannot afford. At best she is a cat prolonging the life of an insect so she can play with it further before devouring it.

Squire Kestrel summed up my thoughts best, but I will add a small amount of my own.

We do need all the help we can to win, but not at the expense of losing the world when we are exhausted, just to face a new enemy that we helped create.
This army could be(and probably is) a trap set up by Eden. Sure, it will let us beat Necrophitus. But it may also at the same time be used to turn against us after we are exhausted from the fight.

In the end this is Travance's decision and I will abide by it. But please remember, by doing this, we may save the world from shadow, but that doesn't mean that we save it from darkness.

You are not the only one fighting for your family. You are not the only one fighting for the world.

-March Warden Caelvan Renaith McKraegar

---

They wouldn't be lesser in my eyes, and I would hope they would have lives after this battle.
Pride is a great asset, but can also be our greatest downfall. I believe in us, I truly do. We are strong. But to sit here and not accept help, whatever way it's coming seems foolish. This is a very big battle and Nercophitus is not some run of the mill enemy. He is strong, so very strong and we need all the help we can get. I consider all of you allies. And like I said I believe in all of us and I know we all have stakes in this war, as I have a stake in this war as well.
But it is all your decision and I will stand by and respect whatever Travance chooses as I don't want to force my opinions on others. I thank you for you words.

You speak as though we don't understand how serious a threat Necrophitus is. I have watched his vile reach extend over the world and try to corrupt and destroy beings of incredible extra planar strength to take their power for himself. Yes, this is the big battle, but some of us have already been fighting his influence for a while now. Fixing one small piece of what he has done nearly killed me, and while I survived, I still paid a price. Others more powerful than I, including March Warden Caelvan, have already given their lives for this goal. The losses General Magnus' forces have taken are almost unimaginable. Nevertheless, we continued from there to thwart his plans and go to the aid of those besieged by him however and wherever we could. The sacrifices have been worth it. Hell, even a god has been forced to hide. I have been to the Wastes and heard his voice booming over the expanse to chide an Arcanum as though he were a child. I have seen the Soul Devourer with my own eyes. I am fully aware of the degree of threat Necrophitus poses. Knowing all this, I still stand by my statements.

I do not want to see the shortsightedness of Travance with regard to Eden once again play right into her hand and lay a trap for those who survive the battle with Necrophitus.

Yes, we need all the help we can get. Have all of our allies been called upon? If so, then let's figure out how to best use the resources we have. If not, then call them. Though our timeline may be short for them to arrive now. They have just as much a stake in saving this world as we do.

Along those lines, I have some letters to send and other plans to follow up on. One of the side benefits of being a freelance seafaring acquisitions specialist is knowing a lot of people with access to a lot of cannons.

The ends never justify the means.

Annora and Blue Kestrel have expressed my thoughts on this.

If you wish to create Homunculi based on this formula, at least wait until after the one who has usurped Father's power and knowledge sleeps on the red snow, or is otherwise defeated.

And even then, be aware you are creating life, not simply an object to do your bidding.

Annora and Kestrel are right. We are facing a war against a great foe. I have seen the devastation he has wrought, I have faced his forces head on alongside Magnus and the Komyrian Army. Good people died in order to fight his influence, and we need resources and help in order to face him at our full strength. Just not from her. It would be a mockery to those who have fallen if we accept aid from her. As Annora has said, the ends never justify the means.

Kaiva, I admire your devotion to your god. I respect your steadfast resolve to seek compassion for others. But don't assume that someone who is offering to help is truly seeking redemption. This is someone who has broken our trust time and time again. Trust isn't something that is easy to repair. Keep in mind that though she has an olive branch in one hand, there is a knife in the other.

Heed Kestrel's suggestion. Find proven allies. Fight with valor and conviction. Fight for the ones you love without compromising who you are. We'll beat this bastard.

-Kanas

This is certainly a trap. And a very obvious one. I was there when the Kormyrian army fell. I was there when Magnus had to drop kick us through a portal. We don't need numbers to win this fight. Numbers mean nothing in this battle. We had numbers. They all died with their weapons still in their sheaths. A humunculi army will only serve Edens own ends.

The above is not inaccurate, this is most certainly a trap. I'm sure Eden wants Necrophitus gone as much as the next powerful immortal throwing in with our lot, but she's also planning the long game. Any homunculi we make are either going to be an army she can take control of or a snack, probably both. If I was her, I'd be pretty bemused watching us all go "its a trap" and then doing it anyways because of how desperate we are. Hell I'm kind of surprised she didn't include "Yes this is definitely a trap but your going to do it because otherwise end of the world and all..." in her missive.

On that note, I love a good trap, and like any good son of Coast Haven I learned a very long time ago that just about every offer of help is from someone plotting to betray you, so we started doing this thing where we accept the help, and then we check it out, do a bit of reconnaissance, maybe ask a few people, do some research and figure out exactly what the trap is. So top priority, getting ready for lift off, but while on the cart ride with supplies for Magnus I'm gonna look over this formula, if anyone wants to join me, and compare notes feel free to send me a bird.

Kaiva,

I don't think you understand what it is she's offering. You won't see these soldiers as lesser, but they are called "flawed" because they are not like other living things. They exist only to serve one purpose, which is, in this case, to fight. And they will fight, and die, and fight, and die, and fight and die and fight and die over and over and over and over and over and over...Even if she didn't plan to turn them around on us, they have no free will. They can't think for themselves. They just do what they were made to do with no question. No choice. No thought. Just blind purpose. To even bring a creature into an existence like that has to be one of the cruelest acts I can even think of, and I will have no part of it. I hope none of you will either, please.

-Midori Suarez
Daughter of Mercy

An army will not help us defeat the god-eater. We had an army. They all dropped dead. This humunculi army would not serve to see Necrophitus defeated but would only serve to see Eden victorious. Numbers won't defeat Necrophitus; they mean nothing against an enemy such as him. The strength of our convictions, our unity, and our valor is what will win us the day.

I am with Midori, I will have no hand in this cruelty and foolishness. it's not just about why we decide to fight Travance but also how we choose to do so.

I will apologize. I was misinformed. I thought the people being made would be perfects and have wills of there own. I will apologize. I didn't know they would be considered mindless I thought they would have minds and be allies.

Kaiva,

I didn't think you would have supported this if you knew that. It's why I explained. Come find me some time and I can teach you what I know.

-Midori Suarez
Daughter of Mercy

Those who acknowledge wrongdoing and seek forgiveness, find it granted to them. We who conjure Her miracles have no say in this.

Yet someone who sees no wrong and seeks no recompense, nothing is owed but an offer of surrender.

~Nalick

Travance,

Knowing how to create and actually creating them are two different things. I would not take Eden up on this "free" help she is offering as I don't see her information being the most trustworthy. Don't look in the wrong places for information. Sometimes the information is under your nose or with someone you know.

Please seek me out if you have any of her information please get it to me somehow. If you have questions as to why please message me with them and not post them here.

Raxas

Thanks for the gift, Eden. I'll append my notes.