001 ▻ video

[worldeater]

[On comes the video feed, and the man on the other end seems to consider the screen with distaste for a moment; the pause is long enough to wonder if he's simply going to change his mind and turn it off, but then he speaks. It's a low tone, something that almost sounds like it shouldn't belong to a human, but what is more noticeable is the fact that it is practically dripping with the repugnance of... something. His situation? His audience? All of the above? Red eyes flash with visible impatience as he addresses the network.]

I have been viewing this "network" for several days, watching mortal refugees from other worlds exchange words, images, ideas. Some have accepted and assimilated into their new situation, while others remain resistant and opposed to this place and what they expect of us.

[His lips threaten to curl into a mirthless grin.]

Zahdnu. It is pointless. Do you not see how petty it is? Caught in someone else's conflict, whether you fight or remain ambivalent, it all meets the same end; in time, it will be all be forgotten. All of you will be forgotten. Do you think you will be remembered in a hundred years time, do you think this war they want us to fight will be anything more than a footnote in the history of a thousand years? Five thousand? You should be lucky if your civilizations do not crumble to the ground well before then.

Everything here is noise with no meaning. That I should have to suffer through it is an insult. In defeat, I would have preferred a nothingness, and not forced to live with those whose bodies will decay into dust with time. No dovah, no dragon, deserves such humiliation.

[Well, how's that for a first "hello"? That being said, he simply moves on, as if everything he just declared is not up for debate.]

Those here who considers themselves immortal, a god, or anything more than the majority of those who live in this world -- especially those who find themselves weakened -- my name is Alduin, the World Eater, and I would speak with you.


((ooc; if you're interested in opting-in to Alduin's soul sensing abilities, check out his permissions post here please!))

Comments

video

[abandon_hope]

[ Well. That's more like a callout he's used to. Treating with larger powers than himself? He can play that game, surely. And if it puts a target on his back ... Is it really worse than what he's been through back home? ]

World Eater. I am Nico di Angelo, son of Hades, half-blood of the Underworld. Some call me the Ghost King.

video

[worldeater]

[And this is the kind of response he was hoping to catch in his proverbial net. He peers at the screen for a moment, as if scrutinizing, before he responds.

They are not names he recognizes, but he's hardly expecting to. There are too many worlds here, and likely gods that are alien to his own. But even this is better than nothing.]

Ghost King. An impressive title, but tell me, are your powers worthy of it?

[Or have they been watered down, not unlike his own?]

video;

[brushoff]

Hullo! [ said with a glib wave. ] Dorian Gray, immortal here, hello there ex-dragon.

video;

[worldeater]

[Dorian's attitude is such a stark contrast to his own. Which, of course, mostly consists of condescension.

He's pausing. Judging something. Then he basically scoffs.]

Immortal? Soul shriven. Molag Bal would eagerly claim you as one of his own, should you ever call Nirn your home.

[...like he's supposed to know what any of that would mean.]

Video

[bindsthedead]

But even if in the end everything dies, right now, we're alive.

[Sabriel's tone is deliberately calm, her smile politely subdued.]

Meaningful or not, we'll make our own music out of it.

Video

[worldeater]

[Ugh. Mortals clogging up his responses.]

It is all in vain, and it is well beyond my caring. Scurry about and force meaning into your lives, it is always the same. Mortals do not change, even between infinite worlds.

All I am made to care for is the end.

[inmyothertights]

The world eater?


Wow.

That's dramatic.

[worldeater]

My name and my titles are suited to me. [Dragons take such things very seriously, you know.] It is not an exaggeration.

[Meanwhile, hello supremely magical reading on this one here.]

AUDIO.

[selfimage]

[ he's not sure what he was expecting—Galactus, maybe? ]

"Weakened" is a little broad. There are a few types of that depending which abilities you'd toss into the mix.

[worldeater]

[This one's just audio; Alduin's fine with that, and he matches the feed in turn.]

Weakened is weakened. I ask to catch the attention of those who find themselves as [what's the right word for it?] depleted as myself. Details are sought only afterwards.

[But, since there seems to be an implied question in there:] From immortal to mortal. From unending power to laughable fragility. From dragon to human.

video;

[alcheregis]

[ In a perfectly thematic stage whisper: ]

You're doing the scowling thing again, dearheart.

video;

[worldeater]

[This mortal, she's everywhere.]

Are you immortal, Haen? A god? You hide it well if that be the case.

[This mortal wins sarcasm! Yes, he's capable of that too.]

video

[shuckit]

There's plenty of mountains and deserts to go live in instead.

[ if you're so asspained about living with normal people. he's jussayin. ]

[worldeater]

[As if Alduin would be happy anywhere on this planet. So high maintenance.]

The highest mountain would not stop me from feeling the incessant crawl of humans in this world. Like maggots on a corpse.

[Also a great conversationalist!]

Video

[mightthinkthat]

[He is so terribly amused. This is an epic fit and he feels privileged to see it.]

Does this mean you're about to commit suicide? Shall I call for an ambulance?

[worldeater]

[Alduin's actually restraining himself. You should have seen the epic fit he threw back at home.]

Far be it from me to take my own life, when I would be more inclined to cleanse what ails me, all around me.

[You know, like, you pesky mortals.]

video;

[oceanthief]

We're not any better conversation than humans.

[coming from a race of effectively immortal beings, Lapis knows particularly well that immense power and eternal life doesn't suddenly make a person more worthy of giving a fuck about. she doesn't look particularly moved by anything Alduin's said, but at least she's replying.]

[worldeater]

I am not looking to make idle conversation. I despite wasted words.

[He just wants to know how others of his "kind", so to speak, have been affected by being brought here. He just has to be all dramatic about it, sometimes.]

Video

[darkpants_warmfeeling]

[Red eyes, total disdain for humanity, nihilism towards people's lives, literally introducing himself as the World Eater- this guy is just a bundle of warning signs.]

'World Eater.' Do I want to know why you're called that?

[worldeater]

[At least he isn't inclined to hide any of it, if nothing else.]

Do you lack the imagination to think on it yourself?

video;

[grimreaping]

[ The number of potential headaches Kid can foresee from this new imPort is... high. And he normally doesn't bother with answering this type of call, despite the fact that he is also technically a god (at least at home), but he isn't responding to this message out of ego, but rather caution. ]

Regarding?

[worldeater]

[Alduin gives brief hesitation, only to scrutinize. There's an awful lot of beings and people associated with death in this place -- even if this one seems incomplete, much like a puzzle not yet put together.

This, of course, barely fazes him.]

Regarding the details of your limitations, if any, you have experienced here.

voice.

[increscents]

What are we defining immortality here as? I'm pretty damn hard to kill if that's the idea.

[worldeater]

[Ah, voice-only. No read on a soul, then. His feed changes from video to voice as well.]

Provide me with details, and I can tell you if you fit the definition I prefer.

voice

[forcewound]

That's just like saying "I won't take a bath because I'll get dirty again".

[ Well, kinda. ]

That or you're really bad at saying hello.

[worldeater]

[His feed becomes voice-only, as well.]

Man and mer often revel in their own futility. It would be laughable, if it were not so pathetic.

[...yeah, terrible at saying hello.

Though honestly, Alduin is tired of getting more of these responses than the ones he was hoping for. His tone is something of exasperation, as irritation has receded, or rather, never really truly surfaced in real Alduin fashion.

It's the same ol' song and dance with mortals. This world is no different than the last.]

text;

[cleptes]

Well. Someone likes the sound of their own voice.

voice;

[worldeater]

[That's the understatement of the century.

But -- ugh, text. He's already lost so much being brought here, he's not going to give up using his voice to a piece of technology, even if he ends up speaking to basically written words.]

Someone needn't listen, should they have chose to. And yet, mortals often come in droves to defend their existence.

video

[fastballspeciaaaaal]

So how many worlds have you eaten? Also are you planning on eating this one, cause please don't.

[worldeater]

[If he's going to get very unhelpful responses he's just going to egg some of them on.]

And why not? Have you an attachment to this particular one?

[text]

[makethman]

All sound and fury, signifying nothing, you mean to say?

If that's the case, you're rather enthusiastic to enlighten us on the matter.

[worldeater]

[Text is met with voice!]

Just as many here are as enthusiastic to tell me otherwise. Will you be one, as well?

Video

[dreamshades]

[ Ugh, this guy. Peter's just kind of listening and thinking how literally stupid this person, this "World Eater" is. Far too confident, strutting and posing like he's top dog around here. And Dragon? Peter scoffs at that before he gestures to the camera, as if indicating to an audience. ]

I don't think subtly declaring war on a land filled with heroes is such a good idea, chum. Despite being a World Eater and all.

[ Yes, he can read between the lines. But while Peter's interested to speak with Alduin privately, publicly he must show he considers the display distasteful. ]

[worldeater]

[Alduin pauses, looking at the screen, considering something. Whatever it is, he doesn't appear to mention it directly, as he only responds to Peter's statement and nothing else.]

I do not recall declaring a war, only observations.

[Though it certainly did not sound amicable, did it?]

Regardless, the term heroes is not something that has ever dissuaded me in the past.

text; id reads 'Scarlet Witch'

[witchplease]

you are thinking that these things only matter if they are permanent?

you must be very lonely.

[worldeater]

[His response is voice.]

Lonely? [He almost scoffs at that.] Lonely is not the proper word to describe me, and you misunderstand. Things do not matter if they are permanent. They often do not matter at all.

[resipiscent]

You can't die, then? Must be convenient.

[worldeater]

[Well. He couldn't. His physical body very much can now; he can feel it in every breath.]

Until the world is at an end, my soul is immortal. Does this satisfy your curiosity?

[All these responses, hardly any that he's actually looking for.]

video

[scleras]

[Uta appears in a brightly colored mask, not that it means much in this situation, but the detail is important.]

Except the real question is: Are you looking for love?

[worldeater]

[Well, the only real response to that can be:]

What?

[wonk]

whether u deserve humiliation is meaningless + will be forgotten in the next universe quit ur fucking whining

[worldeater]

[What is with this text. His response is voice.]

As I have seen, I am free to say what I like here.

[His way of saying just keep scrollin' then.]

video

[airshow]

Wooooow you're a chatty Cathy. So what's a world usually taste like, huh? Sweet? Salty? Is there a creamy center? I have a lot of questions!

[worldeater]

[Everyone here sure is fixated on his title. These responses are often met less seriously, as Alduin allows his sardonic side out for them.]

I imagine that depends on the world itself. I've not yet the chance to discover it for this one.

audio;

[hisheartsdesire]

Well, I don't know the details, but I've heard imPorts who die here simply return to life. Even if the natives are prone to death and decay, I wonder that perhaps all those like us, from other worlds, are immortal in one sense or other.

[worldeater]

Is there not a difference between true immortality and something akin to... [well, what would be the closest he could reference?] ...necromancy? One is destined to live forever; the other is merely recycled.

Or do you view it differently, given your nature?

[Yes, he's already gotten a read on this guy.]

video

[mousquetaire]

So life only matters if it's eternal?

[ Is he hearing this right? D'Artagnan's eyes almost roll right out of his head. ]

You're wrong. We all learn and grow older, we have children and teach them to live better than we did. None of that would matter if we all lived forever. We'll be remembered by those we love, and that's all that matters.

[worldeater]

[Oh here we go, another one. Alduin has adopted apathy at this point.]

Most of you are far too small to see that you live in a tedious cycle. Your children may live better, but what of those that do not? It is a stale [a pause, a mental search for the right word in a tongue that isn't his] equilibrium; you talk of improvement, but there are more of you would rather destroy it all for a single cause. For all that you learn, you forget it all again -- history repeats, endlessly. And one day, it will just end.

An eternal suffering in the planes of Oblivion is not nearly as miserable as the existence of your kind.

voice; sorry im double tagging but i couldn't help it with this one

[glitchinthesystem]

[ He'd like to let you finish, Auldin but he has come here to say something.

Just very loud gagging noises are made. Like he's choking and then he coughs. ]

Ugh, 'scuse me. I was choking on all the bullshit in here

i don't mind at all!

[worldeater]

[Alduin just sounds very bored at this point.]

Mey. Another come to defend their transient existence?