William Ronald
Explorer
Out of the Darkness and into the Light
Edena, Hazen was seeking a way to stop the Dark Powers and it seemed logical to find their location and try to find a way to keep them away from Oerth and the other worlds. Sorry I did not post earlier, but the boards were down.
Sometimes to fight evil, you must confront it on its own ground. Here is a post that I worked on writing while the boards were down.
The background shimmers, and Hazen appearing as a mortal man appears. Surrounded by the dark powers, speaks:
“Alzem, please go. This is my struggle. I must triumph over my own darkness.”
“I have ever been a seeker for truth. I seek to save my world and other worlds. Thus, my quest.”
“You claim that your power is eternal and infinite. All I see is someone who is consumed with their own sorrow. Seeking a balm, you chose the pain of others. Yet it will never truly assuage your pain”
“Beyond all darkness and all suffering is a Light eternal. The Creative Power. I stand in the presence of those who deem themselves wiser than the Eternal. You offer me a choice of staying or leaving and condemning a friend, a brother, to eternal damnation. I reject both choices. However, I would stay rather than condemn Alzem to this place.”
“I pledge myself to the service of my world and life itself. You oppose life. In your pride, you fear all that you are not. You fear any will not your own. You have rejected the freedom you have granted and sought to enslave others. Yet you do not see your own chains.”
“In a sense, I do pity you. You fall short of your potential for goodness and love. It is within you, were you to admit it. You have perhaps said that you have no choice in your actions. Or told this to others. We always have choices.”
“I reject your hatred, I reject the desire to enslave others. I embrace love, compassion, freedom, forgiveness, and mercy. These are the things that you fear. Perhaps you are even afraid of these things for yourselves. Perhaps your redemption is beyond me. But if you do not seek it, you will never find it.”
“I can oppose you and your desires without becoming like you. We all have choices. That is my choice.”
“For myself, I believe that the Light is greater than the Darkness, Hope is stronger than Despair, Forgiveness more powerful than Revenge, and Love, above all else, is greater than hate.”
“I forgive you even as I oppose your efforts. I have seen the Angels fight, without hate in their hearts. With regret, perhaps, but in the service of Light and Love. Even if their bitterest foe were to repent on the middle of the battlefield, they would embrace him as a brother. As would I.”
“Even as you attack me, I do not attack you.” Hazen walks over to Alzem and lends the Solar of St. Cuthbert a hand to stand. If Alzem is attacked, Hazen tries to take the blows aimed at the Solar. He does not counterattack, but merely seeks to defend. “In a way, I feel sorry for you dark powers. You seem to be bound together only by hate. Love and friendship is stronger. By far. Your loneliness and pain must be great. Reject them. Embrace the light.”
“If the people of Oerth, Krynn, Mystara, Toril, and Athas reject you and your ways, you have no power. Indeed, perhaps the only power you have is what we chose to give you. I reject you, your power and your hate. From this place, I urge them to reject you.”
“I humbly ask that the peoples of Toril, Oerth, Krynn, Athas, and Mystara stand together as one. We are brothers, regardless of the flesh that we wear. I forgave the Underdark Alliance for their plans of war against me, and they have forgiven the war I waged against them. I have peace, with neighbors and friends, where there were once enemies.”
“I was angry with Forrester for his actions. However, I think it is possible that he could be forgiven if he asks and seeks to correct his deeds. He has vanished, and I fear for him. Sometimes, a soul can fall into darkness. However, it can rise to the light.”
“Perhaps Forrester sought to save the world he loved. This is something I can understand as a motivation, even if I disapprove of the actions.” Hazen looks around swiftly, trying to see if Forrester or other innocents are here with him.
If they are, he says to them. “Reject the darkness and hate. Embrace life, light, and love, and the goodness that is within you and the goodness that is greater than any darkness or hate. You can free yourself if you choose, my friend. Remember, there is Love also in the worlds.” If Alzem is all right, he will try to help any other souls in danger
“I reject you, and pray that Rao will strengthen me in my faith. Even beyond Rao, there are even greater powers of light. In a far place, I saw people of many different faiths, many forms, and many cultures call out to the Eternal One, who is beyond all words of praise and glorification, whom they yet praise and glorify. This was in a world without magic, but science. Although the people of that world brought great destruction on themselves, still they believe. As do I.”
“I embrace the light and reject the Darkness. I embrace a brother who risked everything for me. Go, Alzem. I will try to join you.”
Turning towards the souls in darkness, Hazen speaks “Reject hate. Reject revenge. Embrace love. Embrace forgiveness. Redemption is not easy but perhaps if you truly seek it, you shall find it. It would not be easy, but little of true value is ever easy. The way is before you if you seek it.”
With a thought, Hazen fills his mind with an image of a Light Eternal, that power whom before the Angels bow and the fiends tremble. He focuses on it and returning to his body.
“For Light, for Love, For Freedom, For Peace, For Justice, For Life, For all the worlds. May Rao and the powers of Good bless my people and all the worlds and their peoples.”
Hazen will attempt to leave.
(OOC: Edena, I spent an hour or so working on this. I do not know if it will work. If possible, Hazen will try to bring any soul truly seeking its way out of this dark place into the Light with him. He is not trying to bring the Dark Powers out, but is willing to help carry and support those who are sincerely seeking redemption. If this is beyond his power, he will try to encourage them to seek the Light and try to return to his body and Oerth.
I also ran this past Alzem, who asked that I add his reply.)
Alzem nods at Hazen, he knows that there are battles one must fight alone. This one is Hazen’s, to fight as he must. As Hazen starts to leave to continue his battle, Alzem grabs his arm, and looks into his eyes.
“Hazen, more than any other I know what you face here today. But know this you are never alone, that was my downfall, thinking no other stood beside me. Take this”
At this Alzem oust his hand to his chest and pulls forth a ball of pure white Fire.
“This is part of my essence, this is what I have placed to the side for this conflict. I do not know if what I have done is right, but I believe it is for the best. This is the fire of my emotions, the love and compassion I have buried to see this job done. Take this.”
Now Alzem passes the fire to Hazen’s chest where it is absorbed into his skin forming a protective barrier around Hazen’s heart to help him endure what he must now do.
“This will see you through your darkest time, this was my purpose here, this is why the angels protected me in the last war, and protect you now. I will wait for you when you return, and know that you are never alone.”
After this is said Alzem will stand there and watch as Hazen walks his own path, both knowing that each would have sacrificed himself to save the other. Also knowing that now neither will really ever be alone.
Alzem looks up and address the Dark Powers of the place. With a voice of authority never heard from him before, a voice that could command even the Angels
“There goes one who will best you. He has a greater destiny than even you can darken.”
“Be at peace my friend I will await your return”
(To which I add)
Hazen accepts the gift with a smile and says. "Do not fear my friend. As soon as I can, I shall return your gift. Love can strengthen determination."
Edena, Hazen was seeking a way to stop the Dark Powers and it seemed logical to find their location and try to find a way to keep them away from Oerth and the other worlds. Sorry I did not post earlier, but the boards were down.
Sometimes to fight evil, you must confront it on its own ground. Here is a post that I worked on writing while the boards were down.
The background shimmers, and Hazen appearing as a mortal man appears. Surrounded by the dark powers, speaks:
“Alzem, please go. This is my struggle. I must triumph over my own darkness.”
“I have ever been a seeker for truth. I seek to save my world and other worlds. Thus, my quest.”
“You claim that your power is eternal and infinite. All I see is someone who is consumed with their own sorrow. Seeking a balm, you chose the pain of others. Yet it will never truly assuage your pain”
“Beyond all darkness and all suffering is a Light eternal. The Creative Power. I stand in the presence of those who deem themselves wiser than the Eternal. You offer me a choice of staying or leaving and condemning a friend, a brother, to eternal damnation. I reject both choices. However, I would stay rather than condemn Alzem to this place.”
“I pledge myself to the service of my world and life itself. You oppose life. In your pride, you fear all that you are not. You fear any will not your own. You have rejected the freedom you have granted and sought to enslave others. Yet you do not see your own chains.”
“In a sense, I do pity you. You fall short of your potential for goodness and love. It is within you, were you to admit it. You have perhaps said that you have no choice in your actions. Or told this to others. We always have choices.”
“I reject your hatred, I reject the desire to enslave others. I embrace love, compassion, freedom, forgiveness, and mercy. These are the things that you fear. Perhaps you are even afraid of these things for yourselves. Perhaps your redemption is beyond me. But if you do not seek it, you will never find it.”
“I can oppose you and your desires without becoming like you. We all have choices. That is my choice.”
“For myself, I believe that the Light is greater than the Darkness, Hope is stronger than Despair, Forgiveness more powerful than Revenge, and Love, above all else, is greater than hate.”
“I forgive you even as I oppose your efforts. I have seen the Angels fight, without hate in their hearts. With regret, perhaps, but in the service of Light and Love. Even if their bitterest foe were to repent on the middle of the battlefield, they would embrace him as a brother. As would I.”
“Even as you attack me, I do not attack you.” Hazen walks over to Alzem and lends the Solar of St. Cuthbert a hand to stand. If Alzem is attacked, Hazen tries to take the blows aimed at the Solar. He does not counterattack, but merely seeks to defend. “In a way, I feel sorry for you dark powers. You seem to be bound together only by hate. Love and friendship is stronger. By far. Your loneliness and pain must be great. Reject them. Embrace the light.”
“If the people of Oerth, Krynn, Mystara, Toril, and Athas reject you and your ways, you have no power. Indeed, perhaps the only power you have is what we chose to give you. I reject you, your power and your hate. From this place, I urge them to reject you.”
“I humbly ask that the peoples of Toril, Oerth, Krynn, Athas, and Mystara stand together as one. We are brothers, regardless of the flesh that we wear. I forgave the Underdark Alliance for their plans of war against me, and they have forgiven the war I waged against them. I have peace, with neighbors and friends, where there were once enemies.”
“I was angry with Forrester for his actions. However, I think it is possible that he could be forgiven if he asks and seeks to correct his deeds. He has vanished, and I fear for him. Sometimes, a soul can fall into darkness. However, it can rise to the light.”
“Perhaps Forrester sought to save the world he loved. This is something I can understand as a motivation, even if I disapprove of the actions.” Hazen looks around swiftly, trying to see if Forrester or other innocents are here with him.
If they are, he says to them. “Reject the darkness and hate. Embrace life, light, and love, and the goodness that is within you and the goodness that is greater than any darkness or hate. You can free yourself if you choose, my friend. Remember, there is Love also in the worlds.” If Alzem is all right, he will try to help any other souls in danger
“I reject you, and pray that Rao will strengthen me in my faith. Even beyond Rao, there are even greater powers of light. In a far place, I saw people of many different faiths, many forms, and many cultures call out to the Eternal One, who is beyond all words of praise and glorification, whom they yet praise and glorify. This was in a world without magic, but science. Although the people of that world brought great destruction on themselves, still they believe. As do I.”
“I embrace the light and reject the Darkness. I embrace a brother who risked everything for me. Go, Alzem. I will try to join you.”
Turning towards the souls in darkness, Hazen speaks “Reject hate. Reject revenge. Embrace love. Embrace forgiveness. Redemption is not easy but perhaps if you truly seek it, you shall find it. It would not be easy, but little of true value is ever easy. The way is before you if you seek it.”
With a thought, Hazen fills his mind with an image of a Light Eternal, that power whom before the Angels bow and the fiends tremble. He focuses on it and returning to his body.
“For Light, for Love, For Freedom, For Peace, For Justice, For Life, For all the worlds. May Rao and the powers of Good bless my people and all the worlds and their peoples.”
Hazen will attempt to leave.
(OOC: Edena, I spent an hour or so working on this. I do not know if it will work. If possible, Hazen will try to bring any soul truly seeking its way out of this dark place into the Light with him. He is not trying to bring the Dark Powers out, but is willing to help carry and support those who are sincerely seeking redemption. If this is beyond his power, he will try to encourage them to seek the Light and try to return to his body and Oerth.
I also ran this past Alzem, who asked that I add his reply.)
Alzem nods at Hazen, he knows that there are battles one must fight alone. This one is Hazen’s, to fight as he must. As Hazen starts to leave to continue his battle, Alzem grabs his arm, and looks into his eyes.
“Hazen, more than any other I know what you face here today. But know this you are never alone, that was my downfall, thinking no other stood beside me. Take this”
At this Alzem oust his hand to his chest and pulls forth a ball of pure white Fire.
“This is part of my essence, this is what I have placed to the side for this conflict. I do not know if what I have done is right, but I believe it is for the best. This is the fire of my emotions, the love and compassion I have buried to see this job done. Take this.”
Now Alzem passes the fire to Hazen’s chest where it is absorbed into his skin forming a protective barrier around Hazen’s heart to help him endure what he must now do.
“This will see you through your darkest time, this was my purpose here, this is why the angels protected me in the last war, and protect you now. I will wait for you when you return, and know that you are never alone.”
After this is said Alzem will stand there and watch as Hazen walks his own path, both knowing that each would have sacrificed himself to save the other. Also knowing that now neither will really ever be alone.
Alzem looks up and address the Dark Powers of the place. With a voice of authority never heard from him before, a voice that could command even the Angels
“There goes one who will best you. He has a greater destiny than even you can darken.”
“Be at peace my friend I will await your return”
(To which I add)
Hazen accepts the gift with a smile and says. "Do not fear my friend. As soon as I can, I shall return your gift. Love can strengthen determination."
