Post by Baalthazar on Feb 1, 2015 16:07:36 GMT -5
Baalthazar stood atop a twelve story building in the business district of one of Earth's larger cities. He had been standing in this position for over a week now, simply watching the masses below. Nothing changed. Nobody ever did anything spectacular. And those who did something wrong were not punished, but rather rewarded with clean, uniform facilities to live in with advantages they didn't have when they weren't 'detained'. Everything was backwards. Complacency and maintaining the status quo were rewarded. He watched, hoping to understand why Humans, who had made such marvelous advances in technology, could support this kind of complacent behavior. The creme of the crop, as it were, lead the world to new heights while the rest simply worked to keep things as they were. New ideas were met with resistance and discontent, and the exceptional were stigmatized as much as they were praised. The meager had gotten into a mindset that they could never attain greatness and simply accepted their meager existence. The knight stood silently, maintaining his vigil atop the building. He stood at the edge, eyes aimed down as he gazed at the masses.
So many simply wasting resources and time...they used up what could have been useful in progress of their society for no purpose other than simply maintaining their pitiful existence. It sickened him to see that this world was no different from the underworld. There was no societal progress in the underworld. Their barbaric and warmongering never ceased, and so there was never any time for progress to be made because everyone was caught up in the big tide of battle. The battle in this world was difference, but he still saw it. Mediocrity was the big tide...and everyone was so caught up in it that they had lost sight of ever becoming more...of reaching their full potential. He knew that there was greatness to be found amongst the chaff. He had encountered a few in the underworld from Earth...Humans...who had aimed for greatness and were thwarted by the world. Because of their apathy for the happiness or suffering of others along the way to their goal they were punished with eternity in hell. But Baalthazar was immune to such trifles. He was a demon, and that place had been his home from the beginning. It mattered little to him if that is how he was to be punished.
It was a brilliant plan. His disgust with the similarities between the world he left behind and the one he'd found was inspiring him. He had longed for a purpose. After he crafted his weapon and armor for those nearly three hundred years prior, Baalthazar had been left without a goal or a plan. He had what he'd set out to obtain, and although he knew he could always improve his tools and himself he also knew that both this world and his own required drastic action. The chaff must be judged and face true punishment before they would ever be driven to change their ways and reach for greatness.
He cared little about the consequences. Hell was a punishment he'd lived with from his beginning, and to him it wasn't that bad. If he had to endure another few centuries there after his work here was done that was fine with him. It would give him time to build his strength further and to, perhaps, change things there as well. Of course, he knew in order to inspire change in others he had to be an exemplar of change himself. How would he do that? That was the question he had to answer before he could act. And so, patient as he was, he continued to stand vigil and watch. His mind caught in the conundrum of how to be both an exemplar of change and a judge of those who refused... He must be a Knight of the Sublime. He must lead others to follow the path of greatness, and wipe out the chaff that was unable to follow.
The underworld would be much more difficult to change. That much he knew. So he would start small with a single planet in the world of the living. Even Exemplars have to know their limits and work toward new heights...
Meanwhile the nagging voice in the back of his head spoke up, "Is that really all you can think of? We've been standing here for almost two weeks! I followed you out of that forsaken castle in hopes that I would not have to be stagnate for extended periods. I believed I would be bathed in battle and tempered by use! I am your weapon. Stop standing around and make use of me, Baalthazar!"
The Makaio shook his head, "It is not yet time. A knight's judgment must be peerless. He does not swing his sword without purpose. Even if his sword refuses to become a sword..." He commented aloud back to the voice of the phoenix. "You trusted my judgment enough to bond with me. You are riding in my vessel." He didn't need to say more than that. Although the Phoenix had given him power he had also given Baalthazar his freedom. The Makaio had control of their vessel, the phoenix was just along for the ride. And so they would wait, as he had decided to do.
So many simply wasting resources and time...they used up what could have been useful in progress of their society for no purpose other than simply maintaining their pitiful existence. It sickened him to see that this world was no different from the underworld. There was no societal progress in the underworld. Their barbaric and warmongering never ceased, and so there was never any time for progress to be made because everyone was caught up in the big tide of battle. The battle in this world was difference, but he still saw it. Mediocrity was the big tide...and everyone was so caught up in it that they had lost sight of ever becoming more...of reaching their full potential. He knew that there was greatness to be found amongst the chaff. He had encountered a few in the underworld from Earth...Humans...who had aimed for greatness and were thwarted by the world. Because of their apathy for the happiness or suffering of others along the way to their goal they were punished with eternity in hell. But Baalthazar was immune to such trifles. He was a demon, and that place had been his home from the beginning. It mattered little to him if that is how he was to be punished.
It was a brilliant plan. His disgust with the similarities between the world he left behind and the one he'd found was inspiring him. He had longed for a purpose. After he crafted his weapon and armor for those nearly three hundred years prior, Baalthazar had been left without a goal or a plan. He had what he'd set out to obtain, and although he knew he could always improve his tools and himself he also knew that both this world and his own required drastic action. The chaff must be judged and face true punishment before they would ever be driven to change their ways and reach for greatness.
He cared little about the consequences. Hell was a punishment he'd lived with from his beginning, and to him it wasn't that bad. If he had to endure another few centuries there after his work here was done that was fine with him. It would give him time to build his strength further and to, perhaps, change things there as well. Of course, he knew in order to inspire change in others he had to be an exemplar of change himself. How would he do that? That was the question he had to answer before he could act. And so, patient as he was, he continued to stand vigil and watch. His mind caught in the conundrum of how to be both an exemplar of change and a judge of those who refused... He must be a Knight of the Sublime. He must lead others to follow the path of greatness, and wipe out the chaff that was unable to follow.
The underworld would be much more difficult to change. That much he knew. So he would start small with a single planet in the world of the living. Even Exemplars have to know their limits and work toward new heights...
Meanwhile the nagging voice in the back of his head spoke up, "Is that really all you can think of? We've been standing here for almost two weeks! I followed you out of that forsaken castle in hopes that I would not have to be stagnate for extended periods. I believed I would be bathed in battle and tempered by use! I am your weapon. Stop standing around and make use of me, Baalthazar!"
The Makaio shook his head, "It is not yet time. A knight's judgment must be peerless. He does not swing his sword without purpose. Even if his sword refuses to become a sword..." He commented aloud back to the voice of the phoenix. "You trusted my judgment enough to bond with me. You are riding in my vessel." He didn't need to say more than that. Although the Phoenix had given him power he had also given Baalthazar his freedom. The Makaio had control of their vessel, the phoenix was just along for the ride. And so they would wait, as he had decided to do.