Garzh meets Avarice Incarnate

[Chayesh]

Posted: Wed Aug 03, 2005 9:36 am Post subject: Garzh speaks with Avarice Incarnate

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I asked Vhaekuaziel to come talk with me. We met in the Order of

Crusades, but then I ran to get chairs, realizing I had forgotten.

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You say 'Whoo.'

You say 'That was a trek and a half.'

You drop an overstuffed easy chair.

You drop an overstuffed easy chair.

You smile happily.

Vhaekuaziel says 'I suppose it was...'

You say 'Please, take a seat.'

Vhaekuaziel looks down.

Vhaekuaziel shakes his head.

You say 'Ah... that's right... immortal and all...'

Ow! You give yourself a resounding whap upside the head.

Before the Main Altar

You stand at the north section of the Cathedral, an old altar of One

God before you. The area is filled with various holy tomes and artifacts

that should never have been placed in such precarious environment. Small alcoves lie east and west with the cathedral's main area being south of here.

[Exits: east south west]

( 2) An overstuffed easy chair is here.

Vhaekuaziel the Soul of the Avaricious is here.

(White Aura) Ontius the Hermit is here bent over a holy tome.

Vhaekuaziel says 'Yes, I suppose I am Immortal.'

You say 'Well, do you mind if I sit?'

Vhaekuaziel says 'If you wish it.'

You rest on an overstuffed easy chair.

Garzh sits on the edge of the seat, feet tapping.

You say 'Well sir... I asked you here because of your scroll.'

Vhaekuaziel nods.

You say 'You see... you said you would guide mortals to their heart's

desires.'

Vhaekuaziel says 'If they would let me.'

Garzh smiles softly.

You say 'I am more than prepared to ask for your help.'

Have you got something in your eye?

Vhaekuaziel says 'What is it you covet most?'

You say 'I do not covet sir.'

You shake your head.

You say 'Not at all.'

You say 'But what I do desire is for the Will of the One to be spread.'

Vhaekuaziel says 'Ah, yes, the Crusaders who believe themselves to be

truely selfless...'

Vhaekuaziel chuckles politely.

Garzh decides against remaining seated, stands, and quietly moves over

to a wall where he relaxes.

Garzh chuckles wryly.

You say 'I suppose you could say that, sir.'

You say 'Perhaps I could tell you a bit about myself?'

Vhaekuaziel says 'If you wish to.'

Garzh smiles softly.

You say 'I come from a rather... poor family, sir. We never had much,

and what we did was never enough to go around.'

You say 'We were taught from an early age to not want much sir.'

Vhaekuaziel nods.

Vhaekuaziel says 'Many have been lead down that way of thinking.'

You say 'Especially what we knew we couldn't have.'

You say 'But sir, I feel that with some effort on my part, and that of

my brethren, and the His guidance, that I can accomplish much towards

spreading His will.'

Vhaekuaziel says 'Do you honestly believe that your cause will one day

wipe out all evil from the hearts of the races of Aabahran?'

Vhaekuaziel says 'For all time, for all beings?'

You say 'I believe that His will can undo all the evil that has been

done, and as long as the People continue to believe, that there can be a

time, at least, where there is no Evil. Yes, I do.'

Vhaekuaziel says 'His will...'

You say 'Indeed.'

Vhaekuaziel says 'How do you know that it's his will to do such?'

You say 'Well sir, I have always been taught, and I have been taught by

several of His followers, that the His Will is to rid the world of

evil. That is what our Order was started for.'

You say 'To combat the armies of the One who I do not Name.'

Vhaekuaziel raises an eyebrow.

Vhaekuaziel says 'I always enjoy the Crusaders order.'

You smile happily.

Vhaekuaziel says 'Their blind faith amuses me.'

You say 'Blind? Blind?!'

You say 'How can you, of all people, say that our faith is blind?'

Vhaekuaziel says 'How could I not?'

You say 'You, who deign to help all those who covet, all those who

desire. What do you ask for, but their alleged blind faith that you will

give them what they want?'

Vhaekuaziel says 'That is pretentious of you...'

You say 'They have faith, because they believe in a cause. They

believe that what they wish is Right. How can you deny them their faith?'

Vhaekuaziel says 'From one scroll, to assume you know what I am, and

what I ask for, and how I reign...'

You say 'Then tell me that my presumptions are wrong. Tell me that you

can and will in fact help those who ask for it.'

Vhaekuaziel says 'I have a question for you...'

You say 'Yes, sir?'

Vhaekuaziel looks at Ontius the Hermit.

Vhaekuaziel says 'None.'

He looks a hundred years old, his human face wrinkled and his bald head

marked with scars. He chants a holy psalm as his almost blind eyes

trace

over yet another page of a holy tome.

Ontius the Hermit is in excellent condition.

You smile at him.

Vhaekuaziel says 'What is it that I ask for?'

You say 'I do not know sir. Your words were fair. I assumed.'

Vhaekuaziel says 'Read my scroll again, I asked for one thing...'

[ 15] AVA Vhaekuaziel: Your hearts desire.

Wed Sep 8 10:38:12 2004

To: All

I have a question for you all, one I am sure everyone knows the answer

to, but very few can answer. How does it feel to want? Its painful,

isnt it? Seeing everyone else content with what they have, and you without! Your neighbor with that new stock of pigs, your comrades magical sword, you want them, or perhaps you just want what they represent, but you still want, and you are ashamed.

Oh, what trepidation ensues while your soul pines for those superfluous commodities of monetary and materialistic wealth, and all because you are lead to believe that selfishness is wrong. You wanted more, Aabahran, and everyone is guilty of this ravenous gluttony! You wanted wealth, fame, success, and power! All your wants, your inordinate needs, they pooled together, and you believed there was more to be obtained, something out of your reach, something you couldn't have! You believed this so unconditionally that it became real, and I am it. I am all you have ever wanted, but could never have.

I will guide you towards your ultimate goals, I am the key to your

fortune, I will show you the truth of your yearning, and I will not

judge you for it. So come to me, my disciples, for there is only one who can give you what you truly desire.

Vhaekuaziel the Soul of the Avaricious

You say 'You ask your disciples to come to you.'

Vhaekuaziel says 'Yes.'

Vhaekuaziel says 'Now, what I am?'

You say 'You are all that mortals have ever desired, but could not

have.'

You say 'Incarnate.'

Vhaekuaziel says 'Yes, what does that mean? In one word, what am I?'

You say 'Desire.'

Vhaekuaziel nods.

Vhaekuaziel says 'Who doesn't have desire?'

You say 'Very few.'

Vhaekuaziel says 'None.'

Vhaekuaziel says 'None of your order like to hear such...'

You say 'Granted, that is true.'

Vhaekuaziel says 'You like to believe that once you have stopped

coveting material goods, the monetary wealth, that you are pure. And free of

greed.'

Vhaekuaziel says 'That is your blindness.'

You say 'We desire one thing and one thing only. To spread His will.

That is not Greed.'

Vhaekuaziel says 'I submit that it is greed that fuels your heart.'

Vhaekuaziel says 'Will you listen as I explain?'

You say 'I will indeed, sir.'

Vhaekuaziel says 'Will you keep an open mind to the possiblities I

offer?'

You say 'Of course.'

Vhaekuaziel says 'If a poor man asked for a coin, would you give him

one?'

You say 'In an instant, sir.'

You say 'I would give him my whole purse.'

Vhaekuaziel says 'If a child was lost in the woods, would you take it

back to town?'

You say 'Of course.'

Vhaekuaziel says 'If two vagabonds were assaulting a merchant, would

you step in?'

You say 'Indeed.'

Vhaekuaziel says 'Why would you do all three of those, without

question, in an instant?'

You say 'To help those in need, sir.'

Vhaekuaziel says 'Alright, Now...'

Vhaekuaziel says 'If a merchant had food, and you not the money to pay

for it, would you just take it if you were hungry?'

You say 'No, I would ask him if I could perform a service perhaps, to

make up for the payment. Perhaps guard his cart while he travels.'

Vhaekuaziel says 'Had you a headache, and a child was crying, would you

take your hand to it?'

You say 'No, I would put the child down for a nap, and leave the

premises.'

Vhaekuaziel says 'Why wouldn't you take the harsher of the actions in

those to cases?'

You say 'Because I would put the others above myself, sir.'

Vhaekuaziel says 'So you would do the 'right' things to do, and not do

the 'bad'?'

You say 'I would do what I felt was right, yes sir.'

You say 'Of course, these are examples based on a set perception of

matters.'

You say 'You cannot act on a single perception.'

Vhaekuaziel says 'One moment...'

Vhaekuaziel says 'Would it make you feel bad, to do bad things?'

You say 'For example, perhaps the merchant stole from the alleged

vagabonds.'

You say 'Of course it would, sir.'

Vhaekuaziel says 'And it makes you feel good, to do good things, eh?'

You say 'I do not feel good to do good things. Perhaps a vague bit of

satisfaction, knowing that in a small way, His will has been served.

But nay sir, it does not cause me to swell with pride.'

Vhaekuaziel shakes his head in dismay.

Vhaekuaziel says 'Satisfaction is not feeling good?'

You say 'Not in the sense that you are talking about, I believe.

Unless I mistake you.'

Vhaekuaziel says 'What am I talking about, then?'

You say 'Let me see... I do not feel good in myself. I feel good in my

Faith.'

Vhaekuaziel says '...are the two so different?'

You say 'It depends, I suppose.'

Vhaekuaziel says 'On what?'

You ponder the question.

You say 'I suppose an example might be...'

You say 'If say, I went and helped a small child out of a hole.'

You say 'They would thank me and be on their way.'

You say 'But I would not feel... elated, that I had done this deed. It

is all in a days work.'

You say 'But in the event that... I was able to sway an evil one, to

walk under the One's guidance, then I would be happy.'

Vhaekuaziel says 'You have no sense of duty when it comes to the

simpler things in life?'

You say 'Hmm... what do you mean, sir?'

Vhaekuaziel says 'You said, it would all be in a days work... what

compels you to do your days work?'

Vhaekuaziel glares at Ontius the Hermit.

You say 'My Faith, of course.'

Vhaekuaziel says 'And your faith, why do you believe in it?'

You say 'Because of the way the Light has touched the world. It makes

the grass a little bit greener. It makes a smile a little bit

brighter. It makes the world a little bit happier. Anything that can do that,

is worth following.'

Vhaekuaziel chuckles politely.

Vhaekuaziel says 'A dark cleric of nature, he could make grass a bit

greener... a bard makes a smile a bit brighter, and happier...'

Vhaekuaziel says 'Would you follow ethier of them solely on that?'

Vhaekuaziel says 'You skirt the issues, you give me examples, but you

do not give me answers.'

You say 'And what would you have me tell you?'

Vhaekuaziel says 'Why, despite the all evidence, do you believe that

your faith is correct?'

You say 'Because that was how I was brought up, sir... though I do not

believe in it simply because of that...'

Vhaekuaziel says 'Would it be correct to say that you feel it within

yourself?'

Garzh ponders the thought for a moment, then nods his head.

Vhaekuaziel says 'Do you fear... Him?'

You say 'Why would I fear Him?'

Vhaekuaziel says 'I realized I have answered a question with a

question, but in this instances, a direct answer will prove most usuefull.'

Vhaekuaziel says 'Do you fear Him?'

You say 'No, sir, I do not.'

Vhaekuaziel materializes!

Vhaekuaziel says 'Alright.'

Vhaekuaziel says 'Now...'

Vhaekuaziel says 'Do you love him?'

You ponder the question.

Vhaekuaziel says 'I will not retort childishly, do not fear your

answer.'

You say 'Well, there might not be an actual... Him. I believe He is a

presence, but perhaps not... corporeal. But the essence... yes, I do.'

Vhaekuaziel says 'Good, one moment, I have a soul that has asked me

wantingly, I will be back shortly.'

Vhaekuaziel leaves in a swirling mist.

Garzh kneels to the ground and begins chanting.

Vhaekuaziel appears in a swirling mist.

Garzh chants, 'Dies era in favilla.'

Garzh chants, 'Dies era in favilla.'

Vhaekuaziel says 'So, where were we?'

Garzh, oblivious to your presence, chants a final time, 'Dies era in

favilla.' He then rises, looks about, and sees you.

You say 'Welcome back, sir.'

Vhaekuaziel says 'So. You love Him, who or what ever he may be.'

You say 'Aye, sir.'

Vhaekuaziel says 'Yet, you say you don't feel good to do his will?'

You shake your head.

You say 'I do not know how to describe it, sir.'

You say 'I...'

Garzh lowers his gaze, and falls silent.

Vhaekuaziel says 'You don't feel good to do good things...'

Vhaekuaziel says 'Then why do you do them?'

Vhaekuaziel says 'You've said you do not fear Him, so it can not be out

of fear of punishment.'

Garzh, his gaze still lowered, says softly, 'Because I believe that it

is His Will, sir.

Garzh says softly, 'I must confess my guilty conscience, sir.'

Garzh brings his gaze up to meet yours.

You say 'Did you read the scroll I sent, asking to be judged worthy of

the honor of becoming a Crusader?'

Vhaekuaziel says 'I was not in my... state of being, at that time.'

You scratch yourself on the head... confused.

You say 'I believe you were, sir...'

You say 'Anyway...'

You say 'I said I had been born in a family of tailors...'

You say 'Well, that was not entirely true, sir.'

You say 'I was raised by tailors, yes, but not born there. I never

knew my mother and father.'

Garzh lowers his gaze once more and says softly, 'I do His will because

I hope that someday, if I bring enough Light to the world, I will be

reunited with my parents.

Vhaekuaziel says 'So...'

Vhaekuaziel says 'In light of all I have said these past hours...'

Vhaekuaziel says 'All that you refused to believe to be true, was not

because it wasn't true, but because you didn't want it to be true...'

Vhaekuaziel throws back his head and cackles with insane glee!

Garzh sighs softly, and nods his head in acquiescence.

Vhaekuaziel says 'Oh, I believe this feeling I feel is elation.'

Vhaekuaziel says 'I will tell you this, what I have been leading to all

this time.'

Garzh straightens abruptly, indignation flashing, 'Do you patronize my

desire to be reunited with my family?

Vhaekuaziel says 'No, I do not judge your desires.'

Vhaekuaziel says 'For that would be judging myself the same.'

Garzh nods softly, the blaze in his eyes dispersing.

Vhaekuaziel says 'Everything, that all beings do, is driven from a

desire of self gain.'

Vhaekuaziel says 'How noble the cause, how treachorous the want...'

Vhaekuaziel says 'I am the Soul of the Avaricious, do you know what

that word means?'

Vhaekuaziel says 'A Avaricious person is someone who seeks to gain

wealth.'

You say 'I know what it means, sir.'

Vhaekuaziel says 'But not everyone has the same definition of what it

is to be wealthy.'

Vhaekuaziel says 'I could give you all the gold in Aabahran, but you

would not feel wealthy.'

Vhaekuaziel says 'Yet, what you value most, when you would feel

wealthy, is that moment when you are reunited with your family.'

Garzh says softly, gaze lowered, 'That is true, sir.'

Vhaekuaziel says 'Do you know the name Orealt?'

Garzh looks up, and his eyes brighten, 'Of course, Sir. What Crusader

wouldn't?'

Vhaekuaziel says 'He gave his life, why?'

You say 'To fight evil.'

Vhaekuaziel says 'Yes, A strong desire to do good. To him, his wealth

was messured by the good deeds he had done, and in giving the ultimate

sacrifice, he became one of the wealthiest men ever to walk the Forsaken

Lands.'

Vhaekuaziel says 'What ever your reasons may be, what ever your

actions, self gain is always at the heart of them.'

Vhaekuaziel says 'However...'

Vhaekuaziel says 'It is up to you to judge them, not I.'

Vhaekuaziel says 'If in seeking out your desires, you acomplish great

deeds to aid all of Aabahran, are you any less of a pupil of the One?'

You say 'No, sir.'

You say 'Except...'

Vhaekuaziel says 'You still furhur his cause, you still perform a

benifit to the unfourunate.'

Vhaekuaziel says 'In the end, you feel wealthy, and as far as the

morals of humanity, some wealth is accepted with a pure heart, other with a

tainted soul.'

Vhaekuaziel says 'To seek self gain is not innately bad, it is just

innately true.'

Vhaekuaziel says 'You, Garzh, are a good person. A paradigm of what any

philanthropist should aspire to be.'

Your cheeks are burning.

Vhaekuaziel says 'You could seek out your family in a very dark way,

but your choice is to help others as you help yourself, and that is rare

indeed.'

Vhaekuaziel says 'And I would be the one to know such things.'

Garzh smiles softly, his eyes glittering brightly.

Vhaekuaziel says 'Greed, as the masses call it, is no more than the

desire to make yourself wealthy.'

Vhaekuaziel says 'I can only be that desire, that object of your

wealth, it is up to you to define what that, what I, am.'

Vhaekuaziel says 'I hope I have set your mind at ease?'

You say 'About some things, but not others, sir.'

Vhaekuaziel says 'What are the others?'

You say 'Whether you might help me to reach my goals...'

Vhaekuaziel says 'I shale tell you a secret that no others know.'

Vhaekuaziel says 'Read the last line of my scroll to me.'

Garzh clears his throat, and says, 'So come to me, my disciples, for

there is only one who can give you what you truly desire...’ Then he

suddenly looks up.

You say 'You never meant yourself at all.'

Vhaekuaziel says 'Who do you think that one person is?'

You say 'You meant that we are the only ones to give ourselves what we

desire.'

Vhaekuaziel says 'Exactly.'

Vhaekuaziel says 'Place your trust in me, and you will find what you

are looking for.'

Vhaekuaziel walks straight through you!

You say 'It is a paradox. You are our desire. Our desire consumes us,

drives us, becomes us. Therefore you are us. And only we can lead

ourselves to what we wish. A never-ending circle.'

Someone slowly fades into thin air.

Someone says 'You now know.'

Garzh smiles softly.

Someone says 'Be true to me, and you will be true to yourself.'

You say 'Thank you, sir.'

Someone says 'Be well, Garzh.'