Video: Late Wednesday

[oreskahouse]

[The video turns on to a very bedraggled, dusty Thero with a torn tunic and several nasty bruises, scowling and pressing buttons with an expression that makes it clear he might as well be poking a dead rat for all he approves of this little device. Eventually, he decides to accept that it's working. His expression lightens some, all the way to formality with an overlay of confusion.]

Third damn time... Ahem. This is L- This is Thero i Procepios. Most of you don't know me, but I've been given to understand this is an open-ended means of communication. As well as a monitored one, so I'll be brief. In the wake of the sky practically falling in the moment I... arrived and my lack of a stomach for battles, I've met very few of you, and I wouldn't blame anyone for distrusting me. However, when it comes to recovery, I may be able to make myself useful. I've been hesitant to explore even now that things seem to be quiet. I'm unfamiliar with this kind of combat and I suspect I'd only get in the way or get myself killed if things were to resurge, but if someone can direct me, I'm entirely willing to venture out again. I have some basic training as a healer, but I'd be best suited to removal of rubble or even assisting with reconstruction. And, frankly, if anything specific, especially anything odd, needs doing, there's every likelihood I could find a way to assist.

[Is that a good way to suggest magical help without outright saying it? He's never had to try that before. Close enough. For another minute he struggles with the device, scowling, until it finally shuts off.]

Comments

[springs_eternal]

[Oh, fine - have your silly video, but let it never be said that Saint Walker was a vain creature; he stays out of the shot, projecting nothing but an image of a clear blue sky.]

[As he speaks, his voice is light and almost playful.]

Yes, I can tell. Maybe -too- satisfied, though? It sounds to me as if all those details are weighing you down, and you'll never get anywhere like that!

[oreskahouse]

[It is. It's like a drunk, pontificating Seregil trying to get a rise out of him. And, as a rule, it works pretty well.]

Empty, platitudinous rambling aside, what sense could that conceivably make? I can't think of a single instance where a lack of knowledge had any effect but a detrimental one, and I'm willing to bet you can't, either.

[springs_eternal]

[A short, gentle laugh.]

'Lack'? Oh, of course not! I speak of overabundance.

You know the situation. You know the enemy has lit their fires and now departed. You know that it is time to begin picking up the pieces.

What do you lack, Brother?

[oreskahouse]

[That's invitation enough.]

Why. What they gained or lost. When they'll do it again. What the damage is. What damage can be rectified, by my means or anyone else's, and where and how it'd be most useful for me to work. What best to do next. Their resources, defenses, weaknesses, and tactics. Their habits, ideas, and treasures and what best to do about them. The various circumstances of various powers, because there are never simply the two. The distances between any significant two points and best way to traverse that. The alchemical properties of the water supply and the reliability of any nearby compasses.

...I could just go on, but I suspect I might have got the idea across?

[springs_eternal]

[Well-founded thoughts and concerns, all - well, those last two seem to be a little overkill, anyway...]

Yes. You certainly have.

[One still can't see him, but he's smiling.]

Those are all well and good, and I myself spend many hours in quiet contemplation, but are they necessary -now-?

[oreskahouse]

[This is officially annoying beyond Seregil. Which is new, and almost interesting.]

Meditation has its place, but what it should have to do with going deliberately ignorant escapes me.

[springs_eternal]

And there is where we must agree to disagree, Brother. What I feel is needed, so that I may know just enough, I gathered quickly. Time is often...unkind, and prompts us to act on the behalf of others sooner rather than later.

[If he knew what new levels of annoyance he'd reached, Walker might be somewhat proud. Sometimes he also feels it is needed to be so, if it pushes people to leave and find something productive to do rather than stay and endure more.]

These people could certainly use your help - your great knowledge and skill.

Please do not make them wait until after you feel that your success is guaranteed.

[oreskahouse]

There, see, that was a useful observation with a point to it. I might not agree, but you actually said something with weight there. Try to do it more often.

[He might even agree. A little. Conditionally. Begrudgingly. Did it have to take so much time to get there?]

And you're giving a lot of credit to knowledge and skill without any sense of what it might be. Again, details could be useful to you.

[springs_eternal]

[Yes. Yes, it did. Any good house needs a foundation first. Besides, what kind of stereotypical 'wise man' would he be if he just GAVE answers away? Too convenient.]

Again, details and planning are important, but we do not always have the luxury of time to rely on it.

Instead! We must sometimes depend on...intuition. Like today. Given the situation, we gather the tools we feel we will need.

It is without ego that I say that I am a good judge of character, Brother Thero. I can see what paths you have walked and, Hopefully, will walk.

So please.

Start walking.~

[the feed ends]