compnetwork | 01 video - Cult Recruitment Attempt Number Two

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01 video - Cult Recruitment Attempt Number Two

[The feed flickers on to reveal a masked individual, their gender completely ambiguous]

Hello, Residents of Hinoto-Ri. I have been told that my earlier invitation to my cult was done rather poorly. I am not very experienced in recruiting in such ways, so please, forgive me for my clumsy blunders. I must have come across as suspicious, as many of you have said, and that was not my intent.

My intent is entirely pure.

But I am to explain it, yes? That was the criticism...

Humanity is something I have always admired. No matter how harsh the world becomes, no matter how dark and destructive your lives becomes, you struggle and fight against all the circumstances, to try and achieve - many things! You have dreams, ambitions, goals and needs, sometimes born of selfishness, sometimes born of altruism, and sometimes because you have nothing else, and the only direction you can go is up, or down, or sideways.

No matter the decisions humans make, be they for ill or good, the sheer depths of those emotions that rule your every movement are something...extremely fascinating. No, perhaps not emotions...your ingenuity, your intelligence and perseverance...

Humans never give up, even when it is clear they will lose.

This is the basis of my cult. To know and understand that success is there for those who will continuously struggle for it. To know that your decisions and consequences are accepted and encouraged - I would think that all humans would follow these rules, but I have learned that only a small portion of my world espouse these views. Many humans, in direct contrast, become meek and complacent, allowing the flows of time to push them to wherever the current goes, utterly apathetic to their own wants and needs.

That is also fine.

Choice is important. Humans can choose to struggle, humans can choose to give up - although it is better if they push and struggle, until they break.

My apologies. I must sound so contradictory in my words. In conclusion, my cult is for the celebration of the human condition. You are a wild, passionate species, that can destroy Gods and create worlds, coming in all ranges of personalities and ambitions. There is no 'evil', there is no 'good'. There is only humanity. And that is something to worship.

Those are my opinions. I have explained myself well now, yes? If there is further criticism on my conduct, please state it. I wish to spread this love for the human condition, even to those who loathe the darkness within, so developing better ways of 'advertising' it would be wonderful!

Please, think on it...

[The feed cuts off]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I can only imagine how much fun it must be to sit back and watch all of this as only an observer.

Of course! I never tire of it!

[Anant laughs, although the noise is a bit stilted and flat, like they're not sure how laughing actually works]

However, humans here act differently to the humans in my world, so this has added entertainment value in trying to figure them out! Although, I still wish to help them in any way I can. That is my duty, after all.

Oh? So you're actually going to take an active role here?

Passively active, or actively passive!

I do not meddle too much, since that would disrupt the concept of choice and free will, which plays into a large part of humanity's actions. I will offer assist where I deem necessary to, mostly to those who are part of my cult, since they willingly subscribe to my protection.

It is a careful balance.

Not really one of those gods who frequently consorts with humans, huh? That's rare.

Oh, I consort regularly with them! I have to observe them, and understand them, to perfect my mimicry of them, after all. In fact, I even grew up amongst humans!

[Huh.]

Grew up among them, you say?

It is probably difficult to discern through video connection, but this body is of mortal flesh. I was reborn into human form, so they took me in as their own before realising what I was.

[...]

Reborn... Were you a god they worshiped before your human birth?

Y...y-yes...

[Anant stutters here, one hand lifting up to clutch at their hair]

...

...

[And then they straightened up, giving their head a little shake]

Pardon me, I had a brief lapse there. Was I what?

[Well that was an interesting moment. But he'll still restate his question, carefully enunciating each word.]

Before you were born as a human. Did they worship you as a god?

They did! All of them did, I- yes, they did.

[Anant's rubbing their head again, although they didn't seem to have that minor, quiet freak out again]

I assume, in any case... admittedly the, memories of my days as the divine are rather... unclear. However since being reborn as a human, the number of those who worshipped me have dwindled greatly.

Dwindled? The numbers did not rise due to your physical presence in the world?

Earlier I told you about my world, yes? How the sky broke? My rebirth happened after that time, when the breaking wiped out a large portion of the human populace.

This left sour feelings regarding Gods and the like. Only those who wander the wastes regard me with friendly feelings. Most would rather shun me. It is understandable.

And those who shun you recognize you for what you are? That's pretty brave of them.

They shun me by not recognising me.

Those of the Wastes, and myself included, are deemed Nobodies. We are not worthy of our existence being acknowledged, according to them. Harsh, isn't it?

So it's an issue of being a hidden messiah... Ah, no, that might not be correct, since you're more of an observer than a savior.

As I said, meddling in human affairs would interfere with their free will. I will only save them if a...an event that is beyond human means occurs. Such as the sky breaking a second time.

And what, exactly, would you do to save them then? Just prevent the entire event altogether? Or maybe wait until they're aware of it first, and then jump in at the last moment so they realize you and your powers?

What... would I do...

[Anant was quiet for a long moment before they shook their head, as if trying to shake off a fly buzzing in their ear]

I will simply save them, no matter what methods I have to do. It is my duty.

It's a duty now? But you didn't do anything the first time it happened, right? It's not like you really have an obligation...

Hhaa...

[Anant gives off a weird laugh]

It is a duty, an obligation, and a personal choice. I will save them if need be, and last time - last time was, not enough, yet humans survived anyway. That is simply how miraculous they are.

But if it happens again, you don't have faith in your precious humans to survive on their own?

I really can't tell if you mean to leave them be or not.

[Anant laughs again, although the noise is much more natural]

Contradictory am I? Yes, perhaps I am. I wish to help them, but know that that would meddle in their free will and self-preservation skills. If they rely on me to save them every time, they will become complacent, and it will tarnish their ability to struggle for survival.

I suppose I shall say, if all hope is lost, if their entire destruction is imminent, I shall step in then.

It sounds like you've come to a conclusion then.

Still... It might be interesting to see what might come after humans, but if you're that determined to keep at least a few around...

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