The Nature of the Artificial

[Jeff]

A cloaked figure steps into a dimly lit tent. The ground near the edges of the tent is adorned with varying types of flowers and plants, all glowing and shedding light to some degree. The figure pauses for a moment, looking around when they hear a voice from the next room of the tent.

“Please come in, I have been expecting you.”

Small distant sounds of thunder can be heard alongside the voice. Odd but yet comforting to the traveler. Hesitantly the figure lowers their hood revealing a white furred tigerfolk. They approach the doorway and sitting on the other side of the chamber is a large elephantfolk with modified tusks protruding from his robes, sitting on the ground meditating.

Ayaan spoke first, “Please have a seat, I feel as though you have many questions for me.”

“How can you tell? Asked the tigerfolk.

“Because you have gone to great lengths to get here, including hiding your true identity.” Replied Ayaan, “Now sit, I’ll make some tea.”

Ayaan starts to pull out a tea set as the tigerfolk sits down in front of him. The cloak is pulled back and a blue mage robe is revealed. The Tigerfolk notices the alterations made to Ayaan’s tusks. “Forgive my ignorance, but I can’t help but admire the craftsmanship you present. Is it a cultural practice to alter one’s self or was it for a different purpose?” He asks.

“When you are as old as I am, sometimes nature needs a helping hand. Ivory is long lasting but I didn’t take care of them in my younger years so over time they needed aid. I have actually come to be quite proud of them. I think they look and feel more like me than they ever did before I started adding to them.”

As Ayaan is saying this he is finishing setting up the tea kettle and sets a large diameter funnel on top of the kettle. With a snapp rain starts to fall from the top of the canopy into the funnel filling up the kettle. Startled by this, the Tigerfolk looks up and realizes there is a small thunder cloud floating above the tray.

He continues, “Everything has purpose, in nature it can sometimes be hard to see, take the clouds for example. They are an essential part of the ecosystem, cleansing and redistributing water to different areas. But you can harness these natural elements and they can be used for a single purpose. It can be transformative if used correctly. Or these plants you see. The glow they give is a cultivated property, not something you find normally. But I found them beautiful and over time I altered their properties to fill a new role.” Ayaan sets the kettle on a small device that produces a flame instantly. “One’s purpose can come organically or it can come artificially, neither is wrong. One is just more apparent than the other. Some fear what is not natural but they shouldn’t. There is a balance to be struck between the two. By not taming nature you are subject to its most extreme conditions, and to only focus on efficiency removes something very essence. Many people struggle to find this balance. But that is nothing new to you, correct? I can imagine you have seen many things in your travels across the planes.” [Lore: Planes]

The Tigerfolk stutters for a moment, not knowing what to say. And pauses to take a breath. “Its true, I have traveled a great deal through many different worlds. Some were more extreme than others.” He pauses for a moment. “I have some questions about your teachings… about these… forces. The Natural and the Artificial, and the others watched over by the other sages.”

Ayaan chuckles, “All in good time, but first I want you to answer one question for me.” The tension in the room intensified as Ayaan got a stern look across his face. Why do you hide your true face from me?”

The Tigerfolk’s heart began to race, and thinks to himself, does he lie? Does he try to convince Ayaan that he is wrong? He thinks back to his conversations with Hanu about his mentor Yu, takes a deep breath and lowers his disguise. The white fur slowly recedes and a long dark beard appears. Sitting in front of Ayaan is Kalen Inkwell. “This is not my original face, but it’s the one that I choose to be.”

“Choice is important.” Ayaan says with a smile. “I don’t want to know who you used to be, I want to know who you are now, and what you choose to do going forward. The truths you seek do not belong to any one person, nor do they belong to any one group, but if you are worthy, then I shall grant them to you.” Ayann begins to pour them both a cup of tea.

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