Accountability.

[explosivecombat]

There are all sorts of secrets to this place, really, ways to get from place to place reasonably unnoticed. Some of those ways involve the ability to shift one's appearance, some of them involve shadows and vessels and darkness; for those without those sorts of gifts, though, one has to rely on more conventional means. Panels and doorways, joins and seams that don't join up quite right; portions of the wall that will open up if you manipulate them properly. The Conductor himself tends to rely on the latter; he is, after all, entirely human. He's thin, as though he doesn't eat terribly much, but his clothes are immaculate and sharply-tailored, a suit and long coat all in white and shades of pale grey; his hair is long, trailing at least halfway down his back in a thin, tightly-tied ponytail, and his eyes are cold when he moves to stand at the thirtieth podium – it's not his, it never has been, but it's going to do for now. He doesn't seem anxious at all about being here; there's nothing nervous in his demeanor, and he's keeping his head up, perfectly willing to look everyone in the face. There's a definite arrogance about him, as is probably to be expected, though he'll certainly acknowledge everyone once he's there – when he bows it's enough to be respectful, but not nearly enough to expose the back of his neck. When he speaks, his voice is recognizable but it's quiet, far moreso than one would assume him to be based on the volume of the intercom alone; his tone is even, almost unsettlingly calm given the circumstances, though there's a hardness to it that never quite goes away. "It's a pleasure to speak to all of you in person; I'd say that it's almost a shame that the circumstances have to be what they are, but I'm not going to insult your intelligence like that." He straightens up then; the smile he's offering is understated, but it's not particularly nice. "I understand that we have a fair amount to discuss; shall we begin?" Your host for the evening, everyone; let's start.

Comments

[announcemyvictory]

So... it is more like the gods the others were talking about, one to a world, instead of the minor ones we've got in my world who are one or two to a small region?

[explosivecombat]

...I'm honestly not sure how to describe it. People in different parts of Amestris believed in different gods, such as Leto or Ishvala - but religion wasn't something terribly saturated among the population as a whole.

The being I'm thinking of is more of a force than anything - it keeps the world in balance. Since it can be condensed into a singular entity, I'm not sure what one would consider that, if not "God."

[blazeit]

... So basically like a... law of nature, given a physical entity?

[ All those philosophy books and now it's getting all philosophical in here and he's kinda ???? ]

[explosivecombat]

Yes, that's it exactly.

[blazeit]

I can't believe there are multiple assholes who thought to themselves, "you know what sounds fun? Fucking around with a law of nature".

So now this law is all out of balance because you guys screwed around with it, is that what's up?

[explosivecombat]

Something like that, yes. We actually haven't found the limits of what we're capable of reaching just yet; it's absolutely fascinating from an alchemic standpoint.

[blazeit]

Sounds like a load of fucking bullshit from a humanitarian standpoint, but okay.

[explosivecombat]

Oh, I'm sure it is.

[BEHOLD, THE FIELD IN WHICH HE GROWS HIS FUCKS

YOU WILL NOTE THAT IT IS BARREN]

[ninehundredlives]

How do you mean it "kept the world in balance"?

[explosivecombat]

There are certain natural laws that can't be broken - I mentioned earlier that one can't completely destroy, nor can they create from nothing. Things like that.

When people try to do things along those lines, it causes large amounts of destruction - either to the alchemist attempting it, the surrounding area, or both.

[announcemyvictory]

So then you just had to do it on purpose to see what would happen.

[explosivecombat]

It wasn't my decision, mind. I just didn't have any interest in stopping it.

[ninehundredlives]

Have you managed to create anything from nothing? Or completely destroy, that seems more like your style.

[explosivecombat]

I've seen him do it; I personally haven't tried. I learned my lesson regarding that years ago, it's left me a little unwilling to attempt it.