09-11-2013, 09:59 AM
"Which path brings with it the promise of the most learning?" He had asked, his voice deep, rich, yet spoken a bit low, as though he wasn't used to using his voice that often. His stoic expression hadn't change. His eyes, odd as they were, showed heavily of a deep intelligence, a constant gleam of curiosity about them that indicated he was the type of person who had to constantly be learning something to be satisfied. When he spoke, it would be made clear that he wanted to learn, he wanted things to study, to analyze, and he wanted to be as close to the densest hub of diverse activity so that he could study it all, at whatever level allowed him the most access, and allowed others the most reach in his direction.
"One will lay claim to power, another to numbers. One will lay claim to a greater purpose, another to freedom. But which path has, within it, the most to learn? Which has knowledge, and information, dating back centuries, if not longer, for a diverse number of people, groups, organizations, races and cultures? And which will bring with it access not only to archaic magicks I can study, but also advanced levels of technology I can play with, dabble in, and learn about to the utmost?"
Apparently, nobody had the answers he was seeking. Even when a new arrival came along, a dashing humanoid with lavender hued skin, pointy ears and pale silvery hair - a similar look to one he had donned long ago, when seeking to blend in with a community of hybrid elves - he saw the great leaders, each of whom had ignored his earlier question, just to regard the questions of the man who had just recently arrived.
So they're selective with who they answer, eh? He thought to himself, scowling slightly. That wasn't a good sign. Typically, when people only answered selectively, they had something huge to hide. He had seen history repeat itself enough times to know that there may well be more to the story than they were currently sharing with the group.
"Allow me to reiterate my question," He said, staring directly at Thaal, then at Bradley. They were powerful men, and not by luck...they had a strength of will, and an intelligence, that was superior to nearly all who opposed them. However, in the man before them, they would find a commanding intelligence, a unique kind in this man. A man whose intelligence, oddly enough, become greater and greater as time went on, and who never lost the knowledge he ever attained, and who came by said knowledge as easily as one inhales and exhales...and a certain sense of formidability, of danger, that came with such men when they decided to use their intellectual prowesses to assert themselves over others, and have done so effectively for years, decades, or - in Maximillion's case - centuries.
"I don't care about 'honor' or 'wealth', I care about power, and the ability to attain it; not power acquired through bar room brawls and smashing heads together, but the power accumulated by interacting with people, getting to know them, and finding out how your goals - and theirs - can reach fruition side-by-side. I am a man who has served many a lord whose own power was dwarfed by mine, because I don't seek to become an all-powerful Sovereign of one sort or another; I merely seek to continue to grow, develop, expand, and become greater in my own right."
He clasped his hands behind his back and would walk closer to where the two had positioned themselves, coming to stand in a place where he was equal distance from both. He turned first to Bradley.
"With wealth often comes oppression from the Powers That Be, unless you're on the higher tiers. Tell me, could your country's wealth provide me with the means to content myself with books, old scrits and information about the Omniverse that could greater increase my knowledge and, thereby, my power? Would the leader of your Plane be willing to have someone in his realm potentially stronger than him- or herself without feeling a need to try and 'eliminate' a loyal follower, unnecessarily?"
He would then turn to Thaal, his eyes meeting the own man's eyes firmly, and locking on. He felt the tremendous force of the man's indomitable will, and could almost sense that the man had about him the power to instill fear in weaker-willed beings, who were virtually every other being the man encountered.
Maximillion didn't consider himself strong-willed, but the truth was - as others would quickly point out - the man knew the balance between being strong-willed, yet also being flexible enough to do as another might want for a period of time. Whereas Maximillion often questioned his ability to match his will against another, those who had stood up against him had no qualms about saying he was a fearsome man.
Yet, even if he had known this, he would still realize that Thraal had a powerful presence about him, and definitely radiated, exuded even, the strongest will he had ever encountered.
"Thraal, you mention freedom to do as one wills, as one wishes, without oppression. But wouldn't such a state be utter and complete anarchy? Be it overt or covert, any realm that exists with absolute Freedom is controlled by whomever is the greatest power in the realm. What of your Camelot? Will your leader stand by as someone potentially acquires enough knowledge, or even power, without seeking to undue what they could rashly believe to be a threat?"
This time, he refused to be ignored, and his tone made that abundantly clear. He would not move from his position until he got an answer.
He had no doubt of what they said, that those fresh from the Fountain of Infinity were in the weakest state of all Primes. This meant, while they may be stronger and more potent than the Secondaries who had been conjured here by a Prime, that was no great feat, and that they were likely dwarfed in might by even the lowliest of soldiers present.
It wasn't that he was courageous, or unafraid; rather, it was that he knew that not speaking, or one not being willing to be bold in the face of certain danger meant they would be trampled underfoot for the rest of their days, and he refused to be that person.
"Tell me simply: which of you has a leader who could abide by someone rising into power, without plotting covertly to be their undoing?"
"One will lay claim to power, another to numbers. One will lay claim to a greater purpose, another to freedom. But which path has, within it, the most to learn? Which has knowledge, and information, dating back centuries, if not longer, for a diverse number of people, groups, organizations, races and cultures? And which will bring with it access not only to archaic magicks I can study, but also advanced levels of technology I can play with, dabble in, and learn about to the utmost?"
* * *
Apparently, nobody had the answers he was seeking. Even when a new arrival came along, a dashing humanoid with lavender hued skin, pointy ears and pale silvery hair - a similar look to one he had donned long ago, when seeking to blend in with a community of hybrid elves - he saw the great leaders, each of whom had ignored his earlier question, just to regard the questions of the man who had just recently arrived.
So they're selective with who they answer, eh? He thought to himself, scowling slightly. That wasn't a good sign. Typically, when people only answered selectively, they had something huge to hide. He had seen history repeat itself enough times to know that there may well be more to the story than they were currently sharing with the group.
"Allow me to reiterate my question," He said, staring directly at Thaal, then at Bradley. They were powerful men, and not by luck...they had a strength of will, and an intelligence, that was superior to nearly all who opposed them. However, in the man before them, they would find a commanding intelligence, a unique kind in this man. A man whose intelligence, oddly enough, become greater and greater as time went on, and who never lost the knowledge he ever attained, and who came by said knowledge as easily as one inhales and exhales...and a certain sense of formidability, of danger, that came with such men when they decided to use their intellectual prowesses to assert themselves over others, and have done so effectively for years, decades, or - in Maximillion's case - centuries.
"I don't care about 'honor' or 'wealth', I care about power, and the ability to attain it; not power acquired through bar room brawls and smashing heads together, but the power accumulated by interacting with people, getting to know them, and finding out how your goals - and theirs - can reach fruition side-by-side. I am a man who has served many a lord whose own power was dwarfed by mine, because I don't seek to become an all-powerful Sovereign of one sort or another; I merely seek to continue to grow, develop, expand, and become greater in my own right."
He clasped his hands behind his back and would walk closer to where the two had positioned themselves, coming to stand in a place where he was equal distance from both. He turned first to Bradley.
"With wealth often comes oppression from the Powers That Be, unless you're on the higher tiers. Tell me, could your country's wealth provide me with the means to content myself with books, old scrits and information about the Omniverse that could greater increase my knowledge and, thereby, my power? Would the leader of your Plane be willing to have someone in his realm potentially stronger than him- or herself without feeling a need to try and 'eliminate' a loyal follower, unnecessarily?"
He would then turn to Thaal, his eyes meeting the own man's eyes firmly, and locking on. He felt the tremendous force of the man's indomitable will, and could almost sense that the man had about him the power to instill fear in weaker-willed beings, who were virtually every other being the man encountered.
Maximillion didn't consider himself strong-willed, but the truth was - as others would quickly point out - the man knew the balance between being strong-willed, yet also being flexible enough to do as another might want for a period of time. Whereas Maximillion often questioned his ability to match his will against another, those who had stood up against him had no qualms about saying he was a fearsome man.
Yet, even if he had known this, he would still realize that Thraal had a powerful presence about him, and definitely radiated, exuded even, the strongest will he had ever encountered.
"Thraal, you mention freedom to do as one wills, as one wishes, without oppression. But wouldn't such a state be utter and complete anarchy? Be it overt or covert, any realm that exists with absolute Freedom is controlled by whomever is the greatest power in the realm. What of your Camelot? Will your leader stand by as someone potentially acquires enough knowledge, or even power, without seeking to undue what they could rashly believe to be a threat?"
This time, he refused to be ignored, and his tone made that abundantly clear. He would not move from his position until he got an answer.
He had no doubt of what they said, that those fresh from the Fountain of Infinity were in the weakest state of all Primes. This meant, while they may be stronger and more potent than the Secondaries who had been conjured here by a Prime, that was no great feat, and that they were likely dwarfed in might by even the lowliest of soldiers present.
It wasn't that he was courageous, or unafraid; rather, it was that he knew that not speaking, or one not being willing to be bold in the face of certain danger meant they would be trampled underfoot for the rest of their days, and he refused to be that person.
"Tell me simply: which of you has a leader who could abide by someone rising into power, without plotting covertly to be their undoing?"