I feel I have grown disenchanted with Aphros.
My criticism of my former home only grows with each passing day. I understand the flaws of my society and I know it should have the capacity to overcome them, but rarely do I feel right chosen over wrong. There are always forces at work that ensure society may not change. Control is exerted to the point of cynicism. How many crusades have we left unfinished, when their propaganda was built on objective good? For humanity, at least. To rid the world of the Hive, therein saving countless human lives for generations to come. It is telling that Aphros has made peace three times with the creatures, within each enabling its eventual regrowth into a viable threat, wherein they have always attacked and fed on our loved ones in order to breed once more. I suspect a fourth occasion will arise within my lifetime. My doubt whispers to me that this is unlikely to change.
To know that we always leave that threat unfinished leaves me with a sense of discontentment. It is as though Vaelrun's efforts were for nothing.
What truly effects me however is the lack of integrity within our systems of governance. Nephilim are in positions of power, wherein they refuse to act with virtue. Our entire society is fanatical to the point of detriment towards the sanctity of human life. We concern ourselves with enabling our darker nature under the guise of controlling it, but to do so in an institutional way, one that purposely separates our positive and negative natures into their own distinct branches, only enables corruption within our ranks. Lies and misdirection, assassinations and hypocrisy. Those with a lust for power who will do anything to achieve it are often rewarded for their efforts. The laws on which this society is founded are nothing more than a suggestive deception that apply only to the powerless many.
And I have grown weary of it.
My absence these years has opened my eyes to other cultures, to other more natural states of being. I simply cannot view Aphros under the same misguided lenses.
The faceless will kill any who threatens their institution, they are not afraid to threaten such in the open. The Nephilim will retain public control of Aphros while lauding themselves as Gods. Aphros will continue to cull any threat to its position, without ever truly intending on doing any good. Perhaps one of the worst offenders is the Bastion, which is rife with corruption. The very knights who should uphold a societies values by in large seem to be only in it for power. The common man, woman and child will continue to live in fear, often conditioned into a passive stance while forces they are unprepared for toy with their lives and lead them to eventual ruin.
I believe I have given up on the soul of this city. It seems so far beyond redemption. I suspect even the Oracle as a position is a mere puppet that is easily replaced, which restricts drastic change from ever occurring. I am just so tired of tying myself to a society that I cannot love.
My criticism of my former home only grows with each passing day. I understand the flaws of my society and I know it should have the capacity to overcome them, but rarely do I feel right chosen over wrong. There are always forces at work that ensure society may not change. Control is exerted to the point of cynicism. How many crusades have we left unfinished, when their propaganda was built on objective good? For humanity, at least. To rid the world of the Hive, therein saving countless human lives for generations to come. It is telling that Aphros has made peace three times with the creatures, within each enabling its eventual regrowth into a viable threat, wherein they have always attacked and fed on our loved ones in order to breed once more. I suspect a fourth occasion will arise within my lifetime. My doubt whispers to me that this is unlikely to change.
To know that we always leave that threat unfinished leaves me with a sense of discontentment. It is as though Vaelrun's efforts were for nothing.
What truly effects me however is the lack of integrity within our systems of governance. Nephilim are in positions of power, wherein they refuse to act with virtue. Our entire society is fanatical to the point of detriment towards the sanctity of human life. We concern ourselves with enabling our darker nature under the guise of controlling it, but to do so in an institutional way, one that purposely separates our positive and negative natures into their own distinct branches, only enables corruption within our ranks. Lies and misdirection, assassinations and hypocrisy. Those with a lust for power who will do anything to achieve it are often rewarded for their efforts. The laws on which this society is founded are nothing more than a suggestive deception that apply only to the powerless many.
And I have grown weary of it.
My absence these years has opened my eyes to other cultures, to other more natural states of being. I simply cannot view Aphros under the same misguided lenses.
The faceless will kill any who threatens their institution, they are not afraid to threaten such in the open. The Nephilim will retain public control of Aphros while lauding themselves as Gods. Aphros will continue to cull any threat to its position, without ever truly intending on doing any good. Perhaps one of the worst offenders is the Bastion, which is rife with corruption. The very knights who should uphold a societies values by in large seem to be only in it for power. The common man, woman and child will continue to live in fear, often conditioned into a passive stance while forces they are unprepared for toy with their lives and lead them to eventual ruin.
I believe I have given up on the soul of this city. It seems so far beyond redemption. I suspect even the Oracle as a position is a mere puppet that is easily replaced, which restricts drastic change from ever occurring. I am just so tired of tying myself to a society that I cannot love.
![[Image: dOmPfIR.png]](https://i.imgur.com/dOmPfIR.png)