@callisto.diamandis

[myfavoritemurder]

Back on my own world, I raised armies of men to follow me. I killed the ones who were too weak or who refused to obey a woman, and provided the rest with armor, weapons, and ample food and supplies from the villages we raided. In return, they helped me be seen the way I wanted to be seen. But none of that will work here.

[That's not as big an admission as it might sound; both the armies and the raiding had been nothing but a means to an end, something that was useful at the time but that could easily be left behind if circumstances changed.]

The powers here have given me the gift of literacy, and I've read your guide for the newcomers, even though it clearly wasn't written for someone like me. You take it for granted that everybody coming here will already know about things like buses and guns and galaxies.

But I have decided that there is nothing for me here, I will fight for the cause to return to where we came from. If this is your cause as well, we will be allies.

[A word to the wise: Callisto is not always kind even to her allies.]

But if we end up in a position to make demands, then I want to go back to the land of the living, not to Tartarus. My work there isn't done.

Comments

[strove]

It's better if we think of it as "at all."

[ofmyth]

needlessly avoiding conflict can be as foolish needlessly seeking it out

[strove]

I'm not a pacifist. I've just seen what comes of war.

[ofmyth]

as have i

enough to know that what comes of war is not simple enough to be just for good or for ill

[strove]

I'm worried that too many of us are used to rushing to war. That's all.

[ofmyth]

aye, that is something to be concerned about. if i were a few millenia younger i might be the worst among us

but some of us are also stubborn enough that someone declaring we will never take the fight to our enemies will make them work harder to make it happen

[strove]

Unfortunately true, but it needs to be said. I'm willing to do whatever necessary to keep an unnecessary battle from happening.

At least I'm willing to stand by my sentiment. It might not be enough, but it's a start.