[VOICE] 'he is awkward, and out of place in the society of his equals': charles lamb
[the recording is silent for a moment or two before he begins to speak. his voice is tired and careful, and lacks the usual fire. it is clear that he is attempting to collect his thoughts as he speaks.]
I have known from the beginning of my introduction to the 'hero' community at large that I am at cross purposes with many of you in regards to the approaches we choose to take. I suppose I should have taken your declarations of violent tendencies more seriously than I chose to, and should have foreseen the lengths to which you would go to satisfy them.
This past week has been... enlightening. I see now exactly how much unwarranted credit I have given everyone, as well as the degree to which I have overestimated my own ability to cooperatively maintain some semblance of order and control with those who would 'save' the City.
It would seem that I am also at a bit of a loss as to what direction I should be taking regarding recent events. The things in this world are not even hinted at in my own. We have no need for legislation regarding the use of powers and abilities. We do not have to consider what falls under the heading of 'justifiable homicide' when such things as internal wars and mutants are involved. I have no precedence to look to for guidance when one man sets another living being on fire simply because the other might have meant to slaughter innocents on orders from a mob of metahuman criminals. The government here has not declared an official war; we have no sanction allowing us to behave as soldiers and eliminate potential threats. We have only the words of an animated suit of armor that sought to find one specific man by any means necessary, and busy those who were not the target with familiar work; enough to prevent them asking other questions.
In this case, I can turn only to my own thoughts and beliefs, and make a closer examination of my own morals and ethics.
I believe I have attempted many times to make it clear that killing is not an acceptable behavior. Even during the two days in which I involved myself, I found it possible to simply disable my opponents, rather than go as far as to end their lives--whatever quality they may or may not have been lacking in that. Several times I made it clear over the boards that I wished to see no murder of any kind.
And yet, so many of you chose to lower yourself; chose to let your baser instincts take over. Worse, there were some who made no distinction as to those they eliminated, and destroyed threat and civilian alike. Property damage, while not as important, is also on the scale of the unbelievable.
I am aware of the following heroes and the actions they took during the battle:
[ooc// IF YOUR CHARACTER KILLED EVEN ONE PERSON/MUTANT, THIS IS IMPORTANT. At this point, he makes a complete verbal listing of those who have done so and fit either of the following categories:
*anyone who has made any public comments or posts about it/replied to Balthazar about it/was on the news for it/etc
*were involved in the first two days of the fight at the Tower, outside, from 4AM Day 1 to 7PM Day 2, and committed such actions at that time
IF THEY FIT THESE CONDITIONS, HE KNOWS ABOUT THEM/SAW THEM AND REMEMBERS WHO THEY ARE AND WHAT THEY DID (IF HE WITNESSED IT FIRST- OR SECONDHAND/IF THEY'VE SAID). THEY WILL FIND THEMSELVES A VERY PUBLIC PART OF THIS LIST.]
Consider yourselves warned. In some cases, I have video evidence proving that it was in fact you that committed these deeds.
Though it may make me more unpopular yet, and although I potentially risk myself in doing so, I never once claimed to do what I do for the sake of winning friends or for my own safety. I mean to see as many of you as possible atone for these mistakes, as quickly as might be allowed, given the circumstances.
Those of you willing to turn yourselves in for your actions--though I expect few, if any, will make my work that much easier or less painful--will be granted some degree of leniency. I expect that the rest of you will take more time to bring in. That much, given that the Porter can in no way send us home at whatever time we wish it to do so, I have freely available to me.
For the rest of tonight, however, I'm afraid I have equally pressing matters to attend to. I seem to have acquired an extra responsibility as of late, and while I in no way regret it, I admit to being somewhat in over my head.
Nevertheless. I enjoy the respite.
Good evening. We will see what remains to be done once the sun rises.
I have known from the beginning of my introduction to the 'hero' community at large that I am at cross purposes with many of you in regards to the approaches we choose to take. I suppose I should have taken your declarations of violent tendencies more seriously than I chose to, and should have foreseen the lengths to which you would go to satisfy them.
This past week has been... enlightening. I see now exactly how much unwarranted credit I have given everyone, as well as the degree to which I have overestimated my own ability to cooperatively maintain some semblance of order and control with those who would 'save' the City.
It would seem that I am also at a bit of a loss as to what direction I should be taking regarding recent events. The things in this world are not even hinted at in my own. We have no need for legislation regarding the use of powers and abilities. We do not have to consider what falls under the heading of 'justifiable homicide' when such things as internal wars and mutants are involved. I have no precedence to look to for guidance when one man sets another living being on fire simply because the other might have meant to slaughter innocents on orders from a mob of metahuman criminals. The government here has not declared an official war; we have no sanction allowing us to behave as soldiers and eliminate potential threats. We have only the words of an animated suit of armor that sought to find one specific man by any means necessary, and busy those who were not the target with familiar work; enough to prevent them asking other questions.
In this case, I can turn only to my own thoughts and beliefs, and make a closer examination of my own morals and ethics.
I believe I have attempted many times to make it clear that killing is not an acceptable behavior. Even during the two days in which I involved myself, I found it possible to simply disable my opponents, rather than go as far as to end their lives--whatever quality they may or may not have been lacking in that. Several times I made it clear over the boards that I wished to see no murder of any kind.
And yet, so many of you chose to lower yourself; chose to let your baser instincts take over. Worse, there were some who made no distinction as to those they eliminated, and destroyed threat and civilian alike. Property damage, while not as important, is also on the scale of the unbelievable.
I am aware of the following heroes and the actions they took during the battle:
[ooc// IF YOUR CHARACTER KILLED EVEN ONE PERSON/MUTANT, THIS IS IMPORTANT. At this point, he makes a complete verbal listing of those who have done so and fit either of the following categories:
*anyone who has made any public comments or posts about it/replied to Balthazar about it/was on the news for it/etc
*were involved in the first two days of the fight at the Tower, outside, from 4AM Day 1 to 7PM Day 2, and committed such actions at that time
IF THEY FIT THESE CONDITIONS, HE KNOWS ABOUT THEM/SAW THEM AND REMEMBERS WHO THEY ARE AND WHAT THEY DID (IF HE WITNESSED IT FIRST- OR SECONDHAND/IF THEY'VE SAID). THEY WILL FIND THEMSELVES A VERY PUBLIC PART OF THIS LIST.]
Consider yourselves warned. In some cases, I have video evidence proving that it was in fact you that committed these deeds.
Though it may make me more unpopular yet, and although I potentially risk myself in doing so, I never once claimed to do what I do for the sake of winning friends or for my own safety. I mean to see as many of you as possible atone for these mistakes, as quickly as might be allowed, given the circumstances.
Those of you willing to turn yourselves in for your actions--though I expect few, if any, will make my work that much easier or less painful--will be granted some degree of leniency. I expect that the rest of you will take more time to bring in. That much, given that the Porter can in no way send us home at whatever time we wish it to do so, I have freely available to me.
For the rest of tonight, however, I'm afraid I have equally pressing matters to attend to. I seem to have acquired an extra responsibility as of late, and while I in no way regret it, I admit to being somewhat in over my head.
Nevertheless. I enjoy the respite.
Good evening. We will see what remains to be done once the sun rises.