The Wormtongue Option

The world is a mess. Danger lurks everywhere.  Evil is winning.

Look. The world is changing. Everything you knew about the world of your youth is gone. The landscape is all different. Evil is afoot.

There is really nothing much you can do about it. Stop trying to fix the world. It’s outside of your control. Most of the world will be taken over by evil. Accept it. Stop letting your pride think you can do something about it. You can’t.

There is something you can do. It is not all hopeless. The world might give way to evil, but you can encase yourself in your own intentional community, holding up against the evils of the world as you preserve yourself from its evil influence.

You should not seek out for what you can do for others. Stop thinking you can help them out. They are a lost cause. Rather, seek to bring your people together and in create for them and yourself a small little stronghold of the good.

Anyone who asks for your help, turn away.  If you help them, they will be using resources which you and your community needs.

Think this through.

You are old. You have done your duty for others, now is the time for you to rest.

Is it your fault it is now a dark time, and the world is falling apart? No. You have done what you can for the world. You have done good. But now it is time for you to retire.

Those who would pick your bones and grow fat on your resources claim they want to go to war to save the world, but all they would do is live off of you as a parasite, as the world crumbles around us.

There is nothing you can do to save other communities. Once you understand this, you can truly get to work with your one last good. You can build up your own small community and protect it against all outsiders. Be kind, welcome those who are willing to join your community if they have something to give to you, but be cautious, and avoid anyone who comes seeking help. They will come and take and take and take until you have nothing left. Then what will you do when the enemy comes for you? Those who truly care for you will ask for nothing and will give of themselves to help defend our community.

Do not tax yourself with the worries of the world. If people come asking for your help, turn them away because of the evil they would bring to our community. You have earned your rest. Go, take your meat, and eat. It is yours. You have earned your keep.

But if you truly feel you must go out, if you feel the need to heed the call and help someone else one last time with your waning strength, go if you must.  But remember, I am here for you. Let me take care of your community. I will protect it for you. I will make sure it thrives while you are away. No, I do not recommend going, it is best we keep to ourselves, but if you must go, if you must use up your last remaining strength, know everything is in good hands with me. I will make sure everyone gets what they deserve. I will make sure they will survive, away from the darkness, preserved here, in our bastion of hope. The world outside might perish, but we will survive, and once the time of darkness is over, we will then be free to go out in the world and render it our light.

— Thank you Grima!

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