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faithmanagesPlayer nickname: Akino
Player DW:akinoame
Way to contact you:
Email: brittany –dot- akinoame –at- gmail
AIM: Canta Akino
Are you at least 15?: Y
Current Characters: Masato Jin
Character: Delenn
Fandom: Babylon 5
History: The Babylon Project Delenn comes from the beginning of season 4, at the tail end of the Shadow War.
Personality:
The best way I can put Delenn is this: She is dedicated to peace, yes. But she is fiercely determined to defend that peace, no matter the cost. She typically has a calm demeanor, in keeping with her station in the Religious Caste and her former position with the ruling Grey Council. However, she is extremely passionate about whatever she cares about. When her mentor was killed by an Earth cruiser, she made the deciding vote to wage a holy war against the Humans, screaming that they deserved no mercy and should be completely wiped out. But when she finally saw the consequences of her actions, she was determined to find a peaceful solution no matter what, and she regretted her decision for the rest of her life.
As an ambassador, a former Council member, and a priestess, Delenn tries not to be too quick to judgment. This is partially due to her actions in the war and partly from the implication that the Vorlons, an alien race the Minbari had contact with for at least a thousand years, have taught her and her people to be selective about the information they share with others—as she puts it, "learning what I need to know, and no more." Examples include keeping Commander Sinclair's true nature as having Valen's soul a secret, along with the secret that other Minbari souls were being reborn into human bodies (the secret that ended the war); allowing the Narn Homeworld to fall to the Centauri to prevent the Shadows from learning they were onto them; and the biggest one she's suffering over now: the fact that she didn't mention to her love, Sheridan, that there was a VERY slight possibility that his wife might not be dead and might actually be working for the Shadows. Which led to him going to their homeworld, pretending to be angry with her so Anna wouldn't be suspicious, and sacrificing his life in an attempt to take them out. Hindsight is not her friend.
Overall, Delenn believes in destiny and in the universe, and that we are all part of it. In Minbari religion, the universe is a living being, that split itself into individual souls and scattered those souls across itself, trying to learn who it is. These pieces of the universe became the stars, planets, moons, Minbari, Humans, Vorlons, Narns, Centauri, everything. The flame from a single candle held in a star-shaped holder represents life—all life, including that of the Shadows. But it is not long before the candle must return to the star, before the light becomes darkness. Delenn takes seriously her vows as a member of the Grey Council: to stand between the candle and the star, between the darkness and the light—between individual lives and the life of the universe itself. She will try to choose what is best for everyone, but she cannot always predict what that will be. However, she will always strive to be the bridge that connects everything and take on whatever pain she feels she must—becoming half-Human, even attempting to sacrifice her life later in the season to end the civil war on her planet—in order to create peace. She will walk in the dark places others may fear and will charge into the fire without hesitation, just as Valen before her had, because she believes that what her cause is right.
Other:
Additional Links:
Wikipedia
The Lurker's Guide to Babylon 5 - Only seems to cover up to season 4, however.
First Person:
Forgive me if I do not answer these questions well. This is not the first time I have been interviewed, and I must admit that the last two times did not go well for me.
1. Do you believe in fate? Why or why not?
I do not know if it is the same as Humans would consider it, but yes, I do believe in fate. Not necessarily that there is a planned outcome for everyone, but that everyone has a place and a part to play. A "calling," if you will. I heed the calling of my heart, which led me to serve under Dukhat, who recommended me for the Grey Council.
I do not believe that fate absolves me of my actions. I was the one who made the deciding vote for war with the Humans, and I will always regret that. But fate did lead me to the way to end it, by allowing me to find Jeffery Sinclair. It was the truth that he was Valen that allowed us to end the war peacefully, and the realization that Minbari souls were being reborn in Human bodies led me to take the step toward becoming the bridge between our races. Fate set the path. I chose to follow.
2. You're faced with a crisis of faith. What pulls you back to solidify your beliefs and find strength in them again?
The Religious Caste has a saying: "Faith manages." What is it that you believe in? It does not have to be any particular gods or the universe. It can be in a person or in a place. We all believe in Babylon 5 and in one another. The fact that others know that we believe in them makes them want to live up to those beliefs. Perhaps the same goes for the station—two and a half million tons of spinning metal, they say. But not "all alone in the night." Babylon 5 is never alone. It is dreams and hopes and people.
That is faith. And it will always manage.
3. If you have any secrets, how far would you go to keep them from being revealed?
It is strange to look back on it. When the Grey Council realized that Sinclair was Valen, I promised to watch over him and ensure that he would never remember the truth and reveal it before either of our races were ready. Despite him bearing the soul of our greatest leader, I still vowed to kill him if necessary. And yet, the truth still came out—not to all of the Minbari and Humans, but to the ones who needed to know in order to act. To Sinclair, especially.
Likewise, when I did not tell John that there was a possibility Anna had survived and become a puppet of the Shadows, the truth came out.
This is not to say that I will not keep secrets. As an ambassador, I must, for the sake of diplomacy or planetary security. But I know better now than to expect that these secrets will never come to light. The Vorlons say, "The truth points to itself," and I have found too often that this is most certainly the case.
4. One of your greatest secrets has just been exposed to the people close to you. What do you do?
If I keep the above in mind, then hopefully, I have taken steps to minimize the pain caused to them and myself. But that is not always the case.
5. Do you have any dreams or ambitions? How do you intend to achieve them?
After all this time spent trying to fulfill my place in destiny, I am not sure what dreams of my own I may have. I would like to help bring peace even after the Shadow War ends, and my work as Ambassador will help with that. Perhaps we can repair the imbalance between the four most powerful governments in the galaxy and the League of Non-Aligned Worlds.
And as a bridge between the Minbari and Humans...John gave me a ring. He says it is a promise, to be married one day. He's also spoken of dreams of the future, with children, although there's no guarantee that we would be able to have children of our own. But perhaps we could take in children from Earth or Minbar. After all of this, a family of our own would be nice.
6. What do you think is your greatest strength and why? What do you think is your greatest weakness and why?
My greatest strength? Let me see...
To be honest, I have not considered my strengths, although I know that both John and Lennier believe there are plenty to mention. I suppose that my conviction in the path the universe has laid before me, then. My belief that the cause I serve is right.
My greatest weakness...I have caused two wars, because I gave in to anger and did not consider the consequences of my actions. Thank Valen it is not a common occurrence, but it is something within myself that I fear.
7. How do you feel about your hometown? What do you think the people there would say about you?
Yedor, the capital of Minbar. While I was not born there, I feel a strong connection to it. I have never seen a more beautiful city, even the peaceful Tuzanor. The buildings are carved from the crystal deposits so prevalent on my planet and glitter in the sunlight, while the waterfalls cascade down with a constant rhythm. So much of the city is ancient, but it has endured for so long. The Worker Caste takes pride in the construction, and they endeavor to design new buildings to resemble the older ones perfectly.
I studied much in temple, and I suppose others would say that I was dutiful, because I was selected by Dukhat, the Chosen One, to become his acolyte. He said of me that I would never hold my tongue until it was right and proper that I spoke—I suppose that even now, I am what is considered among Minbari to be outspoken. As Satai, I believed that I spoke with the voice of the entire Grey Council, but now I understand how little faith they had in me, if not in the signs and portents of the Shadow War and the truth of our connection with the Humans. I was an outcast, and although there are a few who choose to believe in me, I know that I may always be seen as "tainted" by my people, for the time I have spent among the Humans and the changes I have undertaken for all of our sakes.
8. You're at the scene of a robbery, but you manage to get the upper hand; you're holding the gun. The robber is at your mercy. What would you do?
I would ensure that the robber is secured until Mr. Garibaldi or another member of the security team may take over. It is not my place to decide whether or not someone should die, and I have enough blood on my hands. I do not wish to add to it.
9. How do you normally dress? Why do you dress this way?
I know that to most Minbari, I appear more Human. So I continue to dress in Minbari fashions, in order to remind them and myself who I am and where half of my soul lies. My robes now are more colorful than is the fashion for the Religious Caste, but it is still considered appropriate for my position as Ambassador. As Entil'Zha of the Anla'shok, I wear the traditional dress uniform of Ranger One worn since Valen himself—the dark grey trousers and hooded shirt, the patterned brown cloak, and the one new item—the new design of the Isil'Zha—a precious jewel by the same name, set in a brooch depicting a Minbari in silver and a Human in gold on either end, intertwined. It is passed through flame and the blood of both a Minbari and a Human, to symbolize our connection. Before Sinclair became the Entil'Zha, the Isil'Zha had a different setting, in the form of hands, to symbolize a Ranger holding the future—in Minbari, "isil'zha"—in his or her hands.
While I am not a Warrior, I am still a Ranger. I walk in the dark in order to bring the light. I not only stand on the bridge—I act as the bridge, not to prevent others from passing, but to join together both sides. I do not ask for the others to die for me, because I am the One, but I would gladly live and die for everyone else's sake—and that, I hope, the Rangers will also learn.
10. Do you have any strong memories that have stuck with you from childhood? Why are they so powerful and lasting?
When I was a child, my parents took me to visit Yedor, and I became separated from them. I eventually found my way to an ancient temple and reasoned that if I stayed there, sooner or later, they would find me. I fell asleep there and dreamed that Valen appeared and told me to have faith that they would come, for he would not allow harm to come to his little ones in his temple. When I awoke, my parents were running in.
I have often thought of this and used it as an explanation of how extraordinary things may happen, so long as you have faith. But lately, I have had other reasons to think on them. At first, I was not sure if my vision of Valen was truly of his soul, appearing from the whole of the universe from beyond. But because I was in his temple, of course, it must be the case—no matter what a cynic like Mr. Garibaldi might say, about my thinking of Valen already. But I know now that I am descended from Valen. I know that he would have protected any child who came to his house for comfort, but perhaps he took special care of one of his own children. Perhaps I truly did see my good, dear friend once more, long before I knew who he was.
Third Person:
Another candle burning low. Another night spent praying.
Delenn watched the candle silently. The tiny flame wasn't enough to banish the darkness of her quarters, and with time, she knew it too would die out, be consumed by the shadow.
All the same, she continued to hope and pray.
One tiny light, the Army of Light and Babylon 5, the last, best hope against the Shadow advance.
Outside the station, she knew that the stars were burning as brightly as ever, but the Shadows were taking more and more territory away from the light.
No, that was not true. The light was also trying to take away from the darkness. She had seen that, with the Vorlon Ambassador who'd replaced Kosh.
There were the stars and the darkness between them, existing in balance. If there were too many stars living side-by-side, they would consume one another's gravity and fire. If they were gone, the universe would be cold and lifeless.
She had heard that on Earth, it was tradition to connect the stars together into constellations. John had told her of Dubhe, Merak, Phecda, Megrez, Alioth, Mizar, and Alkaid forming a "Big Dipper" in the northern skies, pointing toward Polaris, its polestar. Supposedly, this Big Dipper was also part of a constellation called the Great Bear, but she still failed to understand how a dipper resembled a bear in any way.
Lennier had become curious and discovered that other cultures on Earth did not connect the stars, but the dark clouds and nebulae of the Great Rift of the galaxy to form birds and other animals.
Stars and the darkness between them. Both necessary and respected by the younger races long before they developed interstellar travel.
And yet, the Vorlons and the Shadows could not see that.
Light and order or darkness and chaos—that was the dichotomy they were leaving the younger races with. Nothing in-between.
If Delenn breathed over the candle, she could put out its flame. If she moved cloth over it, it could set fire to the entire room. That was the choice they had left them with, and it was no choice at all.
The outcome was inevitable—the candle could not burn forever. Its light would die, and the darkness would prevail.
But the light of the stars would burn far longer, reaching out to connect across the darkness. And the darkness too would reach and connect.
Dipper-Bears and Dark Birds all across the universe.
They would not be the Vorlons' and Shadows' candles anymore.
Player DW:
akinoameWay to contact you:
Email: brittany –dot- akinoame –at- gmail
AIM: Canta Akino
Are you at least 15?: Y
Current Characters: Masato Jin
Character: Delenn
Fandom: Babylon 5
History: The Babylon Project Delenn comes from the beginning of season 4, at the tail end of the Shadow War.
Personality:
The best way I can put Delenn is this: She is dedicated to peace, yes. But she is fiercely determined to defend that peace, no matter the cost. She typically has a calm demeanor, in keeping with her station in the Religious Caste and her former position with the ruling Grey Council. However, she is extremely passionate about whatever she cares about. When her mentor was killed by an Earth cruiser, she made the deciding vote to wage a holy war against the Humans, screaming that they deserved no mercy and should be completely wiped out. But when she finally saw the consequences of her actions, she was determined to find a peaceful solution no matter what, and she regretted her decision for the rest of her life.
As an ambassador, a former Council member, and a priestess, Delenn tries not to be too quick to judgment. This is partially due to her actions in the war and partly from the implication that the Vorlons, an alien race the Minbari had contact with for at least a thousand years, have taught her and her people to be selective about the information they share with others—as she puts it, "learning what I need to know, and no more." Examples include keeping Commander Sinclair's true nature as having Valen's soul a secret, along with the secret that other Minbari souls were being reborn into human bodies (the secret that ended the war); allowing the Narn Homeworld to fall to the Centauri to prevent the Shadows from learning they were onto them; and the biggest one she's suffering over now: the fact that she didn't mention to her love, Sheridan, that there was a VERY slight possibility that his wife might not be dead and might actually be working for the Shadows. Which led to him going to their homeworld, pretending to be angry with her so Anna wouldn't be suspicious, and sacrificing his life in an attempt to take them out. Hindsight is not her friend.
Overall, Delenn believes in destiny and in the universe, and that we are all part of it. In Minbari religion, the universe is a living being, that split itself into individual souls and scattered those souls across itself, trying to learn who it is. These pieces of the universe became the stars, planets, moons, Minbari, Humans, Vorlons, Narns, Centauri, everything. The flame from a single candle held in a star-shaped holder represents life—all life, including that of the Shadows. But it is not long before the candle must return to the star, before the light becomes darkness. Delenn takes seriously her vows as a member of the Grey Council: to stand between the candle and the star, between the darkness and the light—between individual lives and the life of the universe itself. She will try to choose what is best for everyone, but she cannot always predict what that will be. However, she will always strive to be the bridge that connects everything and take on whatever pain she feels she must—becoming half-Human, even attempting to sacrifice her life later in the season to end the civil war on her planet—in order to create peace. She will walk in the dark places others may fear and will charge into the fire without hesitation, just as Valen before her had, because she believes that what her cause is right.
Other:
Additional Links:
Wikipedia
The Lurker's Guide to Babylon 5 - Only seems to cover up to season 4, however.
First Person:
Forgive me if I do not answer these questions well. This is not the first time I have been interviewed, and I must admit that the last two times did not go well for me.
1. Do you believe in fate? Why or why not?
I do not know if it is the same as Humans would consider it, but yes, I do believe in fate. Not necessarily that there is a planned outcome for everyone, but that everyone has a place and a part to play. A "calling," if you will. I heed the calling of my heart, which led me to serve under Dukhat, who recommended me for the Grey Council.
I do not believe that fate absolves me of my actions. I was the one who made the deciding vote for war with the Humans, and I will always regret that. But fate did lead me to the way to end it, by allowing me to find Jeffery Sinclair. It was the truth that he was Valen that allowed us to end the war peacefully, and the realization that Minbari souls were being reborn in Human bodies led me to take the step toward becoming the bridge between our races. Fate set the path. I chose to follow.
2. You're faced with a crisis of faith. What pulls you back to solidify your beliefs and find strength in them again?
The Religious Caste has a saying: "Faith manages." What is it that you believe in? It does not have to be any particular gods or the universe. It can be in a person or in a place. We all believe in Babylon 5 and in one another. The fact that others know that we believe in them makes them want to live up to those beliefs. Perhaps the same goes for the station—two and a half million tons of spinning metal, they say. But not "all alone in the night." Babylon 5 is never alone. It is dreams and hopes and people.
That is faith. And it will always manage.
3. If you have any secrets, how far would you go to keep them from being revealed?
It is strange to look back on it. When the Grey Council realized that Sinclair was Valen, I promised to watch over him and ensure that he would never remember the truth and reveal it before either of our races were ready. Despite him bearing the soul of our greatest leader, I still vowed to kill him if necessary. And yet, the truth still came out—not to all of the Minbari and Humans, but to the ones who needed to know in order to act. To Sinclair, especially.
Likewise, when I did not tell John that there was a possibility Anna had survived and become a puppet of the Shadows, the truth came out.
This is not to say that I will not keep secrets. As an ambassador, I must, for the sake of diplomacy or planetary security. But I know better now than to expect that these secrets will never come to light. The Vorlons say, "The truth points to itself," and I have found too often that this is most certainly the case.
4. One of your greatest secrets has just been exposed to the people close to you. What do you do?
If I keep the above in mind, then hopefully, I have taken steps to minimize the pain caused to them and myself. But that is not always the case.
5. Do you have any dreams or ambitions? How do you intend to achieve them?
After all this time spent trying to fulfill my place in destiny, I am not sure what dreams of my own I may have. I would like to help bring peace even after the Shadow War ends, and my work as Ambassador will help with that. Perhaps we can repair the imbalance between the four most powerful governments in the galaxy and the League of Non-Aligned Worlds.
And as a bridge between the Minbari and Humans...John gave me a ring. He says it is a promise, to be married one day. He's also spoken of dreams of the future, with children, although there's no guarantee that we would be able to have children of our own. But perhaps we could take in children from Earth or Minbar. After all of this, a family of our own would be nice.
6. What do you think is your greatest strength and why? What do you think is your greatest weakness and why?
My greatest strength? Let me see...
To be honest, I have not considered my strengths, although I know that both John and Lennier believe there are plenty to mention. I suppose that my conviction in the path the universe has laid before me, then. My belief that the cause I serve is right.
My greatest weakness...I have caused two wars, because I gave in to anger and did not consider the consequences of my actions. Thank Valen it is not a common occurrence, but it is something within myself that I fear.
7. How do you feel about your hometown? What do you think the people there would say about you?
Yedor, the capital of Minbar. While I was not born there, I feel a strong connection to it. I have never seen a more beautiful city, even the peaceful Tuzanor. The buildings are carved from the crystal deposits so prevalent on my planet and glitter in the sunlight, while the waterfalls cascade down with a constant rhythm. So much of the city is ancient, but it has endured for so long. The Worker Caste takes pride in the construction, and they endeavor to design new buildings to resemble the older ones perfectly.
I studied much in temple, and I suppose others would say that I was dutiful, because I was selected by Dukhat, the Chosen One, to become his acolyte. He said of me that I would never hold my tongue until it was right and proper that I spoke—I suppose that even now, I am what is considered among Minbari to be outspoken. As Satai, I believed that I spoke with the voice of the entire Grey Council, but now I understand how little faith they had in me, if not in the signs and portents of the Shadow War and the truth of our connection with the Humans. I was an outcast, and although there are a few who choose to believe in me, I know that I may always be seen as "tainted" by my people, for the time I have spent among the Humans and the changes I have undertaken for all of our sakes.
8. You're at the scene of a robbery, but you manage to get the upper hand; you're holding the gun. The robber is at your mercy. What would you do?
I would ensure that the robber is secured until Mr. Garibaldi or another member of the security team may take over. It is not my place to decide whether or not someone should die, and I have enough blood on my hands. I do not wish to add to it.
9. How do you normally dress? Why do you dress this way?
I know that to most Minbari, I appear more Human. So I continue to dress in Minbari fashions, in order to remind them and myself who I am and where half of my soul lies. My robes now are more colorful than is the fashion for the Religious Caste, but it is still considered appropriate for my position as Ambassador. As Entil'Zha of the Anla'shok, I wear the traditional dress uniform of Ranger One worn since Valen himself—the dark grey trousers and hooded shirt, the patterned brown cloak, and the one new item—the new design of the Isil'Zha—a precious jewel by the same name, set in a brooch depicting a Minbari in silver and a Human in gold on either end, intertwined. It is passed through flame and the blood of both a Minbari and a Human, to symbolize our connection. Before Sinclair became the Entil'Zha, the Isil'Zha had a different setting, in the form of hands, to symbolize a Ranger holding the future—in Minbari, "isil'zha"—in his or her hands.
While I am not a Warrior, I am still a Ranger. I walk in the dark in order to bring the light. I not only stand on the bridge—I act as the bridge, not to prevent others from passing, but to join together both sides. I do not ask for the others to die for me, because I am the One, but I would gladly live and die for everyone else's sake—and that, I hope, the Rangers will also learn.
10. Do you have any strong memories that have stuck with you from childhood? Why are they so powerful and lasting?
When I was a child, my parents took me to visit Yedor, and I became separated from them. I eventually found my way to an ancient temple and reasoned that if I stayed there, sooner or later, they would find me. I fell asleep there and dreamed that Valen appeared and told me to have faith that they would come, for he would not allow harm to come to his little ones in his temple. When I awoke, my parents were running in.
I have often thought of this and used it as an explanation of how extraordinary things may happen, so long as you have faith. But lately, I have had other reasons to think on them. At first, I was not sure if my vision of Valen was truly of his soul, appearing from the whole of the universe from beyond. But because I was in his temple, of course, it must be the case—no matter what a cynic like Mr. Garibaldi might say, about my thinking of Valen already. But I know now that I am descended from Valen. I know that he would have protected any child who came to his house for comfort, but perhaps he took special care of one of his own children. Perhaps I truly did see my good, dear friend once more, long before I knew who he was.
Third Person:
Another candle burning low. Another night spent praying.
Delenn watched the candle silently. The tiny flame wasn't enough to banish the darkness of her quarters, and with time, she knew it too would die out, be consumed by the shadow.
All the same, she continued to hope and pray.
One tiny light, the Army of Light and Babylon 5, the last, best hope against the Shadow advance.
Outside the station, she knew that the stars were burning as brightly as ever, but the Shadows were taking more and more territory away from the light.
No, that was not true. The light was also trying to take away from the darkness. She had seen that, with the Vorlon Ambassador who'd replaced Kosh.
There were the stars and the darkness between them, existing in balance. If there were too many stars living side-by-side, they would consume one another's gravity and fire. If they were gone, the universe would be cold and lifeless.
She had heard that on Earth, it was tradition to connect the stars together into constellations. John had told her of Dubhe, Merak, Phecda, Megrez, Alioth, Mizar, and Alkaid forming a "Big Dipper" in the northern skies, pointing toward Polaris, its polestar. Supposedly, this Big Dipper was also part of a constellation called the Great Bear, but she still failed to understand how a dipper resembled a bear in any way.
Lennier had become curious and discovered that other cultures on Earth did not connect the stars, but the dark clouds and nebulae of the Great Rift of the galaxy to form birds and other animals.
Stars and the darkness between them. Both necessary and respected by the younger races long before they developed interstellar travel.
And yet, the Vorlons and the Shadows could not see that.
Light and order or darkness and chaos—that was the dichotomy they were leaving the younger races with. Nothing in-between.
If Delenn breathed over the candle, she could put out its flame. If she moved cloth over it, it could set fire to the entire room. That was the choice they had left them with, and it was no choice at all.
The outcome was inevitable—the candle could not burn forever. Its light would die, and the darkness would prevail.
But the light of the stars would burn far longer, reaching out to connect across the darkness. And the darkness too would reach and connect.
Dipper-Bears and Dark Birds all across the universe.
They would not be the Vorlons' and Shadows' candles anymore.
