Forum Replies Created
-
Posts
-
Actually, we will be discussing this, as the story goes on, probably more in later books. Here are scattered and varied notes.
These are all similar energy beings, whatever they are called, so the certainly could. And in fact, we know from Greek mythology that they can procreate asexually as well.
For example Athena was borne of Zeus, and Zeus alone, similarly, the alternate Eris was supposedly birth asexually from Nyx (Night).
In the case of Orcus, we will learn that he really did not like the gods, he thought they were rigging the game against mortals. Technically, he was of divine descent, one of the “elite” but he chose to be a populist rabblerouser (according to many gods). He chose not to live in the outer planes, he did not join a pantheon, he did not harvest mana from mortals as if they were cattle, or fruit trees.
Doom was his answer to this problem. Yes, it needs animus present to work, but it’s not harvesting mana from people, it’s generating new mana using their associated animus as a catalyst. Now, in saying this we have to be clear that the reason people have to sleep at Doom is not because their mana is being harvested, but rather that they are in competition with Doom for the ambient mana that is being generated by Doom’s generators. By sleeping, people (demons) can accumulate a greater share of mana since they aren’t expending as much (demons absorb mana to regenerate, power their unnatural selves etc).
Anyway: All of the Rituals of Immortality create very similar beings
Demonization: Creates demons
D”Orcanization: Creates D’Orcs
Canonization: Creates Saints (maybe archons too, or??)
Divine Ascension: Creates demi-gods who may become gods.All of these are Immortals and as such they share common characteristics, most specifically the ability to transcend the material planes and operate on the outer planes, material planes, the Abyss in various forms.
They are immaterial/energy beings who can exist without degrading on the material plane when not material. Most of them have the ability to either create material semi-bodies (like demons do when summoned) or fully incarnate as Beragamos did in order to get into Freehold which means his body is very real, and subject to aging and is anatomically correct inside. It also does not shapeshift (unless he gets bitten by some sort of therianthrope)
Tom, for example was worried about his internal plumbing (could he eat etc) his demon form can fake it.
Now actually this is very interesting because Rupert could always shapeshift, which means his body has always been a demon form, not a true incarnated body, apparently.
Finally, ghosts and spirits are like pale shadows of these beings, perhaps eventually achieving full immortality.
Yes, it was. And that’s what was said here, but in my mind I read Edwyrd and thought Tom.
See, even I can’t tell them apart at this point….
All great points.
Very much agree on the Phoenix Cycle. This is one reason most of the followers are loosey goosey on is he the “heir” or Orcus reborn? One the prophecy was not super clear, it sort of said heir, but also the return. One way or the other, there is a new office holder, obligated by their constraints of their office and precedent.
You have to maintain the trust of your bureaucracy, you are as much a caretaker of the office as anything else.
Yes, very true about Tiernon, but also, more simply, he’s a god of Justice. I’d say Law and Order, but I don’t know how to embed thunk thunks in a post.
Justice, for a god, has to seem like Justice to all parties involved, or as close to it as possible. So, now add in your thoughts on it, and that is the answer.
Yes, they would, now they are all linked together, once could envision such systems, particularly for very paranoid “evil” gods who possess and read their avatars for signs of treachery.
Problem is, that just doesn’t work for a god of Justice. You need to be seen as acting fairly, impartially and on objective, observable facts in evidence. If not all the “facts” are in evidence, it’s hard to impose a “Just” solution.
Yeah, but Tiernon is actually supposed to be a “good guy” at least in his mind. You gotta wonder about someone who drops their father and step mother down an infinitely deep well, never to be seen again.
I mean he’s not quite so far gone as certain global powers that claim to be the cowboys in the white had but have “dark sites” in regions they can’t be held accountable for. He at least tries to live by his publicly prophesied ethics.
Yeah,
Actually, I believe that much of the orc to elf fight, originally pre-Orcus, and in fact orc to human problems come from language. In many books/mythos (albeit not Tolkien)
Orcs are not great linguists, and are always shown as being non-verbal barbaric thugs. Particularly by the elves who have a very complex natural language, and by humans who are in between in terms of language skills. I suspect the elvish language, in fact is so complex that it partially achieves the ethics differences you mention, which is why elves always seem rather “sneaky” to orcs, and aloof, different, odd to humans.
Orcs always speak human or elvish crudely (possibly due to teeth interfering with those languages–see next release) and so people assume they are barbaric and crude and simple. Add cultural differences, misinterpretation etc.
I needed the universal so that demons could understand their master (somehow they always do in modern mythology). I did not need to give it a “TARDIS” effect, probably shouldn’t have, given how much in these books relies on misunderstanding.
The problem was that if a demon could communicate universally, what happens when he is speaking to an audience of mixed languages that had nothing in common?
I thought about this, but sort of decided that it would add a lot of complications that got in the way of the story. Not sure I still agree with myself, but….
Now, on your point, I think the djinn language is going to be a lot closer to what you describe. Their language is extremely complex and exact, it is, in fact, quasi telepathic. I say quasi, because they can share thoughts, but that is something that is very intimate and not generally done casually or in public,
Yes, but, technically she’s not a follower of theirs. She’s a shaman, which means she’s more like a druid who is into spirits. It is rather unusual. Elven druids are not uncommon, elven shamans not as common.
There are actually multiple alvaran pantheons, even as there are human ones, and not all elves worship the same pantheons. However, the elven deities generally do not share the same territories/planets like human gods do. If they do, it’s typically on different continents.
They do not find fighting for worshipers to be dignified.
We know that they have a very small presence on Nysegard at this time. Why this is? We have not been told. But, if it were to get out that Net and Danu were responsible for killing Orcus, then they would probably have a smaller presence.
Yes, I’ve been having trouble with that. Was hoping the SQL Server upgrade would fix it, but it appears it did not.
Will look into it some more, there is now so much out there that it’s needed.
OK, it is starting to work, it is rebuilding right now.
Found the problem: Previously the problem was that the DB was SQL Express, for which the SQL Agent doesn’t like to run, not sure why it installs, but it’s always a pain.
Now using SQLWeb, which does have SQL Agent to run jobs. Problem was that for some bizarre reason the installer assigned the full text index service an account but didn’t actually create the account correctly and there were login failures. Fixed the account, and now the reindexer is running.
I currently have it schedule to do it every night at midnight CDT/CST
Well, when one has immortal/unkillable enemies, how do you “dispose” of them without fear of them phoenix recycling in the next 4000 years or so?
You need to have a giant pit that you can throw them down, never to be seen again.
We shall see. I will think about it. It works best from the points you guys are bringing up for negotiation.
Not sure how practical—>ok, trailing off thought there could be a practical reason for doing it.
The point I was about to make was that the Citadel is on top of a very big cliff and you’d probably kill/drown a lot of people in the Citadel along with the army.
However, I just thought of another use for it than tidal waves. Will think about that….
