[ honestly? he'll kind of chuckle a bit at the joke, implied or not. it's kinda funny and listen, he's not exactly known for the most appropriate responses to emotional things. something something AuDHD. ]
Yes. Perhaps a bit brief, for my tastes, but I didn't want to push my luck.
[ debating if he should press, but. ] ... You seemed upset about it.
Mildly, but I tend to inspire that in people. [ just saying. leaning over them a little, hands still behind his back. ] I'd say it's partially all of the gravitational force of the floor upon you in combination with some heightened unpleasantness.
[ i mean, he's letting them flop on the DIRT for good reason. its a logical response. ]
Though you're really hardly that unpleasant. Or maybe I've just become accustomed to some unpleasantness. It isn't the worst thing to be. Better, sometimes, than those who would fake pleasantries while speaking otherwise behind your back.
[ they laugh, because they are an asshole. but they just respond, simply: ]
You aren't bad.
[ which is almost a glowing review from famine ]
Less think, more know now. [ it probably took about an hour or so for gale to get a response via crow since the npcs were busy ] We've come to the conclusion that he was attacked by the cult at large.
[ trying and failing not to appear proud of his "not bad." this is like passing the "how am i holding up in your estimations" test from Shadowheart. a hard-won victory from an Unpleasant Queen. ]
Likely so. The rest of us are obviously under more scrutiny now, so we'll see how we fare. I'll have to learn how to more actively be a villain, rather than just accepting the title passively.
Oh, I don't know. I understand it, I think. I had a rebellious streak, though it manifested in quite a different way. I suppose instead of violence it was disobedience to my tutors and masters, and an utter disregard for safe casting practices.
[ he catches that misstep, but just frowns a little. poor death. ]
You do keep repeating the need for us to not concern ourselves with your lot, but we're all rather tied together at this point, don't you think? One of us, one of you.
But no, I don't think so. Death was the dour one who would always something depressing like 'I am but a resource to you', or whatever... but I understand the sentiment. We do not need to grow friendly to be productive.
Look after your own lives and each other, rather than feel worry over people who are part of the problem that brought you here.
Youth, arrogance, insecurity, any mixture of things.
[ another half-shrug. ]
I honestly don't know how much control we will have over any of that. Our lives, each other, any of this. If we're to randomly turn into monsters at the drop of a hat, then there hardly any avoiding harm is there?
I can only grasp an understanding of one of those.
[ guess which one ]
Not to be grim, but most of life is never knowing when you might die, isn't it? The options available to you might be slim now, but it is not fated to always remain the same. You may not have control now, but may not be the case forever, especially since that is what we three are looking to restore.
Not my life. As Chosen, even as just an Archmage, one is granted knowledge that can in certain ways trivialize death. After all, the study of magic is one that can take place over centuries, not mere human decades. When I lost that, I was reduced back to the years granted any other mortal. And when I lost that with the introduction of the Netherese Orb, I was reduced to ... counted days. A measure of hours, even. I knew the exact moment of my death was approaching and was utterly terrified for it. Whatever it is I have now is borrowed time, though what I am borrowing against remains to be seen.
In theory, but without knowing where we are and to what extent our souls can travel from here, I can only make certain extrapolations. I expect this ritual is intended to capture souls, a rather common offering to a god of any nature.
Normally, upon death, you would find your soul now separated from the physical and returning to the Fugue Plane. From there it gets more complex, but as I've said, I don't know that getting to the Fugue Plane is even a possibility from here. I expect our fate here is to be consumed.
The Fugue Plane... There are so many of you who actually know what comes after death in your realms, I'm surprised. For myself, there is only speculation and uncertainty with no confirmation.
So I've always assumed the answer is nothing. Everyone becomes nothing.
I would not declare every mystery of the places beyond mortal death to be solved. For example, where does a soul dedicated to a goddess that wants nothing to do with him end up?
[ so, there's a good bit of mystery left. ]
Maybe there is something to not knowing every answer of what lies beyond. Though admittedly, I'd prefer it not be nothing. Besides, we come from somewhere surely. The source must draw from some well.
In some ways I agree. In others, I don't. The body exists to house the brain and the heart. Without it, and without those organs functioning, does the person continue to exist? I am not opposed to being wrong, though I know that if the idea is that you will either be saved by a higher power or rotting in the flames of the underworld—I know I will be in the latter.
Do you think there will ever be a point in your life where you do not fear death?
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but the lump will shift and grumble ]
If it were not in especially poor taste, I would make a comment on how I'd like not to be.
What was your message again. Something unnecessary about condolences?
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Yes. Perhaps a bit brief, for my tastes, but I didn't want to push my luck.
[ debating if he should press, but. ] ... You seemed upset about it.
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Because I cursed at you?
No, I did that because I'm unpleasant.
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Mildly, but I tend to inspire that in people. [ just saying. leaning over them a little, hands still behind his back. ] I'd say it's partially all of the gravitational force of the floor upon you in combination with some heightened unpleasantness.
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I don't like people. Being trapped with almost forty of you for nine hours has inspired one of the worst headaches I've had in a long time.
[ they're an introvert. and an asshole ]
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[ i mean, he's letting them flop on the DIRT for good reason. its a logical response. ]
Though you're really hardly that unpleasant. Or maybe I've just become accustomed to some unpleasantness. It isn't the worst thing to be. Better, sometimes, than those who would fake pleasantries while speaking otherwise behind your back.
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Is this where I'm supposed to say something nice about being confused why you invite unpleasantness when you are so... tolerable or whatever.
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[ kind of amused by this, actually. ]
... So what do you think happened to your colleague?
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You aren't bad.
[ which is almost a glowing review from famine ]
Less think, more know now. [ it probably took about an hour or so for gale to get a response via crow since the npcs were busy ] We've come to the conclusion that he was attacked by the cult at large.
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[ trying and failing not to appear proud of his "not bad." this is like passing the "how am i holding up in your estimations" test from Shadowheart. a hard-won victory from an Unpleasant Queen. ]
Ah. So it was an example made.
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Likely so. The rest of us are obviously under more scrutiny now, so we'll see how we fare. I'll have to learn how to more actively be a villain, rather than just accepting the title passively.
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[ oh no ............. ]
They will be expecting more of you then.
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[ absolutely hilarious ori behavior ]
But they will. That's for us f—three to concern ourselves with, though.
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[ he catches that misstep, but just frowns a little. poor death. ]
You do keep repeating the need for us to not concern ourselves with your lot, but we're all rather tied together at this point, don't you think? One of us, one of you.
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[ can't relate.... ]
But no, I don't think so. Death was the dour one who would always something depressing like 'I am but a resource to you', or whatever... but I understand the sentiment. We do not need to grow friendly to be productive.
Look after your own lives and each other, rather than feel worry over people who are part of the problem that brought you here.
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[ another half-shrug. ]
I honestly don't know how much control we will have over any of that. Our lives, each other, any of this. If we're to randomly turn into monsters at the drop of a hat, then there hardly any avoiding harm is there?
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[ guess which one ]
Not to be grim, but most of life is never knowing when you might die, isn't it? The options available to you might be slim now, but it is not fated to always remain the same. You may not have control now, but may not be the case forever, especially since that is what we three are looking to restore.
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Not my life. As Chosen, even as just an Archmage, one is granted knowledge that can in certain ways trivialize death. After all, the study of magic is one that can take place over centuries, not mere human decades. When I lost that, I was reduced back to the years granted any other mortal. And when I lost that with the introduction of the Netherese Orb, I was reduced to ... counted days. A measure of hours, even. I knew the exact moment of my death was approaching and was utterly terrified for it. Whatever it is I have now is borrowed time, though what I am borrowing against remains to be seen.
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[ asked in the tone of someone who once again cannot relate, but is at least quietly curious ]
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Of course.
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[ they have been having this conversation so much lately wonder why ]
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Normally, upon death, you would find your soul now separated from the physical and returning to the Fugue Plane. From there it gets more complex, but as I've said, I don't know that getting to the Fugue Plane is even a possibility from here. I expect our fate here is to be consumed.
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So I've always assumed the answer is nothing. Everyone becomes nothing.
[ thanks famine ]
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[ so, there's a good bit of mystery left. ]
Maybe there is something to not knowing every answer of what lies beyond. Though admittedly, I'd prefer it not be nothing. Besides, we come from somewhere surely. The source must draw from some well.
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In some ways I agree. In others, I don't. The body exists to house the brain and the heart. Without it, and without those organs functioning, does the person continue to exist? I am not opposed to being wrong, though I know that if the idea is that you will either be saved by a higher power or rotting in the flames of the underworld—I know I will be in the latter.
Do you think there will ever be a point in your life where you do not fear death?
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