Not exactly. It is more that both myself and the Orb draw from the same source: The Weave. Magic. I do not draw power from the Orb, it only consumes.
[ but yeah i mean. his blood is Real Bad! ]
Quite. It will ... [ he searches for the right word.] Erupt. It would level a city the size of Waterdeep. If not larger.
[ ... ]
If I die, you must either revive me or dispose of my body a very, very large distance away within a few days at most. I understand the claim is you do not have our items, but if you are lying and you have access to my possessions anywhere, I have a Scroll of True Resurrection.
I spent a great deal of time researching, testing and attempting to cure myself of it. I am fairly certainly of its capabilities. If anything I am underestimating its power.
[ a long pause. ]
But yes, in a more practical sense, I have experienced the eruption. Though through the very nature of it, please understand I was not exactly aware of its outcome, as I was in the process of becoming unmade from the fabric of reality itself. violently. [ just saying. ] As for others, with any luck yes. Though it was my very greatest intention that it be aimed at who it needed to be aimed at, and would not harm innocents. ... though I cannot guarantee that to be the case that no one was caught in it.
I'm really quite a gentleman for the most part and tend to wait for the third date or thereabouts, but here we are.
[ he can match tease for tease, that's good with him. anyway possibly traumatic? possibly? ]
I do like to think morally it was in the clear so to speak. It was almost imperative, you see. It was a threat to the entire continent and I stopped them in their tracks. As for the ... reticence I really only brought it up to make you and your lot aware of the possibility upon my potential death. That is what seemed important. Not the who's and why's of the past. And it is quite a long story.
[ that's really fine, this is. everyone's reaction. he's used to it. ]
Though I suppose it is worth noting that I would not consider gods to be all-powerful, they rarely are. Certainly not omnipresent and omniscient, but powerful far beyond the reach of any mortal. Perhaps more along the lines of representatives of their domain in the natural structure of the universe and conduits of faith.
[ wow ......................... what happened to the yap. ]
It was her command that I detonate the orb. That in doing so I would earn a chance at her forgiveness. Or, I suppose as Elminster so eloquently put it: she would consider what she considers to be forgiveness.
Ah, yes, it is a distinction to be made on account of what happens to my remains and any ability normally found within our world to, say, reconstitute my corporeal form. In some cases, death through misadventure can be remedied by a quick enough cleric, or a slower but more talented one. Death in this way renders me beyond such aide.
I dislike that when I ask a question, I receive an answer that would normally be worth an entire conversation on its own. It makes it more difficult to discern which conversation thread to follow.
You are certainly not reassuring me you do not plan to make rather awful commentary on what I am about to tell you, but I suppose you have asked for it.
[ maybe i feel bad giving you ALL HUGE WALLS OF TEXT. but famine did specifically ask for it so perhaps i am not sorry at all. ]
Mystra. The mother of all magic. [ the goddess' name. if they care. they probably do not. ] We met when I was quite young - I began my study of magic almost as soon as I could speak. I was a prodigy, adept at the Weave far beyond most from an early age. And it began to draw notice, for you see, Mystra is aware of every plucked strand from her domain. She was a teacher. A mentor. A muse. Eventually, a lover. She named me Chosen One. A mortal emissary, a sign of her adoration. Or at least, what would pass for a god's love. Perhaps it is not quite the same thing as what a mortal might feel. But ... I was very young, and very in love. It was close enough to me.
Mystra is the arbiter of all magic. She enforces the boundaries that wizards dare not cross, and only a handful have ever scratched more than the surface of the Weave. But I was greedy. Selfish. Every time I was with her, I looked beyond the precipice and dreamed of the creation that could be made if only I was allowed to step over that line. To follow in the path of the great Netheril mages, of her Chosen of ages past. To wield the Silver Fire. To cast a Mythal. I pleaded and pouted and begged. I told her that my ambition would only be to serve her better, to work in her name, to prove my love for her and her craft. She only ever smiled, and told me to be contented with what I had.
Over time her interest waned. Perhaps my constant pushing at her boundaries had tired her. Or what I was doing with her magic was simply not enough. I came up with a plan. I would draw her attention, her respect, back to myself with a gesture. I've never been one for flowers and chocolates, so I set to research. I found that after all this time, a small piece of her and her Weave remained locked away. Ancient magic from the most powerful mages that ever lived that they had sealed within a tome. I spent a great amount of time and expense tracking it down and when I finally obtained it, I was certain. I would retrieve this one tiny diamond, and restore her crown to perfection.
It was not to be so. When I opened the tome, instead it was ... this. [ he gestures to his chest. ] I should have died. I hesitate to call myself lucky I survived, but at any rate it was a strange twist of fate.
For more than a year, I locked myself in my tower and begged for her aide, her advice, anything at all and received nothing but silence.
[ puts this wall of text in my mouth and eats it whole
famine listens thoughtfully, not emoting too obviously behind the mask, aside from a thought 'huh' here and there. not to interrupt, but the brief verbal tones to indicate that one is still listening. ]
So your goddess claimed to love you, told you to rein back your enthusiasm without explanation, and then neglected you when you needed her most?
[ well. they don't sound impressed, but they don't seem to be judgmental of gale in this case. ]
[ he just listens to this breakdown of it (which is correct, and accurate) with a mildly dark expression. normally he has quite a thick layer of forced cheer, but the story has drained him a bit. he grimaces when they call her cruel, however. ]
... And when disaster threatened the mortal world, she most certainly had a conveniently explosive Rook in place upon the board in an ideal position to sacrifice for the sake of the game. One that would do anything for a chance at her forgiveness.
[ ... ]
From another perspective then. I claimed to love her alone, all the while coveting her creation above her. Ignored her warnings and let only blind ambition guide me down a path well-tred by myriad examples of the outcome of such follies. Was always jealous and insecure when her attentions shifted, as if one mortal has any right to the sole devotion of a god. And was then rightfully cast aside as someone with the potentiality to do her and the world great harm, good intentions or not.
It is no small thing to be Chosen. Whatever life one claimed to lead before can now only follow.
[ but what life did he lead before when he was eight years old the first time they met? from another another perspective, lest we not forget to do some quick back-of-the-napkin r/relationships math on when all this began to unfold. ]
You are mortal, and you became infatuated when pitifully young. If she is so ancient and mighty, even if she is not bound to the same logic as others, then I hesitate to call her justified. There was probably some adoration for the power offered, but just as you might try to forgive her for her manipulation of you, as a third party I can call it batshit insane and duplicitous.
[ sure famine don't mince words even though gale is clearly wrestling with this ]
It is not to absolve you of your doings. If she is flawed, then so too are you.
However I expect human folly. Behavior of the so-called ancient deities, who act as outside observers of the world, ought be something better than what you were given.
[ okay so the "no!" being said here isn't like. objecting to the declaration it is insane. he doesn't disagree. it is the use of the phrase "batshit insane." it is more the type of no you yell at a cat eating plastic. please don't call the goddess of magic "batshit"!!!!! it's disrespectful!!!!!!!!! ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
[ but yeah i mean. his blood is Real Bad! ]
Quite. It will ... [ he searches for the right word.] Erupt. It would level a city the size of Waterdeep. If not larger.
[ ... ]
If I die, you must either revive me or dispose of my body a very, very large distance away within a few days at most. I understand the claim is you do not have our items, but if you are lying and you have access to my possessions anywhere, I have a Scroll of True Resurrection.
no subject
We are not lying. We don't have your items.
Do you know of how destructive it can be from experience? Have others died to your Orb?
no subject
[ a long pause. ]
But yes, in a more practical sense, I have experienced the eruption. Though through the very nature of it, please understand I was not exactly aware of its outcome, as I was in the process of becoming unmade from the fabric of reality itself. violently. [ just saying. ] As for others, with any luck yes. Though it was my very greatest intention that it be aimed at who it needed to be aimed at, and would not harm innocents. ... though I cannot guarantee that to be the case that no one was caught in it.
I did as I was commanded to do.
no subject
Do you share your morally gray and possibly traumatic experiences with everyone on the first conversation, or am I special?
[ teasing. obviously teasing, but their expression will even out afterward ]
Who commanded you? Who do you serve? Why did this happen? You are normally so verbose, what makes you so reticent now?
no subject
[ he can match tease for tease, that's good with him. anyway possibly traumatic? possibly? ]
I do like to think morally it was in the clear so to speak. It was almost imperative, you see. It was a threat to the entire continent and I stopped them in their tracks. As for the ... reticence I really only brought it up to make you and your lot aware of the possibility upon my potential death. That is what seemed important. Not the who's and why's of the past. And it is quite a long story.
no subject
I am willing to endure a long story. I would not invite it otherwise. But if you find yourself unwilling to share, then so be it.
no subject
I ...
[ wow. shockingly quiet for like a full beat. ]
How familiar are you? With magic and gods and the like?
no subject
Magic, not at all. Gods... As familiar as once can be while also being an atheist.
But you'll find I catch on quick.
no subject
Oh, the gods do so love an atheist. Something to aim at.
no subject
In my home, I'm afraid that the only all-powerful existence I've ever known is myself. So if they truly exist, they'll have to try harder.
I would say I'm open to being surprised. It'd almost be exciting.
no subject
Ah. Well. I was the lover of one for quite a few years, so I would be personally rather disoriented to find she did not exist after all of this time.
[ okay well he has the self-awareness to at least immediately shake his head a little like he's embarrassed after he says it that way ]
no subject
because famine just starts laughing ]
Oh?
[ the heaviest a syllable has ever been uttered ]
no subject
[ that's really fine, this is. everyone's reaction. he's used to it. ]
Though I suppose it is worth noting that I would not consider gods to be all-powerful, they rarely are. Certainly not omnipresent and omniscient, but powerful far beyond the reach of any mortal. Perhaps more along the lines of representatives of their domain in the natural structure of the universe and conduits of faith.
no subject
That is helpful context within the scope of their place in your own world, then. I maintain that no true deities exist within mine.
[ anyway ]
So? Bad breakup?
no subject
[ wow ......................... what happened to the yap. ]
It was her command that I detonate the orb. That in doing so I would earn a chance at her forgiveness. Or, I suppose as Elminster so eloquently put it: she would consider what she considers to be forgiveness.
no subject
So your breakup is part of—what did you call it? What unmade you?
no subject
[ he got distracted talking about being dead ]
no subject
I dislike that when I ask a question, I receive an answer that would normally be worth an entire conversation on its own. It makes it more difficult to discern which conversation thread to follow.
no subject
Famine
TOPICS TO REVISIT: Resurrection. ]
Yes?
no subject
No, I don't care about resurrection. I care about your probably tortured thoughts surrounding your own death.
[ okay maybe don't just say that to someone ]
But I think I was asking about your bad breakup with a goddess.
no subject
You are certainly not reassuring me you do not plan to make rather awful commentary on what I am about to tell you, but I suppose you have asked for it.
[ maybe i feel bad giving you ALL HUGE WALLS OF TEXT. but famine did specifically ask for it so perhaps i am not sorry at all. ]
Mystra. The mother of all magic. [ the goddess' name. if they care. they probably do not. ] We met when I was quite young - I began my study of magic almost as soon as I could speak. I was a prodigy, adept at the Weave far beyond most from an early age. And it began to draw notice, for you see, Mystra is aware of every plucked strand from her domain. She was a teacher. A mentor. A muse. Eventually, a lover. She named me Chosen One. A mortal emissary, a sign of her adoration. Or at least, what would pass for a god's love. Perhaps it is not quite the same thing as what a mortal might feel. But ... I was very young, and very in love. It was close enough to me.
Mystra is the arbiter of all magic. She enforces the boundaries that wizards dare not cross, and only a handful have ever scratched more than the surface of the Weave. But I was greedy. Selfish. Every time I was with her, I looked beyond the precipice and dreamed of the creation that could be made if only I was allowed to step over that line. To follow in the path of the great Netheril mages, of her Chosen of ages past. To wield the Silver Fire. To cast a Mythal. I pleaded and pouted and begged. I told her that my ambition would only be to serve her better, to work in her name, to prove my love for her and her craft. She only ever smiled, and told me to be contented with what I had.
Over time her interest waned. Perhaps my constant pushing at her boundaries had tired her. Or what I was doing with her magic was simply not enough. I came up with a plan. I would draw her attention, her respect, back to myself with a gesture. I've never been one for flowers and chocolates, so I set to research. I found that after all this time, a small piece of her and her Weave remained locked away. Ancient magic from the most powerful mages that ever lived that they had sealed within a tome. I spent a great amount of time and expense tracking it down and when I finally obtained it, I was certain. I would retrieve this one tiny diamond, and restore her crown to perfection.
It was not to be so. When I opened the tome, instead it was ... this. [ he gestures to his chest. ] I should have died. I hesitate to call myself lucky I survived, but at any rate it was a strange twist of fate.
For more than a year, I locked myself in my tower and begged for her aide, her advice, anything at all and received nothing but silence.
no subject
famine listens thoughtfully, not emoting too obviously behind the mask, aside from a thought 'huh' here and there. not to interrupt, but the brief verbal tones to indicate that one is still listening. ]
So your goddess claimed to love you, told you to rein back your enthusiasm without explanation, and then neglected you when you needed her most?
[ well. they don't sound impressed, but they don't seem to be judgmental of gale in this case. ]
Cruel of her.
no subject
... And when disaster threatened the mortal world, she most certainly had a conveniently explosive Rook in place upon the board in an ideal position to sacrifice for the sake of the game. One that would do anything for a chance at her forgiveness.
[ ... ]
From another perspective then. I claimed to love her alone, all the while coveting her creation above her. Ignored her warnings and let only blind ambition guide me down a path well-tred by myriad examples of the outcome of such follies. Was always jealous and insecure when her attentions shifted, as if one mortal has any right to the sole devotion of a god. And was then rightfully cast aside as someone with the potentiality to do her and the world great harm, good intentions or not.
It is no small thing to be Chosen. Whatever life one claimed to lead before can now only follow.
[ but what life did he lead before when he was eight years old the first time they met? from another another perspective, lest we not forget to do some quick back-of-the-napkin r/relationships math on when all this began to unfold. ]
no subject
[ sure famine don't mince words even though gale is clearly wrestling with this ]
It is not to absolve you of your doings. If she is flawed, then so too are you.
However I expect human folly. Behavior of the so-called ancient deities, who act as outside observers of the world, ought be something better than what you were given.
1/2
[ okay so the "no!" being said here isn't like. objecting to the declaration it is insane. he doesn't disagree. it is the use of the phrase "batshit insane." it is more the type of no you yell at a cat eating plastic. please don't call the goddess of magic "batshit"!!!!! it's disrespectful!!!!!!!!! ]
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)