In a message dated 1/11/04 4:08:48 PM Mountain Standard Time, juuso@iki.fi
writes:
>RulingNations@aol.com wrote:
>
>>Ah, but that's the whole thing. The power of the espiri _isn't part of
>>the world-sea._ Feroze grants the espiri power from "beyond" the
>>world-sea. This isn't to say that they can't _learn_ to perceive espiri
>>power, after all it is received by people who are part of the world-sea,
>>but it is something they'd need to figure out, not something automatic.
>
>No.
>
>I understand the background of Exquaestio, and intend to respect it,
>but this world-sea (consisting essentially of the Dreaming, and Celandra
>in it) is self-contained. You cannot bring new powers from outside
>into it. Feroze itself may be from some other universe in the multiverse,
>but he cannot bring any new powers along from there. Knowledge, yes, but
>any powers that he has or grants are from this world-sea.
Ah. In that case, yes, I was writing nonsense.
First, let me say it was not my intent to bring in anything beyond the
limits currently set by the game. If people thought I was trying to do
that, I apologize. However, let me explain my reasoning since there a
fundamental incomprehension here that will likely crop up in the future.
In my understanding the Dreaming (which is limitless and unbounded)
"contains" the World-Sea (which is limitless and bounded) which in turn
"contains" the physical world (which is limited and unbounded) which
"contains" humans (who are limited and bounded), among others. I can
comprehend how the Dreaming might "contain" the World-Sea. I do not
comprehend how the World-Sea might "contain" the Dreaming. Now I don't
need to comprehend it to fix the results, but, as I said above, the lack
of comprehension means that similar problems will likely occur in the
future, so please bear with me on similar issues. If I make a similar
mistake in the future, just say that I'm confusing the "place" of the
World-Sea and I'll fix it from there.
>>What I saw in _Speakers and Kings_ was several places where minor
>>spell-priests might have been mentioned, but weren't.
>
>True.
>
>>Admittedly not being mentioned doesn't mean they weren't there.
>>
>>On the other hand, when priestly powers did make an appearance they
>>were far beyond the power level I'd give to any espiri or rohain. Put
>>together these imply that Exquaestio's powers are spread over more
>>individuals, but are lesser in capacity. Certainly both strategies are
>>viable. I was just remarking on the contrast.
>
>There is that, true. Let's make that official, then. Although it is
>possible for the gods to distribute their powers (authority) in small
>amounts to a lot of people, the usual way is to give a big chunk to a
>few people at a time. There's probably a reason for this - which I'll
>have to think through, and weave to Exquaestio's future :)
Sounds like fun. :-)
I can think of a few reasons why distributing authority to a few might
be more popular. First, it's easier to keep track of. If you only have
three major saints its much easier to notice if one starts going outside
the limits the god approves of than if the god has to keep track of
several hundred village wise(wo)men. There's also the fact that more
powerful saints are likely to be better known, even if there are fewer
of them. This is somewhat analogous to advertising on television vs.
advertising in the newspaper. Both will get the word out, but one has a
greater "reach."
One significant contrast between the two strategies is in short term vs.
long term. The "few but powerful" works very well in the short term,
attracting worshipers and averting major disasters for as long as the
saint is around. The "many but weak" works over the long term, going for
many small gains instead of a few spectacular gains.
>>The powers given to rohain are intended to permit them to defend
>>against the otherwise undefendable, in a magical world, such as
>>Celandra, balancing humans against a hostile paranature, or, rather,
>>those aspects of paranature which are hostile.
>>
><... snip ...>
>>
>>However, the reason I made this comment was the fact that this ability
>>seems to be unique to rohain on Celandra. What would the eerith make of
>>such a realization? (What would an intelligent tiger or elephant make of
>>the realization that those newly invented pointy sticks could damage
>>it?)
>
>Ahhh... now I get it. The rohain have power over the 'unseen', and you
>assume that the Eerith are essentially the kind of spirits that the
>rohain can hurt.
Yes.
>I can live with that. I would not claim the ability to be unique,
>but the rohain could well have a fresh approach in using it.
"Fresh" is pretty much what I was getting at. The eerith might be
totally blase about it, but it also might cause some concern. I don't
know, but I thought I'd mention it.
>Unless Keaton disagrees, I would say that the rohain can see and even
>hurt an eerith, just like they can see and hurt other spirits. But the
>eerith are very powerful:
>it would not be easy. Of course, it is always possible that the eerith in
>question actually wants to be hurt, or can be persuaded to want it. I
>would say that rohain would be better off against an eerith with logical
>arguments than with their other abilities.
Oh definitely. Exquaestio's rohain are centuries away (barring something
truly extraordinary and unforeseeable), from producing individuals who
_might_ be a match for eerith. Limited techniques useful in specific
circumstances will be developed before that, of course, but certainly
the idea that the current rohain might be a "threat" to any eerith is
laughable. (But just because the volcano isn't erupting today doesn't
mean it won't erupt tomorrow. . .)
Also, we should note that rohain ability makes them vulnerable in
certain ways as well. For example, suppose an eerith is standing in front
of a building projecting "you don't see me." At the current stage of
rohain development their sensitivity to spiritual effects means that not
only will the rohain not perceive the eerith, he might not even perceive
the _building_.
I should also note that the Rohain gifts do not come without cost. I'm
not sure of the full ramifications, or of how much the rohain are aware,
but one thing I do know. On Celandra, ROHAIN CANNOT USE ESSENCE. Essence
can still affect them, but, in gaining the authority of his rohain
abilities, a rohain FOREVER loses all ability and potential in essence.
(Rohain cannot be made against their will, but they need not be aware of
this fact either.)
Jefferson (Exquaestio)
http://www.picotech.net/~jeff_wilson63/rpg/Exq_Main.html
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