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A Tale of Two Persons, Parts 1 and 2 / Ah, it's a wizard's life!
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<blockquote data-quote="William Ronald" data-source="post: 1026277" data-attributes="member: 426"><p>Edena,</p><p></p><p>I enjoyed the stories. A person from our world, without training in how to use medieval armor and weapons, would have trouble moving and fighting effectively. Of course, I think Edena should have realized that buying a war horse was not out of the question. (That and perhaps bracers of defense would have been more welcome than chainmail for someone not trained as a warrior.)</p><p></p><p>In the second story, I have seen the sort of behavior that the Steel Knight showed in too many games. Often, I have seen players assume that their characters are laws unto themselves. Often their characters suffer for it, though seldom receive psychiatric treatment.<img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite8" alt=":D" title="Big grin :D" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":D" /></p><p></p><p> </p><p></p><p></p><p>Often, I have seen PCs who are not wizards go overboard. Corruption does not need magical power. All it needs to take root is a sense that one's self is the center of all things. A concentration of personal or political power has caused many people in real life as well as myth, legend, and religious stories to fall into evil and madness.</p><p></p><p>Superior morality and self-discipline can prevent a fall into corruption. Several wizards in my campaign world have avoided that fate, while sometimes mighty warriors fall to the evil of their own hearts. I like to say that the worst enemy that we have to face is our own pride. Some conquer it, but other fail. (Sepulchrave II in his Wyre story hour shows how this can happen to a cleric. In that instance, the vessel of power and holiness confused himself with the source of power and holiness. The Priest-King in the Dragonlance novels also suffers from the same arrogance.)</p><p></p><p>For myself, I think remembering a simple truth that my rights end where yours begin is a good way for a character to fight off pride. Also, a wise man knows that just because he can do something does not necessarily mean that he should do it. (This is something a certain Knight of Cormyr failed to understand. The Steel Regent seems to understand this simple wisdom.) Sadly, many of the great wizards of Faerun seem to act as if they are laws unto themselves, and do not often consider the desires of others. (Khelben Arunsun seems to come to mind. Splitting off from the Harpers probably gave rise to a few celebrations in Thay and Zhentil Keep. Pride goes before a fall.)</p><p></p><p>The Persian national epic the Shah-Nameh relates the Zoroastrian legend of the Emperor Jemshid who ruled in the Golden Age. (I will now quote from a translation of part of this national epic that can be found in Joseph Campbell's "The Hero With a Thousand Faces.) Consider this a literary expounding on the theme of corruption and pride.</p><p></p><p><em>All looked upon the throne, and heard and saw/</em></p><p><em>Nothing but Jemshid, he alone was King,</em></p><p><em>Absorbing every thought; and in their praise /</em></p><p><em>And adoration of that mortal man,/</em></p><p><em>Forgot the worship of the great Creator./</em></p><p><em>Then proudly he to his nobles spoke,/</em></p><p><em>Intoxicated with their loud applause,/</em></p><p><em>"I am unequalled, for to me the earth/</em></p><p><em>Owes all its science, never did exist/</em></p><p><em>A sovereignity like mine, beneficient/</em></p><p><em>And glorious, driving from the populous land/</em></p><p><em>Disease and want. Domestic joy and rest/</em></p><p><em>Proceed form me, all that is good and great/</em></p><p><em>Waits at my behest; the universal voice/</em></p><p><em>Declares the splendor of my government,/</em></p><p><em>Beyond whatever human heart conveived,/</em></p><p><em>And me the only monarch of the world."/</em></p><p><em>--Soon as these words had parted from his lips/</em></p><p><em>Words impious , and insulting to high heaven,/</em></p><p><em>His eartly grandeur faded -- then all tongues /</em></p><p><em>Grew clamorous and bold. THe day of Jemshid/</em></p><p><em>Passed int gloom, his brightness all obscured./</em></p><p><em>What said the Moralist? "When thou wert a king/</em></p><p><em>Thy subjects were obedient, but whoever/</em></p><p><em>Proiudly neglects the worship of his God/</em></p><p><em>Brings desolation on his house and home."/</em></p><p><em>== And when he marked the insolence of his people,/</em></p><p><em>He knew the wrath of heaven has been provoked/</em></p><p><em>And terror overcame him."</em></p><p></p><p>Or to paraphrase Campbell, the emperor has become the usurper whom the world is now to be saved by a hero.</p><p></p><p>(If anyone reading this has not read Campbell's "The Hero With A Thousand Faces," do so. You will gain greater insight into the ideas behind myth and legend --- and a lot of ideas to steal for your own campaign.)</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="William Ronald, post: 1026277, member: 426"] Edena, I enjoyed the stories. A person from our world, without training in how to use medieval armor and weapons, would have trouble moving and fighting effectively. Of course, I think Edena should have realized that buying a war horse was not out of the question. (That and perhaps bracers of defense would have been more welcome than chainmail for someone not trained as a warrior.) In the second story, I have seen the sort of behavior that the Steel Knight showed in too many games. Often, I have seen players assume that their characters are laws unto themselves. Often their characters suffer for it, though seldom receive psychiatric treatment.:D Often, I have seen PCs who are not wizards go overboard. Corruption does not need magical power. All it needs to take root is a sense that one's self is the center of all things. A concentration of personal or political power has caused many people in real life as well as myth, legend, and religious stories to fall into evil and madness. Superior morality and self-discipline can prevent a fall into corruption. Several wizards in my campaign world have avoided that fate, while sometimes mighty warriors fall to the evil of their own hearts. I like to say that the worst enemy that we have to face is our own pride. Some conquer it, but other fail. (Sepulchrave II in his Wyre story hour shows how this can happen to a cleric. In that instance, the vessel of power and holiness confused himself with the source of power and holiness. The Priest-King in the Dragonlance novels also suffers from the same arrogance.) For myself, I think remembering a simple truth that my rights end where yours begin is a good way for a character to fight off pride. Also, a wise man knows that just because he can do something does not necessarily mean that he should do it. (This is something a certain Knight of Cormyr failed to understand. The Steel Regent seems to understand this simple wisdom.) Sadly, many of the great wizards of Faerun seem to act as if they are laws unto themselves, and do not often consider the desires of others. (Khelben Arunsun seems to come to mind. Splitting off from the Harpers probably gave rise to a few celebrations in Thay and Zhentil Keep. Pride goes before a fall.) The Persian national epic the Shah-Nameh relates the Zoroastrian legend of the Emperor Jemshid who ruled in the Golden Age. (I will now quote from a translation of part of this national epic that can be found in Joseph Campbell's "The Hero With a Thousand Faces.) Consider this a literary expounding on the theme of corruption and pride. [I]All looked upon the throne, and heard and saw/ Nothing but Jemshid, he alone was King, Absorbing every thought; and in their praise / And adoration of that mortal man,/ Forgot the worship of the great Creator./ Then proudly he to his nobles spoke,/ Intoxicated with their loud applause,/ "I am unequalled, for to me the earth/ Owes all its science, never did exist/ A sovereignity like mine, beneficient/ And glorious, driving from the populous land/ Disease and want. Domestic joy and rest/ Proceed form me, all that is good and great/ Waits at my behest; the universal voice/ Declares the splendor of my government,/ Beyond whatever human heart conveived,/ And me the only monarch of the world."/ --Soon as these words had parted from his lips/ Words impious , and insulting to high heaven,/ His eartly grandeur faded -- then all tongues / Grew clamorous and bold. THe day of Jemshid/ Passed int gloom, his brightness all obscured./ What said the Moralist? "When thou wert a king/ Thy subjects were obedient, but whoever/ Proiudly neglects the worship of his God/ Brings desolation on his house and home."/ == And when he marked the insolence of his people,/ He knew the wrath of heaven has been provoked/ And terror overcame him."[/I] Or to paraphrase Campbell, the emperor has become the usurper whom the world is now to be saved by a hero. (If anyone reading this has not read Campbell's "The Hero With A Thousand Faces," do so. You will gain greater insight into the ideas behind myth and legend --- and a lot of ideas to steal for your own campaign.) [/QUOTE]
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