Gaming W/Jemal: Planar Quest IC (Prologue)

[Binder Fred]

"Now Imagine that there is a Spellbook remaining that could teach you how to cast spells.. Any and All spells..
If someone were to find that book and learn Meteor swarm, Polymorph, Wish.. Even a simple fireball... and bring that into a world bereft of any magic... " William trails off and finishes his cup as he lets the thought sink in. "THAT is what is hidden."

"The toolbox of Creation," summarizes Ur. With attendant blueprints, maybe.

His dark eyes take on an interested sheen.

 

[Scott DeWar]

that would certainly make the *ahem* great ruling powers nervous.

 

[kinem]

"They say that power corrupts" Braham observes. "We must take care. There will be a temptation to impose our will on the world. To do good, of course. At first. But who decides what is good? Perhaps the ones with the power, no? We could become tyrants. Many tyrants start out meaning well. You may go a little too far, and then a good man will oppose you, but you need to keep power to do good so you strike him down. Then you impose more and more laws to keep control. That is how it starts. Better to keep it locked away, I say. Maybe one day wiser heads than ours should use it. That is not for me to say."

 

[Scott DeWar]

"Absolute power corrupts absolutely. You can quote me on that"

 

[Voda Vosa]

"At any rate, if we wish it to remain hidden we must stop those searching for it, and for that, we must know where are they going. I do not wish to tap into the very fabric of reality myself, nor I think I have the mental awareness to do so, but it seems we are left with no option but to search for this power, in order to keep it hidden, despite the implicit irony." the Ogre notes

 

[Shayuri]

Mei-Ying is quiet again, absorbing the arguments of the others, and thinking them through. So much rested on the unknown quantity of the Power itself though. Was it really so terrible? Mei found it difficult to accept that there was a force in the universe that not only was unknown, but that should remain so. How could one achieve enlightenment by ignoring truth? There were risks, yes, but risks had to be faced with courage, and overcome. That was the path.

The way forward is clear.

"I think it's time we met this golem."

 

[Binder Fred]

"Absolute power corrupts absolutely. You can quote me on that"

"The Gods have bested the Power before," softly points out Ur with a nod of apology to Gerard. "Whatever it is, it has limits."

<If Darrian/Willam's answer to Mei Ying is that they must wait some more (and only then):
"So where are we?" A small gesture that encompasses the throne room, and all things that (probably) lie beyond.

<Response Darrian/William?>

 

[D'Raven]

Darrian shifts back into sight lounging on the back of the throne. "the gods haven't bested it before. A truce was called, a truce which prevented a war between the gods and the one that wrote the tome. It's not so much to prevent some one from using the power really. Any one who gets their hands on enough power, regardless of their intentions, will be opposed by the gods. Don't like anything they can't control." He pauses for a moment. His Face takes On a blank blank expression and his voice becomes hollow. "And what's wrong with dictators? Just because what you say goes does not make you evil. Power corrupts yes, but so does lack of power and the want for it. Someone may be powerless and then will do anything for power. Does the power corrupt them? No it is the want that does. Then there are those that want power to defend and protect does the want corrupt them? How about the wise king that wishes to be a ruler that listens to the people. He brings forth a council and hands them power and peace reigns, until a crises that needs quick actions and hard choices. The king can't make them because the council holds the power, the council can't because they can't agree on the issues at hand. The king is still wise and the council uncorrupt, but tragedy happens when a good dictator would have the problems solved by handing out decrees. People are corrupted by power, by not having power. People resist corruption of power, people resist the corruption of not having power. It is down to the person on how they live and the choices they make. Every person has their breaking point. The good ones just know theirs and stop before it." He physically snaps out of his trance like state. "Sorry about that, D'Raven was a bit of a stickler about the "good" way not always being the best or even not the least vile."

 

[Scott DeWar]

OOC: Darrian shifts back into sight lounging on the back of the throne. "the gods haven't bested it before. A truce was called, a truce which prevented a war between the gods and the one that wrote the tome. It's not so much to prevent some one from using the power really. Any one who gets their hands on enough power, regardless of their intentions, will be opposed by the gods. Don't like anything they can't control." He pauses for a moment. His Face takes On a blank blank expression and his voice becomes hollow. "And what's wrong with dictators? Just because what you say goes does not make you evil. Power corrupts yes, but so does lack of power and the want for it. Someone may be powerless and then will do anything for power. Does the power corrupt them? No it is the want that does. Then there are those that want power to defend and protect does the want corrupt them? How about the wise king that wishes to be a ruler that listens to the people. He brings forth a council and hands them power and peace reigns, until a crises that needs quick actions and hard choices. The king can't make them because the council holds the power, the council can't because they can't agree on the issues at hand. The king is still wise and the council uncorrupt, but tragedy happens when a good dictator would have the problems solved by handing out decrees. People are corrupted by power, by not having power. People resist corruption of power, people resist the corruption of not having power. It is down to the person on how they live and the choices they make. Every person has their breaking point. The good ones just know theirs and stop before it." He physically snaps out of his trance like state. "Sorry about that, D'Raven was a bit of a stickler about the "good" way not always being the best or even not the least vile."[/

OOC: is there another color that can be used? on blackened background this text is unseen.

 

[kinem]

"That was odd" Braham observes. "You got a ghost in you, boy?

Lack of power is the same thing as another guy having too much power. It corrupts both, I'll grant you. But it's part of what's wrong with dictators. Your argument only supports mine.

Those who want power to defend and protect ... does it corrupt them? It can. I just explained how that corruption starts.

As for the slowness of decision making among councils of the wise, that is a straw man, I'd say. Only the most foolish men would argue over whether to turn to the left or the right for so long that they drive themselves and the nation over a cliff.

And if good men hold differing opinions, then among a group of your 'good dictators' there would also be differing opinions. Choosing one such dictator is equivalent in such a crisis to choosing randomly among the councilors. It would be easy enough to arrange for such a procedure for a crisis, while still allowing full deliberation in normal times. That such random choice is not done indicates that it is not the best idea, I'd say.

There is one exception, and that is an attack by a powerful individual or monsters. Politicians can't handle that. That is where we, the Free Legion, come in. When evil strikes, we strike back hard. But it only we works as long as we don't seize political power.

I guess you may never understand that, boy, so remember this. You can't use the Power yourself, right? So in any such new order, you won't be on top."