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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Jon Potter" data-source="post: 4175932" data-attributes="member: 2323">[PLAIN][Realms #434] Dogma[/PLAIN]"So, what do we do?" Ayremac asked, looking pointedly at Morier. The albino, who had been pacing like a caged tiger at the back of the library looked up and sighed."If the town where Alechtus is hiding out is more than a day's travel, then we need to get back on the trail to following the Pull," he said flatly, making a gesture with his hand that suggested he would accept no argument on the matter - not that that sort of thing ever stopped anyone from arguing."It's not that far, I don't think," Ayremac said, shaking off with a clatter the last of the snowmelt from his armor."You're correct, holy warrior," Doctor Akerman said, settling himself back into his chair. "Colybury's where I had just come from when I met you. It's undoubtedly where Alechtus doubled back on his trail. If we leave early - say, by dawn - we can be there before midday." Morier nodded at this."Well, then, if we can conceivably get there in half a day or less then let's go check it out," the eldritch warrior said, anxiously. "Let's press on!" Huzair raised his cigar in a salute."Let us do it!" he cheered. "We could get supplies too." Morier nodded in agreement at this."Wait. Don't we need a better plan than that?" Shamalin interjected. "If Alechtus is as powerful as Doctor Akerman tells us, then he's probably got a fairly substantial resistance to spells. How can we effectively counter that?""Attack from afar," Huzair said simply. "How about you stay back, Morier. You do not want to get hurt." The wizard smirked at this. "Try some spells. Show us what the heck Ap-Llewelyn has taught you all these years."Ignoring the resumption of verbal sparring between Huzair and Morier, Shamalin turned to Doctor Akerman and said, "I think Alechtus has a magic sword powered by a Divinity Spark," Looking up at Ayremac she added, "That's what the boy back at the keep must have been referring to." Ayremac nodded, but Akerman shook his head."No, lass, but a good guess," the mage told her. "The samsara sword was anointed in godsblood. The aura is unmistakable." Ayremac scowled at that."Doctor Akerman, I mean no disrespect, but as a man with a spiritual foundation, I have to ask what your feelings are on the use of divine engery to 'fuel' weapons... or even people?" the holy warrior asked and Doctor Akerman nodded, sighing."I wondered how long it would be before you asked," the wizard admitted. "My feelings on the matter are based firmly within my own curiosity, but that is largely immaterial, isn't it? What matters is the knowledge that can be gained from taking, studying and using the corpus dei to the betterment of we mortals." Akerman stared at Ayremac, as if challenging him to disagree."Okay, I can see that there are benefits. I understand that. But just because it is beneficial does not make it right," Ayremac countered, but it was clear that he was unconvinced of his own argument. It seemed obvious to the Officer of Umba that Doctor Akerman had his own agenda. And as a seeker of knowledge, not a seeker of divinity, his own agenda would certainly be tainted with greed, the corruption of power, or even the fear of death. He did represent a valuable resource though, and had not shown himself to be evil. In fact the opposite was true; he had been nothing but hospitable, friendly, and giving of his own knowledge. Ayremac frowned and pressed on."I struggle with an appropriate example, but it seems in some ways, similar to cannabilism... don't you think?" the half-celestial suggested. "I mean, to feast on the power of gods. That has to strike you in some way as... wrong?"Akerman sighed and crossed his arms. "Cannibalism," he harrumphed. "This is a common argument, holy warrior, but one which holds up poorly under more than casual scrutiny. Tell me, where do these deities get their power?""I am but a young pup in the study of divinity," Ayremac admitted. " I have always believed, or been lead to believe, that a God's power was absolute and eternal.""A god's power absolute?" Akerman chuckled. "Surely not! Without question their power is tremendous and nearly limitless from our perspective. They are to us as we are to the humble ant, but even so they must abide by the laws of the multi-verse. And neither are they eternal in the strictest sense. Followers or a god - true believers such as yourself - are like wood to the fire of a deity's power," he explained as he rummaged through a pile of books on the table beside him. "And like a fire if you add more wood, the flames burn brighter and hotter, but if you deprive the fire of wood, it has no fuel and soon burns itself out." Shamalin leaned forward in her chair suddenly."Could this, then, be part of Aphyx's plan?" the Mercybringer put forth. "Hasn't she been targeting the followers of Flor?" The wizard shrugged. "If the Rot Queen is making a bid for greater power, then that would be a clever way to begin," Akerman nodded. "By weakening her enemies' follower base, she makes her enemies less powerful and less capable of opposing her. I seem to remember her using a similar ploy before the founding Pellham when the lands hereabout were claimed by the Witch King of Erlacor. I'm sure I've got a scroll around here somewhere. But first..." He drew forth a slim volume bound in blue leather. "It has not yet happened on Orune, but in my travels I have uncovered evidence of gods who have died because their base of followers has dwindled." He handed Ayremac the book, entitled 'Deities & Demigods'."Read this," he said, "It's a First Edition. It explains the relationship between a god's power and the numbers of that god's devotees." Ayremac looked at the cover which bore the image of a strange figure wrestling in the heavens with a winged serpent while two other, much smaller figures clashed on the ground below. He looked back up as the Doctor began speaking again."If then you can accept that gods get their power from mortals, is it so wrong for mortals to retrieve some of that power after the god's demise? I think not!" Akerman asserted and wove his fingers together to illustrate his point. "It is a symbiotic relationship with each side in its turn benefiting from the other." He then cocked a thumb in Ahlear's direction adding, "Ask the druid to explain the concept of interdependency to you and then see if you still think what I do to be cannibalism."The Holy Warrior glanced over at Ahlear who drew his pipe from his lips long enough to mutter, "Cила к друидам.""Maybe another time," the holy warrior replied, turning back to Akerman. "You have piqued my interest though. That is a very interesting concept. Are you suggesting that a God could then be created by belief alone? I mean... this seems like the dragon and egg debate." The Doctor nodded his understanding and Ayremac cracked open the book that he'd been given. It was filled with columns of text and strange formulae that made little sense to him."Belief in a power is not enough to grant that power divine rank, but surely it is a necessary part of the process. The Divinity Sparks are the other part," Akerman went on. "To continue my fire analogy, if faith - belief in the god's divinity - is the wood that keeps the fire going, Divinity Sparks are the flint and steel that starts the process. According to my research, even a god who has lost all of their followers releases Divinity Sparks upon their death. They seem to be the thing that separates true deities from the arch-demons who claim cults numbering in the thousands but lack godhood.""So, let me ask: is there a way to identify a divinity spark, I mean, the God that it belonged to?" the Officer of Umba asked, tearing himself away from the arcane tome and the wizard shook his head."Not as such, no," Akerman admitted. "I have access to magic that can Detect the presence of Divinity Sparks, but have never researched the means to determine from which deity a given Spark might originate. Of course, that's not really an issue since the Spark must come from Rhianne; there's simply no other source on Orune." He pondered for a moment, drawing into himself before continuing."Actually, certain members of Memento Mori have developed a process whereby they can create artificial Divinity Sparks from loosed divinity," he told them. "But the resulting Spark is weaker than the real thing by an order of magnitude, useful for little more than a spell focus. And it requires a trip to the astral plane and a confrontation with those damned Buommans!" He grimaced and wrapped his arms around himself in his chair, looking a bit like a petulant child as he glowered into the middle-distance of memory. "Artificial Sparks are easy to distinguish from the real thing, and I would be willing to bet my spellbook that Alechtus is infused with a true Spark.""It sounds more like a kind of reincarnation - perpetuating divine essence," Shamalin breathed, her eyes unfocused as she pondered the ramifications of what Akerman was suggesting."Reincarnation. I like that word much better than cannibalism," the Doctor said with a chuckle. "And truly, there have been cases documented whereby a Divinity Spark was used to bring a mortal back from the dead, wholly and immediately merely by causing it to be absorbed into a corpse. They have truly miraculous powers." Shamalin nodded at this."Doctor Akerman, once the sparks are released, are they free to be found by anyone?" she asked. "What is to prevent them from falling into the wrong hands? "Yes, as you suppose, it is fully possible for anyone to discover a Divinity Spark's presence, given the proper knowledge," he said. "Fortunately, there are few on Orune who possess the knowledge of Divinity Sparks and fewer still with the knowledge of how to capture them. That is perhaps their greatest defense - that and their scarcity, of course."Ayremac closed the blue book and handed it back to the mage. "Doctor Akerman, I can respect  what you're saying. It may take time for me to actually believe it... further still to accept it, but I do respect it. Would you be able tell me what you know of Celestials and their heritage?" He flexed his wings, ruffling their damp feathers. "It is, obviously, a topic I am interested to learn more about." "Well, lad, celestials are not my area of expertise," Akerman said, tugging at his goatee. "They are, even the most powerful among them, the end result of virtuous souls who have been judged well by Umba and passed through Myrkhul's realms and thence to the Upper Planes. They are not deities, nor do they seek to become such; humbly pointing mortals toward the worship of the true gods rather than accepting cults in their own honor.""I have spent time meditating, praying really, on my heritage and trying to become more in tune with my Celestial blood and history," the Officer of Umba told him. "It's almost invigorating... or empowering... or something.""I have an incomplete copy of 'The Book of Exalted Deeds' around here somewhere if you're interested," Akerman told him, scanning the nearby shelves. "There's a fair bit of information in there regarding the nature of Celestials and their place in the hierarchy of the the Upper Planes. It's pretty flowery stuff - all about Vows of Poverty, and such - but you might like it." He eyed Ayremac's wings over the tops of his spectacles as he said this and the holy warrior sensed that he was being teased a little by the man. He smiled at him nonetheless."I would love to look at it Doctor Akerman," he said, nodding his head. "I have to admit, my recent study and medition into my heritage has me more and more interested in learning all that I can... I feel I have only but begun to tap into the strengths and joys that are granted me by this Celestial blood." Akerman sighed and hoisted himself out of the chair."Why did I know you were going to say that?" he muttered as he started toward the rear of the chamber. "Give me a moment to find it for you." Huzair watched the man go and when he considered Akerman to be out of earshot, he beckoned Morier closer."Morier, I think it could really provide some great information if I tell him about my trip to the astral plane. Please, I think it is in our party's best interest to get all the info we can from the good doctor," the wizard said then he shook his head. "Wait! Why am I being cordial? Damn it, I want to tell him. I am wasting sweet talk on you when I could be using it on Anania." He grinned up at the albino. "Do you think I have made an impression on her yet?" The eldritch warrior pointedly ignored Huzair's question when he replied."At first thought, this guy seemed like he could be useful and that perhaps we should invite him to join us longterm," Morier admitted in a hushed voice, his eyes flashing to where the mage was on a ladder pulling down a book bound in goldleaf. "The more I think about what he has to say, I'm not so sure. This needs more thought.""But he has so much I can learn from him and we could... Damn it! I hate it when you are right! Perhaps this is an unsavory practice," Huzair grumbled. "I do not think it would be wise to confront him too harshly on this issue since he is our host though. Keep Ayremac in quiet about this. We do not need a self-righteous speech. Oh yeah, can I still tell him about my trip to the astral plane? I so want to tell him.... if not I may have to tell him how I found you in the woods." Huzair punctuated that remark with an elbow to Morier's gut as the wizard chewed on his cigar and chuckled. The eldritch warrior scowled down at him."Not a word about the swords," he cautioned then stepped back as Doctor Akerman came back to the front of the library with a glittering tome in his hands. He offered it to Ayremac."Here you go, lad," the wizard said and sank back into his chair. "It's missing a section on divine poisons, but I trust that you'll find what information you're interested in without that bit of nonsense anyway." As the holy warrior reverently opened the golden book and began leafing through its illuminated pages, Huzair cleared his throat to attract Akerman's attention."Doctor, I would like to tell you about a journey I had a few weeks ago. I was abducted to the astral plane by a strange creature and spent a few days there," Huzair told him. "Any idea what those things are?""The planescape is filled with esoteric creatures," the Doctor said. "It could be any number of things.""We have these things just show up on us sometimes. My comrades fear it is my Ring of Blinking," Huzair explained. "I insist it is not. Tell them it is not, because they never believe anything I tell them.""It is unlikely," Akerman said, looking around at each of the others as he said this. Huzair smirked, vindicated - at least in his own mind."They think I am an idiot and just fell off the turnip cart. I think it is because Morier cannot believe I have already passed his skills with my magic," Huzair suggested. "I am almost at the 4th Circle. I am so close I can taste it.""Huzair, you were talking about the astral plane," Morier interrupted, steering the mage unsubtly back on task."Right! I met up with a mercane vessel owned by Ashaaf with his partners, Kraal and Destaan. I entered into a deal with them to tattoo them at a Githyanki outpost... oh, the name will come to me... Akiv-tchai! I knew I'd remember it!" Huzair said, snapping his fingers. "But any way, they mentioned that they would be able to help, perhaps. They had a good relation it appeared with the Githyanki. They seemed willing to do anything for the right price. I think they treated me well because they thought I was more powerful than I was... or was able to provide a service for them."Earthday, the 9th of Readying, 1270 AEThe streets of Colybury were surprisingly empty for midday. It was bracingly cold, but the sun was shining brightly in the blue expanse above, shedding light and warmth on the thatched A-frame roofs of the buildings that lined the rutted street down which Doctor Akerman's wagon traveled. The drip-drip-drip of melting ice was everywhere, punctuated by the occasional muffled thump of snow sloughing off a building and into the street. They passed a row of three buildings that had been gutted by fire leaving little more than burnt-out shells, and several other buildings were stoutly boarded up - evidence that even this little village hadn't been untouched by the plague.There were so few townsfolk to be seen that Doctor Akerman made open use of his staff, keeping the loupe pressed almost constantly to his eye. And so he was able to direct them through town, following a meandering trail that was invisible to everyone but him. After a time Huzair's voice spoke to Ayremac through the Ring of Communication, steering them to the Temple of Umba on the corner of King's Highway and Culedham Road. According to some folks that the mage had spoken to in a local establishment there'd been a disturbance at the chapel - the lock on the front door had been broken during the night. The sheriff and two of the town guard went inside to investigate a couple of hours ago, but they haven't come out yet.-------------------------------OOC - This and the last bit I posted rank among my favorites so far in the campaign. There's some deep RP-ing of philosophical issues that I find appealing. Of course, in the next post, philosophy takes a back seat when the swords start swinging.</blockquote>

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