voice; un: galettepride - nonlethal culture shock

[theleonking]

Do people really die in every world you all come from?

[ Yeah. That's it. Leonmitchelli's a practiced public speaker, so her alarm isn't too obvious in her voice, but for anyone that knows her the mere failure to bombastically introduce her question says it all. ]

Comments

un: undyingsoul

[necroyalty]

Please elaborate.

Do you mean to say that people do not experience physical death in your world, or that it isn't permanent, or something else?

I'm something of an expert on the subject, so.

[theleonking]

We pass away from old age. And sometimes on the roads and in the low places and in the presence of great demons, where the gods cannot extend their protection. But it is very rare. I've led many armies and never seen a battle-death.

[necroyalty]

Wait.

Wait.

I have several questions, but three are the most pressing:

1: What happens to those who become terribly injured or ill
2: What is the rate of overcrowding in your world
3: This sounds incredibly callous, but what is the point of war if one's armies do not die?

[theleonking]

You start wars just to kill people?

[ Wow sorry that's so bad she forgot to answer the questions. ]

[necroyalty]

Well, no. Others in my world have, and others yet unborn probably will continue to do so, but I personally did not.

However.

It is generally understood that wars are ended when one faction has sustained such a loss of life and resources that they have no choice but to surrender or be trampled upon.

As such, it's seen as a thing to be avoided by all but the very wicked and the very foolish. At least, unless all other courses of action have been exhausted or deemed impossible.

Of course, if you want to bring someone back, you could always try to curry the Ruby Witch's favor with diamonds. But diamonds are finite, and the call of death is not.

[ Diamonds are also, you know, really fucking expensive. ]

[theleonking]

That's horrible. Do the people kill one another to relieve their aggression too? I could only hope the weight of it would dissuade them...

[necroyalty]

...if that's your idea of relieving aggression, then it's usually accepted that something is probably very wrong with you.

There are ways of sating one's desire for the thrill of sword against sword without death, anyway.

[theleonking]

But in war they are subsumed by the nation; every citizen can take to the field, and even if they do not find individual success they share the striving and the glory with their comrades and their champions. War is what calms the restless hearts of the youth.

Having to take care of that yourself... it would have to cause all sorts of trouble.

[necroyalty]

There are those in my world who share that mindset.

The results are predictably tragic.

[theleonking]

You said yourself that your wars are only ended when the death and destruction is too great for them to continue. And that calms the masses? That can't be true.

[necroyalty]

The masses? If a nation has been greatly deluded, then yes.

But I meant more in the way of, well.

Evil exists in every world, does it not?

[theleonking]

What do you call evil, beyond the destructive impulses of the intemperate and unruly?

[necroyalty]

Do you honestly want me to go into an essay over this, because I have Thoughts.


[ DO YOU WANT TO KNOW HOW HER WORLD'S ALIGNMENT SYSTEM WORKS, LEON

DO YOU ]

[theleonking]

I find those discussions are best had over drinks.

[necroyalty]

Now is perhaps not the best time to say I'm unable to be intoxicated, but there you go.