Editing TheStarsAreRight:CarlNote7a (section)

==Principles (and Alliteration)==

'''REDLAND'''

"Oh. Right. You'd mentioned earlier that all of the Principles were associated with Outsiders, not just Compassion. I don't recall anything of this sort when speaking with Ms. Laura. How does that work exactly (or roughly)?"

'''CARL'''

Carl chuckles.  "Roughly, then.  It's different in every case, but the overall pattern seems to be consistent. 

 

"The Principles, in each case, are associated with an Outsider which is, in one way or another, tied to our world in some way.

Laura is not yet a Principle, mind you -- she's a candidate for the position.   The making of a Principle involves a process

which connects the candidate to the Outsider, so that the Principle becomes, in a sense, a gateway between Us and It.  She

then has the right and the ability to bring her Children -- that is, a group of people associated with that Outsider -- into a

stable hybrid position within the world.  This gives them -- and It -- a rightful place within the Worldsoul, and confers benefits

to all parties - including the world.   It also confers a responsibility to strive with and for the world for the world's benefit, in 

payment to the landlord, you might say.

 

"Cases.  

 

"Compassion.  The Outsider is the Island Lady -- her Principle was Connie Talmadge, her Children the Five Families.

"Salvation.  The Outsider is the Grandfather -- its Principle is Medea, its Children the Fae.

"Resurrection.  The Outsider is, well, the Egyptians call it the Devourer -- its Principle is Alexandria Stanton, its Children a group of tribes in Egypt.

"Illumination.  The Outsider is unnamed, associated with the Caretakers of the Tibetan Sanctuary, who are its Children.  The Principle is a delightful young lady named Amanda whom you've not met I think.

"Aspiration.  This would be Laura's position, and again, I cannot name the Outsider involved, save to say that it has, in this world, a huge influence over what we would call "Fate", or incident causality.

 

"... and we have no good notion right now about the Principle of Consecration."

'''REDLAND'''

"So, in terms of Laura, since she's the only one I (really) know, and since I feel some responsibility for her, what needs to be done? I'm interested from a couple of different angles:

 

"In regards to communicating with Outsiders, it sounds like she will have to do something like this, right? I think you'd indicated earlier that this Outsider will have already had some connection to the Worldsoul, so it won't be the same as a 'true' Outsider. However, it sounds like she'll be making a fairly complex deal with this particular Outsider. Is there anything that I/we could learn from this?

 

"Is there anything I can do to help her out? It sounds like we're going to be there for a short while. I know there was something to do with a Priest, Paladin, and Agent of Change (or something along those lines). Are they necessary for contacting the Outsider?"

'''CARL'''

“Ah,” Carl says.  “Yes, all right.”  He shifts a bit, stretching.

 

“Forgive me, Jack.  Since we don’t know a lot about Aspiration, what I’m about to tell you is gleaned from folklore, not from experience.  More poetry than fact, you see?  If we knew more about this particular case, we’d be a lot better off.

 

“So, folklore first, then what we can deduce from the other things we know.”  He stretches again.

 

“Six figures in each case of the Six,” he begins, counting off on his fingers.  “The Principle, the Place, the Power, the Paladin, the Priest, and the Instrument of Change.

 

“The Principle is, of course, the lady in question.  She becomes the source of unity, and the mechanism of the rebirth of her People, yet she is never wholly one of them, or like them in all ways; she stands apart.   In each case so far, she was not born among her people, but grew up apart; her candidacy stems from things that have happened to her to make her as she must be, rather than purely an accident of birth.  In some cases, a birth tie is a part of it; in others it is not; but in every case, by the time she becomes a candidate, a significant life-altering tie has been forged between the lady and the Children. 

 

“The Place.  In each case there is a site – a sacred site, if you will – that has powerful meaning to the Children.  The Place is, apparently, an important part of the Principle’s elevation, in that the final transformation takes place there.  For Compassion, it is Sando Island; for Salvation, the Niaoga Plain.  For Resurrection, the Well of Souls at Abydos.  And for Aspiration, as I’m told, it is in or near a ‘City of bright towers by the water.’  I believe that to be New York, but I really can’t say for certain.

 

“The Power.  This is the Outsider I spoke of.  In each case, the Power has entered the world and affected the lives of the Children.  The hand of the Principle is required to fully integrate the Children into the world; and in so doing, she secures the Power’s place as well.  The details are different in each case; I can talk about that later if you like.

 

“Next we have the three gentlemen, the Priest, the Paladin and the Instrument.  The Principle’s Court, if you will.

 

“The Priest is a friend, a confessor, a helping hand, part of her life before the change.  Not always a lover, but always one who shares affection and trust with the candidate.  The Priest’s role is subtle but vital; he comforts the candidate, reminds her that she *has* a choice, keeps her mind and heart clear – and helps her to come to terms with the giving up of her old life, should she choose to become the Principle.

 

“The Paladin is her protector, a knight in shining armor who stands by her side and keeps her safe, before during and after the change.  He also has a position rather like the King’s General, in that he often directs the affairs of the Children in her name, afterwards.   Principle and Paladin may love one another, hate one another, or anywhere in between – but she is safe in his hands and under his protection.

 

“The Instrument of Change is the most important and enigmatic of the men.  He is torn apart and remade, in a series of ‘temperings’, becoming a living conduit for the Power; he *makes* the Principle, and in some cases, dies as a result.  He is also the only one of the Court that has any contact with the Power Itself; and he is the only one who has any ability to control or direct the Power’s hand.  If there’s a deal-maker in the Court, it is he, not the Principle.  The Instrument’s path is a traumatic one, very hard, and even if he survives, he always stands outside the community he helps to create.

 

“So to your questions.  I’m not sure that the Principle makes the deals.  It has not been that way in the past.  Her job is to become founding mother and guide to a people, and living conduit for that people’s communal soul.   Once the Principle is created, I suppose the Power can be contacted through her, as she is Its embodiment.  But beforehand?  You’re more likely to succeed through the Instrument of Change.  Or by going directly.

 

“Remember, too, that the Powers are very different.  Not all of them can be bargained with.  Some don’t talk at all.

 

“Compassion’s Island Lady is the garrulous one.  She spoke through her family constantly, even before the Principle was chosen.   Salvation’s Grandfather never spoke at all, and the Fae – the Nightfolk – even the Elders shy away from It.   Medea doesn’t talk to it: when she exercises her station, it’s like a revolving door:  the Power manifests, and Medea is gone, for those few moments.  Afterwards, she returns – but has no memory of contact.   Illumination’s Power is a mindless, insensate horror;  Resurrection’s Devourer is a ravening beast.   Alexandria – Elise – ah, Resurrection’s experience is much like Medea’s, except that the Devourer is always deep within her, waiting, and she can feel it.

 

“What Power lies behind Aspiration?  Or Consecration?  I don’t know.  The names, as I said, come from folklore, and we don’t know how they were chosen.  Some wags in my little group have noted, with some truth, that the Principles are named after the thing the Power (or Its Children) lacks, or needs, but the translations of the Names are imprecise.  Certainly Illumination and Resurrection’s Powers seemed opposites of what the Principle brought into being.  Compassion’s Power utterly lacks compassion, though Her Children do not.”

 

Carl thinks for a moment, going back over things.

 

“So.  How does it begin?  Usually with the Instrument of Change.  He is tempered three times, changing him – and it is usually he who brings the court together, offers the choice to the candidates.  Oh, I forgot to mention:  There are always multiple candidates, multiple courts – but only one Instrument of Change.  He decides which candidate will become Principle.”

'''REDLAND'''

Jack seems visibly frustrated.

 

"It's always irritating to find out how little I know about how things work, and, of course, when I do learn something I just go and foget it all later.

 

"Ah well. This is interesting information. It does lead me to believe that we need to be in New York, not Russia. I guess there's no help for it, though."

 

He sinks back into his seat.

 

"Previously, I'd presumed that Donal was probably the 'Priest', but perhaps he's the Promulgator of Permutation. From what little we know of him, he may very well be undergoing his 'tempering' right now.

 

"Would it be fair to say that if we wanted to get the ball rolling on the whole 'Aspiration' situation, we'd be best served by traveling with Laura to New York? It seems that if she were there, all of the important elements would be in position. We'd have Laura, the Principle, New York, the Place, Donal, the Changer, is likely to be there, according to our information, and, it sounds like from what you've told me, that this is where the Children and the Power would be linked up. 

 

"We are, of course, lacking the Priest and the Paladin, but they don't seem critical to the first stages. Heck, I can temporarily stand in for the Priest... I've been telling her all along that she doesn't need to do this whole Principle thing. And I assume that you'd be more useful than any Paladin we could round up at protecting her. From what I understand, once we get all of the other elements together, Laura and the Changer will be better equipped than anyone at locating the Priest and Paladin. As a quick aside, are the Priest, Paladin, and Changer always male?

 

"I've put out some feelers with the Fae (apparently it's alliteration day) to locate Donal. My efforts have not come to any fruition, but if we devoted more resources, we might be able to speed things along.

 

"If we could locate and confirm the identity of the Changer, and if I could glom on to him or her, it could prove a boon in learning how to negotiate with an Outsider.

 

"I also feel an obligation to help her, and although I don't recall speaking to her since Greece, I'd imagine she'd appreciate any assistance available."

 

He thinks for a moment.

 

"Hmmm. If the Outsider lacks its titled attribute, does that mean Aspiration's Outsider will be lazy and lethargic?"

'''REDLAND'''

After a brief pause, and before Carl can speak, Redland continues, "Oh, before I forget again, I had a question that's kind of off-topic. Why is it that (some of) the Outsiders are so keen on 'eating' people? I believe you'd mentioned that people have less of a tie to the Worldsoul than animals (or something along those lines). Why wouldn't the Outsiders prefer to eat goats?"

'''CARL'''

Carl chuckles.  “Perhaps,” he laughs.  “Or the Children may be.”  His smile fades a bit.  “Actually, though it’s amusing, there may be something to it.  But the translations are so ambiguous that it’s not always certain what qualities the Principle actually represents, except in hindsight.  Aspiration may be drive or ambition, but it also might mean hope, or even hopefulness.  The target group may not be lethargic, they might be doom-ridden.  Or the Power might be one that crushes hope, or stills ambition.  If any of this means anything at all.

 

“Hmm, what I can say is that both the candidates I have met for Aspiration shared certain traits, first among them a sort of practical brightness to their outlook.  

 

“What has caught my attention, however, is that the way the Powers interact with the world through the medium of the Principle is quite different than they do – or did – previously.”  He peters off, pondering this, for a few seconds before looking up with a shake of his head.  

 

“Sorry.  Woolgathering.  Yes, Donal does seem a likely one for the Instrument, especially in view of the attention he’s getting.  And yes, so far all the Court have been men. “   He drifts off again, frowning to himself.

 


 

Carl looks up.  “Hmm?   Oh, that’s easy.  

 

“I can’t really speak to the ‘eating’ part, but I don’t believe I ever said people have less tie to the Worldsoul.  Rather, people are headblind – they are less aware of, and less sensitive to, the Worldsoul, and to the ponic realm in general, than most other Earthly animals.  This is despite, and possibly because of, the fact that we are stronger and more vital than other Earthly life.  Our blindness, combined with our power, makes the Unity a fractious, turmoiled place, filled with ripples and eddies all crashing back and forth, invisible events that mean a very great deal to the world even though most of us don’t see them.  

 

“To those Powers that take nourishment or entertainment from such things, people are the succulent fruit – sweet and spicy.  Goats, by comparison, are very bland.

 

“Do you see?”

'''REDLAND'''

[Rosey had asked me to ask that question about 'humans vs. animals' a couple of days ago, and I wanted to get it in before I forgot. It sounded like something Redland would ask anyway! Our local network was down at the office today, so I'm dialing in from home, which is nice, because I'm just not that busy at work at the moment.]

 

"Ah. Okay. I guess I'd taken 'blindness' to mean 'less attached', and I was probably influenced by that idea that man (to some extent) alters nature to suit himself, while animals alter themselves to suit nature. So, would that mean they have almost no interest in goats, or (grisly as it is to contemplate), could we form some sort of human to goat ratio?"

'''CARL'''

“I suppose so.  Depends upon the entity in question.  Does it think?  Has it any concept of animal husbandry?  Or is it just a hungry predator?  We’d need, of course, to figure out how much a goat was worth, hmm?

 

“The real problem is that there is very little, ah, consistency between Outsiders.  Each one’s different, they have different perceptions, different abilities, different wants and needs; there seems to be no government, and the only indication of any kind of society comes from my visit to the crystal place, which I tried to show to you.  When you negotiate with an Outsider, you’re dealing only with It – not with any of the others, all of whom are sniffing the air and smelling something they want.   

 

“That’s both the strength and the weakness of the Pentheus plan, as I see it.  They’re not depending on negotiated treaties – they’re training a pack of wild animals to come to the dish and ignore the rest of the yard.  Which works great until some fox or other realizes there’s less competition on the other side of that fence.  Or until Something comes along that isn’t interested in feeding, but in doing something else.”

'''REDLAND'''

"Yeah, I was kind of thinking in terms of Pentheus's plan. That is, why would we need to give them people in the 'reservations'? If they'd be happy with 5 goats, 2 cows, and a koala in place of 1 person, we could probably make that happen, perhaps even indefinitely. Heck, I don't really know much about either ponics or Outsider values, so maybe a spider is just as good as a kangaroo...

 

"Not that I'd be overly happy causing the death of a ton of animals (or arachnids), but if it comes down to humans or goats..."

'''CARL'''

“I suspect,” says Carl slowly, “that that would work all right if all the Outsiders simply wanted to feed, and all we needed to provide was the equivalent of raw calories.   But I also suspect a hundredweight of prime rib still wins out over a ton of unsalted boiled cream of wheat, all in all.   And we already know that some of the incursions are from entities that a piece of the Worldsoul pie, not just sustenance; or they want to breed here, or nudge the Circles of the Dance into chaotic activitiy – like your friend the Pharaoh, sometimes.

 

“But if there were a way to do that, without it bleeding back into the Unity somehow – yes, it would be attractive.”

'''REDLAND'''

"Yeah, like a lot of thoughts I have, probably unworkable, but something to keep in mind, I suppose."
 
He thinks for a moment.
 
"Er, circling back to the Principles, when you say that the 'Powers' interact differently, do they tend to act in accordance with the Principle's 'name'? That is, the Devourer stops 'eating' stuff and starts returning things from the dead (or somesuch)?
 
"In regards to the Instrument (it just seems wrong that it isn't a 'P' name), you say that he is the one that is unique and not the Principle? Would that mean that the Instrument is tied to the 'Place' and the 'Principle'? For example, we can make a reasonable guess that Donal is the Instrument, because he, apparently, has some important connection to New York (the presumed place) as well as with Laura. If we happened to find another candidate for Aspiration, and that person had a tie to Donal, would that virtually confirm it?" 

'''CARL'''

“I don’t know, Carl says simply.   ‘These things aren’t cookbooks.  What we have are descriptions of how it came about before.  It appears that the various candidates are chosen, by the World or by the Power, to suite some sort of template – but there is a fair amount of leeway to that choice.  The Principle candidates have a lot more in common with one another than with the Instrument, but the similarities don’t imply a connection.  Personally, I suspect the Principle candidates are chosen by the World, the Instrument by the Power – but I’ve not tried to confirm that.
 

“Let’s see.  For Compassion, the Principles and the Instrument were all of the Lady’s bloodline, but otherwise they had little in common.   Constance, who was chosen, knew nothing about any of it, or about the Lady, until only weeks before her elevation.
 

“For Salvation, the Principles and the Instrument were all alike in that they were incurably afflicted with the Nightsider condition.  The small size of that society was enough to bring them all together so the choice could be made.  And it *must* be made.  I’ve never heard of a case where the Instrument had only one candidate from which to choose.
 

“For Resurrection, the candidates and the Instrument had nothing in common at all, until the time came, except that one of the candidates had worked with the Instrument before his elevation, in the Farquellian organization.”  Carl smiles.  “We tend to collect such folk.
 

“And for Illumination, I’ve never found any connection between the Instrument and the others.  He was an orphan boy with few ties anywhere.
 

“So you see….?”  Carl shrugs.

'''REDLAND'''

"Well, that's too bad. The links sounds a little more tenuouis than I was supposing. I like it when things work out neatly, and a good, old-fashioned formula certainly helps in that regard.
 

"I guess that stumps me a bit. However, if I were to want to get the ball rolling on the whole 'Aspiration' situation, would you say that the next step would be to locate Donal, or would you recommend something else? I've been doing what I can to locate him, but it is not as though I've tapped all of my resources. There are always more bargains to be made."

'''CARL'''

“Don’t be too disheartened.  This one might be the one where there really is just such a connection; we simply cannot depend on it.
 

“Donal is an interesting enigma.  If he really is the Instrument, then it would be good to know where he is, and even if he’s not, he’s involved with all this somehow, up to his eyeballs.   As for finding him – let’s not run up debts we don’t need to pay just yet.  We can do some research at the Sanctuary too – there may be clues there we can use.  In the end, if he is the Instrument of Change, he’ll be looking for Laura himself.”
 

Pause.
 

“As for what I meant, when I said the Powers act differently through the Principles… it’s difficult to say concisely.   Let me try to give you an example or two, and you tell me what you think.
 

“Hmm… have you heard of Azathoth?  A very powerful Outsider, characterized accurately enough as a vast roiling mass of force, without mind or intellect, that is yet so powerful that Its mere existence imposes a form of law – as in laws of nature – upon the things near it.  There are scores of other entities that circle close to It like moths to a flame; I have no idea what they get out of the arrangement, but they are there.  The Earthly books written on the subject, by half-mad occultists who have looked Outside a time or two, call Azathoth “The Daemon Sultan” or similar titles, and see It as a ruler with a court, but that appears to be a terrible bit of anthropomorphification.  Is that the right word?”  He smiles.
 

“The Sultan is one of the Outsiders that has been called to Earth by sorcerers now and again.  When that happens, the result is devastating; Its power is so overwhelming that It sears our reality and our landscape wherever It sits – and it has a habit of flinging out great tendrils of Itself to grab and consume anyone who might be nearby.  Snacks, I suppose.
 

“Yet this is the Power associated with the Principle of Illumination.   Amanda does not witness the Sultan; she opens a door within herself, and for a brief time that Power streams through to do the things she desires.  It’s not destructive, or mindless, or random; but while it happens, Amanda herself is gone.
 

“The Children of Illumination are onetime priest-soldiers of the Fight, from incalculably long ago, who have been … rendered down … into immortal shades, memories of themselves that work at the Sanctuary.  Amanda has the power to give them back their lives and bodies, which she will do when the time comes.  She hasn’t done so yet, because then they will be mortal once more, but the time comes soon.”
 

Carl thinks.
 

“Of course, Compassion, the Island Lady, was very little different before and after the Principle rose.  Hmm.”

'''REDLAND'''

"Hey, wait. If there is only one Instrument, that means, for Compassion, we already know who (and presumably where) this person is. Why haven't we moved on this? Do we think that the Power has broken her compact with the Worldsoul or is there some other reason?
 

"Also, it seems like (back when we were more interested in this) we seek out the Principle first, when I would think that it would be more efficient to go after the Instrument, initially. Is there a reason for that?"
 

Redland goes to grab them some more tea.
 

"I would very much like to locate Donal, but I guess there's only so much that can be done. It does appear that New York is at the center of a lot of different threads...
 

"Anthropomorphism is easy to slip into, at least for me. Although I consider myself a rational fellow, I sometimes find animism appealing. Now, if we wanted to understand, to some extent, how this Azathoth operates, would we need to contact the Instrument of Illumination? Is he still alive?"

'''CARL'''

“No.” quietly.  “The Instrument for Illumination is dead.  So is the one for Compassion.  Salvation also.  Resurrection is – may be – still alive, at least I haven’t heard otherwise, but he wanders far afield.  Could probably find him though.
 

“We tended to find the Principle candidates first, I think, because they were more visible.   All of the Instruments, thus far, have been loners who tended to prefer their own company, at least at the end.
 

“Why?  What are you thinking?”

'''REDLAND'''

"Well, a couple of things. Let's see. You had said that the Instrument is the one who makes the deal with the Power. If I were to want to get some first hand knowledge of (what I presume to be) a fairly serious deal being made with an Outsider, one of the Instruments of Change would seem to be the person to talk to. The fact that most of them are dead is ... disturbing.
 

"In terms of Compassion, this seems a bit dicey. You had mentioned that there is only one Instrument of Change (and many candidates). If the Instrument of Change for Compassion is dead, are we up a creek? Are we just abandoning Compassion at this point?
 

"In terms of Consecration, insofar as we are still trying to make this work, it seems that searching for a Principle is, to some extent, a poor use of time. Given that there are multiple potential Principles, I would think the best way to go would be to expend your resources locating the Instrument. Without him, you're really no further along than when you started, since you may not even have the appropriate Principle. If you locate the Instrument, it seems like he pretty much gives you the rest of the 'pieces'."

'''CARL'''

“I see.”  Carl nods.  “All right.  Hmm.
 

“The Instrument for Compassion was destroyed in the transformation that invested the Principle.  He knew it beforehand – he wanted to die, I think.  And I‘m not sure the notion of ‘abandoning’ the Principle applies, since she was indeed invested.   What’s left are her Children, remade under Her hand; and those, indeed, we can work with.  In fact we have been, in small ways.
 

“The Instrument for Salvation died in battle, some months after Medea’s rise, fighting some of the chosen servants of the Tower in Spain.  Again, his choice; he was a hero, Jack.
 

“Illumination’s Instrument…” Carl pauses, “was shot in a bar, in Germany.  Stupid, senseless, unnecessary.  Granted, he was a strange and ill-favored boy, but even so.
 

“That leaves the other three.  Resurrection is out there, having performed his duty; the other two, presumably, have not yet performed theirs.
 

“What would you ask them, Jack?  If they were here, now, today?”

'''REDLAND'''

"Ah, when I say Compassion, I should be clear. Are we abandoning locating a new Principle and a new Instrument of Change and trying to make another deal with the Lady? Can we even make another deal, given that the Instrument of Change is dead? Would we even want to make a new deal, since the Lady, apparently, reneged on her old deal?
 

"As to what I would ask them, I would want to know, in as much detail as possible, the process they went through to make the deal with the Power. The deal these fellows have made are likely to be both more complex and more specific than those of random cultist practitioners. It may be, due to the fact that the Powers are already less Outside than usual, that the lessons learned through the negotiation between the Power and the Instrument would not be useful, but..." 

'''CARL'''

Carl closes his eyes, then speaks in tentative singsong.
 

“The instrument of Change for Compassion … is of a line that is almost extinct.  He is found by the Paladin … I think, yes … after a long and deadly quest. He refuses his path until he meets the Principle-to-be, and her Priest begs him to take up the mantle for the good of all.” 
 

He opens his eyes. 
 

“And the sign of the Instrument’s tempering is the disappearance of the magical barriers that surround the Island’s sacred center.
 

“I don’t know that we can search for a new one.  He has to arise, and so does she, and her court.  Connie is gone; her husband too – he was her Priest.  And the barriers on the Island are gone, or were when we were there.  Have they returned, now that the lloigor have taken the Lady back into her cell?”
 

He blinks.

'''REDLAND'''

"Er, was that how it was done last time? Or is that some sort of, uh, prophecy of what's to be? Regardless, I guess it sounds like we won't be able to get everything up and running again in a useful amount of time. Could we just make our own deal with the Lady without all of the usual shenanigans, or is that a nonstarter?" 

'''CARL'''

Carl sighs.  "Yes -- that was how it was done.  This time, and last.   These things are rituals, you see, of their sort.


"At this point, given everything, I think going directly to Herself would probably be the most direct thing to do.


"In fact, it's time we stopped reacting as inferiors and started acting like a court."

'''REDLAND'''

"Particularly in regards to The Lady, who appears to have gone 'off-book'. If we're to salvage anything out of the situation (if it's possible), a more direct approach may be required."
 
Redland flips through his notebook for a few moments.
 
"Hmmmm. I think I want to circle back to something, but I want to hold off to make sure I'm not cutting off this thread too quickly."

'''CARL'''

“I’m not sure what you’d like to circle back to, but if there’s something, by all means.  As you said, we have the time.