Microscope RPG--Rise and Fall of an Empire: Scene: The Renunciation of Yesel

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Scene: The Renunciation of Yessel.

Tone: Dark.

Focus: The Argi as a race

(Yadal)



Question: Why did a group of Argi reject the Hierarchy Doctrine and the worship of their creator Yessel?


Required characters:

  • Someone proclaiming the Hierarchy Doctrine: It could be an Argi High Priest of Yessel, it could be a wandering prophet, it could be an emanation of Yessel himself. Chosen by Yadal: Megaras has been noted in the past for his ability to win battles, primarily by the creation of new technology, tactics, and formations. Though not a Priest, he is an eloquent philosopher who is a key supporter of the Hierarchy Doctrine.
  • A leader of an Argi faction rejecting the Hierarchy Doctrine. There may be multiple factions rejecting the Hierarchy Doctrine for different reasons. Chosen by Tetnak: Oon'too, an ancient Agri that was known as a Seer of Yessel. His visions have recently becomes greatly clouded since the order of the new doctrine. Many Agri look to him for religious insight, but he has not chosen to follow the doctrine or not, yet.
  • (Another leader of an Argi faction rejecting the Hierarchy Doctrine.) Chosen by Glyptodont: Great-Grandfather Bisaksana. He has been an insightful and venerated prophet and lawgiver among the Argi. Even though the Argi are long-lived by the standards of lesser races, Bisaksana is considered ancient even among the Argi. His own father was among the very first Argi awakened in this swamp and given life by the god Yesel. Yet now this wise and respected elder has begun to preach against the Hierarchy Doctrine.


Banned characters:

Any non-Argi characters.


Other characters:

  • Chosen by Muskrat: Xechu, a wealthy Argi merchant from the great cosmopolitan trading city of Mazad, elected by the Argi of that city to represent them at this gathering. While he has not come out against the Hierarchy Doctrine, he is wary of it.


Setting the Scene:

A group of Argi religious leaders have gathered deep in the Swamps of Olu, where Yessel first created the race, to formally proclaim the Hierarchy Doctrine and call on all Argi to follow it. They also have plans to reorganize all Argi communities to conform to the new Doctrine. In preparation for this, missionaries have been circulating among Argi communities, preaching the Hierarchy Doctrine and representatives from each major Argi communities have been called to the Swamps of Olu to officially receive and submit to the Hierarchy Doctrine. There is, however, dissension among the Argi and some of them are troubled by the teachings of the Doctrine, though they are also reluctant to break with the wider Argi community and the god who created them.

Also, remember that Glyptodont defined the appearance of the Argi: Scaled, with four arms--one pair for heavy lifting, one pair with small tentacles for fine manipulation.


Reveal thoughts:

Oon'too has not studied the doctrine at length, but he knows what he knows, that Yessel no longer speaks to him the way he once did. What else could it be? Were they sinning? The ancient Agri has done the math, and it seems improbable that the spreading of this doctrine and his lost of Sight would be a coincidence. Oon'too also wonders why Yessel would not tell him of this doctrine if it were truly holy and sacred. Oon'too is aware, as well, that his intellect is slowly waning in his advanced years. This is the reason he has not come out and denounced the doctrine already. He will wait, listen, and decide. (Tetnak)


Megaras doesn't understand what all the fuss is about. To him, Yesel is speaking to the Argi less because he wants them to learn to do things on their own. In his mind, it's all an embarassing misunderstanding but he's sure his logical arguments can clear it up. (Yadal)


Great-Grandfather Bisaksana comes to this conclave very reluctantly. He does not wish to preach against the Argi's creator, Yesel, but he has had prophetic visions which foretell ruin for the Argi if they continue on their current path. The only way for the Argi to avoid annihilation is turn their backs on their creator and embrace heresy. Many Argi traditionalist now despise Bisaksana for his apostasy. But their loathing comes nowhere near the despair and self-recrimination that Bisaksana feels himself for having been forced upon this path. (Glyptodont)


Xechu knows little about this new teaching. He thinks of himself as open-minded and is willing to hear its proponents out. However, he is also concerned about upsetting the apple cart. The Argi of the city of Mazad have done quite well for themselves, thriving in its cosmopolitan atmosphere and using their keen intellects to become successful scholars, merchants and political leaders. Xechu is skeptical of any doctrine proclaiming Argi supremacy, both because he has many non-Argi friends and genuinely values Mazad's cosmpolitan culture and because he fears such a doctrine may alienate other races from the Argi, endangering his own interests and as a merchant and those of the other Argi in Mazad in similarly influential positions.



Playing the Scene:

Scene runs from post #61 to post #80 in IC thread.


01-04-2014, 05:17 PM
Muskrat
Re: Microscope: The Mural of Lu the Fatherless

Scene: The Renunciation of Yessel

Question: Why did a group of Argi reject the Hierarchy Doctrine and the worship of their creator Yessel?

Xechu looks at the great crowd of Argi gathered here, from all corners of the world. I must take this opportunity to build up my contacts, he thinks. There could be great possibilities for trade here. The he sighs and shakes his head. That is not the primary reason for his being here. He is here to represent the Argi of Mazad--and he knows this is a very delicate time, that will have great consequences for the Argi race. He focuses on the platform where those who preach this doctrine will address the assembly.


01-04-2014, 05:54 PM
Yadal
Re: Microscope: The Mural of Lu the Fatherless

Megaras has already begun his speech. Having gotten introductions out of the way, he proceeds to the main point.

"First, and most importantly I ask the question to us all- what makes us better than animals? No, I am perfectly serious here. We have the moral right to hunt and to kill animals, and have almost no concern when an animal does. What gives us the right to do this?

Considering the arguments my opposition might make, I considered that they might appeal to other virtues. But what other virtues do we have that animals do not? We are not braver than they, nor are we more loyal. We are not more kind, nor do we excel in any virtue but one above mere beasts. What we are is more intelligent."

Megaras privately thought this was all quite silly. What he wanted to do was get back to plotting the next racial war, in which he had perfected a flat terrain formation that was invincible defensively. He trusted his audience to intuitively grasp that it followed that people should be rated according to intelligence, and that unless his opponent had some other means to justify treatment of animals that Megaras would claim him philosophically inconsistent.


01-05-2014, 04:28 PM
Glyptodont
Re: Microscope: The Mural of Lu the Fatherless

Bisaksana was tired with both his Argi hearts weighing heavily on him. Yet for the sake of his people's future he had to tread on.

"Enough of this talk of animals! We are not here to brag of our superior intellects. All beings capable of speech know that the Argi are preeminent in wisdom. Those who would challenge us in a battle of wits inevitably fail. But learned minds alone will not save us if we ignore more basic problems. All too often the superior mind subordinates itself to the lure of arrogance. In my many years I've known great minds rendered to shreds by crocodiles, superior intellects silenced permanently by poisonous spiders, and sublime insights forever lost due to bitter cold winters. If we do not change our ways--if we do not choose a different path than what our creator Yesel want of us--then the animals and insects will dance on our graves!"


01-05-2014, 05:11 PM
Muskrat
Re: Microscope: The Mural of Lu the Fatherless

Xechu listens to Megaras' speech politely, but he doesn't quite buy it. There's something that's not quite right about it, but he can't immediately put his tentacles on it. Xechu wondered if he was the best choice of Mazadean Argi to attend this meeting. He had always considered himself a practical man, focusing his mind on his affairs as a merchant. He attended religious services regularly and properly, but more for the sake of good form and outward piety than any deep engagement with the ideas or with spirituality.

Still, he turned his considerable intellect and memory to recalling what the priests of Mazad's patron pantheon, the Gods of the Golden Forum, taught and the teachings of Mazad's philosophers. He listened to Bisakansa's outburst with part of his mind, while in the other part of his mind he turned over the problem posed by Megaras. Like most Argi, he was capable of compartmentalizing his thought processes and following more than one train of thought at a time.

With some trepidation, he rose from his seat to address the assembly. "Learned Megaras, I am Xechu, elected representative of the Argi of Mazad. I have a question to pose to you on behalf of my community. We have always honored Yessel in the shrines in our homes. But we have also honored the patron gods of Mazad in the public forums of the city and the great philosophers who have transcended the cycle of death and rebirth to watch over us all, god and mortal alike--never before has there been a conflict in this. The philosophers of Mazad have taught us that what defines a honorable virtuous, person is not intellect, but self-knowledge. Perhaps a wolf is more loyal than many individuals of the thinking races, but the wolf does so based on sheer instinct. Whereas the members of the thinking races--human, Kodo, Argi or what have you--have self-knowledge and can choose the path of virtue and vice. In my business dealings, I have known many non-Argi. True, few approach us in terms of intellect. But I have met non-Argi philosophers and priests who far surpass the average Argi, including myself, in self-knowledge and virtue. I cannot believe a simple merchant such as myself is better than them merely because I am smarter." Xechu paused, not sure what to say next. It was rare that he felt at a loss for words, but he was out of his element in such philosophical dealings. Then he simply said, "I eagerly await hearing what our honored holy men and women have to say in response to this," then sat back down. He silently committed himself to giving more alms to the religious devotees who he had just praised so highly.


01-05-2014, 06:06 PM
tetnak
Re: Microscope: The Mural of Lu the Fatherless

The venerable Oon'too, aged in the first spring of the Argi, when his pod opened forth before the others, he saw Yesel in the heavens and the god spoke to him directly. For hundreds of years, it had been the same, that is until the recent past. Perhaps over the course of a decade, Oon'too had begun to lose sight of what Yesel told him. Oon'too, his serpentine eyes heavy with weariness, and his upper-right, strong arm dead for a hundred years, slowly rises to his feet.

Everyone knows the old Seer, who has told fortunes to everyone at the gathering, at least once. "I am Oon'too, I represent Yesel, or so I used to." He pauses, looking to all the others that had come. "I am a broken thing, as is said, the mind does not protect us from all. There is no intelligence pure enough to solve all things." The old Argi pauses, leaning on his tall, gnarled staff, "But intellect can tell us to be cautious. Intellect tells us, that, simply, we may not be led by the most divine or powerful of the Gods. What should we think such? To do so is a limitation of our ability to think rationally. It is my belief, as my eyes cloud, that Yesel is losing what power he has among the cosmos." The old creatures sits back down, and immediately looks like he might be in his hibernation form, which Oon'too must enter often. Luckily, the Argi, even in hibernation, are completely aware of their environment, can see, hear, and smell just like when in their active form.


01-05-2014, 09:46 PM
Yadal
Re: Microscope: The Mural of Lu the Fatherless

Megaras sighs. He decides to deal with concerns one by one.

"Honourable Xechu, your posistion is premised on the assumption that we are creatures of free will. Though Yesel has not guided me on the matter, I am of the opinion that "free will" is absurd amongst all creatures.

If creatures were truly of free will, their actions would be unpredictable even in principle. However, almost every creature I know of is not only trapped, but clearly trapped, within a personality. Even when they appear to act outside of it, they are still relatively predictable. Though I am no expert, my learned comrades have many times won battles by predicting exactly how the enemy would act. How is this possible if they have free will, and are thus outside prediction?

In a few exceptional cases, people will act in a manner that is difficult to explain. But why do we resort to the assumption they are choosing freely? When a rock bounces unpredictably, we do not assume it is free. The doctrine of free will is not from the Gods- no God I know of has ever proclaimed it. It is an invention of foolish mortals.

That is not to say that virtue is not good to cultivate, but it is as an animal's loyalty. Virtue often runs within family lines, as does vice. We should not assume it is some sort of free choice."

Next, Megaras turned to Oon'too.

"I have considered the possibility that Yesel is losing his power. However, it is not the only one. It is also possible that he wishes for us to act on our own, in order to prove the superiority of the Argi to all other races.

But even if Yesel is losing his power, he is the most just and righteous of the Gods. He alone recognises that Intellect is the most important thing, both morally and pragmatically. He has granted us minds so great that even without his help, we can compete against the other races and defeat them! Should we not be grateful?"

Finally, Megaras snarled at Bisaksana.

"Intellect is not just about fine words or fine stratagems. "Practical intelligence", as it is known, is a skill worthy of respect alongside the others. Those who lack in it should stick to their houses, be used if there is a way to use them or be mere slaves if there isn't."


01-06-2014, 11:35 AM
tetnak
Re: Microscope: The Mural of Lu the Fatherless

Oon'too does not reply right away, he still appears to be in his hibernation form for a few moments after Megaras addresses him. Slowly, his heavy lids open, and Oon'too looks up to the Argi addressing everyone. "We should -- uhm -- you should follow the doctrine of a deity that wishes us to act on our own?" His ancient head tilts sideways, looking at Megaras with an inquisitive look. "I am afraid that is rather contradictory, as you know." The ancient Argi assumes Megaras' intellect is not lacking in logic or reason. "Attempting to subjugate the other races will cause us nothing but harm, I say. We are Yesel's favored, but there are other gods, and their favored are among the other races. Many have attributes other than intellect that make them dangerous. Imagine those that have intellect AND these attributes." The old Argi shakes his head, "Why play with fire in the middle of a drought plagued forest?"


01-06-2014, 01:36 PM
Muskrat
Re: Microscope: The Mural of Lu the Fatherless

Xechu is unsure how to respond to Megaras' comment. The great sages of Mazad had always assumed that free will existed. He was sure that they must have arguments for its existence somewhere, but, if so, they rarely touched on them in their public sermons. Perhaps I should read more philosophy as well as donating more alms when I return home, he thinks to himself.

However, he finds himself nodding at Oon'too's words. Oon'too speaks of the practical matters of living side-by-side with many other races, something a man like Xechu understands well, from his involvement in trade.

Before speaking again, Xechu tries to gauge the crowd gathered here. In addition to his Argi intellect, Xechu is good at reading people, regardless of their race, something that has served him well in his professional dealings. From what he can tell, much of the crowd is feeling something similar to him--discomfort, both with the idea of challenging the deity who created them, but also with this new doctrine he is proposing. They might go either way. Few of the crowd seem dead set against the new teaching--and there is a solid faction that Xechu can tell hangs on Megaras' every word. Xechu notes that the ones most behind Megaras tend to representatives of communities here in the Great Swamp of Olu or that are otherwise predominantly Argi and have few dealings with outsiders.

Xechu rises again and says, "I will not attempt to challenge the learned Megaras in matters of philosophy. I am a merchant, a man of practical affairs. I have many dealings in business, politics and friendship with people of many races. If the Argi of Mazad were to openly proclaim are superiority to our neighbors, it would go ill with us, as the revered Oon'too says. I do not think they would seek our deaths, but they would isolate us, perhaps even ostracize us. My business and those of many other Argi merchants would be ruined. Argi would no longer be elected to positions of political power in Mazad. Perhaps it is true that when Yessel created us, he made us superior in every way to the other races. I do not know. But I am certain it would be unwise for us to trumpet this idea far and wide and isolate ourselves from our neighbors, fellow citizens and business partners. If we truly are superior, do we need to proclaim it? Perhaps it is better to say nothing and simply act as examples to others." Xechu sits down again, hoping that the compromise he has suggested will be widely accepted among the Argi. A schism would do no one any good.


01-06-2014, 06:28 PM
Yadal
Re: Microscope: The Mural of Lu the Fatherless

"Perhaps, wise Oon'too", replied Megaras, "I did not choose my words precisely. But there is no contradiction. Yesel wishes us to do what is right, as he has show us. But now he has shown us the Way, he wishes us to act on our own in following it.

Megaras then turned to his other opponent.

"As for questions of practicality, on paper we are not powerful I admit. But the apparent strength of an army is not the only factor. Though there are those of intelligence in other factions, they are not as smart as our own leaders. This is our primary advantage.

Of course we should not attack every race at once, but we must remember that they fight each pther as well as us. If we choose temporary allies wisely, fight our battles intelligently, and establish good government, all things we Argi are easily capable of, then the odds are excellent for our ultimate sucess."

Megaras had nothing but contempt for appeals to trade relations over morality, so he decided to use this to better appeal to the crowds.

"Some men, out of greed, wish to mantain an amoral peace. We know it is amoral because the speaker provides not moral arguments, but appeals to lust for money and power. What is right is what is right, and should not be tarnished by selfish considerations.

As for why we must trumpet our superiority, I will point out the practical considerations. Many races in our age are fighting wars of expansion. As time goes on, they will triumph and take more and more lands. Eventually, they will turn on us and destroy us too!

The only possible option is expansion. If we do nothing, it may appear practical but we are only awaiting our deaths! Those races that are not expanding themselves are, in their narrowmindedness, preventing any thought of an alliance to stop expansion by sticking to their own borders.

I know the lure of seeking fame and fortune may seem practical. But it is a mere illusion. Come three hundred years, and if we do not expand we shall die."


01-06-2014, 07:47 PM
Muskrat
Re: Microscope: The Mural of Lu the Fatherless

Xechu is outraged by Megaras' words. He rises, trembling with rage and, pointing not his tentacles, but the fingers of his strong arm at Megaras for dramatic effect, he says, "You accuse me of selfishness and amorality and yet you call for wars of conquest against other races who have done nothing to harm us! You are mad! Yes, a merchant must be self-interested at times. But the other Argi of Mazad did not elect me because I was greedy, but because I care for the city of Mazad. I would not see my beautiful city plunged into war and its people at each others' throat! If this is what Yessel wants of us, then I renounce my worship of him. When I return home, I will remove his shrine from my house and seek the protection of Mazad's patron gods from his vengeance!" He turns and looks at the crowd of Argi and calls out, "Who is with me? Who wants to live in harmony with their neighbors? And who wants to follow this madman's path to war?"

Xechu sees the crowd wavering, some beginning to move in his direction, others still look to the revered elders Oon'too and Bisaksana for guidance. He can see still others drawing towards Megaras, drawn by dreams of glory and conquest or by loyalty to the god who created them--more than are moving towards him. Xechu grows deeply worried and wonders if his angry outburst was wise or if he should have continued to push for his compromise. He resolves to meditate more when he returns home.


01-06-2014, 08:22 PM
Yadal
Re: Microscope: The Mural of Lu the Fatherless

"Tell me", cried an angry Megaras, "Say I proposed a hunting expedition to kill some animals. Would you call that selfish? Say I proposed an expedition to kill some animals because our people needed the land to grow. That would not be selfish, but far-sighted!"

Megaras resolved when he got back to swear an oath of vengeance to Yesel- if he did not destroy these rotten rogue Argi, may his soul face eternal torment.

"Think about this logically. What makes those people you side with any better than animals? Like animals, they have no free will we should remember. It cannot be virtue nor strength nor anything else that makes them better but intelligence!"


01-06-2014, 08:36 PM
Glyptodont
Re: Microscope: The Mural of Lu the Fatherless

Bisaksana is already worn out and agitated from listening to these arguments. There was once a time when Bisaksana would jump into the fray of such debate and bring crowds of angry Argi to humble silence with his wisdom. But now he feels all his words have evaporated leaving only the prophetic vision of a dead Argi race that he is unable to convey.

He pounds the ground with his foot like an upset podling and shouts, "Listen, listen! Listen you fools! You stand and argue the merits of merchants and warriors when our people are destined for doom! You're greed for conquest and profits all lead to the same end: the destruction of our race." He points to Megaras. "You! You claim conquest is the key to our salvation, yet tell me this: Can you conceive of a strategy to conquer every ant that walks the earth? No? Why not? Are the Argi not superior in intellect to such lowly creatures? If you can't possibly defeat and kill every ant in the world, how do you expect to defeat the races possessed of speech who are vastly superior to ants?"

"And you!" He points to Xechu. "You cannot buy and barter your way to safety. When the hurricane comes, will you bribe the storm clouds to leave you alone? A body clad in silks and jewels will drown just as quickly as a body in rags."

"And as for your words, noble Oon'too..." Bisaksana breathes a heavy sigh from his four lungs and says in a near whisper, "You have been a great leader to our people ever since the days when you and my father were first awakened in this very swamp in the dawn of the world. You are wise to see the danger in blindly following our Creator forever. But you make the error of underestimation. Friends and allies are not enough to protect us. A storm is coming to strike us all down. The only hope for our people is to scatter to every corner of the world--to seek shelter in every conceivable niche. Then--and only then--might we survive. We know not what manner this storm will take, but if seek shelter in different places, then by chance, a small handful of us might survive. This is the prophetic vision I have seen. I do not believe that more will be revealed to me..." He sits down heavily and awkwardly on the ground, seeming more like a clumsy podling just hatched rather than an man of ancient wisdom.


01-07-2014, 01:05 AM
Yadal
Re: Microscope: The Mural of Lu the Fatherless

Megaras laughed.

"Right now, I agree I could not exterminate every ant in the world. But every ant in the Argi-controlled realms, with their cooperation, would not be so hard. A generation's worth of study would be most enlightening, in my estimation. Once the realm was ours, we really could kill every ant if we so desired. It would be much harder for me, of course, because ants have no language for us to learn and my specialty is deceptions through language.

As it is, we face much larger foes who will make the mistake of meeting us in battle. They can be played off against each other, making slow gains. In battle, I dare say an Argi force could hold its own against twice it's numbers as we are through both superior tactics and superior formations. As we improve our strategies with time, the disparity will widen.

As for your vision, it is but a deception. We know it cannot be from Yesel, so it must be from some enemy God. Why would they give us accurate information when they can give us a forgery? If we heed this, our lands will be destroyed."


01-07-2014, 11:01 AM
tetnak
Re: Microscope: The Mural of Lu the Fatherless

The ancient Argi frowns deeply. He lets everyone speak, as information is knowledge, and the more information that is given, the best they can make a decision. "I think -- that, young Megaras, your theory is flawed. Just because the Argi have superior intellect, superior knowledge, and superior insight means we have an advantage -- but -- an advantage does not a victory make. If you bring war to others -- make them our enemy -- and attack others, over and over, we shall be seen as tyrants and those that spread genocide. The other races and gods will band against us. And eventually, we shall be overcome by sheer numbers. An ant can do little. A thousand ants can create wonders. Never forget that."

Oon'too seems to wish to go back into hibernation form, but now must address Bisaksana. "You have seen a vision?" He considers, knowing that he has been unable to see much clearly. Perhaps he has fallen out of favor with Yessel, or perhaps he is too old, or perhaps Bisaksana is lying. "Scatter to the wind, you say? Tell us more of this prophetic sight?"


01-07-2014, 02:19 PM
Muskrat
Re: Microscope: The Mural of Lu the Fatherless

Xechu is taken aback by Bisaksana's criticism of him. Why does everyone assume a merchant must be dishonest and care only about himself? he thinks. He pauses, trying to take in which way the crowd is moving, while listening to Bisaksana's prophecy with another segment of his mind. He ponders carefully what to say, not wanting to let his anger get the better of him again, while he listens with the other track of his mind to the speeches.

Slowly, he stands again and says, "Great Bisaksana, may I humbly suggest that you misunderstand me. I said nothing about bribing my way to safety. I am an honest man, who supports charitable works in my city of Mazad. You say we must scatter to the corners of the earth to preserve out people. I believe you! But what we have learned in Mazad is that we can live in harmony with our non-Argi neighbors. Yes, great Mazad has political factions--but they are on the basis of principle, not race. What better way to hide than to live as good neighbors with other races? And I say to Megaras, so what if Bisaksana's vision does not come from Yessel? The Gods of the Golden Forum, the patron deities of Mazad, have never cared for anyone's race, but protect all the citizens of Mazad and the citizens of the other cities that worship them. Perhaps Bisaksana's vision comes from them, perhaps from some other gods. I do not know--but just because it does not come from Yessel does not mean it is evil."

Xechu looks around. He can see that those of them arguing against Megaras are losing most of the crowd. There own arguments with each other have weakened their standing and asking them to cast their lot with gods other than Yessel seems to much for most of them. Indeed, an Argi priest named Qelu stands and calls out, "Do not listen to these blasphemers. Yessel, the God Who Stands Alone, is mighty and has always protected us! And he will always protect! Just as our intellect is superior to those of the other races, Holy Yessel's intellect is superior to that of the other gods. He can see further than they and penetrate their plans. If Yessel calls on us to make war, it can only because he sees victory ahead! And think of the magnificence of a world under Argi rule! This merchants claims to worry about those of other races. But if the Argi ruled the world, with our great intellects, we would be able to plan a perfect world, to bring peace and order everywhere. Yessel seeks not only what is good for us, but good for the lesser races!"

To his distress, Xechu hears a widespread murmuring in support of Qelu. Megaras and his faction are winning--but there are still many who oppose him. Spoiler: minor characters Remembers, that the rules say we can create additional, minor characters, though none of us gets to monopolize them. And I think we need to be more conscious of saying how the gathered Argi react to these goings-on. We're trying to see why a faction of Argi defected away from the minority who continued to follow Yessel. We're not just dealing with a debate among four people.'


01-07-2014, 09:50 PM
Yadal
Re: Microscope: The Mural of Lu the Fatherless

Megaras didn't understand why on earth Oon'too was saying such things. He was thinking as if the Argi were the only race out making genocidal war. Surely he couldn't have forgotten about the Humans, the Jeweled Children, the Caranites, and countless others? What was he saying?

Ignoring him, Megaras turned to Xechu and his fold.

"It does not follow with certainty that the vision is a lie if it is not of Yesel, but it increases the chances. Any God could fabricate a vision if he so chose, and we would be none the wiser. I don't see why this one should be considered genuine.

You mistake Mazad for being the world, merchant. Yes, cosmopolitanism exists, and yes Mazad is a tolerant place. But it is unique and ephemeral. The Gods of Mazad are weak and restricted to their city, whilst every other God in existence seeks to stamp out cosmopolitanism wherever it exists.

Interaction between peoples outside Mazad only occurs on terms other than racial war because of the limitations of the Gods. But these limitations will not last forever. Any one God is greater than a common Argi in intellect and in worth- hence, when the time comes they will stamp out such phenomena for good."


01-07-2014, 10:26 PM
Glyptodont
Re: Microscope: The Mural of Lu the Fatherless

"Oon'too, if you do not understand the meaning of my vision then what hope have the Argi? You once walked with Yessel when the world was young. My visions are but a blur to the insights you have had over the ages. You are older than me by far, yet you cannot be turning feeble yet? Where is the wisdom of our elders? The vision I have comes not from Yessel but from the cosmos itself. I can only assume that the lingering glare of Yessel has not fully faded from your eyes and is causing you blind spots."

"Merchan Xechu--you think you are being reasonable and practical with your plans for peace and friendship in your little city. But you with all your charitable works are like human housewife rearranging furniture in a house that will soon be swallowed up by an earthquake. Abandon your comfortable life and prepare to exile yourself to grueling hardship in a miserable foreign wilderness if you wish to have any descendents. Your family's future in Mazad will be a dead end."

Hearing the angry crowd heckling him, Bisaksana stands up wearily and points to Megaras. "You ignorant fool. You are a child among giants, yet you think you understand the world. Dare you question my vision? Where were you when Yessel spoke to our people in ancient times to guide us and protect us from the depredations of the lesser races? You have never heard the words of Yessel with your own ears. You have never witnessed his majestic radiance with your own eyes, yet you presume to dictate the truth and falsehood of what I have experienced first hand? If a soft-headed tadpole such as yourself can be considered any sort of leader of our people then the Argi deserve extinction. You are the proof that we no longer preeminent in intellect. Our future is lost. I shall return to the birth place of my father and lay down to die. There is nothing more I can do for our people."

With that, Bisaksana shambles off, deeper into the Swamps of Olu, ignoring the voices of the crowd behind him.


01-07-2014, 10:40 PM
tetnak
Re: Microscope: The Mural of Lu the Fatherless

The ancient and revered Oon'too watches Bisaksana walk into the swaps. He is saddened. He had known Bisaksana when he was young. He had known his flesh-mother, and knowledge-mother, and he had known his seed-giver. They had all passed from this place of age of wonder now. All of them had, only Oon'too remained. Oon'too wished to slam his arms into the ground in anger, childish, irrational emotion, but one arm did not work, and the other pained him so badly that doing so was impossible. "There is one thing I know, and that is I do not know," he says, as loudly as his voice will travel, to the fleeing headman, Bisaksana. "If it is the Argi's decision to flee. I shall not go. If is the Argi's decision to fight. I shall not lift my spear. My days are short. I shall return to my home of Olu, where I was a poddling, where Yessel gave me life and wisdom. It was that wisdom I use now, for the death of our race into the dust will, or will not, come to pass." The old Argi slowly rises, leaning on his long staff, and begins to follow Bisaksana into the swamp.


01-07-2014, 11:17 PM
Yadal
Re: Microscope: The Mural of Lu the Fatherless

Megaras ignores Oon'too, figuring he is likely going senile.

"Since some of you seem set on stupidity, I will not bother any further. I will, however, say this- Biaksana's irrational appeal to authority is proof enough that the age of his kind is over.

For those who want me, I have run out of time. As part of my duty I cannot allow Argi to live outside Yesel's realm. Therefore, I must attack and destroy a certain city."

Megaras storms off, confident he has won.


01-08-2014, 03:35 PM
Muskrat
Re: Microscope: The Mural of Lu the Fatherless

Xechu calls out, "You have heard Megaras! Those are the words of a tyrant, who will strike down anyone who does not agree with him. I am no prophet or philosopher. I do not claim to see the future. I speak as a man of practical affairs. But surely there is no safety in wars of conquest that will turn others against us. And surely what is right lies in living in harmony with our neighbors. Megaras speaks in ignorance. The Gods of the Golden Forum are worshiped in many places under many names. And there are the transcendent sages, who have risen above the cycle of death and rebirth, who look after all beings. Would you have such an ignorant man lead you? I have renounced the worship of Yessel. This is a hard thing, but I think it is the right thing. Who will follow me?"

With those words, Xechu turns and leaves the assembly. He can sense many wavering, uncertain what to do--and most of those remain behind, out of inertia. There are, of course, Megaras' followers who remain behind. But a significant minority of the Argi follow Xechu out, some convinced by his words, some frightened by Bisaksana's prophecy.



Question: Why did a group of Argi reject the Hierarchy Doctrine and the worship of their creator Yessel? Answer: Because the ancient seer, Oon'too felt the god Yessel was losing his power and the ancient prophet Bisaksana had a vision that the Argi would perish if they continued to follow Yessel.

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