Chpt. 1 | Text | Day 391

[mortuimagistri]

[Those paying attention-- or simply awake at the time-- may notice that this post went up at roughly 1 AM on day 391.]

In the interest of posterity, I find myself curious as to the nature of these gods and their preferences. After all, by what metric can a man be judged? What quality of character is the most intrinsic, the most valuable, that it courts the attentions of some eldritch being?

Or, to phrase the problem into the form of a question worth its answer: what god or goddess chose you? And why do you think this is the case? Do you find the unsolicited judgement to be accurate of your character?

I find myself most curious as to the nature of those whose lives have, for whatever reason, attracted the attentions of the goddess Hel. As far as my knowledge reaches, she presides over death. But is death not intrinsically antithetical to life? And, surely, none of us here have not lived? Or perhaps I have been misinformed.

As I said before, this for the purposes of posterity; honesty is in the best interest of those who answer, as, surely, nothing can be gained with a lie.

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[Video]

[dragonspeak]

A friend of mine wrote a guide on the gods ages ago. It's a bit old, but it's got what you need if you're just looking for general information. Here, I'll send it to you--

[Some shuffling on his end while he fusses with his bracelet, then Kyle should be getting a text with this attached.]

Now, I think we've somewhat all agreed the gods choose people with some similarity to them.

text.

[mortuimagistri]

I am passingly familiar with the pre-Christian religious practices of northern heathendom, yes. Though, previously, the knowledge was entirely theoretical.

That is what I would argue, also. What I wonder is what particular qualities attract a diety specifically. Surely, some people have attributes equal to two or more parties; what decides the hypothetical "winner", in this scenario? And what, precisely, calls a living person's life into the auspices of a death goddess?

If you are a theological student, I hasten you to enlighten me.

[Video]

[dragonspeak]

Perhaps it's whichever one is more compatible. They did tell us they connect our souls to theirs in order to give us these powers in the first place.

[The details he's not sure certain about.]

About Hel...I'm no student, but I can make a few guesses. I have a few friends in there. [He pauses.] Even if they're alive, they seem to have a connection to death. Surrounded by it or affected by it, I suppose you could say.

[text]

[averagemedium]

[That's definitely a name Ryan recognizes attached to the entry- and aw he is so pleased, look how much more eloquent he is without being face to face. Four for you, Booth.]

I'm not sure I could really say, honestly. It's something I've thought about, for sure, but all I ever hear from anyone else is that they definitely wouldn't have pegged me for being picked as I was. Hel if I know, I suppose.

[Yeah no he's not sorry for that one.]

I've got guesses, but- well, we've talked, I'm pretty sure you can assume well enough for me to not need to go back over involvement with the whole death business.

[text]

[mortuimagistri]

Of course not, Mr Farrow. It only strikes me as odd that such qualities, not even that of a psychopomp, would attract a goddess of death. To make a metaphor, it is to my mind like that of being drafted when one is not a young man of able strenth, but lives in the near and regular vicinity of such company.

[text]

[averagemedium]

They do say you sort of pick up some of the qualities of whoever you happen to hang around most, maybe it just... rubs off, or something. Metaphysically. And there's some inherent trait involved in being able to see and deal with that sort of thing in the first place- at least, for home. Most people just can't. So it might well be just that sort of... attunement, I guess is the best word?

text;

[necrowmantic]

I'm in Hel!

I was told it was the house for creeps and murderers, but I haven't really met that many other people who are. I'm not sure how it got the reputation!

[mortuimagistri]

I'm sure I could guess.

Matters of reputation aside: one could, from your statement, come to the conclussion that you know of at least one "creep and murderer."

[necrowmantic]

Well, just myself, really! I'm sure there's others, but everyone I've spoken to has been really nice. Maybe the rest of 'em are more subtle?

text

[theaccursed]

You seem to assume that one needs to have died to court with death. There are any number of reasons to garner Hel's gaze.

It was she who summoned me here, and yet the reasons, and her objectives, are inconsequential to me.

[mortuimagistri]

Then I am curious as to the purpose you see in replying, if it is enough to defeat your apparent apathy.

text

[sadandsingle]

What about those whose lives intercede with death? Those who find themselves frequently in the company of the dead, for whatever reason. And while death seems antithetical to life, in many pagan cultures, deities of death are often associated with winter, and therefore with the potential for life to spring from death - like the legend of Persephone in Greek myth.

Just a thought. I'm in Odin's house, myself; as I'm not much of one for war or battle, I'd assume my selection has something to do with wisdom or knowledge.

[mortuimagistri]

If I'm honest, that's the source of my present theory. But I prefer not to let facts or postulations rest simply because they suit my interpretation of events.

And what do you think of your placement within Odin's house?

text.

[unpuzzling]

fwiw it's all a matter of interpretation.

but one must not only be dead to be associated with death.

or do they not have morticians in your world?

[mortuimagistri]

Most things are a matter of interpretation. The alternative is solipsism.

I suppose the nature of my complaint, if it can even be called that, rests in the thaumaturgical status of death. If one can attract the interests of a goddess of death, that goddess has some element of influence outside of the barriers of this world. If one is not dead, and attracts such attentions, what does that say about the framework of death?

I'm not presuming there are answers to be found, only questions to ask.

And, yes, there are morticians.

text

[uncledaddy]

Suspect it's likely from killing a whole bloody lot of people.

Plenty to be gained with a lie. Mayhaps you're as bad with your imagination as you are your theology, death's the back face of life as clear as any coin. Every corpse ever has gone and lived at least a day.

Nervous, are you?

[mortuimagistri]

My condolences.

In this context, I doubt anyone could gain anything with a lie, beyond my confusion and annoyance. As those states are neither mutually exclusive nor uncommon, I cannot say what the benefit of such a plan would be, but, assuming you have taken your own advice, I wish you enjoyment in its spoils.

Of what should I be nervous?

[darkmum]

Dear Mister Booth,

I have often wondered why I was chosen by the gods yet found no answer. There is nothing noteworthy about me or my life.

I believe I can tell you why I was chosen by Hel, though. I don't know why she chose me at all among all the dying people on earth, but I would think that she chose me for I was on my deathbed when I was brought to Asgard. More than that, and I'm not proud to admit it, I was yearning for death and welcomed it.

Sincerely Yours
Merope Riddle

[mortuimagistri]

[In quiet little corner of the library Booth has requisitioned, he takes a coin out of his pocket and flips it. It lands on tails, and so Booth addresses her as 'Miss'.]

Dear Miss Riddle,

I must offer my sincerest condolences on the state which you describe, and my thanks also for a willingness to discuss it at all. Far more than any previous argument, your story leads me to believe that a close internal association with death is the driving factor, rather than any external want or requirement.

That said, I must apologize for treating such a personal story as raw data; I make my days working in a museum, and my studies only very rarely involve anyone who has drawn breath in the last decade.

Sincerely,
Kyle Murchison Booth

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[madeforwalking]

What will you do with the people who differ from the rest of their housemates? Do you think it wiser to ignore them or pay them special attention?

[mortuimagistri]

I think it best to pay everyone equal amounts of attention, as otherwise data can become skewed.

[fire_punk]

Why does it matter? [Really, who cares? They're here now. It doesn't change anything.]

[mortuimagistri]

It matters to me, because I find it interesting and am curious. If you cannot say the same, I could hardly beg your participation against your will.

anon text.

[redhourglass]

they're gods

no one knows why they do what they do. it's surprisingly human of them.

text.

[mortuimagistri]

Do you have such nihilistic attitudes toward psychology as well?