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.

KMB

Comments

[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]

[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]

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.

[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]

Yes, but Hel is a goddess of death, not death-like things. Thaumaturgically speaking, it's often been argued that death, as a state of being, is one of the vanishingly rare qualities that can be treated as an absolute.

I am not foolish enough to think these questions have answers. However, if anything at all can be extrapolated from what little data we possess, the implications could be striking, either to our status within this world, or to what that exists beyond its shores.

[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."

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.

[theaccursed]

Do not mistake my disinterest as apathy.

Are you so willing to do as the gods ask of you?

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.

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]

Forgive me if I frame those terms as near synonyms.

I am willing to do what I can for the sake of others. I have no particular care whether or not I am following out the order of some defunct religious figure, though that, I'm sure, is a sin of pride in another doctrine entirely.

[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?

[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.

[theaccursed]

Your comments make you sound skeptical of their godhood. Am I wrong?

[mortuimagistri]

For myself? 'God', in this context, is a nebulous term that holds little exact meaning. I do not doubt that they are powerful, and worshiped, and would not be surprised to find them immortal, or any other such traits associated commonly with divine beings.

Which is to say, you are not wrong.

[theaccursed]

Immortality and power do not a god make. You are correct to have skepticism. Asgardians would relish in the attention you give them, patron gods included.

You would see where my indifference stems from now.

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]

I work in a museum; an obsession with minor details is a matter of good form.

Are you indifferent to everything that fails to be unarguably a god?

[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?

[uncledaddy]

Aye, it's been a bountiful harvest of that, late.

You tell me, my Lord KMB. You're awfully focused on one house out of many. Why the keen interest in death? Attempting to determine why she's looking over your shoulder -- or is it that her inattention stings, instead?

If the Gods walk here, you might simply ask her.

[mortuimagistri]

Is there a point in obfuscation when we all wear bracelets announcing our patron god? I assure you, I resent her attentions, and would prefer not to encourage any more.

[uncledaddy]

You tell me. Do strangers usually make a habit of grabbing your wrist and squinting at it for colour? Can I do that here and now?

Scorning pretty maids who pass you their favours. You may yet break a heart -- with luck, not fatally.