Farspeech stones

[forwearemany]

We are interested in available data on topics: magic, theology.

We are willing to provide compensation for data if desired.

Comments

[forwearemany]

Acknowledged.

(Cycles, they know, can be disrupted. But it is unlikely pursuing this line of dialogue will yield useful results.)

What else do you know of this?

Do I have this game's encyclopedia open on my Lap? Y

[littlemhigan]

Uhh, lesse...Well, Aether energies aspects towards one of six elements, an' from there, astrally or umbraly. An area dominated by a certain aspect've aether takes the traits of it - a saturation've ice-aspected aether makes a land cold an' wintery, for example. Astral an' Umbral I understand a mite less; they've somethin' te do with the activity or lack thereof.

Sorry if that's difficult te follow; Like I said, I ain't a scholar on the matter.

What's that other word though? Theology?

I try to make sure Legion asks hard, brain hurting questions at least sometimes

[forwearemany]

What are the six elements referred to?

(They know about "elements" as fundamental forces of nature instead of the primary constituents of matter, but they also know what is classed as fundamental forces is subjective.

They wonder how they are classified in an actual functional system of magic.)

Theology: the study of the nature of God and religious belief.

[littlemhigan]

Ah...Fire, Water, Ice, Wind, Lightnin' an' Earth, an' then the astral or umbral aspect. Usually, any given place'll have a healthy balance of 'em.

[there's a bit of a pause as she considers the definition, and when she speaks again, her voice is somewhat subdued.]

Oh...like a primal or an' actual God?

[forwearemany]

Define: Primal.

(They make notes. The element system is similar to ones used in Human fantasy media.)

[littlemhigan]

Oh, uhm....How te explain a Primal. Bear with me, aye?

A Primal...A Primal's what happens when ye take too much aether, usually in a crystal form, and add in jes as much prayer or faith or willpower or the like. There's some sort've ceremony to it, but I don't know the details. Any rate, the aether and prayer together call into bein' some sort of godling, usually takin' the form of a point of worship for whoever was doin' the summonin' - a diety, a figure of myth, somethin' like that.

Ye follow?

[forwearemany]

...They are created?

[littlemhigan]

Summoned, really, but 'Created's a way te put it, aye.

[forwearemany]

Summon: To authoritatively or urgently call on someone to be present.

Create: To bring something into existence.

In this instance, it seems these definitions are mutually exclusive.

[littlemhigan]

But they ain't! Their bodies are created then, aye, but the idea've a primal - the thoughts, or wishes or faith or whatever it is that sustain's 'em ain't created on the spot. S'like.....S'like if ye could summon a god te your side, an' in doin so, give 'im enough aether te make 'is own body on the spot. The idea've 'im ain't new, and whatever life a primal's got seems te remember from one summonin' te the next. 'S just the form that's new, and it ain't a permanent form, either. Usually, at any rate.

[forwearemany]

Acknowledged. You create their bodies, but summon their souls.

(At least, that's what it sounds like.)

[littlemhigan]

Aye, sommat like that. Either way, summonin' Primals is dangerous for a whole lot of reasons, not the least of which is how bloody disruptive they are te the area's Aether - they can drain a land dry te sustain themselves.

[forwearemany]

It does not replenish?

(The Aether, that is.)

[littlemhigan]

Not if a Primal's tyin' it all up. A big or aggressive one on a warpath is like te eat aether faster'n it can cycle back te the land, and that's sayin' nothin've the shit they do te people; spoken an' beastmen alike.

[forwearemany]

Define: Spoken, Beastmen.

What do they do?

[littlemhigan]

Uhm, the Spoken races are...like me, I suppose. "Civilized," with language an' culture an' whatnot. Beastmen are everythin' else, but that never seemed a fair judgement to me; they speak but not many people can understand 'em, an' that can uh...well, the results ain't always pretty.

Primals...they need worshippers te help keep their strength, and te keep summoning 'em. When they don't feel they have enough, they just....temper more. They brainwash poor sods into worshipping 'em till the end of their days. Only way te undo it is with the iron peace, if you catch my meanin'.

[forwearemany]

Acknowledged. Beastmen are mistreated?

Primals treat other beings as tools?

[littlemhigan]

'S a mild way of puttin' it. Feared, exploited, antagonized all work. Some've em manage to integrate into soiciety, usually as merchants or the like, but most've em...don't get along with Spoken races too well.

Worse than tools. Resources. Ye can't fix a Primal's temperin - they take ye, body an soul alike.

[forwearemany]

(Unhappy chatter.)

Acknowledged. This result is similar to a process in our universe of origin, known as indoctrination.

[littlemhigan]

You too, huh? Guess it'd be too easy for sommat like temperin' to be only where I'm from.

[forwearemany]

Yes.

The Old Machines corrupt the minds of those in their presence for extended periods of time. This effect extends to their technology, and their corpses.

Those under its influence are compelled to obey Old Machines, and eventually become "husks" incapable of acting or thinking for themselves.

Symptoms include hallucinations and heightened aggression.