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Dennis
Great Reader
9933 Posts |
 Posted - 20 Sep 2011 : 12:38:19
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Why do most (non-deity) characters who achieved immortality – through lichdom, wish spells, higher forms of shadow magic, other forms of undeath – very rarely show extreme emotion like rage? Telamont's face is like a mask of tranquility. At times when he was supposed to be pissed off or wrathful (i.e. when the Chosen nearly toppled his city), he remained composed and focused. The same case applies to Szass Tam. Instead of lashing out in anger, he felt rather betrayed (and hurt?) by Malark. I couldn't recall any instances when Larloch was enraged. Annoyed, maybe. So what does this mean then? Does achieving immortality completely rids one of his humanity, stripping him of strong emotions (which are part of what makes one human)? Or had their prolonged existence taught them that showing such emotions were more self-destructive than useful, and thus they mastered to rein their feelings when necessary?
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Every beginning has an end. |
Edited by - Dennis on 20 Sep 2011 12:57:34
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Artemas Entreri
Great Reader
USA
3131 Posts |
Posted - 20 Sep 2011 : 14:05:39
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| Maybe said folk just believe that the events of today won't matter in a millenia or 3 ;) |
Some people have a way with words, and other people...oh, uh, not have way. -Steve Martin
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36804 Posts |
Posted - 20 Sep 2011 : 14:29:44
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quote:
Originally posted by Dennis
Or had their prolonged existence taught them that showing such emotions were more self-destructive than useful, and thus they mastered to rein their feelings when necessary?
There's your answer. Plus, when you've seen it all a few hundred times, it becomes a little blasé. |
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Dennis
Great Reader
9933 Posts |
Posted - 21 Sep 2011 : 02:11:46
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quote:
Originally posted by entreri3478
Maybe said folk just believe that the events of today won't matter in a millenia or 3 ;)
Hmm. Telamont is building an empire. Szass Tam is trying to be god. The events in the present pretty much concern them a lot. |
Every beginning has an end. |
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Eldacar
Senior Scribe
438 Posts |
Posted - 21 Sep 2011 : 03:48:39
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After a few hundred (or thousand) years of immortality, you'd probably get a bit bored with it, really. It's not like you can't rebuild and try again - what else are you going to do? Sure, when you were a young immortal you might have blown up a mountain or two because you were angry, but eventually you'd start to think "why bother?" instead.
Seven Sisters has a little bit at the start talking about the mindset of extremely powerful, extremely long-lived individuals:
"If you are a mighty wizard who has taken all your revenges, fulfilled all your easy dreams and taken steps toward living forever (or at least a long, long time), and you get up on the morning after managing all that, what do you set out to do?
Design, practice, and perfect ultra-powerful spells and then hurl them around for a bit, just to see towers topple and mountains move at your bidding yes, but what else? Making gravel soon gets to be a trifle stale.
Create something of lasting importance, like a great ballad, truly comfortable chair design, or classic recipe? Test-of-time judgments take a while to reveal themselves, and straight-ahead bids for classic status are notoriously unreliable.
Well, why not carve out an empire? Control the lives of thousands, build monuments, order folk about like slaves... but why bother?
Hmmm, why get up that morning at all?" |
"The Wild Mages I have met exhibit a startling disregard for common sense, and are often meddling with powers far beyond their own control." ~Volo
"Not unlike a certain travelogue author with whom I am unfortunately acquainted." ~Elminster |
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Ayrik
Great Reader
Canada
7989 Posts |
Posted - 21 Sep 2011 : 05:01:20
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I'm not certain that apathy is a natural path for immortals. Undead creatures are commonly thought to be motivated through some connection with unholy energy which provides malign emotional instincts; most liches certainly seem to possess inhuman intensity in their objectives of mastering understanding and command of magic, most vampires are portrayed as creatures compelled by sensual or horrific passions beyond what living humans could possibly endure. Some intelligent undead such as revenants, ghosts, spectres, and banshees are most certainly fueled by endless rage and in fact deploy it as their primary weapon against the living. Supernatural entities such as celestials, fiends, and deities are created and sustained through the same faith upon which the entire structure of the outer-planar universe is formed.
I doubt many immortals can obtain (or retain) the full emotive range of mortals, but I suspect the focus of their emotions is far more penetrating than anything within mortal comprehension, something like comparing a reading lamp to a laser. |
[/Ayrik] |
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Dennis
Great Reader
9933 Posts |
Posted - 21 Sep 2011 : 12:53:31
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quote:
Originally posted by Ayrik
I'm not certain that apathy is a natural path for immortals.
If no one is capable of messing with your plans nor dare defy your will, then I guess apathy is the natural path. But when there are other beings who are or may be more powerful and far-reaching than you can ever hope to be, then the chances that you'd become apathetic are rather few. |
Every beginning has an end. |
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Artemas Entreri
Great Reader
USA
3131 Posts |
Posted - 21 Sep 2011 : 14:06:16
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| The quote may not be exact, but there was a great line from "Interview with the Vampire" where Armand says to Louis: "The world changes. We do not. Therein lies the irony that eventually destroys us." |
Some people have a way with words, and other people...oh, uh, not have way. -Steve Martin
Amazon "KindleUnlimited" Free Trial: http://amzn.to/2AJ4yD2
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Dennis
Great Reader
9933 Posts |
Posted - 21 Sep 2011 : 14:09:12
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quote:
Originally posted by entreri3478
The quote may not be exact, but there was a great line from "Interview with the Vampire" where Armand says to Louis: "The world changes. We do not. Therein lies the irony that eventually destroys us."
Change is the only thing in the world that does not change. Everything else does. Even an inanimate rock. |
Every beginning has an end. |
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Artemas Entreri
Great Reader
USA
3131 Posts |
Posted - 21 Sep 2011 : 14:11:50
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quote:
Originally posted by Dennis
quote:
Originally posted by entreri3478
The quote may not be exact, but there was a great line from "Interview with the Vampire" where Armand says to Louis: "The world changes. We do not. Therein lies the irony that eventually destroys us."
Change is the only thing in the world that does not change. Everything else does. Even an inanimate rock.
lol yep. And diamonds aren't forever...they will eventually decay into graphite |
Some people have a way with words, and other people...oh, uh, not have way. -Steve Martin
Amazon "KindleUnlimited" Free Trial: http://amzn.to/2AJ4yD2
Try Audible and Get 2 Free Audio Books! https://amzn.to/2IgBede |
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Dennis
Great Reader
9933 Posts |
Posted - 21 Sep 2011 : 14:13:47
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quote:
Originally posted by entreri3478
quote:
Originally posted by Dennis
quote:
Originally posted by entreri3478
The quote may not be exact, but there was a great line from "Interview with the Vampire" where Armand says to Louis: "The world changes. We do not. Therein lies the irony that eventually destroys us."
Change is the only thing in the world that does not change. Everything else does. Even an inanimate rock.
lol yep. And diamonds aren't forever...they will eventually decay into graphite
Or turn to dusts to adorn vampires and make them sparkle. |
Every beginning has an end. |
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Artemas Entreri
Great Reader
USA
3131 Posts |
Posted - 21 Sep 2011 : 14:17:14
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quote:
Originally posted by Dennis
quote:
Originally posted by entreri3478
quote:
Originally posted by Dennis
quote:
Originally posted by entreri3478
The quote may not be exact, but there was a great line from "Interview with the Vampire" where Armand says to Louis: "The world changes. We do not. Therein lies the irony that eventually destroys us."
Change is the only thing in the world that does not change. Everything else does. Even an inanimate rock.
lol yep. And diamonds aren't forever...they will eventually decay into graphite
Or turn to dusts to adorn vampires and make them sparkle.
Ha ha. That is part of the reason that i refuse to read the "Twilight" books  |
Some people have a way with words, and other people...oh, uh, not have way. -Steve Martin
Amazon "KindleUnlimited" Free Trial: http://amzn.to/2AJ4yD2
Try Audible and Get 2 Free Audio Books! https://amzn.to/2IgBede |
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Zireael
Master of Realmslore
Poland
1190 Posts |
Posted - 21 Sep 2011 : 14:27:20
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| Back on topic - I think that quotation from Seven Sisters is perfect. |
SiNafay Vrinn, the daughter of Lloth, from Ched Nasad!
http://zireael07.wordpress.com/ |
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Dennis
Great Reader
9933 Posts |
Posted - 21 Sep 2011 : 14:33:10
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quote:
Originally posted by Zireael
Back on topic - I think that quotation from Seven Sisters is perfect.
Except the last part. Some beings hibernate for centuries to [maybe] reflect and find purpose to their existence. |
Every beginning has an end. |
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Dennis
Great Reader
9933 Posts |
Posted - 23 Sep 2011 : 12:50:56
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Is it possible that such non-display of strong emotions is a by-product of their haughtiness? They think almost everyone else is like insects; and deigning to lift a finger to crush them is something not worth the tiniest iota of effort. Conversely, they would not manifest rage to those who, either by luck or sheer power, manage to outwit them, because doing so is an acknowledgment of their defeat. |
Every beginning has an end. |
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Artemas Entreri
Great Reader
USA
3131 Posts |
Posted - 23 Sep 2011 : 14:18:36
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quote:
Originally posted by Dennis
Is it possible that such non-display of strong emotions is a by-product of their haughtiness? They think almost everyone else is like insects; and deigning to lift a finger to crush them is something not worth the tiniest iota of effort. Conversely, they would not manifest rage to those who, either by luck or sheer power, manage to outwit them, because doing so is an acknowledgment of their defeat.
I agree with this. The Haunted Lands is fresh on my mind and one thing about it bothered me. SPOILER: Szass Tam raged a 10 year war with the Zulkirs, won the war, let the zulkirs leave and pretty much forgot about them, went about his work for 100 years, and eventually destroyed all of the zulkirs when they "united" again to spoil his plans. The scene where he obliterated them took all of 1 or 2 pages in the book. Could he not have done this MUCH sooner? I realize that the trilogy would have been much shorter, but probably more realistic. Thoughts? |
Some people have a way with words, and other people...oh, uh, not have way. -Steve Martin
Amazon "KindleUnlimited" Free Trial: http://amzn.to/2AJ4yD2
Try Audible and Get 2 Free Audio Books! https://amzn.to/2IgBede |
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Dennis
Great Reader
9933 Posts |
Posted - 23 Sep 2011 : 14:40:25
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Maybe Bane's power augmented Szass Tam's own considerably. Or he simply grew more powerful over time. |
Every beginning has an end. |
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Rage and Immortality
