axiology | OOC DISCUSSION POST.

Hello, worldhoppers!

For those that haven't read the latest IC post by ALASTAIR, please do so here. In short, the Timeline machine has finally distributed the mission objectives: eliminate the deities of Nalawi to maintain stability of this universe. This means taking out both Ryba, the goddess that lives in the ocean, and Nalanni, the missing volcano goddess.

Here's a quick recap of events so far:
Pomarr, the last Dakal explains the genocide of her people in detail: Nalanni eliminated them with her powers. Ryba resurrected Pomarr, and she plans to offer Nalanni's powers to Ryba to do the same for her people. This information is available on the network to all recruits.

The Nalawi themselves did not participate in the genocide, but they will were at war with the Dakal and celebrate Nalanni's presence. Their numbers are currently suffering as their powers dwindle to nothing.

Ryba's cultists are responsible for several deaths on the main island, as well as holding some ALASTAIR recruits hostage, and is gaining traction amongst the desperate population.

This OOC post is for discussion on what to do moving forward; we'll be putting up a poll on May 18th and keeping it open for 72 hours, and for fairness' sake we will go with majority rule for the result. Though the NPC is announcing the official ALASTAIR objectives, ultimately characters are allowed to do as they please! Be warned that different results will have different IC consequences, but ALASTAIR will not force characters to follow their objectives. They only guarantee that if both goddesses are eliminated, this world will continue to exist. Note, however, that this planet must have two goddesses or zero. It cannot sustain itself with just one.

INDEX

Nalanni:

Volcano goddess; goddess of the rock (land). Granted the Nalawi powers ("Gifts") in exchange for love and devotion. Defended her volcano from the Dakal by destroying their civilization and wiping them out. Kidnapped by Pomarr; her disappearance has led to powers fading both from the Nalawi and from recruits. If she is killed, the sea goddess must also be destroyed. As Ryba mentioned, the world can only function with two or no goddesses.

Nalawi:

People of Nalanni. Diminutive deer people who have been at war with the Dakal for centuries, prior to their extinction. Now that they are without Gifts, they don't know how to fend for themselves and are growing desperate.

Dakal:

An extinct race of technologically advanced cat people who lived to the west of the Nalawi islands. Worshipped no gods. After attacking Nalanni's volcano, they suffered her wrath. Now extinct, their land is at the bottom of the ocean.

Pomarr:

A Dakal who was a teacher in life. She has been raised from the dead by Ryba in exchange for her soul. Her goal is to siphon Nalanni's power in order for Ryba to have the energy necessary to raise the rest of the Dakal into undeath. She recently held Nalanni captive in the volcano Nalalona but was forced to escape with her prisoner after the recruits meddled too closely. Her existence is linked to Ryba.

Ryba, the devouring one:

Sea goddess. Raised Pomarr from the dead in exchange for her soul. Requires sacrifice of souls in order to grant power to others. Ate the souls of all lesser gods in this world. If she is killed, another sea goddess must take her place or the volcano goddess must also be destroyed. As Ryba mentioned, the world can only function with two or no goddesses.

Feel free to ask us any questions in the subthread below! We will avoid spoiling the outcome, but can clarify minor points that have not been addressed already.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Is it possible there would be a way that they could "give back" energy in some manner to the world? For example, Nalanni gives her gifts freely without equivalent exchange. I'm not really sure how the energy works but it seemed like very "take only" system on the Nalawi people's part without them realizing it. Is it possible, in theory, the Nalawi people could use their gifts somehow to balance the give and take?

I don't really know how to go about proposing this idea happening so I have no concrete example to demonstrate my question, but hopefully it is understood (it's late here I super apologize). So, I was just more curious if there could even be a possible way to "return to" the world what's being taken in a more proactive effort of its inhabitants. The Nalawi only use their gifts for themselves at current, I assume. They worship Nalanni but the world itself seems generally not considered. I wasn't sure if the energy of the world could even possibly be "connected" or influenced by its occupants in that way.

Basically asking because I noticed The Timeline basically said "try this trick" to take "hassle" out. As in, as if this is the easiest/most direct route to solve the problem with the fewest amount of steps. But I'm not sure if he was just being adorable in speech or that it actually is hinting there are more "hassling" ways to go about it. \o/

Also because Crowley had felt in Chantes they should have taken advantage of the goblin's ability to use magic, so... Figured worth asking c:

Edited 2016-05-17 07:27 (UTC)

All questions are worth asking! TIMELINE.EXE does indeed find the most energy-efficient outcome! In this case, unlike with the goblins, it's not just a matter of missed resources, nor a case of simple equivalent exchange—the goddesses' existences themselves drain the planet. Even if the Nalawi's Gifts, as well as Nalanni and Ryba's entire stores of power were somehow re-routed into the land, just sustaining Ryba and Nalanni's bodies would take up more energy than the planet could renew.

Oh, ok, I think got you! It isn't because the goddesses are powerful/using too much or necessarily powerful beings (in the sense of their status as having all these capabilities and using them and etc technically is not the issue..) as in it is not the goddesses' "power" or because they use these powers and do their thing as goddesses -- it's literally just their physical existence in the world?

if that's the case (please obviously correct me if not), I'm a little confused and hope this isn't overstepping for info you can't give out yet (my character is super confused by the idea too but I have to better understand first...).

Basically, to me oocly as well as Masamune icly, he does not understand why a world would populate with creatures it can't sustain. From what I'm understanding, the goddesses didn't make choices or do things that turned them into a problem to physically exist and is more: this planet can make types of creatures exist with its energy. Creatures like cats and deer people and birds are no problem for it a cat but goddess is a creature that is too much strain.

So, Masamune (and neither do I) doesn't understand how or why the planet energy would ever allow something to come into existence that would kill it to begin with. It's not normal nature to let a thing that is detrimental to survival from its conception come into existence. So, is this just supposed to be a thing that happens and should be overlooked for the sake the mechanics of the game/interesting narrative or is it intentionally an abnormal thing done for the narrative? Basically, is the planet abnormal itself or diseased or defective or infected with something? (The easiest comparison I can think of is when viruses invade cells and make them do things that basically kill them and thus the cells are infected)?

Are they not originally from or intended to be in this world yet here for some weird reason ? Are they like alien invaders from a thousands of years ago and thus not actually something Nalawi had originally ? (Basically so many thoughts and hoping there is clarification that a) yes this is relevant or b) tits just for narrative purposes there are actually not underlying things to find out in regards to this or meant to impact the narrative.

I hope that makes sense, I'm so sorry I feel like irs obviously me overthinking but II see possibilities where it could actually be an intentional thing done being overlooked by the recruits/us as a player base and etc. like hidden Easter eggs. Am not sure how "detailed" the world missions are for this sort of thing.

I am just want to know if I actually missed something or I need to put my willing suspension of disbelief hat on here hecause it's not a clue/it's just coincidence I managed to look at it the way I am c: thanks so much

No worries, we're happy to clarify! We would take the plot at face-value -- there aren't any twists or turns here that you all don't know about already. Naturally, there are all kinds of possibilities in a story and we like seeing what people come up with, but in this case these 'Easter eggs' you're looking for don't really exist.

As for why a world would populate with life it can't sustain, you can think of it in a few ways: for one, worlds can sustain life that are detrimental to their existences sometimes, even moreso in fiction. But for a more specific explanation geared for our meta, the great, universal cataclysm mentioned in the Timeline's latest post has caused several unnatural elements across the worlds, and most are no longer balanced or cohesive.

We hope that clears things up!

Awesome thank you so much! (I feel better now knowing it's not worth contemplating)

And I had wondered if the universe splitting apart may have had something to do with it somehow but I hadn't read this linked thread where it specifically mentions it.

Thank you again, this really cleared it up. Thank you for all your hard work.

OOC DISCUSSION POST.

Re: QUESTIONS.

Re: QUESTIONS.

Re: QUESTIONS.

Re: QUESTIONS.

Re: QUESTIONS.