[video] un: theballadeer

[lyingstars]

[There is a hatless Scaramouche laying back against the floor. He seems to be contemplating something, hand outstretched above him and idly playing with an odd looking purple and gold chess piece - a Gnosis for those that are familiar with them. There are no introductions here, just a question.]

I'm curious... Tell me about your gods. Who they are, what they do. Whatever.

[A pause.]

Just what is a god to you?

Comments

text | un: sleep

[verytired]

I'm the god of sleep. A god to me is someone who performs duties to help ensure a life well lived for mortals.

[lyingstars]

The god of sleep... What does that even entail?

[He taps the chess piece against his chin in thought.]

Does it truly matter if they lived well or not? What makes mortals worth all that effort?

[verytired]

[ He switches to video. ]

It means sleep, dreams, and nightmares are all my domain.

[ That lazy grin. ]

Of course it matters. Their lives are short and easy to destroy unlike ours. If I am to live a life well lived, shouldn't they as well? They're the ones who worship and honor us, after all. Without them, we have no duty.

[lyingstars]

Sounds interesting. Can you control what people dream about then?

If you care about things like worship, then perhaps if they wouldn’t offer it otherwise. Though it sounds an awful lot like coddling, like they can’t manage their short lives without you practically babysitting them.

[somnophilic]

What a strange question. Well, no, I suppose strange isn't the right word.

[The responding individual seems to have his device propped up, leaning lazily forward on the table? Desk? Whatever he's sitting at, one hand on his chin.]

I may not be the intended audience for a question like this, since I've only really heard of gods in passing from those who dream... but from my observations, they seem to be those who can do inexplicable and amazing things in a physical realm.

[Slim shoulders rise in a shrug, and he reaches up to push his glasses back to their proper place on his nose.]

I suspect, in the end, that there's less that separates a god from any other individual past age and ability. I've even met people who call other short-lived mortals "Gods," simply because they see them as something unattainable.

[lyingstars]

Those who dream?

[He sits up a little at that.]

Do they only have power in the physical realm then? Though I can only imagine how many pseudo-gods you have running around, if all it takes to be labelled one is an ability others think they cannot match.

[somnophilic]

I thought it a bit more accurate and inoffensive than labeling all such creatures as "human" or "mortal," really.

[His hand turns, fingers flexing in consideration.]

No, I don't believe the realm matters, so long as they have power that someone envies, desires, or feels awed by. And that they believe in the idea of Gods, of course. Although... as a dreamling I've never truly considered the merits of godliness. I worship every dreamer, whether their nights are full of terror or beauty. After all, I would cease to exist if they no longer needed to dream.

[There's a hard to read whimsy to his tone and expression, something that obscures his feelings on every matter. Perhaps he's just very flippant though.]

I assume there's a reason you're troubling yourself with a label like "god," though. It seems a heavy weight on your mind. Perhaps you've been having some unsettling dream about it?

[He's so cheerful when he says it, as though it's not the least bit important.]

[lyingstars]

Do they normally find it offensive to be labeled that way?

[He absolutely uses both, but then again he also doesn’t care what they think - he’d keep using them even if it was offensive.]

A very loose idea of gods… So what is a dreamling?

[Scaramouche’s eyes narrow at the communicator.]

I rarely dream.

[He’s just going to avoid the whole of him potentially thinking a bit too hard on gods.]

Video; UN: Zhongli

[negeotiation]

[Oh, Zhongli is certainly familiar. His gaze is knowing as he watches the young man fiddle with the familiar shape, but... there's no judgement there. Only keen, amber-eyed observation.]

That makes three now, doesn't it...?

[lyingstars]

Hm... three?

[While Scaramouche can guess what that's in reference to - there's really very few things it could be about - he doesn't seem particularly interested.]

[negeotiation]

Three Gnosis that have been acquired by the harbingers, as far as I am aware.

[lyingstars]

[Well there it is. He tilts his head slightly.]

Oh? Are you implying that I'm a Harbinger?

text; un: manslayer

[hitokiri]

i dunno something that has some kinda power over shit. the world or fortune or whatever the fuck. but not all gods are equal cuz some shitty mountain god aint the same as a god that can i dunno control death or somethin

[lyingstars]

The power between gods is not always equal, no... But what makes them gods is control over some aspects of the world, or fate. At what point does that control turn them into gods? Or are they considered gods right from the start?

[hitokiri]

huh. good question. or u know what maybe its just one of those things that depends on how u look at it. what u think a god is might not be the same as what i think a god is because maybe u got some kinda weird power shit going on and u aint real impressed with my gods hehe.

but u probably gotta be the best at something. or the source? some "god of fire" that gets burned by their own fire aint much of a god its just some asshole who can start fires

i aint really smart enough to know about this kinda shit but u got me wondering

[ sure beats thinking about worse things like he usually does... ]

[lyingstars]

That could very well be the case. It wouldn’t be surprising if there was some disparity between the gods of various worlds… But that is the reasoning for my questions I suppose.

[He shakes his head.]

Someone that can use fire, but still manages to be burned sounds more like a vision wielder than a god. The potential is there, though it’s generally wasted.

un: tapir

[dreamvour]

[she's stretched out on a futon, arms folded under her head]

A god, at least by my understanding, is an immortal being that holds dominion over some aspect of the human world and is worshipped as divine. They are seen as gods and worshipped as gods by humanity and so, that's what they are.

[a yawn] I work for Bishamonten, a god of war and warriors in my country, but he is known by other names elsewhere in my world. He protects where the Buddha teaches as well, so he's also considered a god of knowledge.

[lyingstars]

And if a being possesses that power, but isn't worshipped what does that make them? Simply immortal? At least until some mortal comes along and decides to worship. How many does it take before they're considered one of the gods.

[A pause.]

War and warriors... While also being a god of knowledge? That's quite the combination.

[dreamvour]

That would depend on what they use that power for, I would think. And why they were given it in the first place. Many of the gods I know lived human lives first, and with the power they had, used it to better human life. It was only after they died that they ascended to what they are now.

Others . . . mm, things do need to stay balanced.

[a small puff of amusement]

Many gods are like that where I'm from. In his pantheon alone, three are considered gods of prosperity, but are known for other things, too.

[lyingstars]

So gods are not born with their power... Is bettering human life a requirement? Or can one ascend without ever using their power for that? What does that balance entail?

Sounds crowded.

video | un: Gogol

[quizpersona]

[The video feed flutters on to show Gogol sitting with one leg crossed over another with his arms splayed out. Bet no one who wasn't already exposed to the Decay of Angels could anticipate a discussion about theism would attract clowns. Just wait for the bird metaphors to start coming out.]

Oh crumbs! Shouldn't I know the answer to this one?
God is a measurement used to determine whether humanity blossoms or decays.

[lyingstars]

Oh... It's you.

[He sounds so very unamused.]

And how does one measure something like that?

[quizpersona]

It's me! Did you miss me?

[and he looks visibly delighted to be annoying Scaramouche.]

Let's see here. Now don't they say that man imitates God? Yet to become completely unbound by those shackles, to achieve perfect freedom, it's only natural that you should be in opposition of that. The measurement is through acts of defiance!

voice | un: winedad

[vapelife]

Hey, man, you wanna talk about gods? Well, would you look, I'm a god!

The god of wine and madness, at your service. I guess where I'm from, hm, I guess most of us have power to influence the lives of mortals, yeah? Like my bro, Ares, he's the God of War, but like, all the bloody and nasty parts, yeah?

Me? Haha, I'm just here for a good time!

[lyingstars]

Wine and madness...

[Well he can see how those would go together.]

Only most of you? What do the gods that don't have influence over mortals do?

What do you consider a good time?