The Questions We Face

[theembodiment]

Before we move on, it is best we look at some of the questions we have recently encountered, and examine them.

1. Why is Amaguq carrying off random members of the Mythology/Religion community? Why is he keeping them alive after capture? Obviously, he's being ordered to do so by this "Other Union", but why would they have him do this?

2. What could be so bad about Amaguq's history that he would let himself be blackmailed over it by this Other Union? The lives of Gods are filled with sexual deviance, murder, warmongering, abuse of power, etc. These things pretty much come with the territory.

3. The Hunger, who seems to be controlling the Union, is dependent on devouring the things that make up this reality. Why would it want to do this? Occam's Razor would suggest that, if someone tries to destroy the thing their life is dependent on, chances are they're trying to end their life. Simplest answer, right? Considering how powerful the Hunger is, chances are he could end his own life if he wished.

4. How does one even destroy existence? Equipped with all of its abilities and powers, even the Hunger would have to spend years (centuries perhaps) to destroy the Everything? This brings us to our next question.

5. Who benefits when Everything dies?

There are other questions of lesser importance, of course. Does Aediastikos really intend to raise the spirits of every deformed person that ever existed? Doing so would definitely put him in a bad position with quite a few powerful figures, and it seems like something that, after everything was over, would cost more than it was worth. How long will it be before society starts feeling the effects of a now-released Sickness? Let's not forget the prophecies first uttered by specialized Priests of Paranoia. (Posted in an earlier thread, but quoted here for convenience: )

"Paranoia will learn how costly the arrogance of man is more than once, and he will realize how risky it is to deal with them."

"A plan is whispered. Its outcome is already known. The plan's purpose is to fail."

"The Rifter is reborn, and his purpose in this tale has changed greatly."

"The winner wears a mask."

"There exists a well of life in the valley of the Sickness. It is where hope lives in the bleakest of times."

"The prisoner can only escape by destroying his prison."

"Paranoia is blinded. His eyes go white."

"The figure strikes them with his cane; it leaves behind no bruise or mark - only a ravenous bacteria."

"What will happen when the lights go off? The Shadows could cover everything once more."

"He has a death wish. You would have to be blind not to see it."

"If something must change, then something must die."

"Mankind, perhaps only subconsciously, will be well-aware of the war. Its casualties will reach the trillions."

"There is a door, and there is a window. A choice must be made."

"The paths cross. Some will meet twice."

"The Children are right. The Children are wrong."

"The truth is that there is no truth. Everything is built from belief."

Take time to reread the strange notes left behind after Paranoia's academy was attacked, if you can.

thehappycube.proboards34.com/index.cgi?board=hackjobjohnny&action=display&thread=1174261149

And, finally, the words/phrases that the earlier mentioned Priests found of grave significance:

"Ghastly Parade"

"Outrage Rifts"

"Broken Ties"

"Winner Loses"

"Earth Shakes"

"Cycles completed"

"Hunger"

"Reincarnation"

[lilah]

Nothing can't benefit from the destruction of Everything, can it? Without Everything, there is no Nothing...Nothing becomes Everything and...and...

I've confused myself.

[dazeytweeter]

5. Who benefits when Everything dies?

My guess would be the Nothing (or nothingness), that is unless it is dependant on the Everything.

How does one even destroy existence?

Through entropy

1. Why is Amaguq carrying off random members of the Mythology/Religion community? Why is he keeping them alive after capture?

Maybe this should explain it. Taken from "Words Of Warning" thread.

There is a being who has already begun to fight. This creature, once feared and respected, has been broken down over the years. It has become a mangy, starved monster. It has nothing in its life not worth risking for power.

Its armor has become its cage. Its mind lies where any can find it. Its body wanders forever. It is always screaming in fury, and anyone can hear it if they listen hard enough. Some have crossed it. They have mostly perished since.

He is confused sometimes. Many times he awakes to find himself the king of a land with no citizens. Sometimes he finds himself a peasant among the millions. He kills to relieve his confusion. He fights to end it.

The paradox that keeps him here will be gone soon. He must anchor himself to this world. He has carried off one god, one of the sacred guardians, one of your sisters, and one of your brothers to his den.

They are kept alive to service him. They are kept alive so that he may feed.

Perhaps it will be you, Paranoia, who he carries off next.


Since Amaguq is a trickster does that mean that Amaguq's words are "His Toys"?


It also seems that the most important factor derived from Inuit mythos is fear. In the words of Inuit writer Rachel Attituq Qitsualik:

"The Inuit cosmos is ruled by no one. There are no divine mother and father figures. There are no wind gods and solar creators. There are no eternal punishments in the hereafter, as there are no punishments for children or adults in the here and now."

Indeed, the traditional stories, rituals and taboos of the Inuit are so tied into the fearful and precautionary culture required by their harsh environment that it raises the question as to whether they qualify as beliefs at all, much less religion. As Knud Rasmussen's Inuit guide told him when asked about Inuit religious beliefs "We don't believe. We fear." Living in a varied and irregular world, the Inuit traditionally did not worship anything, but they feared much.
-source: Wikipedia