Re: The origin of Ogres.

From: simon_hibbs2 <simon.hibbs_at_w-IbYlzju042oZGVsukycgZek7iJn78fcA5nGQ6k_FVsfRvMzKQ6E3foZ5doN5qC>
Date: Tue, 29 Nov 2011 10:44:15 -0000

>
> On 11/29/2011 7:45 AM, boztakang wrote:
> > When a Thanatari steals heads for his own use, it's chaotic, because is denying the victim a natural death.
> But when an Orlanthi does the same? Some do take human heads after all.
> Or is the action of making a ghost chaotic? The journey to the
> afterlife is delayed which seems to me to be a feature of an unnatural
> death. I prefer to resolve this conumdrum (and others) by saying that
> the Thanatari severed heads are chaotic because chaos magic is used in
> their creation which gives them some bonus not available to the Orlanthi
> when they make severed heads.

Agree completely, but would just add that chaos magic by definition is magic that annihilates the soul. That's what chaos is. So I think your description of Thanatari magic here and mine in other posts are completely compatible.

I think most modern Orlanthi don't take heads because over time it's turned out that those that do take heads occasionally discover 'advanced' rites that enable them to get even more benefit from their heads more quickly. Spirits and visions come to them that reveal even more brutal and abhorrent practices, and before long they're making darklight candles, avoiding headgear and such. It's not that taking heads per se is against the traditional laws, during the darkness it was a useful if icky technique that enhanced some communities chances of survival, it's just that it's proven to be a very slippery slope indeed. And it is icky, after all, but I wouldn't put it on the same level as cannibalism.

Simon Hibbs