I makes the gods seem pretty lame if anyone familiar with leylines can just walk up to them and take control. She instantly and radically altered his behavior. I mean obviously you can do that in the game but in the story it's a bit odd that they're so vulnerable. (Maybe Bolas modified them to make them easier to control but we've yet to see evidence of that)
Well, on Theros anyone can hypothetically create gods through enough believe (and atheism MIGHT be a threat to them). Sounds not very awe-inspiring on paper either. And Bolas already did change their basic programming (I already guessed before that the gods are very mechanical in nature on Amonkhet and I was proven right here). So for you the story is flawed from the start since Bolas corrupting the gods seems to be a pretty major plot point. If he could do it, why could no one else? And Nissa didn't take control of Kefnet, she only changed his attitude towards her slightly so he wouldn't instantly kill her. That's not really "taking control". For that she might neither be powerful nor analytical enough.
Im okay with a character established as an ancient genius of incredible magical power managing to determine that the gods are made of leylines and even corrupt them over a period of months or years. That a person of no great power or experience can just reprogram a god within a few seconds of meeting it is pretty lame. (Remember Nissan great power on Zendikar was because of her relationship with Zendikar itself)
You really don't see the difference between those events?
I makes the gods seem pretty lame if anyone familiar with leylines can just walk up to them and take control. She instantly and radically altered his behavior. I mean obviously you can do that in the game but in the story it's a bit odd that they're so vulnerable. (Maybe Bolas modified them to make them easier to control but we've yet to see evidence of that)
I really don't get the confusion on leylines. It's just basically saying that the Gods are tied to the plane. Using water as an analogy, rivers are leylines, lakes are the Gods. Or possibly they're a dense intersection of leylines.
You wouldn't at least find it weird if someone describe a lake as "a tightly woven collection of rivers" rather than "a mass of water"?
Think of it more like "the lake and the river are both made of H2O molecules."
But that's not what was said and not what people take issue with.
A leyline pretty much always (ie every time I've ever seen it referred to except in this exact story) refers to a large thing that possesses tremendous power. This implies that there are also little leylines that can be woven into relatively small objects. It is very much outside of the norm in a strange way and not for any apparent reason. Its like being given a wicker basket a being told it is woven out of tree trunks, that would be a weird redefinition of tree trunk and you'd probably ask if the person who said it knew what a tree trunk was and maybe they meant something else.
I really don't get the confusion on leylines. It's just basically saying that the Gods are tied to the plane. Using water as an analogy, rivers are leylines, lakes are the Gods. Or possibly they're a dense intersection of leylines.
You wouldn't at least find it weird if someone describe a lake as "a tightly woven collection of rivers" rather than "a mass of water"?
I absolutely loved the poetic description of Bolas' conquest. Felt very fitting with the plane. Like animated hieroglyphics. Shame that we already got that story told in a less impressive way previously.
The trial was generic. Whatever.
The leylines thing is . . . yeah stupid and actually confusing. Kefnet it made of leylines? What? They need creative to nail down the terminology.
I mean Ral is like 99% certain that if Niv found out about them that he'd capture and dissect as many as he could get his claws on.
And yeah Nissa could get away with being "human" on elfless planes just by covering her ears. Hell she could even just say she has big ears. It might get her some strange looks but if I came from a place that didn't know what elves were and I saw Nissa I probably wouldn't consider that she isn't human. Especially on a world like Amonkhet where people have bird, ram, and dog heads.
You do come from a plane without elves.
They said a place that didn't know what elves looked like not a place without elves. Which is a pretty big distinction. If your world has no word for these slightly(slightly considering you have animal headed people) different looking humans why would anyone assume they are anything but human?
I was being a little bit glib there.
And if I was familiar with humanoid creatures that aren't human I think I'd be quick to assume that something that didn't seem quite human was probably not human.
I mean Ral is like 99% certain that if Niv found out about them that he'd capture and dissect as many as he could get his claws on.
And yeah Nissa could get away with being "human" on elfless planes just by covering her ears. Hell she could even just say she has big ears. It might get her some strange looks but if I came from a place that didn't know what elves were and I saw Nissa I probably wouldn't consider that she isn't human. Especially on a world like Amonkhet where people have bird, ram, and dog heads.
The anointed maintain their memories and skills while also being obedient.
The anointed can't speak and they can't produce milk so they're useless for raising kids in their first year of life and nearly useless for raising toddlers. Also its not like the anointed would have developed any useful childrearing skills during their life.
There are also initiates in this world who even choose to settle down instead of completing the trials and don't mind becoming an anointed when they eventually pass on. Its not treason or blasphemy if an initiate chooses not to complete the trials so long as they still serve the god-pharaoh.
Seems possible but do we have any evidence of this?
They also have to have kids quite young by our standards with since the mother needs time to get back in shape for the trials (and at least some must have multiple kids). So you've got to start trying for kids around 16 or 17. Younger if people frequently die from training before having kids.
I don't think this is something creative put a lot of thought into, tbh.
Humor aside I think this is one of the most interesting and positive views of Black that we've seen.
Im okay with a character established as an ancient genius of incredible magical power managing to determine that the gods are made of leylines and even corrupt them over a period of months or years. That a person of no great power or experience can just reprogram a god within a few seconds of meeting it is pretty lame. (Remember Nissan great power on Zendikar was because of her relationship with Zendikar itself)
You really don't see the difference between those events?
But that's not what was said and not what people take issue with.
A leyline pretty much always (ie every time I've ever seen it referred to except in this exact story) refers to a large thing that possesses tremendous power. This implies that there are also little leylines that can be woven into relatively small objects. It is very much outside of the norm in a strange way and not for any apparent reason. Its like being given a wicker basket a being told it is woven out of tree trunks, that would be a weird redefinition of tree trunk and you'd probably ask if the person who said it knew what a tree trunk was and maybe they meant something else.
But yes I've always seen the plural as moxen (like children, oxen, or brethren).
You wouldn't at least find it weird if someone describe a lake as "a tightly woven collection of rivers" rather than "a mass of water"?
You're a funny guy. Unless you're serious, in which case three's just no helping you.
The trial was generic. Whatever.
The leylines thing is . . . yeah stupid and actually confusing. Kefnet it made of leylines? What? They need creative to nail down the terminology.
I was being a little bit glib there.
And if I was familiar with humanoid creatures that aren't human I think I'd be quick to assume that something that didn't seem quite human was probably not human.
You do come from a plane without elves.
The anointed can't speak and they can't produce milk so they're useless for raising kids in their first year of life and nearly useless for raising toddlers. Also its not like the anointed would have developed any useful childrearing skills during their life.
Seems possible but do we have any evidence of this?
I don't think this is something creative put a lot of thought into, tbh.