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Comments from Derek

From: Derek

Subject: Comments

Thanks for the condolences. I don't know what to say about it, except that objectively Buddhist funerals are very interesting. Unfortunately though, I was of course not in an objective situation. Also my wife and kids are still in Japan for another month, since the mourning period in Japan is 49 days, plus the fact that my mother-in-law handled all the finances for the family, so her sudden death means that my wife and her sister have to help my father-in-law figure out financially how much he has and what he is going to live on for essentially the rest of his life. They should get it worked out in the next couple of weeks though.

IC-wise, I don't have a lot to add for Allistair. Maybe just a few retroactive comments on his thoughts about the destruction of Bodentown and the actual summoning/casting ceremony. I'll add them later today.



From: Derek

Subject: Comments

OOC: Here are some retroactive comments from Allistair.

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When Acer announces that not only Faldor and his ilk, but all of Bodentown must be destroyed, he is not surprised. After seeing what they did to Acer, Allistair is pretty sure there is a large dose of revenge tied up into Acer's reasion. Still, knowing what Acer did to the Northern tribesmen (and their women and children), it was a race against time to destroy Bodentown before Faldor could do worse to them. Still Allistair's thoughts are troubled. Why don't they just kill Faldor and all the priests? It isn't like the whole town was raping and ravaging the forest before he arrived. It would be a far simpler matter to cause a drought for a generation or two, and any agriculture and trade that kept this place alive would be gone, and so would the town in a few decades. But after seeing all the arguments of his friends rebutted by Acer, Allistair keeps silent. What's the point in asking a question if you already know the answer?

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Despite his misgivings about the need to destroy the town, Allistair is of course eager to see the display of power that will summon a god. He is amazed by the presence of the deity and by the power of the storms and earthquakes that are summoned. Still though, he retains some cynicism. The gods command great power, and by that power they command great respect. However my awe and my worship, my fear and my love, these I freely withhold. How can I love them when they so capriciously destroy, and how can I fear them when even men can command their bidding? Allistair prefers to command nature when he himself is in control.

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