On Venat's Role in the Story

[EaraGrace]

I don’t think we can just write off peoples suffering as “limited.”

Normally I’d agree. But our visit to Elpis makes clear that the common sufferings of our lives are not at all common to the Ancients. They don’t want for food, face war or death, or seem to be left wanting for anything really. The few who do suffer largely fall to the margins unnoticed.

Seems a bit disingenuous to do so. We’re only there for a brief moment, so we don’t know exactly all that happened. We know however there were events like that volcano eruption, so clearly suffering wasn’t some unknown thing.

The volcano incident is a great example. In my mind there exist two possible interpretations, given we lack any real detail on it. In one, the Convocation largely abandoned a village of people to fend for themselves when ostensibly they could’ve intervened. In the other, the volcano never posed a threat to the inhabitants and thus the Convocation didn’t abandon anyone, but then that would mean it’s another example of how the Ancients never faced any real threat or strife. Either is not great imo.

And again, they used their suffering and turned it into something good. They fought through it. Yes, they stated they would destroy the place if they found out what happened because it was extremely dangerous. The same way say, we go and destroy the tycoon, because while it’s a useful tool, it’s extremely dangerous. If we’re going to start measuring suffering i dare say the ancients experienced the worst of it compared to people like the scions.

Well that creates an issue in my mind if that’s true. If the Ancient world was only marginally better than the Sundered one, then not only are the Unsundered terrible at describing their own civilization, but they also have little reason other than selfishness to want to see the Rejoining through. They couldn’t argue that life was perfect or so much more enjoyable, because it wouldn’t be right? If the Scions lived lives that were better than the Ancients then we’ll, the whole argument Emet gave in Shb kind of falls apart.

I’d also point out there’s nothing to indicate the Ancients longevity or creation magicks were hard fought, especially considering even children easily wield those powers.