A Discussion of Power

[Atebos]

Drakken leans against the wall, then slides down.

Drakken sits down and rests.

You say 'As I was saying'

Drakken nods.

You say 'You said there is more power in commanding those more powerful than you than those weaker,'

Drakken grins with curiousity as the gem at his side brightens.

Drakken nods.

You say 'I am not sure that is possible.'

'Why.' Echoes from the crystal hanging on Drakken's waist.

'If you are not sure, then your theory is untested.' Echoes from the crystal hanging on Drakken's waist.

You say 'Well let us test it then'

You say 'How can one actually command someone more powerful?'

You say 'As soon as a command is obeyed, power has transfered'

'Why is it transferred?' Echoes from the crystal hanging on Drakken's waist.

'Is power respect? Is it fear?' Echoes from the crystal hanging on Drakken's waist.

'People obey for both reasons.' Echoes from the crystal hanging on Drakken's waist.

'So by that method of thought, is power not either of those?' Echoes from the crystal hanging on Drakken's waist.

You say 'It is linked to them, but Power is not something else, it is power.'

You ponder the question.

Drakken says, without his crystal, in a rough, scratchy voice 'Then what is power.'

You say 'It comes in many facets'

You say 'Power can be to crush a nut in your hand.'

You say 'It could be to crush a city with an army.'

'Can power be to grow that nut from sun, and water?' Echoes from the crystal hanging on Drakken's waist.

'Is power in killing, or is power in not killing?' Echoes from the crystal hanging on Drakken's waist.

You say 'It depends what you wish to acheiev'

Drakken's force shield shimmers then fades away.

'If I killed you now, I would hold no power. Fear perhaps, no power.' Echoes from the crystal hanging on Drakken's waist.

You say 'Maybe power is getting what you want...'

'BUT, if I brought you to your knees. Would I have power over you?' Echoes from the crystal hanging on Drakken's waist.

You say 'Yes.'

You say 'I would be at your mercy'

'If I stopped the city from being crushed, would I have power then too?' Echoes from the crystal hanging on Drakken's waist.

You say 'Though, if ones is not afraid of death or worse, then one can defy power, and neutralize it.'

'Power is fickle, and changes hands swiftly.' Echoes from the crystal hanging on Drakken's waist.

'With knowledge, you will know all power.' Echoes from the crystal hanging on Drakken's waist.

You say 'But is to know all power, powerful?'

' And for now, we must go see what happens.' Echoes from the crystal hanging on Drakken's waist.

You say 'Or must you use it somehow'

'A good question.' Echoes from the crystal hanging on Drakken's waist.

You say 'You have made me look at it in a different way.'

'Or perhaps I have no idea at all about anything in all the planes.' Echoes from the crystal hanging on Drakken's waist.

' Now thats something to really think about.' Echoes from the crystal hanging on Drakken's waist.

'Did I just say something to shatter the foundations of your path, or am I a rambling fool.' Echoes from the crystal hanging on Drakken's waist.

You say 'Or both'

Hessna snickers.

'See, knowledge is far more beneficial than power.' Echoes from the crystal hanging on Drakken's waist.

'If I know these answers, I can control what I wish.' Echoes from the crystal hanging on Drakken's waist.

You say 'Can you?'

'Has your view changed?' Echoes from the crystal hanging on Drakken's waist.

You say 'Does knowledge equal practical applications ability?'

You say 'I think the two are seperated.'

'If your knowledge is proper, there is no need for application.' Echoes from the crystal hanging on Drakken's waist.

You say 'If my gial were to bring you to your knees with my fist.'

You say 'I might know that a well placed and powerful blow could achieve this,'

You say 'But it does not mean I can do it.'

You say 'Knowing it would not bring you down.'

'Then your knowledge is unproven.' Echoes from the crystal hanging on Drakken's waist.

You say 'What do you mean?'

'If you know you can do it, why must you?' Echoes from the crystal hanging on Drakken's waist.

'I could burn Rheydin to the ground, and everyone in it.' Echoes from the crystal hanging on Drakken's waist.

'Why do I need to apply anything?' Echoes from the crystal hanging on Drakken's waist.

'Why is razing a town beneficial? Why would I think that is power?' Echoes from the crystal hanging on Drakken's waist.

You say 'Hypothetically, if you did.'

' That would alter my goals.' Echoes from the crystal hanging on Drakken's waist.

You say 'Back to goals.'

'Yet again I arrive at the fact I have fear, not power.' Echoes from the crystal hanging on Drakken's waist.

You say 'So is that the truest power? Realizing your goals?'

As the sun reaches its apex, the Temple of Balance's churchbells toll High Noon.

'I have theories, but that is something I can't prove yet.' Echoes from the crystal hanging on Drakken's waist.

'When I know, it will be secreted away.' Echoes from the crystal hanging on Drakken's waist.

Let it be known that Valkynsra has been granted the title of Master Questor of Aabahran!

You say 'Are you actively trying to discover what true power is?'

'Well I don't know what would be power.' Echoes from the crystal hanging on Drakken's waist.

'Your views are limited to this, what you see here.' Echoes from the crystal hanging on Drakken's waist.

'How can you measure what power is, without knowing more of what can be?' Echoes from the crystal hanging on Drakken's waist.

Drakken holds his hand out.

You say 'Can the measurements ever end though?'

You say 'One could spend lifetimes knowing what more it could be'

with a 'POP' a small ball of fire appears in Drakken's hand as he says 'No.'

Drakken flicks his fingers, suddenly the flame turns to ice.

Drakken's protective shield dissipates.

'They won't stop.' Echoes from the crystal hanging on Drakken's waist.

Drakken stands up.

Drakken sits down and rests.

You say 'Who wont?'

' Anyone.' Echoes from the crystal hanging on Drakken's waist.

'Knowledge is not limited.' Echoes from the crystal hanging on Drakken's waist.

'Every tiny spec of time that passes floods the multiverse with more knowledge than one could ever learn.' Echoes from the crystal hanging on

Drakken's waist.

'Maddening.' Echoes from the crystal hanging on Drakken's waist.

You say 'Quite'

You say 'Then why not focus on a smaller knowledge base, one plane for instance.'

'Why?' Echoes from the crystal hanging on Drakken's waist.

'What if one plane does not have enough for me to reach my end?' Echoes from the crystal hanging on Drakken's waist.

You say 'Well if you can never learn everything, maybe you can learn everything about something.'

You say 'And once you do, then move on.'

'I have.' Echoes from the crystal hanging on Drakken's waist.

'Many times over.' Echoes from the crystal hanging on Drakken's waist.

'I have merely arrived here.' Echoes from the crystal hanging on Drakken's waist.

You say 'So knowledge is a castle built of masteries?'

' Or.' Echoes from the crystal hanging on Drakken's waist.

'Is it the knowledge that you don't need the castle.' Echoes from the crystal hanging on Drakken's waist.

You grin evilly.

You say 'Needs and wants are very different are they not.'

'Again, it is based on perspective.' Echoes from the crystal hanging on Drakken's waist.

Drakken has wandered from his mind.

Drakken has snapped out of his trance.

Drakken rubs his head ruefully.

'Thinking entirely too much about these paradoxes.' Echoes from the crystal hanging on Drakken's waist.

'You enjoy humor drow?' Echoes from the crystal hanging on Drakken's waist.

'Name the most powerful deity that you know exists.' Echoes from the crystal hanging on Drakken's waist.

You say 'I do, why? Can you make me laugh?'

'I can attempt.' Echoes from the crystal hanging on Drakken's waist.

The ground beneath you shakes lightly as the massive Golem guard patrols on all sides.

'I have a rough grasp on humor here thus far.' Echoes from the crystal hanging on Drakken's waist.

You say 'Lloth, my Spider Queen.'

'She is all powerful?' Echoes from the crystal hanging on Drakken's waist.

You say 'That is a misleading question. Neither answer is truly correct.'

'This is a question used to test what is possible.' Echoes from the crystal hanging on Drakken's waist.

Drakken rasps in a throaty, rough tone 'Could lloth make a mushroom so spicy, that she could not eat it?'

You say 'I cannot quantify or measure her power for you, it is beyond my comprehension.'

'See the humor of course, but investigate the deeper meaning.' Echoes from the crystal hanging on Drakken's waist.

'The idea of being all powerful is not possible.' Echoes from the crystal hanging on Drakken's waist.

You say 'And that is your joke?'

'Yes.' Echoes from the crystal hanging on Drakken's waist.

'It is not to drow liking?' Echoes from the crystal hanging on Drakken's waist.

You say 'I am not laughing, but it is more food for thought.'

Drakken shrugs helplessly.

You say 'I do not dislike the question, but I fail to see the humor in it.'

'You obviously dislike spicy mushrooms.' Echoes from the crystal hanging on Drakken's waist.

You say 'Maybe your kin laugh for other reasons.'

You fall down laughing.

You say 'Now that was funny'

'I fail to see the humor.' Echoes from the crystal hanging on Drakken's waist.

Hessna chuckle to herself.

You say 'But do you know it is there'

'AH! Your learning.' Echoes from the crystal hanging on Drakken's waist.

Drakken grins evilly.

You say 'Or are you aware of the possibility of there being humor, on anything you say'

You say 'Yes, seems you have me thinking like a Gith.'

'Now, do you think I have power over you?' Echoes from the crystal hanging on Drakken's waist.

'Or do you think my knowledge has proven itself again?' Echoes from the crystal hanging on Drakken's waist.

You say 'If you do, it is less than it was before. But no, you don't.'

'Good.' Echoes from the crystal hanging on Drakken's waist.

You say 'You go by the name Drakken, do I say it right? Dra-ken?'

' Drack-en.' Echoes from the crystal hanging on Drakken's waist.

You say 'Ahh, a subtle difference.'

Drakken nods.

'But that is the difference between theory, and truth.' Echoes from the crystal hanging on Drakken's waist.

'I doubt before you would have bothered to ask.' Echoes from the crystal hanging on Drakken's waist.

You ponder the question.

Drakken winks suggestively.

'But you wanted the knowledge all the same.' Echoes from the crystal hanging on Drakken's waist.

You say 'What is the difference between theory and truth?'

'A good question again young one.' Echoes from the crystal hanging on Drakken's waist.

'But I think that is something you can answer.' Echoes from the crystal hanging on Drakken's waist.

'I feel the difference.' Echoes from the crystal hanging on Drakken's waist.

The ground beneath you shakes lightly as the massive Golem guard patrols on all sides.

'Is if you build an equation.' Echoes from the crystal hanging on Drakken's waist.

You say 'Well, truth needs no theories.'

'Based on rigid truths.' Echoes from the crystal hanging on Drakken's waist.

You say 'It simply, is.'

' You don't need theories.' Echoes from the crystal hanging on Drakken's waist.

Drakken nods.

' For example. If I blot out the sun, it will be dark.' Echoes from the crystal hanging on Drakken's waist.

You say 'Only where that sun used to shine'

You say 'It won't be dark everywhere'

You say 'And I also carry a torch'

You wink suggestively at Drakken.

You gather some materials and create a torch.

'That, was funny.' Echoes from the crystal hanging on Drakken's waist.

A stone golem gets a brightly burning torch.

' See, it would have been dark.' Echoes from the crystal hanging on Drakken's waist.

A stone golem gives a brightly burning torch to Drakken.

You say 'Just incase you succeed'

You say 'Also, darkness is a term coined by those with eyes.'

Darvin yells 'You will pay for your crimes Sycophus!'

You say 'Ask a bat if it is dark'

'Care to hear another funny one?' Echoes from the crystal hanging on Drakken's waist.

'Darkness does not exist.' Echoes from the crystal hanging on Drakken's waist.

You say 'Is that the joke?'

Drakken shakes his head.

'Not at all.' Echoes from the crystal hanging on Drakken's waist.

'Care to hear why?' Echoes from the crystal hanging on Drakken's waist.

You say 'Yes.'

'How do you add darkness to something?' Echoes from the crystal hanging on Drakken's waist.

You say 'My removing light?'

'You cannot add darkness, you can only take away light.' Echoes from the crystal hanging on Drakken's waist.

' BUT.' Echoes from the crystal hanging on Drakken's waist.

' You can add light to something.' Echoes from the crystal hanging on Drakken's waist.

'There is no evil, only a lack of good.' Echoes from the crystal hanging on Drakken's waist.

You say 'So darkness is the absence of light, just a word to describe something else'

Drakken nods.

'Yes.' Echoes from the crystal hanging on Drakken's waist.

'So here is my theory.' Echoes from the crystal hanging on Drakken's waist.

You say 'Hrm, I am not sure about evil and good.'

Someone phases back into existence.

'Evil exists.' Echoes from the crystal hanging on Drakken's waist.

Drakken utters the words, 'yucandusghafw'.

Drakken calls upon the forces of Hell and raises a Firestorm!

Someone yells 'Die! Drakken, you sorcerous dog!'

Sycophus steps out of the shadows.

Drakken's firestorm *** OBLITERATES *** Sycophus!

The gods protect Hessna from Drakken.

Sycophus's acidic bite misses Drakken.

The raging firestorm spews forth a cloud of fiery brimstone!

Drakken's Firestorm MASSACRES Sycophus!

The gods protect Hessna from Drakken.

The cold touch of a Frigid Staff surrounds Sycophus with ice.

Drakken's freezing bite injures Sycophus.

Sycophus's acidic bite misses Drakken.

Sycophus's shock mauls Drakken.

Sycophus's acidic bite wounds Drakken.

The firestorm spills sheets of flame all around!

Drakken's Firestorm MANGLES Sycophus!

The gods protect Hessna from Drakken.

Drakken utters the words, 'uqz ghafw'.

Drakken calls upon the forces of nature and creates a vortex of subzero temperature.

A Slender Lightning Spear shatters into a hundred icy shards in Sycophus's hands.

Drakken's ice storm >>> ANNIHILATES <<< Sycophus!

The gods protect Hessna from Drakken.

Sycophus throws down a handful of smoke and vanishes.

Drakken walks south.

The swirling vortex of fire weakens and goes out sending tons of ash flying.

Drakken walks in.

Drakken nods.

' almost' Echoes from the crystal hanging on Drakken's waist.

Drakken shrugs helplessly.

You say 'Where were we?'

'Ah yes.' Echoes from the crystal hanging on Drakken's waist.

'Is power merely ignorance embraced by knowledge?' Echoes from the crystal hanging on Drakken's waist.

You say 'Ignorance embraced by knowledge?'

You say 'That makes my head hurt.'

' Yes, ignorance that has been improved with knowledge.' Echoes from the crystal hanging on Drakken's waist.

' You cannot add ignorance, only take away knowledge.' Echoes from the crystal hanging on Drakken's waist.

'Ignorance is the lack of knowledge.' Echoes from the crystal hanging on Drakken's waist.

You ponder the question.

You say 'But'

You say 'You can misinform people.'

You say 'That is spreading false knowledge, adding ignorance, no?'

' No, you can distribute unproven truth.' Echoes from the crystal hanging on Drakken's waist.

You say 'You say anything can be made true?'

You say 'If proven'

' if proven it is truth then.' Echoes from the crystal hanging on Drakken's waist.

You say 'But if you tell someone something that is proven to be false and say it is true, that is adding ignorance.'

'Lies are not a basis for knowledge.' Echoes from the crystal hanging on Drakken's waist.

'Impure truths are the worst form of knowledge.' Echoes from the crystal hanging on Drakken's waist.

'See how much fun knowledge really is.' Echoes from the crystal hanging on Drakken's waist.

'Every time something is solved, something else is born.' Echoes from the crystal hanging on Drakken's waist.

You say 'Yes, quite so.'

' for now I will be off. ' Echoes from the crystal hanging on Drakken's waist.

You say 'I too, must go.'