Thirteenth: Killing the Mood (Video; un: Caster/forward dated to 14th)

[colchismagecraft]

[tw death/afterlife talk]

[Unlike last Valentine's Day, Caster didn't come to the network late that evening looking for a distraction- instead, she used the chance to shatter romantic moods, and ask a question that had been playing on her mind for some time.

Of course, the video was dark, poorly lit and as suspicious as was traditional with her- the lower half of her face only visible by the gleaming of a strange potion brewing nearby.]

Good evening, Avalon. For those I haven't met yet, I go by 'Caster' here.

For anyone else who's grown tired of the day's festivities and would like to humour me- I have a question. Tell me, what is the afterlife like in your worlds? There are so many legends, after all, and I'm always interested in hearing in how they differ.

[A pause for thought, before adding, by way of deflection: ]

Ah. I'm working on some new potions at the moment- do come by if you're curious.

Comments

[beewulf]

Then I doubt there's much more I should say in that regards. Whatever fears you harbor do your best to put them at ease. Fate leads all of us towards the same conclusions.

[Whether that was meant to be comforting or not, who could say. He is still a Berserker after all.]

But... I suppose, the first thing to wrap your head around would be a general lack of a concept of punishment and reward. Everyone ends up in the same space regardless, a few lucky chosen will usually find themselves carried off to join the gods in their halls. There they fight, they die, they train and are reborn at the end of the day to laugh, drink, feast and tell stories. All in preparation for the coming end of all things. But a majority are brought before Hel and her hall; as I said.

[colchismagecraft]

[Whether it was meant for comfort or not, she appreciated it all the same.]

I wonder how it is determined who is chosen...although, I'm not sure whether I'd call the opportunity to live a lifetime of battle joyous. I imagine you see that differently, though, and far be it from me to question the will of the Gods.

[beewulf]

Who knows, usually it's decided amongst the Valkyries and fates. The end of men, the death of gods, everything exists by the whim of fate. For me a lifetime of battle and strife is joyous in its own way.

Now, dying in battle is certainly one way to be accepted among the Einherjar. But you must still be chosen by the Valkyrie and carried on high to the mountaintops. It is the valorous and brave who stand in the face of adversity and fall to it that they seek. For that reason, poets may also be found there. In a way, you may think of it as the Gods of the North's creation as the first line of defense before those on the Throne are called on. I should imagine that your Elysian Fields function in a similar manner. But you are correct, it is best not to question the Gods. Most of the time, my own are not as capricious as yours.

That said, as lauded as the Halls of the Chosen are, Hel is not all that frightening either. Boring, perhaps, but nothing to fear unless you somehow managed to anger its mistress, which is difficult to do.

[colchismagecraft]

Haha...well, an evil woman like me certainly wouldn't find herself in a place like your Halls of the Chosen. I am hardly what you would call valorous.

But yes, the Elysian Fields are similar in a sense. Heroes, demigods...humans who'd lived virtuous lives are brought there to live out their afterlife in peace, without labours. It is a kinder place than Tartarus- boredom of Hel, as you describe it, would surely be preferable to punishment.

...Hm. I wonder if all the Greek Heroes ended up with the same fate, in the end. At least those who did not become Servants.

[Her expression twisted a bit at that. She wasn't sure which thought she disliked more, the idea that Jason became a Servant, or that he ended up peacefully in the Elysian Fields.]

Do you believe that everything is predetermined by the whims of fate?