Philosophy of the Rat

-=--=--=--=--=<* A14: Sage Orum's Plaza, University District *>-=--=--=--=--=-

Named after one of Alexandria's most learned (and perhaps addled) minds, the new University District of the city contains a number of entertainment spots as well as areas of culture and learning. Though many structures and sculptures can be found here, two buildings dominate the plaza with an air of friendly animosity--the grand buildings of the Society for Progressive Arcanists and the Artificer's Guild.

Poised on opposite sides of the central plaza, the two face one another like old misers, each uncertain as to what the other's up to, and pranks between students are a rule of thumb. A series of levies and fines exists should they get too far out of hand, though at times the results may be spectacular. Performers often make use of the great plaza by filling it with music, and rare is the visit without passing a performer's hat or three, five, or nine. Likewise, ramshackle shops selling every sort of magic bauble line the ways, all of varying (and often questionable) quality. A grand statue of Sage Orum overlooks it all, his expression slightly perplexed perhaps, at its mixture of grandeur, invention, glass-filled baubles, and chaos.

At the far end of the area, is the city library. From public records to research into the history of the city and the region itself, there is much one can learn at the city library. Many stories tall, the building towers up over well-lit, tightly-packed cobblestone streets.

In the distance, the Redridge Mountains rise overhead in all their glory. At their peaks, one can see the airships docking, landing, and flying off again under the banners of not only Alexandria but many great nations.

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Cesran comes out of the Arcanist Society and he looks a bit relieved. He takes a look around as it's after dinner time and he doesn't seem to mind the soft rain that is falling. He flips up the hood on his robe to keep the rain off of him.

Cesran comes out of the Arcanist Society and he looks a bit relieved. He takes a look around as it's after dinner time and he doesn't seem to mind the soft rain that is falling. He flips up the hood on his robe to keep the rain off of him.

Vekson is huddled under the leftovers of an old vendors stand. Its enough to keep the weather off him, he appears to be eating some cheese, and feeding it to a rat that sits in his lap. He seems to take delight in the little creatures eating.

Zarya is approaching from along the road, her hood up as always. She has a mildly thoughtful expression beneath her hood, and is cradling a crow in one arm. A rather young fellow by the looks of him.

Cesran nods politely to Vekson and Zarya as he sees them and their animals. "Good evening to both you and your familiars."

Vekson tilts his head, frowning and looking up "Familiar? No no no, he is my master! He teaches me magics and tells me what I should do! A familiar is a servant, I am -his- familiar!" The goblin picks up the rat, holding it above him, and well, basically the goblin is groveling before his rat.

Zarya nods to Cesran, a chortling is audible from within her hood at the antics of Vekson. She says, "Good to see you too. I met Sandy the other day. She came here, I didn't have to find her place."

Cesran glances over at Vekson, "I see, well good luck with that." He has heard rumors of those that use animals to hold their spells, but he has yet to meet these so called witches. Well you still look in one piece so I take it the meeting went well?"

Vekson grins and returns his rat to a place of shelter in his lap he tears off a piece of cheese and lays it down so the rat can eat. He then looks up, focusing on the other two and their conversations.

Zarya nods again ever so slightly, "Brief, but I guess so." She is regarding Vekson now, giggling still at his antics with the rodent as she caresses the fluttering animal of her own. "A rather interesting animal he has. Mine doesn't speak to me, not sure about all of that stuff..."

Cesran nods, "That's good to hear, what was it that you wanted to talk about again. Usually my memory is better, but my mind has been filled with other more tedious matters that are now finished." He looks over towards the rodent and goblin, "An interesting variant of magic, I choose the path to invest in a magical item."

Vekson seems a little confused "But I did not make choice, he choose me. Lord Scruffykins says that choices are false, they are determined by how we are born and raised, that in endless worlds our choices would differ only slightly if our growth had been the same." Either the rat is really smart, or the goblin is really smart and just really crazy too.

Zarya shrugs modestly as she says, "I was just wanting assistance with learning. I didn't get a chance to ask her before she vanished again. She likes doing that I think." She then peers at the goblin, slowly blinking but choosing not to comment on that.

Cesran hmms, "An interesting theory that he has, there are whole sections of the library in the city dedicated to answering that very question of whether we have a choice or if all our choices are pre-determined by destiny or by the gods. I myself believe that we have free will to do as we like and have to accept the consequences of those actions."

Vekson shakes his head, "No no, you have will, but your will is tempered..." He frowns, looking down at the rat and then nods. "Metal, a lump of metal is given to a blacksmith, this is you as a child. The blacksmith is you parents and your surroundings. After you are forged, you are a sword, you cut things, you may choose to do many things, but you will end up cutting things because it is who you are. If this blacksmithed had forged you into a hoe, you would till the ground, because that is what you were made to be. You have a choice, but a hoe that chooses to be a weapon, is never as strong as if he had chosen to till the ground."

Zarya says, "I think that myself. Even if there are other worlds like he says, it doesn't make choice illusory. Just means you chose differently elsewhere." She nods firmly at that to Cesran in response to his point, then to Vekson, "It’s an interesting theory, like he said, but I doubt anyone but circumstance and the gods can determine how strong you would be in any particular direction. No one can actually say how you would be strongest but you and how much effort you put in what you wish to be.""

Cesran hmms, "We are all born with potential in us to follow almost any path. In a city that has shadow elf paladins and war golem priests and an assortment of people that can't be seen anywhere else the world to say that just our past solely defines you is rather simple. What shapes a person is a mixture of so many variables that it'd be impossible to point to one characteristic or one trait that solely defines a person."

Vekson pauses a moment, looking down at the rat, and then finally back up. "Lord Scruffykins agrees that there are many factors that shape a person, but free will is no stronger than any other factor, and is often false. What we think is a choice is sometimes just all those factors pushing us in the direction we think we want to go. The gods themselves are one of those forces pushing us, but it is foolish to believe that your will is entirely your own. No one is done being forged until they die."

Zarya says, "You just negated your starting point and agreed with us." She chortles a little at that, scratching beneath her hood, "You've gone from free will is false to free will is sometimes false."

Cesran smiles, "There is always a choice, regardless of what forces are pushing you towards those choices it's you that makes those choices. Some choices are easier then others, but it's still there."

Vekson grins and shrugs "I am Vekson, I serve Lord Scruffykins, and -he- never said free will was false, he said believing that your choices are all your own is false. I do not worry about my will, I serve him, why? I do not know for sure, there are many questions, but few answers that are true."

Zarya shakes her head and scratches behind one of the wings of her crow, talking to it now in a bemused manner, "I should start asking you for advice. That way I can always be sure of winning a debate. I'll say I misunderstood you, because you have all the answers."

Cesran hmms, "I don't buy it. Regardless of what happened to you there comes a point when you are responsible for your choices. There are some that don't have the mental capacity to understand what right and wrong it, but the vast majorities understand those choices and make them. It's about taking responsibility for your choices, to say oh my past make me choose that or my god or whoever or whatever you are saying you aren't responsible for your life and to say that is basically to say you are a child. I prefer to be an adult."

Vekson grins, "Ok." He then looks back down to his rat, and nods, digging out another small piece of cheese and handing it to him. "Lord Scruffykins is hungry now, and he says that as amusing as it is to debate, there is little chance of making someone think beyond their perspective. So, no more talk of this, let us talk of something else!"

Zarya giggles a little and sets her bird down to let it walk and hop about. She looks to Cesran now, returning to her previous conversation, "Well, next time I see her I planned to see about what she could teach me." She shrugs a bit then.

Cesran nods, "I can see and understand your perspective. I just don't agree with it. As long as you don't hurt anyone with your ideas or cause a nuisance you are welcome to them." He nods, "Ah what is she going to be teaching you. Again I'm sorry if you explained it to me before."

Vekson continues to grin, but says nothing for now, instead he looks down at the rat for a time, watching it as it lays in his lap. He is probably listening though, with those large goblin ears.

Zarya shrugs a bit, "Whatever she may. My parents are wizards, only so much they can assist with." She shrugs a little then, elaborating after a few moments, "I figure only a sorcerer can assist a sorcerer."