Talk:Dark Oracles

In the religion vomit, I saw there was only one oracle per god. Is that still canon? Is it then notable that there were multiple Dark Oracles for the dark fiend? --Msallen

Why, yes, it is significant. I'm so glad you asked. The stub is good enough for the plebes, but for those seeking their Master of Craft in Theology. . . .

The confusion, probably, stems from some inaccuracies in my taxonomy. All of the demi-pantheon, having all once been mortal, were far from being sterile abstractions of the ideals of their portfolios. They were eminently human godheads, kind of Greek in that regard. So, the Portfolio of "love," for example, would obviously include romanticism, loyalty, and fidelity. But, also lust, prostitution, and sheer animal fuckitry. Likewise, where the Greek split up war between Athena (Strategy, Competition, the Noble Warfare of Agamemnon) and Ares (Bloodshed, Cruelty, and the Savagery of Achilles). The Demigod of War would have both sets of ideals in his nature and among his followers. That is to say, all of the gods were seen as having a light and dark aspect as inherent in their being. It allows for a worldview with a great deal of nuance, and a flexible, decentralized clergy, but also has the obvious downside.

More specifically, Arek would have been classified as the "Darkling Prophet" or just "Dark Prophet," as his M.O. was to engage the Oracles and turn them entirely toward their darker natures. They, in succession, would drag their respective priesthoods along, and they their congregations. The Oracles, Children despite their peerless training and education, were easily duped or convinced.

The net effect of this, of course, would chairitably be called "Revolution/Counterrevolution" and what might uncharitably be called civil war, as churches turned against themselves. Generally speaking, the various Paladinly orders of the Oracles went Blackguard, as their primary loyalty and oaths were to their wards, not the gods. Additionally, since Oracles operated independently from "church structure", such as it was, the High Priests did not always follow their Oracles, Falzar being but the most famous example.

So, the Dark Oracles are the name given to the turned oracles of the demi-pantheon, while Arek is the Dark Prophet. --absalom 17:13, 28 April 2010 (EDT)