#cen chats

[tales-of-tali]

Wizard: What does your character consider more important - natural talent or work ethic? Regardless of their convictions, do they rely on their training or their talent more often than not?

Dear Reaper,

Natural talent only gets a person so far, you have to work to excel at something. My abilities are not from talent or something I was born with, I had to study and learn and grow to believe in myself. 

~ Tali

[art by Ruth-Westside]

( She was not born with her magic abilities, those only came about when she started to trust and believe in herself. The degree of self confidence you need to cast faith based spells is something she had to learn. Unless I write a version where her powers are actually from a secret god or demon or something, which could be a fun story to explore. -- Cen )

[tales-of-tali]

How might your beliefs and morals change in the future, if at all?

Dear Reaper,

I can’t guess how I will change my mind in the future, as I don’t know what new information I will learn that will make me reevaluate my core beliefs and morals. I doubt anything would make me stop believing in the right to control your own life.

~ Tali

[art by Ruth-westside]

(( I can see Tali going numerous directions based on Brai’sa’s actions and how the story goes. Given the campaign has been canceled that can only be explored in stories. If the Speaker isn’t as bad as the Spoken Truth that would make her reevaluate her opinions on them. If Brai’sa went bigot and proved her fears right she could easily go an antagonist route to try to protect others from faith-based slaughter. There is also a possibility her powers come from a (currently unknown) source, which would also force her to rethink how much control she has over her life. Running into evil Reapers would also make her rethink things. Many possibilities and options! -- Cen))

[tales-of-tali]

Fun fact: I use college and university interchangeably for Tali’s backstory because I can never remember the difference. Also the place she got a higher education doesn’t have a set name or details yet, so even if I could remember the difference between a college and a university I don’t know which one it would be

Plus it’s a fantasy setting and I doubt anyone is gonna care if I use both words. Maybe I should use Academy, that’s more Greek in origin which would go well with Mysthal being based on Greece... you can make a backstory that is pages long and you’ll still be missing details! It happens!

[tales-of-tali]

HEBE - as a divine being, what would they hold as their sacred symbols?

Dear Reaper,

I am hardly a divine being, curiosities about my powers aside. But if I were, would it be insulting to make stag skulls my symbol? As much as I dislike The Spoken Truth, I can’t fault their aesthetic choices. Another obvious thing would be a scythe. Scrolls, broken chains, or anything that symbolizes freedom and knowledge, it’s hard to assign symbols to abstract concepts. 

~ Tali

[[ I hope to write her becoming basically (or literally) a god, in which case any symbols for death, fate, freedom, knowledge, and truth would no doubt work for her. I’d also love to see her in Persephone inspired stuff, one day when I have money for commissions... -- Cen]]

[art by @ruth-westside]

[tales-of-tali]

SISYPHUS - what is their dump stat? (dexterity, strength, constitution, wisdom, intelligence or charisma)

Charisma ! And to a lesser extent dexterity since I knew she’d be in armor so no point giving her a bunch of dex if it was going to be negated by her armor.

I specifically liked the idea of a character who is very much about discussion and talking things out who is very bad at convincing people. Lying would also be very helpful for Tali, but she can’t do it. So you have a very passionate religious person who can’t convince anyone to listen to them, and who needs to hide what they believe in to avoid arrest and death but they can’t lie.

I thought it’d be an interesting set up, no matter how logical or good her arguments, she’ll always be at a disadvantage. 

[tales-of-tali]

So don't ever laugh as a hearse goes by For someday, you'll be the one to die And when Death brings his cold despair Ask yourself, "Will anyone care?"

This is a children’s song. Not this version, but the song (usually called The Worms Crawl In) is quite old I believe, and one of those ‘oh wow this is actually a dark kid’s song’ songs. I can’t say this version is darker, because the kid’s version is almost more horrific in the metaphors for decomposition. Naturally, it’s a perfect Reaper song. Gotta have respect for Death and know about how bodies decompose!

[tales-of-tali]

So crawl on my belly 'til the sun goes down I'll never wear your broken crown I took the road and I fucked it all the way Now in this twilight, how dare you speak of grace

I wish I could really explain why this song makes me think of Tali, I guess it’s the anger at God? Or at least this figure that is trying to offer grace?

[tales-of-tali]

O' I am Death and none can tell, If I open the door to heaven or hell. No wealth, no land, no silver, nor gold, Nothing satisfies me but your soul  I'm Death. I come to take the soul. Leave the body and leave it cold.

Of course O Death is a Reaper song. What else would you expect? Pick a version, any version, and it works for Reapers given it’s a song about Death. Could also be Dark AU depending on how you look at the perspective switch to Death.