I've tried repeatedly to put down things that aren't FOIP on here.
Auriel is a flange elemental. More ICly, it's an eidolon in the Maelstrom system, and most people you ask would identify it as the Teacher's chief eidolon in the New World. More accurate people would identify it as the Teacher's only eidolon in the New World, although it has had a number of competent assistants. The work tends to burn them out.
It claims a number of made-up titles because the mortals seem to expect it to. It's actually a creature of infinite compassion, although it also professes to thoroughly dislike mortals. It claims that it, along with most eidolons, is an extremely psychologically unstable entity. It thinks that Awakened are the master race and will break off pretty much anything for even quite trivial conversations with anything with a soul gem, rocky complexion or branches sticking out of it.
Auriel's decision tree:
- Souls. Gather them.
- Orders. Fulfil them.
- Nearby people. Talk to or smite as appropriate.
- Whoever it last talked to. Agree unless obvious that disagreeing is better.
- Keep up appearances.
- If in doubt, discorporate.
Auriel's song is Javert's Stars aria from the Les Miserables musical. It's actually not that much like Inspector Javert in personality, but the song fits very nicely (and, of course, is in the right register for me). The only difference is that Javert is being hypocritical when he sings So it is written on the doorway to Paradise, that those who falter and those who fall shall pay the price, while Auriel's religion is altogether less kind.
- I would dispute that Javert (at least in the musical - I'm afraid I haven't read Hugo) is a hypocrite. He follows his code so dedicatedly that when he is unable to keep to it he kills himself sooner than break it. Incidentally, Stars was also the song I picked for Sir George, although presumably for completely different reasons (I've never met Auriel, but it doesn't sound as though they have much beyond fanaticism in common). --Jacob
- Maybe 'hypocrite' is the wrong word. Javert definitely follows his code with dedication, but the code itself is twisted, notably having a very serious case of double standards - a bad man can do no right, a good man can do no wrong. Auriel has that special kind of zeal which comes from absolutely no fear whatever that it is doing it wrong, and a moral code that has as line zero "If Lord Teacher tells me to do anything, I will do it, without moral scruple or hesitation of doubt". There's a line from the Lucifer graphic novel: "If the adversary could be drowned in our blood, then each one of us would open our veins and sing as we emptied them". It wouldn't call itself a fanatic, because it associates fanaticism with being wrong about something, and it is not wrong. :) I chose the song for Auriel's pursuit of the Fallen, which mirrors Javert's pursuit of Valjean in that the hunt has become far more important than the goal or the original crime. Also, Auriel has a child's fascination with the stars - it cannot truly learn, so every thing of beauty it sees is seen for the first time, and it finds the stars beautiful for much the same reason as Javert does. --R
Hobbies:
Drugs
Religion
Staring into the abyss
CategoryMaelstromCharacter