Talk:Maered (3.5e Deity)

Curiosity

Why was he chained? Who are these "divine wizards"? Was it because, as a deity, he was planning to directly interfere in mortal affairs and unbalance the state of reality itself? As is, the story seems to have been brought to an abrupt conclusion by use of a "deus ex machina" ploy (as all-powerful wizards suddenly tie him in a magic straight-jacket). Is the moral of the story that mortals have to sort out their own affairs (albiet with guidance from above), or something else? Sorry if I'm asking too many questions, I just found it to be ambiguous. And interesting. -- Techpriest88 19:07, May 7, 2010 (UTC)

1. Because they feared his power.
2. A bunch of level 30 half-celestial wizards who were evil... or something? I'm not sure, see below.
3. Yes.

To be honest, I had been looking for a god that embodied the feeling of defiance, of not wanting to be bound by anything, of wanting to be free and accepted for who you are without the accouterments of society, but couldn't find one. However, the idea felt very powerful within me, and I felt a need to share it and manifest it in a god that characters would be able to follow, look up to, revere, and use as morals. To tell the truth, the story was written up REALLY late last night, and I was grasping at straws towards the end as fatigued as I was. Any suggestions on which parts to redo, and how to redo it? --Ghostwheel 04:46, May 8, 2010 (UTC)

Ah, late-night inspiration... I know thee well! First thing that struck me as trippy, if you will, was when he regrew his eyes. I rather enjoyed reading the War of the Spider Queen series set in the Forotten Realms campaign setting. In the series (trying desperately not to drop spoilers) a deity was maimed. He never healed, as far as I know, at least not during the series. That sends a powerful message that not even gods can shrug off everything - a message that it seems you're aiming for, seing as Maered can't simply shrug off these chains. Take also for example the FR god Tyr, blind god of justice. He and Maered share a parcel of philosophical common ground, even thought Tyr is obviously lawful and Maered thoroughly chaotic... they both think people should get what they deserve. No matter who they are. It took me a while getting to it, but here's my point: your liberator might gain something by remaining blind. For one, it makes his triumph that much more amazing. Disfavoured, he triumphed once. Betrayed, imprisoned, and maimed, he triumphed again and claimed the throne he had won twice over.

Being chained to his hard-won throne, that's an artistic flourish that I must say... I absolutely love. I don't know why, but I've been in a sort of tragic/ironic frame of mind lately, and this really speaks to me. That said, the vessel that delivers this bittersweet reward seems a bit contrived. A thought: where did his father go? If his brother was always the favourite, perhaps he remains such in death. His father sees this second son's triumph and grudgingly allows him his victory - but at a terrible price. Maered gets his throne and his hard-sought acknowledgement, but loses something he has come to value even more. His freedom.

What do you think? -- Techpriest88 05:28, May 8, 2010 (UTC)

I know what you mean by that feeling :-) It's one of the driving forces behind my campaign setting (WIP).

As far as the original story, his father eventually died. Perhaps he acknowledged the second son finally, which made the first kill him in anger? And as far as the blinding goes, perhaps he remains blinded, but came to accept the darkness, allowing it into himself which fuels his bitterness? I think that could fit well. Do you have any other ideas as far as why he would end up chained to the throne? --Ghostwheel 06:10, May 8, 2010 (UTC)

Perhaps his brother's dying curse bound him to the throne. In the Avatar series of novels, the curse of a mere sorceress, uttered as she died, caused one of the protagonists' fathers to transform whenever he performed an act for reward. A dying god's curse would be terribly powerful. As an added bonus, there's the irony that history basically repeated itself. Maered defeated his brother once and was imprisoned, defeated him again and was bound to his throne. -- Techpriest88 16:47, May 8, 2010 (UTC)

Sounds good--incorporated some of those ideas into the story. How's that look? More sense being made, less deus ex machina? --Ghostwheel 05:44, May 9, 2010 (UTC)

It's beautiful. :3 -- Techpriest88 06:09, May 9, 2010 (UTC)

Thanks for the help :-) --Ghostwheel 06:21, May 9, 2010 (UTC)

Also

Neutral god with some evil clergy, who seeks to oppose (specifically) evil tyrants?--Tavis McCricket 19:26, May 7, 2010 (UTC)

Yep. Most of the clergy, good or evil, realize that they won't be able to completely overthrow anyone without the aid of the common people--just one person acting out is crime, not rebellion. Since most people under benevolent rulership are fairly happy, even evil clerics who believe in this god don't try to depose the rulership too often, preferring to free people instead from their mortal shell. --Ghostwheel 04:46, May 8, 2010 (UTC)

Corwin of Amber

I was reading the Great Book of Amber and it occurred to me that there are some similarities between the two characters. It may just be coincidence, but Corwin of Amber is the younger of two sons whose older brother seized the throne under suspicious circumstances, later blinding and imprisoning Corwin, who then regrows his eyes... I'm not done reading the book just yet. Am I imagining things, or did you draw inspiration from this source? -- Techpriest88 22:33, 31 October 2011 (UTC)

If you'll keep reading into the book of Merlin, you'll find my namesake ;-)

So yes, I've read the series and still love it, but I hadn't actually thought about it when writing up this deity. Must have been sitting in my subconscious though, since looking over this it is uncannily similar... --Ghostwheel 02:37, 1 November 2011 (UTC)

Ratings

	Havvy is neutral on this article and rated it 2 of 4.
	While there is an interesting story to this deity, I cannot see many plots being derived from it that are not already of the standard chaotic neutral banner. Maered would do well in most campaigns, but would not be anything spectacular.

Aarnott is neutral on this article and rated it 2 of 4.

I feel like this puts some decent motivation as to the morality of his followers, but he is lacking actual goals. Does he really just sit there for eternity? Maybe it's just a personal preference, but I like deities that have some sort of ambition to some major goal. They are supposed to be extreme in some sort of way (even if that extremism is "balance"). So they would clearly think that their goals are more important than everyone else's. You could probably do well expanding a bit more on how his extremist attitude towards freedom inspires his followers. I like that his evil followers think it is a good idea to free people from life. Plot hooks could be made in a few sentences talking about doomsday cults that want to kill everything. What about CN dudes? Maybe they want pure anarchy? The potential is here for plot hooks. I just see this as lacking right now.