Because it maybe kind of changes your framework. Like, there's werewolves as a paradigm, they just bite you and you become one, irrespective of anything else. On the other hand, there's harbingers and virtue teachers, right? They're the functions of the universe that give you a sign, set up a test-- it's the peasant woman on the road who says 'may I have some food' and you give her your last crust of bread, and diamonds fall from your lips, but your sister the next day says 'no, you old hag,' and snakes fall from her lips. Or the pool of water that gives life, with three cups, one gold, one silver, one wood-
The second one's a better example, because a lot of sane, rational people might think 'wow better use a metal vessel rather than a decaying wood one,' but in the language of the magic you're indicating virtue through making humble choices, so the other two cups turn you to stone where the wooden one heals all wounds.
Or like solving riddles for a sphinx, if you like. It's possible that with this harpy, you took a slight misstep in magic, and that maybe means fairy tale rules.
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2016-07-29 12:34 pm (UTC)The second one's a better example, because a lot of sane, rational people might think 'wow better use a metal vessel rather than a decaying wood one,' but in the language of the magic you're indicating virtue through making humble choices, so the other two cups turn you to stone where the wooden one heals all wounds.
Or like solving riddles for a sphinx, if you like. It's possible that with this harpy, you took a slight misstep in magic, and that maybe means fairy tale rules.