@anonymous

[windsongs]

I have a question for the group. Has anyone tried to find family or friends they have lost over the years, or a trace that they might have passed through the Netherworld? Have you been successful?

If not, would you? What would you say to them if you managed to find them?

Comments

[windsongs]

Trust isn't the right word.
I believed that they had the Restless's best interests at heart, even if Amun didn't care about making a good first impression
But I can't say the same now. The fact that only one member stepped forward to offer any apology or explanation says it all

[ My guy stuck both feet in his mouth that day ]

What about you?

[terraria]

( he lapses into thought with a soft 'hmm'. )

I don't know yet. I have served many royals and nobles, politicians and envoys, and what I have constantly observed is that everything is never as clear-cut as it seems. Humans are messy.

I wish we were given more chances to see them, or to hear them speak. We've had such limited contact it's no wonder most are distrustful.

[windsongs]

[ Humans are messy, ain't that the truth. ]

I agree, but I doubt they would feel comfortable saying how they truly feel over the Netherwork. A sentiment many of us understand.
Is it common to have limited contact with the upper class in your world? Politicians can be difficult to reach, but the people they represent should be the ones holding more power

[ Yes, she knows that that isn't true on Earth either. She's seen people campaigning for local office, but this is something entirely different. ]

[terraria]

From my own experience, most citizens don't even know what their king or queen looks like. Well - ( he clicks his tongue. ) no, that's not entirely true... they've never seen them up close, or in person. It's a bit like a historical figure.

If someone told me, 'this is the Emperor of Sakia!' before I had actually met him, and they showed me a man who looked vaguely like his portrait on the coin - I would probably believe them. After all, I had never met the real thing, I wouldn't know details that couldn't be stamped into coins - like the mole under his eye or his cut brow. If their royalty or politicians are on their coins, they tend to know the general gist - if those people of the upper crust are largely known in portraits, then... that's very much difficult. Most citizens don't tend to have the money for portraits, so they'll not know either.

I have heard of far-off lands with ruling classes like you suggest, but the primary law of the land tend to be royalty. Something to do with all the powerful magical artifacts, I'd wager.

[windsongs]

I see. I suppose it might be similar where I'm from, despite having photos or videos easily accessible
But I doubt that I would be able to recognize some of them if we passed each other on the street, if they were alone

There are countries who still look toward royalty for guidance, but the ones that come to mind are more like figureheads. They are still important in their own right, but aren't the ones making decisions for the sake of their people

Is magic common in your world then? How common are magical artifacts where you are from?

[terraria]

Magic is quite common. Most are born with some sort of magical ability, and those who aren't tend to have similar lives. It occurs to me that in my time here, the magic of my world may be the most mundane I've heard of.

Magical artifacts on the other hand are quite rare. No one knows how they're made, or - if there are people who do know, it isn't common knowledge. These artifacts are ancient, and often passed down through generations. It's why so many royal families have them. You don't often know any common families that stumble across an artifact... it would be as if you discovered an abandoned room full of gold pieces.