Episode 1: The Phantom Ranting

[Zuri]

To live here is to be surrounded by idiots and their games,
by Zuri Petteri-Adaire

I've been in this city quite a while. I've seen some things. I've had some rather pleasant, and some rather unpleasant experiences while I've resided here and I've got to say that I'm growing weary of all of these things. Now, my points will most likely be tired and you will most likely not want to read them. I write them simply from the need to ventilate some frustration before someone gets a vial smashed in their pretty little face.

First off, I'd like to take a moment to speak about NightWatch. I have a certain feeling that this will cause someone to jump down my throat touting their protective ability and how they've returned order to the streets. I must call bullshit. The NightWatch have violated their own codes of conduct before and will do so again if it suits their means. Also, what policing force do they actually hold? Do they hunt down the attacker of someone wrongfully assaulted with garlic? Do they return coins stolen from one who moves too slow? No. This city is one of lawlessness and of equality.

By imposing themselves into the mindset of the city, once again, as the protectors. They've established a ganglike rule over the graveyard. I for one, didn't miss them and wouldn't miss them if they didn't exist again. No one asked for these streets to be policed, and even if they did. NightWatch isn't doing a very good job of it. Lets transition to the topic of the graveyard.

Now, as we all know the graveyard is a special place in the city honoring those of us who, for some unforeseeable reason are unable to awake ever again. The ones of our city who do not go dead and buried, but instead are swallowed whole by the shadows. They reside here. Custom is that it is disrespectful to rob or attack anyone within the eight street corner radius surrounding the graveyard, and it has hence become an area in which cowards hide. I do not see robbing or attacking in a graveyard as disrespectful. I just don't.

I've seen much more horrendous and heinous crimes committed on our streets, why should the graveyard be treated any differently? It's simply a graveyard. Treading on the graves of others does not show disrespect. It shows a healthy respect for those of us who are still alive (sort of), and walking this fine Earth. Now, I don't want anyone to think I speak ill of the dead. I just don't understand why we must give such special circumstance to one specific area. Why custom has limited us in a way in which humans do not even limit themselves. Yes, my friends. Our food doesn't even do this to themselves, so why must we?

Instead of a transition, how about a quick segue? I wonder if humans exist in tejas' reality shifted world. What if she is sustained by packs of rabid dolphins? Wouldn't that be something?

Anywho. I could rant and rave and cite my posting in Off Topic about social climbers and futile efforts and inflicting pain. I won't though. (For those of you seeking information on my stance on this topic, see Off Topic). I would like, instead, to take a quick look into one final aspect of our fair city that has always confounded me to a point where I just can't think about it without my brain hurting.

Why do we cling so desperately to aspects of our humanity? Why are we so quick to act on emotion instead of logic? As we are designed, we are to be cold killing machines. We are devoid of human life and therefore should be devoid of human aspects pertaining to the human condition. Now, I've read all the literature and I've studied all the books that say "Without humanity we would not exist as we are." Blah blah blah. What I don't understand, and what I'm hoping someone will kindly shed light upon is why our emotions still have such powerful sway over us.

I've lived a long long LONG life and I still feel very intense emotions. For some reason I'm always compelled to act upon them even though I do not nor will I ever consider myself anything remotely human. I have often laid in bed at night and wondered how many of the wars in this city were fought over a word thrown, how much blood has run through our streets due to an insult or a catty remark. It's something to think about, for sure.

Well, until next time. This is Zuri,
Your eloquent guide to musings long past.

[Jair]

You speak as if we should live with animalistic traits, cold and killing.
At the same time, you speak as if war sparked by sin (wrath, envy, pride, or greed) is wrong.
You contradict yourself, Zuri Petteri.

[Raph Vander]

Predatory insticnts and drives, with human perspectives and urges; That's Vampires.
We have a lot of reason to not like one another; that's the insticnts part.
We come up with a lot of excuses to vent that dislike; that's the human part.
My reading is that Zuri's highlighting the excuses, not the sources.

[Malkavian]

Thought it was fitting...

[Andre]

Nov 18, 2009 0:49:50 GMT -8 Jair said:

You speak as if we should live with animalistic traits, cold and killing.
At the same time, you speak as if war sparked by sin (wrath, envy, pride, or greed) is wrong.
You contradict yourself, Zuri Petteri.

The point you miss is that the concept of 'Sin' is a very human, spiritual, idea. We stand here, the proof of life after death, after a fashion. We are no longer human, so why should their moral codes constrict us? There is a higher way.

[Jair]

Yes, that was my point. Thank you for making it more clear.

[Mephistophlese Sinclair]

Nov 18, 2009 0:14:34 GMT -8 Zuri said:

Now, as we all know the graveyard is a special place in the city honoring those of us who, for some unforeseeable reason are unable to awake ever again. The ones of our city who do not go dead and buried, but instead are swallowed whole by the shadows. They reside here. Custom is that it is disrespectful to rob or attack anyone within the eight street corner radius surrounding the graveyard, and it has hence become an area in which cowards hide. I do not see robbing or attacking in a graveyard as disrespectful. I just don't.

I would not attack someone in the graveyard under normal circumstances. However, I have seen first hand cowards who while under attack would seek refuge in the graveyard. These cowards deserve to be attacked regardless of where they happen to be standing. In the past, I did refraign from continued attacks, but that was for a different reason than what I have stated here.

[Cerridwen]

Sometimes I wonder what Asta would think of all this Nightwatch business going on.

[Zuri]

Nov 18, 2009 5:29:51 GMT -8 Mephistophlese Sinclair said:

Nov 18, 2009 0:14:34 GMT -8 Zuri said:

Now, as we all know the graveyard is a special place in the city honoring those of us who, for some unforeseeable reason are unable to awake ever again. The ones of our city who do not go dead and buried, but instead are swallowed whole by the shadows. They reside here. Custom is that it is disrespectful to rob or attack anyone within the eight street corner radius surrounding the graveyard, and it has hence become an area in which cowards hide. I do not see robbing or attacking in a graveyard as disrespectful. I just don't.

I would not attack someone in the graveyard under normal circumstances. However, I have seen first hand cowards who while under attack would seek refuge in the graveyard. These cowards deserve to be attacked regardless of where they happen to be standing. In the past, I did refraign from continued attacks, but that was for a different reason than what I have stated here.

My point in that was that people often run there to hide from their attackers because of the nightwatch. I did not say, however, that someone should attack someone else within the confines of the graveyard. I just was voicing that I did not understand the logic behind it.

Jair. I do believe we make the same point. The concepts of Sin are entirely a human fabrication. I simply do not see why their moral codes should bind us. Why we should live according the the rules of our food. Also, let me defend myself in saying that I never said these things were "wrong", I never made any assertion whatsoever toward the right or wrong in the lines of war.

War is an ugly thing, we all know that. It's also quite fun. The reason war in the human world is wrong is because of the extraordinary loss of life. Here the only thing lost is blood.

[rel]

I'm not sure what the big ballyho is about in regards to nightwatch and why so many vampyres have their panties bunched over what they do or do not accomplish in this city. You speak of our human traits as almost being a hindrance to our evolution as vampires. I agree with that prospect, as too often I see judgments based on what was when alive regardless of what is now. It is why there are clans of vampires who ascribe to do 'good works', those who cannot let go of their humanity and feel the need to 'procreate' in whatever fashion they can to continue the familial bonds, and those who honestly and wholeheartedly believe that their 'protection' makes a difference.

...and to them? It does. They need it. They function as a vampire with it, and it's essential to their not walking into the sun. So what? Does it affect me? No. I find it much more enjoyable watching all of the other supposedly evolved vampires going ape shit over what they do. Seems kind of hypocritically odd to state on one hand that we shouldn't be held by our humanistic morals and then watch as petty anger fuels action. Pretty 'human' don't you think?

[Damia]

First I'd like to say I found this musing delightful. Well thought out on all accounts.

First off, I'd like to take a moment to speak about NightWatch. I have a certain feeling that this will cause someone to jump down my throat touting their protective ability and how they've returned order to the streets. I must call bullshit. The NightWatch have violated their own codes of conduct before and will do so again if it suits their means. Also, what policing force do they actually hold? Do they hunt down the attacker of someone wrongfully assaulted with garlic? Do they return coins stolen from one who moves too slow? No. This city is one of lawlessness and of equality.

I am not sure if the group as a whole have violated their own rules, as I have only seen one member exposed for such. But certainly the point can be made that they do not hold to their code that tells them to uphold the justice of others slain wrongfully. Though I believe even they are not stupid enough to try and force return of coins in a city that delights in robbing.

Now, as we all know the graveyard is a special place in the city honoring those of us who, for some unforeseeable reason are unable to awake ever again. The ones of our city who do not go dead and buried, but instead are swallowed whole by the shadows. They reside here. Custom is that it is disrespectful to rob or attack anyone within the eight street corner radius surrounding the graveyard, and it has hence become an area in which cowards hide. I do not see robbing or attacking in a graveyard as disrespectful. I just don't.

I've seen much more horrendous and heinous crimes committed on our streets, why should the graveyard be treated any differently? It's simply a graveyard. Treading on the graves of others does not show disrespect. It shows a healthy respect for those of us who are still alive (sort of), and walking this fine Earth. Now, I don't want anyone to think I speak ill of the dead. I just don't understand why we must give such special circumstance to one specific area. Why custom has limited us in a way in which humans do not even limit themselves. Yes, my friends. Our food doesn't even do this to themselves, so why must we?

It sounds as if you are quite passionate on this particular subject. You are quite right once more, that even the food we eat does not hold such traditions. But then are we not supposed to be better then our food or try to be? Even food is wary of robbing or attacking others in a graveyard of their kind, why do you think after all they have such stories of ghosts and demons.

I think we understand you are not speaking ill of the dead. But instead pondering why we as immortals do not do all of our normal activities there, even as mortals do. Personally to me, I find the custom one of honor. Though I am sure many would disagree. But to myself, even as young in immortal years compared to others. I remember stories of the past, cultures that honored their dead in feasts and specific funeral rites. And for us, who are a mixture of so many cultures and backgrounds, I think it fits that we rise above the usual instinct to follow and give a moments thought to those left behind of such. For as you said, not many of our kind fall to this fate, but those that do usually leave a load of friends and family behind. And as immortal as we are, so is our memory. So perhaps it fits that in memory and as a teaching of respect to our younger members, we continue to have these customs. As strange as they are. Though for those that use the area as a hiding place from those they have offended, well I myself would not disagree that perhaps the rule be lessened on them. For cowardice is not a trait that should be encouraged.

Instead of a transition, how about a quick segue? I wonder if humans exist in tejas' reality shifted world. What if she is sustained by packs of rabid dolphins? Wouldn't that be something?

Even that lady has to eat? So I assume there has to be humans in her world. I would hope, though I could very well be wrong. *Smile*

Why do we cling so desperately to aspects of our humanity? Why are we so quick to act on emotion instead of logic? As we are designed, we are to be cold killing machines. We are devoid of human life and therefore should be devoid of human aspects pertaining to the human condition. Now, I've read all the literature and I've studied all the books that say "Without humanity we would not exist as we are." Blah blah blah. What I don't understand, and what I'm hoping someone will kindly shed light upon is why our emotions still have such powerful sway over us.

I've lived a long long LONG life and I still feel very intense emotions. For some reason I'm always compelled to act upon them even though I do not nor will I ever consider myself anything remotely human. I have often laid in bed at night and wondered how many of the wars in this city were fought over a word thrown, how much blood has run through our streets due to an insult or a catty remark. It's something to think about, for sure.

This is a definite question to be asked. Once more I can only speak for myself, since I do not presume to know what others think on such questions.Personally I was brought into the immortal life, in not the most pleasant of ways. But then that can be said of so many of us. And when one is confronted with a new life versus an old one that they might have been content with, well perhaps there is no way but to cling to such old ways until one understands that the human life they had is over.

It is interesting you say we should all be logical, even amusing to me but that is another topic for another day.

Main Entry: logic
Part of Speech: noun
Definition: science of reasoning

One thing that has always intrigued me is that, the logic of being a cold killing machine. I have heard this quoted many times. Said eloquently, passionately or even the less pleasant version "Why can we not just kill who we want to, cause ya know we're all RAWR vampires and thats what we do."

It seems like many, not the most eloquent of them all and certainly not you, view instant immortality as an instant killing mixture. I quite agree that we are a bloody society, filled with many immortals whose emotions are supposedly dead and gone. But I have yet to see any here, who do not have some fragment of emotion left and use it frequently. For indeed even those here who have said that there is a higher calling of this type of "logic" themselves, have bound partners, childre, and friends. So then to my mind the question is..is being an instant cold blood killer the logical step when you become a vampire?

I would have to disagree. For as humans, becoming immortal, where is the logic that you will instantly become a cold blood killer. And yes I know the point that we kill humans to eat. But then do not our food kill those they view as food? Survival forces any race to do as it must. But if we are supposed to be instant killing machines, then why do we bother to make friends, family and loved ones? It seems more logical to me, that we go from being general humans, who perhaps have been violent when necessary, to immortals, who now have eternity to think on our actions and the consequences of such. With such memory as we all have..then killing someone, even if necessary, will stay in there, with some fragment of emotion. For we do come into this life with a human psyche.

Even with all the exceptions, for we do have those who will kill you as soon as actually meet you, and those of course who claim unhuman lineage before they become immortal vampires. I think that realizing that many of us came into our immortality, even in blood soaked ways, still come in with our natures. Some were already "cold blood killers" and some were simply nice humans with lives. To me it has never been I should automatically kill those around me, because I am now this powerful immortal, it has more been, as was my nature to watch others, learn of them, and value those in unlife who have lessons to give.

As for your last comments. It does make one think of how many conflicts get started because of hurtful words or actions.

And yes as usual I went on with my thoughts. But then I am sure those who want to will read my words and the rest will say I am to long winded for my own good. *Grin* I only hope I made sense, as you presented so much to speak on.


edit: grammar and spelling and such >>

[Louvain]

Applying logic to our existence is meaningless. We're mostly hypocrites, and all shameless.

Just do what you want without fear of reprisal from those who would pretend they are your superiors. Chaos is always more entertaining anyway.