The Maw of Oblivion

Cease your tiresome lecture. I have been in Travance near seven years. I understand how these things work. I said my piece.

Swyft,
War is as much about picking your battles as it is about fighting them. Peace, please, my old friend.

I don't know how much help I can be in this fight. You need me, I'm there if possible, just say the word. I have too many friends, both light and dark in this fight to abandon it completely.

I can currently offer some thoughts in tactical planning. Back when I was briefly a Shaman, I remember they had a spell that reduced the weight of a person. could we couple this spell with the hands mages can conjure, or psionics to keep the drawing in effect down, or possibly negate it?

Father Donald MacFhionnlaigh

Forgive me my ignorance, but can someone define what counts as 'light' and 'dark' magic? I'm unfamiliar with the terms in this context, and I'd like to know whether I should brush up on my magical abilities or focus on my abilities as a physician.

Ignorance is avoiding the truth rather than seeking it out, but consider yourself forgiven nonetheless. They are speaking in terms of yore before the Light and Dark pantheons of Eodra united together. Back then our power source, where we were granted the ability to conjure the miracles of our chosen deity, differed depending on whom we chose to worship.

~Nalick DeMarche

Nalick I may be confused by you're wording... Though the Gods of the Light and Dark (and Neutral) variety are all unified in purpose these days, it is still the case that those who draw on those greater beings draw from light and dark power sources.

But hey, context and clarity are always good things for moving a discussion forward:

The power sources of Light and Dark, may seem like confusing names for their associations and how often they are invoked as metaphor, are in reality literally exactly that: those who draw on light draw on an energy of warmth, brightness, literally light. Those who draw on dark power draw on shadow, coldness, literally dark. Neither one has a specific morality or ideal attached to it. They are two of four power sources (the other being chaos which is energy from other planes of reality, and the energy of the natural order of things, the energy that makes the plants grow or our bodies heal. It's often shortened to "order" but that can be confusing.)

There are greater powers who draw on these power sources, and grant said power to their followers, and often these beings do have an agenda or morality that they ask their followers adhere to said ideals in exchange for using these powers.

This includes Fiona, who is the embodiment of the concept of good and altruism and offers her power to her champions, the Paladins of Light. There is also Miranda, the embodiment of the concept of evil and self advancement who offers power to her champions, the Dark Paladins. There are also dragons who can provide the power of light and dark, and of course, relevant to this situation, the Light Gods and the Dark Gods.

Each god has an aspect that they are the embodiment of, those who worship a chosen god value this aspect, those who wield divine power are intended to do so in the name of advancing and championing their gods specific aspect. The Light Gods aspects are things like love and justice, life, and purity. The Dark Gods aspects are things like suffering, corruption, death, and instinct. (These ideals may seem unpleasant but they are part of this crazy thing we call existing and ignoring them can be kind of unhealthy.)

I believe the stuff Nalick is referring to, and the stuff that Swyft is concerned about is that historically there have been times when things were not so unified. A time when dark powers were forbidden, and worshippers were hunted, regardless of whether or not they deserved it. (It turns out like in the case of all mortals, some did, some didn't. Many were forced to practice in secret.) And those who served the Light were held up as exemplars of selflessness and good (again a reputation that some deserved and some didn't). We have since learned the truth about how both sides of this coin are necessary.

I know this was really long and kind of rambling, but again since the Maw seems to be a thing deeply tied into both the dark and the light, and both sides need to be unified to defeat it anyone who comes into this discussion wondering how this stuff works and what is going on should probably get all of the context.

Ah, that explains why I've no knowledge of it. I don't much hold by the gods, and posses no such divine power. I shall however contact Sylviel, as she is now a Cleric, and therefore may be of some assistance.