Concering Ao

[Kangleton]

I bought that stupid 50K book too.

What, you all think its dumb?

THERES NOTHING ELSE TO DO WITH 100,000 STAGS!!

[sparkeh]

THERES NOTHING ELSE TO DO WITH 100,000 STAGS!!

Er, give them to me for a start?!

[Kangleton]

Don't tell me how to live my life.

[Jaeram]

You could always put that 100,000 stags with another 100,000 stags and get that nifty +2 lightning spear... I want that for my druid so I can monkey grip it but I'll probably never be able to afford it lol.

[Kangleton]

Why is everyone telling me how to live my life?

[Aries1918]

I'll tell you how to live your life. Buy more of those masks and make everyone else wear them.

[sparkeh]

Why is everyone telling me how to live my life?

You need it.

Plus this is way off topic.

[lordmaple]

Well I think its iffy to say people are still remembering Ao. I mean remember, a lot can happen in four years (following the decade the Ao cults lasted). Waukeen returned, Bane was reborn from Xvim, the City of Shade appears out of no where, Velsharoon becomes a god, Kelemvor becomes god of the dead, and Cyric has a mountain of stuff going on. Thats all in the last 4 years alone. So its easy to forget Ao with just that stuff going on.

However, I think the real thing to remember is that its not logical whats going on. Ao is the god of gods. If you think that reading a book about Ao means you'll remember him 5 minutes later, you're probably forgetting the kind of power Ao has. In those 5 minutes, the book has probably been rewritten, leaving any mention of Ao out completely, and you totally forget. I'm sure we've all had those moments where we just suddenly forget what we were doing, or what we were going to say, and thats probably what it would be like.


The last point is that it would just be absurd for the overwhelming majority of people in the realms. The gods are real, and their presence is felt through various signs, manifestations, visions, etc. and of course their clergy who wield very real divine magical powers. But worship Ao and you get nothing out of it, and anyone who does remember that point would be completely justified in rejecting the concept or existence of Ao.

Bingo. You get a Deul point.

If you heard the name Ao, he would remove it from your mind, or maybe even influence you to not believe it.

The only way you would know Ao existed, for sure, would be if you have had *many* experiences encountering Celestials, Demi-gods, Avatars (not the kind from time of troubles, more like burning bushes) or even the Gods themselves. You would also probably have to be in very good graces with your God, before he mentioned or told you of Ao, and at that point, Ao might let you have that knowledge because it might serve a "Greater purpose"...and that point probably wouldn't happen until you were *close to achieving immortality yourself*

In case anyone remembers AD&D Version 2, you could become an Immortal when you reached level 36- but you only had a *chance*. I'm not sure if DnD 3 or 3.5 ever touched this subject..I can't recall now, and my DM books are in storage (except for my Penumbra Monster Manual, for some reason )

I think you had to roll 1d100 for every year you lived after reaching level 36 (I think it that was only for humans/halflings, I think Elves were 2d100), to be accepted as a *candidate* for immortality. At that point, you might start to know a little of Ao.

Then, you would have to go on an extremely arduous quest which would have to be completed *alone*, and aquire a sum of money to build a *grandiose* temple to your patron god /demi-god (the person making you an Immortal) , and then there was *still* a chance of refusal.

However, if you became an Immortal, well, that was awesome. I never got that far, and I don't know anyone that did, but reading about it was pretty badass

But your only Immortal. You still arent even a Demi-god. To be a Demi-god, you had to attract the *serious* respect of a few *for real* gods, and it couldn't just be your patron.

And then you are only a Demi-god...and then only a lesser diety...etc. There are a few exceptions to the rule, but...

The long and the short of it is, it takes a long time to get high enough in the chain of power where Ao would *allow* you to know you exist. Because, he is essentially all powerful. It wouldn't be unreasonable for you to *think* that another god was king over the others, given the FR's understanding of monarchy, but you wouldn't know for sure- and you wouldn't know his name.

Thats why you'd have to be level 27 And yeah, you could get to level 27 just by studying- just not in DnD. I went from 11 to 12 through almost total RP

[Kangleton]

You don't get RP XP at level 15. It's impossible.

[Shadoweaver]

The fact is every player who knows the realms knows about Ao. By specifically mentioning that at the time the game is set people are beginning to forget Ao, it automatically implies some haven't forgotten him yet. Let the players decide how to RP it for themselves. If they remember Ao, fine, the locals don't, but they do. Maybe they tell other players about it around the campfire, and those who want to later on RP how they 'don't remember that conversation'. The point is here to let players have freedom, particularly about something so important to the Realms. Making players play dumb is bad gaming.

Shad

[Kangleton]

For what its worth, I agree. Though it seems as though the higher-ups have come to the conclusion that their decision is to stand.

So... yeah.

[Lodian]

good luck...

[Lodian]

i agree with shadoweaver...

If your int is below an 8 and say "oh, no your a red wizard i cant trust you" WHEN clearly I know your not.... but seeing as I Have low int and my toon cant tell the difference... you can always count on someone correcting you and not politely.

we live in a world and although some knowledge is concrete there is ALWAYS that which is unknown.
The unknown could be called CREATIVITY, ART etc... or strangers from a far land... but clearly that is a no no....

There is no Fate or artificial fate, its TOTALLY controlled by a DM so that leave room for FAVORITES and FRIENDS. I dont know how many times Ive seen the same people get gear or exp and others not. So with that IM NOT sorry, I play the lone ranger who says not much! but that doesnt seem to jive, I have to be a book worm about the realms and not the actual toon I play. Its really lame. Even the paladins act like the "snooty" wizard that I am so sick of being played... Can anyone play a role besides ones we all KNOW AND LOVE or hate for that matter. I guess I should just go find a world that allows people to act like there toon and not the achertype any fool can play.