(UA) The Problem With Magick

[Markleford Friedman]

Bryant Durrell wrote:
> That's an interesting contention.  I'd actually been thinking that
> every magick school is defined by one of the archetypes.  Pornomancers
> are the obvious one, but I can easily imagine The Sot, The Historian,
> The Daredevil, and so on.  And if this is the case, things start to
> suddenly make a lot more sense...

I'd pondered that notion, but came up with the fact that:

1) Adepts then become merely Avatars with a crutch

and

2) The Archetypes wouldn't allow for as much diversity in Adepts

Both of which are certainly "okay", but seem a little bit at odds with how
the cosmology is laid out to begin with.  Yes, Pornomancers are the obvious
one but, as I said before, they're probably a bad example in general,
considering that they're highly ritualized.  In fact, I'd argue that any
"school" with Ascendant-sponsorship would be the most restrictive ones.

Which, again, is "okay".  Like you said, it does make a lot more sense out
of things.  But this would also mean that *any* liquor-based adept would be
sponsored by "The Sot", whereas I think there's a lot more diversity in
drunks than would be allowed, and I think that individuality and personal
empowerment is the crux of the game (both of which are taken away by
"sponsorship").

Of course, we could always say that there's also "The Amorous Sot", "The
Sing-Along Karaoke Sot", and "The Youshe-Mhiieeyy-BEHSHT-Frehnnd Sot"!  ;)

Besides, seeing as how already-ascended archetypes are threated with
renunciation by up-and-coming Avatars and Godwalkers, I'd wonder why they'd
willingly help any of us mortals!  And have you noticed how some of the Sect
of the Naked Goddess members practice Pornomancy, yet none of them have an
"Avatar: Naked Goddess" skill?  Why can't you have the best of both?

It's certainly something to think about.  Perhaps the NG ascended because
she was the *first*, and that is what's essential to being an Archetype, and
all that follow are "Avatars with a crutch".  But that would mean that the
House of Renunciation would never exist, since Ascendants would have no
possibility of being replaced...

Or something.  Like I said, it doesn't quite fit with itself, so I had to
find other ways of making "schools" fit in, and thinking of them as more
localized and ritualized sects works in my book.

- m