With This Ring (Young Justice SI) (Thread Fourteen)

[Mr Zoat]

Mists quote marks should be white.
'shake'
'It...is hard' remove .

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Thank you, corrected.

Mr Zoat, random question. Is Sandy a member of the Team, or not?

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Yes.

 

[Darko]

Forgive me but I do recall that Quinn was an under utilized DC magician. An off brand Constantine.

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Can you leave a link for where he showed up, or at least a copied image of a comic?

I think you may be confusing him for Ambrose Bierce, or Kipling.

 

[SaltyWaffles]

So... Anyone else feel really let down by how anticlimactic this was?

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You're assuming that it's over, rather than a setup for a much more climactic plot later on.

 

[Sorrow]

Let's face it, if John is your friend, you are better off (trying) to kill him than letting him get you killed. He'll off you pretty quickly, the fates of people that help John? Those are just F@$%ing terrible.

 

[Maxx Crowley]

Let's face it, if John is your friend, you are better off (trying) to kill him than letting him get you killed. He'll off you pretty quickly, the fates of people that help John? Those are just F@$%ing terrible.

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I recall seeing an SI fic once. The SI was pondering in a dark alley, and Constantine came out of the fog, starting a spooky/warning thing that he does.....and the SI instantly atomized him.

 

[Ngamer11]

I recall seeing an SI fic once. The SI was pondering in a dark alley, and Constantine came out of the fog, starting a spooky/warning thing that he does.....and the SI instantly atomized him.

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Do you have a link to that fic, or remember its name? That sounds interesting.

 

[Assblaster5000]

Hmm, what synthetic humanoid aesthetic to go for, then? Personally, I'd go for the Sorayama pin-up-style chrome. That's a fun kind of cool.

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Give me Jensen Shades or give me death.

 

[Pinklestia]

Would attacks from a White Power Ring do anything special against demons?

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Is all the lights combined minus Black so... it is basically the equivalent of being attacked by all the lights minus Black; at the same time.

 

[Stsword]

Forgive me but I do recall that Quinn was an under utilized DC magician. An off brand Constantine.

But as for Golden Boy. What happened to him in the comics?

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That's impressive since Zoat made him up. DC has several off brand Constantines- Including a magician who may or may not be Rasputin the Mad Monk. A John Quinn isn't among them though.

As for Golden Boy he wanted to merge with Constantine and use his Laughing Magician powers to usher in a Golden Age.

All it would take was for Constantine to commit suicide in their shared mental world.

So Constantine accused Golden Boy of using his Laughing Magician power to make Constantine's life the living hell it had been and then murdered him in their shared mental world.

Zoat is of the opinion that Constantine was just being a paranoid asshole there, but I understand the majority opinion is that Golden Boy was a bastard coated bastard with a creamy bastard filling villain with good publicity.

 

[Darko]

That's impressive since Zoat made him up

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Not necessarily, assuming he is the Golden Boy.

Constantines mother, Mary Anne, was called Mary Anne Quinn before she married Constantines father.

It's possible that John just gave him the Helmet for some weird reason.

Though if Zoat is feeling like subverting expectations, which he does from time to time, he could just make Quinn's origin fairly mundane.

As in he is what he told Paul at their first meeting, a street magician who worked with Constantine from time to time.

Not Golden Boy, just some guy.

All of these things, like the name, the connection to Constantine, all seeming like they're clues to some grand mystery, end up being just coincidences.

 

[Stsword]

Not necessarily, assuming he is the Golden Boy.

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Considering that Golden Boy's name is John Constantine, Zoat made up John Quinn up either way.

 

[Darko]

Considering that Golden Boy's name is John Constantine, Zoat made up John Quinn up either way.

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The guy probably thought I'd be better to use his mothers maiden name rather than his fathers last name.

Assuming he is the Golden Boy and Zoat isn't just making us think it is while in reality it may be something else.

 

[Coda]

current generation suppression chains

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This phrase could be read two ways, and both are correct. They are the most recent model of suppression chain, and they are chains that suppress the generation of current -- which is a useful thing to have around when you're dealing with an electricity-aligned individual.

Mr Zoat, random question. Is Sandy a member of the Team, or not?

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Yes.

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You're such a troll. Ngamer11, you should really be more careful about asking questions that are subject to that trick.

 

[Rafin]

Angelica on the other hand is wearing a business suit, but that's probably because she was doing a normal working day before getting called in.

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What's Angelica's day job?

 

[Mr Zoat]

You're such a troll. Ngamer11, you should really be more careful about asking questions that are subject to that trick.

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Sorry, I didn't notice the 'or not'. Sandy is a member of the team.

What's Angelica's day job?

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She managed to get control of a number of her brother's businesses after his arrest.

 

[Doccer]

I recall seeing an SI fic once. The SI was pondering in a dark alley, and Constantine came out of the fog, starting a spooky/warning thing that he does.....and the SI instantly atomized him.

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Seconded. Link please?

 

[Ngamer11]

"So you've been training. Who with, Red Rocket?"

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Found an old error. That should be Rocket Red.

 

[Maxx Crowley]

Do you have a link to that fic, or remember its name? That sounds interesting.

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I do not.

I think it was actually a dead fic. I want to say I found it on TV tropes...but I can't quite remember. Sorry.

I honestly don't remember anything other than that moment. I don't even remember what the SI's powers were.

Golden Boy was a bastard coated bastard with a creamy bastard filling villain with good publicity.

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So....basically John Constantine?

From what I always understood. Golden Boy did everything John did...without fucking it up and getting people killed.

 

[Mr Zoat]

24th July 2012
14:31 GMT

"I appreciate the thought, Paul, but it just wouldn't work."

Hephaestus peers through his magnifying glasses at the contraption on his work bench, a thing that will eventually form the magic containment for Richard Simpson's android body. It's based on the design Thomas Morrow used for Danni and Red Tornado, but it needs to be able to handle demonic magic. The model the Morrow construct put together most decidedly wasn't.

"Why not?"

He leans back in his seat, his brow furrowing.

"Have you ever tried eating an entire roasted ox yourself in one sitting?"

"No?"

"Now, imagine that rather than eating it, you were trying to just slide it into your skull next to your brain. And then closed your skull right up again."

"You know, I do understand enough about thaumaturgy that you don't have to resort to nonsensical metaphors to explain these things to me."

He swivels the chair around to face me.

"Okay. A better metaphor would be to say that I'd dissolve. The God of Technology is colossal. If Doctor Fate says that it's a god and not a titan then I'll believe him, but it's going to be far more powerful than any god in our pantheon."

"'Our'?"

"The Greek pantheon doesn't exactly have a God of Avarice. When you finally do die, Hades might decide to kick you upstairs."

"I-. I don't think that's a good idea."

Hephaestus chuckles quietly. "When has that ever stopped us? You're looking at the man who dragged Aphrodite and Ares to Olympus in a net. I'm lame. Have you got any idea how far I had to drag them? Ares spent the first day cursing me, then just went to sleep until we got to the throne room."

He turns back to his work.

"'Rage is a hell of an anaesthetic'?"

"Stubbornness makes you ignore how stupid you're being."

"Zeus said 'no' to the divorce petition, then?"

"I think there was a 'no' somewhere in between all the guffaws. It was hard to tell."

"Sorry about that."

"I'm used to it."

"But at least Zeus is over his divorce, right?"

"Don't think you're off the hook, there. Zeus can bear a grudge like an immortal god with no day job to distract him."

"Ugh. Is there a way to pay him off? Or… I don't know, twelve things he urgently needs a demigod to take care of?"

"Not these days. Sorry."

"I'll just have to keep watching the skies, then. But going back to why you can't absorb the God of Technology..?"

"It would be like putting a single drop of ink in an ocean. What was left of me would be too broken apart to function as any kind of directing mind. And that's even assuming that I was compatible."

"Why wouldn't you be?"

"I'm the God of the Forge. Making things. I'm not the god of made things. Remember what happened when you showed me that ingot that got made by nanotech rather than a foundry?"

I nod. He could work it, but it was obviously taking a lot more concentration than a foundry-made ingot.

"Vulcan made the switch from volcanoes."

"This isn't something you can argue away, Paul. It's just how it works, mechanically. And honestly, I'm not sure I'd want it even if I could get it."

He picks up the diabolic responsometer and moves it around, searching for imperfections. He doesn't appear to find any.

"Okay, this is done. You okay making the rest?"

I nod. "I can make a non-combat model. If Richard wants something a bit heavier then he can negotiate with John."

He nods, passing it to me. I take it and stow it in my carry case.

"Vulcan? You about done?"

A fully exploded Earl Dukeston the Second is strapped to a series of custom gurneys as Vulcan inscribes the runes required to enable him to develop a metaphysique onto every component. It's a little disturbing how he's awake, aware, and watching with what appears to be genuine interest. It's hard to tell exactly how he feels, as his faux skin was an early casualty of the process.

"Just about."

"Ah'm a real boy, Pah?"

"I do mechanical engineering and magic. If you want a penis, talk to Paul."

"I can build you a penis, but I don't understand your programming well enough to integrate it into your mind."

"Ah don't have those kinda drives. Docs said it'd take a whole mess of hormones and suchlike they couldn't just program into my noggin. Sides, what would ah do with that kinda thing?"

"Whatever you want. That's the point. But your body, your peripheral choices. Vulcan, is Richard's fetish making it any easier?"

Not pausing in his work, Vulcan nods.

"I don't know what he was hoping to achieve with this, but he did good work. It almost seamlessly draws the God of Technology's magic from the Dream and integrates it into the world. Let him know I'm genuinely impressed."

"I will."

"With that, binding magic to Earl's frame and making it act like a normal soul is much easier. Have you shared it with the Atlanteans?"

"I haven't, but I'm sure that the League will."

"This could make integrating machinery and magic much easier."

"Ah'm going to have to talk to mah pastor about this magic stuff."

"Shouldn't you have done that before..?"

"Way ah saw it, whatever he thought of magic, he wasn't going to complain about me getting a soul."

"Do you feel any different?"

"Ah ain't exactly at mah best right this second. Maybe kinda… Twinkley? Ah don't really know what having a soul's supposed to feel like."

"Okay." Vulcan puts his soldering iron down and pulls a lever, unlocking the clamps holding Mr. Dukeston down. "That should do it."

Mr. Dukeston pulls himself together, concertining back into a single seat and looking himself over.

"No, still feel the same ole me. Guess a soul's something you grow into."

 

[Mr Zoat]

Found an old error. That should be Rocket Red.

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Thank you, corrected.

 

[Darko]

"I-. I don't think that's a good idea."

Hephaestus chuckles quietly. "When has that ever stopped us?

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Heph has a point.

Zeus said 'no' to the divorce petition, then?"

"I think there was a 'no' somewhere in between all the guffaws. It was hard to tell."

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I think in some myths Hephaestus and Aphrodite were divorced and Heph got together with Aglaea, one of the Charites.

Don't think you're off the hook, there. Zeus can bear a grudge like an immortal god with no day job to distract him."

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And he is an immortal god with no day job.

And if that comment future Paul made during the GATE sidestory is true, then Paul may end up facing Zeus in the future.

It's a little disturbing how he's awake, aware, and watching with what appears to be genuine interest.

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It's nice to know that Paul can still be disturbed from time to time.

"I do mechanical engineering and magic. If you want a penis, talk to Paul

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Paul Talowin, procurer of the strange.

 

[Zelnik]

"It would be like putting a single drop of ink in an ocean. What was left of we would be too broken apart to function as any kind of directing mind. And that's even assuming that I was compatible."

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me?

 

[Yog]

Of Greek gods, wouldn't Hermes be the god of technology?

 

[Chojin Patriarch]

24th July 2012
14:31 GMT

"I appreciate the thought, Paul, but it just wouldn't work."

Hephaestus peers through his magnifying glasses at the contraption on his work bench, a thing that will eventually form the magic containment for Richard Simpson's android body. It's based on the design Thomas Morrow used for Danni and Red Tornado, but it needs to be able to handle demonic magic. The model the Morrow construct put together most decidedly wasn't.

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Presumably he floated the idea of Hephaestus subsuming himself into the emergent Machine to become its driving personality. And evidently that was not as clever as OL or we here thought...

Spoiler: Commentary spoilered for length

"Why not?"

He leans back in his seat, his brow furrowing.

"Have you ever tried eating an entire roasted ox yourself in one sitting?"

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Well, OL hasn't. I'm sure Larfleeze probably tried multiple times with the Okaaran local equivalents. And probably managed it better due to Orange Light shenanigans.

"No?"

"Now, imagine that rather than eating it, you were trying to just slide it into your skull next to your brain. And then closed your skull right up again."

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Yeah, there's a hell of an image for you. And I suspect no-one could pull that one off. Except maybe Plastic Man...

"You know, I do understand enough about thaumaturgy that you don't have to resort to nonsensical metaphors to explain these things to me."

He swivels the chair around to face me.

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"Then don't ask stupid questions."

"Okay. A better metaphor would be to say that I'd dissolve. The God of Technology is colossal. If Doctor Fate says that it's a god and not a titan then I'll believe him, but it's going to be far more powerful than any god in our pantheon."

"'Our'?"

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Consider the difference in scales of belief. Most people who interact with technology have some measure of faith that it'll do what it advertises. The Greek and Roman gods? Besides some stuffy academics, the Amazons and maybe some Atlanteans, how many people are actively worshipping? I doubt our evangelising Amazon priestess of Hades has had that many converts...

"The Greek pantheon doesn't exactly have a God of Avarice. When you finally do die, Hades might decide to kick you upstairs."

"I-. I don't think that's a good idea."

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Though it would go some way to explaining his issues in the 'Gate' snippets... Not that i figure he actually would accept, being a God would likely tie you down to Earth's thaumosphere in some uncomfortable way...

Hephaestus chuckles quietly. "When has that ever stopped us? You're looking at the man who dragged Aphrodite and Ares to Olympus in a net. I'm lame. Have you got any idea how far I had to drag them? Ares spent the first day cursing me, then just went to sleep until we got to the throne room."

He turns back to his work.

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...Well, I guess people seeing that would explain where the myth actually comes from. I bet Hephaestus was quite happy to explain the procession and harp on certain deities' shortcomings.

"'Rage is a hell of an anaesthetic'?"

"Stubbornness makes you ignore how stupid you're being."

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But it sure made you feel better... Until you got to Olympus, at least.

"Zeus said 'no' to the divorce petition, then?"

"I think there was a 'no' somewhere in between all the guffaws. It was hard to tell."

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Probably lucky Zeus was presumably sitting on his throne. It probably would have reduced the gravitas of the moment if he was rolling on the floor laughing his ass off.

"Sorry about that."

"I'm used to it."

"But at least Zeus is over his divorce, right?"

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No, OL. Don't go putting that super-conducting lightning rod away just yet...

"Don't think you're off the hook, there. Zeus can bear a grudge like an immortal god with no day job to distract him."

"Ugh. Is there a way to pay him off? Or… I don't know, twelve things he urgently needs a demigod to take care of?"

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Maybe you could bribe him off with.. ladies of negotiable virtue? Lots of ladies? Or set up an internet connection and a paid subscription to every good adult video site on the internet?

"Not these days. Sorry."

"I'll just have to keep watching the skies, then. But going back to why you can't absorb the God of Technology..?"

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Ah, these wonderful conversational sidetracks. The things we learn about his associates...

"It would be like putting a single drop of ink in an ocean. What was left of we would be too broken apart to function as any kind of directing mind. And that's even assuming that I was compatible."

"Why wouldn't you be?"

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Well, for a start... Hephaestus is a god of old-fashioned stuff more than modern. Artisanal, hand-made works, not the automata-produced, mass-replicated products of modern manufacturing...

"I'm the God of the Forge. Making things. I'm not the god of made things. Remember what happened when you showed me that ingot that got made by nanotech rather than a foundry?"

I nod. He could work it, but it was obviously taking a lot more concentration than a foundry-made ingot.

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Sums it up nicely. Probably linked to the mystical signature of the maker, to some degree. Machines making machines would have a much weaker footprint than something poured by hand, even on industrial scales.

"Vulcan made the switch from volcanoes."

"This isn't something you can argue away, Paul. It's just how it works, mechanically. And honestly, I'm not sure I'd want it even if I could get it."

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No rules-lawyering your way into a friend getting the Machine position, eh? Guess you'll have to befriend the Machine when it awakens, the old-fashioned way.

He picks up the diabolic responsometer and moves it around, searching for imperfections. He doesn't appear to find any.

"Okay, this is done. You okay making the rest?"

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I hear responsometer, I immediately think Doc Magnus and the Metal Men... Honestly, I am kind of looking forwards to seeing them in the story someday. Always had a soft spot for them for some reason...

I nod. "I can make a non-combat model. If Richard wants something a bit heavier then he can negotiate with John."

He nods, passing it to me. I take it and stow it in my carry case.

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I don't foresee Simpson earning any upgrades anytime soon...

"Vulcan? You about done?"

A fully exploded Earl Dukeston the Second is strapped to a series of custom gurneys as Vulcan inscribes the runes required to enable him to develop a metaphysique onto every component. It's a little disturbing how he's awake, aware, and watching with what appears to be genuine interest. It's hard to tell exactly how he feels, as he faux skin was an early casualty of the process.

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And I am picturing a technological version of the Vitruvian Man... Floating in mid-air, with Vulcan plucking single pieces out to etch them then putting them back into place...

"Just about."

"Ah'm a real boy, Pah?"

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Oh, hush that funnin', hoss. This is serious business...

"I do mechanical engineering and magic. If you want a penis, talk to Paul."

"I can build you a penis, but I don't understand your programming well enough to integrate it into your mind."

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And I am loving that they are discussing it with complete seriousness, at that. Perhaps sir would like some adjustments to the traditional design? Ribbed for her pleasure (or his, no judging here!) Vibration features, perhaps?

"Ah don't have those kinda drives. Docs said it'd take a whole mess of hormones and suchlike they couldn't just program into my noggin. Sides, what would ah do with that kinda thing?"

"Whatever you want. That's the point. But your body, your peripheral choices. Vulcan, is Richard's fetish making it any easier?"

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After all, you might find once you have a soul, you starting feeling unfamiliar urges, like this little thing called Love.

Not pausing in his work, Vulcan nods.

"I don't know what he was hoping to achieve with this, but he did good work. It almost seamlessly draws the God of Technology's magic from the Dream and integrates it into the world. Let him know I'm genuinely impressed."

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At least Simpson's stupidity had some benefit. Pity such talent is wasted on a shit like him.

"I will."

"With that, binding magic to Earl's frame and making it act like a normal soul is much easier. Have you shared it with the Atlanteans?"

"I haven't, but I'm sure that the League will."

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To be honest, I really don't see the League doing that. Might need to poke Orin and Quinn to touch base, maybe?

"This could make integrating machinery and magic much easier."

"Ah'm going to have to talk to mah pastor about this magic stuff."

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Well, I suppose now he's going to have an immortal soul, he'll have to see about taking care of it...

"Shouldn't you have done that before..?"

"Way ah saw it, whatever he thought of magic, he wasn't going to complain about me getting a soul."

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One more for the Lord, eh? How would you list that on whatever they use for conversion documentation? "Ensouled and baptised one android."

"Do you feel any different?"

"Ah ain't exactly at mah best right this second. Maybe kinda… Twinkley? Ah don't really know what having a soul's supposed to feel like."

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Hmm... I wonder if the Reds have that sort of feedback? Then again, their souls are more Elemental than Human...

"Okay." Vulcan puts his soldering iron down and pulls a lever, unlocking the clamps holding Mr. Dukeston down. "That should do it."

Mr. Dukeston pulls himself together, concertining back into a single seat and looking himself over.

"No, still feel the same ole me. Guess a soul's something you grow into."

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Indeed. OL can give you a few tips about that. Mostly warnings about proximity to exotic energies and the like...

Okay, then. If OL wants to get in with the new Machine God, he'll have to diplomance it the old-fashioned way, I suppose. At least Earl is getting something good out of all this. Let's hope he takes care of his new parts better than some people do. Wonder what the Silver City will make of him if he reaches the Pearly gates...

 

[Darko]

Of Greek gods, wouldn't Hermes be the god of technology?

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I think he's just the god of inventors, so his domain may be similar to Heaphaestus'.

Assuming Zoat's version of Hermes actually is a god of inventors.

Paul mentioned that the Greek Pantheon doesn't really have a god of hire, while in the myths Hephaestus was the god of fire.

Zoat could have also changed Hermes' domains here.

Hermes could just be a god that invents things from time to time, but lacks any divine connection to inventions or inventors.

 

[Darko]

Consider the difference in scales of belief. Most people who interact with technology have some measure of faith that it'll do what it advertises. The Greek and Roman gods? Besides some stuffy academics, the Amazons and maybe some Atlanteans, how many people are actively worshipping? I doubt our evangelising Amazon priestess of Hades has had that many converts...

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I don't know.

After all the magic shit that went down people may have started worshipping them.

And after Hell was revealed to be real a lot of criminals may have converted to Hellenism.

With the Abrahamic religions you're basically damned for eternity, barring any change of heart down in Hell.

With Hellnism there is punishment, but it's not permanent and is not as harsh.

Maybe you could bribe him off with.. ladies of negotiable virtue? Lots of ladies? Or set up an internet connection and a paid subscription to every good adult video site on the internet?

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I think Zeus can get ladies on his own.

Vibration features, perhaps?

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Or size shifters.

Wonder what the Silver City will make of him if he reaches the Pearly gates...

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I'm betting they'll find him a little odd but welcome him none the less.

When Paul went there he was in the form of a snake and the Angel thought he was a modified organism and told him that he was welcomed in Heaven.

Though they may be suspicious if they find out Paul helped him get his soul.

 

[Mr Zoat]

me?

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Thank you, corrected.

 

[Bomaz]

Paul wants to bring technological revolution to earth. Why doesn't he extend the offer to eris?

Was already hinted at that eris and heph might make a god of tech

 

[Sockmonkey]

Is there also a full pantheon of Roman gods like Vulcan in this story, or are some of the Greek ones doing double duty?

 

[Pinklestia]

"No, still feel the same ole me. Guess a soul's something you grow into."

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Tell that to Spike from Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

You are just lucky you don't really have any regrets and paid your dues.