thefarshore | Heaven's BBS

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Posted: July 15
From: Anon

Here’s a question for you all: what do you think about death?

Considering the recent murders, I’d say it’s something to think about, isn’t it?

It truly brings in the question of whether or not death plays a relevant role here. People seem to be able to come back to life, but seems to go from god to shinki or even shinki to god. Regardless of the reason for the change in reversal, it seems that one element in particular remains missing: memories.

I’m curious as to why memories seem to be the important element in deciding between a god and a shinki aside from the obvious.

So, here’s another question: how many of you were previously shinki who became a god? If you don’t remember your time as a shinki, would you want those memories back?

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No, that is fine. I didn't want to force anyone to speak of something that would endanger them.

However, you say that you were once a shinki then? Even when you recall your own world and the memories you have with the people there, were you curious at all about your time as a shinki?

I am curious, yes. For the most part, about my own actions and the effects they had on the people I knew before, who were of course strangers to me when I arrived as a God.

Personally, I am more concerned about what the loss may be for than what I may have forgotten myself. Knowing that so many here have had far more stolen from them than I have myself, though, means I can only count myself extremely fortunate to have lost only the memories of the time that I spent here. A new God, too,can learn of any prior actions they may have in this place with no danger to themselves, so can indulge their curiosity if they desire. Shinki have no such luxury.

There have been theories that the loss of memories for shinki means shinki would grow to be more dependent on their god. However, I find that to be something even more to be put into question. You were fortunate to regain memories of the time you were alive whereas you've only lost memories of your time as a shinki.

If shinki were to become a clean slate, nothing more than for their god to use more easily, then why is it possible that some memories seem to come back at all? There is a contradiction here that doesn't make sense.

I can, I admit, see the logic in that theory. I cannot say, however, that I approve of it, or of any man who would choose to enforce such a system. Surely both God and Shinki would only be strengthened by forming a true partnership? I would think that Shinki would feel much surer of their own abilities, and how to best use them, if they only understood themselves rather more.

A companion of mine has had some memories return, of a mutual friend. I do not understand how he can remember all he does of this man, and yet have no understanding of anything more. Surely such knowledge would be sadly incomplete. Would he not wonder about the gaps in that knowledge, and find that it endangers him more?

If the shinki were more aware of their abilities and the way to use them, then it would be more beneficial to both parties. However, shinki are forced to relearn their abilities since their memories of that has been wiped out.

It'd be natural to wonder about those things, but everyone has warned against telling shinki anything and let them find it out on their own.

It is troubling. I grant that the abilities shinki must use here seem very different from any technique they may have learnt prior, though. Perhaps the old Gods of this world fear that too much reliance on the things we remember from home may make us all less able to combat ayakashi? If that were to be the case then perhaps it makes sense to want us all to start from the ground up, though it seems no less of a phenomenal waste of abilities and talent.

I understand that one must be guarded, around shinki, simply for their own protection. It troubles me, though, that it should be necessary. It renders all partnerships between god and shinki entirely unbalanced. I feel gods get off extremely lightly.

[Well, this is an interesting god.]

If that is the fear the old gods face then it's a stupid one. Making shinki a clean slate with only knowledge of their names and whatever else can prove to be more detrimental than them being fully aware of their true abilities. I'll agree that it's a waste.

You're a god who feels like that. What would you do to at least make the balance between god and shinki equal then?

I am not sure that one man alone could redress that balance. I may be fair, and open, and ask no more of a shinki than I would first expect of myself - I hope that I can be, though I was never meant to play the master. Being called to serve is one thing, but a system that demands one treat another, who may be far more suited to lead, as nothing but a tool and rewards him for doing so, is fundamentally flawed. There must be some protection against those who would abuse that power.

I know that I am not comfortable with asking another to fight for me, or with pressing a man to service when I have not yet been told who the new Gods serve, or what they stand to gain from our labor.

In all honesty, the system of power is reminiscent of the kind of system used in the past; it's simply the relationship between servant and master. Even if shinki are regarded to be important, it doesn't ignore the fact that without their shinki, gods are more vulnerable to ayakashi, so the lack of equality doesn't make any sense to me.

If that's what you believe in, then you're definitely not like other gods, especially the older ones.

On that I would beg to differ. In my own world, I serve a master myself, who would never dream of so casually making the demands on me, or on any of her servants, as this place imposes on shinki. There are servants and servants, and the role of a shinki has much more in common with a trusted manservant than that of a maid of all work, to be summoned and dismissed. No wise master would so thoroughly disregard the strengths and talents of those who must serve them so closely.

Perhaps I differ simply in that I know what it is to serve a wise master.

Then all would make a difference if it was a wise master that we've had. In any case, it sounds like you truly value your master.

Regardless of the case, I am aware there are those who calls for equality between god and shinki, or at least wish to have shinki be regarded more importantly than as something lesser than a god.

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