On Fri, 20 Feb 2004, Steve Simmons wrote: #On Wed, Feb 18, 2004 at 10:58:48PM -0500, Mark A Mandel wrote: # #> Verra isn't out for a fun roll in the hay, she's out for revenge on the #> Jenoine. She's a manipulative b***h with plenty of power and the #> capability for very long-range planning . . . # #Mark, I respectfully disagree on most of the point in those sentences. #I think that's what Verra *wants* us to think, but her actions don't #support it. A few backing examples: Whee! A good, rollicking argument (with the necessary respect for persons)!!! #Verra started the war with Greenaire (sp?) and generated exactly the #opposite of what she intended (not smart, not good short- or long-range #planning). Manipulative, yes. Successfully? No. True. (Greena<e>re, I think; AFB.) #It apparently never occured to the Gods that a new, undefended source #of amorphia would be useful. True. By "capability for very long-range planning" I was thinking of lifespan (immortal?). #Verra isn't out for revenge on the Jenoine. Hmm... did I pick that up from someone's hypothesis here? #Never once have we seen her do anything except *react* to their #actions. Never once have we even see her plan anything. Would we expect to see her planning? We don't see that much of her, because Vlad doesn't. #And when action comes to the cusp, who's on the front lines? Sethra, #Vlad, the Necromancer, Devera. Verra's a ways back in the ranks. That can be fairly attributed to generalship (non-Dragon style) or manipulation. Was Eisenhower ever in front-line battle (as a General)? #Frankly, I think the Gods are trying to lay low as much as they can. That may very well be right. #As I've stated earlier, IMHO Sethra was returned after her death #because she's the best anti-Jenoine force there is. Which, you will #note, puts her ahead of most or all of the gods on being manipulative, #doing long-range planning, etc, etc. #You don't have to be bright to be a God. You just have to manifest #in more than one place at a time and not be subject to the will of #another. Sounds like most kittens I know. Heh! -- Mark A. Mandel http://cracksandshards.com a Steven Brust Dragaera fan website