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darkelf15962
Acolyte
22 Posts |
 Posted - 09 Feb 2010 : 17:12:39
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In "The Ghost King", after the death of Mystra, Deneir "writes himself" into the Metatext to stabilize magic a bit. But what is the Metatext?
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BEAST
Master of Realmslore
USA
1714 Posts |
Posted - 09 Feb 2010 : 18:00:07
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The Metatext is a great tome either written or edited by the god Deneir that describes and explains how all things in the multiverse work. (Read "The Cleric Quintet" series of novels for more its origins and details.) It analyzes or breaks down all things into words in order to eliminate a bit of the abstraction of the world and make it understandable to an intellectual mind.
A loose comparison to the Real World™ would be the notion of Grand Unifying Theory, which is a theoretical formula that could help to make all major schools of physics--from quantum mechanics to Newtonian mechanics to special relativity to general relativity--perfectly consistent and harmonious with one another, instead of simply being reserved for distinct, separate types of motion.
The Real World™ Greek prefix meta- literally means "alongside, amidst, or among". One can think of the Metatext as a divine text that describes the fundamental truths, patterns, and relationships that wind throughout all of reality.
I suppose the passages about Deneir writing himself into the Metatext could be a fantastic comparison to the notion of becoming obsessed and losing oneself in one's work. When one is a magical being such as a Torilian deity, I guess that sort of blending and merging becomes literally possible. |
"'You don't know my history,' he said dryly."
--Drizzt Do'Urden (The Pirate King, Part 1: Chapter 2)
<"Comprehensive Chronology of R.A. Salvatore Forgotten Realms Works"> |
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darkelf15962
Acolyte
22 Posts |
Posted - 09 Feb 2010 : 18:06:09
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| Well, that was comprehensive. Thank you. |
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PapaPetro
Acolyte
USA
4 Posts |
Posted - 21 Jul 2020 : 23:49:34
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Close. Great summary. It's the FR version of The Logos.
If you piece it together, you reach Godhood; like weaving all the metaphysical truths of reality and thus become apart of Truth (and thus can weave truth).
Saw a similar concept with the guvners in the Planescape setting. |
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sleyvas
Skilled Spell Strategist
USA
11691 Posts |
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Ayrik
Great Reader
Canada
7968 Posts |
Posted - 22 Jul 2020 : 04:04:43
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I wasn't aware of this "metatext".
It seems very similar to the books of Astinus, the immortal "librarian" who records the entire history of Krynn as it unfolds, from beginning until ending (or, rather, multiple endings). Astinus serves Gilean, Krynn's god of knowledge and Krynn's approximate counterpart of Deneir.
The metatext seems like a construct, that is obvious. But constructed by whom or what, and why?
Is it a contrivance of the writers? Another Macguffin like the Tablets of Fate which never should actually do anything other than serve as the primary motivational focus for the narrative's characters?
Is it part of a collaborative divine work which somehow sustains the Realms? Which to Deneir has the form of an elemental language or elemental text which uses words to shape the cosmos? |
[/Ayrik] |
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sleyvas
Skilled Spell Strategist
USA
11691 Posts |
Posted - 22 Jul 2020 : 12:29:43
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quote:
Originally posted by Ayrik
I wasn't aware of this "metatext".
It seems very similar to the books of Astinus, the immortal "librarian" who records the entire history of Krynn as it unfolds, from beginning until ending (or, rather, multiple endings). Astinus serves Gilean, Krynn's god of knowledge and Krynn's approximate counterpart of Deneir.
The metatext seems like a construct, that is obvious. But constructed by whom or what, and why?
Is it a contrivance of the writers? Another Macguffin like the Tablets of Fate which never should actually do anything other than serve as the primary motivational focus for the narrative's characters?
Is it part of a collaborative divine work which somehow sustains the Realms? Which to Deneir has the form of an elemental language or elemental text which uses words to shape the cosmos?
I'd personally tie it to the mystery of the magical glyphs that line the interior shell of the realmspace crystal sphere, since that's something unique to this sphere. Thus, its equitable to magic itself, since those glyphs are actual spells that people can read. His actions of trying to "write himself into the metatext" or whatever probably had to do with him trying to use a glyph on the shell or alter it, etc... Ultimately, and this is entirely me, his finagling pulls his divine realms into dweomerheart as its detaching from Toril and attaching to Abeir. Thus his disappearance for a century. Perhaps he even tried to cast a modified version of Karsus' spell as he saw Mystra fall to try and stabilize things. |
Alavairthae, may your skill prevail
Phillip aka Sleyvas |
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PapaPetro
Acolyte
USA
4 Posts |
Posted - 27 Sep 2021 : 13:45:39
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quote:
Originally posted by sleyvas
quote:
Originally posted by Ayrik
I wasn't aware of this "metatext".
It seems very similar to the books of Astinus, the immortal "librarian" who records the entire history of Krynn as it unfolds, from beginning until ending (or, rather, multiple endings). Astinus serves Gilean, Krynn's god of knowledge and Krynn's approximate counterpart of Deneir.
The metatext seems like a construct, that is obvious. But constructed by whom or what, and why?
Is it a contrivance of the writers? Another Macguffin like the Tablets of Fate which never should actually do anything other than serve as the primary motivational focus for the narrative's characters?
Is it part of a collaborative divine work which somehow sustains the Realms? Which to Deneir has the form of an elemental language or elemental text which uses words to shape the cosmos?
I'd personally tie it to the mystery of the magical glyphs that line the interior shell of the realmspace crystal sphere, since that's something unique to this sphere. Thus, its equitable to magic itself, since those glyphs are actual spells that people can read. His actions of trying to "write himself into the metatext" or whatever probably had to do with him trying to use a glyph on the shell or alter it, etc... Ultimately, and this is entirely me, his finagling pulls his divine realms into dweomerheart as its detaching from Toril and attaching to Abeir. Thus his disappearance for a century. Perhaps he even tried to cast a modified version of Karsus' spell as he saw Mystra fall to try and stabilize things.
Also similar apotheosis as with the Starstone from the Pathfinder setting: a powerful artifact that allows mortals to ascend to godhood after passing a personalized godhood labyrinth.
https://pathfinder.fandom.com/wiki/Test_of_the_Starstone
Just beat the "game" and you become a deity.
Simple. |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36779 Posts |
Posted - 27 Sep 2021 : 18:26:41
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quote:
Originally posted by PapaPetro
Also similar apotheosis as with the Starstone from the Pathfinder setting: a powerful artifact that allows mortals to ascend to godhood after passing a personalized godhood labyrinth.
https://pathfinder.fandom.com/wiki/Test_of_the_Starstone
Just beat the "game" and you become a deity.
Simple.
I don't know that I'd call the Test of the Starstone simple, considering that only 4 people have passed it in almost 5000 years. |
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sleyvas
Skilled Spell Strategist
USA
11691 Posts |
Posted - 27 Sep 2021 : 21:55:36
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quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
quote:
Originally posted by PapaPetro
Also similar apotheosis as with the Starstone from the Pathfinder setting: a powerful artifact that allows mortals to ascend to godhood after passing a personalized godhood labyrinth.
https://pathfinder.fandom.com/wiki/Test_of_the_Starstone
Just beat the "game" and you become a deity.
Simple.
I don't know that I'd call the Test of the Starstone simple, considering that only 4 people have passed it in almost 5000 years.
Up Up Down Down Left Right Left Right B A Start... Godmode |
Alavairthae, may your skill prevail
Phillip aka Sleyvas |
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Storyteller Hero
Learned Scribe
USA
329 Posts |
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PapaPetro
Acolyte
USA
4 Posts |
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PapaPetro
Acolyte
USA
4 Posts |
Posted - 22 Apr 2023 : 15:44:47
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quote:
Originally posted by sleyvas
Up Up Down Down Left Right Left Right B A Start... Godmode
If only it were that easy.
Well it is easier since it's already been done. It's like climbing Everest or Going to the Moon. |
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TomCosta
Forgotten Realms Designer
USA
954 Posts |
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TomCosta
Forgotten Realms Designer
USA
954 Posts |
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The Metatext
