[Sol Invictus]

I do not think that Mallick Rel is a real Destriant (or Jhistal) of the Elder God Mael. Like the so-called Destriant of Fener in Capustan, he's nothing more than a fraud. It's nothing more than a conceit. If anything, he's being used by the Chained God or a force we haven't yet seen.

[Dolorous Menhir]

Sol Invictus;148480 said:

I do not think that Mallick Rel is a real Destriant (or Jhistal) of the Elder God Mael. Like the so-called Destriant of Fener in Capustan, he's nothing more than a fraud. It's nothing more than a conceit. If anything, he's being used by the Chained God or a force we haven't yet seen.

No, he appears to be the Jhistal. It's been plainly stated that Mael doesn't take sides or appear to care a great deal about how his name is used, so I don't think we have any reason to consider Mallick Rel a phony.

Of course he could still be working for the CG.

[Thelomen Toblerone]

If Mael's been inactive for so long, hiding out on Lether, then how did he appoint Rel to the post of Destriant?

I would have thought it unlikely that a God who has spent so much time completely ignoring human/priest affairs wouldn't bother having a Destriant or so on, after all, Treach was noticably active in appointing Heboric and Gruntle, so surely Mael would have to be the same?

[Dark Mac]

Dolorous Menhir;148620 said:

No, he appears to be the Jhistal. It's been plainly stated that Mael doesn't take sides or appear to care a great deal about how his name is used, so I don't think we have any reason to consider Mallick Rel a phony.

The issue here is that all of the other Mortal Swords/Shield Anvils/Destriants we've seen appeared to be chosen by their gods. None of them appeared to take these positions of their own will, which would seem to be the case with Mallick Rel. Further, we've seen that there are times when gods don't even have people in those positions, so why should Mael have a Jhistal?

Tavore's quote about the Cult of the Jhistal is a more interesting one, IMO. It doesn't really make sense for all of the EGs' servants to be hanging out together, so I would say that they are all pretenders in the vein of the Masked Council in Capustan. True, some of them actually served their gods, but there were those like Rath'Fener who were certainly not functioning as representitives of their chosen deities.

[Dolorous Menhir]

Well, lets put it this way. Every character considers Rel's claim to be Jhistal to be legit. No-one and no event has ever cast doubt on it. For all we know Mael did choose Rel.

I see no real reason to argue that Rel is not actually Jhistal, apart from personal dislike of the character. And the other priest of Mael we've met - Silgar - was no saint either. I think he is Jhistal.

[Dark Mac]

Dolorous Menhir;148644 said:

Well, lets put it this way. Every character considers Rel's claim to be Jhistal to be legit. No-one and no event has ever cast doubt on it. For all we know Mael did choose Rel.

I see no real reason to argue that Rel is not actually Jhistal, apart from personal dislike of the character. And the other priest of Mael we've met - Silgar - was no saint either. I think he is Jhistal.

So what about the rest of the Jhistal cult then? How could such a thing exist, sanctioned by all the EGs?

The reason to argue Rel is not Jhistal is because Destriants are chosen by their gods, not the other way around. Why would Mael choose Rel?

And we've seen plenty of evil priests - such as, as I mentioned before, Rath'Fener. Silgar's existence doesn't really prove anything.

[Monoch Ochem]

Who was it that said that it was Mael's indifference that permitted his priesthood a certain freedom? Mael didn't give a crap...that's why things are done in his name that shouldn't.

[Dolorous Menhir]

I think it was Sister Spite that said that. Another reason to not consider the nature of Mallick Rel a barrier to his being Jhistal.

[Monoch Ochem]

Oh agreed there. Both Silgar and Rel are nasties but they're the only priests of Mael that we know. The priest-magic thing needs to be sorted out....maybe another conversation like the one Paran had on the bridge about Ascension.

[Juss]

Dolorous Menhir, on 12 November 2006 - 12:57 AM, said:

Found the relevant quote:

QUOTE (The Bonehunters @ page 808)"In this way," Mallick Rel said, spreading his hands, "necessity is an economic matter, yes? That an ignorant and backward people must be eradicated is sad, indeed, but alas, inevitable."

"You would know well of that," Tavore said to him. "The Gedorian Falari cult of the Jhistal was eradicated in a similar manner by Emperor Kellanved, after all. Presumably you are among the very few survivors from that time."

Mallick Rel's round, oiled face slowly drained of what little colour it had possessed.

The Adjunct continued, "A very minor note in the imperial histories, difficult to find. I believe, however, should you peruse the works of Duiker, you will find suitable references. Of course, 'minor' is a relative term, just as, I suppose, this Wickan Pogrom will be seen in later histories. For the Wickans themselves, of course, it will be anything but minor."

"Your point, woman?" Mallick Rel asked.

"It is useful, on occasion, to halt upon a path, and to turn and walk back some distance."

"Achieving what?"

"An understanding of motivations, Jhistal. It seems that this is a night of unravelling, after all. Covenants, treaties, memories-"

"This debate," the Empress cut in, "can be conducted another time...."

This seems like a good time to consider the motivations of Rel.

1) revenge against the Empire in general for the destruction of his tribe

2) revenge against the Wickans for disrupting his plan to usurp the Seven Cities

3) whatever his master wants, be it the CG or someone else entirely.

Could it be a cult, dedicated to the Jhistal? Rel being a priest from that cult, not necessarily The Jhistal?

[Juss]

ooooh old thread, googled destriant /blush