Afterlife Axioms
Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2015 12:00 am
Name: Alathusra
Faction Rank: Aide
Other Titles: Junior Undersecretary, Baatorian Ministry of Mortal Affairs; Sigil Branch
Every planar that was not dropped on their head as a child knows that when a mortal dies, their soul immediately travels to the Outer Plane appropriate to the deeds committed in the course of their life. To the knowledge of this author, no demon-worshiper has ever accidentally been assigned to Celestia, nor has any servant of Bahamut found themselves in Gehenna after a life of obedient servitude to the Platnum Dragon. Mortals receive their just desserts insofar as their initial assignment is concerned, without exception, and without fail. It seems, therefore, rather obvious that there is ample evidence of a fundamental Axiom which automatically judges the deeds of mortal souls, and categorizes them accordingly in their assigned afterlives. The question of import, then, is *how*?
The Pact Primeval, rather than being an Axiom itself as many of my brethren might claim, is more properly categorized as a Law subordinate to the Axiom previously identified. In its most simplistic interpretation, it is a deed of ownership, applicable to the souls of all mortal beings that meet certain metaphysical guidelines. There is much more to the Law, however, than this. Faustian Pacts, for example, represent a Rule contained within the Law of the Pact Primeval which indicates that any mortal willingly trading its soul to the Baatezu in return for services rendered or goods provided is immediately judged a soul eligible for collection by Baator under the terms of the Law.
In this brief examination of the Pact Primeval, it is demonstrated that certain elements of this underlying Axiom, possibly one of the most important Axioms in existence, can be illuminated by careful study of its ancillary Laws.
Faction Rank: Aide
Other Titles: Junior Undersecretary, Baatorian Ministry of Mortal Affairs; Sigil Branch
Every planar that was not dropped on their head as a child knows that when a mortal dies, their soul immediately travels to the Outer Plane appropriate to the deeds committed in the course of their life. To the knowledge of this author, no demon-worshiper has ever accidentally been assigned to Celestia, nor has any servant of Bahamut found themselves in Gehenna after a life of obedient servitude to the Platnum Dragon. Mortals receive their just desserts insofar as their initial assignment is concerned, without exception, and without fail. It seems, therefore, rather obvious that there is ample evidence of a fundamental Axiom which automatically judges the deeds of mortal souls, and categorizes them accordingly in their assigned afterlives. The question of import, then, is *how*?
The Pact Primeval, rather than being an Axiom itself as many of my brethren might claim, is more properly categorized as a Law subordinate to the Axiom previously identified. In its most simplistic interpretation, it is a deed of ownership, applicable to the souls of all mortal beings that meet certain metaphysical guidelines. There is much more to the Law, however, than this. Faustian Pacts, for example, represent a Rule contained within the Law of the Pact Primeval which indicates that any mortal willingly trading its soul to the Baatezu in return for services rendered or goods provided is immediately judged a soul eligible for collection by Baator under the terms of the Law.
In this brief examination of the Pact Primeval, it is demonstrated that certain elements of this underlying Axiom, possibly one of the most important Axioms in existence, can be illuminated by careful study of its ancillary Laws.