@Draken I don't think the Church would compensate families, since they don't really *need* these remains to build strong construction materials. I see it as both a symbolic and logistical solution to the issue, a kind of mandatory religious recompense that poor people have no say in. Either they let the Church take the bodies, or the dead rot in the streets.

@The Angry GoatMaybe! I just think something like that would be the last straw for poor people who live shitty, terrible lives to begin with. It seems a bit too much for me. Varyan society is horrible and fucked up, but I want the people to have some semblance of humanity and grace left in them. The Church using their own dead as compost isn't honoring them in any way, while interning them in the foundations and walls of the capital city at least gives the people a small bit of pride. It's the closest thing the poor will ever have to a tombstone, in any case.

@The Angry GoatMaybe! I just think something like that would be the last straw for poor people who live shitty, terrible lives to begin with. It seems a bit too much for me. Varyan society is horrible and fucked up, but I want the people to have some semblance of humanity and grace left in them. The Church using their own dead as compost isn't honoring them in any way, while interning them in the foundations and walls of the capital city at least gives the people a small bit of pride. It's the closest thing the poor will ever have to a tombstone, in any case.

I disagree with you, but I'm clearly not in line with most people in the real world. I mean, look at my signature. I support the practice of conscientious necromancy.

@DrakenDude if necromancy was an actual thing there’d be zero drawbacks to it, so I’m with you there. :p

@Draken There's no evidence that it is, though. Otherwise I'd agree.

I'm loving this convo. And I'm with Goat -- it's only weird by our standards. But then, to a Jewish gal, so's an open casket funeral! I nearly screeched at my first one. >.<

And honestly putting the dead body to a good use -- compost -- seems better than just burying them in the building materials. At least to me. I'm sure the whole "gotta rot 'em first" doesn't get discussed much. Just like nobody talks about what happens to your body after burial. But I suppose the building then becomes a monument, in a way. But I'm not sure bodies make good building material...OOH. Compromise! The meat and whatever goes to compost. Bones are used for building materials! And nobody discusses the preparation of the dead at length. *nodding*

EDIT: erps, smelting process. Okay, yeah, that might work. 'Cept the whole fire thing. But hey, if they're doing that, you could use 'em to help forge blades, too! Maybe you get to choose, building or weaponry. OR maybe some of the rich have their bodies used to forge specific weapons, and those weapons get names...something something status symbol....

@shylarah Okay, I suppose I’m cool with the compost thing. The rich don’t donate their bodies though. They have actual mausoleums and such to bury their dead in, as well as the aforementioned coffin ships.

@shylarah Okay, I suppose I’m cool with the compost thing. The rich don’t donate their bodies though. They have actual mausoleums and such to bury their dead in, as well as the aforementioned coffin ships.

Indeed. I imagine it comes down to whether or not you can afford to spend money on a fancy memorial for someone who's gone. Magnagrad works hard enough to build space for all of Varya's other needs.

@shylarah @CollectorOfMyst and I are currently working on a post. In the meanwhile I'll be starting on an update for @Drakey.

@Scout @The Angry Goat @Sisyphus @vietmyke

Any updates on your posts?

@Draken

Feel free to jump in with Ilya whenever you want! If I remember correctly he was invited by Ragnar to come join them at the pub, so he'll know their location. You can also just go off and have Ilya do something else if you want. I'll take whatever you give and run with it. :p

sorry, got a lot of writing to do over this weekend, posts are coming slowly - I'll toss one up in the next day or two

@Lovejoy Uhhh I thought I was waiting on your post? O.O OH GOD DID I MISS YOUR RESPONSE?

Yeah... Upon opening a new tab and checking, I realized that you did respond, I'm so sorry. I'll get you one asap :) I overlooked it. I'm so sorry.

Working, slowly. Some IRL stuff just hit me pretty hard

@vietmyke Is everything okay? I hope you meant that you’re super busy and not that something bad happened. :(

I live!

Should get a post up tonight/tomorrow. My monster Graham Greene paper is nearly done and my student play is nearly over, and then I should have a day or two before I need to start my monster philosophy paper. Fun, fun, fun.

Should get a post up tonight/tomorrow. My monster Graham Greene paper is nearly done and my student play is nearly over, and then I should have a day or two before I need to start my monster philosophy paper. Fun, fun, fun.

I feel your pain. I'm currently out of comission because I have two papers due Friday, which have been displaced until now by other due dates. This can be traced back nearly a month.

You kids and your school!

*is turning 30 in a few months and secretly wishes she was back in college*

@Lovejoy I'll be 30 in May, and I always liked school. I miss it.

*sighs* School, eh? Can't live with it, and you can't live without it, either.

@shylarah Oh shit. My birthday is also in May!