Two isolated tribes in the Amazon meet every summer solstice at the Ziggurat of the Nameless Raven-God. In the previous year the elders of each respective tribe have debated frantically amongst themselves which sacrifice to bring the nameless one to win his favor for the coming year.
It is said that the Ashen-Feathered Night prefers its own kind as a sacrifice, at least over an offering of obsidian, for the latter lacks the inky blackness of the feathered kind.
In its aspect as the Demon Gate of Truth, however, the nameless one would rather feast on the rotten, amputated limbs of those maimed over the previous year. This gift would pale in comparison to ravens, who of course speak only lies.
Finally, the nameless one is also the Endless Macuahuitl, which requires precious obsidian blades to lengthen its diabolically long grinding edge. Bound by ancient law to only sever living flesh, it would recoil in anger upon an offering of dead flesh.
Three aspects then, for the same terrible Nameless Raven-God.
So, late into Midsummer’s Eve the elders debate which aspect the other tribe will attempt to please. Raven, flesh, or obsidian—only a gift more favorable to the nameless one will convince it to withhold its baleful curses from one tribe.
I would advise them to write down a probability distribution and calculate the utilities of pleasing vs displeasing the Raven-God; that transitivity holds should then be obvious.
The god’s preferences depend on its state. It prefers Ashen-Feathered Night+raven over Ashen-Feathered Night+obsidian, but does not in general prefer raven to obsidian. A preference must take into account all relevant factors.
Two isolated tribes in the Amazon meet every summer solstice at the Ziggurat of the Nameless Raven-God. In the previous year the elders of each respective tribe have debated frantically amongst themselves which sacrifice to bring the nameless one to win his favor for the coming year.
It is said that the Ashen-Feathered Night prefers its own kind as a sacrifice, at least over an offering of obsidian, for the latter lacks the inky blackness of the feathered kind.
In its aspect as the Demon Gate of Truth, however, the nameless one would rather feast on the rotten, amputated limbs of those maimed over the previous year. This gift would pale in comparison to ravens, who of course speak only lies.
Finally, the nameless one is also the Endless Macuahuitl, which requires precious obsidian blades to lengthen its diabolically long grinding edge. Bound by ancient law to only sever living flesh, it would recoil in anger upon an offering of dead flesh.
Three aspects then, for the same terrible Nameless Raven-God.
So, late into Midsummer’s Eve the elders debate which aspect the other tribe will attempt to please. Raven, flesh, or obsidian—only a gift more favorable to the nameless one will convince it to withhold its baleful curses from one tribe.
I would advise them to write down a probability distribution and calculate the utilities of pleasing vs displeasing the Raven-God; that transitivity holds should then be obvious.
The god’s preferences are intransitive. I don’t know how to make this clearer.
The god’s preferences depend on its state. It prefers Ashen-Feathered Night+raven over Ashen-Feathered Night+obsidian, but does not in general prefer raven to obsidian. A preference must take into account all relevant factors.
Gods are not humans, nor rational. The only entities making actual choices are the tribes.
Eh, forget it. I’m turning in my Bardic Conspiracy membership.
Eh. I liked the story, and the imagery, I just didn’t find it at all a good argument.