Achaean News
On hubris and a long life
Written by: An old man
Date: Wednesday, May 13th, 2026
Addressed to: Everyone
Hallo, Sapience.
My name is unimportant, for I am but a quiet watcher in the background. I have spent centuries in this world and, if I had my way, I would spend centuries more. When I look upon the youth these days, I can't help but think that they do not wish the same for themselves!
In almost as many months, I have seen no less than three cases of mortals slain for their hubris against or adjacent to the Divine, and each time they have only doubled down. How absurd!
You see, young ones, there are a few basic rules when dealing with the Divine that any lad or lass or fae with some sense of self-preservation always keeps in mind:
1. The Gods are not your friends. They could be, maybe, I don't know. I think if you're in Their Order, you could become something close to, if not quite, a friend. If you are not in Their Order, you are nowhere close. If you're not even in Their city? Well, you're a stranger, friend, except that you're a very small, squashable stranger. Would you walk up to a stranger with ten times your muscles and swords and demand they do anything for you?
No? Then doubly so don't do that with a God!
2. Related to the previous point, Gods have mortal representatives for a reason.
Do not try to approach a God directly unless you are very, very sure They welcome it. Approach Their representatives! This goes doubly if you're approaching Them in a manner that could, even a little, be seen as aggressive, questioning, or disrespectful. Why, I would not even send a letter to a God if sending it to Their mortal voice was an option, though you don't always have to be as cautious as me and it does depend on the Divine in question.
If a mortal representative tells you the will of their God is such and such, you should probably just take their word for it.
3. The Gods are not beholden to our rules and laws. I mean that literally and figuratively, in that They can break any law you make for your city, but also that They do not follow mortal etiquette or expectations.
Trying to debate yourself out of an interaction with Them is about as silly as a fish trying to debate their way off a hook. Has one of Them changed Their mind on something, you think? Well, so be it, then.
4. If you offend a God, the best thing you can do is immediately apologise. The second best thing is to shut up and hope it goes away on its own.
Never is the correct answer to argue with or further insult the God. You will not get your revenge on Them, so don't try to swear that. The fact you can even say the word "revenge" after annoying Them is a kindness!
Many of you will ignore the words of a strange old man, but you do so at your own peril. Follow these tips and your life will be both longer and more pleasant!
Penned by my hand on the 22nd of Lupar, in the year 1004 AF.
On hubris and a long life
Written by: An old man
Date: Wednesday, May 13th, 2026
Addressed to: Everyone
Hallo, Sapience.
My name is unimportant, for I am but a quiet watcher in the background. I have spent centuries in this world and, if I had my way, I would spend centuries more. When I look upon the youth these days, I can't help but think that they do not wish the same for themselves!
In almost as many months, I have seen no less than three cases of mortals slain for their hubris against or adjacent to the Divine, and each time they have only doubled down. How absurd!
You see, young ones, there are a few basic rules when dealing with the Divine that any lad or lass or fae with some sense of self-preservation always keeps in mind:
1. The Gods are not your friends. They could be, maybe, I don't know. I think if you're in Their Order, you could become something close to, if not quite, a friend. If you are not in Their Order, you are nowhere close. If you're not even in Their city? Well, you're a stranger, friend, except that you're a very small, squashable stranger. Would you walk up to a stranger with ten times your muscles and swords and demand they do anything for you?
No? Then doubly so don't do that with a God!
2. Related to the previous point, Gods have mortal representatives for a reason.
Do not try to approach a God directly unless you are very, very sure They welcome it. Approach Their representatives! This goes doubly if you're approaching Them in a manner that could, even a little, be seen as aggressive, questioning, or disrespectful. Why, I would not even send a letter to a God if sending it to Their mortal voice was an option, though you don't always have to be as cautious as me and it does depend on the Divine in question.
If a mortal representative tells you the will of their God is such and such, you should probably just take their word for it.
3. The Gods are not beholden to our rules and laws. I mean that literally and figuratively, in that They can break any law you make for your city, but also that They do not follow mortal etiquette or expectations.
Trying to debate yourself out of an interaction with Them is about as silly as a fish trying to debate their way off a hook. Has one of Them changed Their mind on something, you think? Well, so be it, then.
4. If you offend a God, the best thing you can do is immediately apologise. The second best thing is to shut up and hope it goes away on its own.
Never is the correct answer to argue with or further insult the God. You will not get your revenge on Them, so don't try to swear that. The fact you can even say the word "revenge" after annoying Them is a kindness!
Many of you will ignore the words of a strange old man, but you do so at your own peril. Follow these tips and your life will be both longer and more pleasant!
Penned by my hand on the 22nd of Lupar, in the year 1004 AF.