doubt.
“Yes, creative potential dictates it if nothing else. Your people create gods all the time, but we have trouble crafting even the simplest of human-like souls.” she said.
“Where do all the human souls here come from then?” he asked.
“Them? Oh, we import them wholesale because it takes most of the residents of a city-block to create even one realistically human soul. Even then, the result is highly limited compared to the genuine article.” said Rhea.
“Would it make my brain hurt if I asked you how you import souls wholesale?” asked Scott.
“No, no. We just contact one of the gardeners to see if they have any souls who are interested in trying a different world and lifestyle.”
“Gardeners?” asked Scott.
“Sure, like the gods who created your world, or the guy who sold off that community service world Shara is working at.”
“Ok... What?” asked Scott. What was she on about now?
“Ah, I see. You don’t even know that much.” she said.
“Why would I? This is not exactly something that gets passed around in pamphlet form back home, you know.”
Rhea grinned. “I understand. Basically, gardeners are gods, or sometimes highly advanced beings similar to gods but not quite human-level themselves, who take the time and energy to nurture a world so that human or human-like life can evolve.”
“So, gardeners plant the seeds of life and eventually humans sprout up like weeds?” he asked.
“Something like that, though it’s more like a hermit crab sort of thing I guess.”
It was Scott’s turn to grin. He had understood the reference. “Human souls are out there searching for a proper shell and if they find one they move in?”
“Exactly! We use the word human, but it’s not always physical humanity that occurs. You could be a cat person, or a dragon person. The actual shell varies a lot, but the soul itself can exist as all of these things.”
“How do you do the wholesale thing, then?” he asked.
“Ah, that! You want to know?” she asked.
“Yep, sure do.” he said.
Rhea smiled at him then said, “When a hermit crab moves into its shell, it will stay there until it is ready to move on altogether. Sometimes these hermit crab souls swap shells many times in that reality.”
She took a breath and continued, “However, over time they might grow bored with their garden home and want something else. So, after they discard their recent shell they speak to the gardener about other accommodations and that deity sells the matured souls off in bulk lots to interested parties.”
“The souls don’t mind this?” asked Scott. He was not sure what to think about it to be honest.
“Would you? Didn’t you jump at the chance to leave your old life behind and move to a new and more personally interesting location?” asked Rhea with a sweet smile.
“Ah, so it’s more like the souls want to leave anyway so the gods arrange the travel accommodations?” asked Scott.
“It’s a bit more complicated than that, but that does sum up the process nicely.” she said.
Scott nodded to her then grew silent. He still had a lot of questions to ask, but he was not certain where to start. Before he could ask another question, Rhea began to speak.
Rhea smiled lightly at him then took a deep breath, “Long and long did Tsun Jae dance in the rhythm of the wind. Swift and graceful were his feet upon the surface of the lake. Furious and overwhelming was his strength under the angry mountain. Gentle and nurturing were his fingers upon the land.”
Scott blinked at her then quirked his left eyebrow. “What exactly are you on about now?”
“You did want to know more about the true nature and lore of the sorcerer class, right?” asked Rhea. It was a worthy attempt at a topic change and she intended to give it every chance to succeed.
“Well, yes. Now that you’ve reminded me, I did want to know more about It.” said Scott.
She grinned at him. “The first sorcerer in the world, as
“Yes, creative potential dictates it if nothing else. Your people create gods all the time, but we have trouble crafting even the simplest of human-like souls.” she said.
“Where do all the human souls here come from then?” he asked.
“Them? Oh, we import them wholesale because it takes most of the residents of a city-block to create even one realistically human soul. Even then, the result is highly limited compared to the genuine article.” said Rhea.
“Would it make my brain hurt if I asked you how you import souls wholesale?” asked Scott.
“No, no. We just contact one of the gardeners to see if they have any souls who are interested in trying a different world and lifestyle.”
“Gardeners?” asked Scott.
“Sure, like the gods who created your world, or the guy who sold off that community service world Shara is working at.”
“Ok... What?” asked Scott. What was she on about now?
“Ah, I see. You don’t even know that much.” she said.
“Why would I? This is not exactly something that gets passed around in pamphlet form back home, you know.”
Rhea grinned. “I understand. Basically, gardeners are gods, or sometimes highly advanced beings similar to gods but not quite human-level themselves, who take the time and energy to nurture a world so that human or human-like life can evolve.”
“So, gardeners plant the seeds of life and eventually humans sprout up like weeds?” he asked.
“Something like that, though it’s more like a hermit crab sort of thing I guess.”
It was Scott’s turn to grin. He had understood the reference. “Human souls are out there searching for a proper shell and if they find one they move in?”
“Exactly! We use the word human, but it’s not always physical humanity that occurs. You could be a cat person, or a dragon person. The actual shell varies a lot, but the soul itself can exist as all of these things.”
“How do you do the wholesale thing, then?” he asked.
“Ah, that! You want to know?” she asked.
“Yep, sure do.” he said.
Rhea smiled at him then said, “When a hermit crab moves into its shell, it will stay there until it is ready to move on altogether. Sometimes these hermit crab souls swap shells many times in that reality.”
She took a breath and continued, “However, over time they might grow bored with their garden home and want something else. So, after they discard their recent shell they speak to the gardener about other accommodations and that deity sells the matured souls off in bulk lots to interested parties.”
“The souls don’t mind this?” asked Scott. He was not sure what to think about it to be honest.
“Would you? Didn’t you jump at the chance to leave your old life behind and move to a new and more personally interesting location?” asked Rhea with a sweet smile.
“Ah, so it’s more like the souls want to leave anyway so the gods arrange the travel accommodations?” asked Scott.
“It’s a bit more complicated than that, but that does sum up the process nicely.” she said.
Scott nodded to her then grew silent. He still had a lot of questions to ask, but he was not certain where to start. Before he could ask another question, Rhea began to speak.
Rhea smiled lightly at him then took a deep breath, “Long and long did Tsun Jae dance in the rhythm of the wind. Swift and graceful were his feet upon the surface of the lake. Furious and overwhelming was his strength under the angry mountain. Gentle and nurturing were his fingers upon the land.”
Scott blinked at her then quirked his left eyebrow. “What exactly are you on about now?”
“You did want to know more about the true nature and lore of the sorcerer class, right?” asked Rhea. It was a worthy attempt at a topic change and she intended to give it every chance to succeed.
“Well, yes. Now that you’ve reminded me, I did want to know more about It.” said Scott.
She grinned at him. “The first sorcerer in the world, as
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