IN> Nuances of Angelic

[Elizabeth McCoy]

At 11:14 PM -0600 11/5/06, Asher Densmore-Lynn wrote:
>How does Angelic work when I'm using it in the future tense?
>
>Can I say "A thing will happen"? Can I say "I believe a thing will
>happen"? Can I say "It is possible a thing will happen"?

Ah, the tenses.

I tend to figure that the Future Precognitive (this WILL happen) is really 
only used by Yves. Most of the time, it's more a statement of belief,
faith, or intention.

>Can I say "I will do a thing"? Can I say "I believe I will do a
>thing"? Can I say "It is possible I will do a thing"?

I'd say that the phrasing here might translate as "I intend to do a thing."
Or "I strongly intend to do a thing." Or "I am planning on doing a thing
(but other things might come up)." Or "I believe it is inevitable that
I will do a thing."


(Honestly, Yoda's "Do or Do not; there is no Try"? I don't think that
would parse well in angelic. Unless you are in touch with the Truth
of the Symphony somehow, there will always be an automatic weaseling
in the angelic.)

>The question here is, just what can and can't you promise in Angelic?

You can promise what you will do (barring your sudden soul death)...
You can promise to _try_ to do something, with all your being; and if
you promise that and there's a Geas involved (or you're a Malakite
making an oath, or a Cherub making a promise), you'd better try 
_with all your being._

Try, or promise not; there is no, "eh, tried a little and gave up."

O;>

>Are there terms or vocabulary worked out for discussion of future
>events potentially affected by your own free will?

I'm sure there are, and most of the time using angelic can just
be translated into English without sounding like lawyers. Just
add in an occasional "(strong belief tense, not Future Precognitive)"
comment to remind people to ask if it's actually an important plot
point or would be of importance to the character.

> If you aren't a Malakite or Bright Lilim, just how much of it can really 
>stick?

Don't forget Cherubim, who gain dissonance for breaking their word...

Angelic doesn't force compliance, but it will reveal exactly how 
strong the intentions are, I believe. "I'll try to make it to the party, 
if I don't forget or meet a cute Seraph," for instance, versus, "I will
be at the party barring soul-death, Interventions, Superior manifestations,
or other such problems."

Or so I'd play it.
-- 
--Beth, arcangel at io.com / archangel at sjgames.com  In Nomine Line Editor  
http://www.io.com/~arcangel/