Human Companions

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Discuss Companions here. Or start your own concise topic in the Others section.

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Mon Sep 15, 2008 7:01 am

AreaneCreator wrote:

So I've been thinking...

I've been pondering the nature of immortals and humans. I think that Terrapyre raws would probably have many companions. However...

Do you think, over time, older Terrapyres would actually *avoid* human companions? I was thinking of how I would feel as an immortal Terrapyre, and I would think, after a few hundred years even, that it would be incredibly painful to be with mortals. After watching set after set of loved ones die, even in old age, it would be too painful. In the same vein, I think that older Terrapyres would actually recommend against relationships and marriages between humans and Terrapyres. The first time I would have to sit, young forever, and watch a spouse grow old and die... I would recommend against it to.

What do you think?

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Mon Sep 15, 2008 7:01 am

EJ wrote:

I hear what you're saying here, Launa, and this territory has certainly been well mined in other brands. Even OHP's own "Immortality" teaches this lesson.

But the Terrapyres have not chosen this immortality. It is who they are. Also, just as Christ was driven to ofter strength and solace to the human masses, so are Terrapyres drawn like moths to flames. Yes, the Terrapyres know they will eventually be burned bu sorrow and grief... but they also know they can only reproduce with humans and, perhaps some even argue that they cannot be redeemed without caring for Christ's children (humans).

I think *some* Terraopyres (especially older ones like Maria) will caution against human/Terrapyre relationships... but others to choose to take the risks to their heartily.

In short, I agree. Immortality should not be taken lightly.

EJ

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Sun Sep 21, 2008 7:27 am

Luz wrote:

I am pleased to see this point discussed. I agree. I think a great many Terrapyres would be drawn Christ-like to care for, love and look after humans.

However, when I was imagining and crafting Maria for "Blood Trade" I knew very strongly that she would have nothing to do with humans. At least, I should say, personally. She does not allow Companions into her lair. She does not take human mates. This is short-sighted some might argue. She cannot produce a child without a human but I do not believe that Maria cares about this. She is set in her immortality.

I agree fully that many older Terrapyres, not just those over the edge of sanity, will avoid humans because of the pain of losing them again and again. But this must be balanced, of course, by the need to continue the line and respond to the whispers of their Christ. Perhaps Terrapyres are young parents often?

Luz

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Mon Sep 22, 2008 4:42 am

JenDiMarco wrote:

I agree, Luz. I think a balance can be struck here. Terrapyres as young parents makes perect sense. I can't really imagine that after a Terrapyre loses his first human partner that he would be so willing to partner with a human again. To continually outlive your partner would be beyond heartbreaking.

I understand the Christ-like, WWJ(esus)D impulse of Terrapyres. Of course they have this instinct! But that can be fulfilled without taking a human mate/lover/partner. Losing friends would be hard, too, but maybe that pain could be balanced by the Terrapyre's knowledge that he helped bring joy, and Christ, into the lives of his friends.

Either way, as a Terrapyre ages, it would become, logically, increasingly harder for Terrapyres to connect with humans on a meaningful basis. Relationships build over time. Imagine the depth of a friendship between 400-year-old Terrapyres compared to the friendship between a Terrapyre and a human who have known each other for twenty years.

Just my thoughts.

Jennifer

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Sun Sep 28, 2008 12:30 am

MG wrote:

Just to add my two cents:

William Shakespeare must have been influenced by Terrapyres, for...: "to have loved and lost is better than never to have loved at all."

I do think that the pain of their immortality might cause the Terrapyres to be saddened, but at the same time I also agree with the comments made regarding their...completeness. Marriage is a way of completing 2 individuals who are incomplete before they were together and who now are made complete, whole, fully realized in one another.

I think Terrapyres will recognize, largely, that they need this. And though they don't want to be hurt, they understand that pain is a natural part of life, and that through a Companionship they can bring forth more life, children by which they will be able to remember their mates after they have long gone. They do not shy away from fighting for the Grail because there may be pain, sorrow, even death involved in the fight; they fight because it must be done. They do not hold back love simply because they are vulnerable to another and to the circumstances that will tear them apart eventually; they recognize that this love is part of them and the desire is a natural one.

Here's my Terrapyre answer: Should we [meaning Terrapyres] cease to exercise a part of who we are simply because it involves both pain and pleasure? Should we hold back a part of ourselves and our nature in order to save others the heartache of eventual separation, when both we and the humans we love, live, and mate with have needs that can only be met by such an end? Should we become something we are not simply because to an outsider it might seem cruel or thoughtless? God forbid that we should love humans less, that we should deny what and who we truly are, that we should prevent the birth of the Terrapyre who may harness the Grail one day in our battle, and help to redeem us all.

Maybe I got a little carried away xD I am in no way minimizing the valid point you brought up, Launa, but I think that it is not in a Terrapyre's nature to back away from danger or heartache simply because of such a consequence (of course assuming it is his or her own heartache and not another's). Terrapyres have this gift of living in the moment so fully (though not forgetting the past or future entirely) that I think love would be a natural choice for them (unless of course they did not know they were Immortal when they married/joined to someone and later realized they were not aging as their mate had).

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Sun Sep 28, 2008 12:56 am

AreaneCreator wrote:

I agree that Terrapyres, particularly young ones, are for the very most part going to have relationships and friends and go completely human wild. What I mean more here are the few Terrapyres who would see such relationships as short-sighted (i.e. Maria) or those Terrapyres who have already lost. Friends. Particularly a lover. When you give your heart to someone, truly, completely, (as a Terrapyre would), even hundreds of years later, would they really be too thrilled with the idea of being in another relationship? Would walls go up?

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Sun Sep 28, 2008 3:22 am

MG wrote:

I think it is important to consider Terrapyres themselves here on this: Yes, there is heartache and an element of humanity (after all they are half-human), but on the other hand they are less inhibited. Therefore the idea of heartache might not slow them up as much as a human.

Human beings tend to have difficulty dealing with heartache and sorrow, which is a part of their being mortal. I think that Terrapyres, being Immortal, realize to some degree that heartache is a part of life, they deal effectively with their grief, and move on with life. Some time later they meet a human, and yes the grief is still there but because they dealt with it properly it does not scar them from having another relationship.

I do think, however, that of course there are exceptions to my idea (Maria). It might largely depend on personality. Some people I know just can't let go of some things because they feel they will lose a part of themselves if they do. Perhaps this is why Immortals are often portrayed as aloof and cold...they have lost so much that their Immortality is empty and hollow.

I don't think the Terrapyres are this way; I believe that they are able to think of their loved ones who have died as away from the sorrows of this life, and that, sad as they are to be separated, recognize that they have a purpose here.

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Wed Oct 01, 2008 12:48 pm

EJ wrote:

This is a fascinating topic really and I once (or twice) considered that there would be an all-encompassing answer. But I see now that this really is one of those "up to the individual Terrapyre" things. However...

I'm going to say that, by and large, the thing that makes Terrapyres unique from other fictional takes on immortality is their direct connection to Christ and so to human beings as creatures which must be protected and treasured. This is almost bred into them.

I think that Maria would be an exception... oh my gosh... she's the exception to so much! And I also think that Terrapyres will be freer with humans, less encumbered by loss, when they are younger. But I just can't get past what Abbie says here: We must look at Terrapyres through the lens of the Terrapyre, not through the lens of something that once was human. They are not turned like vampires or bespelled/becharmed humans. They have always lived this way. And when they awaken to nonlinear memory, they will know the pain and heartbreaks that other Terrapyres have experienced.

Personally, I'd have to agree. I would rather love passionately, with everything that I am, even if I know for certain it will be short-lived.

EJ

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Fri Oct 10, 2008 10:50 pm

Erik Egan wrote:

My Terrapyres, Buck and Fuzz, are driven to help humans. Like, they can't help it. They tease each other about being bleeding heart super heroes before they realize they are, in fact, Terrapyres. Fuzz is more stand-offish because she has lost a lot of human friends (though not to old age as both of them are in their twenties in real-count years as opposed to blood-count years). I never made the WWJD connection before. I like it.

Erik

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Sat Oct 11, 2008 12:15 am

papa nurgle wrote:

While I agree with Ej up to a point, I would respectfully submit that while Terrapyres as a whole would protect and treasure humanity, humanity would not necessarily feel the same way about Terrapyres and Terrapyres know that. This could mean that there are Terrapyres who not only withdraw due to loss of loved ones and the changes in society (which I think any Immortal would do from time to time), but also ones who withdraw due to the "Frankenstein effect". This is where friends or loved ones find out about the Terrapyres extraordinary world and reject it. After all, how terrifying would it be to the average person to find out your close friend is not human but something far more wonderful and frightening.
This could lead to the human rejecting the Terrapyre and not allowing them to be a part of their life, all the way to that human gathering up a number of other frightened humans and going after the Terrapyre as a monster. Something even worse could be the human seeing the divine in the Terrapyre and trying to worship the Terrapyre. This is something the Terrapyre would obviously find revolting on every level. I would think this is one of the major reasons Terrapyres do not announce themselves to the world at large. None of them want to end up as a lab specimen, the object of a lot of media attention (unless the Terrapyre has taken on a persona that wants the media spotlight), or to be hunted by the world's governments.
As for the Terrapyre wanting to have a positive affect on humanity, the WWJD syndrome, they of course look to assist humnaity in its path for living faith and the search for the divine. I see them doing this not with groups of close friends, but with those who need help the most. I see them assisting the downtrodden, the homeless and lost in our society. This could mean setting up and working in a number of charitable organizations, going out to those in need one on one and then moving on once that person is on their 'proper path' again, or even looking after those in their neighborhood who need help. The Terrapyres could also assist through others. After all the Immortals know how to manipulate (in both positive and negative ways) those around them and the society they live in. A smart Terrapyre knows that the joy found in helping others is its own reward, even if you helped someone who has never personally met you before.
On a personal note, Terrapyres deal with the same issues of love and acceptance that we all do. "If I tell this person I really admire and respect the truth about me, will they still want to be my friend. Could he/she love me even though I am something different." We all go through that, even those with absolute faith in a living, loving God.
For some Terrapyres, I believe that the love of God may be enough for them, just like some of God's human children have taken it upon themselves to live lives of servitude to humanity without a companion. The Terrapyre would exist, dedicating his or her life to the advancement of humanity. The Terrapyre would help those around him or her to find the divine in themselves, but would never find a special someone to be with.
Man, I can ramble sometimes.. anyway those are my thoughts on the subject. How about you?

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Fri Dec 26, 2008 4:27 am

AreaneCreator wrote:

So, as time goes by, do you guys think that there would be places where companions trained to fight with Terrapyres? With the conversation going on in the MG3K Universe section about a human's physical capabilities, for a human to actively keep up with or fight with a Terrapyre, they would need some serious training.

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Wed Jan 21, 2009 11:12 am

EJ wrote:

I think this might be too dangerous, you know? A concentration of Humans like that... none of whom can fight too great yet... sounds like a tasty attack place for a group of mean Celestials to hit

I would think that without the slipsteam to teach them how to fight, companions would be taught one-on-one by their Terrapyre counterparts or they would attend dojos with other Humans.

It would be a cool story to talk about a Companion training station... but I'd be afraid it would end badly 8(

EJ

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Wed Jan 21, 2009 11:14 am

AreaneCreator wrote:

Ah, that makes sense. Gotcha And plenty of good stories can be told about training one on one...

So new question: what about Terrapyres that travel as teachers?

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Wed Jan 21, 2009 11:30 am

EJ wrote:



Absolutely! In some ways, Elijah, the way she acts as Lead for teams all over the place, is like this. But yes, Terrapyre mentors and teachers teaching the fighting arts? Perfect, Grasshopper!

EJ