Do dersites actually desire for war against prospit? Or is it mostly obedience to either the king or queen, or an inherent feeling of “destiny” due to that being their reason for existence in the session?
This is a complex question, and my answer will touch some on the Prospitian philosophy of the war as well. As you comment, the war between Derse and Prospit is absolutely predestined. The two moons will fight— must fight over Skaia if there is to be a session.
In this battle, Derse fights to destroy Skaia and Prospit fights to protect it— an uneven battle obviously, as Derse only has to win once, and Prospit must block each advance time after time, and they are destined to lose.
And why does Derse fight to destroy Skaia. Is it to oppose the players and block the creation a new universe? Yes, in fact it is, but I invite you to ask why they might be so opposed to this creation. In truth it is bone-deep programming, but not the kind you might expect. Not the kind one typically finds in mere pawns of a game.
It is the bone-deep programming of every living creature to survive. To continue on and keep living. If Skaia is used by the players to create a new universe, the medium, and everything in it but those who step through the players doorway, is destroyed.
Imagine the medium as an egg. The far distance of the outer ring is the shell, Skaia, in the center, is the yolk, and all the rest—, planets, moons veil and all— are the albumen, or white. When the egg is fertilized by the players, the white of the medium is used up, along with the boundless energy of skaia itself, to create the brand new universe. The ultimate alchemy is achieved turning the medium itself into the stuff of stars and galaxies.
And this, *this* is why Derse fights Prospit and the player with every breath. They are the enemy— capricious gods who will bring about the end of everything. This is not to say there are not those who fight to honor destiny, or do to the bitter racism that often pervades Dersites and Prospitians due to this destiny, but in the main, the Dersites fight to survive. And it is difficult for me to begrudge them that.
At this juncture you may be wondering why the Prospitians fight at all, if to do so means their doom. The answer here, which I am told is occasionally questioned there as well, is sacred duty. The Prospitians fight because it is their destiny and their charge. The Prospitians fight for us, the players, the dreamers so that we will have a chance of accomplishing goal, and of course, in the hope that there might be something for them besides non existence, after it is all over.
So, to sum up for you, dear anonymous, the Prospitians fight for destiny, the Dersites fight for their lives.
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