From what Thief says, it seems like the stone *could* be stolen often and given to a new ruler. The only qualifiers are 1. Possession gives you the right to rule. 2. Possession frees you from death. 3. The power is lost unless the stone is given to someone. 4. Tradition is that someone steals the stone and gives it to his chosen candidate.
Do the gods have to approve the choice? If the person is in the gods' temple, sure, but maybe not if the person steals it from the current ruler to give it to someone else.
Gen gave the stone to the Magus after the gods gave it to him (or did he steal it?) He stole it back from the Magus and it kept him alive until he gave it to Eddis. Gen didn't have to give it to the Magus, but probably knew if he didn't there would be some questions as to how he survived (everyone else who failed died) and they might decide to search him.
As to the free will question, I don't know. Not many people have seen the gods, apparently, or have had them appear in their dreams, save their lives or answer their prayers. Even the Eddisians hardly believe in them. That sounds like the gods are not normally very actively involved.
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Re: So it looks like everyone is satisfied and has gone on to other things, but...
Date: 11/5/08 10:28 pm (UTC)Do the gods have to approve the choice? If the person is in the gods' temple, sure, but maybe not if the person steals it from the current ruler to give it to someone else.
Gen gave the stone to the Magus after the gods gave it to him (or did he steal it?) He stole it back from the Magus and it kept him alive until he gave it to Eddis. Gen didn't have to give it to the Magus, but probably knew if he didn't there would be some questions as to how he survived (everyone else who failed died) and they might decide to search him.
As to the free will question, I don't know. Not many people have seen the gods, apparently, or have had them appear in their dreams, save their lives or answer their prayers. Even the Eddisians hardly believe in them. That sounds like the gods are not normally very actively involved.