Chaos - Force and Theory
A notebook, for keeping notes and letters in.
Note 1: Regarding Chaos: A Primer and Introduction by May'nara Xun'viir
Chaos is often viewed as a force of destruction in the natural world, or of spontaneous, unstable creation in magic both divine and arcane. This treatise seeks to pass no judgement on the value of chaos, but merely to examine it objectively.
It will examine both cause and effect in varied mediums - nature, magic, and social strata (specific to the Underdark, the author's known world).
Day 24, Month 1 (Hammer (Deepwinter)), 185 AR (1385 DR)
May'nara Xun'viir
Note 2: Chaos: A Definition by May'nara Xun'viir
Chaos, as a concept, can be most easily defined as "disorder". Actions without reason, sense, or justification are "chaotic". Entropy, an inability to predict action, or reaction, is a fitting synonym.
It bears questioning why chaos would exist in a natural world-state, though its existence in both divinity and arcana makes more sense - with order must conversely come disorder to create a balance that upholds the magical world of either side.
The questioning will come in future volumes. For now, an examination of what chaos is in its natural, divine and arcane forms, and how that affects the worlds around us.
Day 24, Month 1 (Hammer (Deepwinter)), 185 AR (1385 DR)
May'nara Xun'viir
Note 3: Chaos: A Natural Examination by May'nara Xun'viir
Chaos would seem out of place in the Natural world. It can be seen in such things as a wildfire - consuming all it can touch, becoming its own demise in its hunger. It will consume every bit of fuel even to its own destruction. Some animals, such as certain breeds of snake, will dothe same - destroying and consuming all prey they can find, or attempting to consume prey so large they injure or kill themselves in the attempt. This can be seen as senseless, and leads one to wonder at the reasoning, if any, behind it. Is there a reason, or is it simply nonthinking instinct?
Examined critically, we can see that fire, in itself, is not a thinking thing - it is just reaction given form. There is no reason to it, and it cannot know when to stop. This is the truest chaos - reaction given free rein to simply exist until it does, and can, no longer.
Animals, however, can be said to have thoughts. Why, then, would they endanger themselves over food, mates, dens, or any other goal? The answer there is simple - survival. Yes, some may die, but the vast majority will not. And thus will the species continue on, stronger, for those that do not perish pass on their strengths to the next generation.
Thus, Chaos is the double-edged sword of not only species survival but species prosperity - Those that remain are the strongest, and most likely to breed true to strength. The other side of that edge, however, is that they are only strong to that one situation.
Situations that require order, or ordered thought, logic, are therefore harder for the survivors. Chaos, then, becomes one more thing for the survivors to overcome if they, in turn, want to survive and prosper.
Day 24, Month 1 (Hammer (Deepwinter)), 185 AR (1385 DR)
May'nara Xun'viir
Note 4: Chaos in Nature II: An Addendum by May'nara Xun'viir
Chaos can often be represented, one would think, through instinct. A lack of conscious or critical thinking, an immediate, in-born response to a fear, threat, or triggering action.
This is not entirely true. Instinct, in and of itself, is a developed form of self-protection, inborn into a species through the survival of those that have it. Those that do not often do not live to breed or survive to reproduce and raise their young.
Chaos enters as a force not in the inherent instinct, but in the actions taken because of the innate drive that the instinct represents. In the earlier example, a snake that gluts itself on something too large and dies, the instinct itself is "Eat. Survive.", which is reasonable. The action of eating something too large, or eating so much that one cannot survive, is not. There is clearly no critical thought there, no examination of cause-and-effect. In this, is chaos.
When we flee from a threat, the instinct is "Run. Survive. Life Above All." We do not examine the path we choose. We simply turn away and run. We may, in this act, run into a threat far worse than we are fleeing, but we are unable to rationally examine our actions. Thus, chaos.
It is important not to confuse inherent instinct with the actions that come OF the instinct.
Day 24, Month 2 (Alturiak), 185 AR (1385 DR)
May'nara Xun'viir
Note 5: Chaos in Arcana by May'nara Xun'viir
Chaos in Arcana is a well-known and often-studied force. Beings such as Weave-Eaters, or Wild Magi, as well as harnessing the magical force known as Entropy, are all ways that we attempt to force order onto chaos.
While the forces of magic, be it the surface or Below, are often visualized as a weave, it can just as easily be argued that magic is inherently a force of chaos. It is wild creation, unformed and unbound, and it is the caster that determines (usually) how it appears when used.
Most magi spend their entire lives attempting to place order to that force. To ensure it is bent to a mortal will, and mortal desires. Some, like wild magi, do not. They will try, but they are open and accepting of the chaos that simply is magic, and it can often lead to...terrifying results.
Magic, like so many other things, is simply a force of nature. It is chaos and order. What casters -do- with it, and how they decide to try to impart order upon disorder, is the example of chaos in use. True order imposed on magic would make it cease to be, as a force. It would no longer allow for things like spontaneous generation, or physical augmentations, or the moving of undead flesh.
(Author's Note: The Faerzress was intentionally omitted, as it is so large and in-depth as to be a project all on its own.)
Day 24, Month 2 (Alturiak), 185 AR (1385 DR)
May'nara Xun'viir
Note 6: Chaos in Divinity by May'nara Xun'viir
Chaos in Divinity is far easier to understand, on a base level, to mortals than in Arcana or Nature. Chaos in Divinity represents the unhinged wants of the gods in question, and gods of all races are subject to it.
As an example, Lolth finds chaos pleasurable. She may order Her priestess to murder another priestess who is out of Her favour, then remove the favour of the priestess who acted, even if she did everything right. Lolth may grant Her favour to non-Drow just to watch Drow try to understand, fail, and either kill the non-Drow, or let them live. Either response is right, or wrong, or both, depending on the whim of the god in question.
As mortal clergy, all we can do is hope that we are right, and we amuse. The more often we amuse, intrigue, or confuse, the deity in question, the more likely we are to retain favour. The best case scenario is that favour is given indiscriminately, but notice of the individual priest or priestess by their patron is not given. If we are not noticed, we cannot offend.
This presents an issue -- the best way to become very powerful is notice, but notice is most often what will ensure our fall. Is this, then, not chaos incarnate? Our actions do not matter. Whether we please or displease may not matter, because we cannot account for the actions of others.
(Author's Note: The Author is of the faith of Lolth, and cannot speak for, or about, any other faiths past their existence.)
Day 24, Month 2 (Alturiak), 185 AR (1385 DR)
May'nara Xun'viir
Note 7: Chaos in Social Strata by May'nara Xun'viir
Chaos in social strata seems antithetical to social survival. One would assume that in a society where laws are merely words, survival long-term is unlikely. However, both some animal societies and some sentient societies call this belief into question.
The Drow society, as the author is of said society, is a prime example. By all rights, given the wanton chaos of both Drow and their Goddess, they should have killed themselves off by now. Laws are merely suggestions, and even following them can lead to punishment or death. Siding with an obvious victor in any argument or war can lead to the destruction of an entire House - Be it from the victor, or from the loser. It is a constant sense of walking on eggs.
How, then, have the Drow survived? Seemingly-rigid structure that can (and often is) overturned on a whim when it is useful or amusing. In-fighting, murder, betrayal.
We have survived because (in general), each generation that -survives-, as with instinct, and survives to breed and carry on their traits, is a bit more cunning, a bit more bloodthirsty, a bit more vicious than the last. We adapt to Chaos, and it becomes a part of our physical beings. Most Drow would not be able to survive in a truly rigid, lawful society because of it - we have adapted away from Order.
Thus, a force that is entropy inherent, something with no physical form, can result in generational changes to actual physical beings.
Day 24, Month 2 (Alturiak), 185 AR (1385 DR)
May'nara Xun'viir