07-31-2013, 08:48 PM
Atharim and Wolfkin, eh? Well, to continue with my 'broadly painting everyone in a bad light' / 'always assuming the worst' philosophy...
In Rand-land, Wolfkin are, on average, hated and feared. Wolves are vile predators that are clearly Darkfriends. Or Darkspawn. Or in some other fashion totally obviously allied with the Shadow. Despite the fact that once upon a time, wolves helped humanity fight the Shadow. That's a long lost detail, and everyone is more focused on the fact that wovles occasionally kill livestock and are totally 100% man eaters. Whether there be evidence or not.
People always focus on the worst of things. One bad apple can soil everyone's opinion of something, even in the modern age. Logically, Wolfkin should be closely allied with the Atharim. Wolves undoubtedly hate the things that go bump in the night, seeing as many aren't natural, and they're all pretty not nice. So shouldn't Wolfkin, who can bridge the gap between humans and intelligent telepathic immortal-souled wolves be an awesome thing? They've got heightened senses all across the board after all, and could easily hunt the monsters, even in urban settings (much like Furia).
But then again, every now and then a Wolfkin goes feral. He caves in, looses his humanity, and oft becomes a confused, scared animal. Loved ones try to lock them up, try to help them, and they invariably die or have to be killed for attacking former loved ones or those seeking to 'help' them. They were probably burned at the stake for being possessed, or had holes punched in their skulls to 'let the demons out.' All that super-awesome enlightened stuff humanity has done to itself over the years.
I'd like to think the Atharim, due to their long and 'awakened' history (knowing of the past Ages, of monsters, and of Channelers) would realize that in most cases, Wolfkin would be an invaluable ally (or asset) and would embrace them. But much like the Children of the Light and their original teachings on Aes Sedai (they aren't all bad, but but the One Power can corrupt, which eventually became 'they're all Witches to be reviled and hated'), would the Atharim have turned away from allying/liking Wolfkin, to hunting them?
So I would LIKE it that the Atharim are Wolfkin friendly. But I always assume the worst of people, and would think that due to those bad-apples (Wolfkin that loose their humanity), the Atharim hunt Wolfkin as some sort of horrible Loup-garou.
In Rand-land, Wolfkin are, on average, hated and feared. Wolves are vile predators that are clearly Darkfriends. Or Darkspawn. Or in some other fashion totally obviously allied with the Shadow. Despite the fact that once upon a time, wolves helped humanity fight the Shadow. That's a long lost detail, and everyone is more focused on the fact that wovles occasionally kill livestock and are totally 100% man eaters. Whether there be evidence or not.
People always focus on the worst of things. One bad apple can soil everyone's opinion of something, even in the modern age. Logically, Wolfkin should be closely allied with the Atharim. Wolves undoubtedly hate the things that go bump in the night, seeing as many aren't natural, and they're all pretty not nice. So shouldn't Wolfkin, who can bridge the gap between humans and intelligent telepathic immortal-souled wolves be an awesome thing? They've got heightened senses all across the board after all, and could easily hunt the monsters, even in urban settings (much like Furia).
But then again, every now and then a Wolfkin goes feral. He caves in, looses his humanity, and oft becomes a confused, scared animal. Loved ones try to lock them up, try to help them, and they invariably die or have to be killed for attacking former loved ones or those seeking to 'help' them. They were probably burned at the stake for being possessed, or had holes punched in their skulls to 'let the demons out.' All that super-awesome enlightened stuff humanity has done to itself over the years.
I'd like to think the Atharim, due to their long and 'awakened' history (knowing of the past Ages, of monsters, and of Channelers) would realize that in most cases, Wolfkin would be an invaluable ally (or asset) and would embrace them. But much like the Children of the Light and their original teachings on Aes Sedai (they aren't all bad, but but the One Power can corrupt, which eventually became 'they're all Witches to be reviled and hated'), would the Atharim have turned away from allying/liking Wolfkin, to hunting them?
So I would LIKE it that the Atharim are Wolfkin friendly. But I always assume the worst of people, and would think that due to those bad-apples (Wolfkin that loose their humanity), the Atharim hunt Wolfkin as some sort of horrible Loup-garou.