Post by camazotz on Sept 19, 2023 5:06:15 GMT
FULL SPOILERS
Sonorous loaned me Against Nature knowing that Mesoamerica is one of my favourite interests. Here are my thoughts and opinions hurled onto the internet.
"Human history was a ratings war and people always chose the flashing lights, special effects, and generic hero pleading 'You don't have to do this' over things of real value."
A quick summary/reminder: Ordance Tetrarch Goralschai Xianthillespe has decided to become a god. Using the New Fire Ceremony which marks the end/new beginning of the calendar. Piggy-backing off the beliefs of the Aztecs and passing through or into Mictlan, as well as co-opting stolen Faction Paradox ritual technology, he sets a chain of events in motion centred around. Primo (from contemporary Mexico), Todd (from contemporary San Andres in the US), Momacani (Tenochtitlan, Mesoamerica), and House Meddhoran a newblood House located in the mysterious Netherweald, a place similar to the 11 Day Empire. Of course a mysterious entity bearing the name Yaotl and inhabiting Momacani's shadow is there to sow discord.
It would be too much to summarize the full book so I'm going to jump in.
Faction Paradox writing can be obfuscatingly expressive even at the best of times, so when you have at least three separate prose styles for each setting as well as Nahuatl words I don't think it's any wonder that there is a separate thread with a dedicated glossary for the words. I have a passing knowledge of the Aztec terms and names used and even my head started to spin. It is however, extremely effective at conveying tone and atmosphere of each setting.
I absolutely adore the care that went into describing Tenochtitlan. The way a picture is painted and yet retains a casual familiarity with which Momacani would see these things. The rituals, the smaller divisions of ethnic groups. The state officials The day signs. The clothing. Fine details that really build the verisimilitude of a setting that could easily have been treated like any generic tribal state. The love for the subject matter is clearly evident, and I am extremely grateful for it. The only criticism I have is that things get a little academic. I don't know if that's because Burton was so excited to show us the research he did, or if that's just one of the (problems is my word for it but) facets of working with Mesoamerica. Speaking of academia...
Primo Acamapichtli Isleño de la Vega is our resident student of Ancient Mexico, and is the character with the most interesting things to say. He tells us directly what the Nahuatl words means. He has languid ruminations on the injustice of the loss of the Aztec culture.
"This was the distinction people had failed to grasp, whining about the beauty and violence of The Mexica. As if somehow, the two might be separate..."
This rumination feels almost like a direct response/rebuttle to a particular Evil Renegade adventure. However beyond that Primo is not very compelling. He witnesses mostly. He's nuanced and there's nothing objectively wrong with him, but he lacks a driving force save for an extreme lower back problems. I do relate regardless. I too would gush if I got to see El Templo Mayor untarnished in it's prime.
Todd Calavero is the most human and direct characters. He's grounded and the most instantly understandable character. A man who stops existing when people stop looking at him. I'm sure we've all been there.
I love House Meddhoran crumbling. The way the childrene are almost hopeless as their technology retrogrades. They've never had to fight something so... undignified as simply eroding away. Emoushia stands out in a final girl (mother?) kind of way.
Goralschai's undoing by misunderstanding the nature of Aztec theology is what I consider the thesis of the story. This is how the world at large views Mesoamerica, as a "stone age civilization" who perform ritual sacrifices for superstitious or entertainment purposes. Instead of seeing it as a culture that understood more about the mechanics of the natural world than most care to admit.
Alright I'm running out of things to say so I'm gonna rapid fire these last points:
- I like how Goralschai is more of a presence than a figure, haunting the protagonists from Mictlan
- I love the way Mictlan is described and it's various regions, as well as Goralchai's asides
- The Beast of The City is a great idea and well executed
- The phrase "He had the face of a man who's meat slipped from his tortilla" is universal, intergenerational and my favourite
Anyways thanks for reading my ramble.
Sonorous loaned me Against Nature knowing that Mesoamerica is one of my favourite interests. Here are my thoughts and opinions hurled onto the internet.
"Human history was a ratings war and people always chose the flashing lights, special effects, and generic hero pleading 'You don't have to do this' over things of real value."
A quick summary/reminder: Ordance Tetrarch Goralschai Xianthillespe has decided to become a god. Using the New Fire Ceremony which marks the end/new beginning of the calendar. Piggy-backing off the beliefs of the Aztecs and passing through or into Mictlan, as well as co-opting stolen Faction Paradox ritual technology, he sets a chain of events in motion centred around. Primo (from contemporary Mexico), Todd (from contemporary San Andres in the US), Momacani (Tenochtitlan, Mesoamerica), and House Meddhoran a newblood House located in the mysterious Netherweald, a place similar to the 11 Day Empire. Of course a mysterious entity bearing the name Yaotl and inhabiting Momacani's shadow is there to sow discord.
It would be too much to summarize the full book so I'm going to jump in.
Faction Paradox writing can be obfuscatingly expressive even at the best of times, so when you have at least three separate prose styles for each setting as well as Nahuatl words I don't think it's any wonder that there is a separate thread with a dedicated glossary for the words. I have a passing knowledge of the Aztec terms and names used and even my head started to spin. It is however, extremely effective at conveying tone and atmosphere of each setting.
I absolutely adore the care that went into describing Tenochtitlan. The way a picture is painted and yet retains a casual familiarity with which Momacani would see these things. The rituals, the smaller divisions of ethnic groups. The state officials The day signs. The clothing. Fine details that really build the verisimilitude of a setting that could easily have been treated like any generic tribal state. The love for the subject matter is clearly evident, and I am extremely grateful for it. The only criticism I have is that things get a little academic. I don't know if that's because Burton was so excited to show us the research he did, or if that's just one of the (problems is my word for it but) facets of working with Mesoamerica. Speaking of academia...
Primo Acamapichtli Isleño de la Vega is our resident student of Ancient Mexico, and is the character with the most interesting things to say. He tells us directly what the Nahuatl words means. He has languid ruminations on the injustice of the loss of the Aztec culture.
"This was the distinction people had failed to grasp, whining about the beauty and violence of The Mexica. As if somehow, the two might be separate..."
This rumination feels almost like a direct response/rebuttle to a particular Evil Renegade adventure. However beyond that Primo is not very compelling. He witnesses mostly. He's nuanced and there's nothing objectively wrong with him, but he lacks a driving force save for an extreme lower back problems. I do relate regardless. I too would gush if I got to see El Templo Mayor untarnished in it's prime.
Todd Calavero is the most human and direct characters. He's grounded and the most instantly understandable character. A man who stops existing when people stop looking at him. I'm sure we've all been there.
I love House Meddhoran crumbling. The way the childrene are almost hopeless as their technology retrogrades. They've never had to fight something so... undignified as simply eroding away. Emoushia stands out in a final girl (mother?) kind of way.
Goralschai's undoing by misunderstanding the nature of Aztec theology is what I consider the thesis of the story. This is how the world at large views Mesoamerica, as a "stone age civilization" who perform ritual sacrifices for superstitious or entertainment purposes. Instead of seeing it as a culture that understood more about the mechanics of the natural world than most care to admit.
Alright I'm running out of things to say so I'm gonna rapid fire these last points:
- I like how Goralschai is more of a presence than a figure, haunting the protagonists from Mictlan
- I love the way Mictlan is described and it's various regions, as well as Goralchai's asides
- The Beast of The City is a great idea and well executed
- The phrase "He had the face of a man who's meat slipped from his tortilla" is universal, intergenerational and my favourite
Anyways thanks for reading my ramble.
