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Jun. 3rd, 2005 11:40 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
stevenehrbar"He's playing the Game quite well."
Baal grunted. "Yes, he offed a couple of Princes. But Belial's always been an idiot, Furfur was an upstart with a 'Kick Me' sign painted on his ass by Lucifer himself, and Haagenti has always been strong. It's unfort—"
Asmodeus cut him off. "Strong but stupid. But this time he was anything but. He—"
Baal returned the favor. "Not smart, well advised. This had Kobal's fingerprints all over it. Look at how many people got made fools of, or met ironic deaths. And what did Haagenti ultimately get out of it? One of my Dukes is now Prince of Wrath; Haagenti only grabbed a fraction of Belial's power structure. Okay, he got Furfur's survivors almost intact, but Furfur wasn't anything approaching powerful. It's all a big joke of Kobal's."
"I wish I thought you were right. But my people have a more disturbing theory."
"Oh?"
"Gluttony's already folded in physical comedy, sight gags, practical jokes—things that are important to the humans. Things that divert Essence flow that would go to Dark Humor. He has got Christmas and Easter, the holy festivals of Christianity, promoting his Word more than they promote God, an irony if there ever was one. And now Haagenti is at the center of a joke worthy of Kobal, and comes off as a brilliant master manipulator. Grant for a moment that Haagenti orchestrated it himself. What does it add up to?"
Baal stopped for a second, thinking it through. Then he snorted. "You can't be serious. Haagenti needs Kobal, he isn't looking to destroy him."
"Does he? If he did this on his own, he's doesn't just not need Kobal, he's proved himself a worthy replacement. Maybe he doesn't eat Kobal, he just has his organization consume Kobal's. Lets Kobal become a sort of a retired Prince Emeritus under Gluttony's protection."
Baal considered. "Then he tells Mammon and Fleurity that they can serve him as sort of super-Dukes, or he'll smash them. Andrealphus is too powerful to be subjected directly, but will be too weak to keep any real independence. Haagenti will rule Shal-Mari, and have major influence over the Free Lilim through the Guildhall."
Asmodeus nodded. "Enough power to be primus inter principes. And, of course, his ambitions would drive him on further."
Baal coughed, slightly nervously. "I still think Kobal planned this."
Baal grunted. "Yes, he offed a couple of Princes. But Belial's always been an idiot, Furfur was an upstart with a 'Kick Me' sign painted on his ass by Lucifer himself, and Haagenti has always been strong. It's unfort—"
Asmodeus cut him off. "Strong but stupid. But this time he was anything but. He—"
Baal returned the favor. "Not smart, well advised. This had Kobal's fingerprints all over it. Look at how many people got made fools of, or met ironic deaths. And what did Haagenti ultimately get out of it? One of my Dukes is now Prince of Wrath; Haagenti only grabbed a fraction of Belial's power structure. Okay, he got Furfur's survivors almost intact, but Furfur wasn't anything approaching powerful. It's all a big joke of Kobal's."
"I wish I thought you were right. But my people have a more disturbing theory."
"Oh?"
"Gluttony's already folded in physical comedy, sight gags, practical jokes—things that are important to the humans. Things that divert Essence flow that would go to Dark Humor. He has got Christmas and Easter, the holy festivals of Christianity, promoting his Word more than they promote God, an irony if there ever was one. And now Haagenti is at the center of a joke worthy of Kobal, and comes off as a brilliant master manipulator. Grant for a moment that Haagenti orchestrated it himself. What does it add up to?"
Baal stopped for a second, thinking it through. Then he snorted. "You can't be serious. Haagenti needs Kobal, he isn't looking to destroy him."
"Does he? If he did this on his own, he's doesn't just not need Kobal, he's proved himself a worthy replacement. Maybe he doesn't eat Kobal, he just has his organization consume Kobal's. Lets Kobal become a sort of a retired Prince Emeritus under Gluttony's protection."
Baal considered. "Then he tells Mammon and Fleurity that they can serve him as sort of super-Dukes, or he'll smash them. Andrealphus is too powerful to be subjected directly, but will be too weak to keep any real independence. Haagenti will rule Shal-Mari, and have major influence over the Free Lilim through the Guildhall."
Asmodeus nodded. "Enough power to be primus inter principes. And, of course, his ambitions would drive him on further."
Baal coughed, slightly nervously. "I still think Kobal planned this."
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Date: 2005-06-04 01:24 pm (UTC)Quibble- Asmodeus using the word "stuff"? O:>
Amusement- Much. O:D