House of Cards Contributions Log

Daeon’s Quiz

posted by Steve at 02:52 AM, June 03, 2002 | Filed under : PC Quizzes | Comments and Followups

Daeon’s replies to the following questions:

1. Daeon and Jovian obviously have a lot of differences between them. What are some areas of their lives where they are alike?

2. It has been intimated that Julian sired Daeon and Dione as part of a bargain with Artemis. What did Julian get out of the bargain, and what did Artemis hope to achieve by bearing his children?

3. Daeon spends much of his time in lovemaking, but he is creative (procreative) in his hedonism. How does he feel about the use of lovemaking for purposes other than creativity or joy, such as for cruelty or control?

4. Describe what Daeon knows about Dione’s relationship with Julian.

5. What were some ways that Julian tried to reform Daeon?

6. List up to ten quirks Daeon has.

1. Daeon and Jovian obviously have a lot of differences between them. What are some areas of their lives where they are alike?

A difficult question, especially in view of how little has been revealed of Jovian. To start with the obvious: they’re both men and share the same father. Unfortunately, I’ve no idea if their experience of Julian is the same, though. One thing they may share is the significance of their home shadows. Both see defence of the homeland as important and both wound up with the AEF as a corollary of their experiences of fighting the Black Road equivalent in their homelands.

Both are attached to living things in their lives to the degree that they would execute implacable and terrible revenge upon anyone who even tried to take away the things they consider important: Jovian’s dragon and Daeon’s family and shadow. One oblique similarity is that Daeon can shapeshift into a dragon while his brother rides one; one of those subtle shadow echoes that might hint at a deeper significance for the mythical beasts.

However, these are all things, objects, but there are some parallels to be seen in personality and behaviour, too. For example, both men show some attention to the ladies. In Daeon’s case, it’s practically all he lives for but I’d say it’s significant for Jovian also. Both have shown a predilection for drink. Could this be something inherited from their father? (I’m thinking of Julian’s beeline for the wine when the factioneering in the library goes against his side SoU pp. 75/79 but I admit it’s tenuous.)

Two other congruencies strike me as relevant. Daeon has indulged in constant, daily sexual athletics from an early age and has sired children on several mothers, perhaps many. Jovian is less sexually active but still he’s produced one. This must make them the most prolific of their generation and that might definitely be inherited from Julian. I don’t know his relationship with Jovian’s mother but both Daeon and Dione were conceived quickly.

The other thing is their respective attitude to names; both change names to emphasise important changes in their lives, Daeon on a frequent basis and Jovian apparently as a once-in-a-lifetime event but still it shows a significant similarity between them, I think.

I think once they know each other, they will find they have a lot in common.

2. It has been intimated that Julian sired Daeon and Dione as part of a bargain with Artemis. What did Julian get out of the bargain, and what did Artemis hope to achieve by bearing his children?

There was no ‘bargain’. Remember, Julian was very young at the time (it is quite possible that Daeon is older than Random) and was inclined, like so many young men, to sowing his wild oats at every opportunity with little regard as to consequences. Certainly, I doubt he seriously thought of paternity; as Corwin observes of his father’s potency, “…the thirteen of us…represent close to fifteen hundred years of parental production…Not a tremendous batting average for so lusty a liege, but then none of us had proved excessively fertile either.” If you like, all Julian was looking for was a good lay and probably thought that’s all Artemis would get, too. However, Artemis was more calculating. She is clearly able to control her fertility and hence Daeon was born soon after their first tryst. Julian has declined to risk further paternity suits after the birth of Dione.

So, why did she seduce Julian? A very complex question: firstly, her very nature is that of motherhood personified. She’s born countless children and the entire shadow is populated with nymphs, sprites and all sorts of anima all born of her womb. But she may have wanted something specific from Julian.

She would almost certainly have been aware that Julian’s children would be of a different order to their siblings born to lesser fathers. More real: able to accept the delegation of Artemis’ control of Arcadia on a much larger scale; control entire facets of existence as opposed to the occasional tree or pool. Arcadia is close to Arden, perhaps even a part of it, it can be hard to discern the borders in adjacent and well-travelled woodlands where the shadowpaths cross and merge so densely. She may have been aware of Julian’s link to Arden and so wanted a son who might have the same relationship. She must also have known of Julian’s own bloodline and she may have wanted children who would combine her deific nature with Amber blood, in the hope of mothering a ‘god’ of Amber or at least someone who could navigate through Arden as well as the Lord of Arden.

One thing she didn’t want is a husband; she has never desired a permanent relationship with any of what she regards as the weaker sex. Finally, she might possibly have wanted to gain some power over Julian through his children but it is difficult to see what that power might be. She has never attempted to exercise control over him through them, for that would be against what she sees as the ‘ethic’ of motherhood - a good mother does not turn her children against their father, not without good reason.

3. Daeon spends much of his time in lovemaking, but he is creative (procreative) in his hedonism. How does he feel about the use of lovemaking for purposes other than creativity or joy, such as for cruelty or control?

“There is no one, no one at all, never will or has been a lover, male or female,

Who has not an eye on, in fact they rely on, the tricks they can try on their partners.

They hope they will keep them, support them, promote them. Don’t blame them - you’re the same!” [Evita]

Daeon is well aware of the negative aspects of love; examples are rife in nature: the spider that eats her mate, fleas that rape other fleas, even males, etc, etc. Neither does he regret such activities in the sentient for that is how it has to be. Love hurts! It can inflict pain, anguish, even death and therefore so can Daeon. For example, he is too perceptive not to have realised Ignia’s likely reaction after succumbing to his advances. So although he uses phrases like ‘wooed her fairly’, he knows in doing so, he was inflicting a hurt upon her at the time, though without using physical force.

He is also capable of taking by force too, though every time he has done so to date would belong in the two ‘theological grey areas’ of ‘romantic rape’ (found in some sexual fantasies and silly romantic fiction) and ‘marital rape’. Each year he takes a ‘wife’ at Imbolc. Although the ‘wife’ has to be a volunteer, it has been known for a woman to change her mind upon actually facing his godhead but that has never prevented him from fulfilling his role in the ritual. If she’s not capable of bearing children or not a volunteer, he kills her in fury, otherwise he beds her willing or not. Daeon would not call either of these ‘rape’, doubtless, many men and women would agree with him; also, doubtless, many wouldn’t - certainly no one with pretensions to feminist principles.

In his defence, he has never taken a woman purely by force. There has always been an element of consent somewhere along the line and when outside the constraints of ritual he has also withdrawn his attentions in good grace when a maid has truly changed her mind after first consenting. Usually, he has gone on to regain her consent fairly; most so wooed have eventually succumbed to his genuine charms.

4. Describe what Daeon knows about Dione’s relationship with Julian.

Unlike most siblings, Daeon has never suffered a sense of jealousy or rivalry over his sister, probably because they are so different. As Julian played with Daeon, so Daeon played with Dione. The difference is, Dione remained an innocent. She learned to shapeshift and of the creatures of Arcadia, natural and supernatural but despite attaining womanhood she never truly grew up, remaining childlike. She could burst into tears over a dead sparrow or a lost lamb and in minutes be laughing at the drunken dance of a bumblebee or the gambolling of the very same lamb.

Julian found his daughter enchanting from the first and this time fell to fatherhood with a will. Seeing girls differently to boys, he never pushed her towards maturity, in fact he deliberately coddled her, trying to keep the girl from becoming a woman, as some fathers will. In this case, his instinctive over-protection perfectly suited Artemis’ view of her daughter’s future and Dione’s own nature. She remained an innocent all her days, oblivious to the dangers in the world about her.

Of course, that world was fully aware of the vengeance likely to befall any who harmed her, both from inhabitants of Arcadia and from her father. Until the demons came, she was safe.

Julian enjoyed her simple delight in the natural wonders and maybe she spoke to his own inner child (for why else did he become Lord of Arden if not in the simple delight of that great wood) and for him being with Dione was always a delight.

Daeon is perceptive and knew of most of this. He was also aware of his father’s prudish view of his carryings-on with the Daeonades but he was undoubtedly surprised when Julian specifically warned him from ever trying to seduce Dione; Daeon, perfectly aware of his sister’s utter innocence, would never have tried any such thing. Ironically, both men loved Dione for the child she was and perhaps their mutual grief may bring them to a better understanding of each other.

5. What were some ways that Julian tried to reform Daeon?

Upon learning of his paternity, Julian was stricken with the terror of responsibility, as many young men in similar circumstances before him. To a certain extent, he had to grow up fast himself. His approach to fatherhood was initially one of befuddled muddling - he simply didn’t know what to do. Luckily, Artemis was more than able to bring up the child in its early stages. Perhaps she also gave Julian a few helpful hints, she was certain in her own mind that her children should not lack a father.

As Daeon left infancy, Julian became surer of himself. Perhaps recalling his own childhood, his approach was essentially the opposite of his own father’s. He was determined not to be a distant monarch, always busy with affairs of state, leaving tutelage and upbringing to others. Instead, Julian took care to be with Daeon as often as he could, though perhaps not as often as he would wish. He took the boy for walks in Arden, taught him the names and natures of trees and plants. He played games with him; initially silly child’s games, later more practical things: it was Julian who taught Daeon the subtleties of the woodcraft skills of stealth, stalk, trap and ambush.

These early years were easy ones for both father and son but as Daeon grew into his teens, Julian was perturbed at his lack of responsibility. Possibly like Oberon and many other fathers, Julian forgot his own carefree adolescence and as Daeon reached manhood he tried to force him into maturity too rapidly. His first move was to suggest to Artemis that the boy should be given a job. Julian probably did not anticipate the deific duties Artemis allotted their son but Artemis had always had her own ideas for his upbringing. Julian was blind to Daeon’s function as a deity in Arcadia, perhaps prejudiced against ‘shadow’ versus ‘reality’. Instead of a cycle of rituals geared to driving the seasons, all Julian saw was endless hedonistic debauchery. Julian, perhaps prudishly, was also shocked at the young man’s overtly flaunted sexuality (encouraged by his mother) and his frequent incest with his half-sisters (perhaps reminding him uncomfortably of his own feelings for Fiona).

Then, having found fatherly lectures and man-to-man talks equally ineffective, Julian decided the problem was Arcadia. Get Daeon away from his home and the influence of his mother and see how the young man developed. No fool to psychology, Julian played up the hedonistic delights of the fleshpots of Amber and the Golden Circle, enticing Daeon into experiencing more sophisticated pleasures. Artemis, in retrospect probably sure in her knowledge of her son, was happy for him to spend weeks or even months in civilised places. Always Daeon returned home in time for important festivals leaving a trail of wild orgies, trashed taverns and ruined maidens.

Ultimately, Julian took Daeon away to Kolvir and deep under the castle, spoke of the Pattern and the heritage in his blood. With Vista, one of his most trusted rangers sending Daeon through by trump, Julian showed him the Pattern, not expecting him to walk it at that time but at least appreciate its significance with a view to walking it in future. Daeon, knowing this was important to his father, made the right noises but in their hearts, both men knew he wasn’t tempted.

Finally, Julian made one last attempt to make him assume the mantle of his blood heritage when the Black Road made its appearance. Julian had just returned from his excursion with Gerard and was deeply frightened by their experiences. Doubly concerned that the demons would find their way through Arden into Arcadia. Julian’s thoughts may still have been on Daeon’s lassitude when he spoke to Corwin in Arden.

So ultimately, Julian was probably surprised when Daeon appeared to join the rangers, dour and sober: a mood previously alien to him, having never met Kern. Some time during the march to Chaos, Julian would ask why he’d changed his mind, and so Daeon has told his father of the death of his daughter; father and son are linked in grief.

6. List up to ten quirks Daeon has.

Daeon demands people use the proper name for whatever form he’s in and his personality changes with aspect.

Kern is austere and quiet, making Benedict seem loquacious. Daeon has described him as ‘harsh and cruel’; ‘merciless’ is also a good epithet. He hunts down ‘wrong-doers’, hounding them to death remorselessly. His weapons are always poisoned; the only defence is innocence. Those who know what he’s like frequently prefer to kill themselves rather than meet death at his hands.

Adonis might best be described as warm and mocking. He laughs a lot, and seems perpetually amused by those around him. He exudes an air of sensual hedonism but is rarely confrontational except over Dione.

Pan is the most spiritual, fascinated by people and most steeped in godhead, inclined to dispute theology at the drop of a hat. He’s also the most likely to burst into song and drinks most of all, but all aspects of Daeon save Kern sing and all drink.

Kris, his oldest self (who may manifest during the game) has the typical irritability and all the ails of the old but also the most thoughtful and insightful when it comes to observing others.

Daeon is his child-name and is therefore the most childlike with a short attention span and a carefree view of the world. Perhaps explaining why Julian thought him underdeveloped for so long since Julian has invariably to date called him by this aspect, viewing his other names as cognomens rather than alternate personas. Perhaps the events of the Battle of the Abyss have changed this.

Adonis, Kris and Pan are all inveterate lechers and debauchers but not quite of the love-‘em-and-leave-‘em school. Daeon really does love every woman he’s with and continues to do so ever after with very few exceptions - Ignia the most notable.

All Daeon’s aspects drink incessantly but usually without noticeable effect. The wine of Arcadia is heady, however, and he sometimes encounters truly strong drink elsewhere but Daeon enjoys being drunken. It still takes a phenomenal amount of drink to put him under. Another foible is his aversion to metals; he can touch and handle them but never uses or carries them.

As a god, he likes to respond to the appropriate summoning/invocation rituals, appearing in the form named. In Arcadia, these are magical rituals cast by priests and priestesses that send a call he can hear anywhere in the shadow. It is possible similar rituals can do the same elsewhere and he will want to respond then too. Of course, this does not mean he just blunders into every situation. His technique is to approach unseen and observe before manifesting mysteriously. Sometimes the invokers complete the ritual in disappointment at his non-appearance, only to find out later he has watched from cover.

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