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Post by GRWelsh on Sept 24, 2021 7:52:52 GMT -5
I've often wondered why the Holy Avenger was named avenger since I thought defender would be more appropriate for lawful good. Revenge seems like a less than holy sentiment. That was the sort of thinking that got George Lucas to change the name of the third STAR WARS film from REVENGE OF THE JEDI to RETURN OF THE JEDI, a change some fans still dislike. I understand his reasoning, and agree with it, but also there is something undeniably appealing about just wrath or cosmic justice... Like Turin Turambar getting to strike down Morgoth in the Dagor Dagorath. This topic also reminded me of the pact in the "Taarna" sequence in the HEAVY METAL movie: "To defend... this is the pact. But when life loses its value and is taken for naught, then the pact is... to avenge." She draws and raises a powerful sword that could easily by a Holy Avenger from AD&D. There is another version of the wording of the pact on the Blue Öyster Cult song "Vengeance (the Pact)" on the album FIRE Of UNKNOWN ORIGIN with the lyrics: "To defend/this is the pact/But when life's scorned/and damage done/To avenge/this is the pact."
Some version of that is going to have to make its way into my AD&D game...
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Post by Scott on Sept 24, 2021 11:35:18 GMT -5
Well, there already is a Defender, and I think vengeance is not out of character for the medieval, religious , glory in battle seeking knights the paladin was based on. Looking into the nuances of the words a bit, most contrast the two (revenge/avenge) with something like avenge is slightly more exalted in tone than revenge, implying righteous retribution rather than mere payback. Revenge also seems to be more personal.
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Post by geneweigel on Sept 24, 2021 14:32:00 GMT -5
Maybe it's from "vengeance is mine sayeth the lord" and the paladin is acting as the vessel.
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