Fandom High School

Ghanima was already in the classroom as the students assembled, bouncing Trebor on her lap and holding a steaming mug of spiced coffee in one hand, as she subjected each person to an apparently disinterested inspection from her glowing blue-on-blue eyes.

Not even another Truthsayer would have been able to tell what she was thinking.

The moment the bell rang, her eyes snapped from her son to the assembled students. "Good afternoon," she said in a clear voice that carried effortlessly. "This is Destiny and Free Will. If you are in the wrong class, please consider this your opportunity to leave. Although if you are here and believe in fate, then you are where you are supposed to be, no matter what it says on your schedule. And, quite possibly, even if you do not believe"

"Regardless of your views on the matter, I am Lady Ghanima Atreides of the planet Arrakis, a time and place far from here. This fine young man," she set down her coffee to hold up a laughing Trebor, "Is my son, Trebor, First Scion of the House of Atreus."

"I do not answer to 'Lady Atreides,' as that is my grandmother. Ghanima is fine, though if you are one of those who is uncomfortable without an honorific, 'Professor' or 'Miss' is acceptable. Trebor answers to Trebor, or Teddy, if he listens. For those of you whom I have had in class before," she smiled suddenly, looking far less severe. "Welcome back."

"This class is designed to look at the differing opinions on predestination and freewill from a variety of religious, temporal, and philosophical schools of thought," she continued. "Regardless of any personal experiences you may have had on this topic, I expect everyone to maintain a respectful and open mind towards the subject matter and your classmates. Mocking destiny is a dangerous pastime, and not one I will permit during class hours. What you do on your own time, however, is your business."

"There is no syllabus, because to have one would tell you when a class is fated to fall. Or perhaps it is free choice which allows me to not have one." Ghanima's smile was decidedly impish. "For now, I'd like us to discuss as a group if you believe in destiny, free will, or neither, and why."

As students arrived today, they might notice Ghanima had actually written on the chalkboard for once:


"Good morning, students," she said clearly.  "Today we study the the 'omni' categories.  Omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent."

( Most powerful is he who has himself in his own power. -- Seneca )

"So, I would like you to pair up and discuss.  What do you think is most important for a divine being that's writing destiny?  Which of the Omnis is most compatible with the idea of free will?  Which is the most incompatible?  Do you feel omnipresence is part of the other two, or is it something that can stand separately.  Can you be omniscient if you are not omnipresent?  Thinking about our movie last week, and your assigned reading, which of the Omnis, if any, apply to the psychics of the story?  Team up, and decide."

"Oh, and anyone who missed last week?  Please come see me at my desk after class for a copy of the reading."

Ghanima was far more serious today than she had been during the previous classes, but her calm demenour did not betray the storm of emotion just under her skin. 

"The question of free will is if, and in what sense, rational agents exercise control over their actions and decisions," she began without preamble.  "Addressing this question requires understanding the relationship between freedom and cause, and determining whether the laws of nature are causally deterministic."  

( O God! that one might read the book of fate. -- WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE, King Henry IV, Part II  )

The class met outside by the pond, as handwavily ordered.  The flamingos were wandering around Ghanima's improvised classroom, which had plenty of overstuffed pillows for laying about.  Along the edges were small low tables, each with two cushions to sit on and various items placed upon them. 

Once the bell rang, Ghanima looked up from where she was sprawled on the floor playing with some cards and smiled.  "Destiny," she began with preamble, dropping the cards and pushing to her feet.  "Refers to a predetermined course of events. It may be conceived as a predetermined future, whether in general or of an individual. It is a concept based on the belief that there is a fixed natural order to the universe." 

"Destiny may be seen either as a fixed sequence of events that is inevitable and unchangeable, or that individuals choose their own destiny by choosing different paths throughout their life."  Ghanima paused to smile at them briefly.  "Confusing, isn't it?"

"Many Greek legends and tales teach the futility of trying to outmaneuver an inexorable fate that has been correctly predicted. This form of irony is important in Greek tragedy, as it is in Oedipus Rex  or Thornton Wilder's The Bridge of San Luis Rey, where in spite of all the character's attempts otherwise, it does not preclude a horrible fate," she said,  wandering the room to pass out a handout on Oedipus.

"Some believe that one's destiny may be ascertained by divination. In the belief systems of many cultures, one's destiny can only be learned about through a shaman, babalawo, prophet, sibyl, saint or seer. In the Shang dynasty in China, turtle bones were thrown ages before the I Ching was codified. Arrows were tossed to read destiny, from Thrace to pagan Mecca. In Yoruba traditional religion, the Ifá oracle is consulted via a string of sixteen cowries or oil-palm nuts whose pattern when thrown on to a wooden tray represents the 256 possible combinations whose named "chapters" are recited and verses interpreted for the client by the babalawo."  Ghanima grinned and waved her hand in the international 'blah blah blah' manner.  "Every society has their own way of foretelling a future, from worm entrails to crystal balls.  My empire put its fate in the hands of a family that can walk the veils of time, forward and back, to see what lies beyond, and now they're stuck with the future that the Mahdi chose.  Oracles can be a tricky bunch, and you must always assume that they may have a hidden agenda of their own."  

"Today, it's time for you to face your destiny."  Ghanima gestured to the tables ringing the room.  "Pair up, wander around, and pick a method of divination that speaks to you.  Read your own destiny, or that of your partner, and then discuss if you agree or disagree with the results you obtained."

[OOC: OCD UP!]

The students should have gotten a handwaved notice to dress nicely and meet at the Danger Shop, where they were met by a Ghanima waiting just outside the door.

"Right." Reaching inside her coat, Ghanima retrieved a deck of the Dune Tarot and fanned the cards at them. "Step right up, and ask me what today holds for you. Through there --" she gestured at the door to the Shop with the cards, " -- is the Monte Carlo Casino of Monaco. One of the most famous casinos in the world, renowned for its elegance and architecture."

"Your mission is to take the future I forsee, and try to beat it. If I tell you that you are destined to win big, sit outside and give away chips. If I say you fail, go cheat the casino by whatever means you choose. The only rule is not to get caught doing anything illegal by security; that would be a failure of the exam." Not that Ghanima was actually grading them based on the final, she preferred to look at their overall body of work. "I want to see how many of you manage to flaunt destiny."

"After all," she grinned humorlessly, flipping up the Hanged Man with ease. "Navigating the future is a family talent. Who wants to try and beat the oracular Atreides?"


[OOC: OCD Awaits! And now, I crassssssssssssh. Feel free to tag me ooc if there's a future you want Ghani to give your student, otherwise it will be randomized.]

As the students came in today, they'd probably all be pleased to notice the lack of desks. Instead, there were huge piles of pillows and blankets heaped around, and the television set up in front of the room. Ghanima was showing affection in the best way she knew how, with pastries from JGoB and carafes of coffee and juice from the Perk.

"We'll delay the discussion of the 'omnis' until next week," she said cheerfully, once everyone had picked a spot. "Today, we're watching a movie that involves destiny."

[ocd up!]

Class today met down at the pond, as Ghanima felt like feeding the flamingos. 

"Today, children, we discuss semantics," Ghanima said briskly from her seat on the grass.  "Although the words are used interchangeably in many cases, fate and destiny can be, and should be, distinguished."  She smiled, kicking her heels slightly.  "Don't groan at me.  Semantics are your friends, I promise.  When you know a word, inside and out, it becomes more than a word.  It's a friend, a weapon, and a great source of fun at the expense of other people."

( 'Fate is not the ruler, but the servant of Providence.' -- Edward G. Bulwer-Lytton )

"So, let's chat.  Semantics and harbingers of fate.  I'm curious to hear what you think."

[OCD is up, go forth and have fun!]

Ghanima had decided to hold class outside by the pond next to the school, since there was no reason to keep her students cooped up in a classroom today. She'd tacked a note on the classroom door, and was now waiting the students assembled, sitting on a rock as they found their way to her and took seats on the grass.

The moment everyone arrived, her eyes snapped from the pond to the children seated (or standing) around her. "Good afternoon," she said in a clear voice that carried effortlessly. "This is Destiny and Free Will. If you are in the wrong class, please consider this your opportunity to leave. Although it is entirely possible that if you are here, then you are where you are supposed to be, no matter what it says on your schedule. I am Lady Ghanima Atreides. You may address me as Miss Atreides, Lady Ghanima, Miss Ghanima, or some variation thereof. Be warned, however, that I do not answer to Lady Atreides. Lady Atreides is my grandmother, and I have no desire to claim that title from her."

"This class is designed to look at the differing opinions on predestination and freewill from a variety of religious, temporal, and philosophical schools of thought," she continued. "Regardless of any personal experiences you may have had on this topic, I expect everyone to maintain a respectful and open mind towards the subject matter and your classmates. Mocking destiny is a dangerous pastime, and not one I will permit during class hours. What you do on your own time, however, is your business."

She waved the stack of papers sitting in her lap at them. "This is your syllabus. Be aware that it is subject to change at any time, unless a particular class is predestined to happen, in which case the syllabus is moot anyway, isn’t it?" The smile she flashed the students was decidedly impish.

"For now, I would like you to go around and introduce yourselves, and state for the record whether you believe in destiny, free will, or are currently undecided."

[Wait for the OCD, for that is your destiny! OCD is up and destiny is assured. GO FORTH.]

"I haven't scared you off yet?" Ghanima asked, looking up from her game of chess. "Fantastic."

"The question of free will is if, and in what sense, rational agents exercise control over their actions and decisions," Ghani said, hopping off her desk to wander haphazardly among the desks. "Addressing this question requires understanding the relationship between freedom and cause, and determining whether the laws of nature are causally deterministic. Sounds fun, hrm?"  

"Now, then, let's ponder." Ghanima leaned against the wall to survey the room. "Moral responsibility, madness, and free will. Go." 

[OOC:  Wait for the OCD is up!  Hit it!]

The class met in the Danger Shop today, as handwavily ordered.  The room was set to a giant circle, with plenty of overstuffed pillows for laying on in the center.  Along the edges were small round tables, each with two chairs and various items placed upon them. 

Once the bell rang, Ghanima looked up from where she was sprawled on the floor playing with some cards and smiled.  "Destiny," she began with preamble, dropping the cards and pushing to her feet.  "Refers to a predetermined course of events. It may be conceived as a predetermined future, whether in general or of an individual. It is a concept based on the belief that there is a fixed natural order to the universe." 


"Today, it's time for you to face your destiny."  Ghanima gestured to the tables ringing the room.  "Pair up, wander around, and pick a method of divination that speaks to you.  Read your own destiny, or that of your partner, and then discuss if you agree or disagree with the results you obtained."

[OOC:  Please wait for the OCD to go up!]