Chaos and Law

Humans have an innate tendency towards both Law and Chaos. The former can be seen, for example, in the way they order bookshelves; the latter, in their desire to demolish buildings. In fact, the two tendencies are not at war but complementary. A chef arranges his work most beautifully on a plate precisely so that it may be chopped up, chewed, and reduced to scraps and acids by the customer. A house of cards is built not for the moment that it stands, but the moment it falls.

Some have conceived of a midpoint between Law and Chaos, a force that seeks Balance between the opposites. However, the vast majority of the human race is allied to neither Law nor Chaos nor Balance, but to the eternal Cycle of the three.

The King of Birds' Daughter

Long ago, a prince went hunting and with his bow killed the daughter of the King of Birds. For this crime, the King of Birds chose to punish all mankind equally. He granted each of them gift of flight for a single day; now, forever after, they dream about the wings they once had.