Comment by Glew

Ooooooh
Seeing Xira witha temper is both new and terrifying D:
Up to this point he was the kind, dorky kid with the bunny-rabbit. But now he is all "I AM going to get it my way, and you WILL obey! ... Thanky :3"

I mean I am getting it right, right? He is implanting thoughts in the guy's head, right?
Hate to sound prejudiced, but Sev was totally right. Witches Are totally freaky. Sorry Xira, you may still prove us all wrong and be the Drizzt of the witches. Unless you secret plotting gets in the way.

Reply by Jade

Honestly, I don't really think it's prejudiced to be concerned about the damage a witch could do. People have a right to their thoughts and actions. Of course, it's not his fault that he has those powers, but it's...honestly? It's scary. I think Xira isn't going to do anything too nefarious, like, say, rob a bank, but I don't think anyone can be trusted with that kind of power. It's an overreach to be able to mess with someone's mind this way.

Reply by Heather

Yeah, I agree. I think what makes it more dangerous than any other kind is how insidious it is- if you take control of someone's body with your mind, they'll notice, but with this, you end up thinking it was your idea all along...

The question is how cluey the townspeople are, and whether later on we'll get a scene along the lines of 'hey, why'd you let them in?' 'I dunno, I just... did... Hey, wait a minute, I never did see that kid's hair'

Reply by Shazzbaa

re: implanting thoughts YEAH THAT'S MORE OR LESS IT, it's a spell we've seen him use at least once before!

Reply by Fal

But at least his thoughts-power fades, in, like, 15 minutes tops (probably as soon as the victims think back on what they said).
Jonan changed people's bodies against their will, and it takes a week to fade. That's freakier to me.
And when Sev turns into a squirrel he's basically invisible, and he can listen in on secrets and spy on people.
And if the healer-woman could get water inside Jonan's mouth and save his life, she could put it in someone's lungs and drown them.

I get why people would find witches freaky, but as someone who changes their mind pretty easily I can't see what is pretty much good persuasion skills as horrific (look at the bright side: he'd make an awesome psychotherapist). The puppeteer witches are far more scary to me.

Unless Xira is an unskilled witch and a better one could change people's opinions and memories in a way more permanent way?

Don't fall into the dark side, Xira!

Reply by Glew

That's a TOTALLY valid point! thank you!

I think this is similarly a perception based thing. Like how we are innately more afraid of flying than travelling by bus or car. but factually flying is safer, yet it Feels riskier.

I think thoughts are intangible and to US the audience, they are the most intimate things. We know our bodies can change, due to disease or accidents or aging. But if our thoughts change, that is way more existential.

That's a deep rabbit hole, though ,but interesting to think about.

Reply by Random Passerby

Plus, an older vote incentive suggested that most people kind of misunderstand witches and basically think all of them are puppeteers.

Reply by Heather

I suppose it depends on how well the power is used. If you influence someone as they are making a major decision, they may regret what they decided later, but the decision is still made. I suppose it's all about timing and, to an extent, psychology; if you implant an appealing enough idea, they may keep it on their own.