[Gallagher]

My issue with that logic is the fact that "flaws" and "defects" are so subjective, and in practice are even harder to pick out.

The first issue being, how could you equate flaw to a defect? Is being obnoxiously loud equal to having a lazy eye? How would you even, what?

But let's say you can work out a system, something awesome and poetic, like the shallow turning blind or some other nonsense. Then the issue becomes, how do you define a personality flaw in the first place?

In purest form, there is nothing inherently wrong with any character traits. You only start to pick out flaws once you apply boundaries to what's acceptable - boundaries defined by such fickle things as age, gender, race, nationality... not to mention society as a whole, and the current situation in which two people are interacting. Being kind in some situations is, obviously, good, but in others it's naive or dangerous. Obviously people have to learn how to change the way they behave to survive (either literally or socially), and certain personalities will be better suited to some than others.

If that isn't complicated enough, you also have to consider how our behaviors are shaped by the ways we're raised. Some people, sadly, never overcome the negative influences in their lives. They always hang onto the negative behaviors and/or thinkings they learn. What counts in that situation? What others see, or the underlying personality?

In settings like ours, all "flaws" would only be perceived ones, I think. And the spirit doesn't give a shit about the rules you try to set for it. You might as well try and pick out a flawed set of fingerprints.

You can't. You have one, or you don't.

[Lawtan]

(Actually one person did something like that - but simplified it to being a "progressive corrupt limb" thing.)
It could be either "Limb came back partially decayed" or "person used up part of their potential life force" - older...
Or, the spirit corroded the unused pathways from the blind eyes to the brain, making Dante's blindness irreversible...
I would say it would be an effect of alcoholism or something...

*Note: not countering Galla's comment

*The Necromancer was a Frankenstein-like fellow who wound up in a conspiracy with a magical necromancer, was stalked by witch hunters, and became a "body-snatching" spirit in order to survive...

[Espy]

Not making an example specific to Dante -- this idea just popped up: Like, what if short-sightedness and such led to issues with a person's eyes, like near/farsightedness, and say...selfishness or a complete disregard for others resulted in blindness?

Yeah, I get your issues with it, and this system would be extremely limited anyhow. It was just a concept I was playing around with.

[Suzerain of Sheol]

Like I said, only a superior soul could develop consciousness sufficient to produce the quality "shortsightedness" -- such souls have transcended the body to which they were once bound, and to attempt to transmute them into the form of flesh once more would require an entirely different kind of ritual, and likely result in all sorts of strangeness if it were successful.

Basically, personality flaws are symptoms of the physical brain channeling the animation of the soul. If he were to bind Dante's body to a different corpse, for instance, the odds of Dante being the same person immediately after would be unlikely. He may *find himself* after a great deal experience, but he also be colored by the imprinted memories of the brain he was now using. If that makes sense.

[Salone]

If Na'lsa/Lev had been a character in the 80's.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HtSZaQqiBg

And if you want some good reads on the current subject, I highly suggest the Necroscope/Deadspeak series.

[Espy]

So FYI, Dante will do his best to kick Lev as hard as he possibly can in the crotch if Nalsa attempts to eat him. He also would like to mention that he prefers to not be dinner.

[Salone]

Originally Posted by Espy

So FYI, Dante will do his best to kick Lev as hard as he possibly can in the crotch if Nalsa attempts to eat him. He also would like to mention that he prefers to not be dinner.

I actually want this to happen.

Na'lsa is still getting the hang of this "being physical" thing. So far he's only inspired murderous rages, not actually been one.

That and the idea of a nearly timeless mad demon of Gluttony being kicked in the balls that aren't even his is kind of tickles me.

[Espy]

....-groans loudly and pretends to be asleep-

[Lawtan]

Kadia seconds that...
Rurik seconds the second...though metal may taste a bit weird anyway...

[Espy]

-snickers- I just may have to draw that.

[Lawtan]

*Kadia resists urge to make a Gluttony kebob*

[Espy]

Doubt that'd be tasty.

[Salone]

Funny you should mention taste.

[Espy]

-grumbles something incoherent-

[Lawtan]

-Tosses Na'lsa a snake corpse- Eat this!

[Salone]

I just figured the worst thing would be to endlessly experience hunger but to never taste what you consumed. Always filling but never filled, never sated, never satisfied. To consume the very spice of life but to only taste bland flesh. It just seems like it would be maddening.

A demon suffering from Hyposmia, pretty much.