Bartimaeus - comment 4 of more than 4!likesfootnotesSeptember 16 2011, 21:07:32 UTC
6. Personality:
Modesty is the very hallmark of a djinni like Bartimaeus, who would never dream of lauding his virtues, numerous accomplishments, and generally incredible nature over the multitudes of lesser beings that have no hope of ever attaining the brand of perfection trademarked to him. No, he would not dream of boasting that he had rebuilt the walls of Uruk, Karnak, and Prague; watched over Old Zimbabwe till the stones fell and the jackals fed on its people; or spoken with Solomon long before your ancestors were a sparkle in their ancestor's eyes. Nor would he proclaim that the titles Sakhk al-Jinni, N'gorso the Mighty, and the Serpent of Silver Plumes were his to claim, and most definitely not for the great many accomplishments he had made in the great many and terrible forms he had taken.
No, Bartimaeus would not do so, for he is a spirit most modest and meek.
There is also the matter of his possessing silver tongue, only with markedly less of the poisonous metal attributed to it. Bartimaeus likes to speak and there is no better topic of discussion than his conquests, abilities, or anything that might cast him in the better light. Quite the pompous braggart; it is of his opinion that if he's been dragged out and about, he might as well make the event colossal in the ears of others. Now, magicians brag about their accomplishments, regardless of having an audience or not, but Bartimaeus employs particular panache in this field. All words, inevitably, lead back to his formidable glory, be it through comparison, example, or simple statement.
When self-aggrandising ceases to be an option, he will typically shift to complaints about magicians, his summoning, and the tasks laid out to him. There is no task good enough to bear his admiration, though once he has completed it with his standard flair? Expect to hear about it for the rest of eternity. Though you can expect him to (mostly) shut whatever form his trap has taken when the matter of silence means his life or death, because he rather likes the former.
You see, one does not just reach five thousand years of persistent summoning on merely 'squeaking by'. Bartimaeus is a survivor who has learned well to look out for himself before others, be it for various reasons. When serving with spirits of similar level? They can take care of themselves and, if they cannot, then all the failure can go to them. When serving with spirits of lower level (or Faquarl those he simply does not favour)? The world is a better place if they are snuffed out like so many candles - wait, it's light bulbs now, right? The sentiment remains. When serving directly with his magician? There's no way he can fulfill the terms of his binding if he's dead.
Modesty is the very hallmark of a djinni like Bartimaeus, who would never dream of lauding his virtues, numerous accomplishments, and generally incredible nature over the multitudes of lesser beings that have no hope of ever attaining the brand of perfection trademarked to him. No, he would not dream of boasting that he had rebuilt the walls of Uruk, Karnak, and Prague; watched over Old Zimbabwe till the stones fell and the jackals fed on its people; or spoken with Solomon long before your ancestors were a sparkle in their ancestor's eyes. Nor would he proclaim that the titles Sakhk al-Jinni, N'gorso the Mighty, and the Serpent of Silver Plumes were his to claim, and most definitely not for the great many accomplishments he had made in the great many and terrible forms he had taken.
No, Bartimaeus would not do so, for he is a spirit most modest and meek.
There is also the matter of his possessing silver tongue, only with markedly less of the poisonous metal attributed to it. Bartimaeus likes to speak and there is no better topic of discussion than his conquests, abilities, or anything that might cast him in the better light. Quite the pompous braggart; it is of his opinion that if he's been dragged out and about, he might as well make the event colossal in the ears of others. Now, magicians brag about their accomplishments, regardless of having an audience or not, but Bartimaeus employs particular panache in this field. All words, inevitably, lead back to his formidable glory, be it through comparison, example, or simple statement.
When self-aggrandising ceases to be an option, he will typically shift to complaints about magicians, his summoning, and the tasks laid out to him. There is no task good enough to bear his admiration, though once he has completed it with his standard flair? Expect to hear about it for the rest of eternity. Though you can expect him to (mostly) shut whatever form his trap has taken when the matter of silence means his life or death, because he rather likes the former.
You see, one does not just reach five thousand years of persistent summoning on merely 'squeaking by'. Bartimaeus is a survivor who has learned well to look out for himself before others, be it for various reasons. When serving with spirits of similar level? They can take care of themselves and, if they cannot, then all the failure can go to them. When serving with spirits of lower level (or Faquarl those he simply does not favour)? The world is a better place if they are snuffed out like so many candles - wait, it's light bulbs now, right? The sentiment remains. When serving directly with his magician? There's no way he can fulfill the terms of his binding if he's dead.
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