The Curse of The Chosen One : A Discussion on Destiny

[Locke cole]

I think that the whole "Chosen One " thing was done most interestingly by Super Paper Mario, of all things.

There's this dark book of prophecy prophesizes the end of all things, the (effective) antichrist figure who will usher in the end, and etc.
So, some other prophets actually draft an opposing book of prophecy that tells an entirely different future, and details the hero that will come to stop it.

Obviously, both prophecies detail the endgame and their respective victories, so you can't have both come to pass.

So, even though Mario is "chosen by prophecy", there's an equal and opposite prophecy that has it that he'll fail. So ultimately, the stakes are still quite high, because nobody can be sure which one will win out.

[The Artist Formerly Known as Hawk]

To be fair, my mage character might really think she's the hero, based on how crapsacky the rest of the world is. I mean I always got the impression that the Aldmeri Dominion were oppressive dicks, and the Empire is incompotent as hell, so why not take over and rule (can't do a worse job right?).

Of course, she does have some impressive credentials to back up her claim; Dragonborn, defeater of Alduin the World Eater (though I only killed him because he was an obstacle to my eventual world conquering plans), totally bitchin' supermage, has actual dragon allies, the backing of all the gods.

I'm sure the first thing she'd do once aquiring power would be to outlaw slavery, tell the Dominion to get fucked and go back to Dominioning over their own dominion, let the Nords worship whoever they want, that kind of thing. Really, the fact that she made sure she can't ever be assassinated becuase she happens to run the worlds only assassins guild isn't the mark of a tyrant, it's just good foreward planning! And running the theives guild is just to aquire start up cash, can't exactly run a continent without some initial investment.

She's a real hero.