City of the Gods

On a certain world, continents circle the Inner Sea. At the center of this central sea, mountains rise from the water, hiding a sacred heart. This is where the Goddess of the Beginning descended to give this world the spark of life. This is where divinity lies, buried in the Holy Tomb. This is where you seized a piece of it for yourself.

How did you achieve this legendary feat?

[ ] You climbed the mountains, evaded the traps and guardians, and made it into the Holy Tomb!
[ ] You convinced the guardian of the Holy Tomb that you were worthy, and she let you pass.
[ ] You died, and when the God of the End appeared, you asked him to take you to the Holy Tomb. By his side, neither the sea nor the rocks nor the ancient deathtraps blocked you.

What drove you to seek godhood?

[ ] You cannot accept the world as it is. You need the power to change it.
[ ] You are, always will be, must be the best, and you believed the Goddess would recognize that.
[ ] You wish to take your domain to even higher heights.
[ ] Um, that's not really…you just wanted to see this place, you didn't mean to actually become a god!

What domain do you claim?

[ ] (Write-in)

Anything is up for grabs, unless it has already been claimed by another god. The QM reserves the right to veto ideas that are too silly, overpowered, or hard to write. Already claimed: Life, Death, Time, Justice, Politics, Sea, Heroism, Inquiry, Song, Maidenhood, War, Spring, Hunt, Love, Knighthood, Murder, Contracts, Secrets, Beauty, Luck, Magic, Cooking, Medicine, Wild Animals, and ProstitutesCrime.

In life, you achieved a particularly impressive record in one area…

[ ] You were a legendary hero, famed far and wide (+Renown)
[ ] You delved into the study of deep lore. You know as much about the secrets of the gods as any mortal (+Lore)
[ ] You devoted your life to honing your craft, achieving superlative skill and deep understanding (+Domain)

However, all have their areas of weakness. Yours is…

[ ] You never bothered interacting with others much, preferring to focus on your true interests (-Renown)
[ ] You never got much of an education, and you're really not too clear about this god stuff (-Lore)
[ ] Sure, you're good at it, but it's just a means to an end, not your whole life or anything (-Domain)

One thing has followed you from your mortal life:

[ ] A locket, containing a lock of hair
[ ] Your dear animal companion (Write-in) (Mounts and magical creatures are okay, but be reasonable please. A pegasus is okay, an ancient dragon is not.)
[ ] A magical item relevant to your domain (Chosen by the QM)

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So! I've been away from SV for a while, writing in various other places. This is...well, I spent the last two days building a world and pantheon inspired by an unholy combination of reading material, and I want to play in it. Let's have some fun!

[X] Plan: Star God
-[X] You died, and when the God of the End appeared, you asked him to take you to the Holy Tomb. By his side, neither the sea nor the rocks nor the ancient deathtraps blocked you.
-[X] Um, that's not really…you just wanted to see this place, you didn't mean to actually become a god!
-[X] You devoted your life to honing your craft, achieving superlative skill and deep understanding (+Domain)
-[X] You never bothered interacting with others much, preferring to focus on your true interests (-Renown)
-[X] Your dear animal companion (Phoenix)
-[X] Domain: Light

It was an accidental death. Not – and you will maintain this until your dying da – uh, for as long as you may live…dammit.

…Look, the point is, it wasn't a stupid death. Some things are just bad luck! In a bad winter, sap freezes in the trees, and they can explode, sending wooden shrapnel everywhere. That's not what killed you; that's what killed Mehr. You heard the splintery boom, and your curious friend's plaintive cries, and of course you went to investigate.

"Oh no, oh Mehr. Don't worry, I'll help you," you said, bending over stiffly in your winter layers. It was lying on the ground, wings spread, damage uncertain. There was a splinter the size of a finger in its chest, and the snow all around was melting from the heat of its blood.

Your friend looked at you, grateful. Then its head drooped, eyes closing. Phoenixes explode when they die. That's what killed you.

Well, to be perfectly precise, it was likely bloodloss, or exposure. You think you were alive for a bit, but it's all a painful blur that you don't like to think about. When the pain ends, you see a man, tall and stern, in a black coat over a gold robe. Actually a white robe, but one so thick with gold embroidery that it makes you instinctively want to bow. And then wonder why he's wearing that with such a shabby black coat. Even you know those things don't go together.

But he helps you up, so first you thank him. And then ask what he's doing in this forest, so far from civilization, during winter.

"I came here for you," he says flatly. It's a little intimidating, you must admit.

"Really? I don't think we've met. What's your name?"

"Bel."

"…Oh." You take another look at him. Yes, he's dressed weirdly. But there's a bone-handled sword on his belt, and there is something…something that looks like you, on the ground, in the snow. There's no denying it. The God of the End is here for your soul. You're dead.

You hear a weak cheep. "Mehr?" There's a little spot of bare soil, speckled with ashes. A downy little thing shivers in the cold. "Oh you poor thing!"

Your hands pass right through as you bend down to pick it up. You stay frozen in a mix of surprise and indignation – until Bel scoops up the phoenix chick and deposits it in your hands. It is warm, but not as much as it should be. You tug your woollen cloak aside and find Mehr a space to nestle by your collarbone. A phoenix needs someone to take care of it when it's still young and weak. Is Mehr going to be all alone now, far from its homeland?

"How long can you stay here?" you ask the god. "My friend can't be alone. Can we take it somewhere else?"

"I'm not in any rush," he replies.

"Oh – why? Surely other people are going to die, somewhere?"

"I'm also the god of time," he says, unconcerned. "I arrive exactly when I need to. And I can take vacations whenever I want."

That's actually very interesting, but you cannot afford to get distracted. You have the feeling it would still be rude to take too long. "Mehr?" you whisper into your cloak. "Do you want to go back to the Frankincense Forest?"

Mehr says something, bobbing its tiny head. You frown, and take it out to see better – Gods, it's much harder to understand when it's so small and high-pitched! From what you understand of the hand-sized chick's peeps and wobbly body language, it wants to finish what you started: the journey to Sumeru, the Sacred Mountain at the center of the world.

"Are you sure? Well then…uh, Great God Bel, we were on a pilgrimage when this happened, and we wish to complete it together. Could you possibly take us to the Sacred Mountain?"

"Sure. Take my hand." And with that, the God of the End showed his power: with each step he took, miles seemed to pass, forests and rivers and even the ocean seemed to pass without being felt. Cliffs loomed up from the turquoise sea – but only for a moment. You walk a few steps through darkness, and emerge in an underground hall, lit with a sourceless green glow. The waxy stone all around you could be green, or another color – it rises in steps toward a central plinth.

You put one hand on your hips; the other is holding Mehr. "Where's the mountain?"

"Oh, we're inside it already."

Mehr gives an excited werrrk. "No, that's presumptuous – uh…Is this the Holy Tomb?"

"Mm-hm. That is what pilgrims usually want to see, right?"

You sputter, "Pilgrims aren't allowed in here!" while Mehr starts flapping its stubby wings, begging to get closer.

"If that self-proclaimed 'guardian' shows up to annoy us, I'll deal with her," Bel says with utter casualness.

You give up. Your life – er, afterlife – is just too extraordinary. You can't fight it. So you approach the plinth, noting the strange atmosphere of this place. It's not just your nervousness - there is a buzzing on the edge of hearing, a tingling on the edge of feeling. The air feels too rich to breathe deeply. Curiosity compels you forward.

Ascending the steps, you see that the top of the plinth sinks into a pool. The surface of the water reflects the green light. You wonder if it would be nice to wash your hands and face in the sacred water. Then you wonder if it's water. El, the Goddess of the Beginning gave her life on this spot, to breathe the seeds of life into the world. It might be a pool of blood.

You set Mehr down on the stone. "Mehr, I need some light." The little phoenix hears you. His pale-gold down starts sparking – he chirps and flares it as bright as he can. The introduction of some warmer light into this sickly-green space is comforting. You lean over the pool. It doesn't reflect your face. You see a night full of stars, and – after a delay, the reflection of someone's head poking over the edge. It looks like a girl?

"Ooh," she says. "I like your attitude." Then comes the third explosion of the day.

Once the surge of heat, warmth, and light has faded, Bel helps you up again. "Two in one year. That's never happened before. Separately, I mean. Those three from Drachleona managed to ascend all at once."

You feel dizzy. You seem to have tumbled all the way down the stairs. "I'm sorry I made the Goddess explode," you mumble.

"El doesn't mind it. She left a pool of her blood there on purpose, you know."

"So it is blood! Oh no, am I covered in blood? Mehr, are you all right?"

It gives an affirmative coo.

"Well you did get covered in divine blood, yes. The phoenix too. You excited it, I guess."

"It doesn't seem to have stained my clothes – what do you mean I excited the pool of blood?" you grumble, going to scoop up Mehr once more.

"You…impressed it? Resonated with it, maybe." The god shrugs. "I'm not, you know, really into the theory. Ask the God of Inquiry if you want to know more." Mehr peeps a question. "Yeah, I think I'll take you there now."

"Uh, I think it was being sarcastic – you don't actually need to take us to the City of the Gods—"

"No, I do. You're gods now. Light, I think. That's broad." There is a stunned silence. "Hm, I should have led with that," Bel says to himself. "I never get any better at this. Well, the other gods can welcome you properly. What should I tell them your name is? Sometimes people like to take a new name when they ascend."

Your dizziness is getting worse. "Uh, uh…"

[ ] (Write-in a name)

Mehr indicates that its current name is fine.

"And pronouns please. They're all going to gossip like bored noblewomen, they need to know how to call you."

[ ] (Write-in pronouns)