A trinity is a fairly compelling concept, only one aspect can ascend to full godhood, but it does make for an interesting thought. Here's an idea, no idea how interesting it is though:
[] [Piety] Some new side (Write in a name and domain)
-[] Name: Radelleh, he who embraces all granting hope and light to even the most reviled of beings.
-[] Domaine: Protection, Hope, Healing
For now though, I'll vote for this option:
[X] [Piety] None; you will not kindle a specific part of you
[X] [Alafair] Set up a rumor mill in Leyndell
-[X] 60 Runes
It's probably more in character top compel the Fire Monks, but I'mma choose this anyway because heresy:
[X] Subdue them with St. Trina's Blessing (Piety check, Prowess if you fail)
-[X] Flee (You will succeed; intrigue check to see how well you get away)
[X] [Piety] Some new side (Write in a name and domain)
-[X] Zeno, god of Yearning and Curiosity, Primary Color: White
I like the trinity idea and with Trina's Purple and Miquella's Yellow motifs canceling out each other a God who's color is White seems appropriate
Edit: I'd like a more offensive option for Miquella, since we have the passive support/de-buff with Trina, the main aspect is a Jack-of-all thing going on, a more battle-oriented aspect might be for the best. In the same way Radagan is for Merika.
[X] [Alafair] Set up a rumor mill in Leyndell
-[X] 60 Runes
[X] Charm them, compel their affection (Diplomacy, gain the effects of Charisma of Miquella for this check, Prowess if you fail)
-[X] Have them stay here (You can recruit them at any point)
--[X] Do you tell them to do anything while they stay (50 Mundane Resources)
[X] [Alafair] Set up a rumor mill in Leyndell
-[X] 60 Runes
[X] [Piety] Miquella the Kind, nascent god
[X] Charm them, compel their affection (Diplomacy, gain the effects of Charisma of Miquella for this check, Prowess if you fail)
-[X] Have them stay here (You can recruit them at any point)
--[X] Do you tell them to do anything while they stay (50 Mundane Resources)
I did not play in the elden ring only watching videos about the Lore of the world and I sincerely do not understand how people live in a world where the rune Desitned Death is sealed. But didn't it mention earlier that people don't die of natural causes?
Hunting was a simple task, one that you now had people who could help you with. You were running low on supplies while Desitned Death was not here, sealed away as it was. Starvation would drive your men to madness. It didn't matter that they couldn't die; starvation would render all but the most devout hollowed out of anything resembling sanity in time.
Starseer: The stars may be locked in stasis and yet Galdrik can see how they could move. He cannot chart fate as he did in his youth, he will never live up to his title not so long as the stars are held in stasis but he still can see glimpses.
If taking his advised Action reroll it upon failure and take the new roll even if it is lower, otherwise he will reroll his Personal and Assigned Action
This trait will be upgraded should the stars be freed from stasis
[X] [Alafair] Set up a rumor mill in Leyndell
-[X] 60 Runes
It's probably more in character top compel the Fire Monks, but I'mma choose this anyway because heresy:
[X] Subdue them with St. Trina's Blessing (Piety check, Prowess if you fail)
-[X] Flee (You will succeed; intrigue check to see how well you get away)
I did not play in the elden ring only watching videos about the Lore of the world and I sincerely do not understand how people live in a world where the rune Desitned Death is sealed. But didn't it mention earlier that people don't die of natural causes?
It's not technically death, it's more that he's so old that there is a chance that one night his soul just gives up. while his body may be able to keep moving his mind and soul cannot and should not have exist for as long as they have. So there is a small chance he goes to bed one night and is trapped in old dreams as his mind refuses to wake up. However it's close enough to death and easier to say than "weird dream death like thing"
[X] [Alafair] Set up a rumor mill in Leyndell
-[X] 60 Runes
[X] [Piety] None; you will not kindle a specific part of you
[X] Subdue them with St. Trina's Blessing (Piety check, Prowess if you fail)
-[X] Flee (You will succeed; intrigue check to see how well you get away)
I see no point in not trying to subdue the monks.
In the end, we did not go to the most remote corner of the world and hide our identity in order to leave such information with an enemy group.
So we either subdue the monks or send Malenia to exterminate them in order to plug this data leak and the sooner the better so as not to give them room to maneuver.
[X] Charm them, compel their affection (Diplomacy, gain the effects of Charisma of Miquella for this check, Prowess if you fail)
-[X] Have them stay here (You can recruit them at any point)
--[X] Do you tell them to do anything while they stay (50 Mundane Resources)
[X] Charm them, compel their affection (Diplomacy, gain the effects of Charisma of Miquella for this check, Prowess if you fail)
-[X] Have them stay here (You can recruit them at any point)
--[X] Do you tell them to do anything while they stay (50 Mundane Resources)
It's a pity if it wasn't for that, we would have been able to send her to destroy the guardian of the tree. But in any case, this matter is now a priority due to the fact that, unlike the guardian, the monks can begin to actively act.
"You will set up a network in Leyndell," you told Alafair. The man nodded as he tucked away his instrument, keeping the ingot you had given him close to his chest at all times,
"Here are the funds I am able to spare," you said as you gestured, and the barest fragments of the Elden Ring spun out of your chest with a faint glimmer. Your newest recruit accepted with a faint frown and nod.
-60 Runes (80)
"I do apologize, but this will not get me far, not in the capital. I will do what I can," Alafair replied with a faint bow. You could tell he wasn't used to the formalities he likely excited you to demand. However, you didn't care; you would rather he serve you as he could and not be bothered by formalities.
"Do what you can," you told him. He nodded as he kept packing his goods away. You then left, trusting him to set something up.
+Leyndell Rumor Mill
You ignored the idea of cultivating a part of yourself. You were not just Miquella or St. Trina; you were both. If you were to kindle only part of that, wouldn't it stifle the other parts of you?
You didn't know enough to say for certain, so you would take the harder route and kindle your entire being—not Miquella or St. Trina but your entire self, every scrap and mote that made you.
Training Piety
94 > 90 Success
+1 Piety (39)
It took time and quite a lot of effort, but you managed. You could feel your soul creak open as you breathed divinity. You wondered if this was how your sister felt; you ignored that feeling.
You rose to your feet and departed from your house; you had taken another of your long steps toward divinity. There were many more, but you were making progress.
You were not going to be flensed by this man's God. You knew it was the same one that lurked in the chest of the Fire Giant, but you would not be sacrificed to it. To be a sacrifice was to be held in the power of another, and the blood of Empyrean may just be enough to allow this God to return from the body of its only worshipper.
You would not abide by that. Your new Age had no room for Outer Gods. There would be no meddling; you would not accept it. So you drew on that part of you that presided over sleep and swung a hand.
Subdue them with St. Trina's Blessing
48+39(Piety)+30(St. Trina's Blessing) = 117
Purple mist exploded over the entire fortress, a product of your divine will. You had commanded them to sleep, and so your godhead enacted that change on the world. You were not a true good; you were just kindling to your mother's bonfire. Yet even kindling could burn, and so your mist tugged at eyes and whispered in ears.
Fire Monks Resist
9+10(Piety)+10(Touch of the Fell God) = 29 < 117 Fail
The lesser Monks succumbed quickly to the faint touch of their God, not enough to protect them. You heard thuds as they collapsed; fires they had been tending to spill out across the open stone.
Arghanthy Resist
3+17(Piety)+20(Touch of the Fell God) = 40 < 117 Fail
Arghanthy resisted longer than his Monks. He rose to his feet, the shield fashioned in the face of the Fire Giant held tall. You observed him as he strode forth through your purple mists that swept around his ankles.
"I will not succumb to such lowly tricks!" he shouted, but you could tell the vigor burning in his chest was fading quickly. You were proven correct as he staggered and fell to the ground fast asleep, and a feminine voice whispered dreams of sleep into his ears.
The Guilty did not succumb; a few wavered on their feet, but the vast majority stood strong. Blood leaked from empty eye sockets as they drew power from whatever bloody idol they worshipped; it was enough for them to stay awake and alert.
You started at that. You did not expect anybody to remain awake after you exerted your power. You could not flee as they blocked your path, so you called on St. Trina's Blessing and Golden Fundamentalism as you prepared to fight.
You ran down the hallway, your feet slapping against the stone. You knew that the Guilty were still awake. The others would not wake for some time, enspelled by your magic as they were. However, you were not a fighter, so you would do your best to flee.
As you turned the corner, you saw two Guilty. The first raised his staff and sent a whip of bloody thorns snapping against the ground. You darted to the side and swung your hand out, sending a scattershot of golden light at them.
The Guilty stumbled back as you charged past them; however, the other one slammed his staff on the ground, and thorns exploded from the ground surrounding the hallway.
"Stay here!" he shouted, and you could hear the hunger in his voice. You ignored it and pushed through the bloody thorns, ignoring how they opened lines on your arms. You had very rarely been hurt before, and the pain was like a cold splash of water down your back.
The Rune of Heresy burned in your veins, and your soul was spinning like an infernal engine, so you kept moving.
Even with your soul burning, powerful magic, and beck and call, you were still the size of a child. It galled you, but you couldn't cover all that much distance, so it was easy for you to be sandwiched between two groups of Guilty.
Bloody thorns surrounded you as the Guilty slowly approached. They were attempting to box you in, and it was working. Your eyes darted around as you reached out and slung a disc of golden light. It sheered the thorns to shreds as you started running again, your breathing spreading the mists of whispers of St. Trina.
The Guilty sagged, and the one hit by your disc fell back, cut in twain. However, more thrones caught your body with the crack of a whip. You screamed, and whatever magic they were using sent your nerves alight as you fled.
You wanted to stumble and fall, collapse to the ground, and succumb to the pain, but you didn't. You wouldn't just lay down; you had your dear sister to look after. You knew what would happen if you vanished one day; she would sit down and wait, wait for you to return. Depression would claim her, as it nearly did so many years ago. You couldn't stay here and let that happen.
Your soul burned anew as faint sparks were kicked up from your running. You seized a solid rod of light and hurled it at the brick of the castle wall. It shattered in an explosion of gold and regression. You jumped out, landing in the courtyard surrounded by sleeping Fire Monks as more Guilty attempted to approach.
"Stay! Please, oh please, stay!" one of them shouted, his briar face warped into a pleading expression. They wanted you to stay, and you knew why. The blood of an Empyrean was potent, and to the blood-drunk scholars, you had no doubt they would find it a delicacy.
You ignored that as you kept running, this time heading for the gate.
The Guilty scrambled to keep up, bloody thorns flying past you and what few were by the gates attempting to stop you with whips and summoned briars. You dodged what you could and subdued the others with purple mist and blasting gold.
You emerged from the castle and kept running, this time through a layer of thick snow. The Guilty purposed for some time, but when it was clear they could not stop you, they returned to the castle.
You had no doubt they would be planning to hunt you down, so you kept moving even as your back screamed in pain and blood trickled down into the snow.
Covering your Tracks
92+29(Intrigue) = 121
You did your best to cover your tracks. You moved back and forth, spreading your blood in areas to make it look like you rested before struggling on. You also managed to find a cave that, with a bit of effort, you filled with signs of habitation.
It was the best act of deception you could manage, and frankly, your wounds were getting worse, so you started to head back to your people.
You arrived back, and your wounds were healed. It may be hard to do in the thick of combat, but you are a master of Golden Fundamentalism. Give you a moment, and you can ensure that anything that is not death is cured. Now that Destined Death is sealed, you can cure everything.
That is a bit hyperbolic, but there is always a faint giddiness that comes with using Golden Fundamentalism; when that warm light fills you, you are drawn back to your father. His red hair and you learning at his feet, you gifted him spells of your own and can't help but remember that time fondly. You may have distanced yourself from the Golden Order, but you would never regret that time you spent with your father.
"You Holiness, are you okay?" a hunter shouted as he ran over. You frowned as you looked down; your wounds were healed, so why was he concerned? It was only as the man was ushering you towards your home, careful not to touch you and always with a certain reverence, that you realized your clothes were still damaged. Heresy was burning, and it had kept you warm enough that you had forgotten.
"What happened?" Somnus asked as you sat in front of the fire. You enjoyed the warmth even if it paled compared to the magma in your veins.
"The Fire Monks did not appreciate a rival goddess," you explained. It was technically true, and you would not reveal you were a scion of the Golden Order. You had no doubt the people here harbored no love for them, which was why you had ran with the name St. Trina.
Somnus scowled, but you raised your hand as you noticed your dear sister was not around. You would have expected that she would be here the moment you returned.
"Put that out of your mind. Where is my sister?" you ordered. Somnus nodded as he replied.
"Your sister has left to cleanse the catacombs you discovered, your holiness," he told you in a deep bow. The stiffness of his jaw told you he wanted to say something. He wanted you to hunt down the Fire Monks for daring to harm you, but he would submit to your will.
"Very well, we must make preparations before she returns," you told your loyal follower, who looked up confused.
"She will not be happy that I was hurt."
Preparation
54+35(Martial)+12(Great Rune of Decay) = 101
Clearing the Catacombs
61+65(Prowess)+12(Great Rune of Decay) = 138 > 60 Success
Searching for Loot
79+22(Intrigue)+12(Great Rune of Decay) = 113
You had taken the time to ensure your clothing was repaired and were hearty. The people here could not replicate the skills and fabrics of the capital, but you hoped that your sister wouldn't notice. It was a vain hope, but she would have wanted to march to war if she had learned you were injured. That may be your plan, but you wanted to think first, even if you wanted to kill them all for trying to kill you, of course, but denying you. The two of you could have built something great, but Arghanthy had ruined it.
You cast those thoughts aside as Malenia returned. She strode through the snow, a small satchel tucked in her clothes. You had requested that she retrieve things of interest, and it seems she had done so.
"How was your expedition?" you asked her as she settled in the chair across from you. Worry had gnawed at you as the time for her return came closer and closer. You knew she was the strongest, but you couldn't help but worry.
"There was no problem; the preparation was simple, and the only thing that could challenge me was a massive spirit. The most time-consuming part was searching for resources," she told you, a faint, satisfied smile on her face. She was your blade, but that didn't mean she had no other hobbies. She enjoyed improving herself, and up her, she hadn't much cause to fight, so shaking off the rust was something she must have enjoyed.
+1 Golden Seed (1)
+2 Semi-Ethereal Grave Gloveworts (2)
+2 Semi-Vitrified Smithing Stones (2)
+1 ??? Spirit Ashes (1)
+1,500 Runes (1,580)
+3 Great Rune of Decay Progress (35/100)
You felt the Runes she had gathered surge into a faint glow of light. For a moment, you felt greater as the shattered fragments of the Elden Ring suffused your being. You shook aside the thought as you opened the satchel.
It was an eclectic mix of items: a single brilliant gold seed, plants that seemed slightly out of phase with reality, small bits of stone that you recognized for blacksmiths, and a tiny box that, when opened, revealed ashes.
You picked up one of the smithing stones and looked it over. You were not a blacksmith, but you knew these held power; they could empower weapons. You didn't know the process and had no doubt they would go unused until you could entice a skilled blacksmith to your nation. You had blacksmiths, but they were the mundane sort, not the kind to use them.
You would have to store the rest until you knew what you wanted to do with them.
Continue approaching the Fire Giant [HERESY] and [CHARM]
15+40(Diplomacy)+20(Charisma of Miquella)+19(Great Rune of Heresy) = 94 < 120 Fail
You approached the Fire Giant once again, your tongue dipped in silver and your veins burning with heresy. However as you settled yourself into where you normally met you noticed the last of his kind was not looking at you.
As you opened your senses and peered into the Fire Giant you noticed something, the God that dwelled within smoldered. It had taken umbrage at your assault of it's followers few as they were. You understood why, as weak as it was what little remained of it's cults would be a preciouses resources.
You didn't agree, they had tried to claim you and sacrifice you. However so long as this God's anger dwelt in the Fire Giant it would be harder to approach it. Your charm and Great Rune had been working though so you weren't back to square one.
So you rose to your feet and departed, there was no reason in sitting around if the Fire Giant was only going to stew in anger.
Vote by Plan
Remember you have [HERESY] and [CHARM] additions
[DECAY] addition can only be added to the Action Malenia is taking
Malenia can be assigned to both a Personal Action and a Nation Action, using her stats for the latter
You have an Astrologer Vote
[] Recruit Followers: You need people to help you, and the nearby villages may be taken into the fold. Of course, they are suspicious folk so that it may be difficult.
-[] From where (Currently available: Small Villages)
[] Seek Sapient Allies: You are going to be wandering about and trying to find people willing to help you. This will be dangerous given where you are, and Malenia will hate it, but you need more than humans if you want to move forward.
[] Approach the Guilty: Heretics who blooded glintstone with both innocent vitals and their own. They may be mad and possibly attempt to attack you, but allies are sorely needed.
-[] Recruit with blood (Reduce one random stat by 1. Gain 30 Guilty)
-[] Recruit with Runes (-15 Runes/Turn. Gain 30 Guilty)
-[] Attempt to win them over (Diplomacy. Gain 30 Guilty)
[] Approach the Zamor: You do not know if any ancient enemies of the Giants remain, but if they do, you would be able to gain potent allies—or at least take the first step towards that.
[] Continue approaching the Fire Giant: It may not directly attack you but you can sense the hatred burning behind it's eyes, it is just tired and so it does not attack you. It may take some time but you are willing to put in the effort to cool that hatred.
[] Write-in (Something else, must be approved by QM)
[] Mount an Expedition: You have something you want to explore, a place that you can plunder for loot and goods. You may not have an army but Malenia will serve as one.
-[] Where do you go? ()
[] Assault the Fire Monks: They attempted to murder you and offer your blood to the Fire Giant's God. This will not stand, and they may attempt to assault you, strike out, and ensure they make no trouble.
-[] Who do you bring? (Write in)
[] Raid the villages: A more violent method of procuring what is needed, but sometimes you have no other choice. Put a village to the sword and ensure nobody is allowed to escape; you will have your supplies. [Gain a random amount of food, a random amount of Mundane Resources and a small chance of Weaponry]
[] Secure Food-Hunting: Another option is to strike out and secure your food from the flesh of animals. The beasts here are hardy and used to hiding, so that it will be hard. [Gain 10 Food]
[] Write-in (Something else, must be approved by QM)
[] Gather Resources: Lumber, stone, and many other things that are needed to build a settlement. You have none of them and will need to gather them. Given the lack of people to help, it will be challenging, but you'll power through it [Gain 5 Resources]
[] Gather Magical Resources: If the lack of simple resources is an issue, the lack of magical ones will be a bigger problem, especially this far north. Even something as simple as seals and staves will be out of your control until you gather some [Gain 1 Magical Resource]
[] Secure Food-Gathering: A more peaceful method, herbs, berries, and other such things. The possible stock you can gain is much lower, but the chance of stumbling across something deadly is also much lower [Gain 5 Food]
[] Build something: You have the people but need a place for them to work. You know the blueprints for a few things, so let's get to work.
-[] What do you build?
(Houses: 5 Mundane Resources
Hunting Lodge: 5 Mundane Resources
Woodcutter: 5 Mundane Resources
Research Lab: 7 Mundane Resources, 3 Magical Resources
Observatory: 3 Mundane Resources, 1 Magical Resources
Glintstone Woodworker: 5 Mundane Resources, 1 Magical Resources
Blacksmith: 4 Mundane Resources
Mine: 5 Mundane Resources, Requires a Mine
)
[] Write-in (Something else, must be approved by QM)
[] Loot the Catacombs: Your dear sister slew everybody in and brought back what she could. You can send your own men down there to loot whatever she left behind. However there is a risk of rot that your sister exuded. [Take whatever Malenia missed]
[] Search for Magical Resources: Now that you have Astrolgers working with you you can start searching for Glintstone mines. It will take some time but a steady supply of it will be required for bigger projects [Gain access to a Glintstone Mine]
[] Information Gathering: Up here, away from the rest of the world, information is going to be hard to come by. However, Traveling Merchants do rarely make their way up here and you may be able to tease tales out of them. [Learn a random Rumour]
[] Secret Hunting: Here, at the top of the world, many secrets are hidden away. You don't know what you find, but if you want to learn, you'll have to head out and seek out hidden sights. [Discover the location of something useful]
[] Write-in (Something else, must be approved by QM)
[] Study Something: There are many things you do not have a full understanding of. You may not have much, but you are smart, and that should be enough [Improve your understanding of an item]
-[] What? (Runes, Unalloyed Gold, the Sapling, Sacred Tear, Grave Glovewort, Smithing Stone, Spirit Ashes)
[] Plant the Sapling: What may be a tree like the Erdtree has been brought here. However, it is confined to a pot and slowly withering away. You may be able to keep it alive, but for it to thrive, it must be planted in soil and allowed to grow [Plant a spaling that will grow with time]
[] Catalog the surroundings: This mountaintop is wild and free; the first step to understanding the more esoteric is understanding the basics. You'll need to write down what you find before you can delve deeper [Reduce the DC of certain Actions and gain information on the surroundings]
[] Research a new building: You are smart and need more if you want to grow. So sit down pen in hand and start working on blueprints
-[] What do you want this building to do? (Write in)
[] Write-in (Something else, must be approved by QM)
[] Spread the word of St. Trina: That other part of you is not known here, but given some time, she may be. As proven by your mother, religion is a potent tool. However, you don't want word of you getting out. so a lesser part of you will serve as a figurehead. [Improve Morale of people when recruited]
[] Spread the word of Miquella: You are not known here, perhaps to a select few, but beyond that, you are merely a newcomer. As proven by your mother, religion is a potent tool, and you do not fear those you may speak word of you. [Improve Morale of people when recruited]
[] Collect donations: You are low on everything from food to Runes; a few donations may be needed if you want to survive. It's not as effective for relation building as blessing without asking for something, but the folk may be convinced to part with their goods in exchange for a few blessings. [Gain a small amount of Runes]
[] Bless nearby villages: A prayer for rain here, a small bit of healing there. The people here are without gods, but that does not mean they will deny your help. This may be the first foot in the door for better relations with the more paranoid villages. [Reduce DC for nearby villages]
[] Set up a proper Religion: So far many people have heard the word of St. Trina but you need something proper, something official that people will fall in line with.
-[] What is the name and overall tennets? (Write in)
[] Write-in (Something else, must be approved by QM)
Personal Actions
[] Develop a spell: If you want to solve problems, the simplest thing is magic. You have great knowledge of Incantations so why not figure out a solution from that? [Piety]
-[] What field and what do you want it to do? (St. Trina's Blessing or Golden Fundamentalism)
[] Research magic: To expand your understanding, you'll have to delve deeply into magic, both old and new. You won't be seeking out new spells but explorations of old understandings or delving into what new magic can be found here. [Piety]
-[] What field (St. Trina's Blessing or Golden Fundamentalism)
[] Simplify the recipe for Unalloyed Gold: Your wonder metal is incredible but very hard to make. Only the most skilled of smiths in the capital could forge it; if you want to spread it, the recipe will need to be written in plain terms. [Learning] (3/10 Progress)
[] Forage for a seal: Without a focus on your magic, it's still potent but not as good as it could be. It will be challenging, but you may be able to find one here. [Intrigue]
[] Focus on your Great Rune: You must cultivate that burning in your breast if you wish to claim godhood. That lava in your veins will grow as you attune to it. [Piety]
[] Cast a spell: You have magic you can bring to bear, why not use it and show what you can use?
-[] What spell do you cast?
[] Train a stat: You must be better if you want to claim the throne. This is merely the first step.
-[] What stat (Diplomacy, Martial, Stewardship, Intrigue, Learning, Piety, or Prowess)
[] Guard Miquella: It is nearly impossible for you to get rid of her for some time. So you'll have to grin and bear it for the next while as she never lets you out of her sight. [Prowess]
[] Maintain Miquella's Gift: The prosthetic is a hardy thing, but it is also delicate, needing proper mince to ensure it is unmarred. Your sister will sit down with her tools and do just that. [Learning]
[] Cultive the Rot: A deadly bargain, but you will need more potent aid to survive. This is not blooming; you would never ask your dear sister to bloom. However, you would ask her to bring the Scarlet Rot to the surface for a time. [Piety]
[] Focus on her Great Rune: she holds a fragment of the Elden Ring in her breast. It curdles in her veins, and given time, she may allow it to blossom into a ring of its own. [Piety]
[] Train a stat: She believes she must be better if she wants to properly serve as your blade. This is merely the first step.
-[] What stat (Diplomacy, Martial, Stewardship, Intrigue, Learning, Piety, or Prowess)
[] Develop a spell: If you want to solve problems, the simplest thing is magic. He has great knowledge of sorcciers so why not figure out a solution from that? [Learning]
-[] What field and what do you want it to do? (Glintstone Sorcery)
[] Scry the stars: The stars may be held in stasis and Galdrik's sight may be weaker but if he spends some time he may just be able to support your entire nation with a few tidbits of advice. [Learning]
-[] What extra Action do you apply Starseer to?
[] Rest: Galdrik is ancient, he has lived much longer than any non-demigod should, or even could. However he still is alive, and yet his soul and mind are flaking away. Given time to rest he'll restore his mind and soul even slightly.
[] Train a stat: He must be better if you want to stand behind you. This is merely the first step.
-[] What stat (Diplomacy, Martial, Stewardship, Intrigue, Learning, Piety, or Prowess)