Atheina: A Story of the Gods (WIP) [REVAMPED CHAPTER ONE; 21 August 2019]

[Aleksa100]

We could provide our ro with power to consume life to extend it
Also its not really my problem if half of your race got corrupted not my fault they poked evil artifacts

[Kanaya]

This pains me. I guess I probably won’t be having a RO in this book.

[Nazroth]

I’ll wait to see how the ROs among the 6 are and what immortal RO we’ll meet.

I must have hope lol.

[Koda222]

Not sure if you already answered this but do we have to return to earth?

[Shoelip]

I was going to ask if you just wanted the Dark Elves because they’re hotter than goblins, but I think this post answers that question.

@zenith8 At the beginning of the game one of the first options is whether the world/universe already existed or not.

[TheZod]

I just hope my conclusions were founded or at least were near the mark, lest I’m making a fool out of myself. Heh. @Darkner

[MichaelCrank]

after playing the demo

Behold! I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds!

Haha for real, I’m loving this!

[Darkner]

@Shoelip

Although it’s kind of confusing, if they’re creating the background story for a tabletop game how is anything happening that they don’t expect?

When you put it that way, then yes they expected the results that will come from their actions. What they don’t expect is that the the ‘imaginary’ world they created to come alive and have living NPCs.

Have you ever seen the card game ‘Once Upon a Time’? What I had in mind was a group of kids trying to make an interesting story. So one might start with “In the beginning there was nothing…” and another person would continue and try to add their own little twist “A primordial dragon spat out the entire planets…” and another person will link that up with another idea and twist.

But writing it like that, I feared it might confuse the reader very much having so many points of views interrupting the flow of the story. Therefore I only added a few interruptions to the narrative of the myths (Jonathan is usually the one who interrupts the creation myths to make a comment and is told to stop interrupting).

@Shoelip

One thing I can say is that it’s kinda strange how little attention it paid to the fact that everyone in your club disappeared one after another except you … which seems like it’d be a pretty big deal and put your PC in serious trouble with the authorities.

I never actually that about it like that. I thought maybe the authorities will try to protect the PC fearing that they might be taken next. But I see your point, I’ll have to change that.

@Shoelip

Still it’s a really interesting concept. What if the gods in a fantasy world were actually a bunch of gamers and authors creating a fantasy RPG who never realized they were making a real world?

That pretty much summarises the game

@TheZod

This is interesting. It sounds like the prayer of a soldier rather than an adventurer. Would this mean that the MC has some power as an entity of War as well? From the creation mythos it wasn’t clear if there was a God of War in the more traditional sense so it could be possible (seeing as the MC was the God that introduced pain into the immortals) that, later on, we would be able to provide blessings and sway the tides of warfare?

The PCs god has very destructive powers. You will find out that the general population of Atheina does not pray explicitly to you. They do recognise that you are one of the seven gods. Just saying your god’s name is seen as inviting death in their lives. Those who pray to you are usually goblins (and some other monsters) and people who do not mind going to the ‘dark’ side.

In this case it was a soldier asking to be granted powers

@TheZod

This is particularly interesting. Why would the MC receive such a prayer if Apseudes is clearly the matron of the patheon? Unless if this is one of the goblin creatures, which confirms that the goblins have developed into a complete society with its own culture. Not to mention that the “Forsaken” part means they are being persecuted and possibly enslaved by the more prominent races and their deities.

You are on the mark. Yes that is a goblin praying to their patron god. It would be difficult for the goblins to pray to Apseudes who is the patron god of the very elves that are conquering the goblin lands.

@TheZod

There must be something else that would make them go to such lengths to hinder the MC.

It’s complicated. There is an element of opportunism; growing one’s strength by conquering weaker neighbours that do not have their patron god to intervene. But also, not all actions done by the god’s creation is from the god them self. So it is entirely plausible that the others were not directly involved in the persecutions or ordered it.

@TheZod

So the Gods have established a reincarnation system but to what end would this serve? There must be something before, during or after the process of reincarnation that benefits the Gods. If that is the case, was this system unanimously implemented or was it something established by a single or a small group of the Gods? If it was a minority then how did they manage to keep it hidden from the other Gods or how did they cope with it?

It could be the case that the others also found the reincarnation system in place when they had arrived. There are features in the game of Atheina that was not implemented by the club. You will find out sooner what some of these are. But one of these new features are fantasy races that were not created by any one of the gods. Who or what put it there. And could this person or thing be the reason why your group is stuck in Atheina?

@TheZod

What sort of debts are being discussed? It must be a debt to the Gods because a mortal wouldn’t have the power to dictate whether or not their kin can reincarnate or not, which begs the question: what is the nature of this debt? Sins against the Gods? Or is it a far more frugal and political reason veiled as a sin?

This is a tough one, because it changes depending on what moral code you chose. There are no sins against the Gods if you chose there to be no divine moral code. However, that does not mean there are no standards to judge souls. Societal standards can be used for example. I can tell you now that it is not the Gods themselves that decide who gets reincarnated. I’m tempted to give more but that will be too much spoilery.

@TheZod

Since the MC is the ruler of the Underworld, it is assumed that the souls of the dead should reach the MC’s realm before being reincarnated. With the emergence of the MC does that mean the hold the Gods had in who gets reincarnated as what is lessened and thus they fear/despise the MC’s presence?

Since you have been away, there have been ‘stewards’ who helped administer the underworld. Someone had to do it, right? Their reactions to your arrival will be different. Some might hold a grudge. Not specifically for the souls but that the Underworld serves a really good highway, to smuggle goods around. Others will be happy and others indifferent. You will find out as the story continues.

@TheZod

This scenario is that they try to implement their ideal society in this newfound world, which means the Republic of Gnomes would be a mainly communist society with Jonathan as their moral compass.

Interesting

@TheZod

Chloe’s on the other hand would be far more difficult, the Elves would start off as tribes that follow different ideologies and war each other for supremacy until either Chloe herself steps in or a Fairy leader emerges and establishes a more universal code of laws that the other Elves abide to either willingly or by force

I must confess, I am impressed:
I think I did mention in some earlier post that one of the reasons Chloe is the most powerful is because of the strict theocratic state she guided the elves to create. But I never mentioned why even though Chloe was at first against having a moral code. You have discovered the main reason why she took such drastic actions

@TheZod

Luca : she did agree with Jonathan’s philosophy while simply not being as radical (could be comparable to Stalin vs Trotsky). So I can see the Gnomes and Fairies forming alliances against the Elves if it were to benefit them.

She did somewhat agree with Jonathan’s but let us not forget she is not as radical as him. I have yet to thrash out Luca’s personality in the prologue: but she is not someone who likes to dive deep into politics. She is more likely to seek peace and cooperation.

It is interesting you made an ideological analogy to Stalin and Trotsky. What Luca was presenting was more in line with Rawls’s principles of justice.

@TheZod

Being the deity of the Humans I think most of his distaste would befall the more monstrous humanoids such as Orcs, Goblins, etc. I believe the Humans would behave more like their typical fantasy/medieval counterpart than not and would probably only go against the Elves during the height of their imperialistic madness if they even decided to go against the humans in the first place

You must be a psychic. But Henry does not personally have a dislike for the Orcs and Goblins. But the humans on the other hand…

@TheZod

The most boring of the bunch, really. His complete disinterest in the creation of the world means him and his dwarfs would be secluded creatures, wanting to mind their business and no one else’s. Again, a fairly typical depiction of the dwarven kingdom.

I promise you, Dylan has many tricks under his sleeves. He also is going to be the character I thrash out in the prologue later on. In any case, where do you think the rare metals (Mithril, Orichalcum, and Adamanite to name a few) of Atheina come from? The dwarfs hold a monopoly on such minerals

@TheZod

This is an interesting topic - since it was never explicitly disclosed that any of the Gods possessed any form of omniscience I am speculating that they would be unawares of how, exactly, all of the races and societies would develop. This means that after the students entered this world, they became blind to the future and unable to alter its course so drastically and on a whim. This would incite fear, insecurity and paranoia into these young kids suddenly thrust into a position of absolute cosmic and immortal power. This generates isolation. The Gods would rather deal with their own races, something they can control, than actively look around them and try solving the issues of the world as a whole. This would create selfish and conniving gods and means their measures would be mostly reactionary instead of preventive. This also leads to a couple of interesting things.

True, they do not have omniscient. But gosh, you are so pessimistic. It does not have to be another Lord of The Flies scenario. What makes you think they cannot cooperate with one another?

@Noirix

Will there be an option of how your domain looks like?

Depends on the domain you are talking about. If you are talking about the Underworld itself, then currently I have no plans to customise it. But it will be interesting have an Underworld that looks pretty. I might add that later on the game.

If you are talking about worldly domain such as the Goblins, then yes.

@stsword

’m now picturing an Underworld modeled after Vegas.

Shouldn’t the Underworld be a place where you do not want to visit?

@anon45897839

One question, will be possible to have have a lieutenant or right arm in our evil deeds? I think this would be a cool addition.

Of course, every leader needs to delegate.

[Darkner]

@Kanaya

Also, I know you said you’d make non god RO’s. But might there be a way for us to give longevity to a particular follower of ours? Maybe not godhood but increased life, or perhaps immortality in a way? And make them a RO?

But I do not plan on adding mortals as ROs currently. Because the game is meant to span a long period in the world. I will see later on the game if it would be wise to make ROs out of mortals. But you will be able to romance other ROs besides the six gods though

@WeebIRL

I would assume our MC wouldnt be able to prolong a mortals life or make him/her immortal since the MC is supposed to balance the other gods, they are the typical god that create life and everything while our MC can only destroy and corrupt life

That is the problem. I have to go back to the drawing board and see if it is possible to extend a life by corrupting their body. Usually corrupting someone results in their lifespan shortening but in return they are granted a lot of power.

@zenith8

So basically if our MC had just arrived into this world as a physical god, does this mean they will retain the memories their own character had prior to the world’s creation? Did the world exist prior to the group’s story? Does that mean that every soul in the underworld is now linked to our’s? Such mysteries…

Indeed, such mysteries… But you do have your memories. At least some.

@Koda222

Not sure if you already answered this but do we have to return to earth?

No, you do not have to at the end.

@TheZod

I just hope my conclusions were founded or at least were near the mark, lest I’m making a fool out of myself. Heh.

Your conclusion were near mark. I am impressed. You have a sharp eye. You are challenging me to come up with more interesting but plausible plots now. But I will leave a few crumbs to help you along your dark path.

[kingzug]

Can we grant destructive powers to beings who pray to use like giving the future goblin king incredible strength. Just had a great idea if we gave beings pain can we temporarily take it away and make berserkers

[Darkner]

@kingzug

Can we grant destructive powers to beings who pray to use like giving the future goblin king incredible strength. Just had a great idea if we gave beings pain can we temporarily take it away and make berserkers

With great power come great responsibility. But yes, you can grant such powers. They are not limited to strength though.

[kingzug]

so we can create pain free, incredibly strong, durable, fast, and fearless berserkers I kind of hope we can gift the goblin shaman with the ability to create those with a magic ritual (Probably would make it costly to do so like significantly shortens there life)

[Darkner]

@kingzug, yes the price of accepting dark powers is shortening one’s lifespan.

[Nazroth]

Are undeads and necromancers a thing in Atheina? And what about demons?

[stsword]

Not want to visit the underworld?

Please, people are dying to visit!

[LSKnight]

You proud of that joke mate?

T_T

[MichaelCrank]

Man I love puns like that! So bad but yet so good.

[stsword]

Proud? Nope, I first heard that joke on Mork and Mindy, so it’s at least as old as I am.

Besides, the idea of the afterlife not being a pleasant place is entirely culture based.

The Egyptians’ obsession with death was more an obsession with the party not ending with death, for example. In Greek mythology, Hades’ domains ranged from places of punishment to never ending delight.

[Darkner]

@Nazroth

Are undeads and necromancers a thing in Atheina? And what about demons?

Magic exists, just like any other fantasy RPG. So Necromancy is open to those mortals who wish to partake in it. Demons, I have not included them in this world.

[PisceanLover]

Does Chloe agree or even like what the elves are doing? Or does she kinda just go along with it since she is their patron?