The Undevoted
"While many in the world of Arcanorum, claim devotion and faith to the Deities in some capacity, not all do. Those that do not, have a myriad of reasons - whether they determine the gods are not worthy, or simply that they have devoted themselves to another, less divine, cause.
Whatever the case, the ‘Undevoted’, often find themselves adrift in the eyes of the deities, favored by none, though rarely shunned per se. However, those who pursue a more strenuous objection to the deities may find themselves cast from the view of the gods entirely, to unexpected fates, both grand and dismal.
Woe to those who rail against the gods, for they are real, and not above delighting in the cruel fates they are capable of bestowing."
Warning
Being a denier of the gods in an indisputably divine world comes with many challenges both obvious and otherwise. Be aware that the path of the Undevoted comes with disadvantages both roleplay and mechanical, and that these may not be apparent at the outset.
Description
Being without faith in a world dominated by living deities is no mean feat, however, there are those that deny the god’s their supposed right to be worshiped, venerated, and kowtowed to. Collectively, these few are called the “Undevoted”, but there is often little else that connects them to each other. Some Undevoted are simply unwilling to dedicate their lives in service to a divine being, while others harbor great resentment against the divine for causes great and small.
That said, with the divine sources of power no longer accessible, many devoted seek out other means to accomplish their goals, and a few well trodden paths emerge: Those who forsake magical power entirely, whom rely on skill, reason, and their fellow man exclusively, and then there are those who seek out the arcane exclusively, seeking magical power outside the divine realms.
Regardless of path, the Undevoted are no less valued in their communities, even if some may harbor hidden judgments or suspicions. Rarely is there a out and out disagreement between the faithful and the undevoted, but when they do happen, a tavernkeep guard earns their pay.
Among the long term and practiced Undevoted, certain techniques and abilities have arisen that counter the divine, and are often traded among the more well-traveled Undevoted, particularly those who seek to actively oppose the divine.
Tenets of The Undevoted
- False Divinity - The “gods” of this world are merely creatures - perhaps of exceptional power, but not immortal, omniscient, or all powerful.
- No Supplication - Veneration of the “gods” is unnecessary, and perhaps even degrading to the supplicant.
- Beware Covenants - The “powers” granted by the “gods” are magical in nature, and those with the will to pursue them need no overseer to access them.
- Mercy for the Sleepers - Those that do venerate the gods are welcome to do so, provided they harm no others in their actions by doing so.
- Guard Against Intrusion - The “gods” are real, and their actions affect a great many, and so they must be guarded against when necessary.
Official Name: The Undevoted
Primary Eye: Any
Accent: None
Qualifier: "The Undevoted"
Leader Title: None
Population: ~442,000
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light."
Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
~ Dylan Thomas