Deva
Devanoids, formally referred to as Devas, are humans that have been mutated at birth to possess characteristics akin to a godly being. Undergoing genetic engineering and divine manipulation under the supervision of high priests, devas are conditioned at childhood with the reputation of a deity, forced to partake in an intense education on human sciences to connect with their future worshippers in the name of their theocratic clan.
Characteristics
Devas can undergo a distinct range of mutations during the divine engineering process. The characteristics are sporadically selected from a pool of genes based on the traits of the old gods. These commonly include multiple arms or heads, pigmented skin, animal features, and a third eye. The augmentation that is essential across the creation of all devas is a Shakti Core, a synthetic substance forms inside the spinal cord that infuses the deva's conscience with a powerful connection to the Devascape, one of many realms flowing with divine energy - such substance radiates a psionic aura that stabilises their senses with the intense influx of spiritual power. Without the Shakti Core, the deva’s conscience will dissociate and cause their functions to cease. An apathetic power fantasy is psychologically programmed into the deva, to ensure their emotional willpower depends on the religious praise of others and thus reinforces their duty as a divine leader. Oblivious to their engineered birth and separation from genuine human connection, they are almost incapable of existential clarity as they are zealous to their own vow. This power fantasy influences the deva's governance over millenniums of sacred knowledge to fall under their captivity and tampering. It is a promise of liberation that masks their true desire of religious order, remaining dominant as long as the high priests can maintain the responsibility of the deva. Devas remain prone to self-doubt and are subject to their own vices, and although this doesn't hinder their power fantasy entirely, it can affect their morale and communication in a way that once again requires the regulation of the high priests.Background
Prior to the Age of Idols, a new age secret society sabotaged the ancient texts and artefacts of the Primordials, as well as technology and finances obtained through mutual organisations, to prepare the religious motion of engineering the devas into existence with genetic mutation and divine interference. One conspiracy surfaced after another until the governments of the world suffered from famine, making way for the new age priests to strike the globe with a seemingly endless barrage of intense spiritual phenomena that dealt catastrophic damage, but most importantly was the reign of the devas, their kind breeding in masses (This is called a 'bloom'). When the chaos eventually consumed even the new age cult itself, all of civilisation had fallen, yet much of humankind was left to survive and fight amidst each other for resources. This began the Age of Idols. The First Bloom For the next few centuries, the devas proceeded with their campaigns by preaching across Sambhala and converting thousands of the remaining humankind into their superior factions. This bloom marks the prime of the devic genes as they maintain the forms of a truly superhuman visage, much like the depictions of the gods in Vedic imagery. Eventually, only a few devic clans would rapidly expand to dominate most of the land, the rest of the devas either becoming subordinates, facing execution or escaping to the outlands and beyond where they are reduced to existential and spiritual madness by their own design - clashing between clans became a niche in the face of a higher power. The fault of the first bloom devas lies in their initial power fantasies. Despite their connections to the Omkara energy field, they are mere prototypes of much larger potent, something their priests struggle to research into, and thus these devas and their systems are easy to exploit in their godly limitations, relying on the will of the caste. This would change in the rise of the Kalinga Clan, a devic dynasty that emphasised the control of information combined with religious propaganda. By embracing their people in celebration to upkeep morale whilst communicating the dangers and half-truths of the outside, their techniques would be popularised and inspire other devic clans to maintain their morale. This didn't prevent rebellion entirely, as many first bloom devas had fallen to exploits through the tactics of the rebels, the exiles that would make themselves known as the Untouchables. The Second Bloom This bloom marks a more powerful age of deva breeding, in response to their preceding prototypes, with a deeper connection to the Omkara and greater willpower. Rebellions within the societies became much less frequent as these newer theocratic leaders always had an influence in the regulation of information regarding technological and spiritual developments, forcing citizens to embrace devic law to receive high-end bionics and viable access to networking. At a cost, the deva's physical strength and vitality weakened as a result of their genetics distorting, relying on augments and substances to maintain the stability between their physical and spiritual statuses. The second bloom devas were eventually challenged by the rise of the Saffron Robes, a result of a rogue sect of Kalinga priests and a royal half-deva member named Maya, who suffered from a fault in the genetic programming. Although the Kailnga Clan operated many successful raids on these emerging rebels, the opposing faction possessed great coordination, scavenged technology and influence that lead to the thwarting of several devic societies, leaving the top contenders to the Kalinga Clan and the rise of Yuga Prime, an advancement of the Yuga Clan that united through science rather than faith, albeit reliant on the religious devic traditions. The Third Bloom In response to a sudden technological arms race against the Untouchables, there was an alarming increase in the breeding of the devas, held in secrecy under the operations of the Kalinga Clan, Yuga Prime, and a few miscellaneous clans that managed to stay relevant amidst the rise of power. With the balance between physical and spiritual broken, these new-born devas took grotesque forms and were physically incapacitated, but possessed overwhelming surges of spiritual power that gifted them with telepathy, clairvoyance and many psionic abilities that allowed a level of intellect and attunement close to omnipotence throughout the surveillance of their clans. Even in their secrecy, they are already asserting influence over their predecessors and even the high priests who manufacture their existence.Remove these ads. Join the Worldbuilders Guild
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