The Gods That Remain Species in Ithekshem | World Anvil

The Gods That Remain

Divinity isn't what it used to be.  
— Haeltuth, formerly the Celestial Hunter, the Scourge of Winds, the Patron of Sailers (currently, baker)
  A great many things died with the End of All Things, including most of the more powerful gods. Among the chaos and the casualties, someone, somehow, slew the concept that Gods Are Powerful Beyond Mortal Ken. Such a law had been written into the very fabric of reality since time immemorial and though gods had previously died or ascended, this was something different. Powers that were formerly at their beck and call were no longer there, and the slings and stones of mortals suddenly carried real threat to the gods that remained.   Gods are still powerful, but they are no longer so powerful that they don't need to watch their backs.  

Divinity Lost

After the End, all gods that remain are in Ithekshem and walk the world in the flesh. Their home planes are destroyed and only fragments remain as meteorites that occasionally pepper Ithekshem. Out of all the creatures cast into the new disorderly world, few are so shellshocked as the previously divine, as they must content and even fight with things that would before have merited little more than a glance and summary destruction. Some are wandering, trying to figure out a way to restore things to the way they used to be, while others remain within congregrations of their followers and try to make the best of things. Many still are trying to figure out what to do about the afterlife.   Others have been slain or captured, and the corpse of a divine being holds immeasurable value no matter how far it has fallen. It is a dangerous new world for the gods, and the survivors are humbled.
 

Divine Magic

Nothing has seen more upheaval than the magic of clerics and priests. Nothing works the way it is supposed to there, with gods either dead or powerless to support their followers. True miracles are rare these days, and most have turned to the fountains and leylines of magic energies now gracing Ithekshem to power their spells instead of faith or prayer.

Gods, Current & Former

 

The Great Cthulhu

The Stars had all aligned but Cthulhu woke to find not his time had come, but nearly run out as the ocean boiled. Currently reduced to just a vast octopi head floating around Ithekshem's waters, devouring whatever he comes across. The tables have turned, and the Great Old One has gone mad by what he experienced.

The Forge-Father

The Forge-Father survived the End of All Things, but not without injuries. Down a leg, a hand and three fingers on the other one, he is with his people in Ithekshem, trying to forge himself a new divine body while helping the dwarves he lives with. Out of all the things he lost, his ability to pursue grudges against ancient foes hurt the most.

The Spider Queen

Stripped of her divinity and cast out of the Abyss as it shattered around her, insult was added to injury when she found mortals no longer willing to worship her now that the playing field was level. Dangerous and vengeful, the Spider-Queen has claimed a mountainous realm as her own, and from there plots revenge.
 
by Miguel Eins

Comments

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Dec 2, 2020 12:02 by C. B. Ash

Ok, now I have to ask ... was there a Celestial Bureaucracy? If so, with a pantheon THAT large, I would love to see how they turned out! Also, this world just seems adorably perfect for a trickster god or goddess to be running around just causing ALL sorts of havoc.

Dec 2, 2020 12:43

If there was, it's been pretty well nuked by the End of All Things - nothing really made it out well. Trickster divinities probably might've made it out better than many, since they areprooobably more used to being out and about.. But I guess we'll have to wait for some more articles to find out! :O


Creator of Araea, Megacorpolis, and many others.
Dec 3, 2020 14:56 by Simo

This is hilarious, in a less bitter way than Megacorpolis. I see this world becoming another favourite of mine. Having had to do with those three in my tabletop adventures, I can only say that they met the fate they deserved :D

Dec 3, 2020 15:34

And now, all three are well within reach for adventurers to go after! >:D


Creator of Araea, Megacorpolis, and many others.
Dec 3, 2020 15:39 by Dr Emily Vair-Turnbull

I never thought that I'd feel sorry for Cthulu.   I'm interested in what became of other gods, but I assume that would be a novel-length article haha. :D

Emy x   Etrea | Vazdimet
Dec 3, 2020 15:50

I'll take requests! :D


Creator of Araea, Megacorpolis, and many others.
Dec 5, 2020 18:21 by Stormbril

Gods that are no longer as powerful as their former selves? You've caught my attention! ;D   I love this premise so so much, it's fantastic.

Out of all the creatures cast into the new disorderly world, few are so shellshocked as the previously divine
<- that put's it into such good perspective! Wonderful stuff here Q :D

Dec 6, 2020 08:42

Thank you :D Yeah, the gods have to get used to being not super-powered, mwhahaha


Creator of Araea, Megacorpolis, and many others.