Cosmology of Raethíl
The cosmology of Raethíl is a rich and dynamic framework that shapes the spiritual, elemental, and divine nature of the world. It revolves around the interplay between the Progenitors, the Gods, and the mortal realm, creating a tapestry of interconnected forces that influence every aspect of existence.
The Progenitors: Primordial Creators
The Progenitors are the ancient, elemental spirits that forged the world of Raethíl from the primordial chaos. These beings were once intangible, embodying pure elemental forces and cosmic principles. Over millennia, they shaped the distinct elemental spheres and established the foundations of life.
- Primordial Spirits: Initially formless, the Progenitors existed as raw energy, moving freely among the stars and planes. Their actions sculpted reality, balancing the chaotic energies of fire, water, earth, and air into a coherent, habitable world.
- Manifestation in the Godswar: During the Godswar, the Progenitors took on physical forms for the first time, their celestial power becoming embodied in ways mortals could comprehend. These manifestations varied dramatically, reflecting their elemental and cosmic natures.
- Nexuses of Power: Even now, each Progenitor maintains a nexus—a focal point of their power—where their influence is strongest. These nexuses serve as conduits for divine magic and as sites of pilgrimage.
The Gods: Born of Miracles
The Gods of Raethíl are not distant or alien entities but are born from the acts of creation and salvation performed by the Progenitors. This process is deeply tied to the Progenitors’ miracles and the mortal realm’s participation.
- Divine Ascension: When the Progenitors perform acts of immense power—referred to as miracles—the lingering energy does not dissipate but instead seeks a host. Mortals who embody the values, ideologies, and domains of the Progenitor responsible for the miracle are drawn into this energy, ascending to godhood.
- Transformation: Ascension is a voluntary process. Those who accept this divine energy undergo profound transformations, sometimes becoming entirely non-humanoid beings that better reflect their divine role. For example:
- A warrior devoted to the Progenitor of Fire might ascend as a flaming phoenix-like deity.
- A healer aligned with the Progenitor of Water may become a luminous aquatic entity.
- Mortality’s Influence: Gods often retain strong connections to their mortal origins, shaping their interactions with their followers. This duality makes them more relatable but also subjects them to mortal flaws, such as pride or indecision.
The Abyss: The Forgotten Plane
The Abyss, an ever-present force in Raethíl’s cosmology, exists as a counterbalance to the Progenitors’ creation. It represents the void left behind when the Progenitors drew the light from a dead plane to forge their world.
- Pure Darkness and Resentment: The Abyss embodies malice and hunger, constantly seeking to reclaim the stolen light of creation. Its influence manifests as corruption, whispers, and Abyssal creatures.
- Ties to the Godswar: The Abyss surged in power during the Godswar, influencing mortals and lesser beings alike, creating Demon Lords and twisting reality. It remains sealed but exerts subtle influence through weak points like the Underdark and the Crowngate.
The Mortal Realms: The Thread of Connection
Mortals are integral to the cosmology of Raethíl, serving as both participants in and beneficiaries of divine and elemental power.
- Voluntary Divine Interaction: Mortals often seek to align themselves with a Progenitor or God, offering prayers and deeds that strengthen their connection to these higher powers.
- Shared Domains: Mortal cultures often reflect the domains of their patron Progenitors or Gods, shaping societal values, architecture, and governance.
- Legacy of Miracles: The lingering divine energy from miracles not only creates gods but also leaves remnants like relics, sanctuaries, and magical phenomena that mortals can interact with.
Cosmic Balance and Conflict
The interplay between creation, divine ascension, and the ever-lurking Abyss ensures that Raethíl’s cosmology is dynamic and often fraught with tension.
- Progenitor Rivalries: While the Progenitors act as stewards of the world, their conflicting ideologies and methods sometimes create schisms, as seen during the Cataclysm.
- Gods vs. Abyss: The Gods often act as the first line of defence against the Abyss, leveraging their mortal connections to rally followers against its influence.
- Mortal Struggles: While some mortals seek ascension, others resist divine influence altogether, forming philosophies or movements that promote independence from both Progenitors and Gods.
Celestial Hierarchy
The cosmology of Raethíl can be summarised as a layered hierarchy of influence and power:
- The Progenitors: Elemental creators and maintainers of balance, embodying the forces of nature and the cosmos.
- The Gods: Ascended beings born of Progenitor miracles, serving as intermediaries and champions of specific domains.
- Mortals: The dynamic heart of the world, whose actions and beliefs shape and are shaped by divine forces.
- The Abyss: The antithesis of creation, forever seeking to undo the Progenitors’ work and consume the light of Raethíl.
The Cycle of Divine Energy
How Miracles Shape the World
- Lingering Power: Divine energy from Progenitor miracles often creates fertile lands, mysterious relics, or magical anomalies.
- Unclaimed Energy: In rare cases, unclaimed divine energy creates unstable phenomena like divine storms or zones of wild magic.
The Abyss' Influence
Manifestations of Corruption
- Whispering Shadows: Abyssal creatures leave trails of dark energy that corrupt the land. This is particularly notable of the Abryxi, whose deaths leave pools of abyssal energy that can linger for weeks at a time.
- Twisted Mortals: Those who succumb to the Abyss’ whispers often become warped, monstrous versions of themselves. Notable of these abominations are the Abryxi, strange, twisted echoes of humanoids.
Artifacts of the Abyss
Occasionally, much like unclaimed divine energy can manifest as disaster or creation, so too does abyssal energy. Often, when abyssal energy cannot latch onto life, it latches onto the inanimate, creating artefacts that whisper the dreads of the abyss into their users, but grant incredible power.
The Shard of Despair: A crystalline fragment that exudes a sense of dread, recovered from the ruins of an Abyssal breach. It is currently in lockdown within the Magicka Akademia.