Immortal Sculptor

Few have ever seen the Immortal Sculptor, but everyone knows his work. Some say he changes his appearance as often as he changes others. Or perhaps, the smoke and shadows play tricks on the mind. Those who have seen him are bound to secrecy.

Life Before Becoming a Demigod

Little is known about the Immortal Sculptor. His name is lost to time. He was a famous sculptor who created the most exquisite statues of people and the world around him. Even the gods took notice and approved of his work. The elves believe that the Immortal Sculptor was once one of the first elves and gifted with his talents by Giserien Thalinus. The humans only recognize his mortal life as being the best sculptor to ever exist.
At some point, he began experiencing strange and prophetic dreams. Like all demigods, he felt the pull and set off in search of The Heart of the World. Once he arrived, he ascended to godhood. Most unusually, he rejected the usual domain in the Demigod Plane. Instead, he opted for an island to call his own and where his most devoted followers could live among him.

God of Change and Acceptance

In life, it is said that many people came to the Immortal Sculptor seeking out a better version of themselves. They wished to see someone they could be etched in stone for eternity. As a demigod, he teaches that people should learn to accept who they are and their struggles. His acolytes preach a message of inner peace. He is also the god of physical change due to his ability to reshape mortal bodies. Many things are capable of changing, and the body is only one option among many. It's a rare honor to be selected for a new body, and the Immortal Sculptor only changes those who won't regret it later.

The Tale of Sussicran

Click to read

There was once a handsome young half elf named Sussicran. Other youths admired him for his beauty, but no matter how many times people complimented his hair and skin and eyes, he was never satisfied. "The ocean is a lovelier shade of blue than my eyes! The trees are a better shade of brown than my hair! Even the leaves on the trees come to finer points than my ears!" He longed to be more beautiful and to be worthy of praise. He went to the great sculptor and begged him for a statue. "I want everyone to see how beautiful I could be, and then they will understand why I am not handsome enough for their flattery." The sculptor looked at Sussicran and frowned. "Child, do you not see that you are already a statue worthy of praise? Your skin is unblemished, and your body is healthy. I can make you a statue and perhaps you will see how handsome you already are."
"No! I am not good enough to be a statue as I am. You must create me as the most beautiful I could ever be." Sussicran fell to his knees and wept. The sculptor took pity on the youth and did as he asked. He created a statue that was even more beautiful than Sussicran. Every part of the marble was perfect. It glittered in the light, and the hairs were never out of place. Sussicran was delighted and thanked the scultor. He took the statue and showed it to everyone he saw proclaiming the statue's beauty.
At first, people were in awe of the statue and lavished it with praise of its perfection. This pleased Sussicran who was sure that people saw how handsome he could be. But as the years went on, he began to believe that he was the statue, and he was as beautiful as the statue. But marble is heavy, and carrying such a large weight took a toll on Sussicran's body. He aged quickly, and his back was hunched from always carrying it around. As time wore on, people were no longer impressed with the statue, and it looked less and less like the person it was meant to resemble.
A century passed before Sussicran saw his reflection again. He stopped at a still pool and laid the statue down beside him. He leaned over the pool to drink, and he saw a hideous monster in the reflection. His hair was thin and dull from lack of care, and his eyes were sunken in. Horrified with his appearance, he threw himself into the pool and drowned. In his final moments, he prayed that he could be as handsome as the statue lying in the grass nearby.

Holy Teachings

The Immortal Sculptor passes down wisdom through oral tradition known simply as "the teachings". They encourage one to accept the parts that can't be changed, to change the parts which cause grief, and to rejoice in the parts that cause happiness. There is peace in acceptance, and changing that which can be changed for the better is a noble goal. The teachings promote a life of service and self reflection. Sculpting is promoted as a way to focus the mind and body to create for good. The subjects are meant to be a reflection of the world as it is, and only in time to develop into creating a world that could be. Restlessness and dissatisfaction must be reflected upon to find their root cause, and only then, can it be healed.

Holy Relics

Magic Mirror

There's a room in the sculptor's house hidden by a secret door. Only a select few penitents are allowed inside. Standing in front of the mirror while holding up a clay figurine creates a reflection of the penitent as the figurine. It's a chance to see who they could be and decide if that's what they really want. For some, it's confirmation that coming to the island was the right choice. For others, it's a reminder that making a dream a reality isn't as good as the fantasy.

Sculpting Tools

Like any good artist, the Immortal Sculptor has a personal set of tools which he uses to sculpt new bodies from clay. There's a rumor that the tools are magical because the clay on the island is remarkably ordinary. The only known description of the tools comes from an anonymous person who claims to have been transformed by the Immortal Sculptor.

They were flashes of light in the darkness. My skin tingled, and I never knew if he was cutting away clay or skin. They became one and the same. It went on all through the night like fireflies. I can only imagine that the tools were beautiful to behold, and he sought darkness lest I become blinded by their brilliance.

Holy Days

Transformation Night

On nights of the double new moon, the Immortal Sculptor can perform his work. Starting at sundown, the chosen penitent approaches the workshop carrying a ball of clay. Exactly what happens inside remains a mystery between the Immortal Sculptor and penitent. Some say that they've heard screams from the workshop as the body is molded and reformed into something new. Come dawn, the transformed penitent leaves the workshop blindfolded and promptly leaves the island. They don't see themselves until they reach land, and anyone who knew the penitent before is unable to recognize the new body as being the same person. Once a penitent has received a new body, they are banished from the island and must live in the new body until their natural death.

Divine Classification

Demigod

Realm

Isle of the Lost

Church/Cult

Congregation of the Red Sculptors

Age

Immortal

Sex

Male

Eyes

Brown

Hair

Long, coppery

Height

6'5"

Changing Bodies

The Immortal Sculptor is most well known for his ability to change a person's body. Those who pray with a clay figurine of a person often find their prayers answered as passage to a mysterious and uncharted isle. After that, they vanish. Some are never seen again. A few return after months or years of being absent often with a greater sense of peace than when they first left.

Demigod of Ril & Amel

Both deities are associated with the new moon and darkness. Ril as the god of death is often associated with change and transformation due to the cycle of life and death. Amel is affiliated with outcasts, and those who come to the Immortal Sculptor seeking to change are always restless souls.

Island Acolytes, Devotees, and Penitents

Most of the Immortal Sculptor's followers live on the Isle of the Lost. Acolytes form the equivalent of clergy, though there isn't an official hierarchy. Acolytes respect the wisdom of their elders and strive to live and preach the Immortal's Sculptor's teachings. The Devotees are ranked below the acolytes and are often times new or immature to the teachings. They maintain the island and live in service of others until they are ready to begin teaching others about the Immortal Sculptor. Finally, the penitents come to the island in search of the demigod's transformation. They live on the island while they wait and receive teaching from an Acolyte. Penitents are free to leave the island at any time, while Acolytes and Devotees can only leave with a blessing. Most Devotees were once penitents who have chosen to commit themselves to living according to the Immortal Sculptor's teachings.