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[Weirdsound]

You, along with a strange collection of four other divine beings you assume to be your classmates, arrive at The Manor Lǜsè, a large structure atop a small misty mountain concealed by thick jungles stretching hundred of leagues in every direction. You are greeted by a tall well dressed being with the head of a serpent, who introduces himself as Cónglín, god of jungles and steward of The Manor Lǜsè.

"This is the home of our Emperor's Planar Court, where we tend to the land and population of Qiángdà that our students are not interacting with." the god explains, "Incoming students spend an age here in soft quarantine while their beings acclimate to the laws of fate and time present upon The Plane of Qiángdà, but beyond that this place and the people within it will have little to do with your education at the academy. At some point during this Age the Goddess Shizi will take you out to meet your first followers, but beyond that your duties for now involve making yourselves comfortable and avoiding needless stress and strain until you are acclimated."

Term 17010, Age 0:

Saga of the Rat -

You are all shown to your individual chambers, which you find spacious and well designed for your unique body. They are stocked with books of fiction and legend from across the realms, that seem to have been chosen to suit your particular interest and values. Servants bring you food when you are hungry, draw you baths when you are dry, entertain you when you are bored, and empty your chamber pot when it is full.

Saga of the Ox -

You and your peers are summoned to the highest point of the manor to meet with Cáipàn, an impressively powerful divine (only Elbakaepsnu and Qu are confident that they have met mightier beings in their own parents) who takes the form of the face upon the manor's clocktower. Cáipàn, who is tasked with maintaining the laws of time and fate on The Plane of Qiángdà, gives you a brief rundown of how time is kept.

"The largest, and most abstract, unit of time here is called a 'Term'", the immobile god explains, "A new term begins at the end of the age in which a student becomes the first in his, her, or its class to complete a course after all students in that class have completed a core course. The laws of fate ensure that each term takes the same amount of time for each class in the Academy, but two terms may differ vastly in length."

"Terms are divided into Ages, and Ages are divided into twelve Sagas. To a god, an age can be perceived as lasting an amount of time equal to about ten days in most universes. To a mortal, an age can be perceived as lasting a little more than ten years. The twelve Sagas are named after the animals of the standard multiverse zodiac, and the laws of fate favor actions that take place on the correct Saga. You will, for example, be slightly more successful if you behave enigmatically during the Saga of the Snake, or with compassion during the Saga of the Pig."

"Unless outside intervention aims to extend or shorten them, Mortal lives are ended by chance rather than directly by age." The god explains with confidence, "For mortals with an average lifespan, I will roll a one hundred sided dice each age, and if the result is less than or equal to twelve, the mortal dies a natural or accidental death during the corresponding saga. Smaller dice are rolled for mortals with longer lives, and larger dice are rolled for mortals with shorter lives. As a courtesy to students, I will not roll the dice for your followers during your upcoming freshmen term. After that, I will roll for your mortals an age in advance, and if they are to die, I will tell you when and how so that you may try to settle their affairs, extend their life, or find them a suitable afterlife."

With that, Cáipàn has you ushered back to your chambers, refusing to take questions as "it is best you learn the details for yourselves."

Saga of the Tiger -

Today you are summoned to the manor's garden courtyard to meet with Empress Liúchan, one of the Emperor of Scholar's wives and the Queen of the Dead. The goddess takes the form of a beautiful woman clothed in thorny vines and decorated with parasitic bugs that dig into her flesh. "Greetings students!" She declares warmly, "my main job is to handle whatever sentient souls that die on this realm without a god to arrange them a place in an afterlife. I send some of these souls to various academy instructors as raw materials for assignments, and the rest are stripped of their memories, broken down into several pieces, and reincarnated as intelligent plants and beasts that are turned loose in the surrounding jungles to prevent mortals from easily reaching this manor."

The goddess offers you all a warm smile. "As making afterlives is difficult, often a task reserved for experienced older students, I do take some steps to prevent death from depriving you of access to a soul that is important to your studies or ambitions. Until somebody in your class makes an afterlife, I will gladly hand over the soul of a fallen mortal once per class per term on a first come first serve basis. Aside from that, if I feel that you have lost an important mortal unfairly, I may make its soul available to you if you complete some sort of challenge."

Liúchan stretches herself out on a hammock of vines, and pauses to run her hand through her red hair for a moment before continuing. "Aside from that, divine politics is the best means by which an inexperienced divine can protect the souls of their followers. If you really want to be safe, seek out an older student and see if they might be willing to warehouse your mortals in an afterlife of their creation."

Liúchan, again, isn't willing to answer specific questions on what she has just told you, but unlike your clock-faced host from yesterday, she does serve tea and make idle chitchat before sending you all back to your chambers.

Saga of the Rabbit -

Today the group is brought fourth to the manor's main hall and briefly introduced to the Goddess Shizi, a towering muscular woman with the head rear paws, and tail of a lion. The Snake headed Cónglín gives her a brief introduction: "This is Shizi, our emperor's elder sister. As The Emperor of Scholars has little time for mortal affairs these days, he allows the mortals here to inaccurately recognize his sister as the chief goddess of this plane of existence. Mortals call her the God-Bringer, as aside from tending to the prayers of those not affiliated with a student deity, it is also her job to introduce said student deities to their first mortals. Over the rest of this age, she will do just that. When she introduces you to your first followers, feel free to speak with them briefly, but do not exert yourself. You are not yet acclimated. Today her business is with Dun. The rest of you may return to your chambers."

---

Shizi takes Dun by the hand and lifts her into the sky as wings sprout from the back of the Lion Goddess. The pair leaves through the window and flies for several hours until they reach a massive sprawling city that sits ajacent to a natural harbor. As the pair descends, Shizi leads the tentacled goddess not into the city itself, but toward the narrow peninsula that separates the harbor from the nearby rough seas. Dun notes this peninsula is covered with densely packed poorly made shacks. On the very narrow paths between the shacks she observes many lithe, furry, whiskered humanoids going about their daily routine.

"These are the Otterfolk," Shizi explains, "they were created and placed in charge of a mighty empire many terms ago by a long since graduated student. After their patron god left them, they have been in decline. They lost their lands and armies and navies. Then somebody created the Dire Orca, who love the Otterfolk for their meat and fur, and hunted them to near extinction. This is the only sizable population left today. The inhabitants of Pài, the nearby city, keep a strong enough navy to drive the Dire Orca away, but they are no friends of the Otterfolk. The High Mayor of Pài forbids the Otterfolk from living within the city walls, and bans them from diving for fish as it hurts the profit of his fishing trawlers. Several more established and experienced student gods have large followings within the city of Pài, so interfere with the town itself at your own peril."

Shizi lands on the narrow path, and pulls Dun down next to her. She continues to talk, ignoring the shocked and staring mortals around her, as she walks right up to the door of the shack at the very tip of the Peninsula. "The Otterfolk eek out a living on the knowledge of their old empire. They are known as master physicians. A rich city-dweller in need of treatment can keep several shacks of Otterfolk fed for a Saga or two."

"No Otterfolk, indeed hardly any mortal living, knows more about medicine than Elder High-Oyster. In the old days, before his kind were banned from living within the city walls, his grandfather was personal physician to the Lord Mayor of Pài. The Otterfolk still look to him and his family for leadership to this day." Shizi explains as she opens the door to the shack and points out the rather surprised Otterfolk in question, a mature male of his species whom, until the pair of goddesses so rudely interupted, was sitting in his chair, smoking his pipe, and reading some sort of book on anatomy. His refined spectacles fall to the floor as he stares in surprise.

"High-Oyster, revered elder of the Otterfolk!" Shizi booms in the sort of voice your father would use to address a mortal, "This is Dun, who will be the Goddess of you and your people! Honor her and be honored!"

Saga of the Dragon -

On this Saga, Shizi comes for both Elbakaepsnu and the nameless construct. She takes both deities skyward, and after several hours, they are flying above a vast ashen wasteland. Leagues upon leagues of featureless grey ground, broken only by the occasional destroyed fortress or city. "Two terms ago, a pair of talented graduating students decided to put their knowledge to the test, and have their mortals fight an epic war here. Magical weapons of great power were used, most life in the contested area was destroyed, and the ecosystem has yet to recover."

"Outsiders still brave the wastes, in hopes for finding useful salvage in the ruined cities or abandoned battlefields, but few people actually live here. You two will each be put in charge of one of the groups that do." The Goddess explains before splitting her being into two identical copies, and leading her charges off in two different directions.

---

Shizi leads Elbakaepsnu across a wide patch of wasteland before stopping at the mouth of a cave. Outside the cave, humanoid skeletons are scattered. "In here, we find the only unit of soldiers to survive the war. They did so by using a cursed artifact to merge their flesh with that of various desert invertebrates, becoming monsters."

The Lion goddess escorts the eldritch god into the cave, and various mortals flee their guard post in their wake. The creatures are largely human looking, but most have a few parts that would better fit on a spider, roach, or centipede. A few have the gaul to challenge the pair, but Shizi swats them harmlessly to the side as they charge. "These people," she explains, "call themselves The 72nd Infantry, and are known to others as The White Locusts. They survive by preying upon those who would scavenge these wastes. Their leader calls herself The Alpha Huntress, and she is known for her skill and brutality."

Shizi gestures to a figure hiding in the shadows, watching you both with a crossbow in hand, waiting for an opening unaware that divine vision has nullified her stealthy approach. She has the mandibles and wings of a large grasshopper, and the horizontally aligned many-legged lower body of a centipede. The stinging tail of a scorpion hangs from her head like a ponytail. Her human flesh is ghostly white, and her eyes a hungry crimson.

"Alpha Huntress, great and bloodthirsty leader of the 72nd!" Shizi calls out to the hiding mortal, "This is Elbakaepsnu, who will be the God of you and your people! Honor her and be honored!"

The Abhorrent woman leaves her hiding place, and approaches her abhorrent god for a closer look.

---

Shizi leads the nameless created god across the ashen wastes to the charred remains of a large walled city. "This place was called Qīngnián back in the day. It was a great city. War is kind of a shame, but I'm glad you students can practice it here where the stakes are only high to the mortals."

The goddess leads the created deity through the streets and into the tunnels below the city. As the pair moves deeper and further away from the sun, they begin to spot small humanoid creatures with scaly green skin. The creatures scurry into the shadows to avoid the pair as they travel, but the young deity notices that many have replaced parts of their head and torso with bits of metal.

"These creatures are called The Salvaged." Shizi explains. "They were created by accident while testing mutagenic weapons during the war. Instead of eating food, they metabolize pure magical energy that they harvest from the various artifacts and power sources that dot these wastes. They have also learned that with the correct technique they can replace their organic bits with metal."

As the pair turns a corner, they find some sort of excavation site, where The Salvage are working with tools to dig up something big. They are so focused on their work, that they do not notice the gods watching them. Shizi points out one barking orders, clearly a foreman of sorts. "That is Lingbān. He is more or less the leader of The Salvaged. He has big dreams of helping his people leave the wastes, and thus is a good candidate for divine assistance."

Shizi clears her throat loudly. All of The Salvaged working drop what they are doing upon noticing the two gods. Only then does the lion headed goddess speak to them. "Lingbān of The Salvaged! This god, who presently lacks a name of its own, has been selected to be the God of you and your people! Honor it and be honored!"

Saga of the Snake -

Little happens during the Saga of The Snake, but you are offered to opportunity to go out and play in the courtyard, where a rare snowstorm has occurred, if you so choose.

Saga of the Horse -

Another boring day in 'Soft Quarantine'. Servants come around to change out the books in your room, but little else happens.

Saga of the Goat -

The servants are abuzz today. The Emperor of Scholars is spending this saga at The Manor Lǜsè, but you are not permitted to leave your chamber to go and see him.

Saga of the Monkey -

A strange minor deity in the form of a small monkey visits your chamber today, claiming to be part of the Academy medical staff. She performs a few basic tests of your cognitive abilities and reaction time, before declaring that you are acclimating to The Plane of Qiángdà at the expected rate, and that you should be good to begin your studies at The Academy next age.

Saga of the Rooster -

This Saga marks Qu's turn to meet his first mortal followers, as Shizi comes for him.

The lion goddess takes the defector by his hand, and flies him out the window. They travel for only a short time, following the chain of mountains upon which The Manor Lǜsè sits until they leave the dense jungle and enter a proper alpine climate. The pair approaches a temple sitting upon a cliff near one of the higher peaks.

"Many Terms ago, a mighty student created an order of Monks devoted to fighting evil that she called The Warriors of Light," Shizi explains as she lands herself and her passenger upon the temple roof, "The Warriors of Light faced many trials and fought many great battles, that when it came time for their patron goddess to graduate and leave this realm, she took many of them with her. Some temples, however, were left behind on The Plane of Qiángdà because they were deemed to weak or corrupt by their goddess. Many of these temples took this abandonment poorly, and fell into darkness and disrepair, but some, including this one, continued to train Monks and defend the helpless for generations, even without a god to guide them."

Shizi hops off the roof, and gestures for Qu to follow before striding right through the front door. The monks, who seem to be made up of several different member species, stop what they are doing and stare at the strangers in their midst. Shizi ignores them and points to the obvious leader, an elfish looking creature who wears a white gi and a gold belt. "This is Master Zhèngniàn, the foremost living practitioner of Fúshè lùjìng, the ancient martial art of The Warriors of Light. He is also an expert in the quarterstaff, throwing star, and parrying dagger."

Zhèngniàn approaches and bows low before you, before Shizi can even carry about a proper introduction. "It is an honor to have a deity bestowed upon this temple. I hope we may serve you well."

"...Um yes. This is Qu. Your new god." Shizi sputters, the wind taken out of her sails.

Saga of the Dog -

In this Saga, Shizi comes to collect Koaring, the last incoming student to receive a follower. She takes the adventurous young god by the hand, and flies him out the window.

The pair follows the jungle westward for quite some time, until eventually the trees turn from green to various shades of red, purple, and black and Koaring begins to sense a vile aura to the land below him. "This stretch of woods is a popular place for students in Devilry and other less than wholesome studies to hone their craft. Even when there are no gods about causing trouble, the woods are infested with hags and other foul nerdowells."

Eventually the woods break, and at the edge of the vile forest, a small village comes into view. "This is Peanut Village. It was founded by an older student two Terms ago, but said student is transferring to the Divine Politics program, and has decided to abandon most of his mortal followers to focus on his new studies. Most of the mortals left town upon hearing that they no longer have a God to protect them on the border of the foul forest, but some have stayed."

Shizi lands near a one-roomed building labeled 'Witch Hunter's Guild'. "Guildmaster Qīzi is the most important person to have not fled town, and as such is the defacto leader here. She could use a new god."

The goddess leads her charge through the door, where they find a well toned woman sitting at a desk, drafting some sort of document. She has wild untamed hair, and some slight canine features including large teeth and pointed furry ears. Hung on the wall around her are various weapons, including two holstered pistols.

"Guildmaster Qīzi!" Your guide booms, "This is Koaring, who will be the God of you and your people! Honor him and be honored, for according to his profile, he isn't the sort to abandon people."

Saga of the Pig -

You are all summoned from your quarters to the manor's main hall, where a massive feast with every food imaginable awaits the five of you. Cónglín welcomes you all into the room, and bids you all to have a seat. "Welcome! Welcome! Today we celebrate the end of your quarantine and beginning of your studies. Make yourself comfortable! Until this point your time has been tightly regimented, so it is likely that you have not had the chance to introduce yourselves to your peers. You will be living together for a considerable amount of time, so it is our most sincere hope that you all can get along. The Emperor of Scholars will join the feast once he feels introductions are complete, and will escort you to the academy once the festivities have concluded."

[Weirdsound]

Some Rules and Mechanical Explanations:

On Turn Actions:

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Interactions: Interactions are actions that require a player character to be in a place other than the academy grounds. The default success rate for interactions is 70%

Miracles: Miracles are actions that require a large amount of supernatural power to pull off. Gods can use lesser powers, such as creating simple disguises for themselves and understanding speech, without the need for a Miracle. The default success rate for Miracles is 60%. Unused Miracles can be banked for later use (See Acedemy Grounds section).

---

Some boons use your Miracles or Interactions to do something specific. Unless otherwise stated, a Miracle or Interaction used by a boon will always succeed.

Actions that require the player character to be in a place other than the Academy Grounds AND a large amount of supernatural power to pull off require both an Interaction and a Miracle. These sorts of actions have a default success rate of 65%.

Actions that can be performed on the Academy Grounds WITHOUT a large amount of supernatural power can be either an Interaction or a Miracle. The default success rate for these sorts of actions is 70%.

Calculating Action Success Rate: There is no hard and fast rule for calculating Action success, but we will start with the following list of common modifiers as a guideline. I will add to the list as things come up. The total success rate of an action is capped at 95%, and can go into negative numbers.

-Performing an action on the correct saga - +7%
-Creating, modifying, or nourishing life in or on the shores of Lake Línshí - +15%
-Performing an action that relates to a skill or experience in your character’s backstory -  +10%
-Performing an action that requires specialized skill or knowledge not present in your character’s backstory - -20%
-Attempting to affect a particularly large area - -20% (At least)
-Attempting to affect a particular narrow area at range - -15% (At least)
-Modifying an Empty Room within The Academy - +30%
-Performing an action on a willing target - +15%
-Trying to Initiate Combat with an actor who is looking to fight you, or who is trying to defend a known location - +95%
-Trying to Initiate Combat with an actor who is trying to avoid combat - -50%
-Trying to harm an actor without combat - (Minus that actors combat power, at least)
-Trying to birth or create a prodigy - -35%
-Creating a new, non prodigy, Actor - -50%
-Raising a mortal to godhood - -300%

Multiple actions can be spent to improve one’s odds of success. You may spend twice the normal amount of Miracles or Interactions to halve the distance between an actions normal success rate, and 100%; If the success rate is below 0, increase it by 50 instead. Any other actor may also aid any given action once by spending the same amount of Miracles or Interactions as the base amount required for the action; When this happens, halve the distance between an actions normal success rate, and 100%; If the success rate is below 0, increase it by 50 instead.

On Scheduling:

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Ages and Sagas: One turn takes place over the course of one age. You may choose on which Saga you perform each action, but to maintain consistency in the laws of time and fate, no more than two students from each class may act on a given saga under normal circumstances. If more than two students wish to act on the same saga, the class prefect (or homeroom instructor if there is no prefect) may resolve the scheduling conflict however they wish. Exceptions/Addendums to the two students per Saga rule are as follows.

-Multiple Students assisting on the same action only count as one student
-If a mortal follower is fated to face death or great misfortune on a given saga, you may break the two student rule to act on that saga
-You may break the two student rule during a saga you are scheduled to attend class, by skipping class. If the action is class related, the absence will be approved
-If you know your actions an age in advance, you may spend an interaction to visit the student services compound and officially schedule them

Actions and Sagas: The laws of fate favor particular actions and motives on particular sagas. If your attempted interaction or miracle matches the sage according to the list below, you gain a 7% bonus to its success rate!

Rat: Actions driven by charm or persuasion
Ox: Actions performed in defense of others, or against the advice of others
Tiger: Actions performed in attempt to control others
Rabbit: Actions performed in cooperation with others
Dragon: Actions performed in the pursuit of one’s own ambition
Snake: Actions that are enigmatic or deceitful in nature
Horse: Explorative actions that express a pioneering spirit 
Goat: Actions of artistic creation, or that stoke mortal spirituality
Monkey: Actions that solve a problem in an unorthodox or tricky fashion
Rooster: Tedious actions driven by diligence, and repeats of previously failed actions
Dog: Actions that uphold your end of a deal or oath, or that reward the loyalty of another
Pig: Actions driven by compassion

On Academics and Student Discipline:

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Grades: Grades are given on a scale of 0-4, with 2.5 being a pass. Each class will typically give 3-4 assignments. Your final grade in the class will be the average grade of those assignments. Some instructors will assign all their assignments at the beginning of the class. Some instructors will only give a new assignment after the previous one has been completed to their satisfaction. Some instructors will give some assignments more weight than others (IE the final exam is worth 50% of you entire class grade).

Extra Credit and Unapproved Absences: Some teachers will offer extra credit. Extra credit may be worth no more than .5 points out of 4 added to your final grade in the class. Instructors hold the right to deduct points for unapproved absences as they see fit. Academy policy dictates that an unapproved absence deducts .3 points out of 4 from a students final grade, but many instructors may let one or two absences fly before they start deducting points.

Comprehension Score: Starting the second week of a given term, a student's participation in and comprehension of their courses is tracked. This Comprehension Score is tracked out of 4.0, like GPA.

If you attend course normally, your comprehension score for the age is set at 2.5.

If you put extra effort into paying attention and learning in class, your comprehension score for the age is set at 3.0, but you suffer a small malus to the success rate (-7%) of all miracle/interactions for the age that are not related to that class (putting extra effort into both classes gives the malus to all miracles/interactions).

If you attend a course with an ulterior motive (meet your coursemates, flirt with the professor, ask irrelevant questions, ect), your comprehension score for the age is set to 2.0.

If you skip your course meeting, your comprehension score for the age is set to 1.0.

If you spend a miracle or interaction at your course meeting for a course related purpose, increase your comprehension score by .5 for the age.

Your comprehension score divided by 4 is your percentile success rate of working out a purely theoretical problem related to the course. When comprehension score is checked, the GM may choose to check your most recent age's comprehension score, the mean average of several ages worth of comprehension scores, or the mean average of all comprehension scores for the term as he feels appropriate.

Assignments: For many assignments, an instructor will ask something of a student, and assign them a passing grade of their choice should the student complete the task. Professors are not objective, and may not even be fair, but better rolls and intentionally appealing to what the student knows about the professor will generally lead to better grades.

Written or verbal assignments/tests/quizzes that ask a student to perform an analytical or theoretical task will earn a grade based on comprehension score. Typically this grade will be calculated as {comprehension score + x}, where X is the sum of a number of d4s divided by 10. The GM will typically award 1d4 for spending an interaction preparing the assignment, and 1d4 for performing RP related to the assignment or actually typing up and posting a paragraph long excerpt of IC writing/speaking from the project. Additional d4s can possibly be earned by being particularity skilled in character at speaking/writing, or spending multiple actions doing things related to the assignment.

The Prefect: The Prefect is a class’ top student, chosen to represent the class to both other students and administration. At the end of each term, each class votes to elect their Prefect for the next term. The student with the best GPA for the term, the student with the best overall GPA, and the student who donated the most miracles to the miracle bank (not awarded in case of a tie) each get an additional vote to cast in the Prefect election.

The Prefect has three main duties. They are first tasked with being the public face and muscle of their class; They are expected to use the Powers of the Miracle Bank and the Prefect’s throne to participate in interclass rivalries should the need arise. They also assist staff in student discipline; They may make and enforce rules for their class as they see fit, and are often trusted by administration to hand out punishments to classmates. Lastly, the prefect is responsible for resolving any student scheduling conflicts.

During a freshman class’ first term, or for the rest of a term in which a class prefect is stripped of their office for disciplinary reasons, the class’ homeroom instructor will carry out most of the duties of the prefect.

Discipline: There are only a handful of academy wide rules to be followed.

1: Do not tamper with the laws of space, time, phyisics, chemistry, or fate outside of a local area inhabited primarily by your followers
2: Do not attempt to destroy The Plane of Qiángdà
3: Do not knowingly antagonize a professor or school administrator
4: Do not knowingly antagonize freshmen students or their worldly holdings/followers without provocation

Administrators and Prefects have great freedom in choosing how rule violators are punished. Common punishments include the restriction of miracle or interactions for an age, or the application of a minor and/or temporary malus to the offender. Prefects may set up additional rules for their class, and instructors may set up additional rules for their course.

On Combat:

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Combat is usually started with an interaction, but if both participants are capable of fighting at a super long range using supernatural powers, or if the target is on Academy Grounds, combat may be started with a Miracle instead. Combat is broken down into three phases.

Challenge Phase: During the challenge phase, the actor who is spending an action to start the fight seeks out and challenges his/her opponent. If the person to be challenged isn’t actively and openly guarding something, or likewise trying to challenge you, the interaction to start the battle has a fair chance to fail, and the battle won't begin.

Once it is clear that the fight is going to happen, each actor involved declares their goal, or what they hope to obtain or inflict by winning the combat. The challenger may choose any goal within reason. The challenged may only choose ‘escape unharmed’, ‘guard or protect something or someone’, or ‘kill my attacker’ as a goal, unless the challenged has been given ample warning of the challenge and has made preparations. An actor may save Miracles in anticipation of combat, and use them as part of its goal to do stuff like turn your opponent into vermin or melt the mountain they were defending; If a miracle user wins the combat, it will have a much better chance of having the miracle work than if it had just attempted the miracle without a fight. It is possible for multiple combatants to be the challenger if multiple combatants spend an interaction to start a fight.

Lastly, during the challenge phase, sides are determined if there are more than two combatants. In large battles there can be multiple sides, and each member of each side can have its own goal. If two actors have contradictory goals, they cannot be on the same side in a fight.

Combat Phase: The fight plays out during the combat phase. Every participant rolls 1dX, where X is their Combat Power, and then modifies the roll based on boons, context, and actor types. Anybody holding some sort of fortified position multiplies their roll by at least 1.5. Monsters multiply their roll by 1.25 if there is a Host on the other side. Hosts multiply their roll by 1.25 if there is a Hero on the other side. Heroes multiply their roll by 1.25 if there is a monster on the other side. Gods never multiply their roll based on the sort of foe they are facing. Prodigy Actors always multiply their roll by .75.

If there are more than two participants in the battle, each side then adds up the combined roles of each of their members.

Fallout Phase: The winner(s) of the combat gets something of what they want, and the loser(s) always suffers some sort of malus or injury. Participants who are neither the winner or loser may either suffer or benefit, depending on their goals, the goals of the people they rolled better than, and the goals of people they did worse than.

If an Actor’s goal is to harm, kill, capture, or forcibly modify another participant in the combat, and that actor does well enough to meet that goal, the person placed in Jeopardy must roll a saving throw to avoid an Utter Defeat; The person in jeopardy must roll their Combat Power again, and if they roll lower than the difference in power between their side, and the side trying to hurt them, they are Utterly Defeated and subjected to the exact fate that the victor has planned for them. If the one in jeopardy passes the saving throw, they suffer some lesser misery instead, and will usually escape with their life and freedom intact. If more than one foe puts an actor in Jeopardy, then that actor must make a saving throw for each.

If an Actor’s goal is merely something his opponent is trying to prevent (other than injury of said opponent), and that actor does  well enough in battle to meet that goal, he must roll a conquest throw to claim a Complete Victory; The victor rolls their Combat Power again, and if they roll higher than the difference in power between their side, and the side trying to prevent their goal, they are Completely Victorious, and gain exactly what they set out to gain. If the victor fails the conquest throw, he receives some lesser reward.

On NPC Actors:

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

The young gods are far from the only people trying to influence events on the Island of Plenty. Any person or unit powerful enough to make a major impact on world events, and who is not controlled directly by a player character, is considered an NPC actor.

All NPC actors have at least 1 interaction a age, and some might even be capable of Miracles. Because the GM doesn't need to be writing for dozens of characters, you will not be informed of what an actor is doing, unless you are specifically interacting with it, it attempts something major enough to easily catch the god’s attention, or it is attempting to interact with a PC.

Basic Types of Actors:

Host: A host represents a large mass of mortals, typically an army or a navy, that has banded together for greater strength. Hosts are almost never capable of miracles, but they are the only sort of actor that can be easily created without resorting to supernatural means. Hosts have a natural advantage against Heroes in combat.

Hero: A hero is a single mortal who, through great deed or divine favor, has overcome the common limitations of his or her race. The line between Hero and Monster is somewhat blurry, but Heros generally tend to be good as opposed to evil, tend act in the service of a greater cause, are more often made than born, tend to live as part of society, and tend to have a form indistinguishable from that of a civilized race. A small paradigm shift, metaphysical crisis, or modification to one’s body may be enough to turn a monster into a hero or visa-versa. Heros have a natural advantage against Monsters in combat.

Monster: A monster is a creature that greatly surpasses the civilized mortal races in terms of power, intelligence, and/or wit. The line between Hero and Monster is somewhat blurry, but Monsters generally tend to be evil as opposed to good, tend to act in their owns intrests, are more often born than made, tend to live apart from society, and tend of have a wild, bestial, and/or exotic physical form. A small paradigm shift, metaphysical crisis, or modification to one’s body may be enough to turn a monster into a hero or visa-versa. Monsters have a natural advantage against Hosts in combat.

God: A creature who claims to be above petty labels such as Hero or Monster, and who has the power to back it up. The standard definition of goodhood calls for great physical and/or supernatural strength, immortality, (or at least great resistance to age), and some sort of motivation to interact with lesser beings as their superior. There are, of course plenty of creatures who don’t conform to traditional norms Godhood, but have found other means to grow their worshipers and power. Gods are above mortal distinctions, and as such they suffer no advantage or disadvantage when battling any other sort of actor.

Prodigy: A Prodigy is the young creation of one or more God, Hero, or Monster. Prodigy can be produced through either supernatural or biological means. Prodigy tend to grow faster than normal mortal children, and this growth is easily accelerated with a Miracle. Prodigy are malleable, and the influence of their parents and other beings plays a huge roll in their development. Prodigy are vulnerable in combat.

NPC Actor Relationships: The following descriptors are applied to show how NPC Actors feel about other actors and settlements, both Player Controlled and their fellow NPCs.

Dislike - The actor finds something about another to be distasteful or unwholesome.

Feuding - The actor is actively trying to harm the interests of another.

Respect - The actor acknowledges the overall power and worthiness of another.

Fear - The actor acknowledges the fact that another can easily destroy it.

Friendship - The actor personally knows another, and is fond of them.

Idolize - The actor considers another to be an example worth following.

Worship - The actor considers another to be a key part of its spiritual existence.

Employed - The actor is in the service of another for mercenary reasons.

Loyalty - The actor is in the service of another for reasons that go beyond a paycheck.

Love - The actor is deeply fond of and loyal towards another, and may expect that other to feel the same towards them. Love can be born of amorous relations or desire, the bonds of kinship, deep friendship, or even dutiful subservience and worship.

Bound - The actor is compelled to be in a relationship with another, most often Loyalty or Worship. Usually the binding is supernatural or legal in nature, but some particularly honorable actors may be capable of binding themselves with an oath.

On The Academy Grounds:

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

The entrance to the Academy of Divine Harmony is accessed through the crater and lava chamber of The Zhùdìng Funnel, a volcano that rises from the depths of Lake Línshí at the exact central point of The Plane of Qiángdà. The interior is a labyrinth of poorly mapped chambers and courtyards that grows with each new class. It is said that by this point, not even The Emperor of Scholars himself knows of the existance and location of every feature. This obfuscation serves three purposes: To protect the academy from outside attack, to challenge students intent on exploration, and to protect the classes from each other.

Known Features of The Academy of Divine Harmony: Most of you have heard legends about the vast troves of treasure and stockpiles of resources within the Academy. Sadly, you have only been shown a small part of it. To find more, spend interactions to explore the Academy Grounds, or take the course ‘Intro to Academy Life and the Plane of Qiángdà’.

Class Chambers - Each incoming class is given a fresh built series of rooms known as their Class Chambers. Class Chambers provide an individual space for each student, which may be decorated and built up however they please, as well as a common space in which members of the class may gather. If a being from outside your class attempts to attack your chambers or the beings inside, a 1.65 Multiplier is applied to the combat rolls of all defenders.

Open Storage - This large pit in the middle of your class chambers can be used to store any resources members of the class may obtain in their adventures. Resources in open storage are available to all class members, and may waste away or expire over time, so it may be to your benefit to build additional storage elsewhere on academy grounds that is private and/or specialized to better keep, maintain, and work with a specific sort of resource.

Miracle Bank - Any unused miracles the Young Gods of your class don’t want to waste, are stored here in this adamantium vault inside your class chambers, for later use by Prefect. Students who build and maintain temples at which their followers worship will see the fruit of that worship manifest as miracles placed in the bank, unless they have built other devices into which that energy can be channeled. Miracles are also donated to the bank in a student’s name at the end of each term based on that student’s grades. One may attempt to rob the Miracle bank to gain energy for their own projects, but this is an action that normally has a low rate of success, and may have terrible consequences..

Prefect’s Throne - A massive stone throne trimmed with precious jewels that sits in the common area of your class chambers. The class prefect may forgo all other actions for the age, and sit on the Throne. While on the throne, the Prefect may use any number of Miracles stored in the Miracle Bank to perform any number of Miracles. When sitting the throne, the Prefect may spend any number of Miracles on a single action, improving a negative success rate by +50% and halving the failure chance of a positive success rate for each Miracle spent after the first. When spending Miracles at the Jade Throne, a Prefect must first spend Miracles contributed by his or her own self or classmates who voted for them as prefect, and any Miracles not specifically contributed by any god, before spending the Miracles contributed by anybody who voted against his or her term as prefect.

Space for Improvement - There are four empty chambers adjacent to your class chambers. Students may build whatever they like in empty chambers. If students in another class discover the location of your class chambers, they might build something obnoxious in these adjacent chambers if they are still empty. There is plenty more empty space on the Academy grounds, but your must explore to find it.

Student Services - You all have been given directions to find the Campus Student Services compound. Several services are made available to all students here. The office of appeals is the place to go if you feel a professor, prefect, or other Academy official has treated you unfairly. The Counselors office is home to several gods and goddesses who can provide psychological services, help in selecting classes, and suggestions for planning a future beyond the academy. The Student Index keeps track of all student activities, and is the place to go if you need questions such as ‘which student god is responsible for those assholes attacking my mortals’ or ‘how can I get in touch with this student or professor I have heard of’ answered.

NPCs - If you know the general whereabouts of an NPC who lives on the academy grounds, you may RP with them between Ages at no cost, if the GM has time to play them.

On Resources:

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Resources: Anything of value that isn’t a location, an Actor Level NPC, or a boon level artifact is considered a resource. A resource has a value score of 1-15. If a player can offer justification and flavor to use a resource as part of an action. Resource use increases the success rate of an interaction or miracle in the following fashion.

Standard Resource Use - Increase action success rate by 75% of the Resources’ Value (rounded up)
Completely Consume or Destroy a non-living Resource as part of an action - Increase action success rate by the Resources’ Value
Use a Tool for Its Intended Purpose - Increase action success rate by 150% of the Resources’ Value (rounded up)
Employ non-actor Mortal(s) as labor - Increase action success rate by the Resources’ Value
Employ non-actor Mortal(s) in an area of their expertise - Increase action success rate by 150% of Resource’s value (rounded up)
Sacrifice Animals - Increase action success rate by 150% of Resources’ Value
Sacrifice Sentient Mortals - Increase action success rate by 200% of Resources’ Value
Use Magical Objects for Intended Purposes - Increase action success rate by 200% of Resources’ Value

Resources may become damaged, degraded, or expired when used or stored improperly, decreasing their value or destroying them completely.

With the exception of notable non-actor mortal followers, resources must be stored somewhere where you have control over them to be used.

[Weirdsound]

Reserved

[IronyOwl]

Saga of the Rabbit

Dun beams at her new acquisition, and promptly scoops him up into a hug without so much as a word. She then carries him around like a cuddly doll while investigating his anatomical literature, deeply curious about the life of this realm.


Saga of the Pig

The transparent tentacled goddess stares intently at the other beings at the table. These are the entities she will be measured against, and the raw material a hierarchy will emerge from. She'll need to pay close attention to them, lest she end up on the bottom. Or worse yet, discarded.

"I am Dun, spawn of Authority and the Unknowable. My specialty is creating loyal servants. I currently own the only major population of Otterfolk."

[Digital Hellhound]

Saga of the Rooster

Qu blinked and directed an uncertain look at Shizi. He had little experience of mortals. This one seemed particularly odd. Qu considered his words carefully for a long moment before speaking. 'I am pleased to have you. Tell me, why has your temple persevered, when so many others have fallen to ruin?'

Saga of the Pig

'I am Qu.'

It suffices for an introduction, he hopes. The void-touched god feels the eyes of the others upon him, feels their judgement, their fear, their poorly concealed revulsion. They must think him an abomination. Is the rot of the void upon him? Is his skin not coated in the frost of oblivion? They must sense it. The bright flowers in his hair and the earthly scents lingering around him cannot be enough to conceal it.

Qu tries to shake off such thoughts. With a forced smile and a courteous tone, he addresses his companions: 'May I ask, fellow students, why is it that you are gods? What is your purpose? Why have you come here?'

[Shadowclaw777]

Saga of the Dragon
Elbakaepsnu shall sprout out many stalks from the many eyes that has infected his draconic body, watching all over the 72nd infantry and their intent, to show that nothing can evade the gaze of his own, and than his body sets up a posture and performs a war-commanding speech to the leader and all of the people, to show who’s now in charge here and what his leadership will bring to these people.

”Yyw xe oyddas wyrjilz zmiz wmidd wyrjy ph efreawyw... My own condolences as I don't imagine you can speak the language of the far realm so I refer to the universal one for you mortals and you, master of the hunt. You and your military company of the left remaining from this time period and onwards, shall be my servants and my army for the task of conquering and raiding this solemn land. Unless you have the thinking process that you have the ability to challenge my superiority over your own which I would say would result in a horrible end to your lives. So then, as long as you scratch my tentacled back and I scratch yours and we work in collective contingency and cooperative pact with each other as I your own omniscient leader of all matters, with each other than their won’t be any problems just the reclaiming the lands and wealth of this land which are properly mine and yours to be shared, compared to the meek morsels who have infected it!”

Saga of the Pig
The dark-purplish tentacled draconic individual straightly using all of the appendages coming out from his body, to grab all of the to the other gods might consider to be unsavory or even inedible, even surprised himself that is uniquely specialized to his diet, of course he just doesn’t digest the sustenance but rather absorbs their very nutrients into his own body. His own physical form and his main eyes eventually get to the direction, after being satiated from the dishes into his soul, and begins to speak with a flat and gravelly tone, yet a weirdly familiar ting to it.

“A oh cyp iqpdacojnp... or rather the name that has been provided to be is referred to as Elbakeapsnu, the merger created soul of two powerful beings, master in the arts of war and of enhancing worthy individuals and their minds. My goals currently are... let's just say I have a long-term picture I plan to direct myself towards while I remain here.”

[mightymushroom]

Prelude Sagas

Koaring spends most of his time in the quarantine period contemplating the artifact Harp pressed into his hands at the last possible moment before he departed his home plane. It is familiar to him from old legends – mostly heard around the amazon campfires, rather than the swan gods' courts – yet indescribably disturbing to hold. Not because it is a great treasure, something the swan gods would not want lost beyond retrieval in a foreign world, but for what it represents of his mother. In Jaleniniqel's retelling Sayamin had been little more than a lost foundling; among the swan gods he could get few to speak of her and only briefly; and of course his third home had no news of her whatsoever. Yet if this object of power had been hers by right of inheritance, then he had known even less of her than he could have imagined. It makes him feel an alien in his own body.

The long period of isolation gives him the blessing of time to work this sorrow through his system. He tries to practice, sometimes shedding tears as he does so. The Harp, at least to his own ears, does not impart any supernatural melodic skill, though he feels the vibrations of its power beyond the sense mortals would call hearing: a force of resonance and attunement, that calms the worst of his sadness while he explores the methods of plucking and strumming. Had Sayamin known the same?

He chooses to believe it was so.

Saga of the Dog

Koaring welcomes the distraction from his melancholy and attempts to make a good impression with his new followers. He does his best to inquire about the village's needs and most immediate surrounding threats without promising any miracles he won't be able to deliver. He feels the pressure of his new status while the veteran hunter, Qīzi, subtly questions him in return. Eventually he confesses to just how new he is at being a personal god.

Interaction?: If it's allowed during age 0, bond with the villagers by sharing one of Koaring's home songs, plucked out as best he can with the Harp, in return for one of theirs.

Saga of the Pig

As the new students are given leave to mingle at last, Koaring joins the conversation. "Well met, all! I am Koaring, son of Jaleniniqel and Sayamin. Currently I am a bit of a wanderer searching for a home of my own."

"I am Dun, spawn of Authority and the Unknowable. My specialty is creating loyal servants. I currently own the only major population of Otterfolk."

"I find your choice of words most interesting. After the manner in which I was introduced, I feel more as though I have been given to Peanut Village rather than they to me."

'I am Qu.'
'May I ask, fellow students, why is it that you are gods? What is your purpose? Why have you come here?'

Koaring immediately notices that Qu names no parents, and decides to be subtle about learning more – the courtiers of the Celestial Palace had repeatedly warned him that he would face beings of very different background and ideals, so he must maintain politeness in dealing with them. "Why, I have been a god since I was born. What else should I be? But it seems to me that my own pantheon have not been great teachers, so they sent me here to learn from those who are. What of you, Qu? Do you have any lofty ambition? Will you make your ancestors proud?" This is Koaring being subtle.

[Digital Hellhound]

Saga of the Pig

"Why, I have been a god since I was born. What else should I be? But it seems to me that my own pantheon have not been great teachers, so they sent me here to learn from those who are. What of you, Qu? Do you have any lofty ambition? Will you make your ancestors proud?"

Qu's return look holds no apparent emotion. The black depths of the godling's eyes seem to have no end to them. The smile becomes even more artificial, a brittle thing drawn onto a face unsuited for it. 'I hope I will not,' he says. 'I do not know what will become of me. If we are fortunate enough, I will be a force of creation. Restoring that which has been lost. That would be enough.'

He plays idly with the flowers in his hair. Then, with a flinch, his eyes focus on Dun instead. 'What are mortals for? I do not know what to do with mine. Will you tell me?'

[IronyOwl]

Qu tries to shake off such thoughts. With a forced smile and a courteous tone, he addresses his companions: 'May I ask, fellow students, why is it that you are gods? What is your purpose? Why have you come here?'

Dun smiles back, pleased that another has grasped the correct way of thinking about those present.

"I am a god because greater powers desired to know more of the world. My purpose is to give mortals purpose. I have come here to become stronger and more useful."

"I am Dun, spawn of Authority and the Unknowable. My specialty is creating loyal servants. I currently own the only major population of Otterfolk."

"I find your choice of words most interesting. After the manner in which I was introduced, I feel more as though I have been given to Peanut Village rather than they to me."

Dun tilts her head.

"But you are mightier than they, so that wouldn't make sense. Unless it was the desire of those mightier than you to tend to their possessions, in which case that would be so.

I do not think the masters of this place care how you manage your flock, though."

He plays idly with the flowers in his hair. Then, with a flinch, his eyes focus on Dun instead. 'What are mortals for? I do not know what to do with mine. Will you tell me?'

Dun claps her hands together in joy.

"Yes! The point of mortals is to be whatever you want them to be. If you are not sure what you would like to do with them, try several things out until you find something that pleases you."

[mightymushroom]

'I hope I will not,' he says. 'I do not know what will become of me. If we are fortunate enough, I will be a force of creation. Restoring that which has been lost. That would be enough.'

He plays idly with the flowers in his hair. Then, with a flinch, his eyes focus on Dun instead. 'What are mortals for? I do not know what to do with mine. Will you tell me?'

Koaring is somewhat shocked by the intensity of Qu's response – a different background from the protective Jaleniniqel, indeed – but not so much as to keep him from wading into a question asked of someone else. "I think one needs to keep in mind what is pleasing to the mortals, too. If you do not, they are very likely to seek change in rebellion. Most mortal life tends to change its world anyway, but never more so than when it is unhappy. Learning to harmonize your ends with their desires is one of the hallmarks of high achievement."

"I do not think the masters of this place care how you manage your flock, though."

"The masters of this place may not punish us unless we threaten the higher levels of order, it is true, but I suspect they will be measuring our choices all the same. And I think they chose to pair me with a people who are likely to cooperate with my ideas. It costs me little, then, to keep those people satisfied and cooperative by returning their regard with a bit of my own. A symbiosis of divine and mortal."

[Shadowclaw777]

”Why, I have been a god since I was born. What else should I be? But it seems to me that my own pantheon have not been great teachers, so they sent me here to learn from those who are. What of you, Qu? Do you have any lofty ambition? Will you make your ancestors proud?"

Elbakaepsnu stares at the one who makes this question with the main eyes and all of the eyes that have surrounded his body. ”Beautiful or rather how succulent naivety is of the ones who are inexperienced with the ways of the multiverse, why should I make my ancestors proud if I have already absorbed all of the power I could from them, ancestors only exist for nostalgic principles for those who lack the self-confidence to be disciplined in their own right, not with the backing of strongest, though I shall submit that having a strong bloodline allows you tap in to that power allowing that respective individual to gain the right of rule and authority, this is the meaning of continuing a god’s purpose in the greater whole.

He plays idly with the flowers in his hair. Then, with a flinch, his eyes focus on Dun instead. 'What are mortals for? I do not know what to do with mine. Will you tell me?'

With the very own picosecond of time Elba make a brief chuckle, after waiting for Dun’s response then states. ”Mortals are created to give the meaning to the creator and often that is through worship, a god that doesn’t have a loyal and faithful symbiosis and often times just being commensalism. The reason we give these individual the reality of free-will is that it improves their ability to develop as a civilization as a whole in which means a stronger religious basis and bastion of useful pawns and playthings to enact your will, when the gods clash in terms of birthright only the one with the strongest and most zealous mortals will make it through, it is only the simple of ideas to improve the basis of which creates and maintenances your existence.

The masters of this place may not punish us unless we threaten the higher levels of order, it is true, but I suspect they will be measuring our choices all the same. And I think they chose to pair me with a people who are likely to cooperate with my ideas. It costs me little, then, to keep those people satisfied and cooperative by returning their regard with a bit of my own. A symbiosis of divine and mortal."

Elba, makes a rather bewildered look at this response, all the eyes making a slightly closing motion. The higher level of gods as I shall refer to them, have created this academy to foster the next generation if you will, of the strongest and most suitable for the maintenance and improvements of new worlds and even new universes. In is not the matter of making these mortals care for your existence that is important, but rather the achievement of making and fostering your mortals to do great things such as the acts of creating continent-spanning civilizations, magical artifacts and monolith to your greatness, or the conquering of others. It matters less that you are on a friend or a paternal figure to them, configure it like the basis of feudalism, the god provides them safety and protection against natural disasters, other gods, and godless civilizations in exchange for their servitude to yours.

Qu tries to shake off such thoughts. With a forced smile and a courteous tone, he addresses his companions: 'May I ask, fellow students, why is it that you are gods? What is your purpose? Why have you come here?'

Elba after making it's spiel of attention to the contemporary matters, draws back attention to a opening question made by Qu with it's own eldeitch thinking to go from the ending to beginning, making a boom of what he clamors. This individual of me was created at first a construct of war, catered by one of my guardians while the other even denying very existence. I am here to give myself purpose and the will to act upon it, to show all of reality where my place is at, the very top.”

[Glass]

Saga of the Dragon

[null]'s eyes - previously blue, with sadness at the clear state of disrepair of this location, and a bit of red, it is absolutely shameful that someone has allowed this place to break down like this - swiftly take on a friendly green shade upon arriving at the excavation site of the Salvaged. They wave cheerfully to the bemused workers and Lingbān.

Salutations! I have never met a mortal before! What is it like?

Saga of the Snake

[null] does go out into the courtyard, but they do not play. They just stand still in the center, occasionally snatching a snowflake out of the air and thoroughly examining it.

Saga of the Pig

[null] wanders over to the conversing deities, after having spent a while investigating the contents of the food tables, trying to figure out what their function was; the yellow light of curiosity shifts into their (seemingly default) green blaze of friendliness.

Salutations!

[IronyOwl]

'I hope I will not,' he says. 'I do not know what will become of me. If we are fortunate enough, I will be a force of creation. Restoring that which has been lost. That would be enough.'

He plays idly with the flowers in his hair. Then, with a flinch, his eyes focus on Dun instead. 'What are mortals for? I do not know what to do with mine. Will you tell me?'

Koaring is somewhat shocked by the intensity of Qu's response – a different background from the protective Jaleniniqel, indeed – but not so much as to keep him from wading into a question asked of someone else. "I think one needs to keep in mind what is pleasing to the mortals, too. If you do not, they are very likely to seek change in rebellion. Most mortal life tends to change its world anyway, but never more so than when it is unhappy. Learning to harmonize your ends with their desires is one of the hallmarks of high achievement."

"I do not think the masters of this place care how you manage your flock, though."

"The masters of this place may not punish us unless we threaten the higher levels of order, it is true, but I suspect they will be measuring our choices all the same. And I think they chose to pair me with a people who are likely to cooperate with my ideas. It costs me little, then, to keep those people satisfied and cooperative by returning their regard with a bit of my own. A symbiosis of divine and mortal."

Dun blanches in confusion.

"If they rebel, they were bad mortals and should have been fixed before then. Unless you wanted them to rebel, in which case they're doing as they should.

I suppose they are symbiotic, but what does that have to do with being happy? Sometimes unhappy mortals are more effective than happy ones."


She just nods along with most of what Elbakaepsnu has to say. She doesn't agree with all of it, but he seems to have a sound and clear opinion of mortals and himself, and an obvious plan for his time here.

[null] wanders over to the conversing deities, after having spent a while investigating the contents of the food tables, trying to figure out what their function was; the yellow light of curiosity shifts into their (seemingly default) green blaze of friendliness.

Salutations!

Dun gives a friendly wave to the doll. Seems vapid, but nice. Will probably end up as Elbakaepsnu's pet or trophy, maybe hers if she's unusually proactive about it.

[Weirdsound]

Saga of the Rabbit
Dun beams at her new acquisition, and promptly scoops him up into a hug without so much as a word. She then carries him around like a cuddly doll while investigating his anatomical literature, deeply curious about the life of this realm.

Elder High-Oyster is taken aback, but does not immediately object to being carried around his own home. Upon closer inspection the book he was reading is a collection of hand rendered drawings and diagrams that describe the common types and anatomical locations of tumors found in various humanoid populations. Leafing through a few pages, aside from Otterfolk, no being illustrated in the book deviates too far from the standard human or elfish archtypes.

You turn to the rest of High-Oyster's collection which is stored on several shelves and sorted by publication date. The oldest texts seem to have been produced by a printing press of some sort, while more recent additions are completely and painstakingly hand made. It would seem that your new possessions have been losing rather than gaining technology over time.

The Elder notices you eyeing his books, and works up the courage to speak. "Can I help you find something, your holiness?"

Saga of the Rooster

Qu blinked and directed an uncertain look at Shizi. He had little experience of mortals. This one seemed particularly odd. Qu considered his words carefully for a long moment before speaking. 'I am pleased to have you. Tell me, why has your temple persevered, when so many others have fallen to ruin?'

Zhèngniàn pauses to consider your question. "I cannot say for sure. My order was abandoned by its previous god many lifetimes ago, and many temple records have been lost to fire since. Several Masters who have held my office in the past had titles such as 'the reclaimer' or 'the rebuilder'. So perhaps this place was in some state of disrepair at some point. All I can do is be mindful of the present, and prepared for the future."

Saga of the Dragon
Elbakaepsnu shall sprout out many stalks from the many eyes that has infected his draconic body, watching all over the 72nd infantry and their intent, to show that nothing can evade the gaze of his own, and than his body sets up a posture and performs a war-commanding speech to the leader and all of the people, to show who’s now in charge here and what his leadership will bring to these people.

”Yyw xe oyddas wyrjilz zmiz wmidd wyrjy ph efreawyw... My own condolences as I don't imagine you can speak the language of the far realm so I refer to the universal one for you mortals and you, master of the hunt. You and your military company of the left remaining from this time period and onwards, shall be my servants and my army for the task of conquering and raiding this solemn land. Unless you have the thinking process that you have the ability to challenge my superiority over your own which I would say would result in a horrible end to your lives. So then, as long as you scratch my tentacled back and I scratch yours and we work in collective contingency and cooperative pact with each other as I your own omniscient leader of all matters, with each other than their won’t be any problems just the reclaiming the lands and wealth of this land which are properly mine and yours to be shared, compared to the meek morsels who have infected it!”

You are quite sure that if the Alpha-Huntress had lips, that they would be contorted into a sick grin. She offers you a military salute, and after several moments her troops do the same. Some who still possess a relatively human leg arrangement choose to kneel instead. "It has been too long since we have fought for a purpose, much less divine purpose. My soldiers should find fulfillment in killing for reasons beyond their own mere hunger and amusement. May we prove to be worthy instruments of your will!"

Saga of the Dog

Koaring welcomes the distraction from his melancholy and attempts to make a good impression with his new followers. He does his best to inquire about the village's needs and most immediate surrounding threats without promising any miracles he won't be able to deliver. He feels the pressure of his new status while the veteran hunter, Qīzi, subtly questions him in return. Eventually he confesses to just how new he is at being a personal god.

Interaction?: If it's allowed during age 0, bond with the villagers by sharing one of Koaring's home songs, plucked out as best he can with the Harp, in return for one of theirs.

No Interactions on age 0. Just RP. I'll start off with your inquiry on needs and threats.

Qīzi considers her new god's quarry. "As it stands right now, my boys and I can hold off most threats to the village. But we are stuck here. Our previous god found mineral deposites just inside the forest for us to mine, but without divine protection, it is nearly impossible to safely mine them. Farming is also risky here, as the general wicked malease of the land can sometimes corrupt a crop and turn it into something useless or even harmful. Without some means for this town to provide for itself, the population will continue to dwindle. On my honor, I will not abandon this place so long as one civilian remains, but I can not speak for the rest of my guild. Eventually we will become weak enough that some Hag or monster might finish us off."

Saga of the Dragon

[null]'s eyes - previously blue, with sadness at the clear state of disrepair of this location, and a bit of red, it is absolutely shameful that someone has allowed this place to break down like this - swiftly take on a friendly green shade upon arriving at the excavation site of the Salvaged. They wave cheerfully to the bemused workers and Lingbān.

Salutations! I have never met a mortal before! What is it like?

Lingbān is taken a bit aback by the question, but eventually answers. "It is not bad, I guess. We don't have to worry about mortality too much. Plenty of magic to eat, and our flesh is toxic to the monstrous White Locusts who hunt any other mortals who might come out here. But it is hard to truly thrive. The monsters make it hard for trade partners to visit us, and our unique diet makes it hard for us to leave our ruins to find trade partners. You will help us, right?"

[Glass]

Of course! They then turn toward Shizi. That's what I'm supposed to do, right? Without waiting for an answer, they return their attentions to Lingbān. You eat metal, yeah? I'm good at metals. And wood and stone, too! I think we can make this work. Do you think a metal forest would look good here?