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vivalaMid-month, leaders of the Corsairs send word to multiple highly regarded individuals among their ranks, asking them to go to The Vault for a meeting. To meet someone of utmost importance. His identity is to be kept secret from the Empire at all costs, and we have decided to limit the number of those who are given this information for now.
The meeting takes place behind closed doors in a small lecture hall. The Vault's higher ranking scholars, who take up most of the select crowd, are found speaking enthusiastically to each other. This is something of great interest to them and pens are at the ready.
When everyone is settled into their seats, a man rises from his seat, tapping his way to the center of the lecture floor. He fiddles with the end of his cane, smiling at the crowd and greeting them after pushing his dark glasses up his nose.
"Hi! Thanks for coming, everyone. My name is Matthias Meerdock, but please call me Matt. I was previously a private investigator, and yes, I am blind. If you're wondering, I worked with a sighted partner on cases. My other senses are abnormally strong though, so I pick up on other details. Smells, sounds... But I'm not actually here to talk to you about that."
He clears his throat and purses his lips, hesitating for a short moment at the intimidating weight of the message he bears. He pushes onward.
"The old religion says that ages ago, The Pantheon of Gods came upon a wealth of Ether, and used it to build our world. Together the gods controlled and shaped the elements to mold the lands, the Eternal Ocean, the life, and the Peoples of Esthere.
For many long years, The Gods lived among the Peoples, teaching them the beginnings of magic, and watching over the planet while the Peoples grew and established their societies. The Gods were immortal, but not eternal, and in time when one god would pass out of the world, their Will would be left behind and seek a mortal among the Peoples to elevate as an Heir to their name and power. At one time, a god would live many ages.
However, The Empire and the Church of the Divine, have made serious efforts to wipe out the religion and in turn, the Gods themselves. The Imperials want for all of you not only to worship the Emperor's will as the will of the Almighty, but to forget that the Pantheon ever existed. They have been mostly successful outside the efforts of The Vault's preservation of knowledge, and those who worship in secrecy.
I was one such worshipper, in my first life, and The Empire took my life and the lives of my fellow congregation when they discovered the hidden temple where we worshipped. All of us were slaughtered." He pauses, swallowing hard.
"As I took my last breath, I heard a voice call to me. It was the Will of Hades, and I was offered a way back to the mortal world and a second chance to help people. Long story short, I accepted the Title and have been bound to the rules the Gods laid out for each other long ago. My purpose here, as the Heir to the Title of Hades, is to restore the power of the Gods, and to protect the world as the Gods of Old once did.
I'm here to ask for your help to save The Peoples of Esthere from a problem The Empire has only exacerbated: the instability of this world. The Gods are guardians who maintain the world as it is. With the Pantheon nearly gone, natural disasters, plague, and monster attacks are becoming more common. If The Church of of the Divine have their way, the world itself will be at risk."
He takes a breath. "I understand if this is overwhelming or hard to believe. But I need your decision whether to help as soon as possible. Sorry if this is uncomfortable, but it's the quickest way to establish what I'm telling you." Matt raises his arms, cane in one hand, and a great darkness engulfs him instantly, casting a long shadow on the floor that moves separate from the lights overhead. Large horns emerge in a smokey dark fog from the black shape of his head. All present will feel the presence of death and the underworld as a sensation in their core. Those who are not ready to die might feel a moment of dread, while those who are ready will feel a sense of peace.
After a half a minute, he lowers his arms and the presence is gone. He is again what appears to be a normal human, and he flashes a cautiously hopeful smile. "Any questions?"
The meeting takes place behind closed doors in a small lecture hall. The Vault's higher ranking scholars, who take up most of the select crowd, are found speaking enthusiastically to each other. This is something of great interest to them and pens are at the ready.
When everyone is settled into their seats, a man rises from his seat, tapping his way to the center of the lecture floor. He fiddles with the end of his cane, smiling at the crowd and greeting them after pushing his dark glasses up his nose.
"Hi! Thanks for coming, everyone. My name is Matthias Meerdock, but please call me Matt. I was previously a private investigator, and yes, I am blind. If you're wondering, I worked with a sighted partner on cases. My other senses are abnormally strong though, so I pick up on other details. Smells, sounds... But I'm not actually here to talk to you about that."
He clears his throat and purses his lips, hesitating for a short moment at the intimidating weight of the message he bears. He pushes onward.
"The old religion says that ages ago, The Pantheon of Gods came upon a wealth of Ether, and used it to build our world. Together the gods controlled and shaped the elements to mold the lands, the Eternal Ocean, the life, and the Peoples of Esthere.
For many long years, The Gods lived among the Peoples, teaching them the beginnings of magic, and watching over the planet while the Peoples grew and established their societies. The Gods were immortal, but not eternal, and in time when one god would pass out of the world, their Will would be left behind and seek a mortal among the Peoples to elevate as an Heir to their name and power. At one time, a god would live many ages.
However, The Empire and the Church of the Divine, have made serious efforts to wipe out the religion and in turn, the Gods themselves. The Imperials want for all of you not only to worship the Emperor's will as the will of the Almighty, but to forget that the Pantheon ever existed. They have been mostly successful outside the efforts of The Vault's preservation of knowledge, and those who worship in secrecy.
I was one such worshipper, in my first life, and The Empire took my life and the lives of my fellow congregation when they discovered the hidden temple where we worshipped. All of us were slaughtered." He pauses, swallowing hard.
"As I took my last breath, I heard a voice call to me. It was the Will of Hades, and I was offered a way back to the mortal world and a second chance to help people. Long story short, I accepted the Title and have been bound to the rules the Gods laid out for each other long ago. My purpose here, as the Heir to the Title of Hades, is to restore the power of the Gods, and to protect the world as the Gods of Old once did.
I'm here to ask for your help to save The Peoples of Esthere from a problem The Empire has only exacerbated: the instability of this world. The Gods are guardians who maintain the world as it is. With the Pantheon nearly gone, natural disasters, plague, and monster attacks are becoming more common. If The Church of of the Divine have their way, the world itself will be at risk."
He takes a breath. "I understand if this is overwhelming or hard to believe. But I need your decision whether to help as soon as possible. Sorry if this is uncomfortable, but it's the quickest way to establish what I'm telling you." Matt raises his arms, cane in one hand, and a great darkness engulfs him instantly, casting a long shadow on the floor that moves separate from the lights overhead. Large horns emerge in a smokey dark fog from the black shape of his head. All present will feel the presence of death and the underworld as a sensation in their core. Those who are not ready to die might feel a moment of dread, while those who are ready will feel a sense of peace.
After a half a minute, he lowers his arms and the presence is gone. He is again what appears to be a normal human, and he flashes a cautiously hopeful smile. "Any questions?"
no subject
Date: 2025-02-23 11:21 am (UTC)Yes, of course.He nods his head. It's a good question to start with. "Most of our goals are shared, like you said. I expect the most common task I'll have that you're not already doing is helping to gather materials for ceremonies, surveying old temples, and lending a hand in restoring them," Matt explains. The archeology enthusiasts present from The Vault look very pleased.
"Less common but important, ever since I accepted the Title, I can feel a connection to the world. I should be able to predict certain natural threats resulting from the planet needing uh... maintenance, you could say. I can do most of the magic heavy lifting, but I can't be everywhere at once."
no subject
Date: 2025-02-25 04:02 am (UTC)It is an unfortunate truth that some Feranmuts in her world were not exactly... benevolent. Shu would know, given that she was birthed from one of the less pleasant of the ancient gods.
"Other than that, I am sure we would be happy to assist. Now..." She pauses briefly. "You are a... human channeling the spirit of a god? A proxy?"
no subject
Date: 2025-02-26 10:47 am (UTC)He hadn't ever been one to kill. As much rage as he had pent up inside him against the Empire, during his human life he had never killed the soldiers that he fought in the city streets at night.
"As someone who was worshipping the gods as a human up until my death, I hardly feel worthy of being considered the god Hades himself. But I also feel distinctly different from before my death. The ancient gods walked among the Peoples of Esthere, and we worship the gods as they were reborn in the past when people were elevated... Proxy might be the best word for now. The stories make it sound like that might change as the power of Hades grows again."
no subject
Date: 2025-02-27 02:37 am (UTC)Shu, of course, hasn't the slightest idea what he is referring to.
"You must forgive my ignorance, for I do not know any stories about such things in this world. What will change? If the Will of Hades dwells within you, you believe that Hades will manifest once more as its power is restored?"
This is, of course, entirely alien to her conception of how deities work, but she is interested nonetheless.
no subject
Date: 2025-03-05 03:02 am (UTC)Matt's brow furrows. "The way I understand it is, there have been multiple people who served as Hades and the other Gods before. I'm not sure if they were ultimately bodies for the consciousness of the original, or if they truly became Hades themselves. That's a question for some of the priests and elders in our small community- I uh, have an interest in finding out for myself." His eyebrows raise over his glasses, and he nods to himself, giving a faint laugh.
"I'll have to get back to you on the exact mechanics. Some of my experience has been intuitive- something I just suddenly knew when I was born again, other answers have to be hunted down."
no subject
Date: 2025-03-09 03:20 am (UTC)Surely there were less odious ways of going about it.
"Mm. I cannot say I approve." She says, as if anyone is interested in her approval. "Unless you are fully cognizant and willing to offer up your body and soul in service of this god. Which does not seem especially prudent on your part. Perhaps you ought to find out the intentions of this deity before you pursue his business too ardently. "
no subject
Date: 2025-04-01 02:34 am (UTC)"I died," he reiterates, "Every minute I have here is a gift of additional time in the land of the living. I'm just thankful that I get to be here at all, and that I am lucky enough to be given another chance to help people. The gods in this world have always been friends to the peoples. I don't mind paying them back for their service, if that's how you want to look at it."