Kulloda looks at Xa'lawea closely when she asks what he thinks would make a desirable god.
"Desirable god?" Kulloda asks and with barely any hesitation, "God that doesn't make world worse for mortals. Want war with other gods? Go fight other god. Don't make mortals do it. Enough fighting here to survive. Don't need gods."
He feels his emotions building up to the surface and he knows he is getting angry. He has learned to let it happen when he does. It's what has kept him alive this long. But even Kulloda can sense this isn't the place for that.
"Best god is good that goes and does god things and leaves mortals alone."
He looks over at Centulia.
"Tempus okay god. He likes a good fight. No sneaky fights. Doesn't pick sides. No point praying to him since won't answer."
One of the angels, Doulaline to Gash, a towering woman with dark hair and skin, responds to Kulloda, saying, "There is no war, half-orc. We are staving off any fighting among ourselves. Such fighting has happened only in the times before your kind can remember."
A devil, whom Gash knows to be Hemovarico, speaks up, wiry and pale, saying, "I wish the mortals would do our bidding. It is very much the other way around, though, warrior. The gods are the ones most in servitude to the mortals. That is the cost of god-hood."
“And then what?”Tristan asks the angels “If there is no consensus tonight on the vote, then do you truly think things will stay the same? Or will parties take more ..direct actions to get their way? There has already been an agreement on the creation of Limbo.”
He nods toward the elf, Lyr he believes he heard the name earlier. “A good summary of the situation, one candidate who is not ready or worthy and one who has already been cast out once. If these are the choices the gods put before themselves, why should we mere mortals get involved?” Tristan gazes across the clearing, looking once again for Felistra, wondering to himself if she had any additional insight into the situation.
"We will reconvene if necessary. But many in the hells are eager to see a new god in their ranks and eager to make that choice while they can," Bailyx says.
Felistra is standing somewhere between the two god candidates. She appears to be listening intently as others converse but is not taking part in any conversation.
Dog walks over to Finnegan and says, "so this was your plan from the start?"
Dog:
"The start of what?" Finnegan says, oblivious to any accusatory tone in Dog's question. "I have to thank you, my dear Doggear. None of this would have happened if the hells had not found me while investigating you. This is truly beyond anything I ever imagined possible in my long years accumulating power."
Kulloda looks up at the towering angel who said there's no fighting.
"See. That what Kulloda saying," Kulloda beings. "Gods think about gods things not mortals. Look at mortal planes. Lots of fighting. War. Gladiators. Bandits. Fighting. Who cares if gods all peaceful with each other if still fighting here. This is all just fancy talk."
Kulloda nods again and turns to head towards Centulia, looking behind to see if Gash is following.
"Will introduce you to Centulia. Don't let smile fool you. She's all knives inside."
Tristan excused himself from the two angels with a small nod and made his way across the clearing to Felistra, approaching her with a small smile “Ah, we meet again, though the entertainment leaves a bit to be desired in this case. It seems the parties are at an impasse, is there any hope for a resolution? I also could not help but notice that you had no preference when it came to a vote, is a dragon and a gnome all the same to you?”
Tristan excused himself from the two angels with a small nod and made his way across the clearing to Felistra, approaching her with a small smile “Ah, we meet again, though the entertainment leaves a bit to be desired in this case. It seems the parties are at an impasse, is there any hope for a resolution? I also could not help but notice that you had no preference when it came to a vote, is a dragon and a gnome all the same to you?”
Tristan:
"Perceptive, human,"she says with a smirk. "Yes. Waukeen is simply pleased that a reorganization of the heavens is agreed upon. There are several who are of this mindset, actually. We will agree to most proposals to fill the ranks of the gods. To your first question, I don't know. If one could sway 4 or 5 gods towards one or the other of the options, I think we would have a passing vote. The real question is, who is willing to bargain and who is steadfast? If you are the industrious sort who cares to investigate, I'd wager Infernex, Apyronite, and Zephylus would benefit greatly from a quick agreement. Perhaps Centulia would as well. They all favor the gnome at the moment and all stand to move to the spheres of Limbo. Of those favoring the dragon, Abradala, Ferrault, and Brune would benefit the most from a quick resolution and also stand to move to Limbo. I don't know who else could be swayed, but most will have their price. I would stay away from Bael, Syn, Ezath, and Falstrienne in the hells. They will hold firm no matter who you propose, I'd wager. I don't know who would hold firm in the heavens."
The devil points out the divine beings as she mentions them.
"It seems I have been helpful to you in many ways. Just as you have helped me and mine. I do have a question for you, before you take this last step down into the hells, into the pantheon. Do you have aims, goals once you achieve power yourself? Even this divine ascendency? What then? A god of ambition could help mortals who wish to achieve, could allow people to build, to succeed, to strive to greatness for the betterment of all. A god of ambition could also help the cruel, the selfish, the sadistic cast their eyes over their fellows and cause new levels of destruction, pain, and suffering, in the name of ambition. Among many paths. Have you set your eyes on yours?"Dog's eyes narrow in thought.
His mind thinks of his father and mother, ambitious enough to leave the herd for a better life, and seek out a chance to further their education with a crazy old mage. He thinks of the late Mage King, ambitious enough to handle the levers of power in Alciondria. He thinks of all the devils and infernal allies and other impediments along their journey, ambitious enough to try to kidnap an innocent child, warp a mother's mind, all in the name of more power.
A god of ambition of the hells is most likely going to be the bad kind, but would Finnegan, with his connection to good people, kind people, potentially be a better option?
"It seems I have been helpful to you in many ways. Just as you have helped me and mine. I do have a question for you, before you take this last step down into the hells, into the pantheon. Do you have aims, goals once you achieve power yourself? Even this divine ascendency? What then? A god of ambition could help mortals who wish to achieve, could allow people to build, to succeed, to strive to greatness for the betterment of all. A god of ambition could also help the cruel, the selfish, the sadistic cast their eyes over their fellows and cause new levels of destruction, pain, and suffering, in the name of ambition. Among many paths. Have you set your eyes on yours?"Dog's eyes narrow in thought.
His mind thinks of his father and mother, ambitious enough to leave the herd for a better life, and seek out a chance to further their education with a crazy old mage. He thinks of the late Mage King, ambitious enough to handle the levers of power in Alciondria. He thinks of all the devils and infernal allies and other impediments along their journey, ambitious enough to try to kidnap an innocent child, warp a mother's mind, all in the name of more power.
A god of ambition of the hells is most likely going to be the bad kind, but would Finnegan, with his connection to good people, kind people, potentially be a better option?
Dog:
"Oh yes," Finnegan says, still oblivious to the subtleties of Dog's meaning. "What do people ask for in the old tales of genies? Power, wealth, status. My followers will pray to me for their ambitions. The devout followers will gain their ambitions through my will."
The cantankerous gnome is almost unrecognizable in his giddiness to be in the presence of these divine beings, propping him up to join the ranks of their gods.
Tristan looks over at the representatives of the gods as Felistra points them out, gives a small nod of thanks and moves back to join Martin and Lyr, motioning Dog and the others to join them after finishing their conversations with the would be gods. He pulls them away from the two angels and keeps his voice low as he considers their options.
“So, it would appear we have the usual groups, those who will accept either candidate, those who are against anyone, and the two groups who each have their favorite. It appears the gods moving to Limbo have the most urgency, though I am not sure why. I know of several that may be able to be swayed in either direction if we so choose. But should we try to influence this, and if so in what direction, the gnome or the dragon? What does the Queen stand to gain or lose from this?”
Kulloda looks up at the towering angel who said there's no fighting.
"See. That what Kulloda saying," Kulloda beings. "Gods think about gods things not mortals. Look at mortal planes. Lots of fighting. War. Gladiators. Bandits. Fighting. Who cares if gods all peaceful with each other if still fighting here. This is all just fancy talk."
Kulloda nods again and turns to head towards Centulia, looking behind to see if Gash is following.
"Will introduce you to Centulia. Don't let smile fool you. She's all knives inside."
Gash follows, “Maybe if we mortals are getting a say. Maybe we should at least get something in return for our votes… it’s what they would all do anyway. But I should hold meeting with the Queen and her hands”
"But they might not choose you, and you wouldn't get that power. What would the putative god of ambition give to enlist the help of someone such as myself to try to sway votes... so he could realize his greatest ambition?"Dog says, with a hint of a smile. Over message he says, "you can answer here: information, favors, power, contractual promises of aid in the event of success... other things..."
The divine beings mingle and discuss things tentatively among themselves while the mortals gather to share their findings. In summary, they have learned the following:
Typhorus and Bael, devils representing the gods of Storms and Murder respectively, are clearly at odds.
The Limbo proposal is approved. But that does not mean peace yet. Two new gods are necessary, one for the hells and one for the planes of Limbo. There are two proposals.
Proposal 1: Finnegan, a powerful mage (known to Dog as he employs Dog's parents, but also Martin and, to a lesser extent, Gash) will join the hells as the god of ambition in the plane of Domination (currently the eighth plane of the hells) but this option REQUIRES Limbo find a new god and may not reaccept The Traveler into the celestial planes.
The Traveler was ejected from the heavens long ago from the Seventh plane of the heavens for an offense that nearly set the hells against the heavens. He wanders the mortal plane, whereabouts unknown. This was a story thread initiated by a former player, Jack_Joke. Dog, Martin, and Gash would know Q'wai (Jack_Joke's character) had encountered the Traveler AND that the Traveler was intensely interested in a lost artifact called the Dagger of the Daystar. It was the dagger's sheath that he wanted, actually, hinting it may have either special meaning to him or even been an artifact of godly origin. Many in the hells clearly do not like The Traveler still today. Some in the heavens feel the same (Irovax and Bailyx, notably). Other gods from the Limbo contingent may be more forthcoming.
Proposal 2: The ancient red dragon Xa'lawea will join the hells as the god of adversity in the plane of Misfortune (currently the 9th plane of the hells). This option would allow the gods of Limbo to accept the Traveler as a god, if they so desired it.
Unspoken proposal: Neither option. Find a new god for the hells. Who, though?
Another possibility: Let the gods sort it out. What could possibly go wrong?
Other things known:
The hells largely favor Finnegan. But Finnegan is said to not yet be of sufficient power or experience to elevate to godhood.
Finnegan was found as a candidate through investigating Dog, apparently.
Finnegan is absolutely beside himself with glee about being considered for godhood. This is markedly different from his usually cranky personality. Xa'lawea is much more sedate, even dragonly, about the possible promotion.
Xa'lawea promised to be a god that reaches far more than the elite, as adversity affects all
Finnegan seems to be a potential god that will cater to those who crave power, wealth, and status most of all and thus be a god of the elite, for the most part.
Irovax is angry but also something of a sad sack. He laments being so long separated from his god, Helm.
The hells in particular seem to have changed their tune on Limbo because they have a favored option for a new god to join their ranks. They may be trying to push their choice through while the pushing is good.
Numerous gods have no preference for who is elevated to godhood and may be easily swayed depending on how the wind is blowing (as suggested by Felistra). Those who have been pushing for Limbo in particular may be open to changing their preference if it means getting their planes of Limbo.
Possible candidates to consider swaying include supporters of Finnegan (to be swayed to support the dragon): Infernex, Apyronite, and Zephylus and maybe Centulia
And also supporters of Xa'lawea (to be swayed to support Finnegan): Abradala, Ferrault, and Brune.
My attempt at a Venn diagram of the factions, as determined by votes, rumors, and interactions with angels and devils:
Let me know if this helped distill some of the info that has helped or if I have forgotten anything in OOC chat on discord.
"But they might not choose you, and you wouldn't get that power. What would the putative god of ambition give to enlist the help of someone such as myself to try to sway votes... so he could realize his greatest ambition?"Dog says, with a hint of a smile. Over message he says, "you can answer here: information, favors, power, contractual promises of aid in the event of success... other things..."
Dog:
Finnegan responds to the message. "If I am made a god," he says. "I will finally let your parents return to their tribe. Their debt will be paid."
His message delivered to those of the group within earshot, Tristan turns to approach the three angels Felistra identified as supporting the dragon, Brune, Ferrault, and Abradala. Time to see just what it would take to sway the gods themselves in their choices. He gives a small chuckle at his predicament and introduces himself with a small bow.
“Ah, waiting can be so tedious. Perhaps a song to pass the time” Tristan pats his lute “Or just some conversation. I see you support Xa’lawea. Why a god of adversity? Doesn’t the mortal realm face enough adversity everyday without creating a god dedicated to it? Challenges, toil, strife, they define the material plane. An interesting choice for the gods of writing, craft, and magic, you would think they would favor something that supports creation, like ambition?”
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“Could the vote be postponed until he’s found?”
Paladin - warforged - orange
"Not if I have any say in the matter," scoffs Irovax.
"No vote is going to pass tonight," says Bailyx with a shrug.
Kulloda looks at Xa'lawea closely when she asks what he thinks would make a desirable god.
"Desirable god?" Kulloda asks and with barely any hesitation, "God that doesn't make world worse for mortals. Want war with other gods? Go fight other god. Don't make mortals do it. Enough fighting here to survive. Don't need gods."
He feels his emotions building up to the surface and he knows he is getting angry. He has learned to let it happen when he does. It's what has kept him alive this long. But even Kulloda can sense this isn't the place for that.
"Best god is good that goes and does god things and leaves mortals alone."
He looks over at Centulia.
"Tempus okay god. He likes a good fight. No sneaky fights. Doesn't pick sides. No point praying to him since won't answer."
Kulloda and Gash:
One of the angels, Doulaline to Gash, a towering woman with dark hair and skin, responds to Kulloda, saying, "There is no war, half-orc. We are staving off any fighting among ourselves. Such fighting has happened only in the times before your kind can remember."
A devil, whom Gash knows to be Hemovarico, speaks up, wiry and pale, saying, "I wish the mortals would do our bidding. It is very much the other way around, though, warrior. The gods are the ones most in servitude to the mortals. That is the cost of god-hood."
“And then what?” Tristan asks the angels “If there is no consensus tonight on the vote, then do you truly think things will stay the same? Or will parties take more ..direct actions to get their way? There has already been an agreement on the creation of Limbo.”
He nods toward the elf, Lyr he believes he heard the name earlier. “A good summary of the situation, one candidate who is not ready or worthy and one who has already been cast out once. If these are the choices the gods put before themselves, why should we mere mortals get involved?” Tristan gazes across the clearing, looking once again for Felistra, wondering to himself if she had any additional insight into the situation.
"We will reconvene if necessary. But many in the hells are eager to see a new god in their ranks and eager to make that choice while they can," Bailyx says.
Felistra is standing somewhere between the two god candidates. She appears to be listening intently as others converse but is not taking part in any conversation.
Dog walks over to Finnegan and says, "so this was your plan from the start?"
“Doesn’t he have to prove himself worthy or something?”
Paladin - warforged - orange
Dog:
"The start of what?" Finnegan says, oblivious to any accusatory tone in Dog's question. "I have to thank you, my dear Doggear. None of this would have happened if the hells had not found me while investigating you. This is truly beyond anything I ever imagined possible in my long years accumulating power."
"Or something," Irovax says with a scoff.
Kulloda looks up at the towering angel who said there's no fighting.
"See. That what Kulloda saying," Kulloda beings. "Gods think about gods things not mortals. Look at mortal planes. Lots of fighting. War. Gladiators. Bandits. Fighting. Who cares if gods all peaceful with each other if still fighting here. This is all just fancy talk."
Kulloda nods again and turns to head towards Centulia, looking behind to see if Gash is following.
"Will introduce you to Centulia. Don't let smile fool you. She's all knives inside."
Tristan excused himself from the two angels with a small nod and made his way across the clearing to Felistra, approaching her with a small smile “Ah, we meet again, though the entertainment leaves a bit to be desired in this case. It seems the parties are at an impasse, is there any hope for a resolution? I also could not help but notice that you had no preference when it came to a vote, is a dragon and a gnome all the same to you?”
Tristan:
"Perceptive, human," she says with a smirk. "Yes. Waukeen is simply pleased that a reorganization of the heavens is agreed upon. There are several who are of this mindset, actually. We will agree to most proposals to fill the ranks of the gods. To your first question, I don't know. If one could sway 4 or 5 gods towards one or the other of the options, I think we would have a passing vote. The real question is, who is willing to bargain and who is steadfast? If you are the industrious sort who cares to investigate, I'd wager Infernex, Apyronite, and Zephylus would benefit greatly from a quick agreement. Perhaps Centulia would as well. They all favor the gnome at the moment and all stand to move to the spheres of Limbo. Of those favoring the dragon, Abradala, Ferrault, and Brune would benefit the most from a quick resolution and also stand to move to Limbo. I don't know who else could be swayed, but most will have their price. I would stay away from Bael, Syn, Ezath, and Falstrienne in the hells. They will hold firm no matter who you propose, I'd wager. I don't know who would hold firm in the heavens."
The devil points out the divine beings as she mentions them.
"It seems I have been helpful to you in many ways. Just as you have helped me and mine. I do have a question for you, before you take this last step down into the hells, into the pantheon. Do you have aims, goals once you achieve power yourself? Even this divine ascendency? What then? A god of ambition could help mortals who wish to achieve, could allow people to build, to succeed, to strive to greatness for the betterment of all. A god of ambition could also help the cruel, the selfish, the sadistic cast their eyes over their fellows and cause new levels of destruction, pain, and suffering, in the name of ambition. Among many paths. Have you set your eyes on yours?" Dog's eyes narrow in thought.
His mind thinks of his father and mother, ambitious enough to leave the herd for a better life, and seek out a chance to further their education with a crazy old mage. He thinks of the late Mage King, ambitious enough to handle the levers of power in Alciondria. He thinks of all the devils and infernal allies and other impediments along their journey, ambitious enough to try to kidnap an innocent child, warp a mother's mind, all in the name of more power.
A god of ambition of the hells is most likely going to be the bad kind, but would Finnegan, with his connection to good people, kind people, potentially be a better option?
Dog:
"Oh yes," Finnegan says, still oblivious to the subtleties of Dog's meaning. "What do people ask for in the old tales of genies? Power, wealth, status. My followers will pray to me for their ambitions. The devout followers will gain their ambitions through my will."
The cantankerous gnome is almost unrecognizable in his giddiness to be in the presence of these divine beings, propping him up to join the ranks of their gods.
Tristan looks over at the representatives of the gods as Felistra points them out, gives a small nod of thanks and moves back to join Martin and Lyr, motioning Dog and the others to join them after finishing their conversations with the would be gods. He pulls them away from the two angels and keeps his voice low as he considers their options.
“So, it would appear we have the usual groups, those who will accept either candidate, those who are against anyone, and the two groups who each have their favorite. It appears the gods moving to Limbo have the most urgency, though I am not sure why. I know of several that may be able to be swayed in either direction if we so choose. But should we try to influence this, and if so in what direction, the gnome or the dragon? What does the Queen stand to gain or lose from this?”
Gash follows, “Maybe if we mortals are getting a say. Maybe we should at least get something in return for our votes… it’s what they would all do anyway. But I should hold meeting with the Queen and her hands”
Gash - Lvl14 Goblin Wizard - The High Court of the Aasimar Queen
"But they might not choose you, and you wouldn't get that power. What would the putative god of ambition give to enlist the help of someone such as myself to try to sway votes... so he could realize his greatest ambition?" Dog says, with a hint of a smile. Over message he says, "you can answer here: information, favors, power, contractual promises of aid in the event of success... other things..."
The divine beings mingle and discuss things tentatively among themselves while the mortals gather to share their findings. In summary, they have learned the following:
My attempt at a Venn diagram of the factions, as determined by votes, rumors, and interactions with angels and devils:
Let me know if this helped distill some of the info that has helped or if I have forgotten anything in OOC chat on discord.
Dog:
Finnegan responds to the message. "If I am made a god," he says. "I will finally let your parents return to their tribe. Their debt will be paid."
His message delivered to those of the group within earshot, Tristan turns to approach the three angels Felistra identified as supporting the dragon, Brune, Ferrault, and Abradala. Time to see just what it would take to sway the gods themselves in their choices. He gives a small chuckle at his predicament and introduces himself with a small bow.
“Ah, waiting can be so tedious. Perhaps a song to pass the time” Tristan pats his lute “Or just some conversation. I see you support Xa’lawea. Why a god of adversity? Doesn’t the mortal realm face enough adversity everyday without creating a god dedicated to it? Challenges, toil, strife, they define the material plane. An interesting choice for the gods of writing, craft, and magic, you would think they would favor something that supports creation, like ambition?”