Old Gods - Interest thread

[ThreeWords]

Spoiler: Hey, y'all

If you're reading this, it 's a good sign for me in terms of interest. however, before I get this started, I'm gonna need a little more time, and hopefully a coGM. Feel free to submit sheets, but I won't start for a while.
Anyone interested in helping out can say so in the thread, or by PM

People have power. Not alone, and not even consciously, but the power is there none the less. Give enough of your time and energy to something, give it your thoughts and mind and dreams, and something will begin to grow.

Gods feed on belief. It is their life and blood; it gives the purpose and power, form and substance. But what happens when a god is forgotten? Without prayers and devotions, the entity loses shape, the power fades, the being dissolves. But it is almost impossible to kill a god...

Ideas linger; Americans do not perform sacrifices to the Norse god of thunder, but still they name a day after the Giantslayer and, in a way, the being lives on. Some would call it a sad and meaningless life, but when faced with wretchedness or extinction, most beings still choose life.

New gods rise, too. Prayer is merely devotion, and there are millions who willingly sit alone and give their minds to the television; something is bound to spring up sooner or later. And these children are filled with contempt for their elders, and try to push them further down.

There is a war coming, int he minds of men.

Spoiler: Information, to be added as needed

Spoiler: The Dreamscape

Described variously as the subconscious of the world and a mindmap of an entire planet, the Scape is a misty, semi-substantial world into which the Gods can pass (with ease or difficulty depending on the location), and where there powers are strongest.
Other properties include the strange geography (a mile traveled in the Scape can be a hundred miles or 3 meters, depending on how you travel) and it's intolerance to mortals, who invariably begin to fall ill while within the Scape

Spoiler: Designing a character

It should be noted at this point that you will not be playing gods. At least not quite. You are what is left of the god; more than mortal but less than divine, an echo of an idea.
Choose a God to modeled on, but remember that you do not have all their powers and influences. This doesn't mean you don't have power, just that you're not, well, Gods

Notes
-You can be killed by another god, but you have little to fear form mortals weapons.
-Symbols and rituals way the way of things; they dictate the way the world will flow.

Spoiler: Character Sheet

Name: This can be the same as the God you were, or something new. If other, please mention who you were.
Appearance: What do you look like? Include here anything that your powers do to how you look, or any visible manifestations of said powers. Also, include a section for how mortals see you, and the disguises of any weird artifacts (does that sword become a stylized knife?)
Noteable powers: The more showy power are limited to the Scape; the ones available in the real world are more subtle.
Artifacts: Weapons, talismans, symbols, focuses of power. Maybe just keepsakes. Include here the properties of any clothing you wear.
Source(s) of power: When you were worshiped, how did they give you power? What keeps you going nowadays?

 

[Jeff Gibson]

I am quite interested in this, and I have a few character ideas already, but I do have one question: Are Psychopomps(Grim Reaper, Charon, etc.) allowed?

 

[ThreeWords]

I am quite interested in this, and I have a few character ideas already, but I do have one question: Are Psychopomps(Grim Reaper, Charon, etc.) allowed?

Depends. If the being in question has had a religion devoted to it, then yes. Otherwise, its more of an accessory to someone else's religion, and is likely completely forgotten.

I can be more specific if you can tell me which particular Psychopomp you were considering....

 

[Jeff Gibson]

I am quite interested in this, and I have a few character ideas already, but I do have one question: Are Psychopomps(Grim Reaper, Charon, etc.) allowed?

Depends. If the being in question has had a religion devoted to it, then yes. Otherwise, its more of an accessory to someone else's religion, and is likely completely forgotten.

I can be more specific if you can tell me which particular Psychopomp you were considering....

Charon and Hermes were the first ones I thought of.

 

[ThreeWords]

I am quite interested in this, and I have a few character ideas already, but I do have one question: Are Psychopomps(Grim Reaper, Charon, etc.) allowed?

Depends. If the being in question has had a religion devoted to it, then yes. Otherwise, its more of an accessory to someone else's religion, and is likely completely forgotten.

I can be more specific if you can tell me which particular Psychopomp you were considering....

Charon and Hermes were the first ones I thought of.

Both are personalities from a forgotten religion; it should work out. Lets see a sheet...

 

[RagnorakTres]

Hm. Well, Three, I've never been in one of your RPs. I've heard immensely good things about them, and I'm definitely interested, but I do have some questions.

[ol][li]Are there restrictions on the mythologies we can choose from? The Abrahamic religions, I'm guessing, are right out (unless we could play as diminished Angelic figures?), but Buddhism, Shintoism and Hinduism all have massive quantities of mythic figures.[/li][li]If we have to choose from a dead mythology (e.g. Ancient Egyptian, Grecian, Aztecian, etc), are there restrictions within there? Are we restricted to the "official pantheon" or can we choose semi-divine heroes or, as Mr. Gibson was suggesting, psychopomps (Thoth, Charon, Xolotl, etc.)?[/li][li]Could we choose to instead be a mortal "possessed" by a weapon of power (e.g. Tyrfing, Fragarach, Durandal)?[/li][/ol]

Answers to these questions certainly won't change my mind (I'm going to play in this), but I'd like to know before I get started on a character of any description.

 

[Tim_Buoy]

i am interested in this charater sheet to come soon

 

[ThreeWords]

Hm. Well, Three, I've never been in one of your RPs. I've heard immensely good things about them, and I'm definitely interested, but I do have some questions.

[ol][li]Are there restrictions on the mythologies we can choose from? The Abrahamic religions, I'm guessing, are right out (unless we could play as diminished Angelic figures?), but Buddhism, Shintoism and Hinduism all have massive quantities of mythic figures.[/li][li]If we have to choose from a dead mythology (e.g. Ancient Egyptian, Grecian, Aztecian, etc), are there restrictions within there? Are we restricted to the "official pantheon" or can we choose semi-divine heroes or, as Mr. Gibson was suggesting, psychopomps (Thoth, Charon, Xolotl, etc.)?[/li][li]Could we choose to instead be a mortal "possessed" by a weapon of power (e.g. Tyrfing, Fragarach, Durandal)?[/li][/ol]

Answers to these questions certainly won't change my mind (I'm going to play in this), but I'd like to know before I get started on a character of any description.

1) You could theoretically play as an Abrahamic deity, save that you have to be a 'dead' god. The restrictions on the nature of the god is included in the fact that you are only a shadow of the actual god; an overpowered being would just be massively reduced in almost every way.
On a more practical basis, pick a character and I'll give you better advice

2) You're character needs to have been a focus of belief, but I'm gonna fall back on my old excuse; give me a specific and I'll be more specific...

3) If the weapon is sentient, you could play as the weapon, and the mortal would be more an extension of the weapon. If this interests you, get back to me.

Also, you've heard good things? That's good to know; mostly I get the feeling I sort of muddle through...

 

[BloodyThoughts]

Hmm...
I...
I am interested, ThreeWords, very interested.
I shall try to have a sheet up by the end of today, if not, I will more than likely definitely have it up tomorrow.

 

[Andalusa]

This is a really interesting idea... will definitely keep an eye on this. Is there a deadline for character sheets?

 

[ThreeWords]

Sounds fun so can I reserve?
Are we limited to established mythologies because I have some ideas but I don't know much about old religion?

Yes, you have to be 'real'

This is a really interesting idea... will definitely keep an eye on this. Is there a deadline for character sheets?

Hmm...
I...
I am interested, ThreeWords, very interested.
I shall try to have a sheet up by the end of today, if not, I will more than likely definitely have it up tomorrow.

i am interested in this charater sheet to come soon

Please, call me Three. As for sheets, no rush; we've got time on our hands...
Nice to see the show of interest though =)

 

[RagnorakTres]

Spoiler: Morrigan, The Feast of Crows (Edited again, serious changes to Artifacts section, please reconfirm)

Name:
Morrigan, the Feast of Crows

Appearance:
Usually, the Feast of Crows appears as a dark figure in the background of a scene of strife and bloodshed, cloaked in shadows and surrounded by a murder of crows. In the Dreamscape, it manifests as an attractive, androgynous being of indeterminate age with black hair and skin as pale as a corpse, dressed in a cloak of black feathers that swirls and obscures the figure. The only thing to differentiate it from a normal human, generally speaking, is its eyes, seeing as they are black where they should be white and white where they should be colored.

When it is forced to coexist with mortals in the modern era, it prefers to take the form of a short Caucasian woman in her early 20s with long black hair tied up into pigtails, dressed in a black, feathery sundress, black stockings and a pair of thin, black shoes. If the weather calls for it, she will don a black trenchcoat over this outfit and replace her shoes with tall black boots. The only jewelery she wears is a silver charm bracelet that holds the spirits of Fragarach and the Ardagh Chalice in limbo unless and until she requires their skills in the mortal realm. Fragarach appears as a proportional longsword and the Cup appears as a shrunken version of itself. If she carries the Spear or the Stone, they appear as a stylized flame and a round marble on this bracelet, respectively.

Notable powers:
Morrigan has a certain amount of control over members of the genus Corvus. She is capable of bursting into a murder of crows to avoid taking damage or to move from one place to another quickly. In this form, while the Morrigan can harass and even blind enemies, it is difficult for her to cause fatal damage; however, it is likewise very difficult to damage Morrigan in this form (ever tried to hit a bird in flight?).

Though her original ability has been mightily diminished, the Morrigan still holds some sway over the minds of mortals, capable of encouraging love, lust, violence, hatred and mourning, though such thoughts must exist prior to her interference.

Artifacts:
When first it felt its power over mortals diminishing, the Morrigan returned to the Emerald Isle to retrieve some of the mystical weapons and artifacts that she and her fellows had bequeathed to them, feeling that such artifacts should not be left with humanity and risk misuse without the hand of the gods to guide them.

First, the Spear of Lugh Samhildanach, that spear of flame and creativity, sometimes known as Areadbahr, said to have a mind of its own and only suppressed by an entire field of poppies. Morrigan dares not to wield it in the Dreamscape, as it was only barely suppressed after the uprising of the Tuatha De Danann against the Fomorians. As it is a truly divine weapon, has suffered no decrease in its power and is sentient to boot, it is unlikely that any of the gods, new or old, could wield it save its acknowledged master. Morrigan maintains its security by immersing it in a field of mystical poppies, which in turn is maintained by the Stone.

Next, Fragarach, that blade of wind and storm, capable of cleaving through almost any material and placing the winds under the wielder's control in the Dreamscape. In the mortal realm, if its blade is held to a being's throat, that being cannot answer questions to which it knows the answers untruthfully, hence its name of "The Answerer." Though blessed and powerful, to be sure, it is not sentient or truly divine in the same way as Areadbahr. In the past, it was wielded by such divine figures as Manannan mac Lir and Lugh, passed on to the mortal Cuchulainn and later to Conn Cetchathach. Morrigan retrieved it from the resting place of the last, blessing his soul and thanking him for his generosity.

Third, a fragment of the so-called "Blarney Stone," that stone of stability, fertility and force, capable of making any crop grow and unleashing the fury of the Earth itself against the denizens of the Dreamscape. In the mortal realm it is, sadly, little more than a pretty stone. However, should it be reunited with the rest of the Blarney Stone, its powers can be used in the mortal realm.

Finally, the true Ardagh Chalice, that spirit of flowing river and cooling stream, capable of pouring forth the entire volume of the River Shannon within the Dreamscape. In both realms, it is the ultimate healing salve, capable of bringing any being back from the brink of death, regardless of the source of pain, be it Gae Bolg puncturing every artery and capillary in a body or The Eye of Balor's vile poison.

Source(s) of power:
In the past, the Morrigan was worshiped as a goddess of war, death and fertility, serving as a triumvirate like the Fates of Greek myth. To a certain extent, she is still worshiped, along with many Celtic deities, and she draws power from both those few who still truly believe and the proud memory the Irish, Scottish, British and Welsh maintain of their history. She is perhaps less forgotten and more...half-remembered.

At one time, wherever in the world men killed each other, the Morrigan was there. At one time, wherever a mortal passed into the next realm, the Morrigan was there. At one time, wherever a woman gave birth, the Morrigan was there. No longer is this true, but she is still a goddess of war, of death, of birth, and the twin cycles of life and violence hold many surprises for the unwary...

Let me know if anything more needs changed, Three.

If anyone speaks Gaelic, I'm sorry for the murder of the names, Firefox was displaying the special letters as Chinese characters for some reason.

 

[Jeff Gibson]

How's this?

Spoiler: Slightly Edited Sheet

Name: Charles Ferris, formerly known as Charon the Ferryman

Appearance: Charles is a tall, lanky fellow with messy blond hair, bluish-grey eyes, pale skin, and a small, patchy beard. He normally wears a thin, dark grey hooded shirt, blue jeans, and black and white running shoes. He carries a tiny wooden oar in his pocket, which he can enlarge to its full length at any time. When the oar is at full length, its blade becomes charred, and it appears to have smoke swirling around it. His boat, much like the oar, is charred and exudes smoke, and whenever it moves, a faint wailing can be heard. When in the Dreamscape, his clothes are replaced with a dark, tattered robe, and his beard becomes much more substantial.

Notable powers: When using his oar, Charles is able to summon a torrent of flames(only in the Dreamscape), create a mist that can mess with the short-term memory of mortals and possibly confuse lesser deities for a few seconds, and call his boat, which will appear on the nearest body of water to him. When on his boat, he can travel to the Dreamscape, and from there, move to any body of water in the world. Additionally, he is able to see the souls of the deceased, as well as make himself invisible to the living.

Artifacts: His oar and boat, naturally.

Source(s) of power: As the Ferryman, the majority of Charles' power comes from his oar and boat, which get their power in turn from death. Even thought most people don't believe in the Ferryman anymore, as long as there is death, Charles still has power.

 

[FeralPhantom]

I like the sound of this, though I'll probably be spending the rest of my day researching different mythologies trying to find the perfect character.....eh, wasn't like I was doing anything anyway.

 

[Ganado_Headshot]

Expect a character sheet from me soon.

 

[CarpathianMuffin]

I shall have a sheet up by the end of the morrow. Probably tonight, to give myself a break from catching up on webcomics.

 

[Ganado_Headshot]

Spoiler: My Sheet

Name:Seth Aston formerly Set, Betrayer of Osiris and God of Darkness

Appearance: Seth stands tall and lean, and wears a tan suit the color of desert sand. His eyes smolder with darkness and his hair is kept swept back into a loose sandy-colored ponytail. He smirks with an arrogance of thousands of years of knowledge, and charismatically sways conversations in his favor.

Noted Powers: Can cause a blinding storm of sand which cuts flesh like razor blades, also can summon plagues of scarabs and locusts.

Artifacts: An ancient talisman stained with the blood of his brother Osiris, glows red as Seth's passion ignites, and a dagger made of carved obsidian.

Way of Worship: Bountiful harvests were offered to Set in the old days, now he just feeds off of anguish and hardship, being fueled by the ones most like himself.

 

[ThreeWords]

Note to all: You'll need to include how you look to mortals, since you spend most of your time hanging out with them.

As for 'alternate dimensions', there will only be one which all Gods hold in common: the Dreamscape. Described variously as the subconscious of the world and a mindmap of an entire planet, the Scape is a misty, semi-substantial world into which the Gods can pass (with ease or difficulty depending on the location), and where there powers are strongest.
Other properties include the strange geography (a mile traveled in the Scape can be a hundred miles or 3 meters, depending on how you travel) and it's intolerance to mortals.

Spoiler: Morrigan, The Feast of Crows

Name:
Morrigan, the Feast of Crows

Appearance:
Usually, the Feast of Crows appears as a dark figure in the background of a scene of strife and bloodshed, cloaked in shadows and surrounded by a murder of crows. When forced into the foreground, it manifests as an attractive, androgynous being with black hair and skin as pale as a corpse, dressed in a cloak of black feathers that swirls and obscures the figure. The only thing to differentiate it from a normal human, generally speaking, is its eyes, seeing as they are black where they should be white and white where they should be colored.

Notable powers:
Morrigan has a certain amount of control over members of the genus Corvus. It is capable of bursting into a murder of crows to avoid taking damage or to move from one place to another quickly. In this form, while the Morrigan can harass and even blind enemies, it is difficult for it to cause fatal damage; however, it is likewise very difficult to damage Morrigan in this form (ever tried to hit a bird in flight?).

Though it has been mightily diminished, the Morrigan still holds some sway over the minds of mortals, capable of moving them to chaos and violence, though without direction.

Artifacts:
When first it felt its power over mortals diminishing, the Morrigan returned to the Emerald Isle to retrieve the mystical weapons and artifacts that it and its fellows had bequeathed to them.

First, the Spear of Lugh, that spear of flame and passion, sometimes known as Gae Bolg, said to never miss the heart of its target.

Next, Fragarach, that blade of wind and storm, capable of cleaving through almost any material and forcing any being to speak true.

Third, a fragment of the so-called "Blarney Stone," that rock of stability and force, capable of unleashing the rage of the Earth itself against the enemies of Ireland.

Finally, the true Ardagh Chalice, that spirit of flowing river and cooling stream, capable of pouring forth the entire volume of the River Shannon and healing any ill if sipped from.

Storing the Spear and Stone in a deep dimension, far from the reach of mortals, the Morrigan took up Fragarach and the Ardagh Chalice and hid from mortal sight as best it could, knowing that new gods would arise and the futility of defending its position as Spirit of War. As its powers diminished, it lost the ability to retrieve the Spear or Stone without trouble, as it knew it would, though it still monitors them to ensure that they are not retrieved by some less savory spirit.

Source(s) of power:
Wherever there was grief and death and blood, there was the Morrigan. Wherever mortals killed each other, whether for wealth or for freedom, there was the Morrigan. Wherever a woman mourned for her stillborn child, there was the Morrigan. Thus, the Morrigan restains some semblance of power, though its influence has diminished greatly thanks to its fading from the public consciousness. However, it is not an evil being, feeding on the suffering and death of mortals. Rather, it is a sympatheic one, caring for the lives of mortals too dearly to allow their passing to go unmarked by something greater.

Good character. I'm gonna interpret the 'deep dimensions' as being a secure part of the Scape, and alter you powers slightly; the elemental attacks only occur within the Scape. Also, you objects will need more mundane forms for mortals (include that in the mortal guise section of your appearance)

Spoiler: Sheet

Name: Charles Ferris, formerly known as Charon the Ferryman

Appearance: Charles is a tall, lanky fellow with messy blond hair, bluish-grey eyes, pale skin, and a small, patchy beard. He normally wears a thin, dark grey hooded shirt, blue jeans, and black and white running shoes. He carries a tiny wooden oar in his pocket, which he can enlarge to its full length at any time. When the oar is at full length, its blade becomes charred, and it appears to have smoke swirling around it. His boat, much like the oar, is charred and exudes smoke, and whenever it moves, a faint wailing can be heard. When in the Underworld, his clothes are replaced with a dark, tattered robe, and his beard becomes much more substantial.

Notable powers: When using his oar, Charles is able to summon a torrent of flames, create a mist that can mess with the short-term memory of mortals and possibly confuse lesser deities for a few seconds, and call his boat to him. When on his boat, he is able to fly, as well as travel to the Underworld. Additionally, he is able to see the souls of the deceased, as well as make himself invisible to the living.

Artifacts: His oar and boat, naturally.

Source(s) of power: As the Ferryman, the majority of Charles' power comes from his oar and boat, which get their power in turn from death. Even thought most people don't believe in the Ferryman anymore, as long as there is death, Charles still has power.

Again, good, but I'm gonna ask for a few changes. The flames can only be summoned within the Scape, and your boat can appear on any body of water. It cannot fly, but can travel to any other body of water via the Scape, which it can access at will.

Spoiler: My Sheet

Name:Seth Aston formerly Set, Betrayer of Osiris and God of Darkness

Appearance: Seth stands tall and lean, and wears a tan suit the color of desert sand. His eyes smolder with darkness and his hair is kept swept back into a loose sandy-colored ponytail. He smirks with an arrogance of thousands of years of knowledge, and charismatically sways conversations in his favor.

Noted Powers: Can cause a blinding storm of sand which cuts flesh like razor blades, also can summon plagues of scarabs and locusts.

Artifacts: An ancient talisman stained with the blood of his brother Osiris, glows red as Seth's passion ignites, and a dagger made of carved obsidian.

Way of Worship: Bountiful harvests were offered to Set in the old days, now he just feeds off of anguish and hardship, being fueled by the ones most like himself.

Again, the elemental powers will need to be limited to the Scape. Otherwise, good character.