Category | Religion |
Type | divine lore |
We don't know who or what created this Rule of Divine Governance, but it seemed to work that by gaining more worshipers, a divine power gained more power over a realm. If they have overwhelming divine influence by way of a large worshiper base, then they can attempt to strip another Higher Power of his or her mandate to rule a realm. Ares used his overwhelming influence to take over several worlds. When I and others learned of this, we had no choice but to create our own religion and attract worshipers.
Divine power is the strength of a Higher Power in relation to others higher powers. Divine power is gained by acquiring followers in the Mortal Systems. The Divine Rank of a higher power determines how many domains they can have when they reach a new Power level. This is a starting number, because gods, fiends and anything considered a Higher Power can acquire domains by utterly defeating another higher power or primordial lord and taking one of their domains or in the case of primordial lords, their energy and convert it into a domain. This tactic of taking a domain by killing another is more commonly done by evil and neutral beings. A goodly higher power would not start a conflict on the pretext of acquiring a domain by totaling eliminating another. Ares was the first god to crush another upstart deity and take one of his domains, along with the other god's entire worshipper base. When Ares went from a demigod to a minor god in less than a fortnight, the others took notice. Arcana would say that it began a race for mortal followers among the gods, with even some of the Creationists relinquishing their creationist powers to take on mortal followers.
Ethos | Power Level |
---|---|
Law | 75 |
Chaos | 81 |
Good | 54 |
Evil | 77 |
Neutrals | 97 |
Lawful Good | 19 |
Lawful Neutral | 21 |
Lawful Evil | 34 |
Neutral Good | 16 |
Neutral | 18 |
Neutral Evil | 14 |
Chaotic Good | 19 |
Chaotic Neutral | 35 |
Chaotic Evil | 25 |
Rule of Divine Conquest
Sometimes, when a god is killed by a mortal, that mortal takes his place. This usually comes about if the mortal is of the right mind to serve in such a capacity, and if there is a need of having a new god made to replace the deceased.
In 588 HE, the orc hero Gruumsh killed the goblin god Maglubiyet. With his death, Gruumsh took his tyranny domain, becoming a god by conquest.
Once you have given up life, you also give up godhood and release the power of your domains to Set. He will get stronger with your death, he has the right to select part of you as his own.
- Hades, to Jurmalon imprisoned in the Black Chariot - "Divine Release"
In 985, the god Set killed Jurmalon, allowing Set to bolster his mastery of the darkness domain.
In 1455, the god Surtur killed the demigod Sehknihx. Surtur took his foe's fire domain, bolstering his own.
Rule of Divine Demotion
If a Higher Power loses too much divine power, which usually means their worshipers are being decimated or they have moved on to other gods, then they will be demoted in power. If they are reduced below cult power, then they are no longer a god, and no longer an immortal.
When Aslauthroa fell, the centralized nature of the Church of Talos crumbled. This reduced Talos's influence, eventually removing him from the ranks of Higher Powers. Juiblex is another that was demoted for lack of believers.