Oh fun, I was part of yesterdays too, so let's jump right into this.

How about we tell him that until one of his followers dies we aren't sure exactly what we can do with his soul? We tell him that we have many different ideas, but nothing concrete yet.

About the other gods, lets leave it at a 'maybe' until later. WE, the capitals intentional, haven't found another deity yet, but that only means we haven't found one yet .

>>6159969
>We had quite a discussion on what to do yesterday and no consensus, if I recall correctly, so would you mind if I waited for some more people to express their opinions?

I vote we tell Plato that our great prophets shall be sent back to our followers as our servant, to help guide them. (As a fire elemental type spirit.) Others reincarnate, with the hope that they may do great works in our name and earn the honor of being an elemental.

Tell him that a soul is the shape of a man of what he chooses to learn and become, as the flame of life is extinguished its heat remains with all things permeating through eternity, this then is the soul of man.
(Basically makeup some shit that benefits you.)

rolled 8, 17, 19 = 44

Create Xom

>>6160066
It has been established though that what we say becomes truth almost immediately. That's why its important that we can live with our choices on this subject.

We are a glorious god, but only cover so much. There are other gods for other purposes so to speak. A god of war, a god of pestilence and so forth. It's also imperative that there be other gods for there to be a divine balance. Some are at odds with others, while getting along with others and so forth.

>>6160066
puts heat death into perspective then,
the fate of the universe is to become a giant soul pool,
whether this be heaven or hell is yours to decide

>>6160094
It strikes you that dividing humanity into your worshippers and followers of other gods is more beneficial than dividing them into believers and non-believers. A follower of one god can't exactly deny the existence of all others - therefore you would gain small amounts of power from such a faith.

>but they could enter a different body (allowing reincarnation), a specially prepared item or a metaphysical body, becoming somewhat similar to you (angels, if you will, or some other divine servants).

The fate of souls is to be refined in life through gaining knowledge and ascend to a greater plane of power. Humans who remain ignorant of themselves and the world become the animals that their weak minds suit. Perhaps one day I can show you how one can become more then human.

We need a could antagonist then, the one who trolls and spams meaningless drivel, lord of lost threads it is his goal tht all should return to the nothing it once was.

>>6160179
>>6160049
>It seems that we're going with reincarnation as the default fate and ascension as the ultimate reward.

You bestow this knowledge upon Plato, confident in your ability to manipulate souls.

>>6160204
cold*

>>6160204
Speaking of antagonists, you finally manage to come to certain conclusions regarding the mysterious Masters.
First of all, you examine the world from a greater distance. The surface is mostly water, approximately three-fourths. There are no continents, rather hundreds of islands, both large and small.
Furthermore, the majority of settlements is located either near the ocean shore or in the close vicinity of a river.
Coupled with the fact that you are unable to discover the Masters' presence, it seems reasonably probable that they reside in the oceans of this world.

>>6160277
Fuck, Atlantis.

>>6160277
Otters are our special animal friend, so we send out some otter probes.

>All in favour of having a pantheon, then?
The man repeats his question impatiently. "Well? Are there gods other than your Giver of Knowledge?"
"Why don't you pray to Him and ask Him yourself? He shall most certainly answer you."
The man doesn't seem to be entirely convinced, but he does begin praying. You contact his mind and inform him that indeed, other deities exist. In the process, you discover that his name is Talos.
He wasn't expecting such a direct answer. Talos is shocked, but he continues to inquire about the nature of other deities. "Is there a god of strength and skill?"
Talos seems to value those qualities above others.

We should start trying to see if we can comunicate with these masters in the water. Try to form a balanced and peacefull relationship. if we could convice them it would be better to have everyone worship all of us then we could have an even greater power.

>>6160319
Do you wish to simply ask the animal for such a favor?
Or do you wish to turn an otter into a vessel for your divine will?

I have to head off to work now, but I think we should keep a pantheon small. Us, a God of War type guy who we're cool with, and the evil guy we don't like.

>>6160400
There are many gods that have some reign over strength and skill, but I am the only one that can give you the strength and skill that the Flame of Knowledge carries with it...

>>6160292
>Well, it wasn't me who started the whole greek theme. You renamed your prophet Plato so I decided to make the name not stick out too much.

We want a god of Life/Death and Fortune/Misfortune, or maybe twins. Inb4divinetwincest

Make a god that is your disciple
The Forger of All Things who welds metals and shapes stone as well as others with the heat of the flame you've bestowed upon him.

Children? Little brothers and sisters? The other gods I mean.

>>6159900
Turn the otter into a vessel for my divine will.

>>6160511
the flame of knowledge that teaches the craft

The Goddess of light and shadow, she who gives life to dreams and inspires the arts of song, dance and passion.
Hers are the children of fortune who weave the brilliant threads of life into beautiful stories a goddess of fate.

>>6160605
Too broad, we don't want too much power distributed among the other gods. And all gods should be made lesser in one way or the other to the god of Knowledge. Children of Him is a given, as he is, aside from knowledge, the god of Protection, sounds like a good daddy.

Mebbe place ourself at the head of a knowledge themed pantheon? Like the guy above me mentioned a disciple who makes things, the war god could have emphasis on strategy etctera.

Hargan, the God of Strength, War and Smithy.
Wyren, the Goddess of Skill, Knowledge and Mysteries (and the solving thereof).
Are my primary suggestions.

Furthermore, I feel it is important there be evil and vile gods to contrast there greatness of ourself. One does not attribute small moral fallacies to a "good" god when there are "evil" gods around. This is beneficial.

Also I just fucking want a god of pestilence.

I vote for this:

Our Father Of The Divine Flame
+Add a wife thing (Love, beauty, motherhood)
+Elder Son (Crafts and strength, HONORbarbarian.jpg)
+Twins (Life and Death, make em androgynous)

The ashen warden comes to gather the dust of those burned in their final sleep to spread them on the winds so that they may find a way to you to sort them out and give them to the lady of fate.
The beast of fury, just wrath of yours personified he has no solid form though the forger has given him many, all tht can be said of him is that he burns.

>>6160511
A lesser deity whose domain is practical application of the knowledge you bestow? A Blacksmith of the Gods? It could just work. Do you wish to include anything else when telling Talos of this god? Perhaps fighting skill and leadership capabilities, to fulfill the "god of war" archetype?

>>6160522
You influence the mind of an otter, turning it into your vessel. You send it to explore the ocean.

The waters quickly become very deep, and there is no sign of any life. It seems that the Masters don't reside near the surface.

You invest more power in the vessel, so that it will neither drown nor be crushed by great pressure. You send it to explore the depths of the ocean.

It will probably take quite a while for it to discover anything.

>>6160686
Question: once we tell Talos this, will be immediately become aware of them or what?

Thinking a bit ahead, the new gods should introduce themselves at appropriate moments, for example Talos goes home and crafts an excellent hammer or sword and the new god goes "YOU HAVE PLEASED ME" etc.

>>6160630
Not if you make her your consort as well,
face it we'll get bored without ANYONE to challenge us

>>6160677
As in Slanneshesque kind of androgynous twins?
If yes I second that

>>6160675

We could make the evil one a god of forgetting. To remember is to learn; to forget is to lose the Flame.

>>6160747
Not bored, more like, dead.

>>6160675
>>6160204
its been discussed a cold god of forgetfulness

>>6160786
you haven't been in any quest threads before have you?
face it, we're pretty indomitable unless we piss off the OP

>>6160677
I like this.

>>6160824
If I were the OP, I would be pissed off at this comment : D

>>6160800

how about a former disciple who was blinded by our light and could no longer learn?

>>6160715
You're not quite sure, you don't have much experience with how deities are born.

>Okay, the god of strength, war, honor, crafts, et cetera it is. Since you didn't name yourself yet, you won't give him a name either.

You tell Talos of your eldest son, the patron of strength, creation and skill. He seems to be quite content with that. His conversion convinces many villagers.

In the Place, the new deity begins to form. Unlike you, he is already defined by the faith of your followers.

>How about deciding on names now? Suggestions from the first thread are Sophia and Hyperion.

>>6160869
Hyperion

I like the idea of sharing our ULTIMATE PWRZ for once, being an omnipotent ass isn't that enthralling
and really who but a wise god could find out the very soul of creation and then share the power equally
make twin gods of life/death light/shadow as your equal companions and have them supply the glamour while you deliver the contents

Child should be Hephaestus. Cheese, yeah, but the First as titan, and the children as gods sounds good, also worked for the Greeks.

>>6160869
SATAN
or not?

>>6160824
>Doing stupid things and running out of followers will probably end this as well, even if "lolrandomstupid" won't annoy me. Just a word of warning.

>>6160677
Do you wish to introduce all of these deities to your followers in Plato's village?

>>6160969
Not really

>Your symbol is the face of a man basking in glorious knowledge.

>>6160912
"And in the Children's tiny hands, the soul of Man is taken from the flames of Life, onto the anvil of the Crafter, working the malleable soul to a more perfect form, fitting to what it has learned, all as ordained by Hyperion, who watches the toil of His children with pride."

Or something.

Son's name: Hagran.

Fuck names that lead back to anything from our world. Hagran just sounds bad-ass.

Also what about creating deities that oppose you, effectively evil deities?

Yes I'm the guy who wants a god of pestilence.

>>6160969
Nope, slowly, slowly, when the need arises for more gods, then give them more gods.

But do not give them everything, vague concepts like Time, Entropy, etc. should be withheld. For now.

>>6160893
>>6160924
Hyperion and Hephaestus it shall be.

Hephaestus seems to have formed completely. You feel that he is aware of how he came to be.
"Greetings, Father."

>Do you wish to control the whole pantheon or just Hyperion?

I'd rather take the twins of Life/Death in the future, IF we'll have them, but Hagran guy would love to have the Smith/Warrior I bet.

>>6161024
Only Hyperion, but the bonds should be unbreakable. Except for mindshattering shitfuck events.

>>6161024
Just one for now, so if we screw up we can merrily skip to the next guy

>>6161008
>Okay, let's have a vote on Hephaestus vs. Hagran.
>A divine nemesis is as much a boon to you as an ally. Followers of one god can't possibly deny the existence of his greatest foe. And while such a god would oppose you, as a whole you will attract a far wider range of followers, strengthening both of you.

A few notes:

Other gods should always incorporate some manner of praise for Hyperion, tribute of Faith, so to speak, he IS the first anyway.

Mortal champions for gods always fitting to the god in question.

Creation of non-human servitors, races that have predesignated mindsets.

MOAR VESPENE GA- I mean, more followers, we need to get out of this penal colony before the Deep Ones come and eat our people.

>>6160994
thatsthejoke.jpg

>>6161069
>>6161075
>Very well. The other deities owe their very existence to you, after all.

>>6160742
You tell your son when and how he should manifest before Talos. He sees the wisdom in your words and promises to fulfill your will.

>>6161094
Hephaestus

I oppose the creation of a nemesis this early. It would be unfitting that someone can meddle in our plans AND reap benefit for itself while we're barely settled.

Now we drink with our son, before having a good punch up. If we're going to be gods with a greek style, lets act like vikings

Shadow lady of the scrying, ash, future, fate and death who guides lost souls back to you.
You judge them and hand them over to Hephaestus to shape into new form.
Lady of light who gives birth to life, dreams, song and inspiration she brings the newborns into this world.

They are both your wives and selves and daughters for the threads they weave are the stuff of life itself from which wisdom is gleaned.

>>6161145
Talos has a sudden urge to create... something. He shall head home and and craft an item of unprecedented craftmanship a sword, or a hammer, and on that item shall be a name written Hephaestus/Hagran. Then a sense of completion shall be his reward, and the knowledge that the Craftsman cares for those who value Skill!

Or something.

>>6161094
Hagran is shorter and more manly.

>>6161168
I laughed.

>>6161195
It needs to be engraved with our symbol or some varation thereof

>>6161179
I proposed something similar just with trap child twins and simply Life/Death.

Lesser portfolios out of our hand, the more control we have over the pantheon. Latter they could be enhanced should the need arise.

>>6161232
*less

>It seems the majority favours Hephaeastus over Hagran.

>>6161168
You don't actually have anything resembling a human body, and neither does Hephaeastus, due to the teachings you imparted on Plato.

>>6161179
>All in favour?

>>6161196
I concure, Hagron is more manly.

>>6161282
Nay due to "They are both your wives and selves and daughters" being more cheesy then my traps.

>>6161282
Nay due to "They are both your wives and selves and daughters" being more cheesy then my traps. And again, create them when the need arises from the mortals. No need to rush, faith should concentrate on Hyperion for now. Latter the family can grow.

Whoops.

Also, pic should be relevant to future nemesis/anti-thesis.

>>6161195
It shall be so. Subtly influencing a single mind turns out to be quite simple with your newfound power.

>>6161220
Likewise, implanting the image of your holy symbol in his mind is child's play.

On the other hand, it seems you focused too much on this task. You can no longer sense your vessel in the dark depths of the ocean. This is most worrying.

>>6161282
I'd prefer The Lady of Misery.

Fortune, Misfortune, lost souls, misery, etc

And The Lord of Light

Life, Dreams, creativity etc

>>6161368
As in total blackout or as in transmission severed?

I concur. Hold off on Life/Death deities until the mortals start asking about it.

>>6161282
What? I saw only one suggestion for Hephaestus, everyone started using it because you used it. Hagran sounds way better (IMO, obviously).

I also support the "two wives" idea, however we should introduce them then the need arises.

>How about having him use both names? Hephaestus the Blacksmith and Hagran the Warrior?

>>6161317
>All things considered, traps are superior. Still, when the need arises, we shall determine the details.

>>6161368
Inb4 cthulhu.

I think we should look at building a temple, to solidify the peoples' faith in us.

>>6161401
I am fine with this. Aye!

>>6161398
hell yeah, polygimous society. On a related note, are we just going to have multiple wives to a man, or be even handed and allow wives multiple husbands.

>>6161381
Too wide. First of all, currently we only have a few followers, secondly too many things broken up with too many gods, different emotions, different faces of the same thing, etc.

Slow and steady, also I propose that with time Hyperion becomes the god of the higher concepts (time, reality, entropy, fate, etc.), while the children do their craft as he plans.

>>6161401
Stoneheart The Warrior.

After thousands of battles, he cares little for the lives of the enemy. Thus, the name.

We should also consider contemplating our own existence as well. Great power can be gleaned if we understand ourselves and our limits more.

>>6161426
Concur'd. Fuck off with the pantheon for now, then.

>>6161398
>Well, there was >>6161155 and >>6161179 and I missed >>6161196
>On second thought, Hagran is easier to type, so let's go with that.

>>6161382
Transmission severed. Perhaps some large predator devoured it?

>>6161440
I should have said "WHAT IS A GOD? A MISERABLE PILE OF ??? PROFIT!"

>>6161456
Ask Plato about the sea and its creatures. And hope he knows something reassuring.

>>6161456
I'm still all for building a temple.

That would make services and conversion hella easier.

>>6161481
Not with the 'kind of hostile' guards around.

Alright, big mean things live in the ocean. No more exploring there till we get more powerful.

>>6161407
This gets me thinking. Whatever our nemesis becomes/represents, I'm thinking it should be similar in appearance to your typical Lovecraftian horror.

Also, while our current forms are due to our early influence with Plato, are they mutable by beliefs? For example, if people started characterizing Hephaestus/Hagron as a giant viking, would his form become that of a giant viking?

>>6161501
Future god of mindless chaos fits like a charm, me thinks.

>>6161478
>supposed to be a god of knowledge
>asking your followers about things

I dunno, seems like that might cause him to doubt our allknowingness. And I doubt he knows a lot about the ocean depths anyways.

>>6161401
I support this with correction - they should be one god. For now, introduce him as Hephaestus, however if (when) conflict arises, tell them story how when war came Hephaestus, god of strength, smithy and skill at craft forged himself a fearsome mask of great beast from blackest iron (and yada yada), put it on and became Hagran, the fearsome god of might, war and skill at arms. Maybe have a tradition of warriors making ceremonials masks for themselves.

What do we know about these guards?

Hey villagers, I know Plato is cool and all. But I went into the country and I heard this dude's voice. He said Plato is lying and we should all worship him instead.

>>6161440
You begin contemplating your nature and existance.
Clearly, your power is drawn from the humans who believe in you. You could be considered a "focus" of some sort for their faith, unifying the dozens of individual beliefs, each slightly different, into a single powerful force.
The power of faith allows you to contact your worshippers.

However, when you created the staff and the companion for Andreus, and when you shaped your vessel, you drew upon a different kind of power, coming from an outside source. You are uncertain of its nature, but you are able to control it instinctively.

Incidentally, you feel you have enough power at your disposal to investigate the mysterious source of new souls.

>>6161525
...You have a point I guess, for a second I thought that Plato is 100%-no-matter-what our worshiper. Also we could do it cunningly "Tell me Plato, do you know what lurks in the depths of the sea, and in the depths of your legends?" then if he doesn't, we wise-ass ourselves out of it "And when you will know, you shall be ready to bla bla bla PROMOTION"

>>6161516
I dunno, I think a better nemisis would be a consperitorial god. Not dedicated to the destruction of knowledge, but the hoarding of it. We bring knowledge to all with our glorious light. They will take what knowledge they can from others, but give nothing back.

>>6161560
What does this button do?

Check out the source, its extremely relevant.

>>6161560
>Incidentally, you feel you have enough power at your disposal to investigate the mysterious source of new souls.

Then what are we waiting for? forget the seas for now.

>>6161560

Investigate source of new souls! This could help us create a better answer of where consciousness comes from, or additionally may allow us to create "artificial" life (creating fire golems and other cool shit).

>>6161560

By all means, investigate.

>>6161525
You are able to draw upon his knowledge without asking him or even letting him know. Unfortunately, none of your followers knows much about the creatures of the sea. Fish, otters, crabs. A tale about large, aggresive fish serves as a warning to children, so that they wouldn't attempt to swim out into the ocean.

>>6161536
They possess weapons made of metal and thick leather clothing. They are beyond your influence, as they seem to be dedicated to an unknown cause, presumably the Masters. Most of them are physically strong, ill-tempered and aggresive. Their main job is enforcing the tribute which all villages must pay - typically in crops.
.

>>6161568

This sounds great...We're all about spreading knowledge, and down the road, the nemesis wants to keep all knowledge in a cabal, perhaps to enslave everyone else?

Oooooh.

I want to check out SOULS! Also, contact some worshippers, and ask 'em how we can help them?

>>6161653
You mean, ask what they wish for, amaright?

>>6161667
Yeah, and make their lives a bit easier, in return for unquestioning faith.

Get more devout followers in return for some nice deeds.

Will you guys shut the fuck up about enemy gods.

The majority don't want to deal with that now, and you're taking up space in this thread and slowing down progress.

Anyway, get Andreus and Talos to keep spreading our word through the village. The alphabet too. Talos should be inspired by our son and begin crafting things in secret. Things to aid the villages first off. Better farm equipment, etc.

>>6161691
We shouldn't ask for what's wanted. We should deliver what is needed. If we have to ask, then we clearly aren't omnipotent.

Asking for what they want is simply a nice divine gesture towards the mortals, if we simply gave them by this and that, they might not understand/know that actually, we are behind stuff.

Of course, mass mind read, give what they want and then "BEHOLD" could work as well. But now, back to eager waiting.

>>6161579
>>6161589
>>6161598
>>6161606
With great effort, you pierce the boundary between the material world and the source of souls.
Your divine senses begin to analyze the source.
It turns out to be an infinite, featureless space. Mortal eyes would register it as white. It is teeming with soul-stuff, unshaped and inactive.
Once again, you are forced to reevaluate your observations. You finally find a single point of interest in this place. It is a great structure of blue, semitransparent crystal. Within here, consciousness is formed, though the process is incomprehensible to you. A newborn consciousness gathers soul-stuff around it and forms a soul, which then travels to the material plane.
You sense that the crystal structure somehow knows when and where each soul should appear. It seems to be a part of a greater design.

>>6161763
I'm all for the mass mind read/mass miracle/gift BEHOLD idea.

Holy shit that's great

agreed, we need to reward the true believers with what the need/want

Some simple, domain-related miracles would be best for now. Eg. someone is trying to remember or find something out, a scroll containing the information is in their palm without their noticing, that sort of thing.

In fact, all miracles could be like that. Rather than giving things, bestow the knowlege of their creation upon the appropriate craftsman.

>>6161775
A greater design implies a greater designer.

>>6161691
Talos' example convinced everyone in the village to pray to you. Answering those prayers is an easy matter, you do not need to focus on it.

>>6161775
Hmmm hmmm hmmm...

Not much we can do with it at this level then?

Hmmm... make a note to CLOSELY observe a mortal death, to see what the soul does/reacts to death. Etc.

Wonder what the crystal thing is. More details perhaps? Could it be sentient (since it creates it?)

Back in our home village, inform them of our Son in a way befitting. The creation of more advanced equipment. Combined with our knowledge. Like I said, better plows and shit. Better designed buildings. Things like that.

>>6161777
>>6161791
Very well, you shall act in this manner.

Can we fast forward a bit until our religion takes more of a hold in these two villages, and our actions influence/help them more?

>>6161834
Question is how much is that 'bit', we have a lot to do. And more to think about.

I assume that these two villages are on the same island.

We should start spreading to the rest of the island. Once we have our religion full entrenched with the people, we should unite them with more developed trade and all that, eventually giving them the knowledge and capability to overthrow the guards and turn the island into their own.

>>6161814
At the first opportunity, you observe a soul's fate after death. It stays in the material world for a while, but when the soul-stuff is completely separated from the consciousness (the soul "fades away"), the latter returns to the source and seems to merge with the crystal structure.

>>6161858
>>6161849
I say we fast forward to here. Spreading out to other villages on our island, as well as improving our current villages with our knowledge and our son's creation.

>>6161862
...Is it possible to make contact with the structure, to... sample (FEED) on the mass of consciousness?

Soul fades away? SUCH WASTE, when we'll have gods of life/death, we shall address that mater more carefully.

>>6161880
I figure, based on how this has gone so far, if we will it, it becomes so.

Personally, I think keeping close tabs while we're still establishing a foothold is best.

I like the idea of knowlege as divine gifts/ miracles. For instance, the plough of a farmer breaks, and is taken to the local blacksmith for repair. When the smith goes to work on it, he finds the forge is already burning and hot, and as he notices that, realises that that the techniques for creating better iron/ tools are already in his mind.

We are god of knowledge, and thus we wish to learn and to know.

Ask our followers what they know of the guards and whom they serve. In the likely event that they don't know that much, it would be beneficial influence them to learn more about them. A cult of infiltrators springs to mind, yet that seems a bit excessive. We want them to find out what they can without going out of their way or risking themselves... for now.

>>6161880
The consciousness is "recycled", it seems. It's quite similar to your teachings of reincarnation. Or perhaps the structure contains all minds already dead and those yet unborn.
You attempt everything that you can think of, except for direct violence, but the structure doesn't react in any way.

>>6161858
I suggest waiting to overthrow the guard until we get a more complete idea of their capabilities are. We wouldn't want our followers to successfully claim independence from them only to crushed by the combined might of the guards from nearby islands. Or a anti-revolution response force or something.

I'd also like our faith to spread to multiple islands before we try anything drastic.

>>6161906
Why don't you read the fucking thread.

We already know what our followers know. It's an intuitive thing.

>>6161862
conciousness disappears? And all the knowledge gained in a life is gone. This doesn't sound like it would hold well with a god of knowledge. Can we salvage conciousness?

>>6161911
It's still an unknown to us and beyond our control. Let's focus on the mortal plane for now.

>>6161918
Yes, but until Reality tells us what we want, we won't actually know damn you.

>>6161911
Hmmm... anything that hints at other devices, other 'divine realms' or functions? Since the crystal thing is only a part of... something.

>>6161923
Indeed, you can prevent a consciousness from merging with the structure. While you're at it, you probe the mind. It seems to be unaware of what's happening. It perceives nothing and most certainly has no influence on the process of merging.

>>6161945
He already told us everything they know about the guards. God damn, read the fucking thread.

lets examine this structure more closely

>>6161923
Not yet, not from the outside, we will have to learn how to manipulate the whole system with the crystal thing. Much more efficient, more safe, more satisfying.

>>6161951
We don't know the number of villages, the number of guards, the true nature of the Masters, etc.

We. Must. Learn. MOAR.

>>6161950
so we can take people to a heaven like area if we wanted to. Reincarnation would probably be more difficult as we would have to compete with the device.

>>6161995
The device is a reincarnation machine. What bothers me is:

1. Soulstuff goes poof! after death, we will have to address that, learn its properties and what we can do with it.

2. What does the crystal do with the knowledge it consumes.

3. Can we take over like the Russians?

>>6161906
>That has been said a few times by now. I gave you all information that you could find.

>>6161945
Judging by the fact that soul-stuff is constantly flowing from the source to the material world, an opposite force most likely exists. Otherwise the world would be flooded with soul-stuff by now.

>>6161932
>Back to the material plane, timeskip to something interesting.
Andreus is leading a group prayer in the communal dwelling, confident that the guards are busy drinking.
Unfortunately, he is wrong. The guards, led by some cloaked figure, are preparing to enter the dwelling and catch the villagers red-handed.
You do not know how they learned of your religion.

>>6162013
Send a message to all of our followers. They need to change their prayer into a discussion on how to improve their farming yield.

>>6162013
Mindrape guards to find out?
Ask our child to give the villagers SKILL WITH ARMS AND TOOLS OF DEATH, etc. I hope they had weapons with them.

Or ask Hagran to take the guard's skill away.

And disguise his staff to look like a simple hoe or similar farming implement. Or the Moses route, and look like just another walking stick.

>>6162008
Yes it's a reincarnation machine
but not in the sense of coming back with old memories, which seems like the sort of thing we would do to some of our followers particularly dedicated to knowledge

if the crystal takes the knowledge. just imagine the secrets it contains.

At some point we will have to find out more, but for now, it seems beyond our reach. Lets focus on cementing belief.

>>6162013
alert our followers to this intrusion and give them the knowledge of the quickest escape route. also, check if we can infultrate the minds of one or more of the intruders

Work together with Hagran to give our followers the knowledge and ability to implement improvised weapons.

If disguising the meeting doesn't work, and they have to fight, they need to have the ability to fight effectively.

Idea for once we have a better understanding of this "consciousness generator," for lack of a better term.

Collect the souls of the dead and combine them into a collective state of existence. All the knowledge, memories, and experiences of the individuals coming together. It will become a living database which we can draw upon or give our greatest living followers access to.

It will become a Supreme Intelligence, as it were.

>>6161991
>Okay, my bad. Finding the answer to the first two questions is definitely within your capabilities.
On this island there is a total of seven villages and two towns. That amounts to approximately seven hundred people, including a hundred guards.

>>6162057
We already are a supreme intelligence.

see if we can fuck with the gaurds heads!

>>6162062
Once we deal with these guards, either tricking them or fighting them if needed, start spreading to the other towns and villages on this island. We need to be known across the entire land.

>>6162068
but really fuck with them, make them forget how to move their right leg or something stupid

Going with the disguise/trickery idea, could we use our power to make some kind of illusion to that effect? Make it look like the people are doing something mundane.

>>6162062
I can already hear it. The clatter of industry and the clash of swords. And the hymns, the hymns that shall be sang~

Glorious.

And then... (pic relevant)

>>6161923
Actually it sits well with our "spread the knowledge" policy. You have to learn, improve that knowledge, then share it with other people, so they can improve it, etc... And depending on how much you contributed, your reincarnation depends.

this is what is in the ocean

>>6162022
>>6162031
>>6162047
You alert your followers and help them disguise their activities.

>>6162030
>>6162048
Should the disguise fail, your followers are ready to face the guards in combat. With Hagran's blessing and superior numbers (forty villagers, six guards and the hooded figure) they should manage to defeat them.

Disguise trickery would make for the best reading in some eventual holy book. The guards enter while our followers are praying but see nothing out of the ordinary. They investigate for some time but are unable to find anything suspicious, while all the time out followers are simply continuing to pray.

>>6162104
PROCEED

I dunno why some people are asking to see if we can fuck with the guards heads. It's been established they are beyond our influence.

Inform your followers that the guards are coming, fake a meeting about something else and disguise the staff.

>>6162104
What hooded figure?

>>6162104
get in the gaurds minds!

>>6162112
Our preacher.

>>6162104
Commence the shenanigans!

>>6162132
WE. CAN. NOT. DO. THAT. YOU. FUCKING. RETARD.

>>6162112

The one described here >>6162013

>>6162068
>>6162075
They are still beyond your direct influence.

The hooded person enters the communal dwelling, followed closely by the guards.
"Now, now. What do we have here?"
The voice is shrill and rasp.
"Why have you all gathered here?"

Andreus silently prays to you for advice.

I hope the otter is all right.

>>6162154
Well obviously they're welcoming the new man Andreus to their village.

>>6162112

A snitch who's brought the guards to break up our prayer-meeting.

Given the way the villagers across the island outnumber the guards, it's fair to assume that the guards have access to heavy support from across the sea - enough to keep the local islanders cowed, at least.

Be cautious.

>>6162112
>Mentioned in >>6162013 as... cloaked figure, oops. Well, cloaked, hooded, same thing. The leader of the guards.

>>6162154
>communal dwelling,
>"Why have you all gathered here?"

Uh, they're just dwelling.

>>6162154
This has some merit:
>>6162167

I fear for our preacher.

>>6161951
Then I want the villagers to, carefully, try and learn more. God damn, read my fucking post.

>>6162167

He's been sent here because of "inbreeding" problems in his home village. Since he's from another village, the locals are checking him out to see how eligible he is, and whether he'd make a good match for any of their daughters.

>>6162198
this one. i like it

>>6162205
Be honest, you like the inbreeding part. :3

>>6162167
>>6162198
"Oh, I see. And he is most certainly not... teaching you some blasphemies, is he? We are all faithful servants of the Masters, are we not?"
The figure takes off its hood, revealing a pale, androgynous face with sharp features and pointed ears. It is bald, but the skin of its head is covered in tattoos.
"Are. We. Not?"

>>6162198

I like this, make it some kind of initiation-into-the-village type deal.

Have Andreas say how he was explaining how to use his hoe properly on which plants and what season, etc. Imply that this new knowledge will help the villagers meet the farm tax?

>>6162198

This is a good one, go with that.

>>6162229
Oh boy here we go... inb4magic

We mentally prepare ourselves to use whatever godly powers we have if things turn ugly.

"Of course, the masters are very, knowledgeable."

>>6162237
The villagers are taken aback by the sight of this... thing. Andreus, however, continues explaining.
"Fascinating. Would you mind giving me... a little demonstration?"

>>6162229
Kill that motherfucker.

>>6162229

Have Andreus say some bullshit about how the Masters have always kept them safe, blah blah blah.

>>6162229

That this guy has an inkling of what's going on means that either he's been tipped off by the guards at the home village, or there's someone in this village who's ratted us out, or his affiliation with the Masters grants him some kind of blasphemy-detecting powers.

Checking the villagers' knowledge, do any of them recognise this guy or know anything more about him?

>>6162251
Our godly powers are knowledge-based. Clearly, we'll give our loyal servant MacGyver-esque intution.

BURN THEM WITH OUR HOLY FIRE

>>6162265
FUCKING YES!

Our priests become MacGuyvers.

>>6162255
Beef up our guy with whatever Flame we have and... well.. get him in the oven.

>>6162255

Bestow the appropriate knowledge upon Andreus so he can effectively give a demonstration.

>>6162255

Paging Hagran the Warrior. Hagran the Warrior to village number two, please. Stand by.

>>6162255

Our good man Dre brings the weird guy outside to demonstrate proper hoeing technique? Keep up the farming lie.

>>6162262
The guards at Plato's village are still oblivious, so that cannot be the matter. You probe the minds of the villagers. Not one among them betrayed your cause, and nobody recognizes the creature standing before Andreus. You suspect blasphemy-detecting powers.

>>6162255
wait. have we shielded our followers the same way the masters have shielded theirs? we dont want those soggy motherfuckers parading around in anyones skull

>>6162256
>>6162266
No, we should stay low for now.

We are clearly a contemplate deity as opposed to a rash one. We need to know more about what is going on before we act. We can still revert to sudden violent action later if the situation calls for it.

>>6162265
Seconding MacGuyver powers. There is nothing our subjects can't turn to their advantage with the power of inventive knowledge.

>>6162273
I aprove

>>6162292
...Anti-faith?

I think we have our Masters, and with them our targets of future genocide.

>>6162276 here

given blasphemy detecting powers I withdraw my idea. I hope Andreus knows how to give a proper hoeing demonstration already.

Macgyver our priests. Only our real priests, like Plato and Andreus.

>>6162319
If he becomes a MacGyver, then it won't be us interfering, it will be him doing it himself.

I don't think or fishy friend actually wants a hoe demonstration.... Oh well, lets see how this turns out.

The tattoos on this guy. They've got to be some kind of holy symbols.

>>6162333
We are the god of invention and knowledge, after all. Even if we do not directly influence our followers, their deeds are due to our favor.

Regardless, Andreus has to do something. Use his MacGyver skills, which we give him, to do something. Have the rest of the villagers come out too, ready to fuck these fuckers up if the need arises.

>>6162287
You decide to continue the deception, however ineffective it may turn out to be. The "hoe", however, is a staff, which makes using it in an appropriate manner difficult.
Nevertheless, Andreus does his best to demonstrate the proper techniques of farming.
"Splendid. Truly splendid."
The thing smiles slowly.
"When did you discover that you can use the Art?"

OP, maybe you should trip up.

While the guards and the Heretic-Sniffer are well outnumbered (not to mention at least some of them are probably drunk), kicking off a fight here would be ill-advised until we know more about the Masters and their representatives.

We don't want to liberate the island only for the horizon to turn black with sails coming to see what happened to the grain tithes.

We are all about the knowledge, but we are also about wisdom, and acting with insufficient knowledge is unwise.

Hoe away, young Andreus.

>>6162372
Have Andreus inquire to this art.

Get the rest of the villagers ready to murder these fucks. Looks like things aren't going to go well.

>>6162377
>Hm. Guess it won't hurt.

i think i hear a laser staff a-comin

We, being the God, and our son, need to convene. Devise some kind of armor to bestow upon our priest if battle erupts.

"I would hardly call it art, it is but a simple technique to prepare the earth for seeds. If you know more ways to make our farms better we would be greatful for your experience."

>>6162423
Yeah, some kind of chainmail of the holy flame or something. Magicked upon him as a gift if shit hits the fan.

Get Hagran on this shit. STAT.

>>6162431
I like this. Total ignorance.

But still, get the rest ready to fuck these dudes up. It may come to it still.

>>6162431
Aditionaly if any of our villigers paint/sculpt we should point to them as the best examples of art we have.
Make sure we never capitilise art unless its at the start of a sentence.

>>6162393
"The Art. Or, as you primitives probably call it, magic. I can smell it upon you, boy. Now, be reasonable. I'm sure the power might've gone to your head. Perhaps you considered yourself equal to the Masters? Worthy of worship from the lesser beings?"
The creature laughs.
"We ALL live to serve and you'll do well to remember that. Show humility and you will be spared. You will come with me to receive proper training in the ways of the Art."

>>6162372
shit, shit, ok what do we know about "the art" that we can tell our follower? if he asks the monster thing then it'll be fairly apparent it isnt the art he is using

>>6162452
Fuck.

Hagran needs to make this armor for our boy Dre.

>>6162433
Hagran begins work immediately. In but a single moment, the armor is ready, though your son seems to be exhausted by the effort.

>>6162452
ok we need to focus hardcore on him so the masters cant block him from us

>>6162452
Magic eh?
Kill it, give whatever knowledge of flame we can to our young friend and have him torch the bastard if it tries something, but at the same time, we should milk more information out of it if we can.

>>6162452
"I serve no one. I seek only knowledge and the betterment of me and my people. I will not go with you." If he's about to get fucked by this albino, magic some special holy armor on him. Then have him use his fire staff against these fucks.

>>6162452
the fire otter bites him and sets his fishy hide a-burning

>>6162465
Give it to Talos, with the decree to protect whatever it is.

>>6162452
also we need to let one of villagers know silently that they have been made second in command, just in case our boy doesnt return from the masters

>>6162465
Thank him. A good pat on the back. "I am proud of you, my son."

Get ready to put that shit on our boy.

>>6162452
Alright two options, we can feighn a psuedo ignorance but be humble and go (esentialy work toward a subconsous or unintended use of "magic"). This will give us a man on the inside to learn more of the "masters".

Or we can defend our man and start open conflict, with all the risks that entails.

>>6162452

Have andreus comply, apparantly tattoo boy thinks he's a rogue magician with a bit of an ego. Having Andreus learn the arts is an outstanding opportunity to learn more about the masters. Tell andreus to view it a a learning experience.

Also, preferably when tattoboy isn't nearby, bestow some actual magical talent upon andreus so it doesn't become obvious that he's getting it from an outside source once his training begins.

>>6162454
You begin to make sense of the creature's words. He took the miracles bestowed upon Andreus for mortal magic. He seems to consider Andreus an untrained, innate talent. And he seeks to convert him to the cause of the Masters. Andreus doesn't need to show any understanding of the Art, as he is probably expected to use it instinctively.

>>6162486
I figure if Andreus dies, it will severely hamper our faith in this village.

On the other hand, this could be an opportunity to learn more - find out the Masters' capabilities, learn their secrets, and filter them back to our people. It'd get Andreus on the inside.

Clearly the Masters have control of these islands by dint of more than metal weapons alone, and that is worrying. There is still too much that is hidden from us.

>>6162505

Or give us our first martyr.

As a god of Protection, though, that's not actually all that good a plan. We need to keep him alive, yes.

If we send Andreus with this man, we could learn about these masters yes, and their magic.

But they could likewise learn about us. Andreus' faith seems strong, but he could turn against us and become an enemy.

>>6162530

Said authority comes from the masters obviously.

>>6162507
Second.

Sadly, I must retire. My only wish is that this will continue when I awake from my torpor. And that trap twin death/life gods etc. :3

>>6162530

This could work. Subtly antagonising them into a fight also provides an opportunity to drop some miraculous armor on Andreus, which'll likely guarantee us the worship of this village. And more power with it.

>>6162478
"Don't be arrogant, boy. You either die here and now or you come with me. You will receive all the knowledge that you could ever dream of. Perhaps one day you will be allowed to return to your people."

it sounds like magic is an inate ability similar to the way we channel power from some source to work our divine will but do not know how we do this or from where the power flows. i dont think our boy can learn magic if he doesnt have the talent.

have him decline and promise to remain humble from now on

>>6162555
But we already give him knowledge. But this does remind me of Horus.

>>6162555
Fuck this guy. If we gain knowledge it will be our own. Not some subversive Master bullshit.

Drop the armor to Andreus. Let him unload his fire staff on whiteskin.

Get the villagers ready to strike down the guards IF they want a fight.

Seeing this white dude get roasted might convert them to us.

I think Andreus needs to go, but we need to keep a close eye and focus on him at all times. Remind him that we are still here and that we simply want him to learn about the enemy for himself in a peaceful manner. No need to implicate the fact that we don't know anything ourselves.

>>6162555

armor him up and kick some fishy ass with staff lasers

>>6162555
shit get the armour on him and put a lot of effort into keeping track of him. maybe the armour will help block the masters influence and allow us to focus on him more clearly

Please have him go. Fighting will only turn things to shit. We can always bust him out later.

>>6162566
Yeah! And if they convert, then we not only get men who can fight and train, then we get their knowledge of the masters!

>>6162558
Wait, that's it. The power you channel and the power used by the Art are either one and the same or something extremely similar.
Perhaps you could serve as a conduit between the source of this power and Andreus, allowing him to use it instead of using it yourself.

>>6162566

This, plus some divine radiance and generally impressive special effects. A halo of spiritual fire upon his brow, his skin suffused with the light of understanding, that kind of thing.

He is a servant of the Secret Fire.

I vote let him go. Invest words of faith in him that this is merely like a journey of learning and that we will stay with him at all times, even when it is not apparent.

Hey OP, about how long till you think we could manage a physical avatar of some kind? At least on a temporary basis.

My railroading sense is tingling.

VIOLENCE WILL GET US SHIT GUYS, BESIDES IT'S NOT WHAT A GOD OF KNOWLEDGE AND PROTECTION WOULD DO DAMN IT

>>6162555

Alright, do we want Andreus to comply and possibly learn a lot about the masters or do we think the risk of him betraying us and ratting our existence out is too great?

If we let him refuse he'll die and tattooboy will be satisfied and leave. But that will seriously discredit our status as a god of protection.

Our third option is to make a stand but I'm worried that even if we manage to defeat this guy and his cronies the masters might send a much bigger force to retaliate.

>>6162566
we arent powerfull enough to take on the masters, hell we arent even powerfull enough to take on the gaurds yet. armour him up and keep an eye on him. given that he will have 2 artifacts with him and is devoted to us it should be easy to remain in his mind even when he is in the master's presence.

>>6162602
It's not railroading, really. If anything it's similar to what I do with my players when they are about to do something exceedingly stupid and out of character. I give them more time to think about it, is all.

Give him the ability to do magic on his own. PLUS MacGyver skills.

And infuse a bit of ourselves in him, like we did with the otter, so that we can keep track of him and learn what he learns, as he learns it.

We tell our prophit that he may go if he wishes, or he may stay, we will protect him and the villiage whatever he Chooses (we promote free will correct?)

>>6162596
>Depends on how powerful an avatar you want. You gain power at a fixed rate. If you spend more than you gain to sustain the avatar, you'll eventually run dry. Limiting yourself to a weak form will let you keep it up indefinitely.

>Okay, let's have a vote on the fight/go issue.

I'm conflicted. On the one hand, sending Andreus with the Heretic-Sniffer risks exposing our existence to the Masters, for all that it gives a chance of learning more about them.

On the other hand, overthrowing the local garrison without having a better idea of the capabilities of the Masters and their minions risks having our asses stomped into the dirt when they show up with ships full of Art-wielders and soldiers, unless we're really freakin' good at consolidating our power base and either fortifying the island or spreading the flame of rebellion out across the sea.

>>6162631
I vote we go with this, and support him to the best of our ability with whichever choice he makes.

The votes for "Tell Andreus to go with this strange man." is piling up. But we need to keep a close eye on him, like we said already.

>>6162641
We are basically a non-violence god, being contemplative and protective. Violence does no good, but we do have the power to protect Andreus at a later stage should things get sour, and then we risk none of the villagers.

Vote: Go. Don't fight.

We're not a god of war guys.

I think it's time we birth a new son.

God of stealth and secrets. He would be in charge of creating spies for us.

I vote we ask our boy Dre if he's willing to accept the task of going with these strange people to learn of them for his god. Possibly we can implant a splinter of our consciousness in him or something to keep an eye on him.

"My prophet, it seems you have reached a crossroad much earlier than had been anticipated. I know of the se Masters of which have been spoken, but I do not KNOW them as I KNOW the rest of this world, save that they lurk in the dark shadows of the deeps where no light may penetrate, and from which no knowlege may escape. You must choose, now: will you take my divine spirit unto yourself and learn to KNOW this enemy as I may KNOW them? Or will you entrust this place to my cleansing fire, and lead our foes into the light of day? Both paths are fraught with peril, and none will think less of you for choosing one over the other. But you must choose, quickly!"

Surely we can get a quick communion with our prophet without the tattoo boy noticing.

>>6162582
thats it. make him an avatar of our power! with his new found power and our gift of armour he will be more than capable of remaining true to us despite the master's shady dealings

I vote go with the bald guy, but have Andreus hand the staff over to one of the local villagers, "until he returns". One of the brighter ones who shows the potential to be a useful priest in Andreus' absence.

That way, whether Andreus returns or not, it's a potent relic of our faith to keep the locals believing.

>>6162671
this this this!!!

>>6162676
>>6162672
This and this.

Make Andreus an avatar of ourself, and give the staff to another in the village.

>>6162641
Let Andreus go with them, we shall be by his side, and learn from these Masteres.

Even if they find it out, we will know something about them. It is better then nothing.

We can keep up the illusion that our man has a talent, and help him in his learnings.

I'm voting that Andreus should go with the guy. Mainly because I seriously fucking doubt we can win a war with the masters at this stage.

A third option is to let the tattooman kill andreus and not have the villagers fight back, preserving our secret and avoiding any conflict with the masters, though we will have to change our crrent way of doing things to avoid being detected again.

>>6162676
>I feel obliged to remind you that it's a "staff with an orb of glass on the top that has a flame suspended within" - evidently a work of the Art. It's unlikely that the bald guy will let Andreus leave such an object behind.

>>6162671
Thirded

>>6162676
agreed

Going with them seems most appropriate; we are a god of knowlege, not war, and this would likely enable us to learn more about who our enemies(?) are.

Can we hurry this up?

It's been like, an hour with no progress at all.

>>6162671

Voting this.

>>6162710

Hm.

OK, then the otter can keep a low profile and stay behind, to make contact with the villagers once baldy's gone away again.

>>6162735
The otter is dead.

>>6162723

Wut? The pace has been just fine.

>>6162702
If we let our prophit die we would be required to save/reinstate his soul, which would meen possesion of another person (seams imoral) or we forge a new body for him. Which would be kind of bad ass. He gets killed, the rest of our villiage cowers, hood guy exits, Prophet returns as a creature forged of glass and fire (or an angel or an exeptionly large talking oter, or somthin). Risky though, might be beyond our current power limit

Okay I think the votes for going is piling up something fierce now.

And yeah, we can't leave the staff it it's obvious then. Have Andreus turn to the villagers and thank them.

We shall invest in him an innate spark of our power at a later date. Preferably at some time when he is alone and can explore it by himself.

New thread?

Why bother with a leaving behind a relic or something? We can directly communicate with our followers, isn't that enough? And besides, if we must have a new relic, we can always create a new one once our hooded friend is gone.

>>6162774
yeah we have been in auto sage for a bit now, would be good idea to make anew thread, and archive this one if it hasnt been already

>Very well, all votes are for either going quietly or letting him choose.
>>6162671
"My lord, you have taught us that knowledge is the greatest good of all. You have chosen me to spread your faith. Who would I be if I wasn't ready to pursue understanding even to those dark depths? You have shown me that there is no place that the flame of knowledge cannot illuminate it. I am ready."

As you bestow the armor and the gift of Art on Andreus, he speaks aloud: "Very well. I shall go with you."

>>6162797
Time for a new thread, OP

new thread time op

>Actually, I think I should get some sleep. Sorry, everyone, but that's it for today. Will someone archive?

Archival has been done.

Looking forward to the next one.

CLIFFHANGER ENDING

Anyway, we'll need to deal with any fallout at the village next time.

Good go OP, good go. One of the better quest threads since ever.

>>6162834
get some sleep op. thanks for the adventure