Beyond Chaos – A DiceRPG

[746] – Y03.046 – In The Red VI

The section for Mother Soza was as expected, filled with greenery and life, an open space welcome to all. The section for Lady Gale was similar, though with far more greenery, like a well cared for park. The section for Baktu, Lord Sozain, the God of Death, was as expected. 

It was stark, bare, with well built but simple furnishings all around. The temple proper was more like an altar, with rows of curved seat emanating from it, split by the cross of pathways. The altar was simple, made of hard stone, with steps leading up to a flat surface where one could preach. Several acolytes, some male, some female, sat and chatted with the elderly who came to visit, as well as a few adventurers Adam had spotted around town. 

Adam’s eyes swam across the area to try and find her, but he didn’t find the woman. ‘I guess it’s not like I’m in the position to go find Freya anyway…’ Adam’s eyes then fell to the small grove nearby, which hid the small cabin of the priests, which led further into the ground where the Priests of Death could deal with their affairs. The acolyte escorting them remained at an invisible boundary, allowing the pair to pray in peace. 

“Good morning, Brother, would you mind escorting me to the statue of the Lord?” Adam asked one of the nearby acolytes, who bowed their head lightly, silently leading Adam to the statue near the cabin. They followed a trail outlined by black orchids, heading towards a small statue of a boy sitting on a jagged throne. 

Adam knelt before the God of Death, with the acolyte and Vonda for company, while another watched from the cabin. Mother Death, the priest with the highest rank within this temple to Lord Sozain, watched over the young half elf, who possessed an amulet which had been forged by the will of her Lord. Even as he had passed by the cabin, she could sense the divinity from the amulet.

The statue of the young boy on a jagged throne of bone watched over Adam, who fell deep into his thoughts. The young half elf was sitting on his legs, not wholly prostrating himself before the God of Death. Adam held onto his knees tightly, before his fingers relaxed and he bowed his head.

‘For all that you’ve done, Lord Sozain, Baktu, thank you. I won’t forget it. If you have need of me, just let me know, and I’ll do what I can. I… I don’t want to go around killing people, but if you need something…’ Adam hoped his intentions were being sent through to the God of Death, who had saved him from the Lord of Order in the dream, which was certainly no dream, and had favoured him thus far. ‘Also, if you want more money, let me know.’

Adam pulled away, allowing Vonda to drop to her knees to pray to the God of Death, before they made their way back. He reached into his pocket and held out a gem worth fifty gold, holding it up to the acolyte. 

“Whose funeral are you preparing?” the acolyte asked, not yet reaching out for the gem.

“I’m not going through this again,” Adam said. “Take the gem and fund the food you’re giving to the people.”

The acolyte frowned slightly at Adam’s bluntness. “We have no need for donations without service.”

“The service is that I follow the Lord of Death, who has granted me so many grand abilities, like being able to cast certain Third Gate spells.”

The acolyte blinked. “Lord Sozain has blessed you with such grace?”

“Brother Adam,” called a voice, Mother Death eventually revealing herself to the group. Like the Mother Priest of Life, she was the highest ranking individual when it came to her own section. She was pale of skin, dark of eyes, and she also wore a similar attire to that of the Mother Priest of Life, covering her from head to toe, only showing off her face. Mother Death also wore a set of gloved, wrinkled with centuries of use, matched only by the wrinkles on her face.

“Mother Priest,” Adam replied. “Ah, no, Mother Death?” 

Mother Death smiled, bowing her head lightly. “It is a pleasure to meet you, finally.”

“You’ve heard of me?” Adam asked.

Mother Death held up a hand towards the acolyte, who quickly bowed his head, and retreated away from the group. “I know of you.”

“Right,” Adam replied, still holding out the gem awkwardly. “Will you accept the gem?”

“If it is your contribution,” the woman replied, holding out her hand.

Adam placed the gem into her gloved hand gently, wondering if she’d break if he placed it down too hard. 

“Thank you for your donation,” the woman said, closing her fist, bringing her hand to her navel, smiling warmly towards Adam. “Did you wish to speak?”

“Uh, not particularly, but if you would like to speak, I’m more than willing.”

Mother Priest closed her eyes, feeling the distant cold of future death from the young half elf. “If you have no need to speak of me, I will leave you on your way.”

“Thank you so much.” Adam bowed his head towards her, before stepping away with Vonda, who only greeted Mother Death with a bow of her head. 

The pair made their way through the temple and out, with the sight of Mother Death watching over them. The old woman stared at her free gloved hand, seeing the slight shaking. She wondered if Lord Sozain would allow her to live long enough to watch and hear of the death Adam would bring. 

“Isn’t Lord Noor the main god of Aswadasad,” Adam asked as the pair made their way out. Adam had chewed on his thoughts for some time and could no longer keep them to himself. 

“His position within Aswadasad is quite unique,” Vonda admitted. “Though the official policy of Aswadasad is that of respecting all the Major Divine, much of the worship is towards He Who Brings The Light.”

‘I guess Rose and the others probably prayed to the God of Light before all, then?’ Adam thought. ‘Dunes and the others pray to Lady Arya since they grew up in Black Mountain, so I guess they’re not typical Aswadians?’

“You said Lord Musa and Lord Zaladhin aren’t considered Mother Soza’s children either, right?” Adam asked. “How come they’re considered part of the Greater Divine?”

“Lord Musa took his position among the Greater Divine recently, around two thousand years ago. His position had remained vacant due to the difficulty of one to lord over all wealth. Once, it was a position held by a Divine who was commonly depicted as a Dragon, though they retired.”

“Oh?” ‘Gods can retire?’

“Only those who worship Lord Musa and Lady Erudite would know more, and perhaps even those who worship Lord Sozain, but such knowledge is not known among most, even the believers of many of the Major Divine.”

“Oh yeah? Forbidden knowledge?”

“Perhaps not forbidden knowledge, but knowledge which remains dark, and that which many do not wish to share.”

“I guess…” Adam fell silent for a moment. “So the Major Divine allowed some outsider to take over the role?”

“Lord Musa assists Lady Elaveil with keeping the balance, and so was appropriately welcomed into the pantheon by the Goddess of Balance, though it may have been the case some of the Major Divine preferred if Lord Musa was instead a Minor Divine.”

“What about Lord Zaladhin?” Adam asked. He was pretty sure Lord Zaladhin, the Lord of Souls, was someone he hadn’t heard about much. ‘Considering his domain seemed to be close to Lord Sozain, I wonder what his story is. How does Lord Sozain feel about that?’

“Lord Zaladhin was given a position as the Lord of Souls during The Dark Times,” Vonda said. “It was during the Demonic Devastation in which Lord Zaladhin, an Aswadian mortal at the time, was granted Divinity, and took his place among the Major Divine. However, his influence is not comparable to any of the Major Divine.”

“Whoa,” Adam whispered. He hadn’t spent much time learning about the Divine, but he had no idea a mortal could ascend to Godhood, and even take his place among the Major Divine. ‘Even if he’s mostly ignored, that’s still crazy!’

“Lord Zaladhin’s ascension was quite problematic, especially in Aswadasad, though it was eventually accepted across the lands.”

“Why is that?”

“Lord Zaladhin was once a general within the Aswadian army, and thus to place him among the ranks of the Major Divine, said to be equal to Lord Noor…” Vonda paused for a moment. “It was only due to the chaos of that time that such a thing could have occurred.” 

“Chaos, eh?”

“Though one might have expected the two Lords to bring the matter up or to deny it, it was Lord Sozain who forced Lord Zaladhin’s ascension into the Major Divine.”

“He forced it?” Adam asked, shocked.

Vonda bowed her head.

“What does that mean?”

“I do not know, but that is what is taught.”

Adam was fairly certain that was a huge deal, but he had never come across such knowledge before, even when he was in the Iyr. ‘I guess I know a lot about the different families roles during the time, but isn’t the ascension of a mortal into the highest position also ridiculously insane?’

“So Lord Sozain and Lady Elaveil both widened the pantheon of the Major Divine?” Adam asked.

“Yes.”

Adam recalled the Iyr’s thoughts about which of the Major Divine were the most powerful. 

Baktu and Ritetu.

Lord Sozain and Lady Elaveil. 

‘Yeah,’ Adam thought. ‘Makes sense.’

Beyond Apotheosis: A DiceRPG