Revision as of 22:48, 14 July 2006

Some New Gods by Heru

Below is a description of the Celestial gods that I created for my game. Because within the descriptions are information on how they are treated by the changes that have been wrought in my game, some of the information might not make sense. Still, I figure that others might wish to read this for ideas on the creation of fluff for gods.

Gaia, the Imbodiment of Creation - Creation was made by the Primordials as a way for them to have a place of rest, a place where they could call home safe from the Wyld. Thus they brought together their immense power and wrought Creation out of both Elsewhere and the Wyld. Fundamentally, Creation is made up of three sections - the main Core-Artifact, the five Elemental Pole-Artifacts, and the geomancy (the network of dragon lines and demesnes) of existence - all of which is powered by the unending, inexhaustible flow of Essence. It was never in their plans for them to continually run Creation, for they sought a place that was self-sufficent and renewing. To this end they imbued the Core-Artifact with a fragment of power from each of the Primordials who had anything to do with Creation. Energised with Primordial-Essence, Gaia became self-aware and more powerful than every Primordial but the top nine. To make sure that she could not seek to overthrow them, they installed a great Geas on her that prohibited her from attacking or defending against them. When the Unconquered Sun was later created, Gaia was placed under his control because he represented perfection and order, something that the Primordials wished of Creation. The Five Elemental Dragons are the only offspring of Gaia.

Menitkhs, the Celestial God of Yu-Shan Gateways - This god was the first true god to be established, for he is the god of the entrances into Yu-Shan. Since his formation he has not changed either his scope or his territory, the number of gateways have not been altered. Since the Sundering of Yu-Shan he found himself limited to just a few gateways, a situation that he found almsot impossible to live with. He knew that without Exalted aid he could not increase the numbers of gateways because that would interfere with the Exalted's mandate over Creation. Thankfully, the situation did not last long because the Solar Exalted asked him to create more gateways into Yu-Shan, but at locations of the Solar's choosing. He readily agreed, and today the number of entrances into Yu-Shan are just over a thousand.

Lookshemeru, the Genius Loci of the Realm of Lookshemeru - With the Breaking of the World every Realm gained its own spirit, or Genius Loci, to help Gaia in the operation of Creation. These very powerful gods are combination Elementals and Spirits, and Lookshemeru is no different. Because of the caring and respect that the Solar Dominion has always had towards its environment Lookshemeru is a caring Genius Loci. He is quite happy to assist the Celestial Exalted by giving knowledge and providing assistance in all areas that he can. It is because of the relationship between the Exalted and Lookshemeru, that the Dominion has continued to grow at the speed that it has. As the Genius Loci of the Realm, his place of residence is the Realm itself. Within a pocket dimension of the likes only a fraction lesser than Yu-Shan (which is beyond his control, he rules the physical world not the abode of the gods) he rules a figment-spirit of all natural creatures of the Realm. To help further discussion with the Exalted he also has an abode in the city of Lookshemeru and in Yu-Shan.

Lumero, the Celestial City God of Lookshemeru - This is the city god of the Lookshemeru, the capital of the Solar Dominion. He was birthed in the flowing of Lookshy and Meru into one city during the summoning of the Elemental Pole of Earth. He is an entirely new god, but one who has within him the Essence of old city gods of Lookshy and Meru. He contains a residence within Yu-Shan for he is considered Celestial, but his main home is a gigantic palace-sanctum within the Celestial Gardens. He has a lot of respect for and love of the Solar Exalted, for it was they who brought him into existence. The fact that Lookshemeru is the largest city in all of the Solar Dominion provides testament to this god's power, for he is mightier than most of the Celestial gods, not counting the Celestial Incarna.

Seecne, the Celestial God of Artifice - Many gods were lost in the Breaking of the World and the Sundering of Yu-Shan. Yet for every god lost in that time another god had to be promoted into their spot. Seecne is one such god, formally just the god of Enchantment he accepted the promotion due to its increased authority and responsibility. He is quite happy to assist Celestial Exalted in the process of designing for he holds them responsible for the happy turn of events in his life.

Wenyld, the Celestial God of Wyld Travelers - A relatively new god, Wenyld was born the moment that the Solar Dominion honestly began planning for Wyld expeditions. This was even before the barrier coalesced enough for such Gateways to be possible, but that didn't matter for they were truly planning it. Highly motivated to promote the Dominion's travel around the Wyld, he has provided the Solars with a number of tricks and secrets to make it a much safer trip. Due to the importance that the Wyld now has in relation to trade and travel, he has been growing greater and greater in power. His abode is in the Border City of Ashneth, but he also contains a mansion in Yu-Shan.

Karnek, the Celestial God of Materials - This is a god with a long and interesting past that begins even before the Primordial War. During the time preceding the First Age he was a minor god, not worth much due to the nature of Primordial creation. When the Solar Exalted began creating their Realm he grew into prominence and began one of the more important gods of Yu-Shan. His growth and importance was due to the many types of newly created materials that the Solar Exalted produced during their reign. Every type of artificial material created adds little to his powers and authority. His strength also comes in the fact that it is not how much of each material currently exists but that something of it does. That means that even if a tiny shovel is all that exists of a once prominent material, he still has the increase in power. When the Breaking happened he just happened to be near the Primus Solar Manse and thus was one of the gods rescued by the god of the manse. Because of his rescue (when so many other gods did not make it) he holds the Solar Exalted in high esteem and is willing to help them in all matters concerning material engineering.

Ravenn, the Celestial God of Soulsteel - This is a Celestial god that has existence and power only within the Solar Dominion. He manifested into existence after soulsteel became a common and highly worked material within the Solar Exalted run Solar Dominion. Later studies showed that no god of soulsteel existed before because of soulsteel's inherent connection to the Labyrinth and the Neverborn located therein. Now that the Neverborn have been permanently sealed away from Creation that problem was rectified. And since the Solar Exalted have the power and ability to mine and manufacture the material anytime they wish, a god came into existence to cover it. Due to his position as the embodiment god of soulsteel he is able to transform Ambrosia into that magical material, which he does occasionally in aid to the Solar Exalted. His true abode is within Yu-Shan, though he also has a sanctum in the Underworld and another one in the Celestial Gardens of Lookshemeru.

Aginus, the Celestial God of Artificial Flight - This god replaced the previous god of artificial flight who died during the Breaking. From almost the very beginning this god has been allied with the Solar Exalted because he was previously the Celestial god of the Lookshy Skyfleet. Currently, his alliance with the Solars has provided a lot of new designs for new ships in the skyfleet. While his main sanctum is in the garden in front of the Lookshemeru Aviary he also has a palace estate in Yu-Shan.

Commentary

This is actually pretty nice, but I have 2 questions.

You channged gaian quite alot from what has been published. Why? What is this "Breaking"?

Why dind you ditch Vanileth? -Azurelight

• Not long ago I discovered FrivYeti's Wyldfarer concept and decided to go with it. Its like Exalted meets space, and I really really liked it. Of course I went off on my own tangent based on the Inner Circle.
• The Breaking of the World and the Sundering of Yu-Shan are events that saw Creation go from a singular landmass into one million tiny pieces spread out. The Wyld exists between them. These are the gods of the Realm of Lookshemeru.
• Well, he wasn't located around the area of Lookshy so the Realm where this takes part in didn't have him. Thus, to fill in the gap they promoted somebody to his posistion. Vanileth could be alive in another Realm making things or not. - Heru

Ahhh, Wyldspan. I have reda it all. then thing s make alot more sense. But you dint explain why your Gaia is so wierd. As I told you on the WW forum, I want to hear your motivation. - Azurelight

• This goes back to my concept of fluff. Gaia as a Primordial, god or weird ass bug has no effect on the game. She doesn't use her powers and so it has no rule effect.
• With that said, I never liked the concept of her being the imbodiment of Creation and a Primordial. I always thought that Creation was an artifact made by the Primordials. I like that concept, I figured it sounds better than Creation being some Primordial. So the Primordials got together made Creation and empowered its spirit to power. Thus Gaia awakened. More powerful than most Primordials but under the control of the Gods. My motivation is that I don't like it the way it is and figured that if I could come up with idea that works, well I might as well. -Heru

Works. I was just curious, becaues int X1, Creation was an artifact, Brought into Existenceby Gaia and Cytheria, the mother of Creation. Gaia was not it's embodiment. Second edition is a bit more uncertain on the matter, but I have only seen one passage tha actually says Gaia=Creation aand I chose to ignore it as another result of the fact that exalted authors do not communicate, since I to like the concept of creation as an artifact. I my Game, Gaia is its weilder, and of course, attuned to it, as one must be to all artifacts.

Just curious though, what motivation (or authority), did Gaia have in staying the hand of the Incarna, when they wantd to to kill ALL Primos Except Autochton, if she wasn't one of them?

BTW, sorry for being harsh in my previous posts. That's what happenf when I post at 03:00 AM -Azurelight

Comments in reponse to Azurelight.

• About what was Creation, they kept on switching. First artifact, then Gaia, than Cytheria, then something else. In the Authothocoan book they mention Creation being Gaia. Its in the story chapter, but nontheless its there. I don't like such controversy and such thousand-and-one opinions on what is Creation, and thus I answered the fact. It was made easier because in many myths, Gaia is Earth, and so it wasn't very hard to make Gaia Earth in this one.
• I like the concept of the artifact needing a wielder, so I am going to use it. :) Maybe that is why the Primordials placed Gaia under the command of the Unconquered Sun, they made him the wielder of the artifact. He is attuned to it permanently. Its a perfect effect.
• She is kinda a Primordial, at least because she was imbued with a little bit of power from all of them she could be considered one. She also has a greater depth of knoweldge about them that only they themselves know. The way I figure it, she new something, something about Primordials that made her decide that killing them all was a bad thing. I don't ascribe to the concept that one needs Primrodials for the abilities in Creation, but maybe it was something else. Maybe she knew that somebody a threat could face Creation, and she knew that Primordials were needed. Really, this comes down to 'I don't Know' and all mysterious like answer. Very epic in scope was her reason, thought.
• I understand what your saying, and I dont't feel like its bad. I enjoy this discussion, its very thought provoking and informative. I love talking about the thinks I like, and I like Exalted. So its all good. :) --Heru

Well, ok here goes:

• When saying "story chapters, what do you mean? Do you mean the scenario chapter? I that case I simply may have chosen to ignore it, since they have been stated by thir developer as "non-canon". That said, I woulden't even say that they kept switchin, they never realy stated anything. And my idea, which i knew your read on the WW forum, is as non cannon as yours, so its all cool

Now thaT I think about it, your gaia is, for most intents and purposes, A primodial, so I dont think she needs motr moyivtions for her actions then those stated in second ed core.

Also, asn a food for thought. I am not sure your gaia needs ti have weilder. Your description makes int sound more like an automaton. Maby the loom is its program?

Now I am going to be a bit nitpicky. I am the first to admitt¨ tha creations nature was never clear. However, I have never seen it stated tha it actually was Cytheria, just that she was th orgin there of. -Azurelight