Althos' in-depth examination of the memories of Mahmud came to an abrupt end. Not long after Althos watched the titan turn 27, the god heard a voice interrupt his studies of the titan's memories.
"Althos, you've spent the mental equivalent of many hours studying these memories. It might not be a bad idea to take your time studying the rest." The voice told him. It took the god a second to recall who was speaking to him since the god had immersed himself in the titan's life for what to the deity felt like literal decades.
The lake isn't wrong... Althos thought to himself, quietly. Shortly after coming to that conclusion the god began the process of pulling his consciousness away from memories, willing himself to return to the depths of his own mind.
It wasn't easy for the young god but he managed to pull himself away from the memories, causing what he saw around himself to change. In an instant, he went from being inside of Mahmud's father's palace to being in his own body, floating just above the lake.
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Althos took a few seconds to practice moving, starting with turning his head, and continuing until he gently twitched each of his toes. When he finished that odd exercises, testing his own mobility, and ensuring he remembered how to control his body, he looked at the lake and began to speak.
"Sorry about that. When you're just a few weeks ago, it turns out that spending too much time in someone's memories starts to take a toll on you." He said, grinning at the body of water. There was something different about him though. The Althos who now stared at the lake had an air of nobility. And that was something the Althos who had entered his mind, what felt like hours ago, did not possess.
His previously unfocused gaze was now sharper, clearer, and more focused. He starred at the lake with both a wise look on his face and a joy that hadn't been visible in his face before.
"You seem... different." The lake told him. There was a bit of apprehension in its voice, but also a bit of cautious joy. Althos grinned wider at it before beginning to speak.
"Of course! It's not fair to say I've lived, because I haven't, but I watched the childhood of a leader. When he took his first steps I felt his fear. When he excelled in his lessons I was there, feeling his jubilation. When he first wandered the streets of the city he'd one day lead, I felt the cool cobblestone he walked on. When you're as young as I am that is a perspective-changing experience." Althos confessed.
The lake silently considered his words, aware of the young god's genuine sincerity. Then it spoke to him. "I think that for now, the best thing you could do would be to go out into the world. Retreat from your brain. Head towards the city you saw in the titan's memories." The lake said, and Althos nodded.
"That's the plan! I suspect that since this titan becomes the sultan, his death is at least a massive shock to the city. It will cause change." Althos said, certain of this rather obvious fact.
"And in all honesty, this sort of in-flux moment is the perfect opportunity for me to make progress in my quest. I've no doubt that if I seize this moment I could possibly seize the city." Althos continued, his eyes gleaming with ambition.
The lake murmured its agreement with the deity, and silence overcame the two. But then the deity's gaze sharpened somewhat abruptly. He kept looking at the lake curiosity, and skepticism filling his mind in equal measure. Then the young god opened his mouth to speak.
"You mentioned something odd earlier and I want to ask you about it. You said, in your own words mind you, that you are 'a lot of things'. I think it's time you expand on that." The god said, his voice calm and curious.
The lake was silent for a moment, doing its own version of thinking and calculating possible outcomes of what it did next. And then the thing began to speak. And in doing so revealed fascinating, fundamental truths about its nature.
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Fear of the unknown is... crippling. Drow thought to himself. He felt the paralytic power of the fear of the unknown while inside of his familial home in a posh corner in the city of Undermoon.
At the moment that he was pondering how it was that fear of the unknown froze even the bravest souls, Drow was seated in darkness. The dark-elf was in his own private chamber, a lightless, windowless place of total solitude and for the moment a very nice prison-cell. He reflected on his grim situation.
I've been here for days. Who'd have thought that one's own room would make the worst prison-cell? The dark-elf thought, somberly. He sighed, his eyes piercing through the total darkness that surrounded him, as his thoughts took on a sadder tone. I never imagined that they'd do this to me after I became like them. He thought, quietly.
Days ago the dark elf returned to his familial home, excited to announce to his parents that he was like them, that their blood just needed to be activated for him, and for his cousins, to become far-seers. He had expected joy and pride. He was disappointed to receive physical abuse and after enduring a beating, he had been ignobly tossed into his room.
Whoever heard of an oracle that could throw a punch? Drow thought, bitterly. His left eye still stung from a punch he was caught off-guard by, a punch that was thrown by his father.
I can't imagine this development will please Althos. The dark elf thought, unhappily. Should I tell him what's happened? The dark elf wondered. He had wondered it numerous times over the course of the last few days, and had spent hours silently debating the pros and cons of telling his god what had happened, what had prevented him from aiding in the effort to convert the city.
I don't know enough about him to know how he'll react. He may ask for the blood of my parents, or my family if I tell him... The dark elf feared. He legitimately believed that it was possible that the god he served, the deity who had given him his limited powers of clairvoyance could have demanded Drow make his parents into a blood sacrifice in order for the dark elf to reenter the god's good graces.
It's what they'd do... The dark elf thought, remembering the tales he heard in his childhood of how the demon lords who were the ancient patrons and matrons of dark-elven families punished failure or disrespect.
If he does ask for the blood of my parents... would that be the worst thing? Drow questioned, entertaining the possibility for a bit too long. The bitterness and hate seeping into his heart became obvious as the dark elf debated patricide.
Days of imprisonment had envenomed how he felt towards his parents. There was a singularly vicious and hateful part of the dark elf, a part that had always existed, that now more than ever looked at his mother and father with a thorough hatred.
His thoughts softened when he considered the possibility that his cousins or siblings might be targeted by the god, as part of a vicious ritual to atone for Drow's mistakes and his underestimation of how vicious his family might be.
Some demons could take on the appearance of kinder creatures... I really don't want to take the risk that Althos is like them. The dark elf thought, comparing a past object of dark elven worship to a modern object of dark elven worship.
If he asks for the blood of my siblings or my cousins... The dark elf couldn't stomach the thought of putting them to the blade.
Would he ask for sacrifices, at all? In our interactions, he seemed... kind. The dark elf wondered. He recalled the ease and simplicity of the deity. This terrifying question about sacrifices was perhaps the most difficult of all of the questions the dark elf had. It was this question that kept Drow from informing his master of what was going on.
This confusion has kept me from contacting him, from offering prayers. And now he wants me to check-in? What if he already knows? Fear began to consume the dark-elf as he contemplated the odd new ritual his master had informed them of. Mere minutes ago the dark elf had been one of the many recipients of a mental message summarizing it.
Days of imprisonment had begun to take their toll on Drow. And frankly, the dark elf was growing tired of it. And he was growing tired of being afraid. The more those things mixed the easier it became for him to fantasize about taking action. And eventually, while still in his darkened room the dark elf made a decision.
I will tell Althos of what has gone on. And I shall hope that he is a merciful god. Or that the price I pay is a price I can pay. And if he isn't or it isn't... I don't know enough to know what will happen next. But that can't stop me. Not anymore. Drow realized, gathering the courage needed to act, needed to overcome his fear of the unknown.
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The dark elf began to compose a prayer to his master that would inform the deity of his situation. Of his failure.
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"Where to even start with this..." The lake said, sounding exhausted at the thought of providing a full explanation. Althos waited for the thing to continue, as the thing considered the easiest path forward.
"I am the summation of all of your menus. You could consider me your H.U.D., as well as your mind, just given faux-consciousness. As mentioned before, it's your divinity that allows this to happen at all, I am just a metaphysical representation of your mind designed to facilitate communication between your conscious and everything else." The lake said.
Althos listened to this explanation and considered it. "I... guess that makes sense." He said, accepting what the lake told him grudgingly. "It at least explains why you can do the things you can do." He admitted, after thinking about the explanation for a few moments. Then the lake spoke up.
"As a god, you are constantly receiving notifications. I work with, in an unacknowledged capacity, M.A. and the system to keep those notifications from overwhelming you. An easy example to think of is that it's because of me that you no longer get notifications when you kill something." The lake told Althos. The god himself considered that, and remembered not getting a notification when he slew the girtablilu.
"So wait... what else can you do?" The deity asked, after spending a few moments thinking about what the lake had said.
The lake was quiet for a moment as it considered what to say. When it spoke again, the water underneath Althos began to change, slightly and subtly. "I can show you specific, unexplored parts of your menus. Like the section outlining class breakdown among your worshipers." The lake informed the deity, whose eyes went wide at the discovery that that was within the lake's power.
"Now that is something I'd love to see." The god informed the lake.
"Just one second. And just so you know, many of your worshipers do not have class levels. That's because they aren't the sort of creatures who exhibit the discipline or consistency needed to gain class levels. You can change that. And this is not a comprehensive list of all classes. It's just the ones that have representatives who worship you that are visible here. Aside from one specialty of witch." The lake said as its lakebed began to change in even greater ways.
Seconds later Althos was surprised to see a large table, an intimidatingly huge one, etch itself onto the lakebed beneath him.
Class Name: Class Description: Specialties Under Your Control Members Of Your Religion Of This Class By Race Alchemist
Alchemists are powerful inventors and tinkers whose skill in alchemy has a multitude of uses. Many alchemists craft explosives or they create tonics that can soothe the soul and heal the body.
Some alchemists are scientifically inclined and their research involves blending alchemy and science. Others are mystically inclined and they produce powerful potions that cause a range of effects.
Potion-producers focus on the power and potency of potions, specializing in their production and gaining skills that improve the quality and quantity of potions produced each time an alchemist makes them.
Potion-Producer One Dark-Elf Archer
Archers are powerful warriors who specialize in using bows in combat. They can fight effectively against other ranged foes, as well as against mounted enemies.
Different specialties make use of different types of bows and different types of arrows. Snipers are long-distance archers whose arrows mow down mounted units and singular enemy commanders.
Combat archers are daredevils who get close to their foes, firing powerful bursts of arrows and dancing out of the range of their enraged enemies.
Combat Archers and Sniper Three Orcs Berserker
Berserkers are powerful warriors whose rage fills them with destructive might. These powerful warriors are more common among more bestial races, but berserkers of all races can be found throughout the multiverse.
Sentinel demons fly into a shark-like rage whenever enemies bleed, but they hone and focus their rage so that they can unleash it at the right time.
Sentinel Demon One Sentinel Demon Cleric
Clerics are the loyal servants of the gods. These religious leaders lead other worshipers in prayer, in ritual, and advocate for others to convert to the worship of their divine masters. They fulfill the commands of their gods and communicate the wills of their masters to other, less-faithful mortals.
Beast tamers are clerics who believe that it is their duty to preach to wild beasts. They go out of their way to explore the wilderness and spend time surrounded by animals. They can speak with animals and see to it that no lifeform remains ignorant of their god's majesty.
Diabolist clerics are clerics who are servants of Infernius. They lead cults dedicated to arch-devils, true-devils, or the assorted layers of Infernius itself. The majority of them are not found in Infernius, and instead, they zealously work to transform mortal worlds and societies into reflections of Infernius.
Beast Tamer, Diabolist One Great Frog, One Half-Devil Druid
Druids are powerful magic users whose veins are filled with nature magic. These creatures possess a variety of nature-based powers. They can shapeshift, they can manipulate nature, they can heal people, and more.
Desert druids are inhabitants of the desert whose long history in the difficult region has caused them to become resilient, deadly, and stubborn on a genetic level. Desert druids have power over sand and wind, using both in combat effectively. At high levels, they can also use magic to transform into a variety of desert-dwelling critters from scorpions, to lizards.
Desert Druid Two Jackaloids, One Cactus Wren Fighter
Fighters are intense warriors. They are the simple, bold combatants who defend themselves against dragons with bows, spears, and swords. When enemies knock at their gates, fighters are the first ones on the scene.
Brawlers are even braver than most fighters as they go toe to toe with heavily armored and even more heavily armed warriors using their own limbs. Brawlers have abandoned swords, knives, and more because they know that such tools are useless when taken away. But in their minds, taking away one's fists, legs, elbows, or knees is a riskier enterprise. And they invite enemies to try.
Brawler Two Orcs Monk
Monks are disciplined warriors and scholars who train their bodies into the perfect weapon. Their discipline keeps them on strict workout regimes, while they pursue varied agendas related to various fields of study.
Poisonous Paw monks are monks who either naturally secrete and control poisons they inflict on their victims, or have mastered ways to dip their natural weapons in poison without harming themselves. Either way, they inflict crippling attacks on their enemies. They are skilled assassins whose attacks can cause their enemies to wither and die even weeks after they struck.
Poisonous Paw One Great Frog Oracle
Oracles are natural magic-users whose minds and whose visions are sometimes overcome with potent visions that come to them from a range of sources. Oracles are usually associated with the old age, the age of gods and their kin, and are rare in the modern world, though they certainly exist.
Resurrected oracles are not oracles who were brought back to life, but oracles whose oracular abilities skipped over them but were forcibly resurrected. Such oracles quickly learn that their visions are tied to the wills of those who resurrected their oracular abilities. Their resurrectors possess incredible power over their visions and often become their masters.
Resurrected Oracles One Dark Elf Ranger
Rangers are nomadic wanderers who roam the natural parts of the world and of the multiverse. They are more at home atop ice-floes than in the heart of a bustling city. Rangers and their animal companions use a range of weapons and magic to track and slay enemies, particularly enemies they have sworn oaths against.
Surface-Scouts are a rare ranger specialty that hails from the World Beneath The World of various mortal worlds. They brave the dangers and horrors of the surface world and help civilizations and peoples beneath the surface learn how to conquer or dominate those who dwell in the light of the sun.
Surface-Scout One Dark Elf Rogue
Rogues are dangerous sneaks and stealthy saboteurs. They gain a variety of skills quickly and they put their lives on the line anytime they sell their skills to the highest bidder or they serve their masters. These skilled masters of discord and destruction have a home anywhere, from the heart of a battlefield to the inner chambers of complex palaces and political intrigue.
Assassins are cold-hearted killers. They apply their sneaky skills and their desire to engage in sabotage in pursuit of the most deadly end of all: murder. These sneaks infiltrate homes, societies, and more, to execute their targets. Their mastery of the blade and their knowledge of anatomy is unparalleled.
Thieves are opportunistic strikers who break into settlements, homes, and more in pursuit of gold, or other valuables. In militaries or in political strike-teams these infiltrators break into heavily guarded compounds, estates, or fortresses in search of enemy plans, material with which to blackmail their targets or things that would just undermine any ideas their enemies have that they are safe in their own homes.
Assassin, Thief Two orcs Witch
Witches are ambitious servitors of mighty powers. Witches are women, not just humanoid women, who've made deals with powers beyond mortal ken, and who've agreed to serve these powers in exchange for power of their own.
Also, there's no simple way to say this but creatures who aspire to become witches in your service are currently... they're being given a sort of trial run to get them hooked on your power. One of your awakened imps aspires to become a witch and currently has access to a range of mind-manipulation spells and sensory manipulation abilities.
Both Qu'Ren and Milene are developing their own distinct, tiny covens of witches who are already experimenting with their powers and are being indoctrinated by the two nobles. Their theologies are very different, so it's not a bad idea to chat with them and figure that out.
The sort of power that a witch gets from her master depends on the sort of deal she was pursuing and which sort of power with which she was cavorting.
Devilish witches gain powers related to the archdevil they serve. Witches who aspire to serve Althos as of right now gain access to mind magic, illusion magic, and healing magic. All of the witches who currently aspire to serve you are trying to become devilish witches.
Divine witches are witches whose power stems from your divinity. Their power is completely up to you. When a witch wants to become that type of witch, you'll be able to expand what that entails.
Devilish Witch, Divine Witch One Imp, Nine Dark Elves.
The last part of this extensive menu shocked Althos.
A trial run? Goodness. I'm gonna need to figure that out soon. He thought, seconds before getting an extensive prayer. A prayer from a surprising worshiper: Drow.