“Well then. What do we do now?” I asked. “Well-” my sister started, before a blue box appeared before our eyes.

Congratulations! You have completed [Stage 1] of the [Deity Trials]!

Of the twelve souls participating, you finished 12th. Results will be displayed below.

What is even happening? I, like my siblings, focused on the box. We were then treated to an extended explanation of how the [Deity Trials] is a grace period for the 12 new Origin Deities, to develop their newborn universes, though that it wasn’t a guarantee, so one must be careful. [Stage One] was apparently a test to decide what powers the [Origin Deity] would have, and  how their Universe, or ‘Domain’ would form. This test consisted of making 5 objects, which would be analyzed to produce the results.

The blue boxes were apparently a power of the Multiverse’s Creator Deity, and we were told that the practically infinite power of creation that our maker had during [Stage One] (That he still managed to almost use up, somehow.), would now dissipate and be severely limited from this point.

Why blue I wonder?

Because I like blue, kid.

Now check the damn results already!

Okay, okay! Geez, no need to be touchy Mr. All-Powerful. Anyways, the results.

Results:

Creator of the Grand Tale, Deity of Stories and Creation

Creations

1) Primordial Entities; 2) Primal Flame; 3) Supporting Realms and GodSouls; 4) The Diadem Kismet; 5) The Archive

Analysis:

1) Primordial Entities: By not succumbing to the temptation of creation for an incomprehensible amount of time, and dredging up deeply suppressed knowledge, this Origin Deity split his soul into six parts, five becoming separate Entities that personify key aspects of the Tale, such as Time, Space, Souls, Dreams and Emotions, and Knowledge.

2) Primal Flame:  In [Stage 1], all deities will, at one point, utter the words "Let there be light," with varying effects. In this case, the sixth fragment of the Storylord’s soul, comprised of the very essence of itself, was formed into a scintillating primordial flame when these words were uttered with its final breath. Hence the title of Primal Flame. It is necessary if the revival of the Storylord is ever to come to be.

3) Supporting Realms and GodSouls: The eight supporting Realms and their GodSouls, souls given the potential of Gods and fused with their Realms’ essence, are the combination of the Great Works of the Keeper’s siblings. Caution! If a GodSoul is to permanently die or is gravely injured, their Realm will be destabilized!

4) The Diadem Kismet: The ‘Jeweled Crown of Destiny,’ or the ‘Band of Fate.’ The dimensional wheel formed when a Core Realm was added by the Keeper to his siblings’ creation, interconnecting them.

5) The Archive: The grand creation of the Keeper of the Archives, this tome holds within it all knowledge of the Tale and the entities that live within. As it also stores every story created or known in the Tale, its existence and the final words of the Keeper before its slumber were the catalyst for the Tale’s stabilization, defining it as a universe fueled by legends and myths.

Domain:

The Grand Tale. The Grand Tale is one of the rarest and most unique of all the universe templates in the Multiverse, as there can only be one Grand Tale in existence at any point, regardless of time or space. As the Grand Tale is formed and given power by stories, myths, and tales, it will develop over time into its own condensed multiverse as new worlds are continually born. Each iteration of the Grand Tale is unique, they are all formed differently. This iteration has been created with a Core Realm that connects to each of the eight supporting worlds/Realms, which branch out the soon-to-be ring of lesser worlds that will develop when sentient life begins telling tales and passing down legends.

This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

Be warned! If the Core and/or enough of the supporting Realms are destabilized/destroyed, the Grand Tale will come to an end!

Well, that’s not good. I’m not sure, but I don’t think there are any defenses in place around the new Realms. We’ll have to fix that soon. But first…

“Hey, don’t you think we should give ourselves names? It’s a bit annoying referring to you lot as ‘my siblings’ in my head.”

“Sure,” replied my sister, “I think I like the name Raum.” As she says so, her eyes -the only feature we four share- twinkle like two slowly spinning galaxies. The only difference between our eyes is that she has a dark purple-black starscape orbiting her black hole-like pupils, while mine appear as green intermixed with gray and gold comets. Her long, raven hair reaches halfway down her back, reaching the midway point between her four wings that seem to distort space around them. The wings clearly show her domain as the Goddess born of the Entity of Space, each of her thousands of feathers a portal to a new star system. I wouldn’t be surprised to find out she will be able to make that illusion a reality, given enough time and power. She wears a flowing kimono-like robe, the color of which slowy shifts back and forth like that of her eyes, seemingly infinite.

Seeing us study her, she grins, before curtsying and asking our first brother, “And how about you then?”

He appears much like a scholar, his eyes a mixture of all the colors that exist, and he thinks for a moment before confidently saying, “I shall be Alma Ressam.” Unlike my sister, he had no wings, and in their stead he possessed a third, closed vertical eye on his forehead, and shimmering hair with much the same qualities as his eyes. His scholar's robe is a base grey, but has a strange mystical quality to it, invoking all sorts of thoughts of vague possibilities. He then turned to our second brother, and asked, much like our sister, “And how about you then?”

“Don’t parrot me dammit!”

He chuckles, though I’m not sure how, with his lack of any facial features or orifices excepting the eyes. And what eyes! They put the rest of us to shame, a kaleidoscope of colors and emotion, which seems to have spread to his skin. Said skin is like a starscape, one that is ever changing and distorting much like a dream. He is hairless, with no clothes or sex visible, certainly the most exotic of out of the four of us. He then speaks with that strange voice of his, “I shall take the name Visturas, if that's alright. And how about you, brother? What mantle will you take up?”

“Hmm…” I cup my chin in my hand, pondering the question. What would be a good name? “Why do I have this insane urge to call myself a doctor?” I muse out loud, before being struck with inspiration. As I am born of the Entity of Time, and this universe is dependant on stories how about this? “I shall be known as Lore. Talespinner Lore.”

“Ah, lore. The knowledge of ages passed on to the new generation, a fitting name for you brother,” replies Visturas. The others agree, grinning.

Ah, my appearance? There is nothing special about my hair or robes, no added wings or strange features like my siblings. What is special about me is that I, and all that I am wearing, are going through a constant cycle of time. My hair changes from it’s base forest green to snow white, while I age instantly from child to elder, and my robes turn to dust before reforming without the chance to fall. It gives them impression that I am both unaging and every age at once, which is actually quite close to the truth.

“So what should we do now?” I ask, before being rudely interrupted by the All-Powerful Bastard again.

All participants have completed [Stage 1]. [Stage 2] is starting now! Time until completion: ??? million years.

The goal of [Stage 2] is to get started on the actual creation of your domain. With the foundation set, it is time to start building. Create a system for souls to travel through, learning along the way and gradually increasing their power...so long as they do things right. The main goal of being a Diety is to raise as many souls into a higher realm of existance than before, to become a part of your 'army.' How this is achieved is up to you, although most do this through purification of the soul. Good luck.

Side note: In a few million years, all twelve souls currently creating their domains will have a meeting, and compare notes. This is a good way to build camaraderie, as this is a friendly competition. Additionally, your personal power will increase with your influence, and can also increase with a number of other, obscure ways. Have fun figuring out what works and what doesn't.

[Stage 2] will now begin. 5...4...3...2...1... [Stage 2] has begun. Delivering power and returning natural memories to the participants...

Wait, what? “But we already have natural memories, or at least basic knowledge.”

“Yea, what gives?” retorts Alma.

Well, seeing as it was the old man’s soul fragment, I may have bent the rules a little to give him more time, and lied to the other 11 souls about all of them being finished… This did cause time to be slightly out of whack here for the moment though, so if you don't make the meeting, it sucks to be you!

Seeya, suckers!

“Old Bastard!!!” Surprisingly, it was Raum who shouted this time. Wow, she’s pissed. Let’s slowly back away…

*Cough* “Anyway, we still need to decide who’s watching out for each of the Supporting Realms.”

“I suggest we each take two. I’ll handle the Chthonic Realm and the Underworld.”

“Sure bro, I’ll claim the Soma and Magica Realms then.”

So Alma and Raum have chosen already. Well let’s scry the essence of the four that’re left then- “I’ll take the Beastial and Technological Realms, in that case.”

“Oh come on guys! Now I'm stuck with the Higher and Lower Realms for all eternity. I can already tell the mortals are going to get all religious about them, at least we didn’t call them Heaven and Hell. But sheesh, really guys?”

“Ha ha, yup! I’m off, see you in a thousand years!” That slippery eel Alma dashes off, followed by the other two. Well, I guess I should go meet my charges.

*Sigh* This will be a looong millennium.