Question time!
A man wearing only a loincloth and covered in tattoos and piercings called out “Why are you suppressing our powers so we can’t use them? How?"
Felinia looked at him and smiled. “There are a few reasons. Firstly, people will start to kill each other and fight to obtain position and power. I am giving you all an equal starting point. Secondly, I want you to fully master the basics of one power before moving on to the next. Too many times people ignore the different facets of their power. You need to learn all you can. I do not want you to half ass your learning and try to take short cuts.
“Then comes the fact that some of you have never known what it was like to be powerless, or nearly so. Others have forgotten it. Consider this a lesson in humility. On a side note there: watching those who are overly arrogant suffer as they learn what things are like for those they considered to be their lesser is a personal hobby of mine. Next is a very simple reason, and explains the how question; I’m not suppressing them. I am draining them. The more powerful you were the more power you provide me.”
There was an uproar, but Garion was less angry than scared. She could drain power from them, so she could probably drain them all to death!
However, after the worry, he got a bit a bit angry. What gave her the right to do that?
As soon as he thought it, the answer ran across his mind: he never asked for the terms and conditions of attending. He made a deal with a magical being, without even learning the full extent of what he was agreeing to!
Stories of demonic deals and fey pacts ran through his mind.
He raised his hand, and Felinia pointing to him, asking “What is your question?”
Gulping he asked “Where can we get a copy of the terms and conditions for being here? The offer was sprung on me last minute and I never got a chance to think things through, so I’d like to know what the heck I agreed to. I do not want to be penalized for unknowing breaking a magical contract.”
Dead silence swept the room. Horror filled formerly angry faces as the full impact of his question struck home.
Some even started quivering in fear as they realized they were totally screwed!
Felinia smiled “Well asked. You will all have a copy on the contract in your motes when you go there.”
Someone called out “How do we get our powers back?”
Felinia grinned at that one. “You will be able to gain, or acquire skills while here. One way is to develop the skills you have and expand based on them. However, you can learn new skills. I personally recommend learning new things. You will find it much more rewarding then just relearning the old things that might not suit your position anymore. You will also fall back into bad habits you had before.”
Something about her choice of wording struck Garion as odd. He would have to think about it later.
Someone else called out “How come some of us are stuck with certain Domains and Powers, while others can get whatever they want?”
Felinia paused here. “Those are two issues. Powers and Domains. Those who received powers had none before, and they did not pick them either, as far as I can tell. Those who had powers before only got limited. In theory the limited have more experience with their abilities then the empowered, and thus their own abilities should seem greater.
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“For Domains, there is the matter of politics. Imagine if I gave someone who had a Domain in another world, say a child of a Deity of Justice a Domain that is not actually a Sub-Domain of Justice, and they returned home with the Domain. Thus I would have boosted one faction a bit by expanding their range of influence.
“The only way to avoid getting involved in politics that would cause problems is to avoid the issue entirely. If the child latter develops a Domain that is not related to Justice, then it is by their working, and any child of rival deities here would have the same chance.”
Here she smiled. “However, I did not give Domains out, only mentioned which ones people had the potential to earn. Nothing locked in and thus I’m avoiding politics there.”
Someone else called out “Who has the overall advantage; those with experience being raised among those of Divine blood, or newcomers?”
Felinia thought for a bit. “Those with experience would have training in their type of Deity, but there is a wide range. As far as I know I am the first of my kind, even if it is based on a few different systems merged together. That would limit the advantage of experience and training. It may even cause a disadvantage if they conflict. They also have limited Domains to start with. I’d say it’s roughly about even.”
A screeching voice that sent shivers of revulsion and dread was heard by all. It was a voice many had learned to fear; a Karen! Oh fuck, a Karen had gotten in!
She demanded “When do we get the paradise, the powers and the servants we were offered!”
Felinia looked at her with barely restrained disgust. “You would have been offered a chance for them. The Earth Mote that is your dorm can be turned into whatever you want after three days. I recommend waiting until you learn all you need to about them before doing anything there. You received a power, and it is up to you to develop it. The servants must be recruited by you.”
“Ridiculous! Don’t be silly! You obviously have no idea what you are doing. Get me the manager!”
Some just started shaking their heads, and Garion just thought to himself “A Goddess of Karen? Please let her fail, for all our sakes!”
Felinia looked at the Karen calmly. “You may have misheard before, but I am the OWNER! I also manage this place!”
“I don’t believe this! I will not stand for it!”
Felinia told her calmly “There was a clause in the contract that you must attend for a week before you are given the chance to leave.”
“WHAT! You are holding me here against my will? We’ll see about that. My brother in law is a judge and can make things happen!”
Felinia was actually amused. Garion had to chuckle with everyone else. She was freaking delusional!
Felinia calmly told her “Your brother in law has no jurisdiction here. In this world, I am the highest law in the lands. You have no power here.”
The Karen huffed. “We will see about that, missy!”
Felinia just shook her head and sighed at the stupidity. “Anything else?”
A guy jokingly called out “Can there be a church of big boobies?”
There was laughter and annoyance at that.
Gallen came back and said “Many guys have offered to do a hands on study and found it is really easy to get men to worship them. But seriously, in one way it makes sense and can easily be done, in a serious manner. It is up to you to find out how, so be sure to start studying them”
A geeky guy called out “Will the worlds we are to be Deities of be like an Isekai?”
Gallen chuckled. “Dude! You are already in another world! If you can figure out how to make a world like that, you can. I have considered it, and except for the leveling and stat systems it can easily be done. Just make sure you do not break Divine Law when bringing people over there.”
He and others were stunned “But how? I mean, I was hoping, but not really expecting it.”
Gallen smiled “Isekai genre is heavily based on early editions of the D&D game. The deities system is one of those absorbed. If you want to get ahead, try to learn it.”
Felinia said “One last question.”
This one was simple. “Don’t you think there are too many students here for one world?”
Felinia got serious. “I will probably need to bring more in. Around 1300 will be able to enter for the starting Pantheons. Others will take on other roles that would allow them to join in latter or establish themselves in other ways. Then comes the fact that after a week students will be killing each other for the openings. I am actually unsure if we will have enough for when a world is ready to be made.”
Garion was disturbed by the joy that entered some faces at the last part.
The light returned to their previous brightness and Felinia told them “Time for the welcoming feast!”
Garion left the hall with the flow of hungry potential Deities, despite the last question destroying his appetite for the moment.