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Post by Xion Praeten on Jul 9, 2015 22:22:09 GMT -5
- That comet has been following me for some time. I seem to be the only person having visions of it (well, Godking Jakob Kladivo had visions too, but as far as my character knows, the Godking is dead). None of my companions have had dreams of it, or if they have, they haven't said anything about it. I can't imagine that any new godling could conjure such a thing! None of the godlings that we have met so far have the kind of power to create a rock zombie comet. Granted, we have only met two godlings not in our party so far: Aramil (Speed) and, as Dorro has called the mysterious assailant, "Goldylocks Grabsalot" (Order). After reading the scrolls in the Imperial Anian Library, I believe that it is the same sort of comet created by Ogun and Yala in the Godswar. Earth and Life conspired together. That is why when it rained down on Turtle Bay, those hit by the comet, yet not obliterated, became rock (Ogun) zombies (Yala). I deduce that the comet that was launched at me and His Majesty the Godking Jakob Kladivo must have been left over from the Godswar OR I recognize the far more chilling possibility: Ogun and Yala still live (and hate us). I heard the voice of hatred coming from that comet. The whole comet didn't come down. Only parts of it. Gulp!
- I suspect my Divinity is tied to Force (Voara). I can make things move with my mind. Let's just say, next episode I spread my wings a bit. But even before that, I was pretty sure. If so, I don't like that. Voara was pretty nasty. I don't have her same thoughts, emotions and motivations though. I am NOT Voara, even if I channel the power that she once had.
- I am calling us godlings on this forum because I honestly don't know what to call us. As I said in the podcast, "as long as I have to shit and eat, I won't believe that I am a god." We have been called "Awakened Ones" by the wood elves. I have witnessed Dorro making contact with the avatar that once served Tir. I have heard Torrvic speak of the Wolf and he was given what I have learned in the Imperial Anian Library to be an artifact item created by Ova (Beasts), but I have had no voice or guide, save for the prophetic dreams. I still don't really know what is going on and improvise as I go. I DO know that each of us has great potential power: already manifesting in ways which can accidentally (or purposefully) be quite destructive.
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Post by Tesla Ranger on Jul 10, 2015 10:41:26 GMT -5
Now I'm just picturing Ogun summoning an angry Oort Cloud. My morning is made.
In my head I've been referring to the "godlings" as avatars, since that's the term that best describes their situation in my vocabulary. That might be confusing if ya'll are running into something else dubbed "avatar." And "godlings" makes you sound all cute and adorable and possibly secretly horrendous.
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Post by DM Aram on Jul 10, 2015 13:04:02 GMT -5
And "godlings" makes you sound all cute and adorable and possibly secretly horrendous. There is absolutely going to be a Godsfall Godlings spin-off podcast now. Think Muppet Babies with superpowers. |
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Post by notkevinward on Jul 10, 2015 13:57:06 GMT -5
And "godlings" makes you sound all cute and adorable and possibly secretly horrendous. There is absolutely going to be a Godsfall Godlings spin-off podcast now. Think Muppet Babies with superpowers. Dorro can do the theme song! |
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Post by Xion Praeten on Jul 15, 2015 19:46:30 GMT -5
Following listening to episode #017, Xion believes this: - The "torture chamber" that Pera and I were taken to was likely a facility designed to draw out the Godspark from powerless godlings to create magical items or store magic (as we learned could be the case in the Anian Imperial Library). Catlyn described (though she didn't have words for this) the elven assailants (possibly Rylenders, possibly working for Ambassador/Queen Father Tinueth, possibly not — I have no proof other than the implement of torture that I took from the facility) who had presumably strapped up various people to the horizontal iron crosses to draw their victims' power from their bodies to power a great battery not unlike those described in scrolls. Catlyn mentioned 12 others with her. I haven't gotten a clear answer out of her if the others were also godlings (made the crystals "glow"). If so, it is truly monstrous what the elf captors had in store for Pera, Catlyn and me, so I don't feel quite so bad about Pera scarring our erstwhile torturers/murderers for life. The assailants, apparently, hadn't banked on Pera and me having access to even a small fraction of our powers. It was a bad mistake on their part and they faced the consequences.
- How many helpless godlings who had not yet understood their powers were destroyed in the process of powering this battery? Do the victims just die? Is their power passed on?
- This means that at least enough people to form a conspiracy knew about the emergence of new godlings. This isn't good for us. While I thought we are ahead of the curve, we are actually woefully behind it.
- Pera and I are a badass team. When I say, "stand DOWN, mortal," I mean it. If our assailants had, they might still be in good health and unscarred.
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Post by gygax on Jul 16, 2015 19:31:37 GMT -5
I was imagining the chamber looking like the one in the movie the dark Crystal; where the podlings had their essence removed for the enjoyment of the skeksis. Rpg'ing torture is fun to listen too , it's a shame they made their saves do easily.
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Post by Xion Praeten on Aug 5, 2015 21:05:27 GMT -5
So, Xion doesn't know all this, because Queen Phryane didn't share this with him (knowing that Xion is virtually incapable of keeping a non-cheese-based secret — we all have our faults), but here is the rundown of all the godlings, putting together what we know with what Speaker Amrah Tinueth (Phryane's mother) gave to her:
PRIMES:
1. Ytar (Fire): unknown
2. Ather (Air): unknown
3. Emitaf (Water): unknown
4. Ogun (Earth): Middle-aged female gnome from northern Kadar working in one of Gal-Hadir's lava forges. NOTE: gnomes are not well thought-of by the Gal-Hadiri (the northern dwarves did after all go on a murderous genocide of the gnomes not too long ago), however, they would certainly want to use the talents of this Awakened. The party possesses the Sphere of Ogun Artifact.
MAJOR GODS:
5. Siforr (Sun): Pera Rivers [NPC]
6. Yala (Life): unknown
7. Mordukai (Death): Female orc of Clan Death Hammer
8. Ius (Moon): Young male pale elf in a vast desert.
9. Ova (Beasts): Torrvick Wildtounge [PC]. Fang of Ova possessed by party.
10. Radia (Will): unknown
11. Wodea (Flora): A sentient cactus in the center of the Tora Horra
12. Ocarus (Dreams): Caitlyn Arues of Kadar [NPC]
13. Etos (Peace): Young male orc of Clan Flat Rock
14. Pelios (Emotion): Queen Phryane Tinueth-Kladivo [PC]
15. Xunos (The Wild): unknown
16. Barros (Order): "Goldylocks Grabsalot" [NPC]
MINOR GODS
17. Lordros (Fate): unknown
18. Voara (Force): Xion Praeten [PC]
19. Rapel (Magnetism): unknown
20. Vistrix (Chaos): unknown
21. Shakti (Illusion): Savage female woman from the Jungles of Zoln.
22. Epona (Knowledge): unknown
23. Kalos (Invention): unknown
LESSER GODS
24. Ceato (The Sea): Male barbarian raider from the beaches of Utea. Tear of Ceato possessed by Ani (and thus, by extension, the party while "in power" in the capitol).
25. Atuna (Magic): unknown
26. Jodar (Luck): unknown
27. Tir (Travel): Dorro Knott [PC]. The Avatar of Tir is known to Xion and Dorro.
28. Sah (Astral Plane): unknown, but Eye of Sah possessed by party.
29. Mivia (Time): unknown
30. Gaidir (Sport): Hooded male human in black leather mask covering the top of his face.
31. Valhena (Strength): unknown
32. Cenos (Speed): Aramil of the Ironwood [NPC]
33. Udea (Vitality): unknown
34. Aurras (Sound): unknown
35. Vodon (War): unknown
36. Hilo (Flight): A flash of white teeth and black fur.
37?? Zvahn (Aspiration): unknown if this power will be a reborn godling, as the power of Zvahn was passed to the Relics of the Godking, one of which in the possession of Godqueen Sirena Tinueth-Kladivo [NPC].
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Post by notkevinward on Aug 6, 2015 14:46:51 GMT -5
So what are Xion's feelings towards the Kadarians right now?
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Post by Xion Praeten on Aug 6, 2015 15:03:49 GMT -5
Complicated. He never liked his dour uncle Karlof anyway. He would be torn if he had to actually go to war with Kadar: they are literally his brothers on those ships (at least two of them — and one of whom, he actually liked). He knows that his life was ever changed from the moment his mother put that seeker stone against his face. He had been to public "purifications by fire" for magic users before: and that was back when people just used and sold magic objects. There is no place in the Antitheos of Man for creatures like Xion. Make no mistake, Kadar wars with Ani not because of any tariffs, but rather as a matter of faith. We might be able to stall them with our show of power, but they have been gearing up for this.
Xion has started to move away from the strictures of his father's faith and he knows that there is no place for him in that world. Even though people are getting on to Xion for telling it like it is to Caitlyn, she is the only other person in the world right now who can really understand exactly what Xion is going through.
Basically, he doesn't want the people of Kadar, who are otherwise just as good as any other, to suffer. But, he knows he can never go back there and hopes to avoid them if possible. His main thing is keeping the secret that his mother helped him to escape. He has attached himself as part of Phryane's entourage as seemingly the safest bet to survival to a point in which he no longer fears. As his powers grow, his fear decreases.
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Post by burningneophyte on Aug 7, 2015 11:51:54 GMT -5
So is Xion thinking about bringing Caitlyn along with the party for her safety as well as someone to share his experiences? If he does, how do you think Aram will feel having a third of the party under his control? And what does Xion feel is the most important thing the group should focus on, besides the incoming Kadarian fleet?
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Post by Xion Praeten on Aug 7, 2015 22:03:33 GMT -5
Caitlyn hasn't shown herself to be a fighter really, but who knows? She is obviously an Awakened godling, but her powers have been stunted by her torture and captivity, also her debilitating Divinity. While the party was trekking about the Five Kingdoms, meeting teachers like Hagent, receiving gifts from ancient treents, battling bandits, showing off at Turtlefest, escaping torturers, managing (essentially) a coup in Ani, and planning propaganda flotillas, Caitlyn was in some dank dungeon or being forced labor in a mine, experimented on and tortured. So, she hasn't had an opportunity to master her Divinity other than to have constant nightmares. Xion's first impulse would be to protect her. I suspect that, story-wise, Caitlyn is inserted to help disseminate information (from her dreams a la Minerva) that Her Majesty the Queen would likely want to be kept secret. I fear for Caitlyn's future with Phryane, because the Queen will likely see her as a threat and might well do best to have her locked away in a tower somewhere (though would never let Xion know that is what has happened). Phryane has little patience with crying teens (as we have already seen), no matter how tortured they have been. Xion will have to be on top of his game to prevent this from going bad. Also, Caitlyn's Divinity might well be a legitimate threat if she cannot control her powers. We heard the twisted vision that Amrah Tinueth described of her (though, that assumes what the Speaker of Ani told the party wasn't a complete lie, which is a big assumption for anything coming from the mouth of a Tinueth). Phryane isn't all as bad as I am painting her — I believe on some level she has a great deal of begrudging affection for the party and isn't out to be straight-up evil — but she will do what is in her best interest in her quest for power. Always. I doubt that Caitlyn will go with us when/if (when) we leave Ani, but I don't know . . . we haven't left Ani yet. Either way, she will likely be protected by the God Queen if she stays in Ani. We know that she holds Divinity and that is something we don't want others to steal — plus, she is my friend and I want to be sure that she is safe from Kadar and the others arrayed against us. Aram will juggle as many NPCs as the story demands, but always leaves the Player Characters in charge of deciding where to go. Aram and I both run games the exact same way. We develop NPCs, decide what their motivations are and then imagine a world in which they will interact until acted on by an outside force (the PC's actions). Some NPCs will fight on our side, others will fight against us. Pera is a bit of a special case, as it was always intended for him to be a part of the party, but note that Aram has made him a bit of a muted character until we draw him out of his shell and get to know him better (and fill in some of the gaps by forcing him to be a more fleshed-out character). Like, "so, we're kind of going out now . . . what's your last name???" As to what to do next and where to go, Xion is so completely ignorant (not stupid, but ignorant) about what is going on that he wouldn't know. Obviously, the immediate threat is the assassination attempt and armed rebellion at the cliffhanger for Episode #020. Assuming we get out of that, we have to deal with the Wallites, Kadarians and Rylandic anti-god faction at some point (some are more immediate than others). Xion would believe that the (Phryane's) "God King" has Kadar handled for now. As Michael Key: the player who knows a lot more than Xion, I would say we should head to the Union when the Worldstorm opens, use Dorro's Divinity and our ingenuity to save the God King, then find the remaining Relics of the God of Man, then together work to beat the threat of Gal-Hadir (driving their proxy, the Kadarian war machine), then find the other godlings and determine their intent. But Xion doesn't know: - The God King is looking pretty rough at the Union
- The God King's appearance at the palace was an elaborate illusion perpetrated by Queen Phryane
- The God King's items are strewn about the Five Kingdoms
- Dorro and Torrvic possess the Sphere of Ogun
- Who are the other godlings?
So, it is all very convoluted right now, but I'm sure it will come together in the end. Also, Xion suspects that some of the Old Gods might well have survived the Godswar, or that at least some of their plans from before their deaths are still in motion (see, the rock-zombie comet). |
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Post by ouijedanse on Aug 17, 2015 19:00:05 GMT -5
So, Xion doesn't know all this, because Queen Phryane didn't share this with him (knowing that Xion is virtually incapable of keeping a non-cheese-based secret — we all have our faults), but here is the rundown of all the godlings, putting together what we know with what Speaker Amrah Tinueth (Phryane's mother) gave to her:... Thanks for the summary! It's handy when a lot of Godsfall names/locations get tossed around during an episode. I'm really interested in seeing how Caitlyn's relationship to her Divinity plays out once she's a bit more healed up physically. Considering her upbringing in Kadar, the suffering her powers have already brought her AND how her powers were shown in the vision, I'd be surprised if Caitlyn's as... on board as Xion. |
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Post by notkevinward on Aug 21, 2015 14:23:56 GMT -5
So I've been going through the old episodes since I'm addicted to this podcast. I love your intro episode especially when your mom is revealed to have a mysterious past that is not typical of someone from Kadar, what does Xion think his mom was doing before she married his father?
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Post by Xion Praeten on Aug 21, 2015 18:09:26 GMT -5
Xion has no idea. He knew that his mother was foreign (with an almost wild elven accent for a human), but little of her past was ever discussed. Xion hadn't thought much of it, in that teenage solipsistic sort-of way. His father's lineage was always well-established and duty to the family name was drilled into Xion from an early age. This is why there was some level of homophobia in Kadar, though it comes from a different place than the homophobia of U.S. culture. Antitheot Atred Praeten's father was also an Antitheot (the equivalent of a Cardinal of the Catholic Church, though there is no "Pope," just a sort-of "College of Cardinals" or Antitheosophy) before him, as was his father before him. Atred's late paternal grandfather (and thus, Xion's great-grandfather) was, in fact, one of the philosophers who developed the Antitheos of Man the day after the Breaking. The Praeten name had been one of the most respected in all of Kadar until Xion came along and became the very symbol of sacrilege.
Xion's interest in his mother's past was only piqued because of the revelation of her relationship with Dobos and her use of magic items whilst married to an Antitheot in Kadar. Xion was never told of his mother's lineage and never met his maternal grandfather or grandmother, nor heard tales of them. Xion's mother would always deflect when asked, so Xion didn't press. Xion's half-brothers could care less — she was just some floozy their otherwise respectable father took up with after their sainted and well-familied mother died. Fozha, Xion's brother who was sparring with him in his first scene, did treat Xion's mother with more respect than Xion's other half-brothers, because Fozha has no real memory of his real mother. So, Fozha came to call Amdah "mom."
Maybe Amdah Praeten is part of that group that Speaker Tinueth and Ambassador Tinueth are with who look to shepherd the new gods into the world? Xion hopes he never sees his mother again, unless she is no longer in Kadar, otherwise he puts her in great danger if she refuses to come with him. Xion is not sure if Amdah wants to leave her husband and life in the Southern Shield, otherwise she would have gone with Xion and Dobos.
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Post by Xion Praeten on Aug 21, 2015 18:24:14 GMT -5
After listening to episode #022:
Xion got a little dark there, pretty much psychologically and physically torturing someone. Though, he actually saved that zealot's life, and the zealot had feebly tried to kill Her Holiness, Her Majesty, Xion's friends and him. To be fair, Xion only lifted a person in the air and pulled out a tooth when the poison inside was going to kill that zealot. Still, it wasn't super nice. He can couch it in legal terms, using "advanced interrogation" techniques for an absolutely guilty would-be Queenslayer, but at the end of the day, he helped to make a full-grown man piss himself and left him crumpled on the ground and forever scarred.
It is a theme that we will likely play with in coming seasons. When you have achieved apotheosis, do individual mortals' lives matter? Only if you know them personally? Only if they follow you? Only if they don't get in the way? Xion is becoming a different "person," because he is necessarily losing his humanity to godhood and the concerns of mortals might well grow ever more distant.
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