[h2]Elohim, the city of the forgotten[/h2]

All of the known gods of the world are Ruses, created from the devout worship of believers or a strong, collective emotion. Some scholars believe that even Del, commonly regarded as the creator of the world, was merely a Ruse created from the primal instinct to survive. However, there is some contention on this point. A number of scholars believe that Del is one of the true gods, a powerful entity whose power derives from some source other than belief. This is an argument that will not be addressed further here.

Despite their rivalry, the two factions of scholars agree that Del was the founder of civilization. Historical records show that many early technologies such as farming, writing, and mining were discovered and implemented at an exceptionally rapid pace, indicating the presence of outside influence. It has been estimated that these discoveries would have taken at least three thousand years to discover independently. Under Del's care, humanity grew and flourished.

As the centuries passed, the influence of Del lessened, eventually ceasing altogether. Some take this as proof that Del was a Ruse. It is indeed common for Ruses, especially ones born from strong emotions and instincts, to fade when their reason for existence disappears. Del's gifts to humanity allowed people to live without fearing for their immediate survival, thus leading to its demise. Others hold that Del's disappearance was a sign that humanity had become strong enough to fend for itself, and it had merely gone to do whatever true gods do when not taking care of a species.

Before Del left, he left a final gift. It was a gift unlike his others, for it was not a gift for the living. It was a gift for those condemned to a fate worse than death - the fate of being forgotten. It is said that those with a will or spirit strong enough can find their way to Elohim, an eternal city where the past and present meet. Because of the difficult journey, those who arrive in Elohim tend to have achieved fame or notoriety, for it is those that are well known who fear being forgotten the most.

As the living cannot visit Elohim, some doubt its existence, but the occasional sighting of things that should not exist - old gods from ancient texts, legendary weapons long lost, terrible scourges whose names have become synonymous with death - is enough to convince most people of its existence. Those who have reached Elohim may choose to brave the journey once more to visit the world, though they are unable to stay for long. Sometimes, an old god will return to take on a disciple, in hopes of spreading their belief once more. Sometimes, villains will return to spread chaos and heroes will return in times of need. Some return simply out of their desire to see the world once more.

It is not unheard of for particularly brave or foolish adventurers to embark on a quest to find Elohim. Most return empty-handed, but some vanish mysteriously. There are rumors that these adventures managed to reach Elohim, though many believe that the adventurers simply died on their quest.