[@Vec]Here is my rendition of the Sea Gods. Do note that I'm still gonna write the travel of First Cephalopod instead of outright claiming immediately. But, here is my app for Gods of the Sea. Do let me know if you want clarification or changes. Thank you In explaining the new Oceanic hierarchy. At this point, I guess we all know how the ocean came to be. [quote]Let the ocean be the veil that conceals the truth. The further down the depth, the less they will be able to find, until their own limb and sound of the heartbeat disappear. Let the madness in their heart grow, the longer they spend down the surface, until they only think of total annihilation. Let the above be filled with fog, which sometimes makes sights and sounds that never are, and hide the destinations which are always there. Let the danger of those oceans be so enchanting to the weak willed, that they cannot wait to chase their ruination with smile and laughter.[/quote] This explained why the ocean is the complete shithole it is. The sea is corrupting its inhabitants, twisting their bodies to strange shapes and strange figures. However, as we know, the sea occasionally cleanses itself from the corruption of Yzechr, where the sea creatures become calm. But this cleanliness only carried on for minutes to a few days before the corruption returned and with increased intensity. So far, I’ve expressed this “increased level of corruption” as more bloodlust and accumulation of unnatural mutation. But, with Yezcher and the player responsible for the sea disappearing, I figured I should recreate the oceanic pantheon to clarify the new order of the Sea. Thus, I present to you, First Cephalopod and Amut the Black Whale. First Cephalopod would be corresponding with these line [quote]Let the ocean be the veil that conceals the truth. The further down the depth, the less they will be able to find, until their own limb and sound of the heartbeat disappear. Let the madness in their heart grow, the longer they spend down the surface, until they only think of total annihilation.[/quote] More specifically, here is my interpretation: The First Cephalopod represents the directionless states as appeared in “ until their own limb and sound of the heartbeat disappear” and gradual accumulation of corruption until they have reached “total annihilation.” To be more specific, First Cephalopod represent “the depth”, the “limb and sound of the heartbeat disappear”; “the total annihilation.” Do note, however, that Cephalopod does not control corruption. Instead, one is more correct to understand the First Cephalopod as a being that is closest to “total annihilation.” As such, First Cephalopod does not make something more corruptible, it shares the corruption it accumulates. But the sea does not corrupt infinitely. Instead, it renewed itself through the cleansing. [quote]In the depths of the corrupted ocean, something pulsed. The pearl-white shell that Yzechr had consumed had not been destroyed, not truly. It had dissolved into the very substance of the sea, becoming one with the darkness and the deception. But shells, especially those touched by mysteries, have memories. And memories have a way of surfacing when least expected. At irregular intervals, sometimes hours apart, sometimes days, the ocean would clear. For a handful of heartbeats, the lightless depths would become transparent, the water as pure and safe as it had been before corruption touched it. Ships could sail. Fish could swim without mutation. The alluring whispers would fall silent. Then, just as suddenly, the clarity would fade. The corruption would return, darker than before, as if angered by the interruption. The gods who had collected other shells from the shore, pretty, nacre-bright things, felt those trinkets grow suddenly inert in their grasp. The faint magic that had clung to them, the sense of significance, drained away like water through sand. They were still beautiful. But they were just shells now, nothing more. [/quote] Amut would be this. Amut would represent the sea when it is cleansed. Amut would give meaning against what is “total annihilation” by providing the template of what constitutes “natural” or “void of corruption.” Amut is the foil to the First Cephalopod, providing the basis and structural distinction necessary for the First Cephalopod to exist. Amut represents the landmark that the term “further down” draws its meaning from, the time reference that constitutes “long.” In summary, Amut represents the cleanse sea and the distinction of definition. And the First Cephalopod represents the depth and the blurring of definition into one. [b][i][u]Answering question: [/u][/i][/b][list] [*][b]1.Why not just make First Cephalopod a new God of the Sea? [/b] I feel like Yzechr created an interesting god and a fascinating creation myth. A sea that is not kind, nor loving, but was created purely for the destruction of mortals. I mean, thematically, Yzechr is just made up to be a bad guy and worshipped by those who choose to become corrupted. Originally, I planned to make the First Cephalopod to be the Corrupting God by sucking up all corruption in the sea. Amut was originally a character I planned to introduce during the last few weeks, acting as a foil to First Cephalopod by being a pure goody two fin whale. But good versus bad are done to death, and I crave something new. Moreover, it stands to recognize that these are products of their environment - the corrupted seas. Imagine if the Seas (product of Yzechr) has its own consciousness, then Amut and First Cephalopod would be its attempt in rationalizing and following the directive given by Yzechr. Yzechr desired for those that sank too deep to reach total annihilation, the sea’s consciousness make the First Cephalopod to define what is the closest possible to “total annihilation.” It is impossible for total annihilation to physically exist, And if there exists “total annihilation”, then there must exist the “total self” as its beginning point. In a way, Amut and First Cephalopod exist as a way for the seas to come to term with its contradictory directive. Answering how an environment so malicious to life is able to host it, by giving definition to what is and what isn’t. Most sea critters exist in Amut’s part of the sea, because it provides them the best chance of survival while not being too hostile for life. Meanwhile, the part of the First Cephalopod is filled with fishes/ critters that have lost many senses, symbols of the slow degradation of self. [center]-------------------------[/center] [*][b]2. How would you avoid clashing themes with other Gods in the Setting?[/b] While I wrote them to be as meta as possible, the two in one are still largely defined by their domain and originality Their domain is the Sea. The calm sea and known shores can be attributed to Amut. Wind, currents, tides, waves,.. are properties of Amut. Unknown seas, lurking creatures beneath the waves, or dangerous tides/ currents are attributed to First Cephalopod. In essence, meta debates are for meta debate. But for physical manifestation, Amut is the calm waters, predictable wind patterns and currents/tides; and First Cephalopod has to do with dangerous waters or undiscovered parts of it. [center]-------------------------[/center] [*][b]3. How would divinity point be allocated?[/b] They would be treated as a single identity like other gods with the shared resource pools. [/list] [hider=First Cephalopod/] [center][h1]First Cephalopod[/h1][/center] [center][h3]God of the Depth and Total Annihilation[/h3][/center] [center][img]https://i.pinimg.com/736x/21/6c/82/216c8209c89a2f5baf871f1c6a8ed842.jpg[/img][/center] [u]God Concept:[/u] A god whose entire essence is the destruction of self. A god that is spawned by words spoken long ago, that served as a warning for those that lost themselves. His servants/ worshippers are few, usually denoted by those with nihilistic views or those who lost their way. Do note that he is not malicious, he is simply the embodiment of “descent toward total annihilation.” Not chaos, but the infinite descent toward it. [u]Appearance:[/u] The First Cephalopod only has one and one appearance. A Cephalopod with numerous arms. It has no mortal form, or desire to have one. Its messengers are the deep sea squids and giant octopus that it spawned from eons ago. [u]Motivation:[/u] It is easier to define what the First Cephalopod would not do, rather than those that it would do. It wouldn’t curse or bless some mortals out of maliciousness. It wouldn’t start a disaster because the mortal failed to construct a temple in its name. One wouldn’t pray to a tsunami, hoping for its water not to kill. The First Cephalopod does not kill, does not maim, does not reward, does not punish, does not hunger, does not thirst, does not desire. It simply is. It can be felt, because Amut, its opposite, exists and has given meaning to “self”. The Highest end of Self, is the knowledge that it exists. This is what the First Cephalopod knows, and is certain of. [u]Roleplay Example:[/u] [url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/5642874]post example[/url] [u]Availability:[/u] One or twice per week [u]Experience:[/u] Not the first time I wrote on this site. [/hider] [hider=Amut, the Black Whale] [center][h1]Amut, the Black Whale[/h1][/center] [center][h3]God of the Shallow and the Self[/h3][/center] [center]Busy finding an image right now. Will return at a later date.[/center] [u]God Concept:[/u] A god whose purpose is to give purpose its meaning. Yzechr told the sea to be malicious, to devoid the mortal the sense of self the further down they are into its deep abyss. Well, what is “self”? What is “malicious”? If a man casts no net and yet expects fish, is it malicious for the sea to give him nothing? And for what to define as mortal? Is every shortly lived a mortal? Is a mountain mortal? In order to be malicious, the sea must understand what is “malicious.” In order to comprehend “total annihilation”, it must first understand what is “total self.” Hence Amut was created. A God to give the sea its meaning. He defined the shallow water, from which the depth may be inferred from. He defined the cleanse state, so that First Cepholopod can become entirely corrupted. He defined what is, so Cepholopod can define what is not. [u]Appearance:[/u] Amut the Black Whale, like its name implies, has the appearance of a gargantuan blue whale. Its skins are covered in scars. Its fins carried whale lice and barnacles. The length of precisely 3000 meters, and the width of precisely 1400 meters. [u]Motivation:[/u] There is no motivation. It is crucial to remember that these are the Gods that the sea gave rise to in response to the directive of Yzechr. He told the seas to be malicious, to corrupt, to destroy the total sense of self through descent. Amut’s motivation is to provide that structure necessary for Yzechr’s directive to be followed. He defined the surface of the sea, so others could understand what depth is. There are gradients of corruption, and Amut is the scale that provides meaningful distinction. He cleansed the sea from corruption. Not because he hates corruption, but to provide the necessary beginning. If the deepest part of the ocean is equally as corrupt as the surface part, then what descent to be inferred upon? If all are deprived from their sense of self, then what separates them from total annihilation? A being that possessed no “total-self” is not able to reach “total annihilation.” There needs to be a “self” in order to comprehend “total annihilation.” There needs to be “beginning” to understand “the end.” His motivation, if one is to ascribe their own morality to a God, would be to maintain this clear distinction within the seas. Because without Amut, the seas could no longer follow the words of Yzechr. And with these distinctions made, patterns are formed. Not many, but enough for life to take hold. Enough for sea critters to breed, live, hunt, and die. Enough for them to maintain a sense of self before venturing down into the deeper part of the water. [u]Roleplay Example:[/u] [url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/5642874]post example[/url] [u]Availability:[/u] One or twice per week [u]Experience:[/u] Not the first time I wrote on this site. [/hider]