Alganon - Deities and Crusades

[Detomah]

Dieties and Crusades - Introduction

Deities and Crusades are two of the foundational features of ALGANON. Deities play an important part in the game's history and the character's interaction with the game by imparting special training, powers, and rewards to those who follow them. Crusades are massive missions assigned to the followers of certain deities, often involving epic storylines and difficult assignments.

As a character grows in the world of Alganon, they will have the option to choose from one of many deities of which to pledge allegiance. Those who choose not to ally themselves with a particular deity are free to roam the world as "agnostic" individuals. While this may be advantageous in certain areas, they will never experience enhancements from any of the deities in many of the realms, nor the epic Crusades that take place.

Each Deity represents a different theme. For the Asheroth, there are the Gods of Light, and Deliverance, and Goddesses of Blessing and Life. For the Kujix there are the Gods of Death and Pain, and the Goddesses of Deception and Oblivion. Each Deity has unique strengths and weaknesses.

Deities are represented throughout the world by temples and devoted followers that provide services to patrons. Once a character chooses a deity to worship, they cannot leave the service of that deity. It is a lifelong commitment.

As a character executes orders in the name of their Deity, they gain patronage; this is a value that defines how dedicated of a follower they are. As a character grows in their devotion, they will receive additional boons and access to special quests, assignments, vendors, trainers and crusades. For example, the Asheroth God of Light may wish to create a crusade that only his most loyal servants are to participate in.

In ALGANON, gods won't just be legends, they will walk the lands. Many players will be able to see and interact with their Deity directly, as they are controlled by in-house staff hired specifically to role-play within the world. Multiple deities allow characters to receive different powers, teachings and knowledge. This also allows for additional community interaction and conflict throughout the world, and creates a dynamic environment where players can actually interact with their Gods, and not only witness the battle between deities firsthand, but actually participate in the battles. A player who declares patronage to a specific Deity may find they are stronger, faster, and all around more powerful as they adventure through lands controlled by their Deity. The same player may also find they are weaker, slower, and less powerful as they adventure through the lands controlled by their deities' enemies. Crusades are the conquering wars declared by deities and their followers.

Crusades will undoubtedly be the largest events in the game, where potentially hundreds of players can gather to accomplish monumental goals of historical proportions. Old massive battlefields in remote parts of the land may be used as one god clashes with another as their patrons swarm the battlefield with powerful magic and terrifying ferocity.

Dynasties are often defined by the Crusades that took place within their timeframes, and those who participate can have their names etched in the Great Library forever.

Asheroth Deities

Argon

Known as the Stonesmith of Creation, Argon carved the lands of Alganon from the primordial stone. His temples are great forges, dedicated to the arts of masonry and smithing. Argon longs for the Alganon of the past, before the destruction of the Colossus Born. His sighs of longing are often heard echoing though the night.

The Temple of Argon, also known as The Forge of Creation, is built upon the following foundation:

Patience is the greatest virtue. That which cannot be moved, cannot be displaced.

Emotion must always be tempered with wisdom; never act in anger or fear.

Alganon is a gift to those who live within it. The Alganon that once was, will be again - in time.

Zanyana

Zanyana is the goddess of justice, light, and fire. Her cleansing flame spreads across the lands, cleansing it of evil. The sun is a reflection of her light, and the heat it gives is a reflection of her wrath. She will stop at nothing to purge the world of evil.

The Temple of Zanyana, also known as The Cleansing Flame, is an army of holy warriors who burn with the following passions:

It is the duty of the powerful to defend the weak, and to punish those who would take advantage of the disadvantaged.

Allow no sin to go unpunished. Light that does not scatter the darkness is not light.

Planning to light a fire brings neither light nor heat; one must actually light the fire. Only actions have value.

Triasha

Known as The Seeder of Life, Triasha is the goddess of nature, beauty, and life. She views all life as beautiful and has a place in her heart for all the creatures of Alganon. She is worshiped not only by humans and sylvain, but also by the plants and animals of Ardonya.

The Temple of Triasha, whose priests are often known as Treekeepers, are known for sowing the following seeds of thought:

All life is beautiful and worthy of being.

Beauty is the greatest virtue; to be beautiful is to be righteous.

Above all else, grow. To limit one's potential is the greatest evil.

Kujix Deities

Vakgarr

Also known as the Bringer of the Inevitable, Vakgarr is the god of change, death, and prophecy. Unlike those who choose to ignore the horrors of this life, Vakgarr sees the world full of suffering and pain, a world ruled by fools and idiots. In response, Vakgarr has bound his eyes to the horror that is the now. Vakgarr choses not to see the world as it is, but rather to see the world as it will be.

The Temple of Vakgarr, also known as the Hall of Alteration, brings the following vision:

All things must change or be destroyed... but what is destruction if not change? Change is inevitable.

Change is inevitable. Death is change. Therefore, Death is inevitable. Your death is inevitable. Celebrate it.

Life is suffering, and then you die.

Xukiss

The great Seeker of Knowledge, Xukiss is the god of information, knowledge, and study. His thirst for knowledge is unquenchable. He has extended his knowledge beyond the Great Cycle of Life and Death and knows things that not even the gods were meant to know.

The Temple of Xukiss, also known the Hall of Knowledge, guides students with the following teachings:

Knowledge is power. Share it only with those who have proven themselves capable of handling such power.

Just as information can place one at an advantage, misinformation can place one's enemies at a disadvantage.

Nothing is impossible. There is always another way. Seek it out.

Ghazmok

The Winnower of Souls, Ghazmok separates the wheat from the chaff, the strong from the weak, the worthy from the unworthy. He is known for testing his subjects with adversity, forging their strength with difficult trials. The few who survive his tests are stronger for having endured them. Unlike those who take life for granted, the followers of Ghazmok have proven themselves worthy of their existence.

The Temple of Ghazmok, known as the Blade of Judgment, measures the worth of its believers by the following ideals:

Weakness breeds weakness. Strength breeds strength. Weakness is a plague that must not be allowed to spread.

A perfect world is populated with perfect beings. As long as there is weakness, there will never be perfection.

True justice shows no mercy. True justice is blind.