Development and Detailing
Forging the new pantheon and it's effects on the world at large
11/14/20211 min read
So lately my main focus has been on developing the pantheon of the continent, and expanding on the in-universe reasoning for why it's deities in particular are a little unusual. Al-akshet, Sun's Fire, the Starbringer, stands atop the pantheon. Once a powerful fiend, he became increasingly involved in the actions of the mortal races of the Material Plane, eventually leaning more heavily into the Lawful side of his nature, even siding with many of the good aligned deities in various conflicts, culminating in his ascension from fiendhood on the Day of Many Voices, where he was wounded by a great weapon and his blood was cast upon the earth, and at that moment he catalyzed his rage and was changed forever. Such was his wrath and strength that he quickly took mastery of the various weakened gods of the land, instating the Concord of the New Pantheon.
Al-akshet's great deed was to strike down the greatest forces of the Network at their prime, arguably setting their downfall in stone. His great works did eventually lead to the continent of the Southern Reaches and the Confederation of Duchies being named after him, however over time the name has drifted to it's modern name, Lakesht. Additionally, Al-akshet was responsible for the exile of Exen to make her cursed march across the mortal realm, taking particular issue with her position amongst the worshippers of the Southern Reaches of old. As the mother of the Godling and having been deeply involved in the development of the Progenitor Strain, she was well poised amongst it's peoples to become the primary deity of the entire region. Post-ascension Al-akshet was more than willing to cast her down and the other higher level members of the Concord were quick to stand by his decision. Al-akshet and Exen stand in thematic opposition, Exen standing by Chaos and represented by the moon whilst Al-akshet stands for Law and is represented by the sun.
Finally, I've continued to ponder the Manaskimmer ships. Not much to say here but I've continued to work on them a little, including the idea of the having the leylines of SR be deeply fractured due to the ancient conflict and the possibility of having some level of malleability to them along with the possibility of having skimmer travel replace the Waygate for the PCs to travel by, provided they've befriended or contracted a skycaptain.