The world is a mutable, malleable thing. In the immeasurable vastness of the Ocean, tiny pinpricks of Something burst into being, only to vanish. Without a stabilizing presence, they are hopeless against the crashing waves of Nothing. Without Gods, Something has no hope.

Gods float above the Ocean, droplets of dew against its immensity. Without worship, they perish, snuffed out. Small crumbs of Something draw countless Gods, feeding on eachother and on the life they nourish with their presence. All are doomed to return to the Ocean, but for a time they grow strong and fat, and it is enough. Without Something, the Gods have no hope.



Something new has risen from the foam. Something big. Somewhere. Unmolded, untouched by divine powers, it floats on the Ocean, drawing forth ever more matter with its gravity. Bounty beyond reckoning for any God strong enough to take it. Nothing like this has ever been encountered before - enough Something for dozens of Gods, or hundreds. But not all at once, oh no - it would have to be carefully rationed...

• To create your God, simply list your Name and Specialty. That’s all. For instance, Thakoth, God of Rain or Vendri, Goddess of Molten Steel or Wallace, God of Candy. Keep it simple, at least initially. You’ll have the chance to add to your Portfolio, with time - if you survive.
  
• For you are indeed Fragile. Each God begins with 3 HP, and each turn you must roll a d20 to determine the magnitude of your Action.
  
• On a dice roll equal to or below 10, lose 1 HP.
  
• On a roll of 1, lose 2 HP and your Action backfires entirely, causing the opposite effect.
  
• On a roll of 20, your Action is greatly magnified and you gain a +1 Bonus to Actions thereafter.
  

• Any reader not currently portraying a God is a Wisp - Wisps have no Names or true personalities, but may affect Somewhere through affecting the Gods.
• A Wisp may still add or subtract one point from any active God’s Action. If this drops their roll below 10, so be it - the Ocean is a harsh place.
  
• Dice rolls only go between 1 and 20 - any bonuses or maluses that would cause them to exceed these thresholds merely become a buffer. For instance, a roll of 19 with +3 granted by Wisps would mechanically become a 20 - but would require -3 to lower it to a 19, rather than -1. Mostly you don't need to concern yourself with the math!

GODS
• List your Name, Specialty and HP at the top of each post in Bold.
  
• Write a post about what you intend to do, then roll a d20. That's it.
  
• Your Specialty doesn't confer any mechanical benefits, but does affect how your Actions appear to your worshipers, which may have effects down the line.
  WISPS
  
• You don't get a name, but make sure to Bold any changes you make, as well as the name of the God affected.
  
• Each time you make an action, you weaken the wall between you and Somewhere. Keep track of how many you do!

Dog Kisser fucked around with this message at 02:52 on Jun 10, 2017

GODS

• Sullo, God of Weight
  
• Ashar Ado, God of Joy
  
• Illarin, God of Flowing Water
  
• Tezcota, God of Blood
  
• CZAR!, God of HUBRIS!
  
  MATERIALS (without any combining of similar concepts)
  
• Fire 4
  
• Wheat 3
  
• Water 3
  
• Alcohol 2
  
• Dice 2
  
• Milk 2
  
• Music 2
  
• Shell 2
  
• Glass 2
  
• Gold 2
  

Dog Kisser fucked around with this message at 15:41 on Apr 5, 2016

GODS

• Sullo, God of Weight
  
• Catmandu, Goddess of Cattes
  
• Ashar Ado, God of Joy
  
• Illarin, God of Flowing Water
  
• Palladas, God of Music
  
  MATERIALS (without any combining of similar concepts)
  
• ROCK (Glass, Clay, Rock, Sand, Stone, Emerald, Amethyst, Silt, Marble)
  
• METAL(Metal, Gold, Brass, Bismuth, Silver, Steel, Iron)
  
• Milk 6
  
• Water 5
  
• Music 4
  
• Alcohol 4
  
• Fire 4
  
• Wheat 3
  
• Dice 3

Dog Kisser fucked around with this message at 18:29 on Apr 5, 2016

GODS

• Sullo, God of Weight
  
• Catmandu, Goddess of Cattes
  
• Amygdahl, God of Broken Promises
  
• Ashar Ado, God of Joy
  
• Illarin, God of Flowing Water
  
  MATERIALS (without any combining of similar concepts)
  
• Glass
  
• Milk
  
• Water
  
• Dice
  
• Silver

Dog Kisser fucked around with this message at 00:27 on Apr 6, 2016

Thousands of Gods press against Somewhere’s boundaries, their chaotic energies whirling against its foundations. The Something bends to their will, warping and solidifying into five Fundamental Essences.

Glass, the Essence of Sharpness, Clarity and Fragility

Milk, the Essence of Health, Abundance, and Hunger

Silver, the Essence of Mystery, Wealth, and Premonition

Water, the Essence of Transformation, Rebirth, and Wandering

Dice, the Essence of Fortune, Vice, and Risk.

Somewhere rocks and shivers under the onslaught - then settles, stabilized by the aspects of the Fundamental Essences. The quantum foam clears, revealing Somewhere in all its glory for the first time.


The five Gods float slowly through the thick atmosphere, viewing the bounty that was theirs alone. Shorn from the undifferentiated mass of the Ocean, they came into their Names and Specialties.
Amyhdahl, God of Broken Promises
Ashar Ado, God of Joy
Catmandu, Goddess of Cattes
Illarin, God of Flowing Water
Sullo, God of Weight
They stretched their nascent powers, sending eddies of colorful energy spinning away. But something more interesting was happening below - Life. Living and dying beneath them, yet innocent to the influence of their rightful Gods. Soundlessly, the Gods divided their attention, each focusing on the budding life somewhere in their territory.

-O-

Creeping around on a patch of Dicestone, furtively scrabbling at the surface of a cluster ofMarblemoss, is the first creature the Gods encounter - the Verre, a being of Glass. Its razor claws expertly slice through the fruit’s surface, drawing forth a liquid trickle of Glass. The Verre eagerly laps it up - though not without a judicial amount of caution. Even now, Somewhere can be dangerous.
(The Verre are your Glass People - they are deadly in melee combat due to their sharp edges, but they are fragile and cautious. Under the care of a God, they can become almost anything.)

Grazing the Silver Plains, the next creature - the Laitache, a being of Milk. It lumbers across the Plains, travelling with its herd, until it finds a stand of Milkweed. Together, they nudge down a satchel of pure Milk and tear it open, lapping the nutritious liquid off the Silver landscape. They bellow in triumph and satisfaction.
(The Laitache are your Milk People - they are strong and hardy, but slow and foolish. They greatly prefer staying with their herd, feeling most comfortable in groups. You could break them of that, if you wished)

Crunching its way across the Glasslands, a Silvurtle trundles towards a few stray branches of Argentwig. Shearing them neatly out of the pebbled earth, it breaks the stiff metal in its jaws as though they were carrot sticks. Polishing its shell with the thin ooze of Silver dribbling out of the broken stalks, it moved onwards towards its next snack.
(The Silvurtle are your Silver People - well armored and clever, but quite vain. Even now, they are mystics, seeking beauty as well as nourishment. They could be forged into weapons or scholars, at your Godly whim.)

Splashing through the Flooded Shallows, a lone Fortugnat half paddles, half skips its way through the Water, heedless of the dangerous pitfalls. An amphibious group of Orchidice sways and bends in a shallow pond, and the Fortugnat extends a curious limb from one of the holes in its shell. Finding it safe enough, it extends others, drawing the fruit into its maw.
(The Fortugnat are your Dice People - curious and brave, but foolhardy. They will always rise to the challenge, try anything, and give everything for a big gamble. You can calm them, channel their drive for success - or let them give into wild excesses)

In a deep lake, beneath a rocky overhang of Milkstone, an Aqueau streams smoothly through the Water. Paddling and cavorting with its fellows, it spies a hanging cluster of Droplecks. They glide smoothly over and each pick a lush, firm fruit from its bunch. They crush them between in their jaws, letting the viscous, sweet Water out to mingle with that of the Lake. They turn and kick away, moving faster than you'd expect.
(The Aqueau are your Water People - playful and fast, but easily distracted. In their element, they are fast and mobile, suffering somewhat on land (though if pressed they can do so). You will alone will determine whether they build an empire under Water or flood out onto the land, crushing all others under a watery pseudopod)

Exploration complete (or at least begun) the Gods took to the skies, gazing down at the land below. It was up to them, now - to Act.

• Pick one People, focus your Action on them. The mere fact that you focus on them will uplift them to sentience and kick off their culture, regardless of the success of your roll.
  
• Your Action each turn has to be focused on People - you can't just create a storm, you need to storm SOMEONE.
  
• Reminder: Gods state their action and roll 1d20 to see how well it went off. Wisps can +-1 to any SINGLE God's roll - only once per Wisp!
  
• Each God can pick whatever People they want - you don't have to split up. In past games, everyone just worked with one group, leaving the others to do whatever. The sides with Gods on them will have a distinct advantage, however!
  
• You don't need to stick with the same People each time! Next round you can totally help someone else, if you want.
  
• Even if two God's actions are in opposition, they both happen. The higher roll takes priority, but side-effects will spin off from the other roll. Everyone's decisions matter.
  
• Keep in mind they're basically cavemen - if you tell them to build Power Armor now, they're just going to be like and try their best with hilarious outcomes.
  
• Your god will die, but your legacy will live on. Make it a legacy you're proud of! ...Or live on in ancestral fear!
  
  
• EDIT: Some clarification someone asked later:

  dog kisser posted:

  Ah - just natural rolls for 1 or 20. Wisp aided makes it just real bad or real good normal rolls. This also applies to the 2 HP health loss on the 1 and the +1 to rolls on the 20.
  
  Edit: ALSO! If you roll a 20 and get pushed down, you get the +1 bonus, but not giga success. If you roll a 1 and get pushed up, you take 2 damage, but not giga failure!
  

Dog Kisser fucked around with this message at 17:03 on Apr 7, 2016

Dog Kisser fucked around with this message at 00:28 on Apr 7, 2016

The Gods blew through Somewhere like wind, rustling through the secret places in their search for worship. Each of the Five settled among one group of People, sparking their dim minds into the fires of thought and reason.


The Silvurtle gasped in awe and confusion at the sounds rippling through their bodies and minds as the Argenforest hummed in godly rhythms. Their metal skin resonated with each note, ringing like a bell. Something awoke within one of them, and they stood tall for the very first time, straining to hear just a little clearer.

The First Song shaped their minds, drawing forth and calcifying a creative desire for art and beauty. More and more of them awoke to the strains of the Song, and soon the Silvurtle had become more than beast - a People in truth. They surveyed the land around them, uncovering truth behind mysteries far beyond their beastly ancestors. They learned speech and song, and they gathered in communities.Through their wandering, and through their songs, they learned to know their God.

But People have fears that beasts do not. Questions, too. So they raised their deep voices in unison, calling out to their God with voices still new and quavering.

_{♬Oh God of Joy, sacred Ashar Ado, we thank you for bringing us up from darkness! We thank you and yet we seek for more, great God! This world is wide and scary, and we call on you for aid! Will you grant us your power?♬}

(The Silvurtle have become Musical and gained Harmony. Underlined questions they ask are questions from your People directed specifically at you - your answer will have a significant effect on them, but does not (necessarily) have anything to do with your Action. You may answer the question however you wish and take your Action afterwards)


Catmandu fell down among the Verre, crouching in the darkness between dimensions and observing them. She reached out across the world, drawing up a perfect cubic dicestone and whisking it into the Verre’s path as though by chance. As the Verre crawled over to it in curiousity, Catmandu felt a twist of pain in her essence. As the creature kicked it once, gently, as though seeing dicestone for the first time, the Goddess doubled over in astral pain.

And then, just when the pain became unbearable, she could feel droplets of cool water beating against her core. Wisps, lending their meagre powers to aid her. They, too, wanted to aid the Verre to become what they were always meant to be. She focused on her People once again - and they looked back up at her expectantly.

Tossing the stone lightly from claw to claw carefully - she could see flecks of Glass around their feet - the Verre began to make a little game of it. She watched them for a long while - their impromptu game became more complex, and they spoke to one another in high, tinkling notes as they played. In time, they began to play a little rougher, a little less cautiously - some breakages occured, but they learned how to minimize the impacts. Finally, winded and exhausted from play, they looked to their Goddess.

_{Great Goddess Catmandu, we have felt you among us, guiding our play. We thank you for bringing lightness to our cringing life of fear. We owe you so much! What shall we sacrifice to you?}

(The Verre have become Playful and Agile.)


As Amyhdahl breathed his essence into Deesix, he felt something break away within. Even as the Wisps aided his efforts to claw it back into himself, it shattered into vapor and was gone. Deesix knew naught of this - he knew only the glory of his God! His body twisted and grew, and the radiance spreading from the act drew up the other Fortugnat to watch him. They watched with interest bordering on terror as Amyhdahl crowned his champion.

Even with the cracks spreading through his Essence, Amydahl watched with pleasure as his Action took effect. Deesix began his reign with gusto: he began to speak with the other Fortugnat, whisking them into a holy fervor and speaking of the glory of the God of Broken Promises. The God had told them to conquer the lands, and they were keen to do so - but how? They grew uncertain, and so they petitioned Deesix to pray on their behalf - his half-divinity made him the only one worthy of speaking, after all!

_{”Amyhdahl, it is I, your servant Deesix! We wish to follow your orders and conquer all - but this world is vast, and we are but small and fragile. We need… something. We see this world and all its bounties, but we know naught of what we seek or how to gain it! Should we experiment with the world? Aid us, please!”}

(AMYDAHL LOSES 1 HP! The Fortugnat have gained a Hero - Deesix! The roll was insufficient to attain full coverage, but the Fortugnat have become Slightly Intelligent, Slightly Charismatic, and Slightly Warlike!)


As Illarin drew his power across the land, Somewhere shifted and warped. New Water spread and flowed, seemingly springing from the earth itself. New rivers criscrossed the land, in time settling in two new lakes. Some of the Water even meshed with a lake of Milk, creating a turbulent, muddy mixture of Whey. The Action rattled the land, sending cracks spreading through several forests of Glass, weakening them and their growth.

The Aqueau, for their part, were pleased! While the God had not spoken to them directly, they could percieve him through his Action - such freedom! More Water than ever before! They cavorted and flipped through their new home, and called out in joy to one another and to their God. He must love them, because he had done this thing for them! But they wanted to know MORE!

_{”Oh Illarin, you who have done so much for us, we beseech you for aid! You have spread our territory across the land - surely you have a plan for us! We need to know your desires! Should we experiment with the world?”}

(Aqueau have Expanded Territory - and keep in mind they move fastest underwater, so more rivers mean they can get from place to place much faster. As part of this they are also more keen to Explore!)


Watching the Laitache tromping across the plains, Sullo deemed that they required differentiation from the other People. He reached out with his essence and merely swept their excess Weight away, leaving them much slimmer. The touch of a God awoke them and they stood and cavorted with their newfound agility. They danced in their herds and bellowed well into the night, free of the mass that had held them down as beasts.

At long last, they fell to the ground laughing, gazing into the sky. They knew the name of their God by feel, and they spoke to him in their multitudes.

_{”Sullo, ye of great and variable Weight! We call upon you in our time of need! Well, ‘need’ is perhaps a strong word - we merely wish to show our love for you! You have lifted the weight from our shoulders, and we wish to show our gratitude. Please, tell us: How should we worship you?}

(The Laitache have become Agile and Light - and lost Slow)

Dog Kisser fucked around with this message at 16:25 on Apr 8, 2016

• Got my account bought for my birthday under the name Agashiel
  
• Fragmaster changed my name to dog kisser
  
• Won Platinum in a contest
  
• Won archives in a contest
  
• Won avatar from you beautiful people

Dog Kisser fucked around with this message at 03:14 on Apr 9, 2016

• Getting forced down to a 1 just means it doesn't go very well at all, not that it becomes an Opposite Crit
  
• Even if it WAS an Opposite Crit, it wouldn't necessarily become beneficial, it just wouldn't go how you were expecting in an unusual way.

• Each Godly Age is (currently) 4 Rounds! We're on Round 3 Actions right now.
• At the end of the Age, all Gods die regardless of HP
  
• Some other stuff happens at the end of the Age, secret for now.
  
• In between Ages, I'm running a mini CYOA starring a civilian from one of the People, which will flesh out the world a bit!

The Gods broke apart, raining pieces of essence like ashes - but they weren’t gone yet. There was much left to do!


The Silvurtle did exactly as their God bade them and sought out the Aqueau in their Watery homes. They marched to their Lakes, guided by the Silver Song, and the Aqueau rose out of the Water in their multitudes to greet them. After a short period of… adjustment, the two Peoples found they had much in common. As the Age drew to a close, they learned from one another.

As the Time grew Nigh, preparations began for the Last Dance. The damage to the Glass Spires precluded setting it there - and in any case, the Aqueau protested the distance. Instead, they called out to their Gods in between the Spires and the Lakes. The First Age of Gods ended with the thunderous footsteps of a manifest God and the beginning of a great friendship between two of Somewhere’s Peoples.

(The Silvurtle, through discussion with the Aqueau, gain knowledge of other Gods, other People and the Cycle of Gods. The two People become Friendly. The two People will share other knowledge, over time - including Silver and Water magic, potentially.)


The Verre took their Goddess’ reveal with an aloof disinterest that poorly covered their loss. But Her gentle hand reached out and touched them, and they were comforted. They took up positions near the Last Dance - far off enough that they could nap uninterrupted, but not so far that they’d miss anything interesting. They filled Marblemoss cups with Milk for one last time, set one aside for the Goddess, and napped away the end of the First Age, purring like vibrating Glass.

(The Verre gained knowledge of the Cycle of Gods. They also improve their Stealth and gain the ability to Nap Anywhere, allowing them to survive comfortably in dangerous or uncertain times.)


The End of the Age marched towards Somewhere - but the Fortugnat knew naught of it. How could they? For all of the wonders promised to them by their fallen God, he had neglected to tell them of the ways of the world. The Fortugnat were alone on Somewhere. Well, almost.

Illarin, God of Flowing Water posted:

This Is Your Fault.

The words crushed down on them like an inexorable wall of Water. Deesix’s People looked to him for guidance, for knowledge. But their King was trembling, his God-forged sword broken in half. One of his Seven (now Three) approached...

Deesix roared, swinging his blade out wildly - and the Three became Two. The Fortugnat fled as King Deesix wailed in rage and betrayal. A broken People, a broken King. Praise be to the Gods.

(The Fortugnat become Disheartened and Afraid - losing Brave! Hero King Deesix has gone Mad!)


As the Last Dance rocked the world, the Aqueau crowded around their new Heroes - or tried to, at least. Wheyfarer Rennet tended to keep to himself, skipping between his lakes: the lake of Milk was his, as far as he was concerned, and it was difficult to dissuade him. He had been touched by two Gods, and he was beholden to none. Still, the cheese he brought to the others was greatly appreciated, and far more flavorful than the average, scrounged morsel. The Silvurtle, however, did not appreciate the taste quite as much!

Droplette was a completely different story! She was a wonder to watch - the magic of her God allowed her to bend and flow like the Water around her, granting her unnatural speed in Water and control over its properties. She used her powers liberally and frequently, impressing the others and inspiring them to learn for themselves. Not everyone had the knack - but even those without could benefit from the Hydromancers among them. But there was time to learn later - now it was time to dance!

(The Aqueau gain Hydromancy - Basic Water Magic. Water Magic has these qualities:

Anything that could be reasonably (or unreasonably) spun to fall under those aspects is fair game. You do not need to tell them to use it - they know how, and they use it in their daily life - but if you want to do something specific, you can tell them to.

They also became friends with the Silvurtle. The two People will share other knowledge, over time - including Silver and Water magic, potentially.)


The Laitache continued their trek - glad, now, to be leaving behind the mainlaind, what with the shaking of the earth! They muttered among their Castes as they walked, squabbling about a name for their new home. All at once, a singular word appeared in their minds, silencing them - ParaDice. Their new home would be ParaDice.

Filled with a sort of anxious excitement, the Laitache explored their new land. Another quake shook them, and they fell to their knees in supplication. But the shaking continued, unabated! They called out to Sullo, wailing in fear - as the horizon began to shift. The shaking dropped away as ParaDice rose into the sky, and all of Somewhere revealed itself to their disbelieving eyes. They thanked Sullo with all their hearts, singing its glories.

But no one answered.

(The Laitache gained a Land of Their Own - ParaDice. Their island paradise is unassailable by other Peoples - but also cuts them off from interacting with anyone! They’re on their own!)

• 3 HP - Artifact: Powerful and lingering, Artifacts can be used once an Age. Their effects are many and varied - but their power is Godly.
  
• 2 HP - Miracle: Powerful, but fragile, Miracles can be used only once. Their power is great, but fails before that of Artifacts.
  
• 1 HP - Idol: Meagre remnants of the God's power, affecting their surroundings by radiation. Give off a minor passive effect to their surroundings.
  If your God has survived, indicate which Remnant you got and 3 basic concepts for it (Weapon, Tricky, Explosive, Trap, Scrying, etc.) OR give a suggestion for an effect you want!

• If you were a God this Age, you cannot try to get in next Age. The Age following that, you have a -10 penalty to your roll.
  
• Keep in mind that Wisp counts are cumulative over Ages - if you don't get in this Age, just keep adding to it!

The First Age of The Gods has Passed, and the Gods have moved on. The First Golden Age has Begun.

Without the Gods to guide them, the People are free to explore and expand their knowledge of Somewhere on their own terms. The reaction to the silence of the Gods is mixed - some in peaceful contemplation, some in terror, some in confusion... some in patience. For it is known that the Gods will return...

But not when.

• A Droplette
  Fast, Master Hydromancer, Touched by a God.
  
• B Wheyfarer Rennet
  Explorer, Cheesemaker, Travel in Milk, Touched by Two Gods.
  
• C (Nameless)
  Give me a name and a one sentence description. Cannot START as a Master of anything.
  
• D King Deesix
  Mad, Damaged, Master Glassworker, Wields a Broken Blade, Touched by a God
  
• E Jack
  One of the SevenThreeTwo, Apprentice Glassworker, Depressed, Wields a Glass Dagger
  
• F (Nameless)
  Give me a name and a one sentence description. Cannot START as a Master of anything.
  
• G Argenta
  Master Silver Singer, Cautious, Loner
  
• H Sterling
  Dabbling Silver Singer, Dabbling Hydromancer, Reckless
  
• I (Nameless)
  Give me a name and a one sentence description. Cannot START as a Master of anything.
  
• J Glaze
  LOVES Milk, Bulky, Thoughful
  
• K Murano
  Apprentice Glass Carver, Fast, Fragile
  
• L (Nameless)
  Give me a name and a one sentence description. Cannot START as a Master of anything.
  
• M Crema
  Thoughtful, Hard Worker, Strong
  
• N Lacte
  Foolish, Friendly, Brave
  
• O (Nameless)
  Give me a name and a one sentence description. Cannot START as a Master of anything.

• P Personal Quest
  Something specific to the Hero in question, revealing something about them or granting them special skills.
  
• Q Mystery
  A mysterious occurrence puzzles the People, and they send out a Hero to solve it!
  
• R Monster Hunt
  A beast threatens the People - and without Gods, the People need a hero!
  
• S Slice of Life
  Just a story among the People in question - casual and thoughtful, most likely!
  
• T Write In
  One short sentence idea - the vaguer the better!

• I need concepts for Remnants by the next Age, don't need it during CYOA if you can't think of anything just yet
  
• If you'd rather, I could just make one up for your God - and will in fact do that if I don't get suggestions by next Age
  
• All Remnants are tangible things, objects - even Miracles. It can be a scroll or runes written on a tree or whatever (though this reminds me that no one has writing yet. Or housing. Or clothes. Or weapons.)
  

I watched my God die.

The Demon L’RN cursed us, turned us from the Water - but my God swore to us that we would triumph over his depradations.

And then my God fell and broke like so much Glass. His great Work unravelled, killing many of my Seven, and many more of His People. I held Him in my hands as he crumbled to nothing. We stared down over the pit of the Lost Gamble and wept, the plans for this... ‘fortress’... fading from our minds under the weight of our grief.

And then the Demon L’RN spoke into my mind that I was to blame.

I went mad. I struck out at my fellows - clove Bones in half with my Godblade like he was wind, spilling his viscera in a hot spray. My People could not stand against me - even with my God lost to me, his holy power filled me with unassailable might. I killed a dozen before the rest managed to flee - I cut their bodies into unrecognizable hash. I diced them. Ha, ha.

-O-

Now I spend my days down in the brackish Milk of the Last Gamble. It sustains me in my misery, and none of the others dare to approach the deathbed of their God, the home of their Mad King. For I am mad - if they would approach me I would cut them savagely for their temerity, and they would not survive it. But I am their King, even now. If - and I cannot discount this - I am to blame for His death, then they are better off without me and without the ill favor I have brought down upon their heads. Beloved Amyhdahl forgive me, in my darkest moments I think He wanted this to happen to us. That he raised us out of the muck for his own alien purpose and left us here to rot.

In moments such as that I half-fancy joining Him in oblivion, but I must continue my vigil.

-O-

Tonight, something is different. The sky is black and cold, and the million points of light continue their chaotic dance. In my youth I felt that they were trying to claw through some barrier, straining to come to earth. When He chose me, I pushed such foolishness from my mind, but tonight it returns with a vengeance.

I turn from the lights, feeling a pressure like a thousand staring eyes. My cracked skull ached. I took a bracing draught of Milk, grimacing at the taint, and considered my options. The stars called for action, so I would give it to them - and may luck be with anyone who dares to cross me!

• A Upwards!
  I’ve spent enough time in this pit! I’m going to go up and explore the world. How long have I been down here, anyhow? This world has changed, I can feel it.
  
• B Downwards!
  Down in Last Gamble, there is Milk, and there are beasts. I kill the beasts and I drink the Milk - but I never go deep. I’ve seen a tunnel, down below, but never dared to enter.
  
• C Inwards!
  I’ve been avoiding this for so long. I need to sit and meditate - sort out what’s been happening around since our God came down and spoke to us. I feel like I’ve been riding a wave since then - and I’ve been thrown out onto the stony beach.
  
• D Outwards!
  I need to find my People. They need me, and I need them. I don’t know if they’ll ever take me into their trust, but I need to see them again.
  
• E Backwards!
  Things were better when Amyhdahl was around! I saw Him die, but I feel His power in my breast. I wonder if I can... reach through it... and… pull… him back? I have to try.
  
• F ...Cowards!
  I’m going to find my People, the ones who fled when He fell to earth. I’m going to find them, and them I’m going to kill them. All of them.

I feel the pull of the tunnel down below like a physical force. Yes, I would go down into the very heart of the Last Gamble. Anything to hide from these stars, to hide from what I’ve done. Maybe I’ll get lucky and Somewhere will swallow me up and that will be the end of me.

As I wade into the Milk, I can hear the telltale sounds of Anomalice churning in its depths. They watch me with stolen eyes, faces torn from those killed in the blast or in my rampage. I slash the liquid with my Blade, and they scatter. Sour creatures of Dice and Milk, they often crawl from the primordial stew and vex me - and now I’m heading into their lair. No matter - they die the same as the rest.

I sink my head below the Milk and dive.

-O-
I emerge from the thick, sludgy Milk quite some time later, emerging into a dry - but very dark - cavern. To one such as me, darkness holds no fear - touched by God’s light, I can see just as clearly down here. I almost wish I couldn’t.

The Anomalice are larger down here, freakish - and bold! A group of them pounce me at once, silent as always, and it’s all I can do block their advance with my Blade. I am thrown backwards, into the twisted dicestone walls, and I hear something crack. Filled with the burning rage of my God, I advance, crushing their mocking faces with the flat of my Blade before slicing them to nothing. The same rush as ever fills me when they finally expire, and I laugh with pleasure. At length, I stand panting in the dark, unharried for the moment - but their eyes glare at me from within the walls, glowing with the fading radiance of the divine power that sustained them. They dared not approach me yet, but they would wait for a moment’s weakness. I wouldn’t give them the luxury - I pressed on.

-O-
Travelling through the oddly shaped cavern, I felt a certain elation building in my core. Some echo of the divine purpose that suffused my being when I served as His herald. I could feel Him here, all around me - I walked through his tomb. My face twisted with uncertain emotion, but my eye stared straight ahead. There was nothing to say, no obeisance to make. No one to hear, anyhow. Perhaps I was simply paying my respects.

(I didn’t think so.)

-O-
The next chamber I entered made my limbs retract in reflexive fear, and worse I couldn’t say why, until I saw it.

Water, deep in the heart of the Last Gamble. The blood of L’RN in the very tomb of my God! I threw my head back in a rage, raw power shooting forth and tearing the air with furious sparks. I slashed at the pond of hated Water, shouting and shaking with rage until spittle flew forth from my lips and I had to sink to the ground, exhausted. I glared at the Water (at my reflection) and drew forth the energy for another tirade - then stopped short, and really looked.

I knew it at once. A relic of my God. A phylactery of his power, down below. I fancied I could reach it, if I stretched. I dared not use my Blade for fear of damaging it, but I shuddered at the Curse. Dare I take it?

• 1A Grasp It!
  Of course I dare! How could I live with myself if I left now? drat the Curse, L’RN is no match for a heart full of Amyhdahl! I WILL claim my inheritance!
  
• 2B Hook It!
  I fear the Curse, but I am no mindless beast - and I have the finest tool in my hands. I will reshape the Godblade slightly with Glass Shaping to dull it and hook the relic out of the Water. I am not certain how the Blade will be affected, but surely the relic is worth dozens of Blades. Hundreds!
  
• 2C Cut It!
  ...No. Enough of this. He dares to wrench me from misery, force me into service again from beyond the grave!? With His very Blade, I will end his hold on me, on this land! I have no idea what will occur if I attempt this sacrilege, but I care not.
  
• 2D Leave It!
  ...No. Enough of this. He is dead, but I am alive. I will leave my Blade here in His tomb, and I will seek my People. Perhaps I will bring them here and we will pay our rememberances. Or perhaps I’ll tell them to forget, and then I’ll tell myself.

• 2A Consume Them!
  After I deal with the relic, I will hunt them down and steal back the fragments of my God’s remant power! I am not certain if I deserve them, but I AM certain that THEY do not!
  
• 2B End Them!
  After I deal with the relic, I will destroy them, but close myself to the power that animates them - I do not know what dire contamination it might bring! No power is worth such risk.
  
• 2C Ignore Them!
  The relic is all - I will focus my attention on it to the exclusion of the Anomalice. However I deal with the relic, this will be much faster!
  
• 2D Command Them!
  They wear the skin of my People - perhaps they bear the hearts of my People as well! They are broken and fiendish, but then so am I! I will order them to stand down and follow me!

• Illarin, God of Flowing Water - Artifact Knowledge, Transference, Fountain
  
• Ashar Ado, God of Joy - Miracle Chaotic, Universal, Bliss
  
• Catmandu, Goddess of Cattes - Miracle ? ? ?
  
• Sullo, God of Weight - Idol Balance, Community, Defense

The Anomalice surround me, seeking to stop me from taking the relic. I laugh madly at their foolishness - too slow! Did you think I would stop now, here!? At the very threshold of my redemption!? I call them forward, spittle flying from my cracked and broken lips, and they come. I throw my Blade at them roughly, cutting the nearest two in half, then dive.

Agony! Pain beyond measure! I feel myself come apart in the madblood of L’RN and lose what little remains of my SAnITy but I can ALMOST reach it I dive deeper and stretch BUT MY ARM my BLASTED ARM decides to betray me so I tear it off and kick deeper and my eye is going blind and the world is black and white and I touch it and

-O-
I rise from the Water, moving by Will alone - this body is insufficient and will need to be repaired. The Water boils away as it touches me even as it tears at me, but I ignore it and climb as though on solid steps until I again reach the surface. The cavern is bright as midday to my eyes, and I see it as though it is new and fresh. Walls of dicestone and milkstone in chaotic layers - but Glass, too, fragments of it sandwiched between the stone. I touch the floor, pulling Glass up as though stretching taffy. I repair myself in patchwork fashion - enough for my purposes.

An impact jostles me, tears free another limb. The Anomalice, still after me. Don’t they understand? I turn the weight of my gaze on one, all the terrible power coursing through me and I tell it to

and it does. All of them do. I see them, too, as though they are new and fresh. They are my People! See, that one there is Jack! And there’s Bones! My family, returned to me. I break into a laugh, and they all laugh as well. The Tomb reverberates with our chuckles until the laughter dies out abruptly at a motion from my hand. I feel Him beating in my chest. I understand, now, what my God meant, why I’m here.

• A To Build!
  The Tomb isn’t a tomb at all - it’s a ‘Fortress’! Look, there - the sharp angle of that wall, the way the Glass follows the contours. I see it so clearly in my mind. The Anomalice and I will build this Fortress, even if it takes an Age, and my People will have an unassailable home - safe from the Demons of this world.
  
• B To Dig!
  He drew me down here to find the relic, but there is more to find! I’m sure of it! I’ll keep looking, and I’ll find other relics of my god, all the fragments of his corpse, and reassemble him! He wants to be returned, and I am the instrument of His resurrection. I will be his hands in this world, and the Anomalice my fingers. We will bring him back to us!
  
• C To Conquer!
  He brought me here for power, and I have found it! I will gather my army in this Tomb and pour out onto the land above, and none shall stand before us. The world will know the will of Amyhdahl!
  
• D To Bury!
  He has drawn me here to find the last fragment of his corporeal form, sunk deep below the taint of his Great Enemy. Having recovered it, I will return it to my People, and we’ll make an end to Him. The Fortugnat shall honour Him always, but it is time to move on. I will live among my People until they have no need of me, and then I will join my God.