1: Godly Vow [audio] [sent to Hades group, including all PC Corsairs]

[blessmefather]

After hearing the plans for Vindess that are coming together, it's about time I tell you all another part of the agreement I made with the Will of Hades.

Back when they made this world, the Gods all made a vow that they wouldn't interfere with the political affairs of mortals. This was in hopes of letting the Peoples make their own decisions instead of being lorded over by deities. Turns out it's a double sided knife. It meant that the Gods would not be allowed to simply kill evil leaders and their followers, like those who formed the Empire. That vow still holds power with every new generation of gods. Breaking the vow results in an instantaneous curse upon the god who acts out of line.

In other words, the vow stands in the way of me going on the offense against the empire. Otherwise, believe me, I'd be preparing to bring it all down with my own two hands. I can help in the evacuation and with first aid, and if the empire were to strike against Flotsam again, for example, I would be allowed to defend it. But I cannot go with you to attack the Imperial forces.

That said, curses can be cured. If you find yourselves in the most dire circumstance, you can call on me to join the fight. I am willing to make the sacrifice and step in to aid you. Just... Please use your best judgment.

I have more to tell you before the next battle, about an Imperial on the Corsairs' target list, but I am still gathering information from souls who are passing through to the afterlife. I'll update you as soon as I can.

Comments

[blessmefather]

I understand their caution. I'm not sure that even in their great wisdom, they foresaw a time when the gods would have waned in power so much.

[ And he doesn't currently have the power to tell if this is something that had once been required or will be in the future. Or a matter of faith and having just enough power to tip things in the direction of recovery. ]

I haven't heard the Will speak to me since I returned to this world. It didn't give me much to work with. [ He gives a slightly bitter laugh. ] But a large portion of using this power has been intuitive.

[redprayer]

So it did the bare minimum.

[Rezo's not entirely surprised. Higher powers have a way of doing that- tossing out a prophecy that boils down to "Something's going to happen. Could end badly," and then fucking off to the astral plane.

Brooding reminds him of another, slightly tangential question he already had.]

...What exactly happened to the original gods?

[blessmefather]

[ Matt laughs. ] You could say that.

The very first gods passed away of old age after many centuries. Their successors have passed, either in the same way or were slain by the Empire after draining their power through the killing of their worshippers, censorship of their scripture, and destruction of their shrines.

[redprayer]

Old age?

[Rezo can't keep the incredulity out of his tone.]

The Gods of Esthere are indeed different than the ones I have known.

[blessmefather]

[ Based on Rezo's reaction, Matt has a first guess about that. ]

Do the Gods live forever where you're from?

[redprayer]

As long as they're not killed.

[Rezo thinks on this a moment or so more and adds:] And even then they don't die the way humans do.

[blessmefather]

[ Matt chuckles. ] They still live a long time here, long enough to seem like forever to mortals. But regardless of their power, they pass out of the world eventually. I don't know if that was their choice or not.

[redprayer]

Forever is a terribly long time to live. If any of the Gods were formerly mortal, then they may have found such a long life to be a burden.

[Which begs the question of how Matt will handle his longevity. Everyone fears death, but the longer a person lives the more they will lose.]

[blessmefather]

[ Matt gives a small hum in consideration. ]

This is where my mother would scold me for not memorizing the scripture of what some of the gods said at the end of their lives. If I remember correctly, they expressed something to that degree, though they focused a lot more on reassuring their followers and heirs about the future. Not unlike the old comforting their family on their deathbed.