Shiro's Portal TP

July 14, 2009
9:29

So the "portal TP" is underway and its secret is out. Frankly, I'm surprised it was secret at all. To have missed the whole "the characters who go will become gods of a new world" aspect, one would have to have avoided wizchat, not heard anything second-hand, and not read any of the headwiz's comments elsewhere. Granted, that's possible, but if any MUCK wizard was actually surprised by this, I'm amazed at their obliviousness.

I'm avoiding it myself, so everything I know is second-hand. Thusfar, however, it's sounding about like I'd expect. Posts thusfar indicate a clique of darker (slightly-more-evil-than-not, at least?) character setting up shop in one region. The predictably-power-hungry character and friend are going to town making their own personal ideal society. At least one person was strongly annoyed by the "surprise" of the TP. And somewhere around 80% of the logged-on characters last night were involved there, leaving the "main" grid depressingly empty.

Now, from where I sit, it would be easy to miss things. I can read through the posted entries and hear a few things related to me. It's entirely possible I'm missing things.

But so far, I see most people getting into it and living up whims from giving language to making entire species of sentients hermaphroditic. What I don't see is any sign that any of the character are asking whether they should do what they can do with the new divine power. Priests seem too busy being "drunk on power" (as one person aptly put it) to serve their (former?) gods, instead just making things as they like. I'm really more interested in how those who I haven't seen posts from might be taking it all...

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July 15, 2009
11:31

Lots of posts just in the last two-and-a-half days or so. Some people are having fun with their toys and lamenting that others won't join up with them. A move to universally rule that souls are reincarnated with no afterlife and no undead was voted down. Traits imbued to follower tribes are being billed, in some cases, as survival advantages or class-bypassers. Those I respect the most, in general, seem to be doing the least - judging from the posts, anyway.

The wiz in charge has made someone else an assistant and seems constantly beset by things, even having two alts active for the task at most times. Still, a majority of characters logged in at any time, are over on the new grid.

Part of me... really is intrigued at watching how the politics among new "gods" shakes out. But I know I'd have little tolerance for being in the middle of it. There's too many egos to clash. And yeah, my own wouldn't like it much.

So instead, I feel shut out, in a sense.

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July 15, 2009
12:45

I've pondered how some of my own characters would take this. Perhaps the most interesting two, in the "meta" voices of the characters:

Jhazza

First, I'd laugh. A lot.

In one sense, this would be validation of everything I despise about divine interference. If "we" gods didn't take an active role in shaping Creation, then there wouldn't be much there for a long, long time.

On the other hand, it's perfect support for my position. We group of people inherit divine powers in a puff of smoke and that's the only thing that gives any "right" to shape people and civilization. There's no morality to it, just might-makes-right execution of power. And that's crap.

So what would I do?

I suppose I'd make my own personal little realm and sanctuary, that's good to start with. I'd whip up a relative handful of agents, mostly for future use. And then I'd sit in on divine gatherings and berate my "bretheren" on stroking their egos, voting against just about any radical change to the place I could get away with.

I wouldn't take a people or region. Rather, I would (assuming no one else beat me to it) fashion up something like psionics that includes capabilities shown in wild path magic, and I'd seed the potential for this ability far and wide. I, and those emissaries of mine, would travel among mortals spreading truth - that their gods were once mortal, that they act more out of wish-fulfillment than benevolence, and are largely undeserving of any praise, much less worship.

Among the pantheon, I expect I would be seen as an agent of chaos. Among the common mortals, I may manage more of a Prometheus-style aspect - one who comes among them with whispers of divine secrets and potential. In the end, my "followers" would be those who sought me out, not those I shaped in my image, even if they are but a small cult in the grand scheme of things.

Cyra

Umm... I would make the hoomiku, and create a world-ship to get off the god-heavy world?

Okay, perhaps not. I would be inclined to "remake" my people. It's lonely enough being one of a handful of hoomiku left on Maya or Rym, but the only one? They would need a land, safe and with resources. I would do my best to pass on to them their fore bearers' intellect and drive for advancement, while tempering that with morality and caution. I've seen too often the mistakes of technological advancement without wisdom.

Depending on how the other "gods" of the world behave, I might feel a need to craft a god-slayer in some form. Bloodletter, Nigh... while unchecked, these are horrific forces, but part of me thinks the existence of a weapon that can readily slay gods is necessary for balance. I would have to study the "pantheon" closely to determine whether this step worth the risk.

And when everything was settled and growing, I would devise a way to join my people and scatter my divine power among the entire race. As I recognize no creator deity, I cannot bring myself to play that role or remake my people only to have them bow to another. No. In some way, I'd scatter that primal spark to make a people who could live, and grow, without a god watching over them every step of the way.


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July 16, 2009
9:30

Mika

I'd be Goddess of Magic. Yeah, Balance is grand and all, but I really only took up that mantle because the pantheon I got pulled into was already on the full side. :p