@Lugubrious

"But I am more than that. In this man you see a culmination of many of the beings who style themselves gods. Let me see if I can name them all...I have the stamps of my unwitting progenitors on my soul, but never have I seen their faces. Astarte, Teknell, Zephyrion, Realthos, Jvan, Illunabar, and Ull'Yang, I believe. I am some of the best parts of all of them, if not the most powerful, though I do hope that will change.

I don't get how he can be part of any god really, seeing as those flowers were created solely, I presume, by Illunabar/Meimu/Slough. Did he absorb the residual essence left behind by each of the gods that visited the Deepwood?

@Hael, sure. PM me right away!

@HaelAssuming they don't shift out of the material world, there'll be ways to detect them with occultism. They'll show up in the submaterium.

This will definitely be more difficult than detecting their souls, however.

@HaelAssuming they don't shift out of the material world, there'll be ways to detect them with occultism. They'll show up in the submaterium.

This will definitely be more difficult than detecting their souls, however.

Awww, well in that case, it'll be HARD AS FUCK to detect them. They use shapeshifting, texture changing, colour shifting, flying, highly advanced magic, soul manipulation, Telepathy and the power to turn semi-physical all at once to essentially be an invisible cloud that you can walk through and barely feel.

It's not easy for them to do this, and it's actually very painful, but it makes them invulnerable to atrack IF they aren't take by surprise. If they are surpised... they fall like dominoes

@HaelIt's worth noting that to use detect them using occultism, you'd have to set up a ritual. You couldn't passively see them, as it were -- and you'd have to know where you'd be looking.

@HaelIt's worth noting that to use detect them using occultism, you'd have to set up a ritual. You couldn't passively see them, as it were -- and you'd have to know where you'd be looking.

That does make it unbelievably difficult to detect them. By the time the ritual's almost done, the dudes would know it's being prepared and would likely flee to another place.

@FrettzoThat might, of course, be the original intention.

It'd be something like -- burning a child's toy in order to delve into the submaterium in [Spiderweb Forest] to see if there were any shape-shifters there. Rather than burning the toy to then see shape-shifters around you.

EDIT: now that I say that, being able to go into a semi trance-like state to see into the submaterium sounds like a good ability for experienced occultists. If need be, the similarity between shifters and the thing they're shifted into can lore-wise make it difficult to distinguish them (although their relationships with other things will always give them away after enough searching; they could run away by then -- among other things).

@Fabulous Knight, I'm not sure what the submaterium is. Is it like a whole different kind of dimension?

@Fabulous Knight

Couldn't you just do something like dip a magnifying glass into the mixed blood of a hundred virgins, perform a most foul chant while dancing under the moonlight, and then have made yourself a monocle that can see past their deception?

I thought that the only rule was that occultism had to be weird and evil. Perhaps you should specify the limits. Or have you already done so and I just missed it?

@FrettzoIt's not actually another plane, but it's easier to describe it that way.

It's the innate energy within each thing, and the relationships between said things. Every material object -- thing -- has/is magic (occult) energy. The submaterium is the sort-of realm within things where this energy (and the relationships; cables) is expressed. Hence the name -- submaterium.

@CycloneYeah, you unlock the energy in the material world in order to perform magic. Said magic then has to be weird and evil-ish (witchy rather than magey).

Trinkets (what I'm calling occult objects, like rings) will be a thing -- and they will be generically magic. Like -- a crown that bends the will of those around you, or a belt buckle that prevents you from getting more than slightly tipsy. A monocle that allowed you to see the shifters would actually be possible -- by giving you extremely good perception so you notice what isn't actually air, for example. This would be very high level from the sounds of it, however; submaterial scuba-diving is easier.

A ritual, by the way, is any process in which the magic within things is released. Smashing gem stones, pouring blood into a labyrinth-well, hacking down a special tree.

A ritual, by the way, is any process in which the magic within things is released. Smashing gem stones, pouring blood into a labyrinth-well, hacking down a special tree.

What would happen if some mortal found the Rock and released the magic within it through some occult ritual? There's four Might in that thing, so it either could cause massive destruction in a diameter of hundreds of miles or could become a great thing.

@FrettzoI have no idea. I haven't had time to catch up yet.

From your post, though: I don't actually know. I'll give you my idea, and anyone else can say if it's an awful one: putting might into a normal object, or creating one with might, basically creates an object with that amount of material energy. Used properly, sacrificing the Rock will (along with reducing the annual Fast and Furious reunion guest list even further) give you four might to play with (although you should have started with an aim in mind). If the mortal wants to summon a demon, things will be even greater; they'll have the Adversary to help them. Of course, the Adversary would ask for something in return...

If they didn't use it properly...things would get interesting. Likely the energy would spiral outward, either into the mortal or all around. They would gain hideously twisted versions of whatever they sought. For example -- wishing to become a great hero could result in you becoming a rabid, ceaseless hunter of Men. With four might's worth of power.

@Lugubrious <Snipped quote by Allure>

I don't get how he can be part of any god really, seeing as those flowers were created solely, I presume, by Illunabar/Meimu/Slough. Did he absorb the residual essence left behind by each of the gods that visited the Deepwood?

Pretty much.

<Snipped quote by Fabulous Knight>

Awww, well in that case, it'll be HARD AS FUCK to detect them. They use shapeshifting, texture changing, colour shifting, flying, highly advanced magic, soul manipulation, Telepathy and the power to turn semi-physical all at once to essentially be an invisible cloud that you can walk through and barely feel.

It's not easy for them to do this, and it's actually very painful, but it makes them invulnerable to atrack IF they aren't take by surprise. If they are surpised... they fall like dominoes

Well, keep in mind Lifprasil is buddies with the wind God for the sole purpose of changing the environment, and that he has incredible amounts of emotional control over regular sentients. If he becomes buddies with Illunabar he's also going to become even more charismatic than he already is - provided she wants to help him forward. Illunabar is actually going to hustle on by and give him ANOTHER gift.

<Snipped quote by Hael>

Well, keep in mind Lifprasil is buddies with the wind God for the sole purpose of changing the environment, and that he has incredible amounts of emotional control over regular sentients. If he becomes buddies with Illunabar he's also going to become even more charismatic than he already is - provided she wants to help him forward. Illunabar is actually going to hustle on by and give him ANOTHER gift.

Worth noting is that this feeling for Zephyrion is certainly not mutual, at least not yet. Zeph has no particular affection or respect towards Lifprisil, and while he might act otherwise it won't be genuine.

In a rare glimpse of true cunning, he simply recognized the rare chance to shape and influence a being that will eventually become a god. So while Lifprisil's 'education' and time spent in the Celestial Citadel will certainly have its advantages and true benefits, the main objective of Zephyrion is to mold Lifprisil into being obedient and agreeable so that his presence will be at least more bearable than that of Vulamera once he matures, and he will hopefully eventually be a worthy ally/minion.

In case it wasn't incredibly obvious, Zephyrion is going to try to subtly (or not) alienate Vulamera from Lifprisil and even supplant his buddy Vestec as a primary influence on Lifprisil going into the future. This is why having Lifprisil made him forgive Vulamera: she's handed him what he sees as the ultimate toy/gift/future weapon or friend.

To what extent Zephyrion's plan actually works is obviously up to you, poog.

<Snipped quote by poog the pig>

Worth noting is that this feeling for Zephyrion is certainly not mutual, at least not yet. Zeph has no particular affection or respect towards Lifprisil, and while he might act otherwise it won't be genuine.

In a rare glimpse of true cunning, he simply recognized the rare chance to shape and influence a being that will eventually become a god. So while Lifprisil's 'education' and time spent in the Celestial Citadel will certainly have its advantages and true benefits, the main objective of Zephyrion is to mold Lifprisil into being obedient and agreeable so that his presence will be at least more bearable than that of Vulamera once he matures, and he will hopefully eventually be a worthy ally/minion.

In case it wasn't incredibly obvious, Zephyrion is going to try to subtly (or not) alienate Vulamera from Lifprisil and even supplant his buddy Vestec as a primary influence on Lifprisil going into the future. This is why having Lifprisil made him forgive Vulamera: she's handed him what he sees as the ultimate toy/gift/future weapon or friend.

To what extent Zephyrion's plan actually works is obviously up to you, poog.

This is very swiftly becoming a medieval style political thriller and I love it.

<Snipped quote by poog the pig>

Worth noting is that this feeling for Zephyrion is certainly not mutual, at least not yet. Zeph has no particular affection or respect towards Lifprisil, and while he might act otherwise it won't be genuine.

In a rare glimpse of true cunning, he simply recognized the rare chance to shape and influence a being that will eventually become a god. So while Lifprisil's 'education' and time spent in the Celestial Citadel will certainly have its advantages and true benefits, the main objective of Zephyrion is to mold Lifprisil into being obedient and agreeable so that his presence will be at least more bearable than that of Vulamera once he matures, and he will hopefully eventually be a worthy ally/minion.

In case it wasn't incredibly obvious, Zephyrion is going to try to subtly (or not) alienate Vulamera from Lifprisil and even supplant his buddy Vestec as a primary influence on Lifprisil going into the future. This is why having Lifprisil made him forgive Vulamera: she's handed him what he sees as the ultimate toy/gift/future weapon or friend.

To what extent Zephyrion's plan actually works is obviously up to you, poog.

Lifprasil has his own motives. So I guess we'll have to see how they play each other, although Lifprasil's ultimatum is literally just help him and he'll help spread you influence and effectively your might production, no matter how much you hate his parents.

<Snipped quote by Cyclone>

Lifprasil has his own motives. So I guess we'll have to see how they play each other, although Lifprasil's ultimatum is literally just help him and he'll help spread you influence and effectively your might production, no matter how much you hate his parents.

Interesting. though somehow I think Zephyrion will manage to be worshiped by near every race with or without Lif's help.

He's very much the fire and brimstone sort of deity; failure to worship him is to invite apocalypse. His vanity demands that he have the respect of mortals, be it willing or otherwise.

@Legion02Just wait until Mammon trundles in. He'll give Lif a lot of help...

<Snipped quote by Hael>

Well, keep in mind Lifprasil is buddies with the wind God for the sole purpose of changing the environment, and that he has incredible amounts of emotional control over regular sentients. If he becomes buddies with Illunabar he's also going to become even more charismatic than he already is - provided she wants to help him forward. Illunabar is actually going to hustle on by and give him ANOTHER gift.

Oh, no, I meant that a regular army couldn't detect them. Lifprasil will detect, but he'll struggle a good bit. Here's why:

-They use soul manipulation to hide the presence of their spirits.

-The use magic to hide themselves from mystical detection.

-They use telepathy to hide their emotions/thoughts/minds from detection, meaning that even a Demigod like Lif will struggle to feel their thoughts.

-The use the shapeshifting to disperse themselves into an invisible cloud

-They fly way up into the air, so Lif won't notice them at all unless he is also flying, literally moves into one, and manages to notice the change in atmosphere when he enters its body.

That's not to say it can't be done. They are not all-powerful. It's just that you'll ultimately need to change the environment. If it's too hot and dry (a desert, for example) shape-shifting becomes more difficult. Furthermore, they rely on magical currents in the universe to feed themselves (that's right- they eat magic), so if you limit the amount of magic in the air, they'll land and become solid out of desperation to find nourishment on the ground.

So, it is very difficult, but possible. What Lifprasil will need to do is first find out where they are (an extraordinary task in its own right), then suck the magic right out of the air before they can run away, then change the environment at least temporarily.
If you succeed, they should first become solid to find nourishment, then get STUCK as a solid because the environment isn't right for shifting. Congratulations, you are now the proud slaver of a very frightened and confused lifeform who cannot shapeshift away from you. You monster.