A news woman sits behind a large desk, reading from a TelePrompTer just behind the camera that she appears to be looking in to.
"It appears that for unknown reasons, Mount Olympus has become enshrouded in thick clouds. Any body who walks into them becomes disoriented and begins to asphyxiate immediately. There is no evidence at this point in time, but many have come to suspect that this is linked to global warming, since Greece has had record high emission levels over the past decade, with minimal recovery effort. It is also reported that a small amount of people have began to leave sacrifices on Mount Ellinor, an ancient site for rituals. Authorities are currently trying to find those behind the animal sacrifices but are having no luck. It is advised that you do not go near Mount Olympus, for your own safety, and so that the path is clear for authorities and researchers. That is all we have on that story, and next, the counties most likely to follow in Britain's political footsteps."
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Hello, hello! So essentially what I wanted to start was a sort of Witchcraft-In-Modern-Society thing, where powers are minimal and rare and rituals are everything. Each witch (let's just say that is a gender-neutral term for simplicity) would have a patron god. I'd rather stick to the Greek gods and Roman gods but if there's a larger interest for other cultures, I'll adapt. I would also like to do this in 'books'.
The plot(which is very subject to change, especially upon mass request) would revolve around the revitalization of the old gods, as they pushed to stay in existence. They've been quiet since the times of Epics and Heroes and Honor Codes, but now as they fade from worship, they begin to involve themselves in mortal lives. This is what the first 'book' would contain. It would have gods picking their followers.
Ideally, we would need at least 3 people to operate smoothly, with a maximum of 10. With each book we finish, we would need more people to join, as we would involve more characters, more gods, more witches, and more unsuspecting swans.
Ideal Beginning Character list: Hera Zeus (Possibly Reserved) Hades (Reserved) Poseidon (Reserved) Witch 1 Witch 2 Witch 3
I also want the witches to be diverse, from very different walks of life. Maybe a historian who is so enamored with the old gods, they try to invoke them, or a graffiti artist from the inner city who accidentally invokes someone by spray painting the wrong symbol, but becomes fascinated by this new world. Those sort of scenarios. Then also the traditional witches as well.
Let me know if there's any interest, what you would want to see, et cetera.
EDIT:
Cast so far: Hades (Reservation) Poseiden (Reservation) Zeus Simon Hutchins Alexander Demitrius Regas
Since there's a bit of interest, I went ahead and wrote up a bit of world building to give you an idea on what this will look like. I'm going to include Character Sheets, and I know they're a bit lengthy, but the more detailed on this, the better the Fates can match your character to their deity, given said deities don't just claim that particular person. But first, some stuff about Witchcraft:
Blood Magic: This is a more intense form of Witchcraft, typically viewed as taboo or evil. It utilized blood sacrifice to power rituals, invocations and spells. The user sacrificing their own blood has more power than an animal sacrifice, but animal sacrifice is safer, as one usually has to fill the offering bowl. Human sacrifice is frowned upon by the gods. Blood serves no sort of monetary or magic gain for the gods, but shows devotion and willingness to commit.
Old Magic: Very similar to blood magic, in that sacrifices of blood are the form of energy used, but these are certain rituals and spells that have been passed down through word of mouth, therefore it's very rare. There likely only a dozen left who know of these older ways.
Technological Magic: This is a newer, under developed form of ritual that is much less effective as it involves no sacrifice, but the few gods interested by it may just support it by showing up and granting power.
Sigil Magic: Entirely based on symbols and writing, but it can be enhanced by sacrifices. This is a bit weaker than blood magic, but stronger than Tech Magic. This is also the most often used by accident, when people draw things that happen to match a sigil. It doesn't do much, but sometimes things can go horribly wrong.
New Magic: This is any sort of ritual or spell that has been invented in the past thousand years. It has a 50/50 chance of working and is the least dangerous form. It can be enchanted by sacrifices.
-*Blood of a Witch: Blood of the user. -Blood of an animal: Any animal, but lamb and ox are the most popular types. -Blood of a human: Dead man's blood is a permitttable sacrifice, but the sacrifice of a living human is forbidden by the Hellenic gods. -Monetary Sacrifice: This is most effective with Hades. -Material Sacrifice: Any valuable item, but jewelry or crafted decor, made by the casting witch is also accepted. Jewlery works better for gods such as Hera, Hermes, and Apollo. -Food Sacrifice: Mainly effective around harvest season; this works best for Demeter and Hestia. Though the unused portion of a hunted animal can be used to invoke Artemis, and good wine or alcohol can be effective in summoning Pan or Dionysus. -*Sentimental Sacrifice: This is effective with all gods equally.
*mark the most powerful sacrifices
Name: (First and Last, Middle or Middle Initial optional) Age: Birthplace: Current Location: Occupation: Personality: Appearance: (picture, photo, or drawing plus a short description) Hobbies/Interests: Family: Home Life: Short/Long Bio: Form of Witchcraft: Form of Sacrifice: Abilities/Rituals: (Abilities should be very small, weak and believable. If you can't think of rituals, google is your friend! Keeping in mind, rituals aren't always successful.) Preferred Deity:
Deity: Personality: Preference of Follower: Purpose of awakening: (Most typically just want to live again, but some have specific wishes, i.e.: Zeus wants to be worshipped and being about more Demigods. Hades wants to bring back Persephone and regain his domain over the spirits of those humans who die. Poseidon could want to cleanse the ocean. All purposes are subject to change, given whoever plays them.) Location: (Greece, Mount Olympus, The Underworld, or specific countries) Appearance: (Can be a picture or description) Choice of Humanoid Appearance, or Physical Form: (Same deal)
@Atroposer Tentatively interested. What sort of geographic location do you have in mind for the first "book"? Are all and any gods of Greek mythology allowed and how would Roman gods differ from the Greek ones? Percy Jackson style? Are Gods actual physical entities in the game or do they act as higher powers as opposed to bodily going around and doing stuff?
@Atroposer Tentatively interested. What sort of geographic location do you have in mind for the first "book"? Are all and any gods of Greek mythology allowed and how would Roman gods differ from the Greek ones? Percy Jackson style? Are Gods actual physical entities in the game or do they act as higher powers as opposed to bodily going around and doing stuff?
Well, geographically, it would be logical for the gods themselves to come from Greece, where most of their worshippers and temples were/are. Though I'd like if they took to the rest of the world in light of a movement of 'globalization' in order to increase numbers and the like.
I'm still thinking about the Roman and Greek gods. I'm going to be honest, it's probably going to end up being only the Greek gods if I have it my way. Keeps things simpler.
I imagine the gods would have physical forms, in order to make things easier, as in getting an eye on the ground. Zeus did it quite often in the original myths(though for different reasons) so I don't think it's too far fetched. Though it would differ from god to god. Hera for example, would prefer to remain a formless entity, though willing to appear in a body if it suited her purpose at the time. Hades would quite possibly be neutral to the idea of it, and keep a physical form for convenience.
@Atroposer I see. Are primordial gods such as Achlys, Chronos, Hypnos or Aether and titans such as Helios, Leto and Perses allowed, or do you want to restrict this strictly to Olympians?
@Atroposer I see. Are primordial gods such as Achlys, Chronos, Hypnos or Aether and titans such as Helios, Leto and Perses allowed, or do you want to restrict this strictly to Olympians?
They are very real, but completely dormant. Just as the other gods are. Should somebody wish to play them, they could be woken up, but otherwise I planned for all the larger deities to remain in their sort of slumber.
I'll wait for one or two more people before drawing up morndetails and character sheets! The roles of gods will be open, and their character will be a little different.
I'd be willing to make a witch. Probably male. Though once they have invoked the power of the a god, what would happen to them? Would they gain powers of the gods or just... get to see them?
I'd be willing to make a witch. Probably male. Though once they have invoked the power of the a god, what would happen to them? Would they gain powers of the gods or just... get to see them?
It would be played up in the instructions of invocation that they would be granted great powers or audience with a god, but in reality, they just get to speak with them, or in certain cases, a Demi-god acting as secretary, which would be expanded upon for certain gods. For example, Zeus likes to speak directly to those who wish to contact him. Hera prefers to send a peacock. As for Hades, once she was awoken, Persephone would likely be the one to handle interpersonal communications.
From there, anything could happen to the witch. It's possible that the particular god would want them as an acolyte, a follower, or anything like that. It's also entirely possible that the god would refer them to the Fates to decide where their loyalties should lie. They could be used as a vessel to awaken a new god as well, though I still have some more lore to write up on that.
May I ask, for the location section of the CS, I assume that is where the character will begin in the RP and not a location of Origin? Also wouldn't it be best for everyone to be in the same location to promote interaction?
I would like to throw my interest in if you don't mine. Pardon me if I misread, so are the greek gods mentioned now more human in nature when you say they involve themselves in mortal lives? Ie, with lack of faith in them anymore they walk amongst us all? Pardon me if I misread, just curious
May I ask, for the location section of the CS, I assume that is where the character will begin in the RP and not a location of Origin? Also wouldn't it be best for everyone to be in the same location to promote interaction?
Ah! The location would be where they currently are. It won't truly matter because once they're invoked, they'll be in the location of the witch that is summoning them. I hope that made sense. I keep using invoke/summon interchangeably because I'm not exactly sure which will apply yet. And I think to begin with, I'd like to have the witches all in separate locations or at least one witch be separate, but then have them all convene in one location at the behest of the gods so that they can be better organized.
I would like to throw my interest in if you don't mine. Pardon me if I misread, so are the greek gods mentioned now more human in nature when you say they involve themselves in mortal lives? Ie, with lack of faith in them anymore they walk amongst us all? Pardon me if I misread, just curious
I don't think you misread as much as I might not have been clear! The gods are still completely powerful, but many of them have lost their domains. The Underworld is divided among all sorts of religions and many souls are just wandering the earth as a result. Zeus, for example, would still be able to conjure up thunder storms and shoot lightning bolts, and Hades would be able to make an earthquake and all sorts of good stuff.
By more involved in human lives, it basically means some of them are meddling with mortals for fun or to try and spread influence.
