What makes a God? My creators would argue that a true God would be an omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent being; however, their technological advancements and the failure of the religions of their home planet to fulfill the prophecies and promises made led to this concept being replaced by logic, reason, and constant evolution.
For less advanced civilizations, they might be Gods cruising the stars in their large metallic ships, whose technology, too advanced to be understood, would be no different from magic, which a certain operator capable of conjuring true magic (to paraphrase their words) would find revolting, having their craft confused with a cheap imitation.
However, they were mortal like most living beings, capable of getting sick, aging, and dying in various situations, and were particularly fragile when compared to a Terran.
In a combat with all available resources, they would certainly win, but in a physical confrontation without weapons, an average Terran would tear them to pieces. So no, despite all the scant legends and their power, they were far from being Gods.
Were the Feramuts Gods? The ancient Terrans would say yes. Massive and powerful beings capable of controlling their own mortality, time, space, and transforming the planet's geography. However, despite being worshipped, the concept is foreign to them, showing little interest in ruling or being above others.
Yes, they were powerful, but those who defied my creators were practically wiped off the face of the planet, and those captured suffered various experiments that I prefer not to describe, as morality had been set aside in favor of survival.
The few who remained were killed on Yan or went into hiding, so no, they don't fit the definition of Gods that I choose to believe.
Would the Law be a God? No, that was never its purpose. I don't know what happens on in its logical systems to choose a specific group as its "children."
The Supercomputer never desired to be worshipped; at no point did it give such an order, but a religion formed around it, composed of people capable of using the basic function of its empathy.
A machine left on or off for too long will eventually malfunction, so no, the Law is not a God.
And the Beast Lords? Do they fit into these categories? Religions formed around them; some accepted them, others didn't, but all were erased by time.
They possess supernatural powers, immortality, and great knowledge, which places them in a high category. They even grant fragments of their being to Terrans for various reasons; however, coexistence seems to be a favored method rather than domination.
In the end, with all their powers, they don't fit my definition of Gods.
Are the Observers Gods? I can't answer that; little is known about them.
After countless ages of observation, I've come to the conclusion that an omniscient, omnipresent, and omnipotent being does not exist, and that religions are ways for living beings to explain the world around them and find answers to the most fundamental questions: How did it all begin? Where did we come from? Where do we go? Why does evil exist?
Ultimately, to be a God, you only need to be powerful and incomprehensible enough when compared to those below you. If the power gap is too large to close, and your abilities beyond comprehension, then it's natural for people to think you are some kind of divine entity.
I myself have had cults forming around me, led by primitive Terrans, something I made sure to shut down before things got out of control.
However, recent events have made me rethink the subject of Gods. The emergence of religions and cults that worship deities from another world (a detail known to few), whose origin began in Kazdel.
It all started with a creation myth in a world without disparity, ruled by dragons, shaken by the sudden appearance of a Flame and the Souls of the Lords.
Beings who lived in the depths of the earth found these souls and were ascended to divinity, supposedly sharing this power with their relatives and descendants, considering that the Lord of Sunlight had an uncle and was part of a clan, and the Old Witch had her daughters.
This created what could be called a pantheon, with countless powerful entities embodying diverse aspects. And their powers, called Miracles, are a bizarre proof of their existence. Skills different from Arts, they don't use Originium, and are conjured through faith and the citation of religious texts, channeling their power through Chimes or Talismans.
I myself acquired a talisman and the necessary texts to conjure a miracle, without success, because according to Operator Alden, "I'm not truly believing it." A small but crucial detail: miracles seem to understand when their conjurer believes wholeheartedly in what they are doing.
Simply put, my experiences and worldview, the way my mind was formed, and various other personal factors prevent me from possessing such power.
It's a shame, I would love to have such valuable skills in my arsenal. Partial healing of Oripathy, total removal of poisons, immediate stopping of bleeding, and more. I never imagined I would see this, but a flame of hope has rekindled in my chest.
Not to mention, of course, its combat capabilities, firing lightning and shockwaves. It is because of this versatility that I made a point of requesting Sarkaz Clerics from the Merchant Empire of Melfia to assist in the most extreme cases.
Despite tests conducted with the greatest minds and most advanced equipment available, the power of a Miracle remains impossible to explain logically. How can faith in something manifest physical phenomena? A cleric would say they are merely conjuring a fraction of the power of their chosen God.
However, the nations of Terra did their best with what they had, offering quality religious education and specially crafted equipment to channel this power.
Ursus focuses on physical enhancements, buffs, for its forces. Iberia, during its golden age, chose miracles that affect luck to acquire more wealth, although now they focus on lightning to better face their underwater enemy. Kazdel, with its already powerful warriors, has a preference for debuffs, weakening its targets and gaining an advantage in combat.
This is just one example; each nation has its own Gods that best suit its lifestyle, but that doesn't mean they focus solely on a single aspect. Ursus will use healing miracles, and Kazdel will apply buffs to itself. It would be foolish to ignore such valuable resources.
This doesn't mean the emergence of this new religion was accepted by everyone. There was strong opposition, beginning in its homeland, Kazdel. Although the new teachings didn't contradict their original religion of ancestral spirit worship, the emergence of a new faith was seen as a way for foreigners to further erase their culture.
It started small, with the less fortunate joining the new faith, whether Kazdelians or foreigners who fled to the nation. The results served as proof, healing almost any affliction or doubt. And with that came the meetings, congregations, small churches and temples, and the attempt to integrate the new faith with the original.
This only became a problem when it grew too large to ignore, with the more fortunate and powerful individuals of Kazdel joining in, angering those in positions of power, religious or otherwise.
It all culminated in yet another civil war, a union of nobles, politicians, warlords, and religious leaders with their own forces—be they faithful, mercenaries, or private armies—confronting the forces of the King, his allies, and the new religion.
I won't go into detail, but instead of the rebellious side being completely eliminated, an agreement was reached after months of conflict.
Let's just say the leaders of the revolt suddenly disappeared, and the remaining minor religious figures analyzed the new faith and concluded that it was acceptable and did not contradict the original teachings.
Of course, the fact that they were essentially going against miraculous cures and would have to deal with an angry population that had experienced such powers if they won served as motivation to end the conflict.
So the new religion grew, clergymen were taught by its founder, and these same clergymen passed his teachings on to others, expanding its reach.
For a time, everything seemed fine. The faith grew and spread throughout Kazdel. I still find it comical how there were dissidents, sects, and cults that separated from the original branch, claiming to know more than its founder.
The extremists who posed a danger to the population were dismantled, with varying degrees of strength. While some of the more moderate ones exist in modern times, there is still tension between the main branch and them.
I would like to say that after so many conflicts, peace and stability were established, but I would be lying. Individuals trying to use their interpretation of the texts as a way to legitimize their power and oppress a specific group were the least of the problems; they never lasted long, courtesy of a certain redhead.
The real problem came when the new faith began to be taken to other nations of Terra. The Sarkaz couldn't care less about other nations; if any of them preached the new faith in another territory, it would be in the small and sparse Kazdelian communities, such as in Syracusa.
Conflicts began when fugitives and refugees from other races inhabiting Kazdel, such as the Forte, Caprinae, and Liberi, returned to their respective homelands with the new teachings. No ruler likes to have their power challenged by ideas brought by foreigners, and no established religion likes to compete with another.
Those in power with a sharp mind perceived the political and strategic advantage of the new faith, whether to strengthen their armies or improve the lives of citizens to increase their approval among the people, thus stabilizing their reign.
Of course, despite its acceptance, there were retaliations from the people and the already established religion in the nation, but just like Kazdel, a middle ground was reached, and over the years, a religious syncretism developed, mixing the old and new beliefs.
Those who chose to suppress the new faith found themselves dealing with incessant revolts, for they gave the people a common enemy. Places like Laterano and Kjerag were the most opposed to the new faith, to the point that crusades were launched to combat them.
Currently, no Sankta or Kjeragian will admit to worshipping deities other than the Law or Kejerag; however, this is not the case upon closer inspection. In fact, it is considered a shame that none of the aforementioned peoples wish to admit.
Let's say that when their prayers are not answered, ordinary citizens tend to seek a more immediate solution to their problems. While the Law or Kejerag cannot solve a problem, injustice, or affliction, no matter the number of prayers, this does not mean that foreign gods cannot.
This brings me back to the topic of the new gods and their almost transactional method. You worship them, and in return, they give you something. This can be done through miracles, after all, you worship them and they grant you a fraction of their power, or through Covenants, where the completion of a specific task will have the worshipped God granting gifts to their worshipper in the form of miracles, weapons, blessings, and more.
If a Sankta feels wronged, they can ask Velka for help; if a Kejeragian wishes for a loved one to be cured of their illness, then they will pray to Galib. Although unseen, something responds to the people's worship.
Operator Alden claims that many of these Gods may be already known entities identified by other names, powerful beings who have been ascended over the years through the passing of their legends, or who died long ago, yet their power and souls still reside in the material world, reincarnating in an endless cycle.
An Undead who became the second Lord of Cinder killed the three main deities, and Operator Alden killed their reincarnations. I don't know if I should take this as proof that, despite their power, they don't fit my definition of God, or if I should be frightened by the seemingly infinite growth capacity of the Undead.
I can't help but mention the category of Divinity that seems to rise even higher above the others, the so-called Outer Gods. Incomprehensible and mostly formless entities, of immeasurable power, representing some kind of concept, such as fire, blood, rot, and more. They seek to extend their influence on the world through a mortal avatar who now possesses a fraction of their power.
Some would see their environmental modification as evil, but they are entities beyond such a concept. I wonder, are the Outer Gods and the Observers of the same species? If so, why influence a specific civilization while destroying so many others?
NOTE: Review the file on Outer Gods, Elden Lord, and the History of the Lands Between.
Operator Alden told me a legend about the Blind Swordsman who defeated the God of Rot in combat and sealed it in a lake.
Again, I wonder if this proves that there are no all-powerful Gods, or if the Undead, or in this case, the Tarnished, are the real danger, because I see a pattern of beings with the power to change reality being defeated by an immortal with a pointy stick and a lot of free time.
I fear the day the Observers discover Terra, not for the end of civilization, but for the chance, however small, that they will be defeated by a group of Undead wanting to acquire a new weapon or spell.
I don't know how I would face my creators and my own reflection upon discovering that instead of spending so many years running away and developing plans that only brought ruin, we should have simply picked up swords and spears and faced the danger head-on.
To quote the Red-Haired Operator:
"Kal'tsit, you think you're strong until you lose to a half-naked bum armed with a wooden club, without a single soul or rune in his body, and who manages to dodge all your attacks."
I don't know whether or not I should ask for a more detailed explanation.
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