Mortal World

Chapter 6: Mortal World

In Dominion, every aspect of daily life is governed by the divine will of the gods. They oversee everything, from the simple act of getting out of bed to walking down the street. It's easy to see how some might get the impression that mortals are mere servants of the gods. And in many ways, they are right.

In this world, the gods draw their strength from the faith of mortals. The distinction between human and beast may seem trivial to them - nothing more than a herd of cattle to be sacrificed at their whim.

The gods were unfathomably powerful, eternal giants who had watched over the cosmos for as long as the sun and stars had shone. To mortals, they were entities they could not comprehend or ever hope to challenge.

The gods' immense power did not come at the cost of their numbers - quite the opposite, in fact.There seemed to be a deity for every aspect of existence, overseeing everything from the grandest cosmic phenomena to the most minute details of everyday life. If you could conceive of a thing or idea, a god undoubtedly held dominion over it.

In Dominion, the more gods that exist, the stronger and more resilient the world becomes. However, the very definition of a god is to hold dominion over the laws and fabric of reality. In essence, their divine power is what allows the world to thrive and endure, and without them, everything would fall into chaos.

Although the world does indeed grow stronger with each new deity, it also becomes subject to the ever-shifting whims of its supposed protectors. Each god possesses their own agenda and motivations, and while some may strive to safeguard the world, others may seek to manipulate or dominate it for their own gain. As a result, the fate of Dominion often rests on the capricious and unpredictable nature of its divine rulers.

In this world, the lives of mortals begin each day with the solemn act of giving thanks to their patron deity. From there, every aspect of their daily routine is meticulously regulated by these powerful beings' strict rules and guidelines. For mortals, there is no deviation from the divine edicts - the will of their god governs their every action and decision.

As they went about their daily labors, the mortals remained ever-vigilant, hoping beyond hope for a chance encounter with an avatar of their god on earth. Perhaps it would manifest amid the shifting shadows of the forest or the fleeting shapes traced by the clouds overhead. Despite the odds, they still clung to the faint hope that their deity would reveal itself to them in some form - a sign that they were not alone in this harsh and unforgiving world.

During violent storms, the mortals would often huddle together in fear, seeking solace in one another's company. Some would kneel down reverently, clutching at their hearts as they beseeched the gods for mercy and protection. For a fleeting moment, they would wait with bated breath, hoping beyond hope to hear the divine's voices amidst the tempest's tumultuous roar. Yet even as the thunder boomed and the lightning crackled overhead, they couldn't help but feel drawn to the skies above.

As night descended on the land, the mortals would huddle together around the flickering flames of their campfires, seeking solace and safety from the encroaching darkness. Then, they would draw close and share stories of the gods - tales of their bravery, cunning, and great feats of heroism. Their voices would rise together in song, giving voice to their praise and adoration of these powerful beings. And as they sang, they would offer up humble sacrifices and fervent prayers, hoping to earn and maintain the favor of the divine patrons that watched over them from above.

Not all mortals lead peaceful lives, as there are always outcasts in every society and world - those who go against the mainstream norms and trends.

The outcasts from the Mortal World congregated to acquire power from demons, carrying out covert rituals, offering blood, and making sacrifices to the Abyss.

Living in constant fear of the gods, these mortals had no other option but to reside in their shadows.

Hopeful for divine guidance and protection and longing for a chance to meet their rulers face-to-face, the outcasts knew their fate lay entirely in the hands of these mighty deities and prayed for mercy.

Growing increasingly tired of their subjugated existence, the outcasts plotted for weeks, culminating in a bold and charismatic leader named Salas. Under his command, they finally launched an attack on the gods' earthly influence - their temple.

The gods were both shocked and enraged at the mortals' audacious assault. While they yearned to retaliate with lethal force, they refrained from doing so, as their descent would cause the Mortal World to collapse. Instead, they were left with no alternative but to dispatch their avatars and chosen ones to address the situation.

Adding fuel to the fire, a militant anti-religious faction influenced a handful of the chosen ones, prompting them to defect and become adversaries of the gods. This only served to worsen the situation, further infuriating the divine beings.

Enraged at the mortals for daring to challenge their sovereignty, the gods launched a retaliatory assault, utilizing their avatars to devastating effect. Despite being limited to avatars, the gods' power was still immense, and the skies raged with thunder and lightning.

Despite their fearsome display, the mortals held an unexpected advantage, having learned the gods' vulnerabilities and how to capitalize on them.

In Celestia, a god's ability to locate or harm a mortal was contingent on the strength of the individual's faith. If one's devotion was lacking, that god would be incapable of affecting them in any way.

Should an individual choose to pledge themselves to a particular deity, they were essentially surrendering their existence - both body and soul - to that god. This is the source of the gods' reputation for being omnipotent and omniscient.

Despite the odds against them, the mortals fought with unwavering determination and slowly but steadily began to gain ground against the gods.

After a long and grueling battle, the mortals emerged triumphantly, vanquishing the divine beings and forcing them to retreat from the world of mortals in defeat and utter humiliation. The gods had no choice but to take refuge in Celestia, licking their wounds and nursing their egos.

The mortals were well aware that they had not truly defeated the gods, merely pushed their avatars back. They knew that no matter how many humans there were, they would be powerless against the might of a god, were they to truly descend upon them.

The mortals did not celebrate their victory for long, as they discovered that without the guidance and presence of the gods, their world descended into utter chaos. The once-predictable seasons became erratic, crops failed to yield, and illnesses ravaged the land, leaving the mortals in a state of despair and helplessness.

Salas - the Godslayer- under the urging of his followers, frowns but turns to the gods for help. If he held onto his ego, he would not be different from the gods and would instead cause the Mortal World irreversible problems.

The gods were not oblivious that without the mortals recognizing and actively worshiping them, they could fall and, worse, have their authorities taken back by the world's consciousness.

The gods, without words, utilized their authorities and nudged the World back into the correct path.

To be honest, the world could do this too However, because it has become so reliant on the gods, it would take centuries to even realize the problem.

Still, seeing how strong and determined the mortals were, the gods became more mindful in their dealings with their mortal subjects, avoiding past mistakes and listening to the prayers and needs of the people.

The mortals were surprised when the gods began to answer their prayers and actively communicate with them.

Through their approach, the gods could feel the gratitude of the mortals in the form of stronger faith. It was at least ten times stronger than before, making them understand how bad their governance of the Mortal World was.

Understanding that by bettering the lives of the mortals, they gain an immense amount of faith, the gods began to compete with each other for the mortals' faith.

The gods began to grant the mortals knowledge of medicine, forging, and many more. Many of the things that mortals were once unaware of became less.

Contrary to what one might be made to believe, with greater knowledge, the mortals did not stop worshiping the gods. Instead they became more devoted and erected temples in their names.

A single god was being worshiped by a kingdom or empire of millions, making the god's power grow to frightening levels.

As mortals learn more things from the gods, their lifespans increase, causing the world to become more populated over time.

As years turned into decades and decades into centuries, the mortals began to evolve, their natural curiosity and ingenuity leading them to chart new paths and explore unknown territories. In time, they grew ever more independent, their reliance on the gods gradually fading as they developed new tools and technologies that allowed them to solve their own problems and overcome their own challenges.

From Celestia, the gods looked down upon the mortals with satisfactionn as they witnessed the mortals leaving a tribe-like living to kingdoms and empires. They had been an active part of this transformation, making them feel proud.

The gods were inspired by the bravery and resilience of their mortal counterparts and chose to experience life through them, growing as the mortals grew.