The Gods

*Gods die. And when they truly die they are **unmourned** and **unremembered**. Ideas are more difficult to kill than people, but they **can** be killed, in the end.*

- **Neil Gaiman**

## History

### The Origin of Myth

There is no true origin to the Gods. Depending on the individual you ask- stories may vary. It's left for the mortals' interpretation. Their existence was indisputable milennia prior to mankind's rise. They lived on a higher plane adjecant from Otherworld none from outside may enter, locked for the divine. In these planes not only did they live- stories of their upbringing were made. Olympus, Asgard, etc. Multiple pantheons simultaneously lived and died- some in arms, other in battle.

### Reign

When mankind created society and formed their kingdoms- Gods from afar took notice and spoke on the situation. Each leading figure of all the pantheons appeared during this meeting, to discuss what actions they shall take. It had been revealed that they were curious and sought more to life, a trait easily exploitable. With their prayers they'd prolong their existence for eons to come. The power of faith was immense- though, with the rise of scientific discoveries inconsistent.

Their best chance of pursuing their initial plan was to bring terror to the doubters- treat each mortal the same, prove that to praise the Gods meant a life of joy and free of agony. If lives were at peril, it'd be safe to say that mankind will take its chances and pray. And pray they did. What appeared to be natural disasters, unexplainable calamities- all were by the hands of the Gods. From this stems the practice of sacrificing flesh, wine and even blood. All of The Gods reveled in their divinity. And upon each miniscule withdrawl where someone simply stopped worshipping them, they struck the Earth with horrors to force them into submission.

A powerful hold was enforced on the mortal humans. But that grip slowly loosened. Prometheus, the Titan God of Fire had been sentenced to eternal torment- bound to a rock, to have his insides eaten upon dawn. Punishment for bringing fire and intelligence to the human race. Hercules freed him of his prison, allowing him to escape the clutchess of Zeus' wrath. Unfortunately, the head of the Olympians had taken notice. Finding Prometheus once again and taking his life.

### The Last Day of Legend

Previously, when Hercules freed Prometheus- the God once again brought more wisdom to mankind in spite of Zeus. Knowing that his final day had come, he revealed the truth to the mortals. The fact that their entire existence is being exploited by the Gods who feed off their faith, all while torturing them. This revelation hit hard- which only made sense considering all that they sacrificed to the deities they once perceived as heroes and respected. Prometheus adviced they rebel. Though, warning them that doing so may cost many their very livelihoods. It didn't matter to them. On bended knee is no way to be free.

The Gods were furious that they were tested by the mortals, striking them with disasters and plagues. To teach them that they had no say in this. Man must worship their superior. This didn't work for them- for, it only increased the hatred and fear the people had for the divine. And with each passing day, the hateful masses quickly grew. Despite the undeniable deaths, it appeared that there was no bending the strongminded mortals of Otherworld.

And that incredible power that originated from their hatred manifested itself into actuality. Into a material being that fed off hatred, which there was plenty of. It grew more powerful each passing second, soon stronger than even the God of Strength himself- mightier than even Zeus himself. There was no chance of reasoning. It spoke not. Reflecting its thoughts through pure actions. Each pantheon it'd encounter perished under its power. Rumours of this entity spread across the world in mere days. The supernatural escaped- uncertain of whether this hunt was for the divine or for all that is.

Zeus and the remaining pantheons stood tall on Mount Olympus, awaiting for the monstrous entity to arrive. He assumed it had to have a limit. No being should be able to bring forth the end of the Gods unharmed and unpunished. Once it appeared it was met with the combined strike of all divinity. And it didn't budge. It did not move, not even flinch. Behind the eyes of this amorphous entity was a dark abyss. And it stared into the souls of each and every witness. It moved further and violently ripped them apart- on the receiving end of the pain they inflicted on humankind, tenfold.

History was cleansed. The entity dissipated. And with each passing day, the memory faded. Forgotten and considered nothing but old fictional stories.

## Notes

* All things divine perished.
* Artefacts, Locations and some belongings may still exist.