Divine Spark

## Children of the Four

Humanoid creatures were all created by The Four: Vulcus, Ulari, Sereas, and Sirrion. Vulcus, of Earth and Creation, molded their bodies and created their shapes, the framework for all humanoid races. Vulcus worked slowly, starting from a single base that he called "human." From there, he added variations in shape, size, longevity, power. Although his favorites will always be the dwarves, he never stopped creating. Sereas, of Wind and Change, breathed life into their hollow, rigid bodies, gave them the basic functions of sentience. She bestowed upon them the ability to adapt, learn, and evolve over time to overcome hardships. Sereas always favored the elves, being more in tune with her and the nature she worked so hard to keep in balance. Ulari, of Water and Destruction, destroyed the things they made, so that they may be built better, to be destroyed again. Ulari always favored the ugly, the monsters, orcs and goblins, for giving into their primal desires to bring about ruin. Sirrion, of Fire and Magic, granted them the will, the drive to want to live, to experience life in all its strange curiosities. He also granted them magic, their own magic, to help them reach their goals on their own instead of begging the other gods for help. These first arcane casters were the first sorcerers of the world, from which wizards would study to replicate what they were doing to create it unnatrually.

## A World Not Welcome

When the first mortal humanoids began to walk the world, their lives were short and bitter. Massive creatures still roamed among them, and destroyed them whenever they tried to venture forth. The species were on the verge of extinction, they were too fragile to withstand the constant assaults from dragons, giants, demons, and elementals. Their prayers were answered their wills too weak to act as a conduit, they could cast simple spells but rarely lived long enough to truly master the arcane. The Four were at a loss, these new creations did not take much from The Great Wheel and were fascinating to observe, but the dangers of the world were too much for them to handle. The Four could not agree on what to do, Vulcus and Ulari would not remove their beasts and monstrosities from the world, Sereas wanted to change the humanoids but nobody could agree on what, for Vulcus was stubborn and refused to change his sculpted protomodels. Ulari would wipe the world clean of mortals and start anew, but Sirrion was too excited to see where they would go if they just gave them another chance. If they couldn't get one, he'd give it to them.

## Light a Spark

Sirrion visited the Great Wheel, guarded by the twins Veskari and Chronos. The Wheel occupied a curious space between Shoshari's darkness and Lumos' light. An ever-turning wheel, cast souls in all directions into the pulsating, shapeless cloud of of raw untamed energy of light and dark before whirling back into the cycle, now imprinted with their ties of fate. Sirrion approached, gouts of his divine fire spewing into the raw heavens as he drew closer, speaking with great passion. The dour forms of Veskari and Chronos were unphased by his emotions, steadfast in their orders to enforce the Wheel and how it turns on its own. Sirrion exploded into a fervor, shouting and screaming, crying and weeping for the lives of the children he so treasured. The beasts and monsters of the world payed him now head for they feared fire, and could not learn magic. These humanoids, they were all he had, they were the creation most important to him and they were going to stand idly by and let them die out. It would not stand. His flames grew too hot for even his fellow gods to handle, the light of his fire drawing even the attention of Shoshari, deep within her shadowed abyss, and blinding the twins of fate. He seized the opportunity, and thrust his arm into the center of the the Great Wheel where it lingered for but a moment, his divine fire and pieces of his soul pouring with immense heat into the Wheel. Chronos hefted his scythe and cleaved it free, but Sirrion's essence was already infused into the cycle. Sirrion smiled to himself as they dragged him back to his domain in the Kingdom of Fire. He gave them a gift, a piece of himself that would be caught in the throes of entropy forever for them to use, for good or evil. It might have cost him an arm, and a significant portion of his power, but he ensured that mortals would have a fighting chance.

Humanoids are occasionally born with a Spark of Sirrion. A fragment of his power that has latched onto a humanoid soul. A spark gives them many supernatural abilities, lets them learn and heal at an accelerated pace, and even the most magically uninclined can learn how to cast spells with relative ease. They are more powerful than their mundane humanoid counterparts, but look no different. They are Sirrion's chosen ones, champions destined for greatness,whether for good or for evil.

## Giveth and Taketh Away

The other gods were initially furious with their peer. He had irrevocably polluted the Great Wheel and upset the power balance between gods, for there was no way to remove the fragments of his being from the cycle. As time went on however, their favored races began to flourish. The other three gods relented, and allowed Sirrion to keep the spark in the Wheel despite them eventually finding a way to remove it. It was for the greater good, and was terrifically entertaining to watch great heroes and villains alike arise.

Sometimes however, mortals squandered their gift. Remaining clerks, farmworkers, or potters. Sirrion looked down upon these mortals who chose to live in safety and never live up to their potential, while others live and die by the sword and spell, struggling to survive the dangers they throw themselves into despite not being as gifted as others who do the same. Sirrion takes pity and vengeance simultaneously, and manipulates his soul fragments from one being to another.

Many have tried and failed to replicate a spark artificially, and many more have unsuccessfully prayer or even *wished* for one, to no avail. The only way to acquire one is for the threads of fate to grant it, or for a High God to take pity.

## Mechanically Speaking

A Divine Spark allows player characters and certain NPCs to follow the default rules for resting, completing a short rest in one hour and a long rest in eight hours. All other characters, primarily NPCs or players that have died too many times, follow the "gritty long rest rules" completing a short rest in eight hours, a long rest in 7 days, and requiring healer's kits to spend hit dice.

A Spark is not easily contained, and dying weakens the bond to its vessel. The 2nd time a character dies, keeping their spark requires sacrificing a magic item they are attuned to. The 4th and further times a character dies, they permanently lose an attunement slot. If they are unable to provide an attuned item upon resurrection, their spark is lost and cannot be restored. *True Resurrection* bypasses the need for an attuned item.