Test of the Starstone

> "**The Test of the Starstone** is a test that anyone can take[...]. Those few who pass become demigods, while those who fail usually die, although a select few manage to escape, occasionally with great wealth, but no divinity."
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-*Pathfinder Wiki*

## History

The fragment of the Starstone crashed in the Crossworlds several hundred years ago. Recognizing its power, the Shadowfolk Council took it in their custody in Kritya and crafted a small temple for its safekeeping. They ran several tests with it and researched in order to learn its power and purpose, but otherwise left it alone.

It remained there, untouched, until a few years before the party's appearance. The Shadowfolk recruited two heroes to attempt the Test: Velvine Amaris, who declined, and Mordecai. Mordecai attempted the test, but was unable to make it past the test of will. He escaped with neither divinity nor wealth, and lost his left arm in the process.

He stayed in Kritya, however, and was able to give the party information about the Test when they arrived. The party (Tairin, Pandora, Redacted, Dirt and Luka) agreed, unanimously and almost immediately, to take the Test. They spent a while training before entering.

Their first section of the test was comprised of a logic puzzle set in a large room, dressed to look like a street block. The players were required to complete a set of puzzles. Each answer fit into a larger puzzle, which needed to be solved in order to move onto the next section.

In the next section, the players were up against a fearsome dragon. They were able to use the battleground to their advantage, as it was the same puzzle area they had been working in. Following this battle, the players each entered their own test of will.

* Dirt's test placed him back in Cardea's custody, without his companion Squishy but with all the knowledge he had gained over the course of his adventures. He guided the other leshies to safety, including those which were unlikely to survive, and ensured Cardea would not be able to follow them.
* Redacted was given an open world, where he could speak with anybody and gain their true opinion of him. Aware that these might be lies put forth by the Starstone, Redacted spoke directly to the Starstone instead. He decided to simply be strong in his convictions and gave a strong speech to someone who, according to the Starstone, thought little of him.
* Tairin entered a garden rooftop with Paletius, who informed him that there was no test of will and that he'd already passed. However, Tairin needed to convince Paletius to give them permission to pass them into divinity. Over the course of divinity, Tairin convinced Paletius that this was the best course of action and was able to meet with the real Paletius, who saw the whole thing and needed no convincing.
* Pandora entered a radio booth where they were the guest star being interviewed about their experiences adventuring. Soon after the interview began, however, other characters began interrogating them about their past actions. The final character was a younger version of Pandora themself, who entered and sat silently on the other side of the glass. Pandora explained their actions and motivations, prompting the Starstone to pass them.
* Luka's test put him in Refersi in the worst case scenario, becoming ruler after the Crossworlds becomes isolated. He was tasked with calming panicked riots. He exited the test exhausted after seeing the rest of the party disappear or die in the chaos. However, he succeeded. His joy was short lived, however, as Alseta informed him that his divinity could not be given by the Starstone as, "For the moment [he was] a whisper in the consciousness of the universe, [his] fate already belonged to another deity." He was given wealth instead.

Following each individual test, the players were led into a wide, dark space with a large screen and a keyboard. They each answered prompts to fill out their deity profile, and were allowed to exit the test.

After the test, the party was placed back in Kritya in no particular order. They stayed in Kritya for a short time to plan their next actions and ponder Luka's answer, and were offered a Deific Gala by Katrina Novikov.

The Starstone remains in Kritya. Redacted was able to contact it again in order to try and gain information, but was largely unsuccessful. The party also contacted the Starstone as a group in an attempt to get an ingredient for the Zenith. The Starstone considers itself "omniscient but not omnipotent," and tries to remain neutral in all things.

## Trivia

* The Starstone's interface is described as a modern Macintosh interface. In conversations after the test, it uses a Notes app and emojis to communicate. There is also the consistent sound of music blasting from the next room over, though it's unclear where this room is.
* The Starstone's personality is implied to be based on whoever is DMing.
* It refers to itself as a fragment, and claims that the rest of the meteorite it split off of would be upset if it were to sway things (ie. not remain neutral).